retired_brianrt

I had kept my word, and had duly arranged to meet up with Selina on the Saturday night. Before I did though, there was a small matter of another trip to Yorskshire to face 18th placed Rotherham. I tried to focus on the game, but I had other things on my mind, in the form of Selina and our 'date' that night. My good mood seemed to rub off on the players though, as they ran rampant and secured a simple 4-1 win over the struggling home side. Colin Cameron opened the scoring, sliding the ball past Mike Pollitt into the bottom corner, and after 17 minutes we were two in front, Ganea receiving Miel Mans' pass and firing past Pollitt. The home side did give their fans a little something to cheer, Chris Sedgwick converting a penalty to put his team back in the match, but by half time it was game over, Colin Cameron completing his hat-trick by converting two penalties in the space of ten minutes, to make it three out of three for the match. The second half really should have brought more goals for us, Miller, Ganea and Mans all missing chances to extend our lead, but it made no difference, and I was pleased to be going back down to the Midlands with our fifth straight win

...

The performance against Rotherham had left me in a great mood come my date with Selina. I did myself no harm that night either, as she laughed and joked along with me, enjoying herself and actually asking if we could do it again sometime (it must be Glenn's effect rubbing off on me) I did find out all about her though, and learnt some very interesting facts. She was 26, ten years younger than me, and she had only been in the city for a year. Working for the paper was her first serious job since she graduated from Aston University 4 years before. Her dad owns a successful company down in Bracknell, Hewlett Packard, and he offered her a job with them, but she wanted to make it on her own. I told her that she should be very proud, as she seemed to be doing a very good job of that. She wanted to know all about my family, my playing career, whether I had been married before etc. etc. I explained my life was boring compared to hers, but she seemed genuinely interested. When I dropped her off at her front door, we said our goodbyes and I left her with the promise of another date very soon. I made my way home with a smile on my face that would take weeks to be removed, bar some extenuating circumstances. She really was a nice girl, and we really did get on well. Who knows what could happen?

retired_brianrt

A home game against Gillingham was up next, and it was yet another game I fully expected three points from. Ashley Young had picked up a slight knock against Rotherham, so Shaun Newton came in to replace him, and Ioan Viorel Ganea started alongside Korean Seol up-front, with Kenny Miller on the bench. Unfortunately, it was just 23 minutes into the game that the Scottish international had to make his way on to the pitch, as he replaced the Romanian who left the pitch holding his right cheek, which I later learned to be broken. It didn't make much difference, as the visitors had clearly come for a point away from home to try and ease their relegation worries. Nothing we tried worked, and we constantly got into good positions only for the defence to thwart our attempts. We had to wait until just before the hour to get the breakthrough, South Korean striker Seol latching onto Lee Naylor's long clearance and ramming the ball home into the roof of the Gillingham net. We should have pushed on and dominated from there, but instead we took our foot off the gas, paying the price when Nicky Southall curled a free-kick into the top right hand corner of Matt Murray's goal. Just as it looked like the visitors might get their wish, and their point, my record signing showed why I payed the money I did, as he picked the ball up 30 yards out from goal and curled it past the outstretched fingertips of the Gillingham 'keeper, giving us yet another win and Miel Mans his first ever goal for the club

...

With Ganea's broken cheekbone ruling him out for up to a month, the fact that Neil Mellor was joining up with the squad very soon made me all the more thankful for my chat with Rafa Benitez. Until then, Alejandro Sanchez Fernandez was drafted into the squad. The final game of the month saw us travel south to Vicarage Road for the task of trying to end the recent revival of 8th place Watford, who had come into form of late after a poor start to the season. Ashley Young was, obviously, ineligible due to him still having a contract with the Hornets, so Newton kept his place in the team. Miller started alongside Seol while Mark Kennedy replaced Richard Witschge on the left hand side. It was our Irish winger that opened the scoring, cutting inside from the left and his deflecting up and over Alec Chamberlain. We were two ahead after twenty minutes, Colin Cameron's 6th goal of the month and his tenth of the season sending the Watford fans into a state of shock. After 67 minutes, it was me that was in a state of shock, two Bruce Dyer goals drawing his team back level, the equaliser a controversial penalty that was given after a tackle in the area by Joleon Lescott. It looked like the match would be heading for a draw as we entered th last ten minutes, but substitute Dean Sturridge won the game, sliding the loose ball home from 6 yards out to give us a perfect month with five wins out of five

retired_brianrt

November 2004 Summary
(Championship unless stated)

Wolves 2-1 Crewe
Sturridge (10) Aho (54) : Ashton (85)

Sheff Utd 1-3 Wolves
Gray (66) : Cameron (pen 19) Miller (51,89)

Rotherham 1-4 Wolves
Sedgwick (pen 20) : Cameron (6, pen 35, pen 45) Ganea (17)

Wolves 2-1 Gillingham
Seol (57) Mans (84) : Southall (72)

Watford 2-3 Wolves
Dyer (61, pen 67) : Kennedy (9) Cameron (20) Sturridge (81)

retired_brianrt

Our success in November had seen us claim two of the four awards up for grabs that month, midfielder Colin Cameron grabbing player of the month after his six goal haul, while I picked up manager of the month after five wins from five games in the League. December, for me personally, is the most important through the season. The Christmas and New Year period has seen many a title challenge or promotion challenge fade away thanks to a bad run, and even though our position at the top of the table was comfortable, we could still drop points, and lose our lead, if we had a bad month. All that said, my personal life was going really well. I had taken Selina out three more times since our first date, each time we had enjoyed a nice night, eating, drinking, laughing and joking together, and there was no doubt in my mind that we were officially a couple. I headed up to the ground on the Saturday morning in a jovial mood, and I was confident that we could pick up another three points. The opponents we faced were Welsh side Cardiff, an average mid-table side who we should, in all reality, dispose of quite easily. Twenty minutes into the match, we were in front, Seol Ki-Hyeon turning his marker inside out and firing past Neil Alexander. The side had barely stopped celebrating and Cardiff had pulled level, Jobi McAnuff side-footing home the cross and guaranteeing his side a point. We should have won the game, chances came our way in the second half, by my count there were at least 5 good chances, Kenny Miller, Seol Ki-Hyeon, Miel Mans and two from Cameron all should have been buried into Alexander's goal, but in the end we had to settle for just one point.

...

Before our next game, I managed to complete two dealings in the transfer market. Neil Mellor joined on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season, giving me that extra striking option I had so desperately craved for. Unfortunately, he wasn't registered in time to take his place in the squad for the visit of Millwall to Molineux, but he did take his place in the stands alongside Glenn. The other transfer was a permanent one, and again from Liverpool, France Under-21 captain Alou Diarra agreeing terms on a £230,000 move, one which I felt would give that extra option in midfield, as I expected some of the older players to leave during the summer. Neil must have been rubbing his hands with joy after the game, as he saw our finishing (or lack of, as the case was) in the 90 minutes. We dominated the match, having 9 shots on target to Millwall's 1, but again, we could not find that killer goal as the visitors held on for a goalless draw and a point that their manager conceded after the game that they did not deserve

retired_brianrt

Two new additions joined us on the coach on the way up to our next game, Mellor joining the squad for the first time and in the seat next to me was Selina, on her way to watch, or so she said, her first football match, thanks to my personal invite. Admittedly, I probably could have picked a better game and better town than Wigan, but come the final whistle I was considering taking Selina to every game, as the boys were dominating throughout the 90 minutes, a commanding 3-0 win against the pre-season favourites for the title. It was the manner we went about it that was most impressive, sealing the points by the 22nd minute. Miel Mans had opened the scoring after just three minutes, converting Ashley Young's cross with the inside of his right foot. Kenny Miller doubled our lead in the ninth minute, latching onto Lescott's long clearance and sliding home underneath John Filan. Debutant Neil Mellor secured the points, scoring the penalty after Mark Kennedy was felled in the box. The second half was much the same, as we dominated the game, Miller, Mellor and Seol Ki-Hyeon all missing chances to make Wigan suffer, but I was more than happy to be going back to Wolves with all three points from the JJB

---

With Christmas drawing ever closer, I was struggling with what present to get Selina. I didn't want to get anything too much, as we hadn't been a couple that long, but I didn't want to get something that was crap. In the end, I was helped out by a huge hint that Selina dropped as we walked through the town centre past a jewellers, commenting how a gold necklace with silver diamonds was just her size. That suited me, so I made myself a little plan to get her the necklace when I was on my own

..

Neil Mellor was fitting in with the squad nicely, his obvious abilities with a football and his top notch finishing making th rest of the lads sit up and take notice. He seemed happy top be here, when he joined he had started making noises of a possible move away from Anfield, his lack of first team chances the reason why. I would be delighted to have him on a regular basis, but I was focused on the present. The squad were all getting on well, and I was busy trying to sort out transfers for the next season, which would be in the Premiership if all went to plan

---

Ipswich visited Molineux, another side who needed points badly, maybe even more so than us, but once again we put in a confident performance, running out 2-0 winners. Mellor kept his place in the starting eleven, and justified that with a third minute goal, heading home Seol Ki-Hyeon's cross. Seol had an interesting role in the game, making the first goal, scoring the second and even having time to miss a penalty in between. The penalty was given away by visiting 'keeper Kelvin Davis, who was promptly sent off. His replacement, Lewis Price, made his first contribution to save Seol's penalty, but could do nothing about the Korean's 25 yard free-kick just 8 minutes later. That was all she wrote as far as the visitors were concerned, and even though, as seemed par for the course all season, we dominated the remainder of the game, we could not find the back of Price's net again, and we extended our lead at the top of the table to ten points

retired_brianrt

Another home game followed, Stoke the visitors to Molineux, and it was a game I expected to win. Most League games that we played now, I expected wins. If I'm honest, we were a little bit lucky in this game, the visitors playing well and creating chances, as did we, but Stoke created the better chances. The difference was a sole strike by Kenny Miller in the 16th minutes, as he rounded De Goey and slotted home. Darel Russel missed three good chances for the visitors, hitting a post and blazing over twice, earning himself a rapturous, albeit sarcastic, round of applause from the Molineux home fans, but another win kept us comfortable at the top of the table and on course to end the year in a promising position

---

Kenny had picked up a slight hamstring strain in training, so I had no hesitation in resting him, especially as Ioan Viorel Ganea was back in full training, and with two games against mid-table side to end the year on I was confident of being top come 2005. A little bit of bad news came through though, a clash of heads in a training game resulting in concussion for Joleon Lescott, meaning Tuomas Aho, who was a more than able back-up, would be drafted in alongside Jody Craddock. West Ham had also been enquiring about Seyi Olofinjana, while Millwall wanted Paul Ince. Both clubs were given reasonable offers, but when Real Betis came calling for Alejandro Sanchez Fernandez, they were given a firm 'hands off' message, as our young Spaniard was going nowhere

Christmas went well, Selina was overjoyed with her present, but she wasn't as overjoyed as me. My present, other than the three signed pictures of footballing greats, was to enjoy her company in my bed of a regular occurrence, something which pleased me greatly. My parents were also pleased to hear I had settled down with someone, my mum particularly wanting the full S.P, and giving me the 101 questions under the sum. I told her she would meet Selina in due time, and that I was loving life at the minute. It was refreshing to hear both their voices, knowing they were both enjoying their hard earned retirement years, and I set about planning a trip down to see them

---

We travelled down to the South in confident mood, one which rubbed off in the game against Plymouth. Neil Mellor started in place of the recouperating Kenny Miller, and his brace, a goal in each half, was enough to secure the win. His first was a simple tap-in, after Miel Mans had his shot saved, but his second was a thing of beauty, as he beat four men, turned the final defender and floated the ball over the 'keeper into the unguarded net, a goal of Premiership class by a player with Premiership abilities. He should have had his hat-trick, a goal ruled out for offside later proven to be a bad decision, but no complaints from me, another win and another clean sheet.

...

The year finished with a game at home, Brighton the team trying to end our unbeaten home record, and they turned out to be as unsuccessful as the rest of the sides, being on the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat, and once Colin Cameron had slotted us in front after just 36 seconds, two goals from Seol Ki-Hyeon, including a 92nd minute penalty, were enough to see us end the year 11 points clear at the top of the Championship. I was happy, the team was happy, and Glenn was happy. The fans knew we had something good going, and I hoped the next twelve months would bring nothing but the same.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> PL W D L GD PTS1. WOLVES 25 20 4 1 +41 642. Nottm Forest 25 16 5 4 +29 53----------------3. QPR 24 15 6 3 +22 514. Derby 25 13 7 5 +17 465. Leicester 25 13 6 6 +19 456. Burnley 25 13 5 7 +8 44</pre>

retired_amyslack

Too easy for the Wolves :thup:

retired_richcoble

This is a good story. I've also had fun times managing the Wolves, mainly on CM2 though back in the day.

retired_brianrt

Cheers for the support, glad to know that people are still following this.

BobBev, it is too easy at the minute, but there's always bound to be bad times

Wegason, as I've said in a previous post, I've never managed Wolves before, so I thought it would be a good challenge

---

December 2004 Summary
(Championship unless stated)

Wolves 1-1 Cardiff
Seol (20) : McAnuff (22)

Millwall 0-0 Wolves

Wigan 0-3 Wolves
Mans (3) Miller (9) Mellor (pen 22)

Wolves 2-0 Ipswich
Mellor (3) Seol (14)

Wolves 1-0 Stoke
Miller (16)

Plymouth 0-2 Wolves
Mellor (19,58)

Wolves 3-0 Brighton
Cameron (1) Seol (11, pen 90)

retired_brianrt

The New Year's celebrations had gone without a hitch, and as soon as the "happy new year's" had gone round, it was off to bed, mainly due to the fact we had a game on New Year's Day. Once again, I enjoyed the full benefit of Selina's company, and she accompanied me down to the ground for the opening game of 2005 against Sunderland. It looked like it was going to be a similar game to the opening day of the seaosn, as we controlled the game, making chance after chance, but we couldn't find the breakthrough. In the end, we had to wait till three minutes from time, Mark Kennedy volleying home from the edge of the area past Mart Poom, and giving us a perfect start to the month, and the year, and keeping up Selina's hundred percent record of watching the team

...

I thought everything was fine and dandy within the club, so imagine my surprise when Joleon Lescott asked for a meeting with me. As he entered, he had a look of utter fright on his face, and he soon revealed why that was the case with his opening sentence

"I asked for the meeting boss 'cos, erm....well I don't really know what to say, or how to say it....I want a transfer"

"You what? You want a transfer? Why?"

"I just think I need to leave to further my career. I need to be playing for a top side, a Premiership side"

"We will be soon. We look certain for promotion, and although we won't be challenging for top trophies straightaway, but I think that we could, with the right signings"

"I know, and I agree with you, but I think that being her will hurt my England ambitions. Nobody plays for England if they're not in the top 6 teams in the Premiership. I just think it's the right thing to do for myself"

"OK. Well I don't want you to go, I don't want my best players to leave, but I'll tell you what. I don't want to break up the squad at this moment, but come and see me at the end of the season, and if you still feel the same, I'll put you on the transfer list. OK?"

"OK boss. I can deal with that. Thanks a lot for understanding"

Secretly, I had no intention of letting Joleon go anywhere, but I didn't want an unhappy player on my hands. I thought Joleon had left my office with an understanding of what we had agreed, but when I received a phone call from his agent two hours later, I snapped

"Ah Mr. Bleasdale. I just wanted to let you know that myself and Joleon were considering taking legal action, due to you not giving Joleon his request..."

"Legal Action! Listen to me you jumped up little s**t. I spoke to Joleon as his manager, and we had an understanding. If you don't like that, tough, you'll have to live with it. Joleon has a contract here, and he is f***ing staying loyal to it, you hear me? Now get the f**k off my phone before I really get angry!"

I was absolutely incensed about the converstaion, so much so that I dropped Joleon for the following days trip to West Ham. The consequences were a shocking defensive display, and a 2-0 defeat, our first since the beginning of October, which I was man enough to hold my hands up and take the blame for after the match, and though I said I felt Joleon needed a rest, I was till privately furious at his handling of the situation. If we had won the game, I might have calmed down, but the fact we lost made me all the more annoyed, and the players knew better than to get on my wrong side on the way back home