retired_teju

Thanks a lot rocheyuk, much appreciated

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Tottenham | | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 9 | +17 | 28 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Chelsea | | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 7 | +15 | 27 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Man Utd | | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 12 | +18 | 26 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Liverpool | | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 25 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Man City | | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 25 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Arsenal | | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 10 | +14 | 22 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Birmingham | | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 21 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Aston Villa | | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 20 | +4 | 20 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Newcastle | | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 18 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Southampton | | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 17 | -4 | 18 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Nottm Forest | | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 17 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | West Brom | | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 25 | -7 | 16 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Bolton | | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 15 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Blackburn | | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 20 | -8 | 15 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Portsmouth | | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 28 | -12 | 15 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Preston | | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 20 | -8 | 14 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Middlesbrough | | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 12 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Leeds | | 14 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 18 | 30 | -12 | 12 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Wigan | | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 26 | -13 | 11 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Watford | | 14 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 36 | -25 | 4 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_jenny1970

Good work. Nice to see that it is possible to do well will forest

retired_teju

Thanks Hilditch, it's nice to be able to get Forest moving back to where they belong. Now if only they can do it in real life!

The first day of the month took us to Preston. All winnable games were really must wins at this level, especially for a side just promoted. De Cerio got us underway with a great chip after 5 minutes, and we continued in the ascendant. On 36, Reid crossed for an unmarked Sculli to head in, bringing us a 2nd goal that was always going to be enough for a deserved and vital win.

Preston 0-2 Forest Att: 16411

Of course, there was always a price to pay, in this case an ankle injury to Reid that would cost us his services for 3-4 weeks.

Another away game in midweek, this time against struggling Leeds. It was a pulsating game pretty much from the first whistle. De Cerio headed in a 3rd minute corner from the recalled Bopp. Then just 4 minutes later, Sculli burst through and delivered a great finish for 2-0. Our defenders decided to throw it away from there, first after 29 when we conceded a soft as s***e goal, then a ridiculous penalty concession by Huth four minutes later. Almost immediately, the forwards showed off. Sculli's penetrative cross was rewarded with a brilliant headed finish from De Cerio, who then completed an amazing hat-trick with a deadly finish on the stroke of half-time. I told the lads that if we kept it going we'd win, and they provided a much more stable performance after that. The home side attacked like mad, and despite another gift goal with 10 minutes to go, we closed it out once again, deservedly so, for another huge result.

Leeds 3-4 Forest Att: 29241

De Cerio had now scored 11 in 14 starts, and it crossed my mind that at this rate he would be on the radar for a number of bigger clubs. I was always relaxed about that kind of thing. If somebody offered me 20 million I'd take it, though top class strikers always take some replacing.

After a 10 day break, a home encounter with Liverpool didn't promise much, but that man De Cerio gave us a dream start. His header hit the post, and he caused such disarray in their defence that Murphy could have lit a fag before hammering in the rebound. We were battered from thereon in, but with Carson in outstanding form we were able to see it through. Just before the break, a defensive slip from them allowed the Spaniard in again, for his speciality delightful chip finish, and a 2-0 scoreline that possibly was slightly generous to us, but by no means outrageous. I knew we could hang on from there, and sure enough, despite them pulling one back on 71, they just didn't have the heart for it. We wanted it more. A manful performance, in which we were only outshot 12-8.

Forest 2-1 Liverpool Att: 28149

The usual injury would cost us Thatcher for 3-4 weeks, a player who would prove more difficult to replace, given his outstanding form this season. He would have done nothing to prevent the 3-1 beating we took at Man United in our next game. Such luck as we had ran out, and we were trumped by the better side. It brought our winning run to an end, yet we'd made a hell of a lot of progress while it lasted.

Revenge came three days later when we entertained the same side in the League Cup. They scored with their first attack, but we fought back like tigers, a stunning drive from Sculli and a great cross from Burke giving the Italian an easy tap-in for a 2-1 advantage before half-time. We held it down from there with a bit more ease than I thought we would. A fantastic result to end a very productive month.

Forest 2-1 Man United Att: 28052

De Cerio won player of the month, quite rightly in my view. He'd been in irresistable form throughout. Defenders were scared of him now, I could tell by the attention he attracted even off the ball.

We copped a loss of 364K, probably explained by the glut of away games, but I wasn't too bothered with that, given that we were slowly but surely securing our top flight status.

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Tottenham | | 17 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 13 | +21 | 38 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Man Utd | | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 14 | +23 | 36 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Chelsea | | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 13 | +14 | 35 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Arsenal | | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 14 | +19 | 34 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Liverpool | | 16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 15 | +14 | 34 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Man City | | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 29 | 22 | +7 | 27 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Aston Villa | | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 28 | +2 | 25 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Birmingham | | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 25 | 24 | +1 | 25 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Bolton | | 17 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 25 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Nottm Forest | | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 23 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Southampton | | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 27 | -6 | 21 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | West Brom | | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 23 | 35 | -12 | 21 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Newcastle | | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 29 | -2 | 20 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Portsmouth | | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 26 | 39 | -13 | 19 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Middlesbrough | | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 23 | +1 | 18 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Preston | | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 24 | -10 | 16 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Wigan | | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 15 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Blackburn | | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 26 | -14 | 15 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Leeds | | 18 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 23 | 38 | -15 | 15 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Watford | | 18 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 20 | 43 | -23 | 10 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

A midweek assignment at Villa promised to be tricky, and sure enough we conceded a rubbish goal defensively early on. De Cerio responded with what the commentators described as a "magnificent individual effort", a marauding run down the right followed by a thumping drive into the top corner from an oblique angle. The game was very even, but unfortunately we conceded another crap goal with 10 minutes remaining, and despite deserving a point, we could find no way back.

Villa 2-1 Forest Att: 42566

As advertised, our magnificent stadium expansion was completed on the 15th, giving us a capacity of 42,500. The first fixture there under the new circumstances was in the League Cup against Sheffield Wednesday two days later. Nigel wanted to do an all singing all dancing opening ceremony, which really p***ed me off. I thought it detracted from the preparations for the game. I should have been in the dressing room sorting out the players instead of standing there with a bunch of corporate twerps, and listening to some silly cow from a reality TV show trying to launch her pop career. In the end, at least it wasn't a league game. We managed to win it on penalties after a ridiculous performance which I wa convinced had been impacted by all the hoo-hah beforehand. I was irritable and had an unfortunate stand-up row with Nigel in the bar afterwards, which was embarrassing considering that it was witnessed by the entire board and players of Sheffield Wednesday, several local journalists, and the corporate suits who had attended the earlier ceremony. Not sure if the pop start tart was there. We made up the day after, yet there had always been tension between us, and there always would be.

On the 22nd Watford arrived and I was expecting a handy win. Instead it was all very frustrating. We were clearly the better side, but had to wait 26 annoying minutes before Murphy hammered in a fabulous 25 yarder. We were well on top now, and 5 minutes later, Elmer crossed for Burke to head in superbly. The game was as good as won, and we cruised to a comfortable victory.

Forest 2-0 Watford Att: 35314

I was slightly disappointed with the attendance, but given the opposition that was understandable.

The last game of the month was a totally infuriating 3-2 loss at Southampton Despite the scoreline, we were absolutely mauled, outshot 25-6, and I was really infuriated with the whole shambles. Carson told the media of my anger, since I had petulantly refused to talk to anyone afterwards, returning to Sevenoaks in a huff.

At least we were back in black for the month, showing a profit of 1.2M. With a shiny new ground expansion, it promised to be the first of many.

retired_teju

I made a big balls up here. What follows is the first half of December, which I didn't copy and paste properly. So the post above is actually the 2nd half of December. Sorry about that

December was always a brutal month. Once again we played on the 1st, this time at home to Wigan in a game that was the Monday offering of Sky TV. The returning Reid gave us a flyer after two minutes, heading in a cross from another recalled player, Cardenas. We spent the whole of the rest of the game well and truly battering their lines, yet had to wait till the 82nd minute before De Cerio to wrap it up with a customary lethal finish.

Forest 2-0 Wigan Att: 27677

I wasn't keen on Saturday's trip to Spurs, and sure enough we got pummelled, conceding 3 in 9 1st half minutes. It wasn't pretty, though at least we stopped the bleeding in the 2nd half, we were well outplayed, and I have to admit, probably outclassed. It was all rubbed in by a late sending-off of Reid, who at least had the good grace, and the common sense, to acept his fine. I was in no mood for any insubordination.

Spurs 3-0 Forest Att: 36226

It didn't get any easier on the 10th, a home engagement with Chelsea. However we started very brightly, and very much held our own. From an inocuous punt down the right early in the 2nd half, Burke nodded on to De Cerio who completely exposed Carvalho with his pace and power, resulting in a terrific finish and a pretty much deserved lead. I thought we manged very well from there, stifling them until they helped themselves to a dodgy penalty with 15 minutes left. I feared the worst from there, but we were still their equal. In the end a draw was very satisfying, though we possibly deserved to win the game, which would have augured very well for the future. I was full of praise for the lads, which they loved, and also decided to wind up Mourinho which they also relished. I said they'd no chance of winning the title if they were second best to us, and was both pleased and disappointed when he didn't respond. Pleased in that he knew I was right, disappointed in that I fancied taking him on verbally any day of the week. Either way the players loved it. I decided to go home and give Kelly twelve rounds instead.

Forest 1-1 Chelsea Att: 28195

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Arsenal | | 22 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 46 | 20 | +26 | 49 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Liverpool | | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 40 | 20 | +20 | 49 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Tottenham | | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 45 | 20 | +25 | 48 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Chelsea | | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 44 | 20 | +24 | 48 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Man Utd | | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 48 | 19 | +29 | 47 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Man City | | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 37 | 25 | +12 | 35 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Aston Villa | | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 39 | -3 | 32 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Nottm Forest | | 21 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 30 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Bolton | | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 30 | 33 | -3 | 29 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Portsmouth | | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 39 | 43 | -4 | 29 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Birmingham | | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 32 | -5 | 27 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | West Brom | | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 45 | -20 | 25 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Newcastle | | 21 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 31 | 37 | -6 | 24 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Southampton | | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 39 | -13 | 24 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Blackburn | | 21 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 35 | -14 | 24 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Middlesbrough | | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 30 | +1 | 22 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Leeds | | 22 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 26 | 41 | -15 | 20 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Preston | | 22 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 28 | -13 | 19 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Wigan | | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 35 | -18 | 17 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Watford | | 22 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 49 | -27 | 13 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

Considering the massive row we'd had a few weeks earlier, I was surprised to be called into Nigel's office and told that extra funds were to be released into the transfer budget. And they were substantial funds too. The figure had been more than doubled to a massive 14 million pounds!! It was riches beyond compare, considering I had been farting around in the Championship a few years previously with a budget of under 500 grand. It was a great feeling to have that kind of muscle behind us. At least we were on something approaching a level playing field. It still had to be spent wisely though.

On the 3rd we headed for Spurs in the FA CUP without I thought, any real prospect of victory. Yet following a schoolboy defensive error, De Cerio sniped in to give us the lead after 18 minutes. The home side absolutely battered us for pretty much the rest of the game, but with Carson giving an amazing display between the pipes, we stole the game and advanced to the next round. I was happy to progress, though concerned we might pay for it with bad luck in a league game.

Tottenham 0-1 Forest Att:36111

On the 7th, I decided to move into the transfer market. It was far from an impulse signing. I had been monitoring Matty Fryatt of Leicester for some time, and I was convinced that he was the best striker outside the Premiership. He was very affordable at 3.6 million, and was prepared to be reasonable in his contract demands, settling for 15 grand a week till 2012. I was very happy with my front two, but this guy was a very handy prospect, and a terrific third guy. It also kept in with my slightly obsessive policy of signing as many English players as possible. Top class foreign players were great, but they had to be top-class, and I felt there were too many ordinary foreign players floating around. None but the best imports were on my radar. I think my record, both with English signings and with my foreigners totally vindicated my policy.

A bizzare League Cup semi-final 1st leg came around in midweek. After going behind, we were 4-1 up by the half-hour. At one stage it was 5-2, yet the fact that it finished 5-4 will tell you what kind of game it was. I was just happy to take some sort of lead into the 2nd leg, against a team I rated as slightly better than us, if for no other reason than they had the great Michael Owen in their side. A whopping crowd of 42482 realised record gate receipts of 1.1 million pounds. Talk about gravy. Now we were in with the big boys.

On the 10th we entertained Portsmouth, with a debut for Fryatt and Maloney returning for the suspended Murphy. It was a crap performance by us. We conceded the opener, and it took a 71st minute leveller from Maloney to spare our blushes. Disappointing, because we were good enough to beat them, even with a few players missing.

Forest 1-1 Portsmouth Att: 41659

The press were really on Fryatt's back after the game. All right he'd been ordinary, but who the hell gets judged on one game? Besides I countered, that's hardly a story when I have just signed Owen Hargreaves from Schalke for 10 million quid. There was an audible gasp from the assembled reporters. I had kept the negotiations a complete secret, so they were stunned, but I had indeed tied up the signing of the England man. The fee was massive, though I won't shy away from paying out for players that I believe are top class. He cost 28K a week in wages and 1 million in signing on fee, with a host of bonuses thrown in. If that's what it took to bring a star here, that's what I'd do.

The place was buzzing from then on, right up until the 14th, which saw Hargreaves debut away to Boro. It was a tight and even affair, until Fryatt made the difference, bursting through to open his account with a clinical finish. I looked up to the press box, and cupped my hand to my ears provocatively. All the "experts" were looking the other way or pretending they didn't see me.

I was cocky for some reason about this game, and as it turned out, I was right to be. We weren't brilliant or anything, but the home side offered nothing, and we coasted home, albeit only by one goal. Perhaps it was the security of having Hargreaves sitting in midfield, and true to form he was totally destructive.

Middlesbrough 0-1 Forest Att: 31076

Three days later we were on the road at West Brom. It was even too. I told the lads at half-time to keep plugging away because we were the better team. Just before the hour, Burke crossed for De Cerio to brilliantly head in his 20th of the season. Again I was very confident we could blunt them. With 12 minutes left, Fryatt won a penalty, converted by the returning Murphy, to tie up an easy, but nevertheless excellent win.

West Brom 0-2 Forest Att: 30484

Hargreaves was Man of the Match, and had transformed us defensively, especially against middling teams without any world class attacking talent.

We lost in the 2nd leg of the League Cup by the aggregate score of 9-8, following extra time. I was irritated but didn't particularly care. We got paid, though it would have been nice to have made a final.

I was similarly ambivalent about an FA Cup 4th round trip to Leeds. It was a crap 1st half, and I got angry with the lads. The game was there for the taking, though there was 87 minutes on the clock before Murphy finally got the breakthrough. Healy popped up off the bench to finish it off in injury time, and it was a job well done by the lads.

Leeds 0-2 Forest Att: 21388

Diaz de Cerio had picked up an ankle knock and would miss up to 3-4 weeks, which was a pain in the arse.

Two days later, I flogged Eugen Bopp to Bochum for a million notes, which represented a decent deal for the club. It was time for a change for both parties.

Due to constant postponements, we were playing Boro again just a few weeks after our last meeting, this time at home. We pummelled them for most of the game and got absolutely nothing. Just as I had resigned myself to the draw, Bignot crossed for Fryatt to brilliantly turn the ball home. It was practically the last kick, and we took the points, which we totally deserved to do.

Forest 1-0 Middlesbrough Att: 42484

The last day of the month brought a trip to Man City, with whom we were now jockeying for a top 6 place. We got a great start. Fryatt crossed, and a dreadful goalkeeping error left Burke with a tap in (4). Fifteen minutes later, Fryatt escaped again down the left, released Sculli, who set up Burke for a second tap in. On 27, the superlative Fryatt finally got on the scoresheet, brilliantly heading in a Commons free kick. I said little to the lads at half time. They knew what needed to be done, and shut the game down in just as clinical a fashion as they had scored 3 goals earlier.

Man City 0-3 Forest Att: 47980

I won Manager of the Month, which was about time. We had vaulted to 6th, and suddenly the fanciful prospect of European football next season was within our reach. The club recorded a loss of 11.93M, though in truth there was a profit, since we'd spent almost 14 million on transfer fees alone.

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Arsenal | | 25 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 57 | 21 | +36 | 58 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Tottenham | | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 52 | 22 | +30 | 58 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Liverpool | | 25 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 46 | 20 | +26 | 58 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Man Utd | | 26 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 59 | 20 | +39 | 57 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Chelsea | | 26 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 52 | 25 | +27 | 57 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Nottm Forest | | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 37 | 26 | +11 | 43 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Man City | | 26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 43 | 34 | +9 | 41 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Aston Villa | | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 42 | 47 | -5 | 36 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Portsmouth | | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 43 | 49 | -6 | 34 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Birmingham | | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 33 | 40 | -7 | 33 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Newcastle | | 25 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 42 | 46 | -4 | 31 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | West Brom | | 25 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 31 | 48 | -17 | 31 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Bolton | | 25 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 34 | 42 | -8 | 30 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Southampton | | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 29 | 46 | -17 | 28 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Middlesbrough | | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 26 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Blackburn | | 25 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 22 | 41 | -19 | 25 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Wigan | | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 39 | -19 | 21 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Leeds | | 26 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 30 | 51 | -21 | 21 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Preston | | 26 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 40 | -21 | 19 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Watford | | 26 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 57 | -34 | 14 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_jgirl87

Do I hear Europe calling? 6th place should be good enough, especially as you have that big gap to the top 5 above you. Enjoying this very much. :thup: