retired_teju

Excuse the delay, there was a bereavement in the wife's family, which of course put this well on the back-burner. Do let me know if people are still interested in this one, if so there are huge updates to come.

retired_teju

2nd February Yeovil vs Notts County
I field an unchanged side, and it's business as usual, Biruk heading in to finish a pleasing move. Despite our domination, the home side pop up with an unexpected equaliser on 28, and then score after 51, with just about their only two kicks of the game. I sit quietly furious on the bench, then strikepower saves the day. Calliste bangs one in from the corner of the area (66), then with 15 minutes left, Hjalmar works an opening and slots home to give us the lead. Calliste finishes them off as they surge forward (89). Another seemingly easy win, but the slackness in the middle period of the match was really irritating, and I pull the lads up on that.

Yeovil 2-4 Notts County ATT: 6121

Calliste was stellar as usual, but he picked up a knock which will keep him out 1-2 weeks. Filipe Morais is back in contention.
Shai Biruk who has given me trouble before, mouths off in the press, saying he needs to move to a bigger club. That's enough. I tell him he can leave at the end of the season, but only on terms favourable to us. If he doesn't like it, he can ply his trade in the reserves. I won't keep whiners around, but nor will I let them go unless I can extract every available penny for them.

9th February Bristol City vs Notts County
Hjalmar moves up from the bench to replace Calliste, and scores his own rebound after 12 minutes. A deserved half time advantage looks set to be wiped out when they get a penalty just before the hour, but it's brilliantly saved by Fulop, and despite my going defensive, we suddenly come strong. A great move finishes with the Icelander heading in at the near post (72), and a tiring home defence leaves Johansson so unmarked in the box that he could have had a fag on before netting (75). We get our own penalty 2 minutes from time, and Hjalmar completes a hat-trick. Powerful stuff, and I tell the lads it was sensational. The dressing room is alive after this one, we looked tough to beat out there today.

Bristol City 1-4 Notts County ATT: 11068

The chairman nips in after the match to say how delighted he and the board were. But the Bristol City directors are far less happy, and Graham Roberts gets the sack following our demolition job on his team. I never like to see that, except if the opposition manager has been mouthing off in the press about us. I would never dream of doing that, and I like to see disrespect punished, but in this case I immediately give Graham a call and let him now how sorry I am. He's surprisingly upbeat, convinced the break will do him good.

This was our 4th straight win, and our lot make up half of the team of the week.

12th February Notts County vs Colchester
Nice to be back home. Sparv replaces the exhausted Saritama. The visitors start brightly, then we take charge. Ebanks nets calmly after being put through (15), then they equalise with the last kick of the 1st half, quite undeservedly. I go nuts about our sloppy defending, but it has little effect, and the game peters out into a dull draw. Ipswich lose however, which makes this a good night, or even more of a missed opportunity, depending on whether you're being greedy. I'm feeling greedy.

Notts County 1-1 Colchester ATT: 12006

16th February Notts County vs Brentford
Harkins replaces Sparv, with Saritama still wrecked. Another rough start, and a first half when we are badly outshot. I go apes**t in the dressing room, despite being on level terms, and this time it has an effect. Hjalmar nets a low shot following good set-up work from The Big E, then the Icelander hammers in a volley from an oblique angle, a la Van Basten in the Euro 88 Final, which has the crowd going wild and the coaching staff salivating. This boy has class, no doubt about that.
With 10 minutes left the visitors score from 30 yards, then with 7 left Nuno Morais gets sent off for a professional foul. It's ticklish for the last few minutes, but we deservedly hang on.

Notts County 2-1 Brentford ATT: 12797

The Portugese defender is suspended 1 game, but that's not the end of the bad news. Tandy has dislocated his shoulder, and is gone for anything up to 2 months.

23rd February Scunthorpe vs Notts County
Evans replaces Morais, Sparv for Harkins, and O'Hara for Biruk.
Yet ANOTHER dreadful start from us. Rezek drives home on 32, but the hosts equalise 10 minutes later. I do my Alex Ferguson impersonation again at half time, and Rezek restores our lead just after the hour. Despite wasting several chances to kill the game, we still come away with the all important 3 points. Job done.

Scunthorpe 1-2 Notts County ATT: 4485

Apparently my half-time rantings did the trick this time, though I will have to use that sparingly, otherwise the players will start tuning me out. Ipswich only managed to draw their game, which is delightful. However O'Hara has copped a 1 game ban, and Rezek has done his back in, an absence that could last up to a month.

A short month February of course. There's still reason to be cheerful, with a profit of exactly 100K, and an ever strengthening league position.

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Reading | | 35 | 23 | 10 | 2 | 74 | 32 | +42 | 79 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Notts Co | | 35 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 67 | 34 | +33 | 73 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Ipswich | | 34 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 68 | 40 | +28 | 69 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Burnley | | 35 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 61 | 48 | +13 | 61 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Preston | | 35 | 17 | 7 | 11 | 67 | 46 | +21 | 58 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Blackpool | | 35 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 57 | 38 | +19 | 58 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Brentford | | 35 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 54 | 39 | +15 | 52 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Rotherham | | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 56 | 51 | +5 | 52 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | MK Dons | | 35 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Peterborough | | 35 | 15 | 4 | 16 | 61 | 53 | +8 | 49 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Bristol Rovers | | 35 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 45 | 48 | -3 | 47 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Q.P.R. | | 35 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 53 | 54 | -1 | 45 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Luton | | 35 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 52 | 57 | -5 | 45 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Colchester | | 35 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 49 | 57 | -8 | 43 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Cheltenham | | 35 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 41 | 54 | -13 | 43 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Swansea | | 35 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 45 | 53 | -8 | 41 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Northampton | | 35 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 61 | -15 | 41 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Bristol City | | 35 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 42 | 50 | -8 | 40 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Swindon | | 35 | 10 | 8 | 17 | 40 | 63 | -23 | 38 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Yeovil | | 35 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 42 | 60 | -18 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Hartlepool | | 35 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 45 | 56 | -11 | 32 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Grimsby | | 35 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 52 | 69 | -17 | 32 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Port Vale | | 35 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 38 | 64 | -26 | 32 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Scunthorpe | | 35 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 37 | 65 | -28 | 30 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

1st March Notts County vs Blackpool
6th placed 'Pool represent a fair threat to us. Saritama returns, even though he's still complaining of tiredness. I tell him to get out there and get on with it. Biruk goes ML Johansson MC and Nisja MR. The midfield has been brain dead lately, and I decide to mix it up a bit. Calliste returns at the expense of Hjalmar, which looks a bit harsh, but we're spoilt for choice up front.
After saying I had to keep a lid on my temper tantrums, a dire first half has me ranting and raving again. This really lights a fire. We knock it around with great purpose after the break, and Ebanks caps a wonderful team move with a blistering finish (47). We batter them from there with no result, until The Big E gets put clean through, this time finishing with a sublime chip (72). They score as usual (78), but there are no significant problems hanging on to win a match we bossed from the interval onwards.

Notts County 2-1 Blackpool ATT: 13134

8th March Peterborough vs Notts County
Evans is a late call-up when Nuno Morais picks up a knock. We look good early on, even better when they get a man sent off for a pro foul after 15 minutes. Ebanks shows his predatory instincts, netting on 39, then we start to look strangely disjointed. 10 man Posh level it on 52, and that's all she wrote. Not so baffling when the other scores come through. Ipswich are getting mangled, and the computer wants to keep it close.

Peterborough 1-1 Notts County ATT: 7229

15th March Notts County vs Northampton
The visitors, who so humiliated us in their promotion season way back, are now struggling in 17th place. We are obviously feeling generous, since David Pipe decides to cross into his own box, straight onto their striker's forehead for 1-0 (18). Hjalmar comes on early, and duly works his magic with a near post header 10 minutes before the half. Things drift from there, we are tired and sloppy. I bring on Robert Pires late in the game, and he produces some magic of his own. First his mazy run wins a free kick, then he gets up, rolls up his socks, and blasts an absolutely amazing strike into the top corner. That seals it in spectacular fashion.

Notts County 2-1 Northampton ATT: 10599

22nd March Hartlepool vs Notts County
Pires starts this one, partly on performance, also because of Nisja's injury. I'm sorry, I'm livid about this one. I was leading 4-2 with 10 minutes left, and it cheated a 5-4 win because Ipswich were getting stuffed again. Rant over. Apologies for that!

24th March Notts County vs Swansea
Pires is injured, Filipe Morais replaces him. Ebanks doesn't mess about, hammering home after 8 minutes. There's no more serious action till Calliste gets on the end of a teasing cross after 52. The Swans strike back after 63, but have a man sent off 7 minutes from time, which allows us to coast home. All through the match I could hear the buzz of radios coming from the stand behind the dug-out, tuned to Five Live. As we are about to leave the field, there is a massive cheer, and Riggy shouts in my ear that Ipswich have only drawn. I just smile and nod my head.

Notts County 2-1 Swansea ATT: 11730

I'm not so smiley after I get a tap on the shoulder from Gill Holt, one of our medical team. Johansson has broken ribs which will cost him 1-2 months of playing time. There was also a nasty collision between Evans and Pettigrew during the match that will leave both of them on the sidelines for 1-2 weeks. Finally, Pipe has a bruised shin, which could cost us his services for 2 weeks. We can cover it, but it's a pain in the arse.

27th March Speaking of pains in the arse, Fulop has demanded a transfer. He wants to win trophies at a bigger club, so I tell him the same thing I told Biruk. Play it out like a pro till the end of the season, then sod off.

29th Reading vs Notts County
The last match between us was a bona fide classic, but I know we're in tough before a ball has even been kicked. Injuries and tiredness are going to make us easy meat for a class side like Reading. Nuno Morais plays half-fit, and I have to call on Radim Kopecky, who hasn't started for months. Richardson and O'Hara replace Pipe and Johansson, and in all we're missing 7 first teamers.
No excuses, we would have had our hands full with the 1st eleven out there, and a 2-0 defeat was entirely expected, though we were far from disgraced, and I give the lads a pat on the back at the end.

Reading 2-0 Notts County ATT: 23295

Ipswich were busy winning the LDV, so didn't play. I'm very satisfied with our league position, though injuries are making us teeter a bit. Still confident that we will seal our 2nd straight promotion, which will be a massive achievement, but the upcoming game against the Tractor Boys will be critical.

The club rakes in its usual healthy profit, this time 188K.

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Pl | Reading | | 41 | 25 | 14 | 2 | 82 | 37 | +45 | 89 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Notts Co | | 41 | 25 | 8 | 8 | 78 | 45 | +33 | 83 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Ipswich | | 41 | 23 | 8 | 10 | 74 | 49 | +25 | 77 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Preston | | 41 | 21 | 9 | 11 | 78 | 50 | +28 | 72 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Burnley | | 41 | 21 | 9 | 11 | 69 | 51 | +18 | 72 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Blackpool | | 41 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 64 | 42 | +22 | 70 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Rotherham | | 41 | 19 | 12 | 10 | 69 | 56 | +13 | 69 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Brentford | | 41 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 64 | 50 | +14 | 59 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Luton | | 41 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 61 | 62 | -1 | 58 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Peterborough | | 41 | 17 | 6 | 18 | 64 | 59 | +5 | 57 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | MK Dons | | 41 | 16 | 9 | 16 | 56 | 57 | -1 | 57 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Q.P.R. | | 41 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 67 | 64 | +3 | 54 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Cheltenham | | 41 | 15 | 8 | 18 | 49 | 61 | -12 | 53 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Bristol Rovers | | 41 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 52 | 57 | -5 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Bristol City | | 41 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 48 | 57 | -9 | 50 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Northampton | | 41 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 55 | 68 | -13 | 50 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Colchester | | 41 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 56 | 68 | -12 | 48 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Swansea | | 41 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 54 | 62 | -8 | 46 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Grimsby | | 41 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 67 | 81 | -14 | 43 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Swindon | | 41 | 11 | 8 | 22 | 46 | 75 | -29 | 41 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Yeovil | | 41 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 49 | 72 | -23 | 40 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Port Vale | | 41 | 9 | 11 | 21 | 44 | 74 | -30 | 38 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Hartlepool | | 41 | 9 | 10 | 22 | 55 | 70 | -15 | 37 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Scunthorpe | | 41 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 50 | 84 | -34 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

2nd April I don't believe in huddling round the radio or the TV and worrying about what the competition are doing. This evening I was relaxing in the local pub with Riggy, who was pretending to feel the same way about Ipswich's game away to Blackpool. He was a fidgety mess, and I told him to cane a double whisky and calm down, or go home and watch the frigging match and be done with it.
My mobile phone was bleeping and carrying on so much I just turned it off, allowing me and my assistant manager to get half-cut.
When I arrived home, there was a triumphant message on the phone from the chairman, Steve Thompson, who sounds like he's had a few himself, shouting and carrying on about Ipswich getting "slaughtered". We're really in the box seat now. Four more points and we're up, and it doesn't matter a damn what The Tractor Boys do.

5th April Port Vale vs Notts County
Pipe and Pettigrew return, so does Rezek, on the left side of midfield for Biruk. Vale are almost dead and buried in the league, but they start with a lot of *****. We take control soon enough, Ebanks and Calliste combining for the former to tap in the latter's shot, which hit the post. The home side are knifed open again, Ebanks tapping in a far post cross completely unmarked. The Big E completes a hat-trick just after the half hour from the penalty spot, then on the stroke of half-time, O'Hara is first in a queue of players for another tap in. Calliste and Ebanks add two more lethal finishes before the hour mark, and I start feeling sorry for brave Vale. The lads must be thinking the same way, because it finishes with no further punishment, a sensational 6-0 walk in the spring sunshine.

Port Vale 0-6 Notts County ATT: 4246

12th April Notts County vs Ipswich
There should have been a frenzied build-up to this one, and there is still a mathematical chance that we can be caught. In the week leading up to the game, the opposition have been making brave statements, but I keep things low key to try and focus the lads into a "just another game" mentality. We do something different though. Breaking the habits of a lifetime, I go defensive, reasoning that Ipswich have to make all the running. Risky maybe, but we can always change it around if necessary. The lads still have licence to be dynamic on the counter.
The crowd is very noisy, and I am a little bit unsettled that they seem to be celebrating already. I pull the lads into a huddle and make a few salty points before kick-off, punctuated by a fair amount of effing and blinding.
Strange how things work out. We are very attacking to start with, and O'Hara scores a quite remarkable banana shot from 25 yards after 7 minutes, sending the crowd something approaching orgasmic. The Tractor Boys are game all right, and despite creating now and then, our brick wall policy never really gives them a clear sight of goal. For every minute that we lead, everybody knows how much closer we get, because a draw 'aint good enough for them. By 70 minutes, the coaching staff are still tense, but the fans are already serenading us and the team. Ipswich still battle hard, but all in vain. The final whistle brings a good natured pitch invasion. A couple of people jump on my back, one of whom I think is Riggy, and in all the commotion, he nearly gets arrested by an over-zealous copper.
The Ipswich players and management are off the pitch and down the tunnel at the speed of light. I am very anxious to comiserate with them. So I head into the dressing room, and tell them they were admirable today, and I really hope they make it through the playoffs. Joe Royle gives me a warm handshake, telling me he thought that was "a really nice touch", and their lads are very magnanimous. A good, friendly club Ipswich, as everyone in the game knows.
Emerging from the tunnel, there is a deafening roar, which I slowly realise is for me. Hair stands up on the back of my neck, I give a clenched fist gladiatorial salute, a la Brian Clough, my management idol, and direct the applause back to the players, who really deserve it.
The rest of it is a noisy blur, until I am shunted into the press conference, Armani suit looking somewhat dishevelled.
I conduct the briefest of press conferences, and tell the journalists to come back on Monday morning, and they can have as many quotes as they can handle.

retired_brianrt

definately still interested irish, is still a top story KUTGW :thup:

retired_teju

Thanks Sherm, I did wonder if the long layoff would affect reader's interest. I will update as much as possible. Still enjoying your Newcastle one too, keep that going.

By the way, in the 5th April game it says "Port Vale started with a lot of sp**k. I didn't realise that was in the bad words list. Just thought I'd clear that up in case people didn't know what I had typed there originally.

retired_teju

13th April Although I hate being praised in public, because it's a wee bit embarassing, I have no such qualms about reading compliments in the newspapers. This takes up much of my Sunday, which starts hungover and ends up boozy.
The chairman of the supporters club was quoted as saying I "had done wonders with the club." That meant a lot to me because in the nearly 3 years I've been here, I have had nothing but positive interaction with the supporters. My Forest roots are now a distant memory, and in some ways, even I've forgotten about them.

His only concern was that there was no question the big clubs would be taking notice now. My position is the same as before. We're on a roll at this club, with remarkable foundations, and only if the likes of Chelsea or Real Madrid came calling would I be out the door. The jobs you don't refuse in other words.

The board were full of praise, and I genuinely appreciate it. I have a terrific relationship with Steve Thompson too, although the board are somewhat cautious with money, if that's the right word. They release a statement describing promotion as "a quite remarkable achievement." It is, though all I did was sign the players that did it.

Neil Warnock, always good for a quote, weighs in on the developments at his old stomping ground. He says he's "over the moon" with the "remarkable job" I'd done, and that I'd be "one of the all-time greats". Steady on Neil.

Jan Rezek said "praise should go to him" which of all the comments means the most of all. I have enormous respect and admiration for the players, not only because they're so good, but because they're not moaners. They would run through a brick wall for me, and that's a pretty big compliment.

14th April I arrive at Meadow Lane to a much larger press gathering than the last time we got promotion. Some of the regional guys from the national heavyweights are there. I have been gaining a reputation as being very quotable, and that attracts journalists like flies round sh**e.
There are a few jokey remarks about me still looking hungover, I reply that that's the way I look on Monday mornings even if I haven't been drinking. That gets a good laugh.
I should have known the big boys would start with a negative question. Some oily from "The Sun" suggests these players won't be able to hack it in the Championship. I say they are "fantastic" and I "firmly believe in them". Perhaps my scowl, or the sincerity with which I gave the answer, improves the tone of the press conference from thereon in.

On how it feels to get promotion
"I'm actually relieved. Secretly, I knew we were really good, and expected us to be serious contenders for promotion. But I couldn't blab to the media or the lads, otherwise we could have put pressure on ourselves and ended up a with a lot of egg on our faces. So I put a lot of pressure on myself to get us promoted, and it worked out. Riggy and the rest of the staff shared that with me, and I just can't say how fantastic they were right from the start of the season."

Where now?
"I've said before, we have Premiership calibre players here, they're just a year or so away from developing to that level. I've no fear when I go out there, and neither do they, that's why it works. So I've no fear that we'll be relegated. We have plenty of cash, and a supportive board behind us, who have backed me to the hilt.

Will you and those players be here though?
Well the players will, because we don't have to sell, and we can fulfill their ambitions right here. As for me, I want to go to the top. I think it can be here, because we're in one of the biggest cities in England. It just needs time to develop. Look what we've done in 3 years. That's my answer, it's the best one I can give, and the only one you're getting."

It was all very lively, combative in a humourous way, and everybody enjoyed it. A bloke from "The Daily Telegraph" came up afterwards and said this was the first time he'd done a press conference with me, and it was like a breath of fresh air. He also said something cryptic. "There's a lot of interest in you, you'll be hearing about that soon." He didn't elaborate with anything more than a raised eyebrow.

retired_bmitchell

Glad you're back. Just ****ed that you smashed the mighty Vale, for that, i hate you But keep it going. Top read!