retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Notts Co | | 46 | 31 | 8 | 7 | 95 | 44 | +51 | 101 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | P | Peterborough | | 46 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 74 | 57 | +17 | 81 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | P | Bristol Rovers | | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 82 | 53 | +29 | 80 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | Pl | Darlington | | 46 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 80 | 59 | +21 | 80 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | Pl | Cheltenham | | 46 | 17 | 22 | 7 | 80 | 65 | +15 | 73 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | Pl | Tranmere | | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 68 | 63 | +5 | 70 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | Pl | Rushden | | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 68 | 57 | +11 | 69 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Torquay | | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 67 | 56 | +11 | 69 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Oxford | | 46 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 60 | 54 | +6 | 66 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Cambridge | | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 62 | 65 | -3 | 65 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Walsall | | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 64 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Southend | | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 69 | 68 | +1 | 63 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Bury | | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 68 | 72 | -4 | 63 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Rochdale | | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 64 | 62 | +2 | 61 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Barnet | | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 63 | 66 | -3 | 55 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Chester | | 46 | 10 | 23 | 13 | 55 | 58 | -3 | 53 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Carlisle | | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 47 | 65 | -18 | 53 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Chesterfield | | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 58 | 67 | -9 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Macclesfield | | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 57 | 68 | -11 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Leyton Orient | | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 63 | 80 | -17 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Stockport | | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 42 | 59 | -17 | 50 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Shrewsbury | | 46 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 41 | 70 | -29 | 43 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | R | Halifax | | 46 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 51 | 78 | -27 | 39 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | R | Wrexham | | 46 | 7 | 15 | 24 | 52 | 80 | -28 | 36 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pkd | Inf | Name | Position | Morale | Form | Con | Apps | Gls | Av Rat | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DC | | Mike Edwards | D/M C | Superb | 8-6-8-7-8 | 100% | 45 | - | 7.53 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | FC | | Sylvan Ebanks-Blake | ST | Superb | 8-6-8-7-6 | 96% | 49 (1) | 36 | 7.46 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Gary Harkins | M C | Superb | 9-7-7-8-6 | 100% | 38 (2) | 3 | 7.45 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | FC | | Kenny Cooper | ST | Superb | 8-8-8-7-8 | 96% | 29 (8) | 23 | 7.38 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MC | | Andreas Johansson | AM RC | Superb | 7-6-8-8-7 | 96% | 34 (2) | 11 | 7.33 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DL | | Scott Morrison | D/WB L | Superb | 8-7-7-8-7 | 100% | 38 | 1 | 7.32 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DC | | Adrian Pettigrew | D C | Superb | 9-7-8-6-7 | 100% | 44 | 1 | 7.32 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S5 | | Darren Ward | GK | Superb | 8-8-8-7-8 | 96% | 29 | - | 7.31 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ML | | James Tandy | AM L | Superb | 8-6-6-7-6 | 99% | 43 | - | 7.28 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DR | | Frazer Richardson | D/WB/M R | Superb | 8-6-7-7-8 | 100% | 41 | 1 | 7.24 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | GK | | Andrea Guatelli | GK | Superb | 9-5-8-8-8 | 100% | 25 | - | 7.24 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MR | Wnt | Filipe Morais | AM R | Very Good | 9-6-7-7-10 | 95% | 44 (2) | 5 | 7.24 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | Inj | Jonathan Evans | D C | Superb | 6-7-7-8-7 | 85% | 11 | 1 | 7.09 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S4 | | Ramon Calliste | ST | Superb | 5-7-6-6-8 | 90% | 18 (11)| 17 | 7.03 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MC | | Jamie O'Hara | M C | Superb | 7-7-7-7-7 | 92% | 7 (7) | - | 6.86 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S3 | | Jan Rezek | AM LC, F C | Superb | 6-8-7-7-7 | 94% | 4 (15) | 4 | 6.84 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S2 | Wnt | Richard Jones | M C | Superb | 7-7-6-7-7 | 98% | 31 (12)| - | 6.81 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Tim Sparv | DM, AM LC | Superb | 6-7-7-6-7 | 94% | 5 (8) | - | 6.77 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S1 | | Nathan D'Laryea | D RC | Superb | 6-6-7-6-7 | 96% | 19 (8) | - | 6.70 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Jonathan D'Laryea | DM | Superb | 6-6-6-7-7 | 96% | 4 (11) | - | 6.67 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Emmet Friars | D C | Superb | 7-8-6-6-6 | 82% | 5 | - | 6.60 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Hjálmar | F C | Superb | 6-6-7-7-6 | 96% | 2 (7) | - | 6.56 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Anthony Lloyd | D/WB L | Superb | 7-7-6-7-5 | 96% | 12 (1) | - | 6.54 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Chris Palmer | WB/M L | Superb | 6-6-6-6-6 | 96% | 8 (3) | - | 6.27 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

thanks robterrace, much appreciated. You should do it, although I have a habit of falling behind, not updating and getting too far ahead in gameplay, which is a bit daunting when you have this mass of information to type up. My advice would be not to fall into that trap.

My review of the season follows next.

retired_brianrt

great stuff so far irish
KUTGW :thup:

retired_teju

Thanks a lot Sherm, if people weren't reading and enjoying it, I wouldn't bother doing it. So it's nice to hear.

retired_brianrt

no probs mate. Was enjoying it so much I decided to have a go at my own attempt. Have a read and give some expert advice if you like

retired_teju

will start on that now

retired_teju

"Workaholic" is not a term usually associated with me, nor can it be associated with my stewardship of Notts County.

A typical day sees me wander in to cast an eye over training, checking if things are ticking over to my satisfaction, then a long lunch and an afternoon at home, or in the local pub. Riggy and the backroom team take care of afternoon training, and if there's a huge emergency, they have my phone number. After all, Riggy is getting paid the same money as I am (quite ridiculously).

My skills lie in identifying talent, motivating them in a variety of ways, and working the media to our advantage. I'm often described in newspapers as the "media-friendly Notts County boss".

We play 4-4-2, we insist on a short passing game, we kick the opposition when we don't have the ball. Oh and we look to attack and score goals if possible, then shut up shop with 20 minutes left. Pretty much like my managerial inspiration Brian Clough. Though the shut-up shop part of my tactics has been refined since my Forest days. Back then, when we were two-up, we used to try and score three. I'm wiser now.

As the family and I depart on our month long end of season holiday (no I don't think that's excessive), I consider the season over a pina colada or two. My managerial style certainly worked well over the last term. The results speak for themselves: we've built up very valuable assets in terms of both cash and playing talent, and the club is well set for the future. Just as importantly, not once did I have a spat with a player, which is an achievement in itself.

So does it need tweaking for next year? I don't really think so. There will be an adjustment period to start with, but this team has the talent, and that's all that matters. All the teething troubles can be worked out as we go along. I'm not sure if we'll challenge for promotion, but I'll be amazed if we get relegated.

In the meantime, all I have to do on my hols is watch a bit of video of players, and either say, "I like him...sign him up," or "no thanks." We'll keep adding young prospects to the squad, I'm sure this is the route to success, until we have big bucks to spend.

retired_teju

June starts as always with the annual revolving door show, as the transfer window opens again.

From our point of view, it sees Chris Palmer hop to Tranmere for 90k (we got the better end of that one), and Shai Biruk arrive from The Holy Lands to take his place in our midfield.

Nothing much happens after that, not because I am sunning myself on holiday, but because we're in wait and see mode. We know who we want, who we can get, and who wouldn't touch us with a bargepole. We're just waiting for the dominos to start falling.

12th June Reading are reported to be contemplating a 400K bid for The Big E. Why do these people waste their time, and manage to insult my intelligence in the same instance? In the event, it's even worse than that. They offer no money down, 600K after 40 league goals, and a 25% sell-on clause. Come on.

19th June Hartlepool are still deluding themselves that I will sell them Morais for 100K. I shatter their delusions.

20th June I fly back in for the players annual awards dinner (ever the one for a free lunch, or in this case dinner). Ebanks is the shock choice for player of the year, and during the booze up, I let him know that it's time he signed up for another 5 years. He seems amenable, but most people do when they've had a few drinks.
Next morning is the real reason I flew back in. The board has requested my presence at a meeting to decide next year's budget. At Forest, this would be a cue for a hell of a row between me and the directors, but it's a much more pleasant experience at Meadow Lane.
The board offer 230K transfer funds and a 25K/week wage budget. I decide to negotiate. We're working the free transfer market, so we need wage funds, not cash, which I can generate anyway if needed. During very good-natured negotiations, I haggle it up to 29.5K/week with 90K transfer funds.
A very constructive meeting ends with the board telling me how pleased they are with my performance, with the caveat that we avoid the drop this coming season. I tell them they can go to the bank on that one.

25th June With our new wage structure in place, I move to sign Ebanks till 2012, at 3K per week. I believe it's the most important contract signing in the club's history, and I tell the journalists that at the press conference. The Big E is as overjoyed as everyone at Notts County, telling the press he is signing up for the club of his dreams. Ok so the guy doesn't have big dreams, that's no reason to criticise him.

The month comes to an annoying close, as I have to fend off a series of derisory bids for Pettigrew and Jones, but with a tidy profit of 240K

retired_teju

1st July I think I may have been mistaken in an earlier post talking about transfers coming in and going out on the 1st June. I think that part was supposed to be today, the 1st of July. Anyway, my Bosmans start arriving on this day too. Nisja joins from Scandanavia, while Fulop and Yeates travel up the motorway from Spurs.
My new Israeli signing Shai Biruk throws a sudden wobbler, complaining there is too much competition for a place in the side. I take him into the office, and promise that there will be plenty of first-team action for him this year, provided he doesn't play like an absolute drain. He apologises and thanks me, but still seems a little unsettled.

2nd July Hard decisions are what managers are paid to make, and I have to make one today. With the outstanding form of Guatelli, who captured the Number 1 jersey in mid season, and Fulop now on the books, it seems hard to justify keeping Darren Ward on at 1.5K per week. I arrange a 200K transfer to Brentford, but it doesn't seem to please anyone, not even me. The man himself tells me he doesn't want to leave, and I try to explain things. He's 33, we can get a good price for him, time to move on to the future blah blah blah. But it feels a bit ruthless.
I get hammered on the phone-ins, but all I say is that it's a tough decision, and one that I feel had to be made for the good of all concerned. I know he's popular with the fans, and everyone for that matter. But as a wise man once said, "once you start listening to the fans, you'll end up sitting next to them."

8th July Quite out of the blue, I am offered the job of managing Wales. International football is temptingly glamorous, but I have to say no. The Taffys are in a fabulous position in their Euro qualifying group, and deserve a full-time presence to guide them. I'm concentrating solely on my present position right now. That reaction seems to go down well in the press, as I try to play Mr Principled.

10th July A story appears that Preston boss David Platt wants to bid for Adrian Pettigrew. I tell him not to waste his time.

21st July Notts County vs Leeds
Our opening friendly, with the following team: Guatelli, Richardson, Morrison, Pettigrew, Edwards, Jones, Morais, Johansson, Ebanks, Cooper, Biruk. Harkins is injured, and will be out for the start of the season.
In an even 1st half, Ebanks drills us ahead with an angled finish (25), then follows it up with a tap in via a great cross from Biruk (38). Cooper storms through onto a through pass by the Israeli to slam home (51), and despite a late "consolation" from them, I am justified in telling the lads they were fantastic.

Notts County 3-1 Leeds ATT: 7273

23rd July After a couple of weeks haggling with Chelsea, I finally sign Portugese U-21 D/MC Nuno Morais. He's a fine prospect, and a vitally needed left-footed centre back. Yet The Blues held out on their valuation, as if the club was skint or something. Bang goes my transfer budget, but I think it's money well spent.

25th July The other Morais, Filipe signs a 5 yr extension till 2012, for 1K/week. Edwards signs a 1 year extension for the same money (800), though I am undecided what to do with him. My new signing puts his future here under threat.
Southampton enquire about Kenny Cooper and I successfully scare them off with a 3.5 million price tag.

28th July Another of my building blocks is happy to re-up. Jan Rezek only joined last season, but with just two years left on his deal, I want him signed up. He pens until 2012, at 2.2K per week. He has all the tools to be an international star, if I could only fit him into the team every week.

This news is music to the ears of the fans, as they gather for tonight's friendly.

Notts County vs Aston Villa
Sparv comes in for the injured Jones. The visitors are a lot better than the last lot, and pressure us greatly, though Guatelli is in superb form. I make early substitutions, only Biruk and Morrison remaining from the starting 11. They finally get the winner on 72 minutes, and we are outshot 13-4, but this has certainly been a useful exercise, and the lads weren't totally outclassed.

Notts County 0-1 Aston Villa ATT: 9314

30th July Calliste is out for 1-4 weeks with a thigh strain. In other news, I dismiss more derisory offers for Pettigrew, we are 33-1 for promotion with the bookies (generous odds I feel), and the club turns a profit of 392K.