retired_blondie_524

Thurs 28/7
I'm pushing my luck with the boss now, we've just signed 20 yr old Daniele Grassi from Italian semi-pro side Como for £1,000. His £200 a week wages puts me £300+ a week over budget but he can play left or right back, giving much needed defensive cover.

Friday we learnt that if we somehow overcome Anderlecht our reward will be a 3rd round qualifier with Real Betis of Spain.

As we enter August the board are still pleased with me, during July we made a profit of £335K largely due to gate reciepts and TV money from our European adventure.

3/8/05 away at Anderlecht (UEFA CL 2nd Qualifer, 2nd leg)

With everyone behind the ball Anderlecht poured forward, they had the ball in the net in the second minute but that was ruled out after a push by Bart Goor. The breakthrough come on the quarter hour mark when Akin Serhat scored on his debut tto give the belgians a 2-1 aggregate lead. Serhat put Jestrovic through in the 33rd minute to break the heroic rearguard action again and TNS were very lucky to go into the break only 2-0 down.
I tried to rally the troops and told them they might as well push on now, the game was a good as lost unless we scored twice.
Antoly Gerk added the third in the 69th minute and the fourth ten minutes later. He wrapped up his hat-trick with a 20 yard blast five minutes from time. It was a dominant display and we failed to threaten the home goal until a 92nd minute Ruscoe free kick which eventually was hit tamely right at the keeper.

Anderlecht 5-0 TNS (att: 19,956)
Anderlecht win 6-1 on aggregate

retired_aurie1201

Tough luck there mav. At 1 - 1, I thought you were in with a shout! But getting ripped to shreds 5 - 0 in the away. Uggghh.

I ran into Anatoly Gerk during one of my first experiences with FM2005. He was brilliant against me, and I just had to have him for my team. Ended up being huge buy, averaging a strike every 70 minutes or something like.

Good luck with TNS. You'll probably dominate the Welsh league year in and year out - the challenge will be somehow qualifying for Europe.

retired_blondie_524

6/8/05 away at Carrick Rangers (friendly)

TNS wrapped up the pre-season programme with a largely reserve team comfortably beating the Northern Irish Div.1 side but the real story is that one of the few first team players involved, David Mathieson, came off with an ankle injury which could keep him out for a month leaving us with only one fit keeper on the books.
Carrick 1-3 TNS
(Leah 44, O'Sullivan 51, Brooks 73)

The rush now starts to get in a backup keeper before the league season starts next week.

retired_blondie_524

Thanks for the messages of support
:thup:

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 8th August
Goals from Ljungberg and Cole give Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the FA Community Shield

retired_blondie_524

Thursday 11th August

Many long phone calls deep into the night pay off when TNS secure the sevices of two young keepers. French 20 yr old Wilfried Aloy is bought for £1,000 from Championnat National side Libourne St-Seurin on his first pro contract of £140 a week while Cardiff City loan us 20 yr old Welshman Danny Brimble for the rest of the season for a £35 a week contribution to his wages.

Friday August 12th

I've gathered the whole squad together at the recreation ground on the eve of the 2005/06 Vauxhall Masterfit Premier League to give them my views on their challenge.

"You've sampled the European life now, you know we were close to progressing. Lets make sure we have the chance to better that next season. You're the only full time squad in the division, I want you to work hard on your strength and fitness, then we'll overpower teams in the last third of games.
I want that title, you want that title, the fans want that title - lets deliver it to them ! The League and Welsh Cup double is your target - the money the company has invested in you makes reaching that target realistic, it's up to you to repay that faith."

retired_blondie_524

Sat. August 13th away at Aberystwyth (VM Premier)

Aberstwyth throw everything at TNS early on, the visitors weather the storm but fail to make any impressions themselves. At half time I tell them they can win this and they trot out with new fire in their belly.
TNS up the tempo and start to take control, the goal they deserve finally comes in the 64th minute when Wilde plays Brooks in behind the defense and the on-loan player makes no mistake. Aberystwyth pressed hard for an equaliser but M.o.M. Holmes marshalled the defense well and TNS held on for three points.

Aberystwyth 0-1 TNS (att: 380)
(Brooks 63)

The press had it down as a deserved win for us but I wasn't so convinced. Biggest winners on the day was Carnarthen Town who won 4-0 at Caersws with Llanelli winning 3-0 at home to Haverfordwest.

retired_blondie_524

20/8/05 home to Caersws (VM Premier)

Caersws manager spent the week of the match sounding off to the press about beating their rivals but Nalyor put Brooks behind the defense in the 12th minute and he crossed to Wilde who sidefooted home frome 6 yards. Jamie Brooks then turned goalscorer completing a hat-trick in twelve minutes to send TNS in 4-0 up at the break. Caersws steadied the ship in the second half and even created a few chances but were undone by substitute Lloyd-Williams. His shot eight minutes from time was parried onto the post leaving Brooks an empty net to tuck home his fourth and two minutes later he crossed for Beck to round out a supurb win.

TNS 6-0 Carsws (att: 361)
(Wilde 12, Brooks 26,29.38.82, Beck 84)

TNS join Carmarthen and Rhyl at the top as the only teams with 100% records.

Wednesday 24th August
Real Betis complete a 3-1 aggregate win over Anderlecht in the Champions League qualifiers.

27/8/05 away at Connah's Quay (VM Premier)

An attacking first half saw Wilde put TNS up within two minutes and the home side equalise after 22 minutes. Both sides also had a goal disallowed. A poor second half saw neither side able to buikd on that and TNS dropped their first two points of the season

Connah's Quay 1-1 TNS (att: 364)
(Wilde 2)

There were big home wins this week for Cwmbran (4-0 over Carmarthen) and Rhyl (3-0 over Haverfordwest) who go top, two points above TNS.

retired_blondie_524

30/8/05 away at Porthmadog (Loosemores of Caedif Challenge Cup 1st Rd 1st leg)

TNS made six changes for this game including giving a debut to Wilfried Aloy. A mix up between Ahmed and O'Sullivan led to the home side taking an early lead but John Toner equalised to give TNS a first leg draw.

Porthmadog 1-1 TNS (att: 164)
(Toner 24)

The press were impressed with Aloy's debut and I was able to agree with them, he will be a good signing in the years to come.

Wednesday 30th August
To introduce some competition and creativity into the midfield we have taken Nottigham Forest's 20 yr old midfielder James Beaumont on loan for the rest of the season. His wages of £300 a week have tested the board's patience but I have assured them he will bring us the glory.

Thursday 31st August

Jamie Wood starred in the Reseves 3-1 win over Cwmbran Reserves. The board are still quite happy about my performance and more than happy about the profit of £228K we made last month.
Tommy Holmes, Jamie Brooks, Gerard Doherty and Scott Ruscoe have all been selected in the Welsh Premier League of the month, Holmes also won the Welsh player of the month award, Ruscoe came third in that award and I was beaten into second place in the manager award by John Hulse of Rhyl.

retired_blondie_524

10/9/05 home to Cwmbran (VM Premier)

Two goals fom Jamie Brooks in the first half hour underlined the home side's superiority although I was absolutely fuming when everybody switched off three minutes before the break and allowed Aaron Cable to ghost in behind from a 40 yard free-kick and halve the deficit. Ruscoe restored the two goal advantage before Cable somehow got free to poke home his second. Minutes later though Ruscoe's corner was headed in by Wilde for his fifth goal of the season. Substitute Ahmed rounded off the win with a 30 yarder, his first goal for the club.
TNS 5-2 Cwmbran (att: 388)
(Brooks 4, 26, Ruscoe 52, Wilde 61, Ahmed 88)

Goals abounded this week, Welshpool beat Caersws 5-3, Grange Quins drew 3-3 with Porthmadog and Haverfordwest finally found some goals wining 3-2 at home to Caernarfon. TNS move a point clear at the top with a +10 goal difference.

Monday 12th September

Wilfried Aloy has overexherted himself and strained his back, he joins Mathieson on the treatment table and could miss a month.
Tommy Rooney is out of contract and I've had to let him go, he had fallen right down the pecking order and it cuts my wage budget by £200.

13/9/05 home to Porthmadog (Loosemores of Cardiff Challenge Cup, 1st Rd, 2nd leg)

Beck and Brooks got a rest for this one but TNS still pulled out a comfortable win. Two up after 10 minutes they added two more in the second half before Porthmadog grabbed a consolation four minutes from time.
TNS 4-1 Porthmadog (att: 229)
(Lloyd-Williams 7, 51, Wilde 10, 75)

Wednesday 14th September
Hogan, Lawless and Collister's goals lead the reserves to a 3-2 win at Connah's Quay.

17/9/05 away at Llanelli (VM Premier)

Two quick mistakes by 3rd placed Llanelli on the half hour mark left them two down at the break. But they fought back, Peter Cheeseman scored on the hour and with just nine minutes left Jamie Harris grabbed a draw for the home team.
Llanelli 2-2 TNS (att: 381)
(Beaumont 30, Wilde 31)

Rhyl's goaless draw at home kept TNS top and Aberystwyth's 4-0 win at bottom team Caersws took them into second place on goal difference, a point behind us.