So when I first saw this challenge posted last week it really caught my imagination and I immediately decided to give it a go. Having played now with a couple of teams already to get a feel for the challenge all I’ll add ending with disappointing results (mainly my side getting hammered anywhere between 3-7 nil at a time) I have now decided to give it another final go but giving myself absolutely every chance of success.
New Manager Installed
In order to give myself a fighting chance I’ve reloaded the game numerous times and come up with a team that has produced thirteen under 18 players. I was relatively impressed by the standard of players produced although having generated 3 keepers and 5 strikers I am coming to the conclusion I might have preferred a more even distribution
. These under 18’s will form the nucleus of my squad along with the fairly decent grey players I can make use of.
Under 18's Batch
Controversially I have decided to disregard the non English second nationality rule. I can see no reason why a player shouldn’t be eligible for the challenge being a product of the youth academy with no outside influences i.e myself or staff nationalities (which total 0!). The aim of the challenge itself states ‘without bringing in players or staff from elsewhere’, so my take on this is why make it even more unnecessarily difficult (I can fully appreciate however people may consider this not in the spirit of the challenge in its entirety). Included in my new batch of youngsters is a Norwegian striker who I fully expect to be competing for a first team place even at the tender age of 16.
Anders Tysnes as you can see isn’t all that but shows promise in my makeshift long ball strategy standig nice and tall at 6'3 already. Let’s give youth a chance!
Having taken over the Guiseley squad and moving all but three under 18’s to the first team I began snapping up as many half decent grey players as I could totalling seven including my current captain Adrian Graham (20 yrs old, relatively determined and influential).
Full Squad Including Grey Matter
I arranged four pre season friendlies before the big kick off to judge my small squad and determine the strongest eleven. My results were encouraging, so much so I am actually feeling a little confident going into the season. My concerns are however that the board expect me to finish in a mid table position and from experience that’ll need me picking up quite a few more than 40 points which has proved a problem target to date….as I said 7-0 etc. I seem to be getting a little success by playing a rough game, long ball tactic through the middle of the park so I am going to go with my heart and stick with it for the opening encounter.
Pre Season Results
The final pre season match was debatably our best of the four eclipsing the 1-1 draw with Blue Square Premier side Southport. Goals from Tysnes and Forbes secured a 3-1 victory against Team Bath which was such a big relief having had disappointed fans for all the other fixtures (over demanding I feel). Although we have been scoring goals we aren’t creating very many chances at all and I already fear one or two injuries will seriously put any chance of success in the balance. On a small bright side our first team 16 year old keeper Howard is looking invaluable closing down attackers with real conviction. Keep it up!
What A Cracker
Season Expectations / Predictions
- We struggle to avoid relegation let alone the reach clubs expectations
- The squad is stretched sooner rather than later resulting in a big dip in form
- Tysnes or Crittenden is club top scorer
- My young stars (average age 16) suffer with fatigue towards the end of the season drastically ruining all hopes of success!
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