[retired_amitesh]

It was a quiet close season due to our poor financial position. We only brought in 3 loan players and 10 players left the club. I decided that I would cancel our link with Spurs as they hadn't sent many players on loan and went looking for a new one. As a result, Arsenal are our new parent club and it paid off immediately with Lional Poulain joining on loan for the season.

We started the season away to Cheltenham. We had a shocking first half as we conceded from the first 3 shots Cheltenham had and went in 3-0 down. The second half was an improvement with MacDonald, a loan signing, scoring on his debut to make the final score 3-1. Another away day followed when we visited Shrewsbury. This was a dull game with neither side creating many chances and it finished 0-0.

It was our first home game of the season when we hosted Gillingham. We had another shocking performance and lost 3-0, and to be honest we were lucky to get nil. Hereford were next to visit as we looked for our first win of the season. A much better first half performance saw us go in 2-0 up thanks to Rodriguez and Craddock. We were comfortable in the second half and Pekhart fired home a free kick to make the final score 3-0.

It was League Cup duty next as we travelled to Watford. van den Berg gave us the lead mid way through the first half. van den Berg doubled our lead at the start of the second half before Pekhart added a third just before the hour mark. 10 minutes later we were reduced to 10 men when Oros was sent off. We managed to hold on for a fine 3-0 win. Back to league duty as we travelled to league leaders Swindon. We played well in a game that finished goalless, dominating long periods of the game. Millwall at home was next. A poor first half performance saw us go in 1-0 down. We started the second half really well and score twice through Poulain and Craddock to go 2-1 up. Robson was then sent off and Millwall equalised from the resulting free kick. We managed to hold on and had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Brentford away was next. Another shocking performance saw us get hammered 3-0. It was Carlisle at home next. We went behind in the first half before Craddock equalised. MacDonald scored in the second half to make it 2-1 and give us an overdue win. It was Wycombe away next. A fantastic first half performance saw us go in 3-0 up thanks to Poulain, MacDonald & Robson. Craddock added a 4th after MacDonald had been sent off to give us a 4-0 win. It was League Cup duty next away to Plymouth. We fell 2 behind before we started to play. Fordyce scored a free kick to pull one back but it wasn't enough and we lost 2-1.

We faced Walsall at home next. We had a poor first half and went in 1-0 down. We turned it around in the second half as Poulain equalised right after half time. Craddock scored the winner with 10 minutes to go giving us a 2-1 win. It was Bristol Rovers away next up. We played reasonably well but somehow managed to lose 3-1 with Hunter scoring our goal. THe final game of the session was at home to Swansea. We took the lead on the half hour mark through MacDonald. It looked like we would hold on until Swansea equalised with 8 minutes to go. Mazzola then restored our lead with only 2 minutes to go. We held on to win 2-1. After a poor start to the season, our recent good form has seen us climb to 11th only 5 points from the top of the table.

[retired_amitesh]

We started Monday's session at home to Rotherham. We dominated the first half but didn't take any of our chances and we went in level. The second half was more even. Hunter struck after 66 minutes to put us 1-0 up. We had chances to extend the lead but had to settle for a 1-0 win. It was JPT duty next as we hosted Colchester. We conceded a goal inside a minute.COlchester were reduced to 10 men 2 minutes later. Pekhart scored the resulting free kick to equalise. Fordyce scored 2 minutes later with Mazzola adding a third 2 minutes later. MacDonald scored our fourth on the 10 minute mark. The rest if the half was fairly boring and we went in 4-1 up. The second half was a non event until Mazzola scored a screamer in stoppage time to make the final score 5-1.

Back to league duty and we were away to Doncaster. We produced a stunning performance. Pettigrew scored in the first half to give us a 1-0 lead at half time. Into the second half and Fordyce doubled our lead before Pekhart scored 2 in 60 seconds. This was a stunning 4-0 win and hopefully we can build on this. Another away game followed as we travelled to Rushden. We destroyed them in the first half but thanks to some inspired goal keeping we couldn't score. The second half was more of the same. The longer it stayed like this the more it looked like Rushden would win 1-0. That's what happened as we were hit on the break with 60 seconds remaining and we lost 1-0.

Crystal Palace were the visitors next. This was a fairly dull game with neither side creating much and it finished 0-0. It the was JPT next when we played Brentford at home. We were brilliant in the first half. Goals from MacDonald, Pekhart, Poulain & Pekhart again saw us go in 4-0 up. MacDonald added a fifth just after half time. Nothing much happened after that and we won 5-0 to progress. It was away to Scunnthorpe next. This turned out to be a cracking game. We took the lead after 5 minutes thanks to Pekhart. Robson missed a penalty a few minutes later. Scuunthorpe then turned it around with 2 goals in 4 minutes. Goals from Fordyce, Poulian and a second from Pekhart saw us go in 4-2 up. Into the second half and Pekhart completed his hat trick on the hour mark before MacDonald scored our sixth. Scuunthorpe pulled one back late on but it wasn't enough and we ran out 6-3 winners.

We were away to Kings Lynn in the first round of the FA Cup. We cruised through this game running out 4-0 winners with the goals coming from MacDonald, Fordyce, Gow & Craddock. Wrexham at home was next. A Pekhart strike shortly before half time turned out to be a winner in a game we dominated for long periods. Stockport away was next up. Pekhart fired home a free kick after 5 minutes. We dominated the rest of the game playing some really good stuff but we were unable to add to our tally and we had to settle for a 1-0 win.

We had 2 cup games back to back next, with Rushden at home in the JPT first. We destroyed Rushden over 90 minutes but couldn't break the deadlock meaning it went to penalties. We won 2-1 after some of the worst penalties I have seen. It was Cardiff at home in the FA Cup next. This was another game we dominated from start to finish. Unfortunately we came up against a goalkeeper in inspired form and we had to settle for a 0-0 and a replay.

We hosted stan's Southend as we returned to league business. We made a cracking start with Pekhart giving us the lead after 2 minutes. We were looking comfortable until a shocking mistake from our backup keeper allowed Southend to equalise 10 minutes into the second half. We had chances to win but didn't take them and it finished 1-1. Another home game followed as we hosted Hartlepool. We made a poor start as Hartlepool took the lead in less than 60 seconds. Then midway through the half our backup keeper conceded a penalty which was converted to make it 2-0. Poulain pulled one back 5 minutes later before Craddock scored to make it 2-2 at half time. Mazzola scored at the start of the second half before Craddock got his second to put us 4-2 up with half an hour remaining. We played out the rest of the game without any major concerns to record a cracking 4-2 win.

This left us in 3rd place after 21 games, 2 points from 2nd and 9 from top spot.

[retired_amitesh]

Thursday's session saw us start away to Cardiff in our FA Cup replay. After dominating the first half we fell behind 60 seconds before half time. We fell 2 behind mid way through the second half again against the run of play. Craddock pulled one back with 85 minutes remaining. We pushed for an equaliser but it wasn't to be and we lost 2-1. We travelled to Bristol City next. We had an off day and lost to a goal inside the first 60 seconds. We never really looked like scoring to be fair and deserved to lose 1-0.

We hosted bottom of the league Boston next. We took the lead after 20 minutes thanks to MacDonald. van den Berg doubled our lead with 10 minutes to go. Boston pulled one back with 5 minutes to go only for Poulain to restore our 2 goal advantage 2 minutes later. We held on from there for a really good 3-1 win. It was Shrewsbury next to visit. After a poor half we took the lead when Mazzola fired home a screamer from distance. Shrewsbury equalised 20 minutes later. The game looked to be heading for a draw when MacDonald scored with 2 minutes to go to give us a 2-1 win.

It was Hereford away next, with a major injury crisis as far as keepers were concerned. We took the lead just before the half hour mark through Pekhart. Hereford turned it around to lead 2-1 at half time. We created chances in the second half to equalise, including missing a penalty, but it wasn't to be and we lost 2-1. Another away game followed when we travelled to Gillingham. We had a shocker and were lucky to only lose 1-0. We looked to bounce back at home to Cheltenham. We had a really good first half and goals from Robson & Poulain put us 2-0 up at half time. Cheltenham pulled one back just before the hour mark. Pekhart restored our 2 goal lead within 10 minutes before getting his second with 5 minutes to go to give us a 4-1 lead.

It was our JPT South semi final next as we faced Bristol City away. We went behind inside 60 seconds. Goals from Craddock & Brooker had turned it around and put us 2-1 up at half time. THe second half was very even but we managed to hang on and progress to the South final. Back to league duty as we hosted Swindon. We went behind early on. It looked as if we would lose again until Brooker scored with about 15 minutes remaining. We had chances to win after this but didn't take them and had to settle for a 1-1 draw. We travelled to Millwall next. We got off to a bad start when our new loan signing Tate was sent off. shortly after we went 1-0 down. Craddock equalised on the half hour before we fell behind again. Hunter equalised shortly later to make it 2-2 at half time. We had a shocking second half and lost 5-3 with Brooker getting our third.

We looked to get back to winning ways at home to Brentford. After a poor first half we took the lead on the stroke of half time with a Robson penalty. Brentford equalised without about 20 minutes remaining. We had chances to win the game but couldn't take them and it finished 1-1. It was the first leg of our JPT South final next away to Gillingham. We took the lead after 15 minutes through Fordyce. Gillingham equalised just after the hour mark before scoring the winner in the 94th minute.

All this left us in 5th place after 30 games, 6 points from second place.

[retired_amitesh]

Monday's session saw us start away to Carlisle. We had a shocker, not helped by missing 4 or 5 first team regulars. We lost 3-1 with Mallon scoring our consolation when we were already 3-0 down. We looked to bounce back when we played Wycombe at home. We played quite well in the first half and unfortunately Robson missed a penalty which meant it was still 0-0 at half time. We took the lead at the start of the second half when Kitson scored his first goal for the club. Both sides had chances after this but we managed to hold on to win 1-0.

We had the second leg of our JPT semi final as we looked to overturn our first leg deficit. The first half was pretty much a non event and the second half was heading the same way until we went for broke. One of two things would happen next, we would either turn it around or get hammered. Fortunately it was the former as Smedley scored within minutes of coming off the bench. Gow added a second with 5 minutes to go before Craddock made it 3-0 with seconds left. This made the aggregate score 4-2 and meant we were off to Wembley. Back to league duty as we travelled to Walsall. We took the lead after 20 minutes through Fordyce. It looked like we would hold on until Walsall equalised with 15 minutes to go. We played better than the 1-1 result suggested.

League leaders Bristol Rovers were next to visit. Pekhart opened the scoring after 5 minutes. Rovers equalised with their first attempt on goal 20 minutes later. We outplayed Rovers in the second half and should really have won this game but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. We were away to Swansea next. This was a really dull game with neither side looking like scoring and it finished 0-0. It was Rushden at home next. We dominated this game from start to finish and somehow managed to lose 1-0 to a side that didn't even have a shot on target.

We looked to bounce back away to Rotherham. Pekahrt gave us the lead after 18 minutes only for Rotherham to equalise and then take the lead before half time. Bowes equalised with 15 minutes to go. Brooker then gave us the lead with 7 minutes to go. We couldn't hold on as Rotherham equalised 3 minutes later to make the final score 3-3. We hosted Doncaster next as I served a touchline ban. We played poorly but managed to win thanks to a Robson penalty 15 minutes from time.

It was away to CKs Crystal Palace next. We got off to a terrible start as Palace took the lead inside 60 seconds. MacDonald levelled things with just over 20 minutes to go. Palace scored twice in the last 5 minutes to win 3-1. It was the final of the JPT next where we faced Accrington Stanley at Wembley. After dominating the start of the match we took the lead after 27 minutes thanks to Pekhart. Fernandez Rodriguez doubled our advantage at the start of the second half. We were never really troubled after that and ran out comfortable 2-0 winners to lift the JPT!!

The session finished with us at home to Scuunthorpe. We had a really good first half and went in 2-0 up thanks to a Pekhart double. Pekhart completed his hat trick 10 minutes into the second half. We weren't troubled after that and were even able to miss a penalty as we ran out 3-0 winners. This left us in 5th place with 6 games to go.

[retired_amitesh]

Thursday's session saw us looking to secure our play off spot as there were only 6 games left. We started away to stan's Southend. The game got off to a lively start. Pekhart scored a stunning long range free kick after 6 minutes only for Southend to have turned it around by the 10 minute mark.MacDonald equalised for us 5 minutes later. After this crazy start nothing much happened for the rest of the half and it was 2-2 at the break. The second half was very even with both sides having chances to score. MacDonald scored as we hot Southend on the break with 13 minutes to go.We managed to hold on for a vital 3-2 win.

It was away to bottom side Wrexham next. Poulain gave us an early lead only for Wrexham to equalise with a free kick shortly after. The same thing happened a few minutes later when Poulain got his second. MacDonald gave us the lead for the third time just before half time. Wrexham equalised shortly after the break. We had chances to win the game but had to settle for a point in a 3-3 draw. It was Stockport at home next. An exceptional first half saw us go in 4-1 up thanks to Poulain, Craddock, Pekhart & Pettigrew. Nothing of note happened in the second half until Craddock scored in stoppage time to make the final score 5-1.

It was Hartlepool away next. We played well in the first half but somehow managed to go in 1-0 down. We dominated the second half as well but came up against a keeper in inspired form and we couldn't find away past him and we lost 1-0. We faced Bristol City at home next. We played well in this game but lost 2-0. This meant we had to win our last game and hope results go our way to make the play offs.

Our final league game was away to Boston United. Poulain gave us the lead on the half hour mark before a Robson penalty 7 minutes later made it 2-0. Pekhart made it 3-0 in first half stoppage time. Boston pulled one back in the second half to make the final score 3-1. This meant we finished 7th, missing out on the play offs on goal difference. I would have taken 7th before the season started but to come this close was heartbreaking.

[retired_amitesh]

The new season saw us start at home to Wycombe. We probably had the better of a poor match but we couldn't find the breakthrough and it finished 0-0. Our next game was away to Brentford. We took the lead after 20 minutes when Mullen, one of our loan signings, fired home a stunning free kick. We only managed to hold the lead for 10 minutes before Brentford equalised and it was 1-1 at half time. We were awful in the second half and lost a late goal to lose 2-1.

We hosted Bristol City next. We were totally outplayed for the first 55 minutes. van den Berg then popped up to give us the lead. We conceded a penalty with 20 minutes to go. City and chances to win and we were lucky to get out of it with a point. Blackpool away wa snext as went looking for our first win of the season. We played well in the first half with youngster Miller scoriing 15 minutes into his debut to give us a half time lead. Miller scored his second 4 minutes into the second half. We cruised through the rest of the game to win 2-0. This was a really good performance and hopefully a sign of things to come.

It was League Cup duty next as we hosted Wycombe. We had a good first half and went in 2-0 up thanks to Bowes and van den Berg. We were never really troubled in the second half and we ran out 2-0 winners to go through to round 2. Back to the league and it was Rushden at home. We played really well in this game but thanks to some inspired goalkeeping it looked like we would have to settle for a point. Then in stoppage time we were awarded a penalty which Mullen converted to give us a 1-0 win. It was away to Millwall next. We had a shocker and went down to a 3-0 defeat.

We looked to bounce back at home to Doncaster. We put in another awful performance and lost 1-0. It was away to Brimingham next. We put in a performance that made the previous 2 look good. As a result we got hammered 3-0 with Schumacher getting sent off for violent conduct. All in all it has been a very disappointing start to the season.

[retired_amitesh]

Thursday's session saw us trying to kick start our season away to Accrington. The first half of this game was a total disaster. First van den Berg was stretchered off, then 2 minutes later Magunda was sent off. 4 minutes later Cruickshank was sent off when he conceded a penalty which Accrington scored. Accrington scored a second before half time to make it 2-0. Aliadiere pulled one back for us in the second half but we slumped to a 2-1 defeat. We travelled to Peterborough next. After falling behind early on Aliadiere goals in each half turned the game around to give us a priceless 2-1 win.

It was League Cup duty next as we travelled to Leicester. We put up a good fight against a team in the top half of the Championship losing 1-0 to a late goal. It was Scuunthorpe at home next. Aliadiere gave us an earl lead only for Scuunthorpe to equalise 5 minutes later. Mullen put us back in front only for us to concede to more by half time and we went in 3-2 down. Just as it looked as if we would lose again we were awarded a late penalty which Mullen converted to make the final score 3-3.

Another home game followed when we played Hartlepool. This was a really dull game with neither side looking like scoring and it finished 0-0. We travelled to Stockport next. We struggled again and lost 2-1 with our goal coming from Craddock. It was home to Carlisle next. Things were going reasonably well for an hour, after falling behind we equalised on half time with a Mullen free kick, Cruickshank was sent off just after the hour mark. We then conceded 3 goals in the last 30 minutes to lose 4-1.

We hosted Preston next. After going behind just before the half hour mark Ebanks-Blake scored 2 minutes later to make it 1-1 at half time. Just as it looked as it would finish in a 1-1 draw Aliadiere popped up to score the winner in stoppage time. Hopefully this 2-1 win will kick start our season. We started the defence of the JPT away to Dagenham & Redbridge. We played really well in this game and won 3-0 thanks to an Ebanks-Blake double and one from Schumacher.

It was Northampton away next and we had an absolute shocker and went down 3-0. We were away to CKs Crystal Palace next. We had a terrible first half and we went in 4-0 down. Mullen pulled one back at the start of the second half with a great free kick before Palace added a fifth. Magunda was sent off with 60 second remaining when he conceded a penalty which Palace scored to make the final score 6-1. The final game of the session was at home to Hereford. We won this 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ebanks-Blake midway through the second half. This left us in 20th place after 18 games.

[retired_amitesh]

Monday's session started with us playing Cheltenham at home in the JPT. After being outplayed for the first 75 minutes of this game we then took the lead thanks to Ebanks-Blake. Schumacher then scored a screamer to make the final score 2-0. It was away to Stevenage next. We played poorly and lost 1-0. It was FA Cup duty next when we hosted non-league Eastleigh. We destroyed them 5-1 with the goals coming from Mullen, Brooker, Schumacher, Ebanks-Blake and an own goal. Hopefully we can build on this result in the league.

It was home to Shrewsbury next. We put in another shocking performance and lost 3-1, with Ebanks-Blake getting a consolation. We travelled to Stan's Southend next. We fell behind early on before van den Berg equalised on the half hour mark. We went ahead with about 20 minutes to go only for Southend to equalise. A 2-2 draw was a big improvement on the last game. It was the JPT next as we travelled to Bristol City. We put up a good fight but lost 1-0, which brought an end the defence of the JPT.

We hosted Scuunthorpe in the FA Cup in our next game. After a dull first half we scored two quick goals to go 2-0 up thanks to Ebanks-Blake & Mullen. Scuunthorpe pulled one back right away. It stayed like this until Yeates scored from inside his own half in stoppage time. It was Swansea at home next where we managed to get a 1-1 draw thanks to van den Berg. For the next game away to Cheltenham I decided to try a brand new formation. We played well for the first 80 minutes going behind to a long range shot. The last 10 minutes we were simply brilliant. First Ebanks-Blake equalised before Aliadiere put us 2-1 up. Ebanks-Blake scored with a minute left to give us a fine 3-1 win.

The last game of the night was away to Wycombe. We were awful in this game and lost 3-0. We are in deep trouble. We are playing poorly and are staring relegation in the face. At the end of the session we were 23rd, 3 points from safety.

[retired_amitesh]

We started last Thursday's session at home to Brentford. We played really poorly again and lost 3-1 with Aliadiere getting our consolation. After this game the board called me to an emergency meeting. The outcome was no surprise and I was given my marching orders.



After a couple of months I was appointed the new manager of Queens Park Rangers. My first game in charge was at home to Barnsley. Things didn't go according to plan in this game and we lost 1-0. My second game in charge as at home to MK Dons, another high flying team. We played better in this game than the last but still lost 1-0.

It was Grays Athletic away next. We played better again but failed to find the net and lost 1-0 for the third straight game. We had back to back home games next starting with Grimsby. We fell behind to an early penalty. We then dominated the last of the game. It looked as if we were going to lose 1-0 again until DJ Campbell scored in stoppage time to give us a vital point. We followed this with a 0-0 draw at home to Dag & Red.

We travelled to Mansfield next. We played well in this game, especially as we went 1-0 down shortly before half time. Hunt scored twice in the second half to turn it around and give us a fine 2-1 win. Tranmere away was next. Hunt gave us the lead inside 60 seconds. Tranmere equalised 25 minutes later before Blackstock restored our lead shortly after to give us a 2-1 half time lead. Mills added a third just before the hour mark and grabbed his second 15 minutes later. This was the best performance since I took charge as we ran out 4-1 winners.

It was relegation threatened Rochdale at home next. We were sensational in the first half and went in 3-0 up thanks to goals from Hunt, Felicio & Blackstock. Nothing much happened in the second half and it finished 3-0. Wrexham away was next as we looked to climb further up the table. We struggled for the first hour or so until Wrexham were reduced to 10 men. Giurani equalised with 10 minutes to go to get us a 1-1 draw. Home to second placed Huddersfield was our next mission. We put up a good fight but lost 2-1, with Blackstock getting our goal.

We faced league champions Port Vale away next. We fell behind early on before a Hunt double put us 2-1 up at half time. Vale had the better of the second half but we managed to hold on for a fine 2-1 win. The final game of the season was at home to Torquay. We won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Gibbs just before the hour mark. This was a good finish to the season and we ended up in 13th place. Hopefully we can use the good run of results at the end of the season to launch a promotion push next season.

[retired_ck8300]

lets see its been a while since my last post, but let me just fill you in on what happened where my last post finished, I managed to get Yeovil in to the the playoffs and from there get them promoted to the Premiership. Sounded unbelievable Yeovil in the Premiership, but that is where the enjoyment ended the next season we got hammered all season long finishing 2nd from bottom 15 points off safety, but even so the money gained and the better players in the squad we where up with the favourites to get back up to the Premiership. But with a poor start we where trying to play catch up, about 15 games into the season we where 8th in the league but only 5 or so points off promotion yet some how the board was not pleased with me for getting them from relegation favourites in League One to the Premiership and then to a very comfortable Championship Team with allot of good young players and allot healthier bank balance so they sacked me 'absolutley unbelievable'. It made me feel better when that season they where nearly relegated I bet they where rueing the day they sacked me, but back to what happened to me after I got sacked, I took over at then Championship side Man City I was thinking that with there finance (£23.5mil transfer budget) and fan support I should be able to make them into a good Premiership Team but first I needed to keep them in the Championship as when I took over they where in the bottom 3. They have a few good players the likes of M.Richards and D.Sturridge but they also have allot of aging players so the squad needed allot of rebuilding, I brought in some promising players in the January transfer window but I made a big mistake selling my right back when I hadn't bought a replacement and I didn't get one in time so for the rest of the season M.Richards was my only right back but I still felt confident of staying up. but even though in many games that we dominated possession we where not winning games but with 5 games left I was 4th from bottom but 9 points above Crewe so I felt safe, how wrong could I be Crewe managed to win there next 4 games and with 1 game left I was in the bottom 3 the last game had every possibility I could lose and stay up or I could win and go down, 4 teams could still go down but I felt if we win we stay up, we dominated the whole game with 60+ possession and 3 times more shot put we only managed a 0-0 draw, so I quickly looked at the other results and Swindon lost putting us level on points with the same goal difference, we stayed up on goals scored.
Even though we only just stayed up we played well in the majority of the games we just made silly mistakes at the back and didn't covert the chances made and so with a few good players already signed up for next season and probably more to follow I feel we should be able to push for a playoff or promotion spot.