Dire Wrangle

Author notey introey type stuff

Many moons ago I started a game on CM00/01, managing Barnet. It'd go on to be one of my all-time favourite and memorable games, lasting a good 20-odd seasons. Bored one evening and fancying a break from FM after a rather poor end to the Brian Clough attempt, CM00/01 was dragged from the cobwebs. The original's long gone, but remixing and recreating that wonderful adventure in North London seemed like a good idea at the time, so I did. Do (try to) enjoy.

Dire Wrangle

The story picks up in the Summer of 2001, a year after I took charge at Underhill

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
June 25, 2001 - BarnetFC.com

2000-01 was a season of success. Having been tipped widely for the drop, we ended up a whisker away from the playoffs. The squad has been reformed over the past twelve months, and yesterday our reporter Peter Chapman met with Steve Porter, the new manager hoping to get our Bees buzzing once more

PC Steve, great to have you here. So how do you feel about the recent 8th place finish in Division Three?
SP Obviously to miss out on the playoffs by one place it's a little disappointing, but we enjoyed a strong finish to the season to get that close and I'm sure that the positive progress will continue and make next year even better.
PC So you're looking for a place in the top 7 next term?
SP Naturally, although if I can get the lads settled and performing well from the off in August, I see no reason why we can't make it to the Top 3 and safely get up to Division Two come May.
PC Confidence indeed. When you came in you radically changed personnel at the club, and there was something of a Scandinavian invasion at Underhill. Why was this necessary?
SP Well some of the players simply weren't up to the standards I was looking for in my squad, so I wasn't going to waste any time in trying to clear some deadwood off of the wage bill. And then some others, such as Harrison, Newton and Currie had a decent price tag on their heads so the likes of those would leave to bring in funds for new players. We ended up bringing in over one and a half million from sales by the start of September last year.
PC And of that you spent roughly half, some good wheeling and dealing there.
SP It's what playing at this level is all about. Every so often you find a few gems in the rough world of lower league football, and I like to think I've got a couple among my side now. I sent a couple of scouts off to Sweden and Norway and they didn't disappoint, recommending a number of players who I'd go on to sign up and create a team with them.
PC And a good team at that, based on the season behind us. Who was the star of the season in your eyes?
SP The fans went for our midfielder Geoff Pitcher, who's been something of a silent weapon all season. Never really had a bad day and popped up with the odd important goal. Personally I see good things for Henrik Andreasson, who hit 9 goals in 14 starts early in the season before we unfortunately lost him in November to a long term injury. He'll be back in time for the start next season, though.
PC What moment do you feel will stick longest in your memory from the first season of your reign?
SP There's been so many. The first win of the season, against Kidderminster in our third match was obviously a pleasant experience, as were the last couple of games, in each of which we scored 5 to push so close to the playoffs. But I think the best day of the season was in the FA Cup Third Round clash with Leeds. The atmosphere in our little stadium was simply electric and I was proud to have given the lads an opportunity to play against a team of their quality, and the fans a chance to see them.
PC And I remember you weren't too far from an upset there.
SP That's right, I was ecstatic when we were 0-0 at half time, but I must've done something wrong in the team talk. We conceded a couple of fairly weak goals and lost 2-0 in the end, but it remains a great memory and I hope to take Barnet high enough to play them again sometime.
PC So for next season, any more ins and outs? And what's the target finish?
SP So far we've only secured the signing of veteran keeper Andrew Marriott from Sunderland, but I'll be keeping a look out for a few others during the next couple of months. Outgoing for sure is Austin Berkley, who's heading east to join Southend United. As far as my targets are, I don't think I'll be happy with anything outside of promotion.
PC There we have it. A confident man at the helm of the Bees, and as far as he's concerned the only way is up. Thanks for your time this afternoon Steve, and all the best of luck for the season ahead.
SP Thanks Pete. I'm sure I'll see you again soon.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Some were suprised by my ambitious aims, but to me they were realism itself. I saw no reason why we wouldn't improve and get promotion next year, and continue rising until we finally reach the top. I knew it'd be a tough long journey, but I was ready to start on it.

Dire Wrangle

The Squad, 2001-2002

Between The Sticks

1. Hamza BRAJANAC Age 17, Swedish
When Bergwall was injured Hamza stepped forward to take the number one shirt 4 months shy of his 17th birthday. He stayed first choice through the season after performing solidly. Faces new competition from Marriott and Tiago this season, but looks a good bet to keep his place.
2000/01: 31 Appearances, Conceded 47, 1 Assist, 2 MoM, Average Rating 7.29

13. Andrew MARRIOTT Age 30, Welsh (5 Caps)
Former Wrexham number one struggled to break into the first team at Sunderland, but joins as at least a very handy backup. Could well be in at first choice if Brajanac suffers a dip in form.
2000/01 (At Sunderland): No appearance.

22. Niclas BERGWALL Age 19, Swedish
Another Swedish youngster, brought in for £45,000 from Hammarby. Began last term as number one choice, but was replaced by Brajanac after the younger of the pair showed the more consistent form. Probably slips to third choice this season, but will still be hoping to win his place back.
2000/01: 15 Appearances, Conceded 27, 2 MoM, Average Rating 7.07

41. TIAGO Age 21, Portuguese
The Portuguese lad was a target last year, but Liverpool won the race that time. He's been allowed to leave Anfield after just a year there, and now joins us as yet another backup keeper to challenge for the one place on the pitch.
2000/01 (At Liverpool): No Appearance


The Boys at the Back

2. Mike DUFF Age 23, English
The pacy right back missed just a single match last season, and definitely a bargain at £28,000. Consistently average, and never lets the team down.
2000/01: 53 Appearances, 5 Goals, 7 Assists, 1 MoM, Average Rating 6.91

3. Gareth JELLYMAN Age 20, Welsh
Like Duff he enjoys putting his pace to use and making sharp runs down the flank from defence. Good performances for club have made him a regular with the Welsh Under-21 side.
2000/01: 37 Appearances, 2 Assists, Average Rating 6.95

5. Jamie VICTORY Age 25, English
A strong and versatile defender, Jamie mainly covered for injuries last season. Always reliable backup, and I'll expect similar from him in 01-02.
2000/01: 21 Appearances, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, Average Rating 7.05

6. Anders ISAKSSON Age 22, Swedish
Tough tackling centre-back was a reasonable regular last term, performing well without excelling hugely. Terminally involved in a three-way battle for those two central places at the back.
2000/01: 33 Appearances, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, Average Rating 6.82

20. Daniel ARNEFJORD Age 22, Swedish
A similar style of player to Isaksson, so both make handy backups to one another. Again he’s involved in a never-ending battle to cement his first team place.
2000/01: 31 Appearances, 3 Goals, Average Rating 6.74

24. Dave BAYLISS Age 25, English
Excellent strong tackler, and normally starts in central defence alongside one of the above Swedes. Also happy to go forward and nod in the occasional corner. Could be a vital part of what is hopefully a promotion side in May.
2000/01: 38 Appearances, 5 Goals, 2 Assists, Average Rating 7.03

26. Warren GOODHIND Age 23, English
One of a handful of original Bees squad members that’s yet to be sold, although he’s been transfer listed since pretty much the day I walked in. Similar kind of player to Victory – just worse.
2000/01: No Appearance

28. Ross D’ARCY Age 23, Irish
Showed a little potential in training, and stood in as cover in a few games last season, but I can’t see me revoking his current transfer listing.
2000/01: 3 Appearances, Average Rating 5.67

32. Sam STOCKLEY Age 23, English
The third and final defender still holding a place in the full squad. Again, he’s up for sale with no one interested yet.
2000/01: No appearance


The Men in the Middle

7. Scott HUCKERBY Age 25, English
Super quick winger, and played an important role down the left in all but two matches last season. Never let the team down, so we’ll have more of the same this time around, please Scott.
2000/01: 52 Appearances, 11 Goals, 13 Assists, 3 MoM, Average Rating 7.27

8. Geoff PITCHER Age 25, English
Signed for just £20,000 having never really had a chance to fulfil his potential, Pitcher was a useful man both in central midfield and just behind the front two. Always played well and deserving of his victory in the Fans’ Player of the Year poll.
2000/01: 42 Appearances, 12 Goals, 14 Assists, 4 MoM, Average Rating 7.40

12. Stevie SEARLE Age 24, English
One of three surviving midfielders, and made just a singular appearance last term. Tough to gauge whether he’ll be any use on one match. He’s on the list.
2000/01: 1 Appearance, Average Rating 7.00

16. Claus Bech JØRGENSEN Age 25, Danish
Rarely played brilliantly, but his impressive finishing saw a decent return of goals. The arrival of Sanne pushed Pitcher into his position behind the front pair, so he’s a battle on his hands to keep his place.
2000/01: 43 Appearances, 15 Goals, 6 Assists, 1 MoM, Average Rating 6.93

33. John DOOLAN Age 27, English
After 100 or so appearances for the club in his career, Doolan was quickly condemned to those on the transfer list. Like me, many other managers appear uninterested.
2000/01: No Appearance

37. Frazer TOMS Age 21, English
The youngster became a first team regular in 1999-00, but then I came along. Never mind, hey.
2000/01: No Appearance

38. Pär LARSSON Age 18, Swedish
The teenager came in from Varbergs towards the end of last season, and played consistently well down the right for the latter part of the season. Should keep his place during the year ahead.
2000/01: 14 Appearances, 4 Goals, 2 Assists, Average Rating 7.00

40. Terje SANNE Age 17, Norwegian
Another young import who joined midway through the season. Impressed immediately with a brace on his debut, and continued to play a vital part in the side throughout the season. Holds the midfield well together and will certainly be an important part again this year.
2000/01: 24 Appearances, 8 Goals, 3 Assists, 3 MoM, Average Rating 7.29


The Guys Who Get The Goals

9. Tony RICHARDS Age 27, English
A survivor, just about. He’s been listed for a while, hopefully his recent price cut due to his non-promotion clause might see him off down the Kermit.
2000/01: 1 Appearance, Average Rating 7.00

10. Gordon DURIE Age 35, Scottish (43 Caps, 7 Goals
After a decent season at Hearts last year, the veteran extends his career past the 20-year mark to join us. He’ll be a backup and might get the odd appearance if need be.
2000/01 (At Hearts): 18 Appearances, 7 Goals, 3 Assists, 2 MoM, Average Rating 7.11

15. Christian BLIDBERG Age 21, Swedish
A cheap as chips buy from Rosseröd, but didn’t quite find his scoring boots early on. Settled in though and looked more dangerous as the season continued. Will surely be battling for a starting place in attack in the new season.
2000/01: 26 Appearances, 7 Goals, 2 Assists, Average Rating 7.35

17. Lars-Gunnar CARLSTRAND Age 27, Swedish
The scout reports suggested his £40,000 fee would become the bargain of the century, bad sadly he didn’t quite live up to the billing. If he can’t take a few more chances this term I’m afraid he’ll be out the door before he’s too old to be worthy of making a profit.
2000/01: 26 Appearances, 2 Goals, 3 Assists, Average Rating 6.88

19. Henrik ANDREASSON Age 21, Swedish
Now this man could be that bargain buy I thought Lars might be. He hit a superb return of goals, before he was unfortunately injured for 7 months, missing most of the season. He’s back and fit now though, well in time for the next assault on Division Three.
2000/01: 15 Appearances, 9 Goals, 2 Assists, 1 MoM, Average Rating 7.27

30. Mathias FRITZDORF Age 23, Swedish
Like Blidberg he took a while to find his feet, but once he did he was very useful indeed. One of the main reasons for our hot form late in the season.
2000/01: 37 Appearances, 18 Goals, 6 Assists, 4 MoM, Average Rating 7.38


On paper, it’s a good team I’ve got together. But I know as much as anyone that football sure ain’t played on paper… Here goes 9 months of hard work…

Dire Wrangle

Saturday August 11, 2001
Third Division, Game 1
Hereford United vs Barnet
Edgar Street, Hereford

"Yesss! Get in there!" I'd be shouting just eleven minutes in as Chris Blidberg opened the scoring for the new season, against newly-crowned Conference Champions Hereford. I settled back in the dugout especially chuffed that it was Chris' name on the scoresheet. He'd looked more confident in training and I knew he wanted to improve on his mediocre return of 7 goals last season. As far as I was concerned, this was a must-win to get the season rolling straight away, and help us beat that 8th place finish.

Through the first half we were easily enough the strongest side, but we'd still find ourselves behind come half time. A defensive mix-up led to on-loan Sunderland midfielder Paul Thirlwell levelling the match, before Vance Warner jumped highest to nod in Thirlwell's corner close to the break. This wasn't the way it was supposed to be, and I must say my half time team talk wasn't very cool and calm to say the least.

Either way, it seemed to do the trick, and bringing Andreasson on as sub certainly seemed to work a treat. Henrik's saved shot would find itself dropped onto the toe of Pär Larsson, who duly took the opportunity to level the match once more. It looked like we were rapidly heading towards starting off with just the one point, but I didn't feel this was enough. I was something of an animated character on the side of the pitch near the end, and we were finally rewarded when Terje Sanne's free-kick sailed past Scott Cooksey and wrapped up a nice win to begin the season. Another 45 like that won't go amiss, thank you very much.

Hereford: Cooksey 6, Porter 7 (Lane, on 69, 6), James 8, Wright 7 (Kerr, on 69, 7), Warner 7, Pead 7, Thirlwell 7, Robinson 7, Piearce 7, Moran 7, McIndoe 8
Barnet: Brajanac 7, Duff 7, Jellyman 8, Arnefjord 7, Bayliss 6, Pitcher 8, Larsson 8, Sanne 8, Fritzdorf 7 (ANDREASSON, on 56, 8 - MOM), Blidberg 8, Huckerby 6.

Final Score: Hereford 2 (Thirlwell 28, Warner 38) Barnet 3 (Blidberg 11, Larsson 65, Sanne 88)
Attendance: 3,098

Peacemaker7

Good luck, hope you enjoy it. Its always a risk trying to relive a favoured game, as invitablely its never quite the same.

Lord Crumb

I like the Lower League stories.

HD

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peacemaker7:
Good luck, hope you enjoy it. Its always a risk trying to relive a favoured game, as invitablely its never quite the same. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's true in my experience, but mibbes this will be the exception that proves the rule?

Dire Wrangle

Thanks for the comments guys... and I'll try to be the exception

Saturday August 18, 2001
Third Division, Game 2
Barnet vs Macclesfield Town
Underhill, London

Confidence had been high in training through the week after the performance at Hereford seven days ago - and the three points that came of it - so I took my seat in the Underhill dugout for the first time since May with my head held high.

That'd soon change. I'd be headbutting my palms within 3 minutes, as Damien Whitehead found space in the penalty area and put the visitors in front. Whitehead would turn provider soon after to double Macclesfield's lead, crossing in for Lee Glover to volley home the second.

Fortunately I managed to watch it get better before worse, as Larsson beat Leigh Hall to Huckerby's corner, nodding in his second in two games. Macclesfield's penultimate attacking chance of the match - in the 22nd minute - saw the third added. Defender Danny Adams took the game away from us, even despite the fact they mustered one more attack in the next 70 minutes and we would have 13 in the same period.

We would pull another back, through a Mike Duff penalty in first half injury time, but I could do little to inspire this half-interested outfit towards making use of the second half dominance and pushing for a win. There went the good start.

Barnet: Brajanac 6, DUFF (MOM) 9, Jellyman 7, Arnefjord 7, Bayliss 6 (Isaksson on 82, 6), Pitcher 7, Larsson 9, Sanne 7, Fritzdorf 6 (Andreasson on 82, 7), Blidberg 7, Huckerby 7
Macclesfield: Martin 8, Priest 6, Adams 7, Barnard 6 (O'Neill on 69, 6), Came 7, Hall 8, Hill 7, Sneekes 6, Whitehead 9, Glover 7, Owers 7

Final Score: Barnet 2 (Larsson 15, Duff pen 45) Macclesfield 3 (Whitehead 3, Glover 10, Adams 22)
Attendance: 3,143

Dire Wrangle

Tuesday August 21, 2001
League Cup First Round, First Leg
Hartlepool United vs Barnet
Victoria Park, Hartlepool

Three days after a disappointing defeat in the league, life wouldn't improve much on the long journey to Hartlepool. Last year in this competition I didn't make it past this round, losing to Wolves after a penalty shoot out. This year it'd look a little more clear-cut after the first leg of the tie.

Once again I'd be staring at a 2 goal deficit before we'd woken up. I know it was a long old trip up north, but by the start we made I thought the lads were jetlagged. Eventually Paul Arnison took advantage and beat Brajanac to open the scoring. We went into half time 2-0 down, with Hartlepool doubling their lead about ten minutes before the interval.

Fortunately the second half was slightly prettier to watch from my place in the visiting dugout, although we did it with ten men following Jellyman's red-card on the stroke of half time. Terje Sanne halved the lead with half hour remaining, but two goals from Adam Boyd would wrap this one up for Hartlepool. Geoff Pitcher scored in the dying minutes, but that one just adds another away goal and makes life a little bit easier in the Second Leg.

Hartlepool: Hollund 7, Knowles 6 (Foster on 72, 6), Squires 8, Collins 8, Lee 6, Murray 7 (Venables on 66, 8), Casey 8, ARNISON (MOM) 9, Dyer 7 (Boyd on 66, 8), Henderson 7, Shilton 9
Barnet: Brajanac 6, Duff 7, Jellyman 6, Arnefjord 6, Bayliss 7 (Isaksson on 29, 7), Pitcher 7, Larsson 6, Sanne 5, Durie 8, Blidberg 6 (Andreasson on 47, 7), Huckerby 7

Final Score: Hartlepool 4 (Arnison 17, Casey 34, Boyd 76, 84) Barnet 2 (Sanne 61, 88)
Attendance: 2,538

Dire Wrangle

Saturday August 25, 2001
Third Division, Game 3
Kidderminster Harriers vs Barnet
Aggborough, Kidderminster

Andy Marriott made a debut today, in place of the erratic Hamza Brajanac. But he'd fare little better than the young Swede had so far on the trip west. The penultimate match of the month would see a third defeat on the bounce, leaving us with just three from a possible nine to begin the league season.

The first half was even enough, and saw little in the way of chances falling at either end. Blidberg & Andreasson both came close for us, while hosting Kidderminster also threatened the Welshman between the posts.

The opening goal though would come early in the second period, courtesy of Dean Bennett when he beat Marriott from long-range after leaving Arnefjord for dead. Kidderminster lost three of their starting eleven to injury, leaving them with 10 men by the time they added a second through Scott Stamps.

So far I was to say the least a tad disappointed with the progress, but it's early days yet, quite fortunately.

Kidderminster: Woods 9, Lake 8, Kerr 7, Hicks 9 (Gore on 45, 7), Matthews 6, Mendy 7 (Skovbjerg on 73, 7), NAYLOR (MOM) 9, Bennett 8, Corbett 7 (Somerville on 59, 7), Foster 7, Stamps 8
Barnet: Marriott 5, Duff 7, Jellyman 7, Arnefjord 7, Isaksson 6, Pitcher 7, Larsson 6, Sanne 6 (Jørgensen on 66, 6), Andreasson 6 (Fritzdorf on 66, 7), Blidberg 7, Huckerby 7

Final Score: Kidderminster 2 (Bennett 49, Stamps 74) Barnet 0
Attendance: 2,939