displaced_seagull

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cosford:
thanks seagull!

the mighty Garry, read both of his cracking books, seems to me he's a class chap and was a class player, despite what he says! Out of interest, do you know where he is now?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Goldstone Gaz? - Diamond :thup: - Think hes out of football now.

Tyrone the Magazine

This is very good stuff

cosford

Thanks guys :thup:

thats a shame, didn't he go to the P.F.A? Or has he left that too?

16.10.04
This morning, just in time for today’s game away at Northampton, we’ve signed a new player. Jamie Ingledow has arrived from Stocksbridge on a free transfer. He’s a 23 year old midfield player who’s description is as a hard worker and even harder tackler. What talent he has I suspect is limited, but he’s here as a cheap ‘do a job’ merchant.

Northampton away then, not a easy game at the best of times, but we don’t need this just as we’re trying to get some form and confidence back. Ingledow, taking the no.15 shirt, is on the bench, McEwen returns up front.

Half time, and somehow, after playing them off the park, we’re 1-0 down. Their early goal was a good strike by Eric Sabin, but how we allowed him to get there is beyond me. We’ve been great ever since, but we just can’t score.

We lose 2-0. They hit us on the break and that’s the end of that. We can’t score, end of story.

23.10.04
I’ve had enough, today’s game away at Notts County is going to be an improvement. I’ve told the players they’re better than this, and that they can go out and win today. We’re boosted by the return of George Fotheringham. Knackered and out of practice he may be, but he’s drafted straight back into the team. Finally, I can deploy about my full team. We’ve slipped to 14th, and we must claw our way back up.

Half time, and its gone ok for us. Finally, we’ve scored a goal. After missing some great chances, Scott Fitzgerald latched onto an O’Brien through ball and placed it in off the post. Still though, we’re not winning. In first half stoppage time, they score from a corner. Our hearts collectively sink, they’re on top now.
We must make sure they’re not, get the ball, get it wide, go score another goal, we can do it, its easy!

Its not. They score a direct free kick a minute after the first half restarts. I’m livid, what the hell are we doing? We go forward, and again, can’t score! Mind you, we look outplayed, they only have 3 midfielders, but they seem to be outplaying my 4! With 10 minutes to go, they score again, and even though Danny Bolt converts a penalty, its yet another defeat.

28.10.04
It’s the big transfer, that of one of the club’s ‘star’ players, Luke Rodgers. He’s been transferred to that funny Singapore club for a fee of £40k. That, combined with our poor form, have led to a few harsh letters, but they’ll see I’m right in the end.
It’s the end of a era for everyone, and I hope Luke does well.
The money should allow me to strengthen the side where it needs strengthening.

30.10.04
We’re at home to Oxford, and we have to turn it around today, and I’m confident we will. There are one change to make; Lee Briscoe has a slight injury, so Trevor Challis comes in at left back. Morale is poor at the moment, we need a win today desperately.

The first half, as of last week, has been good, and, unlike last week, we’re winning. We raced into a 2 goal lead. On two minutes, Fotheringham went to the line and crossed. O’Brien moved it sideways and Keith Andrews shot left footed into the net. 4 minutes later, Danny Bolt set off one on of his mazy runs. He cut inside the full back, looked up, and moved the ball to the edge of the 6 yard box where Chris O’Brien slammed it left footed into the corner. Finally, my goalscoring midfielder scores, now he needs to get some more!
They then pulled a freak goal back. Mooney was allowed far too much space to turn, he shot, off the bar, off Challis, and tapped in by their midfielder who I’d tried to sign before he opted for Oxford.
Ha-ha, no worries though, because we get another goal instantly. A free kick swirls in from the right side, McEwen flicks on, and Baltacha, finding himself on the corner of the 6 yard box, forgot defenders instincts and drilled the ball into the far corner.
Its been good, but we must become a two half team and carry this on, ensuring that we continue to work hard, and keep playing football. We need to be solid at the back, made all the more difficult by losing Chris Todd to injury. Gavin Bassinder is on leaving me with a defense I don’t privately feel is up to much.

It doesn’t have much work to do. After Gavin Bassinder coolly heads in Bolt’s corner after only a minute Oxford fall apart and the game peters out. At the final whistle we go off to a standing ovation, all sins forgotten. Hopefully.

Yeah, a good win, but the problems are still there, and to cap it all, I’m going to be without my best defender for another 3 weeks, with Todd having injured his back. Also, the front two, although they played well in other areas, didn’t look like scoring, even though Dave McEwen is improving game by game.

cosford

.11.04
It�s a big game tonight, one of our local-ish derby�s, away to Chester City. Chester are below us, and I think we should beat them. Should, and will, are different in my experience. Especially without Briscoe and Todd our two best defenders. Todd is replaced by Bassinder, Challis continues for Briscoe. Apart from that, no changes.

Half time, and we�re winning again. Our overall performance has been good, but once again our inability to put the multitude of chances away is costing us. We took the lead after half an hour. Fitzgerald, who�s playing a blinder if only he could score, cut in from the right, crossed, the keeper pushed it away, and Bolt rolled it home. We�d been playing so well, and that was just reward. Fitzgerald, McEwen, O�Brien, all missing chances.
That�s what makes me incredibly furious when they equalize. A clearance comes to Daryl Clare. He has only 1 other player with him, we have 3 defenders. Bassinder, rightly, goes to Clare, leaving Baltacha and Marshall to deal with Vignial. Both leave him, in half hearted pursuit of Clare. Thus, Daryl�s cross finds a completely unmarked attacker who scores. In the dressing room, I lay into Marshall and Baltacha, its not good enough I scream, both are relatively experienced players, why don�t they look around them?
It�s a good job we re-took the lead only seconds later. McEwen turned his man and curled it towards goal. Again, the keeper got to the ball, and pushed it out, but only to Keith Andrews, who rolled it into a again empty net.
This game is there for the taking, it�s a game in hand (as everyone else is playing in the Vans tonight), and therefore we must claim all 3 points.

In terms of football, our second half is brilliant. We defend fantastically, and break with at speed, creating so many chances that by the end of the game we�d had 27 shots on goal. Some of the ones we miss are insane, Bolt, free, in the middle of the area, drags it so wide its nearer the corner flag than goal, and Parke (on late as a sub for McEwen) hits the post with a fantastic drive.
We do score another, the most difficult of the lot. Dave Edwards, again on as a sub, comes forward, and rolls the ball to O�Brien. He shifts it onto his left foot, and from 25 yards bends it into the top corner. The keeper, with every professional justification, hadn�t even bothered to move. Our fans seem stunned too. They�ve grown used to watch our strikers freeze and miss chance after chance, and now someone has just scored from outside the area! Christ!

6.11.04
Boston United at home, and whilst they�re a good team, we must beat them. I won�t accept anything other than a win.
I have to make changes, with both my first choice centre backs out, I�m forced to play Gavin Bassinder and Stuart Whitehead, who has been recalled from the reserves. At least he�s been keeping fit. I�ve also dropped Lee Marshall. He�s not happy, but I explain that neither am I, and its my opinion that matters. A time away will give him time to get himself together, and return a stronger player.

Once again, the first half has been a mixed bag. It started wonderfully, us going into the lead after only two minutes. O�Brien sprayed the ball through the defense for Fotheringham, who crossed it perfectly back onto our captain�s head. His downward header crept perfectly between keeper and post.
Then, and this was enough to make me scream, we go and undo all the good work of the first half hour by giving away yet another penalty, this time Stuart Whitehead the culprit. They score it, 1-1. It�s a good job, with me going slightly mad, that we re-take the lead. Bolt skins his full back, and then sees his cross deflected behind for a corner. George Fotheringham swings it in, and Whitehead rises highest to nod it beyond the keeper for 2-1.
If we stick to our guns, take some of these damn chances which continue to come our way, and continue to defend reasonably professionally, then we�ll win. That�s the aim and the expectation.

The second half is a complete massacre, we murder them. Our football is crisp and neat, without us ever really finding that full �team-ness�. Bolt and Fotheringham are rampant, as crosses arc through the box. Shots scream in from the midfielders, but none go in. Then, they get a free kick. Guess what? Its rolled straight to their striker, who buries it first time. Why don�t mine do that?
I, of course, go ballistic, and demand a result. I get one. Bolt weaves his way into the box and crosses to Fitzgerald, who is all but chopped in half. Gavin Bassinder does the business from the penalty spot.
That�s the end of them, but not of us, and we score again when Bolt cuts like a knife in from the left, beats a man twice (neat trick that) and whacks it into the middle for Scott Fitzgerald to finally do what I pay him for and prod it home.

A great performance, one of our bests, and it could have been such a heavier win. With these 4, we�ve propelled ourselves to the position of scoring easily the most goals in the league, and up to 6th in the table while we�re at it. Chuffed!

cosford

13.11.04
It�s the F.A Cup today, a day I always look forward too. We�ve got Conference side Exeter at home, meaning it �should� be a win, but nothing is ever that simple. The Cup is important, firstly, we need the money, and secondly�.. erm� We need the money! A 3rd round tie away somewhere big would set us up for a very long time.
My squad has been depleted even further by losing Jamie Tolley and, for the first time, Dave Edwards to the Wales U21�s. Its only a friendly, but it�s a big day for Dave, so I didn�t want to spoil it for him. Thus, Kevin Street comes to the bench.

Half time, and I�m not happy. The score is 1-1, but should be more like 4-1 to us. We�ve wiped them out, Fitzgerald could easily, and I mean easily, have had a hattrick. Danny Bolt�s finishing is absolutely woeful, Keith Andrews has missed a golden chance and then they took the lead. Centre halves don�t usually take free kicks, but their defender, who was formerly our defender, bent it straight in the corner. Thank you, Dave Walton.
Fortunately, we equalized. George Fotheringham�s run up the right was superb, weaving with graceful ease around Santos Gaia, and then rolling the ball into a area where is was 60-40 in favor of Fitzgerald over the keeper. Fitz got there first, went round him, and tapped it into an empty net.
We can win this, this is there for us to take, and we must get the goals to do it. McEwen has had to come off injured, so Parke is on.

In the end, we do win, but its incredibly jammy. We completely dominate the second half, creating chance after chance after chance. 3 times, Fitzgerald is free in the area with only the keeper to beat. He�s obviously not a natural finisher.
Then, in the 94th minute, we get a corner. Its headed away, back to George Fotheringham wide left. He cuts in, and on his right foot, shoots low into the corner.

Its very lucky I suppose, but overall, we deserved it. We wiped them out for the whole game, and deserved to win. I have to do something about this strikeforce though, especially as McEwen�s injury is going to keep him out for about 3 long weeks.

14.11.04
I�ve signed a new player. Danny Smith is a 22 year old attacking right full back we�ve signed from Northwich Victoria. He�s a classy young player, and definitely has the potential to push on and become a higher class of player. We�ve paid �20k, which I feel is rather over the odds, but hey, let see where he takes us.

Also today, the second round draw, and we�ve got Bristol City at home.

19.11.04
Another player has gone. With the signing of Danny Smith, it meant we had 3 right backs. Whilst Darren Moss was not the worst of them, we were offered �10k, and we took it. He�s signed for Carlisle and he�ll do very well there.

20.11.04
Cheltenham away. A tough match, but again, we can win it. I�ve failed to bring in a striker in time, although I do have one or two irons in the fire, so Parke replaces McEwen with Rigoglosio coming to the bench. Smith comes straight into the team at right back, and takes Darren�s number 23 shirt.

The first half has been pathetic. They play has been 50/50, and we�ve done well with the ball. Unfortunately, we�ve cocked it up. We fall behind to a stunning 30 yard drive. Ok, a great strike, but someone should have been there stopping him shooting. Then, after missing a horrendous chance, we equalize. A clearance falls to Fitzgerald, who streaks away and shoots. The keeper gets to it, put only palms it to Parke, who scores. Then, in the stupidest circumstances, they score again. Their throw bounces off Andrew�s foot, and falls to their lad. Howie has for some reason known only to himself raced towards the group of players on the edge of the area. Their midfielder chips it into a empty net.
I round on them, if we shot at goal with the accuracy that we shoot at our own feet I shout, we�d have this game wrapped up already.

It�s a pathetic showing from us. Again in the second half, we play them off the park, and don�t score. With half an hour left, a long free kick comes into our box, and Bassinder gives their striker all the time he wants to turn and score.
I am disgusted, and I tell the players that. They lost themselves this game by not being able to produce a professional performance, and I have had enough. Losing I have no problem with, but when its two crappy defensive mistakes, a load of stupid free kicks given away, and then on top of it all not doing our own jobs, I reach the end of my tether. If I can bring someone in, Fitzgerald will be out next match, I have 3 non scoring centre forwards, and I have had enough. They�ve had enough time, and Fitzgerald isn�t going to score us enough goals, he has no idea how to finish. Andrews is an undisciplined liability, O�Brien flits in and out of games, Fotheringham goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, Bassinder plays like he�s on drugs half the time, and I won�t stand for it. They up their act, or find themselves new clubs.

Secretly of course I know that�s rubbish, there�s no way I could afford 5 new players.

cosford

I'm as crap at throwing as they are at shooting

missed the lot of em :p

23.11.04
Yoevil at home, and there’s no new players. They’re down the wrong end of the league, and I expect 3 points. Baltacha is available again, but there’s no place for him. Someone who does go straight back in is Chris Todd, replacing Bassinder, Whitehead has done ok so far. No other changes.

Now I know I told them to go out and attack from the start, but I think I may have been taken a little too literally. From this half of football, I must assume that miracles do in fact happen, because my group of journeymen footballers have turned into Real Madrid. At the half time whistle goes, we’re 6-0 up. Yes ladies and gents, you read that right, the team that *ahem* played like a team of 4 legged cart pullers against Cheltenham has come out and showed me and everyone else exactly what they can do.
It started on only 60 seconds. We wove our way forward and Fotheringham won a corner. The fans were up for it, there’s a energy in the ground today of everybody trying to do just a bit more if you know what I mean. The goal could be sensed, it had to go in, today was our day.
Bolt swung the corner in, Whitehead headed it down, and Todd, falling backwards, smashed it left footed high into the net. Then, Parke, in full view of everyone, swapped being a lower league journeyman for Marco Van Basten. Firstly he picked up Bolt’s clipped pass, raced inside, switched it to his right foot before curling it into the far corner, then finishing off a 6 man 1 touch passing move with a beautiful first time chip over the advancing keeper, and then beating the keeper with a unstoppable diving header at the far post following George Fotheringham’s perfect cross.
What happened next has turned me into a devout Christian. Collecting the ball from Smith, O’Brien turned and laid a perfect pass through the defense. Fitzgerald raced onto it and produced a fantastic finish just beyond the keeper and in at the far post before performing a remarkably acrobatic celebration. Should spend less time doing that and more time practicing Scott. The final goal of this half was nice and simple. A Danny Bolt corner from the left, and Chris Todd reminded me he’s got 5 goals this season by heading his 6th powerfully into the bottom corner. To see so many people all happy, smiling, cheering and to see the players huddled together in a moment of triumph, especially such a good bloke as Chris, was wonderful.

It finishes 7-0, Parke scores again with a far post header off Bolt’s free kick. Of those 7 goals, Bolt set up 4 of them.
The second half was a bit disappointing, with lots of missed chances, but there were highlights, with Parke hitting the post from a very long way out, and George Fotheringham hitting the bar with a 30 yard chip.

Overall a fantastic performance, the fans stay in at the end to cheer us off, there’s standing ovations, the radio and Monday’s paper will be full of praise. We’re up to 5th, and now we must keep it going! Its marred by one thing, Chris O’Brien is booked for arguing, meaning he’ll miss the next game.

27.11.04
Bristol Rovers at home. They’re a solid team who, whilst being mid-table, don’t let many goals in, we’re going to need to take those chances today. O’Brien of course is suspended, so Kevin Street comes in, and Dave Edwards goes to the bench.

At half time, our good form has continued. We were ahead after only a minute, Fotheringham whipping in a corner and Parke heading home. Then, on 20 minutes, 1 became 2. We got a edge of area free kick, the perfect position for Stuart Pearce. Our left foot marvel is Bolt, and he does a creditable impression of the England skipper to whip a beautiful effort around the wall, over the keeper and in.
We then have a goal disallowed, and have to clear off our own line as they come forward, but no matter, because we score again late on. Bolt takes a free kick on the half way line, playing it up the line for Fotheringham. George lays it back to him, before turning and receiving the beautifully flighted return ball. He cuts in and crosses it perfectly to the edge of the 6 yard box, where Fitzgerald smashes it home. The perfect goal, crosses are the way to score, and that was a textbook example.
Our football has been too quick for them, far too quick.

The second half is poor, although how we don’t score more goals is beyond me. What is incredibly disappointing is that Chris Todd is sent off. Two innocuous trips are too much for the card happy ref ( I don’t usually even comment about them) and my best defender is off down the tunnel. He’ll be a big blow.
It was a good performance, even with 10 men we outplayed them, and could have had so many more goals, but it’ll do. We’re up to 4th!

What was also fantastic, and brought a huge smile to the chairman’s lips, was the 7,164 crowd that watched us today. The biggest for a very long time

cosford

1.12.04
A big press day today, as the rewards flowed in. I�m manager of the month for the first time ever, and Danny Bolt and Chris O�Brien have picked up player and young player of the month respectively.

4.12.04
Big bad Bristol City at home in the F.A Cup. They�re in the division above us, but we can win this, no worries. If� Bassinder replaces the suspended Todd, and O�Brien is back in midfield. McEwen is back from injury and is on the bench.

Half time, in front of a completely full 8000 house, we�re 1-0 up! We�ve massacred them, and got our reward when Chris O�Brien floated a wonderful ball over the defense for Fitzgerald to take a touch and plant a low finish into the net from the edge of the area. We�ve played so well, but we have to take these chances, if we don�t they�ll just hit us, I can see it coming.

They never do! We defend with our lives, throwing ourselves in front of things, anticipating, clearing, and patting Scott Howie on the back. He was immense. Going forward, we could score more, somehow we don�t, and we go through to win 1-0!!

Fantastic performance, I have nothing but praise, the effort, thought and professionalism of the display was stunning. Bassinder in particular was colossal, Whitehead alongside him was excellent, Howie incredible, everything was superb! We�re on for the big away tie!

5.12.04
You want to know what the big tie is? Its Lincoln. Away. Brilliant.

10.12.04
A new player today! We�ve signed 24 year old DC Joe Dolan from Millwall for a fee of �7k. He was an N.Irish U21, and while he might not have made it at Championship level, the solid �common or garden� centre half will be a good deal for us I�m sure.

11.12.04
We�re away to Macclesfield today, and this should be a win. They�re bottom of the league, and have managed to score a total of 6 goals so far. I will not be happy with anything other than 3 points. Dolan, our new no.6, isn�t involved. Keith Andrews� loan has finished, so while we think about getting him back, Dave Edwards comes in.

Half time, its 0-0, but I don�t know how. We have missed so many chances its stupid. This has gone too far. We�ve had 19 shots on their goal, missed a penalty, hit the post, and missed an open goal. We have to score, this is just getting ridiculous. Bet they nick it.

They don�t, but we do. Scott Fitzgerald scores a wonderful lashed strike to get us 3 points. It could have been double figures, but in the end I�m just happy that Fitzgerald�s swirling goal from O�Brien�s pass got us the win that pushes us back up to 4th.

Bad news, Danny Bolt is out for 4 weeks with strained ankle ligaments. My worst nightmare.

14.12.04
Although I�ve tried, I haven�t been able to bring a winger in for today�s tough trip to Southend, so Kevin Street fills in out on the left flank. No other changes.

Half time, and we�re 2-0 down. Ok, they�ve had all the play, but we were defending well until they scored a incredibly scrappy goal. Now we could have responded to that, but when they get another, a stupid penalty given away by Bassinder, we�re right up against it. We could go second today, but playing like this, we won�t.

It�s a dismal second half where we just don�t perform, and lose 3-1. I think this was the worst I�ve ever seen us play. Not just what went wrong, but our complete ineffectiveness. Dissapointed because before they scored we�d been defending well, but without Bolt there was little penetration or flair. Hummm�..

15.12.04
My players are being sniffed around. At a Wrexham reserve game I happened to be taking in I was accosted by Brighton�s assistant manager, ruffed up and was made to explain the availability of Danny Smith and Scotty Fitzgerald. I told them that neither player was above being signed. Money talks.

rocheyuk

Very entertaining read. Well done.

cosford

18.12.04
Darlington today, away at their incredibly impressive new ground. All of the 3 left wingers I enquired about decided they’d rather stay where they were. Fools. Street was useless there against Southend, so I’m going to swap him and Chris O’Brien, who at least has a left foot. Also Bassinder is dropped for Joe Dolan to make his debut.

Half time, and we’re 2-0 down again. Firstly Kevin Street flicks on in his own box for their lad to tap in, then Dolan, instead of heading the bloody thing, tries a fancy tackle, it goes wrong, and their player runs away to score. Pathetic, it’s a repeat of the last game, we’re shooting ourselves in the feet.

We lose 3-1. Dolan gets pulled out, and the same player slams it in. Dolan looks to be a waste of space, and all through the match I could feel Gavin Bassinder’s eyes boring into me from my left. The only redeeming feature is Dolan’s header from a corner. Just to help, Parke gets sent off, getting two of our 8, 8! Bookings! So, once again, I’ll be missing my best defender, my target man, and my left winger for the next match. One more card and Jamie Tolley and David Edwards will both be suspended. I don’t have a bottomless pit of players!
What is also annoying is that these are 3rd to bottom, these last two defeats have cost us dearly. Instead of being second, we’re 6th, and slipping further by the game. We’ve scored 46, and let in 32, which is far too many.

26.12.04
Big game today, we’re at home to the current league leaders, Rushden and Diamonds. Again, no-one has appeared to solve our left sided problem, so I produce another clever trick, and move Briscoe to left midfield, with Challis coming in at full back. Bassinder replaces Todd, and McEwen for Parke.
Today is the day we turn it round.

Half time, its 1-1. Gavin Bassinder headed us in front from a corner, but they equalized with a thunderous free kick. We’ve had all the play, but without Bolt we can’t get behind them. Its scoring goals again, we just can’t do it.

We do it once in the second half, and manage to stop them doing it at all. On one of our breakaways, Briscoe’s sweet left foot clips it over the defense. McEwen races onto it, and swings it around the keeper from a full 20 yards. Its enough, it’s the winner! We have to defend like heck for the rest of the match, but we do it wonderfully, and even find time for Fitzgerald to miss 2 one on ones. If a bid came in, I’d have trouble telling myself we couldn’t live without our second top scorer.

28.12.04
Scunthorpe away, a game we need to win really. Dave Edwards is injured, so Jamie Tolley comes in, and Chris Todd is back, so Bassinder makes way.

Half time, and we’ve been woeful for the whole 45 minutes. Talentless, clueless, tactless. Todd gave away a penalty for a stupid bit of shirt pulling after only 2 minutes, and its practically impossible to respond to. Then Todd made a mistake, leaving Howie completely exposed. 2-0. He’s going to get dropped if he’s not careful.

Somehow, we get back and salvage a 2-2 draw. Dave McEwen slides a low shot home, then Chris O’Brien hits an absolute screamer to get us level. Some of the chances we had we could have won, but I suppose we’ll have to take a point.

virtex

Brilliant read, KUTGW :thup: