retired_jagades

Mon 29.8.05
Today is quite a big day, not because Swindon are some huge rivals of ours, but because it’s the first return to Gay Meadow for Danny Bolt, and with him up against Danny Smith, we could be in trouble. He gets a good reception, and I have a quick chat with him in the tunnel. Its not that long since he went though, so we’ve still been on the phone sorting bits and pieces out.
William Thompson is on the bench, and he gets a big cheer when announced before the match.

Half time, and we’re 1-0 up. Its been a tough game, which I think we’ve just shaded. Our goal was good. Lunt got the ball to Hoseth, who clipped it over his shoulder to Pereira. Pereira held off one man, beat another got to the edge of the area and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net. Apart from one great chance for Hoseth which he missed, that’s been about it. They’ve had some good chances, and the lively Fallon is keeping Lantz busy. We need another goal really. Keith Andrews has genuinely not been up to it, so my record signing makes his debut.

The second half, and the contribution of Fredy, is very pleasing. We end up winning by that one goal to nil. We miss chance after chance, several of them created by Thompson’s excellent passing, but also have to defend like heck at times.
Danny Bolt never shows, he was one of two of their remaining subs warming up when they prepared to make a change. I was pleased to see the other lad come on. If they’d played him we’d have been in trouble, Lantz and Wilson were fine, but the fullbacks looked a bit stretched today.

What this means folks, is that, we’re top of the league sir!

1.9.05
Few photo’s to be taken today, with me winning Manager of the Month and Kenny Lunt player of the month!

10.9.05
Cheltenham away, a tough game, but they’re not doing very well, so hopefully we can get 3 points. Thompson is in for Andrews.

Half time, and we’re 2-1 up. A penalty put us ahead, Pereira being fouled at a corner, and Valo firing in. Our second goal is excellent. William Thompson wins a tackle and slides the ball to Stefanidis. He plays it infield to Lunt, who moves it left for Valo. He clips a ball over the top, and Pereira places it into the net from the edge of the area!
Their goal was lucky, as Guinan shot, the ball deflected off Lantz, and bobbled past Oakes, who had previously made two blinding saves. There are 3 points there for us, and we have to take them. McManus on for Hoseth at half time.

4 minutes into the second half, and only 2 minutes after Andy Oakes had pulled off and Buffon like one handed, they equalize. In comes the ball, and Kenny Lunt trips up their striker. Pen, and its thundered home.
Cosford not happy, but fortunately, we upped our game a bit, and finished with a flourish, scoring two late goals. Firstly Tom McManus, on as a sub, finishes off a sweeping counter attack and then Yahia, on as a sub for Lantz, heads home a corner.

In the end a comfortable win, but it nearly wasn’t credit to the lads for defending solidly and taking enough chances to win us the game.

17.9.05
Swansea at home, and whilst they’ve had a good start, this should really be a win for us today. One change, with Yahia coming in for the still unfit Joachim Lantz.

Half time, and we’re rocking at 2-0 up. It was two long balls, one from Yahia, and one from Ivar Valo, inside his own half, which set Hoseth away to score with two excellent low finishes.
Whilst we’ve been made to defend at times, we’re playing about the best I’ve ever seen us, and we could have had more goals. William Thompson, bossing the game from midfield, has hit the post, and a mass scramble and a poor cross was all that was preventing Pereira from nodding home in stoppage time.
Some of our passing has been terrific, and if we keep it up, we should win comfortably.

A fantastic goal gets us our 3rd. Thompson wins it and lays it right to Stefanidis. He knocked it back inside to Lunt, who flicked it over the full back to the Swedish winger. He crossed first time right to the far post where Pereira arrived like a train to plant a typically classy header back across the keeper and into the corner. The fans become almost delirious, is this a Shrewsbury team playing quick swaggering football and scoring goals off it?
It is you know, and we do it again with 10 minutes later. Scott Wilson wins a towering header in his own box and it comes to Kenny Lunt. He takes a touch and fires a sensational 60 yard pass over the defense to Pereira. His first touch is superb, it gives him time to place himself, and clip a perfect chip over the keeper and into the bottom corner.

It’s a fantastic performance, we looked like a absolutely class outfit tonight, everything we did worked perfectly, they simply couldn’t cope.

A new record set of 7 wins in a row!

20.9.05
A interesting game tonight, with us playing our local rivals Hereford United away in the League Cup. They’re top of League Two having been promoted from the conference last year, and in truth we have the talent to stuff them, but it probably won’t be as easy as that. I make no changes.

Half time, and we’re 1-0 up. Danny Smith fired a lovely ball down the wing, and Erick Hoseth cut inside their defender and squared the ball to Pereira, who tapped in. To be fair, they’ve had a lot of the play, and hit the post after one fantastic move had ripped us apart. On the break though, we’re really dangerous, and both Hoseth and Pereira could have scored, denied only by last minute challenges. We can win this, but the next goal will be key. If they get it, we’ll be on the ropes, if we get it, we can begin to dominate.

We score 3 minutes after half time. A header away comes to Backman, and his fabulous left wing cross to the far post is headed powerfully in by Hoseth for his 5th of the season. A great ball in, absolutely inch perfect from Backman, but after that, it was all Hereford. Doing a good impression of us last year they played some fabulous football and had us on the ropes for long periods, but were denied time and time again by Scott Wilson, and, when necessary, by the huge frame of Andy Oakes.

Pleased to win in the end, and it showed great character, but we could easily have lost today to tell you the truth. Nice to see us defend so solidly, but we gave the ball away far too much in midfield. They had us rattled, and we didn’t have the composure to cope with it. Pleasing result though, and keeps our run going.

22.9.05
Two bits of news. Firstly we’ve drawn Crewe at home in the next round of the League Cup, and we’ll be without Tomas Backman for 2 weeks, as he’s strained his hamstring. A bit of a blow, but this is the reason I signed a big squad.

24.9.05
The tough games never stop coming, with Torquay away from home this afternoon. Plainmoor has never been the easiest place to go, and with them scrapping for points, as us too to a certain extent, its going to be a hard game we have to be ‘up for’. Backman is replaced by Briscoe.

Half time, and its 1-1. They took the lead through a goal we should never have conceded. When a long ball came into our box, it should have been delt with by Yahia. He left it, and Wilson was forced to swipe at it. He made contact with the end of his boot, and it skewed out to the edge of the area. It was played back in and Oakes pulled off a great save from the header. Unfortunately, not a blue shirt reacted, and the rebound was stabbed in.
We go straight up the other end, and should instantly equalize. Hoseth played Pereira through, and his clever little shot hits the post.
Just before half time, we do get back. Oakes takes a quick kick to Pereira, and he plays a reverse ball over the defense to Hoseth, who streaks clear and finishes coolly into the bottom corner. There are 3 points there for us in the second half if we want them, we’re playing well on the break, and it won’t take much for us to nick the 2nd goal we deserve.

The second half is a hectic and end to end affair. We’re in it all the way, although they probably have more of the play. On the break we create chances, and even score a goal, which is disallowed for pushing. I then make what is probably a mistake, bringing off Pereira, and replacing him with Weatherson. Within 10 minutes big Peter has had 3 chances where a cool head was needed, and missed the lot.
We do score again! Kenny Lunt, who had an absolutely fantastic game in midfield tonight, picked up the ball from a clearance, and fired it down the right to Hoseth. He started running, and simply kept going, beating 2 men, cutting into the box and hammering the ball with tremendous pace and power high into the far corner. Their keeper barely moved.
They came at us, but with Andy Oakes a huge presence, and Scott Wilson growling and snarling at anyone daring to come into his box, we made it through to claim a fantastic 3 away points!

This is a terrific result, and I can’t praise the players enough for getting it. To come to a place like this and get all 3 points show a fantastic professionalism and determination. It does our players credit tonight.

One blow, Fredy William Thompson picked up a knock, and will be out for about 2 weeks.

retired_jagades

27.9.05
We play in the LDV Vans tonight, which is a competition I’d love to win. We have a winnable tie, with Conference side Accrington Stanley away. I do make several changes, mainly to give players a rest. Tonkin plays left back, with Lunt going to left wing to put Jamaican international Keith Kelly in central midfield alongside Keith Andrews. Adam Proudlock makes his debut on the right wing. I could have made even more changes, bringing in some of the very young kids, but I want to make sure we win tonight.
They’re playing a 5 man midfield, but with only 3 at the back, so the order is to get it wide quickly. Its direct pass into the wingers time. The middle two’s job is to run about and stop their middle 3.

Half time, its worked well, and we’re 1-0 up. Lunt and Pereira, their class showing against a weaker team, are absolutely bossing this. The goal was a bit dodgy compared to some of the fantastic chances our wonderful long range passing has carved out, but it’ll do. Cutting in from the left, Lunt fired a ball between two centre back to Hoseth, who volleyed it. Their superb young keeper, who has kept them in it so many times, palmed it away, and Pereira prodded in.
We’ve destroyed them to be honest. We have control of the midfield, and Lunt especially is ripping them apart. Hoseth’s skill and pace is leading the line, whilst Pereira is dropping off and taking people out either with a trick or a fantastic pass. We should have had more goals, but I’m confident they’ll come. One change at half time, Pereira has a knock, so is replaced by 23 year old Paul Di Giacomo at half time, rather than Tom McManus. I have too many players! I don’t want to sub Pereira, but there is no sense in him getting further injured.

Although they equalize with a good finish 10 minutes into the second half, we run out 3-1 winners. I bring on Tom McManus, and his extra width on the right gives us what we need. Its him that sets up our 2nd goal, with a raking pass from the right which finds Kenny Lunt. Kenny chips it over the defense, and Paul Di Giacomo takes a deft touch and blasts it unstoppably into the top corner. A great finish from a class looking player. Its McManus that actually sets up, and again Di Giacomo who scores, our final goal. McManus bursts past his full back, cuts inside, and fires a wonderful whipped cross who Di Giacomo sweeps home into the corner first time. That’s food for thought then.

Pleased to win, and overall we did pretty well. Our football was excellent as usual, even though our team was slightly weakened, we did excellently.

1.10.05
A very tough game today, with us playing second placed Crewe at home. Its one we need to win to prove we can mix it with the more fancied teams in the league. We do have a problem though, because both Thompson and Keith Andrews are injured. This means that young Stephen Simmons will come in (out of position) to make his debut. Valo is back on the left, Lunt in the middle and Stefanidis on the right.

Half time, and its 0-0, but its very precarious, and they could score quite easily one gets the feeling. We’ve done ok, but we need to score a goal desperately.

Neither team scores, and we both get a point I suspect both of us are probably about happy with. Whilst Oakes did have to make some great saves, we were the better team, and coming forward we played some fantastic football. Our best move led to the best chance, with Valo and Lunt weaving their way down the wing, before crossing to the far post where Stefanidis’ header hit the bar.

It was a ok performance, we could have done with nicking it, but in the circumstances I’m happy.


8.10.05
A free weekend for us, as all the international teams are in action.
That includes Guatemala, even though I felt very strongly that William Thompson, only just back from injury, shouldn’t have been involved.

15.10.05
Back in action today with Brentford at home, and the rest has been good for our more knackered squad members. Backman returns to left back, and Fredy William Thompson reappears in central midfield.

Half time, and we’re 1-0 down. We’ve pasted them, but we can’t score, and they hit us on the break and scored. I’m furious, and I want goals, and I want them now!

It’s a tense 2nd half. They come forward much better and Andy Oakes earns man of the match for his saves, but at the other end, their tackles are a bit less feriocious, and I produce another good substitution, which changes the game. Hoseth, whose skill they had covered, and McManus on.
Its Pereira who equalizes, flipping the ball into the net from point blank range off McManus’s cross. We’re starting to move now, and we take the lead only 4 minutes later. Kenny Lunt slides a ball through their defense, and from the edge of the area, McManus cracks a vicious drive along the pitch and into the bottom corner. He’s a plucky kid, he just seems to have space and when he doesn’t he barges past people. Very hard to get the ball off.
In stoppage time, its him that gets our 3rd. We make a break away, and win a corner. Kenny Lunt swings it to the edge of the area, where McManus meets it full on the volley and sends it thundering into the top corner of the net.

In the end a convincing win, but we didn’t play convincingly for a lot of the game. It’s the 3 points that matters though, and if we can keep picking them up, then we have a great chance of staying top of the league!

19.10.05
Another potentially tough game tonight, with Huddersfield away. We’re without the injured Valo, so Lunt goes to the left, and Andrews comes into the middle.

Half time and its 0-0. We’ve had all the play, but we’re struggling to actually score a goal again.

In the first period of the second half, we miss so many chances its untrue, just shooting everything at their keeper. So I change it, Hoseth comes off, and McManus comes on. Inside ten minutes, its had an effect. William Thompson gets the ball to Andrews, who fires a lovely ball between their two centre halves. McManus takes a touch, lets it run across him, and hammers it into the net.
They then go for it, but Andy Oakes is like a cat, saving things that look almost unsavable. On the break though, we’re destroying them, with just our final ball letting us down, and, in stoppage time, we get our reward. A header comes to Pereira inside his own half, and sets him off running. He keeps going, and beats three men, gets to the edge of the area, draws the keeper, and rolls the ball square to McManus, who only has to roll it into a unguarded net. 2-0, thanks very much.

A fantastic professional performance, and a wonderful 3 points!

22.10.05
Blackpool away, yet another very hard game for us to take on. There are 2 changes, Yahia is injured, so Lantz comes in, and Hoseth is dropped for McManus. I can’t leave a lad with 4 in 2 on the bench any longer.

I was ten seconds away from talking 3 points at half time. Now I have to talk about getting back into the game. We’d played excellently and defended superbly until stoppage time, when we switched off, and they scored from a cross. Not on. We need to get hold of the ball in midfield, and keep it for a while, because at the moment, we aren’t.

We lose 3-1. They’re first to every ball, we’re slow and ponderous. Twice they get crosses in when sharp reactions would have stopped them, and they score two easy goals. We had a couple of chances, one of which Kenny Lunt converted with a direct free kick, but this was definitely our worst performance of the season.
We mustn’t allow it to push us down, today was bad, but we need to go back to the way we have been playing. One problem today was Kenny Lunt, wide on the left he saw so much of the ball, but was unable to do much with it. He isn’t quick enough to be a winger, especially on his wrong side.

retired_jagades

26.10.05
Home tonight to Crewe again, this time in the league cup. One change, Smith is injured, so in comes Yahia at right back.

Half time, and its 0-0. Its been end to end and could go either way. We must make sure it goes ours.

Its into extra time, mainly because given millions of chances, we can’t score. I’d have money on us losing this.

I would have lost my money, but got it back on the prize money, because we’ve won the match.
Our two goals, from youngster Paul Di Giacomo, are both excellent. For the first, almost straight from the kick off, he received the forward pass from Kenny Lunt, took a touch, and hammered it like a dart into the far corner from a full 25 yards. The ground goes mad.
He scores again 5 minutes later, in exactly the same circumstances, but about 15 yards further in. This time though, the pass coming from Scott Simmons.
Pleased to eventually win tonight, it gives us some more money, and we’re back to winning ways.

29.10.05
Chesterfield at home back in the league, and we must ensure this is 3 points. Smith returns for Yahia, but no other changes.

Half time, and we’re 1-0 down a simple header. This is ridiculous, we should not be losing to these! Get the ball, pass it to a blue shirt, and stick it in the net!!!! Di Giacomo comes on for Andrews with Lunt going to the middle, Stefanidis and McManus to the right.

We lose 2-0, and I am absolutely furious. We massacred them, and they scored on the break. They had 2 shots, 2!!!! Both went in. In the dressing room I scream at our front players, they were bloody useless tonight, not a shot between them. For gods sake, scoring goals is vital, you have got to score bloody goals, that’s what I pay you for! I then round on Babis Stefanidis. All blasted 50 yard passes and fancy skills, but absoltuly no product at all tonight. F-ing waste of space. One of his ‘better’ tricks got him into so much trouble he lost the ball and then was booked getting it back. He’ll miss the next match. I am livid, we did nothing tonight, Thompson was useless, Stefanidis was crap, Lunt anonymous, Pereira out muscled, and the defense appeared half asleep.

1.11.05
Away at Port Vale tonight, in the LDV Vans. Changes to the team are as follows: Out; Lantz, Stefanidis, Andrews. In: Yahia, Fotheringham, Ivar Valo (goes to left wing, Lunt in middle.)
I am not a nice person to know at the moment, and I want a win tonight.

Half time, and we’re 2-0 up, despite being outplayed. Yahia scored from a corner on only 6 minutes, and then, 4 minutes before half time, McManus collected a Lunt pass, and slams it into the far corner from 20 yards. Humm… nice strike. Hold it lads, and win the game.

We’ve doubled our score by full time, even though they should really have scored some goals. Pereira extends our lead with a lovely little chip following Stephen Simmons’ through ball and the Simmons himself scores, with a deflected long range strike. The young midfielder looks very useful.

5.11.05
Looking to keep that good form going today, with Bradford City at home. One change, with Stefanidis coming back in for Fotheringham.

The first half has been one of our better days, and I’m convinced we’ve scored a goal of the season. We’re 3-0 up, with all of them going to Ramon Pereira. His first was a beautiful strike from the edge of the area, simply slamming it home from the edge of the area from a McManus cross. His second was slightly fortuitous, as Stefandis’s cross was deflected to him, but he swept his 11th goal of the season home from around the penalty spot with aplomb. Now for the beauty! Yahia won a header on the edge of his own area, and it came to Pereira. He laid it off to Lunt, forward to Thompson, sideways to Lunt, forward to Stefanidis, inside to McManus on the edge of the area, back to Lunt, and a pass rolled inside the defender for Pereira to curl it beautifully around the keeper from just inside the area. As one touch passing it was Ajax, for counter attacking it was Arsenal, it was simply perfect!
There has been one thing to mar this, with Kenny Lunt being sent off. His two bookings were both silly trips, and the second was a little harsh. He needed a rest anyway.

We absolutely cruise the second half, even with a man less than them. We score a excellent 4th goal, when, at a free kick, Stefanidis clips the ball to the left side, where Pereira chips it beautifully to the far post where big Scott Wilson scores his first Shrewsbury goal.

A fantastic performance obviously, they couldn’t get near us today. When we’re on form like this no team in the league could beat us. We go back to the top of the league and deservedly so.

retired_jagades

9.11.05
Tonight is the daddy of all games this year, our League Cup 4th round tie away at St James’ Park. That’s St James’ Park Newcastle, not Exeter.
It’s a cold Wednesday night on Tyneside, the mist is low around the absolutely colossal stadium, and it’s a good atmosphere. Most of our lads are silenced by the size of the place, some of these players have played in biggish grounds, but this is something different. This is Newcastle United.
We go out and train on the vast expanse of pitch, and as the ground fills, a rumble of noise rolls around us. It’ll only be half full tonight.
As far as the game goes, obviously, we’ll probably get stuffed. However, spies tell me they’ll only be playing 3 at the back, and therefore we do have a chance on the counter attack. Basically, I expect to lose, but I don’t expect to be absolutely steamrollered, because we should be too professional for that, and I expect us to give them a good game. McManus is injured, and Lunt is suspended, so Hoseth and Andrews come in.
I’m out to enjoy tonight. We came up here yesterday and we’ve spent a good day in Newcastle. The idea is to use this as a little holiday, with a football match on top. You never know, the relaxation may even help them tonight.

Half time, and we’re 3-0 down. Jenas smashed them ahead, and Patrick Kluivert has got two to basically put the game beyond us. Two of their goals were unstoppable but I feel the 3rd we could have done something about. We’ve done ok going forward, and we’re playing some good stuff. We did score, a good move putting McManus away, but only after scoring a place finish was he told he was marginally offside. And I mean marginally.

We end up losing 6-1. Its incredibly disappointing because it wouldn’t have happened had Fredy William Thompson not got himself sent off for meaninglessly kicking Nicky Butt. With only ten men we can’t hope to compete. At least we do score the goal we deserve. McManus, up front by himself, gets away down the right, and crosses to the far post, where Ivar Valo arrives in space to volley a once in a lifetime goal.

Ah well, I was happy enough. Some of our football was excellent, and for a while we looked genuinely dangerous. I don’t have too many complaints though.
On the plus side, today has made us nearly half a million pounds.

11.12.05
Transfers today, and we’ll start with the outgoing. Joe Dolan, a pillar of strength in our reserve side these last few months, has left us for Luton Town. He did us a job, but I never felt he did as much for us as he could. He’s gone for £14k.
In have come two loan players. Craig Pead is a DMR/C we’ve taken on loan from Coventry for a few months. He’s a determined lad and we’ll see how he fits us.
Also in is Carl Cort, on loan from Wolves. He’s here to give us another option up front, and again, to see if he’s any good for us. I may be looking for new recruits in the summer…

12.11.05
Its another cup today, and one that could make us just as much money if we progress. It’s the F.A Cup, and we have League Two Southend away, a game we could well lose, but should really win... With Lunt and Thompson suspended, Pead and Andrews come into midfield. No other changes. After Wednesday night, we must focus, and get on with winning today.

Half time, and we’re 2-1 up. Tom McManus gave us a two goal lead, firstly firing in from around the penalty spot after a great cross from Valo, then he picked up a through ball from Pead, held off his man, and finished perfectly into the corner. I reckon he’s about the best finisher we have. Unfortunately, I have to sub him, he’s taken a knock, so Carl Cort makes his debut.
They pulled a goal back before half time, but this is our game to win. We mustn’t’ **** this up.

We don’t, and demonstrate a high level of professionalism to end up winning 3-1. I was very pleased, it was a good end to end game, but in every area we were superior. Their long ball was eaten up by our centre backs and breaking forward we used the ball fantastically. Had he actually shot instead of trying to beat just one more man Ramon Pereira could have had a hattrick. He twice went around the keeper then hesitated before being tackled. We did score another in the end, Yahia heading in at a corner.

Overall very pleased, we got through to the next round in an important competition, and did so with a certain measure of style.
Whilst Tom McManus proved not to be seriously injured, Carl Cort took a knock and will be out for a week.

16.11.05
On the day that news came through that Fredy William Thompson will get another 2 match ban, we have to play Bournemouth away tonight in a game in hand we could do with winning. Lunt comes back alongside Andrews in midfield, and Di Giacomo comes to the bench in place of Cort.

Half time, and we’re 1-0 up. Our goal was slightly flukey, with Keith Andrews’ shot being heavily deflected off their defender, but overall we have deserved it. These can be beaten, and 3 valuable points claimed here tonight, but we must be professional and ensure that we do that.

Again, we manage it, although it takes some tough defending and good goalkeeping at times. We win 2-0, Babis Stefanidis crossing into the area where Ramon Pereira is on hand to place it neatly into the far corner. It’s a excellent result, it takes us 3 points clear at the top of the league, and shows that we can produce tough away performances when we need to.