retired_aprilcox

Except that you knew which team you were meant to cheer for a the firt match of xure!

retired_thefall05

2009/2010Bishop’s StortfordLeague 1

Budget:£1m
Expectations:Fight Bravely to Avoid Relegation

League one was another kettle of fish compared to league 2. It included such championship sides as Stoke, Crewe and Derby, whose grounds dwarfed my petty 4,000 (200 seated!). With a maximum gate of 50k per game, and renewed contracts now 15k over budget, the team was bleeding money heavily.

To ease this problem, I hoped the cups would send a golden envelope. Instead I got conference side Bury, at home in the FAC 3rd round. Thinking I would waltz past them, I rested the “big guns” for the tough league tie away at Stoke mid week. We lost 2-1, and they later drew Chelsea (a) in the 4th round!!

After last season (and the retirement of the fans fave) my left side look depleted. In came a new ATT MID L/R and another who could play any position on the left side. As usual the influx of young guns came in to boost the u18 and reserve sides. Most notable youth was a 17yo ST from Nuneateon, who was a 1st team regular for them and scored 23 goals last season. He played mainly in the reserves, scoring 30 goals in 18 MOM, while also scoring 3 in 5 for the 1st team. He was signed for £80k and is now worth £2m!

Surprisingly, no big players left during the summer. My Captain from season 1 still pulls in the MOM performances, and I now had 5 u21 and 2 u19 internationals in my squad (Ireland, England, Denmark, Scotland) It was a strong squad I took into League 1, especially my forwards.

The season started slowly, as the team got used to the better opposition. We hovered around relegation and mid table up till October, tinkering with the tactics as we went. Then we went on a run of 7 straight league wins, unbeaten in 9, which elevated us into the playoffs after Xmas.

It was at that point that I had a positive thought, and that I may just get promoted. In an instant the game changed. My Loyal Captain of 4 years decided he was too good for the club, creating a media merry-go-round saying he wanted to leave. Each time he was told he’s not going anywhere. Then 4 of my 5 internationals (more worryingly my ENG right back) got injured along my top scorer for last season, who had already contributed 20 league goals this season. We went 7 games without a win, picking up 2 points, mostly against sides in the bottom quarter of the league. We sat 14th in the league with 6 to play and believed this was a carbon copy of out 1st season in league 2.

However, when the captain stopped complaining and the injuries healed we started to win our games, against sides around the playoffs. This included the game of our season, trailing away at 5th place Crewe 3-1 with 10 men. The players rallied round, and my increased attacking formation made them believe we would get something. We destroyed them 2nd half, and at 3-3, the teams evened up 10 a piece and we took a 5-4 win pushing us into the playoffs. On the last day, we played 4th place Swindon, needing to at least equal Crewe’s result away at relegated Leyton Orient. Fortunately, we drew, they lost and we finished 6th.

We reached the playoff final with a 2-1 aggregate win against Hartlepool. The final was a tense affair, meeting Stoke at the new Wembley. A tight game, similar to the final league game, it ended 0-0 after extra time (having missed a pen in the 80th min!).
Our superior strike force kept their nerve to win 4-2 and book our place in the Championship!

retired_thefall05

sorry, slightly longer than intended!

retired_lastdietever

KUTGW ASKLTK! :thup:

retired_lastdietever

Just a thought... do we REALLY need whole words? It would be so much quicker to just communicate in acronyms...

retired_thefall05

Just a quick mid season update.

Im at Xmas in season 2010/11, and am sitting happily in 9th spot in the Championship. This is due to a very good away record which has seen victories over Watford, Wolves and Brighton. West Ham are walking the league after being relegated. Home form is ok, but with a max imcome of 65k a game (4000 cap - 250 seated) we are nothing compared to some of the clubs.

General team news is the 17yo st i signed for 80k has become 1st striker, worth £3m and had 11 goals in 14 league games. On a downer, my Captain since season 1, the ATT/MC who has been the player of the save, wants to leave. Contract is up in the summer and i have already fought to keep him in the previous season, but now i think he will leave for nothing.

Transfer news, the att/l i signed last season for 7k was sent packing for 2m to Reading (who rots in the reserves!) and the young st i signed in my 1st season of league 2 was sold to Preston for 900k, leaving me a heafty wedge to spend. I loanned some new wingers from Prem Reserves, whilst signing a curreny Man City "bum boy" to anchor my new look midfield.

CUPS STILL SUX