Season 2007/2008 <STRIKE>Wycombe</STRIKE> /Doncaster and <STRIKE>Portugal</STRIKE>
Again I was in charge of those boys. Again there wasn’t a budget. The summer singings gave us some additional strength we started the season well but a long term injury in our key striker soon made me realise that we were short on options, tried out some loans and promoted some youngsters. I revamped the whole backroom staff and tried out some new tactics. This time our defence was OK bought 3 decent goal keepers plus 1 hot prospect central defender which gave me strength to carry on with this hard job. I also managed to get back to green balance and a nice 8th place.
In: 17 players (€ 18k)
Out: 16 players (€ 230K )
It wasn’t even December when Doncaster asked me if I wanted to avoid their relegation. They were sitting sadly in the last place of League One. When I first met the players, the staff and MOSTLY THE BUDGET (€ 2M) I felt like I was in heaven. Plus the squad had 3 promising French players, an Irish goal keeper who was dubbed the new irishinternationalcurrentlyatnewcastle and a promising Irish midfielder only 16 who was already my best player! I couldn’t realise how the team could be in the last place.
After 17 games winning streak we lost for a huge 4-1 Away with Tranmere when we at least deserved to win by 1-0 (they score two straight free kicks plus one goal which my Danish striker decided to help them out) Danish striker wasn’t on hiss days… He finished the season with 21 goals in 42 appearances in the end of the season he jumped up to Biefield some decent Bundesliga team. Many big European clubs were trying to get the next irishinternationalcurrentlyatnewcastle but I managed to keep him before I left (that’s another story), I was receiving offers of € 5M for my star midfield, plus € 3M for my French defender both were denied to leave. Both fans and board became excited about my performance above their expectations (they wanted to stay clear from relegation) BUT I WON THE LEAGUE ONE 3 points ahead of Cardiff, plus I got to the last 16 teams on the English cup ( don’t blame me I was just lucky on every team I had to face), got beaten but Derby in the replay match, sadly as in the first game I scored a last minute (at least I thought) goal from a wonderful free kick from my star midfielder after 45 seconds I conceded some stupid goal!!!
My training methods were now perfect evryone was developing well in their key abilities, although many players got injured because they were too intensive :p .
1 | C | Doncaster | 46G | 27W | 11D | 8L | 84GS | 49GC | +35GD | 92P |
In: 14 players (€ 1.5M
) 6 staff (€ 190K including me)
Out: 11 players (€ 240K)
I was proposed the Portugal job I wasn’t very happy at that as I would lose much time on them they were having big problems in getting to the European but I was able to help them with a lucky 2nd place. Feeling sad about my performance I resigned, they asked me again for the job but this time I said no, someone else would have to be sacked during the European not me!
Highlights:
<UL TYPE=SQUARE> Wycombe almost got to the playoffs in League Two
Worksop escaped relegation in the last day
I was awarded 5 times Manager of the Month
League One was my first title (don’t know if there will be more)
</UL>
In the end of the season I was approached by Bolton and Leeds (both recently relegated from Premier League) both were rejected but I didn’t stay with Doncaster had a “big”
offer (later you will know)… Doncaster must be happy with me as I left the squad ready for nest season before leaving.
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