[deano4blues]

10 Dec 2009

‘What do you think about the vacant manager’s post here at Wycombe, Deano?’ What do I think about it? I think we need to get someone in quickly who knows what they’re doing. I think the clubs policy of sacking managers and the positions short life expectancy is a problem. I really think that Gary Waddock should still be in a job right now instead of ringing around and tapping into his network of football associates keeping an ear out and an eye open for his next management position. Yet what did I say... none of the above.

‘I think it’s a challenging job and a cut throat business – who’ve you got in mind to replace Gary?’ Go on Mr. Hayes. Mr hot shot, chairman of the Chairboys, who’ve you got lined up that you think you can pull the plug on Waddock and still keep the fans happy and hopeful of staying up in League One.

‘Well...’ Steve said, eyeing me up carefully, hinting but also waiting for some kind of reaction or evocation of emotion. It slowly crept over me where his thought process was going, and for all of the loyalty I had to Gary Waddock, I couldn’t help but feel excited.

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 19 July 2010 - 11:52 PM

[deano4blues]

10 Dec 2009 cont.

There must be someone more qualified than me. Obviously a big name was out of the question, we weren’t Notts County, capable of bunging millions of pounds the way of some Swedish ex-England manager. But still, there must be someone out there who had more experience in this league than myself. I may have grown up at the club and enjoyed some relative success as the youth team coach. But first team manager, you’re having a laugh!

The first question I had to ask myself before I seriously considered taking on this job was whether I believed I could actually keep this team in Coca-Cola League One. A clear and resounding yes reverberated around my head. I could do this job. I knew how the club was run from top to bottom, I had my own ideas of how to improve it and more importantly, I was already familiar with the players. Jeez – I was taking sessions with them twice a week as it was. Light looseners and fun sessions with the lads, keeping morale up and making sure we were relaxed and stretched properly the day after a game.

So if I believed in myself and thought I could do the job – then why was I hesitating at all? Why had I told Steve Hayes that I needed a few days to think about it and mull over his offer. I suppose a bit of respect for Gary (he’d only been sacked a few days ago after all) but also the other implications of the job that I had witnessed from the outside. I had job security in what I was doing now. Coaching the under 18’s was a doddle. We won our fair share of games, I knew what it was like to play in the youth team here myself. Plus I had managed to create a winning culture that put these lads in great stead before trying to make the cut for pro contracts here, or elsewhere (as would happen to far too many of them). I was on a good wage and safe in the knowledge that I couldn't really put a foot wrong.

So I wouldn’t have job security – so what?! I’d be on a lucrative wage for the duration of the contract and if they fired me, I’d be entitled to a severance package. Plus I could always go and find work elsewhere afterwards. I had a degree in accounting, my coaching badges and a fair few contacts in the game should the worst happen and I end up getting the axe like Gary only a few days prior.

What else would change, how else could this affect me? The pressure would be enormous. Everyone in High Wycombe already knows who I am. I grew up here; I played for the club for a few years myself. I didn’t have a wife or kids, so at least I wouldn’t be dragging anyone else down with me should I fail.

I sat back and sank into my sofa, kicking my feet up onto the table in front and closing my eyes, still thinking it over, taking it in. I could be the next manager of Wycombe Wanderers. Forget the negativity; brush aside the ideas of relegation or failure in your first big position in the game. What if you succeeded? What if you kept Wycombe up and had something to build on next season. That was a thought I relished.

I pulled my laptop from the table beside my sofa and whipped up the homepage. BBC Sport. Wycombe Wanderers are languishing at the foot of the table. A meagre total of 18pts from 21 games and three points from safety. Next game: Sat 12th Dec ’09 Carlisle away. As I plugged my laptop back in at the table, I felt a slight tingling on my right thigh. My phone was vibrating. Text message perhaps. Which reminds me – I should probably shoot my best mate a text and let him know what’s going on.

The phone keeps vibrating in my pocket – phone call.

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 20 July 2010 - 01:11 AM

[deano4blues]

10 Dec 2009 Cont

Not a few hours had passed and Steve Hayes was already on the blower trying to sway me and push me towards accepting the job. Does he have no other targets or is he just pinning his hopes entirely on me. After a short conversation, a formal offer was in place. I’d toyed with the concept – but now it was real. I had just been offered the job as Wycombe Wanderers manager.

I already knew I was going to accept – now it was just a matter of ironing out the minor details before my official acceptance and getting to work. The first item of order, not money – but staff. I wanted the right people in place in order to succeed as manager of my boyhood club. Martin Kuhl had to go. He was the assistant manager under Gary Waddock and someone that did not impress me in the slightest. His attitude was less than admirable, his work rate was lacking and his affect on the players was average at best.

As part of the staff already – I knew the guys behind the scenes at this club were capable – but would that be enough to cut it in this league. Did we want to just be capable or adequate or did we want to excel and push on to greater things. Although initially I would only want to install my own assistant – I would require greater control over staff members as well as playing staff in my reign as manager. Steve had to be prepared for that and it wasn’t something I was prepared to negotiate.

Money came next – I didn’t need an agent for this. I knew what kind of money Gary was on and I’d expect the same. Although I lacked the credentials of many other managers in the league, I was confident in my ability to do the job. Therefore, I’d expect a deal that took me to the end of the 10-11 season and matched up to that of the previous manager. Once these two possible stumbling blocks were removed I could start concentrating on players and what I deemed necessary to stay up and push on in the future.
I would call Mr. Hayes back in the morning to discuss the deal in more detail and make him sweat before accepting his offer. In my mind, the perfect time to announce the deal would be after the next game against Carlisle. No need to distract the players before then. That way I could travel up and watch the game without adding any extra pressure to the guys trying to impress their coach-to-be. In the mean time, Kuhl was in charge, something that displeased me immeasurably, but that, I kept to myself.

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 21 July 2010 - 01:09 AM

[deano4blues]

12 Dec 09 - Carlisle v. Wycombe Wanderers

Having already opened negotiations with Steve Hayes and Ivor Beeks (the director) I was getting a positive feeling about this job. Not only were things running smoothly, but it seems like they were so desperate for me to take charge, they’d do anything to have me sign on the dotted line. With the phone on hands-free as I travelled to Brunton Park, I was once again engaged in conversation with Mr. Hayes.

Sweetening the deal seemed to be a natural habit of his as he threw in a company car to the deal and also started to hint at new housing prospects for me. There was a new closed-gate community opening up with properties available – some of the lads even lived there. Or there were the bigger houses a little further out towards the countryside that might interest me, he said. All the while he was giving his sale pitch and putting these big ideas of grandeur in my head, I was just thinking – when do I get started and get this contract signed. It was a formality but something that had to be put together by the clubs legal staff before we could things officially. Plus it was necessary for Steve to organise the necessary press for the occasion when I was to sign the deal.

Once Steve had stopped chewing my ear off about new houses, I hung up the call and was only minutes from the ground. The next time I travelled away to a game like this, I’d be in charge. Calling the shots, picking the team, geeing the boys up for each 90 minute battle against the opposition.

After finding my seat amongst some of the Wycombe Wanderers fans I started to eye up the stadium. It was small and tidy; seats empty here and there – but overall looking good. On the sidelines, Martin Kuhl, temporary manager, stood alone in his tracksuit. Not long Deano.

After a dull first half the boys filed into the tunnel rather half heartedly. No real chances had been created at either end and it was all fairly typical English football. Long balls, aim for the big man. Any free kicks; send the centre halves up and lump it in there – usual tactics for a Sunday team. But for a Coca Cola League One team – surely we had more to offer. At the top of the table, Charlton were bossing it. They knew how it was done. But then again, they were fallen giants, with memories of days in the Premiership with big games, big money and big egos.

Two minutes into the second half and finally a glimpse of ability on the pitch. Right winger Kevan Hurst, understanding the concept of third man running, latched onto a flick around the corner from their target man. Beating the offside trap, Hurst stormed forwards with a defender nowhere near him and slotted past the outrushing Steve Arnold in goal. 1-0 down and an extremely sloppy start to the second half from the Chairboys. There was no life, or urgency, as Wycombe kicked back off and that’s how it remained for the rest of the game. Wycombe, with no imagination, and Carlisle, more than happy to absorb the long ball and deal with the headers – resulting in a comfortable win for the home side. Thanks for coming Wycombe, now off you go back to where you came from.

On the ride home I had a lot to mull over and a lot to change, the sooner I could get started, the better.


Carlisle 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers

Hurst ‘47

[deano4blues]

[deano4blues]

17 Dec 09 Cont
Finally, contract negotiations were in place. I was the newly appointed Wycombe Wanderers manager. After discovering that Gary Waddock had given me a glowing reference on his departure, I felt it necessary to call him straight away to let him know that I would be carrying on his work. He’d gone back home to get his head straight before seeking his next job. Yet, with all the uncertainty with his future – he had nothing but kind words and encouragement for me as I began my forage into the world of football management.

Not kids anymore – this was the big time. Make no mistake about it. Time to get serious. And I was very serious about this. No messing about – we were staying up and that was that. Martin Kuhl – gone. I didn’t need to think twice about that one. He was not pleased in the slightest, and Waddock was disappointed to hear I’d axed his right hand man. However, the team was my responsibility now and I needed someone I could fully trust and rely on in that position. I was on the search for an assistant manager and perhaps another coach. Hopefully one that could improve our technique and take us to the next level in terms of skill and ability.

Discussions with various admin staff within the club let me know my financial constraints – and with no transfer budget, it was necessary to sell some of the squad to other clubs in order to free up some wages if nothing else. Dealing in the transfer market was going to be a challenge. Youth team players I knew fairly well – but at this level there weren’t many that were going to make the cut and push our team on to where I wanted us to be. My knowledge was rather limited past that and I would be relying on our chief scout, George Cover, and other coaching recommendations until I could build a scouting network or get to a few games myself. That being said – I had to look at whatever was available for free, on loan or next to nothing.

I had ideas in my head about who I was going to be letting go of, or offering to other clubs. But that didn’t have to be done straight away. We were mid-season; as a result we’d have to wait until January to do the proper business of wheeling and dealing effectively. So much to sort out, my mind was already becoming overwhelmed with information. The necessity for an assistant was evident and the first on my managerial to-do list.

Our next game was against Oldham on Saturday the 19th. Just two days to go and I hadn’t taken a training session yet. Tomorrow would be my first day with the lads as gaffer and the day after would be a game at home. The fans would be very interested to see how I coped with this new role within their club. Most of them had heard my name thanks to the youth team success and I was glad to say I already had some pushing for me to be more involved higher up – it was time to repay them and keep this club in League One.

After a long day, and a ridiculous amount of phone calls, I managed to speak to current captain, Gareth Ainsworth. I wasn’t looking to disrupt the harmony at the club and told him I was happy for him to carry on as captain for the rest of the season before reassessing. Naturally a right winger, Gareth was a little shell-shocked when I informed him of my plans for a 4-3-3 and a vision of him leading us out as a right-back. ‘Just an idea Gareth, try and keep an open mind and I’ll innovate until we are capable of challenging for a place in the Championship’, I told him. He smirked that that wouldn’t be in his playing lifetime.

Being only two years younger than me, at 36, I thought he might be right – but perhaps he would still be here when the time came – his leadership was apparent from the off and it was something I was looking to utilise.

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 22 July 2010 - 02:43 AM

[Varanos]

really great read so far mate, enjoying it. nice layout and plenty of info, which your doing well to keep it interesting.

KIU

[deano4blues]

18 Dec 09

Adams Park may have been where the dreams were made and crushed for some of these guys. Some of the lads grew up, just wishing, dreaming they could play football professionally – and they’d made it. Adams Park was where they played in front of approximately 8,000 people week in, week out. This was where the fans thought they earned their money – they were wrong.

Molins training ground was where the Wycombe Wanderers earned their keep. This was where the work was put in. This was the place that was home to the hard work and endeavour that culminated in performances on a Saturday afternoon in front of the fans.

A lack of experience toyed with my thoughts and worried me. In order to squash that idea and be taken seriously, I dove straight into my plans for the club in the changing rooms. I announced Martin Kuhls departure to the lads and told the entire squad that for the next month and a half they were playing for places. No man was entitled to a place in this team. I had no pre conceived ideas about selection (I had only ever worked on a day to day basis with the youth team – and even that was interrupted by college courses nowadays). I wasn’t going to drill them or make it tough the day before a game. Instead – I got the serious business out of the way, and let the boys relax with a jog, stretch and a light six-a-side exercise. I wouldn’t be able to assess training attitude and hidden talent properly until I could see them regularly in training. That would have to wait until after tomorrow’s game at home v. Oldham.

After training was over I organised a meeting with the lads in the conference room. On the board I drew up the theoretical formation for tomorrow. The 4-3-3. Some worried looks adorned the teams faces (something I had left Gareth Ainsworth to assure people of). Although we hadn’t worked on it, I saw it as a good opportunity for the team. It would allow them to explore the formation on their own. The smart players would figure it out and define their roles automatically. This would allow me to assess intelligence and adaptability in a number of the team members. I also wanted to show the fans that we would be a positive side, looking to get results. If we were to escape relegation, we needed points, and I intended to go and take them. If we lost a few games because the formation didn’t work then so be it. I could adapt should the need arise. For now, that’s how we were going to play.

Tomorrow. My first game. Nervous? You bet. That evening I tried to pick a team based on what I knew of the guys and who I thought would fit into the 4-3-3 structure. After that; form, fitness and morale would play a major part on selection, with my coaching staff becoming more involved as we got to know each other. That night I lay in bed, fretting about a lack of preparation. Becoming a manager halfway through the season was a tough task to be thrown into, even for an experienced manager. I would need to be on top of my game tomorrow, as would the lads. It was their performances I would be judged on, and at this point in time, I had very little influence on that.

[deano4blues]

19 Dec 09


Wycombe Wanderers lay at the very bottom of the pile in League One and today was about taking my first step into the task of surviving. Knowing some of the lads already and leaning on the advice of my coaching staff, I went about finalising my team for the Oldham game.

There were a few players in the squad that I knew fairly well and if any of them were to be leaving, it would be a very tough decision. But I would cross that bridge when I came to it. Scott Shearer was the first I knew fairly well. A bit of a jack the lad, Shearer was very serious about his profession but also knew how to mix business with pleasure. Scott was a Scottish goalkeeper with great size and ability, his distribution was good, yet sometimes the mental aspect of being a goalkeeper weighed him down and this was apparent.

Gareth Ainsworth; Captain and soon to be right back, was the opposite of Shearer. He was an old head; serious, focused and experienced. At thirty-six he was no spring chicken, but I firmly believed he could still do a job at this level. I had earmarked Gareth as a possible coaching addition in the future should he choose to retire and he was somebody I trusted implicitly.

Another right winger that might suffer from my choice of formation was Kevin Betsy. He was in his second spell at the club after returning from Southend and might find his way to the door again. It was an unfortunate circumstance, but a possible necessity as he was on a cushy pay packet that couldn’t be supported if he was just going to sit on the bench. A flying right midfielder, he had bundles of energy and pace to spare, but just wasn’t flexible enough in terms of positioning to fit somewhere else into my new structure.

Currently up top were Alex Revell, on loan from Southend, and John Paul Pittman. A lack of goals and finishing ability were real concerns and something we’d need to address as soon as possible. Although both were good in the air, neither complimented the other and they were too similar in their approach to the game. My best hope was to utilise one of them and to find new players to play off of the flick-ons.

At the back, Chris Westwood stood out as having some experience and Craig Woodman had been at the club for some team. The real vibe I was getting when compared to the top teams in our league was that our core just wasn’t strong enough. I needed a spine to my team to begin with; I would work with what I had for today’s game and the near future. But starting tomorrow I was looking for a solid foundation to build this team upon.

In the future I would tell the lads the team the night before. This was necessary for them to prepare properly and focus. I didn’t want them wondering about the line-up instead of the opposition and our tactics for the game. In the changing rooms, the players looked ready to play. Ainsworth was really doing a good job of keeping the boys united despite being bottom of the league. We would need similar guys to him if we were going to climb up and out of the hole I had inherited.

The team talk was simple; ‘you’re playing for your place in this team, you’re playing for your place in this league and you’re playing for the fans’. As Ainsworth led the boys out, I couldn’t help but miss those days when I played for the club. I felt alone as those eleven players walked out onto the pitch, but that feeling didn’t last long. As I stepped out of the tunnel, there was a rise in volume and I was welcomed as Wycombe Wanderers manager. I could go over the top and say that the place erupted. But I hadn’t earned that yet, and it did not happen. I walked over to the dugouts to join the coaching staff and substitutes. Normally that walk was fine; all eyes were on the players or Gary Waddock. Now they were watching me; cautiously optimistic that I could turn things around.

The linesmen were in place, the referee did his twenty-two man check, giving a thumbs up to both keepers, and away we went.

[deano4blues]

19 Dec 09 Wycombe v. Oldham


With the lads starting brightly, I was very encouraged to see us pressing high up the pitch. The work rate was matched with an intensity that the fans appreciated. Just seven minutes into the game and we should have been a goal up. A clever reverse pass from Keates, found Pittman, stealing it off the foot of Revell and going for goal. His left footed effort failed to hit the target and the Oldham keeper got off lightly.

The remainder of the half was mediocre. Matt Harrold, partnering Revell and Pittman up top, had a one-on-one saved and tipped wide. We were creating chances, but failing to put them away. Revell got booked for a poor strikers tackle, just pure frustration boiling over. A knock to Gareth Ainsworth’s quad was a worry at half time and something I would be monitoring in the first five minutes of the second half.

The team talk at halftime was all about composure. Not just in front of goal, but having the patience to keep the ball and make the opposition work. This was our home pitch – they did the running and we controlled possession and the tempo.

Sixty seven minutes and still no score – despite much promise and a couple of corner routines, there was nothing between the two sides. Ainsworth couldn’t carry on. His quad was troubling him and he wasn’t one to duck out lightly. I replaced him with Lewis Hunt, whilst also switching Dean Keates for Lewwis Spence in midfield. I hoped some fresh legs in the middle might spark something on the field. With no real attacking options on the bench, I left the front three pronged attack as it was.

Straight after the changes, there was a change in the flow of the game. Within ten minutes, Oldham had created three shots on goal, testing Scott Shearer in goal. They started coming at us with intent and some of our lads looked surprised. Oldham were putting up a fight, and from what I could see, the guys didn’t want it. Ainsworth, with ice pack in hand was bellowing out to the lads trying to keep them going while I passed instructions on to Westwood at the back to keep things tight.

Momentum swung back our way with five minutes to go, but with tired legs and tired minds, we failed to break Oldham down. They were coming to Adams Park and earning a well earned point while we were throwing away two that we desperately needed. The game ended nil-nil and it didn’t feel like we deserved just one point. We were solid defensively with Westwood and Johnson proving a tough barrier to break down.

Man of the match went to Oldham’s Reuben Hazell. He helped to keep three of our strikers from scoring so I suppose he deserved it. I, however, was very impressed with John Mousinho. He was thrust into the starting line-up to sit in front of the back four and did a stellar job of breaking up play, despite not starting regularly at all so far this season.

Although disappointed that I couldn’t get the win for our fans and really get my career kick-started, I was relatively pleased that we’d kept a clean sheet. That concept, combined with some better finishing and we’d have a simple winning formula in place already. I couldn’t wait to get my teeth into training that week so that I could work on this formation. After debriefing the guys, I arranged a light session and stretch for the next day and headed home. On the journey back I found myself glad to have the first game out of the way and I was restlessly anticipating some hard work over the next month to prove myself. Something I would relish.


Wycombe 0-0 Oldham

[deano4blues]

24th Dec 09


With one week until our next game I wasn’t messing around. Damien Doyle followed Martin Kuhl out of the door on the coaching side of things. Damien was our fitness coach, overpaid, overworked and incapable of keeping on top of things. He was very set in his ways, fully focused on running the boys into the ground, rather than integrating nutrition into fitness, as well as other methods of conditioning.

In his place, I brought in Al Stewart. Although he wasn’t a fitness coach, he was a perfect fit for the club. He was hardworking, knowledgeable and most importantly, someone I had worked with before. He was very open to new ideas, adaptation and trying any coaching method, however peculiar, in order to get results. The second addition was an assistant manager, which was slightly more of a gamble. Matthieu Louis-Jean was a former Nottingham Forest and Norwich player. He knew these lower leagues very well and was a disciplined character. Better than that, he was a motivator and would get on very well with Gareth Ainsworth. With these two keeping the guys sprits and morale up when faced with adversity and the wrong end of the table, I felt we had a fighting chance. Having not worked with him before, I took a blind step in hiring him, and hoped that he would be the best right hand man I could find.

On the playing side of things I was offering trials to a select few players that were without a club. Anton Jongsma was a tidy attacking midfielder with a solid first touch, Maurice Ross, a Scottish right back, had potential but had the disadvantage of the captain currently occupying his position. Ainsworth was ageing and prone to knocks, therefore giving Maurice a fighting chance of earning a contract. The last player was Izzy Iriekpen. He was a commanding centre back that really caught my eye in training. All three of them would be playing a reserve game and training with the first team for a week in order to impress me.

Exiting the club to begin with, would be two reserve team players. Stuart Beavon, a young striker not cutting the mustard and Lewis Montrose were being shown the door; going to Aldershot and Crawley respectively for a combined fee of £45k. More wheeling and dealing was to ensue, but in the mean time training and preparation for the away match at Yeovil was taking place.

Training that week went well. The lads really took well to my new ideas and worked diligently at learning their new roles within the 4-3-3 system I was employing. We ended every session with shooting practice, one-on-ones and long range shooting included specifically. We needed to test the keeper and hit the target. Pepper the goal with shots and we were sure to score a few weren’t we?! It wasn’t a hit and hope approach, more playing the averages. Create enough good chances and goals would be the end result.

Although training went well, no one stood out to me as exceptional. This was such a bang average squad, destined for mid table mediocrity once we had beaten the drop. I needed a new calibre of player to push us up to the next level. The team for the Yeovil game was going to be very similar to last game and was announced to the boys the night before; giving them the preparation time I wished them to have.


Note: I almost treated myself to a new suit for Christmas – but instead opted for a big padded coach’s jacket instead. I’d rather be warm on the sidelines than look good. Sense over style I thought.

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 24 July 2010 - 02:21 AM

[deano4blues]

26 Dec 09 Yeovil v. Wycombe

Gareth Ainsworth, unable to shake off the niggling quad strain he had, was replaced with Lewis Hunt at right back, with the remainder of the team remaining the same. The captains armband was passed on to Westwood, leading the back four and the entire team.

Yeovil lined up in a Mourinho-esque 4-2-3-1 with two holding midfielders, one up top and three attacking players behind and supporting. Before the lads went out I let them know that we were still playing for these fans. Today’s lot were the hardcore fans, the ones that lived and breathed for this club. We always owed them performances; they paid your wages and deserve a good showing on a regular basis. Consistency was key and I really wanted them to push on from last week’s goalless draw and go for it. Away from home, we could easily sit back. But I wanted points and safety – and they should too.

A minute into the game and nothing had changed. Pittman and Harrold combined twice in quick succession to take both centre backs out of the game. Pittman ended up through, with a clear shot from the edge of the box; once again failing to hit the target. Frustration was welling up inside me, but I didn’t let it surface yet, knowing there was still plenty of time for him to redeem himself in this game.

As the half went on, we were limited to long range pot shots. We tested the keeper only once in a succession of chances, with both Keates and Pittman piling over from a distance. With thirty six minutes gone, Yeovil found their feet and came at us. A neat overlap from Stam on the left, gave him time and space to whip a deep cross in. Shearer, failing to come and collect, stood rooted to his line as MURRAY beat Woodman to the header and nodded home to give the home team the advantage. The away fans went quiet, heads dropped. In fact, the only person I noticed was Gareth Ainsworth and Louis Jean, encouraging the lads closest to the touchline and trying to liven them back up.

Three minutes later and we were all square. Yeovil got overexcited after the goal and nodded off at the back. Harrold jinked away from a midfielder after receiving the ball deep. Playing a short diagonal pass along the floor, PITTMAN muscled between both defenders before slotting low under the keeper. For a change, he’d shown some composure, hitting the target and ensuring we were level. Thanks god for that, the goal drought was over. Fingers crossed the floodgates would open so we could take the lead and command this game.

With no excitement before the half I had the lads jog in and take on some fluids while I consulted with Louis-Jean and Stewart. I was half tempted to give them a bollocking, but they’d shown character and could probably do with some encouragement. I switched the strikers around a bit, giving them different roles. Attempting to get more out of Revell, who had been no existent so far; I had him come deep to collect the ball, leaving Harrold and Pittman to keep their back line honest and pushed as far back as possible. Fingers crossed we could find a gap between the holding players and the back line to work in.

Al Stewart made the astute observation that Mousinho was looking slightly nervous, yet he was still performing well. I wondered if there was more to come from him if he could conquer his nerves. Perhaps having one of the experienced lads tutor him would be of benefit. I told Al to make a note of that for another day. Back out for the second half.

The moment that changed a drab second half was when Mousinho pulled his hamstring attempting a shot from range. As he went down, Yeovil played on, leaving us a man short on the counter. Without our holding player, MacDonald found time to pick a pass into MASON, who similarly to Pittman, slotted past the keeper at the near post and wheeled off to celebrate. Sixty nine minutes and the game was dead there and then. I wish I could’ve had more influence, got on there myself and given it a bash, but the lads I brought on just weren’t making a difference. The game fizzled out, just like against Oldham, and we’d choked. A 2-1 defeat against a fellow relegation battler and our holding midfielder injured, hopefully not too seriously. With the trialists sat in the stands, I pondered over whether I thought any of them could’ve given us something extra tonight.

Louis-Jean pulled me to one side afterwards, also calling Al Stewart over. He said to me something I already knew to be true; we weren’t as good as we thought we were. Sure, we had some talent, but we didn’t have a team. Brighton were our next opponents in two days time. Christmas was just way too hectic to make any considerable changes. This was tough and time management was crucial if were to cope with the fixture list and try to make wholesale changes to the squad like Matthieu was suggesting.


Yeovil 2-1 Wycombe

Murray ‘37 / Pittman ‘42
Mason ‘79

[deano4blues]

27 Dec 09


Injury update: Matt Harrold was out for two weeks with a bruised rib.

John Mousinho however, was bouncing around in training the next day. Hobbling off the pitch one day, and playing like a little kid who’d just downed a packet of smarties the next. Conspiracy theories ran their course through my head, thoughts of faking injuries or a lack of desire – but I thought to myself, no way. These guys were born for this, they loved it. This was their livelihood, how could they possibly not want to play in any game or situation...

I made no headway with regards to transfers, calling around to check availability and utilising Al and Matthieus knowledge but to no avail. I accepted a £20k bid for Harrold but was dubious as to whether I could afford to let him go without finding a suitable replacement immediately. Paul Dickov was a free agent, offering a lot of experience, but his wages were a stumbling block. Having scaled the dizzy heights of the game and then coming crashing back down to League One, he was still looking for a big wage packet that we couldn’t quite offer.

A very tired and jaded team prepared to take on Brighton and fingers crossed they were a little more tired than we were, considering they had to travel to Adams Park the day after their last league fixture.

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 24 July 2010 - 03:03 PM

[deano4blues]

28 Dec 09 Wycombe v. Brighton


With the squad in pieces and physically exhausted from a ridiculous Christmas schedule, wholesale changes were made to the starting line-up. Shearer stayed in goal. Ainsworth returned to right back and Joe Cobb, young and inexperienced filled the other full back slot. Johnson and Westwood remained at the back, slightly tired but battling through. In the middle, Lewwis Spence, Stuart Green and Ian Westlake all got a start. Kevin Betsy and young Matty Philips got rare starts as wingers as opposed to out and out forwards, supporting Revell up top (the only striker with the legs left to start).

Today was about energy. The team who could muster up the most out of nowhere, might just edge this game. I was hoping for a boost from our fans. It didn’t seem to be coming. After twenty three minutes we were squandering chances as usual. Revell the guilty one this time, failing to hit the target with no one anywhere near him on the edge of the box. Some creative build up play was good to see, with chances being fashioned. Betsy went close minutes later but flashed his shot the wrong side of the post from a narrow angle. Revells second good chance came rattling back off of the crossbar after he met a divine deep driven cross from Cobb and headed straight at the crossbar from 15 yards out.

A minute later and Adams Park was on its feet. Matty Philips and Lewwis Spence, two of the lads I had brought through the academy, combined with a very special corner routine. Nicknamed the Scholesy, it became famous when one David Beckham drilled a corner to the edge of the box where Paul Scholes would wait with legendary technique to smash a volley on goal. SPENCE wasn’t quite that special, but his first touch was immaculate before slotting through a crowd of players to give us the lead. His celebration was simple, a thumbs up to Philips and a jog back to the half way line. Good attitude, let’s get on with this game and carry on from there.

Just before the half, Shearer decided to c**k things up in epic proportions. From a simple goal-kick, Shearer pinged a 25 yard ball towards Westwood who was shouting commands to get the lads up. Forster, paying attention and taking advantage, nipped in just as Westwood caught sight of the ball. Half wishing Westwood would clip his heels, I was on my feet in disbelief as FORSTER dinked the ball over an outrushing Shearer and tied things up. Shearers face sunk, his shoulders slouched and he retrieved the ball from the net. No-one dared bollock him, not even Westwood.

A flash of brilliance from Revell at the other end of the field almost undid Shearers catastrophe but for a great save from the Brighton keeper. Revell rolled his defender before shooting low and hard, forcing a terrific save from the goalkeeper. Matthieu took over at half time; talking, inspiring, motivating. I took the time to talk one on one to Shearer and make sure he was ready for another 45 minutes. We couldn’t afford for him to dwell on his mistake and needed him to come up big in the second half.

With fifteen minutes gone, I was forced to make a change. Revell suffered a knock and couldn’t carry on. He hobbled off the pitch and had an ice pack to the ankle on the bench. Pittman replaced him, fingers crossed he had thirty minutes in his locker as I knew he was tired from the previous game.

Oh for f*ck sake. An exact replica of the last game. A deep cross from the left, evades the full back and is headed home by their right winger, CALDERON. Two one to Brighton at Adams Park; 2009 was going to end on a sour note at our own ground. Five minutes later and CROFTS extended their advantage. Pittman losing the ball high up the pitch with no support. Brighton moved swiftly from defence into attack and Crofts smashed wildly past Shearer into the top corner to make it three to one. Not Shearers day at all.

With ten minutes to go, the fans were filing out already. Betsy had one chance, straight at the keeper but it was too little too late and once again we failed to convert. Three games in charge, only one point earned. 2009 was a crap start to football management for me and it wasn’t going to get any easier.

Wycombe 1-3 Brighton
Spence ‘36 / Forster ‘41
............../ Calderon ‘64
............../ Crofts ‘71

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 24 July 2010 - 09:53 PM

[deano4blues]

4 Jan 10


The turn of the year didn’t bring any better news for me or the club. Pittman pulled his back and was out for eight weeks, Harrold turned down two moves away from the club and Dickov turned the club down point blank during contract negotiations.

On a brighter note, we did manage to capture somewhat of a coup in the signing of Nassim Akrour. An ex-Algerian international, he was a very experienced forward that came highly recommended by Matthieu Louis-Jean after his contract expired at Grenoble Foot 38.

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 25 July 2010 - 02:36 AM

[deano4blues]

5 Jan 10


The next player to roll through the door was Izzy Iriekpen on a free transfer. After impressing in a reserve team game and mixing it with the first team, I signed him for the remainder of the season. He was a huge presence on and off the field. His capture meant stiff competition for centre back, with one of the current starting centre halves perhaps having to move on. I didn’t have the resources for squad depth and with Westwoods wages being what they were – he might have to be given the heave-ho.

With the wage budget stretched bare with those two captures, creativity in signing players was now more important than ever. Members of the first team squad would need to go if I wanted anyone else. The only other option I had was to bleed a lot of youngsters in on loan from Premier League clubs. This was something I had no problem doing as I felt I had an eye for young talent having worked in that department for a few years.

After a quick meeting with Steve Hayes and the board, I found them to be a little more flexible than I had anticipated. The money I had so far raised in player sales was available to me in my wage budget if I so wished. I jumped on the chance and rearranged my budgets so that I could afford one more free transfer. I already had a player in mind - a holding midfielder.

Dominique Kivuvu was an Angolan international with 5 caps to his name. He grew up in Amsterdam and played for NEC until just a week ago when they released him from his contract, following a bust up with the manager. Although a volatile personality, I had seen glimpses of brilliance a while back when I was in Holland with Ajax. He was physically strong, and an all round solid player. At just 22 years of age he could be with me for a long time providing his attitude was right.

Kivuvu’s arrival meant that someone was definitely going to be shown the door, and that player was Ian Westlake. He was a dependable player but lacking any real ability to win a game or make a difference. I let him leave on a free transfer to Bristol Rovers and that was that. He wasn’t too impressed that I’d chosen to let him go. His attitude was terrible in his final day at the club. Slating staff and players he’d been with for years. I was glad to see the back of him by the time he’d left.

Aside from the Westlake distraction, the three new guys had integrated well. Iriekpen led the way and had been training well. This was to be expected as he had been with the club longer than the other guys. Tomorrow’s game was against Norwich; a game we were not expected to win. I intended to go at them and give it a shot rather than sitting back defensively. A few more games would really be needed to test this formation out. If we really couldn’t adapt and make it work then I was willing to change to something more traditional. For now, Norwich would be up against three strikers, one of them being Nassim Akrour.

[deano4blues]

6 Jan 10 Wycombe v. Norwich


With my new signings adorning their new numbers, I felt ready to take on Norwich at home. Akrour was leading us from the front with the no. 7. Iriekpen and Kivuvu took #17 and #24 respectively.

In the first ten minutes, we had our backs against the walls. Wes Hoolohan was pulling the strings in the middle and his set pieces were exquisite. It wasn’t long before Shearer was called into action, making a fine save from Holt, denying the big front man with his feet. HOLT soon got his revenge however, with a firm finish underneath Shearer in the ninth minute.

At the midpoint of the half, Akrour had the chance to make a name for himself already. A long ball from Ainsworth found Akrour through on goal with two men on his back; he held them off before firing a shot on goal, the keeper doing well to deflect it away for a corner.

At the second time of asking, Akrour did not disappoint. Woodman, winning the battle against Hoolahan, played a drilled ball down the line to Revell. The young loanee from Southend, skinned the full back before finding Akrour with a searching cross to the edge of the box. With a good touch in between two defenders, AKROUR fired past the keeper, beating him at his near post to tie the game up. All level here at Adams Park with thirty five minutes gone.

Halftime was very different to the past three games, everyone was talking. There was a buzz amongst the players and a real belief that they could win this game. I didn’t need to say much as they were sorting it out amongst themselves, really figuring out this formation and playing to its strengths. Philips was having to be deployed as a forward and kept dropping into his familiar winger role, but other than that, the guys were sticking to what we’d worked on in training. All we needed was one more goal and perhaps I’d think about us trying to shut up shop.

Even Scott Shearer looked more confident in the second half. He was collecting crosses, grabbing corners and plucking any ball in the air straight down into his safe gloves. I thought it strange how someone could play so differently just based on confidence. With fifteen minutes I decided to freshen things up as it had gotten stagnant on the pitch. Hinshelwood replaced Ainsworth at right back, who was obviously still struggling with either a knock or fitness. Kivuvu was short on match practice and blowing out of his a** trying to cover every blade of grass on the pitch. On came Mousinho to continue that work-rate until the final whistle.

With only five minutes left, Revell was at it again, tearing down the left and running at the full back. After beating the first man for pace, he cut inside of the second man onto his favoured right foot and let fly. The keeper couldn’t do anything but parry, such was the veracity of the shot. The ball fell kindly for their centre back who booted clear into the stands. Woodman retrieved the ball quickly, sensing some frailty in the Norwich back line. His throw found Bloomfield who turned and played it inside to Keates in space. His first time pass found Akrour on the edge of the box. Akrour dropped his shoulder and jinked past his marker before faking to shoot and laying it square for Matty PHILIPS who, without taking a touch, leathered the ball past the keeper, nearly ripping the net off. Every player involved in that move and then some had piled in to the corner to celebrate, what a dramatic late, late goal.

Louis-Jean was jumping around and this time it was my turn to keep him calm. We needed to settle down and see this game out. These points would be a vital steal if we could just last five minutes plus stoppage time. As Norwich appealed for offside, I went about organising the back four and pushing Philips back into midfield to help out.

Iriekpen proved to me why I had provided him with a full time contract five times over in those last eight minutes. His dominance in the air and presence at the back kept Norwich at bay. They pumped ball after ball into the box and Iriekpen, almost single handedly, dealt with all of them as we went on to see out the time on the clock and defeat Norwich for my first win in charge of Wycombe Wanderers.


Wycombe 2-1 Norwich
Akrour ’34 / Holt ‘10
Philips ‘86

This post has been edited by deano4blues: 25 July 2010 - 06:30 PM

[deano4blues]

8 Jan 10


Two days later and we were preparing for a trip to high flying Leeds United. Currently 2nd in the league, this would be an even greater test for my Wycombe side.

A sensational debut for Akrour, with a goal and an assist, was the greatest initial return I could ever ask of a player. Furthermore, he managed to bring the best out of Revell who had a great game and received the man of the match award. The attitude and atmosphere in the changing rooms had dramatically changed and there was a new found confidence within the team. Although still bottom, we had managed to keep up with the pack and not slip further behind.

With Leeds and Charlton up next, it was vital to keep morale up, even if we weren’t going to win those games, so that we could then push on and start winning the games against the teams around us in order to climb out of the basement of the league. Steve Hayes was all too quick to praise me in the media and considering I only had four points from four games, I didn’t feel it was necessary. I didn’t need external influences adding pressure to an already fragile side.

In the time between playing Norwich and Leeds, another youngster was on his way out of the club. George Daly moved on to Newport County. He was talented and got goals at youth team level but just wasn’t physical enough to make a lasting impression in League One. I was also in negotiations with Arsenal over their youngster Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who I wanted to add to the physicality I had in midfield alongside Kivuvu. Talks were still ongoing and I hoped to have a deal in place after the Leeds trip.

Akrour and Ainsworth needed to start on the bench for the Leeds game due to fatigue. So in came Matt Harrold (still yet to secure a transfer away from the club) and Lewis Hunt in at right back.

[.Jay]

Great story, keep it up, it's the best one on the site at the moment that is in true story form.

[deano4blues]

9 Jan 10 Leeds v. Wycombe


Without the two older heads to keep us calm and composed, I was worried this game might run away from us. It did and it wasn’t a pretty sight. We saw very little of the ball and the triangle of McSheffrey, Becchio and Beckford destroyed us down the left hand side for their first goal. McSheffrey drove deep into our box before putting it on a plate for BECCHIO to open the scoring in the 25th minute.

Beckford was wreaking all kinds of havoc in the box and it wasn’t long before he found himself on the score sheet. Thirty five minutes gone; BECKFORD adding to the lead with a fine header.The boys looked dejected and defeated already. I was contemplating sticking the old boys on at half time to see if they could turn things around.

Instead I told the guys to get on with it and that I expected a performance in the second half. Betsy replaced Revell, who had played every minute in our busy Christmas schedule and was looking jaded. Content with their lead, Leeds sat back and absorbed what we threw at them (which admittedly wasn’t much). Kivuvu had to come off, as did Woodman late on due to tiredness. No shots, no excitement, no glimpse of life. We were back to our old selves after scalping Norwich in our last game. The full time whistle went and I thought about the fans and how disappointing it must be to come out and watch your team roll over obediently. Perhaps I could/should be doing more. I would go away and think about that before our next game.


Leeds 2-0 Wycombe
Becchio 26’
Beckford ‘36