(FM19) Worldwide Journeyman

Some decent looking signings there, hopefully they can not only improve on last seasons finish but push you higher up the league and dare I say challenge the teams at the top...

A busy transfer window, as probably was required, a good start to the season too, time to push on

That is a weird deal by Arsenal but hey ho, he may be a champions league winner someday!

What a great transfer window, let's hope you can kick on this season!

@bigmattb28, @Dan and @tongey I'm not sure I could sum up our summer window any better than the three of you, let's just hope the squad can jel and push on!

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Oliver Ottesen - 21, GK - Off the back of beating Viborg in the league, young 'keeper Ottesen made his return to the club on a successive loan spell. He finished the last season as our number one, however this year will provide excellent depth in this position and will likely find minutes in cup games.

DANISH CUP 1ST ROUND



Third-tier side Dalum played hosts to the travelling Thisted fans as this seasons Danish Cup got under-way. A heavily rotated side saw a few of the young talents we acquired for free this summer find their way into the starting line-up. But it was the experienced players who rightly so took control of the game. The result was never in doubt as we headed into the dressing room with a four goal lead at half-time. Olesen sealed the victory with a fine goal in the second half as we progressed to the next round with ease.

MATCHDAY 2



Rivals Skive IK made their way to the Sparekassen Thy Arena looking to secure bragging rights in the first of three encounters between the two sides this season. And five minutes in they took the lead as the ball rolled to an unmarked Bersang Sorensen at the edge of the D to rifle a fierce shot into the top corner. No complaints with the goal as no 'keeper in this league would save the shot. Our wing play showed early signs of being key to winning the game when Mads Vang got himself in space before cooly bringing the two sides level. Vang would be involved again as his cross was diverted into the net via a Skive defender. In the midst of this, one-time target Oliver Klitten received his marching orders after a late lunge. Wing-play again was the phrase of the day as five minutes later a ball across the box from Vang found Dyhr unmarked, who controlled the ball before putting the game beyond doubt to continue our fine start.

MATCHDAY 3



FC Fredericia played host to our new-look Thisted side as we sought to make it three from three in the league and four from four in all competitions. We started brightly, creating chances in all sorts of manners with the wide players again causing havoc. But we couldn't put any chances away as Tukiainen endured an indifferent game. Just before the hour mark however and Fredericia failed to clear a corner, Olesen kept the ball alive on the by-line and laid if off to Schafer Bak, who controlled the ball with his left foot before passing the ball into the far corner for the lead. With ten minutes to go the hosts pushed on looking for an equaliser. A fine ball into the box led to a great save from Due, but he could only parry it wide into the path of Holvad who took advantage to steal a point for his team. Despite this, we played really well but we lacked a killer-instinct. This view is echoed by the fans who, although in disbelief in our inability to bring home three points, they did however recognise our performance.





Alex - 28, ST - before our next game we were met with the news that Brazilian striker Alex was granted a Work Permit and would be linking up with the squad. His arrival should lessen the burden on Tukiainen and provides us with a fourth striker in a system that plays two. On the face of things, an absolutely quality player who could be the missing link in our attack.

MATCHDAY 4



Hours after Alex linked up with the squad, he found himself starting against newly promoted Middelfart, in a move which retrospectively may have been naïve. Middelfart ended up leaving with all three points and all credit goes to them for this too. They bossed the midfield and some of the football they were playing was arguably the best they'll play this season. Admittedly we were not at our best, but when a team plays as good a standard of football as Middelfart did, its hard to do anything but applaud the opponents.

MATCHDAY 5



From one team new to the division to another, as recently relegated Hobro IK were our opponents for this one. From the off the quality they had was clear to see and it was evident as to why they are favourites for the title this year. To our credit we looked to be matching their tit for tat. The second half rolled about and the visitors did what any team used to playing a higher quality did. They dragged us out of position, the were quick on the break and they looked assured of scoring. And that they did fifty-free minutes in as a scramble in the box from a corner led to the ball nestling in our goal. We pushed on and looked for an equaliser, which came back to haunt us with five minutes remaining as Hobro came at us with a quick counter, passing the ball in triangles around our lone-defender before putting the game to bed through Gotfredsen's neat finish. Not long after and Tukiainen found himself racing through on goal, creating a tense end to the game as he brought us within one goal. Nothing more would come however and the visitors would run out eventual winners as we fell to our second defeat in as many games.

DANISH CUP 2ND ROUND



It was our turn to be the visiting team from a higher division as we switched attentions from the league to the cup. A heavily rotated team with one eye on the next game faced Marienlyst as the hosts looked for a cup-set. Andreas Heimer opened the scoring in the first half, controlling a ball outside the box before letting it drop and hitting a curling volley into the top corner. A real collector's item. The hosts never looked like troubling us in all honesty and a one-goal lead flattered them for the most part. Ten minutes before time and Heimer grabbed his brace, firing a left-footed shot past the 'keeper after a good tackle from a Marienlyst defender saw the ball roll loose to the edge of the box. Progression in the cup secured, we put our attentions back to the league.

MATCHDAY 6



The last game in a busy month saw a lot of players start the game with heavy legs, which Hvidovre took full advantage of, scoring twice within twenty minutes as we looked to be heading to another defeat and fall off the pace early-doors. Immediately I told the boys to start playing wider, which is something we'd been lacking in recent games. This began to pay dividends as the Hvidovre defence looked stretched trying to deal with our midfield spraying balls around the park. Eventually this would lead us to get not one, but two penalties as our crosses from wide caused real havoc. Up stepped Tukiainen to send the first penalty into the far left corner, before placing the other in the far right corner. Game on. The game fell into a lull as the second half progressed but we kept at it with our wide game, with Mads Vang sending a whipped cross into the box which Sorensen put past his own 'keeper. Comeback completed. Left back Davidsen sealed the victory with a right-footed shot from outside the box which could have taken the 'keeper's head off, after some nice work by Dyhr on the left. Back to winning ways in the league against a team right up their this season!





No less than eight games were played in a busy opening month as we look to upset the pack and finish in the top-half this year. A strong start and finish either side of a patchy few games mid-way through the month and overall I'm happy with what I've seen. The loss to Middelfart was simply a case of a team playing out of the skin and a team not living up to the challenge, whilst the loss to Hobro saw us play a superior side. Ending the month with a win against Hvidovre could really help us going in to September, as we discover that playing wide could be the key to beating teams this year. A good cup-run may help raise my reputation and bring in money to the club, with our next game yet to be drawn.



We find ourselves third in the league at the end of the month, however teams around us have a game in hand and so will be sure to send us down a place or two come the start of September. Overall a huge improvement on last year I'd like to think we could maintain this position in the league. Our next game sees us play bottom-side Vendsyssel FF in a game we'll be sure to lose if my time in management so far has taught me anything. Plus, for whatever reason there seems to be double the amount of relegation places this year so we'll have to be even better this year to avoid the drop!



September's Fixtures and Results

Disappointing to lost those 2 games but 5 wins in all comps is a good start, hopefully a sign of things to come! Keep the faith against Vendsyssel, they're bottom for a reason mate!

Pretty good start considering where you were last season position wise, defintiely something to continue trying to build on.

You know the way FM works @bigmattb28, Vendsyssel will no doubt hit us for three or four!

Thanks @Dan, I think the squad overhaul has been a big factor and (finally) being allowed to change up the backroom staff too! We’ll just have to see how the season goes.

Hahah yes I know all too well the inner workings of FM when it tests your every last nerve! However I'm sure you can beat them this time around!

We started the month off with news that the board had agreed the sale of Asger Bust Sorensen, undoubtedly our best central midfielder. Whilst the board justified their decision by saying his contract was running out in a year, I fully intended on renewing his deal and so this was a big blow to lose a player of his quality and for such a little fee too.



In need of a ball-winner now in the middle of the park I turned to the shortlist and approached free agent Kasper Povlsen, who agreed an amateur deal to come to Thisted. Good defensively, though lacking in the physical department, Kasper would be ideal as a player to sit in front of the defence and break-up attacks before they progressed.



However, a day into training with his new team, Kasper would break his leg after a challenge gone wrong. Clearly he hadn't given the best first impression or had previous with one of the players in the squad. Either way, it wasn't meant to be and his contract was ripped up shortly after.

MATCHDAY 7



Bottom side Vendsyssel were the next obstacle in our way. We arrived in good spirits on the back of some decent league results, however the squad turnover in the past few days would prove to be a thorn in our side. We missed a presence in the midfield and failed to get a grasp of the game. The hosts would eventually breakdown our defence before the half-time whistle as pacey striker Adekoya out-jumped his marker to plant the ball into the back of the net. We were better in the second-half, but not good enough to deserve all three points. We would leave with a solitary point however, as Alex dispatched a penalty to claim his first league goal for the club. A fair result in all honesty.

MATCHDAY 8



Back-to-back away games in the league saw us travel to FC Helsingor as we looked to bring all three points back to the Sparekassen Thy Arena. Half an hour in and we would find ourselves trailing for a second game running, as Ramkilde calmly slotted past Due after we failed to clear the ball. Not long after and the home-side doubled their advantage from a corner after we failed to pick up their player, allowing him to convert a free-header past an unmoving Due. We would pull one back however, as Alex again converted from twelve yards. Helsingor would seal all three points late in the second half as they made full use of their advantage in possession. At this point we looked a defeated team and a far cry from the one that kicked off the season just a month ago. The game still had life left in it however, as Andreas Holm was shown a straight red late in the half, and just minutes later Alex would bury another penalty to cause a nervy finish for the home-side. Not a result to be happy about at all, and alarmingly we had failed to score from open play this month. The only positive is to see Alex scoring, which should do wonders for his morale and confidence.



After the game, we would find out that substitute goalkeeper Oliver Ottesen had been recalled by his parent club. A decision I did not see coming but as he wasn't playing I can't complain too much.

DANISH CUP 3RD ROUND



Moving away from league action now and returning home for a game, high flying Hvidovre would be our opponents as we sought to put together a nice cup run. The visitors were looking like a team full of confidence, whilst we looked shaky every time they advanced past half-way. This would all soon change as Alex was sent racing through on goal before taking a clever touch inside to open up an angle to curl the ball past the opposition goalie to give us an early lead, scoring his first goal in open play too. Immediately Hvidovre were all over us, and they were rewarded with a quick equaliser as Bjur got ahead of Olsen at the back stick to poke home. Back to square one. From here on out we played with our backs against the wall and our rotated team looked like conceding at any opportunity, which surprised me when we went into half time even. This was the same story for the second half before Plagborg Christensen curled home a freekick from twenty-five yards to restore our lead and seal our progression to the next round!

MATCHDAY 9



We aimed to build upon our new-found confidence against perineal promotion chasers HB Koge, who truth be told have players good enough to play in the SuperLiga. It was a testament to our team then, that at half-time both teams were level after trading headed goals in the last minutes of the first forty-five. The game would end like this after an uneventful second-half, giving us a well deserved point.

MATCHDAY 10



Along with ourselves, Nykobing FC are the surprise package of the season, flying high in fourth position and looking to be an outsider contender for promotion. They showed this as they sliced open our defence four times from four different positions in the first half alone. We clung on to a shimmer of light however Aziz Essaisi curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box after turning his man. Alex would continue his fine vein of form in the absence of goal0shy Tukiainen to hammer the ball in past the 'keeper at the near post to cut the deficit in half. I believed in my boys to get something from the game after Nykobing seemed to switch off or assume the game was over and done with at half-time. Essaisi would punish the visitors for this change in approach twenty minutes later, toe-poked a pall past the 'keeper who could only watch as the ball trickled over the line. The young Swede was not finished here however. In two minutes he would score two more goals, the first a header into the far corner and the second a sublime finish after Alex had sent him clean through with a neat pass. The comeback was completed and travelling fans were heading for the door much like our fans did in the first-half. To their credit, Nykobing did come looking for an equaliser but it was all too little too late as they had ran out of steam. What a day for our boys and what a day for our fans, who were applauded at full time by the players after enduring a torrid first half. I have to say, the partnership between Alex and Essaisi in this game was incredible and should worry Tukiainen, who has looked a shadow of himself so far this term.





We end the month sitting fifth. Interestingly we find ourselves closer to relegation than promotion despite four places separating both outcomes. If we were to finish fifth at the end of the season I wouldn't be too disheartened especially after the drama of last season, but I feel like we have played better than this on occasion this year. Inconsistency and players out of form may be the tune of this month, as Tukiainen was unable to score against the likes of Vendsyssel, whilst the defence shipped ten goals in five games, failing to keep a clean sheet all month. Overall I would say its been a disappointing month and one I'm learning from and hope turn those draws into wins.





October 2019!

Look like the top 3 are currently a class above the rest of the league. Fairing much better than last year to date tho

The top three are certainly playing better than the chasing pack @Dan, although Fredericia and Hvidovre are definite examples of making the right additions to a squad!

MATCHDAY 11



We entered the winter period with a home game against FC Roskilde. After impressing in recent games, Alex and Assaisi were given the nod ahead of Tukiainen who has been off the boil so far this season. This would prove to be a master-stroke as just twenty-two minutes in to the game we found ourselves three goals to the good. Just over ten minutes had passed with Assaisi's deep free-kick found Alex free in the box, and the Brazilian met the ball with a first time volley in stride, Van Persie-esque almost. Minutes had passed when Assisi found himself over another freekick just over the half-way line. His devlivery was superb again as this time Alex met the ball at the back post and calmly passed it in at the near post. Three points were sealed soon after when Assaisi planted a header past the visiting goalkeeper. Roskilde would manage to pull one back before heading into the dressing room but it proved to be a consolation and nothing else.



Following this impressive victory, I asked the board to fund a coaching course and they duly obliged. If we are to climb to the top this will certainly act as the next step, allowing me to gain some valuable credentials.

MATCHDAY 12



We hosted fellow high flyers FC Fredericia as we looked to upset the apple cart and take points off of a team performing above expectations. We looked to be doing just that eight minutes in when Alex scored another goal for the club, this time getting himself ahead of his man in the box to sweep home from close-range. Fredericia looked like threatening from here on out and too our credit we held them for some time. We sat back and looked to protect our lead which in hindsight may have been a mistake to not chase the game and look to put it to bed, but these things are valuable learning experiences. The visitors would leave with a point come full time, as young striker Aral Simsir would rise highest in the box to head past Due, who for some reason had dived far too soon and was on the floor by the time the ball connected with Simsir's head. What may seem like two points dropped, but against good opposition I'm happy with one point gained.

DANISH CUP 4TH ROUND



One of the few teams left in the cup that we can consider inferior to ourselves, Brabrand IF were looking to shock the nation by progressing to the Quarter Finals of the cup. After a dull first half in which a heavily rotated side looked sluggish, we would finally find the breakthrough in the second half, when Alex picked the ball up in the left hand channel, before bursting into the box and placing the ball into the far corner. We should have found ourselves two or three goals ahead over the coming minutes, however it was not meant to be as Tukiainen missed a slew of chances against lesser opposition. For all his hard work, Tukiainen would eventually be rewarded, heading home a Pedersen cross to confirm our progression to the next round.

MATCHDAY 13



We returned to league action for another game against fierce rivals Skive, who sit bottom of the league. This game also marks the start of the second set of fixtures against teams in the league, meaning my one-year anniversary as Thisted manager cannot be too far away. We got off to a fine start too, as Mathias Pedersen got himself on the end of a cross to head across goal and for the ball to nestle into the side-netting. Not long after and Sakari Tukiainen, who had made his way back into the starting eleven, justified his inclusion by scoring a header of his own from close-range. We looked a far better side and were putting together the sort of performance that had been coming. Someone didn't pass this memo on to Kim Nygaard, who picked the ball up after kick off to bend a shot around Amankwah and past Due at his near-post to bring Skive within one goal. However, Alex would restore our two goal lead before the half was over, opening his body up and passing the ball past the onrushing 'keeper after some tidy build-up play. The Brazilian would bag his second of the game on the hour mark after the ball ricocheted around the box after a corner, before falling to Alex who hit a first time volley in from close-range. With one of the last kicks of the game and Skive would give away a penalty. Would Alex step-up to complete his hat-trick? No. Tukiainen took the ball off of his strike-partner and sent the 'keeper the wrong way from twelve yards. I was surprised to see Tukiainen take the penalty, but shy of goals of late it was perhaps in his best interests to add to his tally.



After the game, we would find out that nine (yes, 9!) of our players made it into the Team of the Week, what an achievement for the boys as they've worked tirelessly in training and in games of late!

MATCHDAY 14



For the second time this year, Viborg sought to be a thorn in our side. We went in to the game against Viborg their complete opposite. We would be doing well to avoid a relegation scrap this year, whilst Viborg should be right up there challenging for promotion, yet we find these roles swapped fourteen games in. And we looked good money for our position too, as two minutes in a Tukiainen shot, which was heading for the post at best, took a wicked deflection to leave Jacob Dehn red-faced and us a goal up. The game had a real ebb-and-flow to it for its duration, with both sides stringing together some good sequences of play, yet lacking any real threat. We continued to look the better side and I couldn't have been happier when we were awarded our second penalty in as many games. Up stepped Alex to show Tukiainen why he should be the main man on penalties only for him to roll the ball wide of the right-post. Usually clinical from this range, clearly the competition to be the club's penalty taker had gotten to Alex. Despite this, Viborg couldn't find a way back into the game and the early own-goal would prove to be the winner.





October was kind to us, we finished unbeaten and were one-goal shy of winning all our fixtures this month. What has been particularly impressive is the form of Alex, who in ten league games has hit nine goals and is the league's top goal scorer. It is also worth noting that kept a clean sheet and looked a lot better as a defensive unit this month and hopefully we can use these two factors to push for the top-spot, although that would be a best-case scenario. Our form this month has seen us move up to third in the league, admittedly on goal difference, but we are only three points off of first as the race for promotion looks like it could well and truly go down to the wire! A very good month for TFC and I couldn't be more proud of this team!



November 2019!

It's pretty annoying when the board accept an offer you had no intention of accepting, especially if they're only giving you a percentage of the sale but it is what it is. You've done alright so far, hopefully the form continues and you can push the top end of the league from here.

It was especially frustrating as the player had just recently withdrawn a transfer request to stay with us @bigmattb28, but like you said, it is what it is. Hopefully we can continue to be right there or there about in the league and show a good account for ourselves in the cup, if only to boost my own rep when job hunting!

That is some effort on team of the week!

I have to admit @KEZ_7 I've not seen too many Team of the Weeks like it!

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MATCHDAY 15



The month of November kicked-off with an away trip to promoted side Middelfart in a game that pitted us against one of the teams who look condemned to relegation already. Standing on the touchline, these beliefs were confirmed within a minute of action, as Tukiainen continued his revival with a first-time placed-volley from around twelve yards. No less than seven minutes later and we had doubled our lead and the hosts looked to be sinking without a trace, as Pedersen steered a header into the back of the net from a corner. Middelfart would pull a goal back within the first half after a fantastic save from Due rebounded at the feet of Hajdarevic who converted at the second chance. It was past the hour mark that we secured the victory, as Tukiainen converted from the spot again. A thoroughly professional performance from my semi-professional Danish side.

MATCHDAY 16



Our next game saw us travel to high-flying Hobro IK in a top of the table clash that could add some mid-season drama into the title chase. For the duration of the game Hobro gave it all they had and looked threatening on every chance they had as they showed us why they were favourites for promotion as well as their SuperLiga quality. But for all there promise going forward we were equally as good at the back, preventing their ten shots on target from finding the back of our net. Our hard work would be rewarded late on too as loanee Nicolas Madsen would strike a low-drive from outside the box which the Hobro goalie could only push further into the bottom corner. What a result and what a way to symbolise the turnaround I've overseen at this club since arrival!



The win against Hobro would also see us go top of the league (would you believe it) with other results going our way too!

MATCHDAY 17



Following our win away to Hobro, we welcomed yet another team pushing for a surprise promotion as Hvidovre walked through the doors of the Sparekassen Thy Arena. We would find ourselves a goal up within the first quarter of an hour, as Tukiainen latched on to a fine through ball after some neat build up play to slot the ball past the onrushing Hvidovre 'keeper. We had chances to double our lead throughout the game too, however we were denied by a string of fine saves from a 'keeper making up for his prior mistake. And then the Hvidovre pressure was piled on and we looked like the team I took over and not the team I've build this year. Pushing up two strikers to sit on our two centre-backs, Hvidovre hit a long ball over the top which Amankwah failed to deal with, mistiming his jump horribly, allowing our opponents to go two vs one and score from a smart cutback. Minutes later and the tie had been flipped on its head as Hvidovre showed why they are in such a strong position, a corner swung in was headed down to one of their players, who volleyed home from close range.

MATCHDAY 18



After our disappointing collapse against in our last outing, we faced off against relegation candidates Vendsyssel in a nice change of opposition quality. Before the half-hour mark, Brazilian striker Alex found himself played through on goal before playing the smart pass across to Tukiainen who hammered the ball home from close range to continue his goal-scoring streak. Vendsyssel would make the scores equal ten minutes later, as midfielder Basse curled a shot into the top-corner from outside of the box. Jeppe Illum would add to Vendsyssel's good performance by drilling a low shot into the bottom corner from outside the box himself. At this point I thought that we would experience an awful drop-off in form after losing our last match, but these fears were put to rest at the seventy minute mark as Tukiainen pounced on a mistake at the back before placing the ball into the back of the net to level the scores for us this time. We regained our lead ten minutes later as Amankwah headed into the top corner from a corner, only for Pedersen to grab his first and our fourth not long after. A superb comeback, but in all honesty we should never have put ourselves in this position.





We ended the month of November sitting high in the table in second with a game in hand around teams around us. Its tight at the top too, as only four points separate first and fifth, whilst just one point separates first and fourth. Its inevitable that teams will drop off as the season progresses, whilst it must only be a matter of time until there is a runaway leader in the league. Had we beaten Hvidovre we would have ended the month two points clear, but these things happen for a reason in football. Overall, another solid month as we only lost one league game and won the remainder of our fixtures, with the goals not showing any sign in dropping off any time soon.



December 2019

MATCHDAY 19



We entered the festive period with an away tie against underachieving HB Koge, who find themselves keeping the wolves from the door this season after looking like on of the stronger sides in the division last season. After having our fair share of luck go against us during my time in charge of Thisted, we had a long overdue dose come our way sixteen minutes in as Alex's volley from a corner was well saved but not cleared, with the resulting clearance crashing off of Dyhr and finding its way into the back of the net. A minute later and there would be no such luck, as Pedersen got to the by-line and dinked the ball back to Tukiainen who hit a sweet volley on the turn into the far corner to double our lead. Half an hour had been played before summer signing Mads Schafer Bak would power a header in at the near-post after a neat exchange down the right flank. HB Koge looked as good as beaten as a majority of their shots came from range, leaving Due a spectator for the most part. Just under an hour had been played when Schafer Bak set Alex through on goal only to see his shot saved, but we recycled possession excellently and Alex would convert on the second chance after a great cross from Pedersen to break his mini goal drought.





Just the one game played this month as the squad leave for the Winter Break. We almost found ourselves top of the league going in to the break too, but two late goals in Hobro's game saw them snatch three points and sit at the summit instead. Regardless, to be second in the league in just under a year in charge shows remarkable progress and justifies my decision to come to Denmark with no prior experience or qualifications.





Mid-Season Review and Winter Break!

1 defeat in the last two months and sitting just a point off the top, you're definitely right in the title race this time around!

Great run of form there mate, I'm sure the runaway leaders will soon be you! Keep up the good work.

You've been pretty good lately. You're on a good way.

Very interesting title race. Would be something great for your career and reputation if you won the title.

@Dan we're definitely there or thereabouts, it'll make for an interesting end to the season

Thanks for the faith @bigmattb28, let's just hope we can keep the pressure on!

Thanks @SrWerGaming the form has been good of late I hope we can continue it

It would do wonders for the reputation that's for sure @Looch!

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Going in to the winter break and our form for the season looks like this, eleven wins, four draws and four defeats in the league after nineteen games. What a turn around in fortunes this is after taking over the club in the relegation zone just under a year ago. A lot of this, I feel, is due to the change to a 4-4-2 and sticking to it rather than changing every three or four games. I guess this has to do with me now understanding the squad and its strengths and weaknesses. And the numbers show how important a change this has been too, in my fourteen games in charge at the end of last season we picked up seventeen points, whereas this campaign we've secured thirty-seven points in nineteen games. This takes our points per game total from 1.2 up to 1.9, which is an impressive jump for half a season. If we had beaten Middelfart earlier in the season then we would be top and clear, but the newly promoted side played some fantastic football and these things happen in football so I can't have too many complaints.



This all leads to the league looking like this. Second place and one point behind first we find ourselves pushing for promotion to the SuperLiga. Are we ready for such a big jump? Absolutely not, at least, not with the current squad, the right additions may well do us wonders but it is a surprise that we are so high in the league, promotion would likely only seen us become the league punching bag. Taking a look at the player stats and it becomes increasingly clear how we have done so well. Tukiainen and Alex top the goal scoring charts as their partnership is now in full effect after Tukiainen's slow start to the season. This further confirms the idea that playing a 4-4-2 has been an important change as it allows both strikers to get in and amongst the goals. Meanwhile Mathias Pedersen sits top of the assist charts. Naturally an attacking-midfielder, Pedersen was unhappy about a lack of game time and so I shifted him to the right side of our midfield as he has the right attributes to play there and his performances have justified my decision. If we could keep more cleansheets, or just concede less goals, I feel as if we would be clear in the league by now.



The winter break started with some good news for myself and for the club as I was rewarded with a new two-year deal only six months after extending my previous terms. This shows the club's faith in my abilities as a manager and also brings some attention from elsewhere as the news reaches the media, making people more aware of the project we are undertaking here at Thisted. Delighted to sign it and delighted to see what else is instore for me here in Denmark.



And on the back of the new contract, it seems that I am linked with a move to SuperLiga outfit AGF, who sit 11th in the league despite being predicted to finish 6th. To be mentioned in the same sentence as Gennaro Gattuso so early on in my career is flattering and hopefully its a sign of good things to come.



Not a lot to report on the transfer front with three deals being completed.



Jannich Storch - 26, GK - with substitute goalkeeper Paul Iakob completing a prearranged move away from the club, we found ourselves looking for a new player to sit on the bench. Jannich is the best of a very bad bunch of 'keepers available for free and interested in coming to Thisted so the deal made sense to bring him in.



An outgoing transfer this time as aged midfielder Jeppe Mehl leaves the club. Originally Mehl was playing in the centre of my midfield last season but as his legs left him and other players joined the club he became surplus to requirements. Over the summer a yearly wage increase in his contract took him up to one-thousand pounds a week, which he was unwilling to negotiate down. We still find ourselves paying a fraction of his wages but to get nearly eight-hundred pounds a week off of the wage bill makes a lot of difference at this level and would allow us to bring better players in should we want to.





Sakari Tukiainen - after a poor start to the season Tukiainen finds himself top of the goal scoring charts with twelve goals in eighteen appearances in the league. My concerns with Tukiainen are his age, fast approaching thirty, his consistency (he has a knack for going missing for a game or two then popping up with three or four goals) and that he attracts interest from better leagues. Now, if a team were to come in for him for one-hundred to two-hundred thousand pounds I've no doubt the board would accept, but for the time being, I'd rather keep him here whilst he's in his prime.



Mathias Pedersen - as I've said earlier, Mathias isn't a natural left-midfielder but he possess good pace, physical attributes and technical attributes making him a perfectly adequate player in that position. In just eleven appearances he has ten goal contributions, making him one of the most, if not the most proficient players in the league at the current time. Since his shift to the left has brought with it such good performances, he has been rewarded with a new contract lasting two more years.



Alex - a late arrival to the squad, Alex found it tough to find the back of the net at first, especially from open play. But once he found himself scoring he hasn't looked back, developing a partnership with Tukiainen to rival any other in the league. Coming off the boil ever-so slightly now, I've no doubt he will continue to find the net in the back-end of the season. Almost contributing to a goal every game, I'm absolutely delighted with him since his arrival. Interestingly, he has never exactly been prolific in his previous teams so he may well be perfectly suited to our set-up here.





As the winter break dawned upon us, I arranged a series of friendlies for the team to play to stay fit. Some against teams I'd deem to be equal to us, some against teams we should beat with ease, and some against teams who would offer us a challenge. Left for assistant manager Peter Stephansen to manage, the boys did ok and should be fit and raring to go when league action commences again.





Our annual youth intake occurred during the break too, although no players particularly stand out. Dan Frederiksen is a quick and physically gifted striker that my coaches like the looks of but past this he offers nothing else. We're not in a position to churn out star after star and nor are the finances in a position to develop the youth system to do so.



March 2020

You didn't half work that squad hard through Feb!

8 games in a month! WOW!

@Suffolk Seasider, @tongey a lot of fixtures to play to build fitness and earn some cash! Hopefully it pays off!

Hopefully the momentum from the games in February carry you on and keep up the good form

Thanks @bigmattb28, I guess now is the time to see if our form has continued...

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NOTE: I've actually just spent the best part of the last hour and a half typing up the last two months, only to get to the penultimate game and set the tabs aside, losing all the writing So instead of doing it all again, I'll do a very brief round-up.





A mixture of things had contributed to our horrendous form these past two months. We managed two wins in March before losing away to Viborg. Truth be told, we were not brilliant in the games that we won, having to come behind from both games late on to seal the wins. Our poor performances would culminate in a loss to Viborg in which we looked off the pace entirely.

April would see us host OB in the Quarter Finals of the Danish Cup, and the SuperLiga side showed exactly why they are one of the household names in Danish football, putting us to the sword without breaking sweat. This would lead us into a trio of fixtures against Middelfart, Skive and Fredericia in which morale had hit a low for the season and we played the worst I'd seen all season, with glimmers of last season shining through. Injuries hit us hard in this period, with both Alex and Tukiainen picking up injuries and then failing to perform when the other was not alongside them. We recorded a long overdue win against Nykobing, with Alex returning to the goals, and Essaisi putting a free-kick away from twenty-five yards, on as a substitute after Tukiainen failed to leave his mark. We then threw away a two goal lead against third placed Hvidovre in a game that we never looked like holding on to all three points after the hosts pulled one back after the hour mark. We then fell to another shock loss against Vendsyssel, who took full advantage of our poor form and poor morale.





Our nightmare month sees us drop down to second, which is not the end of the world given our one win in April. Three points away from Hobro too with the leaders our next opponents. Hobro themselves didn't have the best of months, drawing the majority of their games. It makes me think where we would be had we not forgotten how to play football over the last two months. Its worth noting too that Fredericia and Hvidovre are beginning to creep back into the conversation, which is no surprise given that they have taken points off of us recently.



This form has been coming for a while in my opinion. A look at our match stats shows that we don't dominate the ball and nor do we take a high number of shots. Admittedly this has done us well so far this season as evidenced by our league position, but when you invite teams on to you and play on the back foot, its evitable that we will concede goals. This all contributed to heads dropping and morale being shot, feeding into a vicious cycle and culminating in one win in seven league games. Nowhere near good enough. Going in to next month and we are still, somehow, in the title race. A win against Hobro would do wonders for morale and place us on level points as the season draws to an end. At the beginning of the season I'd never have thought that we would be in with an outside chance of promotion so to be in this position is a testament to the season we've had. Best case scenario - we get promoted. Worst case scenario - this bad form is more than just a blip and we completely implode. Either way, its going to be an exciting end to the season!



May 2020

Bit of a bad month there, still In the running though if you can get the team back and hit those results

Ahh gutted, maybe my words of encouragement tempted fate! You're still in with a shout tho, fingers crossed!

@Dan, @bigmattb28 thanks for the kind words of encouragement, let's take a look at how things panned out.

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Promotion Race

As the final month of the season dawns upon us, I was greeted with this piece of news in my inbox as I watched the team start training. Mathematically speaking, it would be possible for seven of the twelve teams in the league still vying for promotion.





Similarly, it was brought to my attention that a staggering nine teams could still occupy the four relegation spaces this season, including ourselves. So as impressive a season as it has been for us, we still find ourselves looking at other results to ensure our own safety. On the back of our recent form I wouldn't be too surprised to see us dragged back into it...

MATCHDAY 29



So this was it. A win here puts us even with Hobro going into the final stretch of the season. The visitors come into this one in a bad patch of form themselves, though it would take some feat to be in poorer form than us at the minute. It became painstakingly obvious as to why we sit where we do in the form table as of late, as we failed to get a hold of the game in the midfield and our chance creation was abysmal. The stats show the story of the game, Hobro held a lot more of the ball than us and tested our goal much, much more. Hobro would get their just rewards for their performance in the second half, as Jakobsen got the better of Due to give the visitors some breathing space at the top of the league. Not the performance we needed going in to this game and it would not be too far a cry to suggest that this ends our promotion hopes.

MATCHDAY 30



We looked to bounce back from our poor run against struggling side HB Koge. From my encounters with Herfolge side I know they have good players in a number of positions and to get anything from playing them is never an easy task. HB Koge looked like they would hold us to a draw too, until the eightieth minute when Sakari Tukiainen popped up with a header to give us the lead late on. The Finnish striker added to us tally in stoppage time with a lofted finish into the top corner from outside of the box with defenders chasing him.

MATCHDAY 31



A win against HB Koge may have fuelled a late resurgence from the boys and we would need this new-found energy as we travelled away to FC Helsingor. The home side took the game too us as they looked to secure their survival much like we did this time last year. The game was back and forth for the mainstay with both sides not afraid to put themselves about for their cause, resulting in a wealth of bookings between the two outfits. Mads Schafer Bak would pop up with a thunderous volley from inside the six yard box after a corner to put us ahead as we pushed on in search of an unlikely promotion. The game would end this way too, as the Helsingor players looked notably deflated and devoid of energy after the restart.

MATCHDAY 32



We welcomed Roskilde to the Sparekassen Thy Arena with open arms as our form in the last few games had reminded us not only of who we are but how we got to the position we found ourselves in. We looked to carry on where we left off too with the wind in our sails, easing to a two goal lead in less than ten minutes. Dhyr popped up on the edge of the box to smash a shot past the travelling 'keeper and into the far corner, whilst Madsen headed home from a corner kick just minutes later. We took our foot of the gas as the game went on and I guess naivety set in as Halse struck home from inside the box to reduce the deficit to one. And we would find our heads down not long after, as Molberg headed in from a corner for the hosts to complete the comeback. A lot to take from this game, the first being that our inability to hold leads and see out games are the reason we've dropped off in the title race, whilst failing to beat teams in-and-around mid-table just prove that we wouldn't be cut out for life in the SuperLiga.

MATCHDAY 33



We hosted Nykobing as the season came to an end for another year. There wasn't an awful much between the two sides, but we just couldn't find the back of the net. The visitors took the lead after some sloppy defending. Following this we would continue to miss chances until the final whistle. Defeat on the final day adding to our horrendous form in the final third of the season. I'm not shocked either, as Alex's goals and Essaiai's goals dried up as of late.





One of my biggest worries was goals becoming hard to come by, and this became a very harsh reality for us at the end of the season. We can't rely on one striker to score goals and we have to add creativity in the midfield and in wide-positions if we want to push on next year.



End of Season Review and Plans