jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/sLVingr64WcgdpMcYKvJSIVtWzwG9jIUcZNYpbF3.png

Only three matches this month due to international breaks, and three rather poor matches. I was hoping we could pick up a point or two from these matches, but it didn't happen. We were unlucky not to get a draw with St Mirren after having a goal disallowed, but it wasn't to be. Against Hearts we were awful and were never in the game, and we were unlucky not to draw against Inverness again.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Vm0UKK94Oh17x4g224O2OQJSXdDKt9m7A77IJUsG.png


Still only two points away with six games to go. The final game before the league splits is against Celtic so I'm not expecting to pick up anything from that game.

I'm hoping we can pick up a few wins from when the league splits and try and stay in the SPL.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
So I thought I'd do updates on a game by game basis as we come to the end of the season.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/kwGbdByjjwqwizlE70bC7AfOYZjqgLBgrzN4HcTR.png

Wasn't expecting to win this game and was happy with our performance to hold Celtic to just 1-0.

The league split into two groups of six (top half and bottom half) and the bottom half was Hearts, Dundee Utd, Hamilton, Kilmarnock, St Johnstone and Cowdenbeath.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
My next game was at home to Hamilton, and it went very well:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/IANzFfTfglX7nwgaenpNLZCmE2DS3NGyqRzHTBDY.png


Delighted with the comeback to win, and with St Johnstone losing 4-0 to Hearts, I moved off the bottom of the table for the first time since September!

The table:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/GF224xTZTIgL5Jd0SXTTLiQgneWty15wJKxxRiiH.png


Hoping to stay out now.

Up next: Hearts.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/iLKD7vIAG082Qn5HHnXyV7CqWvaVuDa85OeY3ip0.png


A disappointing performance against Hearts, but St Johnstone also lost so we don't lose any space in the table. Disappointed to lose Lewis Milne to suspension for the next game but hopefully somebody can step in and cover for him.

Here's how the table looks:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/zR0INtfNxnVICx3iRkTYkveIk598IAE8Pfqkj2UO.png


A few more wins would be vital.

Next up: Dundee United
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/cQysNbsfGCWwNWFALCdbhZJGaDDSYeVRiLjDySCB.png

Disappointing to just get a draw and for St Johnstone to win.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/r381ERSfnnSZBrKRUOJGPBdB8kvvb6TZWrT7Beqp.png


Need to win the next game desperately, mainly because it's against St Johnstone!
EOF Gizmo
13 years ago
3 months ago
103
Premium
congrats dude, awesome season!!
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/56Rs93Vja1ah5yg2rnNpUTtsAnZ3Vm5Mfr8zSiw7.png

A quite brilliant win. Elliot Bannon has adapted really well to the right midfield role, and scored a hat-trick playing there! Ferguson once again crossed the border and watched us against St Johnstone to watch Bannon, and I hope his performance doesn't interest them even more.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/lxCLiEPwGrvLQIwOtaMjLwlqpHfNozZbIIKCeIau.png


All we have to do is equal St Johnstone's result and we survive. We face Kilmarnock so if we win, we finish 10th which is quite remarkable looking back at how the season went.

Last game is against Kilmarnock and I really hope we can win it to guarantee survival.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/82y1HnFZG7ig07ClnfGyBywnRgZCjVnmz8Cb6ABJ.png

Absolutely brilliant way to end the season! Can't wait to start building for next season now, hopefully keeping Elliot Bannon here but I know it will be hard. If he does leave, I want to get a very good fee for him so that I can improve the team.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/OggY1y8WwsRa7FxZP2hf71IeLaF9IsJNXl6VDktA.png

So I've finished 10th, which looked out of reach at most points in the season. A great position to finish in I think and I can't wait to take The Blue Brazil to bigger and better things.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/qYBURvl6wDfy9yAzth4ABXYmbAWJ7YIkPWtF1Onj.png

Very well deserved, he's coped very well this season after being moved between centre forward and right midfield, and his performances are attracting a lot of interest and it's going to be hard to keep hold of him.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
A lot of players have left the club in order for me to try and make my team more competitive next season.

Steven Doris, Mark Taylor, Daniel Hall, Jamie Langfield and Arnaud Gastal are the biggest names amongst the fourteen players who have seen their contracts with the Blue Brazil end.

A lot of staff have also left as I look to completely revamp the backroom staff.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
I've been faced with a huge dilemma.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/xExuA6NnMj7TEG2hRLO5Z4Dkl8CMgHimV5rfzGWU.png

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/guAvwRg1yX0TxQhF7qccZdnc1PW69xG5aJYiFROj.png


This is a huge decision to make. I've loved my time at Cowdenbeath, going against the odds two seasons running but I'm not sure what I could do for them next season.

The wage budget Kilmarnock have made available is the biggest thing that's tempting me.

I've delayed both offers for a week to assess my options and to have a think about my future.
born-to-win
11 years ago
6 years ago
365
Well done on avoiding relegation
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
By born-to-win | Permalink | On 10 June 2013 - 18:31 PM
Well done on avoiding relegation


Thanks!

I was hoping for someone to give me advice on my stay or go dilemma, I'm still split minded and my week to think about it is up!
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
By Random Jukebox | Permalink | On 10 June 2013 - 16:57 PM
congrats dude, awesome season!!


Thanks! Was over the moon with it, didn't think I'd be anywhere near safety when I was 8 points behind!
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
I think I've made my decision.

I will reveal all in my next update.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
Okay, so I had a huge dilemma that took a lot of thinking about. Kilmarnock had offered a higher wage budget and a higher transfer budget, but I'd already built a good core of a team at Cowdenbeath and was enjoying my time there.

Was it time to move on, or give it more time at Cowdenbeath?

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/iupatwenYwfGXLFWq41NhUtSjZ81WLZqiUwcAVW1.png

I couldn't walk away from Cowdenbeath after what I'd done for them so far.

I've hired some backroom staff and am looking for a few more to complete the crew.

Also signed some very good players. More info in a future update!
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
So, after deciding my future for the time being and deciding to stay at Cowdenbeath, I had work to do to make a team able to compete higher than we did last season.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/vHYaw7gKOMDcFGgp1FFQWCyw3MFlneZvUtAvyGnO.png

Some of these transfers were very good. Some of the players who departed needed to go as they were signed for the first division but aren't needed anymore.

I was delighted with the loan players sent from Coventry and Everton - I had Ivor Lawton last season who did a very good job. I was actually looking for a replacement for him when I got the news that they were sending him for another season, which made my job a bit easier.

I will go through each signing briefly again:

Sergen Budak - A top quality centre back who I was delighted to sign. A product of Bayern Munich's youth system, and at the age of 19 is going to be our best centre back now and for years to come.

Junior Ogaga - A nineteen year old Nigerian back up midfielder, who could give some of the midfielders a challenge to keep their place in the starting line up.

Benjamin Siegrist - our new number one goalkeeper. He's Swiss, 23 and by far our best keeper. Hoping he can give us some good performances.

Andy Procter - a veteran midfielder who I'm hoping could provide back up.

Ben McLaughlin - with a free loan signing you can't go wrong, but looks like he may be our starting right back for the season.

Keith Yates - another good centre back who can provide good back up. Again, can't go wrong with a free loan!

Johan Hammar - Another centre back (I may have too many now!)

Ivor Lawton - delighted to have him back after he had a good season last year.

Alex Brister - a right back who can provide back up at right midfield too.

I am looking to sign a striker soon enough, but I've been unsuccessful so far.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/j66Uf8MQZdMgvDMe9ilZmXK1rwkkTsvIsJrspInp.png

A very good pre-season, not conceding goals in all but one.

Hoping to build on this and my first league match is against Kilmarnock! It's like it was meant to be...
dramacydal2002
13 years ago
9 years ago
75
good job in finishing 10th and good to see you stay, another fact did you know Cowden are the only team in Scotland (and prob UK) to have a steel fence all the way around the pitch.

Shows you how daft the SPL is when 7th has more points than 6th!
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
By dramacydal2002 | Permalink | On 11 June 2013 - 08:04 AM
good job in finishing 10th and good to see you stay, another fact did you know Cowden are the only team in Scotland (and prob UK) to have a steel fence all the way around the pitch.

Shows you how daft the SPL is when 7th has more points than 6th!


Some great facts here! Haha

And yeah I did think that was a bit daft, but I suppose 7th are playing easier teams than 6th.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/i9XagwxKLxD9Mlhf6moLbOYIPcNYmtvEr25JyiUj.png

Really really happy with the start of the season. Sergen Budak has been a great signing (I seem to be good at signing goal-scoring centre backs). The Motherwell game was probably the biggest disappointment, having been 3-0 up and 4-1 up to very nearly draw 4-4. Luckily, Ivor Lawton was there to win it in the 93rd minute.

Also through to face Hamilton in the 3rd round of the League Cup which we should win.

Hoping for a really good season here, maybe even qualification for Europe.

The table:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ISJ92rltTjpcDPZZJTG3t8P9Ux2JTHVQRmgEnzqh.png


Feels superb being top of Scotland, even if it is early days!

Awards:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/T1TIiLSEBVLuaptWknvbOY7hCFrXX3syEzvWlAoz.png

Very very well deserved for Sergen Budak and for Ivor Lawton to come second.

http://i.imgur.com/aCoID72.png

Again, very well deserved for both him and Elliot Bannon. Not sure how 19 year old Sergen Budak was overlooked for this despite winning player of the month?

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/cc1R3QrsxcBy8OVvZZZ3qhNJ1KvqXC11LPk1boq0.png

Another 5 points closer to Fergie!
KEZ_7
17 years ago
1 day ago
1,875
Outstanding start to the season!
Charlie M
17 years ago
1 year ago
849
Thrilling end to last season and brilliant start to this one.

Looks like deciding to stick with Cowdenbeath was a good choice!
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
By KEZ_7 | Permalink | On 12 June 2013 - 09:54 AM
Outstanding start to the season!


I'm very happy with it, just hoping we can keep it up!

By Charlie M | Permalink | On 12 June 2013 - 18:32 PM
Thrilling end to last season and brilliant start to this one.

Looks like deciding to stick with Cowdenbeath was a good choice!


I didn't think I was going to stay up at some points of it, was happy to be in the SPL for at least another year though.

And it definitely looks like the right decision, and signing Sergen Budak looks to be a great decision too.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/guDypN7b3cD2iCPQei8IQLimlmk5j766yTuTky0A.png

Not happy to be out the cup, but hoping good league form and a good run in the Scottish Cup can make up for that. We were unlucky against Aberdeen to not pick up at least a point but made up for it against Hibs where we didn't deserve anything and came away with all three. Our first half performance was terrible and we were lucky to go into half time just 1-0 down, and we managed to turn it around in the second half.

Here's the table:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/vHvXSCsNz4eCQnx8Q1Lntynrr5Nwx3JZrkJaLxBz.png

Still top! Can see Celtic overtaking us soon though. For a team to have only finished with 33 points last season, we are doing amazingly well.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/XaZx9XBNntGbYSQ1n3f2LAC1AQOmsUdpnH8f3JDL.png

Our early form is starting to fade away unfortunately, but hoping we can pick it up again soon and aim for a top half finish.

The loss against Celtic was quite hard to take; they had a man sent off in the first half and we had a goal disallowed early in the second half but we just couldn't find the net again after that and they clinched a winner late on.

Here's the table:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ADe1U5MGo4lMXZVnR3snWShbqUMCNv2h1edd2nAY.png

Still second but if we don't start winning again I can see us dropping down quite quickly.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/y6pMSUkWbl8Chr0A3EfPSPnMbNtrOWr4vSZtrLqC.png

Very well deserved for him, he's been a star in defence for us and is picking up goals which are usually very important ones.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Plda7AZVEr3LJshu50GxbLjZHnDKKsICbNqES9FR.png

A really good month. I decided to make Elliot Bannon a target man up front and it's really paid off with him scoring 5 goals in 3 games. Also, the defence has been really strong with no goals conceded all month.

Here's the table:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/odFgHm5pIFxlNc32yUq2MhgClS7jbWmDHG6kVyYn.png

Looks like Celtic are gonna run away with the league but I'd be delighted if we could finish 2nd!

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/bnxAmaojTxxZTG6RUC1yhrEQqnOgQJKs6LtqT5b2.png

Also thought I'd note that Elliot Bannon came second in both player of the month and young player of the month.
Rick87
14 years ago
6 days ago
3,084
Just caught up on this doing some stunning work with Cowdenbeath mate!
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/dOnXmMZgdmGZq3miilTjNGtdkv91SrY3uQVcb3hc.png

A few good results in with a few bad ones. A real mixed month in terms of results and points.

Here's the table:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/h3zFkEihKShWkbboe6PukOmq88RpKYDMZaSnBGNS.png

Dropped down to 3rd but we have a good chance of finishing in the top half of the table.

Greg Stewart has been ruled out for at least 3 months with injury so I've decided to sign American striker Villyan Bijev on a free transfer. I was looking for a new striker anyway but this injury meant I needed one desperately. Hoping to bring in some more new faces over the January transfer window as I've changed my season expectations to a top half finish.
jambowambo
16 years ago
4 years ago
388
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/19aiKyo0FtcGcjRhgMBeQ3ejkOByXZ7hNtqf4yyK.png

I've rejected offers recently from Nottingham Forest, Wigan and most recently Motherwell.

I'd love to stay with Cowdenbeath and carry on with this remarkable transformation that I've done.
dramacydal2002
13 years ago
9 years ago
75
awesome first half of the season keep it up!

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