Waterdeep70
5 years ago
12 hours ago
261

Choice one …. A team I have never managed ….having been to Cornwall last year I decided on Truro City.

 

Choice two … Club only or with a National side …. Going club only and see if I’m good enough.

 

The team is light in several areas and with some non contract I expect to lose some players.

 

I went to England Trial ( 3 vs 4) but did not find any Players.

 

Board Expectations 

1.Mid- Table …..media prediction is 11th.

2.FA Cup … 4th Qual Rnd.

3.FA Trophy … 1st Rnd.

 

Transfer Budget ÂŁ500 and wages ÂŁ4500.00.

 

League Favourites

1.Billericay .2. Torquay. 3.Woking. 4.Concord. 5.Dulwich H. 6.Chelmsford. 7.Welling

 

Transfers …7 done before I arrived … I pick up Hunter & Corbridge on frees and Smallcombe On loan from Exeter.   Corbridge I sigend before on a Bath save .talented youngster I will use from the start .

Sold Grimes to Exeter ..annoyed the fans for ÂŁ1900 plus Keats on a free.

 

Friendlies … A mix of wins and a few 0-0 draws as i imbed a 4-2-3-1 gegenpress .

 

Opening League Fixture ….The favourites Billericay.

 

Started Positive and can’t get the ball and a goal down…..move back to Standard and get a 43rd min penalty .

Half  Time 1-1 .

Dominate second half and 3-1 up when new signing Shaquille Hunter goes in … a late fight back sees it go 3-2 but hang on to seal a win in my debut as Manager…. Very satisfying. ( Crowd 303…..98 were away).

 

Game 2 ( away) Weston Super Mare … Pittman ( striker) gets his first but 1-1 (ht) ..ends 1-1 which given our Statical dominance is disappointing….both teams on 4 pts now.(415 fans ..21 were from Truro)

 

Game 3 (away) Table toppers and only team with 2 wins ..Eastbourne. 1-1 (ht) .. gave away a late pen after controlling first half .. other striker Rooney off the mark ….followed by a 85th minute winner.

Upto 4th ….in front 566 people …but only 9 were our away fans.

 

We have sold 75 seasons tickets.

 

Game 4 (H) Chippenham ..kept L.Rooney upfront ..two goals in opening 19 mins ..(HT 4-0)

Winger Hunter finishes the rout to win 5-0….Gone Top in front of 228 fans (42 away)

 

Game 5 held 0-0 by 10 man  lowly Welling .( 223 fans - 28 away)…tiredness took affect.

Game 6 5th placed Woking (a) .. HT 2-2 ( L.Rooney two) ..sub Harvey long range Free Kick wins it 3-2

Regain Top spot by 1 point.    In front of 1817 fans ..17 were from Truro.

Game 7 ..Hungerford 8th(H) ..lots of tired players …u18’s drafted in. ..0-0 drop to second behind Torquay.

189 fans ..disappointing given our league position…but only 10 we’re away fans.

Draw 0-0 in next two games and it’s 3 games without a goal.

 

Finances are tight and squad thin ..looking for free loans…only 1 long term option left.( no good options ..only 6 players of poor quality).

Corbridge rating 7.16 but board say they are disappointed with signing.

 

Game 10 ..energy back up after a weeks gap …and our first goal in a long time against rock bottom Richmond Borough. Wait until 88th min for D.Rooney first club goal against the now 10 men 

70% poss throughout and 29 shots ..14 on target …what we would do with a decent striker.

 

10 games gone and Torquay lead by 2 points from Truro.

 

A Change ..2nd Qual Rnd FA cup….rotation will be in force….new non contract DC Challis makes debut ..front four all score before HT…6-0 away win and closer to meeting board target …it’s a shame this lower level team can pull in more fans than us ( 409 ..9 were fromTruro)….. does pull in £9k prize money.

 

Next round lower league Barking ..big chance to meet board target ,..and earn more prize ÂŁÂŁÂŁÂŁ

 

Game 11 away to Concord who are second from bottom despite being 4th fav for the league.

Lead 1-0 ..2-1 down at half time … move to positive and Harding first goal wins a thriller 3-2.

 

I expected an easier win ..but rotation team struggle b4 Barking seen off 2-1 away and ÂŁ15k prize money.( ref allowed 20 fouls against with no cards).

 

The board have set the next home match as Fan Day ..kids half price.

 

Game 12 ..home to mid table Hemel Hempstead …awful first half ..better in the second but blow a lead and chance to go Top …ends 1-1……287 fans attend.

 

Third away game in Fa Cup …this time as underdogs vs Dagenham&Redbridge.Dominate possession but can’t score ..HT 1-0 down…Stats show us to be better …but we lose 1-0….in front of 1352 fans (43away)


Game 13 ..home to 4th placed Dartford .. slow start but again Positive improves us ..Win 3-2 (272 fans)

Game 14 home to 15th placed Bath ..team getting tired ..3-0 HT changes upfront working. Ends 3-0 ..disappointed with only 249 fans given it was a localish contest.

Game 15 (a) East Thurrock…Goal up in 90 seconds ..win 3-0 and Top from Woking /Torquay by 1 point

 

Worked out that we are playing at Torquay …new stadium Jan19 … hence why I have lowest attendance …hopefully when back in Cornwall it will soar.

 

Game 16 & 17 …..Slough 0-0 … then beat fellow promotion rivals Dulwich 3-2 in a thriller … first team to keep me below 45% possession.  Top by 4 points … really enjoying the challenge and so satisfying knowing this is being played with no extra money or unlikely loans or boosting the fitness levels.  Had no injuries so far which surely can not continue.

Game 18 … unbeaten league start ends …2-0 at Chelmsford ..allowing Billericay to go Top.

First time with injuries and it Took it toll.

 

Draw Hornchurch away in 3rd Qual FA Trophy…opt against Extra Time….Get 10 day break b4 playing as out of the FA Cup

 

i ask for a senior affiliate … after pleading the financial benefit the hunt begins.

 

26/11/18 ..Offered a new contract ..£875 per week increased to £950/wk….Agreed.

 

Rotation for Hornchurch ..1-1 after reserve keeper blunder.

 

Game 19 Billericay shock loss and our comfortable home win sees us back Top.

 

Replay ..L.Rooney finally scores ..second by HT…D.Rooney also gets double in 4-1 home win.

 

1st Round expectation met ..Home to Totton..again no Extra Time.

 

8/12/18 ..offers Blackpool or AFC Wimbledon as affiliate…I recommend Blackpool due to better facilities.

 

Game 20 ..Win again and Billericay thumped 5-1 …. 5 points clear.

 

Two back up players moaning about playing time despite getting cup action.

 

Rotate for Totton and win a thriller 6-3 ..exceeded board target and win £6k….get York next.

 

At half way stage ..lose a game 0-3 chasing a game after Wealdstone score from their only shot and Top from Billericay by 2 points.

 

Reserve player kicking off in press … I release him.

 

Boxing Day fixture Torquay (4th) away …start slowly and 1 down in 10 mins ..2 down at HT ..can’t compete with my small tired squad.sub Battle gives up hope ..but lose 2-1 as Torquay go joint top with us a Woking.

 

Last game of 2018 before we go back to own stadium… I can not afford the new contracts that are recommended.

 

Change most the squad due to fitness and 1 up away at HungerFord (HT)…stats all in favour but nervous finish b4 1-0 win and top By 1 point from Billericay as the year ends . ( W 23 D 7 L 3). Best defensive record with only 20 conceded. Most clean sheeTal with 12.Top of Possession with 57% . Most passes with 10078 next best 9364. Best pass completion 80%. 94% tackles won. Our top scorer L.Rooney with 7. ( best on 13 goals). Ranked 14/22 for salary spend.

 

Shame our new ground is 2/1/19 and not the 1st when he host Torquay ( given we are using their ground).

 

1/1/19….Better performance but can’t finish and lose 2-0 … down to third.

 

The game sees us in front of 1416 which despite being at Torquay is now a new home record crowd.

 

Pittman released from loan back to Torquay as ÂŁ600/ week is too much.

 

New Treyew Road ground opened …3500 capacity with room to expand to 16000.  Also ends a ÂŁ10,000 a year rental to Torquay…hopefully finances will now improve.


Use affiliate Blackpool to pick up a striker for no wages.

 

Wages saved on Pittman allow Ziboth to have contract extended 1 year.

 

After losing to Welling and going down to 5th ….we get our first home match vs top of the table Woking and I change to 442 and win a thriller 3-2 with new striker Gnanduillet grabbing a 93rd min winner In front of 587 fans ..300 more than we got at Torquay. ( He had 7 goals in past 45 games for Blackpool).

 

Abandon 442 at half time to WSM and finally get the ball and dominate 2nd half .. 90th min winner from our on loan striker again to edge it 1-0 and back top…just over 420 fans which seems it will be our level unless a big away support comes.

 

With a weeks gap b4 bottom placed Chippenham … I keep 9/11 starters to play York in FAT … They are slight favourites despite Truro playing at home and they are same position in VNN.

 

Level until 79th min before subs see us home 3-1 …worth £7k and £2k in gate receipts.

 

Beat Chippenham ( we get our first red card) ..b4 playing two of the top 5.

Eastbourne have 4 shots and score 5 goals as we go from 1-0 to 1-5 ..turning point a goal denied at 1-0 and they score 2 in next minute including an o.g.

 

Outplay Billericay but ends 0-0 ..happy with an away point…They choose to kick us off the park.

FAT ..change team and rear guard action minimises lose to 1-0 away at higher x2 division Wrexham

Gamble works as over 500 watch us win and stay 2nd to Eastbourne.

 

Try to get left back cover on loan but no loans available and players unwanted elsewhere will not accept a short term loan.

 

Another 1-0 vs bottom side St.Albans and next up managerless and 2nd from bottom Bath.

On loan striker now not scoring and has a real attitude in training ..especially when called out about it.

 

Feb finances …. Make a 9k profit and overall balance nearly broke even.

 

Beat Bath(22nd) and East Thurrock (20th) to go top as 4 of the Top 6 played each over allowing Truro to go 2 points clear. With 8 games left I’m 14 points clear to stay in play off / title mix…over 500 again at home match.

 

Lose away at Dulwich ( in form team of the division ) 5-2 ..tried change of tactic and attacking but own goal and penalty showed it was not our day ..Chelmsford missed chance to go top by conceding late but they are next up at Truro .

 

League Played 35 W 20 D 8 L7 … long time since I lost 7 games add another  2 in the cup in a FM save.

 

Chelmsford manager tries to wind me up with several media comments.

 

Stats show I have used the fewest players (18) ..shows my luck with injuries ..just one long term all season.

 

Gnanduillet misses an easy early chance as I sit my midfield deeper …Torquay score early elsewhere to go Top until Chelmsford score (31) to go Top. 2-0 down at HT.3-0 after(88) and despite a late goal by sub Battle we are just not clinical enough. Drop to 3rd…disappointing in front of 827 fans.

 

Top 6 covered by just 6 points.

 

Can finally afford a scout.

 

 Mid table Dartford next … Deserved 2-0 away win (71% poss) … Chelmsford lose , Torquay draw so surprised to be Top by 1 point from Chelmsford & Woking.

 

Finally succeed with bid for Green from Eastleigh as he enters last 3 months of his contract.

River Allen (19yr) gets his first contract.

 

Home to Concord (17th) who were 4th fav for promotion.

Allen gets important goal ..Ziboth the second and playoffs obtained with 2-0 win….

 

Awkward away fixture at play off chasing Hemel H ..almost blow it after being 2 up ..win 2-1.


3 games left …could up 1st or 6th..only top Promoted.

Truro 77pts GD +24

Chelmsford 74pts +31

Billericay 73pts +25

Torquay 73pts +22

Woking 72 pts +20

Eastbourne 70pts +36

 

Next game Gloucester (9th)designated a fan day ..should be good now at our proper stadium .

 

Player of Season voting has 5 from Eastbourne ..deserved ..2 from lowly and relegation threatened Concord.?

None from players at Truro / Billericay/ Torquay and Chelmsford get just 1.


Game week (40).

Torqyay held 0-0 by lowly Chippenham in early kick off….move up to 3rd.

Win 4-3 from 2-0 down . Changed tactics at 1-0 ..turning point at 2-1 down ..red card and penalty ..4-2 up b4 Gloucester scored on 90 mins for 5 mins of nail biting additional time in front of 671 fans.

Chelmsford lose 4-3 .

Now 4pts clear with two games left from Billericay.

 

Game 41 …away to Hampton & R.  Title talk goes down badly with most the squad …Only 2 day gap does not help.

 

1-0 down at HT but hold my nerve as possession in our favour …3-1 up by 68 mins but injury puts us down to ten men.( no right wing) …and add a fourth on the counter ..Seal the title 4-1.

 

This is the White Tigers .. odd nickname … Highest ever finish…defying our 11-1 odds.


Board set a new budget of ÂŁ7k per week 

 

Last game at home and Slough kick us off the field in a 0-0 draw….1103 fans is our best at new stadium.

 

Season ends. Truro (84 pts) … Billericay (82) …Chelmsford (80)

 

Scored 72 goals ( joint 7th). 10th for crosses. Joint 3rd with Direct Free Kicks.(5). indirect (7th joint) (6)

 

Most goals Eastbourne with 89

Best defence Wealdstone (40) ..Truro (44)

Corner Goals ..Chelmsford (12) Truro (8) joint second.

Avg Poss ..Truro (56%)

Most passes completed (80%) ..Truro…18681 passes in 42 games……Over 2200 ahead of second.

Most tackles won (93%) Truro…..Best defence against Free Kicks and 7th from corners.

Most clean sheets (21) Truro

Most dribbles..(6) Truro

Most fouled against ..(705) Truro

Best supported ..Woking (1905) ..Truro 15th with ground share at 469.

32 yellow .Truro best discipline.

 

Our wage budget of £188k is ranked 18th …Billericay only team over £1m.

 

Louis Rooney (68% on target shooting is Top)….Team had most shots on target (307)…17th for conversion rate.

Interceptions  Corbridge 7th and Richards 9th ( 139/137)

 

Fan Awards

 

Louis Rooney our top scorer with 17 …13 in the league.

Ziboth 11 assists …10 in the league….Also wins Fans Player of the Year+ Young Player of the Season.

Has our highest rating 7.19 and 6 POM.

Best goal Niall Thompson ..cup tie.

Best Signing ..Jack Challis

Used 23 players.

Only 5 first team injuries.

 

Squad expect to be fighting relegation next season.

 

Board postpone the unneeded expansion …3500 is plenty.

Request to improve youth facilities is rejected.

 

Sign Cardiff U18 player for Keeper cover.

 

May 2019 ….3 of my better players loans are due to end but no option to extend.

 

Billericay beat Torquay to promotion in the play offs.

 

Dean Cox of Eastbourne voted player of the season….He was second for avg rating. First for distance/ assists/key passes and chances.

 

Estimated profit is ÂŁ43k so no tax bill.

 

Orient retain the FA Trophy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waterdeep70
5 years ago
12 hours ago
261

Season 2 

 

Fresh of Winning manager of the season…time to look at life in the Vanarama National League.

 

31/05/2019 ….End of many contracts and time to rebuild the squad on a small budget.

 

Difficult decisions on some who did well for promotion but pace especially not fit for a higher level.

 

Rowthorn back to Saints after 42 appearances….that contract ends in 1 month but not prepared to negotiate with me.

Rooney (31) and Battle (38) back to Plymouth.

 

Bignot announces he is winding down his career.

 

Change DOF and save ÂŁ600/wk for a better judge of player stats.

 

7th June 2019 …. New transfer window starts.

 

Earn 5k TV rights money.

 

Board Aims

  1. Attempt to avoid relegation
  2. FA Cup 1st Round
  3. FA Trophy 2nd Round

30/06 ..hoping more loans ending will improve pool of options….it does now have a few new names.

 

Asst Mgr released and a better cheaper option found.

Smallcombe (36 app) returns to Exeter….. resign on loan.

 

Lose 6-1 to Plymouth in friendly and choose now to switch to 4-1-4-1 DM narrow.

I will have 4 def 1DM 2 CM ..2 wingers and a striker.

Win next friendly 3-0….2 for Pritchard who has joined on loan.

 

Still can’t sign Billy Knott despite him being unattached.

 

26/7/19 ….10 In and 6 Out.

 

£500 fee paid for Green from Eastleigh …. 4 free transfers and 5 on loan including a decent looking U23 from Swansea.

 

First team squad of 20 with 3 non contract as I balance expenditure….I promote 3 under 23’s.

 

Club currently in a small profit.

 

Vanarama odds in …. We are 600-1 predicted 23/24 teams.  Bury Favourites 1-5 on . Orient/Flyde/Chesterfield…make up the Top 4.

 

3 Bury players favourite for Top player ..two on loan from Man City.

 

Lose to Blackpool in friendly …second game in a row with ten men … this one within 95 seconds on kick off…fastest red of my FM career.

 

Nearly 2000 watch us hold Everyon U23’s. 0-0.

 

League Season begins .

 

Barnet away ..see if my defensive tactic will work …4-3-3 DM wide .  Green scores our Free Kick ..first goal (38) and 1-0 up at HT… played well . Dreamland on 74 mins as Captain Corbridge scores a second From another set piece.

 

121 season tickets sold …up from 75.

 

Dont deserve to lose …but Hartlepool beat 2-0 in our first home match in front of 846 fans.

Billericay (a) lose 1-0 .

Bury (H) 0-0 as I go defensive / counter attack .. happy to get a point …social feed moan it’s boring.

Aldershot(H) both teams 1 point from bottom four…win 3-1 with a lot of luck…fans now love the style .

Solihull(a) swap 10 due to fatigue against team in 4th …Lose 2-0 but not unhappy.

Harrogate (H) ..3rd place team so tough match …They boot us off the field ..lose to disputed pen 2-1

 

Shaquille Hunter is not coping with the pressure .

Weston-SM want Jamie Richards who is non contract …he rejects them.

 

Boreham Wood (a) Important relegation battle … Try 4-2-4 to apply some pressure ..fails lose 2-0

Down to 20th.

Chesterfield(a) .. Another 6 pointer …Back to defensive mode ..Rooney ends goal drought to equalise 1-1

 

Going To take break And go back to my other save with us 1 point clear and 19th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You'll need to Login to comment