Journeyman FM21

After a load of trialists and loans, the Stones managed to score a lot of goals in pre-season, including an accidental screamer from a trialist full back that I have attached below (erroneously opening with FM2020). This didn't translate to the league, however, scoring only 4 goals across 3 matches in the opening 7 games of the season. This goal drought was not limited to the league, either, with the Stones scoring only a single goal at home to mid-table Vanarama National League South side Concord in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round. With the team badly in need of a win, we hosted (then) first place Torquay United, favourites to lose. After a 4-2-4 Wide formation wasn't working, I switched to a 4-4-1-1 in mid-week and scrambled to find a new goalkeeper to loan in or sign on a free, desperate to play more Under-23s. I had essentially given up hope when all I could get was Ben Winterbottom, a 19 year old on loan from Brentford who was apparently worse than my current man between the sticks, but decided to play him anyway, thinking it would be a heavy defeat either way. It was a heavy defeat, just a heavy defeat for The Gulls, rather than for The Stones.

At half time, the match was still goalless, which was favourable given the quality difference. The second half was a completely different story, however. Dan Wishart, my left midfielder who had been performing poorly in training and in matched, opened the scoring in the 48th minute, but I was still pessimistic, having lost from similar leads in the past. In the 90th minute, Siph Mdlalose, a 21 year old South African striker who I had trialed for 4 weeks before signing him, scored his first ever senior club goal before making it a brace in the 90+3rd minute. No matter how hard the Torquay United players tried, their best attempt was an offside goal, giving Winterbottom a clean sheet on his debut. Going into the match, we had lost 3 home matches out of 5 and were bottom of the table. Following the match, we had caused an upset, rose in the table, and gave a youngster a debut and a clean sheet. Miracles can occur, and one has just occurred at Grosvenor Vale.

The next update will be after the Christmas period, when post-COVID fixture congestion will start to take its toll.

Attachments

Wealdstone Competition Update #1.png (179.37 KiB)

Wealdstone Club Vision Update #1.png (219.13 KiB)

Poor Start At Wealdstone.png (13.04 KiB)

First Win At Wealdstone.png (77.12 KiB)

Torquay Upset.png (129.39 KiB)

Winterbottom Debut.png (30.96 KiB)

Wealdstone Formation 1 Update #1.png (265.12 KiB)

Wealdstone Formation 2 Update #1.png (262.06 KiB)

Wealdstone Formation 3 Update #1.png (256.59 KiB)

Wealdstone 5-1 Balham - Match Highlights.webm (4.14 MiB)

gaffer2602

1 year ago

3 months ago

Premium

31 Mar 2024 04:22:33

Quick Update

Just finished my National C Licence and should have my National B Licence by mid April 2021.

gaffer2602

1 year ago

3 months ago

Premium

05 Apr 2024 01:03:54

SEASON 1 OVER!

I have finished my first season as Stones manager 14th in the Vanarama National League, and have decided to renew my contract for another season. Overall, a bit up and down, but we finished 5 places higher than expected, and broke some records (some good and some bad). Looking forward to next season.

Attachments

Moyes Chats to Non-League Gaffer.png (264.74 KiB)

Moyes Is A Sound Bloke.png (260.77 KiB)

Out of Position Goalkeeper.png (27.37 KiB)

Transfer Deadline Day March 29th 2021.png (91.06 KiB)

Wealdstone 2020-2021 Final Manager Stats.png (146.24 KiB)

Wealdstone 2020-2021 Finances.png (158.31 KiB)

Wealdstone 2020-2021 League Table.png (254.27 KiB)

Wealdstone 2020-2021 Lineup.png (341.22 KiB)

Wealdstone 2020-2021 Moments To Remember.png (220.34 KiB)

Altrincham 1-1 Wealdstone - Match Highlights.webm (4.14 MiB)