Shedender's Journeyman Career

Excellent form mate!!

You've made a terrific start, surely the top 6 has to be a minimum expectation for you now!

You've made a terrific start, surely the top 6 has to be a minimum expectation for you now!

Superb start with the Baggies, a team I have a soft spot for! Keep it going mate Europe is a really realistic aim.

We've been in some stunning form this season George and much better than I expected too.

Ha! Such a minimum expectation from you Sam that you posted it twice. The only thing I care about this season is survival and once that's mathimatically assured then I will target for as high a finish as possible.

Thanks t-mase, this season has been remarkable...to date.



Our first six months back in the Premier League has been remarkable as we're sitting in a comfortable position and looking good to beat our seventeen place pre season expectation, could we qualify for Europe? That's a different matter, which could go down to the final day. This month sees five Premier League games, two FA Cup ties and a Capital One Cup semi against Southampton.


We hosted Reading on New Years Day and we started twenty nineteen with a three two win, Nathan Redmond and a Hervin Ongenda double ended up sealing the win but we made it harder than it should have been.

Four days later we headed to Crewe Alexandra in the FA Cup third round and eased to the fourth round following a two nil victory as we had the game won inside the opening twenty one minutes as both Hervin Ongenda and Tom Hopper struck against the Championship side - a trip to Stoke awaits in round four.

The first leg of the Capital One Cup semi final was next up and we welcomed Southampton to The Hawthorns as we eased to a three nil first leg success in which Tom Hopper struck twice inside the opening ten minutes to get us off to a dream start, Marcao added a third goal in the forty third minute to seal the win and unfortunately we couldn't add a fourth in the second half.

We returned to Premier League action with a trip to rivals Aston Villa as we produced a stunning five one away victory at St. Andrews as we took a four goal half time lead despite not playing overly great - Hervin Ongenda struck twice, including one penalty while both Marcao and Nathan Redmond were also on target in the first half, left winger Ricardo Kishna added a fifth on sixty three minutes.

Nottingham Forest were up next just three days later and we recorded a well deserved three nil home win as Marcao, Hervin Ongenda from the spot and substitute Daniel Ayala sealed the big home win.

Vicarage Road was our next destination and we post struggling Watford to the sword, winning three nil at the bottom side thanks to first half goals from Hervin Ongenda, Andreas Pereira and Nathan Redmond.

We progressed to the final of the Capital One Cup after drawing the semi final second leg three all to progress six three on aggregate, Hervin Ongenda continued his fine goal scoring form with a hat trick as he has now struck nine goals in seven games this month.

And the former PSG striker would continue his mental scoring form with a treble as we progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup, defeating Stoke three two. The striker would strike after twenty six minutes from the penalty spot, twenty nine and seventy seven minutes as we advanced to the fifth round of the prestigious competition.

The month however would end on a slightly sour note as Everton hammered us four one at Goodison Park. Hervin Ongenda (who else this month?) scored our consolation goal in the eighty sixth minute from the spot after the Toffees had led four nil. We were brutal and barely deserved a goal.


With that disappointing defeat at Everton we are currently in second place and thirty six odd points above the relegation zone so a few more wins should secure our survival in the Premier League and then I can target a possible European finish. It's been a horrible season for Watford who, bar a miracle, will be in the Championship next season.

February would turn out to be a difficult enough month as we suffered an FA Cup upset as we exited the competition following defeat away to Championship side Birmingham City while in the Premier League we had tough games against Arsenal and Manchester United - Blackburn and Fulham, both at The Hawthorns concluded the month.


February started with a comprehensive home victory over Blackburn Rovers as goals from Andreas Pereira, Hervin Ongenda, Nathan Redmond and Ravel Morrison sealed a four nil victory at The Hawthorns, we had a three goal lead at half time so I slightly disappointed we switched off after the fourth goal, we could have hit at least five against this lot.

Four days later we welcomed Arsenal for our second consecutive home game and played out a one all draw as Andreas Pereira rescued us a point ten minutes from time after Geoffrey Kondogbia had given the visitors Arsenal the lead on the half hour.

We then headed to Old Trafford to entertain Manchester United and slipped to a three two defeat but winger Frankie Everitt giving us a fifth minute lead but that only lasted three minutes as Javier Hernandez equalised and then Nick Powell turned the game around on twenty six minutes. Ten minutes into the second half Hervin Ongenda equalised but Jonny Evans headed home the Man United winner with sixteen minutes left.

Our FA Cup run came to an end after defeat to Championship side Birmingham City who won two one at St. Andrews. Lucas Piazon gave Birmingham a great start when he converted an eleventh minute penalty and that's how it remained until the sixty ninth minute as Hervin Ongenda slotted a second penalty of the game home for one one but central defender Ian Gay scored the winner with eleven minutes left.

The month concluded with a home clash against Fulham who we defeated three one despite falling behind after eight minutes when Connor Wickham scored but Hervin Ongenda equalised two minutes later and then winger Ricardo Kishna turned the game around on the half hour, Andreas Pereira added a late third to seal the points.


Our remarkable campaign continues as we've secured Premier League safety as we're sitting thirty eight points above the relegation zone and now it's all about the possibility of qualifying for Europe and even that's looking good. Watford remain bottom.

The major question is, if we are to qualify for Europe then will I be backed by the chairman?

Shame about the FA Cup. Take it you're not too bothered though? More concentrated on the league.

I'm not too fussed about the FA Cup this season Sean, just slightly annoyed we crashed out to a Championship side though.



What a great season it has been so far for my West Bromwich Albion side, bar the annoying FA Cup exit to Birmingham City and now we've reached the business end of the campaign with the Baggies still in the hunt for an unlikely Premier League title, we would face Southampton, Norwich and Swansea in the league while we faced Newcastle in the Capital One Cup final.


It would be the Capital One Cup final against Newcastle United that would start March as we won our first piece of silverware this season following a two nil win at Wembley Stadium in front of ninety thousand supporters. Hervin Ongenda opened the scoring after only one minute to calm any pre match nerves and then central defender Marcao doubled the lead on twenty five minutes. Yohan Cabaye was dismissed late on for Newcastle.

We returned to league action with a trip to Southampton as we could only pick up a disappointing one all draw, Joel Matip struck in stoppage time to salvage the Saints a point as he cancelled out Tom Hopper's opener on seventy four minutes from the penalty spot.

A trip to Norwich City was next as we suffered a three one defeat, Hervin Ongenda struck after eighty one minutes but it was just a consolation as Jordan Rhodes had opened the scoring for Norwich before Zach Clough and Michael Mancienne struck two late goals to give the Canaries three points.

The month would end with an emphatic four nil win at home to Swansea City, with the highlight being a stunning hat trick from right winger Nathan Redmond as the former Crystal Palace man had struck after forty five, seventy three and an eighty second minute penalty while Hervin Ongenda struck our second goal of the afternoon on sixty six minutes.


Europe. Our league cup success over Newcastle United has seen us qualify for next seasons Europa League and we'll enter at the third qualifying round, I don't know how we'll fair in Europe but I'm sure the players will enjoy themselves while I care about the £££.


With seven league games remaining we find ourselves in fourth place with a European place already secured for the twenty nineteen twenty twenty season while we're still in an unlikely title challenge but I can't see us winning the league this season - it would be unrealistic in my opinion.

We entered the penultimate month of the twenty eighteen twenty nineteen season still, against all odds, in the hunt for a shock Premier League title and we entered April with four league games but they weren't going to be easy as we have to play both Liverpool and Tottenham who both, in contrast have had poor Premier League seasons as they're both mid-table.


This month started with a trip to Wigan as we suffered an extremely disappointing three one defeat, left winger Ricardo Kishna struck our only goal of the afternoon on fifty two minutes.

Liverpool away was our next destination and in front of the television cameras we recorded a four two win at Anfield. Striker Hervin Ongenda struck twice inside the opening ten minutes to get us off to a sensational start in Merseyside but the hosts fought back to level proceedings but late goals from Daniel Ayala and Hervin Ongenda to complete his hat trick sealed the impressive win.

We then welcomed Stoke to The Hawthorns for a home double header to conclude the month as we defeated the Britannia outfit three nil as Hervin Ongenda scored our first goal after twenty three minutes from the penalty spot before Sami Santahuhta struck on sixty two minutes and then Ogenda's second with six minutes to go completed the win.

The month came to an end with a home game against Tottenham as we picked up our third straight win, defeating Spurs two one as goals from Frankie Everitt and Ravel Morrison struck for a two nil lead but Tottenham, who played very well, pulled a goal back but we managed to hold on for what could turn out to be a crucial win.


If that defeat to Wigan costs us an unlikely league title then I'd be slightly annoyed.

With three league games remaining we are currently two points behind Manchester City who we travel to next in the league before hosting Chelsea and then heading to Newcastle United to conclude our campaign. Watford and Swansea City have been relegated and could be joined by one of Wigan Athletic, Nottingham Forest or Blackburn Rovers.

Liverpool and Tottenham have had dismal campaigns and look certain to finish mid-table and miss out on Europe.

Just three league games were remaining in the twenty eighteen twenty nineteen season and against all the odds we were still in the hunt for an unlikely Premier League title but could we secure it? Our final three games were against Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle.


The final month of the league season started away to Manchester City as we held the leaders to a two all draw, left winger Ricardo Kishna was our hero with a double as he fired home after fifty seven and sixty seven minutes.

We then welcomed Chelsea to The Hawthorns and played out a one all draw but we didn't even deserve a point as Chelsea were the better side throughout, Hervin Ongenda struck from the penalty spot on eighty six minutes to cancel out the Chelsea opener.

The season ended with a hard fought two goal victory away to Newcastle United thanks to two late goals. Highly rated Frankie Everitt, who could leave the club in the summer if we receive a massive bid for him struck on seventy four minutes before Hervin Ongenda added a second a minute later to seal the three points.


So Manchester City won the Premier League title but I'm not surprised as their squad is stunning and ourselves, Chelsea and Manchester United will join the champions in the Champions League. Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Fulham qualified for next seasons Europa League.

Wigan, Watford and Swansea all suffered the heartbreak of relegation to the Championship.


Conformation that we'll be participating in next seasons Champions League after securing a second place finish.

Outstanding mate, great work. Good luck in the champions league!

Thanks for the comment KEZ, as per usual I greatly appreciate it. Our expectations for the Champions League is to only reach the Group Stages so zero pressure, which is good as we'll enter at that stage afaik.



On the back of an excellent campaign in the Premier League that saw us qualify for next seasons Champions League, we approached the twenty nineteen twenty twenty season with the pressure on us due to the amount of extra games that'll need to be played in Europe. This update will have the seasonal expectations as well as our pre season fixture list.


So the pressure is slightly on due to our overachieving last season as the board expect a reasonable league position within the Premier League this season.

They've offered me three choices to choose from - a top half finish that will see me receive a £4.2m transfer budget, Europa League qualifying position and that'll give me £4.5m and finishing in a Champions League qualifying place and I'd get a £5m transfer kitty while the wage budgets on all three remain the same at £1.1 million p/w and we're currently spending just over nine hundred thousand per week on wages.

I've promised the board that I will finish in a Europa League qualifying position. Bring it on!


We have arranged eight games this pre season in which our assistant manager will take charge.

Things will begin with a short two game trip to the Republic of Ireland as we'll face Derry City and St. Patrick's Athletic before returning home to host Yeovil Town in what'll be a testimonial for Graham Dorrans before we face AFC Wimbledon. Games against Chasetown at home before a double away trip to Barnsley and Ajax to end July.

Pre season will conclude with a home game against French side Nice.

What a season! Cant believe they only gave you under £5m!

Bad news folks.



Friggin' raging so I am, had a back-up save but the save thing happened ffs. Seems I will need to start a new career on here. Pissed.

I had made some excellent signings in the summer and was very positive for the season ahead as we were going to participate in the Champions League and that would have been excellent, started the season with a two one win over Liverpool.

I'm not sure who to manage next, don't know whether to remain in England or go abroad and do another journeyman.