Joe Boy - Comments

JULY 2019

And so it begins and I'm impressed he's complained a week into my reign. We've had a chat and told him he can leave if we don't qualify for the Champions League. I'm confident he'll stay, but if Real/Barca etc. come in for him, he can go. I need players here who care for the club.

A speight of new contracts have been signed by the clubs most promising youngsters with Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong (C,L) the pick of the bunch.

Other notable players to have signed their immediate futures to the club include Aidan Barlow, Anthony Elanga, Arnau Puigmal, Charlie McCann and Aliou Traore


No word yet on any first team contract renewals.

JULY 2019



Following the recent appointment of a new manager, no time has been wasted in further adding to the backroom team.
Highly rated coach and ex-journeyman Paddy McCarthy has left his role at Crystal Palace to move North and take on a first team coach role at Man Utd.


The long awaited and desperately needed Director of Football has been found with the appointment of 66 year old Les Reed, following a decade of stellar work at Southampton bringing through youth and helping to dig the club out of League One. Reed's short term goals are to identify youth who can move into the first team and maximise profit for those that can't cut the mustard. This fits in perfect with the renewed ethos of the club.


And a return of fan favourite Robin van Persie with his first non-playing role as under 18 coach, stepping back into Old Trafford for the first time in 5 years.


With the manager giving the first team a chance until the Winter, these could be the last changes we see before January.

JUNE 2019




The dawn of a new era, as lifetime United fan and a relatively unknown player has taken the reigns of the famous Old Trafford club in a bid to get them back to where they belong.



The chairman wants the club to use the youth team and play exciting football. I can absolutely promise that. I plan to use the United wing play of old, though I'll be deviating from the two up top that Fergie was so famous for and play an attacking midfielder behind a main striker. Attacking full backs are a must, in the vein of Neville and Evra. If only I had a bitey midfielder in the shape of Roy Keane.
The board are happy with a top 4 finish which gives me plenty of time to pull the team together, though I'm secretly harbouring ambitions of a top 2 finish.




The team are not strong, notably at the back. It always feels like there is a lot of depth, but just no quality. Before we look at any signings we need to think about offloading some deadwood. If he wasn't injured, Eric Bailly would be the first to go but I can't see him leaving in this window. Phil Jones is a victim of the "best defender in the world" tag bestowed by Fergie and I'm willing to do what no other manager wanted do and show him the door.
The other leavers will be Nemanja Matic who plays like a man in his late thirties rather than early thirties and to follow him is Andreas Periera. I know he's a United graduate, but I feel like he offers nothing apart from flexibility in the midfield, an attacking John O'Shea if you will.
With only one playing up top, this is nailed in for Rashford with Mason Greenwood providing back up. Failing that, I will send Greenwood on loan and keep Ighalo as back up.

Youth Watch - First Team


Youth Watch - Reserves & U18s

Manchester United. The quintessential falling-giant. Having dominated the Premiership/Premier League for 25 years, it has become more and more apparent that this was down to one man. Sir Alex Ferguson. Other pretenders have come in; from the "Chosen One" David Moyes, to the "Iron Tulip" Louis van Gaal and even a try with the "Special One" Jose Mourinho. Each had their own ideas and each one failed in their mission to get Man Utd back on their perch. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the right idea, but is making a pigs ear of it.
It's now time for me to step in and restore the ethos and traditions of Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. Promotion of youth, English talent and try to avoid those big money purchases. Let's knock Man City and Liverpool back off their f***in perch

Year 2 in the SPL and our first year in Europe.



Premier League Stoke chanced their arm with me, but I'm desperate to win a Scottish title before moving on. After Celtic finished runners-up in the league and lost out to us in the FA Cup, Antonio Conte's job was on the line so I started fluttering my eyes at them by declaring interest. The fans wanted me, but the board stuck with their man, so Forfar are stuck with me for another year at least

Last seasons cup run, strong league finish and qualification into Europe boosted the coffers and has allowed for a £2m transfer budget. Finally we can start operating in the transfer market with real sums of cash.
I also managed to persuade the board to invest in the training infrastructure, following a failed attempt at getting the stadium expanded. Exciting times at Station Park.



Let's talk about outgoings and there's nobody that left that I would shed a tear over. Antonio Veigas was a first choice CB and Celtic exploited his £300k release clause. The best money made was Lars Gulliksen, the young Norwegian I signed on a free for the youth team. I wasn't turning down that sort of cash for a youth player!
Another regrettable large influx of players to prepare for the longer season and with the increased finances, allowing us to dine from a different table.
Our record has been smashed for LWB Koni Di Winter from Juventus, bought to play mainly on the left but can play anywhere on either side of the pitch. Easily one of my best players.

I've changed systems slightly for the coming season, looking to play one up top instead of two. As much as Bangura has done the business, I wanted an upgrade to lead the charge. Chris Manning has been brought in on loan from Southampton.

To replace my #1 CB, I've brought in Joao Resende from Madeira for £245k who I hope to can shut the door all season.




The bookies now have us as a mid-table, established SPL club. I actually think this may be one of the proudest things I've achieved. i hope that when I do eventually leave, the foundations have been laid for Forfar to continue keeping their place in the league.



The season has very much continued how we left it. Rangers and Celtic taking the top two with us trailing just behind. Quite embarrassingly, we've been knocked out of the Europa league qualifying by Prague. Gutted to be honest.

A great first season in the SPL, finishing third behind the old firm. Rangers knocked Celtic off their perch for the first time in a decade and I spent most of the season fighting off Hibs and Aberdeen to keep their place. But third place was cemented and Forfar will begin 2024/25 with their first adventure in Europe.
Celtic didn't just lose out on the league, they were pipped in penalties to a plucky Forfar team winning their first ever Scottish Cup!



A review of the team; Simon Lambert finishes the year as top scorer with 34 goals before heading back to the PSG reserve team. He'll leave a massive hole in the squad that I hope I can fill pretty sharpish. Saydou Bangura continued his from from last season with 23 goals and once again teams are sniffing around him, notably from the Bundesliga. Matt West heads back to Man City with with an astonishing 25 assists in his locker. I look forward to seeing him waste away at MK Dons in 2 years time... Record signing Yeray stepped into the hole and pretty much played every game along with winter signing Andri Fannar Baldursson in the middle of the park. It's also time to say goodbye to some club stalwarts who can't cut the mustard anymore, notably, Jamie Thomas who was my first ever signing. Very sad.





Shopping for next season will include replacements for all the loan players, needed now more than ever with Forfar's entrance into Europe. And not just normal entrance, an early qualifying round!

To self lick the lollipop...



The future; I turned down EPL team Fulham to concentrate on my Scottish adventure, but I'm not sure how much longer I can stick it out at Forfar. Blitzed away from everyone to stick third but nowhere close enough to the top two. Maybe worth holding out for the Old Firm, or maybe leaving altogether.

And so begins Forfar Athletic's first ever season in the SPL and it very nearly started without it's manager...




I've said from the beginning that the Forfar job was for the long term and only the Old Firm could sway me. When Celtic come knocking, you don't turn your nose up. I've always preferred Rangers, more so because they can't win the league, but Celtic was too good an opportunity. I thought I had the job in the bag, the media has been saying all the right things...



It was a shame. I managed to piss off the Forfar board and I really got my hopes up but it was not to be. Never mind. Time to get Forfar established!

The very first thing I noticed when I was given my £500k "war chest" was that £500k in the SPL is sod all. Once again, I will need to rely on loans, free transfers or very low transfers. I just can't attract the quality I need for this level, so will in reality have a squad that consists of League 1 / Championship players. I'm in for a tough season.



In terms of outgoings (and not the contracts that came to an end) just the pre-agreed Ghasemi to Hearts from the Winter. I had agreed £50k fee for Saydou Bangura to leave for Excelsior, but after struggling to find a decent replacement, I cancelled the deal and gave him a new contract instead.

As for incoming, I had to bring in as much quality as possible which meant abusing the loan market. Simon Lambert, on loan from PSG (yes he is French) was the pick of the bunch. Predominantly a right winger but I'll be deploying him up top. I'm hoping he and Bangura can keep me in the league with goals. I'm also expecting some assists from LB/LM Oscar Tarensi, on loan from Man City.

I obliterated Forfar's transfer record with the £64k purchase of Yeray from Las Palmas, whose been brought in mainly to sit behind the strikers but can play anywhere in the middle of the park.


As i've said many a season before, cohesion is everything. So a lot of the team from last season will play again in this season, with only 4/5 loan signings coming in and out of the side.



Not the overwhelming favourites to go down (hi Falkirk) but at 550-1 it's going to be a long season.



Some good results so far. Flying through the group stage of the Betfred Cup, setting up a second round clash with Livingstone. My first game of the season was a 2-0 win over Motherwell. I will take every point I can get.

That's it! We did it! The promised and has been reached and for me, mission accomplished and this was not easy. The championship wasn't confirmed until the last day of the season, with the last half proving particularly tough.



So I mentioned before that the change in the ME really affected me, which I suspect is one of the reasons for getting up by the skin of my teeth. A new ME and a tweak to tactics was needed. Like my previous seasons, I've tried to not alter the team game to game in a bid to keep up the cohesion, which will probably blow up in my face next season as I lose half of my team back to their parent clubs. Special praise to some of my loyal players who have now played with me from League 2 all the way to the Premiership, Jamie Thomas, Hugo Mesbah and Sean Jones, all of which have been given new contracts because I'm nice like that.





As is always the case, my top striker is on the shopping list of a few clubs after bagging 25 goals this season. Saydou Bangura will likely end up in Holland should the right offer come in.

The rest of the cups were probably some of my worst in all of the seasons I've been involved with the club. I feel like I could've one the Challenge Cup this time around after a couple of finals in the last few years, but they just wasn't meant to be.



So, destination SPL

It's on. Our first time in the championship and a chance to get into the big time. As usual the free market and loan market our our friends here, even though I have a £150k budget I don't want to spend it. I'm trying to make the club financially stable so free transfers and player sales are a must.
Speaking of which, the vultures begun to circle around my best players.

Not including the raft of players whose contracts came to an end, I made good money on three players though to be honest, I was sad to see top goalscorer Sergio Silva leave. He popped in 34 goals last season and I'm not certain I'll do as well with my incoming transfers...

Jay Heaton, on loan from Liverpool is my hopeful saviour. Failing that I still have Jamie Thomas who has now been with me since League 2 and chipped in with 25 goals last season himself. It's easy for all to see that I've pretty much replaced the team, so I suspect a slow start as they gel and get to know each other. The one to watch apart from Heaton is Ruben Gomes on the right wing, who I'm pinning high hopes on for assists and a few goals from the wing.





I'm ever so baffled that we're favourites for the league. Understandably buoyed by back to back titles, but all the way? I think this will be a tough ask



As for games so far, the Scottish League Cup is already underway and we just snuck into the top spot with a point separating top to third. The league has started off with a 0-1 loss to Queen of the South and my fears may be coming true. Next update in Winter!

And that's me. The league was lost by Germany rather than won by the Dutch, they seemed to throw it away towards the end but happy with the league win. As for the cup, the Italians pipped me on penalties but a win against Brazil in ET was something to savour.






One thing noticeable about the team is their sheer lack of strikers. Huntelaar is the only out and out striker. anywho, I spent most of the game with Depay up top and this bore fruit. Barcelona now want him. Lucky chap.



Point Scoring

SILVER LEAGUE

1st - 100pts

Have a Player Finish As The Leagues Top Scorer - 50pts

CUP OF NATIONS

Runner Up - 75pts

TOTAL - 225pts

My second full season with Forfar, and third overall, has ended in a magical League One win and entrance into the Championship. Partick Thistle couldn't hold keep up the pace of wins (despite beating me in the final run)



Like my previous seasons, I've tried to not alter the team game to game in a bid to keep up the cohesion, which I think really paid off. Only 2 players were purchased in the Winter to cover for a couple of departures, which didn't rock the boat. Really happy for the players that have come with me from League 2 and got me back to back titles. Special praise to the two strikers, Jamie Thomas (in his third season) and Sergio Silva who scored a combined 76 goals between them





Lower-tier premier teams are circling my players, which was always expected. With any hope I can keep them on board and push for the Prem.

A bitter-sweet run in the cups with Final losses in the Betfred Cup and Challenge Cup. I genuinely felt the latter was mine, but the team failed me against the Rangers Reserves. But a final loss to Celtic in the Betfred Cup was nothing to be upset about.

Rangers or Celtic would have to come knocking for me to leave this team. They've really captured the imagination.

You know what, considering the opposition I am more than happy to have scored two goals. And the runner-up prize was £154k which has swollen the club coffers.
Yet the loss seems to have badly impacted the form of the team, as I've yet to record a win in December. Leading to Partick pulling away at the top of the league. Genuinely think the playoffs may be my best hope.

Absolute scenes as we eek out a 1-0 victory over perennial prem runners up Rangers. The Rangers manager Jack Ross (Gerrard's at West Brom) was mouthing off before the match so this makes it all the sweeter. Don't hold much hope for the final though...





A quick update on the league and we're top and pushing for automatic promotion, but it's tight with Partick Thistle chomping behind us. I suspect this will run all season long, so no time for cock ups.

Here we go, back where it all started. But now I've come here with a full summer, a decent team and hopefully everyone behind me. First up, a bit of churn with out of contract players and loans leaving that all needed replacing. £50k transfer budget was available, but I see no benefit in investing in players at this level when the free market is so workable. I've learned that the German lower league loans are a real good shout, as they're more than happy to not charge the wages.
Although it seems I've bought a new team, some of these players are purely to cover the squad so I'll be trying to stick to last seasons spine. However some notable players; Magnus Norman in goal is a definite upgrade having just been released by Fulham. Alessio Brambilla can play anywhere through the centre (CM/DMC/DC) which gives me the flexibility I crave. The crown signing I wanted to show everyone is this poor chap. Left with a skin condition leaving him looking like a red lobster, Sergio Silva is here to prove the world that no matter what primary colour your skin is, goals will come.
It's worth pointing out that the board have set an expectation of signing players under 30. As simple as this seems, it means I've lost a valuable source of signing aged veterans on small contracts. So thanks mr chairman....





Slightly miffed that I've been made third favourites to win the league, I was genuinely hoping for a year to settle.



As for games so far, the Scottish League Cup is already underway and the team have trounced the competition, including a slim win over premiership side Dundee.

And that's us. A well earned league title and an instant return to League 1. Highlights in the cups would be reaching the final of the Challenge Cup, losing badly 4-0 to Partick Thistle.





The team remained consistent throughout the year and I plan to keep them like this throughout my tenure. The only real injury of note was Dale Hilson, who went out for 8 weeks, subsequently losing his place to Josh Jack. He won't win it, but left-winger Abilio Vaconcelos was my player of the year. 14 goals and 4 assist from the left was amazing. A big loss will be Sergio Carrasco whose contract expires and he's refusing to sign a new one. Jamie Thomas tore the league to shreds, scoring 37 and assisting 13. It will be a tough task keeping the bigger clubs from coming in for him, both north and south of the border.





To throw an unknown into the new season, the club has just been sold. Hopefully I'm recognised for my good work and not moved on.

Although I had no intention of entering the market, I had to replace some outgoing players. The only player of consequence that I didn't want to lose was RB Ross Meechan, but his contract was up so I let him go.
Coming in, all the lads are under 19 to play back up roles as I didn't want to shake the team up. Adelio Singeis may get a look in up front and I think he could be good shout in this division.