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#290137 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
So with our young squad bolstered with four new arrivals we set off into the new year looking to make the most of our chances and we certainly didnt disappoint...
A magnificent midfield display from central pairing Pepper and Potts, saw us start the new year in fantastic fashion with a three goal victory over Altrincham but we could only follow up our flying start to the year with an unexpected one goal loss against Corby as we succumbed to defeat at home for the ninth time already this season.
Back on the road we quickly returned to winning ways with a clinical victory over league high flyers and favourites for promotion Chester being followed up with a thrilling tie against Hinckley that saw the leagues top scorer Corey Gregory display his prowess with two second half goals that snatched a hard earned victory for Celtic.
The young striker has been in fine form of late and was quick to live up to his recent praise, as he bagged another second half brace to secure victory over Oxford City before adding a late finisher as we saw off fellow playoff chasing side Altrincham to end an encouraging month in fine fashion.
It was of no suprise then that the Twenty year old picked up the player of the month award, as our time in 2013 got off to an almost perfect starts
and the rewards werent to end there...
My first of the career and hopefully not to be the last.
With things going swimmingly following the January transfer window we find ourselves not onlt comfortably in the playoff spots but now well within reach of snatching automatic promotion from the league.
I think 2013 might just be our year!
#290136 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Halfway through the season and were poised and ready to make an unexpected push on the playoff spots. With form appearing to allude just about every other team in the league, we find ourselves within touching distance of making something of this season with the January transfer window presenting us with the ideal opportunity to strenghten to take full advantage of it, however before we can add to the squad, were going to need to clear some more room from the ranks.
Woodhouse and Egerton were both sulking in the reserves this season and with the wage budget proving to be extremley limiting it was am easy decision to send both players packing.
With neither possessing the ability or potential to ever trouble the first team it was hardly suprising to see them be released, with the only shock being why it took me so long to get rid of them.
With two shipped out it was time to get to work bringing in the players that would hopefuly seal our promotion push...
Taking full advantage of the short term loan market we set straight to work brining in three players, with Port Vales young centre back Joe David being the first arrival as we looked to strengthen our back line ahead of the all important run in to the end of the season. His strong all round defensive ability will make him a useful addition at this level.
With goalkeepers at Stalybridge proving to be few and far between we turned to Ben Wilson to keep guard between the sticks of the remainder of the season, The Sunderland youth player has spent the first half of the season as stopper for Blue Square Premier outfit Lincoln but will now look to keep the goals at bay at Bower Fold stadium.
Last of the three loanees, is right winger Wes York. With his chances limited at Nuneaton, the battling wide player arrives at Stalybridge in an attempt to try and add a threat down our flank. With Waddle and Forsythe already proving to be quite effective out wide his chances will be limited but as the season progresses he will certainly be thrown in at the deep end eventually.
The only permanent arrival of the window, sees Northern Irish teenager, Jamie Glackin take his first steps into the English league. The promising midfielder already has the ability to make an impact in the middle of the field and is more then willing to take a crack at goal from distance. With plenty of years ahead of him, I hope Glackin will develop nicely as we progress through the leagues.
With four new faces adding to the depth of our team, I hopes for making it into the playoff spot have never been stronger, but seeing as how I never expected to even be in this position thats hardly suprising...
#40709 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Thanks Zan!
#290135 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
With form continuing to allude us we head towards the end of the year, sat firmly in mid table, praying for some kind of good fortune to give us some purpose to our season....
A convincing loss at home to playoff chasing Vauxhall seemed to suggest our expectations werent going to be raised over the festive period but a week later a narrow victory courtesy of sole striker Corey Gregory over Solihull saw us start a breif but very welcome run of victorys.
A solid midfield display saw winger, Jordan Forsythe and captain Sammy Stewart lead the charge against Workington with Gregory once again adding to the score line in a convincing display and just five days later it was a repeat of the previous game as, we strolled past Gainsborough with Stewart and Greogry once again taking the plaudits.
A very welcome group of points, came to an abrupt end as we slumped to an unexpected loss against struggling Bradford Park Avenue to see 2012 end in disappointing fashion.
With nine points added to our total were slowly creeping up on the playoff spots but with inconsistency clearly still present, any hope of making it into the top five still hangs in the balance.
#39124 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Hopefully George!
haha thanks Cheik. He is one step closer to making it into the Plymouth starting eleven! However after hearing they sacked Carl Flethcer my love for that club is slowly dieing.
As long as it stays that way then we might be able to rescue something from this Dan!
Cheers Zan.
#290134 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Our hopes of a money spinning tie in the FA Cup failed to materialise as Blue Square Premier Leagues, Woking arrived at Bowers Fold and duely sent us packing from the competition in ruthless fashion.
With any money from the FA Cup now well and truely beyond us, our final hope of acheiving some unexpected silverware in the cup competitions lies solely with the FA Trophy. A four goal thrashing of non league Romulus sent us easily into the first proper round of the competition but it was to prove the only highlight of the compeition as a lacklustre perfromance against minnows Kidsgrove saw us bow out of the compeition.
With only the league left to concentrate on, you might have thought our performances might have steadily improved, however a demoralised and increasingly fatigued team struggled to keep up with the frantic pace of the fixtures amassing just three points courtesy of a very fortunate extra time goal from reliable lone striker Corey Gregory against struggling Brackley.
Were sat firmly in mid table but with no one yet to take the league by storm and a good chunk of the season left to play, all hope for some success is not quite lost yet.
#30433 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
#30174 Getting Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender
Thederbyjack
#290133 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Following a lacklustre September in which our sole victory came from a minor victory over non league Blyth Spartans, I was keen to get back to winning ways in the league and it seems I wasnt the only one....
Summer signing Sammy Stewart and the increasingly impressive striker, Corey Gregory almost single handedly got our promotion push back on track with some incredible performances on the pitch as a resurgent side blasted through a jam packed October.
A goalless draw with Guiseley hardly saw us burst back into life but two encouraging victorys over Worcester and Boston in the league saw us quickly rise back up the table with only a narrow loss to hard fighting Oxford City putting a dampener on a solid month for the Celtic.
However it was in the FA Cup that the club really continued to impress.
Stalybridge are desperate for funds, with the club leaking money on an alarmingly regular basis it is paramount that the club make the most of the rare opportunities for a cup run. A straight forward victory over non league Northwich saw Corey Gregory once again take the plaudits, whilst midfield maestro Sammy Stewart saved us from an embaressing exit against Frickley United courtesy of a late thirty yard piledriver, before sending us into the first round of the competition with two well placed penalties in the replay at Bower Fold.
Fingers crossed for a high profile first round draw against the likes of Sheffield United
#29677 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
#290132 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Top of the table and sitting pretty. Everything at Stalybridge was going perfectly, however my honeymoon period at the helm of the club didn't exactly last long.
Our good run of form briefly continued into September, all be it with a run of dull draws, against Hinckley, Bradford Park Avenue and Gloucester before our good fortune came to an abrupt end.
An unconvincing display against Histon saw us go behind to two goals within the first twenty minutes and in similar fashion, league favourites Chester were also gifted with a perfect start to the game as they cruised to a comfortable three points in our own backyard courtesy of a sloppy mistake by rookie goalkeeper, Lloyd Rigby.
The only positive of a decidedly weak month was a convincing victory in the FA Cup second qualifying round as we strolled part Blyth Spartans and one step closer to a much needed money spinning tie in the first round of the biggest cup competition in England.
#28938 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Thanks Dan, heres hoping but I think there more likely to make a difference once they've developed alot further.
#290131 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
So with the squad brimming with young potential, we head into the first month of my debut season in charge of Stalybridge Celtic. Predicted for a mid-table finish, its probably going to be one of those irritating topsy-turvy seasons but given enough time and plenty of encouragement im sure this team can one day make it to the Blue Square Premier League...
A goalless draw with Workington saw our league campaign splutter into life as the newly formed formation held its own in encouraging fashion as we battled to claim our first point of the season.
From then on though things just simply got better.
Lone striker Corey Gregory lived up to Dean Windass's high praise and went on an early season scoring spree, picking up a brace to see off Gainsborough in a bitter battle at home and repeating the feat as we thrashed a sorry looking Dorylsden by four goals to give us a sensational start to the season at Bower Fold.
The young striker rounded off his fantastic month by netting one more in the dieing minutes of the game as we strolled past a lacklustre Colwyn bay to pick up our third straight victory in the league.
Unsuprisingly Gregory picked up the player of the month award following his sensational displays upfront for Stalybridge and he wasnt the only one to take something from our near perfect start to the season.
Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself. The formation appears to be working for our young guns and striker Corey Gregory has really taken to his role as lone striker like a duck to water.
With us sitting pretty at the top of the table the signs are encouraging for the forth coming season but theres still plenty of games to come and im taking nothing for granted at this stage.
#28872 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
#28866 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
#290130 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
With players gradually trickling into the club, the preseason was certainly going to be interesting one but with only four games until the start of the season we barely had any time to develop tactics or blend the new players into the squad. Needless to say it was a complete disaster...
A four goal whitewash by League Twos Rotherham saw my career at Stalybridge get off to quite possibly the worst start, whilst a struggling defeat to Southend and a goalless draw with non league Worksop didnt exactly fill the Celtic fans with alot of hope for my ability to guide their beloved club up the league.
A narrow loss to Oldham was unfortunatley about as good as it got as it became apparent to me I was going to need to develop some tactics to suit my newly formed team. A quick run out with 4-4-2 was clearly not working and my usual fall back plan of a narrow 4-1-2-1-2 formation just simply wouldnt work with the players I had assembled.
Instead I came up with this...
God knows if it will work and heaven help me if it doesnt but using our exciting wide players and of course our depth in defensive midifielders to try and strengthen my apparently sloppy defence im hoping that I can build from the back to create a tactic that will see us grind out the results.
With just a fortnight till the first game of the season, theres little time for the squad to get used to this new formation but if I'm going to get anything out of this season there going to have to adapt and fast.
#28838 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
#290129 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
A thin squad and little in the way of finances it was always going to be an interesting transfer window to get through but having managed to free up some space in the wage budget and with the ever present loan market rich with talent, I wasn't going to be held back in my attempts to strengthen the squad.
First of our season long loanees to arrive at the club was Doncaster Rovers young midfielder, Jake McCormick. Central midfielders are the life blood of every team and with Barrow and Pepper proving to be the only current players that can do a solid job in the middle of the field, I was eager to add some strength in depth, with the promising Eighteen year old, proving to be the ideal utility midfielder for the coming season.
Taking loanees from the Blue Square Premier league might not seem like the best plan but want away midfielder, Micheal Potts actually does posess some talent. A former Manchester United and Blackburn youth player hes certainly falling down the ranks pretty rapidly but hopefully a season with Stalybridge might see him discover something that once saw him training with the Red Devils.
Crewe have long been producing some quality players from their ranks and right back, Oliver Turton is another who is destined for bigger and better things but hopefully before that he will be able to put in some quality displays as our first choice right back. At just nineteen its a lot of responsibility for the young player but having made a few appearances for Crewes first team in league two hes proven hes got what it takes.
Rounding up our collection of loanees is the son of legendary musician and occasional England winger, Chris Waddle. Young Jack Waddle is keen to follow in his fathers footsteps. He perhaps doesnt quite posess the potential to live up to his dads lofty heights but he could certainly look to provide some strength and flair down the flanks for our growing young team.
First of our new permanent signings was promising Northern Irish midfielder, Sammy Stewart. With a number of League Two sides chasing the former Aberdeen midfielder we were extremley fortunate to land him, even if it did take a reasonably large signing fee but his brief experience of life in the Scottish Premier League will add some undoubted ability to our team.
With Turton strengthening on the right side, in came Diabhibd McIvor to add some much needed strenght to the left. Having never played outside of the Emerald Isle its sure to be a big test for the young defender to see how he copes in the English game. His only really technically gifted at tackling but for a left back in the lowest rung of the English football league ladder what else do you need?
With Bembo-Leta being sent packing, we were in dire need of another strong central defender and McIvors compatriot, Robinson certainly fits the bill. At just nineteen hes already an extremley gifted defender for this level and will hopefully only continue to get better with our now extremley youthful side.
The fourth and final, permanent signing and yet another Northern Irish player to join was left winger Jody Lynch. Ive honestly paid more for a pint before and with just a fiver swapping hands it was one of the easiest transfers Ive ever made. Ive never really used the flanks to their full in previous Football Managers but im keen to give it a shot this year and with Lynch's strong crossing ability and nippy pace he could prove to be a very effective addition to out team
So Eight new signings arrive at Bower Fold, Four on a season long loan and Four on a permanent basis and everyone under Twenty Three.I firmly believe these players have what it takes to see our club rise up the table and im eager to see them in action as we aim to try and secure our first trophy of what will hopefully be a long and fruitful career.
#28771 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
#290128 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
As said I was keen to reorganise the finances of the squad to free up some space to bring in some new talent for our eventual promotion push and I didnt waste any time getting to work.
Just three days on the job and I already sent my first player packing as highest earner, Thirty Seven year old player/assistant manager Tim Ryan was given his marching orders, as I look to bring in my own assistant and one that I hope will develop alongside me throughout the length of this career.
Following him out of the door was young striker, Jack Laird. To be honest hes a world away from breaking into the first team at the minute but hopefully with a succesful loan spell at Matlock, he could possibly develop into a useful player for us.
Last to leave as we neared the start of the season were the only two non British nationals in the team. I was desperatley trying to free up some more cash so rashly opted to send both Aussie midfielder, Mitchell Austin and Congolese defender, Bembo-Leta out on frees with only the young defender managing to find himself a club for the coming season.
With three players leaving, I hardly managed to free alot of space in that wage budget but its amazing what you can do with a little bit of money in the lower leagues but before I got to work building a squad capable of pushing for promotion, there was the small matter of finding my new right hand man.
I searched long and hard for the ideal candidate to partner me in this long journey and came up with just one perfect man for the job.
Dean Windass.
An absolute legend and in my mind a player that pretty much embodies what a proper British football player should be. Determined, fool hardy and perhaps just that little bit insane. Having spent more time behind a camera then on the sidelines over the last few seasons, its fair to say Windass isnt the most experienced of choices and infact his coaching ability can pretty much be summed up as "useless" but what he lacks in technique he makes up for in attitude and I'm genuinley interested to see how far we both can develop together.
#28748 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
#290127 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
In a strange coincidence it was actually Brechin City that offered me first potential job role, as the Scottish club desperatley searched around for a manager who could steady the ship in the Scottish Second division. As much as I was tempted by the opportunity to create a club that could fill the void left by Rangers in the Scottish Premier League, having to go back and complete the third division didn't really appeal to me and I once again opted to take my chances in the job market.
Fortunatley I wasnt left waiting much longer...
Former Stalybridge Celtic manager, Jim Harvey had jumped ship just one month before the beginning of the season to take the role of Northern Irelands Under Twenty Ones manager, leaving the small club from Greater Manchester, scrambling for a quick replacement and thats were I step in...
Despite being formed way back in 1909, the club have never played in the Football League and with limited finances, no youth facilities and a thread-bare squad, I don't think I'm going to be the man to take them into the promised land quite yet.
With just £200 per week available for wages, it looks highly unlikely that I will be troubling the transfer market without doing a bit of financial juggling but a quick glance at the squad shows that I'm certinaly going to have to do something if were to make it through the season in one piece.
Just sixteen players on the books and with no reserves or youth players to use as back up, I'm desperate to try and add some much needed depth to a squad strong on potential but weak on actual ability.
The team actually holds some of the brightest prospects in the division but until these promising youngsters come to age, its simply going to be a matter of survival in the league, whether or not I will have survived long enough to see them reach their potential remains to be seen but I'm eager to find out..
#28741 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Cheers Dan, I cant take credit for the font thats far beyond me, all I did was type it out put the flags inside the letters. I have photoshop but I'm not really very savvy with it.
#290126 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
As luck would have it there are already a couple of suitable jobs readily available for me, both in the lowest leagues of their respective countries.
Athlone Town, are a Semi professional outfit currently trying to fight it out in the First division of Ireland, with very little in the way of money or talent its hardly the most appealing of job offers, whilst Blue Square South side, Havant and Waterlooville are a a relativley newly formed up and coming club looking to push their way into the football league.
I knew which job I wanted, however things never work out as eaisly as planned in Football Manager....
#290125 Rule Britannia
Thederbyjack
Having failed in my attempts to get to grips with the daunting Pentagon challenge and leaving the dream of turning Wales into a footballing super power to those who can do it justice, I'm hoping that a return to one of the first challenges I ever attempted on these forums could be just what I need to finally get me involed in a career for Football Manager 2013.
For those of you who dont know, The British Steel Challenge, involves trying to win every single one of these trophies...
Premiership, Championship, League One, League Two, Blue Square Premier,Blue Square N/S, FA Cup, Capital One Cup, Community Sheild, Johnstones Paint Trophy, FA Trophy
First division, Second Division, Third Division, Scottish Cup, League Cup, Challenge Cup
Premier, Welsh Cup, Premier League Cup
Premier, First Division, Senior Challenge Cup, League Cup, Munster Senior Cup
Premier, First Division, Second Division, Irish Cup, League Cup, Co.Antrim Sheild, Steel & Sons Cup, Intermediate Cup, Mid Ulster Cup, Setanta Cup
Its a tough ask at the best of times but on top of this, I can only use Home-Grown players from the British Isles, whilst also starting unemployed with only my Sunday league experience supporting my very weak CV.
I'm hoping this monumental challenge is just what I need but what is far more likely is that by this time next week I'll be crying myself to sleep with a hammer embedded in my laptop...
#27870 Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender And Maiden
Thederbyjack
Good luck to both of you and congrats on the sensational turn around last season!
#27862 Enter the Dragon
Thederbyjack
Third times a charm I suppose...
#27201 Enter the Dragon
Thederbyjack
Cheers George
Thanks Cymro, I did a thorough sweep of the WPL and came up with a host of potential players but only a few that could improve our squad on a long term basis unfortunatley. I've got plans for that league as well though eventually...
With an entire squad of Welsh players due to arrive over the course of the next few seasons, theres sure to be a few comings and goings at the club and despite me being in charge for little over a month I was eager to get to work in transforming the squad...
With only two players leaving the squad permanently my attempts to clear some space for new Welsh arrivals might not have been succesful as I planned but with English player Andy Morrell leaving on a free and stand out Cameroonian Goalkeeper, Joslain Mayebi sealing a One hundred and sixty thousand pound transfer to Crewe, I was gifted a lot more breathing space in the wage and transfer budget.
With a large number of Welsh players seemingly ready and willing to join the squad and my attempts to unload players falling flat, I resorted to sending some of the players out on loan for the remainder of the season with English players, Colbeck, Rushton and Hunt all leaving on a season long loan, with hopes that we can offload them on a permanent basis at the end of the season.
With five non-Welsh players now removed from the team, I resumed my intentions of developing Wales into a footballing superpower by sending two of our most promising Welsh under Eighteen players to our feeder club, Airbus in the Welsh Premier League for the coming season. My hopes are that as our squad develops we could in turn help to increase the standing of Airbus in the national league and also the reputation of the compeition itself.
Its and ambitious and quite frankly implausible plan but then again so is this entire challenge...
#26686 Enter the Dragon
Thederbyjack
Slow and steady wins the race Dan! Im not going to radically overhaul the entire squad in one window but hopefully by the end of next season I will have a nearly entirley Welsh side
With my staff sending out a rallying call to assemble all Welsh men who can kick a ball in a straight line to Wrexham, there was a short amount of time to evaluate the job I've got on my hands as manager of the national team.
Currently ranked a fairly respectable 39th in the FIFA rankings, the Welsh national side would seem to be playing above expectations but having failed to qualify for a World Cup since 1958 and a European Championships since 1976 its fair to say that Wales hasnt exactly made much of an impact upon the national scene and it was only just last year that the Welsh team sank to their lowest FIFA ranking of all time, coming in at 117th, the position currently occupied by Footballing behemoths, Botswana.
Personally I'm not really concerned about the FIFA rankings, when Greece is ranked above Brazil, its really quite hard to take it seriously but non the less it will be intersting to see if I can improve on their current position.
What will be of far more importance to me is to finally take the Red Dragons back to an international tournament and the club is already about to take its first cautious steps towards the 2014 World Cup...
However its going to be a realtivley tough challenge.
Having dodged any of the major European teams, the main contenders for the Automatic qualificaton spot comes in the shape of a robust Croatian side and the up and coming Belgian team led by iconic play maker Eden Hazard.
For us third place is a realistic aim, with a cheeky chance at the second place, playoff spot very much up for the taking, however just beating our British rivals Scotland twice could hopefully keep the people of the Valleys happy and heres the men who could hopefully lead their country back to glory.
My assistant manager is clearly a massive fan of every single player to pull on a Red shirt but judging the squad from my own point of view, I certainly think this team has got some strong potential. With the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and of course Craig Bellamy weve got a good basis to the squad but there is clearly one man who stands head and shoulders above the rest...
Rush might have gone, Giggs might be passed it and Savage has thankfully taken himself into the world of television but Bale at the tender age of just Twenty three is already well on his way to eclipsing all three. As one of the biggest talents in the Premier League, hes certain to be at the centre of all Welsh teams to come for the forseeable future, with his lightning pace causing even the best of defenders trouble down the flanks.
With no International fixtures until next month, its back up North to Wrexham to evaluate the Welsh talent weve managed to assemble for my debut season is the Blue Square Premier League.
#25048 Clicking match results.
Thederbyjack