Jon Harrod Activity
Barnsley (H) - 4/11/2017
November to me is where the January build up begins. In most saves, this is when I really start looking for expiring contracts that I'm going to approach, but as this is a youth challenge, I've started drawing up a shor...
Sheffield Wednesday (A) - 28/10/2017
In the run up to this, Kone gets blisters which could keep him out. It will be touch and go. To make my defensive problems worse, the FA hand Djilibodji an additional 2 matches to his ban for the recent red card. I�...
Bolton (A) - 21/10/2017
After the Bristol City defeat, we find out then Lens will be out for 2 weeks with a calf strain. While, Djilibodji's sending off was more deserved than I first thought. So he'll be missing for 2 games.
We need an improv...
Bristol City (H) - 18/10/2017
Nothing to speak of happens in the few days between matches, so lets get on with it.
Seeing as we are playing one of the weaker teams in the league, I thought it was a good opportunity to rotate the squad a bit. I know chan...
Swansea (H) - 13/10/2017
We get a small break here because of internationals. Although a lot of our players are off playing somewhere or other.
Thomas Tuchel calls me up complaining about Bruun Larsen's lack of football. Unfortunately, I had planne...
Thanks! I only get a couple of games in a day, but I'm happy that people are reading
QPR (A) - 4/10/2017
One thing that happened in the last match I didn't mention was that Sessegnon picked up his 5th yellow card, meaning he gets a one match ban.
Another player comes to see me about their lack of football. This time it's Kircho...
Leeds (A) - 30/9/2017
This time, it's Pickford's turn to come and see me. Not about lack of play time, but because he wants an improved contract. He's only on £12k a week, so I think that's a fair request.
We're also back t...
Middlesbrough (A) - 25/9/2017
In the run up to our first local derby of the season, Lescott complains about lack of first team football. Looks like I'm going to have a few problems keeping everyone happy this season. I tell him Kone is playing to we...
Preston (H) - 23/9/2017
Nothing to speak of pre-game, so lets get going.
On the bench we have; Mannone, Matthews, McNair, Bruun Larsen, Kluivert, Watmore and Anichebe.
We take the lead after 15 mins. A ball in from Alexander-Arnold on the right is turn...
Everyone says that the Championship is a difficult division... I'm only 2 points off top after 9 games so it's all quite close. I'll post a league table with the next update.
Bristol City (A) (EFL Cup) - 19/9/2017
I've learnt my lesson. I'll be sticking to 4-3-1-2 for the foreseeable future as that's all that seems to work! I'm still happy to rotate a little in the cup and we line up like this.
On the ben...
Aston Villa (A) - 16/9/2017
Just after the Reading game, Oviedo came to see me to complain about his play time. I explain that Sessegnon is playing too well to drop him and he seems to understand.
We head to Villa Park expecting them to line up with my...
Part of me is tempted to just stick with the 4-3-1-2 all the time. But I have decent wide players that I would like to take advantage of. So I may need to see if I can tweak the 4-3-3 and get some results out of it.
Reading (H) - 13/9/2017
In the run up to this match, the FA inform me Cattermole has been handed a further 2 matches to his been following his red card against Blackburn. Disappointing, but not unexpected.
We play on the Wednesday, while most games were...
Sheffield United (H) - 9/9/2017
Only 3 days between matches. Nothing interesting to report.
Sheffield United have lost all 6 of their matches so far. I don't plan on letting their run end here. It looks like they prefer a flat 4-4-2, So I'm go...
We don't seem to have a problem keeping the ball. Just need to make sure we do something with it!
Blackburn (A) - 6/9/2017
After the window closed, Kone came to see me. He still wants to leave, but is happy with my efforts to sell him and will give us more time to allow that to happen.
Blackburn are expected to play a defensive 4-1-4-1 formation, so...
Transfer Deadline Day - 31/8/2017
We've still got around £6m to spend, but I'm in no great rush to make signings. However, my Brazil scout has found a couple of promising youngsters on the transfer list at Mineiro. They won't get wor...
Derby (H) - 23/8/2017
The draw for the EFL Cup 3rd round was made.
An all Championship affair. But it gives us a good chance of progress.
I'm given the option of requesting a postponement of our match against Blackburn as we have 4 first team play...
Luton (A) EFL Cup - 22/8/2017
Before the match, we complete the signing of Corey Jordan from Bournemouth for a fee of £2m (possibly rising to £2.2m).
He's far from ready for first team football. My coaches feel he could be retrained as...
Nottingham Forest (A) - 19/8/2017
My scouts have found some great young players in Portugal, but their clubs all want silly prices for them. Guess they must be good!
As far as outs goes, Dasilva has gone on loan to Dagenham, where he should get first tea...
Ipswich (A) - 15/8/2017
We almost build up to another game with another signing, as Pepelu agreed terms. Unfortunately, by the time he did, he'd turned 19 (by 4 days). I want to be strict on myself and stick to original challenge, so I cancel the tr...
It probably was slightly skewed. But just happy to get the first win under our belts this season, so that we can move on and progress
Norwich (A) - 5/8/2017
Season ticket sales are in and it's no surprise to see a drop. From 32,500 to 29,322.
Looking at my finances, and making my wage budget realistic, means I still have a transfer kitty of around £10m. But finding anyone t...
I'm not sure how much of it was bad luck and how much was poor play. Their keeper only had a 6.9 rating, it's not like he was amazing. While my front 3 didn't get over 6.5 between them...
I think it's going to be more of a challenge...
Wolves (H) - 5/8/2017
Before we can start the season, I need to choose a captain. It has been John O'Shea, but to be honest, he's not a guaranteed starter anymore. So, I promote Lee Cattermole from vice captain and let O'Shea replace him....
Darlington (A) - 29/7/2017
The week starts with us bringing in another young player to boost the ranks. Jack Paterson arrives from Kilmarnock costing £275k.
I always like a central midfielder that knows how to pass.He'll be tutored by Lee Cat...
Thanks! I think it will be difficult to develop players quick enough to take the places of the aging ones. Sunderland have such an old squad! I'm hoping I can find enough first team ready 18 year olds that I can bring in, at least on loan.
I post...
Jon Harrod just completed the season in the year 2017 managing Sunderland in the English Premier Division in their FM Career Saving Sunderland (Youth Project)
Ajax (H) (Friendly) - 23/7/2017
We received an offer from Watford for Jermain Defoe. The offer £1.3m plus some add-ons. But as he's valued at £1.7m, it's a non-starter.
It's also time for those pre-season odds.
It's no su...
Galatasaray (H) (Friendly) - 19/7/2017
Not much happened in the run up to this match. They play a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would normally see me play 4-3-1-2. But I need to get my wingers fitness up, so we go 4-3-3.
Seb Larsson is versatile and fills in...
Red Star FC (A) (Friendly) - 15/7/2017
I decided to send Josh Maja, up to Ayr for a season long loan. He won't get much game time with me and I need him to be playing regularly.
With Red Star lining up with a flat 4-4-2, I see this as a good chance...
Zenit (H) (Friendly) - 11/7/2017
I've been scouring the loan list for U18s that will improve my first team. Players that would cost too much to buy, but would have an impact. I've managed to get bids accepted for Martin Odegaard and Jacob Bruun...
Ayr United (A) (Friendly) - 8/7/2017
In the run up to our first friendly, we managed to send Romero out on loan to Tenerife. As he's Argentinian, it will only take him 2 years to get Spanish citizenship (unless I can get him a work permit beforehand...
Pre-Season - 2017/18
Its 1st July and the window is open. My 2 pre-arranged signings have arrived.
Of course, Romero doesn't have a work permit, so I'll need to loan him out. We don't have a feeder club, so hopefully, I can get a spanis...
Season Review - 2016/17
My first match in charge takes best match of the season, which was nice.
This is how the final table looked.
The new fixture list is also out. We start the season at home to Wolves and end at home to Scunthorpe. The derby mat...
Thanks! I missed your comment previously, but just looking back through. I had almost no prospects originally at the club, and the senior players I have are old. This could be more challenging than I was expecting.
I didn't think I'd stay up w...
Post Season - W/E 24/6/17
Early in the week, we take Trent Alexander-Arnold on loan for the season. I try adding a future fee, but Liverpool want silly money for him. He's at least as good as Matthews and will compete with Jones for my Right Back pl...
Post Season - W/E 10/6/2017
I've had my scouts looking for young talent since I took over and I've been going through looking for left wingers and left backs that will add something to the team. After ruling out some big names that won't w...
Post Season - W/E 3/6/2017
The week starts with Pienaar signing his contract and Romero's work permit appeal being rejected. It's a tough choice whether to sign him and loan him out or whether to cancel the deal, as £3.5m is a fair chunk...
Post Season - W/E 27/5/2017
We had the end of season awards, not that they mean much as we only played 8 games. But Defoe won player of the year, Gibson won goal of the season and Denayer won young player of the year.
In the end of season meeting, I trie...
Chelsea (A) - 21/5/2017
Chelsea have won the league and we've been relegated, so this game doesn't really mean much. As such, I've given some kids and fringe players a game.
On the bench, we have Mannone, Manquillo, Rodwell, Khazri, Krusn...
Arsenal (A) - 18/5/2017
Arsenal had a few catch up games to play and have had to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and then again on Sunday. Our game is on the Thursday, so I'm hoping for a slightly rotated team giving us an outside chance...
I'...
Swansea (H) - 13/5/2017
After the previous game week, Chelsea were confirmer as champions, with 2 games to spare. Tottenham meanwhile have guaranteed themselves second place.
Can we stay alive in the Premier League for another week? Swansea sit 18th and...
Hull City (A) - 6/5/2017
Prior to this game, I got Lescott to sign a new contract. Although he's 34, I'm hoping he'll be good for tutoring some younger players, and unfortunately, he's still one of my best defenders at the moment.
Hul...
Bournemouth (H) - 29/4/2017
After 3 draws from my first 3 games, we desperately need a win. Avoiding defeat just isn't enough anymore. Bournemouth start the day in 12th and pretty much assured of their Premier League status.
We predict that they wil...
Middlesbrough (A) - 26/4/2017
My first derby match is coming up and it's between the league's bottom 2 teams. Boro currently sit 4 points ahead of us so this really is must win match!
We expect Boro to line up with a very defensive 4-4-1-1 (wit...
West Ham (H) - 17/4/2017
We don't play until Monday this week, so before we play the gap between us and safety has increased to 12 points after Crystal Palace beat Leicester. We do have 2 games in hand over Hull though, who now occupy 17th place.
W...
Manchester United (H) - 9/4/2017
We expect United to play a 4-3-3 formation with a DM and two wingers. To try and counter this, I will start with 2 up front.
Currently, Duncan Watmore is injured and loanee Adnan Januzaj cannot play against his parent clu...