Part 56: Chapter the Twelfth: Titletown, UK
Chapter the Twelfth: Titletown, UKMarch 27, 2017-May 1, 2017
Well, that sucked. We certainly didn't deserve to win given the way we played in the first half, but to lose on a penalty at the far edge of the left post side of the area was gutting. We ended up actually having 13 fouls of our own, I turned up the tackling as high as I could when I realized the ref was letting us get away with murder. Now we have five games left, and we need to make sure we finish the season and get promoted. Losing a minor cup competition in the finals is one thing, I will cry if we're stuck in League Two another year.
Enjoy the bonus, you guys earned it.
Netala's minor injury turns out to be a twisted ankle. Surprised that he could continue for as much of the game as he did, that's some gritty work. The game really does need to do a better job diagnosing the seriousness of the injury when it happens, I would have removed him from the game immediately if I'd known it was this rather than a bruised rib or sprained wrist. It's a good thing Coulson is back.
I might be a bit to blame for our players being so nervous to start the game. I built up the match in my response to media questions, then told them to get out there and win the trophy for the fans. The team is young, and they looked really nervous in the first half.
Really? More injuries? He'd miss the next two games without injections, so I give him a cortisone shot. He might end up missing the second of those two games but should be back for the final three matches.
Finally, I'm no longer going to suffer for stupidly choosing to be judged based on set piece goals. Hurrah.
I'm a bit less secure than before, due to our loss at the Trophy final and the recent middling form we've been showing.
Mujkic bounced back quickly, which is a good sign. He was really starting to show some greatness when he got hurt, racking up four assists in five games.
At Colchester, April 4, 2017
League Two
We're mostly healthy again, which really helps. Colchester is a decent team, but they don't have anything to play for anymore while we do. Hopefully the players have come back from the letdown at Wembley focused on taking the league title.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Attack
Starting 11: Higgs, Thomas, Todd, Reid, Smissen, Kadhim, Cobb, Bailey, Coulson, Mujkic, Harrison (c).
Subs: Al-Beloushi, Peters, Lewis, Simpson, Jenkins, Price, Spilsbury.
Things get off to a horrible start as Ashti Kadhim makes his second huge mistake of the last half-hour of play by scoring an own goal before the second minute has elapsed. That's the last good thing that happens for Colchester, however, as we hit back immediately with a William Harrison goal. I tell the players that I know they can pull off a victory here, and Harrison rewards me with a second goal in the 69th minute. A late score from a corner by Luke Reid seals the victory, and Kadhim especially redeemed himself after his recent errors, earning a very good 7.3 rating despite scoring for the other team.
Man of the Match: William Harrison
Colchester 1-3 Wrexham
Simpson got back shortly before the Colchester game but needed some time to get his stamina up. It's good timing, given that Cobb is now out for the next week and a half.
At Bury, April 8, 2017
League Two
Bury has fallen out of the promotion playoffs for the moment, and sit three points back of 7th place right now. This is likely to be our toughest match, as Bury will be motivated to win this game and have home field advantage. I'm expecting them to come out attacking, so we're going to try and keep things neat at our own end first before pushing forward for a goal.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Defense
Starting 11: Higgs, Thomas, Reid, Poole, Smissen, Simpson (c), Jenkins, Bailey, Price, Mujkic, Harrison.
Subs: Al-Beloushi, Peters, Lewis, Kadhim, Baker, Coulson, Spilsbury.
Bury batters us around for the first 25 minutes of the game and goes up two-nil. Knowing that our only chance of coming back is to go on offense I switch to an attacking mentality, and while it keeps Bury from scoring more we don't halve the deficit until Price scores in the 57th minute. He scores again in the 74th minute to equalize, and while both sides have some real chances in the closing minutes and make things quite exciting we're able to salvage a draw from what looked like disaster. Our entire defense played poorly, and if it hadn't been for Price we'd have lost. This is not the first game he's saved for us on his own, but the draw leaves us in 2nd place two points behind Shrewsbury.
Man of the Match: Tony Price
Bury 2-2 Wrexham
Lincoln and Dartford are relegated with three games left to play. This is good for us, we play Dartford in a week and a half, and they'll have nothing to play for. It should mean we can focus on the Scunthorpe match, which is just two days prior.
Only Netala's left on the long term injured list, one advantage of having a 19 Physio team doctor is that your players will have better prognosis's to start and also tend to come back at the earlier end of their expected recovery time. It still doesn't help much if they tear their ACL or break their spine, but even then they can shave weeks or months off of the long road to recovery.
At Scunthorpe, April 15, 2017
League Two
Scunthorpe has had a better year, they're not even close to relegation this time around, but are going to finish higher than mid-table. We really need this game, and as I said Dartford is going to have nothing to play for while we've got everything to play for. Thus we send out what's almost our entire preferred eleven for the first time in ages, the only missing part is Richard Cobb, who's still a day or two away from full recovery.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Attack
Starting 11: Higgs, Tench, Reid, Poole, Smissen, Simpson (c), Price, Bailey, Coulson, Mujkic, Harrison.
Subs: Al-Beloushi, Thomas, Todd, Kadhim, Jenkins, Franks, Spilsbury.
Mateo Mujkic starts the scoring in the 24th minute with a goal against the run of play. Scunthorpe has the better of the half, but we have the lead. We add to that lead after a very strong bit of play to start the second half, with Poole scoring on a header. Scunthorpe responds by regaining control of the game, and launches a blistering attack that produces a goal in the 63rd minute. Their eagerness gets the best of them in the 83rd minute, though, when we break through for another goal, this one from Coulson. It's a good win, and well earned, and puts us back atop the table with two games to play.
Man of the Match: Michael Coulson
Scunthorpe 1-3 Wrexham
Err, he missed like 10 days. I'm not sure if he'll be 100% ready for the Dartford match, but he'll have to be given how tired everyone is at this point.
vs. Dartford, April 17, 2017
League Two
Any type of result here will secure our promotion, but only a win will ensure that we stay atop the league. The only problem is that we have some tired legs after a match just two days ago, and I'm truly puzzled at what scheduler decided that it would be a good idea to have two games in three days but then give us eleven days off before our final match. I'm only starting one youth player, Michael Upson, but if we can take a big lead there's plenty of them on the bench who could get some time in.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Attack.
Starting 11: Al-Beloushi, Thomas (c), Todd, Lewis, Smissen, Kadhim, Jenkins, Bailey, Franks, Mujkic, Upson.
Subs: Higgs, Peters, Curran, McCarthy, Cobb, Rainey, Spilsbury.
If we're tired, Dartford is exhausted. When the game started nearly half of them had stamina %'s in the mid-80s. We can't make it count in the first half, though. I harangue the team, and they respond with a blizzard of strikes that just can't find their way into the net. It's all Dartford can do to keep us from scoring, and even a draw will send us to League One, but to not take a victory here would be a disappointment. So it's with great relish that I watch Michael Upson finally knock one over the goal line in the 86th minute. We're going to League One.
Man of the Match: Stewart Lewis
Wrexham 1-0 Dartford
Shrewsbury also won, so we remain one ahead of them for the league title. I guess I won't be able to play a full youth squad in twelve days.
Two promotions in three years. League One is the highest level Wrexham has played at since 1982. I'm guessing my drinks are comped at all the bars in Wrexham.
He's been better than I'd have ever expected, even with a slump in February and March he's one of our very best players.
That's a shockingly large crowd!
vs. Yeovil, April 29, 2017
League Two
The only thing on the line today is the league title. I want it. If we win, we take it. That's why I'm sending out the first team, rather than giving youth players some time. Yeovil is finishing off a disappointing season, so it will be interesting to see if they send out a full squad or not.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1
Starting 11: Higgs, Tench, Reid, Lewis, Smissen, Simpson (c), Cobb, Bailey, Coulson, Mujkic, Harrison.
Subs: Al-Beloushi, Thomas, Curran, Kadhim, Sinclair, Rainey, Read.
The game is a romp nearly from the start. Harrison puts us ahead after 8 minutes, Coulson doubles that in the 12th minute, and then Smissen trebles it in the 22nd minute. After 45 minutes we're ahead four nothing, and I start putting in youth players as Neil Sinclair comes on for Richard Cobb. Coulson earns his hat trick in the 54th minute, and comes off to a standing ovation, while Yeovil can only muster a consolation goal. We've won the league title, and in fitting fashion, with a great show before a crowd of nearly 11,000 screaming supporters. It's a great finish to a great season, and will leave everyone eager for more come the late summer.
Man of the Match: Michael Coulson
Wrexham 5-2 Yeovil
Why yes, I am quite wonderful if I do say so myself.
While I'm at it, let me
I guess that everyone in the league gets the same £250,000 participation fee, instead of it being pro-rated based upon finishing position. Still, I won't turn up my nose at money.
LOL at answer choice #3.
Harrison has returned very well from his midseason injury.
About damned time.
We're on a real high at the moment. That was a great finish to the season after the disappointment of the League Trophy final. But now we've got decisions to make. I already know in a general sense what we're going to need next season. I'll be looking to bring in a backup keeper, offensive and a defensive central midfielders, and a fullback, and that's just off the top of my head. But we also have to start thinking about signing new contracts with out best prospects, Todd and Mujkic, to keep them at the club longer or at very least increase the amount we'll get for them if a bigger club comes a-poaching. But all in all a very good season, the run to the fifth round of the FA Cup was a major high point, and given how we did this season I wouldn't put back to back promotions out of the realm of possibility.
Also, Camoes, you win the season guessing game with your prediction of 84 points and 24 wins, one more draw and one fewer loss and you'd have been dead on predicting our season. I don't have Platinum, so I can't get private messages, so please post what you'd like to have me do ingame. I can't promise I'll be able to do it, and I retain the right to veto your suggestion if it would be too unbalancing (e.g. giving us a player with 20's in every attribute, or 100m pounds in cash), but I should be able to make plenty happen.
BOARD VOTESWe've got five more votes ahead of us, all pretty simple. As per usual, majority wins, and if there is not a majority on a vote a compromise will be made based upon number of votes each option received. But first, our financial status:
(Accountant-ly) We're in healthy shape financially, we're in line for a £250,000 deposit from League Two, but the balance doesn't yet include what we paid for young phenom Scott Shirra. We'll still have to pay salaries for May and June, and pay out bonuses for league performance, but with the income from the league we'll still have about £500,000 on hand when the next season begins, and that of course doesn't count our season ticket or season television rights income. Keep in mind that last year's income and expenditure was artificially inflated by my adding and subtracting 2m from our balance sheet in order to test a game mechanic, so we really only earned £4.1m and spent £4.9m last year.
(Happily) We have already significantly eclipsed our income from last year. Total turnover last year was £4.1m, this year we're already at £4.9m and should finish somewhere around £5.2 to £5.4. Given that we're playing in an even higher league next season, with a greater number of season tickets, greater league payments, and greater television revenue I think we can expect at least a 10% bump in revenue, which should put us anywhere from £5.8m to £6.5m in revenue next year.
(Mathematically) Expenditures are on pace to be slightly lower than last year's sum of £4.9m, we currently have spent £4.4m this season and between squad bonuses and player/staff salary we should expect another £500,000 or so before the calendar rolls over into the 2017-2018 season. We're also in good shape regarding future salaries, only six of our first team players have either promotion or yearly salary raises, so our current weekly wage bill won't be significantly affected by promotion.
VOTE 1: WAGE CAP
(Assertively) We currently have a wage budget of £1.9m a year, or £36.5k/wk. At present we are spending £1.7m yearly, or £32.5k/wk. This budget would have made us the third lowest salaried team in League One this year. I've provided three options for the board to consider.
A) This budget is fine. Trim some fat if you need to, but we're not increasing the budget. (Budget cap remains £36.5/wk)
B) We agree that the budget is low, but we still don't have a great deal of income. An increase to the 33rd percentile, or £2.2m annually, of current League One budgets is appropriate. (Budget cap rises to £42k/wk)
C) You gotta spend money to make money, but we're not going to compete with the likes of Tackleford or Sunderland on budget. We'll make us middle of the pack for salary, at £2.5m a year. (Budget cap rises to £48k/wk)
VOTE 2: TRANSFER BUDGET
(Calmly) Our current transfer budget is at 4.5k after the purchase of Scott Shirra. I would like it replenished to £125,000, especially seeing as agent fees are paid out of the transfer budget. I don't know that I'll need the whole £125,000, but having it in the budget makes us capable of signing talent as it becomes available.
A) We need at least some money to hire players with agents, so you can have a small sum for that purpose. We're uncomfortable earmarking more for the transfer budget after we've already spent so much on one player. (£25,000 added to the transfer budget)
B) We don't see it as prudent to provide that much more for transfers at this time, but we will agree to provide some money for agent fees and transfers. (£75,000 added to the transfer budget)
C) Of course! We trust your eye for talent and we agree that it's good to have the money in your pocket in case you see something worth buying. (£125,000 added to the transfer budget)
VOTE 3: TRANSFER INCOME AVAILABLE
(Earnestly) Currently 60% of the income from our sale of players is put into the transfer fund, the rest is kept to improve club finances. I would like that increased to 100% of transfer income being made available for player purchases as I believe the club is financially sound enough to not require income from our player sales.
A) We're allowing you to keep 60%? Who let that happen? For the health of the club we need to reduce that, immediately! (Percentage of transfer income available reduced to 50%)
B) We agree that the club is financially healthy enough to reduce the amount we save from transfers of players, but disagree that the club should allow all of the income to be used in future transfers. (Percentage of transfer income available increased to 80%)
C) You're right. We don't need to sell players to make ends meet, there's no reason to keep the current policy at this time. (Percentage of transfer income available increased to 100%)
VOTE 4: MATEO MUJKIC CONTRACT
(Pleadingly) As you know, Mateo Mujkic is currently signed with us through the 2019 season. His contract is £2,300 a week, with a 20% yearly increase and a 30% promotion increase, making his salary for next season £3,450 a week. He also has a £5,000,000 release fee for higher division clubs. I would like to renegotiate his salary in an attempt to lengthen the number of years and increase the size of his release fee in an attempt to keep this extremely brilliant young player with us as long as possible and reap the greatest financial reward possible. However, the current wage structure does not allow me to offer more than a £200/wk increase in his base salary. I would like the board to remove the wage structure in his particular case. I do not seek any increase in the overall wage cap, any increase in Mujkic's salary will not increase how much I'm permitted to spend overall.
A) No. The wage structure is there to prevent the team from putting too many eggs into a single basket. (Stick to the wage structure.)
B) We agree that the wage structure in this unique case is prohibitive, but we do worry about spending too much on a single player. We will therefore modify the wage structure in this one case. (Mujkic may be offered up to £5,000/wk in base salary)
C) Absolutely. Mujkic is a brilliant player and we need to make sure we keep him for as long as we possibly can while getting every dime we can for him. (Mujkic may be offered any base salary that does not exceed the available total wage budget)
VOTE 5: MY CONTRACT
(Aggressively) My current contract is up at the start of February of 2018. It pays me £900 a week. I want a new one. I want five years at £1,100 a week, with a yearly salary increase of 10% and a promotion salary increase of 25%. I've lead this team to two promotions in two years, you want me here to bring us to the highest echelons of football. Please respond with your offer of years, pay per week, annual raise, and promotion salary increase. The totals shall be summed and averaged, I reserve the right as always to throw out any outliers.
Voting Closes on Wednesday, February 19, at 5pm EST.
Lastly, neat! 50,000 views! I'm glad that this is finding at least some audience, I was a little worried as a first time LPer given that this is a pretty niche game.