Part 81: Chapter the Seventh: Kicking in Opportunity's door.
Chapter the Seventh: Kicking in Opportunity's door.February 1, 2019-March 1, 2019
We've got two matches a week for the next three weeks. And that's assuming we don't advance in the FA Cup. The team is going to be a little tired by the time they get to late February. But this update sees the return of Meteor Mujkic, so it can't be all bad.
My first of the season. If we do make the promotion playoffs I have to think I'm a lock for manager of the year. Again.
Sky Shadowing, why am I getting calls from guys named Vinny?
We're on pace to make a profit this season? I wouldn't believe this until I see it at the end of the year.
Mujkic finishes the Asian Cup in fine form, earning a 9.3 rating, an assist, and scoring a goal. I cannot wait for him to be putting in that type of performance for us.
At Hull City, February 2, 2019
Championship
I'm stunned that we're doing so well in the league. We can't keep up this pace forever, we haven't lost a game since December. So I don't want anyone being surprised when we eventually drop some points. I'm good, but not that good.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Counter.
Starting 11: Higgs, Siegrist, Lewis, Poole, Mejasic, Troelsen, Holland, Bailey, Coulson, Gorman, Harrison (c).
Subs: Love, Peters, Chapman, Simpson, Tedesco, Rainey, Pym.
The counter works to perfection early on, and we irritate the hell out of Hull. Ryan Gorman takes a knock while fighting for a header but it doesn't stop him from scoring when Bailey springs him late in the half for a very pretty goal. Unfortunately, we let Hull hit back instantly. We're the better team, but that doesn't matter when the scoreline reads 1-1 at the end of the game. It's not the worst result we could have come away with, and it's a sign of my raised expectations that I'm frustrated with the team for failing to put Hull down for the count when we had the chance.
Man of the Match: Ryan Gorman
Hull 1-1 Wrexham
Mujkic is going to be thrown right back into the fray, there's no opportunity to rest him when our only other competent left winger is out for a week.
This deal was made before I even arrived in Wrexham, and it's paid out £20,000 so far. The guy has been awful, a 6.17 average rating, but I hope he gets into five more games before the season ends.
Gorman deservedly makes the team of the week. If only he were as good when playing right wing!
vs. Crystal Palace, February 6, 2019
FA Cup, Fourth Round Replay
Does our FA Cup run continue? Or do we finally get to focus on just one competition? I don't know, all I know is that Mujkic is back! So is Vaillant, which means I can stop relying upon an unproven teenager as our reserve centerback.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Attack
Starting 11: Higgs, Siegrist, Lewis, Poole, Garuti, Simpson (c), Shirra, Bailey, Coulson, Mujkic, Harrison.
Subs: Love, Peters, Vaillant, Troelsen, Tedesco, Rainey, Pym.
We take the lead thanks to a Poole set piece goal, and we lock down Palace tighter than a convent during it's annual “Girls of God” calendar photoshoot. Crystal Palace doesn't get a single shot off until the 56th minute. Shortly thereafter Coulson knocks one off the crossbar, and it seems much more likely that we'll go up two than they'll draw level. That all changes when confusion between Lewis and Poole leaves the opposing striker unmarked for an easy equalizer in 74th min. Palace strike again in 85th minute on just their third shot of the day, and that's the ballgame. We're out of the FA Cup after two matches where we outplayed our higher division opponent and couldn't seal the deal when we had a chance.
Wrexham 1-2 Crystal Palace
I picked the last option, if you were wondering. By far our biggest problem this season has been reliable finishing. We're getting plenty of good looks and we're not making them count. This game was a perfect example of that. Our defense could stand to be stouter, but that's a secondary issue compared to our finishing.
Here I am, completely overachieving with a tiny payroll in a better league (Championship's got the 13th best rep in Europe, Liga Adelante has the 20th) and you're only offering me an interview? That's insulting. Offers start at full control over the club, the club president's firstborn, and a salary that would make Scrooge McDuck blush.
At Bolton Wanderers, February 9, 2019
Championship
The Wanderers have been struggling this season, and find themselves in 15th coming into this game. If we can win it should prevent any type of skid from developing after the Crystal Palace loss. It's going to be very chilly at game time, 16 Fahrenheit or -9 Celsius, with snow. Considering that Bolton's average low for February days is 36/2, that's a cold day. For comparison, Minneapolis in January has an average high of 19, and from several years experience I can tell you that the very last thing I want to be doing on an average January day in Minneapolis is sitting on the bench as a substitute for 90 minutes. Playing is at least a little better, but I expect any bearded starters to look like one of those Scandinavian cross country skiiers, with their faces covered in rime by the time the game ends. Oh, and it's snowing.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Counter
Starting 11: Higgs, Peters, Todd, Lewis, Mejasic, Troelsen, Holland, Tedesco, Coulson, Mujkic, Harrison (c)
Subs: Love, Garuti, Vaillant, Simpson, Djurovic, Rainey, Pym.
It's all Dragons early, when Tedesco pounces on a rebound to score our first goal the only surprise is that it hadn't come sooner. It looks like we'll cruise to an easy victory despite the arctic weather, but Holland gets sent off in the 23rd minute after a moronic two footed challenge in what I can only assume was an effort to get sent into the heated locker room. I have to significantly change our plan, going three at the back by bringing in Vaillant and replacing Holland with Simpson. The makeshift defense keeps Bolton off balance over the final 20 minutes of the first half.
I have real concerns that we won't be able to survive a whole half of being a man down. Those are at the forefront of my mind as I watch a feisty Bolton try to unlock us in the second half, but we limit their chances. That's not to say they didn't put a scare into me a couple times, most chillingly in the 89th minute when I'm beginning to relax. They hit us on the break, and it's a cruel late equalizer after our defense had played so well despite Holland's desire to avoid frostbite. Fate smiles on us, however, and the goal is waved off. Bolton's goal-scorer was clearly well off sides on the far side of the pitch when the ball was crossed. The nerve wracking and finger numbing game ends. We take our third victory of the year when playing a man down.
Man of the Match: Antonio Tedesco
Bolton 0-1 Wrexham
Next time I'm going to light your pay on fire in front of you.
Sure, fine, why would I need a fully healthy set of centerbacks?
Good job, loaner! We have a glut at central midfield, which is preventing any single player from getting enough playing time to settle into a real groove. It's not ideal.
vs. Huddersfield, February 12, 2019
Championship
Huddersfield is still in the playoff hunt, though they're now only a single spot above us. If we win here we move into a playoff spot. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm not going to change up our play style, though. We've gotten here through playing unafraid, we're going to live and die on it. For this season, at least.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Attack.
Starting 11: Higgs, Peters, Vaillant, Poole, Garuti, Simpson (c), Shirra, Djurovic, Rainey, Gorman, Pym.
Subs: Love, Siegrist, Todd, Troelsen, Bailey, Coulson, Harrison.
The good news about the first half is that we're decidedly more spritely than the team that Huddersfield soundly thunked back in August. That doesn't mean too much, Huddersfield edges the first half, has better opportunities, and we're lucky to hold them scoreless. I'm forced to pitch a fit at halftime in an effort to wake them up, I'm concerned that telling them that their performance wasn't bad and that the result would come could only lead to more danger after the restart.
We come out stronger in the second half, and Vaillant puts us ahead from a corner. Pym then ices the game in the 79th minute with a goal of his own after having previously looked hapless before the net. Gorman adds an emphatic exclamation point by adding a third goal in the 81st minute. A great deal of credit has to go to Dejan Djurovic, who for the first time this season bossed the midfield and was integral in each goal we scored, notching assists on the Vaillant and Gorman goals. Moreover, we were incisive with our finishing, which is a wonderful thing to be able to say. That sharpness allowed us to win comfortably despite Huddersfield not giving us an easy win. The difference between now and just six months ago is apparent.
Man of the Match: Dejan Djurovic
Wrexham 3-0 Huddersfield
We are a long way from lower league tiki-taka.
Going through an ownership transition is not a fun time. You get a transfer embargo set upon you and your position as manager is called into question. They're much more enjoyable to watch from the outside, especially if it's happening to your bitter rivals.
Aww, I'm talented. Also, who's criticizing me for not signing enough Englishmen? We play in Wales!
vs. Derby, February 16, 2019
Championship
Derby sits ensconced in first place at the moment. It was a 1-1 draw against them on September 22nd that marked the start of our remarkable tear. Since then we've only lost three league games out of twenty-four played. We've won thirteen. It's the most surprising season I've had in Football Manager, and one that I want to see continue all the way to a glorious finish and an unheard of three straight promotions, our fourth in five years. Derby won't be an easy foe, they're on a torrid streak of their own and haven't lost in their last ten matches.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Attack
Starting 11: Higgs, Siegrist, Todd, Vaillant, Garuti, Troelsen, Shirra, Bailey, Coulson, Mujkic, Harrison (c).
Subs: Love, Mejasic, Poole, Simpson, Tedesco, Gorman, Pym.
Derby is at our gates early, but after a shaky first 10 minutes we're in control. Coulson puts us on top before the end of the half, and things are looking good. It turns out to be the best they'll look all day. Derby comes out firing and crushes our pretentions, scoring three in rapid succession to take a commanding lead. Coulson gives us some hope with his second goal of the game in the 76th minute, but Derby slams that door shut immediately by regaining the two score advantage. It's our worst performance in months, coming almost entirely after half-time. We got complacent against a very good team and paid for it.
Wrexham 2-4 Derby
Holland's brutal tackle merited further suspension. I saw no point in objecting when it came up for review after looking at the tape, it would have only given him the impression that I condoned his bloodthirstiness.
You see that we're in a promotion playoff spot, right? And that this club has gotten there despite you being gone for about a third of the season?
At least I can still get him to respect me. I don't want to promise promotion this year, he'll get upset if we don't make it and a playoff crapshoot is a playoff crapshoot. I don't think we can earn automatic promotion, we're still eight points back with fourteen to play, and I put our odds at making it through the playoffs at maybe one in three. This makes for our sixth player coming to me complaining about something.
Followed immediately by the seventh player. You'd think he'd realize why I'm not going to send him on loan, especially since he gets it the moment I tell him he's needed as backup.
I imagine I have a bulletin board up somewhere in the club facilities with team of the week clippings and a dry erase board showing who's made the team and how many times they've made it during the current season.
vs. Peterborough, February 23, 2019
Championship
From a game against the first place club to a game against the last place club. Let's get right back to winning, boys.
Starting Formation: 4-5-1 Attack.
Starting 11: Higgs, Siegrist, Todd, Poole, Mejasic, Simpson (c), Shirra, Djurovic, Gorman, Mujkic, Harrison.
Subs: Love, Garuti, Vaillant, Troelsen, Bailey, Coulson, Pym.
Our offensive movement has been a sight to behold for most of the season, with our speedy players tirelessly stretching the opposing defenses. Yet despite three chances in the first ten minutes we have nothing to show for it. That number doubles by halftime, and we still are empty handed. I'm concerned, this is the type of game we could easily lose on an unlucky goal and continued failure to take our chances. When play resumes we don't give Peterborough a chance to take a lead on us, but we also stop creating good looks for our attackers, and I'm forced to pull Harrison and Gorman to try and spark the team. It doesn't appear to work, and we're facing the likely prospect of a draw as stoppage time begins, but Coulson finds us a very late winner as the seconds tick down. I don't ease off the team, and scald their ears with exhortations on how we can't afford to be so sloppy when we face better clubs.
Man of the Match: Michael Coulson
Wrexham 1-0 Peterborough
Our potential future striker is now Qatari. Odd. This makes no difference to us, but in some leagues there's strict foreign player rules. Naturalizing players means you don't have to use one of your limited foreign player slots on them, and can enhance the team.
To say we're exceeding all predictions is to understate the matter considerably. I feel confident at this point stating that May will see us still in contention for promotion, but I'm not going to go beyond that. Before I worry full time about the possibility of moving to the highest level of English football, though, I'm going to be stocking our youth system with talent from all over Europe. Voulez-vous jouer avec moi? Répondre oui, s'il vous plaît.
