Part 233: Chapter the Second: Big fish in a little pond.

Chapter the Second: Big fish, little pond.
August 6, 2028-December 31, 2028


Wait, I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to be a terrible backseat driver!



This would never have happened if I were still in charge. I wouldn't have been stuck sacrificing 17 year old Malte Landgraf to the slaughter because I had sold my backup goalkeeper.



Glad that held off until after the Olympics.



Not happy about that at all, though. Also, Pete Klinger is apparently AU-Alejandro Bedoya. Bedoya's a decent player but if Paredes only amounts to Bedoya it'll be a serious miss on his potential.



I was right! There WAS a curse!



“The most highly regarded club in the world” shouldn't be having it's players poached by other teams. Just saying.



I should never have left! They're going to sell Thiago!



See how much easier things are when you use a keeper who's old enough to shave?



I have a feeling I'm going to be posting a lot of these.



Because there isn't a whole lot of other news for me to follow.



But it's nice to see the boys off to a hot start in the league.



It's already August 22nd. Watching the game churn through a full week of simulation without pause pretty relaxing, actually.



Anyone with any injury or fitness concerns are being allowed to rest. Our home games against Trinidad and Panama won't exactly be stern tests of our ability.



He's injured, you clowns.



And Hughes wasn't in the team because he went to the Olympics, you ink-stained wretches!



I'd say this showed a lack of respect, but it seems like Italy has two or three of the five best strikers in the world right now between some combination of Lino Fiorotto, Gianmarco di Marco, and Marco Valerio Cirelli.



Wrexham shouldn't lose a match. In other Champions League draw news, Partizan made the group stage!



Geez, there's a healthy dose of Manchester United/Wrexham matches in the opening act of the season.



Congratulations on your first trophy, Paul.



But do you really have to sell ALL of Wrexham's young stars? Though I can't fault you for this one. Lewis was a 2.5 star prospect, so £22.5m for him is a sweet, sweet deal.



Fine, I'll call up Moctezuma. But you can't make me risk his health for no reason.



The American press has clearly learned from their elder brothers across the pond how to be both gigantic idiots and gaping assholes at the same time.



I want to wrap up this stage of qualification by the end of the week.



So the temperature will be 14 degrees lower than the average low? I expect a future FM will trumpet their latest feature: “Realistic weather conditions for teams and stadiums across the globe!”



Yep, there sure was a lot of money being thrown around. All the biggest names are still on Wrexham, though, contrary to what I feared. Heck, the only deal I wouldn't have made myself was the sale of Zouaghi.



Taking after his mentor straightaway.

vs Trinidad & Tobago, September 1, 2028
CONCACAF World Cup Qualification, Group 1


Trinidad and Tobago is the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup, making it to the group stage in the 2006 edition and getting just as far as the United States while actually having a better goal differential. They definitely punch above their weight for a nation of just over a million people, but against the United States in an away match they don't stand much chance.

Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Paladino, Latham, Ramirez, Bartlett, Jimenez, Hyndman, Hughes, Fisher (c), Spence, Ulusal, Garcia.
Subs: Toninho, Rubio de la Fuente, Bruno, Stevens, Needham, Lang, Ramos, Garcia, Baker, Williams, Moctezuma, Warren.

Trinidad put a scare into our fans early by hitting on the break, but it comes long after the ref had blown his whistle for a foul. My players are putting together some very pretty football, but after an hour we've got nothing to show for it. Frustrated with our lack of finishing after an hour so I bring on Bobby Garcia and Rodrigo Moctezuma, despite having promised that I wouldn't use him before the match.

Moctezuma sparks our offense and is denied by a sublime save by Trinidad's goalie, who's having the game of his life. Then Sinan Ulusal hits the crossbar twice in a minute. Finally, in the 74th minute and after yet another brilliant save, Ulusal finds paydirt. It's been more difficult than anticipated, but everyone knows the goal was coming. Then we get sloppy. Trinidad and Tobago goes on the offensive after having had two shots in the first 75 minutes, runs rampant through our midfield and defense, and we cough up a stoppage time equalizer. We just got held to a draw. By Trinidad and Tobago. In Nashville, Tennessee. I'm going to murder these players.




USMNT 1-1 Trinidad




It was pretty fucking disappointing to me, too. Between the draw with Trinidad and the poor play in Panama the media is having a field day attacking me for being “merely a good club manager” and “unsuited for the international game.”

vs Panama, September 5, 2028
CONCACAF World Cup Qualification, Group 1


Since I already broke my promise to keep Moctezuma fresh, I might as well break it all the way by starting him, right? We need to do a better job than we did against Panama in our away tie, because I don't see them scoring two goals on our behalf again.

Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Toninho, Latham, Stevens, Needham, Bruno, Lang, Ramos, Fisher (c), Garcia, Baker, Moctezuma.
Subs: Paladino, Rubio de la Fuente, Jimenez, Bartlett, Ramirez, Hyndman, Hughes, Spence, Ulusal, Williams, Garcia, Warren.

Hunter Fisher scores early, and that's precisely what we failed to do in the Trinidad match. That doesn't stop our players from thumping the post four goddamned times over the next hour. I'm concerned about Panama making like Trinidad and our conceding another equalizer at the death, but Panama's right back decides he wants to take an early bath and picks up two yellows in quick succession and puts paid to any Panamanian hopes, they limp to the finish without registering a single shot all match.

There is some cause for concern when Moctezuma gets hurt in the 79th minute on a dangerous challenge, and this is precisely why I didn't want to use him in the first place. Fortunately, it's not a serious injury that will keep him out of any matches, club or international. Our second goal comes in the final ten minutes from substitute Ken Warren, but while our defensive performance was much better the final score is still lacking in a match we should have won by more.

Man of the Match: Hunter Fisher




USMNT 2-0 Panama



The victory means nothing is at stake in our final two matches of this stage, we're advancing to the final round of qualification regardless.



Sorry, Paul!



Woah, Scott Shirra got himself sent off. That hasn't happened in almost a decade.



That's not a bad ranking, but we're going to need a very impressive qualification campaign if we're to be seeded at the next World Cup.



Just like the Champions League draw is seeded based upon past performance, the World Cup draw uses the FIFA rankings to determine the top seeds for the group stage. The host of the World Cup, which for 2030 is Spain, is automatically given a #1 seed. So are the next seven highest ranked nations that made the world cup (that is, if Scotland maintained their spot in the top eight but failed to qualify for the World Cup, then the ninth ranked team would instead be seeded). It would behoove us greatly to finish among the top seven non-Spain participants, as we then could not get drawn against them in the group stage. Dodging the Germany's and Argentina's of the world makes our path to the later stages that much easier.



For the second time Williams used Malte Landgraf in a match against United, and for the second time he proved unready for the task. You'd think a 5.1 rating in the Community Shield would be enough to keep you from putting the kid back into the same situation, maybe a 5.1 rating in the League Cup will teach you.



Ah, Minami's injured. That's still not a good excuse. You have a backup for a reason.



Our defenders cannot stay healthy. It's my biggest concern for the next World Cup.



The United States is simply not deep enough for me to be using my fourth choice at a position. Heck, we don't even have a worthwhile player to start at either left wing or left back!



Spence is getting old. I don't want to be relying on a 33 year old come the World Cup, and attacking midfielder is where we have an actual glut of young talent.



Damnit. I brought this guy into Wrexham because he's a dual national in the hope that I'd become his favored personnel and he'd be willing to accept a US callup. No dice, the Germans realize how good he's going to be.



Oh no! What happened?



Bah. Malingering shitehawk. Go and rest your head.

At Trinidad & Tobago, October 6, 2028
CONCACAF World Cup Qualification, Group 1


It's time for some revenge. This game means nothing to us, but we can keep Trinidad from clinching a spot in the next round of qualification.

Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Paladino, Parsons, Latham, Ramirez, Bruno, Padilla, Hughes, Fisher (c), Coleman, Ulusal, Garcia.
Subs: Toninho, Delgado, Lozano, Needham, Ledesma, Ramos, Enriquez, Barrett, Rusling, Smith, Clavijo, Warren.

Hunter Fisher vultures a goal on a Joey Garcia rebound in the 3rd minute. Garcia adds a second in the 24th minute, and then a third ten minutes later. We've recovered nicely from our embarrassing draw, and while we're not half as sharp in the latter stages of the game all that means is that Pasquale Paladino gets to make his argument as to why he should be starting over Toninho.

Man of the Match: Joey Garcia




Trinidad 0-3 USMNT



The rate of injury in international play is much higher than in the standard club game. We can't go a week without one of our people going down. It's not even like we have bad coaches or poor medical staff, the game just loves to hurt people during international breaks.



Part of it is a major increase in minor, week long injuries. But there are certainly plenty of major multi-month setbacks we've seen occur.



I mean, I'm not even playing matches, so these injuries must be in training. But I have no way to control training or rest players.



Finish on a high note, kids.

At Surinam, October 10, 2028
CONCACAF World Cup Qualification, Group 1


It's our last match before the end of the year! It's already almost mid-October! Things are moving so quickly!

Starting Formation: 4-2-3-1 Control
Starting 11: Toninho, Quinn, Latham, Needham, Ledesma, Padilla, Ramos (c), Smith, Barrett, Clavijo, Warren.
Subs: Paladino, Delgado, Parsons, Bruno, Ramirez, Hughes, B. Garcia, Vazquez, Ulusal, Rusling, Fisher, J. Garcia.

Surinam shock with a third minute goal, but Ken Warren pegs right back with a header less than sixty seconds later. Warren adds a second goal in the 23rd minute, and by the 40th minute has his hat trick. We're not done scoring, as Bobby Padilla flights in a free kick bender to start the second half and James Needham also scores from a set piece. We're also not done giving up goals, allowing a second, sloppy tally for Surinam. Still, it's a five-two victory for us, and we're undefeated in our first six World Cup qualifiers.

There is some news made at the end of the match as Daniel Angel Ledesma, the captain of our Olympic squad, is sent off after picking up two yellows in his senior team debut. That's no way for a young player on the fringes of the squad to go about endearing themselves to their coach.

Man of the Match: Ken Warren




Surinam 2-5 USMNT



Way to make an impression in your first senior game, dummy.



Our play was a little sloppy on our trips to Panama and Surinam, and the draw against Trinidad was unacceptable, but that's still enough to see us reach the final round of qualification with ease.



There's no surprises in the other qualifying groups.



Which means that the Hex is set!





Huh, there's really nothing for me to do over the next two and a half months...



After 15 years of coaching non-stop I think it's time for a vacation!

US Soccer's Offices
October 15, 2028

(THE COACH is making a final check of his bags to make sure he's not forgetting anything as he gives final instructions to Assistant Manager JAMIE HEATH)

: … You got all that, Paul?

: Uh, right boss. But I'm not Paul, I'm Jamie. Remember? You used to call me Jamie all the time when we were at Wrexham, why do you keep calling me Paul now?

: Oh Paul, you're so silly.

(JAMIE HEATH decides to let it go and change the subject)

: So where are you going on vacation anyways? A beach resort? Or are you going backpacking in one of those great big national parks you yanks have?

: You know, there's something nice about having a salary of over 120,000 a week for most of the past decade.



: Oh, so you have some nice place all to yourself?

: You could say that.





There's only 107 messages in my inbox after a two and a half month break? Man this is a cushy gig.



A hurlock winning humanitarian of the year? Andraste's blood.



It's a good thing I got back from vacation in time to vote for the Ballon d'Or.



Only Wrexham names on my ballot, of course.





Wrexham lost at home to Roma, you can here my tut-tutting an ocean away.



But they got the easiest draw possible in the first knockout round, maybe even easier than getting Rangers last year.



Shameful! Failing to win a match where you outshoot the opponent 29-2 is awful, and I am very, very glad I wasn't around to see it.



Paul is evidently a softer touch with new contracts during the season than I am. That makes Loseille number 20 in wages worldwide, and third on the team behind Stringel and Minami.



Lundbye was signed for the next seven years when accounting for his options, he definitely didn't need a £750k annual raise after less than a year at the club. At this rate Wrexham is going to go Portsmouth inside five years.



It's frustrating to watch my players get hurt when I can do nothing about it. Parsons has been great when he can get on the pitch for Inter, but he'll miss at least four months of the season due to injury.



His spirits are quite high considering his injury. I wonder if he's really that sanguine about the injury or if he's just doped to the gills.



I have no clue how I'm going to separate the wheat from the chaff without the full time scouting operation I had at Wrexham. It's one thing going through lower league UK and Irish youth intakes with a handful of scouts. But the United States generates 600+ players a year.

I don't even know what I would do with them if I found them, considering that I can't do much other than call them up to the U20 squad.



Four points from United is a good start towards defending the league title. How's the rest of the league looking as the clock strikes midnight on New Years?



Tied on points with a game in hand? I'd say things are going swimmingly.



What's this, though?!



Nooooo! He better become a coach upon retiring. I'll bring him on board straight-away.




Next up, another vacation! Then, the start of the Hex. Which I promise I'll get around to explaining.