It looks as though I’ll be able to play an unchanged team for the midweek game, other than the forced switch of Power in for the injured Michael Woods. With Olembé and Shuker at the top of their game at the moment, we may not even notice the central midfielder is missing. At least, that’s what I hope will happen.
In other news, the Reserves face Tamworth Reserves in a friendly tomorrow. It’ll be my chance to finally get a proper look at skilful striker Esteban Casagolda, who’s on trial with us for another two weeks. Not sure how I’ll make up eleven fit players who aren’t wanted for the first team match squad against Forest Green, but I’ll figure something out.
Friday 31 August 2012
Thursday 30 August 2012
Day 138
Rui Marques returned from his one-match suspension for today’s trip to Bath. Kanouté dropped to the bench to make way.
Bath lined up conservatively, with a flat five-man midfield and Jamie Cook as lone striker. I worried about this, because we’ve struggled against crowded midfield’s in the past. But we’ve got Richardson and Woods in the centre now, and we didn’t before, so I hoped they would make the difference.
We opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Olembé and Park linked well on the left wing before the Cameroonian swung a cross towards the near post. Barnes-Homer managed to get his head to the ball, but couldn’t direct it goalwards under attention from Watkins. Paul Stonehouse found himself in the path of Barnes-Homer’s header and snatched wildly in an attempt to clear. The ball bounced off his shin and rolled towards the goal line. Stonehouse panicked and slid in desperately, only succeeding in bundling the ball over the line—right out of his goalkeeper’s grasp.
Bath drew level on 25 minutes. Cook rose unmarked to meet a corner ball from the edge of the six-yard box. His header went in off the underside of the bar.
Smith should have put us back in front on 30 minutes. With a clear shot on goal and plenty of time, he shot straight into the Bath keeper’s gloves from 20 yards out. Back up the other end, Bath went close on the stroke of half time. Only a quick reaction and great diving save from Halstead kept the scores level.
Woods put us ahead in the 48th minute with a brilliant 25-yard strike. It was the central midfielder’s first goal for the club, and it calmed the Lincoln nerves.
We nearly scored a third just a minute later. Smith ran with the ball down the right and chipped into the box from the byline. Barnes-Homer rose well to head goalwards, but his effort went just wide. Not to worry, though, as it took only a further two minutes for Olembé to double the lead.
Woods intercepted a loose ball deep inside opposition territory, then slid a pass sideways to the onrushing Cameroonian winger. Olembé took a touch before rifling a low left-footed shot at the far-bottom corner. Garner dived well to his left, but the strike was too powerful, and it shook the Bath net—to the horror of the home fans behind the goal.
Gowling made it four in the 58th minute, left unmarked on the far post to head across goal and past the hapless Bath keeper.
I took the three-goal lead as an opportunity to rest Olembé, replacing the winger with Russell before the match restarted. Woods was forced off six minutes later with injury, moments before a planned substitution for Power. I had been looking to keep the midfielder fresh for the midweek fixture; with the injury I just prayed he’d not spend much time out.
Laurent replaced Shuker in the 74th minute, and once again looked bright. The Frenchman’s been impressive since returning from a long-term injury; if he keeps this up he’ll be getting a run in the starting lineup before long.
I could not have been much happier with the second half performance. The boys were brilliant, especially Woods, Richardson, and Olembé. My pre-match prediction that Richardson and Woods would be vital in central midfield proved right; they won the ball and controlled the play throughout the final hour (or the middle half hour, for Woods).
The injury verdict on Woods is a dead leg. He’ll be out for a week, which unfortunately means he may miss the next two matches.
Bath lined up conservatively, with a flat five-man midfield and Jamie Cook as lone striker. I worried about this, because we’ve struggled against crowded midfield’s in the past. But we’ve got Richardson and Woods in the centre now, and we didn’t before, so I hoped they would make the difference.
We opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Olembé and Park linked well on the left wing before the Cameroonian swung a cross towards the near post. Barnes-Homer managed to get his head to the ball, but couldn’t direct it goalwards under attention from Watkins. Paul Stonehouse found himself in the path of Barnes-Homer’s header and snatched wildly in an attempt to clear. The ball bounced off his shin and rolled towards the goal line. Stonehouse panicked and slid in desperately, only succeeding in bundling the ball over the line—right out of his goalkeeper’s grasp.
Bath drew level on 25 minutes. Cook rose unmarked to meet a corner ball from the edge of the six-yard box. His header went in off the underside of the bar.
Smith should have put us back in front on 30 minutes. With a clear shot on goal and plenty of time, he shot straight into the Bath keeper’s gloves from 20 yards out. Back up the other end, Bath went close on the stroke of half time. Only a quick reaction and great diving save from Halstead kept the scores level.
Woods put us ahead in the 48th minute with a brilliant 25-yard strike. It was the central midfielder’s first goal for the club, and it calmed the Lincoln nerves.
We nearly scored a third just a minute later. Smith ran with the ball down the right and chipped into the box from the byline. Barnes-Homer rose well to head goalwards, but his effort went just wide. Not to worry, though, as it took only a further two minutes for Olembé to double the lead.
Woods intercepted a loose ball deep inside opposition territory, then slid a pass sideways to the onrushing Cameroonian winger. Olembé took a touch before rifling a low left-footed shot at the far-bottom corner. Garner dived well to his left, but the strike was too powerful, and it shook the Bath net—to the horror of the home fans behind the goal.
Gowling made it four in the 58th minute, left unmarked on the far post to head across goal and past the hapless Bath keeper.
I took the three-goal lead as an opportunity to rest Olembé, replacing the winger with Russell before the match restarted. Woods was forced off six minutes later with injury, moments before a planned substitution for Power. I had been looking to keep the midfielder fresh for the midweek fixture; with the injury I just prayed he’d not spend much time out.
Laurent replaced Shuker in the 74th minute, and once again looked bright. The Frenchman’s been impressive since returning from a long-term injury; if he keeps this up he’ll be getting a run in the starting lineup before long.
I could not have been much happier with the second half performance. The boys were brilliant, especially Woods, Richardson, and Olembé. My pre-match prediction that Richardson and Woods would be vital in central midfield proved right; they won the ball and controlled the play throughout the final hour (or the middle half hour, for Woods).
The injury verdict on Woods is a dead leg. He’ll be out for a week, which unfortunately means he may miss the next two matches.
Wednesday 29 August 2012
Day 137
We’re expected to beat Bath pretty comfortably away from home tomorrow. It’s important that we win, I think, after the disappointment in the FA Cup against Crewe last time out.
The journalists at the pre-match press conference really got on my goat today. They kept asking for my opinion on how other teams would fare in their matches this week, pressing me for a response when I told them it wasn’t my place to make predictions. I gave them their headline, though, stating that I think we’ll win the league this season.
I’m actually not so confident. But I think we’re a great chance for it, and we’re setting the pace, so it’s time to put out a challenge to the other managers: pick up and keep up, or be left in our dust. If we’re still top at Christmas, then I’ll be confident. But a lot could happen in the meantime, so it’s just big talk for now.
The journalists at the pre-match press conference really got on my goat today. They kept asking for my opinion on how other teams would fare in their matches this week, pressing me for a response when I told them it wasn’t my place to make predictions. I gave them their headline, though, stating that I think we’ll win the league this season.
I’m actually not so confident. But I think we’re a great chance for it, and we’re setting the pace, so it’s time to put out a challenge to the other managers: pick up and keep up, or be left in our dust. If we’re still top at Christmas, then I’ll be confident. But a lot could happen in the meantime, so it’s just big talk for now.
Tuesday 28 August 2012
Day 136
As expected, Alloa rejected my exchange offer for Paul Hartley. I switched out Richard Pacquette for Tony Sinclair and resubmitted the offer. They’ll almost certainly turn it down, but I want to try anyway.
The free transfer and loan transfer deadlines have now closed. That’s it, then—we’re stuck with the current bunch until January, with a couple of them finishing up their loan deals in December.
The free transfer and loan transfer deadlines have now closed. That’s it, then—we’re stuck with the current bunch until January, with a couple of them finishing up their loan deals in December.
Monday 27 August 2012
Day 135
Alloa refused my offer to trade Richard Pacquette for Paul Hartley. No surprises there. I added Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick to the sweeten the deal, but I expect they’ll turn that down too.
We’re still roughly £1,500 over the weekly wage budget. If I could get rid of the players I don’t want, we’d fall under budget. Platt, Sinclair, Nicolau, Pacquette, Rodney, and Lloyd-McGoldrick together earn £2,900 a week. And they’re the players I want to sell. Why doesn’t anybody want them? I don’t even care if they go on free transfers. I just don’t want to terminate their contracts (unless they become a disruptive influence, in which case I’ll bite the bullet and do it).
Do other managers have this much trouble offloading players?
We’re still roughly £1,500 over the weekly wage budget. If I could get rid of the players I don’t want, we’d fall under budget. Platt, Sinclair, Nicolau, Pacquette, Rodney, and Lloyd-McGoldrick together earn £2,900 a week. And they’re the players I want to sell. Why doesn’t anybody want them? I don’t even care if they go on free transfers. I just don’t want to terminate their contracts (unless they become a disruptive influence, in which case I’ll bite the bullet and do it).
Do other managers have this much trouble offloading players?
Sunday 26 August 2012
Day 134
I did some looking ahead. We have six league games before Christmas, along with one cup game (the FA Trophy First Round), plus two more before the new year. That’s nine games over the next 46 days (and ten over the next 49, since there’s another game on the 2nd of January). It’s more than a game a week, but not a brutal schedule by any means.
There’s a strong likelihood that I’ll be able to field a near full-strength side in every one of those matches. A couple of players may get burnt out and need a rest, but there’s enough of a buffer for them to recover. And we’ve got enough depth that I can do light rotation—Laurent, Russell, Atkinson, Power, Nutter, Kanouté, Watson, Anyon, Taylor, and Smith are all second or third choice and all capable of playing regular Conference football. In fact, I expect Laurent, Russell, Nutter, and Kanouté to push for a spot in my first-choice eleven over the next six weeks.
It’ll be a crucial period. If we do well, we’re set for promotion. If we do badly, we’re back in the mix with the other playoff challengers. And if we fall somewhere in between, with middling performances and so-so results, we could give Mansfield a clear run at the title.
There’s a strong likelihood that I’ll be able to field a near full-strength side in every one of those matches. A couple of players may get burnt out and need a rest, but there’s enough of a buffer for them to recover. And we’ve got enough depth that I can do light rotation—Laurent, Russell, Atkinson, Power, Nutter, Kanouté, Watson, Anyon, Taylor, and Smith are all second or third choice and all capable of playing regular Conference football. In fact, I expect Laurent, Russell, Nutter, and Kanouté to push for a spot in my first-choice eleven over the next six weeks.
It’ll be a crucial period. If we do well, we’re set for promotion. If we do badly, we’re back in the mix with the other playoff challengers. And if we fall somewhere in between, with middling performances and so-so results, we could give Mansfield a clear run at the title.
Saturday 25 August 2012
Day 133
I got a scout report on Alloa player/manager Paul Hartley. He’s a former Scottish international, and a brilliant player, but he’s lost all his speed. I’m tempted to get him so that he can just walk around the centre circle directing the play. I can’t get past that rating of 4/20 for pace, though, especially when he has 6/20 for acceleration and stamina.
I offered to trade him for Pacquette. I doubt Alloa will accept. I still need to get the wage bill down, so I’d love to trade Pacquette for someone who could actually be of use during the second half of the season.
I offered to trade him for Pacquette. I doubt Alloa will accept. I still need to get the wage bill down, so I’d love to trade Pacquette for someone who could actually be of use during the second half of the season.
Friday 24 August 2012
Day 132
I did a bit of analysis to see how Crewe managed to beat us by three goals yesterday, despite my boys looking dangerous.
First thing I noticed was the high concentration of passes to and from Crewe’s left wing. Bore had a shocking game, and Shuker struggled. They also managed a significant number of successful balls on the right flank. Clearly we didn’t do enough to stem the flow of possession to wide positions. Interestingly, there was barely anything through the middle. Crewe moved the ball out to the flanks quickly, and often. It’s no wonder that we struggled to cope, then, with our chief defensive talents being through the middle and our wide men blessed more with attacking skills than anything else.
How could I have dealt with the problem? I could have moved Shuker into a more attacking role, shifting Bore into the right midfield slot. Kanouté or Gowling should have been deployed at right back, while Woods and Richardson should have been given more creative licence. We were effectively shut out on our left wing, so Nutter should have come in for Olembé to bolster our defence. And I should have changed our play style to focus on going through the middle, perhaps with balls over the top for the pacy strikers. Too many passes were intended for Smith to flick on with his head; he lost all six headers that he went for.
I might have also had some luck with three strikers or a man—probably Russell or Power—in the hole just behind the strikers.
First thing I noticed was the high concentration of passes to and from Crewe’s left wing. Bore had a shocking game, and Shuker struggled. They also managed a significant number of successful balls on the right flank. Clearly we didn’t do enough to stem the flow of possession to wide positions. Interestingly, there was barely anything through the middle. Crewe moved the ball out to the flanks quickly, and often. It’s no wonder that we struggled to cope, then, with our chief defensive talents being through the middle and our wide men blessed more with attacking skills than anything else.
Crewe’s passing chart (left side is defence; right side is attack)
How could I have dealt with the problem? I could have moved Shuker into a more attacking role, shifting Bore into the right midfield slot. Kanouté or Gowling should have been deployed at right back, while Woods and Richardson should have been given more creative licence. We were effectively shut out on our left wing, so Nutter should have come in for Olembé to bolster our defence. And I should have changed our play style to focus on going through the middle, perhaps with balls over the top for the pacy strikers. Too many passes were intended for Smith to flick on with his head; he lost all six headers that he went for.
Our passing chart
I might have also had some luck with three strikers or a man—probably Russell or Power—in the hole just behind the strikers.
Thursday 23 August 2012
Day 131
I made several changes to the team for today’s FA Cup First Round match against Crewe. Olembé returned to the left wing, despite not being fully fit. Sam Smith and Samba Kanouté replaced the injured Koroma and suspended Marques, respectively. Woods stepped in for his first start since signing three weeks ago; Power dropped back to the bench. I also handed spots to Watson, Laurent, and Nutter in the 18-man match squad.
We started the stronger side, pushing into the Crewe penalty area several times in the opening five minutes and twice testing the keeper.
Crewe went close with two quick-fire strikes from close range in the 17th minute. They were starting to assert themselves after our bright start. Shuker was struggling with a few knocks, too. I worried that he wouldn’t make it through the game.
Gowling and Halstead saved Park from blushes just before half time. The left back gave the ball away deep inside our own half, but Gowling was quick to dive in front of Crewe striker Shaun Miller’s shot. With the sting taken out of it, Halstead still needed to react quickly to keep the ball out.
We went in level at the break, although Shuker and Smith perhaps should have scored on the stroke of half time—their shots were too close to the Crewe keeper.
Crewe went ahead in the 55th minute. Tootie played short from the left wing to Moore, who was just inside the box. Moore trapped the ball, turned, and fired a shot low and hard towards goal. Halstead dived to his right and got a hand on the ball, but the goalkeeper could not keep it out. With Olembé and Shuker looking tired, I wondered whether we had the juice to get back in the match.
We threw men forward, desperately seeking an equaliser. We created chances, but it was Crewe’s Patrick Dillon who scored the next goal (in the 59th minute). On the break, Brough crossed low for Nick Powell—who got a toe to the ball, but could do no more thanks to a misunderstanding with Westwood. The ball fell to Dillon, who struck fiercely towards the top corner, catapulting his side to a two-goal lead.
I sent Laurent and Power on for Shuker and Bore, switching to three at the back with Richardson as anchor. It was all or nothing; we had half an hour to turn the game around, in front of Crewe’s fans.
Smith had been terrible; I subbed him out for Russell with ten minutes to go, pushing Laurent up to striker. Russell nearly made an instant impact, heading an Olembé cross just wide on 81 minutes.
Park conceded a penalty on the 88-minute mark. It was never a foul. Dillon calmly converted the spot kick, putting the result beyond doubt. I felt gutted. We didn’t deserve to lose the game, but there I was powerless to stop my boys being knocked out of the FA Cup.
We kept fighting for the last few minutes, and Barnes-Homer missed a golden opportunity for a consolation goal. But 3-0 to Crewe is how it ended. Would the game have gone differently if Marques and Koroma had been available? Maybe, but it’s not worth dwelling on it.
We started the stronger side, pushing into the Crewe penalty area several times in the opening five minutes and twice testing the keeper.
Crewe went close with two quick-fire strikes from close range in the 17th minute. They were starting to assert themselves after our bright start. Shuker was struggling with a few knocks, too. I worried that he wouldn’t make it through the game.
Gowling and Halstead saved Park from blushes just before half time. The left back gave the ball away deep inside our own half, but Gowling was quick to dive in front of Crewe striker Shaun Miller’s shot. With the sting taken out of it, Halstead still needed to react quickly to keep the ball out.
We went in level at the break, although Shuker and Smith perhaps should have scored on the stroke of half time—their shots were too close to the Crewe keeper.
Crewe went ahead in the 55th minute. Tootie played short from the left wing to Moore, who was just inside the box. Moore trapped the ball, turned, and fired a shot low and hard towards goal. Halstead dived to his right and got a hand on the ball, but the goalkeeper could not keep it out. With Olembé and Shuker looking tired, I wondered whether we had the juice to get back in the match.
We threw men forward, desperately seeking an equaliser. We created chances, but it was Crewe’s Patrick Dillon who scored the next goal (in the 59th minute). On the break, Brough crossed low for Nick Powell—who got a toe to the ball, but could do no more thanks to a misunderstanding with Westwood. The ball fell to Dillon, who struck fiercely towards the top corner, catapulting his side to a two-goal lead.
I sent Laurent and Power on for Shuker and Bore, switching to three at the back with Richardson as anchor. It was all or nothing; we had half an hour to turn the game around, in front of Crewe’s fans.
Smith had been terrible; I subbed him out for Russell with ten minutes to go, pushing Laurent up to striker. Russell nearly made an instant impact, heading an Olembé cross just wide on 81 minutes.
Park conceded a penalty on the 88-minute mark. It was never a foul. Dillon calmly converted the spot kick, putting the result beyond doubt. I felt gutted. We didn’t deserve to lose the game, but there I was powerless to stop my boys being knocked out of the FA Cup.
We kept fighting for the last few minutes, and Barnes-Homer missed a golden opportunity for a consolation goal. But 3-0 to Crewe is how it ended. Would the game have gone differently if Marques and Koroma had been available? Maybe, but it’s not worth dwelling on it.
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Day 130
We’re expected to lose in tomorrow’s FA Cup First Round clash with League 1 side Crewe. I think we’ve got a decent chance, though. We’re high on confidence and Crewe are having a terrible season. We’ll be hurting without Koroma, but Olembé looks like he’ll be fit to start.
And I haven’t wanted to win a match as much as I do this one. That must count for something.
[Over in the real world, my hard drive died today. Thankfully, I’d been keeping my FMBlog save backed up through Google Drive. I’m playing on an 11-inch MacBook Air for the next week or so, until I get a new drive set up on the main machine. Ironically enough, this tiny laptop seems more capable of running the game—I can increase the graphical details significantly (at a lower resolution), and it crunches data faster. I could really do with a new desktop machine.]
And I haven’t wanted to win a match as much as I do this one. That must count for something.
[Over in the real world, my hard drive died today. Thankfully, I’d been keeping my FMBlog save backed up through Google Drive. I’m playing on an 11-inch MacBook Air for the next week or so, until I get a new drive set up on the main machine. Ironically enough, this tiny laptop seems more capable of running the game—I can increase the graphical details significantly (at a lower resolution), and it crunches data faster. I could really do with a new desktop machine.]
Tuesday 21 August 2012
Day 129
The deadlines for loan transfers and free transfers are in a week. There'll be no opportunities whatsoever to bring outside players into the team after that, until the transfer window opens again in January. If we need any players to shore up the ranks for the last two months of the year, I need to act quickly.
Left wing back Miro finished his trial and left the club today, clearly disappointed that his injury got in the way of his push for a contract. Of course, with Olembé back at the club and happy to stay, Miro wouldn't have stood much of a chance, anyway. The Mozambican was always seen as a potential replacement for Olembé, rather than a compliment or backup to his talents.
Speaking of Olembé, the Cameroonian will be making his first start in two months this weekend...hopefully. There's still a question mark over his fitness, but if he gets his condition up above 90% I'll put him in.
Left wing back Miro finished his trial and left the club today, clearly disappointed that his injury got in the way of his push for a contract. Of course, with Olembé back at the club and happy to stay, Miro wouldn't have stood much of a chance, anyway. The Mozambican was always seen as a potential replacement for Olembé, rather than a compliment or backup to his talents.
Speaking of Olembé, the Cameroonian will be making his first start in two months this weekend...hopefully. There's still a question mark over his fitness, but if he gets his condition up above 90% I'll put him in.
Monday 20 August 2012
Day 128
We had a backroom meeting today. Apparently it's been two weeks since the last one. My, how time flies.
Peter Bore is unhappy with the amount of extra work he's been asked to do in training. I cut back slightly on it. I wasn't willing to take it away entirely, since his passing skills are...not great—yet he sees lots of the ball.
Turns out Karlton Watson and Rui Marques dislike each other. It was suggested that Marques should tutor Watson, which I thought was a good idea. But both players were extremely reluctant to go along with it. They agreed after a little push from me, but I'm not confident it'll last. As long as they don't kill each other, it's okay, I guess.
Peter Bore is unhappy with the amount of extra work he's been asked to do in training. I cut back slightly on it. I wasn't willing to take it away entirely, since his passing skills are...not great—yet he sees lots of the ball.
Turns out Karlton Watson and Rui Marques dislike each other. It was suggested that Marques should tutor Watson, which I thought was a good idea. But both players were extremely reluctant to go along with it. They agreed after a little push from me, but I'm not confident it'll last. As long as they don't kill each other, it's okay, I guess.
Sunday 19 August 2012
Day 127
Shuker and Barnes-Homer made the team of the week. Remarkably—considering his exceptional average rating—this is only the second time Barnes-Homer has been selected. (It's the first for Shuker.)
Barnes-Homer is now topping the league on average rating—at 7.53—and equal fourth on goals (he has 12). Shuker leads the assists chart, with 12. Barnes-Homer scores a goal every 125.83 minutes, and Koroma every 133.88 minutes, on average. That means that Barnes-Homer is currently on track to score 30+ goals this season. Impressive.
Power ranks second on key passes, with 19—one less than Conor Newton of Gateshead. Barnes-Homer is up at equal sixth on this chart, managing an impressive 16—pretty bloody good for a striker who tends to play off the last man. Shuker has 13 key passes, putting him equal eighth.
In the air, Rui Marques dominates. He has 34 key headers, more than all but two Conference players. Yado Mambo of Ebbsfleet has 36, while Graeme Lee of Darlington also has 34.
Barnes-Homer is now topping the league on average rating—at 7.53—and equal fourth on goals (he has 12). Shuker leads the assists chart, with 12. Barnes-Homer scores a goal every 125.83 minutes, and Koroma every 133.88 minutes, on average. That means that Barnes-Homer is currently on track to score 30+ goals this season. Impressive.
Power ranks second on key passes, with 19—one less than Conor Newton of Gateshead. Barnes-Homer is up at equal sixth on this chart, managing an impressive 16—pretty bloody good for a striker who tends to play off the last man. Shuker has 13 key passes, putting him equal eighth.
In the air, Rui Marques dominates. He has 34 key headers, more than all but two Conference players. Yado Mambo of Ebbsfleet has 36, while Graeme Lee of Darlington also has 34.
Saturday 18 August 2012
Day 126
Zak Ansah strained his knee ligaments in training today. He's looking at two to three months on the sidelines. Poor kid—he just got back from an injury lay-off. And he can't return to Arsenal for better-quality treatment, since apparently we have him on a no-recall loan deal.
Spanish striker Estaban Casagolda joined us on trial today, but not quite early enough to make the Reserves friendly against Matlock.
I gave starts to Olembé and Laurent, hoping to give them some much-needed match fitness. Khano Smith and Johann Smith each got their last chance to impress me, while Pacquette and Robert Taylor returned to the Reserves after being on the fringes of the first team for the past few weeks.
Laurent put the boys in the lead after 12 minutes, flying through the air to meet a Khano Smith cross with an excellent header. It was a majestic leap from the Frenchman.
Khano Smith was sent off in the 33rd minute for a shocking challenge on Daniel Brown. He slid in with two feet when he barely even needed to apply pressure—the ball was deep inside the Matlock half, and neither side had other players nearby. Poor Brown was injured by the challenge; I pray it isn't serious.
I subbed Olembé out for Nicky Nicolau at half time. The Cameroonian was looking tired, and I'm hopeful that he can start for the first team in five days.
Matlock equalised in the 50th minute. Karlton Watson missed his interception of a speculative deep cross, allowing Richardson to sneak in and slide a shot beneath Adamson.
A brilliant through ball from Laurent gave us the lead back in the 68th minute. The speedy Lloyd-McGoldrick raced onto Laurent's pass and calmly placed his shot into the bottom corner of the goal, past the onrushing keeper.
The boys held on for a 2-1 victory, with a strong final 20 minutes where substitutes Woods, Atkinson, and Lloyd-McGoldrick controlled the game. The big highlight, of course, was Laurent's fantastic performance in his first run-out after four months on the sidelines.
Spanish striker Estaban Casagolda joined us on trial today, but not quite early enough to make the Reserves friendly against Matlock.
I gave starts to Olembé and Laurent, hoping to give them some much-needed match fitness. Khano Smith and Johann Smith each got their last chance to impress me, while Pacquette and Robert Taylor returned to the Reserves after being on the fringes of the first team for the past few weeks.
Laurent put the boys in the lead after 12 minutes, flying through the air to meet a Khano Smith cross with an excellent header. It was a majestic leap from the Frenchman.
Khano Smith was sent off in the 33rd minute for a shocking challenge on Daniel Brown. He slid in with two feet when he barely even needed to apply pressure—the ball was deep inside the Matlock half, and neither side had other players nearby. Poor Brown was injured by the challenge; I pray it isn't serious.
I subbed Olembé out for Nicky Nicolau at half time. The Cameroonian was looking tired, and I'm hopeful that he can start for the first team in five days.
Matlock equalised in the 50th minute. Karlton Watson missed his interception of a speculative deep cross, allowing Richardson to sneak in and slide a shot beneath Adamson.
A brilliant through ball from Laurent gave us the lead back in the 68th minute. The speedy Lloyd-McGoldrick raced onto Laurent's pass and calmly placed his shot into the bottom corner of the goal, past the onrushing keeper.
The boys held on for a 2-1 victory, with a strong final 20 minutes where substitutes Woods, Atkinson, and Lloyd-McGoldrick controlled the game. The big highlight, of course, was Laurent's fantastic performance in his first run-out after four months on the sidelines.
Friday 17 August 2012
Day 125
I did some analysis on yesterday's match, since I thought it was a consummate performance.
For comparison's sake, I also pulled up the analysis from our last defeat—the home tie against Gateshead just over two months ago.
Our passing against Braintree was exceptional. We moved the ball around expertly, with Richardson (pictured below) especially impressive. He popped up all over the place, embodying the midfield support role to a T. The midfielder's work rate and stamina are second to none, and the difference he's made since coming into the side is clearly evident here.
Contrast that with the man he replaced, Jean-François Christophe. Christophe's passing against Gateshead was almost entirely directed towards Shuker on the right wing. It was also mostly square—he passed sideways, rather than forwards or backwards. Richardson's passing yesterday used the angles. Christophe looks downright one-dimensional in comparison.
If we look at movement, against Braintree we had players making runs across the entire forward line. But against Gateshead it was pretty much just Shuker on the right flank. Our attacking players look their best when running at defenders, but they just didn't do it in the anaemic display that saw us lose to Gateshead. If you rely too heavily on one player to lead the attack, the opposition can focus on dealing with him; by spreading the runs and through balls between four or five different players, we left Braintree stretched and on edge.
Other things I noticed: Bore is always very involved in our build-up play—he consistently contributes more passes than any but one or two other players in the team, and he makes a lot of interceptions. Richardson has, since coming into the team, dominated the midfield. He covers heaps of ground, makes several interceptions per game, and gets up for headers. If he could improve the quality of his output, he'll be brilliant. Shuker, meanwhile, is a beast. He covers 11.3 kilometres per game, on average, all the while managing several crosses, a few dozen passes, and a handful of forward runs.
For comparison's sake, I also pulled up the analysis from our last defeat—the home tie against Gateshead just over two months ago.
Our passing against Braintree was exceptional. We moved the ball around expertly, with Richardson (pictured below) especially impressive. He popped up all over the place, embodying the midfield support role to a T. The midfielder's work rate and stamina are second to none, and the difference he's made since coming into the side is clearly evident here.
Contrast that with the man he replaced, Jean-François Christophe. Christophe's passing against Gateshead was almost entirely directed towards Shuker on the right wing. It was also mostly square—he passed sideways, rather than forwards or backwards. Richardson's passing yesterday used the angles. Christophe looks downright one-dimensional in comparison.
If we look at movement, against Braintree we had players making runs across the entire forward line. But against Gateshead it was pretty much just Shuker on the right flank. Our attacking players look their best when running at defenders, but they just didn't do it in the anaemic display that saw us lose to Gateshead. If you rely too heavily on one player to lead the attack, the opposition can focus on dealing with him; by spreading the runs and through balls between four or five different players, we left Braintree stretched and on edge.
Other things I noticed: Bore is always very involved in our build-up play—he consistently contributes more passes than any but one or two other players in the team, and he makes a lot of interceptions. Richardson has, since coming into the team, dominated the midfield. He covers heaps of ground, makes several interceptions per game, and gets up for headers. If he could improve the quality of his output, he'll be brilliant. Shuker, meanwhile, is a beast. He covers 11.3 kilometres per game, on average, all the while managing several crosses, a few dozen passes, and a handful of forward runs.
Thursday 16 August 2012
Day 124
The Lincoln Under 18s lost to Ipswich at home, slipping to fifth on the table. This is the position at which I expect them to finish; I wonder if they can pull it off.
Michael Woods was passed fit for today's match, so I put him on the bench instead of Chris Atkinson. We went otherwise unchanged into the home tie with Braintree.
We came out firing. Barnes-Homer tested the keeper from close range just 25 seconds into the match. Braintree barely touched the ball during the opening five minutes.
The first goal came just before the 14-minute mark. Park threw the ball in from the left wing to Barnes-Homer, who had run to the byline. The striker turned and crossed at hip-height towards the penalty spot. Shuker moved into position and volleyed first-time past the Braintree keeper, who was frozen to the spot.
Shuker nearly scored again three minutes later from a direct free kick, but the keeper got his fingertips to it and the ball bounced clear off the bar. A follow-up header had to be hacked off the line.
We went close several more times over the following ten minutes, with shots from Barnes-Homer, Richardson, and Power. Then Braintree returned the pressure, hitting the post and putting our boys on the back foot for the first time in the match.
A brilliant run through the Braintree defence should have ended with a goal for Koroma on 40 minutes, but McDonald was having none of it. The keeper saved well to preserve his side's one-goal deficit.
Koroma went down injured early in the second half, battling for the goal he deserved. I thought he should have been awarded a penalty, but the free kick went the other way—Russell brought down a Braintree player. I introduced Sam Smith to replace Koroma.
Disaster struck in the 51st minute when McCammon got in behind our defence. Unable to keep up with the striker, Marques slid in with a make-or-break challenge. He missed the ball but took the man, and was sent off for a professional foul. We were left to play the remaining 40 minutes with ten men and without our influential skipper.
I moved Park into central defence and replaced Russell with Olembé, who slotted in at left back—ready to man the entire left side by himself. Knowing that we'd need more running power, I also swapped Power for Woods. Power was looking tired, and Woods has the better speed and stamina.
Olembé went out with a lot of heart, easily handling the duties of two players—left full-back and left winger. But it was Smith who created our second goal. Winning the ball just over the halfway line, he sprinted deep into Braintree territory. It looked as though he might go it alone, but when the defenders closed in he crossed to empty space around the penalty spot. Racing in, Barnes-Homer arrived first on the scene. The striker expertly tucked it into the back of the net for his 12th goal of the season. Victory looked assured.
Barnes-Homer could have scored another in stoppage time, after a loose ball fell at his feet just outside the box. But he snapped at the shot, when there was time to take a few touches and move into the area, and it sailed high and wide.
An excellent all-round performance marred only by the Marques red card, our big stand-outs were Barnes-Homer and Bore—although Smith and Olembé looked great off the bench. The best news of all, though, was that Mansfield lost to Grimsby. We're top of the table for the first time, one point clear of The Stags.
Bad news on Koroma—he twisted his knee. The striker's looking at four to five weeks on the sidelines, which means that Smith will have to step in right away.
The Braintree manager Alan Devonshire told the press that he "can't see a better team" in battle for promotion than Lincoln. That's a glowing endorsement, but you can hardly blame him for saying it. He just watched his team get torn to shreds by my midfielders and strikers. I like to think he meant it, but I can see the strategic reasons for making such comments disingenuously. It allows him to deflect the blame for the loss onto our supreme ability. If we're set to win the league, of course his team would struggle to even score against us. Smart move.
Meanwhile, we're celebrating today's win like no other it. We're top of the table. That's amazing. Four months ago, I thought we'd struggle to hold down a spot mid-table during the first half of the season, then sneak into the play-offs in the second half. But we're top after 18 games, miles ahead of everyone except Mansfield. Wow.
Michael Woods was passed fit for today's match, so I put him on the bench instead of Chris Atkinson. We went otherwise unchanged into the home tie with Braintree.
We came out firing. Barnes-Homer tested the keeper from close range just 25 seconds into the match. Braintree barely touched the ball during the opening five minutes.
The first goal came just before the 14-minute mark. Park threw the ball in from the left wing to Barnes-Homer, who had run to the byline. The striker turned and crossed at hip-height towards the penalty spot. Shuker moved into position and volleyed first-time past the Braintree keeper, who was frozen to the spot.
Shuker nearly scored again three minutes later from a direct free kick, but the keeper got his fingertips to it and the ball bounced clear off the bar. A follow-up header had to be hacked off the line.
We went close several more times over the following ten minutes, with shots from Barnes-Homer, Richardson, and Power. Then Braintree returned the pressure, hitting the post and putting our boys on the back foot for the first time in the match.
A brilliant run through the Braintree defence should have ended with a goal for Koroma on 40 minutes, but McDonald was having none of it. The keeper saved well to preserve his side's one-goal deficit.
Koroma went down injured early in the second half, battling for the goal he deserved. I thought he should have been awarded a penalty, but the free kick went the other way—Russell brought down a Braintree player. I introduced Sam Smith to replace Koroma.
Disaster struck in the 51st minute when McCammon got in behind our defence. Unable to keep up with the striker, Marques slid in with a make-or-break challenge. He missed the ball but took the man, and was sent off for a professional foul. We were left to play the remaining 40 minutes with ten men and without our influential skipper.
I moved Park into central defence and replaced Russell with Olembé, who slotted in at left back—ready to man the entire left side by himself. Knowing that we'd need more running power, I also swapped Power for Woods. Power was looking tired, and Woods has the better speed and stamina.
Olembé went out with a lot of heart, easily handling the duties of two players—left full-back and left winger. But it was Smith who created our second goal. Winning the ball just over the halfway line, he sprinted deep into Braintree territory. It looked as though he might go it alone, but when the defenders closed in he crossed to empty space around the penalty spot. Racing in, Barnes-Homer arrived first on the scene. The striker expertly tucked it into the back of the net for his 12th goal of the season. Victory looked assured.
Barnes-Homer could have scored another in stoppage time, after a loose ball fell at his feet just outside the box. But he snapped at the shot, when there was time to take a few touches and move into the area, and it sailed high and wide.
An excellent all-round performance marred only by the Marques red card, our big stand-outs were Barnes-Homer and Bore—although Smith and Olembé looked great off the bench. The best news of all, though, was that Mansfield lost to Grimsby. We're top of the table for the first time, one point clear of The Stags.
Bad news on Koroma—he twisted his knee. The striker's looking at four to five weeks on the sidelines, which means that Smith will have to step in right away.
The Braintree manager Alan Devonshire told the press that he "can't see a better team" in battle for promotion than Lincoln. That's a glowing endorsement, but you can hardly blame him for saying it. He just watched his team get torn to shreds by my midfielders and strikers. I like to think he meant it, but I can see the strategic reasons for making such comments disingenuously. It allows him to deflect the blame for the loss onto our supreme ability. If we're set to win the league, of course his team would struggle to even score against us. Smart move.
Meanwhile, we're celebrating today's win like no other it. We're top of the table. That's amazing. Four months ago, I thought we'd struggle to hold down a spot mid-table during the first half of the season, then sneak into the play-offs in the second half. But we're top after 18 games, miles ahead of everyone except Mansfield. Wow.
Wednesday 15 August 2012
Day 123
We're favourites for tomorrow's match—really, at this point we should be favourites for just about any league game. The bookies put us at 1-6 to beat Braintree, who are six games without a win (contrastingly, we're 11 games without defeat).
On the selection front, I'm considering an unchanged match squad and starting 11. The boys looked good last time out. The only player that might upset that choice is Michael Woods, who's looking like he might be fit enough for the bench.
The media in attendance at the pre-match press conference asked about Koroma's form. I told them directly that I think he's been wonderful, and the fans have every right to be singing his praises. I don't think he listened to my commendations of his form; that's probably a good thing—we wouldn't want it to go to his head.
On the selection front, I'm considering an unchanged match squad and starting 11. The boys looked good last time out. The only player that might upset that choice is Michael Woods, who's looking like he might be fit enough for the bench.
The media in attendance at the pre-match press conference asked about Koroma's form. I told them directly that I think he's been wonderful, and the fans have every right to be singing his praises. I don't think he listened to my commendations of his form; that's probably a good thing—we wouldn't want it to go to his head.
Tuesday 14 August 2012
Day 122
Bradshaw came back with his full report on Spanish striker Esteban Casagolda. He's a skillful player, no doubt about it. But it doesn't look like he has enough of an edge over my current crop to warrant a contract offer. He's travelled around a bit, and even played in Scotland for Motherwell last season. I asked him over for a trial, just in case he's a special catch.
I also got a report on central defender Conrad Balatoni, from scout Ian Gardner. Balatoni's already a decent player at age 20—slightly better than Kanouté, Gardner thinks. He has the potential to do well at League 1 level, and his wage demands are likely to be quite reasonable. But I'm not going to bother with even a trial. We're in good shape at the back, and I've turned down more talented players than he.
I also got a report on central defender Conrad Balatoni, from scout Ian Gardner. Balatoni's already a decent player at age 20—slightly better than Kanouté, Gardner thinks. He has the potential to do well at League 1 level, and his wage demands are likely to be quite reasonable. But I'm not going to bother with even a trial. We're in good shape at the back, and I've turned down more talented players than he.
Monday 13 August 2012
Day 121
Another manager got the sack today. Jim Gannon was axed from Stockport County, after leading them to a measly three wins and 13 points in 16 matches. We beat them 3-1 last month, thanks to spectacular performances from Power and Koroma. It's never nice to see someone lose their job like that, but I wish them luck in turning their fortunes around.
Scout Mark Bradshaw came to me this evening with a report on Spanish striker Esteban Casagolda. I'm more than happy with my current lineup of forwards, and we've got another one coming on January 1st, but he looks good (perhaps better than Barnes-Homer), so I'm keen to learn more about him.
Scout Mark Bradshaw came to me this evening with a report on Spanish striker Esteban Casagolda. I'm more than happy with my current lineup of forwards, and we've got another one coming on January 1st, but he looks good (perhaps better than Barnes-Homer), so I'm keen to learn more about him.
Sunday 12 August 2012
Day 120
Shuker trained really well in October, I'm told, with modest improvements in just about every area. It's good to see the 29 year old still has life in him. Veteran Rui Marques, on the other hand, suffered significant degradation across his game, heading backwards in no fewer than 19 attributes that my staff track.
Barnes-Homer earned second place in October's Player of the Month award, thanks to a string of impressive performances that netted him three goals and two assists. The striker also picked up third spot on the Goal of the Month award, for a brilliant individual effort against Southport.
I took third on the October Manager of the Month tally, after previously being ranked second for September and third for August. I'd say I'm having a pretty amazing start to my managerial career. I wonder, is there any chance that I could get into the top three managers each month of the season?
The club, meanwhile, lost another £80,000 last month. The balance is now £187,521 in the red. That can't be good.
Ansah returned to full training today, but it was too soon for him to claim a place in the match squad. Olembé and Smith were only deemed fit enough for the bench. Kanouté dropped to the bench after a solid first run-out since his injury three days ago. Shuker, Bore, Gowling, Power, and Barnes-Homer all returned to the starting eleven. And Michael Woods, who was still feeling the effects of playing 90 minutes on limited match fitness, dropped out entirely.
We looked nervous out the blocks, but all nerves were quickly put to rest by Barnes-Homer in the 8th minute. The in-form striker slipped behind the Hayes & Yeading defence to bury Koroma's speculative through ball first-time into the back of the net. Sprinting away, he celebrated with a stylish ten-yard body slide across the wet grass behind the goal line.
A winding run from Koroma set up Russell around 20 minutes with a floating cross, but the winger's header was parried into the crossbar and hooked clear. Hayes & Yeading, meanwhile, pulled out another half-chance on the break. The slippery surface was not helping either side at the back.
Barnes-Homer struck inches wide with a great effort on the half hour mark, then picked up Shuker's pass after an incisive Koroma run to double both his tally and ours in the 33rd minute.
Pelé pulled one back for the home side in the 38th minute with a looping header from Moutaouakil's corner. Halstead got a hand on the slippery ball, but it wasn't enough to keep and it hit the inside of the roof of the net. Gowling may take the blame for getting in the way.
A mazy run from Koroma nearly restored our two-goal lead just before half time. Hayes & Yeading were weary of the striker's trickery by then, though, and they tripled-teamed him—forcing an early shot that was deflected out for a corner.
Sharp passing and good movement allowed Koroma to get the goal he deserved on 57 minutes, placing his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Hayes & Yeading answered immediately, though. Substitute winger Daniel Wishart crossed low and hard to the far post, where fellow winger Andy Yiadom was on hand to supply a finish. 3-2 after an hour of play—it was turning into quite the goal-fest.
I dragged Gowling off for Kanouté before play restarted, hoping to stabilise our shaky defence. The young defender's first action was to get booked for a late challenge a minute later.
Russell made way for Olembé in the 73rd minute. It was the Cameroonian's first appearance since his outstanding display against Cambridge in a 2-2 draw back on September 10th—53 days ago. Power followed a minute later, with Atkinson his replacement. Richardson switched his focus from defending to supporting from the other central midfield spot.
Halstead saved well in the 76th minute to prevent an equaliser. The home side were giving us plenty of headaches.
Koroma tried an ambitious lob that went horribly wrong in the 85th minute. Then he got his second goal of the match early on in stoppage time, after being left unmarked at the far post on a long-range Shuker free kick.
Koroma took man of the match honours, although really they should be shared with his strike-partner Matthew Barnes-Homer. The two speedy forwards have struck up a potent partnership in recent weeks. I hope they can maintain this form.
We stay second in the league, two points shy of the top, after leaders Mansfield thrashed Barrow 4-1 to keep their flawless home record. We've now gone 11 games without defeat in the league. How much longer can the run go on?
I've had enough of these bloody managers getting slaughtered by our attack and then turning around and telling the media that they "don't like the approach [I] take" in my football. Not a fan of good, open, effective football, eh? Well, too bad. It works and it's entertaining to watch. I lashed out in response: "As long as Bashir is in charge, I think Hayes & Yeading are destined for relegation," I told the reporter.
This is war now. I'm not holding back any longer. If you speak shit about me or my players, I'm gonna tear you down...unless I think you have a fair point.
Barnes-Homer earned second place in October's Player of the Month award, thanks to a string of impressive performances that netted him three goals and two assists. The striker also picked up third spot on the Goal of the Month award, for a brilliant individual effort against Southport.
I took third on the October Manager of the Month tally, after previously being ranked second for September and third for August. I'd say I'm having a pretty amazing start to my managerial career. I wonder, is there any chance that I could get into the top three managers each month of the season?
The club, meanwhile, lost another £80,000 last month. The balance is now £187,521 in the red. That can't be good.
Ansah returned to full training today, but it was too soon for him to claim a place in the match squad. Olembé and Smith were only deemed fit enough for the bench. Kanouté dropped to the bench after a solid first run-out since his injury three days ago. Shuker, Bore, Gowling, Power, and Barnes-Homer all returned to the starting eleven. And Michael Woods, who was still feeling the effects of playing 90 minutes on limited match fitness, dropped out entirely.
We looked nervous out the blocks, but all nerves were quickly put to rest by Barnes-Homer in the 8th minute. The in-form striker slipped behind the Hayes & Yeading defence to bury Koroma's speculative through ball first-time into the back of the net. Sprinting away, he celebrated with a stylish ten-yard body slide across the wet grass behind the goal line.
A winding run from Koroma set up Russell around 20 minutes with a floating cross, but the winger's header was parried into the crossbar and hooked clear. Hayes & Yeading, meanwhile, pulled out another half-chance on the break. The slippery surface was not helping either side at the back.
Barnes-Homer struck inches wide with a great effort on the half hour mark, then picked up Shuker's pass after an incisive Koroma run to double both his tally and ours in the 33rd minute.
Pelé pulled one back for the home side in the 38th minute with a looping header from Moutaouakil's corner. Halstead got a hand on the slippery ball, but it wasn't enough to keep and it hit the inside of the roof of the net. Gowling may take the blame for getting in the way.
A mazy run from Koroma nearly restored our two-goal lead just before half time. Hayes & Yeading were weary of the striker's trickery by then, though, and they tripled-teamed him—forcing an early shot that was deflected out for a corner.
Sharp passing and good movement allowed Koroma to get the goal he deserved on 57 minutes, placing his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Hayes & Yeading answered immediately, though. Substitute winger Daniel Wishart crossed low and hard to the far post, where fellow winger Andy Yiadom was on hand to supply a finish. 3-2 after an hour of play—it was turning into quite the goal-fest.
I dragged Gowling off for Kanouté before play restarted, hoping to stabilise our shaky defence. The young defender's first action was to get booked for a late challenge a minute later.
Russell made way for Olembé in the 73rd minute. It was the Cameroonian's first appearance since his outstanding display against Cambridge in a 2-2 draw back on September 10th—53 days ago. Power followed a minute later, with Atkinson his replacement. Richardson switched his focus from defending to supporting from the other central midfield spot.
Halstead saved well in the 76th minute to prevent an equaliser. The home side were giving us plenty of headaches.
Koroma tried an ambitious lob that went horribly wrong in the 85th minute. Then he got his second goal of the match early on in stoppage time, after being left unmarked at the far post on a long-range Shuker free kick.
Koroma took man of the match honours, although really they should be shared with his strike-partner Matthew Barnes-Homer. The two speedy forwards have struck up a potent partnership in recent weeks. I hope they can maintain this form.
We stay second in the league, two points shy of the top, after leaders Mansfield thrashed Barrow 4-1 to keep their flawless home record. We've now gone 11 games without defeat in the league. How much longer can the run go on?
I've had enough of these bloody managers getting slaughtered by our attack and then turning around and telling the media that they "don't like the approach [I] take" in my football. Not a fan of good, open, effective football, eh? Well, too bad. It works and it's entertaining to watch. I lashed out in response: "As long as Bashir is in charge, I think Hayes & Yeading are destined for relegation," I told the reporter.
This is war now. I'm not holding back any longer. If you speak shit about me or my players, I'm gonna tear you down...unless I think you have a fair point.
Saturday 11 August 2012
Day 119
Olembé returned from his leave of absence, adamant that he's now over his homesickness and committed to the club. I hope so—we need our star winger back. He kept himself in pretty good shape while he was away, but he'll need time to get back to match fitness. I'm thinking of putting him on the bench for tomorrow's match, then I'll play it by ear. I'm just so glad to have the Cameroonian back with us.
We're favourites tomorrow, at 4-6 to win, 9-4 to draw, and 7-2 to lose. Hayes & Yeading are down in 13th spot in the league, which is way above where anyone expected them to be at this stage of the season. I understand that they have a few good players—who we'll need to look out for—but may be stretched too thin by having to play two games in three days.
We're favourites tomorrow, at 4-6 to win, 9-4 to draw, and 7-2 to lose. Hayes & Yeading are down in 13th spot in the league, which is way above where anyone expected them to be at this stage of the season. I understand that they have a few good players—who we'll need to look out for—but may be stretched too thin by having to play two games in three days.
Friday 10 August 2012
Day 118
I watched nervously as the FA Cup First Round was drawn today. We finally came up around halfway through, pegged against League 2 side Crewe. I had hoped for a home game, but we couldn't have asked for a much kinder entry. Crewe are not a good team—by League 2 standards, anyway.
They're 18th in the league above us, more than two months without a win. We have a great chance of beating them, or at least forcing a replay.
The match is scheduled for November 12th—just under two weeks from now. We don't have to worry about any midweek games either side of it, so we're looking at a full-strength lineup—perhaps even including Salomon Olembé, who returns from his leave of absence tomorrow.
Francis Laurent returned to full training today, after a four-month absence. Now begins his long path to match fitness and, with a bit of luck, first-team contention. I'll give him a starting berth in the next Reserves friendly, then maybe put him on the bench for the first-team if he pulls up okay.
They're 18th in the league above us, more than two months without a win. We have a great chance of beating them, or at least forcing a replay.
The match is scheduled for November 12th—just under two weeks from now. We don't have to worry about any midweek games either side of it, so we're looking at a full-strength lineup—perhaps even including Salomon Olembé, who returns from his leave of absence tomorrow.
Francis Laurent returned to full training today, after a four-month absence. Now begins his long path to match fitness and, with a bit of luck, first-team contention. I'll give him a starting berth in the next Reserves friendly, then maybe put him on the bench for the first-team if he pulls up okay.
Thursday 9 August 2012
Day 117
I went ahead with the plan of putting Kanouté, Woods, Robert Taylor, and Sam Smith in the starting lineup for our cup game against Buxton. It was set to be Taylor's first start for the team, just one week after his 17th birthday. And for Woods, the new signing upon whom we're pinning our hopes, it was to be his professional debut—the 21 year old never played for Chelsea, and failed to make an appearance during a brief loan spell at Notts County last season.
Youngsters Karlton Watson and Will Rawdon made the bench, while regular starters Shuker and Barnes-Homer were also among the substitutes. Anyon, Atkinson, and Rodney made up the numbers.
I sent my boys out with clear instructions to attack. We earned three corners in the opening ten minutes, and dominated possession, but Buxton put up a good defensive fight...for a while.
In the 25th minute Smith was pulled down in the box. Koroma calmly converted the resulting penalty. We continued our domination from there, with Koroma going close from a glancing header five minutes later and Russell blocked at close range on 35 minutes.
Buxton held out for the remainder of the half, just barely clinging on to their one goal deficit. We looked strong and confident going forward, so I figured there'd be more goals in the second half.
Koroma was unlucky not to double our lead in the 53rd minute, when he beat his man with a brilliant change of pace and fired a shot in low. The goalkeeper did well to punch it away.
Park scored his first Lincoln goal from a direct free kick on the hour mark. It should have been Koroma's goal, though, after a lovely move that led to the striker being cynically dragged down just outside the box before he could shoot.
Taylor added a third just two minutes later. Koroma passed short to Smith from the edge of the area, then the big striker took three touches and fired a shot against the inside of the post. First to react, young Taylor had the goal at his mercy.
I took the opportunity here to bring youngsters Watson and Rawdon in for Marques and Russell. It seemed a great chance for the lads to get first-team experience in a low-pressure environment.
Smith finally got his goal in the 68th minute, climbing high to meet a Taylor corner. It was a powerful header from the striker, who had been unlucky not to score on two previous occasions.
I took Koroma off for Rodney after this; I wanted to keep my in-form striker fresh for the midweek match.
Youngster Will Rawdon set up Taylor with an inch-perfect cross on 74 minutes. The 17-year-old winger met the ball with a diving header that left the hapless Buxton keeper to pick the ball out of his net for the fifth time.
Robert Taylor earned a well-deserved man of the match, although the honours could have just as easily been given to Sam Smith—stunning on his return from a two-month injury layoff.
The attendance predictions were way off—1,831 people turned up to watch the demolition of Buxton. And we got £12,500 in prize money.
Youngsters Karlton Watson and Will Rawdon made the bench, while regular starters Shuker and Barnes-Homer were also among the substitutes. Anyon, Atkinson, and Rodney made up the numbers.
I sent my boys out with clear instructions to attack. We earned three corners in the opening ten minutes, and dominated possession, but Buxton put up a good defensive fight...for a while.
In the 25th minute Smith was pulled down in the box. Koroma calmly converted the resulting penalty. We continued our domination from there, with Koroma going close from a glancing header five minutes later and Russell blocked at close range on 35 minutes.
Buxton held out for the remainder of the half, just barely clinging on to their one goal deficit. We looked strong and confident going forward, so I figured there'd be more goals in the second half.
Koroma was unlucky not to double our lead in the 53rd minute, when he beat his man with a brilliant change of pace and fired a shot in low. The goalkeeper did well to punch it away.
Park scored his first Lincoln goal from a direct free kick on the hour mark. It should have been Koroma's goal, though, after a lovely move that led to the striker being cynically dragged down just outside the box before he could shoot.
Taylor added a third just two minutes later. Koroma passed short to Smith from the edge of the area, then the big striker took three touches and fired a shot against the inside of the post. First to react, young Taylor had the goal at his mercy.
I took the opportunity here to bring youngsters Watson and Rawdon in for Marques and Russell. It seemed a great chance for the lads to get first-team experience in a low-pressure environment.
Smith finally got his goal in the 68th minute, climbing high to meet a Taylor corner. It was a powerful header from the striker, who had been unlucky not to score on two previous occasions.
I took Koroma off for Rodney after this; I wanted to keep my in-form striker fresh for the midweek match.
Youngster Will Rawdon set up Taylor with an inch-perfect cross on 74 minutes. The 17-year-old winger met the ball with a diving header that left the hapless Buxton keeper to pick the ball out of his net for the fifth time.
Robert Taylor earned a well-deserved man of the match, although the honours could have just as easily been given to Sam Smith—stunning on his return from a two-month injury layoff.
The attendance predictions were way off—1,831 people turned up to watch the demolition of Buxton. And we got £12,500 in prize money.
Wednesday 8 August 2012
Day 116
A lowly one thousand people are expected to attend tomorrow's FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round match against Buxton. That's a real shame, because I think we'll put on a show. I'm hardly surprised, though—we're considered shoe-ins for a big victory, and one-sided games can be awfully boring to watch.
The bookies rated us at 1-20 odds to win. Would anyone even bother to bet? The odds on a draw or loss are favourable for risk takers—11-2 for a draw and 30-1 for defeat. Betting on the draw seems like a smart choice. If we get shocked, or play with too much arrogance, Buxton could easily sneak a draw and force a replay...What am I saying? Put your life savings on us to win. You might get enough to buy yourself a nice dinner after the game.
I had a bit of a think about match selection. We've got a league game midweek—just three days after tomorrow's fixture. I'll save Bore's return for then. I'm looking to put Kanouté, Woods, and Sam Smith in from the start. Gowling, Power, and Barnes-Homer will likely make way. I may give youngsters Robert Taylor and Karlton Watson starting berths, too. It's tempting to throw 16-year-old left back Will Rawdon in from the start, but I'm weary of leaving us too vulnerable in defence. The lad's a good chance for the bench, though.
In other news, Chalwe and Burgess finished their trials today. I'm still interested in Chalwe, but with Gowling and Marques playing so well together there's really no place for him.
The bookies rated us at 1-20 odds to win. Would anyone even bother to bet? The odds on a draw or loss are favourable for risk takers—11-2 for a draw and 30-1 for defeat. Betting on the draw seems like a smart choice. If we get shocked, or play with too much arrogance, Buxton could easily sneak a draw and force a replay...What am I saying? Put your life savings on us to win. You might get enough to buy yourself a nice dinner after the game.
I had a bit of a think about match selection. We've got a league game midweek—just three days after tomorrow's fixture. I'll save Bore's return for then. I'm looking to put Kanouté, Woods, and Sam Smith in from the start. Gowling, Power, and Barnes-Homer will likely make way. I may give youngsters Robert Taylor and Karlton Watson starting berths, too. It's tempting to throw 16-year-old left back Will Rawdon in from the start, but I'm weary of leaving us too vulnerable in defence. The lad's a good chance for the bench, though.
In other news, Chalwe and Burgess finished their trials today. I'm still interested in Chalwe, but with Gowling and Marques playing so well together there's really no place for him.
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