Well hello there! Here we are back in the Midlands where a middle aged man is trying to recapture his youth. My name’s Dave, CM9798 is my comfort zone and FM20 scares me. However, we’re 9th, so it could be worse. We’re actually in decent form, having just won consecutive away games against Portsmouth and Rotherham. Here’s the table as we re-join the action:
It’s another away game next, though I must remind you every game we play is technically away. I can’t complain, I knew that when I signed up. MK Dons aren’t good though, so if we approach this with the vim and vigour we have found recently, we should get this done.
For once, my prediction is correct. Both centre halves scores from set pieces and Westbrooke adds a trademark edge of the box strike. Tasty.
That puts us right in the playoff mix and a home game with Fleetwood – who are going well themselves, will be a further chance to consolidate our new found lofty heights. It’s not for lack of trying. We make plenty of chances but take so few of them and it ends 0-0. We are missing a goal scorer for certain and it’s something I might have to address with a January loan.
Peterborough aren’t quite as good as their real life counterparts so although it’s still a tough away trip on paper, we’ve got every chance of leaving with all three points. It’s basically the Fleetwood game but a lot filthier, which is ironic when you think Joey Barton manages Fleetwood. 21 shots later we still haven’t scored and it ends 0-0. Our fans must be loving it.
The board aren’t exactly delighted but B’s and C’s are a reasonable report card. I’m a beginner (with 24 years of management game experience). They need to get over that Burton game. Everybody has a bad day.
I tell the lads I expect them to beat Accrington. I don’t think that’s unreasonable but we go behind early on anyway. ‘sakes. Like our previous games we bang on the door for 90 minutes but in a rare turn of good fortune Jamie Allen equalises in injury time. He’s back from the long term injury he starts the game with and making cameos in the number 10 role. At this rate he’ll be a regular starter.
Time for change of pace now and a pair of cup games, one more important than the other. The FA Cup could be a vital source of money and as we all know, money can be exchanged for goods and services. For all Tranmere are in our division, we’re in a league of our own here and prove we are up for the cup. Bakayoko heads in a corner, Kastaneer actually finishes a chance and young Dexter Walters adds the icing and a cherry in stoppage time. Out of the way Tranmere, we’re in Round 2.
We’ve also got Wycombe in the sponsored trophy. We’ve already got two ins on the board and it would be mega unfortunate to be eliminated from this position but it is technically possible. A point is enough and winning on penalties means I think we get an extra one. Woo and yay.
Yet another home draw, this time with Rochdale. We dominate the game but can’t add a second goal which obviously leads to us paying the ultimate price 10 minutes from time. Didn’t want to be in the top 6 anyway.
That favourable run of games has bought us minimal success so an away game with table toppers Sunderland fills me with dread. However, it turns out we were just waiting for the right team to surprise with our rope a dope football. Jobello is incredible and Bakayoko even scores. Grigg gets a late consolation but we run out 3-2 winners, having dominated possession and broken Mackem hearts. Here we come, playoffs!
Despite this indifferent run, the keen eyed amongst you will notice we haven’t lost for a fair while. That damn Burton game in fact. Our last game in November is at home to Tranmere, who we trounced away from home and will surely put to the sword here and confirm our ascent up the table.
Nope. Injury time drama sees us fall to our first defeat in a few months and we remain 8th in the table. Potter has put a curse on us.
All in all, a tale of missed opportunities. The change to 4-2-3-1 has seen us play on the front foot and really dominate games but without a lethal striker, we’re going to struggle to put teams to bed.
Join me next time as we head in to December and the always tricky festive fixture pile up. Toodles for now.
Written by the excellent Dave Black, you can find him on Twitter @CM9798, his website https://cm9798.wordpress.com/ and his ‘The World According to Championship Manager’ books on Amazon.