G’day fledglings. It’s mid-January in Greater Manchester. Our Newton Heath side are top of the Conference and still alive in three cup competitions – The FA Cup, FA Trophy and Van Trophy. How far can we go?
Saturday 20th January, Conference, Port Vale
We are in league action, having had four day’s rest from our last game against League side Bradford.
It’s Port Vale and another conference come-down for the lads. I try Burkart in a midfield role, leaving DJ on top of the diamond.
It’s a messy game, we go 1-0 up thanks to a DJ free-kick. The team are cruising – thinking it’s easy. We get caught in the second half, and Port Vale inexplicably take the lead. We leave it late (late) for Matty Willock to equalize. That was close!
After the game we get news from Celtic that they’ve accepted a bid of £1.2m from Newcastle for Aaron Wan-Bissaka. By midnight Derby, Nottingham Forest and Middleborough have bid too. I call Jed (our GM) and tell him to submit a bid too. He laughs at me down the phone. “Newcastle are in the Premiership”, he says. “What chance do we have?”
“Leave it with me”, I say.
12 hours later the Sky Sports News reel confirms Wan-Bissaka’s next move.
YES!!!! The lure of an ‘indispensable’ team role and our new highest paid player are too great. I AM BUZZING. He has a £3.7m buy-out clause, which I’ll have to manage.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka moved from Crystal Palace to Manchester United for a reported £50m in June 2019. The season before, AWB had played 35 Premier League games for Palace in his break-through season. It was enough for Ed Woodward to pay a then-record fee for an uncapped England player (and sixth most expensive defender ever).
In-game (remember I’m playing the October 2018 DB), AWB started out a Palace before moving to Celtic. We were able to capitalize on him not getting enough game-time. Welcome (permanently), Aaron.
Wednesday 24th January, FA Cup 3rd Round Replay
We travel to Priestfields for our FA Cup replay, at Gillingham having first played out a 0-0 draw.
True story, I went to Priestfields to watch Plymouth Argyle play in a rain soaked winter fixture in January 2005. I nearly got on a train to the wrong ‘Gillingham’, and that set the tone for a horrid and expensive day out. Our right back Paul Conolly was sent off early and we lost 1-0. Memories.
Anyway, back to business. Joe Rothwell is fit again, so slips back into the midfield. Donald Love gets a run-out at LB in favour of Andy Kellett.
We make an flying start, Danny Rowe getting on the scoresheet after 10 minutes. Gillingham try to fight back, the Garner is doing a good job of shielding McCullough and Thorpe. Rowe scores again on a counter and we are dreaming! Our concentration lapses and Gillingham get back into the game through Greg Cundle.
On 60 minutes I bring on Andy Kellett, pulling Love into CB role, and Thorpe as a sweeper. We are absorbing a lot of damage, and Pelly Ruddock breaks Newton Heath hearts with a goal on 89 minutes.
I go back to an attacking formation for extra time, but we even each other out in a draw. After 210 minutes of football, this tie will be decided on penalties. It’s even after a penalty each, before Rowe gives us a lead and Cundle misses. Penalty three is dispatched by both teams then Rodgrigo misses penalty four! No! Callum Reilly misses the chance to put Gillingham level and suddenly all eyes are on David Fox… He steps up.. WE WIN!!!!
Saturday 27th January, FA Cup 4th Round.
Three days later and we are back in the FA Cup-hot seat, this time with League Two side, Aldershot.
Despite the tired legs I only make one change, that is Kellett in for Love.
We make an early breakthrough from the unlikely Rodrigo Possebon, curling in after a corner is pulled to the 18-yard box. We are on top in this game and Stuart Nelson in the Aldershot goal is palming everything away.
In the second half, substitute SEB is stretchered off, and Burkart moves up front. I revert to a sweeper again and this time we see it out. Round 5 calls!
SEB is out for three weeks. It’s a blow, as it means we solely need to rely on Danny-boy.
It’s also an award for AWB – congratulations!
Saturday 3rd February, FA Trophy 4th Round.
It’s the fans’ dream – a derby-day cup tie! Salford away! Despite the big-game, I keep my FA Trophy promise, so Henderson, Williams, Love and Burkart all come in.
The first half is about the lads finding their feet, and I tell them to keep going. As we apply pressure, Salford start to crumble. Rowe does most of the damage with a brace and Burkart scores to win 3-0.
Tuesday 6th February, Vans Trophy Quarters
It’s our fifth cup-game in a row. We need to keep the momentum going. I revert back to a familiar line-up, though Burkart and Henderson keep their places.
By half-time we are 3-0 up, and League One side Mansfield are shell-shocked. I am able to rest some players as a progress to the semi-finals!
Amazingly, we are still fighting on all four fronts!
And Danny Rowe fires his way into the record books – in early February!
Saturday 10th February, Conference, Eastleigh
It’s our first league game in what feels like, forever. I’m able to keep an unchanged side, and the Burkart/Rowe connection combines for the third game in a row. We win 2-0.
Wednesday 14th February, Conference, Fylde.
It a homecoming for Danny Rowe, and he gets a rousing reception as he comes out to warmup. We change the team a little, switching full backs and midfielders. The Burkart/Rowe connection continutes up front.
Joe Rothwell puts us ahead before Danny Rowe scores his 8th goal in 5 games. I make more substitutions and Fylde score a late consolation. We win 2-1.
Back-to-back league wins ensures we stay top, though on goal difference. Our cup exploits mean we have two games-in-hand on the chasing pack.
Saturday 17th February, FA Cup 5th Round.
We welcome Premier League side, Burnley to New Trafford for our highest-profile competitive match.
I make a really tough choice by leaving out DJ Buffonge in favour of Matty Willock and Nishan Burkart. Both players are in-form, especially Burkart, and I like the idea of playing a defensive-minded midfielder.
As you would expect, Burnley have the majority of possession. We are fortunate in that they are struggling to make inroads in the final third. Dwight McNeil is guilty of roaming into offside positions too frequently, and wasting possession.
We hae some chances, or our own, but goalkeeper Bradley James is equal to them.
We hold out for a spirted draw- and earn a pay-day replay at (happy place) Turf Moor!
Bradley James is named MoM; perhaps a testament to the progress we have made.
Join us next time, fledglings, as we play through the replay at Turf Moor and continue fighting in four competitions. Until next time.
CM01/02 Blogs 