Reunited Episode 40 | Bosman Day | @CornishZak

Hello! Welcome back after our summer hiatus!

Here’s a quick recap if you’ve been hiding under a rock, or forgot what the project was about.

The Challenge was to use only ex-Manchester United players and home-grown talent to play through the leagues and overhaul the ‘big 6’ – eventually overtaking the real Man Utd.

In Season 1, Newton Heath started life in the Northern Premier League with a team of youngsters poached from Man Utd’s in-game reserve team. We signed a few well known and not-so-well known ex-Man Utd players and got ourselves promoted to the Conference.

In Season 2, Our Conference campaign went down the wire – spearheaded by maverick forward Ravel Morrison. Unfortunately promotion wasn’t to be, and the team will remain in The Conference for Season 3. Positive news, after the £4million sale of our maverick Ravel Morrison to Stoke City, we’ll have money to spend on reinforcing the squad.

Reunited Episode 39: Season 2 Finale | @Cornishzak

Welcome back, fledglings for the final installment of the season. You may remember we’re on the back-foot in the league though with two games to play and a game in hand, our fate rests in our own hands!

Reunited Episode 38: Glassed | @CornishZak

Welcome back, fledglings. We find ourselves two points outside the Conference promotion places, with six games to play. We’ve also got an FA Trophy two-legged semi-final to Navigate through. Can we make it a season to remember?

Saturday 25^th March, Conference.

You’d think a trip to Barrow-in-Furness would be a short trip up the M6 for a Manchester-based team. You’re wrong. The A590 goes on.. and on.. and you think you’re there when you hit Ulverston, but no… then Dalton… nope, still not at the coast yet.

Anyway.

SEB is only fit enough to make the bench, so the kid continues to lead the line of our ‘Christmas tree’ formation. Ravel is serving his one-game ban, so I shift Rose out to the left, and DJ further forward.

Reunited Episode 37: Zizou’s Maverick | @Cornishzak

Welcome back, fledglings.

You may recall the ‘cliffhanger’ at the end of episode 36. Stoke had emailed with an improved offer for our maverick (and currently sulking) Ravel Morrison.

Yes, I declined to paste the line, “Newton Heath have decided to negotiate the offer” in the last episode. Cheeky.

Reunited Episode 36: Stoked | @cornishzak

Morning, fledglings.

It’s a cold Monday January morning here in Manchester. The lads had the day off after the cup exploits against Wrexham in the previous episode, so are in good spirits. I can hear the happy banter down the corridor. Our physio pops in for a chat and my mood sours immediately. Apparently we forgot to take the lads’ orthopedic memory-foam pillows to Wales, and Rav woke up on Sunday with a strained neck. Marvelous. That’s what you get for signing Premier League academy graduates.

Reunited Episode 35: Doncaster Services | @CornishZak

Welcome, fledglings!

January transfer window is on the horizon, our league form is patchy and I can’t keep Kieran Richardson fit… what could go wrong if we played through another 10 games speed style?

Assume the same 2-5-2 diamond formation; my current XI below is about the strongest I can field at the moment.

Reunited Episode 34: ‘Fine’ Form | @cornishzak

Right, fledglings. Our league form has stuttered in the past few months so time to get it back on track.

First up, some contract news, and it’s a coup! Ravel Morrison signs on for an extra year. We even manage to reduce his weekly wage from £2000 to £1600 per month, and increase his buy-out clause from £500,000 to £1.1 mill. It just goes to show how love and respect will get you!

Reunited Episode 33: Quick Fire | @CornishZak

Hello, fledglings. Welcome along.

You join us as Newton Heath occupying second place in the Conference table with 18 points after eight games. Anyone fancy a quick-fire round of games? Good!

Ten games. Assume the same formation, and the New Trafford United Trinity of Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, DJ Buffonge and Ravel Morrison at the summit. Assume rotation on the flanks and in the midfield. Assume our new GM Jed will remain a pain in my backside!

Reunited Episode 32: Deadline Day Moves | @CornishZak

Welcome back, fledglings

Our new GM, Jed Woodward (fictional cousin of Ed), calls me into his office on the eve of our next league match. I can see copies of Moneyball and Soccernomics on his desk – untouched, with spines intact.

“I’ve been looking at the player’s contracts,” he says.

“You have?” I reply.

“Yes. Rav has a small buy-out clause – £500k. With the form he’s in, we need to sort it, and quickly”.

“Do want me to call him in for a chat?” I ask.

“Gawd no. From now-on I don’t mix with players. No Sir. The General Manager looks after the off pitch, you the on-pitch. Player liaison all goes through you and Roy”.

“Leave it with me,” I say, and walk out. I don’t mix with players, I reflect. Stupid boy.

Reunited Episode 31: Season 2 Underway | @CornishZak

Welcome back, fledglings.

Saturday 13^th August, Conference.

We start our league campaign with a trip to Merseyside and Tranmere Rovers. I hand debuts to four of our new arrivals, with Kieran Richardson claiming the left wingback berth. DJ and Gibbo occupy the central midfield slots and our maverick, Ravel Morrison, heads up the midfield diamond. With SEB injured, Fagan gets a starting spot alongside the kid, D’Mani Bughail-Mellor. Other points of note, Michael Rose is benched in favor of Rodrigo Possebon, Kenny Strickland gets the right wingback spot ahead of Marnick Vermijl and Ben Williams gets the nod in goal. Assistant Roy Carroll will have to take his seat alongside me, Djordjic and Jed on the bench.