Back on Track

By: Daryl | March 9th, 2009

Managing: Newcastle
Date: March 31st 2011
Progress: 6th in Prem with 8 games to go

I took the weekend off from fake football management. Which I suppose is one of the perks of this job that real-life football managers rarely get to enjoy. I also broke my self-imposed rule of going one game at a time, mostly because the one game (second leg of a mostly-already-won cup tie against Olympiacos) was a bit dull.

I’m a little worried that the FM gods are reading my mind though. I was sitting there thinking that maybe the Olympiacos second leg would be a good chance for Alan Dzagoev to finally get a run-out and get back in my good books, so I click “continue” to learn that he’s slipped a disc in his back while weight-lifting and will be out for three months. So that was the end of that.

Dzagoev’s loss is (other underused wondkerid) Wijnaldum’s gain though. Other good news: Shay Given is back. Tim Krul gets a pat on the back for filling in, but afraid it’s back to the bench with him.

vs Olympiacos (away)

Europa League 2nd Knockout Round 2nd leg, (3-1 lead from first leg)

- – - – - – - – - -Given – - – - – - – - –
Jiranek – Rusol – Coloccini – Insomnia
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
- – - – - Mascio – - – Camacho – - – - – - – - -
Marquinhos – Wijnaldum – - – Fleck
- – - – - – - Lewandowski – - – - – -

4-2-3-1 attacking, normal defensive line, playing offside, bit of width, reasonably direct, reasonably quick passing

So, bit of squad rotation it is then. The results were abysmal. Olympiacos had all the possession and about a million attempts at goal. Our passing – if there was any – was ugly. And somehow we won 3-2 thanks to two clinical Lewandowski finishes (one slotted in the corner, one header) and a beautiful Wijnaldum chip. ‘Twas the only thing Wijnaldum did all game, but it was so good it bumped his rating from a 6.0 to a 7.5.

Mascio did himself a few favours too, with two assists and an all round quality performance. To think I nearly sold him for 4m recently….

Result: W 3-2 (6-3 on aggregate)

The draw for the quarter-finals has been made and I’ll be playing fellow black and white stripey team Udinese. They’ve also drawn the semis (which I always think is a stupid idea) and it’s either Ajax or Tottenham, should we make it that far.

vs Man City (home)

Back to the league, and a game against my nemesis. Mark Hughes and his free spending Man City. Grrr. After trying – and failing – to tactically outwit Chelsea and Liverpool, I decided to go for Man City’s kneck and see what happened. Lewandowski keeps his place after his masterclass vs Olympiacos, but I slowed down the passing a bit to try and play some keep-ball.

- – - – - – - – - -Given – - – - – - – - -
Jiranek – Rusol – Coloccini – Enrique
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - –
- – - – - Camacho – - – Skjelbred – - – - – - – - – - –
Jonas- – - – - – Diego – - – - – - Arshavin
- – - – - – - Lewandowski – - – - – -

4-2-3-1 attacking, lowish defensive line, playing offside, bit of width, reasonably short, reasonably slow passing

And it worked. We even got a few “ole”s from the Toon Army as we stroked the ball around. Key thing seems to have been reducing the attacking mentality and creative freedom of Camacho and Skjelbred. Sounds mean, but it keeps them in position and makes sure we have some shape.

Even better, it was the Man City old boys that did the damage. Diego himself had a little dribble before slipping Lewandowski through on goal in the first half, and then Arshavin arrived at the far post early in the second half to fire home a Marquinhos (on for injured Jonas) cross.

Result: W 2-0

So this week it was Mark Hughes’ turn to tear the bathroom sink of the wall. We’ve sent him the bill.

So now that top 6 is ridiculously close, with eight games to go. Take a look: