Bulldozer United
By: Daryl | January 30th, 2009
Managing: Newcastle
Date: 2nd October, 2010
Progress: 7th after 6 Prem games (but still unbeaten)
After all the ill-advised tactical tinkering, I’m sticking with an attacking 4-2-3-1 and – to borrow jayslick’s phrase – I’m going to “quit being cute and start being the bulldozer you know you should be.”
And it’s working.
Here are the match reports to prove it.
vs Spurs (home) W 3-0
This should have been a tight game but we absolutely demolished Spurs. With Pog up front, Marquinhos in the hole and Jonas and Arshavin out wide we took it to them. Marquinhos slipped one through for the Pog (see below) Arshavin played in Marquinhos and poor Jonathan Woodgate was so confused that he scored an OG. First Premier League win of the season (drew the first three) and we’re rolling. Champions League here we come.
Sadly, Marquinhos got himself injured towards the end of this game, so will have to draft in either Wijnaldum or Dzaogoev to step in as playmaker.
Europa League Group H vs Osasuna (home) W 3-1
And the steamroller continues. Hit on a little secret I think: Jonas seems to play better on the right wing, Arshavin seems to prefer the left wing. Event though he’s right footed.
Dzagoev was rubbish, but Pog notched, Skjelbred came off the bench to score and Arshavin bagged his first in black and white stripes. And what a first. Exactly the sort of goal I want us to be scoring with my short passing instructions.
There were actually too many passes on this move to get them all into one video. I’ll bet Arsene Wenger doesn’t have that problem, but nevermind. Neat triangles and a great finish:
vs West Ham (away) D 2-2
Another draw, but I was glad to get this one. Two down with ten minutes left I threw everything forward and set the bulldozer to “crush”. In the 82nd Mascio (making a rare appearance but in charge of set pieces) hit the bar with a free kick, which Lewandowski followed up and half-volleyed home. Get in. And in the 91st minutes, Skjelbred was brought down in the box by Ricardo Faty. Didn’t look that bad to me but I wasn’t going to argue. Jonas stepped up and bang, 2-2. Great for morale, surely?
Carling Cup vs QPR W 2-0
I want to win the Carling Cup. And I want to keep my momentum. So I sent pretty much a full team out (QPR are a Prem team this season after all) with the exception of The Pog, who was rested for Lewandowski and Camacho who’s tired after coming back from injury. Mascio played in Camacho’s place and got a solid 7.0. Goals from Arshavin and Saviola (off the bench for Lewandowski) were enough to seal the deal.
vs Hull (home) W 5-0
This was so one-sided it was embarrassing. I might have to send Phil Brown an apology note. Wijnaldum (playing in Marquinhos’ AMC role) scored a tap-in to get us started, and then Jonas scored four – one, two, three, four – from open play which got him a 9.8 rating, the highest I’ve ever seen. Jonas is now the Premier League’s top scorer.
One other bit of news, which possibly isn’t all that interesting. League One team Hartlepool United are now officially a Toon Army feeder club, so I’ve sent four youngsters – Sodeberg, Mwaba, Sneijder and Kadlec – on loan to see what happens.
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Comments
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Playing some liquid footie i see.
Nice.
Only if u remain consistent.
Keep motivating your lads and praising them if someone is on just a good run. It just helps.Posted from
United States
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Looks like signing Skeljbred was a good idea. Your welcome, cough cough. Also, Kadlec is a hell of a striker in the junior divisions, I can only wonder what he will be like by 22.
Posted from
United States -
I’ve got a problem in my game, where in the pre-match stuff, my assistant keeps reporting that about half of my team find it difficult to motivate themselves for a manager of my standing. Ok, I could accept this in my first year, but I am now in my third year of managing Newcastle, and have won half a dozen cups already! Do you have this problem, or know how to solve it?
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Im in my second season and have a simular problem, but its oly 2 members of my team who struggle to motivate themselves, and I dont think it makes too much difference, Van Der Vaart is struggling to find motivation but is currently on top form! Scored 3 goals in last 2 matches. Shouldn’t be too worried Alex
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Alex, I’m still having problems with motivation from a few players too. I usually tell them I expect a performance, and if they don’t perform they come out early (as in 55th if they don’t pick it up after half time) and let them sit on the bench in the next match. Usually works for me.
Daryl – Good to see Arshavin and Marquinhos producing for you! I knew they’d settle into a grove soon enough.
Posted from
United States -
This might be the first time I’ve ever seen Arshavin perform. In most of my games, he usually ends up being bought by Man City and sitting on the bench wearing shirt number 46, making about 10 appearances a season happy with his 100k or so quid a week.
Wondering whether you’re thinking of getting rid of Dzagoev. I took a look at his stats and they are promising but it seems as if in your version, he just hasn’t developed to his full potential. He’s never been consistent in your game and I think you should sell him now that he hardly gets a place in.
I’m sure there are better experienced or younger players who can be more consistent. Let me know what you think.
Posted from
Singapore -
He had a little patch last season when he was brilliant for about 6 or 7 games. And he’s still only 20 so I’m happy to be patient. In a way, it’s good that he’s not first choice anymore. I can concentrate on developing him rather than relying on him to perform.
Also, I foolishly agreed to giving CSKA Moscow 25% of his next transfer fee. Add that to the fact that the board only lets me keep 75% of transfer revenue and it’s definitely not worth selling him.
Posted from
United States -
I see. As long as he’s happy to stay, I guess that’s fine. I find that this game they don’t seem to protest as much or as often when you don’t select them as in earlier versions. Also, I feel for you regarding the sell on clause. They are the bane of my existence.
So many times you include them in the fee thinking, “Haha, you suckers, this guy will get the 2012 Ballon D’or and I’ll never sell him.”
Posted from
Singapore -
Problems for me – Signed Henri Saivet in the first season as he always turns out great on previous saves, in second season now and he is nowhere near good enough to be in the first team. He has fallen out with the Pog and is unsettled, I tried offering him out for loan and nobody wanted to bid as he is a new signing (despite being at the club for over a year) – been trying to get a feeder club to send him and the other youngsters too but my board dont feel it is necessary to have a feeder club.
:@
Posted from
United Kingdom -
heh, thats what im talking about!!!
Bulldozer U!!
Posted from
United States
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