St Albans' Greatest Ever Season

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:15 AM

St Albans’ Greatest Ever Season

So basically, I’m very proud of the season I’ve just had on LMA 07 and wanted to share it - without a doubt my greatest ever season and possibly the greatest season anyone’s ever had with St Albans City..?

That’s the reason for this one-off (but hopefully very thorough) update. A bit of background first, I started the St Albans file as long as three years ago now and have slowly been playing through the seasons whenever I‘ve had an urge to play. Sometimes taking half-a-year to do a season - sometimes taking a day or two.

My aim was to win the European Cup with the worst team in the lowest tier (I deduced that that was St Albans City in the 5th tier) in the allotted 20 seasons without using any cheats or any outside help (looking on the net for advice on players for example).

A simple theory, but maybe not a reality?

I’ll start off by giving you all the previous information - the seasons leading up to My Greatest Season. Of course, with most of these being some years ago, I can’t remember much about the actual events so can only post the stats, unfortunately.

Season 1 (06/07) - Conference

P: 46... W: 25... D: 13... L: 8... F: 89... A: 47... Pts: 88
League: 4th
National Cup: 3rd Round
----------
Manager of the Month: 1
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 1999
Promoted To League Two

So, I won the Playoffs in my first season and scored a very decent amount of goals. Now to conquer League Two - a huge step-up?

Season 2 (07/08) - League Two

P: 46... W: 22... D: 13... L: 11... F: 67... A: 45... Pts: 79
League: 5th
National Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: 1st Round
Johnstone’s Trophy: Runner Up Burnley 2-1 St Albans City
----------
Manager of the Month: 2
Manager of the Year: Yes
Performance Score: 2335
Promoted To League One

Another playoff win, a cup final, a decent National Cup run and MotY - a great second season - far eclipsing the first.

Season 3 (08/09) - League One

P: 46... W: 19... D: 12... L: 15... F: 68... A: 45... Pts: 69
League: 11th
National Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: 1st Round
Johnstone’s Trophy: 1st Round
----------
Manager of the Month: 0
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 1795

Clearly not the best of seasons but I’ve adapted to life in the 3rd tier well and have firmly established myself as a League One club with a top-half finish. Satisfactory. In fact - I had a better goal-difference (by 1) than last season but ended up with 10 points less…

Season 4 (09/10) - League One (ii)

P: 46... W: 16... D: 13... L: 17... F: 56... A: 50... Pts: 61
League: 12th
National Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: 1st Round
Johnstone’s Trophy: 1st Round
----------
Manager of the Month: 0
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 1465

Heading in the wrong direction - another top-half finish but it’s just not good enough, should be doing much better - but if I remember correctly, this was around the time when a lot was going wrong and I ended up having to sign lots of youngsters for monetary and squad-size reasons. One of the main things being my Assistant Manager giving everyone huge contracts that I couldn’t afford, so having releasing loads of players. That may have come later though.

Season 5 (10/11) - League One (iii)

P: 46... W: 23... D: 8... L: 15... F: 75... A: 57... Pts: 77
League: 6th
National Cup: 3rd Round
League Cup: 1st Round
Johnstone’s Trophy: 2nd Round
----------
Manager of the Month: 1
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 1595

Getting better and getting closer to promotion now - I think I lost in the semi-finals of the Playoffs to Nottingham Forest, don’t quote me on that though. Still progressed through at least 2 rounds of the National Cup every season. Have never done a thing in the League Cup and nothing’s happened in the Johnstone’s Trophy since I got to the final three years ago.

Season 6 (11/12) - League One (iv)

P: 46... W: 26... D: 6... L: 14... F: 81... A: 61... Pts: 84
League: 5th
National Cup: 3rd Round
League Cup: 3rd Round
Johnstone’s Trophy: 1/4 Finals
----------
Manager of the Month: 0
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 1744
Promoted To Championship

Made promotion after the 4th season in this league! Another playoff job. Can’t remember who I beat, like the others. My attack was much better, but my defence much worse. I had some solid cup runs, a solid league performance and won promotion so it’s surprising my performance score is so low and I didn’t win a single manager award.

Season 7 (12/13) - Championship

P: 46... W: 14... D: 7... L: 25... F: 38... A: 62... Pts: 49
League: 16th
National Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: 2nd Round
----------
Manager of the Month: 0
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 1304

My worst season so far - pretty much hammered but I completed my goal of staving off relegation. Not much more to say about this one.

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:16 AM

Season 8 (13/14) - Championship (ii)

P: 46... W: 17... D: 11... L: 18... F: 59... A: 65... Pts: 62
League: 12th
National Cup: 5th Round
League Cup: 2nd Round
----------
Manager of the Month: 0
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 1461

A solid performance and the improvement is there to be seen. Definitely heading in the right direction and a good National Cup run. It’s now been 3 years since I’ve managed a manager award though. Eek!

Season 9 (14/15) - Championship (iii)

P: 46... W: 28... D: 12... L: 6... F: 92... A: 34... Pts: 96
League: 4th
National Cup: 6th Round
League Cup: 3rd Round
----------
Manager of the Month: 3
Manager of the Year: Yes
Performance Score: 2058
Promoted To Premiership

This is more like it! My biggest ever points tally (still only finished 4th and had to rely on the Playoffs though) and promotion to the Promised Land. Next season should be the toughest yet - but I’m ready for it.

Season 10 (15/16) - Premiership

P: 38... W: 20... D: 7... L: 11... F: 56... A: 42... Pts: 67
League: 7th
National Cup: 6th Round
League Cup: ¼ Finals
----------
Manager of the Month: 1
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 2001

Adapted to life in the Premiership exceedingly well and even managed to force a CEFA Cup spot thanks to the domestic cup results working in my favour. Two cup quarter finals and although I’m still a long way off my dream - I’m starting to sense the possibility.

Season 11 (16/17) - Premiership (ii)

P: 38... W: 15... D: 13... L: 10... F: 58... A: 39... Pts: 58
League: 8th
National Cup: 6th Round
League Cup: 4th Round
C.E.F.A. Cup: Winner St Albans City 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
----------
Manager of the Month: 3
Manager of the Year: No
Performance Score: 2304

Well, after just sneaking in I only went and won the bloody thing after cruising to a victory in the final. My first cup win eleven seasons in. Poorer league form but I obviously qualified for the CEFA Cup again through winning it. I remember putting all my eggs in one basket though towards the end of the season - I was about 6th in the league but rested my first-team for quite a while before the end of the season knowing I’d qualify for the CEFA again if I could lift the cup. It worked as I thrashed Spurs 3-0.

Season 12 (17/18) - Premiership (iii)

P: 38... W: 18... D: 13... L: 7... F: 70... A: 38... Pts: 67
League: 3rd
National Cup: 6th Round
League Cup: 4th Round
C.E.F.A. Cup: Winner St Albans City 3-2 Liverpool
European Super Cup: Winner St Albans City 1-0 Bayern
----------
Manager of the Month: 2
Manager of the Year: Yes
Performance Score: 2480

More European glory as I hold onto the CEFA Cup in a thrilling final against yet more English opposition and also just take the Super Cup. Qualification to the European Cup was also clinched for the first time. Season 13 would be my first chance to realise my European dream. My third Manager of the Year award too.

Season 13 (18/19) - Premiership (iv)

P: 38... W: 26... D: 7... L: 5... F: 79... A: 24... Pts: 85
League: 1st
National Cup: Winner St Albans City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
League Cup: 3rd Round
European Cup: Winner St Albans City 3-1 Arsenal
European Super Cup: Winner St Albans City (p) 0-0 Arsenal
----------
Manager of the Month: 4
Manager of the Year: Yes
Performance Score: 2820

An unbelievable season - after 13 seasons I’ve managed to pick up the trophy I set out to get, plus take the Primer League & National Cup as a bonus. The only sour note is that I’m still to pick up the League Cup - but that can wait for another day. As with most of my Premier League seasons - the stats in the league would read much better, but when I think I can get away with losing a game-or-two, I’ll stick in the reserves and/or the youths to rest my main team.

Season 14 (19/20) - Premiership (v)

P: 38... W: 29... D: 5... L: 4... F: 88... A: 25... Pts: 92
League: 1st
National Cup: 6th Round
League Cup: Semi Finals
Champions Shield: Winner St Albans City 5-0 Chelsea
European Cup: ¼ Finals
European Super Cup: Winner St Albans City 1-0 Newcastle United
----------
Manager of the Month: 3
Manager of the Year: Yes
Performance Score: 2275

Another good season, but nowhere near the last - I won the league again but had to make do with the one-off match trophies. I was desperately disappointed to be knocked out of the League Cup as I really wanted it - finally. I can’t complain though, still champions of England. Oh, and nice to get a victory like that over Chelsea.

Season 15 (20/21) - Premiership (vi)

P: 38... W: 32... D: 2... L: 4... F: 92... A: 22... Pts: 98
League: 1st
National Cup: Runner Up Reading 2-1 St Albans City
League Cup: Winner St Albans City 2-0 Reading
Champions Shield: Winner St Albans City 2-1 Middlesbrough
European Cup: ¼ Finals
----------
Manager of the Month: 4
Manager of the Year: Yes
Performance Score: 2460

Another great year and I’ve finally taken the League Cup!!! I’ve managed to win everything I possibly can in England (minus the Johnstone’s Trophy - which doesn’t really count as I can’t win it anymore). Incidentally, the National Cup is the first final I’ve lost since the Johnstone’s Trophy way back in Season 2. Two seasons in the European Cup without making it past the last 8. That’s not good and will need improving.

You might now think, “Why go on? Why not move clubs and take up a new challenge?” The answer to that is that every season is a new challenge and I’ve done so much with this club I want to stick with them throughout as I’d hate to see them decline if I leave.

So I’m continuing, and the stage is set for my Greatest Ever Season - that’s winning every single trophy I’m involved in. I didn’t win a European Cup so I’m obviously not going to get the European Super Cup but I want nothing less than every other trophy. That’s 6 including MotY.

So, game on…!

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:18 AM

Code:

FRIENDLY
Spartak Nalchik 0-7 St Albans City
....................Bemenou 3
....................Woodards 11, 53, 64
....................Swinkels 27, 33
....................Connolly 43
Spartak Nalchi yellow: Coupe (43)
St Albans City yellow: Taborda (20)
MOM - Connolly

A strong performance to start off the pre-season, with
Woodards, whom I brought through the youth team 4 years
back claiming a hat-trick.

Code:

FRIENDLY
Zenit St. Petersburg 0-4 St Albans City
.........................Swinkels 24, 45, 50
.........................Walsh 73
St Albans City yellow: Diogo Andrade (22)
MOM - Swinkels

Another nice run-out, Swinkels taking home the match ball
this time.

Code:

FRIENDLY
Amkar Perm 0-4 St Albans City
...............Bemenou 14
...............Walsh 44
...............Swinkels 67
...............Hutchinson 92
Amkar Perm yellows: Grigalava (61), Dailly (71), Kornilov 
(83), Kolesnikov (89)
St Albans City yellow: Taborda (58)
MOM - Hutchinson

My pre-season tour of Russia ends with another
comprehensive victory. I'm looking forward to the start of
the season with much optimism.

Code:

CHAMPIONS SHIELD : FINAL
Reading 1-4 St Albans City
Gillett 40..Bemenou 21, 57, 63
............Swinkels 38
St Albans City MOM - Taborda

A great win. That's silverware part one of six taken care
of. It was shaky when Gillett (who's become one of the
star performers of the Premiership in recent years) pulled
a goal back but thankfully we held our nerve and Bemenou
went on to get a brace and then complete his hat-trick. A
fine performance. Both teams should also be commended for
such a clean game - not a single foul which is good to see
in a charity match.

IN DEPTH CUP FINAL STATS:

~~~~~~~~~~

CHAMPIONS SHIELD : FINAL
(Premiership) Reading 1-4 St Albans City (Premiership)
Stadium : Wembley
Attendance : 88,937
Man of the Match : J.Henry - Reading

PLAYER RATINGS

Reading-
G: Hunt 5
D: Johnston 7, Beith 7.5, Barr 6, Pattison 6.5
M: Budel 5.5 (Cywka 5.5 [81]), Henry 9.5, Kelly 6.5,
Daniel 7
A: Walker 6, Gillett 6

St Albans City-
G: Adri 5.5
D: Marcelo 6, Taborda 8, Preece 7, Diogo Andrade 7.5
M: Dann 6.5, Hutchinson 7, Beati 6
A: Bemenou 7.5, Walsh 6.5, Swinkels 6.5

POSSESSION

Overall: 49%51
Pitch: 31%40%29
Reading's third: 40%60
Central: 54%46
St Albans City's third: 58%42

OTHER STATISTICS

Shots 7:9
On Target 4:7
Corners 0:0
Offsides 2:0
Fouls 0:0
Yellow Cards 0:0
Red Cards 0:0

~~~~~~~~~~

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-2 Barnet
Bemenou 40.........Bunce 23
...................McMahon 50
Barnet yellow: Aiston (55)
St Albans City injury: Walsh (84)
MOM - Hutchinson

Not what I was expecting AT ALL. Barnet's second
Premiership season and I thought it would be a nice easy
start at home - how wrong I was! A goal either side of
half time from Barnet brought my team back down to earth.
A stern word or two in the changing rooms, but we must put
this hideous result behind us and head on.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Newcastle United 1-0 St Albans City
Carey-Bertram 24
Newcastle United yellows: Cummings (54), Carey-Bertram 
(73)
MOM - Taborda

My word. An awful start to the season. 2 losses from 2 is
shocking to say the very least. For the first two league
matches of the season I'd put my big-money signings out to
play. I rarely buy/sell big - I like to have players for
as long as they're playing well and generally decline
offers if I want to keep a player, no matter the offer -
but I thought I'd splash out this pre-season, spending big
on Adri in goal (who I won't be dropping yet), Preece in
defence and Walsh in attack. I'd also brought some fringe
players in that had improved a lot last season. After this
loss though, I decided it was time to revert to type -
bench the new team players and bring back the players who
have made me successful over recent years, even if they
aren't as good on paper. Whooo - I haven't written that
much in a single paragraph since school.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Everton P-P St Albans City

Not entirely sure why this one was postponed...

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-0 Chelsea
Rigoni 74
MOM - Taborda

We left it late but the big switch-around worked and we're
back to winning ways. First competitive clean-sheet of the
season.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-1 Arsenal
Swinkels 72........Poole 88
St Albans City yellow: Connolly (43)
Arsenal red: Clist (65)
MOM - Taborda

I thought I'd snuck another late victory only for Poole to
break our hearts right at the death. Only 4 points from 4
games. Not too chipper.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : GROUP PHASE
St Albans City 3-1 Bilbao
Zimmermann 15......Cobas 84
Swinkels 61, 70
St Albans City yellows: Walsh (80), Marcelo (82)
Bilbao yellow: Beith (2)
St Albans City injury: Rigoni (1)
MOM - Connolly

A great start to my European campaign, beating Bilbao
comfortably. The early injury certainly didn't put us off
the match.

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:20 AM

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Fulham 1-2 St Albans City
Berkeley 3.Rigoni 18
...........Swinkels 58
Fulham yellow: Chisholm (6)
St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (20)
MOM - Rigoni

A nervy result but we picked up maximum points. Let's hope
I can build on this and climb up the table.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 4-0 West Ham United
Connolly 10
Bemenou 21, 66
Swinkels 42
St Albans City yellows: Hendriks (28), Bemenou (55)
West Ham United yellow: Basar (9)
MOM - Miguel

This is more like it - wrapped up by half-time. Very
pleased with the victory, and three wins in a row.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : GROUP PHASE
AEK Athens 0-7 St Albans City
...............Rigoni 6, 76
...............Swinkels 35, 73, 85
...............Bemenou 56, 91
AEK Athens yellows: Kiriakidis (56), Miles (84)
St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (62)
AEK Athens red: Kiriakidis (64)
MOM - Swinkels

The red card didn't help matters for Athens. They'd kept
us to just three goals before that point, but then we
decided to riot and a triple and MOM for Swinkels
completes a great day out. The second round's on the
horizon.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP : POSTPONEMENTS
Everton P-P St Albans City

Due to European Cup match.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Portsmouth 0-1 St Albans City
...............Swinkels 47
MOM - Taborda

A quiet 1-0 victory is welcome any day. Maybe not the
nerves that come with it though.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP : POSTPONEMENTS
Everton 1-2..St Albans City
Blackstock 4.Swinkels 8, 69
Everton yellows: Vidarsson (11), Colbeck (23), Blackstock 
(54)
St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (56)
Everton red: Colbeck (46)
MOM - Beati

Finally got this game played at the third attempt.
Swinkels cancelled out the early goal... early - then went
on to wrap it up in the second half. My stand-out scorer
of last season is starting to come to the fore again.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Liverpool 0-4 St Albans City
..............Bemenou 29
..............Rigoni 61, 74
..............Swinkels 82
Liverpool yellows: Coupe (20), Huddlestone (87)
St Albans City yellows: Taborda (1), Marcelo (77)
Liverpool red: Bardsley (7)
Liverpool injury: Charles (1)
St Albans City injuries: Hendriks (20), Bemenou (87)
St Albans City MOM - Rigoni

A great victory helped very much so by the early dismissal
of Bardsley. A soured victory though with the two injuries
- especially the Bemenou one. Luckily it was only a minor
one so it didn't matter so much.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : GROUP PHASE
Benfica 0-3 St Albans City
............Ze To (og) 3
............Rigoni 60
............Bemenou 85
Benfica yellows: Vitor Hugo (1), Ze To (56), Edu Garcia 
(65)
Benfica red: Vitor Hugo (43)
Benfica injury: Machado (69)
St Albans City injury: Swinkels (43)
MOM - Dann

European Cup football at the turn of the year is all-but
secured. I want to actually secure it though so my
full-strength side will still be put out in the return
fixture.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-0 Manchester United
Swinkels 53
Manchester United yellows: Bolland (17), Celso (49), 
Fernandez (52)
Manchester United reds: Bolland (25), Fernandez (80)
MOM - Diogo Andrade

Swinkels recovers from a knock (he seems to get injured
way too much - but when he plays he rarely misses the
target so it evens itself out) to down Man United. Nice to
see the Red Devils getting two men dismissed. There is
some justice in the world!

Code:

LEAGUE CUP : 3RD ROUND
St Albans City 5-0 Swindon Town
Woodards 16, 37
Walsh 26, 41, 75
St Albans City yellow: Zimmermann (55)
Swindon Town yellow: Livesey (44)
St Albans City missed pen: Walsh (23)
MOM - Walsh

A second-string side sweeps aside Swindon (try saying that
over-and-over). Walsh grabs a hat-trick but the £80k a
week man can't seem to do much against better opposition.

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:21 AM

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Leeds United 0-5 St Albans City
.................Bemenou 6
.................Beati 14
.................Swinkels 19, 39, 44
Leeds United yellows: Ettori (44), Tait (46), Hinds (81)
St Albans City yellows: Marcelo (8), Hendriks (86)
St Albans City injury: Dann (46)
MOM - Swinkels

It's time for the first-string side to record a 5-0
victory. Swinkels is still on glorious form and if he
continues playing like this, we're going to do well.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : GROUP PHASE
St Albans City 2-0 Benfica
Swinkels 65
Rigoni 89
St Albans City yellow: Taborda (8)
Benfica yellows: Joao Vitor (20), Alhandra (68), Alcides 
(88)
St Albans City injury: Connolly (88)
MOM - Penford

Qualification secured and my first-team will rest for the
last two matches. Next year seems far away but I'm already
looking forward to the Round of 16.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion yellows: Denisov (61), Birch (74), 
Davies (75)
St Albans City injury: Rigoni (75)
St Albans City missed pen: Swinkels (61)
MOM - Connolly

With all these matches slip-ups are bound to happen.
Swinkels missed a penalty that would have won us the match
but I don't blame him - practically every player misses
their penalties on this game.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Reading 0-1 St Albans City
............Bemenou 29
Reading yellow: Pattison (73)
St Albans City yellows: Beati (18), Hendriks (23), Penford 
(60)
St Albans City missed pen: Swinkels (73)
MOM - Marcelo

Back to winning ways as Swinkels fails from the spot once
more. The Premiership's definitely there for the taking
after my poor early form.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : GROUP PHASE
Bilbao 2-1...St Albans City
Collantes 20.Woodards 43
Vela 80
Bilbao yellows: Edu Alonso (42), Mendoza (74)
St Albans City yellow: Diogo Andrade (30)
St Albans City MOM - Hutchinson

First loss for a while but it doesn't matter. At least my
first team get a well-deserved rest.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 4-0 Manchester City
Penford 3
Bemenou 37, 71
Rigoni 60
St Albans City yellow: Dann (50)
Manchester City yellow: Lindegaard (42)
MOM - Taborda

Back to the first team and a very comfortable victory with
my ex-youth Penford coming up with the early goal that set
us on the way. Penford is literally my best signing ever
for value-for-money. I obviously signed him for nothing
and 8 years ago when I was well down the leagues he signed
his professional contract for just a few hundred a week.
Now he's in my first squad and helping me win trophies and
he's my second lowest-paid player on just £840 per-week.
Poor sod - especially when I have an £80k player not even
warming the bench a lot of the time.

Code:

LEAGUE CUP : 4TH ROUND
Manchester United 0-4 St Albans City
......................Swinkels 4, 56
......................Rigoni 49
......................Bemenou 70
Manchester United yellow: Keogh (51)
St Albans City yellow: Taborda (22)
Manchester United red: Machado (33)
St Albans City missed pen: Swinkels (33)
MOM - Penford

Two Manchester Teams. Four Days. Eight Goals. A stroll in
the park this one and the League Cup's getting a step
closer.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Bolton Wanderers 0-3 St Albans City
.....................Rigoni 38
.....................Swinkels 68 (pen.), 76
Bolton Wanderers yellow: Rogers (8)
St Albans City yellow: Penford (3)
Bolton Wanderers reds: Rogers (44), Potter (68)
MOM - Rigoni

Bolton being down to 9 men helped to wrap up the game but
we were already leading before that. Another couple of
goals for Swinkels and one was actually a penalty!

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : GROUP PHASE
St Albans City 2-1 AEK Athens
Woodards 36, 65....Koejoe 32
St Albans City yellow: Preece (32)
AEK Athens yellow: Miles (26)
St Albans City missed pen: Woodards (26)
AEK Athens missed pen: Hetemaj (32)
MOM - Reed

It's nice when your reserves get a win. Woodards seems to
be scoring whenever he's playing so he may find himself in
the first team soon enough, but it's good to know I have a
decent player that can come in whenever I need him and
hopefully do the job.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Barnet 0-1 St Albans City
...........Bemenou 86
Barnet yellow: Rogers (85)
St Albans City yellow: Penford (71)
St Albans City injury: Swinkels (85)
St Albans City MOM (shared) - Adri/Connolly

Barnet nearly foiled me again but Bemenou broke their
hearts with four minutes to go. Revenge is sweet!

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:22 AM

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-0 Newcastle United
Woodards 22
St Albans City yellow: Taborda (85)
Newcastle United yellows: Mendoza (78), Hamill (80)
St Albans City missed pen: Bemenou (52)
MOM - Taborda

Woodards has indeed found his way into the team after
Swinkels' injury, and scored the winner midway through the
first half. Swinkels is laid-off for a few months - we'll
miss his goals.

Code:

LEAGUE CUP : 1/4 FINALS
Middlesbrough 0-3 St Albans City
..................Rigoni 44
..................Woodards 56
..................Beati 90
Middlesbrough yellow: Davison (32)
Middlesbrough injury: Commons (28)
St Albans City missed pen: Bemenou (64)
MOM - Dann

Another round of the League Cup down and we're looking
impressive. We dominated the full game with 'Boro failing
to even have a shot on target. It took a while for the
breakthrough though.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Norwich City 1-3 St Albans City
Hall 37..........Woodards 5
.................Rigoni 8
.................Connolly 42
St Albans City yellow: Beati (69)
MOM - Connolly

It looked like a simple task 8 minutes in but Norwich made
a game of it, Connolly quelled our fears instantly though
and we saw out the game in the second half.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Bemenou 3..........Barnes 32
Rigoni 54
St Albans City yellow: Taborda (40)
St Albans City red: Taborda (86)
St Albans City MOM - Penford

A tough one. It's Christmas time and the fitness levels
are starting to show. If we stay in every competition,
it'll be a while before everyone's back to 100% fitness -
I've just got to hope the boys can cope with the heavy
workload.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Coventry City 1-1 St Albans City
Young 22..........Rigoni 68
Coventry City yellows: Sullivan (7), Cureton (44)
Coventry City red: Sullivan (29)
St Albans City injury: Woodards (7)
MOM - Preece

Should have done much better. Coventry down to 10 men for
most of the game but we could only squeeze out a draw.
Still: another point picked up is another point towards
the championship.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 3-1 Derby County
Rigoni 17, 89......Coutts 75
O'Neill 27
St Albans City MOM (shared) - Taborda/Rigoni

Coutts gave us a nervy last fifteen minutes after
controlling the game throughout but Rigoni wrapped it up at
the death.

Code:

NATIONAL CUP : 3RD ROUND
St Albans City 1-0 Wolves
Woodards 65
St Albans City yellows: Hendriks (11), Penford (41)
Wolves yellow: Torpey (63)
St Albans City red: Hendriks (87)
MOM - Penford

Way too close for my liking. We dominated the game but
could only find the back of the net once in 15 attempts. I
could have done without Hendriks's double-yellow but this
keeps up my record of always progressing through at least
one match of the National Cup.

Code:

LEAGUE CUP : SEMI FINALS LEG 1
St Albans City 2-0 Charlton Athletic
Swinkels 6
Bemenou 91
Charlton Athletic yellows: Antonazzo (1), Nash (33)
Charlton Athletic reds: Myftari (4), Antonazzo (31), Atkin 
(79)
St Albans City missed pen: Swinkels (33)
MOM - Connolly

I was desperately disappointed to be only 1-0 up against a
Championship side down to 8-men with an away leg to come,
so I was slightly more relieved with Bemenou's injury time
goal. The final's almost here.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Arsenal 0-0 St Albans City
St Albans City yellows: Marcelo (3), Hendriks (17), Beati 
(49)
St Albans City red: Marcelo (13)
Arsenal injury: Ferdinand (3)
St Albans City MOM (shared) - 
Taborda/Dann/Connolly/Zimmermann

With going a man down at the Emirates after just 13
minutes, I was thrilled with a point from this encounter.
Robbie Ferdinand's early injury was more-than-welcome as
he's screwed me over a few times in the past and is still
Arsenal's most prolific scorer.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-2 Fulham
Beati 51...........Cuthbert 48
...................Spencer 86
St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (18)
Fulham yellows: Chisholm (9), Bradley (40)
Fulham injury: Berkeley (44)
St Albans City MOM - Connolly

Yes, well, this was a bit of a downer. The league points
are slowly dropping and Manchester United are chipping
away at our lead. I was hoping I'd have the league wrapped
up with 4 or 5 matches to go but that possibility is
going. If I'm to win everything, I'm going to have to do
it the hard way - and my players are going to have to play
out of their skins.

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:28 AM

Code:

NATIONAL CUP : 4TH ROUND
St Albans City 5-0 West Ham United
Bemenou 19, 22
Swinkels 26, 40 (pen.)
Rigoni 66
West Ham United yellows: Kamara (40), Miguel (54)
MOM - Rigoni

Back on form and that's my second drubbing of the Hammers
after the earlier 4-0 league win. They must be getting
sick of the sight of my SAC (St Albans City, that is) as
all three strikers get on the score-sheet.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
West Ham United P-P St Albans City

Due to the League Cup semi-final.

Code:

LEAGUE CUP: SEMI FINALS LEG 2
Charlton Athletic (1) 1-5 (7) St Albans City
Barry 89......................Connolly 25
..............................Swinkels 29, 68
..............................Woodards 39, 65
Charlton Athletic yellows: Antonazzo (11), Myftari (46), 
Atkin (84)
St Albans City injuries: Rigoni (38), Bemenou (84)
St Albans City missed pen: Swinkels (47)
MOM - Connolly

No angst this time. We beat the same team 5-1 with 11-men
that we could only just manage a victory over with 8! In
the end, a simple trip to the final but my men are
starting to drop like flies - their low fitness levels are
showing as the injuries just keep on coming. I'm just
praying I can keep Swinkels fit.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 4-0 Portsmouth
Swinkels 49 (pen.), 64, 88
O'Neill 83
Portsmouth yellow: Beardsmore (49)
St Albans City injuries: Hendriks (56), Woodards (59)
MOM - Swinkels

Swinkels picks up a sweet hat-trick and man of the match
but another two players pick up injuries - with my League
Cup final and European/National Cup matches coming up
shortly - I'm starting to worry...

Code:

PREMIERSHIP : POSTPONEMENTS
West Ham United 1-2 St Albans City
Miguel 78...........Swinkels 27
....................Connolly 46
West Ham United yellow: Quigley (80)
St Albans City yellow: Taborda (82)
West Ham United injury: Basar (9)
St Albans City injury: Swinkels (80)
MOM - Penford

Well, that's it - Swinkels is injured for a while and will
miss my next 5 matches which includes the League Cup
final, a European match and a National Cup match. At least
I won the game, I guess - it was a trickier one than our
other encounters.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Bemenou 29.........Henshaw 61
St Albans City yellow: Diogo Andrade (46)
Bolton Wanderers yellows: Sissons (43), Rogers (76)
St Albans City injury: Bemenou (43)
MOM - Marcelo

With Bemenou's injury I'm going to have to recall El-Abd
from his loan spell at Hearts. I have 10 strikers. Can you
believe my first 5 choice are currently injured? Crazy
stuff. 2 points dropped here.

Code:

NATIONAL CUP : 5TH ROUND
St Albans City 9-1..................Millwall
O'Neill 7, 19, 39 (pen.), 66 (pen.).Ashton 68
Muirhead 33, 73, 92
Barker 50
Taborda 84
St Albans City yellow: Marcelo (79)
Millwall yellows: Corbett (14), Newey (39)
Millwall reds: Corden (18), Corbett (65)
St Albans City injury: El-Abd (47)
MOM - Taborda

A fantastic win and O'Neill bags 4 goals, with Muirhead
getting a hat-trick and even Barker chipping in (they're
three of my poorer attackers - although they're still
rated 8, 7.5 & 7.5 respectively). El-Abd is injured as
soon as he's recalled. Back to O'Neill - it's a curious
case that I'm sure's happened to others too. He doesn't
just play for me - he plays for Huddersfield Town too. I
brought him through the youth ranks a while back and ever
since he's been playing two seasons at once. Which means
he ages twice as quick, heals twice as quick, goes through
contracts twice as quick and so on. I also can't get rid
of him - if I sell him to another club he moves there but
stays with me as well. Not to worry though, he's scored
some important goals for me. Anyway - back to the season
and it's onto Europe...

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : 2ND ROUND LEG 1
Gueugnon 2-2 St Albans City
Brando 52....Reed 8
Bochu 72.....Bemenou 81
Gueugnon yellows: Garay (23), Marin (74)
St Albans City yellows: Penford (54), Taborda (77)
St Albans City MOM (shared): Dann/Muirhead

An easy game on paper maybe but it was looking like I was
going to lose this one for a few minutes there. Still a
lot to do in the second leg.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Manchester City P-P St Albans City

Due to League Cup final.

Code:

LEAGUE CUP : FINAL
St Albans City 3-2 Reading
Bemenou 3..........Gillett 42, 73
El-Abd 27, 52
St Albans City yellows: Diogo Andrade (28), Connolly (58)
Reading yellow: Avci (8)
St Albans City red: Diogo Andrade (49)
St Albans City injury: Rigoni (14)
Reading injury: Cywka (49)
St Albans City MOM - Connolly

The fourth domestic cup final (including Champions Shield)
in a row that's been contested by these two teams and I'd
say this was the best one so far. Plenty of goals, plenty
of incidents and plenty of nerves. All that matters in the
end though is that that's 2 down and 4 to go! It looked
like I had it wrapped up early on after the substitute
El-Abd scored our second, but Reading - and Gillett in
particular - just wouldn't give up. It looked like El-Abd
had sealed it again straight after we were reduced to
10-men but they came back strong and I'll never know how
we clung onto the lead. We did though, and a great result.

IN DEPTH CUP FINAL STATS:

~~~~~~~~~~

LEAGUE CUP : FINAL

(Premiership) St Albans City 3-2 Reading (Premiership)
Stadium : Wembley
Attendance : 88,493
Man of the Match : M.Gillett - Reading

PLAYER RATINGS

St Albans City-
G: Adri 6.5
D: Marcelo 6.5, Penford 7, Taborda 7, Diogo Andrade 5
*(Preece 6 [49])
M: Dann 6.5, Connolly 8, Beati 6.5
A: Bemenou 6.5, Rigoni 5.5 (El-Abd 7.5 [14]), O'Neill 6*

Reading-
G: Hunt 6
D: Avci 6, Richards 6.5, Barr 6 (Schmidt 6 [77]), Pattison
6
M: Kelly 7, Daniel 7.5, Cywka 7*, Henry 7.5
A: Cutolo 8, Gillett 8.5 *(Cristodulopulos 5 [49])

POSSESSION

Overall: 47%53
Pitch: 33%36%31
St Albans City's third: 46%54
Central: 43%57
Reading's third: 57%43

OTHER STATISTICS

Shots 10:11
On Target 6:9
Corners 1:3
Offsides 0:0
Fouls 5:2
Yellow Cards 2:1
Red Cards 1:0

ROAD TO THE FINAL

3rd Round:
St Albans City 5-0 Swindon Town
Wolves 0-2 Reading
4th Round:
Manchester United 0-4 St Albans City
Liverpool 0-0 (p) Reading
1/4 Finals
Middlesbrough 0-3 St Albans City
Reading 4-0 Chelsea
Semi Finals (aggregate)
Charlton Athletic 1-7 St Albans City
Derby County 1-4 Reading
Aggregate League Cup Score
St Albans City 22-3
Reading 12-4

~~~~~~~~~~

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:33 AM

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-1 Everton
El-Abd 48..........Blackstock 73
Everton yellows: Celso (35), Walker (84)
MOM - Penford

A disappointing draw after taking the lead in the
second-half. El-Abd still on the score-sheet. El-Abd's my
longest-serving player and perhaps brought me the most
glory. He's been the club/division/country top-scorer on a
fair few occasions and has helped me to win a lot. I was
umming and ahhing about signing him from the youth team 12
seasons ago and finally decided to on the last possible
day. I was just about to click End Season but decided to
take a punt on him and boy did it pay off. He's still
winning me silverware now despite barely playing, as you
saw in the previous match. Back to the season now after
that history lesson...

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : 2ND ROUND LEG 2
St Albans City (5) 3-0 (2) Gueugnon
Swinkels 11, 90
Connolly 78
St Albans City yellow: Marcelo (31)
Gueugnon yellow: Chabaud (1)
Gueugnon missed pen: Soumare (31)
MOM - Connolly

An easier tie this time round as we comfortably take a 3-0
victory and progress to the last 8. It was squeaky bum
time when they got their penalty but after missing it I
was quietly confident that they wouldn't be able to score
2 unreplied goals. Swinkels got a brace on his return from
injury to show just how important he is.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Chelsea 0-6 St Albans City
............Reed 4
............Bemenou 23, 72
............Taborda 36
............Woodards 65, 87
Chelsea yellows: Ellender (1), Djourou (65)
St Albans City yellow: Preece (53)
MOM - Dann

These aren't the type of results that happen very often
(especially against this quality of opposition) and you
have to savour them when they do. It was an impressive
performance all round and one that I'm very proud of. 15
shots on target!

Code:

PREMIERSHIP : POSTPONEMENTS
Manchester City 1-3 St Albans City
McGarry 57..........Swinkels 4
....................Reed 35, 59
MOM - Reed

Always important to win your games-in-hand so it was a
relief to get through this unscathed. We don't seem to be
losing our form and the end of the season is fast
approaching so here's hoping..!

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-3 Norwich City
Connolly 10........Crofts 14 (pen.)
...................Jarvis 46
...................Abdoulaye 53
Norwich City yellows: Abdoulaye (10), Brown (16)
MOM - Connolly

Ahh, well. Erm... we probably took the early lead as a
sign of dominance and relaxed too much. My players' lack of
respect for the opposition cost us dearly and although
Reading and Arsenal have dropped off the pace, Manchester
United are still very much in the hunt.

Code:

NATIONAL CUP : 6TH ROUND
Manchester United 1-3 St Albans City
Bissett 42............Bemenou 48
......................Swinkels 66
......................Rigoni 89
Manchester United yellow: Domi (37)
St Albans City yellow: Marcelo (42)
Manchester United missed pen: Bissett (42)
MOM - Taborda

Talking of Manchester United, I've now knocked them out of
both domestic cups but this one was much more difficult.
The half-time team-talk seems to have worked as we went
from a losing position to what appeared to be a
comfortable win, which it was far from. On to the semis to
play the Championship side Aston Villa.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 St Albans City
Chabaud 67............Rigoni 35
......................Connolly 74
St Albans City yellow: Reed (50)
MOM - Penford

I thought we'd blown it when Chabaud equalised but
thankfully Connolly had the presence of mind to come up
with a handy winner.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP: 1/4 FINALS LEG 1
Sporting CP 0-2 St Albans City
................Swinkels 41, 69
Sporting CP yellow: Flavio Meireles (87)
St Albans City yellows: Taborda (25), Reed (37), Booth 
(71)
Sporting CP injuries: Boa Morte (25), Gharibian (37)
Sporting CP missed pen: Hugo Morais (38)
St Albans City MOM - Penford

I can almost reach out and touch the Last Four. After
their penalty miss we never looked back and Swinkels went
on to do what he does best.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 3-3 Coventry City
El-Abd 4...........Malcolm 17, 28, 44
Walsh 62
Swinkels 78
Coventry City yellow: Sullivan
MOM - Hutchinson

After Malcolm's first half triple it looked extremely
ominous, and although we managed to pull the match back I
was disappointed to drop the 2 points. That's 4 that
Coventry have taken from us this year.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : 1/4 FINALS LEG 2
St Albans City (6) 4-0 (0) Sporting CP
Bemenou 5
Swinkels 14 (pen.), 63, 76
St Albans City yellow: Booth (49)
Sporting CP yellow: Bessa (14)
MOM - Swinkels

I played a full side - wanted to leave no room for an
upset and the team performed admirably throughout and I'm
sure it doesn't surprise you who scored the Three. The
Last Four here we come!

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:34 AM

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Derby County 2-0 St Albans City
Boertien 19
Lamb 82
St Albans City yellows: Beati (2), Marcelo (57)
Derby County injury: Phillips (77)
MOM - Penford

I had no choice but to play a weakened midfield (which
included a defender) and it clearly went Pete Tong. I've
just got to hope the dropped points proves useful to the
fitness of my midfield in the long-run and we leave this
result behind us.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 3-1 Liverpool
Dann 12............Mullins 10
Reed 46
Swinkels 58
St Albans City yellows: Taborda (13), Hendriks (20), 
Penford (79)
Liverpool yellow: Acton (58)
St Albans City injuries: El-Abd (58), Swinkels (73)
Liverpool injury: Consigli (53)
MOM - Dann

Could have done without the injury to Swinkels that rules
him out of the first European match but a fabulous result
against Liverpool. We showed character to come back from
an early goal down to go on and comfortably win. We've
been playing two games a week (most weeks) now since
around Christmas and the schedule is achingly tough. We're
strong enough to do this thing though.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : SEMI FINALS LEG 1
St Albans City 2-2 PSV Eindhoven
O'Neill 19, 71.....Nguyen 38
...................Ent 58
St Albans City yellow: Dann (13)
St Albans City MOM - Penford

Almost a carbon copy of the Gueugnon match (if you care to
look back). An early one-nil lead, followed by a reversal,
followed by a late 2-2 equaliser. Let's hope the second
leg will be as productive as the Gueugnon one too. I have
some work to do as PSV have them vital away goals. Surely
I can't fall at this late hurdle?

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City P-P Leeds United

Due to the National Cup semis.

Code:

NATIONAL CUP : SEMI FINALS
St Albans City 2-0 Aston Villa
Woodards 68
Connolly 72
St Albans City yellow: Taborda 25
Aston Villa yellows: Bowler (1), Cahill (13), Taylor (83)
Aston Villa red: Bowler (48)
St Albans City injuries: Swinkels (5), O'Neill (67)
MOM - Preece

A very nervy result but I get through to play against...
guess who? Yes, Reading again! They squeezed through in
extra-time against Preston North End. Man, I would so much
rather have to play Preston - but at least now there's a
chance for revenge after last season's Final defeat.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : SEMI FINALS LEG 2
PSV Eindhoven (4) 2-4 (6) St Albans City
Kilic 31..................Woodards 13
Heerkens 50...............Preece 28
..........................Bemenou 44
..........................Ent (og) 47
St Albans City yellows: Hendriks (60), Taborda (77)
St Albans City MOM (shared) - Preece/Woodards

Another Final and my Greatest Ever Season is still very
much on. Kilic gave me a scare after half-an-hour but it
was a very satisfactory night all-said. I go on to play
Bochum of Germany. They're flirting with relegation in the
German league but in a one-off match anything can happen.
I will be taking absolutely nothing for granted. Oh, and
Ent's own-goal was a slice into his own net trying to
clear - always comical to see.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
West Bromwich Albion 1-4 St Albans City
McGoldrick 81............Woodards 39, 41
.........................Swinkels 62 (pen.)
.........................Preece 70
West Bromwich Albion yellows: Denisov (50), Birch (59), 
Buxton (68)
St Albans City yellow: Marcelo (81)
MOM - Woodards

I hate conceding unneeded goals but I guess if you're
going to it may as well be when you're 4-0 up. Another
three points but United are still in with a chance.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP : POSTPONEMENTS
St Albans City 1-1 Leeds United
Walsh 94...........Zakuani 23
St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (22)
Leeds United yellow: Corcoran (5)
St Albans City MOM (shared) - Dann/Connolly

Poor, poor Leeds. Haha. Could be an important point as I
now sit 4 points in front of Man United with just two
games left - and we play them last! Could it go down to
the wire? I hope not.

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
St Albans City 1-0 Reading
Woodards 81
St Albans City yellow: Beati (88)
Reading yellows: Johnston (2), Barr (22)
St Albans City missed pen: O'Neill (23)
MOM - Taborda

I was barely watching this match, because I knew as long
as Man United failed to win then St Albans City would be
crowned English Champions for a record fourth year in
succession (our goal difference is far superior - so 3
points ahead going into the final match would be
more-than-enough). They went a goal down to Fulham very
early on and that's how it stayed. Woodards did eventually
officially seal it and we're now seven points ahead with 1
game to go - 3 trophies down, 3 to go!

Omah · 02-10-2009, 01:36 AM

Code:

PREMIERSHIP
Manchester United 0-1 St Albans City
......................O'Neill 75 (pen.)
St Albans City yellow: Davis (85)
MOM - Hutchinson

The league looked so much more comfortable than it
actually was as I end up winning it by a whole ten points.
I didn't play any of the XI I was going to start with in
the finals in the squad of 16 so it was even more
satisfying to see us beat United with them barely
threatening our goal.

Code:

EUROPEAN CUP : FINAL
St Albans City 3-0 Bochum
Swinkels 18, 90
Woodards 73
St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (84)
Bochum yellows: Vrzogic (28), Dum (32), Birkenbach (42), 
Corrent (72), Karlsen (80)
MOM - Woodards

We were cosy throughout but it took us much longer than
I'd hoped for us to wrap it up. I was really pleased with
the performances from all players and I'm glad to see we
kept our discipline. The only lapse was Hendriks's late
yellow which unfortunately puts him out of the European
Super Cup next term (were we'll play none other than
READING who beat Bayern 1-0 in the C.E.F.A. Cup final).
We've had a kind draw throughout the tournament but by no
means an easy one. All that's left now is the National Cup
and the Manager of the Year. So, English and European
Champions - St Albans City - not bad at all!

IN DEPTH CUP FINAL STATS:

~~~~~~~~~~

EUROPEAN CUP : FINAL
(England) St Albans City 3-0 Bochum (Germany)
Stadium : Estadio Madrid
Attendance : 79,896
Man of the Match : S.Woodards - St Albans City

PLAYER RATINGS

St Albans City-
G: Adri 6
D: Marcelo 7.5, Penford 6, Taborda 6.5, Hendriks 6.5
M: Dann 6.5, Connolly 7, Reed 6
A: Bemenou 5.5, Woodards 7.5, Swinkels 7

Bochum-
G: Gloden 6.5
D: Vrzogic 6.5*, Birkenbach 4.5 (Corrent 5 [69]), Karlsen
6.5, Dum 6, Bayertz 5.5
M: Moretti 6.5, Klotz 6, Davd Hernandez 6.5 *(Kokocinski 6
[80])
A: Crone 7, Gorschluter 6.5

POSSESSION

Overall: 46%54
Pitch: 32%35%33
St Albans City's third: 45%55
Central: 48%52
Bochum's third: 51%49

OTHER STATISTICS

Shots 13:6
On Target 10:6
Corners 1:4
Offsides 0:1
Fouls 2:6
Yellow Cards 1:5
Red Cards 0:0

ROAD TO THE FINAL

Group Phase

Code:

...............P W D L..F..A..GD Pts
St Albans City 6 5 0 1 18..4..14..15
Bilbao.........6 4 0 2..9..6..3...12
Benfica........6 2 0 4..7..9..-2..6
AEK Athens.....6 1 0 5..5 20 -15..3
...................P W D L..F..A..GD Pts
Bochum.............6 5 0 1 13..2..11..15
Rangers............6 3 1 2 13..5..8...10
Inter Milan........6 3 1 2 11..8..3...10
Anorthosis F'gusta 6 0 0 6..1 23 -22..0

2nd Round (aggregate)
St Albans City 5-2 Gueugnon
Bochum 2-2 AC Milan (Bochum win on away goals rule)
1/4 Finals (aggregate)
St Albans City 6-0 Sporting CP
Bilbao 0-5 Bochum
Semi Finals (aggregate)
PSV Eindhoven 4-6 St Albans City
Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Bochum
Aggregate European Cup Score
St Albans City 38-10
Bochum 21-8

~~~~~~~~~~

Code:

NATIONAL CUP : FINAL
Reading 1-1.....St Albans City (St Albans City won 2-0 on 
penalties)
Walker 65.......Bemenou 9
PENALTIES:
Gillett (missed).Connolly (missed)
Walker (missed).Dann (missed)
Henry (missed)..Swinkels (scored)
Cywka (missed)..Bemenou (scored)
Reading yellow: Johnston (112)
St Albans City yellows: Hendriks (36), Dann (41), Marcelo 
(42)
Reading missed pen: Gillett (42)
MOM - Penford

One of my most nerve-wracking games ever. However silly it
may seem, I'd have been disappointed with the whole season
had I not won this match - I really wanted everything I
could possibly get. This was our 67th game of the season
and it really showed. After Bemenou's early goal we really
had nothing left and apart from a few rare chances, we
were clinging on by our teeth. We got a reprieve when
Gillett missed his first-half penalty but when Walker
slotted beyond Adri in our goal - I thought all may be
lost. I couldn't see where a St Albans goal was coming
from and it turned out I was right. Fortunately, Reading
also failed to find the net in the final 55 minutes. So to
penalties it was, and after the first 5 kicks were saved -
Mr. Reliable slotted home. Adri saved and like he had
started the scoring, Bemenou finished it and we won 2-0 on
penalties to claim the Quadruple, plus an added bonus of
the Champions Shield and I also landed the
Manager of the Year. SIX down - ZERO to go. The Greatest
Ever Season.

IN DEPTH CUP FINAL STATS:

~~~~~~~~~~

NATIONAL CUP : FINAL
(Premiership) Reading 1-1 St Albans City (Premiership)
St Albans City won 2-0 on penalties
Stadium : Wembley
Attendance : 87,218
Man of the Match : L.Penford - St Albans City

PLAYER RATINGS

Reading-
G: Hunt 7
D: Johnston 6.5, Beith 7.5, Barr 7.5, Pattison 7.5
M: Budel 6.5 (Cywka 7 [77]), Henry 7.5, Kelly 7.5, Daniel
7*
A: Walker 7, Gillett 6.5 *(Cutolo 7.5 [77])

St Albans City-
G: Adri 6
D: Marcelo 5.5, Penford 7.5, Taborda 6.5, Hendriks 6.5
M: Dann 6, Connolly 6.5, Reed 6
A: Bemenou 6, Woodards 6, Swinkels 5

POSSESSION

Overall: 56%44
Pitch: 29%35%36
Reading's third: 53%47
Central: 59%41
St Albans City's third: 60%40

OTHER STATISTICS

Shots 9:8
On Target 7:6
Corners 3:0
Offsides 1:1
Fouls 1:6
Yellow Cards 1:3
Red Cards 0:0

ROAD TO THE FINAL

3rd Round:
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Reading
St Albans City 1-0 Wolves
4th Round:
Macclesfield Town 0-1 Reading
St Albans City 5-0 West Ham United
5th Round
Derby County 1-4 Reading
St Albans City 9-1 Millwall
6th Round
Arsenal 0-1 Reading
Manchester United 1-3 St Albans City
Semi Finals
Preston North End 2-3 Reading
St Albans City 2-0 Aston Villa
Aggregate National Cup Score
Reading 13-4
St Albans City 21-3

~~~~~~~~~~

02-10-2009, 01:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Omah Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 127	St Albans' Greatest Ever Season St Albans’ Greatest Ever Season So basically, I’m very proud of the season I’ve just had on LMA 07 and wanted to share it - without a doubt my greatest ever season and possibly the greatest season anyone’s ever had with St Albans City..? That’s the reason for this one-off (but hopefully very thorough) update. A bit of background first, I started the St Albans file as long as three years ago now and have slowly been playing through the seasons whenever I‘ve had an urge to play. Sometimes taking half-a-year to do a season - sometimes taking a day or two. My aim was to win the European Cup with the worst team in the lowest tier (I deduced that that was St Albans City in the 5th tier) in the allotted 20 seasons without using any cheats or any outside help (looking on the net for advice on players for example). A simple theory, but maybe not a reality? I’ll start off by giving you all the previous information - the seasons leading up to My Greatest Season. Of course, with most of these being some years ago, I can’t remember much about the actual events so can only post the stats, unfortunately. Season 1 (06/07) - Conference P: 46... W: 25... D: 13... L: 8... F: 89... A: 47... Pts: 88 League: 4th National Cup: 3rd Round ---------- Manager of the Month: 1 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 1999 Promoted To League Two So, I won the Playoffs in my first season and scored a very decent amount of goals. Now to conquer League Two - a huge step-up? Season 2 (07/08) - League Two P: 46... W: 22... D: 13... L: 11... F: 67... A: 45... Pts: 79 League: 5th National Cup: 4th Round League Cup: 1st Round Johnstone’s Trophy: Runner Up Burnley 2-1 St Albans City ---------- Manager of the Month: 2 Manager of the Year: Yes Performance Score: 2335 Promoted To League One Another playoff win, a cup final, a decent National Cup run and MotY - a great second season - far eclipsing the first. Season 3 (08/09) - League One P: 46... W: 19... D: 12... L: 15... F: 68... A: 45... Pts: 69 League: 11th National Cup: 4th Round League Cup: 1st Round Johnstone’s Trophy: 1st Round ---------- Manager of the Month: 0 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 1795 Clearly not the best of seasons but I’ve adapted to life in the 3rd tier well and have firmly established myself as a League One club with a top-half finish. Satisfactory. In fact - I had a better goal-difference (by 1) than last season but ended up with 10 points less… Season 4 (09/10) - League One (ii) P: 46... W: 16... D: 13... L: 17... F: 56... A: 50... Pts: 61 League: 12th National Cup: 4th Round League Cup: 1st Round Johnstone’s Trophy: 1st Round ---------- Manager of the Month: 0 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 1465 Heading in the wrong direction - another top-half finish but it’s just not good enough, should be doing much better - but if I remember correctly, this was around the time when a lot was going wrong and I ended up having to sign lots of youngsters for monetary and squad-size reasons. One of the main things being my Assistant Manager giving everyone huge contracts that I couldn’t afford, so having releasing loads of players. That may have come later though. Season 5 (10/11) - League One (iii) P: 46... W: 23... D: 8... L: 15... F: 75... A: 57... Pts: 77 League: 6th National Cup: 3rd Round League Cup: 1st Round Johnstone’s Trophy: 2nd Round ---------- Manager of the Month: 1 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 1595 Getting better and getting closer to promotion now - I think I lost in the semi-finals of the Playoffs to Nottingham Forest, don’t quote me on that though. Still progressed through at least 2 rounds of the National Cup every season. Have never done a thing in the League Cup and nothing’s happened in the Johnstone’s Trophy since I got to the final three years ago. Season 6 (11/12) - League One (iv) P: 46... W: 26... D: 6... L: 14... F: 81... A: 61... Pts: 84 League: 5th National Cup: 3rd Round League Cup: 3rd Round Johnstone’s Trophy: 1/4 Finals ---------- Manager of the Month: 0 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 1744 Promoted To Championship Made promotion after the 4th season in this league! Another playoff job. Can’t remember who I beat, like the others. My attack was much better, but my defence much worse. I had some solid cup runs, a solid league performance and won promotion so it’s surprising my performance score is so low and I didn’t win a single manager award. Season 7 (12/13) - Championship P: 46... W: 14... D: 7... L: 25... F: 38... A: 62... Pts: 49 League: 16th National Cup: 4th Round League Cup: 2nd Round ---------- Manager of the Month: 0 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 1304 My worst season so far - pretty much hammered but I completed my goal of staving off relegation. Not much more to say about this one.

02-10-2009, 01:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
Omah Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 127	Code: FRIENDLY Spartak Nalchik 0-7 St Albans City ....................Bemenou 3 ....................Woodards 11, 53, 64 ....................Swinkels 27, 33 ....................Connolly 43 Spartak Nalchi yellow: Coupe (43) St Albans City yellow: Taborda (20) MOM - Connolly A strong performance to start off the pre-season, with Woodards, whom I brought through the youth team 4 years back claiming a hat-trick. Code: FRIENDLY Zenit St. Petersburg 0-4 St Albans City .........................Swinkels 24, 45, 50 .........................Walsh 73 St Albans City yellow: Diogo Andrade (22) MOM - Swinkels Another nice run-out, Swinkels taking home the match ball this time. Code: FRIENDLY Amkar Perm 0-4 St Albans City ...............Bemenou 14 ...............Walsh 44 ...............Swinkels 67 ...............Hutchinson 92 Amkar Perm yellows: Grigalava (61), Dailly (71), Kornilov (83), Kolesnikov (89) St Albans City yellow: Taborda (58) MOM - Hutchinson My pre-season tour of Russia ends with another comprehensive victory. I'm looking forward to the start of the season with much optimism. Code: CHAMPIONS SHIELD : FINAL Reading 1-4 St Albans City Gillett 40..Bemenou 21, 57, 63 ............Swinkels 38 St Albans City MOM - Taborda A great win. That's silverware part one of six taken care of. It was shaky when Gillett (who's become one of the star performers of the Premiership in recent years) pulled a goal back but thankfully we held our nerve and Bemenou went on to get a brace and then complete his hat-trick. A fine performance. Both teams should also be commended for such a clean game - not a single foul which is good to see in a charity match. IN DEPTH CUP FINAL STATS: ~~~~~~~~~~ CHAMPIONS SHIELD : FINAL (Premiership) Reading 1-4 St Albans City (Premiership) Stadium : Wembley Attendance : 88,937 Man of the Match : J.Henry - Reading PLAYER RATINGS Reading- G: Hunt 5 D: Johnston 7, Beith 7.5, Barr 6, Pattison 6.5 M: Budel 5.5 (Cywka 5.5 [81]), Henry 9.5, Kelly 6.5, Daniel 7 A: Walker 6, Gillett 6 St Albans City- G: Adri 5.5 D: Marcelo 6, Taborda 8, Preece 7, Diogo Andrade 7.5 M: Dann 6.5, Hutchinson 7, Beati 6 A: Bemenou 7.5, Walsh 6.5, Swinkels 6.5 POSSESSION Overall: 49%51 Pitch: 31%40%29 Reading's third: 40%60 Central: 54%46 St Albans City's third: 58%42 OTHER STATISTICS Shots 7:9 On Target 4:7 Corners 0:0 Offsides 2:0 Fouls 0:0 Yellow Cards 0:0 Red Cards 0:0 ~~~~~~~~~~ Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-2 Barnet Bemenou 40.........Bunce 23 ...................McMahon 50 Barnet yellow: Aiston (55) St Albans City injury: Walsh (84) MOM - Hutchinson Not what I was expecting AT ALL. Barnet's second Premiership season and I thought it would be a nice easy start at home - how wrong I was! A goal either side of half time from Barnet brought my team back down to earth. A stern word or two in the changing rooms, but we must put this hideous result behind us and head on. Code: PREMIERSHIP Newcastle United 1-0 St Albans City Carey-Bertram 24 Newcastle United yellows: Cummings (54), Carey-Bertram (73) MOM - Taborda My word. An awful start to the season. 2 losses from 2 is shocking to say the very least. For the first two league matches of the season I'd put my big-money signings out to play. I rarely buy/sell big - I like to have players for as long as they're playing well and generally decline offers if I want to keep a player, no matter the offer - but I thought I'd splash out this pre-season, spending big on Adri in goal (who I won't be dropping yet), Preece in defence and Walsh in attack. I'd also brought some fringe players in that had improved a lot last season. After this loss though, I decided it was time to revert to type - bench the new team players and bring back the players who have made me successful over recent years, even if they aren't as good on paper. Whooo - I haven't written that much in a single paragraph since school. Code: PREMIERSHIP Everton P-P St Albans City Not entirely sure why this one was postponed... Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-0 Chelsea Rigoni 74 MOM - Taborda We left it late but the big switch-around worked and we're back to winning ways. First competitive clean-sheet of the season. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-1 Arsenal Swinkels 72........Poole 88 St Albans City yellow: Connolly (43) Arsenal red: Clist (65) MOM - Taborda I thought I'd snuck another late victory only for Poole to break our hearts right at the death. Only 4 points from 4 games. Not too chipper. Code: EUROPEAN CUP : GROUP PHASE St Albans City 3-1 Bilbao Zimmermann 15......Cobas 84 Swinkels 61, 70 St Albans City yellows: Walsh (80), Marcelo (82) Bilbao yellow: Beith (2) St Albans City injury: Rigoni (1) MOM - Connolly A great start to my European campaign, beating Bilbao comfortably. The early injury certainly didn't put us off the match. Last edited by Omah; 02-10-2009 at 01:32 AM.

02-10-2009, 01:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
Omah Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 127	Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-0 Newcastle United Woodards 22 St Albans City yellow: Taborda (85) Newcastle United yellows: Mendoza (78), Hamill (80) St Albans City missed pen: Bemenou (52) MOM - Taborda Woodards has indeed found his way into the team after Swinkels' injury, and scored the winner midway through the first half. Swinkels is laid-off for a few months - we'll miss his goals. Code: LEAGUE CUP : 1/4 FINALS Middlesbrough 0-3 St Albans City ..................Rigoni 44 ..................Woodards 56 ..................Beati 90 Middlesbrough yellow: Davison (32) Middlesbrough injury: Commons (28) St Albans City missed pen: Bemenou (64) MOM - Dann Another round of the League Cup down and we're looking impressive. We dominated the full game with 'Boro failing to even have a shot on target. It took a while for the breakthrough though. Code: PREMIERSHIP Norwich City 1-3 St Albans City Hall 37..........Woodards 5 .................Rigoni 8 .................Connolly 42 St Albans City yellow: Beati (69) MOM - Connolly It looked like a simple task 8 minutes in but Norwich made a game of it, Connolly quelled our fears instantly though and we saw out the game in the second half. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur Bemenou 3..........Barnes 32 Rigoni 54 St Albans City yellow: Taborda (40) St Albans City red: Taborda (86) St Albans City MOM - Penford A tough one. It's Christmas time and the fitness levels are starting to show. If we stay in every competition, it'll be a while before everyone's back to 100% fitness - I've just got to hope the boys can cope with the heavy workload. Code: PREMIERSHIP Coventry City 1-1 St Albans City Young 22..........Rigoni 68 Coventry City yellows: Sullivan (7), Cureton (44) Coventry City red: Sullivan (29) St Albans City injury: Woodards (7) MOM - Preece Should have done much better. Coventry down to 10 men for most of the game but we could only squeeze out a draw. Still: another point picked up is another point towards the championship. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 3-1 Derby County Rigoni 17, 89......Coutts 75 O'Neill 27 St Albans City MOM (shared) - Taborda/Rigoni Coutts gave us a nervy last fifteen minutes after controlling the game throughout but Rigoni wrapped it up at the death. Code: NATIONAL CUP : 3RD ROUND St Albans City 1-0 Wolves Woodards 65 St Albans City yellows: Hendriks (11), Penford (41) Wolves yellow: Torpey (63) St Albans City red: Hendriks (87) MOM - Penford Way too close for my liking. We dominated the game but could only find the back of the net once in 15 attempts. I could have done without Hendriks's double-yellow but this keeps up my record of always progressing through at least one match of the National Cup. Code: LEAGUE CUP : SEMI FINALS LEG 1 St Albans City 2-0 Charlton Athletic Swinkels 6 Bemenou 91 Charlton Athletic yellows: Antonazzo (1), Nash (33) Charlton Athletic reds: Myftari (4), Antonazzo (31), Atkin (79) St Albans City missed pen: Swinkels (33) MOM - Connolly I was desperately disappointed to be only 1-0 up against a Championship side down to 8-men with an away leg to come, so I was slightly more relieved with Bemenou's injury time goal. The final's almost here. Code: PREMIERSHIP Arsenal 0-0 St Albans City St Albans City yellows: Marcelo (3), Hendriks (17), Beati (49) St Albans City red: Marcelo (13) Arsenal injury: Ferdinand (3) St Albans City MOM (shared) - Taborda/Dann/Connolly/Zimmermann With going a man down at the Emirates after just 13 minutes, I was thrilled with a point from this encounter. Robbie Ferdinand's early injury was more-than-welcome as he's screwed me over a few times in the past and is still Arsenal's most prolific scorer. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-2 Fulham Beati 51...........Cuthbert 48 ...................Spencer 86 St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (18) Fulham yellows: Chisholm (9), Bradley (40) Fulham injury: Berkeley (44) St Albans City MOM - Connolly Yes, well, this was a bit of a downer. The league points are slowly dropping and Manchester United are chipping away at our lead. I was hoping I'd have the league wrapped up with 4 or 5 matches to go but that possibility is going. If I'm to win everything, I'm going to have to do it the hard way - and my players are going to have to play out of their skins.

02-10-2009, 01:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
Omah Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 127	Code: NATIONAL CUP : 4TH ROUND St Albans City 5-0 West Ham United Bemenou 19, 22 Swinkels 26, 40 (pen.) Rigoni 66 West Ham United yellows: Kamara (40), Miguel (54) MOM - Rigoni Back on form and that's my second drubbing of the Hammers after the earlier 4-0 league win. They must be getting sick of the sight of my SAC (St Albans City, that is) as all three strikers get on the score-sheet. Code: PREMIERSHIP West Ham United P-P St Albans City Due to the League Cup semi-final. Code: LEAGUE CUP: SEMI FINALS LEG 2 Charlton Athletic (1) 1-5 (7) St Albans City Barry 89......................Connolly 25 ..............................Swinkels 29, 68 ..............................Woodards 39, 65 Charlton Athletic yellows: Antonazzo (11), Myftari (46), Atkin (84) St Albans City injuries: Rigoni (38), Bemenou (84) St Albans City missed pen: Swinkels (47) MOM - Connolly No angst this time. We beat the same team 5-1 with 11-men that we could only just manage a victory over with 8! In the end, a simple trip to the final but my men are starting to drop like flies - their low fitness levels are showing as the injuries just keep on coming. I'm just praying I can keep Swinkels fit. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 4-0 Portsmouth Swinkels 49 (pen.), 64, 88 O'Neill 83 Portsmouth yellow: Beardsmore (49) St Albans City injuries: Hendriks (56), Woodards (59) MOM - Swinkels Swinkels picks up a sweet hat-trick and man of the match but another two players pick up injuries - with my League Cup final and European/National Cup matches coming up shortly - I'm starting to worry... Code: PREMIERSHIP : POSTPONEMENTS West Ham United 1-2 St Albans City Miguel 78...........Swinkels 27 ....................Connolly 46 West Ham United yellow: Quigley (80) St Albans City yellow: Taborda (82) West Ham United injury: Basar (9) St Albans City injury: Swinkels (80) MOM - Penford Well, that's it - Swinkels is injured for a while and will miss my next 5 matches which includes the League Cup final, a European match and a National Cup match. At least I won the game, I guess - it was a trickier one than our other encounters. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers Bemenou 29.........Henshaw 61 St Albans City yellow: Diogo Andrade (46) Bolton Wanderers yellows: Sissons (43), Rogers (76) St Albans City injury: Bemenou (43) MOM - Marcelo With Bemenou's injury I'm going to have to recall El-Abd from his loan spell at Hearts. I have 10 strikers. Can you believe my first 5 choice are currently injured? Crazy stuff. 2 points dropped here. Code: NATIONAL CUP : 5TH ROUND St Albans City 9-1..................Millwall O'Neill 7, 19, 39 (pen.), 66 (pen.).Ashton 68 Muirhead 33, 73, 92 Barker 50 Taborda 84 St Albans City yellow: Marcelo (79) Millwall yellows: Corbett (14), Newey (39) Millwall reds: Corden (18), Corbett (65) St Albans City injury: El-Abd (47) MOM - Taborda A fantastic win and O'Neill bags 4 goals, with Muirhead getting a hat-trick and even Barker chipping in (they're three of my poorer attackers - although they're still rated 8, 7.5 & 7.5 respectively). El-Abd is injured as soon as he's recalled. Back to O'Neill - it's a curious case that I'm sure's happened to others too. He doesn't just play for me - he plays for Huddersfield Town too. I brought him through the youth ranks a while back and ever since he's been playing two seasons at once. Which means he ages twice as quick, heals twice as quick, goes through contracts twice as quick and so on. I also can't get rid of him - if I sell him to another club he moves there but stays with me as well. Not to worry though, he's scored some important goals for me. Anyway - back to the season and it's onto Europe... Code: EUROPEAN CUP : 2ND ROUND LEG 1 Gueugnon 2-2 St Albans City Brando 52....Reed 8 Bochu 72.....Bemenou 81 Gueugnon yellows: Garay (23), Marin (74) St Albans City yellows: Penford (54), Taborda (77) St Albans City MOM (shared): Dann/Muirhead An easy game on paper maybe but it was looking like I was going to lose this one for a few minutes there. Still a lot to do in the second leg. Code: PREMIERSHIP Manchester City P-P St Albans City Due to League Cup final. Code: LEAGUE CUP : FINAL St Albans City 3-2 Reading Bemenou 3..........Gillett 42, 73 El-Abd 27, 52 St Albans City yellows: Diogo Andrade (28), Connolly (58) Reading yellow: Avci (8) St Albans City red: Diogo Andrade (49) St Albans City injury: Rigoni (14) Reading injury: Cywka (49) St Albans City MOM - Connolly The fourth domestic cup final (including Champions Shield) in a row that's been contested by these two teams and I'd say this was the best one so far. Plenty of goals, plenty of incidents and plenty of nerves. All that matters in the end though is that that's 2 down and 4 to go! It looked like I had it wrapped up early on after the substitute El-Abd scored our second, but Reading - and Gillett in particular - just wouldn't give up. It looked like El-Abd had sealed it again straight after we were reduced to 10-men but they came back strong and I'll never know how we clung onto the lead. We did though, and a great result. IN DEPTH CUP FINAL STATS: ~~~~~~~~~~ LEAGUE CUP : FINAL (Premiership) St Albans City 3-2 Reading (Premiership) Stadium : Wembley Attendance : 88,493 Man of the Match : M.Gillett - Reading PLAYER RATINGS St Albans City- G: Adri 6.5 D: Marcelo 6.5, Penford 7, Taborda 7, Diogo Andrade 5 (Preece 6 [49]) M: Dann 6.5, Connolly 8, Beati 6.5 A: Bemenou 6.5, Rigoni 5.5 (El-Abd 7.5 [14]), O'Neill 6 Reading- G: Hunt 6 D: Avci 6, Richards 6.5, Barr 6 (Schmidt 6 [77]), Pattison 6 M: Kelly 7, Daniel 7.5, Cywka 7, Henry 7.5 A: Cutolo 8, Gillett 8.5 (Cristodulopulos 5 [49]) POSSESSION Overall: 47%53 Pitch: 33%36%31 St Albans City's third: 46%54 Central: 43%57 Reading's third: 57%43 OTHER STATISTICS Shots 10:11 On Target 6:9 Corners 1:3 Offsides 0:0 Fouls 5:2 Yellow Cards 2:1 Red Cards 1:0 ROAD TO THE FINAL 3rd Round: St Albans City 5-0 Swindon Town Wolves 0-2 Reading 4th Round: Manchester United 0-4 St Albans City Liverpool 0-0 (p) Reading 1/4 Finals Middlesbrough 0-3 St Albans City Reading 4-0 Chelsea Semi Finals (aggregate) Charlton Athletic 1-7 St Albans City Derby County 1-4 Reading Aggregate League Cup Score St Albans City 22-3 Reading 12-4 ~~~~~~~~~~

02-10-2009, 01:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
Omah Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 127	Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-1 Everton El-Abd 48..........Blackstock 73 Everton yellows: Celso (35), Walker (84) MOM - Penford A disappointing draw after taking the lead in the second-half. El-Abd still on the score-sheet. El-Abd's my longest-serving player and perhaps brought me the most glory. He's been the club/division/country top-scorer on a fair few occasions and has helped me to win a lot. I was umming and ahhing about signing him from the youth team 12 seasons ago and finally decided to on the last possible day. I was just about to click End Season but decided to take a punt on him and boy did it pay off. He's still winning me silverware now despite barely playing, as you saw in the previous match. Back to the season now after that history lesson... Code: EUROPEAN CUP : 2ND ROUND LEG 2 St Albans City (5) 3-0 (2) Gueugnon Swinkels 11, 90 Connolly 78 St Albans City yellow: Marcelo (31) Gueugnon yellow: Chabaud (1) Gueugnon missed pen: Soumare (31) MOM - Connolly An easier tie this time round as we comfortably take a 3-0 victory and progress to the last 8. It was squeaky bum time when they got their penalty but after missing it I was quietly confident that they wouldn't be able to score 2 unreplied goals. Swinkels got a brace on his return from injury to show just how important he is. Code: PREMIERSHIP Chelsea 0-6 St Albans City ............Reed 4 ............Bemenou 23, 72 ............Taborda 36 ............Woodards 65, 87 Chelsea yellows: Ellender (1), Djourou (65) St Albans City yellow: Preece (53) MOM - Dann These aren't the type of results that happen very often (especially against this quality of opposition) and you have to savour them when they do. It was an impressive performance all round and one that I'm very proud of. 15 shots on target! Code: PREMIERSHIP : POSTPONEMENTS Manchester City 1-3 St Albans City McGarry 57..........Swinkels 4 ....................Reed 35, 59 MOM - Reed Always important to win your games-in-hand so it was a relief to get through this unscathed. We don't seem to be losing our form and the end of the season is fast approaching so here's hoping..! Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-3 Norwich City Connolly 10........Crofts 14 (pen.) ...................Jarvis 46 ...................Abdoulaye 53 Norwich City yellows: Abdoulaye (10), Brown (16) MOM - Connolly Ahh, well. Erm... we probably took the early lead as a sign of dominance and relaxed too much. My players' lack of respect for the opposition cost us dearly and although Reading and Arsenal have dropped off the pace, Manchester United are still very much in the hunt. Code: NATIONAL CUP : 6TH ROUND Manchester United 1-3 St Albans City Bissett 42............Bemenou 48 ......................Swinkels 66 ......................Rigoni 89 Manchester United yellow: Domi (37) St Albans City yellow: Marcelo (42) Manchester United missed pen: Bissett (42) MOM - Taborda Talking of Manchester United, I've now knocked them out of both domestic cups but this one was much more difficult. The half-time team-talk seems to have worked as we went from a losing position to what appeared to be a comfortable win, which it was far from. On to the semis to play the Championship side Aston Villa. Code: PREMIERSHIP Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 St Albans City Chabaud 67............Rigoni 35 ......................Connolly 74 St Albans City yellow: Reed (50) MOM - Penford I thought we'd blown it when Chabaud equalised but thankfully Connolly had the presence of mind to come up with a handy winner. Code: EUROPEAN CUP: 1/4 FINALS LEG 1 Sporting CP 0-2 St Albans City ................Swinkels 41, 69 Sporting CP yellow: Flavio Meireles (87) St Albans City yellows: Taborda (25), Reed (37), Booth (71) Sporting CP injuries: Boa Morte (25), Gharibian (37) Sporting CP missed pen: Hugo Morais (38) St Albans City MOM - Penford I can almost reach out and touch the Last Four. After their penalty miss we never looked back and Swinkels went on to do what he does best. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 3-3 Coventry City El-Abd 4...........Malcolm 17, 28, 44 Walsh 62 Swinkels 78 Coventry City yellow: Sullivan MOM - Hutchinson After Malcolm's first half triple it looked extremely ominous, and although we managed to pull the match back I was disappointed to drop the 2 points. That's 4 that Coventry have taken from us this year. Code: EUROPEAN CUP : 1/4 FINALS LEG 2 St Albans City (6) 4-0 (0) Sporting CP Bemenou 5 Swinkels 14 (pen.), 63, 76 St Albans City yellow: Booth (49) Sporting CP yellow: Bessa (14) MOM - Swinkels I played a full side - wanted to leave no room for an upset and the team performed admirably throughout and I'm sure it doesn't surprise you who scored the Three. The Last Four here we come!

02-10-2009, 01:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Omah Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 127	Season 8 (13/14) - Championship (ii) P: 46... W: 17... D: 11... L: 18... F: 59... A: 65... Pts: 62 League: 12th National Cup: 5th Round League Cup: 2nd Round ---------- Manager of the Month: 0 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 1461 A solid performance and the improvement is there to be seen. Definitely heading in the right direction and a good National Cup run. It’s now been 3 years since I’ve managed a manager award though. Eek! Season 9 (14/15) - Championship (iii) P: 46... W: 28... D: 12... L: 6... F: 92... A: 34... Pts: 96 League: 4th National Cup: 6th Round League Cup: 3rd Round ---------- Manager of the Month: 3 Manager of the Year: Yes Performance Score: 2058 Promoted To Premiership This is more like it! My biggest ever points tally (still only finished 4th and had to rely on the Playoffs though) and promotion to the Promised Land. Next season should be the toughest yet - but I’m ready for it. Season 10 (15/16) - Premiership P: 38... W: 20... D: 7... L: 11... F: 56... A: 42... Pts: 67 League: 7th National Cup: 6th Round League Cup: ¼ Finals ---------- Manager of the Month: 1 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 2001 Adapted to life in the Premiership exceedingly well and even managed to force a CEFA Cup spot thanks to the domestic cup results working in my favour. Two cup quarter finals and although I’m still a long way off my dream - I’m starting to sense the possibility. Season 11 (16/17) - Premiership (ii) P: 38... W: 15... D: 13... L: 10... F: 58... A: 39... Pts: 58 League: 8th National Cup: 6th Round League Cup: 4th Round C.E.F.A. Cup: Winner St Albans City 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur ---------- Manager of the Month: 3 Manager of the Year: No Performance Score: 2304 Well, after just sneaking in I only went and won the bloody thing after cruising to a victory in the final. My first cup win eleven seasons in. Poorer league form but I obviously qualified for the CEFA Cup again through winning it. I remember putting all my eggs in one basket though towards the end of the season - I was about 6th in the league but rested my first-team for quite a while before the end of the season knowing I’d qualify for the CEFA again if I could lift the cup. It worked as I thrashed Spurs 3-0. Season 12 (17/18) - Premiership (iii) P: 38... W: 18... D: 13... L: 7... F: 70... A: 38... Pts: 67 League: 3rd National Cup: 6th Round League Cup: 4th Round C.E.F.A. Cup: Winner St Albans City 3-2 Liverpool European Super Cup: Winner St Albans City 1-0 Bayern ---------- Manager of the Month: 2 Manager of the Year: Yes Performance Score: 2480 More European glory as I hold onto the CEFA Cup in a thrilling final against yet more English opposition and also just take the Super Cup. Qualification to the European Cup was also clinched for the first time. Season 13 would be my first chance to realise my European dream. My third Manager of the Year award too. Season 13 (18/19) - Premiership (iv) P: 38... W: 26... D: 7... L: 5... F: 79... A: 24... Pts: 85 League: 1st National Cup: Winner St Albans City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur League Cup: 3rd Round European Cup: Winner St Albans City 3-1 Arsenal European Super Cup: Winner St Albans City (p) 0-0 Arsenal ---------- Manager of the Month: 4 Manager of the Year: Yes Performance Score: 2820 An unbelievable season - after 13 seasons I’ve managed to pick up the trophy I set out to get, plus take the Primer League & National Cup as a bonus. The only sour note is that I’m still to pick up the League Cup - but that can wait for another day. As with most of my Premier League seasons - the stats in the league would read much better, but when I think I can get away with losing a game-or-two, I’ll stick in the reserves and/or the youths to rest my main team. Season 14 (19/20) - Premiership (v) P: 38... W: 29... D: 5... L: 4... F: 88... A: 25... Pts: 92 League: 1st National Cup: 6th Round League Cup: Semi Finals Champions Shield: Winner St Albans City 5-0 Chelsea European Cup: ¼ Finals European Super Cup: Winner St Albans City 1-0 Newcastle United ---------- Manager of the Month: 3 Manager of the Year: Yes Performance Score: 2275 Another good season, but nowhere near the last - I won the league again but had to make do with the one-off match trophies. I was desperately disappointed to be knocked out of the League Cup as I really wanted it - finally. I can’t complain though, still champions of England. Oh, and nice to get a victory like that over Chelsea. Season 15 (20/21) - Premiership (vi) P: 38... W: 32... D: 2... L: 4... F: 92... A: 22... Pts: 98 League: 1st National Cup: Runner Up Reading 2-1 St Albans City League Cup: Winner St Albans City 2-0 Reading Champions Shield: Winner St Albans City 2-1 Middlesbrough European Cup: ¼ Finals ---------- Manager of the Month: 4 Manager of the Year: Yes Performance Score: 2460 Another great year and I’ve finally taken the League Cup!!! I’ve managed to win everything I possibly can in England (minus the Johnstone’s Trophy - which doesn’t really count as I can’t win it anymore). Incidentally, the National Cup is the first final I’ve lost since the Johnstone’s Trophy way back in Season 2. Two seasons in the European Cup without making it past the last 8. That’s not good and will need improving. You might now think, “Why go on? Why not move clubs and take up a new challenge?” The answer to that is that every season is a new challenge and I’ve done so much with this club I want to stick with them throughout as I’d hate to see them decline if I leave. So I’m continuing, and the stage is set for my Greatest Ever Season - that’s winning every single trophy I’m involved in. I didn’t win a European Cup so I’m obviously not going to get the European Super Cup but I want nothing less than every other trophy. That’s 6 including MotY. So, game on…!

02-10-2009, 01:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
Omah Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 127	Code: PREMIERSHIP Derby County 2-0 St Albans City Boertien 19 Lamb 82 St Albans City yellows: Beati (2), Marcelo (57) Derby County injury: Phillips (77) MOM - Penford I had no choice but to play a weakened midfield (which included a defender) and it clearly went Pete Tong. I've just got to hope the dropped points proves useful to the fitness of my midfield in the long-run and we leave this result behind us. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 3-1 Liverpool Dann 12............Mullins 10 Reed 46 Swinkels 58 St Albans City yellows: Taborda (13), Hendriks (20), Penford (79) Liverpool yellow: Acton (58) St Albans City injuries: El-Abd (58), Swinkels (73) Liverpool injury: Consigli (53) MOM - Dann Could have done without the injury to Swinkels that rules him out of the first European match but a fabulous result against Liverpool. We showed character to come back from an early goal down to go on and comfortably win. We've been playing two games a week (most weeks) now since around Christmas and the schedule is achingly tough. We're strong enough to do this thing though. Code: EUROPEAN CUP : SEMI FINALS LEG 1 St Albans City 2-2 PSV Eindhoven O'Neill 19, 71.....Nguyen 38 ...................Ent 58 St Albans City yellow: Dann (13) St Albans City MOM - Penford Almost a carbon copy of the Gueugnon match (if you care to look back). An early one-nil lead, followed by a reversal, followed by a late 2-2 equaliser. Let's hope the second leg will be as productive as the Gueugnon one too. I have some work to do as PSV have them vital away goals. Surely I can't fall at this late hurdle? Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City P-P Leeds United Due to the National Cup semis. Code: NATIONAL CUP : SEMI FINALS St Albans City 2-0 Aston Villa Woodards 68 Connolly 72 St Albans City yellow: Taborda 25 Aston Villa yellows: Bowler (1), Cahill (13), Taylor (83) Aston Villa red: Bowler (48) St Albans City injuries: Swinkels (5), O'Neill (67) MOM - Preece A very nervy result but I get through to play against... guess who? Yes, Reading again! They squeezed through in extra-time against Preston North End. Man, I would so much rather have to play Preston - but at least now there's a chance for revenge after last season's Final defeat. Code: EUROPEAN CUP : SEMI FINALS LEG 2 PSV Eindhoven (4) 2-4 (6) St Albans City Kilic 31..................Woodards 13 Heerkens 50...............Preece 28 ..........................Bemenou 44 ..........................Ent (og) 47 St Albans City yellows: Hendriks (60), Taborda (77) St Albans City MOM (shared) - Preece/Woodards Another Final and my Greatest Ever Season is still very much on. Kilic gave me a scare after half-an-hour but it was a very satisfactory night all-said. I go on to play Bochum of Germany. They're flirting with relegation in the German league but in a one-off match anything can happen. I will be taking absolutely nothing for granted. Oh, and Ent's own-goal was a slice into his own net trying to clear - always comical to see. Code: PREMIERSHIP West Bromwich Albion 1-4 St Albans City McGoldrick 81............Woodards 39, 41 .........................Swinkels 62 (pen.) .........................Preece 70 West Bromwich Albion yellows: Denisov (50), Birch (59), Buxton (68) St Albans City yellow: Marcelo (81) MOM - Woodards I hate conceding unneeded goals but I guess if you're going to it may as well be when you're 4-0 up. Another three points but United are still in with a chance. Code: PREMIERSHIP : POSTPONEMENTS St Albans City 1-1 Leeds United Walsh 94...........Zakuani 23 St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (22) Leeds United yellow: Corcoran (5) St Albans City MOM (shared) - Dann/Connolly Poor, poor Leeds. Haha. Could be an important point as I now sit 4 points in front of Man United with just two games left - and we play them last! Could it go down to the wire? I hope not. Code: PREMIERSHIP St Albans City 1-0 Reading Woodards 81 St Albans City yellow: Beati (88) Reading yellows: Johnston (2), Barr (22) St Albans City missed pen: O'Neill (23) MOM - Taborda I was barely watching this match, because I knew as long as Man United failed to win then St Albans City would be crowned English Champions for a record fourth year in succession (our goal difference is far superior - so 3 points ahead going into the final match would be more-than-enough). They went a goal down to Fulham very early on and that's how it stayed. Woodards did eventually officially seal it and we're now seven points ahead with 1 game to go - 3 trophies down, 3 to go!

02-10-2009, 01:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
Omah Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 127	Code: PREMIERSHIP Manchester United 0-1 St Albans City ......................O'Neill 75 (pen.) St Albans City yellow: Davis (85) MOM - Hutchinson The league looked so much more comfortable than it actually was as I end up winning it by a whole ten points. I didn't play any of the XI I was going to start with in the finals in the squad of 16 so it was even more satisfying to see us beat United with them barely threatening our goal. Code: EUROPEAN CUP : FINAL St Albans City 3-0 Bochum Swinkels 18, 90 Woodards 73 St Albans City yellow: Hendriks (84) Bochum yellows: Vrzogic (28), Dum (32), Birkenbach (42), Corrent (72), Karlsen (80) MOM - Woodards We were cosy throughout but it took us much longer than I'd hoped for us to wrap it up. I was really pleased with the performances from all players and I'm glad to see we kept our discipline. The only lapse was Hendriks's late yellow which unfortunately puts him out of the European Super Cup next term (were we'll play none other than READING who beat Bayern 1-0 in the C.E.F.A. Cup final). We've had a kind draw throughout the tournament but by no means an easy one. All that's left now is the National Cup and the Manager of the Year. So, English and European Champions - St Albans City - not bad at all! IN DEPTH CUP FINAL STATS: ~~~~~~~~~~ EUROPEAN CUP : FINAL (England) St Albans City 3-0 Bochum (Germany) Stadium : Estadio Madrid Attendance : 79,896 Man of the Match : S.Woodards - St Albans City PLAYER RATINGS St Albans City- G: Adri 6 D: Marcelo 7.5, Penford 6, Taborda 6.5, Hendriks 6.5 M: Dann 6.5, Connolly 7, Reed 6 A: Bemenou 5.5, Woodards 7.5, Swinkels 7 Bochum- G: Gloden 6.5 D: Vrzogic 6.5, Birkenbach 4.5 (Corrent 5 [69]), Karlsen 6.5, Dum 6, Bayertz 5.5 M: Moretti 6.5, Klotz 6, Davd Hernandez 6.5 (Kokocinski 6 [80]) A: Crone 7, Gorschluter 6.5 POSSESSION Overall: 46%54 Pitch: 32%35%33 St Albans City's third: 45%55 Central: 48%52 Bochum's third: 51%49 OTHER STATISTICS Shots 13:6 On Target 10:6 Corners 1:4 Offsides 0:1 Fouls 2:6 Yellow Cards 1:5 Red Cards 0:0 ROAD TO THE FINAL Group Phase Code: ...............P W D L..F..A..GD Pts St Albans City 6 5 0 1 18..4..14..15 Bilbao.........6 4 0 2..9..6..3...12 Benfica........6 2 0 4..7..9..-2..6 AEK Athens.....6 1 0 5..5 20 -15..3 ...................P W D L..F..A..GD Pts Bochum.............6 5 0 1 13..2..11..15 Rangers............6 3 1 2 13..5..8...10 Inter Milan........6 3 1 2 11..8..3...10 Anorthosis F'gusta 6 0 0 6..1 23 -22..0 2nd Round (aggregate) St Albans City 5-2 Gueugnon Bochum 2-2 AC Milan (Bochum win on away goals rule) 1/4 Finals (aggregate) St Albans City 6-0 Sporting CP Bilbao 0-5 Bochum Semi Finals (aggregate) PSV Eindhoven 4-6 St Albans City Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Bochum Aggregate European Cup Score St Albans City 38-10 Bochum 21-8 ~~~~~~~~~~ Code: NATIONAL CUP : FINAL Reading 1-1.....St Albans City (St Albans City won 2-0 on penalties) Walker 65.......Bemenou 9 PENALTIES: Gillett (missed).Connolly (missed) Walker (missed).Dann (missed) Henry (missed)..Swinkels (scored) Cywka (missed)..Bemenou (scored) Reading yellow: Johnston (112) St Albans City yellows: Hendriks (36), Dann (41), Marcelo (42) Reading missed pen: Gillett (42) MOM - Penford One of my most nerve-wracking games ever. However silly it may seem, I'd have been disappointed with the whole season had I not won this match - I really wanted everything I could possibly get. This was our 67th game of the season and it really showed. After Bemenou's early goal we really had nothing left and apart from a few rare chances, we were clinging on by our teeth. We got a reprieve when Gillett missed his first-half penalty but when Walker slotted beyond Adri in our goal - I thought all may be lost. I couldn't see where a St Albans goal was coming from and it turned out I was right. Fortunately, Reading also failed to find the net in the final 55 minutes. So to penalties it was, and after the first 5 kicks were saved - Mr. Reliable slotted home. Adri saved and like he had started the scoring, Bemenou finished it and we won 2-0 on penalties to claim the Quadruple, plus an added bonus of the Champions Shield and I also landed the Manager of the Year. SIX down - ZERO to go. The Greatest Ever Season. IN DEPTH CUP FINAL STATS: ~~~~~~~~~~ NATIONAL CUP : FINAL (Premiership) Reading 1-1 St Albans City (Premiership) St Albans City won 2-0 on penalties Stadium : Wembley Attendance : 87,218 Man of the Match : L.Penford - St Albans City PLAYER RATINGS Reading- G: Hunt 7 D: Johnston 6.5, Beith 7.5, Barr 7.5, Pattison 7.5 M: Budel 6.5 (Cywka 7 [77]), Henry 7.5, Kelly 7.5, Daniel 7* A: Walker 7, Gillett 6.5 (Cutolo 7.5 [77]) St Albans City- G: Adri 6 D: Marcelo 5.5, Penford 7.5, Taborda 6.5, Hendriks 6.5 M: Dann 6, Connolly 6.5, Reed 6 A: Bemenou 6, Woodards 6, Swinkels 5 POSSESSION* Overall: 56%44 Pitch: 29%35%36 Reading's third: 53%47 Central: 59%41 St Albans City's third: 60%40 OTHER STATISTICS Shots 9:8 On Target 7:6 Corners 3:0 Offsides 1:1 Fouls 1:6 Yellow Cards 1:3 Red Cards 0:0 ROAD TO THE FINAL 3rd Round: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Reading St Albans City 1-0 Wolves 4th Round: Macclesfield Town 0-1 Reading St Albans City 5-0 West Ham United 5th Round Derby County 1-4 Reading St Albans City 9-1 Millwall 6th Round Arsenal 0-1 Reading Manchester United 1-3 St Albans City Semi Finals Preston North End 2-3 Reading St Albans City 2-0 Aston Villa Aggregate National Cup Score Reading 13-4 St Albans City 21-3 ~~~~~~~~~~

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