CF+FM

I was not in a good mood today as my 9 year old recorded a faster time in my home made circiut training course. It consisted of twenty squat jumps, squat thrust's and a sprint relay back and forth ten times. It left me dying on the couch wondering how I would make it upstairs to my computer.

However, make it I did and I was willing to try something new to reverse FC's winless streak. Lancaster City was next up at Gigg Lane and were two places under us in 19th spot in the League. I had words with our right midfielder Paul Mitten regarding his form. Paul reacted to it and we are no longer on speaking terms. I have defended the boys most of the season but I now feel there are no more excuses and people must be made accountable.

I shook things up and changed formation to a 3-4-1-2 as 3-5-2 obviously was not working for us. We were mising Sykes through suspension and Coyne and Patterson to injury. Even though I was recently only 18 years of age as a player, I took over the captainancy to see if I could inspire the lads on the pitch.

Things began well as I took a free kick 40 yards from goal and identical to Gazza's wembley cup semi final goal I simply smashed it in. As usual we failed to keep the lead and conceeded to a Watkin's header from our right hand side. I was up for this game and could feel it in my waters that there was nothing I could not do. Picking the bal up outside of Lancaster's box, I skipped past a challange and launched a 20 yarder into the bottom corner. Everyone knows what happened next as yet again we fail to keep a lead and curse our luck as Bob Taylor hit a fluke header from way out. I'd seen enough and took off our weak link centre back Spencer and brought on Talbot. Then bang on 89 minutes tiny Danny Carter was given his second yellow and another vital player wouldbe unavailable for the next match.

Back at my desk I opened a couple of letters thinking is one of these from the chairman and the dreaded vote of confidence? Instead it was news of Patterson returning to training and Bristol Rovers sacking Paul Trollope and hiring Steve McMahon. Why cant we hold on to a lead? the thought stayed with me since the final whistle with Lancaster.

Ian White interviewed me before our visit to Hyde who were one of the surprise packages of the league. They were unbeaten in their last three and were flying high at 4th in the league. "Wev'e forgotten what it feels like to win but Hyde just might underestimate us today" I told him.

Again I shook things up by dropping our top scorer Anthony Williams and put in under played Jonathan Mitten. Williams was making negative comments to the press and I needed a team who was full of confidence. We went into half time with me vindicated as Marginson slipped an unmarked Mitten through to score. My pleasure at the break was short lived as a Seddon header equalised on 52 minutes. I was on the ball for freekick and I could smell the fear they had in anticipating one of my long range shots. At the last milli second I disguised my shot into a cool pass for Paul Mitten to score from 20 yards. We have'nt been on talking terms but the goal changed everything at least for now. We had 20 minutes to hold out for the win but witnessed an incredible equaliser of Ronaldiniho proportions. Rodger Smith was almost at the corner flag as his cross sailed into our goal with at least two of their guys in an offside position. Patterson came on for a tired Jon Mitten but the scoreline failed to change at 2-2.



The footballing gods were against me! Offside goals and flukes rained supreme and there was nothing I could do but bide my time. Centre back Billy McCartney refused to bide his time for a debut since signing for us and moaned to my coaching staff. Barcelona beat Internacional 3-0 in the World Club Championship and I wondered why I had chosen lower league management over the more glamourous end of things. However anyone can splash the cash with star players, but at the basement end is where you really get tested as a manager.

Boxing day had arrived and what a balated present three points would be against a Scarborough side strugling beneath us but who the bookies make favourites to win. Carter started the festive cheer by sliping Anthony carter through to score on 16 minutes. Yet again we fell foul to the fluke as a cross from matty Robson sailed in at 1-1. I could not believe that just before half time Carter would fluke one in from the right also to restore the lead for us. We were upbeat and confident we would put our poor results behind us when with 12 minutes to go Thompson pulled them level at 2-2. Why o why did I take off McDowell and put on Spencer in midfield I will never know!! I know I wanted to tighten things up in the centre but boy did he give us yet another crap performance. Little wonder Boro snatched a winner in added time to compound the misery. This result pushed us down to third from bottom and for the first time I had thoughts of resigning.

I decided I would leave a trail of destruction behind me before I was fired or if I jumped ship. Six whalleys were put up for sale, not that any fool woud buy them , but I wanted to sound out a long and loud message that the crap stops here.

GK Ben Morsby (shocking season so far)
CBK Rob Nugent (very poor)
DC/DM Steve Spencer (worst player in FM history)
AMR Paul Mitten (inconsistent)
MC Josh Howard (Mr invisible)

I tinkered with the formation again as I was fed up with the contribution from our wide payers by forming a compact 3-1-3-3. We visited Nuneaton Boro next and marvelled at there stats.They were unbeaten for 5 games and lie 2nd in the table. In my pre match interview I stated we had nothing to lose and will not worry about an inevitable defeat. Funny enough that seemed to calm the lads down as we assembled in the away dressing room.The lads got the message that the pressure was off, just go out and enjoy it.

Along with my new formo I introduced 40 year old Phil Power to the Midfield for his long awaited debut for the season. I was not prepared for what was to take place in the midlands as we took the lead on 31 minutes with my trademark shot in off the post from 25 yards. \Further amazement gathered steam as we saw Patterson break his long duck witha fluke cross shot a minute later. Cardiac arrest galloped over the horizon as I slipped Anthony Robinson through one on one to score. Before we could get to half time Boro pulled one back as darby swivelled in the box from a cross. However we were confident at half time that we could last out the game for an incredible win.

After defending like warriors in our half, a deflected shot fell to Oliver Burgess to make it 2-3. On 64 minutes I was denied by the post and wondered if this was going to be our day afterall. No no no was the resounding answer as the Boro pressure forced the equaliser. Back in the dressing room I flipped and kicked over chairs and smashed walls in my frustration that at 0-3 up we would blow it. Spencer again came on as sub as I hoped the penny would drop with him, but as far as I'm concerned he's finished. Power complained afterwards to the media, how I locked the doors after the match and blasted the team.



This was my last hope as I called for a team meeting. Everybody thinks I'm over reacting as we would have taken a draw before the Nuneaton game. What they don't understand is that we have lost the habit of winning all season long. The new year was around the corner and things had to change.

I tried my best to change things further by releasing Darren Lyons who was yet to play for us this season as I had to make room for possible signings. I tried terminating contracts but players refused.

In other news Norwich sack Nigel Worthington and Steven Gerard wins World Footballer of the Year with Klose and Villa in 2nd and 3rd places.