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rpashley · 17-03-08, 08:54 PM

This is my story of managing my beloved Aston Villa in FM 2008, this is “Holt Enders in the Sky.

I decided to start the season with the squad I inherited, I knew the areas that needed strengthen so decided to do some in depth scouting to make sure I could make the right purchases in January.

Pre-season started well with a 2-0 win at Walsall, Carew and Barry got the goals. A 4 game tour to Italy bought 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat.

So ready for the big kick off first match was away at Middlesboro. I opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation with Carew the lone striker and play on the break using Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonhalor on the wings. At halftime it was 0-0 and my tactics were working Middlesboro had few chances despite having most of the possession.

The second half started well when on 47 mins John Carew turned in Barry’s cross to make it 1-0. That’s how it stayed until 10 mins from time when Lee Dong-Gook equalized, still 1-1 was a decent result and was happy with a point but in injury time Dong- Gook scored again and it finished Middlesboro 2 Villa 1.

A disappointing goalless draw at home to Portsmouth followed and then I lost 2-0 at Man Utd, if it had not been for Scott Carson it could have been an awful lot worse.

So 1 point from first 3 games was not a good start but my first win was not far away.

Next up was a trip to Barnsley in the 2nd round of The Carling Cup. Another 2-1 win but I had to come from behind with goals from Marlon Harewood and a Gareth Barry penalty.

So on the whole it has been an average start to the season just 1 win from 4 league games but I am through to the next round of The Carling Cup.

Part 2 coming soon.