All things Football (soccer) related

[shunwick]

Plymouth could only draw at Grimsby, Doncaster lost at Hartlepool, and Portsmouth destroyed Cheltenham 6-1 to win the title...

Best wishes,
Steve

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Plymouth could only draw at Grimsby, Doncaster lost at Hartlepool, and Portsmouth destroyed Cheltenham 6-1 to win the title...

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Who'd be a footie fan? Its the hope that kills you. Hartlepools were dead and buried 0-1 down to promoted Doncaster and with Newport winning. Then Newport are pegged back and, unbelievably, 2 goals from Hartlepools see them safe...only for Newport to score in the 89th minute to send them down...

As for Plymouth Argyle, they behaved in a manner I would expect from a team I like..... [8|]

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Mourinho at Braintree


Let’s see what the New Year brings.

Best wishes,
Steve

Indeed. I eagerly await the remainder of the season. [:)]

[shunwick]

Mourinho at Braintree

31 January 2017

National League (Real life scores in brackets)

2/1 Dagenham & Redbridge v Away 3-1, Midson (3-0 IRL)
7/1 Home v Chester 1-2, Barnard (1-2 IRL)

FA Trophy Round 2

14/1 Home v Weymouth 3-0, Cheek, Maybanks & Goodman (East Thurrock v Away 2-5 IRL)

National League

21/1 Forest Green v Away 1-0 (1-1 IRL)
28/1 Home v Lincoln 2-2, Midson & Hall-Johnson (0-4 IRL match played on 7/3 due to Lincoln’s cup run)

Braintree drop to 17 place. Pl 30 W 9 L 12 Pts 37

Lincoln still top the table on 56 pts but only on goal difference from both Sutton and Gateshead.

In
Dion Sembie-Ferris 20 year old right winger on loan from Colchester for the rest of the season.

Out
Harry Palmer 20 year old goalkeeper released on a free.
George Pullen 20 year old central defender to St Neots on a free

Fumnaya Shomotun’s loan (which was due to end 31/1) has been extended till the end of the season.

Morale has improved across the board despite taking only 1 point in January. They have managed to stop their losing streak in the league, however, and did so coming back from 0-2 down against Lincoln to snatch a draw. This, I suspect, is the reason their confidence has had a boost. Hopefully, they can get a bit of mileage out of that performance.

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Mourinho at Braintree


Let’s see what the New Year brings.

Best wishes,
Steve

Indeed. I eagerly await the remainder of the season. [:)]

I think it's fair to say that Wally Warspite's prediction of Braintree getting to the Premier League in six months is looking even more unlikely than it was originally. [:)]

Best wishes,
Steve

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Mourinho at Braintree


Let’s see what the New Year brings.

Best wishes,
Steve

Indeed. I eagerly await the remainder of the season. [:)]

I think it's fair to say that Wally Warspite's prediction of Braintree getting to the Premier League in six months is looking even more unlikely than it was originally.

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

I think it fairer to say that its no good Stupid Shunwick blaming Wally Warspite for the failings of Stupid Shunwick n'est pas?

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: Orm



Indeed. I eagerly await the remainder of the season. [:)]

I think it's fair to say that Wally Warspite's prediction of Braintree getting to the Premier League in six months is looking even more unlikely than it was originally.

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

I think it fairer to say that its no good Stupid Shunwick blaming Wally Warspite for the failings of Stupid Shunwick n'est pas?

Shouldn't that be the failings of Jocular Jose?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick



I think it's fair to say that Wally Warspite's prediction of Braintree getting to the Premier League in six months is looking even more unlikely than it was originally.

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

I think it fairer to say that its no good Stupid Shunwick blaming Wally Warspite for the failings of Stupid Shunwick n'est pas?

Shouldn't that be the failings of Jocular Jose?

warspite1

No, you are responsible for the actions of Jocular Jose and therefore the blame (or plaudits) reside firmly with Stupid Shunwick vis-a-vis Jocular Jose's attempts to get Braintree into the Premiership.

[terje439]

Aaaaand Liverpool fumbles towards the end...What a surprise [8|]

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: terje439

Aaaaand Liverpool fumbles towards the end...What a surprise [8|]

And Newcastle win the Championship after their 3-0 win against against Barnsley and Jack Grealish broke Brighton hearts with an 89th minute equaliser for Aston Villa v Brighton. Still, Brighton can be justly proud of their season and they will still take their place in the Premier League next season.

I am with Orm on this one... Football is a silly game.

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: warspite1


warspite1

I think it fairer to say that its no good Stupid Shunwick blaming Wally Warspite for the failings of Stupid Shunwick n'est pas?

Shouldn't that be the failings of Jocular Jose?

warspite1

No, you are responsible for the actions of Jocular Jose and therefore the blame (or plaudits) reside firmly with Stupid Shunwick vis-a-vis Jocular Jose's attempts to get Braintree into the Premiership.

No good Stupid Shunwick and Jocular Jose both think that well known media pundit Wally Warspite is a great big poopy head.... with bells on. [:)]

Best wishes,
Steve

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick



Shouldn't that be the failings of Jocular Jose?

warspite1

No, you are responsible for the actions of Jocular Jose and therefore the blame (or plaudits) reside firmly with Stupid Shunwick vis-a-vis Jocular Jose's attempts to get Braintree into the Premiership.

No good Stupid Shunwick and Jocular Jose both think that well known media pundit Wally Warspite is a great big poopy head.... with bells on. [:)]

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

[looks at camera] well Stoopid Shunwick isn't very nice is he boys and girls?

[shunwick]

Mourinho at Braintree

28 February 2017

National League (Results in real life in brackets)

31/1 Eastleigh v Away 1-3, Midson, Isaac & Hall-Johnson (0-2 IRL but played on 14/2)

FA Trophy Round 3

4/2 Woking v Away 2-1, Harris (Home v Dulwich Hamlet 0-0 IRL)
7/2 (Replay Dulwich Hamlet v Away 5-2 IRL)

National League

11/2 Home v North Ferriby 1-3, Shomotun (1-0 IRL)
18/2 Macclesfield v Away 2-1, Midson (2-0 IRL)
25/2 Home v Maidstone 1-1, Sembie-Ferris (0-0 IRL Dire, dire game)

Morale has dropped significantly and Braintree have dropped to 18 place Pl 34 W10 D 10 L 14 Pts 40. Sutton go top one point clear of Lincoln with 62 points.

In

Rhys Sharpe, 22 year old left back on loan from Swindon for the rest of the season.

Out

Jerome Okimo 28 year old left back on loan to Bishop’s Stortford for the rest of the season.

Transfer Listed

Lee Naylor, 36 year old left back has been a regular in the team since being brought in at the start of the campaign. Fylde currently have a bid in for him. Braintree are offering a free.

I think finances are playing a big part here. Lee Naylor has been playing very well. Probably the most consistent player in the team. Okimo is a decent left back and is every bit as good as Sharpe By loaning out Okimo with Stortford paying part of his wages and transferring out Naylor, Mourinho will be reducing his wage bill by about £650 a week. Swindon are paying all of Sharpe’s wages.

As an observer, I cannot look very deeply into Braintree’s finances but I do know that their bank balance has been reduced by about £10,000 over the course of this season so far.

Ebbsfleet have put a bid in for Lee Barnard. As far as I can tell both bids have been accepted by Braintree and in both cases negotiations with the players over wages are in progress.

Mourinho still has no cover for Reece Hall-Johnson at right back. Hall-Johnson has played 34 games this season so far and has only missed 2 due to injury. On those occasions, Jon Ashton filled in at right back. Ashton is a central defender but he can play right back at a push. However, Ashton is now injured with a damaged Achilles tendon and is out for 4 to 6 months - so rest of the season essentially.

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

EVERY PREMIER LEAGUE FAN IN 90 SECONDS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kE7GqoegPY

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Mourinho at Braintree

31 March 2017

National League (Results in real life in brackets)

4/3 Home v Wrexham 1-3, Corne (1-2 IRL)
7/3 Bromley v Away 1-1, Corne (0-5 IRL played on 28/2)
11/3 Solihull Moors v Away 0-2, Shomotun, Sanderson (3-3 IRL after being 0-3 up after 23 minutes)
18/3 Home v Southport 1-2, Corne (2-0 IRL)
21/3 Home v Woking 1-1, Hall-Johnson (1-3 IRL)
25/3 Tranmere v Away 1-3, Shomotun, Isaac, Hall-Johnson (1-0 IRL)

Morale still fairly poor and Braintree remain in 18th place Pl 40 W12 D 12 L 16 Pts 48. Lincoln top the table on 74 points, 1 point ahead of Gateshead.

At this point Mourinho at Braintree has the same number of points they finished up with in real life at the end of the season. There are 6 games remaining.

Out
Lee Naylor, 37 year old left back to Ebbsfleet on a free.

It’s tight again at the bottom with 6 points separating Chester in 21st on 44 points and Southport in 16th on 50 points. Solihull, North Ferriby, Bromley and Chester are currently in the relegation places.

The Big News this month is that on the 16 March 2017 Manchester United sacked Hakan Heyrettin as manger. Poor league position is the official reason given. Man U are currently 5 in Premier League.

The real reason is 16/3 Man U v Mainz 1-1 in the Europa League second round second leg. They lost the first leg 1-0. I am sure that at £175,000 a week he has been earning will go a long way to easing Hakan’s disappointment. Man U have appointed the Villarreal manager Marcelino as his replacement.

Mainz face (well-known bottlers) Tottenham Hotpur in the quarter finals.

There is an interesting bug in Football Manager. Hakan’s biography does not show him as ever being manager at Man U. His reputation has dropped to one and a half stars. Man U’s history shows him as being manger though.

I think I know why this has happened.

When I swapped the manager’s over, I sent Hakan to the vacant Eastleigh job, Mourinho to Braintree, and then Hakan to Man U. Hakan’s biography shows he was manager at Eastleigh. Eastleigh’s history shows he was there for 0 days.

I think if I had left Hakan at Eastleigh for a day before moving him on again, everything would have been ok. I will need to remember that if I do another experiment. Be that as it may, this save is not about Hakan but Mourinho at Braintree.

Best wishes,
Steve

PS. Bloody Hell!

The Braintree board have just offered Mourinho a £1,100,000 bonus for avoiding relegation. I cannot alter this, it was not part of his contract. How on earth are they going to pay that? Braintree have £22,000 in the bank.

[Neorod]

What did you guys think about the Juventus match?

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: Neorod

What did you guys think about the Juventus match?

Well, the aggregate scoreline flattered the old lady a bit. They are a good side but they are beatable. Looking forward to the final.

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Mourinho at Braintree - The Final Chapter

30 April 2017

National League (Results in real life in brackets)

1/4 York v Away 1-1, Midson (3-0 IRL)
8/4 Home v Dover 3-1, Sanderson, Goodman & Corne (1-2 IRL)
14/4 Home v Guiseley 0-2 (2-0 IRL)
17/4 Torquay v Away 2-2, Somotun & Sembie-Ferris (3-1 IRL)
22/4 Home v Barrow1-2, Corne (0-2 IRL)
29/4 Aldershot 1-1, Cheek (2-0 IRL)

19 Place Pl 46 W 13 D 15 L 18 Pts 54.
(22 Place Pl 46 W 13 D 9 L 24 Pts 48 IRL)

No Ins or outs.

Barrow won the league 2 points clear of Lincoln. Bromley, Chester, North Ferriby & Solihull Moors relegated – Bromley on 50 pts.

I moved the game on a couple of weeks 14 May Playoff Final Woking v Lincoln 2-0

Braintree’s finances are now described as Insecure. Braintree is £891,000 in debt thanks to Mourinho’s Avoid Relegation bonus.

So there we have it … conclusive proof that Jose Mourinho could have saved Braintree from relegation thereby confirming Mourinho’s real-life reputation of being a great manager. Of course, he bankrupted Braintree in the process but, to be fair, that was not so much his fault as the fault of the board.

Best wishes,
Steve

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: Neorod

What did you guys think about the Juventus match?

Well, the aggregate scoreline flattered the old lady a bit. They are a good side but they are beatable. Looking forward to the final.

Best wishes,
Steve

Aye, they are good. Its a reminder of how cynical the better Italian sides can be and still be effective.

Domestically they are still up to their old tricks with convenient penalties etc. There used to be a standard line in La Repubblica's match reports after one of these (all too common incidents) ... 'the referee's wife left in a new FIAT' (to labour the point the Agnellis owned both FIAT and Juventus). Now La Repubblica is a very Roman newspaper most of whose founding journalists were AS Roma fans, but ...

and well done on the Mourinho analysis

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Mourinho at Braintree - The Final Chapter

30 April 2017

National League (Results in real life in brackets)

1/4 York v Away 1-1, Midson (3-0 IRL)
8/4 Home v Dover 3-1, Sanderson, Goodman & Corne (1-2 IRL)
14/4 Home v Guiseley 0-2 (2-0 IRL)
17/4 Torquay v Away 2-2, Somotun & Sembie-Ferris (3-1 IRL)
22/4 Home v Barrow1-2, Corne (0-2 IRL)
29/4 Aldershot 1-1, Cheek (2-0 IRL)

19 Place Pl 46 W 13 D 15 L 18 Pts 54.
(22 Place Pl 46 W 13 D 9 L 24 Pts 48 IRL)

No Ins or outs.

Barrow won the league 2 points clear of Lincoln. Bromley, Chester, North Ferriby & Solihull Moors relegated – Bromley on 50 pts.

I moved the game on a couple of weeks 14 May Playoff Final Woking v Lincoln 2-0

Braintree’s finances are now described as Insecure. Braintree is £891,000 in debt thanks to Mourinho’s Avoid Relegation bonus.

So there we have it … conclusive proof that Jose Mourinho could have saved Braintree from relegation thereby confirming Mourinho’s real-life reputation of being a great manager. Of course, he bankrupted Braintree in the process but, to be fair, that was not so much his fault as the fault of the board.

Best wishes,
Steve

Thank you for conducting, and posting, this experiment. [&o] [:)]

To bad about the bug that made the board offering money that Braintree never could pay.