FM-Manager

With last month being a month full of goals I had hoped we could carry this on when we made our way back home to face Auxerre. We started the game late of in the 22nd min with a trip from Ait Fana luckly setting up Harzard for a simple finish. 11 mins later Pedretti found Jelen running through the channel for a easy 1 on 1 before Ait Fana once again pulled out a little bit of magic as he has done so often this season dribbling down the left side finishing a nice shot. Thomas managed to find a consultation goal in the 76th min but it was too late for it to be anything but a consolation goal.

With AZ being seen off in the EURO cup we had to fave FC Twente. We started off well on the away leg getting the majority of the chances,  but we didn’t capitalize, instead Rendla Twente’s 21 year old striker started them off in the 33rd min. After some harsh word at the half Lovren managed to get on the end of a rebounded Vertonghen headed ball and finish it off to get us back in the game 1-1 before an own goal was scored by the lonee keeper Amos. We then stamped our mark on the game with Roux finding the back of the net in the 81st min off of a great Souaré pass who has exceeded expectations this season. With the team having 3 away goals I am confidant we will go through to the next round.

With our team 1 game behind and only 3 point this game was the chance for us to make it back to the top of the table. The game which I said would decided the season against a team that has look strong this year along with us and PSG. The game started of even with both team looking motivated and working hard.  The first half carried on like this with both teams working hard Lyon had the possession advantage and we the defensive. The first goal of the game didn’t come till the 65th min when Pied blasted in a rebounded shot into an open goal for a 1-0 victory.

After losing the game against Lyon we headed back to the EURO cup to a game we were winning 3-1. The game started well for us with the team having the majority of the possession, although Twente was looking for revenge for the last game.  Despite our dominance we could not break through in the first half which then resulted in me reminding the player that we are not a team that performs like this, which had an affect on the player as their attacking movement looked better for it and resulted in us getting a penalty in the 68th min for Payet to score. Although we won the game I am feeling rather worried about how poorly the team is doing these past 2 game with the team seeming to struggle to score against Twente, but none the less we are through to the next round.

After finding out that we have Arsenal for the quarter finals of the EURO cup we had to face Lens in the French cup, a team who are our Nord rivals.We started the game poorly and looked like we would be the first to conceded which lead me to playing more defensive tactic, this didn’t work in my advantage. Eduardo managed to find the net off a corner which get us down 1-0 which then forced me to play more attacking. We couldn’t get a goal back in the half but I was still confidant of the win, this confidence was misplaced. In the 65th min Eduardo double his tally from the spot. Although we looked down and out late in the game Vertonghen and Roux bringing us back in the game and into extra time! In the 106th game Roux found Ait Fana who managed a cute chip past Fabre to win us the game 3-2.

With a congested time in the fixture I had to sit down Hazard while I had a weak opponent and that opponent was Evian. Even with the concerns of not being able to play without any of my big starts (Jelen, Hazard, and Taarabt) I had to give him the rest he needed. Niang who I have dubbed as the next Henry settled my fears in the 10th min with a wonderful left footed strike finding the smallest corner of the goal, which inspired Roux to score 8 mins later with a lovely cross from Niang.  Kahlenberg rekindled my fears by scroing in the 27th min, but one again then were soothed to the sound of Vertonghen scoring off a corner. Niang later doubled his tally from the penalty spot to make it 4-1 at the half. In the 60th min Niang managed to find the net for the 3rd time in the game which made me smile that my 17 year old striker could do so well, and when he scored his 4th 4 mins later I considered that this is the best performance from a player in my senior team yet alone a striker.

A game we had already been written off by the media didn’t start well for us, former Lyon midfielder Andre Ayew managed to catch the ball on the break and beat Landreau who was helpless to do anything. The game from this point looked grime for us with Arsenal dominating defense only allowing us to have 1 shot on target. The game seemed over for us with the team struggling to make any forward runs and unable to hold a good amount of possession, this was made worse when Vertonghen helped Arsenal to a 2-0 victory with an own-goal in the 88th min.

Goal of the Month

This goal was one of the most wonderful goals I have seen in Football Manager making Ait Fana one of my favorite players.

Fixtures

We are currently in 3rd place in the league, have a 2-0 disadvantage in the next leg of the Emirates, I will be facing Lyon in the French Cup Final’s and PSG in the Coupe de la Ligue Final. This will be an interesting month ahead, and one I’m sure we will find it difficult my goal is to with 1 or the 2 French cups and get at least a draw at the Emirates, while maintaining a top 2 finish in the league.

Till next time, Wish me luck!