Stories > CM Schoolboys > Part Two

January:

As the new year begins, I call the team to a meeting. I stress upon them the importance of giving their all for the club, with the ultimate goal being to grab a Champions League spot. They seem to think this is a realistic goal. I also ask if any of the players have any grievances that they would like to address - Sukuta-Pasu says that he doesn’t feel like he is playing enough matches. However, I point out that with Craig Lindfield in such good goal scoring form, it will be hard work ousting him from his role at the moment. Undeterred, Sukuta-Pasu vows to double his efforts in training in order to regain his place.

With the transfer window opening, the reserves are again in the shop window. With the likes of Drogba, Bouhlarouz and Wright-Phillips attracting interest from other clubs.

The month begins with an uneventful 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle. Followed by the beginning of our defence of the FA Cup at home to Sheffield United, a potential banana skin. However, any fears of an upset were allayed, as we ran out with a comfortable 5-0 victory.

This was followed by an all round poor team performance in loosing 2-0 away at Bolton and then a strong defensive display, as we won 1-0 at home to high flying Portsmouth.

Whilst the defensive unit grows stronger, our attacking play is becoming a bit predictable and we are struggling to break down opposition defences. In an attempt to remedy this, I have brought in some South American flair, in the shape of Barcelona’s Mexican winger, Giovanni. He will join us on loan until the end of the season.

The month ended with a 2-1 FA Cup win against our London neighbours West Ham. Sukuta Pasu, making his first start in over a month, for the rested Lindfield, bagged both goals to seal the win.

The only sale of a relatively quiet transfer window, saw Khalid Bouhlarouz join Betis for 4.8 million.

February:

The month starts at Craven Cottage, with Fulham looking to avenge their 3-2 defeat from earlier in the season. Neither team manages to make the most of their opportunities and the game peters out into a 0-0 draw.

We took the upper hand in our UEFA Cup third round tie with Dutch side Utrecht, by recording a 2-1 victory in Holland. Sahin and Lindfield grabbing the crucial away goals.

This was followed by an excellent attacking display, which saw us comprehensively beat our London rivals West Ham 3-0. Much to the delight of the board.

Our battling abilities came to the fore once again, as we recorded a 1-0 victory over second place Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, moving us back up to fifth in the table. This was preceded by a 1-0 victory over Watford in the FA Cup.

The highlight of the month was undeniably the demolition of Utrecht in the second leg of our UEFA Cup tie. After bringing on Sukuta-Pasu to replace the tiring Lindfield at half time, he proceeded to repay my faith by bagging a hat-trick to complete a 6-0 rout.



After beating Everton 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the league. The return fixture - this time in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup - brought a reverse result. With them winning 3-1. It was a tough result for us to swallow and leaves us with a mountain to climb in the second leg. What should have been an unbeaten month was tarnished with this result and I made my feelings clear to my players after the game.

March:

Prior to our home match against Liverpool, Javi Martinez was presented with his Player of the Month award for February, to rapturous applause from the home faithful. They were applauding the whole team by the end of the match. After having Jeffrey Bruma sent off early on, the team put in a heroic counter attacking performance to win 2-0, with goals from Lindfield and Bojan.

With the feel good factor growing in the squad, confidence was high ahead of our home FA Cup quarter final against Arsenal. The team put in their best performance of the season, with a devastating attacking display, winning the game 4-2. Much to the delight of the board and fans.



The UEFA Cup return leg against Everton was upon us, and it proved to be a bridge to far for my team. Having gone down to ten men, with the sending off of Rodwell. The team put in a spirited performance, winning the game 1-0, through a Merida goal, but ultimately lost the tie 3-2 on aggregate. In the dressing room after the game I told the team that they could hold their heads up high after a very mature performance.

After the deflating exit from the UEFA Cup, we were plunged straight back in the deep end, with a match against fellow Champions League chasers Tottenham. Unfortunately, we lost 2-0, with the team beginning to struggle under the hectic schedule.

An injury time winner from Sukuta-Pasu made up for an early howler by Riemann, as we beat relegation plagued Reading 2-1. This was followed by a 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough and then comprehensive victories over Birmingham and Derby.

After the ups and downs of March, we are now getting to the business end of the season. The team lie sixth in the division, with a good platform to build a push for Champions League qualification.

April:

“Squeaky bum time” as Sir. Alex calls it, has arrived. Were in the final strait of the season and from here on, must treat every game like it was a cup final.

Ironically, we start at Wembley, in the FA Cup semi finals against Championship promotion chasers Wolves. Despite taking a surprise lead in the first half, Wolves’ resistant gives way, as we cruise to a final date against Liverpool, with a 3-1 win. However, Rajkovic picked up an injury in the match and is likely to be out for a week.

Our growing record of indiscipline strikes again, as van Aanholt is sent off in a league game against Blackburn. A match we subsequently lost 1-0. The young left back received a barracking after the game for costing his team mates points at such a pivotal point in the season.

The following match was against third placed Arsenal at the Emirates. It was given an extra edge as their FA Cup exit was still fresh in the memory. However, my players acquitted themselves well after initially letting a two goal lead slip. With Ben Sahar coming off the bench to score the winner in another thrilling London derby that ended 3-2.



As the race for Champions League qualification hots up, Manchester United have claimed the Premier League title at a canter, with five games to spare. This leaves us, along with six other teams battling it out for the three remaining spots.

A 1-0 home win against Sunderland was followed by the news that Victor Moses would be out for a month and therefore miss the run in. Leaving Scott Sinclair to step into the breach.

The final match of the month was against the champions at Old Trafford. We were given little chance of winning as they were in imperious form, having won seven league matches on the bounce. We decided to attack them from the very start, and this paid dividends when we took a shock two goal lead. Although United pulled one goal back through Ryan Giggs, my young stars held on to claim a famous scalp. In the process moving up to third in the division, with only two games remaining.

May:

Going into the penultimate match of the season, my squad knew that a win here would all but guarantee Champions League qualification. This was achieved in emphatic manner; with Craig Lindfield scoring a hat trick, in a 4-0 victory over Wigan at Stamford Bridge.

The final match of the season saw us take on Aston Villa at Villa Park. Despite taking an early lead, my side seemed to lack motivation, perhaps having their minds on next weeks FA Cup final. They concede three goals in the space of twenty three first half minutes. Eventually losing the game 3-1.

However, we had achieved our goal of gaining entry to Europe’s premier club competition. Although, we will have to go through the qualifying rounds, after finishing third in the division.



Following the end of the league season, the annual awards were handed out. Javi Martinez deservedly collected both Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards and graciously thanked me during his acceptance speech. Special mention must also go to Craig Lindfield, a one million pound signing from Liverpool, who fought of competition from Berbatov, Rooney and Torres to win the golden boot.

The FA Cup final was upon us and my squad knew that winning the Wembley show piece final would be the perfect ending to a great season.

Greeted by the roar of eighty five thousand fans as they walked on to the pitch, my team got off to a dream start. With Giovani scoring in the third minute. However, Liverpool levelled on the stroke of half time, through Mascherano and then took the lead in the sixty fourth minute, through Torres. As time began to tick away, I threw on Sukuta-Pasu and Sahar, for Bojan and Lindfield, and in the 86th minute, Sukuta-Pasu notched the equaliser to send the tie into extra time.

At the end of the first half of extra time, Liverpool were awarded a penalty, which Torres converted. There was to be no repeat of the earlier fight back and the FA Cup was heading to Merseyside.



As Liverpool hoisted the famous old trophy, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” playing in the background. I consoled my distraught players - telling them how they had made great strides this season. At such a young age they were sure to be involved in many more occasions like this, and more often than not, would be on the winning side.

Part Three >>