Targets
The short-term target going into this season was to have a decent start and keep my job. I want to build the team morale back up, creating a clear playing style and identity at the club.
The long-term target is a higher mid-table finish at 10th/12th. I love the look of the team I have built and the league looks a lot weaker this time around. I have to be realistic – we are still lacking quality to make a play off push.
The media have predicted us to finish 20th, which I feel very offended by. Also, the board expectation is to avoid relegation and be competitive in the cups. I feel like the torrid season I had last season is a large catalyst for this, but I still feel severely underestimated and am looking to shock everyone for the better this campaign around.
Tactic
I’ve kept my trusty 4-4-2 from last season and am excited to see how it gets on now I have the players that fit the system. I’ve kept the low block and high-pressing aggressive style as we look to exploit teams playing out from the back.
A couple of small tactical tweaks I have made is that instead of distributing to flanks, I now distribute to the target forward because I have a striker in Smithy to hold the ball up and pump long kicks up to.
I have also adjusted Hutchinson’s position from CB on defend to CB on cover, so he sits a bit deeper to make sure he doesn’t get exploited by quick forwards looking to expose his lack of pace.
League table
I don’t know how either! We currently sit 2nd, yes 2nd in the championship! It’s been a ridiculous first half of the season. We’ve managed to tighten up at the back which is crucial and we have also turned into a free scoring machine boasting the league’s second highest goal total with 50. We are so back!!
The Den
The Den has been a fortress for us so far. Our away form has somewhat improved but our home form has hit another level and is the main reason why we have been so successful thus far. Both of the games drawn we should have won as well, which is frustrating because the perfect home record was looking lovely!
Immense progress
This Sunderland result tells you everything you need to know about how this season has gone. Towards the end of last season we were mullered 1-7 in embarrassing style. Fast forward to this season and we are beating good teams like Sunderland week-in week-out, which just shows the levels this new-look team has brought.
Spread of goals throughout the team
Last season, our only source of goals was through Cooper at set pieces. Now we have plenty of avenues to goals and lots of players chipping in. Biereth has been the star so far with a big tally of 13. He and Smithy link up tremendously, with Smithy also adding eight a decent tally.
Cooper ever reliable from set pieces has got seven as well as Mowett, who has been a machine in that BBM role. The wingers Freeman and Clarke have also contributed to lots of goals as well.
Best games
Our highest-scoring win in the save so far: Coventry took the lead early and I didn’t panic as we got back straight from kick off to equalise and just carried on scoring and absolutely thumped them, even missing a pen, but not taking advantage of them receiving ten men late on.
One of my greatest comebacks ever on FM. First half we were battered, Lingard (who turned me down to join Blackburn!) and Duran were devastating and we went into half time 4-1 down and I uncharacteristically threw the water bottle.
We woke up in the second half and managed to get it back up to 4-3 and I started to believe. My super subs changed the game, Dele Alli with his first goal for the club, Townsend with an assist and Troy Deeney secured the three points at the death.
I’ve posted all the goals from this game on my twitter account ICYMI https://x.com/AlexFM123/status/1708831710190715116?s=20
Cheeky Carabao Cup Run
We haven’t just done the business in the league – we also got to the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup!
The most impressive win was the second round against a strong Notts Forest side where the 2nd team grounded out an impressive 1-0 win. Sadly we got a brutal draw in the quarters and were battered by Liverpool.
Still a great run and just proves the incredible heights the boys have reached so far this season
Player of the season so far
So many contenders for this so far: Bart, Cooper and Biereth were all close calls.
I’ve gone with Alex Mowatt who has been a revelation in the midfield. He has it all: he does the defensive work and contributes heavily in attack, a true box-to-box midfielder.
He has contributed with seven goals and four assists in his first half – a season which is an incredible tally for a CM.
January plans
Having had such a successful summer transfer window and given how phenomenal we have been on the pitch, I am super relaxed going into the transfer window.
The only set position I am looking to strengthen is RCB – the one area in the team I know I can improve. I also need to give new contracts to certain players who are expiring at the end of the season.
It’s one of those see-what’s-available transfer windows and I’ll see what I can do to improve the squad for the second half of the season. I would be more than happy with just a play-off spot. I do expect to have a blip in form at some point in the near future, but I’ll enjoy the high whilst I can.