33. End of Season 3 Round Up
I aren't going to beat around the bush with the end of season stuff. After all we only finished 5th, were knocked out of the Hun Sen Cup in the first qualifying round and failed to really mount a serious title challenge.
I am slightly disappointed with this because we have finished two places below last season when we came 3rd and for most of the season had a real chance of winning the title in my first full season at EDC. While there have been some good performances this term, including doing the double over Nagaworld, we have failed to put a consistent run of results together. Inconsistency has been our major pitfall this season. Looking on the bright side, we are still just a part time team who are mixing it with professional teams and players. Whatsmore I achieved the board's aims of finishing in the top half of the table, but were disappointed with our performance in the cup, although there was no shame in being knocked out by Angkor Tiger who would go on to become the C-League champions.
Here's Football Manager's take on my season..
“EDC will reflect
upon a campaign which saw them get the job done and manage to meet pre-season
expectations. EDC finished where many had expected them to, spending time at
the top of the table and deviating little from the course which helped them
achieve what they had set out to achieve at the start of the season.”
Performance in The Transfer Market
The board were happy with the signings of Taboula and Noron, but not with Leap Bo or poor old Chin Chainuth who was injured for most of the campaign…
Moments To Remember
Moments to Remember: Yes thrashing Rithy Sen and National Defence was fun, but these two ended up being relegated. The highlight for me was doing the double over Nagaworld. No contest!
Finances
Finances: Not as good as last season, due to no cup prize money, but we did sell 70 replica shirts though, with Chanraksmey proved to be the most popular with fans, despite his long name!
End of Season
Awards
Fans Player of the Season – Keo Udom
Young Player of The Year – Kong Rafat
Signing of the Season – Pelap Taboula
Goal of The Season – Raymond Etim v Khemera Keila
Top Goalscorer – Pelap Taboula – 13 goals
Most Assists – Suon Veasna 10 assists
Highest Ave Rating Kong Rafat 7.10
Kong Rafat Wins Awards
My 19 year old goalkeeper, Kong Rafat has scooped two end of season awards, Cambodian Young Player of The Year and Cambodian Goalkeeper of The Year. Strangely enough after all that he didn’t make it into the Cambodian Premier League Team of The Year, instead, Sambath of Angkor Tiger got that honour but never mind. The right wing berth though was filled by our very own Suon Veasna, so well done to him!
Board Confidence
The board are generally pleased with my performance and that I met their expectations of a top half finish. They are pleased with my performance in the Transfer Market (C+), Pleased with the results on the pitch (C+) and pleased with the level of support I have from the players (B-)
Strengthening The Squad
My main aim over the transfer window will be to firstly reduce the squad size. As is often the case after two or three seasons there are lots of 18/19 years olds moseying around the reserves and U21 squads, who are still a long way off the first team and need to really be playing first team football elsewhere in order to kick start their careers, even if it means dropping down to the Second Division. Getting rid of a few players off my books will also give me more money to play with when trying to attract new players to join.
I will be concentrating my efforts on strengthening the defence, as this is the weakest area of our squad. Daravon and Khemarin are pretty good and Pin Saren is OK as back up, but beyond that there is not much else. Young Run Sokha is OK, but am concerned about his lack of pace. The right back position is also a must, as Ratana has not looked as comfortable playing there and his performances suffered last season, while Roeurn Channroeurn is not really good enough, nor is young Mom Veasna. Bairaing, Ratana and Ajoub Joly (despite his nervous performance against Khemera) provides decent depth and quality at left back. We have some decent midfielders with Ouch Udom leading the way with Raymond Etim and Leap Bo. The strongest area is attack where the quartet of Keo Udom, Chanraksmey, Noron and Taboula providing a formidable firepower. Another area of concern is wide midfield. While Veasna is brilliant, Sos Suhana has been less so and I expected more from him for a player who has over 50 caps for his country. The curious tale of Tuy Oudom is also a bit of a mystery. He was brilliant in the early season, but then poor later in the season when he returned from injury.
Nagaworld Offer
Another Interview!
They may be my rivals, but Nagaworld somehow appreciate my work at EDC. At the end of the season they got rid of their manager and have come chasing me! I have politely declined this opportunity, however I would be open to offers from outside the C-League, possibly Thailand if they have heard of me.. Besides, me taking the Nagaworld job would be reminiscent of when Brian Clough went to Leeds United in 1974... and we all know what happened there...
New Head Physio –
Sos Veasna
We welcome our new Head Physio, Sos Veasna to the EDC family. He may not know how to wire a plug, but he knows a bit about healing footballers..
Staff Exodus
Unfortunately as one arrives, three of our backroom staff refused to sign new contracts, citing “they would rather be at a more prestigious club” Sod off! We are a top 5 team in Cambodia and you had played a part in us getting there.
It’s goodbye to my Reserves Manager Sreng Vandeth, Goalkeeping Coach, Nhem Ravy and Ly Pheng one of our scouts. Never mind boys, I’m sure there are better people out there we can sign in your place....
However the departure of three of my backroom team are the least of my worries.....
The Feeding Frenzy
Has Begun
On 7th December 2022 the Transfer window swung open and once again my player's loyalty is already being tested to the hilt. Two of my young charges, Ouk Ratana and Ouch Udom have already been targeted by Nagaworld and Boeung Ket. To my dismay the highest 'wage' I can offer them is less than what they are already on which is worrying. Only £70 appearance fees when they were already on £80-100... that ain’t gonna work.. Ket and Naga are offering them £150 per week professional contracts.. how can I persuade my best players to stay? Whatsmore upstarts, Khemera Keila and Solitio Angkor have established themselves as C-League clubs and are now looking to play with the bigger boys this transfer window. My worst fears of last season which resulted in the appearance fee 'compromise' deal with my star players could start to unravel if their offers are higher than what we can muster. Watch this space!
Return To The Boardroom
Dressed in my dry cleaned suit once again I knocked on my chairman, Hem Vutha's door.
"Come in Jonathan, shouted the Cambodian Electricity mogul."
The petite little man with thinning dark hair combed in a side parting and thick dark rimmed glasses was sat at his desk.
"And what can I do for you Jonathan?"
"Hem, I think it's time we went professional and give my players the contracts they deserve."
He sat and silently pondered on what I said.
"Jonathan, we would love to go professional, but you have to understand, we have only been a football club for 6 years. We simply cannot afford the expenses of full time footballers."
"Hem, we will eventually lose these players. There's only so long Veasna, Udom, Ratana, Daravon will want to stay on just appearance fees alone. If they get injured they are screwed, especially if they cannot work at the National Grid as well. There's only so long they and their families can put up with this."
"So you want to see this club go bankrupt then Jonathan huh? as Vutha uncharacteristically raised his voice, because that's what will happen if we go professional. We will have to pay the players more, the coaching staff more because they will be training every day, we will have more overheads with electric, (yes we still have to pay for that)... everybody from Suon Veasna down to the cleaning lady will have to be paid more because Prey Veng will need be open every day for the players. It is simply not possible, Jonathan. Now I suggest you go back onto the training field and do what you are good at rather than asking for things you do not understand..
"Well you can do one thing for me. Don't set the maximum appearance fee to 70 f***** quid when I try to offer them a new contract when some of them are on more than that already.. otherwise we will end up like Vishaka, a team full of kids scrapping against relegation...
With that I left the boardroom fearing what the Christmas transfer window would bring for us and our Scrooge-like chairman...
EDC will have to punch above their weight for another season and hope to keep hold of their players on appearance fees alone. The Wnt signs have started appearing again and the Christmas transfer window is just around the corner… The vultures are circling once more, this time with even sharper beaks and talons…
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