52. Keeping up with The Tiger

 After two damaging defeats in our title bid, to Boeung Ket and our title rivals, Angkor Tiger we still find in with a shout as we approach the halfway point in the season. The team are playing well and have found something that has been lacking in recent seasons - consistency. Now as we take on some of the lesser sides in the C-League, we must not slip up in our bid to keep up with the Tiger.

New Leagues Added

It seems a strange time to do this I know, but here’s an update on the playable leagues on the Ultimate World Football Manager Game.

Cambodia

Viet Nam

Malaysia

Thailand

Indonesia

Bangladesh

India

Nepal

Pakistan

Singapore

Greenland (just because I can!)

Match 15 – EDC v Wat Phnom

After two narrow defeats to stronger teams in the league we now face the bottom side, Wat Phnom, who have only three points with only one win all season. This is a chance to get back on track and keep pace with Angkor Tiger who are three points ahead of us. I revert to my 4-3-3, with Pisa and Makara suspended, in come Joly at left back with Ratana switching sides to right back.

Team: Som, Ratana, Daravon, Gbayoro, Joly, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Nhem, Noron, Taboula

Match Action

We should be starting brightly here and dominating, but the FM gods see it otherwise and award the visitors a series of free kicks and a yellow card to Daravon. What gives? Then our old foe, Miroslav almost gives them the lead when a hoof ball from their keeper sends Sinoun away, but luckily Daravon got back to make a last ditch tackle.. We create a couple of half chances but nothing much. Then our old right back Sam Chanroeurn gallops down the right and sticks the ball perfectly on Sinoun’s forehead for a shock 1-0 lead. We just have not got going here.. I revert to a 4-4-2 with Nhem in the AMR role. Pidor has not given up and he goes on a barnstorming run through the middle from the left hand side. He finds Chea Samnang, whose lovely slide rule pass finds the onrushing Taboula to slot home. Pheeww! We begin to assert our authority and using the full width of the pitch which is stretching Wat Phnom. Kakada has acres of space in which to pick out the onrushing Taboula for him to slide home his second of the game. 2-1 at half time.

They start brightly and Sinoun has an early chance to equalise but he skews it over the bar. Then we find our inner Barcelona c2010. Kakada, Pidor, Samnang and Nhem all combine to send Matty Noron through to finish high into the top corner for 3-1. Samnang who has run the show in midfield strides forward once again. He slides in Noron who unselfishly checks inside and lays off to the onrushing Nhem who fires home his 7^th  goal of the season.    

Ung Rottanak fired home a late consolation after good work from another familiar face, Sos Suhana for the visitors, but it mattered little. 4-2 the final score. We close the gap at the top to one point after Tiger could only draw 2-2 with the National Defence. The title race is hotting up!

Final Score EDC 4 – 2 Wat Phnom

Taboula 23.38                       Sinoun 13

Noron 60                               Rotanak 90

Nhem 68

Ukraine beat Russia 2-1 to win The Euros 2024

The world rejoiced when Ukraine sent Russia packing in the European Championship Finals after a 2-1 win... I’ll say no more......

Halfway Point in the Season

We are the exact halfway point in the season and our title challenge, despite two recent defeats is still on track. We lie in 2^nd, just one point behind Angkor Tiger, so it is all to play for as we enter the second half of the season and the return fixtures.

1^st Angkor Tiger 32pts

2^nd EDC 31

3^rd Nagaworld 29

4^th Boeung Ket 27

5^th Phnom Penh Crown 27

6^th National Defence 21

7^th National Police 16

8^th Khemera 16

9^th Chhlam Samuth 15

10^th Svay Rieng 11

11th Chmao Khmao 11

12^th Prek Pra 10

13^th Build Bright United 8

14^th Wat Phnom 3

Things were going well and there was a buzz around the club, the players had an extra zip in training and even though energy prices were going up, all seemed well in Team Electric. There was one problem though.... The Somalian Pele did not seem to be embracing the good times. He was not training well and when he did get on the pitch, apart from the odd flash of brilliance was not putting in the effort that I would expect from one of my players. Was he and his family OK? Was he settling into his adopted country? Gone was that enthusiastic kid who had shown up randomly on our training field after watching The Hun Sen Cup Final barefoot on a television through a shop window in the middle of downtown Phnom Penh. I decided after discussion with Nen Borey to pull him into my office one day after training.

Me: "Ahmed. I don't know what it is, but you haven't been yourself lately?

"Boss, I want to start more games. I'm not getting enough playing time. I am the best striker at this club, yet you don't play me."

"Ahmed, I'm bringing you off the bench I'm making sure you get your appearance money. I've even started you in the odd game.

"It's not enough! I want to play every time!"

"Look Ahmed it's not as simple as that. Look you'll get your opportunity if Taboula, Nhem or Noron become injured or lose form. At the moment I cannot drop any of them, they are bang in form and winning us games."

"Why you play Nhem, huh? he's just a kid. He should be in Reserves."

"Ahmed, Nhem is our top goalscorer and a fantastic prospect. He and Taboula are forming a great understanding. As for Noron he's my senior striker, he's got a great record at this level. I can't just drop him out the team for no reason, other than give you more starts"

"I see, you don't want me here? I go join Nagaworld.."

I wondered whether the casino had been in his ear. It wouldn't be the first time. Every transfer window they practically stalk Ouk Ratana...

"Ahmed. You'll get your opportunity, but you just have to be patient. I see you more as an impact player at the moment, someone who can come off the bench and change the game if it is not happening for one of the other three. You are very much part of my plans."

"Well prove it then! Give me more starts I won't let you down."

"Look Ahmed I'll see what I can do and try and give you more starts OK, but I'm not promising anything."

"Boss I need you to promise. I need to feed my family."

"Ahmed you get £100 each time you step on the pitch."

"Boss, if I am on the subs bench, I cannot score goals, or assist goals so I earn even more money!" I go to Nagaworld where they will pay me every week!"

"Look Ahmed I promise I will give you more starts."

"Thankyou boss. I won't let you down."

Match 16: EDC v Svay Rieng 20/07/24

We are at the exact halfway point in the season and so are now playing the reverse of each game so far, starting with Svay Rieng who we drew with on the opening day. They play with wing backs, so I will trouble them with the 4-3-3. In Sambath is suspended, but otherwise (minus Rattanak) it is a full strength squad to choose from. After our little chat, Abdi is given another opportunity up front, in place of Mat Noron.

Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Abdi, Nhem

Match Action

We dominate possession but create little and keep being caught offside. Nhem looks dangerous on the right side of the three pronged attack and on the break from their set pieces. Then, from a poor goal kick from their keeper, which is straight at Pidor who passes forward to Abdi, who cleverly helps the ball on to Nhem who outpaces his defender and fires confidently home to open the scoring. Svay Rieng though have a habit of scoring goals from nowhere and their equaliser is a random free-kick fired home by Men Samnang. 1-1 with only ten minutes on the clock, Rieng seem to be winning quite a lot of free-kicks, but are piling men forward and not leaving enough defenders back to snuff out any breakaway. From one such free-kick, we clear our lines and it is 3 on 2. Taboula, Abdi and Nhem all bearing down on goal. The ball is transferred to the latter who runs into the box, but is tripped. Penalty! Up steps Ouk Ratana to fire the ball into the top corner from the spot to restore our lead. The visitors cannot cope with the pace in my forward line. Pidor picks up the ball and runs at their defence and slips in Abdi who round the keeper and easily slots home number three. We are cutting through them at will now. Abdi is given far too much time and space once again and the Somalian this time releases Pelap Taboula to get his name on the scoresheet by firing in a powerful shot into the corner. 4-1 after just 33 minutes, this could be anything now. Not so.The rest of the game was a non-event and to be fair to Svay Rieng they were sharper in the tackle and made life far more difficult for us, but the damage was done and the game won. A good solid win as we keep pace with Angkor Tiger at the top of the table.

Final Score: EDC 4-1 Svay Rieng

                               Nhem 8                    Samnang 11

                               Ratana 13 (pen)

                               Abdi 18

                              Taboula 33

Match 17 – National Police v EDC 28/07/24

We visit the boys in blue just one point off the top of the table behind Angkor Tiger. We just have to keep winning each game and hope they slip up. I also hope to have enough points in the bag that the final game of the season against our rivals does not become a title decider.. but that’s then this is now, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Due to the annoying disciplinary rules in Cambodia (Cheers @Timo) both my centre backs are suspended for this one, so the baton is passed to Ouk Ratana, who moves to centre back and replaced by Joly at left back and Um Makara. Otherwise it’s as you were with hopefully Abdi continuing his impressive form from the last game. The Police are down in 8^th and have improved from last season when they nearly got relegated. They have the dangerous Chey Chitra in their ranks and ex-EDC man, Sung Rot, who can really cause us problems.

Team: 4-3-3: Som, Pisa, Ratana, Makara, Joly, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Abdi, Nhem

Match Action

Opening 15 minutes.. nowt.. 16^th minute we get a corner whoppey doo. Cleared.. They annoyingly have the ball. We get a free-kick which Pidor floats in and Ratana heads into the keeper’s arms, a half chance..  Makara flights a lovely ball to Taboula who finds Abdi in the area... Oh saved. Should have scored..  Suddenly Pisa bursts down the right flank with a much needed bit of urgency. His cross is cleared but only as far as Samanag who finds Pidor who plays it on to NHEMMM!!!! Ooh what a goal he fires it into the top corner God I love this guy! 1-0 to the EDC! We’ve grown in confidence and enjoy a good spell of possession. Pisa plays a well weighted ball down the right channel for Nhem who gets the byeline and Taboula!! The Nigerian nods home his tenth goal of the season. Superb play EDC! But... Just when things were going swimmingly Kakada sticks out a leg and sends Sung Rot flying.. He’s already on a yellow.. it’s an early bath for him.. Pom Vannak replaces Abdi to sit in front of the back four. The Police are knocking it about and Chitra goes close with a header over the bar when he should have done btter. It’s not over yet. Half Time.

We are a different animal though this season. We aint gonna let a silly sending off ruin our day. The Police’s attack breaks down thanks to Pisa’s challenge and the full back finds Taboula on the left wing with a flighted ball. The Nigerian runs menacingly at his fullback before crossing an improbable ball for young Nhem at the far post who nips in and sidefoots home from the tightest of angles. God we are good.. 3-0.. Hold on! Ros Pheara fires a goal back with a stunning effort into the top corner. 3-1.. Is there late drama? No.. We see it through to the end with a bit of short slow passing and time wasting. For the time being we are two points clear at the top of the table. Over to you Angkor Tiger!

Final Score: National Police 1-3 EDC

                               Pheara 77                      Nhem 38, 50

                                                                      Taboula 44

                                                                        

As EDC keep up the pace at the top of the C-League table, can they maintain their form, or will complacency or an unhappy Somalian Pele scupper their title dreams? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Footbll Manager Game! 

Read the next part here chasing the Tiger's Tail