53. Chasing The Tiger's Tail
When we left off last time, EDC were riding high at the top of the C-League, going toe to toe with everybody's favourite Cambodian beer company, Angkor Tiger. At just past halfway in the season, it has been neck and neck, tit for tat, neck and crop, or whatever other depictions of closeness you wish to use. It seems that the season is heading for a final day showdown, when the two sides meet at the Electricity Stadium in the final game of the season on 2nd November 2024.. Until then there are ten more games to play. Who will blink first?
Board Confidence
Now you would think, given our position in the table, the board would be very happy, encouraging and supportive in our quest for the league title.. However my chairman, Hem Vutha and his cronies in the boardroom are indeed hard taskmasters. Despite only two defeats all season and a sustained challenge for the title,
the board, while very pleased with my performance as manager are disappointed
with the results we are getting on the pitch Eh?
Club Vision
C+
Matches C-
(strangely)
Transfer
Market Performance B-
Tactics B-
Squad
backing B+
Thanks for your support boardroom....
Match 18: EDC v Prek Pra 04/08/24
A should-win
game against lowly second bottom side, Prek Pra at home. Our opponents though
can put a spanner in the works against the bigger sides having recently held
Boeung Ket 2-2. Daravon and Gbayoro return, while Kakada is suspended so Um
Makara steps forward into the ball winning midfielder role. News just in:
Angkor Tiger were held at home by Chhlam Samuth 1-1.. We could go top with a
win here after the same amount of matches. Come on EDC!
Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro,
Ratana, Makara, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Abdi, Nhem
Match Action
We
inevitably dominate with our opponents who are parking the team bus in front of their
goal. We create a few half chances but our bark is worse than our bite in the
opening fifteen. I tell my full backs to get forward to create more width. The
front three combine well, but can’t beat their offside trap let alone the
keeper. Time ticks on. Prek Pra venture out of their half and create... 0-0
still as we tick towards the break..
Then, out of
nowehere, Pidor swings in an up and under of a corner kick which causes a bit
of panic in the box. An EDC player goes down, not sure who, my players appeal
for a penalty. Given! Up steps young Ratana who smashes it straight into the
bottom corner. Get in! I don’t care how they come. 1-0 to the EDC. Then, the
busy Makara releases Taboula down the left channel who crosses for Abdi who
leaps like a salmon and fires his header just wide! Big chance missed to make
it two by the Somalian Pele. Pisa then gets down the right and the keeper makes
a fine save from an instant Nhem shot. Still just the one goal as we troop into
the dressing room at half time.
Into the
second half and Prek look a bit more ambitious. Panha has the ball on the left.
Good sliding challenge from Pisa, but he has injured himself in the process. I
sub him for In Sambath. Panha has the ball again. Good sliding challenge from
Sambath.. but he’s injured himself in the process. I have nobody else who can
play right back or left back if I switched Ratana. I send on my defensive midfielder, Pom Vannak to play
there and hope for the best. Prek smell blood and start to knock the ball
around with confidence. With a makeshift right back, this aint gonna end
well..and it doesn’t. Chan Dara hits a screamer from 25 yards into the bottom
corner to make it 1-1. I go to a 4-2-4, with Nhem and Pidor as wingers with sub
Noron and Taboula up front. We press forward but everything is blocked. We
can’t create a chance. I go all out attacking but this leaves more gaps for the
visitors to exploit. Chhin Meang Sang picks up the ball and runs forward before
releasing another thunderbolt past Som How are we 2-1 down? What is going on? Mat
Noron is angry. He bombs down the right before providing a peach of a cross for
Taboula but his effort is clawed away by the keeper. This was not in the script!
They then re-park the bus in front of our goal and are equal to everything we
throw at them. We’ve been had here. Firstly our two right backs getting injured
one after the other, forcing me to use all three subs which prevented me from
throwing on an attacking option when we needed it near the end. Secondly we
have lost from two long range efforts from a team who barely ventured into our
half. Well and truly FMed here and what an opportunity wasted to take top spot.
The Almighty Buddha was not smiling on us today!
Final Score EDC 1-2 Prek Pra
Ratana 38 (pen) Chea Dara 64
Chhin Meang
Sang 84
Match 19: Khemera v EDC 11/08/24
We need to
get back to winning ways in order to keep the pressure on Angkor Tiger at the
top of the table. This won’t be easy because despite our rather comfortable win
over Khemera earlier in the season, this is still a team that can cause us
problems. They are well organised, adopting a 3-5-2 formation and have former
EDC man, Leap Bo in the fulcrum of their midfield. Therefore I go in with a
4-3-3 to both match their numbers in midfield and also occupy their three
central defenders. Sin Kakada comes back in after suspension, otherwise I keep
the same team which lost to Prek Pra.
Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro,
Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Abdi, Nhem
Match Action
We start
positively a long range free kick into the area results in a powerful header
tipped over the bar from Gbayoro. Khemera attack us though with numbers and all
three midfielders charge forward. The ball is spread to wing back Hong Makara
who fires it past Som at his near post. Oh fiddlesticks! We respond well,
creating several chances, but not converting. Abdi finds the side netting when
he should have done better. They look dangerous on the counter attack. Som has
to tip over a stunning long range effort. Pidor curls a wonderful shot just
over, We are doing anything but score. Then an old foe rears his big, ugly
head. Miroslav Klose. No we haven’t heard from this for a while but Khemera
somehow find a way to re-activate this annoyance. You know the score, big hoof
downfield striker runs clear. This time he even had the temerity to square it
to his mate, Ung Dara who tapped into an empty goal. I hate this stupid
game!!!!
We respond
well again and a flowing move results in Abdi heading just over. We deserve
better than to be 2-0 down. This is a farce of a game.
I revert to
4-4-2 and bring on Graca and take off the hapless Abdi. I also introduce Matty
Noron for the out of sorts Taboula. We start to assert dominance again. From a
free-kick Daravon has a header brilliantly saved. The resulting corner is
cleared but is picked up by Pidor who runs forward and lays off to Kakada, who
passes back to Ratana in the left wing back position. He floats a perfect cross
in to the sub Noron who beats the onrushing keeper to the ball to squeeze it
past him and halve the deficit. Come ON! After a couple of Khemera attacks we
attack again. Gbayoro has another header well saved from another pinpoint Pidor
free kick. Then Graca messes up a diving header at the far post, Noron then
messes up a header from 4 yards after a lucky rickashay and then Pidor has another
free kick saved. We deserve something out of the this flipping game FM Gods can
you hear me??? We’ve been well and truly FM-ed again here. 18 shots to 6..
Unbelievable! I cannot fault the players here.. Unfortuately with Angkor
Tiger’s 1-0 win over the National Police they go five points clear at the top.
It’s not over yet, but you have to now make the beer company favourites to win
their second title in three years.
Final Score Khemera 2-1 EDC
Makara 2 Noron 59
Dara 42
League Table
League Table
Angkor Tiger 42
EDC 37
Phnom Penh Crown 34
Nagaworld 33
Boeung Ket 29
National Defence 28
Khemera 26
National Police 20
Chhlam Samuth 20
Prek Pra 17
Build Bright United 12
-------------------------------------------
Svay Rieng 11
Chmao Khmao 11
Wat Phnom 5
While there was much frustration around the club at their two recent defeats, the pressure seemed to have got too much for my £1000 man, Aderito Graca. The seventeen year old from the Cape Verde Islands has been used sparingly by me as an impact sub in order to help him settle into the club, a brand new country and to relieve a bit of the expectation placed on him by the £1000 price tag.
It was Nen Borey who first alerted me to the situation with Aderito Graca. The boy never seemed to smile, he could only speak Portugese and very basic English, which meant that nobody really understood him, nor could he join in with the team banter. He cut a lonely figure at the club and barely said a word to anyone.
I tried to get some of my senior pros, Daravon and captain, Chea Samnang to try and integrate him, take him out to dinner and try to get to know him, but it was no use. His performances, mainly from the bench had been OK and had showed one or two flashes of his undoubted ability. Graca was a good trainer and had even adapted his game to play in a central AMC role so he could fit into my new 4-3-3 formation.
However, one day at training he had failed to grasp one of the tasks set out by my coaches and the boy broke down in tears. In broken English he managed to tell us how unhappy he was, how he missed his homeland, especially his family, friends and the beaches back home. He was desperate to go back to the Cape Verde Islands as soon as possible and play football for his home club, Mindelese.
I had to feel sorry for the lad. He was thousands of miles away from home, in a strange country where he did not speak the language, or praise Buddha, or be able to go to the beach of which he had grown up with. From a footballing perspective we were still in the hunt for our first league title and I did not want this situation to cause a distraction in the camp.
After discussion with Nen Borey, my coaching team and the boy himself it was concluded that the best thing for all parties was for him to re-join his former club, Mindelese in the Cape Verde Islands at the earliest possible opportunity. The contact between the two clubs was swift and the sale was agreed. I did not charge them a fee, much to the annoyance of my chairman, but a player's welfare to me is of paramount importance. In this case, money did not matter. Unfortunately for Graca he could only go at the end of the Cambodian season at the start of the transfer window and so the thousand pound man spent the rest of his days at EDC in my reserves, counting the days until he could return home...
Match 20: EDC v Nagaworld
Just when I
wanted a nice easy home game to get us back to winning ways, we have a visit from our fierce rivals. The casino are lurking in 4th place, just four
points behind us. Angkor Tiger are five points ahead of us, so it is important
we win to keep chasing the tiger’s tail and effectively end Nagaworld’s
faint title hopes. I ring a few changes and go to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Injuries, suspensions and loan rules mean a makeshift back four will be in
operation, while Taboula ploughs a lone furrow up front with Pidor and Nhem
snaking in off the flanks to join him. Pheara makes a start in the AMC role.
Team: Som, In Sambath, Makara,
Gbayoro, Joly, Kakada, Samnang, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor
Match Action
Nagaworld
have the better of things and nearly take the lead when Sokhamrin is sent clear
after a hoofed clearance and smacks the post. The same player also forces a
good save from Som. I don;t know who this guy is but he is causing all sorts of
trouble in our defence. We have a couple of decent attacks but little to show
for it. Then the inevitable happens. We have a free kick which is cleared and
Soka whathisface, who sprints through an empty half of the pitch and slots past Som
at his near post. I change to a 4-3-3 in response with Pheara, Taboula and Nhem
forming a three pronged attack with Pidor just behind in the number 10 role. We
look more of a threat and one move results in a Pheara effort brilliantly
tipped over the bar. We are starting to tick again and it is now us who look
the most dangerous team. Taboula sends Nhem clear with a brilliant slide rule
pass, but once again their keeper is equal to his attempt on goal. Nagaworld
though are cunning. A long goal kick and the danger man Sovakharmain flicks the
ball round the corner for my old friend Math Fasal into the box. Makara lunges at
him.. Penalty. Sun Dara fires it confidently into the corner, sending Som the
wrong way... We just can’t do anything right at the moment.. 2-0 at the break.
It’s rare
that I shout at my team, but this was one occasion I just could not hold it in.
I am so annoyed with them right now They go out for the second half with a flea
in their ear. I hope it motivates them. Unfortunately by the way we have started
the half, it seems not as Nagaworld sweep forward with confidence. Sovakhamrin
has an effort just wide, while Man Ratana waltzes his way into the box and
forces a fingertip save from Som. I demand more. Captain, Chea Samnang listens
and puts in a fierce tackle much to the delight of the home fans. He then plays
a perfectly weighted ball to the onrushing Taboula who rounds the keeper and
slots home into the empty net for 2-1. Then Nhem flicks on to substitute Noron
who fires menacingly just over the bar. Game on! We push for an equaliser.
Graca comes on for the ineffective Pidor, but Nagaworld are equal to everything
we throw at them. Then, the sucker punch. Yamin and Ratana who have tormented
us all afternoon combine to send Cheng Meng clear in the box and he squeezes a
shot through Som at the near post to secure victory. A disappointing defeat and
our third in a row. Whatsmore, Angkor Tiger overcame a plucky Build Bright
United 3-2 to go eight points clear at the top.. . Our title ambitions are
fading fast....
Final Score EDC 1-3 Nagaworld
Taboula 66 Sovunkharmin 17
Sun Dara
45 (pen)
Som o.g 90
Match 21 National Defence v EDC
Simply put,
we need to get back to winning ways and fast, starting with this trip the
National Defence, who are in a comfortable 6th place. I am making
changes to the XI and reverting back to a 4-4-2 with old favourite Tuy Oudom
returning to the side on the right wing. Makara steps in at the back for the
suspended Gbayoro, while Pisa and Ratana return in the full back positions. The
Cambodian army boast Lim Chanroeurn up front who has scored 14 goals already
this season and will need to be watched.
Team: 4-4-2 Som, Pisa, Daravon,
Makara, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Oudom, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor
Match Action
We start the
game well, look after the ball and pass from side to side where Pidor and Oudom
already look a threat. The former goes on a lung bursting run through the middle
of the park, skipping past two defenders, before sliding a delicious ball
through to Nhem, whose rasping shot is clawed away by the keeper. The Defence
start to knock the ball around with confidence and dangerman Lim Chamroeurn
heads over from former EDC loanee, Ivonaldo’s cross. Then from nowhere, a
corner and Makara fouls in the box, Penalty. Just how our luck is going at the
moment. Chanroeurn fires it home. 1-0 to National Defence.
We respond
well. Taboula has a fierce shot tipped over after the ball fell to him in the
penalty area and Samnang has a low shot well saved. Ratana plays a ball into
the box but their goalkeeper, former EDC man, Um Channou (remember him) makes a
ridiculous point blank save. 1-0 to them at the break.
We revert to
a 4-3-3 with Noron coming on for Oudom. I demand more and they respond. A
wonderful move, one that Barcelona under Pep Guardiola would have been proud of
results in our old friend Channou making another ridiculous point blank save
from Pidor with the goal at his mercy. Yet again it is not our day. Then Nhem
shoots from the right edge of the penalty box and Channou once again finds his
inner Gordon Banks and tips it over. This is getting stupid now. It’s going to
take something special to win now. Sim Kakada has the ball in the centre of
midfield and lays it off to Um Makara who plays a hopeful ball towards sub Mat
Noron. Both he and the defender miss the ball which allows young Nhem to run
onto it and lash home a much deserved equaliser. 1-1. Then we just cannot get
the ball as the Defence respond. The ball is swept wide left to Nen Soreath who
is unmarked and has all the time in the world to pick out Lim Chamroeurn who
beats Som with a bullet header. It really is not our day, week, month or year
at the moment. Ivonaldo rubs our noses in it by rising highest to nod home a
third from a corner. Title hopes gone. We have completely forgotten how to win
football matches..
It's all gone Pete Tong again for our friends Electric. This time there will be no Keegan-style rants, but just sheer frustration at the way we have capitulated to four straight defeats against opponents, except for Nagaworld which they really should be beating if they are serious about winning the C-League. Can EDC turn things around in the last seven games of the season, or is it too late to catch the tiger? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!
Read the next part there! Bridging the Gap!
Comments
Post a Comment