Career Cockers Fails The William Ralph "dixie" Dean Challenge

[Cockers2505]

So I have been away a little from doing Challenges due to work and other mad crazy stuff, but I'm back and I'm going to set a milestone for all those attempting this challenge. 

So as William Ralph 'Dixie' Dean got is accolade from playing for Everton, I thought it is only right that I try the same fete with his beloved club... 

So here goes...

The Club Everton

     

Everton Football Club is a football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. The club have competed in the top division for a record 114 seasons, missing the top division only four times (1930–31 and three consecutive seasons starting with 1951–52) since The Football League was created in 1888. Everton have won 15 major trophies: the League Championship nine times (fourth most as of 2017–18), the FA Cup five times (ninth most) and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup once.

Formed in 1878, Everton were founding members of The Football League in 1888 and won their first League Championship two seasons later. Following four League Championship and two FA Cup wins, Everton experienced a lull in the immediate post World War Two period, until a revival in the 1960s, which saw the club win two League Championships and an FA Cup. The mid-1980s represented their most recent period of sustained success, with two League Championships, an FA Cup, and the 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup. The club's most recent major trophy was the 1995 FA Cup.

The club's supporters are known as Evertonians. Everton have a rivalry with neighbours Liverpool, and the two sides contest the Merseyside derby. The club has been based at Goodison Park in Walton, Liverpool, since 1892, after moving from Anfield following a row over its rent. The club's home colours are royal blue shirts with white shorts and socks.

The Challenge

The William Ralph "Dixie" Dean Challenge

Can you match these amazing goal-scoring exploits?

Challenge Rules

1. Load up England and any other countries and take charge of any Premier League club (Everton if you want to go authentic) and sign an English striker.

2. You have 12 seasons in which to match and surpass Dean's incredible goal scoring feats

3. You must beat his record of 60 league goals, 37 hat-tricks and 383 club goals.

4. The player must also win at least 2 League Titles, 2 Charity Shield and 1 FA Cup.

DAY 1 - SEASON 1

All Evertonians are ecstatic on the arrival of their new manager Ian 'Cockers' Cochrane

The welcome to Goodison Park is one of pure elation...

So what can this experienced, relatively successfully manager bring to this club...

On the unveiling of the Manager, it was reported that he has brought with him a up and coming talent who can and will bring success back to the club...

  

Meet BEN BRERETON

Brereton signed with Championship club Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2015 after his release from Stoke City. Following his impressive form in the club's academy teams, with 15 goals in 20 appearances, Brereton signed a new contract with the club on 31 December 2016. Despite the interest of Premier League clubs Liverpool and Manchester United in the January 2017 transfer window, Brereton remained with Forest and made his first-team debut on 25 January 2017 as a 76th-minute substitute during a 2–0 loss to Leeds United. Brereton scored his first goal on 4 February, netting in injury-time against Aston Villa to give Forest a 2–1 victory.

On 27 March 2017, having made ten appearances and scoring against Fulham and Brentford, Brereton was nominated for the Championship Apprentice of the Year award. He was one of three players nominated, the others named as Lloyd Kelly of Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday's George Hirst. Brereton was announced as the winner at the EFL Awards at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, on 9 April. He signed a long-term contract with Forest on 22 June, keeping him under contract at the club until June 2021.

But with a club like Everton coming in for the youngster, who is excelling within the International stage, In March 2017, Brereton received his first call-up to an England side after being named in the under-19s squad for games against their Spanish, Norwegian and Belarusian counterparts. Having started his side's 3–0 defeat of Spain and coming off the bench for the 5–1 beating of Belarus, manager Keith Downing praised his performances and ease at settling into the squad. 

Brereton was subsequently called up to represent England at the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. In the group stage, he scored the winner against the Netherlands and twice against Germany. Brereton was a second-half substitute during the victory against Portugal in the final. His total of three goals meant Brereton was joint top goalscorer at the tournament.

So how could Nottingham Forest and Brereton turn down such an exclusive offer, Everton came in with a £4.3 million bid, that was accepted by Forest and terms was agreed by both Everton and Brereton to make him THE brightest up and coming player of the future.

His Statistics

Thanks for reading, please comment all you want, and hopefully you can enjoy the journey as much as I will...

to be continued...

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cockers2505

[Nucleus]

All the best with this one Cockers, I’m curious to see how well Brereton does for you, I’ve seen him develop quite well in a lot of saves

[Cockers2505]

I can report @Nucleus he's not letting me down so far, and his stats certainly improve remarkably

[Nucleus]

Brilliant, can’t wait for the first update. 60 league goals is certainly going to be hard

[FuddledFox]

Good luck @Cockers2505👍

This is one of the challenges I really like the look of but I'm to deep into my Atletico Madrid save to start anything else.

[Cockers2505]

thanks @Foxy just wanted to get back into the feel of a good challenge, and this hit me in the face, I want to do a 1K, but I get fed up to easily

[Taff]

Look good dude, looking forward to this

[ManLikeRobbieBrady]

Good luck mate, hopefully this goes better than the Vibe World Cup 😉

Ah I'm just joking, I'm sure you'll have no problem with this.

[Cockers2505]

22 minutes ago, Taff said:

Look good dude, looking forward to this

Thanks @Taff as always

2 minutes ago, ManLikeRobbieBrady said:

Good luck mate, hopefully this goes better than the Vibe World Cup 😉

Ah I'm just joking, I'm sure you'll have no problem with this.

Wow @ManLikeRobbieBrady that cut deep, man I'm about to throw myself under a bus... 

 

Well after I complete the Challenge, cheers mate

[Cockers2505]

So Season 1 of 12 over

A little disappointed in the sense of loosing to many at the end of the season for some reason, and conceding a little to many goals, but some of that is down to the Tactics I am using to try and get more goals from my man...

Season 1

We will start with the normal running of the club, the exploits throughout the season, and then end with how i've done with the records set by 'Dixie'

Guess I'll start with Transfers...

IN

Spoiler

OUT

Spoiler

How did the Team Do...

This was going to be either a tremendous season with my Tactic, or a complete shambles and we would finish well below what was required from us, pre-season made me a little apprehensive on how this was going to go... but...

I actually pulled it off, winning the league in the first season was a remarkable fete even for me, usually the tactical geniuses of Taff, Bati and Foxy to name but a few, get to this stage in Season 1.

Final Table...

Yes, Yes its nice to see me up there, and scoring 96 goals is amazing, but conceding 53 is not for the faint hearted, but as I said I knew my tactic was very attacking and very leaky at the back, but it got me this far...

Cup Competitions...

Carabao Cup...

This is where it all ended, got through to the Quarter Final against the might Manchester City, keeping them at a draw 2-2 to go into penalties, We couldn't keep our nerve eventually loosing 10-9 on penalties...

FA Cup

The FA cup saw us reach the Fifth round where we were easily beat by Arsenal, we got it back to 2-2 but the 71st minute proved to be fatal for us eventually loosing 3-1 to knock us out...

Euro Cup

We got ourselves to the Semi-finals where we met with Arsenal again, could we reap the same reward they had done to us, the answer is NO, we lost again but this time quite heavily over the 2 legs, 5-3 being the final nail in the coffin for this cup run...

Serious Injury...

So Rodrigo was having an absolute brilliant season for a 17 year old, but then disaster struck, and with Surgery I have lost him for 12 months, what a bummer!!

Fixtures...

Spoiler

So how many hatricks, if any can I add to Brereton's record...

His first hatrick for the youngster, and in the Euro Cup, hopefully the first of many...

He continued to score well in the Euro Competition...

His First League hatrick, and away against Arsenal, couldn't ask for a better striker, and only 18 years old...

His First hatrick in front of his home crowd, the jubilation was outstanding, what an achievement for the youngster...

Memorable Games...

A few games to remember, including beating Man Utd, Arsenal and Man city, plus a Derby day win against Liverpool at Anfield, but the big ones are Chelsea at home 6-0, West Brom away 2-6, the 8-0  home game against Sion, and finally a 0-4 win away at Leicester...

Spoiler

So how did Ben Brereton get on in his first Season in the Premier League...

Ben Brereton...

His stats show a youngster that is going places, there is still room for improvement, but the greens are appearing the right places, he is fit, fast and strong. I can only hope these will continue to get better season by season...

His Goal Tally Season 1...

It's not happening this season, missing out on 4 goals, but for a player just turned 19 years old, I couldn't ask for more, especially as he played an astonishing 59 games. His assist rate was good, just need to turn them into goals and we could have a winner...

Final Stats for the Team...

EVERTON 2018...

Well that is Season 1 over, and where did I finish...

You must beat his record of 60 league goals, 37 hat-tricks and 383 club goals.

The player must also win at least 2 League Titles, 2 Charity Shield and 1 FA Cup

Goals - 56 (Not quite)

Hatricks - 37 - 5 = 32 Left

Overall Goals - 383 - 56 = 327 Left

League Titles - 2 - 1 = 1 Left

FA Cup - 1 - 0 = 1 Left

Charity Shield - 2 - 0 = 2 Left

As always, thanks for reading and comment is appreciated...

to be continued...

 

 

[Nucleus]

If he bloody carries on I’d be tempted to go for a 1k mate! Cracking start that

[Taff]

cracking first season there mate, might have found yourself a great 1K candidate there

[Cockers2505]

1 hour ago, Nucleus said:

If he bloody carries on I’d be tempted to go for a 1k mate! Cracking start that

Thanks Mate, I will have to see after this challenge whether he is worth it, I've seen you guys getting over 100 goals, can he do that?

11 minutes ago, Taff said:

cracking first season there mate, might have found yourself a great 1K candidate there

Cheers Taff, I wonder if he could be the man as explained to Nucleus?

[Nucleus]

Ask me again in 4 seasons 😂 

He’s not developed enough to tell as of yet to be honest. He’s probably got the potential but I’ve only ever done it with Elite players, I think I’ve only managed it four times to be honest. Twice in a row with Harry Kane and twice with Krostoffer Ajer, but that was in the Scottish League. You need everything to go your way for it to happen 

[Scratch]

What a great start @Cockers2505 !! That's a massive first season. How is it I've never heard of Brereton? (I guess that's because I almost exclusively buy from abroad where there is a much lower signal to noise ration.

Anyway massive start, I reckon you'll do this easily. Although (and I don't want to be that guy, but...) does he need 60 season goals or 60 league goals (not counting cups and Europe)? I'm not familiar with the challenge and was thinking it was the second which would be much much harder. 

[Cockers2505]

9 hours ago, Nucleus said:

Ask me again in 4 seasons 😂 

He’s not developed enough to tell as of yet to be honest. He’s probably got the potential but I’ve only ever done it with Elite players, I think I’ve only managed it four times to be honest. Twice in a row with Harry Kane and twice with Krostoffer Ajer, but that was in the Scottish League. You need everything to go your way for it to happen 

If I can maintain his fitness throughout, I  reckon I can get the goals, but right now I'm concentrating on the Challenge rather than the thought of a 1K, thanks mate

6 hours ago, scratch99 said:

What a great start @Cockers2505 !! That's a massive first season. How is it I've never heard of Brereton? (I guess that's because I almost exclusively buy from abroad where there is a much lower signal to noise ration.

Anyway massive start, I reckon you'll do this easily. Although (and I don't want to be that guy, but...) does he need 60 season goals or 60 league goals (not counting cups and Europe)? I'm not familiar with the challenge and was thinking it was the second which would be much much harder. 

Cheers as always Scratch, I have understood that he needs to score 60 goals in a season, so I missed out by 4 this one, but it adds to his tally of 383 to complete the overall goalscoring record, unless I'm reading it wrong also?

[Cockers2505]

Update, I missed a record, i'm out doing myself as I have just noticed Brereton scored a Hatrick against West Brom in the 2-6 away win!!!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well that is Season 1 over, and where did I finish...

You must beat his record of 60 league goals, 37 hat-tricks and 383 club goals.

The player must also win at least 2 League Titles, 2 Charity Shield and 1 FA Cup

Goals - 56 (Not quite)

Hatricks - 37 - 5 6 = 32 Left 31 left

Not that this makes a massive difference as yet, but could be crucial later in the Challenge...

thanks again for reading, and comments or questions appreciated...

[Nucleus]

7 minutes ago, Cockers2505 said:

Cheers as always Scratch, I have understood that he needs to score 60 goals in a season, so I missed out by 4 this one, but it adds to his tally of 383 to complete the overall goalscoring record, unless I'm reading it wrong also?

You’ve read it wrong I’m afraid. It’s 60 “league” goals in a season 😮 probably the toughest part of the challenge.

[Cockers2505]

6 minutes ago, Nucleus said:

You’ve read it wrong I’m afraid. It’s 60 “league” goals in a season 😮 probably the toughest part of the challenge.

So that does make a massive difference, thanks for clearing it up @Nucleus, so I was 30 goals off in that case, so this now makes this nearly impossible to do, wow

The overall goals stays, as the challenge says CLUB goals, so that's one relief, phew!!

Well let's see how it goes, it will either be a complete disastrous attempt, or some how, I will pull it off, cheers again @Nucleus

 

[Scratch]

16 minutes ago, Cockers2505 said:

Cheers as always Scratch, I have understood that he needs to score 60 goals in a season, so I missed out by 4 this one, but it adds to his tally of 383 to complete the overall goalscoring record, unless I'm reading it wrong also?

I don't know mate, I hadn't seen this challenge before. I just saw it said "60 league goals" and I thought the "league goals" part meant no cup goals etc. But that would be... very difficult. Anyway, not meaning to make a fuss, was just wondering about it. 

[Cockers2505]

Dean's greatest point of note is he is still the only player in English football score 60 league goals in one season (1927–28). At that season's end he was 21 years old. Middlesbrough's George Camsell, who holds the highest goals-to-games ratio for England, had scored 59 league goals the previous season

This is insane, and probably one of those never to be reached again!!!!

Edited July 20, 2018 by Cockers2505

[Scratch]

8 minutes ago, Cockers2505 said:

so this now makes this nearly impossible to do, wow

Very very difficult, but maybe a possibility. I don't think I've ever got that many league goals, but I just checked @Nucleus's current save and he got Harry Kane to 61 league goals in season 3 - and that's a 2 striker formation - so it can be done. Maybe not by me! But it's possible in theory...

You may want to rest him in other games and keep him fresh for the League. And... nope that's it, I'm not sure I have any other tips for this one... But I will be cheering you on!

Edited July 20, 2018 by scratch99

[Cockers2505]

I've checked my previous best, and I got Sandro to 53 League goals in my Latin Challenge, so as you said, save him for the League only, thanks mate

[Nucleus]

Just keep playing as it is for now, chalk off all the objectives and by then he should be fully developed and in his prime, and as @scratch99 says, rest him in all the cup games.

[ManLikeRobbieBrady]

Cracking start. KIU and you'll have this done in no time mate.

[Cockers2505]

1 hour ago, ManLikeRobbieBrady said:

Cracking start. KIU and you'll have this done in no time mate.

Thanks @ManLikeRobbieBrady but I am a little apprehensive now since @Nucleus highlighted 60 League goals which I never actually switched onto when taking this on, but eh, I've got 12 seasons so who knows

[Nucleus]

2 hours ago, Cockers2505 said:

Thanks @ManLikeRobbieBrady but I am a little apprehensive now since @Nucleus highlighted 60 League goals which I never actually switched onto when taking this on, but eh, I've got 12 seasons so who knows

I’m sorry for being the bearer of bad news 😂

[Cockers2505]

Why oh Why did I take on this Challenge without READING the F&%$ing Rules properly

This has to be my worst ever Season (for goalscoring) since playing this game EVER!!!!!!

Ben Brereton was not on form at all this season, so my aim was to try and scrub off some more of the Objectives to try and concentrate all my efforts on scoring the 60 goals required in a season, but not this Season 😫

End of Season 1 Awards

Nikola Vlasic wins Best Player in Europe 

                               English Players 'Player of the Year'

                               English Players 'Young Player of the Year'

                               English footballer of the Year

Vlasic and Brereton make the Players 'Team of the Year'

I win the English Premiere Division Manager of the Year

Spoiler

 

Season 2...

Good Start to Season 2 beating Tottenham at Wembley in the English Community Shield...

Charity Shield - 2 - 1 = 1 Left 

Another bad injury to Rodrygo again, comes back from a Year out due to injury and then he gets another 6 months on the sidelines...

Cup Games...

FA Cup - Lost to Bournemouth on the Replay 1-0

Carabao Cup

I need to win the FA Cup, which is still alluding me, but on a good note for my Management Statistics...

I win the Carabao Cup beating Chelsea 3-0 on a game that was closely fought...

Spoiler

European Champions Cup...

I eventually got to the final of the Champions Cup, beating the likes of A.Madrid, OGCN, Besiktas, Real Madrid, Man City and then Paris SG before drawing Sevilla in the Final...

Could this be the year for me to win a champions League Trophy with Everton...

Simple answer is NO, with a hard fought game played out ending in a 2-2 draw after extra time, it went to penalties, which some players lost their nerve loosing 3-4, it just wasn't to be...

Fixtures...

There was some horrible weeks where we simply couldn't get it together, loosing stupid games and conceding stupid goals to let ourselves down, all my fault obviously as the Manager...

Spoiler

Memorable Games...

Even though I believe this to be one of my worst seasons playing this game, I had some good results to be proud of...

Spoiler

 

Transfers...

I brought on a few player to try and bolster the team, Donny van de Peek and David Neres bolstering the midfield, with Matthijis de Ligt helping in Defence, but getting rid of a few players didn't go down well with the supporters, Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman to name a couple...

Transfers In...

Spoiler

Transfers Out...

Spoiler

Team Statistics...

I have a very good team now, Season 2 was always going to ask questions of a few players, I know that as I move forward they will get better and better as Season's pass, if I can strike off the other objectives in quick time, then this might be an achievable Challenge...

Spoiler

Before I move on to Brereton, I would just like to add the player who covered during the Cups games, and his Injuries, and that is one of my favourite players, Sandro...

His goal record could be so much different as the main striker, I've used him before getting 80+ goals in a season during my Latin Challenge...

Ben Brereton...

He did have a few injuries during this season, a month being his longest out...

Hatricks...

I could only get 1, yes ONE measly hatrick out of him this season, for a player I was hoping to light the world up, well what a let down, just hoping Season 3 changes for the best, or I am throwing the towel in already...

Brereton coming to the Club...

Brereton end of Season 1...

Brereton end of Season 2...

His attributes have actually gone down, I know some of it is the injuries, and some the training I've had him on maybe, so can I improve him as time goes by, I hope so...

Brereton's History so far...

Not a very good return as mentioned, 19 goals out of 31 League games is terrible, but I can only but hope I can turn this around, fingers crossed...

You must beat his record of 60 league goals, 37 hat-tricks and 383 club goals.

The player must also win at least 2 League Titles, 2 Charity Shield and 1 FA Cup

League Goals Required - 60 - 19 (Well off target)

Hatricks - 31 - 1 = 30 Left

Overall Goals - 327 - 21 = 306 Left

League Titles - 1 - 0 = 1 Left

FA Cup - 1 - 0 = 1 Left

Charity Shield - 2 - 1 = 1 Left

Thanks if you are reading this, and please comments as always are appreciated...

[Scratch]

Wow, tough season. You know how these things go though, next season will probably be better than the first. Not much for it but to push on. My money is on him coming good. Good enough for most of it anyway, that 60 goals is going to be tough no matter who you have! KIU! 

[Nucleus]

Tough break that. Head down and smash the next season. You got this