Career Score One Take One 2021 - Season 2 - November

[Chris]

Doing awesome so far mate, KIU. Really looking forward to the start of your next season already First few games will be so important! Fingers crossed for some easier early games first. 

[FuddledFox]

2 hours ago, RichD said:

Madine doing well, some of the stories from his time at Cardiff are crazy and that’s why he got let go! Paying people to fight him

Tbf I would be quite happy to kick him in the 🥜 if he is paying me.

9 minutes ago, itzChris92 said:

Doing awesome so far mate, KIU. Really looking forward to the start of your next season already First few games will be so important! Fingers crossed for some easier early games first. 

Season two could be a lot of fun for all the wrong ways although I think I have a couple of players who can cut it in the Championship.

[Rob]

Madine used to be one of my go-to players years ago when I played the game before Vibe and I was trying to claw a lower league up. Kinda awesome to see him being used by you.

Going to be a mad one when you get a big team in the cup.

[FuddledFox]

2 hours ago, Rob said:

Going to be a mad one when you get a big team in the cup.

That’s what I’m pinning my hopes on to keep this season interesting as at the moment League 1 teams just can’t keep up with me.

[FuddledFox]

Season 1 - January

The main interest this month was going to be the FA Cup with potentially two games if I could beat Exeter in the 3rd round. I have decided to split the league and cup games up so the league games will come first in the update and then the cup games after that.

League

In a shocking turn of events we actually lost a player in a league game this month!

Northampton - Away

It didn’t feel very long ago we played these lot and beat them and again we got the job done. We seem to start games with the foot to the floor and as often as not have the game won by half time before I take there foot off the pedal in the 2nd half. This wasn’t a comfortable win after we took a 2 goal lead but it’s hard to say Northampton deserved anything out the game.

We took the goalscorer Tahvon Campbell and in all honesty my boys should be ashamed that he scored as he’s certainly no worldie.

Spoiler

 

Rochdale - Away

I don’t know how many games we have won in a row but it’s been a few and a draw or loss was inevitable at some point. Although we had a goal disallowed this was a very even game that we could have lost.

 

We Gary “Madman” Madine scoring he was off back up north to sign for Rochdale whilst we got underwhelming attacker Alex Newby in exchange.

Spoiler

Fleetwood - Home

We were straight back to winning ways though and again it was a first half attacking master class followed by a 2nd half parking the bus masterclass as we sent the Cod Army home with nothing.

Paddy Madden is quite a decent striker who I have used before in my Round the World save if I remember right. We also got IF Barrie McKay who was on loan from Swansea but now has the honour of joining us.
 

Spoiler

That completes the months league action and we stay firmly top of the league with a game in hand over the Posh.

 

FA Cup Action

The 3rd round draw had been kind and we were going to Exeter with a huge chance of making the 4th round and potentially taking on one of the big boys.

Exeter - Away

I changed the entire first XI for this game to give a few different players a run out. This included former Yellow Kane Hemmings who got to play for old times sake and rewarded me with a goal. This was a very straight forward win and puts us in the 🎩 for the 4th round.

Of the four players I took home with us from Devon the only one I will keep in te first team squad is LB Lewis Page simply as a back up. Randall Williams is a good winger in League 2 but he is never getting near my first team and the same for Ajose and Maxted.

Spoiler

The tie against a Premier League big boy didn’t materialise but instead we got to pit our wits against a Championship side which would be a good test to see how we might fair next season.

Blackburn - Home

I didn’t play a 2nd team for this game and we showed that at least at home we can cope with a mid table Championship team and not only that but beat them comfortably as well. This was exciting because with two players joining we could get a couple of real useful players.

 

One name that sticks out in the Blackburn team is @Scratch favourite Adam Armstrong but although he was an option with a 7 scored he didn’t have the highest AvR and wasn’t dropping a league.

Jack Vale is only 19 so he should improve but he isn’t exactly the Championship striker I was hoping to win in this game!

 

A goalkeeper wasn’t top of my list either but actually he is very good and does improve on what I have so all being well I should go into the Championship with at least a decent keeper for that level.

 

What that does mean is that I was in the draw for the 5th round and again looking for a Premier League team to face.

Spoiler

Yet again though it will be Championship opposition as we will be hosting Bournemouth. This is another good test of our Championship credentials as they currently lie 9th in the table plus if we can win they will have some good players on offer (hopefully) and again I can possibly get a big team in the 6th round. 

Thanks for reading.

[RichD]

Was really hoping you’d get Adam Armstrong then! 
 

Great month again, I assume Madine left as he had no one left to fight 👊🏻

[FuddledFox]

3 hours ago, RichD said:

Was really hoping you’d get Adam Armstrong then! 
 

Great month again, I assume Madine left as he had no one left to fight 👊🏻

I really thought that was who I would get but maybe Vale can develop if he doesn’t get pushed out the first team squad by better players coming in.

I think there is just more people to fight in the Manchester area than little old Oxford so he was keen for a move back closer.

[Scratch]

Gutted you didn't get Armstrong - I'd love to see him at the U's... That keeper looks pretty decent though.

BTW, just read through the whole thing and it's a great one to follow along. Not sure I'd actually want to play it though as it's just too many players coming in! Better than too many players going out I guess, but it would do my head in... 😄

[hhooo]

I feel like this would be more interesting if each team took the number of players equal to the goals they scored, no matter the result. 

[FuddledFox]

2 hours ago, Scratch said:

Gutted you didn't get Armstrong - I'd love to see him at the U's... That keeper looks pretty decent though.

BTW, just read through the whole thing and it's a great one to follow along. Not sure I'd actually want to play it though as it's just too many players coming in! Better than too many players going out I guess, but it would do my head in... 😄

The problem comes now in deciding which players to keep in the 1st team squad because I have a few young players I have won that could develop well but with each win there is usually someone else who I think could develop or do a decent job now/next season.

1 hour ago, hhooo said:

I feel like this would be more interesting if each team took the number of players equal to the goals they scored, no matter the result. 

That would be one way to do it and it could be fun.

My only hesitation would be that in many ways you are rewarding losing games because I might beat a poor team 3-1 and I get 3 pretty poor or average players but they most likely get my star striker. Flip that round and I’m playing Man City in the cup it would pay me to play some of my fringe players who I don’t care if I lose but go all out attack lose 7-2 and take KDB and Sterling off them for the loss of some very average League 1 players.

[hhooo]

1 hour ago, FuddledFox said:

The problem comes now in deciding which players to keep in the 1st team squad because I have a few young players I have won that could develop well but with each win there is usually someone else who I think could develop or do a decent job now/next season.

That would be one way to do it and it could be fun.

My only hesitation would be that in many ways you are rewarding losing games because I might beat a poor team 3-1 and I get 3 pretty poor or average players but they most likely get my star striker. Flip that round and I’m playing Man City in the cup it would pay me to play some of my fringe players who I don’t care if I lose but go all out attack lose 7-2 and take KDB and Sterling off them for the loss of some very average League 1 players.

But as soon as you concede a goal in league one after that, some other team gets KDB from you! 

[FuddledFox]

23 minutes ago, hhooo said:

But as soon as you concede a goal in league one after that, some other team gets KDB from you! 

I’m happy to change the rules for season 2 so what will do is say that if two more people want the rules changed so each goal in a game causes a player saw then I will put it to a poll at the end of the season.

So don’t be shy if you think S2 should see a rule change comment below and I will set up a poll if enough people want it.

[RichD]

I say keep them the same! I’m enjoying the current way tbh😁

[FuddledFox]

46 minutes ago, RichD said:

I say keep them the same! I’m enjoying the current way tbh😁

Glad your enjoying it.

In all honesty this has gone far better than I ever imagined in terms of how the team is playing and I’m not going to artificially lose games just to make it go differently in the same way I wouldn’t artificially win games or take players that I didn’t earn.

As I said I’m happy to make changes to the rules if people think it will make things more interesting but only at the end of the season.

[hhooo]

Take my comment not as a criticism of your career/rules, but as me thinking out loud for a potential spinoff series. Like the Frasier to your Cheers.

[FuddledFox]

15 minutes ago, hhooo said:

Take my comment not as a criticism of your career/rules, but as me thinking out loud for a potential spinoff series. Like the Frasier to your Cheers.

With me winning a lot of games I have worried that this season has become boring for you all to follow so that is why I’m happy to offer the chance for people to vote on a rule change. If the majority of people who are still following are still enjoying the save as is then again I’m happy to carry on.

[RichD]

To me it’s not about you winning or losing, I find the players you get or lose the fun part, i don’t take as much notice to the winning or losing compared to what players come through the door 😁

[broodje kip]

Same as Rich, I’m more excited to see who’s coming in and who’s coming out. Probably also see some lower league bargains

[Jsavfc]

1 minute ago, RichD said:

To me it’s not about you winning or losing, I find the players you get or lose the fun part, i don’t take as much notice to the winning or losing compared to what players come through the door 😁

Pretty much this. 

Enjoying the current set up, yes your winning alot but thats part of the fun. Who knows, a higher league may provide some more problems. 

Most interesting and fun bit for me, is watching the players come and go. Im still hoping for a glamour tie in the cup to get a big name star down at Oxford. 

[Rob]

Yeah, I’m the same as Rich and the lads. I like seeing which boys are around at what levels.

[FuddledFox]

Season 1 - February

Firstly thanks for all the comments it’s great to know that many of you are still enjoying this save 

The big game this month was in the FA Cup against Bournemouth where hopefully we can knock out another Championship team and maybe get that coveted tie against a Premier League big boy.

Bristol Rovers - Home

The league campaign continued in fine form although shockingly I went behind in this game. Will Grigg did what he does and equalised and it looked to be heading for a draw which would have meant saying goodbye to the love of my life Grigg but Callum Camps had other ideas as he thundered in a free kick to win us the game.

I collected another GK in this game and I think I have lost count on how many keepers I have won now but it must be about 8. Loach isn’t great and he went straight into the reserves.

Spoiler

Doncaster - Away

Statistically this was an even game but we were just far too clinical for Donny and had the game wrapped up by the end of the 1st half and so I parked the bus in t 2nd and came away with the 2 nil win.

 

I took CB Keown who isn’t as good as his namesake Martin but I took Tyreece John-Jules who that have on loan from Arsenal and he is another exciting attacking option to add to the squad.

Spoiler

 

This takes us up to the cup game against Bournemouth.

Spoiler

Based on these cup games the squad is looking good for the step up to the Championship as we again won 3-1 just the same as we did against Blackburn.

It was that man Grigg who lead the way with two goals sandwiching an Agyei strike as well. Dan Gosling got one towards the end but it was Bournemouth’s poor finishing that cost them as they created three CCC but could only get one goal.

This means we get two more players from a Championship side with Dan Gosling being one which is a good steal and then RB Adam Smith who is a very good Championship level full back and one player I hope I can keep till next season.

Spoiler

 

We then carried on the League 1 campaign.

Wigan - Home

My new steal John-Jules made his debut and got off to a goalscoring start as we came from 1 down to beat Wigan. Young striker Walker scored but I can’t remember where he came from and Joe Garner got one against his former employers.

We got another TM to add to the pile with Wigan’s goalscorer but the real quality steal was Xavier Amaechi who was on loan from Hamburg and I think features in the WK list or at least he did last year.

Spoiler

Ipswich - Away

Bobby would be delighted with this result as we smashed 4 past Ipswich with Amaechi getting a debut goal for us. Dan Gosling also scored his first goal for the club.

 

Woolfenden was the one good capture from this game as he looks a good CB/RB and he will be hanging around but Cornell and Drinan won’t.
 

Spoiler

Portsmouth

We left it late in this game to salvage a point after Marquis had given Pompey the lead. Tyreece John-Jules got his 2nd goal for us with 5 minutes to go as he tapped in from a corner.

It was a straight swap of goalscorers and although Marquis looks decent at what he does I was excited about TJ-J so I’m disappointed to see him leave.

Spoiler

 

We remain 10 points clear at the top with 15 games left to play.

 

The last thing to reveal is who we will play in the FA Cup Quarter Finals. 
 

Spoiler

After playing a Lg2 side and then a couple of Championship teams I think it was time for a glamour tie but could we get one?

Spoiler

YES WE COULD!

We will be heading to Stamford Bridge at the end of March to probably lose a few players but maybe, just maybe we can cause a shock.

 

Thanks for reading.

[RichD]

Looking forward to the Chelsea game Fox!

Some nice players in as well, I’ve had Adam Smith on a couple of saves in the past and he’s always decent! Gosling a Newcastle legend 👀💪🏻

[Mr Tree]

It's still a great read mate but yeah, looking forward to next season really as it's all a bit of a foregone conclusion for now. I have to say though, we played Bournemouth recently, Smith acted the c*** throughout, and then was responsible for both goals we scored, which was funny  so I'm afraid i think he's a massive wanker.

Edited January 11 by Mr Tree

[FuddledFox]

39 minutes ago, RichD said:

Looking forward to the Chelsea game Fox!

Not sure I am!!!

20 minutes ago, Mr Tree said:

Smith acted the c*** throughout, and then was responsible for both goals we scored, which was funny  so I'm afraid i think he's a massive wanker.

Sounds like my kind of player.

[FuddledFox]

Season 1 - March

The main action of today’s update is the cup tie with Chelsea but there is also 6 league games to get out the way as well and shock of all shocks I lost some players this month.

MK Dons - Away

The month started with a visit to the plastic Dons and we feel behind straight away as former Oxford loanee Carlton Morris smashed one in. The lads had to dig deep and it was Ollie Palmer who was a steal from the real Dons who got the equaliser before we won it in the last seconds.

 

Carlton Morris had played 7 times without scoring for Oxford a few years ago and clearly he wanted another crack at it as he was there best performer.

Spoiler

Peterborough - Home

The Posh sit in 2nd but they were no match for my boys as we ran out comfortable winners thanks to Agyei scoring a brace.

We took a couple of ok players with Pym the goalkeeper looking decent but not better than I have and Reece Brown is ok but again he isn’t getting a game any time soon so I popped him in the reserves.

Spoiler

Charlton - Home

Charlton are the only team to beat us in the league so far so it was satisfying to put them back in there place in this game. We didn’t lack for shots in this game but it wasn’t until the 88th minute that we wrapped it up as Joe Garner made it 2-0.

Sam Winnall was the player Charlton took off me and he played in this game and was in with a chance of coming back.

It wasn’t Winnall that joined though as we took Marcus Maddison who’s a good League 1 midfielder and a young lad called Lewis Hardcastle who has gone straight to the reserves.

Spoiler

 

Swinedon - Away

It seems that 2 nil is becoming our favourite score as we won the Derby by that score line to do the double over the Wiltshire Wan*ers. Grigg is getting less playing time now as I swap things around most games and give other people games but we was my go to striker for this match and rewarded me with a goal before Westbrooke who came from Bristol Rovers scored right at the end.

Just like the first game against this lot I have no interest in the players I get so they have gone straight into the reserves to rot.

Spoiler

 

Hull - Away

We had to lose a player at some point and it came away to Hull. Man of the moment Louie Barry scored for them before we equalised before half time but we couldn’t follow that up with a winner so it would be a straight swap.

It was the two goalscorers going either way so we got Barry who no doubt develops into a good striker. Unfortunately I lost one of my favourites in Dembele who I was looking forward to using in the Championship but that’s the way this game can go 🤷‍♂️

Spoiler

Blackpool - Home

The final game before the big cup quarter final was another annoying draw but I can’t complain too much considering the run I have been on all season. It could have been worse as well as Williams was sent off but we held out and took a point.

That meant another swap and we sent them a LB in the shape of James Husband who is decent and we got back a RB called Teddy Howe who is younger, quicker but not yet as good.
 

Spoiler

So we went into the cup match with Chelsea on the back of two players leaving the squad and a couple of draws. My worry was that we would lose more in this game as well.

Chelsea - Away - FA Cup Quarter Final

I went into the game with my best midfielder Brannagan and one of my best defenders Ro-Shaun Williams both suspended whilst Garner is injured. It at least protects those players from being taken but it makes life harder.

 
I have been playing an all out attack 4-2-4 all season and although I toned it down a bit I went with it at the start of the match.

Spoiler

Big mistake as Chelsea were right up for this game and only took 4 minutes to score and then we were 2 down after 12. At this point I did go more defensive but that didn’t stop Chelsea rattling in 2 more so maybe whatever I did in this game wouldn’t have stopped them scoring.

At this stage I was starting to worry I would lose the whole team but in the 2nd half I completely shut up shop and actually came away with a creditable 0-0 from the half.
The possession stats were crazy in this game as we apparently kept possession against a top Premier League side like we were Pep’s Barca team!!!

That means I lose 4 players and three of them are very disappointing. 
Callum has been excellent all season in midfield since joining from Rochdale and although he doesn’t look like a Championship quality player I would have liked to given him the chance.

 

Remember my excitement when I took wonderkid Xavier Amaechi in the last update? 
Well he is off to Chelsea to continue his development which is a massive shame.

 

Another one of my exciting front players went as Kaylen Hinds heads to Chelsea. Like all my front players he has been rotated a lot and has played wide mostly since he joined from Doncaster. He only scored once in 11 games but he was developing so its a shame to see him go.

Dan Gosling was a steal from Bournemouth in the last round of the cup and although he’s not a bad midfielder I’m not too worried to see him leave.

 

That brings to an end an update where I lost 6 players with 4 going without reply but the squad is still large and good so I don’t think winning the league will be a problem.

We have 9 league games left so I will do them in one bumper update next.

Thanks for reading.

 

[RichD]

Swinedon are a good team 😉😂

Awesome update there Fox, shame to see so many average players come in and you’ve managed to lose a few good ones. But this is what makes it even more exciting. Look forward to seeing how it goes from here.

[broodje kip]

Oh man... I really hope you could’ve scored at least 😔

[FuddledFox]

13 hours ago, RichD said:

Awesome update there Fox, shame to see so many average players come in and you’ve managed to lose a few good ones. But this is what makes it even more exciting. Look forward to seeing how it goes from here.

I have taken a few beauties so far this save so I think it was time for the game to even things up a little bit. There’s definitely a couple of players that I wanted to see play in the Champ that I lost but Louie Barry could yet prove to be interesting.

10 hours ago, broodje kip said:

Oh man... I really hope you could’ve scored at least 😔

I had far more possession and that’s all that matters in modern football.

[FuddledFox]

Season 1 - April/May

With the FA Cup over there was only 9 games of the season left and with is sitting pretty at the top of the table it was looking highly probable that we would get promoted and win the league. In the couple of games leading up to the Chelsea match though we hadn’t been in quite such good form so my aim for the rest of the season was to try and keep hold of my best players but not drawing or losing matches.

Lincoln - Home

We fell behind early in this game but then came alive after half an hour and romped to an easy victory thanks to Palmer and Fejiri.

 

Back in the first league game of the season Lincoln had stolen Matty Taylor from me and there was a chance I could get him back as he got a 7 rating. Theo Archibald aka the happiest Scot on earth was the first to join and he looks ok. Then it wasn’t Matty who returned but Lewis Montsma a young but very average CB.

Spoiler

Sunderland - Away

Next up was a trip to the Stadium of Shite in a match where Sunderland scored all 4 goals and managed to get a draw.

This means a player swap and they would get Kyle Dempsey who has been a good asset for me since I got him and it’s a shame to see a CM leave as I don’t have an abundance of them. I got Benjamin Kimpioka in return who is a young Swedish striker who I don’t see staying in the first team for long.

Spoiler

Accrington - Home

Normal service was resumed in the next game as we ran out easy winners. Grigg was back in the team and back scoring and then a brace from combative Spanish midfielder Gorrín and one from Brannagan made for an easy win.

 

Tariq Uwakwe was the pick of the steals as he is a young and decent looking CM and then Cameron Burgess is an ok CB. Nathan Baxter could have been good as he has some good qualities for a CB except he has absolutely no pace so he is straight into the reserves as is Séamus Connelly.

Spoiler

Crewe - Away

Gorrin has suddenly gone goal mad as he got a third in two games here but it wasn’t enough to prevent a draw with Crewe and us losing another player albeit with one in return.

It was a striker swap as I gained French TM Mandron and Carlton Morris’ second short spell in Oxford cane to an end. Crewe definitely got the better side of the deal here as Morris is a good striker.

Spoiler

 

Gillingham - Home

Mandron made a goalscoring debut against the Gills but this was a game of injuries as I lost CB Jack Tucker and WK Louie Barry with Barry out for the rest of the season.
 

The best steal here was Trae Coyle who is only 20 and was on loan from Arsenal I think. He could develop well and be a good player next season especially once I get him trained as a CM. John Akinde was the other player to join and he is an experienced TM who is ok but unlikely to play.

Spoiler

Wimbledon - Away

I think the lads are on the beach as we lost only a 2nd game of the season. With Grigg getting our goal he was under threat of leaving.

I had three players on 8’s so I had some hope he might stay but unfortunately due to his wonderful form this season scoring 25 goals he had the highest AvR and was off. Grigg has been my favourite player this season so I’m gutted 💔

Spoiler

Plymouth - Home

We bounced back from the heartbreak of losing Grigg with a win over Plymouth thanks to a goal from my new youth prospect Coyle.

This lead to me stealing utility man Joe Edwards who will go and be versatile in te reserves.

Spoiler

 

Shrewsbury - Away

I think I have only played the Shrews twice before this as I had them in my Pizza Plate group but it feels like I have played them a lot. They made a real game of this as they raced into a 2 goal lead after 16 minutes only for two Agyei penalties to make it 2-2 at half time. They retook the lead but then Marcus Maddison and John Marquis stepped in and won us the game.

It was two of Shrewsbury’s goal scorers who joined us with the Cumdog Jason Cummings who is quite a decent striker and young Czech midfielder Jan Zamburek as well.
 

Spoiler

Burton - Home

That finally brings us to the end of the season and we finished off with a comfortable win over Burton with Mandron, who has been good since he joined, getting two and Fejiri one as well.

I did steal one more useful player as well with 20 year old American Indiana Vassilev who was on loan from Villa joining us for next season. Ryan Edwards was the other player but he goes into the reserves.

Spoiler

So in the end we go up as champions with 114pts and just two games lost in the league and 5 lost in total over the season.

Tomorrow I will post a round up of the season with the players I have lost and won and also preview season 2 when we head into the Championship.

Thanks for reading.

[broodje kip]

Farewell Grigg, you’ve been a good servant