Link to part 1
First of all I want to thank all you kind people who left me kind reviews and awards on my previous post. I'm really grateful for all the love and support shown to me and my platoon 7 boys. Before we go into part 2, a quick disclaimer: I finished the orientation camp this week, so all the events you've read and will read have already happened. However I will continue to post in present tense as I wrote short recaps daily on my phone during camp and these are the guides to the story. Feel free to ask any questions and as I promised, here is a picture of my team from the first match:
My Platoon 7 army: Top row L-R: Samuel, Afolabi, Mazi, Kabir, Godson, Destiny, Tolu Bottom row L-R: Eke, Uche, Rukevwe, Tamilore, Chinonso, Ezekiel
Previously on How I became a football manager in real life:
A muscle injury forces me to turn from player to coach during my National Service Orientation Camp, and after using my assistant manager's recommended tactics for the first half, my tactical switch at the break exposes the vulnerability of playing a player in the wrong position leading me to a 2-1 FM-esque loss on my managerial debut. But due to the tournament format we advance to the quarterfinals as one of the best losers.
Waking up the next day I feel weird. I've just fulfilled a lifelong dream and though I failed I was given a second chance at redemption. I won't let it slip this time. I definitely have a much better idea of my squad's pros and cons, and we await our quarterfinal draw. I confer with Ezekiel to plan a training session for later in the day only to discover the platoon ball is missing. Apparently someone from another platoon borrowed it during our match and failed to return it, so unless we can borrow a ball (spoiler alert, we can't) there's no chance of training. Champagne without the 'Cham'.
The draw comes through later in the day and we're playing tomorrow against Platoon 3 by 2:30 right when the Nigerian sun is at it's most potent. The schedule is tight but the players are raring to go I think, and I immediately begin planning my team selection. Destiny has to start in midfield with the 3-4-1 formation and I decide to give Eke a go as a striker as he comes highly recommended. I also decide to bring in Andrew based on recommendations in place of Tamilore and have him switch flanks with Kabir. The team looks set and I'm feeling confident, if we play the way I know we can we will win the game fairly easily. Then the selection issues start.
Late that night Mazi meets me to tell me he has an exam the next day and will need to leave camp for the day, but he'll be back the day after. I tell him there's no problem but inside I've fallen to my knees in despair. This is the equivalent of having your captain getting a two day injury the day before a local derby. Ezekiel and I confer without a sure replacement. I don't want to play Tamilore out of position partly due to the events of the last game, but also because it's not my style unless I'm desparate. This is one of the biggest issues with managing in real life. Need a new CB on FM? Buy, loan or sign one on a free transfer. But due to the camp rules I can only use the players in my platoon. A player named Elvis suggests he can play there, but for me his height - roughly 5"7 - is a worry. I will decide tomorrow. Who knows, I may pull a Ryan Giggs and put myself on the team sheet :).
The next day I try to hold training but no other platoon seems to have a football, which seems odd given the fact they had one when they played. I decide to just get the players to come on time for the match and do warm ups before the game starts. It takes some time but everyone gets to the pitch. Because Elvis has suggested he can play at center back and we have limited options there, I give him the green light to start. For the record, this is what my squad depth looks like:
GK- 2 natural, 1 secondary
RB - 1 natural, 1 secondary
CB - 2 natural, 2 secondary
LB - 2 natural
CDM - 1 natural, 3 secondary
CM - 3 natural, 2 secondary
RM - 1 natural, 1 secondary
LM - 1 natural, 1 secondary
ST - 4 natural, 2 secondary
As you can see the squad is fairly balanced except when it isn't: we're one injury or suspension away from disaster on the wings in particular where Samuel and Godson are the only two natural wingers as well as the secondary wingers on the other side. And I have 4 strikers, I hope Eke puts in a good shift today so I have a first choice going forward. The lineup is dropped and it's Rukevwe as GK, Kabir, Elvis and Andrew at CB, Destiny and Uche starting in the heart of midfield with Samuel and Godson on the wings again and Eke up top. I hold my team talk where I encourage the players to play the possession game and try to motivate them. If it works, they don't show it and they take their places on the pitch. Platoon 3 kick off and try to exploit our center, playing a long ball to Elvis. He easily clears it, and from that moment he makes no mistakes whatsoever. It's clear they want to play the long ball and they try again and again but our defence looks like something I borrowed from Fort Knox. Andrew is a pure no nonsense CB, same as Elvis, and Kabir's intelligent ability to read the play and make passes helps us to control the game. In midfield, Destiny controls the game with so much ease and grace. He spins the hapless opposition, leaving them clueless and trying to double mark him, allowing Uche to push forward in the BBM role. After 10 minutes it's one way traffic but we haven't yet troubled the opposition goalkeeper. Samuel and Godson are also doing well, winning fouls and running at the defense with the kind of speed you'd expect from Olympic sprinters (an exaggeration but a mild one). I encourage the players whenever they perform a nice trick or win the ball back and we're beginning to pen them in. One of their star players throws a tantrum after fouling Andrew and the ref gives him a yellow card.
But still no goal.
We're close to half time and we have nothing to show for our domination so far. Andrew nods wide from a corner and Destiny goes close from a free kick. The bench is beginning to feel the same nervousness I do, and they keep on talking about the need for a goal before the half time break. I feel the same way lads, I do. The ref raises his hand to show 2 minutes added on. At this point Destiny receives the ball from a throw-in and finds Uche with a pass that takes out both of their midfielders. He gives the ball to Godson on the edge of the box, who drives forward before unleashing a venomous strike. It goes into the back of the net and not the side! I go crazy with delight, running onto the field with my bench. 2017-18 Jurgen Klopp has nothing on me. A few moments later the ref blows for half time. I give the players water bought with my own money again (This is getting a bit expensive tbh) and praise their efforts. The opposition haven't had a sniff and in all honesty, neither has Eke. I tell him I'm disappointed and want to see more and he just nods. No 'fired up' or 'motivated and inspired', nothing. He has 10 minutes to prove himself. Ezekiel agrees. Afolabi wants to come on in his place but I'm not sure if that's the best option so I tell him I'll think about it. The second half starts in the same vein as the first, us controlling, platoon 3 defending, no one scoring. As the half drags on I make two changes, Ezekiel for Uche as the first and Obi for Eke as the second. I shake both Uche and Eke as they come off but Eke disappointed me. No of the ball movement, no shots at all and no link-up play or pressing. Afolabi is upset that he doesn't come on but I try to placate him. With 10 minutes to go, the opposition starts to push forward more. I yell at my players to tighten up, leading to the opposition having more of the ball. My defense is holding on comfortable but I decide to shore things up anyways and I take off Godson for Tamilore who turns the defense into a back four. The ref shows 4 minutes added time (of course he does) and our players begin to drop deeper. I'm nervous now, looking at the time every few seconds. But in typical FM fashion, this game has another twist to it.
We have to defend a corner and it's an in-swinger. I always hate these because of the pressure they put the goalkeeper under plus the fact they could just go in if your keeper misses the ball. The ball drops in the box and one of their players shoots it. Kabir blocks it before it reaches our goal but the danger's not over. A frantic goalmouth scramble ensues before the ball is cleared and the ref blows for a foul. Next thing I know a fight is brewing and it's between Tamilore and one of their opposition players. It's one of those ones in football where the fight ends before any punches are thrown but the ref shows both players a yellow card. I argue with the ref to protest Tamilore's innocence but it's in vain. At least I can get a job with /u/Hurball's Milwall coaching team after this. Elvis boots the ball up the field and the ref blows his whistle three times. I pump my fist and scream "YESSSSS"! I immediately huddle the team and congratulate them, praising them for their individual performances and the team effort as a whole. Elvis proved a CB doesn't need to be 6 feet to be good. Destiny was our midfield orchestrator and Godson came in clutch again. We still need to work on our chance conversion, but thats' a problem for tomorrow.
We're going to the semis.
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