It’s that time of the day people; it’s time for another Football Manager 2008 update! A further seven Oxford Untied games have been played since yesterday whilst Manchester United have played just six. First things first then: how are my Oxford United team doing now? Well, we’re still 7th in the league and since yesterday have managed one league win and three draws. Three of our seven games have been in the cup however and it is there that we have had the success.
A 2-0 away win over League 2 high-fliers Bury (currently 4th) and we’re into the third round of the FA Cup. We now need to face Southend, the side Oxford actually did play in the FA Cup last year. I doubt we’ll win against Southend, at least it’s at home however so we’ll have that advantage on our side. We’ve also had the pleasure of playing Newport County twice; once in the FA Trophy 1st Round, and once in the 4th Round of the Setanta Shield. In the FA Trophy we comfortably smashed them 4-0 at home; Yemi Odubade scored himself a hat-trick, and Robert Duffy got on the scoresheet also (who now funnily enough is actually now a Newport County player in real life). Duffy could have had a few more, wasted his chances however and therefore had to remain content with just the one goal.
When it came to the Setanta Shield against Newport County it was a completely different story. Newport made it very difficult for us and although they went behind twice; the game eventually ended level at 2-2. It was dragged out into extra-time, and then went to penalties also. To make matters worse; Matt Green got injured in the 90th minute and he was the scorer of both our two goals. It was actually his first start of the season, he’s smashed 8 goals in 12 for the reserves however and I therefore decided he was worth a shot and gave him his chance in the first team for the Setanta Shield game. I’ll definitely be using him again in the future, he’s out for 3 weeks now though so it’ll be a while yet before he’s fully fit and ready to once more put on the shirt. The penalty shoot-out went to plan; Oxford United won the game and progressed into the Setanta Shield 5th round. It took nine penalties to win it, we did it though and here’s the screen shot to prove it:
Yemi Odubade is now the teams top scorer by far, 15 goals in 23 games leaves him a whopping seven goals ahead of the competition, and hat-tricks against Harrow and Newport County have most definitely helped his cause. He’s only scored 7 league goals which leaves him level with Robert Duffy and Justin Richards; overall he’s flying away however and always an absolute threat in the Oxford United leading line.
Man Utd have won three of their last six, drawn two, and lost just the one; the game we lost was against Olympiakos however, and knowing that a win for them would knock Lazio out of the competition; I happily fielded a weakened side. Having lost 5-3 to Lazio away, we got our revenge in the home game with a 4-0 win against them. Huntelaar had a hat-trick, Rooney getting in on the action also. Huntelaar’s goal tally is now coming along quite nicely, he’s nearly caught up with Tevez now and in a lot less minutes of football also. Man Utd are 5th in the league and far from perfect, making progress however and next season I hope to have the side completely as I want it and capable of winning the league, the Champions League, and perhaps even the FA Cup also. We shan’t shy away from any competitions, we’ll be out to win it all and next season I’m confident that we shall. Rooney is still the team’s top scorer with 13 goals in 16 appearances; when Rooney is present in the squad we fear no one and are incredibly consistent; onwards and upwards, that’s what I say; as long as Rooney stays fit then there’s always a great chance that we’ll win games and go on to take the title. We’re a long way off at the moment; watch out though Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man City; we’re looking to take points left, right, and centre and we most definitely mean business.
With Oxford I’m aiming for a place in the play-offs, and with Man Utd my aim is to reach the Champions League and finish the season as high up as possible. I’m not overly confident that I’ll win the Premier League, I do however believe that we’ll sneak second, and with Oxford playing as well as they are at current; both of my teams are looking very good right now. Richie Leigh is not the best in the business, he’s not bad though and with a few astute January transfer signings; both teams could well take their respective leagues by storm in the second half of the season. Watch this space, and expect the unexpected.
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