Well Hyde United are rocking now!
First season won promotion from Blue Square North division thanks to a starting 11 extracted from my feeder club Manchester United.
Second season started off well. Was flying high in the playoffs before I suffered the football manager kick in the balls, and subsequently went on a poor run finishing 13th in the table. Tres disappointing. This season made me decide to change my system, to be more ambitious, ditching the 4-1-4-1 formation that had served me so well and instead opting for a 4-1-2-2-1 formation. It was to reap rewards!
Third season we bounced back well. A few new signings bolstering a weak young squad pusing us into the playoffs again. However, at the end of the season, the table was cruel. Last game, I was in a battle between three teams for the final playoff spot. Unfortunately, the two teams battling with me were facing each other, and no matter what the outcome of their game was or my game, I couldn't go up. Missed out on playoffs by a point. Thankfully, I was able to pick up my first cup trophy, winning the FA Trophy. Success!
Fourth season a few young players matured and we went on to win the Blue Square Premier in style, amassing 101 points conceding less than a goal a game. Finally, we'd made it into the football league and could finally stop being a part time club, and become fully professional!!!
Fifth season and the first in the league two, was a sickener. We were flying. All through the season we were flying. We were playing well, putting together massive unbeaten runs, equalling the league record of 18. The young players were coming into their own alongside a couple of loans and an experienced defender. At one stage we were level with 3rd place with 10 games remaining. However, of the last 10 games, 8 of them were lost in an inexplicable collapse. In the end we were lucky to stay in a playoff spot with a win away from home against league champions Oxford. And so came the playoff semi final with Brentford. The first leg was at home and ended in a 2-1 win. The second leg was 2-1 to Brentford heading into the 90th minute. The fourth official put his board up. 3 minutes. Not too bad I thought, should be able to hold on for extra time, make a few subs etc. Anyway, tick tock tick tock, clock runs down. 93 minutes are up. Referee doesn't stop the game. I'm fuming on the touchling looking at my watch, gesturing at the referee to blow for full time. 95 minutes. Penalty to Brentford. I was livid. I've not been that angry in a long time. Come on Dalton I screamed, COME ON!!! Up he steps, Dalton saves it!!!.....but the rebound was drilled home. Absolutely sickening. It was hard to swallow such a defeat at such an important time of the season. But moments like that make us stronger..
So in the sixth season, we bounced back and walked the League Two championship, with 103 points. This was a league win to be proud of as it was all with our own players. Only Newell who Manchester United decided to send on loan to us was not contracted as a Hyde player. I don't think I've ever been prouder of a team.
In the seventh season now and we've started well, winning our first four league games before suffering a disappointing home defeat to Burnley. Just bounced back well with a 4-1 away thrashing of Bradford in the paint trophy.
Gutted that I installed this game though since I'm in the final year of university and have several assignments and a dissertation that I need to be getting on with
Anyway, for those who like to play with the lower league teams, I've listed my overall best eleven as decided by my board and fans! If they are a player that I had loaned from Manchester United, I have highlighted this.
GK James Dalton (starts off at Spurs)
DR Ugo Udoji (Starts off at Portsmouth, a real warrior in my defence. Can also play CB)
DL Julian Kelly (Starts off at Reading)
DC Matt Lawler (Starts off at Blackpool)
DC Ryan Shawcross (A 3 time loanee from Manchester United. Legend.)
DM Aaron Hardy (Starts off at Huddersfield)
MC Oliver Hotchkiss (Starts off at Leeds. Strange that hes in here since hes been out of favour for three seasons. Must have impressed in the early days)
MC Danny Welbeck (Loanee from Manchester United. Played as a striker but clearly was so good that he has to be put in the midfield just to have a place!)
AMR Paul Dean (Welsh wizard, regen)
AMR Sean Evans (Four time loanee from Manchester United. Awesome winger.)
FC Dean Lea (Starts at Birmingham as a winger. Trained him to be a striker as he had all the right attributes. I think of our relationship similar to that between Wenger and Henry
)
Subs:
Fabian Brandy (Loanee from Manchester United with 90 goals in 74 games. Strange how he isn't my first choice striker in this best eleven)
Stefan Milojevic (Left winger starts at Birmingham I think. Very handy player for lower league sides.)
Luke Morgan (Fans favourite. A Jimmy Bullard style player. Will run all day. Now out of favour in the squad languishing in the reserves but will always be remembered by the club)
Tom Piotrowski (Fantastic player for Hyde. Midfielder or striker, great stats, great man, great footballer. Currently the team's vice captain.)
Other players that I've owned that you may want to look at:
Gavin Rothery (loan)
Rob Atkinson (loan)
Fawzi Saadi (free)
Jack Cotton
James Berrett
Thomas Pinault
James Chester (loan)
Mark Birch
Richard Eckersley (loan)
John Doolan
Fabian Quintyn
Ryan Booker
Dan Spence
Ryan O'Neill
Anthony Bruce
Stephen Hancock
Shaun Saiko
Conor Kavanagh - very good fullback.
Kieron Wrightson
Derek Spencer
Scott Donnelly
Wes Etheridge
Marcus Bean
Brent McGrath
All of those were obtained for free. I still haven't spent a penny on transfer fees as my board are, lets just say, tight. Once had a transfer budget of £31. I didn't spend it.
Now its late. Night x
