Hello hello. As 2019 continues to rattle along, we’ve reached the end of another season. The Academy, as usual, are battling relegation. Things are actually bleaker than normal as we are in the bottom 3 with 14 games to go. One positive though is that we’re still in the FA Cup, though Derby is not a happy hunting ground for us. That’s where we start today’s update.

Since we changed formation things have been better. We even take the lead at Derby before Victor bloody Ikpeba scores. Billing thinks he has won it on 83 but guess who scores again? A replay is not the end of the world though.

Old Trafford is another ground where we usually take a hiding. We aren’t the only ones. Astonishingly, Billing gives us the lead early on and despite Jimmy Fran going off injured, a backs to the wall performance sees us escape with the points. Wow!

Follow that up with a late winner in the Derby replay and things look rosier already.

Bolton at home is winnable and if we can draw Stockport or Southampton…oh my.

Hopeless Liverpool have actually won a couple of games but we won’t be their next victims. Dominic Matteo is dismissed and it’s a walk in the park from there.

You bloody bet I am!

We’re like a team possessed by confidence. This rarely happens. Fulham are brushed aside by a 25 minute romp.

It is therefore immensely frustrating to find ourselves 3-0 down at home to Bolton in the cup game. I throw caution to the wind and somehow we pull it out of the fire to earn a replay. Bloody hell lads.

Southampton are the prize. First Division Southampton. Sign me up.

We still need to survive though and a point at home to Sheffield Wednesday is neither here nor there. I suppose it’s better than losing.

Our inconsistency is annoying but we manage to pull ourselves together to defeat Bolton. Our cup record has been so bad for years but this has been a nice change. Bring on the semi finals.

First though it’s time for our annual goal fest with Arsenal. Landonio (Mancini) has been getting better and better but we haven’t got enough to win at Highbury. The struggle continues.

Paul Perry is a fool. He’s actually Jeremy Goss and he fancies himself at a bigger club. It’s deadline day so even though I say no, Newcastle come along and bid anyway.

Goodbye.

I don’t have much time to act to this is the latest freebie to provide cover in the closing months of the season.

Blackburn is a bit of a 6 pointer. They’re down there with us but we’re 2-0 up inside 10 minutes as the returning Jimmy Fran makes an impact. Good lads.

That’s followed up by an unfortunate 3-2 defeat to league leaders Chelsea. We’re getting closer to some sort of consistency, I think.

FA Cup semi final and this is by far the biggest game of the club’s history. We’re not brilliant but we score at good times and despite Heritage chucking one in late on, this is a very good win. We’re in the final!

What’s more, we’ll play Chelsea. Provided they finish in the top 2, we’ll be in Europe regardless. Get those passports out.

This 0-0 with Birmingham was probably the dullest match ever seen. Nothing at all happened.

Two days later we not only keep our second clean sheet of the Easter period but we also gain a vital win. Phew.

It’s still tight. Look at how Derby have fallen! Just 4 points in 10 games and they’re right in bother.

A hard earned point from 2-0 down takes us to the once magical 40 point mark.

…41

However a defeat against Crystal Palace looks damaging. They’re down there with us and this closes things back up a bit.

A loss to Wolves from a leading position is a border line disaster. It’s going to the final day.

I really wouldn’t want to play Sheff Utd, I think they’re my biggest bogey team of all. Steffen Iversen hates us. If Derby win and we lose, they’ll go above us. Blackburn are playing Crysal Palace and they can’t both win. That helps.

Obviously, we lose and Iversen scores twice in a minute.

The scores tick through. Derby lose. Blackburn can only draw with Palace. SAFE.

What a struggle. Man Utd win the league on goal difference. Three goals the difference.

I am hopeful it knocks the stuffing out of Chelsea but if anything it just riles them up. Our big day out at Wembley and we really fail to even lay a glove on them. It’s a shame but Rivaldo scores a free kick and the fact we are playing against somebody of his quality says it all.

Besides, we get to play in the Cup Winners Cup next season. That’s going to be an experience!

Billing once again tops the scoring chart, he really has kept us going at times. The switch to 4-2-3-1 has undoubtedly kept us alive.

Caccavale won’t be coming with us on our European journey. Perugia have snapped him up.

Here are the awards for the season. Billing getting the golden boot is the big news, whilst Marcus Gayle still playing at Third Division Wimbledon warms my heart. Let’s look at some Academy grads to see how they’re getting on.

Graduates

Anthony Betterton lost his place as West Ham’s number one whilst Daniel Cox moved to Aberdeen, where he impressed enough to be purchased by Tottenham. He is yet to appear for them. Nathan Freeman only played 9 times for Academy but has since been on the books at Celtic until he left without making an appearance. He is now a regular at Southampton and started the cup game against us.

James Stones is a regular starter for Blackburn, but has just suffered a relegation. He plays at centre half alongside Stewart McConnell. Rowdy Roddy Anderson has yet to play for Man Utd after his move earlier this season. Joby Gowshall has retired after his release whilst Gary Simpson is still at Bolton, he just doesn’t play very often and he has been joined by Ian McCormack who finally had enough of not playing for Celtic. Gerard Lyttle is at First Division Brighton, whilst Jon Finnan has just been promoted from there with Sunderland. Steve Morrison has also given up after being released.

James Gallagher also called it a day whilst Chris Johnson left Port Vale for Stenhousemuir. Ryan Morrison had a brief spell at Man Utd but is now back in the more familiar surroundings of Barnsley. Valued at £2.9m, he is the most valuable of the graduates. Jeff Brazier is at First Division Middlesbrough, but Kevin Dow is at Third Division Barnet after failing to get a game for Sheffield Wednesday or Fulham. Lee Norfolk is still at St Johnstone and Marc Hussin has been at Bristol Rovers for three seasons now. Fulvio Falco may have got his big move to Inter Milan but he is yet to play for them. Nicky Byrne is available on a free transfer.

Michael Twiss is still at Chelsea, though he lost his regular starting spot last season. Chris Pearson scored 14 goals for Clyde as they were promoted to Scottish Division 2 but Steve Williams is back in Division 2 with Stockport after leaving Sheff Utd for regular first team football. Big Bill Davies is plummeting down the divisions in Scotland. He’s still at Dunfermline but they’re now a third tier side.