Welcome back! We’re back with out of the box Barnsley, playing the original game as it flew off the shelf in October 1997. Things have started surprisingly well and we sit fourth after just 11 games. Will we hold on to these lofty heights? Let’s find out.

We’re up against Newcastle first and even though Shearer is absent, we have a bigger loss. Dave Watson is suspended. Tony Bullock takes the gloves, Asprilla scores a hat-trick and even Ian Rush nets. All of this after Stuart Pearce is sent off after just three minutes. A bad result.

It’s clear to see where the problem lies…poor finishing and Tony Bullock.

With Watson back in situ we rouse ourselves for all of 4 minutes to take an undeserved point at Derby. They all count.

This was a truly pathetic performance. Southampton are usually poor travellers but they leave Oakwell with three very easy points.

With Hristov out we struggle to put Charlton to the sword in the cup. Nicky Eaden gets the only goal, it’ll just have to do.

Second Division Wrexham is not a bad tie!

Back in league action and Deane Bullock puts us in front only for a familiar face to equalise. It’s better than losing.

Adrian Moses has been asking to leave since day one. He agrees to go to Crewe of all places.

Goodness me we take the lead against Man Utd. In less surprising news, Sheringham scores twice and we lose. We tried?

Neville Southall is unbelievable on the original. In the patch he’s off player-managing Stoke but at Everton he’s a beast. We can’t score past him whilst John Oster condemns us to another home defeat.

We need reinforcements at the business end of the field but nobody likes us. I’ve had to settle on John Ritchie of Partick Thistle.

Dean Gordon sees an early red and Deano does the damage. De Zeeuw is out for 6 weeks though.

The worst possible FA Cup tie. Blackburn are top of the pile and are in single figures for goals conceded. It’s wild.

Wrexham are seen off with minimal fuss. It’s Arsenal in the quarters.

Meanwhile it’s Arsenal in the league and we’ve turned them over! A pair of Bullocks do the damage and Wenger is under pressure.

We’ve got something approaching momentum and West Ham are dismissed.

It’s a much tougher day out at Selhurst – we won here a few weeks ago when Crystal Palace were the hosts but Wimbledon are having a shocking season. The old pair of Bullock’s score again, with Deane’s 92nd minute winner sending the away end wild. Bjorn’s injury isn’t severe.

FA Cup time now and, as expected, we lose without putting up much of a fight.

However, we seem to have saved our best for an arguably bigger occasion. Arsenal’s nightmare continues and even Captain Marc Overmars scores an own goal as we’re 3-0 up at half time. Is this real life? Well, it’s not but you know what I mean.

Ha! Lick my giant killing feet.

Spurs in the semis. Two legs. Everton or Leeds in the final. Wow.

Speaking of Leeds, what is probably considered a derby is settled by a single goal from Croatian Bosancic. When you’re hot you’re hot.

And nothing is hotter than Steve Claridge. Hristov is pretty close though, a first half double taking him to 22 for the season. Leicester are dogged but we’re in form and make it 6 league wins in a row.

We finish today against the mighty Blackburn. Roy has them top of the table and they’ve conceded 8 goals in 23 games. How is that even happening? Nevertheless, Hristov makes it 9 and we win. 7 league wins in a row!

That leaves us sitting 6th and in a cup semi final. It has been a fun mix-up playing the original I have to say.

Hristov has been outstanding.

Kevin Street has been a useful pick up for £525k.

Not too many goal scorers but the 4-2-3-1 heavily favours the one striker.

My plan is still to just get through season one and then start to progress the team, hopefully. Qualifying for Europe would be absurd but we’ll try for sure. I am looking forward to shifting out some of the deadwood, the transfer kitty is building and then we can start bringing in some quality if they’ll ever sign for us. Promising stuff though and I hope to see you next time to finish off season one.

Was he always this good?

I thought I best check if Hristov has been altered at all. The answer is…

No. 140 but his potential is random, so he could be better from any game to the next regardless of version.