Hello, welcome to the Season 8 Finale! it usually takes four epsiode blocks to finish a season, and we’re flying this time with three. You’re welcome!
You may remember we are 1 point adrift of Stoke City at the top Division One, having played 30 games. We are in the FA Cup fourth round and have League Cup Semi Final to play. Let’s go.
It’s straight into FA Cup action, and an away tie at Crewe. Anelka – somewhat turning into a cup specialist – scores twice in the first half, as we command a 3-0 lead. An early red card putting any hopes of a shock win off the table. We see out the game with a 4-1 victory.
We rise to the top of the table with a 3-2 win at Bristol Rovers. Neil Palister scores a rare double. It’s all coming together now.
I respond by signing a transfer listed set-piece specialist regen. We welcome Matt Le Tissier junior Kevin Clarke. I immediately take his phone away and ban him from twitter, Facebook and any conspiracy theorist websites. Focus on football, Kev.
We get a dream start in the League Cup first leg as George Weah junior, Jonathan Nagbe scores within seconds of kick off to stun Premier League ‘Boro. Veteran right back Richard Edghill scores a rare goal (his first of the season) on 33 minutes and we are flying. The lads shut up shop and see out the clean sheet.
As our promotion challenge goes to the wire, I decide to get some more firepower up front.
I do not know if this is Freddy Leon or Tino Asprilla – and I don’t care as he’s named after both! Asprilla junior has been tearing it up in South America. Time to conquer Europe. Asprilla’s arrival unfortunately will spell the end of Ndah’s first XI duties. He’ll remain an important squad player. I think this level just too much,
Our FA Cup run is ended by Andy Cole. You may remember he scored against us on the opening day, too. Nevermind.
Paul McGregor does us a favour in the return leg at The Riverside. We win 2-1 on the night and 4-1 on aggerage. WE’RE IN THE FINAL!
(McGregor actually played for Argyle IRL from 1999-2001. Glad the green blood runs strong!)
Fook. Tough draw.
Le Tiss junior gets his first Argyle goal late against Colchester. Anelka and Nagbe finish Colchester off as they tire in the final minutes.
I’m not sure what Stoke have been doing whilst we’ve bene playing in the cups. They have lost four consecutive games, and we now find ourselves five points clear with two games in hand. What a turn around!
Asprillia breaks his duck in a rare rest day for Nagbe. The lads are cruising now.
Two for two for Freddy, as Coventry move into second and Stoke lose a fifth game in a row! We are nine points clear now.
It’s the end of a George Ndah goalscoring era. He goes back to Forest with our best wishes.
He just could not find form in Division One.
We beat Blackpool and Everton in quick succession and Stoke still cannot record a win. It’s a remarkable fall from grace for them. We find ourselves 13 points clear of Spurs with 8 to play. Stoke now fight for their promotion. Surly the league is ours to throw away!
A routine win against Leeds is followed by a narrow win at Watford. The lads move 15 points clear of Spurs after 38 games.
I must next say sorry… in my haste to play through the League Cup, I forgot to take a screen shot of the match page!
We won 3-2 having come back from 2-0 down! Goals from Nagbe, Valentine and Cascarino.
What I can say, is that when 2-0 down at halftime I unashamedly went keeperless and attacking and got back into the game. Get in!
We then pile on more misery for Stoke as Nagbe does what he does… scores!
Wins follow against Fulham and Walsall to confirm what we’ve known since game week 36…
I first Premier League promotion for Niall Warnock, and a tick in the box of our spreadsheet!
The season ends with some CRAZY results as I try to play my youngsters in the late games.
A 5-0 humiliation by Pompey.
Then an 8-3 annihilation by Carlisle. The lads must have got pissed on the coach.
Season ends with a respectible 98 points and a 20-point buffer to Spurs.
These are the player stats; Nagbe the pick f the bunch with 30 goals and 22 assists. Abnelka did weigh in with 22 goals and 18 assists of his own.
so far as the ‘Paddy Kenny’ pasrt of the challenge goes, Christian Westley leads the way on four clubs.
I read in a recent Athletic article the Neil Warnock holds the record for most promotions at 8. I added a column in the spreadsheet to reflect that young Niall is up to 6 promotions in 7 seasons. 😀
Join us next time as Season 9 gets underway. We might be tempted back to Division One to continue the challenge…
Until next time.
