Hello fellow glory hunters!
So… before we dive into the latest adventures with Niall’s Crewe we should address this weeks latest real life Neil Warnock development…
“You’d have to be an idiot to come here. And I am”.
Yes. Neil Warnock is back in management, and back in Yorkshire with Huddersfield. The Terriers found themselves four point points from safety after a 3-0 defeat to Stoke (15th February 2023) and Warnock couldn’t resist another spell on a Championship touchline.
Warnock claimed to have, “tears in his eyes”, after a warm reception in his opening game. He will be delighted after watching his latest comeback end with a win at Birmingham City and bring up his 1604th managerial bow. Congratulations, Colin!
Warnock’s contract is supposed to be a short-term thing, so lets see where his new total will end up, and how this will affect our little project.
Onwards!
Last time out, Niall Warnock’s Crewe side struggled to get a grip in division two – down in sixteenth after 10 games.
We signed Sean Devine last episode to help spearhead a new-look attack, and now add central midfielder Paul Lynch from Plymouth Argyle, and 97/98 legend Erik Nevland for £1.8m from Barnsley. I also do some good wheeler-dealing and pack off Bryan Robson’s regen to Luton in exchange for £250k and my former Forest Captain Kirk Sorvel. It may not seem like a good deal, but Sorvel is a great addition with a high sell-on value.
This is how our squad looks.
In our next game at Southend, Sorvel takes the captain’s armband and leads to team to an easy 3-0 win. Let the turnaround commence!
We keep our league cup run going with a 3-1 aggregate win over Wigan.
A late Ndah double gives the team a confidence boosting win against Watford. The buzz of a last minute winner does not dim even 25 years later! We climb to 11th and the ‘top half’.
This time it’s Barmby’s turn to come up with a later winner as the lads sting together five consecutive wins. We lose central defender Colin Murdock on the hour mark – the only dampener on the evening.
Riccy Schimeca comes in to partner Kirk Sorvel and between them, manage to kick their way through the Orient forward line, causing three injuries. The run continues thanks to Arifullin and Ndah.
A third game playing in blue, and Hollywood FC’s Auto Windscreen Shield campaign is all but in glass fractals. The run goes on.
It’s bad news for fans of the Sharpe shuffle.
It’s seven-heaven against Mansfield as Sean Devine combines with George Ndah to put us on the cusp of the playoff places.
Five league wins in a row.
We do sneak into a playoff position after beating QPR. Philip Cocu, defying his age. and keeping us going forward. Who needs a Bryan Robson regen, anyway?
There is no shame in this narrow defeat to Cambridge in front of a boisterous Abbey Stadium. We’ve been on a good run, and must not lose our momentum.
“Crazy Gang turns to a Spice Boy for a winter warmer”.
Oof. Where to start here. We face Premier League side Manchester City in the League Cup third round. What a game! 1-1 after 90 minutes, 2-2 after 120. Six missed penalties and ‘safe’ passage into League Cup fourth round! You may recall (from way back in Season seven) Matt Gooden used to be Teddy Sheringham, and cost City £8.25million from my Plymouth side. How the mighty have fallen!
Here’s the old screenshot I managed to dig out.
A few days after our win, City went on to beat Dortmund at Maine Road. That feels good, it has to be said!
Next is another 2-2 draw. This time it’s Bristol Rovers. George Ndah again proving he’s the man for this division.
We progress into the next round on the Windscreen Shield after beating Tranmere. Now real-life Warnock is back on the touchline, we’ll need every win we can to ensure we pass his target.
Oh, look. Darren Anderton’s regen plays for over an hour and gets injured. Top bins. Sean Devine – on for George Ndah who was also injured – scores a well-timed brace from the bench in a 4-2 win over Stockport.
We bring up our 20th league game by narrowly losing to Preston.
After the game we agree to let our Russian right winger leave for big-money. I would say it’ll give Anderton junior more of a chance.. lets see if he stays off the treatment table!
The league two playoff race is tight – but we are in the mixer!
Join us next time as we pass into January and ‘houdini’ territory once again. Who knows, maybe there will be another job on the horizon! Until next time.
