As Dave’s holiday draws to a conclusion, so too does the first season of MK‘s save with Brighton. Can they get over the line and secure promotion at the first attempt? Catch up with Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 if you missed them

So, last time I mentioned that there may be a new arrival. Someone who is a bit of a legend. Well… Enter Man Utd man Brian ‘Choccy’ McClair. The first man to score more than 20 goals in a season at Utd since George Best! He’s a 4 time Premier League winner and 3 time F.A. Cup winner. That sure is some pedigree, eh?

It’s a long way into the season and he’s well into his 30’s, but very capable at this level and will be a useful backup for next season too, even if we make it up.

Interest is high for my in form star men. Look at this offer and these clubs. So glad of that little loan market listing fix!

The season is drawing to a close and although we’re flying high there are others close by too. Having said that, 39 league games down and not only are we still in the running, we’re out in front!

Looking at the remaining fixtures, that last game against Chester could be a title decider. What are the chances?

Meanwhile, Newcastle have won the League Cup final.

Did I mention we had reached a (tin pot) cup final against the team at the top of Division 2? A trip to Wembley and a shot to lift the W/Screen Shield!

Recognise that keeper? A 90’s football legend. It’s Shaka!

After a tight first half we’re at 2-2 to my surprise. Less possession, more chances but more wasteful too. One of the rare days that Tomlinson can’t hit a barn door.

But then… The flashing screen… The sudden death rule (remember that?)

Got to love the drama of a cup final, even if it is a minor one. Maybe this side will reach Wembley again in the not too distant future, but if they do you can bet it will be a playoff rather than a cup.

That has earned us a few £s, although the cup run has set us back in the league.

But after winning our games in hand and Chester dropping points we manage secure promotion!

In the Premier League there was a walkover. Coventry dropped off from that second spot they had earlier on in the season.

Now with promotion in the bag all there was left to play for was the title

One win would do it. Would that last game be the decider?

What a spoiler. The drama of a last day decider would have been great, but I’m more than happy to secure the title ahead of what will be a tricky fixture.

Chester smashed us 3-0, which made it look really tight but even so. Won it by a point. Glad it didn’t come down to that last game!

Cup final time. Sorry Liverpool. A young Michael Owen hasn’t had the immediate impact he usually has in the game.

Chelsea stumble in finals both in Europe and at home, which would have salvaged something from a weak league campaign. They always seem to make strange signings.

Although there was further joy for Man Utd with a League and Champions League double!

So it is end of season time and I won manager of the year

I’d like to make a special mention to Superman, I mean Graeme Tomlinson. Here’s how he compared to the other players in our league:

We’ve made a decent profit this season from the decent attendances and the cup win at Wembley. We have just over £1,000,000 in the coffers.

It will be interesting to see how Tomlinson and Co. cope with the step up to Division 2 and whether he makes the grade there or whether it will be time to cash in on his ever increasing market valuation.

Let’s see if there are any decent players we can attract and if we can carry the momentum on in to the new season.

See you in Division 2!

You can follow MK on Twitter @SeagullShouts – MK will be back later in the year with season two.

With Dave still on the road, MK from Seagull Shouts is back with the second part of his guest blog. Can Brighton hit the ground running in Division 3? Catch up with part 1 here

So in the last post I’d assembled my squad for the start of the season on a very limited budget and with very little attraction to anyone with even the slightest bit of profile in the game. To be honest, who wanted to play for a team that stayed up by the skin of their teeth, with terrible facilities and have to travel for over an hour to get to their own home games. With that in mind I feel pleased with the business I’ve done…

First up it’s Torquay away. Things start well with the 4-2-3-1 formation and we win well with a strong performance. Lot’s of chances, but Tomlinson is off the mark. Might take him a while to find his feet as his adaptability is only at 12. I usually give players about 6 weeks or so to fit in and find their form, often limiting them to appearances off the bench initially. With a squad overhaul like this it’s impossible.

Next up we make a start in the League Cup with a first round tie against Division 2’s Northampton. A convincing win with Tomlinson finding his scoring boots and chipping in with an assist. This was helped of course by Turley getting himself sent off and sparking a goal fest!

After a blip at Lincoln and a draw in the return leg in the cup, the good results continue. The only other defeat in the first page of fixtures comes away at Leyton Orient who always perform well, even without Heidenstrom it would seem. Along the way we managed a surprise result in the cup against Division 1 strugglers Port Vale.

Whilst we’ve conceded a few goals, we’ve managed to find the net way more often and the front 4 are all chipping in nicely. My only real concern is that Nick Colgan isn’t up to it. He’s conceding fairly often, even in games where the opposition aren’t creating too many chances.

Tomlinson is leading the charge finding the net 20 times and making 8 assists in only 15 games! He finishes September with a hat-trick away at Hartlepool in another 5-0 win. Really hoping that he doesn’t pick up many injuries or suspensions throughout the course of the season, although any of the 3 just in behind him are forwards and could move into that strikers position and do the job (I hope).

Looking forward to sharing the next instalment with you later in the week, but so far it’s looking good for the seagulls and I’m excited to play on. I really have the CM bug. The Mrs. is asking to use the laptop when I decide to have a break from the game (and writing about it)!

You can follow MK on Twitter @SeagullShouts

Catch up on our interview with Quickly Kevin’s Michael Marden here

Whilst Dave is on International duty, the keys have been left with MK of Seagull Shouts. Can he accelerate Brighton’s rise from Division 3 to the Premier League?

So the 97/98 season was 20 years ago. Where did that time go!?

My beloved Brighton were on the back of the last season at their spiritual home, The Goldstone Ground. They had managed to stay in the football league with a draw on the last day of the previous season.

The game starts with the club playing their home games at Gillingham, last season’s top scorer Craig Maskell has left the club and in reality it wasn’t a great season. The club finished 23rd again in the old division 3.

It would take exactly 20 years to turn the club’s fortunes around and get them to the Premier League for the start of the 2017/18 season with a 30,000 seater stadium back in Brighton and a state of the art training facility and academy. What a turn around!
This being a blog about cm97/98, let us see if we can get the club up there a little quicker shall we?

The squad at the start of the game is pretty bare bones and other than a handful of decent performers it’s some way off challenging at the top end of the table. Peter Smith always does well and usually wants out, but I’ll try and hang on to him.

Here are the players who could cut it in the formation I’m going for: 4-2-3-1. Not a common formation back in 97, but one we see often today and one which can bring results with the right attacking players and a solid defence. Someone strong tucked in with Smith will pull the strings and I know just the man if he’s available.

Time to draft in a few players to bolster the depleted squad!

So here is the squad for the start of the season. Bolstered by CM legend Bjorn Heidenstrom (I’d buy this guy for any team in the game even as a squad player) and Chelsea’s young goalkeeper Nick Colgan (who looks solid enough at this level). A few free transfers will have to bulk out the squad, so I’ve drafted in Matthew Bound, Barry Lakin, Andy Gregory and ex-Man Utd man Graeme Tomlinson. Also young goalkeeper Anthony Betterton arrived on a free as a 16 year old who usually has decent potential.

I’ve signed Bound before and know he is pretty consistent. I’m excited about unearthing Lakin and Gregory as they have the attributes to be great attacking players, but you never know with these free transfer players who’s attributes and even positions can vary highly from game to game. Only time will tell.

It’s game time and here are the first batch of fixtures. The one that jumps out is Leyton Orient. They always do well in the game. Hopefully this squad can deliver or these blog posts will make for grim reading, potentially in line with the reality for Brighton back in 97.

Let’s see how the new squad gel and whether the tactics are right. I’m aiming for automatic promotions, but what are your predictions?

MK will be here throughout the week bringing you Brighton’s 97/98 season. You can follow MK on Twitter @SeagullShouts