Sick as a Parrot (SaaP)

[Neil]

I've never written a summary of my 'career', mostly as I seem to play only the odd season and then switch to a new game when Mac releases, or for a challenge in a lower league.

My usual 'game' in SaaP is with Coventry City, my home town club, who I have supported since I was knee high to a grasshopper, my Dad took me to the odd game when his pal couldn't fill his seat (they were season ticket holders), and later with my wife to be, we'd go and stand on the old Spion Kop at Highfield Road (now a Stadium in the sky!)
Favourites have been Bill Glazier, Ernie Hunt, Ian Wallace, Mick Ferguson, Cyril Regis, Robbie Keane to name but a few, and of course the pinnacle was 1987 when we beat Spurs in the FA Cup.

So, I've been enjoying the added functions Mac has been adding steadily, and as many know, finding bugs, and badgering him for more.

Season 1 SaaP 2009 Coventry City - Championship:
Well, it all started well, comfortable wins in pre-season, and a Win and a couple of draws to start the season, saw a mid-table postition, but sadly that didn't continue. A shocking run of injuries and a string of defeats saw us plummet ever lower, picking up the odd draw and solitary win here and there. Early exits in the Cups, and eventually with about 10 games to go, we entered the bottom 3!
A brief recovery to climb a place or two was short lived and inevitably we dropped to the bottom, and we were relegated
The fanzine was calling for my blood, and I was half expecting the heave-ho, but it never came (see other post on this Mac)

Season 2 - League One:
Again, early success in the Friendlies, but my previous seasons form seemed to follow me down, with 3 straight defeats to start the season. Oh no, I'm heading for the Conference at this rate!!
Previous formations that had bought a modicum of success, now seem to be counteracted by the AI teams, as Mac has seemingly improved their tactics, so, time to tinker with my own.
I stuck with my trusted defensive formation, but changed the attack and normal formations. Some shrewed loan in players, and things turned the corner, a couple of draws took me off the bottom slot, and then we hit a real purple patch. Win after win saw us rise up the League, in to the play-off slots (Mac, can to colour code the League table like most of the media do nowadays, to show promo/relegation and play-off slots?), and within a point of second place!!!
Another run of injuries saw a bit of a dip in form, but maintained play off ranking through to the end of season. Success in the Cups got us to the Semi-Final of the FA Cup, with a 2-1 defeat in extra time to Chelsea, and several rounds of the League Cup.

So, we finished 3rd in the League, and so to the play-offs. I can't recall the opponents now, but we won both legs (away 1-0 and home 2-0) to reach the final
Opponents were Oldham, and it was a tense first half ending 0-0. Encouragement with the half time oranges, and we came out fighting, 2 swift goals saw us comfortable, and we switched to defense for a while. Ten minutes to go, switched back to attack and further goal at the death saw us promoted with a 3-0 victory!

Season 3 - Back in the Championship!

Updated 30/11/08

I've just been reading the enigmatic KJ's report on his Fulham career, and it's interesting to note the differences in approach. KJ seemed to go for young talent, and was very active in the transfer market, whereas I have taken a more conservative approach, and made one or two purchases a season, and cut out the dead wood as an when, with frequent use of loan players in key positions. (My only gripe here is not being able to extend a contract and now (this didn't seem to be the case in previous versions) find that I often can't re-loan them.
I've also sold some key players of high value, to boost the bank-balance, most notable was Clinton Morrison who I sold to Chelsea in season 1 and who I've just taken back on loan for the last part of Season 3!!

Anyway, back to the report.
An average pre-season compared to the last two, I made my usual adjustment of making all morning training sessions 'Fitness' to shake of the summer excesses.
First game up was Plymouth at home, and we lost 3-0, starting bottom of the table. Gets me thinking 'here we go again', but no, a string of good results - unbeaten in 12 League and League Cup matches, before losing away at Sheffield Utd. That run took me top after 11 league games, and I stayed there with another 2 wins and a loss.
However, we started to slip in form, with 2 defeats and 3 draws in succession, which dropped us to 7th place. This included a gripping 3-3 draw with table leaders Derby County. A more steady period, where we won and drew a few matches, saw us steadily climb back up and hit the top again (after 10 games off the top).
Further success in LC round 4 but a narrow defeat at Stoke 1-0 in round 5.
FA Cup success in round 3 after two away ties!! (reported a bug!) sees us in to Round 4, though I forget who now as the Schedule doesn't tell us who or where we played!!
So, we stand as leaders by a point, with 6 points covering the top 6 places after 27 games with a +20 GD and the second best defensive record. Star player so far is Freddie Eastwood on 30 from 36 games and steadily increasing gates.
So far so good.

Updated 3/12/08

Things still going nicely, after another dose of injury problems, most seem to be 2 to 3 weeks, but even so, very disruptive to team selection!

Still tight at the top, with each of the top 5 winning consistently and slipping up now and then. I'd extended a 5 point lead at one point, only to draw and lose, so now leading by 2 points, with just 4 points covering the top 5.

Progress in the FA Cup has seen me to the Semi's again, where we will face the Toon army (Newcastle Utd.) in 4 matches time. Meanwhile back to the nitty gritty of League action with a visit to Preston and Wolves (who are 2nd).
My star striker has gone off the boil a little, so I may rest him for a game or two.

Updated 4/12/08

Continued to have success in League matches, with odd losses in with the wins and draws.
Knocked out of the F A Cup in the Semi's again 3-1 to Newcastle Utd.

So, it was all getting tense, with four teams now in with a shout of the title and/or the 2 automatic promotion places. Thus, it was easy to fall to 3rd and back to the top in successive matches with the way the matches were going.
Eventually it went right to the last game, and a 2-1 away win gave me the title, but only by 2 points! (92 to 90).

Also along the way, the board sanctioned a stadium expansion (obviously anticipating big PML crowds!!) and I got a 150K reward for promotion

I also got a cash injection, presumably for promotion, and I have two offers in for some 'class' players.

Back to back promotions after the shock of the relegation, and excitement of playing the big boys. My target will be a Euro place, and advancement in the Cups if possible!

Season 4 - The Premiership!

Nearly a scare in my opening friendly, going down 1-0 early on, and seemingly struggling to get on even terms.
A penalty early in the second half seemed to spur the lads on, and we eventually ran out 3-1 winners at Salisbury.

More to come!

[Neil]

Season 4 is delayed, while Mac hopefully rescues me from a hiccup in precedings!

[firebirddave]

Neil,

Clearly your 5 year plan for Coventry is going better than the plan of the actual team. Maybe you should apply for a job there.

I enjoyed reading your progress so far and look forward to hearing about your EPL adventures. Hope Mac can help you while or before he goes away for a couple of weeks.

David

[Neil]

[Neil]

Season 4 will resume shortly, Mac has fixed my problem.

[Neil]