[FM23] The 44 - The EFL teams who have never been in the Premier League - [4/44] - Chapter 5: Colchester United FC

Punch · December 16, 2022

APR 2024

In a complete turn around from last month, we won all our League games, and lost the FA Cup game :lol:

Three solid performances gets us maximum points for the month to arrest the slide, while we gave Liverpool a massive fright at Wembley, before they ran over the top of us.

We climbed back to 11th, and are now officially safe from relegation.

We gave Liverpool a massive fright in front of a full house at Wembley, taking a 2-1 lead into half time.

Ultimately their class, and experience shone through as they ran over the top of us in the final 15 minutes to book their spot in the Final.

A massive run, and reason for the club to be very proud.

We have now cracked the £30 million barrier.

A monster profit.

We can relax and enjoy the final four games, knowing we are safe from the relegation battle.

Punch · December 16, 2022

MAY 2024

We pushed LIverpool, rattled up a score against Palace, before thumping Bournemouth, while Spurs lead 2-0 after 5 minutes, only for us to run them down, to complete a great finish to a fantastic debut Premier League Season.

We ended the season in 9th place, which was a brilliant effort.

We finish the season with a big bank balance, holding us in good stead for the future.

The bank balance helped by a big pay day for finishing in the top 10.

Punch · December 16, 2022

2023-2024 Season Review

Punch · December 16, 2022

Chapter 2 Wrap Up

Taking over Rotherham who had spent most of the last decade bouncing between League One and The Championship, without ever really getting too close to taking that last step.

A great solid season left us all alone in 2nd place for most of the season in The Championship to take the automatic promotion spot, and make this a two season chapter.

A couple of quality signings made us competitive in the Premier League, and while we at times were in the lower half of the table, it really came together in the second half, along with a magic FA Cup run that took us all the way to the semi final.

With over £60 million in the bank, we also leave the club in a fantastic financial position.

And with that...

Chapter 2 is complete.

Punch · December 16, 2022

Chapter 3 - The search for a new club

We hit the button on the random number generator...

Close to last chapters 36, so this chapter is...

Preston North End FC

We take a bit over 100 kilometer trip through Manchester to Deepdale, not far from where we started in Chapter 1 - Accrington.

Punch · December 16, 2022

Chapter 3 - Preston North End FC

Founded in 1880, the Lilywhites have spent most of the last two decades playing in The Championship.

Achieving a highest ever finish of 4th in 2005/2006, it's been more of a struggle in the last 8 years, spending most of their time in the lower-mid half of the table.

Home games are played at the 23.5k capacity Deepdale.

A two year deal this time around.

The Board are after a top half finish.

The fans just want to remain an established Championship team...and to finish above Blackpool :lol:

We have money in the bank, a reasonable transfer budget, and a little bit of room under the wage budget.

The squad actually looks pretty decent, although maybe could do with some depth in the defensive line.

We are off to Scotland for a training camp, before we kick off the season away to Wigan.

Punch · December 17, 2022

JUL 2022

The first problem.

Well I guess this makes the recruitment focus pretty easy. We only have one senior player at the club that can play Right Back.

Punch · December 17, 2022

JUL 2022

I threw in a couple of extra friendlies, and we even won the pre season Cup, before scoring a solid win over Wigan.

Not much worth reading here yet.

The Bookies have us predicted 14th.

Transfers

A position we needed a player quickly, we picked up the experienced former Sheffield Wednesday defender for £475k.

With over 300 League matches under his belt, he will slot in as the first choice on the right, but can fill other slots if needed.

A busy month of games as the season kicks into full swing, and we also travel to Grimsby for the League Cup.

Punch · December 17, 2022

AUG 2022

After a first up loss to Hull, we got goal happy, putting together three straight wins, before rounding out the month with two draws.

We also advanced with two tight wins in the League Cup, with Troy Parrott scoring all the goals in both games.

We find ourselves in the play off places early in the season.

A comfortable win, but we only managed one goal, and it was enough to send us to the second round.

A tougher match against Wednesday, but we hung on for the win against a fast finishing Owls outfit.

We will host Peterborough in Round 3.

The finances not looking so good two months in.

A bit less hectic next month.

Edited December 18, 2022 by Punch

Punch · December 18, 2022

SEP 2022 - Transfers

Along with the previously mentioned Palmer, we only brought in one more player on loan.

We did send some players out on loan who were not going to be used.

A youngster on loan from Palace, to bolster the wings. Super fast, looks an exciting prospect.

Some big money being spent in the Championship to start the season.

Some insane money being spent in the Premier League...Chelsea spending £260 million :idiot:

We are around the middle of the pack as far as wage spending goes, but Norwich, spending three times the amount we do :onmehead:

Punch · December 18, 2022

SEP 2022

A rough start to the month as we went down to Birmingham and Bristol, before rescuing a draw against Burnley. That made it 5 League games without a win.

We rescued the month with a thumping win over Sheffield United to finish the month, before the International break kicked in.

Despite winning only one of our last six, we are still in the play off places. But we are also only one win above 13th place.

We are losing a lot of money each month and now find ourselves in the red.

A much busier October.

Punch · December 18, 2022

OCT 2022

A great month as we win five of seven, Norwich are just too good.

We still hold that 4th place, but it's a tight table.

(Note there is one extra game here as I got carried away and played the first game in November :lol: )

Ouch! That month hurt.

Just three League games, and the League Cup 3rd Round before the World Cup break.

DavidBeckham · December 18, 2022

Fantastic form in October! A play-off spot is definitely within reach! Good luck for the rest of your campaign mate!

Punch · December 18, 2022

5 minutes ago, DavidBeckham said:

Fantastic form in October! A play-off spot is definitely within reach! Good luck for the rest of your campaign mate!

Thank you!

A long way to go but we have made a very positive start.

Punch · December 18, 2022

NOV 2022

A real mixed bag this month as we need a 96th minute equaliser to rescue a draw against Swansea, before going down to Reading, and then rattled up a 3-0 lead by half time against Millwall, before just hanging on for the win.

We also comfortable accounted for Peterborough to advance to the 4th Round of the League Cup.

Despite winning one of three, we still hang in for 4th place.

It was a tighter game than the score suggests, but we ran away with it after they had a player sent off.

We head to West Ham for the 4th Round.

Our FA Cup campaign kicks off with a tough draw at Blackburn in the 3rd Round.

Another big loss, and we are heading backwards fast.

Some tough matches coming up.

Punch · December 18, 2022

DEC 2022 - Youth Intake Preview

Goalkeeper, midfielders and wing backs, make for a decent looking intake.

Stuniverse · December 18, 2022

On 16/12/2022 at 11:18, Punch said:

Chapter 3 - The search for a new club

We hit the button on the random number generator...

Close to last chapters 36, so this chapter is...

On 16/12/2022 at 11:18, Punch said:

Preston North End FC

Congratulations on your success at Rotherham United, @Punch.

At the start of a new FM23 save, I’d expect Preston North End to be in better shape than Rotherham United so another two season Chapter…?

No pressure 😂⚽️🤣

Good luck 🍀

Edited December 18, 2022 by Stuniverse

Punch · December 18, 2022

5 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Congratulations on your success at Rotherham United

Thank you!

5 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

At the start of a new FM23 save, I’d expect Preston North End to be in better shape than Rotherham United so another two season Chapter…?

No pressure

Quick game is a good game they say :lol:

Punch · December 18, 2022

DEC 2022

A tough loss to Blackburn, before we took it out on QPR. West Ham knocked us out of the League Cup, and we then took it out on Huddersfield. We then finished the month with a hard fought draw at WBA.

After the loss to Blackburn we dropped to 8th place, but by the end of the month we had fought our way back to 4th.

A massive ask against West Ham, and they cruised through the match pretty comfortably.

A goal in the second half did give us hope, but they were always pretty comfortable.

Not as much, but still a big loss again.

Some big games coming up.

Stuniverse · December 18, 2022

Well placed in the playoffs, @Punch. Nice one!

Punch · December 18, 2022

JAN 2023

We managed to win just one of four League games this month, with costly losses to Stoke and Norwich, before being held to a draw at Birmingham, and rounding out the month with a good win over Coventry.

Two good FA Cup wins have also taken us to the 5th Round.

A bad month as we drop from 4th to 8th.

A late winner to upset Blackburn.

A solid performance to over run Rotherham.

We get another trip to West Ham for the 5th Round, after they knocked us out of the League Cup.

Our poor financial state means the Board have slashed the budgets, so we didn't do any further business in the transfer window.

Just the League games next month, but some very important matches coming up.

Punch · December 18, 2022

6 hours ago, Stuniverse said:

Well placed in the playoffs, @Punch. Nice one!

Spoke too soon lol

Punch · December 19, 2022

FEB 2023

We started the month on fire putting together three straight wins, before it all fell in a heap as we lost the last two games.

The Wigan result was extra disappointing as we were the better team for most of the match, just couldn't get the ball in the net.

We managed to get back into the play off spots despite the mixed month.

Parrott has been brilliant, picking up the Young Player of the Month, despite our up and down month.

Another monster loss this month, sending past £5 million into the red.

I had a look into why we are always losing so much money, and it's simply no sponsors. We only have one deal worth about £350k per year.

That is simply not sustainable at this level.

Hopefully West Ham fill the stadium so we get a decent pay day, but the tough League games keep coming.

Punch · December 19, 2022

MAR 2023

A good fight, but we bow out of the FA Cup at West Ham.

We got belted by Watford, before turning around and belting Cardiff. Got home in a tight one against Rotherham, before falling in a tight one against Borough.

We still hold a play off spot, but it's a very tight table.

Parrott takes the award for the second month in a row.

West Ham were always in control but we did give them a decent push.

£1.5 million share of the gate was a nice reward, even though we are out.

A big gate from West Ham and a £1 million injection from the Board gave us a good month, but we are still struggling financially.

A busy month as the run home begins.

Punch · December 19, 2022

APR 2023

A mixed bag as we hammer rivals Blackpool, only to get belted by QPR. We then went on a good run, unbeaten in the next four, winning three of them, before dropping the last game at Sheffield United.

Five teams, three places.

The equation is simple for us, don't lose, and we are in the play offs. Our goal difference is so good, that even a draw would get us in. Lose, and we could still miss out.

Home to Sunderland for the final match,so it's all in our hands.

Punch · December 19, 2022

MAY 2023 - Match Day 46

We dominated the match, but it took an 86th minute winner to get us over the line and secure a play off spot.

Although it mattered not, as both Millwall and Stoke were beaten.

It was an important win though, as it kept us in 4th, and gives us the home advantage in the second leg.

We take on Luton, with the winners getting either Middlesbrough, or Hull for a shot at the Premier League.

Edited December 19, 2022 by Punch

Punch · December 19, 2022

MAY 2023 - Play Off Semi Final 1st Leg

It was a tough fight, but we got the only goal of the game, and managed to hold on.

Luton were probably the better team, but our defence stood strong, and we head back to Deepdale with a slender lead.

The other semi is looking like a tight affair as well.

Edited December 19, 2022 by Punch

LazgoNNO2000 · December 19, 2022

9 minutes ago, Punch said:

MAY 2023 - Play Off Semi Final 1st Leg

It was a tough fight, but we got the only goal of the game, and managed to hold on.

Luton were probably the better team, but our defence stood strong, and we head back to Deepdale with a slender lead.

The other semi is looking like a tight affair as well.

Come on man you can do it

Punch · December 19, 2022

MAY 2023 - Play Off Semi Final 2nd Leg

Another tight fight, another single goal, another game where we hung on for dear life and got the victory.

It wasn't pretty, but we got the job done.

We will face Middlesbrough after they upset Hull.

Punch · December 19, 2022

We have a draw and a loss against them this season, so we are going to need to overturn history, and some shaky form if we want to get past them.

LazgoNNO2000 · December 19, 2022

3 hours ago, Punch said:

We have a draw and a loss against them this season, so we are going to need to overturn history, and some shaky form if we want to get past them.

oh well your probaly in big trouble maybe you will get the promotion next season

Punch · December 19, 2022

3 minutes ago, LazgoNNO2000 said:

oh well your probaly in big trouble maybe you will get the promotion next season

If we don't get promotion this season, next year will be a struggle.

We are in financial trouble, so all of our best loan players will be gone, and we will probably have to sell a few of our players on higher wages to help recover, so it might be a very big rebuild next season either way.

Punch · December 20, 2022

MAY 2023 - Championship Play Off Final

In an absolutely stunning result, we have been promoted to the Premier League after coming from nowhere to beat Boro in a penalty shoot out.

Boro applied all the pressure, especially late in the first half, and early in the second, but our defensive line put in some shift, managing to keep them out.

They continued to have all the running in the first half of extra time, and right on half time, they finally breached our defences to take the lead.

In the second half of extra time, we finally started to create chances, and play some really attacking football, but we could not find a way through.

Deep into injury time, with Boro already thinking about being in the Premier League, and just playing down time, and with the Ref checking his watch, Sean Maguire stole the ball just on our side of half way, and launched a hit and hope ball forward.

Prayers were answered, as the ball landed in the path of Emil Riis, full of running, and smashed a first bounce volley into the top corner.

The Boro fans and players were stunned, they were seconds away from the Premier League.

Our fans and players were wild with celebration...you'd think we'd just won promotion :lol: but no, there was a penalty shoot out to come.

Anything can happen in a shoot out, and this one was full of drama as well.

Both teams score with their first three shots, but Boro blinked first, and Woodman came up with a brilliant save on their 4th shot, and we managed to score, giving us a huge advantage.

They scored with their 5th shot, making it four all, and as Palmer stepped up, we were just a few meters away from the Premier League...only to watch his shot smash into the bar...advantage lost.

Four all as we move into sudden death.

The pressure was then all on us, as we had to chase.

Both teams 6th shots went in. The 7th shots went in. The 8th shots went in.

Seven all and we are getting close to the keepers needing to take shots.

But it would be our keeper coming up huge again, pulling off another massive save of their 9th shot.

We'd been here before, four shots ago in fact, just a few meters from the Premier League.

Up stepped Liam Lindsay, who went for power, and smashed his shot against the upright...only for it to deflect into the goal...it's over...

I'm exhausted...I need a drink...and a lie down...and a party after that match :lol:

Punch · December 20, 2022

MAY 2023

We end up a long way in debt, but with approx £100 million coming our way next season, that issue should resolve itself pretty soon.

Just the addition of the under soil heating, no additional capacity.

One goal changed the entire promotion play offs

In the dying minutes of our final game of the regular season at home to Sunderland, Emil Riis thumped home a late winner.

It's a bit of a long winded tale, but that one single goal, changed the entire play off map.

If we'd drawn against Sunderland, we would still have made the Play Offs, due to Stoke and Millwall both losing on the final day.

However, that would have meant a 7th place finish, instead of 4th.

In that scenario, we'd have faced Hull in the Semi Final, rather than Luton, who would have faced Boro.

Now during the season we had a draw and a win over Luton, but had been soundly beaten twice by Hull.

Our Play Off run, and promotion chances would probably have been over at the first hurdle.

Now here is where things get a little stranger...I love this stuff...

Boro had lost twice to Luton, but had a win and a draw over Hull. So they also benefited from our last goal, as they then faced a team they had a better record against in the Semi Final.

Boro pulled off what many thought was an upset, beating Hull 2-1 on aggregate, while we completed two tight 1-0 wins over Luton.

From there, the craziness of the Final against Boro, where the lottery of the shootout decided our fate, and our spot in the Premier League.

Our 89th goal of the regular season, in the 86th minute, of our 46th game, changed the Play Off outlook for four different clubs.

Punch · December 20, 2022

2022-2023 Season Review

Predicted to finish mid table, we spent most of the season in the Play Off spots, before making an incredible run to an unlikely promotion.

Of all the teams and seasons I have managed so far, I thought this was the least likely to get promoted. However, some good loans, and clever transfers resulted in building a very competitive squad.

So no begins the process of building a squad that can survive the Premier League.

deltablue · December 20, 2022

Seems like quite a dramatic promotion!

Punch · December 20, 2022

7 hours ago, deltablue said:

Seems like quite a dramatic promotion!

We can't do things the easy way :lol:

Punch · December 20, 2022

JUN 2023

Bookies rate our chances highly :lol:

Transfers

We made two additions to the team already.

We picked up a young central midfielder from Derby for £8.75 million, who automatically becomes our first choice. Some good solid numbers and looks like we got a bargain.

A familiar looking name, as I brought the same player from Hull in the Rotherham chapter :lol:

Again, straight away becomes our best defender, and at £13.5 million, we got him for a good price.

Both deals break our transfer record.

A long way into the red, but the TV Money will help sort that out soon. We have also brought in a lot more sponsorship this season.

Game changing money for the club.

A pre-season camp in Portugal, but I may get some more friendlies in there yet.

Punch · December 21, 2022

JUL 2023

A pretty solid pre-season, with a few extra games thrown in to get plenty of minutes in plenty of legs.

The Board decided I was worth keeping around for another three years, and with a decent pay rise as well.

Transfers

Just the one player in so far.

We are a bit light on in the wingers, and we picked up this little gem for £3 million. Based on the numbers I see here, we have absolutely stolen him.

An interesting little record to break. If we ever decide to sell him, it looks like we could smash that record.

Even with a transfer fee, we still make a big profit for the month.

One more friendly before the season kicks off, with some pretty tough games, and we round out the month with a League Cup appearance.

Punch · December 21, 2022

AUG 2023

A real mixed bag this month, as we struggled to a high scoring draw in the final friendly, before causing a massive upset by holding off Leicester to win our first Premier League match.

We pushed Chelsea all the way in a tight loss, before holding Bournemouth to a draw, and then getting spanked by Forest,

We rounded out the month with a penalties win over Swansea in the League Cup.

We are in the bottom half of the table, but already collecting points.

We should have won this easily, but it was an own goal that got us level, and we then had to survive a penalty shoot out to advance to the Third Round.

Woodman was again fantastic making two saves in the shoot out.

We host Huddersfield in Round 3.

We take a loss this month after some transfer activity, which I will go through in the next post.

A healthy rise in the season tickets.

We are a long way behind the big clubs, but not last, and a massive improvement over our one £300k sponsor from last season.

A good core and family following for the club.

Another month of tough matches, and we round out with the League Cup 3rd Round.

Punch · December 21, 2022

AUG 2023 - Transfers

We brought in three more bodies, and I am pretty impressed with all of them.

A solid central defender who will make a great partner with Greaves. We paid Celtic £2 million, for a young defender with quality numbers, this looks like another great buy.

This one is really exciting, a lightning fast winger to play on the right, and can cover the left, who will make a great partner to Colley who will mostly play on the left.

Another youngster that looks the good, and with a value at £21-£26 million, we have stolen him from Rangers for only £6 million,

Another youngster who can play anywhere in defence, but especially to help our stocks on the left and right where we were a bit short.

Some good solid numbers, and looks to be a handy signing.

Considering we paid less than a million for him, and he is valued at about £7 million, we committed another theft, this time from LIverpool.

There is still one day to go in the window, so I am still casting my eye over a few players, although not much room left in the budgets.

Our Best XI now looks like this

I decided not to spend cash on an AM(C), as we have an exciting youngster, Mikey O'Neill, who even though only has two CA stars, has been killing it in the pre-season, and played well in the first few games.

He's only young, but I think he is worth persisting with, and that has allowed us to spend money in other areas.

Considering some of the deals we have done, for the players we have gotten, my biggest concern is getting charged with robbery. :lol:

I think we now have a squad that won't just avoid the relegation fight, but could seriously challenge those in the top half of the table.

Punch · December 22, 2022

SEP 2023

One of everything in the League this month. We started with a well played win over Everton, before being outplayed by Palace.

Then we possibly pulled off the upset of the season by withstanding an onslaught from the Gunners, and then grabbing an equaliser after the break and managing to hang on.

We then got into a nine goal shootout in the League Cup win over Huddersfield.

We sit 14th, but we have moved away from the relegation zone slightly, with a game in hand.

Defence was the thing around the ground. Three goals were scored in the first 10 minutes, and both sides just kept scoring.

After the dust settled, we came out with a 6-3 win. Crazy game.

We travel to Southampton for Round Four.

We turn a healthy profit this month, as we ended up not dipping any further into the transfer market.

Another month of tough games coming up.

Punch · December 22, 2022

OCT 2023

Two wins, two losses in the League this month.

We were poor against Wolves, defensively good against Leeds before catching them on the counter with a late goal to steal the win.

A solid display to run down Watford, before pushing Newcastle all the way in a tight loss.

Southampton completely outplayed us, so it was a miracle that the game was even that close, but we bow out of the League Cup on penalties.

Still holding 14th place, and we have moved further away from the relegation zone, in terms of points.

That Saints dominated the match but we frustrated them defensively.

It all came apart in the shootout, which we have been very good at, but not this time, as we bow out in the 4th Round.

A monster profit this month thanks to huge TV Revenue as three of our four League games were picked up for TV.

This month could hurt...a lot. Three games against teams all in the top 6. This has the potential to be a zero point month.

Sonic Youth · December 22, 2022

Preston’s promotion looked tough, and thankfully on the fortunate side of the results. This season has started well :thup:

Congrats on getting Rotherham promoted. It’s looking easier than Preston has so far been.

Maybe you could rank each team with ease of promotion they were to each other!

Punch · December 22, 2022

27 minutes ago, Sonic Youth said:

Preston’s promotion looked tough, and thankfully on the fortunate side of the results. This season has started well

Congrats on getting Rotherham promoted. It’s looking easier than Preston has so far been.

Maybe you could rank each team with ease of promotion they were to each other!

That would be tough to rank.

Rotherham probably had a tougher run to make the play off spots, but seemed to get promoted through the play offs easier.

Preston had an easier time making the play offs, but a lot of things had to go right to get us to the final...and then that final...it was absolute chaos...I have no idea how we held on through the 90...we were absolutely gone in extra time, only to score in the final seconds to send it to penalties...and then the shoot out was heart attack inducing...

And that's only comparing two of three teams so far...good luck comparing 44... :lol:

Punch · December 23, 2022

DEC 2023

I said this was a month where would could collect zero points, well we over achieved, by a single point :lol:

We were dealt with comfortably by Liverpool and Man U, before putting in a spirited defensive effort against Norwich, to win a hard earned point.

We drop to 15th and have drifted closer the the relegation zone.

We are not playing badly, but we are clearly out of our depth against the bigger teams.

TV Money keeps wiping away the transfer debt from the start of the season.

Another month or two and we should be back in the black.

December is typically a massive month and this one is no different. Some tough games coming up as well.

Punch · December 23, 2022

DEC 2023

A brilliant month as we go through undefeated.

A crazy high scoring game over Villa, before we took a point a City of Manchester Stadium. We absolutely rissoled Spurs, and were held by Southampton, in a game we probably should have won.

A solid win over Brighton before we rounded out the month holding an impressive Wolves outfit to a draw at home.

For a newly promoted team, that's a massive effort.

We've pulled away from the relegation zone in points and places, climbing to 12th, finding ourselves only one win behind those fighting for European places.