GrassWroots to Glory Birmingham edition

[CJWrootFM]

Now for life after YouTube. I have left the video platform but there is where you can find my 1st club, Braintree town. Lead them to the Vanarama national League and cemented them there but a disagreement with the board forced my hand.

 

Then I joined the blue half way through season 4 in sky bet league 1, with the task to keep them up. Which i did. 

 

Now follow my season 5 story here and on my twitter.

Opening day of the @SkyBetLeagueOne in #FM23 GrassWroots to Glory for my @BCFC side.

Please find my 1st team sheet for the season and the result.

Hard game to start with but the blues came out with their heads held high.

#FootballManager

[CJWrootFM]

Well the 1st month is done for me and @BCFC, and I am please to announce that Mavididi (who signed after his contract was terminated) winning the award. 7 goals in 4 games.

By the way, I won manager of the month aswell

#FM23
#FootballManager

[The Flying Scotsman]

Brilliant as always Wroot.

Looking forward to the journey continuing. 

[CJWrootFM]

The top 2 came face to face in the 9th league game of the season.

My @BCFC poses an unbeaten record with 8 wins out of 8 to entertain Fleetwood.

The game started slow but the blues found their scoring touch with a hatrick from Happe and a brace from Mavididi.

#FM23
#FootballManager

[CJWrootFM]

After winning my 3rd manager of the month award in Nov 26, my @BCFC side face @Pompey in #FM23 GrassWroots to Glory.

The team is unbeaten in 23 games before this tough match,

 

the question is can they make it 24.

#FootballManager

[CJWrootFM]

During a sit down interview with Birmingham city fantv, here are some of the questions that I have faced.

Question one,

Have you found life in league one after jumping straight in from non-league?

"The difference in leagues is very vast to go from a semi-professional team into a professional team is a lot different the day-to-day workout so more intense than semi-pro. This is the challenge that I was yearning for and to be given the opportunity here at st Andrews was a great opportunity not to pass up."

 

Question 2

After surviving relegation last season what do fans expect now?

"They can expect more of the attacking football I play towards the end of last season. I have rebuilt the team completely bringing in 12 new signings to change the fortune of this club which should be in a higher division regardless"

 

Question 3

What does the future hold for you and Birmingham city?

"The future is one game at a time currently we are top of the league unbeat and so far this season and I'm only looking to the next game ahead. I want to bring the best players to the Midlands and cement this team as possibly one day our premiership team or if I can't leave it in a good state that someone else can. I know there has been talking the press about a takeover and I'm gonna stay tight lipped on it because I don't know what's going on but if investors do come in and the money is there I can guarantee that is going to be some entertaining and exciting times here's for the blues."

[CJWrootFM]

After having half a season here in the midlands, dragging the team away from the drop zone, its time to get started on a rebuild of this once premier league club. 

One thing I have noticed is the fan base are very loyal and want to see the blues back and fighting for honours again. 

We must improve on a sky bet league one campaign which started slowly last season, so I singled out the area to target. We had the keeper to see us build Apon in James Trafford, and with a strike force getting better every week in Jones and Mavididi, and a brother of a legend at the club Jobe Bellingham.  

The transfer windowed open and I wanted to get business done early so I could get a settled side, and with only 2 million in the bank I had to get some players out the door, even tho the chairman was able to invest some more if we needed. 

We managed to get 2 million into the club from transfers out either on full deals or loans, biggest name to leave was Harry Forster who joined the January from Wrexham made the move to Salford in a deal worth £120k. 

So the important bit, the transfer in. 

Dan Happe – Defender 

Dujon Sterling – Wing Back 

Mike Biereth – Striker 

Ethan Galbraith – Midfielder 

Nathan Wood – Defender 

Max Taylor – Defender 

Alex King – Wing Back 

Lewis Bate – Midfielder 

Jacob Davenport – Midfielder 

Andre Dozzell – Midfielder 

James Beadle – Keeper 

Michy Batshuayi – Striker 

As you can see, I have added players with the team I have so there is cover if anyone gets injured or banned. 

I have added a left wing back from the under 20’s , Sam Roberts who impressed me during pre season. 

We had 9 games in preseason, which we won 4 of them. 

As you can see, we are fav to win the league but with the cup comps thrown in the mix, its going to be hard to fire on all fronts. 

We are 20 games, you can see how well this side is doing, unbeaten in the league, scoring goals for fun, getting award left right and centre, this team has change around since I took charge a year ago. 

Now with a hard Christmas period to tackle with, the question can Birmingham keep this run going?

Edited August 19, 2023 by CJWrootFM

[CJWrootFM]

After a good blog went live yesterday, it's only fitting to announce a pre contract signing for the #January #Transfers in #FM23 GrassWroots to Glory.

Arriving to @BCFC is Arijon Ibrahimovic for £2.5 million.

The former Bayern midfielder joins the club after being listed.

[CJWrootFM]

Breaking news in #FM23 GrassWroots to glory.

Star striker Warren Jones could be leaving the blues with Bournemouth placing a £18 million bid for the 19 year old .

[CJWrootFM]

Both of my star strikers are leaving #FM23 GrassWroots to Glory.

 

Jones sold for £18 million on Mavididi is going for £20 million. (Buy outs on contacts)

 

Between them it's 55 goals between them

 

How do I replace that.

[CJWrootFM]

Can I interduce @BCFC new signing in #FM23 GrassWroots to Glory Thomas Broaders.

the young Irish player arrives with 4 star rating from @ShamrockRovers

(using newgen-revolution-facepack from @fmscout)

[CJWrootFM]

TALKSPORT

Posted on 23/08/2023 by Wroot1

During White and Jordan show on Talksport, Simon Jordan weighs in with what’s been going on at Birmingham City.

The Current owner Ziya Eren is looking to sell the club with £56 million pound of debt has only come out this week with the announcement of a new training ground improvement costing nearly £5 million pounds.

 

Simon questions what the owner is doing?, selling 2 top players from under the managers nose and not investing in to the team or getting the debt down by more than half.

[CJWrootFM]

We pick up my Birmingham City team having a storming season going into the hectic Christmas period. But off the field problems are coming forward, my contract is up at the end of the season and no deal in sight, and to top it off, the owner is looking to see the club.

We kick off December with a home game against title rivals Peterborough which was an hard game only coming to light in the last 5 mins with 2 goals from Mavididi. The next 4 games all wins including one in the FA cup saw 10 goals scored and 3 conceded until a game vs reading which saw a 1-1 draw. Following a win vs Fleetwood, the Blues suffered their first league lost of the season going down 0-1 to Lincoln who scored in the dying moments of the game.

So the question is, with the team I have put together going so well, how can I improve the team, and with only a kitty of £2.5 million in the bank, I had to do some dealing. Now one player I had my eye on was a German playing at Oxford, former Bayan player Arijon Ibrahimovic to add some steel in the middle of the park. But a Twist was about to happen.
From underneath my nose, the board took it in to their own hands and sold my front line, with young 19yrs old striker Warren Jones joining Bournemouth for £20 million and Mavididi joining him down on the south coast in a £18 million deal with Brighton.

!
A quick one on deals in.  How do I replace 2 key figures who between them scored a ton load of goals, I brought youngers Caomhan Burrows in on loan from Arsenal, highly rated but need games to prove himself. Under 20 Danish striker Garly arrived but was loan back stright away, But the shining light was an Irish striker, Thomas Broaders joins to take the number 9 shirt.

January 2027 started slow with a draw but then the team turn on the style before players left, but the form carried on with 8 wins on the spin. In Feburary our league form was great with 4 wins out of 5, but the gam we lost was the FA cup game vs Chelsea which in front of 29,805 fans saw the blues lost 2-1.

on current form tthis Birimingham side are on course for breaking the record of total points after surcuring promotion to sky bet championship next season. in prep for that season, a pre contract has been signed with Ajax keeper Charlie Setford, the English youngester is looking forward to joining this side.

March started off brighly with wins against Blackpool and Morecambe, but it was a tuesday night when the magic happend, it was a semi final in the Papa Johns trophy vs Arsenal under 21's, in front of 4500 people, Goals from a muched changed side, Biereth and van der Vlugt sealed a 2-0 and a date at wembley wit Barnsely.
But........
on that night, results in the league went our way and we finished the night as CHAMPIONS!!!!

i told the lads to rest up with the final 2 weeks away but to enjoy this moment becoming league winners, i know i did as its my 1st trophy in football.
Forest Green wanted to spoil the part at St Andrews but can only walk away with a draw, but it was Cambridge who brought the team back to earth inflicking the 2nd defeat of the season with a 4-1 drumming of the champs.
next up the PAPA JOHNS FINAL.

.
A wet 4/4/2027 at wembley see my team face midland rivals Barnsley in the JPT final, and of course no one wants to make a mistake and it was like that for the 1st 20 mns, untill a error from Kingdom let Biereth in to slot pass Davis to but the blues one nill up.
Just after the kick off, Birmingham had a goal ruled out when Bellingham broke through and his crossed came of a defender and looped over the keeper, but Jobe was offside. 15 mins later, a break down the left saw Roberts drive a low cross in for Broaders to hit home his 13th goal of the season.
With 2 mins left, a mix up with Barnsley players allowed sub Oduka pop the ball over the top for yound 16 years old striker Ghiraw to mark his 2nd game for the club with his 2nd goal, left footed shot across the goal to seal the win.

Birmingham dose thhe double!!!!

So with a month left of the season, its time to brake some records
 

[CJWrootFM]

END OF SEASON

Posted on 29/08/2023 by Wroot1

April

 

April started off on the right foot, as reported in the last blog we was able to win the PJT to make it a double winning season. But the question is to see if we can break records this season.
Charlton made the trip up north and in front of 13000 fans, the blues won 3-0 before 2 away tips. my blues team on the road has been strong like they are at home and thsi carried on with a draw at Crewe and a 4-3 win at Shrewsbury, but that was hard as the home side faught back from 4-1 down.
Barnsley wanted to get their revenage agaist us from the JPT final when they came to st andrews and after going one nil down, a much changed team came back to hold on to a 1-1 draw thanks to Andre Dozzell.
next up was the game in hand, and this one was speical, facing my home town, Colchester UTD, who is managed by a person when he was playing i admire, Freddie Lungberg. It was a honour for me as i led the team our as the U’s gave us a guard of honour. at this point we had scored 107 goals this season, and the record is 111 set by QPR. goals from Biereth, woods and a brace from Happe got us a 4-0 win and equaling the record in the final home ame of the season.

May

The final game of the season was away to reading, a team looking to still make the playoffs, and it was entertaining. My side raced in to a 0-2 lead thanks to a brace from Broaders in 2 mins but the royals came back and with 10 mins left lead the game 3-2. but scoring his 1st goal of the season Dujon Sterling hitting a top bins free kick to earn a draw.

Season review

The signing of the season goes to Nathan Wood, the central defender took some time to get going but i had faith in him, and for £1.6 million i was a great deal scoring 3 goals in 43 games.

114 points is amazing in its own right, we proved that we are the best team in the league. GD of 74 made up have the best attack in the league.

As you can see from the line up, we had 3 at the back with wing backs. a diamond in midfield then a front 2.

Key moment of the season, there was a lot to choose from, biggest win was the 6-1 drumming of Swindon, but the FA Cup game vs Derby was the match to remember. But the goal of the season was Sterling free kick in the last game of the campaign.

Player of the season went to James McAtee, his work in the centre of the park was nothing but amazing. younger player of the season when to Jan singing Thomas Broaders, in 20 games he bagged 16 goals.

My own awards was my own personal goals winning 6 manager of the months and more importantly winning the league and PJT.

[CJWrootFM]

 

Interviewer: Those are admirable goals, Jobe. We have no doubt that with your determination and talent, you’ll achieve great things in your career. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us today.

 

Jobe Bellingham: Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure to discuss my journey and ambitions with you.

 

In his Birmingham career, Jobe is now the club captain, leading like he has been playing for years, very vocal to his teammates who speak highly of him on and off the pitch. He has played 155 games, scoring 17 goals and 34 assists in 5 and a half years, with an average rating of 6.96. Bellingham is valued in the region of £16 million to £20 million for a Championship player with the world at his feet.

 

This young English talent has won the Papa John trophy and Sky Bet League one in 2027. Also named in the team of the season with 4 other Birmingham players.

 

 

Tagged #FM, Birmingham city, content, content creator, FM library, FM23, football manager, Football manager 23