RaySunshine

November 2038 In what felt like Fogg's first proper test as Mexico manager, the team came up trumps against Uruguay (Reyna, Herrera pen 42, Garza 78). It was a comfortable win in front a packed crowd which made Fogg feel pretty good! Game two saw the side take on Syria (Huerta 7, Garcia 34, Herrera 61). Once again, the goals flowed and Fogg's perfect record as the manager of Mexico continued! And now, all of Fogg's games of 2038 are done. He's now waiting for the 15th January and the chance to return home to complete the challenge!

Season Review Bizarre is the only way Fogg could describe this - three players that didn't play including two who'd left before the season even began feature alongside another who didn't get a minute in a formation that Fogg didn't use! Other than that, it's fine! Doherty swept the board for awards and, when you see the number of records he broke, it's clear why... A friendly window comes up for Mexico now and, little do Shelbourne know it, but in the new year, Fogg will at last be looking to complete his journey and return home!

October 2038 The season comes to an end and Fogg was very proud of the unbeaten month that it finished with! Game one was against St Patrick's Athletic (M Doherty 20, 40, L Doherty 24). St Pat's managed to finish the game with only nine players but two out of the three goals had been scored before a red card was shown so Fogg felt pretty pleased with his team's work. There was a brief international window at this stage and Mexico took on U.A.E (Martin 59) and Fogg secured a 1-0 win thanks to Martin's quick work for a goal. For Shelbourne, 3-1 came up in the game against Dundalk (M Doherty 25, 58, Burke 81). Dundalk managed to get to half-time level but, after a few rousing words from a frustrated Fogg, Shelbourne raised their game and cruised to victory in the second half. The month's only clean sheet came in the game agaisnt Bohemian (Smith 27, Burke 41) and CB Burke was out to prove that he was a corner-heading superstar with his second goal in two games! The win came at a cost though with two key players missing the final run-in to the end of the season. Fogg's favourite scoreline of 3-1 came up again in the game against Finn Harps (M Doherty 9, L Doherty 61, Smith 90). Fogg was pleased with the win but wasn't pleased with... ... with a second LB injury! Youngster Gary York was required to step up to the plate and finish off the season! At this point, second place was secure but the wins dried up. The first of two draws came against relegation-threatened Longford Town (M Doherty 56). Longford even took the lead but the ever-reliable Mark Doherty was able to secure a point for Fogg. And, at last, the season finished with another 1-1 draw against Bohemian (Burke 28) Burke rose high again at a corner to score the final goal of the season for Shelbourne! And so, much to Fogg's amazement and delight, the season finishes and the team predicted to go down at the end of the season finish best-of-the-rest, in Europe and have a trophy. Not a bad season's work eh?

September 2038 The month of September began with a win for Fogg in his first game as Mexico manager against Qatar (Huerta 47, Jaramillo 70). It took until the second half for the goals to come and, little did Fogg know it, but it would be some of the only points he'd see that month! Action with Shelbourne began with an FAI Cup Quarter Final against Sligo Rovers. Despite playing a team in the lower league, Fogg's men couldn't come up with a goal and they ended on the receiving end of a giant-killing and crashing out the cup. No more joy was to come in the league game against Derry City (L Doherty 26). Liam Doherty gave the side the lead after he scored from a cutback by Nathan Smith. The team couldn't hold on to it though and slumped to defeat. The defeats were worth it though for the next game - the cup final against UCD (L Doherty 27) when Liam Doherty headed home Mark Doherty's cross. They equalised when Burke's crossfield ball didn't find a teammate. With both sides missing a penalty in normal time too, the game went on to extra time and Dabo scored the vital penalty in the shootout to give Fogg his first silverware since leaving Japan! Reality struck soon after the cup final when Shelbourne took on runaway league leaders Shamrock Rovers (M Doherty 60). The point that Mark Doherty's goal earned was made all the more creditworthy when the side went down to ten men and had to fight away to protect that point! The draw was enough to confirm that Fogg's men could not be relegated though! Before the next match, the results of the youth intake were revealed and only the top two names were enough to interest Fogg this year! The month's final game saw the side take on Waterford (Smith 44). Much to Fogg's shock, Waterford scored their first two shots of the game and were 2-0 up inside four minutes. Smith did get a goal back but that was all Fogg got as consolation for the game... Due to a tough, tough month, Fogg's men slipped down a place although they also have two games in hand. It's fair to say that Fogg would easily take for the fourth piece of silverware that his trip around the world has earned him! If it all goes to plan, this October represents the last month that Fogg will be leading Shelbourne for before the season closes and, in the new year, his attention will turn to home and the completion of his journey. He'd really rather like to seal that second spot if he can but there is a rather large run of away games in there!

August 2038 The glory days continue! Fogg can't quite believe that his relegation-threatened Shelbourne side have had a perfect month! It began in the league and the side took on Finn Harps (L Doherty 20, 40, Smith 27, Keogh 68). The pick of the bunch was the super volley that Doherty put home from Smith's cutback cross for his second goal. Cup action came next and Shelbourne took their place in the semi-finals against Waterford (M Doherty pen 29, Burke 90+6). Waterford had two players sent off in this match to liven things up a bit but it took until the 96th minute and the dying embers of the game for Burke to head home corner and send Shelbourne into the EA Sports Cup Final! The cup action carried on with Shelbourne beginning their work in the FAI Cup and the opponents were Finn Harps (Boylan 53, L Doherty 56). The goals came in quick succession with Boylan putting away a low cross sent in from the right by Kelleher and Liam Doherty curled the ball in from the edge of the box with the outside of his foot! League action was rare this month and came next against UCD (L Doherty 36, 63, Harvey 84) and Fogg could barely believe the ease with which his team away the supposedly better side. Dreamland indeed! Keogh might be planning to move on to pastures new but Fogg did want him to be able to play this month! McDermott, though has shown he has no interest in going anywhere - even when a £100k bid from Ipswich has come in! A final cup match came up against amateurs Letterkenny (Harvey 4, Redmond 8, Kelleher 50, McMaster 78). An almost-completely rotated side put the amateurs to the sword and the goal of mark went to McMaster when the youngster got his first professional goal. The team remain in that high second place! Can they hold on through the last nine games of the season and get that second place - it would be a real miracle for Fogg and his team. Three of those nine games come up in September. There's the small matter of the Cup Final in there as well. Can Fogg get silverware which would mark unbelieveable progress for his Shelbourne side! Fogg also has the small matter of his first game managing Mexico to sort as well...

July 2038 The months of perfection came to an end in July but Fogg was still very pleased with the position that the club was holding at the end of the month. Derry City (L Doherty 12) were the month's first opponents and a single strike from Liam Doherty was enough to hand Fogg all three points. This was not news that Fogg wanted though - to find out that his keeper would not be playing the next two games! Next up in those games were Longford Town (L Doherty 10). This time Mark Doherty sent a ball over the top and Liam finished it on the half-volley to secure all three points for Shelbourne. No such luck came against Shamrock Rovers (M Doherty pen 20) though. Both sides got a penalty but it was Shamrock Rovers who got the final goal and ended Fogg's fine unbeaten run to this point. Winning ways were resumed in the game against St Patrick's Athletic (M Doherty pen 39, 41). Mark Doherty struck twice in quick sucession to secure all three points and Fogg was, as I'm sure you can imagine, very very pleased! Fogg also opted for an international change - he thought it raise his repuation prior to getting on to the English stage of his journey - alas it didn't! The month's finishing red dot came in the game against Dundalk (M Doherty 4) Mark Doherty got the game off to a flyer with an early goal but, alas, Dundalk had two in store and that was enough to take all three points! Shelboure remain second in the table with only 11 games to go. Fogg is dreaming of a miraculous European qualification before he looks to leave the shores of Ireland... Another month - more cup games! This time, as well as the start of the final run-in, the FAI Cup begins too. The action never stops in the Irish league!

June 2034 There might have only been one game in June for Phillip Fogg but didn't stop it being a busy month for the Shelbourne manager. The game was against UCD (M Doherty 8, 28, Boylan 50) and Fogg was delighted with the result as his team took a three-one win and a helpful three points before the World Cup began... Ivory Coast 'helped' Sweden (Christ Traore 15) warm up for the World Cup by inflicting a 1-0 defeat on them. Oura made a nice cross from the right and Christ Traore was there to head it home. Fogg is now watching the TV with keen interest as he intends to make this his last Ivory Coast game and raise his reputation with a higher-ranked nation! This was slightly-troubling news but at least made clear what European places Shelbourne were fighting for this year. Next in was the youth intake. It didn't look stunning but Fogg was happy to take anything that looked remotely positive. After Watts had established himself in the midfield, it was a bit of a blow to Fogg to find out that his contract was running out and that he would soon be leaving to join Ipswich! A replacement would be needed soon.... ... meet Romeo Dabo! The young Ivorian has come in to take on the role and work under the current manager of his national team! Shelbourne remain in second place and it's clear where the European spots are now - the dream continues! July has five games in it - what can Fogg and Shelbourne make of them as they look to tie down that promising European spot that would do so much good to the club's finances!

May 2038 May began with two cup games for Shelbourne. The first was against lower-league Sligo Rovers (Boylan 1, 27, Burke 3, Redmond 9, M Doherty 17, 45+3, Quinn 34, Keogh 82) where the goals flowed and Shelbourne simply cruised on and into the next round. Fogg had hoped that his team would be a in a cup final after the match against Bohemian (M Doherty 19) and it started well when Mark Doherty scored from a defence-splitting Smith pass. They had other ideas though and scored three to take the lead. Shelbourne didn't stop dominating though and missed a penalty and had a goal ruled out for offside just to rub the salt in! Revenge was taken upon Finn Harps (Quinn 7, Harrison 10, M Doherty 37, Smith 54). Quinn scored the pick of the bunch with his opener which was a long-range bullet of a shot that nearly took the net off! It was then home action against St Patrick's Athletic (Kane 66) and youngster Kane got the winner when a Redmond strike came back of the bar and left Kane with an open goal to tap into! No goals were scored in the game against Bohemian and the points were duly shared. The same was true against Waterford (L Doherty 20) although, this time, Shelbourne had led through Liam Doherty's fine headed finish before things were levelled up again. At the end of this month, Fogg was simply in dreamland! He'd expected to be fighting to keep his team in this divsion at all - now he's fighting to be in Europe! For how long can the dream continue... An Ivory Coast-less World Cup means that Fogg only has one tie in June!

April 2038 Considering that he was leading a team who were ranked as almost dead-cert favourites to go down, Fogg was simply bowled over by the unbeaten month of April! It all began in the game against UCD (L Doherty 56, M Doherty 77). Liam Doherty started the scoring against the higher-ranked side with a 20-yard daisy-cutter and then Mark Doherty finished it off with a great header from McDermott's cross to hand Fogg's men a famous win. The cup came next with a game against Athlone Town (Burke 4, 30, Watts 32, M Doherty 45+1, Smith 55, 80). It was the first time that the new 4-3-3 formation was tested against lower-level opposition and it's fair to say that it worked well for the side! Derry City (Kelleher 79) in the league came next. Kelleher scored late on with a great long-ranger into the far corner but Derry City pegged them back immediately and the game finished all square. The game against St Patrick's Athletic (Smith 8, 16, M Doherty 35) was one that Fogg had pinpointed for points earning. Smith scored two neat finishes and Mark Doherty chipped the keeper to finish all the scoring before half time! A game against out-right league leaders Shamrock Rovers (L Doherty 14, Kelleher 45+1) came next. Doherty gave an early lead by nodding home a cross before things were levelled up. Kelleher then scored a backpost header to restore the lead. Even when things were levelled again, the team were proud of a famous point earned. With so much happening this month, the side that took on Wexford (Kane 18, Redmond 31, Perrini 48) but they were still able to win and the youngster Redmond netted his first goal for the side. Young midfielder Smirnov played his first game too and looked highly promising. A full-strength side resumed action against Longford Town (Kelleher 26, L Doherty 34). Captain Kelleher continued his fine scoring form by finishing off Mark Doherty's deep cross before. Liam Doherty then scored from an outrageous angle after his deep cross beat everyone and ended up in the back of the net! The final game of the month was a close one against Dundalk (M Doherty pen 23, Smith 53, L Doherty 71) but the three goals that Fogg's men scored were enough to get all three points and complete the unbeaten month! After an amazing month, Fogg's men are riding high in the league. Fogg has noticed that, somehow, the pre-season prediction has changed since the season began but he's still beating whatever it was thought that this team could do! How long can it last for the year that Fogg is here... The packed months keep coming in Ireland and May starts with two vital cup games - one of which give Shelbourne the chance to appear in a cup final. Can they manage it...

Overcoming some technical hitches, Fogg's journey across the world continues! March 2038 The month began with highly-dramatic game against Dundalk (Keogh 31, M Doherty 48, L Doherty 83). 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2 and finally 3-2! Loanee Liam Doherty got the winner when their keeper punched a headed strike away and he was on hand to volley the ball home. With Mark Doherty being one of the team's better players this really wasn't the news that Fogg wanted to hear with the team trying to claw together vital points! Things did not go so well against Shamrock Rovers (Burke 55) however! Burke did manage to head home from a well-worked throw-in routine but, with the team already having conceeded four by that stage and with another coming, it was of little concern. Another frustrating defeat followed in the game against Derry City and there was very, very little for Fogg to smile about at this stage... ... and even less when the team's midfield grit was injured too! A cup game against lower-league Wexford (Smith 1, Boylan 21, Burke 39, Keogh 74) provided just what Fogg was after with the team scoring for fun to progress into the next round. A return to league action saw the team taking on Bohemian (McCarthy 21). Youngster Aaron McCarthy got his first career goal when Keogh turned full De-Bruyne to knit together a great passing move to send him through. Unfortunately, they got a penalty later on to match up the scores but Fogg was pleased with the point. Before the international break came newly-promoted Finn Harps (M Doherty 48, 51, L Doherty 64). Mark Doherty marked his return to action with two great goals and Keogh knitted the passing again together to send Liam Doherty through on goal too. It was then time for Ivory Coast to take up the reigns. It began in the game against Sudan (Oura 68) which finished in a frustrating 1-1 draw despite Fogg's team dominating the play. Worse was to come against Morocco where Fogg's players, once again, had the better of the play but couldn't produce much for it! The final game of the month was against Waterford. The team didn't win but a 4-3-3 with a half back dropping in to make a back three made a promising look in the second half. The month finishes and Shelbourne are still in the play-off places much to Fogg's disbelief. The longer this lasts, the more amazed he becomes! The table for Ivory Coast's qualifying makes less pretty reading though and Fogg wonders how much longer his international career will last if things don't pick up. Three teams, St Patrick's, Longford and Dundalk sit below Shelbourne in the table. If nothing else, Fogg wants to get points in those three games along with whatever else he can gain in the month. It is, however, another monster month - what sorts of stamina do this team have to show?

February 2038 And so a season in Ireland for Phillip Fogg begins! Game one was against Waterford (Doherty 21, pen 44, Burke 30). It was a game of high drama with Doherty finishing off a super run and scoring a penalty. CB Burke finished off a set piece played in by Doherty. Game two against UCD was a far more bruising encounter! UCD dominated from the off and it's fair to say that Shelbourne really didn't feature against their more high-flying opponents. Next up came the double-header against Longford Town (Smith 21, Burke 53, Boylan 61) and Fogg was delighted the with the cup result. What he wanted now was to achieve the same in the league... ... and it's fair to say it didn't happen with the side suffering a 1-0 defeat to Longford Town. They scored from a deep cross to the far post and, despite the game being pretty even, Fogg's men couldn't get back into it. The missing of a couple of real sitters towards the end really worried him. One win at the moment is enough to keep the team in the playoff places but Fogg knows that it's seriously early days at the moment and he'll want to see more hope of getting points and scoring goals soon. March is a packed month but the opener is a game that Fogg will hope to get points from. Shamrock though are expected to be far harder opponents. The rest of the month's points could come from Finn Harps. What can Fogg's men do?

Starting XI So this is the XI, slightly injury-influenced that Fogg is going to put out in his first game with a certain amount of trepidation it has to be said... John Dennis: The 25yo goalkeeper started out in the English league at Ipswish, Wigan and West Brom without ever making an appearance. He joined last season and let in 23 goals in 14 games! Things have got to get better this time around for Fogg! Tommy Kelleher: The 28yo is the club captain and is in his fifth season at the club. He got one goal and four assists last time around and was one of the team's better players. Fogg will be looking for him to lead the way once again. Kieran Burke: Buke, 27, started out at Nottingham Forest but never got a game there. He came to Shelbourne in 2031 and has two FAI Cups and two Leinster Cups to his name. Mark Harrison: The 18yo loanee from Newcastle is yet to make his first competitive appearance in football. What does he have to offer? Gary York: Injury throws 21yo Gary York into the starting line-up. He began at Fulham but never played there. He had two seasons at UCD doing fairly well there before joining Shelbourne. Simon Quinn: 27yo Irishman Quinn has been at the club since 2034. The Man City youngster was previously a League One regular for Cardiff. Andrew Boylan: The 31yo Irishman is a vital player at Shelbourne and has been since 2034. He's spent all his career in Ireland and he'll have a big role to play in the team achieving it's goals this year. Mark Doherty: The 30yo winger began at Shamrock Rovers and had one season at AFC Wimbledon. Since 2032, he's been a high-performing regular at Shelbourne. Seamus Keogh: Fogg has put the 28yo Irish midfielder just behind the striker. He's been at Shelbourne since 2031 and has been a regular scorer and assister. Nathan Smith: The 25yo began his training at Spurs and has been at Shelbourne since 2032 when he cost a princely £400k! Fogg can only dream of such sums being available now... Liam Doherty: The on-loan 22yo got seven goals and three assists in the league last season for Sligo. Can he go on to lead the line well for Fogg's Shelbourne?

Pre-Season As ever with a pre-season window, the transfers dominate the story. For once, an out is in the spotlights. Leading CB, Jimmy Byrne, was bid for by Rotherham. The board took hold of the bid and told Fogg that it was to be accepted. The man was off... Then there were ins. Fogg had trialled every player that he could talk through the door but signed none of them. It then dropped back to a fairly desperate set of loans and Fogg is worried that this might cost him... Liam Doherty comes in from Sligo Rovers and Fogg hopes that he has goals in him. Last season, he got seven goals and three assists in the league. Will this be enough... Mark Harrison comes in from Newcastle. This will be his first first-team season for anyone. Can he step up to the mark and bring security at the back? Dion Watts of Brighton is a real punt gone wrong. Fogg doesn't think that he'll work out to many minutes on the pitch as a result! Federico Perrini is the other competition for the CB slot. He comes in from Brighton and Fogg hopes that between the two of them they can keep enough out to keep the team up. There are plenty of competitions for Fogg to take part in this season. It's fair to say that the team are expected to struggle in all of them. Especially in the league... The prediction is bottom of the table and in a group of two with Dundalk! 9th however gives the chance to stay up via a play-off. Can Fogg's men at least achieve that? Pre-season was simply full of goals at both ends! Fogg isn't quite sure what to make of it but he hopes that it's not going to bode for a boring year in Ireland! It doesn't start easy though - 8th, 1st and 7th twice are in the opening month. Those 8th and 7th games are vital. What can Fogg do here in Dublin...

CHAN January 2038 brought the CHAN tournament around and the chance for the players of Africa to shine. It began with a game against Gabon (Kone 39, Operi 42). Sylla whipped in a beauty of a cross for Kone to smash home on the volley and Operi got his goal when Sylla sent in a zinger of a low cross for him to finish with. Then came the shock! Ivory Coast dominated the game and ruled the xG against DR Congo but they didn't put the ball in the back of the net. This meant that the side simply had to win against Burkina Faso (Sylla 3, Kouassi pen 75). Sylla got a goal early to put the game on its way and Kouassi saw it out with a penalty finish to send Ivory Coast on and into the quarter finals... It began well in the QF against Ghana (Kouassi pen 45, 52). Kouassi took on the mantle of the injured Sylla. He scored another penalty to get things going and then made a neat run to get the second and secure the result. All good things have to come to an end though and that took place against Algeria. Algeria dominated the game and had the chances but they couldn't score. As the game went on, Ivory Coast got better but in the end went all the way to penalties and that was Ivory Coast's undoing. This took them into the third-place play-off again. The opponents this time were South Africa (N'Guessan 17, P Kone 23, Sylla 59). It's fair to say that Ivory Coast walked the game and so another bronze medal was afforded to Mr Phillip Fogg!

Shelbourne ... and finally, Fogg's luck is in! Half a year after walking out of Nashville SC, Fogg finds a job in Ireland. He takes on Shelbourne who he remembers well for their European adventures in the early 00s. It's fair to say though that things are far harder here now than they might once have been. And so, Fogg sets off on the penultimate leg of the journey with Josh Honohan by his side. Let's see a little more about the man who will be Fogg's new assistant... Josh has been the assistant here for the last couple of years. Prior to that he had a playing career in Ireland that Fogg hopes will supply all the information that he needs to know! Unlike their heady days of challenging the early stages of the Champions League, it's fair to say that things are now harder. Promotion and relegation have been on the cards in recent seasons. The finances of Shelbourne are not looking so good and so a brave battle against relegation with very little cash appears to be on the cards for Fogg. It could be an interesting year!

January 2038 It takes until the 12th January but an interview eventually comes up for Shelbourne. Alongside a job cv put in for newly-promoted Finn Harps, Fogg is hoping that job is going to finally come up...

December 2037 In December, Fogg's hopes were raised when UCD's manager, Shane Keegan, was lured away to Rochdale... In the end, there was no joy as former player and Shelbourne manager, Ollie O'Neil, was given the post. This does however, leave the Shelbourne post empty...

November 2037 Following on from the shock of not qualifying for the World Cup, Fogg was under pressure to find new players and begin a new era for an ageing Ivory Coast side. Unfortunately, a new raft of good players were not easy to come by. This was shown well in the friendly against Peru where, despite it being a close game, they scored and Ivory Coast didn't. Fogg was pleased that interviews kept coming from MLS jobs but he was fully focussed on getting into Ireland as soon as possible. Game two was a much better result. With the axe hanging over him, Fogg managed to turn out a win against Syria (Amian 65, Chaka Traore 69) with Amian being a new member of the squad and getting a goal in just his second appearance. Fogg hopes that the 24yo is the start of a bright future. Only two months after their last hire, Cincinnati are out looking for a manager again. But, again, Fogg turns them down waiting for that role in Ireland. At least one manager's contract is up at the end of December. Will it be renewed...

October 2037 Something of an unexpected disaster month hit Fogg in October! It began with a frustrating draw against Algeria. Once again, Ivory Coast dominated the game but couldn't score the goal that would take them to the World Cup. Worse was to follow in the second shot against Sierra Leone (Kpakpe 67). Sierra Leone took a shock lead against Ivory Coast and that had Fogg worried. Hope was restored when Kpakpe headed a corner home but, in pushing for the winner, Ivory Coast ended up too open and conceeded a goal at the end. Distaster! Ivory Coast dropped down to second with two frustrating results that see them crash out of what, at one stage, had seemed to be a comfortable World Cup position. Fogg retains his job with Ivory Coast - just - and is still waiting for a job in Ireland to come up. Now that the Irish season has finished, Fogg needs to wait for the end of the year and contracts to end to see if that produces another job...

September 2037 Two World Cup Qualifiers made up the month for Fogg. The first was a perfect win against Sierra Leone (Christ Traore 43, 55, Kone 63, Diallo 77). The side were only 1-0 up at HT but they found another gear in the second half and the team ran out comfortable winners. Fogg wondered how he didn't get the same result in game two. Ivory Coast dominated throughout against Tanzania but they couldn't find a finish and, frustratingly for Fogg, the points were shared. In the WC Quals, the table starts to close up. Algeria are only a point behind now and Fogg knows that he will need to better their results in the next two games in order to secure progress to the World Cup. The next month has no mucking around. It begins with that vital game against Algeria - win that and Fogg knows his side are at the World Cup. No jobs came up in the Irish league in September so Fogg is hoping that October starts to create some vacancies...

August 2037 There were no games in the month for the Ivory Coast first team but Ivory Coast B were in CHAN qualifying action. The first leg against Nigera B (Kone, 39, 44, 79, Sylla 16) was simply a dream - Fogg's team blew them away, 3-0 by HT and three goal leaders at the end of the game. Another week, another job offer from the MLS but Fogg's eyes are fully fixed on getting that job in Ireland! Game two against Nigera B (Coulibaly 90) was a much harder affair. Nigera took a two-goal lead and closed the lead down to a single goal but, with the game coming to an end, Coulibaly scored his goal to secure Ivory Coast B's progress. Ivory Coast are in World Cup qualifying action next month and Fogg is still keeping a close eye on Ireland but no job has come up yet...

July 2037 contin... Fogg was pleased that, the day after he waked out of Nashville SC, he was offered a job with Houston Dynamo. He chose not to take it however as his focus is squarely on getting a job in Ireland now. This also came up in the month and Fogg found it an interesting one! Dodoz doesn't have the quality to be a first-team regular or even a surefire squad member for Ivory Coast. What hope does he really think he has of playing for France?! No jobs in Ireland have come up yet and there are no Ivory Coast games next month. At least one manager's role in Ireland is coming under scrutiny though so Fogg is keeping his cv fresh and ready...

July 2037 July began with a tough game against New York City FC. It was backs to the wall all the way for Fogg and his men but he was very proud of the fact that they managed to sneak out with a 0-0 draw. The point did come at a cost though as Kyle Buete picked up an injury that would rule him out for a month at least. There was very little joy in the game against LA Galaxy (Gilbert 41) either. Nashville were well and truly beaten but there was larger news afoot... ... Fogg had applied for a post in Ireland but it was clear that the compensation charged by Nashville was something an Irish side could never afford. This forced Fogg to walk. He is now solely the manager of Ivory Coast and readily available for the next job in Ireland that comes along!

June 2037 May had shown a fair smattering of green dots but, by the end of June, Fogg was beginning to feel like that glorious run at the start of the season was a long way away. The first game of the month wasn't a disaster when the side took on Vacouver Whitecaps (Sarbazi 78). Despite them dropping down to ten men before the 20 minute mark, Fogg's side laboured to make the most of it. Eventually, at the end of the second half, Sarbazi was there to head home Buete's great cross. There was no such luck against Cincinnati in the cup. A goaless game and extra-time took proceedings on to a long, long penalty shootout but, unfortunately, Fogg's men did not come up trumps and crashed out the cup. The month's only win came against FC Dallas (Gilbert 77, Doherty 81). Gilbert headed against the post but was on hand to tuck home the rebound before Doherty smashed home a beauty of a free kick - three points in the bag! The next two games had very little joy in them though. First up, was a heavy thrashing at the hands of New York Red Bulls where Nashville failed to lay so much as a glove on them. A thin squad got thinner again as Jay Perez was ruled out for long spell. This was not good news for the youngster's development... This report utterly baffled Fogg - he couldn't tell here what exactly looked excellent! The result against LA Galaxy certainly wasn't excellent as the side crashed to defeat again without scoring a goal. Thankfully, in the intervening period, Ivory Coast had reminded Fogg what it felt like to win! It began with a game against Barbados (Sidibe 77, Chaka Traore pen 82). It took time for the goals to be scored but Sidibe got free in the box to head home unopposed and then Chaka Traore followed up with a penalty. Against the odds, Ivory Coast took a lead against Scotland (Fofana 54) when Fofana smashed home a 20-yard beauty. Unfortunately, the team couldn't hold on and the honours were shared at the end. With Nashville looking utterly exhausted, Fogg was worried about what he was going to get against Minnesota (Doherty 58, Shen Hanchen 59) and he certainly feared the worst when the side were 2-0 down at HT. He let rip in the teamtalk and the side came out with intent in the second half. Doherty got one back when he was put through one-on-one by McConville's superb through-ball and Shen Hanchen levelled a minute later by half-volleying home Doherty's ball over the top. Somehow or other, despite the tricky month, Nashville remain in the playoff places. Fogg knows though that things are getting tighter and tighter and he can't take that postion for granted in the time that he has left in Nashville. Thankfully, there are only three games next month for Fogg's exhausted crew. 1st, 2nd and 11th though don't sound like such an easy month! What can Fogg's men do and will he still be there for all of the games as now it's time for him to be looking towards the shore's of Ireland...

May 2037 Fogg set off into May in seach of more green dots and the team did not disappoint! The first of them came against LAFC (Gilbert 69, Shen Hanchen 75). It all looked the worst when LAFC took the lead. The team fought back however and Gilbert pounced on a defensive lapse before William Perez played a beauty of a through-ball for Shen Hanchen to finish off. This was followed up with a win against Houston Dynamo (Doherty 11, 51, Buete 54). Doherty scored two fine far-post headers before Buete, LB, turned the ball onto his right foot and he curled a beauty into the far corner. At that point, the league wins stopped. Next up was goalless draw against Colorado Rapids. Despite dominating the chance creation and xG, Nashville couldn't score and it left Fogg fuming on the sidelines. A frustrating defeat was followed by an even more annoying defeat against Cincinnati (Gilbert 57, 61). The team started slowly and despite Gilbert's best efforts, by the time that they started scoring, they were too far behind and simply couldn't catch up. Frustration was continue in the game against Colorado Rapids. Once again, the team dominated by couldn't score the vital goal that would have given them that vital three points. A heavily-rotated side had no such trouble against Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Beavers 4, 81, Sarbazi 53, Massengo pen 54). The team were slow again to get scoring but took the game away from their oppostion in the second half. The final game of the month was another frustrating defeat at the hands of Sporting Kansas City with Fogg's arch-nemisis Rydland scoring again! Nashville launch up the league and, in the conference, they step up into the MLS play-off postions. Fogg might be counting down the days before he makes a move to Ireland but he's pleased with how the team are doing nonetheless! There might only be eighteen days till Fogg is looking elsewhere but there are three league games, one cup game and two friendlies for Ivory Coast to go! It's certainly not going to be a quiet half-month for Fogg prior to looking to pastures new!