St. Ives - Season 4 - Vanarama North - 1st
Finally broke through and dominated the league, nearly from start to finish. I only say nearly because we actually lost the first game of the season despite having a much higher xG. We'd win 5 of the next 6 (including a 7-2 win) with one 0-0 draw before we topped the table for the first time. In matchweek 10 we dropped to 2nd on goal difference, but after we reclaimed the lead in matchweek 14 we never dropped off the top spot. We would finish the season with the most goals scored (117) and the 2nd fewest conceded (46) despite having the smallest average attendance (327). Because of the attendance issues, we continued to leak money (even with more than half our squad being non-contracts) but the board has been keeping us afloat and continued to do so. The cups showed that we were ready to go up last season in spite of our playoff loss. The FA cup run only ended in the second round away to Wrexham who finished 8th in League One. We held a lead in Wales for an hour before an incredible half-volley from a clearance and were denied a replay by a goal in 90+2'. The FA trophy saw similar heartbreak as we led away against Rochdale who missed the Vanarama National playoffs by 3 points before they scored in 90+3' and we missed 2 penalties in the shootout to fall 2-2 (4-3).
This season I was more aggressive in benching underperformers as we finally had the depth to rotate properly. As mentioned above, half the team was on non-contract deals. They played well enough that I had to sign 3 to part time contracts just to dissuade them from leaving. Since I was all-in for promotion this year, our 2nd highest paid player going in to the season (third highest by the end) only made 4 appearances. He was outplayed by a non-contract youth release from West Ham's academy who ended the year with 38 goal involvements in 43 competitive games.
Lots of room for squad movement if we so choose before next year; only three players have part time deals that extend into next summer or beyond and they were all pretty good. Our ever-present DM (44 league appearances, 15 goal involvements, 7.08 average rating) is definitely the worst of these three in terms of ability but we will be very glad to have our top CM (31 goal involvements in 48 competitive games, 7.16 average rating) and the potential player of the year RW (33 goal involvements, 45 competitive games, 7.29 average rating) returning. Many decisions still need to be made: Our LW was non-contract all season and looked to be little more than a pace merchant but was part of 36 goals in all competitions. He may not be good enough to make the step up. Our GKs were a rotation between a loan player and a player on an expiring deal that suffered a damaged neck late in the season and missed the final month and a half. It's possible that neither of them return, leaving us searching for a replacement who will likely be playing in front of an entirely new defense. Still, the fact that we were so dominant in this league (only 5 losses all year, all to top half teams) and nearly beat two higher division teams leaves me cautiously optimistic.
In personal news. the board finally let me study and receive my National C at the start of the year. Once the title was secured I asked for them to pay for a National B and they said yes so that should be finishing right as the next season begins.
League Table -
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Transfer History -