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Captain was chosen as Costa Nomikoudis, with Si Hayes the vice captain, and the team was ready for the new season after an intense pre season schedule, the highlight of which was actually a defeat, losing just 1-0 to Werder Bremen. There were wins in preseason though, first against Swansea 2-1, St Johnstone 5-0, Exeter 2-0, Mansfield 3-1 and finally a thrilling 3-3 draw against Doncaster. These results hinted that the season could be successful.
August
However the first league match on the 9th of August was a wake up call, losing 3-0 at home to Southend, two more losses followed, firstly to Watford in the cup 3-2, where Kimi Coiner scored the first ever competitive goal for LWFC, and then 3-1 away at MK Dons. The 23rd of August was a historic day for LWFC.
This was followed by a brilliant 4-1 win over relegation threatened Hereford, Arvin Arvin netting a first half hat trick.
September
September was a brilliant month for Los Leyendas (The Legends in Spanish
in case anyone is wondering). At the start of September Sander Tingas became the first fully capped international player, appearing against Belgium for Estonia, while Ahmed Ibrahim played for Egypt the following day. In their only away game of the month, LWFC beat Brighton 3-1 despite a missed penalty from SW. Three consecutive home games followed, all with wins, 2-1 over Colchester, 1-0 over Cheltenham, and a thriller against Bristol Rovers finished 4-2, Arvin with 2 goals. October
A terrible performance at the start of October caused a 1-0 defeat away at Yeovil, and LWFC were grateful of the international break, and a much refreshed and changed side beat Oldham 3-1 14 days later. Conscious that the next 3 games would be played over 6 days, and that the board weren't worried about the JPT, he played a weakened side, and lost 2-1 to Bristol Rovers. A full strength side was back in the swing of it a few days later, beating Huddersfield 1-0 and thrashing Stockport 4-1, notable as all the goals came from defenders.
November
November started with that scintillating performance against Leicester, but the rest of the month was to prove disastrous for LWFC. A goalless draw away at Peterborough with top score Arvin Arvin getting injured would be the first of 3 games without a win. Revenge against Yeovil was sweetly inflicted in the FA Cup 1st Round, one goal from Henderson enough to see them off. But in the league things weren't going so well, consecutive defeats 2-0 at Northampton and 3-1 at Leyton Orient meant LWFC were still chasing promotion, but no longer held top spot. Finally though on the 22nd, goals from Fox and Barrenetxea saw off Scunthorpe 2-1, although the last league game of the month was a poor 1-1 draw against Tranmere, who had offered no attacking threat but still scored through a disastrous own goal from Nomikoudis.
The final game of November was against York in the FA Cup, where LWFC comfortably won 4-1, a game in which Zoli Simon scored twice, a game he was lucky to play in due to some severe indiscipline for the reserves this season.
December
An unusually quiet December had just 4 games, all in the league, a brace from Fox beat Hartlepool, before another poor result, this time a 1-1 draw against Millwall. A brace from Barrenetxea though sent Walsall home defeated though a week later, a result which moved LWFC top of the league! This was emphatically confirmed on Boxing Day against Crewe.
At the end of December the league looks like this: So much for 1000-1!
For the first half the season this is the side who have performed best.
My villain for the first half is Zoli Simon. 3 red cards for the reserves and 2 for the 1st team is a terrible record, and one which must be improved on.
Sitting proudly atop the table at the turn of the year, LWFC wanted to continue that fine form into the second half of the season.
January
At the start of January there was little expectation in the FA Cup 3rd Round, away at Reading, and sure enough LWFC were smashed 4-1. Things didn't get much better in their next two league games either, losing 2-1 to Southend, and a crucial 3-1 loss to fellow promotion chasers Leeds United. It took until the 17th of January for fortunes to change, and when they did, it was in spectacular fashion. First Swindon were beaten 2-1, Ibrahim with the winner, then MK Dons and Hereford both fell 1-0, Hayes with both goals, before at the end of January Joe Lee scored 2 in a 3-1 destruction of Brighton.
February
February started in a similar vein, with a 2-1 win over Cheltenham despite Cullinane's red card, and a 3-1 win over Yeovil, Nomikoudis with a spectacular overhead kick the highlight. Cullinane saw red once more against Peterborough United but a brace from Fox still gave LWFC a 2-1 win. Then, suddenly, came a decision by manager Fox to change the entire first eleven to rest them after a string of injuries. LWFC looked vulnerable to losing their grip on the lead of the league, and they were completely dominated in a 1-0 defeat by Colchester, before another spectacular game against Bristol Rovers.
Yet another loss followed, 2-0 away to Oldham, and after three successive defeats the end of February saw LWFC struggling in 5th place in the league.
March
The 3rd of March saw the tide turn again, as the new XI got off to a winning start, a stunning individual effort from Birch the pick against Northampton at home. A 1-1 draw against key rivals Huddersfield, despite Hayes red card, would turn out to be a crucial point earned. First LWFC goals for Scott and Evans then sent Stockport home beaten 3-1, before a huge game against league leaders Leicester.
In the last game of March a single goal from Quinn saw LWFC beat playoff chasing Scunthorpe 1-0.
April
A spectacular comeback from Orient denied LWFC a victory at the start of April, and they had to settle for 2-2. They then suffered a 4-2 defeat to Tranmere, a result which led to many pundits writing off any automatic promotion chances. A remarkable game against Hartlepool was won 4-3 however, with 4 different players all grabbing their first goals for the club, Zola, Bennett, Rowley and Gee on target. Just two days later, then 2nd placed Huddersfield were destroyed 5-1 by Leeds in 3rd, and a single goal from Wright gave LWFC 3 points against Millwall. The following weekend Huddersfield slipped up again, this time against Southend, and a last minute goal from Dan Singleton gave LWFC an incredible 2-1 win over Walsall, who had bettered their more illustrious opponents throughout. Two league games were left. But the first would prove disappointing for LWFC, losing 1-0 to Crewe, but draws for both Leeds and Huddersfield would mean LWFC had a chance of 2nd on the last day.
May
There was to be just one game in May and it could not have been bigger and more crucial for LWFC. With Leicester having already sealed the title and promotion, there was still 1 place up for grabs, and crucially, 2nd placed Leeds faced 3rd placed LWFC at the LW Arena. Costa Nomikoudis at last fit once more returned as captain, while Arvin Arvin the leading scorer was restored to his starting place. But it was his strike partner Dan Singleton who excelled, grabbing the only goal of the game in the 66th minute, after some fantastic work from left winger Henderson. Leeds attacked and attacked, but the defence led by Nomikoudis repelled every wave of attacks, and two crunching tackles from the Aussie crippled Jermaine Beckford on 79 minutes, with Leeds having already used all 3 subs. LWFC hung on for an absolutely crucial and emphatic result.
End of season awards
Managers best player: Juan Barrenetxea
Fan's player of the year: Costa Nomikoudis
Hot Prospect of the year: Juan Diego Heliez Romero
Villain of the year: Zoli Simon
Goal of the Season: Costa Nomikoudis vs Yeovil Town
Top Scorer: Arvin Arvin
Team of the year:
LWFC were favourites to finish last in the Championship in their first season up, could they avoid it?
August - January update
Pre Season
There were just 3 pre season friendlies for LWFC, and besides a 4-0 win over Notts County, Arvin Arvin with all four goals, there were losses 4-1 to Bristol City and 1-0 to Portsmouth. Things did not look too good for the new team in the league, and they once more signed no players.
August
However in their first league game, an early red card for Bezuelin of Coventry allowed Los Leyendas to dominate, and Arvin scored the only goal of the game late on. A packed August fixture card continued with a League Cup game against Notts County, who had Arvin marked tightly, and as a result Scott scored twice in a 3-0 win. A 2-2 draw at home to Barnsley followed, courtesy of a Joe Lee goal after 88 minutes, but then LWFC lost, a Heliez Romero own goal giving Sheffield Wednesday a 2-1 win. LWFC lifted themselves though, and gained a massive result at the Hawthorns against West Brom in the League Cup, a single goal from Hayes putting them into the 3rd Round. At the end of August LWFC were ruthlessly beaten by big spenders QPR 4-2, having never really been in the game.
September
Hull handed LWFC a lesson after the international break, scoring twice through Walter Lopez to win 2-0, before the most thrilling game of the season so far at Selhurst Park. Palace took the lead 3 times, but LWFC were not to be outdone, and a brilliant team move led to a wonderful goal in the last minute from Arvin to secure a 4-3 win. A loss to Huddersfield a couple of days later was not the best way to prepare for a crucial League Cup tie, against QPR. But once again, as in most important matches, Arvin Arvin shone, outrunning and outwitting the QPR defence, and scoring the first goal, also setting up the second for Hayes, as LWFC moved into the 4th Round. 3 days later two more goals from the Australian striker sealed a 2-0 win over Bristol City, but the effects of a hard month of games took their toll in the last game of the month. A refreshed Reading side smashed 4 without reply past a dejected LWFC.
October
October didn't give much hope for the league, although they had more mid table form than that of relegation candidates. In the first game of the month LWFC scored 4 of their own, Zoli Simon with two, Arvin and SW the others, at Plymouth fell 4-1. Suddenly though the form fell away. A 1-1 draw against Preston was followed by two consecutive losses first to Charlton 3-0 and then a terrible performance against Nottingham Forest who won 4-1. They improved in the following fixture against Doncaster, but it did take an injury time goal from Freddie Scott to seal a point in a 2-2 draw. October ended on a high, 3 solo goals against Ipswich Town securing a 3-0 win.
November
There were just four games in November but two of them were huge. First though, Cardiff were the visitors to LW Arena, and they returned to South Wales completely embarassed and outplayed, Arvin with a wonderful hat trick. That was enough to warrant his call up to the full Australia squad for a game against Oman the following week, and he scored twice on debut to earn massive acclaim. Nomikoudis also played in that fixture, his third Australian cap. The next game was against league leaders and massive favourites Aston Villa. A goal from Emile Mpenza put them 1-0 up after 13 seconds, but strong words from manager Fox at the break forced LWFC to turn the game around. And they did it emphatically, within minutes Ibrahim had equalised, and after just 53 minutes they were ahead, Hayes with the goal. Two late fouls from Nicky Shorey left SW with two goals from the spot in an incredible 4-1 win. Then LWFC faced Newcastle United in the League Cup 4th Round with the Toon comfortably mid table in the Premier League.
Norwich were the final team to face LWFC in November, and no one envied them as they ended up on the losing side of a Colchester-esque scoreline, braces from Simon and Arvin, and others from SW and Barrenetxea humiliating Norwich 6-0.
December
The first of December was a mouth watering tie, in front of the cameras at home to Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup Quarter Final. LWFC excelled:
December would see varied league form keep LWFC in the upper reaches of mid table, a result they could be very happy with. Two goals from Fox and one from Arvin beat Burnley 3-0, before Watford fell 2-1 after they had suffered an early red card. The next two games though were disappointing, as LWFC were soundly beaten both times, first 3-1 by Derby, and then 2-0 by recently relegated Bolton. Therefore what happened just 3 days later stunned the entire Championship. Leicester had cruised to the League One title the previous season, and although LWFC had given them a scare, they did not expect to lose this time round. But LWFC had a rather different idea, and were ahead within 3 minutes as Hayes scored a long range effort. An extraordinary performance from Crane netted him a hat trick, while other goals came from Fox with 2, and also Arvin, to secure an unbelievable 7-0 win which left Leicester firmly in the relegation fight. Coventry did avoid losing again to LWFC on Boxing Day though, as LWFC still on a high from trouncing Leicester fell 2-0. The year ended on a high though, as a brace from Freddie Scott helped LWFC beat QPR 4-1.
However they had gone through most of November without an assistant manager, after he left to join Barnsley as their new boss. Countless contacts were made, and all were unsuccessful, so they entered the new year still with a vacant position.
The best XI of the season so far:
League Table
Could LWFC climb into a playoff spot by the end of the season, and what about their remarkable cup run, could it be kept going against Liverpool in the Semi Final?
2nd Half of the Season
January
January opened with a routine 4-0 win over Wycombe in the FA Cup, Arvin twice scoring. Then however came a far more testing fixture, against Liverpool no less in the League Cup Semi Final, first leg at the LW Arena. A bizarre own goal from Jamie Carragher handed LWFC the lead, but two late goals from Kuyt and Babel gave Liverpool a lead for the return leg. In between the two ties though were two league games. First Barnsley fell 2-1 at Oakwell, Arvin with the winner, and then Sheffield Wednesday were beaten 1-0 by a second string side, Zoli Simon striking. Finally an assistant was appointed too, Hans Backe who had worked under Eriksson for many years joined the club.
That remarkable result put LWFC into the League Cup Final to face Man Utd, a game scheduled for the 28th of February. 3 days after that game though, Barnsley put LWFC out of the FA Cup, beating them 1-0 after a Zoli Simon red card. But the last two results of the month were good. A confident 3-0 win over Hull, Hayes with two, and then a 2-2 draw against Palace, Joe Lee with a goal but also getting sent off.
February
February started with Arvin netting twice in a 5-1 win over Plymouth, and then Hayes earned a late point in a draw against Huddersfield. Zoli Simon then netted his first LWFC hat trick in a 4-1 win over Plymouth, and there was only one game left before the League Cup Final. It was a disappointing one too, losing 1-0 to Bristol City.
Despite this result, if Man Utd finished in a top 7 position in the Premiership, LWFC would be in Europe the following year!
March
They banished their disappointment the following week in a thrashing 5-2 of Nottingham Forest, Arvin scoring a remarkable 4 goals, but they inexplicably lost 3 days later to Doncaster 3-1. In a topsy turvy month Ipswich were then beaten 3-1, SW with the best goal, before another loss, 2-1 to Reading despite a red card for Shane Long. Two late goals from Freddie Scott then beat Bolton 4-2, before another crazy loss, this time to Norwich 1-0, very surprising considering the early season result in that fixture!
April
April was a massive month as it started with LWFC sitting just outside the play off spots. But the poor form continued intially, losing 3-1 to Cardiff. But a remarkable double was completed over the new champions Aston Villa, winning 2-0, Zoli Simon with both valuable goals. The game against Burnley was drawn 1-1, and LWFC were just in a playoff spot. Arvin then scored after 33 seconds as rivals Charlton were beaten 3-0, before another 1-1 draw, this time against Watford. A single goal then separated 2nd placed Derby and LWFC, and it fell in favour of LWFC, Hayes on target, to send 15000 travelling fans home delighted.
May
In the final game of the regular season, LWFC needed just a point to make the playoffs, and they must have been sure of three when they took the lead against Leicester through Barrenetxea. But remarkably Leicester, who could be relegated if they lost, fought back to secure a late point. This left LWFC facing Bolton in the Play off Semi Finals.
LWFC had nothing to worry about though after the first leg, scoring 3 times in the first half, twice through Arvin, one of which was the quickest goal in LWFC history. Bolton did score a late away goal to give them hope. And in the second leg they gave themselves more hope, Tope Odebayi scoring after half an hour, but LWFC were back on terms within seconds, Barrenetxea scoring another vital goal, a player who always seems to be at the right place at the right time. Odebayi scored again though after an hour. LWFC were handed a chance to secure a spot in the final on 86 minutes but Heliez Romero missed from the spot, firing out of the stadium! However a strong defensive display had sent LWFC into the Final to face Reading.
Awards for the season
Managers Player of the Year: Arvin Arvin
Players Player of the Year: Arvin Arvin
Top Scorer: Arvin Arvin
Villain of the Year: Chairman The Game for intervening to accept an offer for Joe Lee that the player rejected
Fans Player of the Year: Juan Barrenetxea
And yes Man Utd did finish top of the Premier League, thus LWFC would be in the Europa League next season!!
2010/2011 (PHOTOSHOP ISSUES SO NO GRAPHICS I APOLOGISE
)After two straight promotions LWFC found themselves in the Premiership, and definite odds on favourites to go down. Therefore they would have to work very hard according to many pundits to survive.
Pre season saw LWFC hardly test themselves, facing Cheltenham (3-0 win), Rotherham (3-0 win) Dagenham (6-0 win) and Hereford (3-1 win). This was hardly ideal preparation for a tough season that was upcoming. There were some fringe players allowed to leave on loan, MacKay and Quinn joined Birmingham, Henderson and Zola joined Watford, Evans went to Southend, Tingas to Leicester, and Wright to Blackburn.
August
In their first ever Premiership match, LWFC scored twice through Galvin and Arvin, as they beat Derby 2-1, this was followed a week later with a magnificent 3-1 victory over West Ham, and some were already doubting the relegation potential of LWFC. Another 3-1 victory followed, this time in the league cup over Swansea, but they did then lose in the league, losing badly 2-1 away at Middlesborough.
September
Stoke were then beaten though, a game with a remarkable achievement in it. Goalkeeper Aleksandr Parvanov scored the second goal in a 2-1 win, firing home a free kick from 25 yards!!! Arvin then scored twice against Pompey, but it was not enough to prevent LWFC from slipping to a 4-2 defeat. West Ham were then beaten again, this time in the League Cup, a single goal from Rowley. Arvin and Simon were on target along with Crane 2 days later as Wolves were unable to handle LWFC, losing 3-1 in London. LWFC did get knocked out of Europe in September, after a terribly cruel draw saw them face Atletico Madrid, and Aguero scored 7 over the two legs in a 9-3 aggregate win.
October
Unsurprisingly LWFC lost to Chelsea in a London derby match, Arvin marked out of the match in a 2-0 loss. The international break gave them a chance to recover and they did well, beating Spurs 1-0 through Arvin. Arvin and Galvin were again on target as Wigan fell 2-0, before a game away at Anfield. LWFC put up a brave fight and took the lead through Zoli Simon, but Pool were too strong and came back to win 2-1.
November
November opened with a stunning result. 4 remarkable goals, two from Zoli Simon, sent Manchester City back north thrashed 4-1, a phenomenal result, and this form was carried into the League Cup 4th Round v Chelsea. The Blues played a cruel price for putting out a reserve side, as they were blown apart by LWFC, two goals from Zoli Simon and one from Arvin. Ozdemircan then scored a rare goal in a 3-0 win over Blackburn, before the most boring game of the season so far at St James' Park. Neither side could get a shot on target as it finished goalless. Simon and Hayes were then on target as Aston Villa became the latest big name to fall to LWFC, as they continued an unlikely rise up the table.
December
At the start of December, LWFC ruthlessly dispatched Spurs in the League Cup Quarter Final, 4-0 the score, Arvin with two, Rowley and Simon also scoring goals. They hit 4 more 3 days later against West Brom, who despite a late consolation were never in the game, Arvin with yet another two goals, and Heliez Romero getting his first two goals of the season. Ozdemircan was on target again against Fulham in a 1-1 draw, a game watched by the Beskitas manager amid rumours the Turk could move home. Arvin then scored another remarkable two goals against Man Utd, and LWFC were only denied a point by a late stunner from Cristiano Ronaldo to make it 3-2. A single goal from Adebayor then separated Arsenal and LWFC, before a poor result against Everton on Boxing Day meant three straight losses. But they turned the form around on the 28th, against Derby County, SW scored his first of the season, Rowley and Simon also scoring, as they fell 3-0.
LWFC were brilliantly placed in the league, and surely all fears of relegation could be forgotten?
A quick word about those players out on loan: MacKay has played 22 times for Birmingham and managed 3 assists, Quinn has played 8 times and scored 3 for Birmingham, Zola has played 14 times for Watford and scored 6 times and is currently recovering from a broken arm, Evans has played 20 times for Southend and scored 19 times, Wright has played 16 times for Blackburn, scoring 3 and creating 2. Henderson has played 10 times for Watford, scoring 2 and creating 2, while Tingas has played 16 times for Leicester, scoring 1 and creating 2.
This post has been edited by littlefoxo: 24 August 2009 - 05:29 PM
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Amazing, but we got relegated 
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