Subject: »FA Cup

Won 4-2 at Elmstead, conceded the 2nd in the last kick of the game so it was quite comfortable tonight. Happy to make final having had to play Timisoara and then Elmstead, others have had a far easier route. Tonight it was equal in ratings, Elmstead have a seriously strong side. Unlucky to you, you have had a fantastic first season though and it’s not yet over.

I was never really in the game, but keep tryingh different things. Best team won and good luck in the final.

Thanks, but as I say you have a great squad and are having a very good debut season in the Prem :)

Wayne, thank you for the match. Today I watched the winning game from the VIP area while sipping a drink;)

Congratulations, 3 injuries again of players that usually would be 1st eleven is really killing me. This season has been my worst for injuries….i haven’t watched the match but stats show you as deserved winner. You are big favourite for the double now, especially given you don’t have any young trainees apart from one 19 yr old.

It seems to me that last season would have been my first in a long time to win the English championship, but the game’s system didn’t want to let me. And now, when everything is indifferent to me, it just favours me. Thank you, my friend, for the congratulations. It’s just a pity that we won’t be representing England in the Champions Cup.

Or maybe it was just JensenElla who lifted the curse off me? ;)

George Bernard Shaw once said: 'Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.'

Wise words, that’s why I choose better company.

I think the difference this season is the extreme injuries I have had restricting me in midfield especially plus my form is being killed too....especially to the players who get injured. I have had a great long run, and while I hoped I may win the cup it was not to be, now I can just concentrate on changing my team. :)

@je welcome back to the forum :)

I am interested in your long term plans as you have some lovely trainees but none are young, apart from Adamson who is 19 the rest are 25/26 aren't they? Will you rebuild once they are not trainable?

Your olds must be starting to get hammered skill wise though now.

At 34 skill decline didn't seem too bad, but have noticed on my 35yo players, they seem to be deteriorating quite quickly now.

Actually my older players are still decent, Miller at 35 is now not 3 x unearthly. He's maybe the worst.......the skills are reducing slower than you'd expect.

Wayne, to be honest, I’m not really sure. I’ve always been training young players and I’d like to get back to that. At the moment, I have one potential player in the academy and if he turns out to be good, I will find him a place in the team.

Thought maybe they'd be dropping a bit more by now. Although looking at 35yo graphs it looks like around 1 level per season and a bit, but started from a lower point than Miller did.

Pace seems to drop a bit quicker than the rest.