The first screenshot is really indicative and explains post's name. Boston United managed to go down from the 1st position to the 18th one nothing but in 8 fixtures. It's unbelievable and said…

How did it happen?

Actually unlucky match series started in the previous with 4 losses in row: http://www.truefootballmanager.com/2011/03/boston-united-league-1-start.html

Then it continued with poor away games against Coventry, Barsnley, Bournemouth…

As a result my team found itself very close to relegation zone.

Failed October and November were underlined with FA Cup drama in the match against League 2 team – Stockport:

What was the reason of all these defeats?

A banal reason this time, dear readers. A bad realisation of scoring chances by striker and inside forwards + inefficient first eleven selection which is certainly my mistake.

I discontinued to believe in the Fans' Player of the Year David Mooney and replaced him with quick newbie striker Roy O'Donovan. And he proved that speed matters in League 1!

Another 2 significant changes:

- GK: Jansson instead of Goree. Jansson have trained his attributes and is not worse than Goree who had started to make stupid mistakes, by the way.

- AML: Toni Silva instead of Balde. Balde started making me crazy with enormous amount of failed 100% goal moments.

I started also to believe more in 2 loaned players: Wright (DMC,MC) and Neita (AML,FC).

Resurrection

So these changes made a vital influence on the whole team performance. Boston resurrected like a phoenix! Perhaps the most important match that renew belief in team's strength was against Bristol Rovers:

It was a pretty confident performance with 3 goals and 4 clear chances. And it continued in further. I really believe Boston United can reach playoffs even after such League 1 roller-coaster.

Some words about Boston players

Traditionally I propose you to take a look at my first team players:

Roy O'Donovan scored 7 goals in 11(5) matches, David Mooney managed to score 6 goals in 17(5) matches. So you see the efficiency of the striker's substitution explained above. Actually Roy is somewhat unexpectedly good in League 1. Although I understand it can be merely temporary effect.

I would like to praise also Leven who became the best assister of the first half of the season.

Few words about winter transfers

I sold one of the most poor players of this season - Brian Obino:

Brian Obino

Boston newcomer wasn't so creative as I expected and made me angry with stupidly failed goal chances during the last matches. My angriness put him on a transfer list

17 years old talented David Abbott was bought instead. $190K for such a talent is a good piece of business!

David Abbott

FM 2011 video story by NTM - Episode 5

Watch new episode of NTM's video story. You will know about:

- Results of his Napoli team in November

- Performance of Napoli strikers Lavezzi and Cavani

- And finally NTM revealed his 3-4-1-2 tactics with Hamsik used as Trequartista.

Other episodes can be found by video story tag.

True Football Manager