Career of Joshua James
A new beginning.... (Same house rules as the Spurs career planned)
Forum Discussion
It was actually a curious case with the appointment of Johannes Hoff Thorup in January 2023. His predecessor, the more experienced Flemming Pedersen, had taken the club to first in the league and had quite a gap at Christmas. But then he and the club decided to make a change in the position, so the inexperienced 33 year old Hoff Thorup took over. And the elderly Pedersen got a new position away from the sidelines. I remember thinking this was a lose-lose situation for the young gaffer. If they kept the lead and won the title, surely people would say it was due to Flemming Pedersen's work in the fall. But the more likely scenario was probably that every little point lost would put the gaffer and club under heavy pressure and doubt. And that's also what happened, losing the first place to FC København. This season it's back to normal with a 5th place so far, but they did actually have a decent campaign in the Conference League, most notably with a surprising 6-1 win vs Fenerbahce. They lost their place in top 2 on the final day though.
@JustinCase0110 I was wondering about that. Reading about their season last year, they were leading but then finished second at the end. What was the reasoning for the change in manager? I could not find anywhere that said why they switched.
I'm not entirely sure, but it was a decision that the old head coach Flemming Pedersen was entirely on board with. In fact, I believe he was also the one to suggest the change. Maybe he felt he was getting old and wanted to spend less time on the sideline? This combined with the club having huge faith in the young Hoff Thorup, also being in a club that focuses so much on developing youth. So I understand many things in the change. Just not the timing.
Firstly, I gotta say you're spot on with the shortening of club names. It's VERY common in Denmark to use these, especially with OB and AGF, who are never called anything else. Then there are the FC's, FC København, Midtjylland and Nordsjælland, they are more comme ci comme ca, sometimes named the short one and sometimes used the full name. But rarely without the "FC" in front, actually. The rest is usually referred to as their city's name; Brøndby, Vejle, Viborg, Silkeborg, Lyngby, Hvidovre and Randers, but BIF or VB is used sometimes as well.
Speaking of Randers FC, there's actually a good story to tell. Brøndby played RanGers FC in the Europa League a few years ago, and some Scottish fans went to Denmark, only to find out they'd accidentally bought tickets for Brøndby's match against RanDers FC later the same month, haha... Please stop me, if I'm spamming your thread here. I enjoy this outside focus on the Danish league for once 😉
On topic. Great start with the win vs Copenhagen. Lerager is a big goal threat, which this year's Champions League group also showed. Oliver Villadsen doing well, he's also one I could imagine moving to a bigger league at some point, having been a regular at right back for quite some time.
Don't worry about spamming the thread, I enjoy the extra information and stories. That's hilarious about buying the wrong tickets, sad for the fans but it is funny in hindsight. I keep wanting to call them RanGers as well, Randers will take some getting used to.
I have been looking up teams as I play them. Trying to learn the names, abbreviations and key players to watch.
- @Stlducks4 I've used Oliver Villadsen a few time in the last couple of years. He develops well in the game but seems to quickly get touchy if he misses a game or two. Gets a bit of a pain, to be honest...
Ingvartsen is back and cannot stop scoring!
Marcus Ingvartsen was the Danish league top scorer in the 2016-17 season before departing for Belgium and then Germany. Now, back where it all started, Ingvartsen is back to scoring ways for FCN. A slow start to the month finished with Ingvartsen scoring back to back hat-tricks including three in the derby against Lyndgby.
Ingvartsen is now leading the league with 7 goals in 7 matches. The best match of the month was against Brondby, the best attack (FCN) was going up against the leagues best defense. Brondby's defense was showing why they are the best for most of the match until Andreas Schjelderup had to leave the game with an injury. Ibrahim Osman came on in his place and scored a long distance goal that hit the bottom of the cross bar before going in. That goal sparked the struggling FCN attack to go on and score 9 goals in the next two matches of the month.
Coming up in September, FCN have three league matches and the first European Conference match. FCN have been drawn in a group with Fenerbahce, Cork City and Aberdeen.
I was about to say that a defeat to Viborg was a disappointing result, only to see they are the surprise league leaders at this point. How about that. Good win vs Brøndby, who are in fact also doing quite well defensively IRL. So at least EA got that part right. Back to back hattricks and 10/10 performances from Ingvartsen, that's awesome. That's really what they signed him for. Second place is pretty good at this point. Good luck in the upcoming Conference League games.
- @Stlducks4 Good start. Second is better than the fans would expect?
Quite the goalscorer you've got... Been busy but will be back to this soon..
Journal entry #2
30 Sept 2023
Three months already passed and the season is starting to get busy. The team quickly learned the new tactics and the high press is causing most of our opponents issues. I like what I have been seeing from the midfield, especially Mohammed Diomande and Daniel Svensson (5 assists already!). The young duo are full of energy and press all over the pitch to win the ball back. I am getting concerned with our goals, outside of Marcus Ingvartsen, nobody has scored over 3 for the season. My other concern this early in the season are the injuries.
Andreas Schjelderup is out 4 more weeks. Ibrahim Osman is out for at least 6 weeks and Christian Rasmussen has already missed 3 games with short term injuries. Our depth will be tested in the coming months and with those three missing time, the attack options will be limited. Managing Ingvartsen's minutes will be key to try playing him in as many matches as possible.
Another exciting option has arrived in the academy from Brazil. Rafael Dos Santos, 18 years old and high potential as a CB or DM. I might bring him up in the next month to add depth in midfield to give Svensson a rest.
Ingvartsen continuing his impressive goal form. But as you say, you're also quite vulnerable, if your misfortunes with injuries hit him as well.
By the way; Have you considered scouting Emiliano Marcondes? He's also a former FCN top scorer, who made it abroad, and he's quite versatile and could fill in both as a number 9 and in several other attacking positions. Meanwhile he hasn't really made a name for himself in England, I think, so he could be a good case for another nostalgic homecoming.
Only two defeats so far, that's good, but a home defeat to Hvidovre is really disappointing. Good to see you beat Aberdeen in Europe, that red card certainly sparked some back and forth goal scoring with three goals in four minutes.
Fortunate result against Aberdeen but that's football sometimes need some good fortune to get there at times and good start allround in general.
@JustinCase0110 No I have not but thank you for the suggestion. I will add him to the list. I did send a youth scout to Ghana like you previously mentioned, I'm hoping to have an update to share on that in the next month or two of the season..
@thurlow885 you are right. It was looking like a draw at best until that red card changed things. Considering it was an away game, that result could have huge implications on the group.
No problem. Just remembered Emre Mor too. He's at Fenerbahce, I think, on his way out on a loan deal IRL, to a lesser Turkish club. In game he might perhaps return to his roots in stead.
- @Stlducks4 Promote your academy players...that would be good.
@JustinCase0110 I will add him to the scout list. I have to double check and make sure I do not have a transfer objective to cover also.
@CO88LER5 that is the plan. I might wait another month until the schedule is busy and I will be able to use him.
That was an awful defeat vs Fenerbahce, perfectly opposite the surprising real life result of 6-1 to FC Nordsjælland. Despite this being the fictional of the two, this must arguably have been the more realistic 6-1 winner. And it's quite some big names scoring there; Fred, Dzeko and Ünder. At least by Danish superliga standards.
A defeat to Vejle and draw vs Lyngby is disappointing. Good to see the young talent coming up and closing a gap in the side, even scoring on his debut. Wow. Great stat with FCN holding 4 of the 7 youngest goalscorers in the league. I was not aware of that, but I can't call it a surprise.
@JustinCase0110 CORRECTION: Sorry, I did not realize I had a filter on when I was looking at the youngest goalscorers, I was only going back the past four seasons when I saw they had 4 of the top 7. My mistake. I went to double check this morning to give you more information and then I realized I had a filter on!
Going as far back as transfermarket will allow, FCN only has 1 (now 2 with my youth player) in the top five. Someone I am sure you know well, Oscar Schwartau is number two, he was 16 yrs and 2 months when he scored in 2022 against OB.
1. Roony Bardghji ⭐ - 16 years, 13 days in 2021
2. Oscar Schwartau (Brondby IF) - 16 years, 2 months in 2022
3. Jeppe Kjaer (AC Horsens) - 16 years, 4 months in 2020
4. Kennet Zohore ⭐ - 16 years, 8 months in 2010
5. Andreas Schjelderup (FCN) - 16 years, 9 months in 2021
My research team let me down with that last update.. 🤓
Best be firing the research team I guess 😉
Very unfortunate result in Europe, followed up with 2 games of dropped points, but picked selves back up again against Cork in Europe.
Hopefully the inclusion of some youth will help with depth and injury problems with one already making a name for themselves. I'm sure the scouts are doing better than the research team looking ahead at future transfer window and whim can be brought in on a budget.
- @thurlow885 Research team has been fired lol. We can't afford mistakes like that with this club.
The youth has more players coming. Three more players will be called up soon to help with the injuries and fatigue. Going along with the Africa and Ghana trend that FCN do in real life.
@Stlducks4 wrote:CORRECTION: Sorry, I did not realize I had a filter on when I was looking at the youngest goalscorers, I was only going back the past four seasons when I saw they had 4 of the top 7. My mistake. I went to double check this morning to give you more information and then I realized I had a filter on!
Going as far back as transfermarket will allow, FCN only has 1 (now 2 with my youth player) in the top five. Someone I am sure you know well, Oscar Schwartau is number two, he was 16 yrs and 2 months when he scored in 2022 against OB.
1. Roony Bardghji ⭐ - 16 years, 13 days in 2021
2. Oscar Schwartau (Brondby IF) - 16 years, 2 months in 2022
3. Jeppe Kjaer (AC Horsens) - 16 years, 4 months in 2020
4. Kennet Zohore ⭐ - 16 years, 8 months in 2010
5. Andreas Schjelderup (FCN) - 16 years, 9 months in 2021
My research team let me down with that last update.. 🤓
Don't worry about it. Obviously the risk of misinformation grows, when you try a league that you are unfamiliar with. But that's also part of the fun, I think. And a big learning opportunity.
Yes, I know Schwartau. A promising player, but he plays as a number 10, and after a bright start in the club, he's not exactly taken the next step yet. He gets his substitute appearances from time to time, but the final breakthrough is yet to come.
Jeppe Kjær is interesting. I believe he went to Ajax, but has since moved to Bodø/Glimt in Norway. The youngest ever to debut in the Superliga. He had his first game on his 16th birthday - in a league where you need to be 16 years old to be allowed to play. Speaking of records that will never be broken (unless the rules are changed).
