Re: Career of Joshua James

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.

@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.

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@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.. 🤓

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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).

Great cup win followed by an unfortunate defeat to AGF. A rollercoaster of results that don't go hand in hand with the club's ambitions to make a run for the title. Neither Hvidovre nor AGF are expected to stay in the top though, so perhaps you are still the closest rival to Copenhagen, with Brøndby sitting just behind.

The Cork City win, always great to win with a comeback. Also good to see the goalkeeper getting some praise, often their contributions go a bit unnoticed, when they've actually kept their team in the game, allowing their teammates to claim a matchwinning role later on.

Fallen slightly off the pace in the league but far from out of it. Despite the previous horrendous result in Europe it seems things have turned around and look very likely to go through to the next round, definitely in your hands.

Ibrahim Osman sold to Brighton for €19,5m, according to The Athletic. Medical complete.