Confessions and a season preview

Greetings one and all,

I trust that everybody has had a most productive off season in the world of TM, I for one have taken up the art of origami with sensei Haramishu. Sensei was recommended to me by Mr Staunton, who according to himself owes his success in life to Sensei Haramishu, a little known fact is that Mr Staunton has a quite lengthy juvenile record for everything from shoplifting to carjacking, it was during an impromptu late night freestyle battle rap session that Mr Staunton met with the aforementioned Sensei Haramishu who then introduced him to the wonders of rehabilitation the origami way.

I realise that in the past I have been quick to lose my temper, up to now I have put it down to my good genes and germanic breeding, but I have seen the light with Sensei and to all those I have hurt with my words in the past I offer my profound apologies, in the words of Sensei, forgiveness please.

For those interested in origami, here is some of my work up to date.

Now on to more pressing matters, following my last post in which I put out an advert to all potential Frau Mann's I was greeted with an overwhelming response from men, women and children. I wish to make it clear that I am only looking for females over the age of eighteen. I will try and make my decision in the coming weeks, but rest assured it is not to be taking lightly, as Sensei says "those who rush decisions end up rushing dinner". Despite his 87 years he is a man with a wealth of wisdom beyond his years.

On to football.

Last season was an impressive first one back in the LOI, I do not wish for us to rush ahead of ourselves. This season will not be an easy one, we are not bound for European football next season, we are building a foundation for the future, that includes facilities. Most notably I hope to have at least 8 frankfurter stands placed at strategic points around Shout park. There is no shouting like shouting of frankfurters. HaHaHaHa. My Germanic humour gets me every time.

I think that it is possible for Shout FC to finish in the top three, we have some splendid young players coming through the ranks. I strongly fancy new signing Alastair Dawson to have a very positive impact on the club for years to come, at 18 he is still very young, possibly too young to be playing at the top level during his first season at the club but we will see how things go, there are one or two players in the b side who I also feel could figure for us during the LOI season. As ever I am still looking out for possible transfer targets. Today we finalised I deal with Italian side Ibridissima F.C. for Scott Byrne, I deemed him to be surplus to requirements, he never made an impact despite the hard work which he has put in during the years. I wish him all the best during his career, and as a parting gift I even made him this origami piece.

It is a Jedi warrior, and it represents his fighting spirit, as I told Scott, "To fight is to be one with the jet engine of the spirit".

Fondest farewells for what I hope to be the shortest of time.

Yours forever and ever

Herr Mann

Season Review

Greetings loyal supporters of Shout FC.

The first season back in the LOI was an exciting one. So much so that I did not retain the ability to update this blogatron, and for that I apologise.

The work rate at the top is an awful lot higher then in the pits of division two.

The season as not to go without its drama, as countless refereeing decisions went against us as the powers of the Bolshevik left conspired against me!

At the start of the season the Shout men had the simple task of securing safety in the LOI as soon as possible! If there is one thing that I have learnt from the history of my country it is to not invade Russia in the wintertime.... I mean it is to not be overly aggressive in ones nature, there are times to be aggressive and times to be defensive and for a newly promoted team it is a time to be defensive to secure status as a premier footballing club.

Thankfully we started off decently with eight points from our first five matches.

We were mid table and doing fine, some of the players were finding it hard to adjust to the higher level of football but coping with it fine.

Some however did show incompetence with the way in which they dealt with the new challenges ahead, and thus they had to leave the club. 

Kevin Flood left the club after repeatedly turning up drunk at training! One of two pickmeup's afterwards I do not mind but before and during training is just not to be tolerated!

There was another player on the team, who I do not care to speak of, was banished for another reason. At a  celebratory gathering of the side, to which he was a valued member at the time, this communist pig took advantage of Frau Mann, first by greasing her up with some alcohol and then by using his communist mind games to entice her to do vile acts. Thankfully Rosle Ali Baba Maktoum Allah Bin Mahammod Nor stumbled upon his antics in an upstairs bedroom and duly apprehended the pig. Although Rosle wanted to have Frau Mann decapitated for this near adulterous scene, I showed him the error of his ways and convinced him that it was the pig in question that was the one to be punished.

In the end I did what any German patriot would do and I sent him to Poland.

 Throughout the season we were not once in the relegation zone. And always had the chance of pushing for a high top half finish.

And it was this that was what we eventual did do! Finishing in fourth with an epic final day of the season confrontation.

Unfortunately the team finishing in third, the Shamrock Hoops lost in the final of the Cup meaning that our destiny of European football is to wait for another season. Needless to say I have lodged a formal complaint against both Shamrock Hoops and Serenity City as I feel that match fixing almost certainly occurred, robbing Shout FC of European glory.

So fourth position and a good cup run has left us in good stay for next season. The NT sales should bring one or two faces to Shout park and further expansion of the stadium and facilities is to be expected. Next season we will do the same, bringing efficient and stylish Germanic football to Shout park. We will push on for glory and once again there will be some proper silverware lining the halls of our illustrious domain.

Kindest Regards

                Herr Mann

P.S. After the debacle with the communist pig I have ensured that Frau Mann shall no longer be recognised as such (after this piece has been completed of course), therefore I am looking for a new Frau man and as such have enclosed a picture for any eligible bacheloresses. You can send your photos to the club.

Shout Fc to possibly have a new logo.

There is a decision to be made, are we to shed out division two past in order to prepare for a european future, or are we to keep the sense of history in order to never have it repeated.

Logo 1

Logo 2


Please vote through the poll on the right hand side ----->

Voting will remain open for seven days.

Champions!

Firstly I must apologise for the inconsistent updates, I have grown accustomed to irish lifestlye and have tried to shed my germanic millitaristic ways.

As you can see I have even dressed in the native style in order to better fit in. However I find that many Irish folk only put on their native dress at sporting events and other cultural days. Quite strange.

Back to football and it has been a great end to the season for Shout FC. A victorious streak has seen us crush opponents and regain first spot therefore becomming the champions of division 2.1 and thus gaining promotion to the top tier of Irish football.

For all lower league managers who want to try and emulate my great success I have one thing for you. A piece of knowledge which I gained from Dennis Pagen's motivational masterpiece entitled "the secrets of champions". To paraphrase ~the true secret of success is to adjust for the wind, ebbs and flows, hot air pockets and storm clouds. Some are your friend and some your enemy- Take this by its litteral meaning and you will succeed my friends.
So what has Shout FC got in store for the LOI? A never surrender attitude and talent to boot. When the Russian's were marching on Berlin did the great german people surrender! Never, and nor shall Shout FC. I still have a surprise for the fans, I am looking at one new recruit to bolster my midfield. But time remains a constant worry. I have also been told that some funds may be taken away from my disposal to expand facilities for the new season, something which doesn't best please me, but which I knew would be coming.
Next season I have set realistic goals, I want survival as the priority, but once achieved I want to see a push for the invasion of European football!

Victory shall be ours once again, maybe not in the near future but in the not to distant future I assure you there shall be cups at Shout Park

For now, go raibh mile sile

Regards

Herr Mann.