Get Luton Town into the Premier League! Championship Manager 93/94 play-through #2

Episode 2. The groundwork is set, contracts are signed and targets are set. Let's get to know the players with a pre season tour of Ireland.

What a whirlwind couple of days since taking over from David Pleat at Luton Town. I’ve checked out the first team squad and had a look at the academy. There are some great prospects, although perhaps too young for first team action. Before we set off to Luton Airport and hop over to Ireland for our pre season programme, I tell all the lads (including the academy boys), but not Kenny Sansom, to get down to the training pitch for quick look at the tactics we are going to be playing this season. I draw up the carpool rota and stick it on the door at Kenilworth Road, it’s only pre season, no need to spend money on gassing up the coach or disturbing the driver.

I sit them down on the grass at Stockwood Park and tell them, “Lads, this is unconventional, but it worked for me in the Unibond Premier League with Southport last season” (look it up). “We need defenders who have pace and can man mark, we need wing backs who have stamina and the ability to cross the ball.” I continue as they all look up at me in awe of my accomplishments in the Unibond Premier League, “In the defensive midfield role we need someone with steely determination, can tackle and can pass well, ahead of him we need someone who can shoot from distance, has stamina and lots of aggression.” The attacking midfielders and strikers look at me in anticipation, “And finally, those who are attacking the other goal, all I want from you is; flair, pace, long shooting, dribbling and finishing. I’m expecting lots of goals from all of you this season!” And with that final decree, I said “now let’s get to the Airport, the gate closes in 15 minutes”.

While I’m on the plane for the short jump to Ireland, I’m having a look at who could can do the job at the back, because it’s a very important role. I have a look at Des Linton’s attributes:

He has great stats for marking, tackling and he’s very fast. I turn around to break the news to Des that I’m going to have him in my starting lineup for the pre-season tour. He’s already in my face before I can get the words out my mouth. Well, I guess that happens when you’ve got a 19 for marking. But who should partner him? I’ve heard good stuff about John Dreyer, he’s been at the club since 1988 and they’ve named part of the ground after him. He’ll do, but there’s also a lot of youngsters that I’ll try out during our time in Ireland.

Another player that interested me, was Paul Dickov, he was a highly regarded prospect at Arsenal but just couldn’t break into the first team ahead of Ian Wright. I thought he could do great things in this team, behind John Hartson and alongside Scott Oakes and young Tony Thorpe, who’s mother always insisted on dropping Tony off at training and would just hang around.

He’s certainly one to try and pick up if we manage to get promoted.

We land in Dublin, and we have to immediately go to the hotel, where I already have two messages waiting for me. Derby have put in a bid for John Dreyer, I call the club secretary and tell Cherry Newbery to reject it. I don’t need to tell John, he’ll never know… There is also an offer waiting for Kenny Sansom from Getafe. That sounds perfect for Kenny, go on, send him on his way to Spain.

Once the transfer is complete, I get another message from Cherry, telling me that David Kohler has decided to open up the war-chest and there is now a transfer budget for me to go splash.

But enough of this business talk, it’s time to go to Glenmalure Park and play Shamrock Rovers. For this game I’ve brought this Welsh kid into the squad from the academy, he’s proper mouthy though and keeps telling me how he’s the fittest human who ever existed. I just nod and pretend I’m listening. When he’s done talking, I say to him, “alright Nathan I’ll give you a run out in the second half.”

It was a good solid start, and I was chuffed with the performance, especially from the young lad Tony Thorpe, who’s not afraid to take a shot, and walked away with two goals. Also a good outing from Scott Oakes who bagged a goal.

I get back to the hotel, and decide to prepare for our visit to Monaghan United, but I return to a message from Cherry Newbery, it just reads; “He knows! He knows!” Now I’m really confused by this, and I settle down by the hotel bar, ask for a taste of the local whiskey, and then I get a tap on the shoulder. It’s John Dreyer. “Hello John, that was a solid 7/10 performance against Shamrock Rovers”. Bosh, he nuts me square in the nose. “DERBY PUT A BID IN FOR ME!? AND YOU REJECTED IT!?” Big John Dreyer doesn’t seem too happy right now. Dreyer continued “Right, I’ll tell you what Gaffer, I want to move to a bigger club”. I tried to calm him down “Alright John, if you want to move, Derby need to match our valuation of you”. John disagrees, saying “I’m frustrated with your unrealistic valuation of me, just you wait”. I’m puzzled and blood is streaming out of my nose. What does he mean, just you wait?

Later that evening I call Cherry at the club to find out whether we can get anyone else in the club. I had put a call in to former Luton Town player Lars Elstrup, hoping I could get him to re-join, unfortunately our contract offer was far too low, we only offered him £1,500 per week and a further £100 goal bonus. He opted to join Herfølge instead. We might have dodged a bullet there though, I heard from the academy lads here that he demanded people called him Darando or something silly like that. For the best we didn’t sign him…

The team pull up at Century Homes Park, ready to take on Monaghan United. For this game, I’ve decided to give a chance to 14 year old Matty Spring. Good lad, skips school to play for us, in training he has a foot like a traction engine.

What the bloody hell has John Dreyer done, he’s only gone and two footed a player in the first minute! As he walks off the field he yells at me “Get me a transfer!” Regardless I’m absolutely bricking it and we are quickly 2 goals down in the first 10 minutes. I shout at the lads, “come on, play!” And finally there’s a glimmer of hope, Matty Spring inspires the come back, bringing us back to level footing before half time. We squeak the game, but what was that referee drinking? I understand the penalty for the John Dreyer tackle, he nearly took the kids feet off. But 4 penalties in one game, mind boggling.

This Ireland pre season tour is exhausting and I just want the season to begin already! The players are also starting to get tired, so I decide to mix it up for Finn Harps. I put John Hartson and Tony Thorpe on the bench. I also give a first start to 16 year old Kelvin Davis, who I sense he has a bright future and 15 year old Matthew Upson.

What on earth is going on, we are trailing 2-0 at half time, so I bring on Tony Thorpe and John Hartson and they just run riot over Finn Harps. Hartson bags a hattrick and Tony Thorpe adds another to his pre season tally. One problem though, is Paul Dickov was carried off during the game, and it looks like he’s going to be out for 3 weeks. Bugger, hopefully he’s back before the start of the season.

Finally we are kicking off our final match in the Irish pre season tour. Limerick are next up. I decide to recall Matty Spring after his great game the other day. There is also a spot on the bench for 15 year old Defender/Striker Gary Doherty.

We make hard work of it, but I’m delighted to see both John Hartson and Matty Spring score, as well as Doherty netting just 5 minutes after coming on the pitch. The future is bright with these academy lads.

As the lads pack up their gear, and we make the journey back to the airport on the coach, John Dreyer is giving me the side eye. Blimey, I better shift him as soon as we get back to Luton. I start to think, who could be an able replacement for John Dreyer. It dawns on me, Steve Davis, that lad from Burnley, he’s handy, and because Burnley are in Division 2, we might be able to get him for a decent fee. I sense that Luton Town is most definitely in this lads future.

As I slump down into my seat on the plane, I decided to review the pre-season performances, and see who could make the step up to the first team. Nathan Jones that mouthy Welshman has impressed me, poor decision making though, I wonder if that will ever be relevant in his later life. It also looks John Hartson is going to be starting striker, 4 goals in 3 games is a great record for a young chap. However, looking at his contract details, it very much looks like it’s promotion or bust with him, if I can’t get promoted, there’s no chance I keep him.

Well, I’m going to get some sleep now (with one eye open, in case Dreyer tries something), and when I land back in sunny Luton, my mind is going to be firmly on that first game of the season where we travel to Millwall. Good thing they aren’t coming to Kenilworth Road, we haven’t put the chairs back in yet!