Monsters FC 2012 BritLeague Preview

The champions of last year, the Monsters are going to find it tough to retain their title.

Despite the fearsome strike-force of Craig Wisniewski and Edward Redwood leading the line again this year, the Green-and-Purple have a few holes in the midfield, hopefully filled by the signing of Dutch international Alex Wijnkamp.

Monsters win BritLeague

Real Birmingham 1-2 Monsters

Redwood (left) celebrates his title-clinching goal

The Monsters have won the BritLeague for the second time after a 2-1 win at Real Birmingham in an extraordinary final day title decider.

Michael Heaney put 2010 champions Real in front before Craig Wisniewski equalised after the break.

Edward Redwood then scored eight minutes from time to give the Monsters their first Double, having also won the CSA England Cup earlier this year.

The Monsters are also the first BritLeague champions to win the competition during the home-and-away fixture format.

Goals

Real Birmingham: Heaney 24'.

Monsters: Wisniewski 58', Redwood 82'.

Redwood breaks duck at last

Redwood shows his joy and relief
Manchester Rockers 0-1 Monsters

Edward Redwood finally ended his goal drought with as Monsters beat Manchester Rockers 1-0.

The England striker, who had not found the back of the net since his country's 3-1 win over Wales in June, got the ball on the edge of the box whilst his back was facing goal, turned and then beat keeper Edward Wilson.

Rockers continue to slip and slide, having only won one match in ten, falling from sixth to thirteenth.

Goals
Manchester Rockers: none.
Monsters: Redwood 64'.

Monsters defeat London Utd to win CSA England Cup

Goals from Craig Wisniewski and Edward Redwood gave Monsters FC the victory in the CSA England Cup Final, beating London United 2-1.

After a slow start to the game, the deadlock was broken after 12 minutes when Scot Wisniewski traded passes with strike partner Redwood, playing in an unfamiliar out and out striker role, before firing into the net on the 'D' of the penalty area.

United had a few chances of their own - Craig CraiCo hitting the bar with a free-kick, and John Macdonald's header from a corner slapped away by Monsters keeper Igor Kuljman - but it was Monsters who dominated most of the play.

At the break it stayed 1-0 to the Monsters. United manager Bobby Hutchinson must have said something to his players at half-time, as from the restart, the Men in Black looked the more dominant team.

And it took only four minutes for them to equalise. Craico playing a "Hollywood" through ball to Danny Defranco, who crossed for Carlos Torres Pizarro, who hit it first time and bulged the onion bag with Kuljman all ends beaten.

London United dominated the next ten minutes, with chances by Rodrigo Santos, Ergun Taykin and CraiCo all required good saves from Kuljman.

But Monsters suddenly took control of the match, when an elegant pass from Darren Watkinson found Wisniewski, who then crossed for England hitman Redwood, who headed the ball past a hapless Simon Herding to make it 2-1.

United never recovered from that goal, despite the introduction of speedy wingers Ian Parker and Bobby Bricke later on, and the Monsters held on for the victory.

London United: Herding; Mitchell, Tweed, Macdonald, Weibel; Warhurst; Taykin (Parker 77), CraiCo, Defranco (Bricke 86); Rodrigo Santos, Torres Pizarro.

Subs not used: Knott, Haynes, McGrady, Szymanowski, Davies.

Goal: Torres Pizarro 50.

Monsters: Kuljman; Crandall, Bentley, Broskovic, Schweitzer; Matsson, Watkinson, Riko (Pancu 65), Morgan (Bernhardt 80); Wisniewski; Redwood.

Subs not used: Miller, Freeman, Flansky, Noriega, Mykendaal.

Goals: Wisniewski 12, Redwood 64.

CSA ECL: Carey magic stuns Monsters

John Carey's wonder goal gave London Town a 1-0 advantage in the first leg of the European Champions League semi-final at Monsters Park.

Carey dribbled many Monsters' defenders before chipping keeper Igor Kuljman.

The winner of the tie will play the winner of the Madrid Magic-Barcelona Bullfighters clash in the final on Saturday 28th May 2011.

Monsters see off Nottingham to reach CSA England Cup Final

Goals from Edward Redwood and Craig Wisniewski were enough for the Monsters to beat FC Nottingham 2-0 in the CSA England Cup semi-final at the Vodafone Stadium, and will return to the ground on 14th May to face London United in the final.

London United 2-2 Monsters

London United and the Monsters played to a 2-2 draw at HMV Park.

The match was centred around Monsters striker Edward Redwood, making his BritLeague debut in neon and purple against his former employers, whose fans jeered him every time he touched the ball. And it was almost inevitable that he would silence his former fans and get on the scoresheet, taking him only ten minutes.

However, as a mark of respect to United, he did not celebrate.

London United debutant Danny Defranco equalised for the Men in Black, curling a shot past a helpless keeper Igor Kuljman.

Craig Wisniewski however put Monsters back in the lead on the hour mark with simple tap-in, after Redwood shot was fumbled by LU keeper Simon Herding.

However, United talisman Craig Craico, who had an unusually quiet game, equalised at the death from the penalty spot after ex-Monster Ian Parker was upended by Shane Bentley.

Goals

London United: Defranco 31', Craico 88' pen.

Monsters: Redwood 10', Wisniewski 60'.

London Town complete Quique swoop, offload Bernhardt

London Town have shattered the BritLeague transfer record with the £40million signing of Monsters striker Quique Gómez, a month after the CSA Champions League holders had signed England's Edward Redwood for £35million.

As part of the deal, Town's out-of-favour American striker Billy Bernhardt has moved to the Monsters for £15million.

Spanish striker Quique, 26, handed in a transfer request after his Monsters future was cast in doubt with the signing of former London United striker Redwood, 25.

"I am very happy to be here. London Town is a great club with great players, great fans and a great new stadium," Quique said in a press conference at Town's brand new ground LG Park.

"It is humbling to play with the likes of Daniel Perry, Zvonimir Markovic, John Carey, Andrea Romano and my fellow countryman Juanpa."

"I played against them many times with the Monsters, and I hope I can help the team win many trophies for many years."

Livermore hails "tea time" Parker

TOTV soccer pundit Jim Livermore has hailed Ian Parker for his hat-trick in the Tyne-Tees derby as "one of the best performances I have seen from him for a long time."

"In 2007, he was nicknamed 'Prime Time' because he played well in evening matches," Livermore said on BritLeague Super Sunday straight after the match. "Well, today he was Tea Time." The match between Parker's Monsters and the Newcastle Geordies kicked off at 16:00, which is of course, tea-time.

The hat-trick could reignite Parker's hopes of appearing for England in this summer's CSA World Cup finals, but manager Marco Garibaldi, who saw the game at Monsters Park, has warned the 23-year-old midfielder that he'll have to keep playing the way he did in that game if the Italian is to select him in his squad for the Middle East.

Monsters 4-0 Geordies

Sunday 25th April 2010

Monsters Park, Teesside. Att: 31,495.

Ian Parker's long-awaited comeback game turned out to be one he'll remember for a long time as the England midfielder netted a hat-trick in the Tyne-Tees derby as the Monsters routed the Newcastle Geordies four goals to nil.

23-year-old Parker had finally made his return in the green-and-purple shirt after recovering from a serious knee injury suffered last August which forced him to miss the remainder of last season as well as Monsters' Champions League adventure which continues.

And the Teesside outfit will benefit from his comeback as he stunned the Geordies by hitting a perfect hat-trick.

The auburn-haired speedster linked up very well with Darren Watkinson, and after a one-two with the midfielder, Parker chipped Newcastle stopper Jackie Stackman with the outside of his left foot.

He later scored the second with a superb leaping header, outjumping Geordies' big Swiss centre-back Martin Machler, from Quique's cross.

And for Stackman, whose hopes of making the cut for England's CSA World Cup squad appear to be vanishing week after week, the misery would not end as Spain striker Quique scored the third before Parker completed his treble with a 20-yard rocket with his preferred right foot to give the Monsters a valuable victory over their most hated rivals.

Goals

Monsters: Parker 13', 57', 87', Quique 76'.

Geordies: none.

CSA England Cup SF: London Town 4-2 Monsters

Saturday 10th April 2010

Vodafone Stadium, London. Att: 68,593.

London Town braved the new, controversial Vodafone Stadium pitch by reaching the CSA England Cup final for the third time in succession with a 4-2 win against Monsters FC.

The pitch was the centre of attention, with its new FieldTurf surface - an artificial type of grass -after previous complaints about the state of pitch.

It had to be tested by the CSA and CSA England, before getting the seal of approval by both federations.

But it was Town who adjusted the best to the new pitch, playing their passing game without a hitch against the Monsters, who decided to abandon their attacking style of play in favour of a long ball game.

That turned out to be a terrible idea for the Team in Green and Purple, and there was no way that the Monsters giant rookie striker Matt Oxley was going to get past the Blues' centre-halves Daniel Perry and Juanpa Gonzalez.

The Anglo-Spanish connection in the heart of the Town defence was so much stronger than the Anglo-Spanish connection up front with Oxley partnering with Quique Gomez.

But it was an Italian that put Town in front with half-an-hour gone, Andrea Romano breaking away from the Monsters defence and slotting it through Igor Kuljman's legs.

John Carey made it two on the stroke of half-time with a powerful header.

When Quique made it 2-1 within 30 seconds of the match, it put the Monsters back in contention as they started to play to attractive style of football, but it was all in vain as Daniel Perry made it 3-1.

Darren Watkinson pulled another back for the Monsters, before Town's Kevin Brickman scored in injury time to win 4-2.

Goals

London Town: Romano 33', Carey 44', Perry 67', Brickman 90'.

Monsters: Quique 46', Watkinson 82'.

Knights 3-3 Monsters

Sunday 4th April

Knights Arena, Suffolk. Att: 28,584.

The Knights and Monsters played to an enthralling 3-3 draw.

Goals

Knights: Carter 5', Krzystofski 27', Bourgeois 66'.

Monsters: Quique 21', 48', van den Bergh 87'.

Monsters 2-1 London United

Sunday 28th March

Monsters Park, Teesside. Att: 34,390.

The Monsters cruised to a 2-1 win over London United with a Quique double.

The Spaniard put the home side in front, before CraiCo equalised ten minutes into the second half.

But Quique hit a crisp finish four minutes from time.

Goals

Monsters: Quique 25', 86'.

London United: CraiCo 56'.

London Town 2-0 Monsters

Sunday 21st March

HMV Park, London. Att: 43,204.

London Town beat the Monsters 2-0 with goals from Zvonimir Markovic and Shane Macdonald.

Goals

London Town: Markovic 35', Macdonald 87'.

Monsters: none.

Shamrocks 0-2 Monsters

Sunday 14th March

RDS Arena, Dublin. Att: 7,065.

Monsters won in Dublin with goals from Gheorghe Pancu and rookie Adam Morgan.

Goals

Shamrocks: none.

Monsters: Pancu 57', Morgan 88'.

Monsters 4-1 Dragons

Saturday 6th March

Monsters Park, York. Att: 35,473.

The Monsters got off to flying start with a 4-1 thrashing of the Dragons.

Goals

Monsters: Quique 24', 48', Watkinson 66', Van den Bergh 78'.

Dragons: Christian Jones 75'.

Elkins seals move to Monsters

London Town striker Peter Elkins has agreed to move to the Monsters for an undisclosed fee.

England CSA international Elkins, who played for Town while they were still known as Ajax London, had a horrible season, having only scored three goals in 16 appearances.

It is Elkins' fifth club in six years. The 6'8" forward, the tallest striker in MLF/BritLeague history, started his BritLeague career at Belfast Burn in 2002, before moving to Merseyside in 2005. He then joined Euro League side Lyon Roar two years later, but did not last long in France, sending him to Ajax London in early 2008.

MLF to become BritLeague for '09, plus more changes

Major League Football has announced that they will change its name to the BritLeague with immediate effect following that they don't want any confusion with the similarly named North American football (soccer) league called Major League Soccer.

"We want to be our own identity," said the BritLeague commisioner.

MLF2 is now to be known as BritLeague D (the Development League), MLF Europe will now be known as EuroLeague Football and MLF International will be called InterLeague.

Also many teams have changed their names. Manchester Magic will become Manchester Rockers because of Manchester's long history of indie music, Edinburgh Eagles will now be FC Edinburgh 2007, Dublin Druids (who were criticised for their name, they had no idea what druid meant at the time) will now be the Dublin Shamrocks, and Ajax London (who have ended their partnership with the Dutch team Ajax Amsterdam this year) will now become London Town.

Also the Middlesbrough Monsters have dropped the town name in favour of the Monsters Football Club, as they will move into their own stadium next year outside Middlesbrough after using Middlesbrough FC's Riverside Stadium for the past three years.

And finally, Reading Ruckus will move to Hampshire next year, after poor attendances at the Madejski Stadium. They will now be known as the South Coast Ruckus, however it is unknown whether they will use Southampton's St. Mary's or Portsmouth's Fratton Park as their main arena.