Bizarre opening
When you have a lead in development you should try to open the position. This is done by pawn exchanges.
8. ... Re8 threatens to play d4 next where a central file will open up.
9. ... f5 looks better than retreating the knight.
14. ... f5 planning to play f4 is an attempt to open lines.
When you're better developed you must create open lines for your developed pieces to use.
Based on the opening principles and the fact it's never played, i'm assuming it must be a bad opening. What should I have done early on to crack it?