Something I failed to take into account was the complete collapse of my computer, which may have ended the dream.
Balls.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Aaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!
Usually Champ games are ended by a corrupted file or similar. I fought this by saving many different files, and it hadn't become a problem.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Season 14 - Preview
I was right, I'm getting bored. But I don't want to leave, because this squad is superb. Grrr.
I attempt to get back into international management for a little extra challenge. I apply for 6 jobs, but bizarrely, despite my reputation as the best manager in the world, I land none of them. The Italy job is currently occupied by a coach who has no experience at all. Which is strange.
Players out: Maxi Lopez to Sporting Gijon (Free), Gregory Leroy to Espanyol (13.75 mil) and Patrick De Jong to Atalanta (825k).
Leroy was good, not great, so the prospect of a 13.75 million profit after 1 year was too much, especially given the 'players in' part below:
Players in: Giovani Gentili SW/DC from Perugia (Bos), Vanderlei Alves AMLC from Sporting Lisbon (12.5m), Daniel Martinez AM/FLC from Millionarios (4m) and Stephane Lopez AMC from Bordeaux (20m).
Martinez is just 17, a regular in the Columbia squad and a great prospect. Both Vanderlei Alves and Lopez look fantastic, and I have money to burn. Gentili adds to my awesome array of young CB's and prompts the release of De Jong.
Let's go on a tour of Japan...
I attempt to get back into international management for a little extra challenge. I apply for 6 jobs, but bizarrely, despite my reputation as the best manager in the world, I land none of them. The Italy job is currently occupied by a coach who has no experience at all. Which is strange.
Players out: Maxi Lopez to Sporting Gijon (Free), Gregory Leroy to Espanyol (13.75 mil) and Patrick De Jong to Atalanta (825k).
Leroy was good, not great, so the prospect of a 13.75 million profit after 1 year was too much, especially given the 'players in' part below:
Players in: Giovani Gentili SW/DC from Perugia (Bos), Vanderlei Alves AMLC from Sporting Lisbon (12.5m), Daniel Martinez AM/FLC from Millionarios (4m) and Stephane Lopez AMC from Bordeaux (20m).
Martinez is just 17, a regular in the Columbia squad and a great prospect. Both Vanderlei Alves and Lopez look fantastic, and I have money to burn. Gentili adds to my awesome array of young CB's and prompts the release of De Jong.
Let's go on a tour of Japan...
Monday, October 6, 2008
Season 13 - Have It All
Something I forgot to mention yesterday - Kaka is an excellent player. He was useless for me at Foggia, but at Roma he is excelling himself, goals and assists from the right-wing. Jamie Quinn had a fine season last year also, winning a starting central midfield berth for the second half of the season.
My UEFA Cup win last year was Roma's 3rd in a row, and is good enough to qualify me for the World Club Championship again. Slightly more challenging this time with Cruzeiro, Velez and Atlas providing decent opposition for my unfit squad. But victory is completed fairly routinely, Brighi and Marchioro scoring in the final.
I come a cropper in the European Super Cup, Juventus beating me 2-1. They were simply awesome last season and must surely be my biggest rivals in all competitions. Other than that though, the first half of the season progresses very well. I am top of the league from an early stage, Champions League progress is simple and my reserves do sterling work in the Cup. In the dead rubber vs Real Madrid in the CL they also do fine work, earning an impressive 1-1 draw.
David Gentili has earned the #1 jersey and is imperious all season. At 18 he could very well be the best keeper I've ever had. Which is bad news for Fillipo Mercuri, my second goalkeeper who is also a great talent and a year younger still.
By Christmas everything is looking simple, I'm banging in the goals too. I add another young CB, Jose Marcos on a Bosman from Palmeiras.
The season continues along these happy lines, although Bari beat my full strength side 3-1 in the league and it could of been many more, but this is an aberration. Serie A is secured with 5 games to spare and the challenge from Juve never materialized as they finish down in 12th, a bizarre change of fortunes.
Milan and Lazio are beaten in the CL, Foggia are defeated 4-1 on aggregate in the Cup Final and then Porto are again my opposition in the CL Final. It's a tight game, chances are at a premium, but Kaka's 88th minute wonder goal is the difference.
Brighi, Cassano, Osunwa, Borghi, Kaka, Marcio Alexandre and Marchioro all score double figures, with Brighi and Cassano top scoring with 19 apiece. Brighi secures the Fans Player award with a season average of 8.00 and his value climbs from 3.5 million at the start of the season, to 25 million by the end.
Not much work is required, but there are a couple of players I have my eye on, so some big spending may be in order. I fear the spectre of boredom may arise during next season. Having success so early makes me yearn for a greater challenge, but at the moment that desire is tempered by developing a young squad. We shall see...
My UEFA Cup win last year was Roma's 3rd in a row, and is good enough to qualify me for the World Club Championship again. Slightly more challenging this time with Cruzeiro, Velez and Atlas providing decent opposition for my unfit squad. But victory is completed fairly routinely, Brighi and Marchioro scoring in the final.
I come a cropper in the European Super Cup, Juventus beating me 2-1. They were simply awesome last season and must surely be my biggest rivals in all competitions. Other than that though, the first half of the season progresses very well. I am top of the league from an early stage, Champions League progress is simple and my reserves do sterling work in the Cup. In the dead rubber vs Real Madrid in the CL they also do fine work, earning an impressive 1-1 draw.
David Gentili has earned the #1 jersey and is imperious all season. At 18 he could very well be the best keeper I've ever had. Which is bad news for Fillipo Mercuri, my second goalkeeper who is also a great talent and a year younger still.
By Christmas everything is looking simple, I'm banging in the goals too. I add another young CB, Jose Marcos on a Bosman from Palmeiras.
The season continues along these happy lines, although Bari beat my full strength side 3-1 in the league and it could of been many more, but this is an aberration. Serie A is secured with 5 games to spare and the challenge from Juve never materialized as they finish down in 12th, a bizarre change of fortunes.
Milan and Lazio are beaten in the CL, Foggia are defeated 4-1 on aggregate in the Cup Final and then Porto are again my opposition in the CL Final. It's a tight game, chances are at a premium, but Kaka's 88th minute wonder goal is the difference.
Brighi, Cassano, Osunwa, Borghi, Kaka, Marcio Alexandre and Marchioro all score double figures, with Brighi and Cassano top scoring with 19 apiece. Brighi secures the Fans Player award with a season average of 8.00 and his value climbs from 3.5 million at the start of the season, to 25 million by the end.
Not much work is required, but there are a couple of players I have my eye on, so some big spending may be in order. I fear the spectre of boredom may arise during next season. Having success so early makes me yearn for a greater challenge, but at the moment that desire is tempered by developing a young squad. We shall see...
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Season 13 - Preview
Alas, Walter Samuel decides to return to South America. Also out the door are; Lucio, Rossini, Maresca and Harry Kewell, along with a number of youngsters not making the grade.
I need a lot of players. And when the transfer window opens, 10 arrive on Bosman free transfers. 8 of them are young and Italian. Particularly talented individuals are; Nello Semanzato DC (Lazio), Giancarlo Villa SW/DC (Genoa), Simone Pinto MC (Atalanta), Leandro Borghi SC (Lecce) and Michele Brighi SC (Bologna). I also bring in Fernando Carnero DMC (Numancia) and Gregory Leroy AM/FLC (Bordeaux).
Then I splash the cash on Marcio Alexandre FRC from Hertha Berlin. 15 million spent, but I refuse to get excited about this one. So far, every time I spend a large sum, I am left disappointed. Guida and then Sachetti both accomplished little for me.
Of all the signings, Pinto and Brighi look the best prospects. Pinto is a shoe-in in central midfield and is only 17, whilst Brighi will lead my line at the ripe old age of 19.
15 million spent, 11 players acquired and probably the youngest and most Italian squad I have ever had. If they can settle in fast, a good season could be on the cards, if not, I'm confident that the foundations have been laid for a prolonged spell of success with this squad.
I need a lot of players. And when the transfer window opens, 10 arrive on Bosman free transfers. 8 of them are young and Italian. Particularly talented individuals are; Nello Semanzato DC (Lazio), Giancarlo Villa SW/DC (Genoa), Simone Pinto MC (Atalanta), Leandro Borghi SC (Lecce) and Michele Brighi SC (Bologna). I also bring in Fernando Carnero DMC (Numancia) and Gregory Leroy AM/FLC (Bordeaux).
Then I splash the cash on Marcio Alexandre FRC from Hertha Berlin. 15 million spent, but I refuse to get excited about this one. So far, every time I spend a large sum, I am left disappointed. Guida and then Sachetti both accomplished little for me.
Of all the signings, Pinto and Brighi look the best prospects. Pinto is a shoe-in in central midfield and is only 17, whilst Brighi will lead my line at the ripe old age of 19.
15 million spent, 11 players acquired and probably the youngest and most Italian squad I have ever had. If they can settle in fast, a good season could be on the cards, if not, I'm confident that the foundations have been laid for a prolonged spell of success with this squad.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Season 12 - A New Dawn
That's a crap title, but I'm struggling for inspiration.
A pre-season tour of China is in order, and the day before it starts I secure a striker - Collins Osunwa, a Nigerian international from Lens for 5 million.
The season proper starts against Foggia, and it isn't too pretty. They dominate the game. But somehow I emerge with a 1-0 win courtesy of an Osunwa debut goal and an imperious performance from goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli. Foggia's new manager is Alberto Malesani and he crowbars them into a 442 with some useless, useless full backs, but it seems to work against me...
League form starts well, and progress in the UEFA Cup is assisted by favorable draws. I add another Foggia striker to my squad, the never before mentioned Alessio Marchioro for an absurdly over inflated 7.5m. He wasn't mentioned previous as he came through the youth setup last season and is only just becoming a talent.
Up to Christmas and I'm 2nd and nicely placed. I face QPR again, sweeping them aside 3-0. And not playing Foggia in the Italian Cup QF is a disappointment.
January sees the beginnings of a slump of sorts in the league. 6 draws in 7 games and a reluctance from my players to score goals. In fact it's the old heads doing the best work. Rossini is top scorer and Samuel looks unbeatable at the back. I'm down in 5th and CL football is looking dodgy. Foggia rear their ugly heads in the Cup Semi and I'm defeated by a last minute Cherno Samba thunderbolt.
League form improves a little, but draws are still ridiculously frequent. I lose just 4 league games and somehow sneak into 3rd place. Man Utd are defeated in the UEFA Cup 4th round, and after that no decent opposition comes my way. Portsmouth (of Division 1) are my opponents in the final and they don't muster a single shot in my 2-0 victory.
Antonio Cassano is Fans Player, with 13 assists from behind the strikers, but I would've given it to Samuel who was brilliant and who I hope to coax into another year at Roma. Rossini finishes as top scorer but was losing it at the end of the year, so will probably go. Much to be done before next year, but a solid season to start with.
A pre-season tour of China is in order, and the day before it starts I secure a striker - Collins Osunwa, a Nigerian international from Lens for 5 million.
The season proper starts against Foggia, and it isn't too pretty. They dominate the game. But somehow I emerge with a 1-0 win courtesy of an Osunwa debut goal and an imperious performance from goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli. Foggia's new manager is Alberto Malesani and he crowbars them into a 442 with some useless, useless full backs, but it seems to work against me...
League form starts well, and progress in the UEFA Cup is assisted by favorable draws. I add another Foggia striker to my squad, the never before mentioned Alessio Marchioro for an absurdly over inflated 7.5m. He wasn't mentioned previous as he came through the youth setup last season and is only just becoming a talent.
Up to Christmas and I'm 2nd and nicely placed. I face QPR again, sweeping them aside 3-0. And not playing Foggia in the Italian Cup QF is a disappointment.
January sees the beginnings of a slump of sorts in the league. 6 draws in 7 games and a reluctance from my players to score goals. In fact it's the old heads doing the best work. Rossini is top scorer and Samuel looks unbeatable at the back. I'm down in 5th and CL football is looking dodgy. Foggia rear their ugly heads in the Cup Semi and I'm defeated by a last minute Cherno Samba thunderbolt.
League form improves a little, but draws are still ridiculously frequent. I lose just 4 league games and somehow sneak into 3rd place. Man Utd are defeated in the UEFA Cup 4th round, and after that no decent opposition comes my way. Portsmouth (of Division 1) are my opponents in the final and they don't muster a single shot in my 2-0 victory.
Antonio Cassano is Fans Player, with 13 assists from behind the strikers, but I would've given it to Samuel who was brilliant and who I hope to coax into another year at Roma. Rossini finishes as top scorer but was losing it at the end of the year, so will probably go. Much to be done before next year, but a solid season to start with.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Season 12 - Preview - Part 2
They make a decision in 2 days. The decision? Tash. Good choice.
I take a detailed look at the squad and do the traditional firing of dead wood. 11 players are immediately released on a free transfer. And a week later another 7 follow, including the 35 year-old Francesco Totti who refuses to sign a contract for 100k a week.
I see why Capello retired. He'd won a lot, but 6th place last season with an aging squad looks like the end of the road. I have a mere 7m to spend and I need lots of players. There are old players here including Walter Samuel, Rio Ferdinand, Lucio, Harry Kewell and Fausto Rossini who all look likely to be facing their last season at Roma too, but I'm gonna have to keep them as I don't have much wonga.
I feel the need. The need to raid Foggia for some cheap players. De Jong (DRC) and Robin (SW/DC) are both fine defenders and will provide squad support for the old hands for now. And for 2.3m for the pair, good business. In my desperation for a striker I sign Maxi Lopez for 1.6m. The Roma squad actually contains a couple of my old players, Kaka and Jamie Quinn, the latter being one of only 2 central midfielders in my whole squad.
I bolster this section with Enzo Guerra DMC (250k), Anthony Blanc DMLC (1.9m), Enzo Maresca DMLC (free on a one year contract) and Simone Cardinale MC (free). Dan Lukic MRC comes in for 1.3m as back-up to Kaka.
I need more strikers, and hope the season ticket money will help me out here, but I'm gonna have to wait. First game? European Super Cup against Foggia...
I take a detailed look at the squad and do the traditional firing of dead wood. 11 players are immediately released on a free transfer. And a week later another 7 follow, including the 35 year-old Francesco Totti who refuses to sign a contract for 100k a week.
I see why Capello retired. He'd won a lot, but 6th place last season with an aging squad looks like the end of the road. I have a mere 7m to spend and I need lots of players. There are old players here including Walter Samuel, Rio Ferdinand, Lucio, Harry Kewell and Fausto Rossini who all look likely to be facing their last season at Roma too, but I'm gonna have to keep them as I don't have much wonga.
I feel the need. The need to raid Foggia for some cheap players. De Jong (DRC) and Robin (SW/DC) are both fine defenders and will provide squad support for the old hands for now. And for 2.3m for the pair, good business. In my desperation for a striker I sign Maxi Lopez for 1.6m. The Roma squad actually contains a couple of my old players, Kaka and Jamie Quinn, the latter being one of only 2 central midfielders in my whole squad.
I bolster this section with Enzo Guerra DMC (250k), Anthony Blanc DMLC (1.9m), Enzo Maresca DMLC (free on a one year contract) and Simone Cardinale MC (free). Dan Lukic MRC comes in for 1.3m as back-up to Kaka.
I need more strikers, and hope the season ticket money will help me out here, but I'm gonna have to wait. First game? European Super Cup against Foggia...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Season 12 - Preview - Part 1
Well. I try to get the Milan job, but they give it to Prandelli. Bizarre decision, he's never won anything, and I just won the lot. My only theory is that they aren't willing to pay compensation to Foggia or something (clutching at straws here).
Further reason to leave Foggia (as if I needed one) is that the players refuse to be happy. Winning the treble is apparently not enough for some. Jamie Lowe refuses to sign a new contract and is snapped up by Juve for a cut price 4.3m. Balls. Milan sign THREE of my players who aren't happy. Vanilson Andre, Mourad Meghni and Flavio Pereira leave for the combined total of 26.25m. I sell Joao Pedro Sergio back to FC Porto for 3.5m, he just wouldn't settle. Mo money, mo money. And it looks like I'm gonna have to stay so I start the rebuilding process with the 1.1m signing of Didier Grondin, an impressive looking CM.
Then something great happens. Fabio Capello retires from Roma and football. Great news, a new job opening. Although on closer inspection, Roma's squad is old, completely lacking in depth of any sort and they have little cash. Well, I'm up for the challenge, their stadium is huge, so it won't take long to build up some cash reserves. I quit Foggia and apply. Fingers crossed...
Further reason to leave Foggia (as if I needed one) is that the players refuse to be happy. Winning the treble is apparently not enough for some. Jamie Lowe refuses to sign a new contract and is snapped up by Juve for a cut price 4.3m. Balls. Milan sign THREE of my players who aren't happy. Vanilson Andre, Mourad Meghni and Flavio Pereira leave for the combined total of 26.25m. I sell Joao Pedro Sergio back to FC Porto for 3.5m, he just wouldn't settle. Mo money, mo money. And it looks like I'm gonna have to stay so I start the rebuilding process with the 1.1m signing of Didier Grondin, an impressive looking CM.
Then something great happens. Fabio Capello retires from Roma and football. Great news, a new job opening. Although on closer inspection, Roma's squad is old, completely lacking in depth of any sort and they have little cash. Well, I'm up for the challenge, their stadium is huge, so it won't take long to build up some cash reserves. I quit Foggia and apply. Fingers crossed...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Season 11 - Wait, What?!?
Yeah, this was probably the weirdest season I can remember for some time...
To start with, I'm in the World Club Championship. Weird qualifying criteria they must have. I guess a couple of UEFA Cups got me in. And what a stupid trophy it is. Although, if memory serves, quite the money spinner, so I take it pretty seriously. And I win it easily. Footballing heavyweights (sarcasm, just in case my tone is too dry for some) Sundowns and Kaiser Chiefs (both from South Africa) and Japan's Reysol are put to the sword. Diego Maradona's Independiente and Atalanta are the only reasonably challenging games, the latter dispatched in the final 2-0.
Then, perhaps more bizarrely, I lose a Super Cup! Outrageous. Roma beat me 3-2 completely against the run of play.
League form and CL form are both good, the only blip is defeat to Lazio. The weird stakes are raised again by QPR being in my group...
Up until the Christmas break, I'm great, wins everywhere in all competitions. Including the least weird match up of the season, everyone's favorite tie - the Italian Cup Quarter Final vs Roma.
Everingham is out, sold back to Brazil. He cannot get in the team. Late January to early March in the league is ugly. Perhaps cockiness on my part. Napoli, Milan, Juventus and Verona all beat me, and I'm starting to sweat. After progress is secured to the knock out stages of the CL things improve though, and my form before Christmas gave me a bit of a cushion. The CL Quarter Final victory over Man Utd 3-3 on away goals is crucial. Somehow, of the 4 teams remaining, I am by far the best. FC Copenhagen are swept aside to secure a final berth.
The Serie A title is secured with 2 games to go, with a completely unglorius 2-1 home win against Modena, Sergio Amaya sealing it. Despite being 2-1 down, I play the reserves in the 2nd leg of the Italian Cup Final against Lazio, and against all odds, they secure a fantastic 2-0 away win to take the trophy.
Then the big one, the CL Final for an unbelievable treble after last season's complete shambles. FC Porto are destroyed, almost single handedly by Bruno who bags 2 in a comfortable 3-0 win. He sweeps the board stat-wise, earning his 4th Fans Player award to boot. Onyewu continues to astound at centre back, making Inter look silly.
So, do I stay or go? A great season no doubt, but I'm sick of Foggia. It's time to go, but where?
To start with, I'm in the World Club Championship. Weird qualifying criteria they must have. I guess a couple of UEFA Cups got me in. And what a stupid trophy it is. Although, if memory serves, quite the money spinner, so I take it pretty seriously. And I win it easily. Footballing heavyweights (sarcasm, just in case my tone is too dry for some) Sundowns and Kaiser Chiefs (both from South Africa) and Japan's Reysol are put to the sword. Diego Maradona's Independiente and Atalanta are the only reasonably challenging games, the latter dispatched in the final 2-0.
Then, perhaps more bizarrely, I lose a Super Cup! Outrageous. Roma beat me 3-2 completely against the run of play.
League form and CL form are both good, the only blip is defeat to Lazio. The weird stakes are raised again by QPR being in my group...
Up until the Christmas break, I'm great, wins everywhere in all competitions. Including the least weird match up of the season, everyone's favorite tie - the Italian Cup Quarter Final vs Roma.
Everingham is out, sold back to Brazil. He cannot get in the team. Late January to early March in the league is ugly. Perhaps cockiness on my part. Napoli, Milan, Juventus and Verona all beat me, and I'm starting to sweat. After progress is secured to the knock out stages of the CL things improve though, and my form before Christmas gave me a bit of a cushion. The CL Quarter Final victory over Man Utd 3-3 on away goals is crucial. Somehow, of the 4 teams remaining, I am by far the best. FC Copenhagen are swept aside to secure a final berth.
The Serie A title is secured with 2 games to go, with a completely unglorius 2-1 home win against Modena, Sergio Amaya sealing it. Despite being 2-1 down, I play the reserves in the 2nd leg of the Italian Cup Final against Lazio, and against all odds, they secure a fantastic 2-0 away win to take the trophy.
Then the big one, the CL Final for an unbelievable treble after last season's complete shambles. FC Porto are destroyed, almost single handedly by Bruno who bags 2 in a comfortable 3-0 win. He sweeps the board stat-wise, earning his 4th Fans Player award to boot. Onyewu continues to astound at centre back, making Inter look silly.
So, do I stay or go? A great season no doubt, but I'm sick of Foggia. It's time to go, but where?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Season 11 - Preview
Following last season's lousy showing, I am determined to improve, if only so I can leave Foggia. The board annoy the hell out of me, unhappy despite going from Serie C2 to the Champions League and they won't even consider expanding the stadium. Sod 'em. I need a league win and/or a Champions League win in order to secure one of the big jobs.
Significant outs - Ben May to Bologna for 6.5 million, Bojan Djordic to Man Utd for 3.4, Camaro to Venezia for 1.6, Jamie Quinn to Roma for 2.9,
Significant (I hope) ins - Ricardo Quaresma AMRL (free), Martin Seedorf DMRC (free), Ulisse Prete DRC (2.5m), Fredson MRLC (2.1m) and Sergio Amaya who looks like a hell of a prospect up front on a glorius Bosman free transfer.
Everingham has until Xmas to prove himself. He started reasonably well last season and was among the assists. But he down right refused to score after November. Perhaps he's more like the new Christopher Wreh than George Weah...
Significant outs - Ben May to Bologna for 6.5 million, Bojan Djordic to Man Utd for 3.4, Camaro to Venezia for 1.6, Jamie Quinn to Roma for 2.9,
Significant (I hope) ins - Ricardo Quaresma AMRL (free), Martin Seedorf DMRC (free), Ulisse Prete DRC (2.5m), Fredson MRLC (2.1m) and Sergio Amaya who looks like a hell of a prospect up front on a glorius Bosman free transfer.
Everingham has until Xmas to prove himself. He started reasonably well last season and was among the assists. But he down right refused to score after November. Perhaps he's more like the new Christopher Wreh than George Weah...
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Season 10 - Bugger
My squad is actually a little smaller, although the previous post doesn't show it too well. A number of players leave who are barely worth noting, including the very annoying Gary Roberts, a fine left winger who couldn't settle in Italy and is sold to Hearts for 675k.
Anyhow, enough of that. The season's immediate start is good, both Super Cups retained with victories over Milan in both. Qualification for the Champions League is assured with a 5-1 aggregate win over Rosenborg. Then my league form completely tanks, worst start for a while. Perhaps it is my increased rotation due to European football, as my Champions League form is good, and progress is relatively simple in a reasonably tricky group including PSV and Sporting Lisbon.
I'm 5th at Christmas, and unimpressed. Also dealt a horrible 2nd group in Europe, with Valencia, Man Utd and Ajax. Although in the Italian Cup I hold a 1-0 lead in my Quarter Final against, yes, you guessed it, Roma. Again! I sign Kim Kallstrom for 1.7 million in an attempt to get more assists and goals from midfield. An idea which fails completely.
League form stays crap, and successive away defeats to Valencia and Ajax spell doom for the Champions League. However, as soon as I'm officially out of Europe, my league form turns on it's head and I start beating everyone and their mothers. And well too. The Italian Cup is retaken, Inter fall before me 4-2 on aggregate, but invincible late season league form is only good enough to salvage 4th. At least it's Champions League. A poor season that I am completely underwhelmed by.
My board is showing signs of disgust, and at no point in the season do I gain any sort of rapport with the fans. There's always next year.
Bruno has another impressive season, top scoring from behind the strikers and winning Fans Player again. Oguchi Onyewu returns with the best average rating. I'm becoming dispirited.
Anyhow, enough of that. The season's immediate start is good, both Super Cups retained with victories over Milan in both. Qualification for the Champions League is assured with a 5-1 aggregate win over Rosenborg. Then my league form completely tanks, worst start for a while. Perhaps it is my increased rotation due to European football, as my Champions League form is good, and progress is relatively simple in a reasonably tricky group including PSV and Sporting Lisbon.
I'm 5th at Christmas, and unimpressed. Also dealt a horrible 2nd group in Europe, with Valencia, Man Utd and Ajax. Although in the Italian Cup I hold a 1-0 lead in my Quarter Final against, yes, you guessed it, Roma. Again! I sign Kim Kallstrom for 1.7 million in an attempt to get more assists and goals from midfield. An idea which fails completely.
League form stays crap, and successive away defeats to Valencia and Ajax spell doom for the Champions League. However, as soon as I'm officially out of Europe, my league form turns on it's head and I start beating everyone and their mothers. And well too. The Italian Cup is retaken, Inter fall before me 4-2 on aggregate, but invincible late season league form is only good enough to salvage 4th. At least it's Champions League. A poor season that I am completely underwhelmed by.
My board is showing signs of disgust, and at no point in the season do I gain any sort of rapport with the fans. There's always next year.
Bruno has another impressive season, top scoring from behind the strikers and winning Fans Player again. Oguchi Onyewu returns with the best average rating. I'm becoming dispirited.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Season 10 - Preview
My squad's a little large, and there are a few players seeking fresh challenges or starting to fall short. As a result, there are quite a few players leaving prior to this season.
Players falling short include; Benja, Mascherano and Isaksson. Some bigger loses amongst the seemingly unending number of irritated players. To Madeira leaves for Juventus for 6 million, Massimo Frezza to Fiorentina for 4.3 million and Claudio Constantini back to Napoli after just a season for 2.8 million.
Despite this, I still need to bolster the squad a little ready for Champions League football. Nikita Baranov comes in as back-up keeper, the strikers are bolstered by Phil Everingham (the new George Weah) and Nicola Sacchetti (who breaks my transfer record with 13.5 million) and I reacquire Oguchi Onyewu who has inexplicably fallen down the pecking order at Inter, for a million less than I sold him for. Finally, I am tempted into the bargain purchase of Flavio Pereira for 825k, a Portuguese central midfielder of some class.
Players falling short include; Benja, Mascherano and Isaksson. Some bigger loses amongst the seemingly unending number of irritated players. To Madeira leaves for Juventus for 6 million, Massimo Frezza to Fiorentina for 4.3 million and Claudio Constantini back to Napoli after just a season for 2.8 million.
Despite this, I still need to bolster the squad a little ready for Champions League football. Nikita Baranov comes in as back-up keeper, the strikers are bolstered by Phil Everingham (the new George Weah) and Nicola Sacchetti (who breaks my transfer record with 13.5 million) and I reacquire Oguchi Onyewu who has inexplicably fallen down the pecking order at Inter, for a million less than I sold him for. Finally, I am tempted into the bargain purchase of Flavio Pereira for 825k, a Portuguese central midfielder of some class.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Season 9 - Guida Out!
Grrr. Vincenzo Guida is a git. Not only has he vastly underperformed during his stay, but early on in season 9 he starts throwing the toys out of the pram. About nothing. He's a smeg-head and when Manchester United offer me 7.5 million, I snap their hand off. 40 games, 4 goals and 6 assists, from a dude that looks like a legend. I lose money, but I'm rich. I don't care.
Results wise, the season starts very well, both Super Cups are captured against Roma and Milan respectively and my league form sees me comfortably positioned in the top 3 throughout the first half of the season. I get a tough UEFA Cup 1st Round draw, but Chelsea are overcome 5-2, and progress is easy. The Italian Cup is no challenge until the traditional Foggia vs Roma Quarter Final, which I shade 4-3 on aggregate.
The transfer window is quite quiet for me, Johan Buhn leaves along with Bruno Moraes, a talented young striker who will make it elsewhere, but the prospect of a 5 million profit on a player that can't get in the team is too enticing. I bring in 2 wingers in an attempt to raise midfield productivity - Vanilson Andre on the left and Alessio Lorini on the right.
A February slump (which extends into March) sees any prospect of a title challenge disappear, struggling through a UEFA Cup tie with Nurnberg on away goals and a 3-0 deficit established against Milan in the Italian Cup Final. But on March 11th I embark on an unbeaten run which will last for the rest of the season.
It's not enough to salvage the Italian Cup, but the UEFA Cup is retained after impressive victories over Real Madrid and then Juventus in the final. And I avoided 5th! Hoorah. A solid 3rd place, which was so nearly a 2nd. Still, Champions League football is the important thing.
Bruno is Fans Player again, as well as my top scorer. Jamie Lowe has a great season from central midfield with 15 assists and Gabriel Milito in defence is a revelation.
Results wise, the season starts very well, both Super Cups are captured against Roma and Milan respectively and my league form sees me comfortably positioned in the top 3 throughout the first half of the season. I get a tough UEFA Cup 1st Round draw, but Chelsea are overcome 5-2, and progress is easy. The Italian Cup is no challenge until the traditional Foggia vs Roma Quarter Final, which I shade 4-3 on aggregate.
The transfer window is quite quiet for me, Johan Buhn leaves along with Bruno Moraes, a talented young striker who will make it elsewhere, but the prospect of a 5 million profit on a player that can't get in the team is too enticing. I bring in 2 wingers in an attempt to raise midfield productivity - Vanilson Andre on the left and Alessio Lorini on the right.
A February slump (which extends into March) sees any prospect of a title challenge disappear, struggling through a UEFA Cup tie with Nurnberg on away goals and a 3-0 deficit established against Milan in the Italian Cup Final. But on March 11th I embark on an unbeaten run which will last for the rest of the season.
It's not enough to salvage the Italian Cup, but the UEFA Cup is retained after impressive victories over Real Madrid and then Juventus in the final. And I avoided 5th! Hoorah. A solid 3rd place, which was so nearly a 2nd. Still, Champions League football is the important thing.
Bruno is Fans Player again, as well as my top scorer. Jamie Lowe has a great season from central midfield with 15 assists and Gabriel Milito in defence is a revelation.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Season 9 - Preview
How to set about the new season. Despite cup successes last term, I'm very disappointed by the complete lack of league form displayed. Looking back, it's not even that I was losing against the big sides. I took points off all the bigger sides, including 4 points against Roma, which is unheard of. It's the useless teams that play absurdly defensively that I can't beat.
Venezia and Udinese have been constant thorns in my side and Atalanta and Bologna have had decent success lately despite having sides without quality, as they play very defensively and bag 1-0 wins all over the place. But my frustration against these sides is dwarfed by my teams useless efforts against the absolute worst teams in the division. Teams like Perugia, Ternana and Piacenza. They're crap and they get relegated, but they always take points off me.
So what to do? Do I change personnel? Do I adapt my tactics? Do I prioritise the league ahead of the cups?
Well, my squad is good, very good, so I'm gonna keep faith with them. Apart from the central midfield, which is forever a problem area. I add 2 young players here, Jamie Lowe for 9 million from Chelsea and Constantini from Napoli on a Bosman free. Both look like quality signings and spell the end of Caca's Foggia career as he departs for 725k. I also add Joao Pedro Sergio (FC) from Porto, who I've had an eye on for some time, on a free transfer.
Tactics against the smaller teams are gonna change. I'm going on the offensive in an effort to stop drawing games. As for prioritising league ahead of cup, I should have enough squad depth not to have to choose between them, but if I do, the league will get the nod. Fingers crossed...
Venezia and Udinese have been constant thorns in my side and Atalanta and Bologna have had decent success lately despite having sides without quality, as they play very defensively and bag 1-0 wins all over the place. But my frustration against these sides is dwarfed by my teams useless efforts against the absolute worst teams in the division. Teams like Perugia, Ternana and Piacenza. They're crap and they get relegated, but they always take points off me.
So what to do? Do I change personnel? Do I adapt my tactics? Do I prioritise the league ahead of the cups?
Well, my squad is good, very good, so I'm gonna keep faith with them. Apart from the central midfield, which is forever a problem area. I add 2 young players here, Jamie Lowe for 9 million from Chelsea and Constantini from Napoli on a Bosman free. Both look like quality signings and spell the end of Caca's Foggia career as he departs for 725k. I also add Joao Pedro Sergio (FC) from Porto, who I've had an eye on for some time, on a free transfer.
Tactics against the smaller teams are gonna change. I'm going on the offensive in an effort to stop drawing games. As for prioritising league ahead of cup, I should have enough squad depth not to have to choose between them, but if I do, the league will get the nod. Fingers crossed...
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Season 8 - Cup Success!
So a newly settled and happy squad commence the season in familiar fashion. League forms OK, marginally better than last year, and 4th is the spot occupied by Christmas. A bit of a worry is the distinct lack of goals. An early season injury crisis sees me sign 2 center backs on loan, and they both become permanent additions after impressing, Patrick de Jong (DRC) in January and Jerome Robin (SW/DC) at the end of the season.
Cup-wise, I'm laughing. The UEFA Cup and the Italian Cup don't throw any difficult obstacles my way before the mid-way point of the season and I progress sans problems.
Zvonomir Deranja returns to Hadjuk in January, he's a good player, but I have so much competition up front that he's not getting a go. I make 3.6 million, and he was a top dude, so I can't complain.
The second half of the season sees my league form become ever patchier and it quickly becomes evident that although I'm not gonna drop out of the top 6, Champions League football is yet again out of my grasp.
Still, I have the cups. Roma in the Semi's of the Italian Cup is a toughie, but I overcome 2-2 on away goals. The UEFA Cup throws me Arsenal in the 4th Round. A tough one, but a hard fought and entertaining 4-3 aggregate win is deserved. I play Guida up front for the first time, and he makes the difference.
After these ties, the rest of my season becomes a huge struggle. League form remains crap, and now my cup form goes to the dogs. I beat St. Pauli on away goals and Rennes 3-2 in unconvincing victories against none too impressive opposition. I'm fortunate to claim a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Italian Cup final against Inter. Very fortunate.
A sequence of 7 games without a win convinces me to change my style in order to try and claim a cup to salvage my season. It's risky, but I start using my all out attack formation at the start of games. And it works, I come from behind to defeat Rennes, destroy Juventus in the league 3-0 and even beat Roma in the league 3-2.
Then my first taste of a big trophy. The Italian Cup is claimed with a 5-2 aggregate win after an impressive second leg performance. A few games later, the UEFA Cup is added with a far less interesting 1-0 win against Club Brugge, Fans Player of the Year Bruno scoring the winner. To Madeira ends the season well to be my top scorer, but 16 isn't a great haul. I have to figure out how to score more goals next year.
I finish 5th for the 3rd year in a row, and I'm not happy. My squad is really good and I have excellent strikers. But they won't bloody score. I'm kinda stumped.
My BIG gripe this season is the ridiculous number of red cards I get. I now appeal all of them because SO many are getting overturned because the refs are useless. Nelson Akwari got 3 red cards (again) but this time ALL OF THEM had their bans retracted because of poor decisions. It doesn't bloody help me win! Especially the game against AC Milan where I committed 7 fouls and had 3 players sent off. I still only lost 2-0 and both goals were penalties. Grrr...
Cup-wise, I'm laughing. The UEFA Cup and the Italian Cup don't throw any difficult obstacles my way before the mid-way point of the season and I progress sans problems.
Zvonomir Deranja returns to Hadjuk in January, he's a good player, but I have so much competition up front that he's not getting a go. I make 3.6 million, and he was a top dude, so I can't complain.
The second half of the season sees my league form become ever patchier and it quickly becomes evident that although I'm not gonna drop out of the top 6, Champions League football is yet again out of my grasp.
Still, I have the cups. Roma in the Semi's of the Italian Cup is a toughie, but I overcome 2-2 on away goals. The UEFA Cup throws me Arsenal in the 4th Round. A tough one, but a hard fought and entertaining 4-3 aggregate win is deserved. I play Guida up front for the first time, and he makes the difference.
After these ties, the rest of my season becomes a huge struggle. League form remains crap, and now my cup form goes to the dogs. I beat St. Pauli on away goals and Rennes 3-2 in unconvincing victories against none too impressive opposition. I'm fortunate to claim a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Italian Cup final against Inter. Very fortunate.
A sequence of 7 games without a win convinces me to change my style in order to try and claim a cup to salvage my season. It's risky, but I start using my all out attack formation at the start of games. And it works, I come from behind to defeat Rennes, destroy Juventus in the league 3-0 and even beat Roma in the league 3-2.
Then my first taste of a big trophy. The Italian Cup is claimed with a 5-2 aggregate win after an impressive second leg performance. A few games later, the UEFA Cup is added with a far less interesting 1-0 win against Club Brugge, Fans Player of the Year Bruno scoring the winner. To Madeira ends the season well to be my top scorer, but 16 isn't a great haul. I have to figure out how to score more goals next year.
I finish 5th for the 3rd year in a row, and I'm not happy. My squad is really good and I have excellent strikers. But they won't bloody score. I'm kinda stumped.
My BIG gripe this season is the ridiculous number of red cards I get. I now appeal all of them because SO many are getting overturned because the refs are useless. Nelson Akwari got 3 red cards (again) but this time ALL OF THEM had their bans retracted because of poor decisions. It doesn't bloody help me win! Especially the game against AC Milan where I committed 7 fouls and had 3 players sent off. I still only lost 2-0 and both goals were penalties. Grrr...
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Season 8 - Preview II - Vincenzo Guida
OK, the board won't expand the stadium so I'm gonna spend some cash. After 7 seasons, I've spent 22 million and recouped 21 million, never before have I been so good monetarily. Why have I been doing this? To make Foggia's board rich? NO! So they expand my stadium, but no dice.
So it's time to blow some of that cash on a player who I've wanted for a while. Vincenzo Guida (FRC) from Napoli. 20 years-old, great stats for a winger, attacking midfielder and striker. Looks great. I was also prompted to bid because Lazio went after him. After a brief bidding war, the signature is mine for 13.25 million, blowing the former transfer record out of the water. The fans are delighted with the big name signing.
And that still leaves me with over 20 million in the bank. Smooth.
So it's time to blow some of that cash on a player who I've wanted for a while. Vincenzo Guida (FRC) from Napoli. 20 years-old, great stats for a winger, attacking midfielder and striker. Looks great. I was also prompted to bid because Lazio went after him. After a brief bidding war, the signature is mine for 13.25 million, blowing the former transfer record out of the water. The fans are delighted with the big name signing.
And that still leaves me with over 20 million in the bank. Smooth.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Season 7 - Portugal and Season 8 - Preview
It's becoming obvious that I really don't care that much about international management. Portugal is easy, a simple qualification process is completed with a 100% record, but my hearts not in it.
I guide the team through a Euro 2008 group including Russia, hosts Switzerland and England with 7 points, finishing 2nd to England on goal difference. Ukraine are comfortably dispatched in the Quarters and then my woefully unfit squad are slaughtered 5-1 by France in the Semis. And I still don't care. So despite the FA being very happy with the performance, I resign to concentrate on Foggia.
The season 8 pre-game has a few big outs for me in a bid to restore dressing room harmony. Adolfo leaves for Atalanta on a Bosman. I rid the club of all 4 trouble makers. Plato drops into Serie C1B with Fidelis Andria for 100k, Seedorf is sent packing on a free to no-one, Barzagli goes to Napoli for 1m (which is far less than he's worth) and the one that I really didn't want to go, Oguchi Onyewu, leaves for 8.25m for Inter. Two other notable departures are Emeka Mamale at the end of his contract and Kaka who was solidly cack for 2 seasons for 3.1m to Salernitana.
But with all the goodbyes, in come some good-buys (aha - shoot me). Or at least I hope they'll be good buys. I snatch a young Italian center back by the name of Massimo Frezza from Inter for a mere 1.1m and he looks as good as Onyewu, but younger. I sign welsh winger Gary Roberts from Leeds for 2m after missing out on him 2 years earlier for 50k. In comes another Italian youngster, this time from Udinese on a free in the form of Riccardo Ferrari. Also, Cafu-esque right midfielder Camaro (another of my names) is bought in for nothing.
So the squad's happy and still has a lot of depth (apart from in goal) so once again, I'm confident of Champion's League qualification. We'll see. Board expectations are slightly lower, this time a serious title challenge. But this time I think top 4 is a must. If I lose the UEFA Cup Final again...
I guide the team through a Euro 2008 group including Russia, hosts Switzerland and England with 7 points, finishing 2nd to England on goal difference. Ukraine are comfortably dispatched in the Quarters and then my woefully unfit squad are slaughtered 5-1 by France in the Semis. And I still don't care. So despite the FA being very happy with the performance, I resign to concentrate on Foggia.
The season 8 pre-game has a few big outs for me in a bid to restore dressing room harmony. Adolfo leaves for Atalanta on a Bosman. I rid the club of all 4 trouble makers. Plato drops into Serie C1B with Fidelis Andria for 100k, Seedorf is sent packing on a free to no-one, Barzagli goes to Napoli for 1m (which is far less than he's worth) and the one that I really didn't want to go, Oguchi Onyewu, leaves for 8.25m for Inter. Two other notable departures are Emeka Mamale at the end of his contract and Kaka who was solidly cack for 2 seasons for 3.1m to Salernitana.
But with all the goodbyes, in come some good-buys (aha - shoot me). Or at least I hope they'll be good buys. I snatch a young Italian center back by the name of Massimo Frezza from Inter for a mere 1.1m and he looks as good as Onyewu, but younger. I sign welsh winger Gary Roberts from Leeds for 2m after missing out on him 2 years earlier for 50k. In comes another Italian youngster, this time from Udinese on a free in the form of Riccardo Ferrari. Also, Cafu-esque right midfielder Camaro (another of my names) is bought in for nothing.
So the squad's happy and still has a lot of depth (apart from in goal) so once again, I'm confident of Champion's League qualification. We'll see. Board expectations are slightly lower, this time a serious title challenge. But this time I think top 4 is a must. If I lose the UEFA Cup Final again...
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Season 7 - Groundhog Day
Expectations are high evidently. I hope for a Champions League berth and silverware.
After a fairly poor start (stupid Roma away as game 1 doesn't help) Foggia float around the regular 4th-6th place slots for the first half of the season. No-one really sets the world alight, but it's fairly solid. The UEFA Cup progresses nicely with a succession of relatively easy ties.
Come January, a predictable Quarter final exit in the Italian Cup has occurred, but I'm 5th and looking forward to a 2nd half of the season with new signing Bruno, picked up for a mere 2.4 million on a minimum fee release clause. He looks good.
However, elsewhere in the squad there are problems. Long standing one club man Oguchi Onyewu is being tempted by mighty Inter, and is letting the press know about it. New signing Andrea Barzagli doesn't like this and starts being a bit of a twat. 2 reserve team players - Chedric Seedorf and Plato (a nickname of my creation) go AWOL. Long story short, squad disharmony is rife, at it's worse, about half the squad is unhappy. Also, Kaka is still shit.
This for me, is the downfall of the season. Inconsistent league form takes over, although somehow, 5th place is retained. Atalanta's absurd unbeaten run collapses with 5 defeats on the bounce, and 8 games without a win, but they still keep me out of the Champions League.
The UEFA Cup is all too easy. I cruise to the final with style where I meet Athletico Madrid. Once again, the entire team doesn't turn up. There's 18 minutes to go and I'm 3-1 down. I go all out on the attack, chucking Maxi Lopez and Cherno Samba on. It works! And at full-time I'm back at 3-3, Bruno delivering a last minute equalizer. Unfortunately Fernando Torres has other ideas and completes a superb hat-trick to take the game on golden goals. Another final defeat.
Mourad Meghni wins Fans Player with a great season from center mid. My top scorer is Sokolov with a paltry 11 goals. One of 7 players in double figures, but no-one was outstanding.
So I'm left exactly where I was last year but with a more pissed off squad. Surprisingly, the board isn't unhappy. Perhaps they weren't being completely unrealistic after all. Still won't expand the stadium though...
After a fairly poor start (stupid Roma away as game 1 doesn't help) Foggia float around the regular 4th-6th place slots for the first half of the season. No-one really sets the world alight, but it's fairly solid. The UEFA Cup progresses nicely with a succession of relatively easy ties.
Come January, a predictable Quarter final exit in the Italian Cup has occurred, but I'm 5th and looking forward to a 2nd half of the season with new signing Bruno, picked up for a mere 2.4 million on a minimum fee release clause. He looks good.
However, elsewhere in the squad there are problems. Long standing one club man Oguchi Onyewu is being tempted by mighty Inter, and is letting the press know about it. New signing Andrea Barzagli doesn't like this and starts being a bit of a twat. 2 reserve team players - Chedric Seedorf and Plato (a nickname of my creation) go AWOL. Long story short, squad disharmony is rife, at it's worse, about half the squad is unhappy. Also, Kaka is still shit.
This for me, is the downfall of the season. Inconsistent league form takes over, although somehow, 5th place is retained. Atalanta's absurd unbeaten run collapses with 5 defeats on the bounce, and 8 games without a win, but they still keep me out of the Champions League.
The UEFA Cup is all too easy. I cruise to the final with style where I meet Athletico Madrid. Once again, the entire team doesn't turn up. There's 18 minutes to go and I'm 3-1 down. I go all out on the attack, chucking Maxi Lopez and Cherno Samba on. It works! And at full-time I'm back at 3-3, Bruno delivering a last minute equalizer. Unfortunately Fernando Torres has other ideas and completes a superb hat-trick to take the game on golden goals. Another final defeat.
Mourad Meghni wins Fans Player with a great season from center mid. My top scorer is Sokolov with a paltry 11 goals. One of 7 players in double figures, but no-one was outstanding.
So I'm left exactly where I was last year but with a more pissed off squad. Surprisingly, the board isn't unhappy. Perhaps they weren't being completely unrealistic after all. Still won't expand the stadium though...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Season 6 - Portugal and Season 7 - Preview
These are gonna be short, so I thought I'd lump them together.
Season 6 - Portugal
Portugal thus far has been fairly uneventful. A 100% record and qualification for Euro 2008 after just 6 games. I did have a very easy group. When Bulgaria are your most pressing opponents, you're laughing.
To Madeira has a 'flat-track bully' kind of thing going on at international level. A marvelous hat-trick against Cyprus, but other than that, not great. Vasco Pinto is my number 1 and he's awesome here too. And I've just discovered an incredible 17 year-old forward at Porto. Valued at 350k, I tried to buy him for 7 million and they wisely said no.
Season 7 - Preview
This part is here so I can gripe about my stupid, stupid board. First I'll say something nice, they upgraded my training facilities. Thanks. They refuse to expand the stadium though, despite the fact I have A LOT of spare cash lying about. The first 2 seasons in Serie A they gave me the expectation of "stay clear of relegation". Now, after a UEFA Cup final, they literally expect the world. Not European qualification, not a "serious title challenge", no. They expect "great success in all areas".
This is not a good sign. It means I HAVE to win something and HAVE to challenge in everything or as my dad would say I'm for "the tin-tack". Cockney for sack I think. Maybe he made that up. Anyhow I digress. I'm fairly confident of UEFA Cup success as long as no one good qualifies after dropping out of the Champion's League. But the league looks like a 6 way battle after Juve's and my own reinforcements. Who can predict that!?
Grrr. Big signings this summer - Cherno Samba (SC), Bojan Djordic (AM/FLC), Gabriel Milito (DC), Andrea Barzagli (SW/DC), Joao Perreira (DC), Zvonomir Deranja (FC), Daniele De Rossi (DMLC) and Ben May (D/M/FC). For the combined total of 5.25 million (all on Djordic). Also, hopefully Kaka will settle in too. So there's a lot of settling in to do, which is why I was hoping for a more relaxed season. This could all go horribly wrong...
Season 6 - Portugal
Portugal thus far has been fairly uneventful. A 100% record and qualification for Euro 2008 after just 6 games. I did have a very easy group. When Bulgaria are your most pressing opponents, you're laughing.
To Madeira has a 'flat-track bully' kind of thing going on at international level. A marvelous hat-trick against Cyprus, but other than that, not great. Vasco Pinto is my number 1 and he's awesome here too. And I've just discovered an incredible 17 year-old forward at Porto. Valued at 350k, I tried to buy him for 7 million and they wisely said no.
Season 7 - Preview
This part is here so I can gripe about my stupid, stupid board. First I'll say something nice, they upgraded my training facilities. Thanks. They refuse to expand the stadium though, despite the fact I have A LOT of spare cash lying about. The first 2 seasons in Serie A they gave me the expectation of "stay clear of relegation". Now, after a UEFA Cup final, they literally expect the world. Not European qualification, not a "serious title challenge", no. They expect "great success in all areas".
This is not a good sign. It means I HAVE to win something and HAVE to challenge in everything or as my dad would say I'm for "the tin-tack". Cockney for sack I think. Maybe he made that up. Anyhow I digress. I'm fairly confident of UEFA Cup success as long as no one good qualifies after dropping out of the Champion's League. But the league looks like a 6 way battle after Juve's and my own reinforcements. Who can predict that!?
Grrr. Big signings this summer - Cherno Samba (SC), Bojan Djordic (AM/FLC), Gabriel Milito (DC), Andrea Barzagli (SW/DC), Joao Perreira (DC), Zvonomir Deranja (FC), Daniele De Rossi (DMLC) and Ben May (D/M/FC). For the combined total of 5.25 million (all on Djordic). Also, hopefully Kaka will settle in too. So there's a lot of settling in to do, which is why I was hoping for a more relaxed season. This could all go horribly wrong...
Monday, April 21, 2008
End of Season 6 - Stat Update
Thought I'd include some stats of the particularly legendary players on my books over the last 6 years.
Nelson Akwari (DRC) 216 Apps, 10 Goals, 8 Assists, 7.56 Av R, MoM 11 times. Now my captain at the grand old age of 25.
Oguchi Onyewu (DLC) 210 Apps, 1 Goal, 8 Assists, 7.59 Av R, MoM 12 times. Also 25.
Adolfo (FC) 219 Apps, 101 Goals, 64 Assists, 7.64 Av R, MoM 31 times. 28 years old.
David Collins (FC) 137 Apps, 87 Goals, 19 Assists, 7.78 Av R, MoM 17 times. Now plying his trade at 2nd Division Grimsby at the age of 26.
Here's a newbie too for good measure:
Vasco Pinto (GK) 31 Apps, Av R of 7.84, 4 MoM's and ended the season with form of 8-8-9-8-8. And he's but a kid at 22.
And how about some memorable scores too, the likes of a 6-0 wins against Fermana in Serie C1B and Torino in Serie A. Also the classic 6-3 defeat of Alzano in Serie C1B.
Then the horrific defeats, like the 7-3 reverse at Bari, the 6-1 slaughter by Juventus in a surprisingly close game and the 5-1 atrocity against Atalanta, where Isaksson conceded 4 goals from 4 shots in the first half and then got sent off! How he still got a 4/10 is beyond me. How could he have done worse?!
And of course the glorius season where Akwari got sent off 3 times, and booked just twice. Smoothly done.
Nelson Akwari (DRC) 216 Apps, 10 Goals, 8 Assists, 7.56 Av R, MoM 11 times. Now my captain at the grand old age of 25.
Oguchi Onyewu (DLC) 210 Apps, 1 Goal, 8 Assists, 7.59 Av R, MoM 12 times. Also 25.
Adolfo (FC) 219 Apps, 101 Goals, 64 Assists, 7.64 Av R, MoM 31 times. 28 years old.
David Collins (FC) 137 Apps, 87 Goals, 19 Assists, 7.78 Av R, MoM 17 times. Now plying his trade at 2nd Division Grimsby at the age of 26.
Here's a newbie too for good measure:
Vasco Pinto (GK) 31 Apps, Av R of 7.84, 4 MoM's and ended the season with form of 8-8-9-8-8. And he's but a kid at 22.
And how about some memorable scores too, the likes of a 6-0 wins against Fermana in Serie C1B and Torino in Serie A. Also the classic 6-3 defeat of Alzano in Serie C1B.
Then the horrific defeats, like the 7-3 reverse at Bari, the 6-1 slaughter by Juventus in a surprisingly close game and the 5-1 atrocity against Atalanta, where Isaksson conceded 4 goals from 4 shots in the first half and then got sent off! How he still got a 4/10 is beyond me. How could he have done worse?!
And of course the glorius season where Akwari got sent off 3 times, and booked just twice. Smoothly done.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Season 6 - Close, but no cigar
After the impressive performance of season 5, I expect a decent year. Aiming to break into the Champion's League. It'll be tough as Rome, Lazio, Milan and Inter are all strong sides. Also, I'm not convinced my squad can compete on multiple fronts, what with the UEFA Cup and all.
I've augmented the squad only slightly, as there doesn't appear to be a lot of talent interested this season. Out go the old hands of Agustin, Andy Williams (who was homesick for Wales and rectified this situation by signing for Napoli) and the disappointing Joseba Llorente and in comes some fresh youthful talent, in the shape of Ciro Mazzocco (D/DMRC) from rivals Lecce, Mendonca (FRLC) from Braga, Vitali Sokolov (SC) from Sochaux and Vasco Pinto (GK) from Rio Ave. Adolfo makes it known that he wants a new challenge, but there are no takers.
The season starts pretty well, apart from the 6-1 humiliation at the hands of a not that good Juve side. It includes a deserved 1-0 victory over AC Milan, after being down to 10 men after just 20 minutes. I'm in the top 5 all season long.
I add Kaka at Christmas with another wonderful Bosman signing. He's not as good as I expect, despite his stats being great. Maybe he need settling in time.
The UEFA Cup hands me a bunch of difficult ties. After the easy Neftchi Baku are dispatched I manage to pull out Sevilla in the 2nd Round. I do well to beat them 3-2 and this is a trend that continues, with Celtic, Fulham (somehow they're really good) and Porto all taken care of by relatively narrow margins.
I for once manage a decentish run in a domestic cup competition, getting to the Quarters before another absurdly early sending off sees me defeated at the hands of Fiorentina.
With a couple of months to go, it's pretty clear Lazio are going to win Serie A handsomely, depriving Roma of a 7th straight title. AC Milan and Roma have 2nd and 3rd sown up and the only competitive area of the league is 4th-6th between Inter, Foggia and Juventus. My hopes of 4th are dashed with an unexplainable defeat against soon to be relegated Perugia and a closely fought 3-2 reverse against Inter. However, I hold on to 5th for another year of UEFA Cup football.
Speaking of which, 3 Italian teams make the semi-finals. I draw one of them in Atalanta, a team that have caused me many problems in the last couple of years. I thrash them 7-2 over 2 legs to set up a final with Milan in Berlin. It's a good game. My boys play well, but Milan are superb. Massimo Donati runs the game, setting up 3 goals and Ronaldinho scoring twice in my 3-1 defeat.
Sokolov gets Fans player of the year with his 20 goals. For me, Vasco Pinto is the star, averaging 7.84 and apparently solving my 'keeper crisis. He bags Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year and Serie A Young Player of the Year for good measure.
I've augmented the squad only slightly, as there doesn't appear to be a lot of talent interested this season. Out go the old hands of Agustin, Andy Williams (who was homesick for Wales and rectified this situation by signing for Napoli) and the disappointing Joseba Llorente and in comes some fresh youthful talent, in the shape of Ciro Mazzocco (D/DMRC) from rivals Lecce, Mendonca (FRLC) from Braga, Vitali Sokolov (SC) from Sochaux and Vasco Pinto (GK) from Rio Ave. Adolfo makes it known that he wants a new challenge, but there are no takers.
The season starts pretty well, apart from the 6-1 humiliation at the hands of a not that good Juve side. It includes a deserved 1-0 victory over AC Milan, after being down to 10 men after just 20 minutes. I'm in the top 5 all season long.
I add Kaka at Christmas with another wonderful Bosman signing. He's not as good as I expect, despite his stats being great. Maybe he need settling in time.
The UEFA Cup hands me a bunch of difficult ties. After the easy Neftchi Baku are dispatched I manage to pull out Sevilla in the 2nd Round. I do well to beat them 3-2 and this is a trend that continues, with Celtic, Fulham (somehow they're really good) and Porto all taken care of by relatively narrow margins.
I for once manage a decentish run in a domestic cup competition, getting to the Quarters before another absurdly early sending off sees me defeated at the hands of Fiorentina.
With a couple of months to go, it's pretty clear Lazio are going to win Serie A handsomely, depriving Roma of a 7th straight title. AC Milan and Roma have 2nd and 3rd sown up and the only competitive area of the league is 4th-6th between Inter, Foggia and Juventus. My hopes of 4th are dashed with an unexplainable defeat against soon to be relegated Perugia and a closely fought 3-2 reverse against Inter. However, I hold on to 5th for another year of UEFA Cup football.
Speaking of which, 3 Italian teams make the semi-finals. I draw one of them in Atalanta, a team that have caused me many problems in the last couple of years. I thrash them 7-2 over 2 legs to set up a final with Milan in Berlin. It's a good game. My boys play well, but Milan are superb. Massimo Donati runs the game, setting up 3 goals and Ronaldinho scoring twice in my 3-1 defeat.
Sokolov gets Fans player of the year with his 20 goals. For me, Vasco Pinto is the star, averaging 7.84 and apparently solving my 'keeper crisis. He bags Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year and Serie A Young Player of the Year for good measure.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Season 5 - Cameroon
That's right folks, I've entered the crazy world of international management. The World Cup was always ludicrously hard to win legitimately in this game, took me bloody ages and then I needed a spectacular squad to do it.
Anyhow. I've never done the African Nations, so when the Algeria and Cameroon posts became available, I went for them. Fortunately I got the latter job.
A respectable performance in the Confederations Cup first of all, clinching a semi-final berth despite being drawn in a group with World Champions Germany, Holland and the slightly less formidible South Korea. A narrow defeat to eventual champs Italy in the semi was a decent effort.
6 months later, and it's to Tunisia for the African Nations. Despite a pair of poor draws with the hosts and the DRC, qualification is achieved. From then on it's plain sailing with large victories up to and including the 5-0 defeat of Tunisia in the final. Easy peasy.
4 months on and it's the World Cup! China, Belarus and England are the group. Deceptively difficult. Belarus are alarmingly good in CM 01/02 as my 0-0 draw can attest too. 3-1 against China is easy and then comes the most glorius moment of my stewardship, the 3-0 obliteration of England, a scoreline that if anything flatters them!
So glory awaits right? A reasonable tie against Uruguay in the 2nd round. DEFEAT!!! The damn "2nd round curse" strikes and no-one apart from Marc-Vivien Foe turns up (ironically). A 2-1 defeat, and it could've been far worse.
That's me done, and I resign from Cameroon and accept the more lucrative role as Portugal manager...
Anyhow. I've never done the African Nations, so when the Algeria and Cameroon posts became available, I went for them. Fortunately I got the latter job.
A respectable performance in the Confederations Cup first of all, clinching a semi-final berth despite being drawn in a group with World Champions Germany, Holland and the slightly less formidible South Korea. A narrow defeat to eventual champs Italy in the semi was a decent effort.
6 months later, and it's to Tunisia for the African Nations. Despite a pair of poor draws with the hosts and the DRC, qualification is achieved. From then on it's plain sailing with large victories up to and including the 5-0 defeat of Tunisia in the final. Easy peasy.
4 months on and it's the World Cup! China, Belarus and England are the group. Deceptively difficult. Belarus are alarmingly good in CM 01/02 as my 0-0 draw can attest too. 3-1 against China is easy and then comes the most glorius moment of my stewardship, the 3-0 obliteration of England, a scoreline that if anything flatters them!
So glory awaits right? A reasonable tie against Uruguay in the 2nd round. DEFEAT!!! The damn "2nd round curse" strikes and no-one apart from Marc-Vivien Foe turns up (ironically). A 2-1 defeat, and it could've been far worse.
That's me done, and I resign from Cameroon and accept the more lucrative role as Portugal manager...
Friday, April 18, 2008
Season 5 - Overachievers?
The most active pre-season thus far sees many new faces at Foggia and many old faces depart. In particular, David Collins, Joao Paiva and Inacio Pia are out, after struggling in Serie B, Serie A is surely a step too high for them.
Tash's personal transfer record is smashed, with the 1.7 million pound signing of Andreas Isaksson in goal. Other 'big' signings include Maxi Lopez for a bargain 325k, Zdenek Grygera for a cool 1 million and a number of free transfers, headed by Caca, Mourad Meghni and the very promising Gianluca Russo from Treviso, a club known for their youngsters in CM01/02.
I enter the season with the unambitious aim of avoiding relegation. Realistically I expect a mid-table finish, but you never know if I'm hit by another period of terrible form. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this team will comfortably finish in the top half. The 4-1 cake-walk at home to Juventus is the highlight of the early season and it becomes a question of whether European qualification can be attained.
To Madeira leads the line very well this season, 18 goals not an overly hefty haul, but with 13 assists and an average of 7.77, he's done pretty well. Javier Mascherano, under the tutelage of my coaching staff has developed into a fine squad player and Nelson Akwari has taken the captain's armband with gusto. Isaksson however, does not entirely convince.
The best result of the season is the 3-2 victory away at AC Milan. 18 minutes left on the clock, 2-1 down and Tash throws caution to the wind. A striker (Llorente) who hasn't scored in 4 months is thrown into the action, replacing the centre-back Grygera. With 8 minutes left he sets up To Madeira and then on the 86th minute bags a heroic winner for a fine victory.
Eventually a highly respectable 6th place is achieved and with it, qualification for the UEFA Cup. Tash can go on holiday having avoided the poisoned chalice that is the Intertoto Cup. To Madeira rightfully gets player of the year for his efforts.
Somehow a highly dubious German side retains the World Cup on home turf, despite their FIFA ranking of 19. To win 2 successive World Cups and only just creep in to the top 20 seems ridiculous.
Still no return of Sant'Anastasia. To Europe!
Tash's personal transfer record is smashed, with the 1.7 million pound signing of Andreas Isaksson in goal. Other 'big' signings include Maxi Lopez for a bargain 325k, Zdenek Grygera for a cool 1 million and a number of free transfers, headed by Caca, Mourad Meghni and the very promising Gianluca Russo from Treviso, a club known for their youngsters in CM01/02.
I enter the season with the unambitious aim of avoiding relegation. Realistically I expect a mid-table finish, but you never know if I'm hit by another period of terrible form. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this team will comfortably finish in the top half. The 4-1 cake-walk at home to Juventus is the highlight of the early season and it becomes a question of whether European qualification can be attained.
To Madeira leads the line very well this season, 18 goals not an overly hefty haul, but with 13 assists and an average of 7.77, he's done pretty well. Javier Mascherano, under the tutelage of my coaching staff has developed into a fine squad player and Nelson Akwari has taken the captain's armband with gusto. Isaksson however, does not entirely convince.
The best result of the season is the 3-2 victory away at AC Milan. 18 minutes left on the clock, 2-1 down and Tash throws caution to the wind. A striker (Llorente) who hasn't scored in 4 months is thrown into the action, replacing the centre-back Grygera. With 8 minutes left he sets up To Madeira and then on the 86th minute bags a heroic winner for a fine victory.
Eventually a highly respectable 6th place is achieved and with it, qualification for the UEFA Cup. Tash can go on holiday having avoided the poisoned chalice that is the Intertoto Cup. To Madeira rightfully gets player of the year for his efforts.
Somehow a highly dubious German side retains the World Cup on home turf, despite their FIFA ranking of 19. To win 2 successive World Cups and only just creep in to the top 20 seems ridiculous.
Still no return of Sant'Anastasia. To Europe!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Season 4 - Into the big-time
Finally, Tash splashes the cash. 1.7 million pounds of it to be exact. To Madeira makes his arrival onto the scene for 750k - the most spent on one player so far. Other new signings made that make a decent impact are Benja for 350k and Joseba Llorente on a Bosman.
It's a fairly routine saunter to promotion in all honesty. The Italian Cup is another brief excursion with a second successive group stage knock-out, but the league proves easier. The only question is whether a superb end of season run can clinch the title from the runaway leaders Ternana. It can't unfortunately, and Foggia finish 2nd, just a point behind them. But promotion to the big-time is assured comfortably and Foggia can look forward to a season facing teams of the calibre of AC Milan and the Champions Roma, who have won Serie A 4 times in a row.
A fair few players contribute double figures in goals, with Adolfo top-scoring with 20, outshining the slightly disappointing To Madeira. Adolfo, with 13 assists also lays claim to the Fans Player of the Season award. For me though, Oguchi Onyewu was outstanding, averaging 7.81 throughout the season and marshalling the defence alongside Nelson Akwari admirably. Very important to a team in dire need of a reliable goalie...
It's a fairly routine saunter to promotion in all honesty. The Italian Cup is another brief excursion with a second successive group stage knock-out, but the league proves easier. The only question is whether a superb end of season run can clinch the title from the runaway leaders Ternana. It can't unfortunately, and Foggia finish 2nd, just a point behind them. But promotion to the big-time is assured comfortably and Foggia can look forward to a season facing teams of the calibre of AC Milan and the Champions Roma, who have won Serie A 4 times in a row.
A fair few players contribute double figures in goals, with Adolfo top-scoring with 20, outshining the slightly disappointing To Madeira. Adolfo, with 13 assists also lays claim to the Fans Player of the Season award. For me though, Oguchi Onyewu was outstanding, averaging 7.81 throughout the season and marshalling the defence alongside Nelson Akwari admirably. Very important to a team in dire need of a reliable goalie...
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Season 3 - Form is temporary, class is permanent?
Aaah, season 3. Always the bain of a Serie C2 start-up. The first 2 seasons are easy, the step-up to Serie B is tougher. And yet amazingly, 9 games in and I'm top of the league, incredible and the boys are playing superbly.
In an effort to add a bit of class to the squad I have signed 3 players from Serie A and a goalie from La Liga. The goalie does alright, but the only real success from these signings is Inacio Pia from Atalanta. A promising Spanish right winger called Juan Jose Marin is bought in on a free transfer and does sterling work for the reserves.
Anyway, then comes perhaps my worst run of form ever and I collapse to 11th. 352 isn't working, I'm leaking goals like a colinder leaks water after a direct hand grenade hit. A number of different formations fail until I remember a classic Fantashtico formation from back in the day. Take a striker out of 352 and stick in a defensive midfielder. 31411 - sounds boring, and is. But it gets us back on track and after about 10 games, with confidence restored, a triumphant return to 352 is made.
Despite an appalling 7-3 home reverse to arch rivals Bari, results on the whole significantly improve and a final position of 5th is achieved. A few points shy of promotion, but a respectable season nonetheless. And with good form restored, I am confident of a promotion push next season.
Sant'Anastasia update: They got back into Serie C2C! But another 17th postion finish seems them bow out again at the end of the season.
Italy bag Euro 2004, defeating Holland in the final in Portugal.
In an effort to add a bit of class to the squad I have signed 3 players from Serie A and a goalie from La Liga. The goalie does alright, but the only real success from these signings is Inacio Pia from Atalanta. A promising Spanish right winger called Juan Jose Marin is bought in on a free transfer and does sterling work for the reserves.
Anyway, then comes perhaps my worst run of form ever and I collapse to 11th. 352 isn't working, I'm leaking goals like a colinder leaks water after a direct hand grenade hit. A number of different formations fail until I remember a classic Fantashtico formation from back in the day. Take a striker out of 352 and stick in a defensive midfielder. 31411 - sounds boring, and is. But it gets us back on track and after about 10 games, with confidence restored, a triumphant return to 352 is made.
Despite an appalling 7-3 home reverse to arch rivals Bari, results on the whole significantly improve and a final position of 5th is achieved. A few points shy of promotion, but a respectable season nonetheless. And with good form restored, I am confident of a promotion push next season.
Sant'Anastasia update: They got back into Serie C2C! But another 17th postion finish seems them bow out again at the end of the season.
Italy bag Euro 2004, defeating Holland in the final in Portugal.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Season 2 - Goals, Goals and Goals
Fantashtico's first pre-season is notable for 2 reasons. Firstly, in failing to pick up any particularly outstanding talents for the Foggia squad, apart from the ridiculously young and slightly crap looking Javier Mascherano, and secondly for Germany's surprise victory over France in the World Cup final.
The events of season 2 follow a remarkably similar pattern to that of the preceding season. Foggia fall at the second hurdle in the Serie C Cup again and also stroll to a comprehensive league success. Less points this time, but an astounding 104 goals scored, split mostly again between Paiva, Adolfo and player of the year (again) Collins, who alone scored 34 and averaged over 8.
A particularly impressive run of goal scoring form came in early 2003 with 36 goals scored in 8 games. At the end of the season came the least lucrative trophy ever - the Italian Serie C1 Super Cup. An outstanding game ensued against the winners of Serie C1A - Pisa, with Foggia emerging with a 4-3 extra-time victory.
In terms of player development, the 2 American centre-backs Onyewu and Akwari begin to show signs of genuine class as the coaching improvements make an impact. So, to Serie B and the first challenging season...
The events of season 2 follow a remarkably similar pattern to that of the preceding season. Foggia fall at the second hurdle in the Serie C Cup again and also stroll to a comprehensive league success. Less points this time, but an astounding 104 goals scored, split mostly again between Paiva, Adolfo and player of the year (again) Collins, who alone scored 34 and averaged over 8.
A particularly impressive run of goal scoring form came in early 2003 with 36 goals scored in 8 games. At the end of the season came the least lucrative trophy ever - the Italian Serie C1 Super Cup. An outstanding game ensued against the winners of Serie C1A - Pisa, with Foggia emerging with a 4-3 extra-time victory.
In terms of player development, the 2 American centre-backs Onyewu and Akwari begin to show signs of genuine class as the coaching improvements make an impact. So, to Serie B and the first challenging season...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Season 1 - You're all fired!
Fantashtico arrives at the club bright and early for his first day in charge and immediately transfer lists 20 players.
My God the squad sucks ass. The good news is, within the first 2 weeks, half of these players are off the wage bill, in some cases with financial compensation being acquired. 190k for Eddy Mengo being the most surprising and helpful bit of business.
I make the decision to employ an attacking 352 formation, as it cuts down on full backs.
What do I need to make this system work? 11 players for the first team and another 10 to fill out the squad. That's right, in season 1, I sign 21 players. For the combined total of 3k. Bargain. All these acquisitions are made in the first month. The focus is on youngsters who can hopefully develop as the team rises through the leagues, though a couple of experienced heads are thrown in for good measure, in particular Bernard Lama - a very experienced French goalie.
The most important players bought in at this point are David Collins - an English forward, Joao Paiva - a Portuguese striker, Adolfo - a Spanish forward and a pair of American defenders - Nelson Akwari and Oguchi Onyewu. The staff is also re-adjusted with a scout promoted to coach and a player/coach and player/assistant manager bought in.
The season progresses much as I expect; an early exit from the Serie C Cup, but a fairly easy title victory, winning 26 of 34 games and scoring 93 goals - 60 between Collins, Adolfo and Paiva. David Collins wins his first of three successive "Fans player of the year" awards.
As an interesting aside, Sant'Anastasia are relegated after a play-out defeat and a 17th place finish.
My God the squad sucks ass. The good news is, within the first 2 weeks, half of these players are off the wage bill, in some cases with financial compensation being acquired. 190k for Eddy Mengo being the most surprising and helpful bit of business.
I make the decision to employ an attacking 352 formation, as it cuts down on full backs.
What do I need to make this system work? 11 players for the first team and another 10 to fill out the squad. That's right, in season 1, I sign 21 players. For the combined total of 3k. Bargain. All these acquisitions are made in the first month. The focus is on youngsters who can hopefully develop as the team rises through the leagues, though a couple of experienced heads are thrown in for good measure, in particular Bernard Lama - a very experienced French goalie.
The most important players bought in at this point are David Collins - an English forward, Joao Paiva - a Portuguese striker, Adolfo - a Spanish forward and a pair of American defenders - Nelson Akwari and Oguchi Onyewu. The staff is also re-adjusted with a scout promoted to coach and a player/coach and player/assistant manager bought in.
The season progresses much as I expect; an early exit from the Serie C Cup, but a fairly easy title victory, winning 26 of 34 games and scoring 93 goals - 60 between Collins, Adolfo and Paiva. David Collins wins his first of three successive "Fans player of the year" awards.
As an interesting aside, Sant'Anastasia are relegated after a play-out defeat and a 17th place finish.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
It's On!
Well the damn disk didn't arrive before I left for the UK. Fortunately, in the UK, I already own a copy! Woohoo!
Another spot of bad news is that I've been without internet for 6 days, in which time my game has progressed to season 4! Having time off work this week plus my failure to attempt to get over jet-lag means play-time has been excessive to say the least. Which leads me to the fact that I've got a lot of catching up to do...
Another spot of bad news is that I've been without internet for 6 days, in which time my game has progressed to season 4! Having time off work this week plus my failure to attempt to get over jet-lag means play-time has been excessive to say the least. Which leads me to the fact that I've got a lot of catching up to do...
Monday, March 24, 2008
Still Nowt
Grrr. Still isn't here. And neither's my birthday present. Stupid post.
So, more demo play ensued. Genoa of Serie B. They're quite crap. Not unsalvageably so though. Another free transfer discovery - David Fox, 17 year-old CM. Former Man United youngster, always a good sign in a young player. At 17 he's doing a fine job in Serie B, so if the inhospitable surroundings of Foggia don't drive him away, he could be a great signing.
I should probably explain my reluctance to wander from the Italian Leagues. I like to have the opportunity to sign whoever/whomever I want. In England I need work permits for non-EU residents. That kinda damages any chances of signing the youth of South America, and as the game goes on, 17 year-old Brazilian forwards and 19 year-old Argentinian defenders are what it's all about when you're in control of a team with a useless rep and no cash. There's nothing better than offering a club 2m for a striker, them saying no and then the player signing a new contract with a minimum release clause of 250k.
Speaking of leagues, I wonder how many this laptop can run at a fast pace. Something to look into. In the glory days my PC struggled with Italy plus England and Spain on background.
So apparently 're-gens' are a thing. Players that retire, come back as someone else. I always suspected this was the case. I remember a player called Rocco Riccio that I signed on a free for Bologna in season 18 or something. He was 16 and amazing. A forward with 20's in shooting, pace, creativity and passing. Played him behind the front 2 to devastating effect. I wish that game hadn't gone wrong. He must've been a re-gen of someone, I suspect Ronaldinho, although I dunno if they regenerate as the same nationality or not.
Then there are the players from completely random countries. I vaguely recall the top scorer in La Liga being a nippy striker from Pakistan with a ridiculously German name. Also, a top, top-class goalie from the mighty Cape Verde Islands.
And perhaps my favorite bit of "deep" games - absurd teams winning the World Cup. As if an England vs Scotland final (England won on Pens) wasn't laughable enough, victories for Ukraine (after the retirement of Shevchenko) and the awesome Paraguay team of 2014 that had NO good players at all, make the failures of Fantashtico's Italy particularly hilarious. Although my international record was equally abysmal until my legendary Holland side. Failed as France, Brazil and England. Although my record with smaller nations was gold. Croatia and Mexico leap to mind. And my classic 5 day spell in charge of Australia. Applied for the Oz job and Croatia at the same time, Australia offered, I accepted, then 5 days later left for Croatia. Smooth.
So, more demo play ensued. Genoa of Serie B. They're quite crap. Not unsalvageably so though. Another free transfer discovery - David Fox, 17 year-old CM. Former Man United youngster, always a good sign in a young player. At 17 he's doing a fine job in Serie B, so if the inhospitable surroundings of Foggia don't drive him away, he could be a great signing.
I should probably explain my reluctance to wander from the Italian Leagues. I like to have the opportunity to sign whoever/whomever I want. In England I need work permits for non-EU residents. That kinda damages any chances of signing the youth of South America, and as the game goes on, 17 year-old Brazilian forwards and 19 year-old Argentinian defenders are what it's all about when you're in control of a team with a useless rep and no cash. There's nothing better than offering a club 2m for a striker, them saying no and then the player signing a new contract with a minimum release clause of 250k.
Speaking of leagues, I wonder how many this laptop can run at a fast pace. Something to look into. In the glory days my PC struggled with Italy plus England and Spain on background.
So apparently 're-gens' are a thing. Players that retire, come back as someone else. I always suspected this was the case. I remember a player called Rocco Riccio that I signed on a free for Bologna in season 18 or something. He was 16 and amazing. A forward with 20's in shooting, pace, creativity and passing. Played him behind the front 2 to devastating effect. I wish that game hadn't gone wrong. He must've been a re-gen of someone, I suspect Ronaldinho, although I dunno if they regenerate as the same nationality or not.
Then there are the players from completely random countries. I vaguely recall the top scorer in La Liga being a nippy striker from Pakistan with a ridiculously German name. Also, a top, top-class goalie from the mighty Cape Verde Islands.
And perhaps my favorite bit of "deep" games - absurd teams winning the World Cup. As if an England vs Scotland final (England won on Pens) wasn't laughable enough, victories for Ukraine (after the retirement of Shevchenko) and the awesome Paraguay team of 2014 that had NO good players at all, make the failures of Fantashtico's Italy particularly hilarious. Although my international record was equally abysmal until my legendary Holland side. Failed as France, Brazil and England. Although my record with smaller nations was gold. Croatia and Mexico leap to mind. And my classic 5 day spell in charge of Australia. Applied for the Oz job and Croatia at the same time, Australia offered, I accepted, then 5 days later left for Croatia. Smooth.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
No Dice
And it wasn't a birthday present either.
Well the demo has pretty much been exhausted. 6 months isn't long, even when managing 4 teams. 4 different tactical systems tested. 352A rules, 532A no good, 4132 pretty decent though lacking in midfield goals and 433 great going forward, crap defensively (not much of a surprise to be honest, especially with Inter). Still easily occupying the top 4 and still in Europe. Cristiano Zanetti scores 10 from CM!? But averages 7. Weird. 3 different players given 8 match bans for headbutting too. Smooth. Here's an example of the foibles, frustrations and many other f-words that can accompany an Inter 433... 
Well the demo has pretty much been exhausted. 6 months isn't long, even when managing 4 teams. 4 different tactical systems tested. 352A rules, 532A no good, 4132 pretty decent though lacking in midfield goals and 433 great going forward, crap defensively (not much of a surprise to be honest, especially with Inter). Still easily occupying the top 4 and still in Europe. Cristiano Zanetti scores 10 from CM!? But averages 7. Weird. 3 different players given 8 match bans for headbutting too. Smooth. Here's an example of the foibles, frustrations and many other f-words that can accompany an Inter 433...
Well I'm on holiday next week, so if it turns up tomorrow I'm not gonna have long. Still, I suppose there's always the slim chance it's turned up in the hour and a half I've been drinking coffee...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Is the wait almost over?
I have a package... But I can't pick it up for another hour, and I don't know what it is. It's my damn birthday next week, so it may be something else. The tension, the tension. It reminds me of the 2nd leg of my Serie B play-off for the title against damn Palermo [I lost].
So I took a gander at Foggia's squad in the demo. I was surprised by how few of their players I remember. It's definitely got something to do with the fact that I bought in a whole new squad immediately, but still. Players I recall - Faveo (because of that damn goal), Quaresmini (because he lasted longer than anyone else as a bench warmer) and the combined talents of Elio Di Toro and Eddy Mengo. These 2 I remember because CM claimed they were the "star players" in the squad and were on high wages too. I gave them a go and they were awful. Then I couldn't get rid of them (even Sant'Anastasia wouldn't take them) and they festered in my reserves for years on end, their only contribution was helping me to repeatedly bankrupt the club.
I think I'm gonna be Foggia again. There's some fond memories there. A portion of the West stand getting shut because of health and safety problems for example. Oh, I remember another player - Mezzacapo, the 2nd keeper. Terrible keeper, marvelous assistant manager after a couple of years. Another reason for wanting to be Foggia is that I remember that it's damned hard to attract any staff to a club in Serie C2 and Foggia have a couple of coaches, scouts and a physio. That will make my job a touch easier.
Anyway, 45 minutes to go until I can get my package. Fingers crossed...
So I took a gander at Foggia's squad in the demo. I was surprised by how few of their players I remember. It's definitely got something to do with the fact that I bought in a whole new squad immediately, but still. Players I recall - Faveo (because of that damn goal), Quaresmini (because he lasted longer than anyone else as a bench warmer) and the combined talents of Elio Di Toro and Eddy Mengo. These 2 I remember because CM claimed they were the "star players" in the squad and were on high wages too. I gave them a go and they were awful. Then I couldn't get rid of them (even Sant'Anastasia wouldn't take them) and they festered in my reserves for years on end, their only contribution was helping me to repeatedly bankrupt the club.
I think I'm gonna be Foggia again. There's some fond memories there. A portion of the West stand getting shut because of health and safety problems for example. Oh, I remember another player - Mezzacapo, the 2nd keeper. Terrible keeper, marvelous assistant manager after a couple of years. Another reason for wanting to be Foggia is that I remember that it's damned hard to attract any staff to a club in Serie C2 and Foggia have a couple of coaches, scouts and a physio. That will make my job a touch easier.
Anyway, 45 minutes to go until I can get my package. Fingers crossed...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Warm-up
So all smart footballers warm up before they start. Decreases the chance of injury and what-not. In this light, and to help me through the seemingly endless wait for my CD to show up, I downloaded the demo version to get back into it. Check out tactics and stuff.
I think tactically it'll be a choice between a solid, if boring 4132 formation and the more adventurous 3412 that I used to favor back in the day. The advantage of the second one is that I wouldn't have to hunt down full backs, which is a pain in the arse because most of them are crap.
I tried this formation for 16 games with Juventus and only conceded 5 goals, so if you have 3 quality center-backs, you're solid defensively too. Until Paolo Montero gets an 8 game ban for headbutting someone at least. Obviously, this standard of defender will be unavailable to a team in Serie C2, but I think I may have discovered someone who could do an awesome job at that level. A certain Nelson Akwari, 19 year-old American available on a free at the start. Transfer target number 1. Sign him up on a long contract and I'll be laughing.
Also did a spot of research online and was surprised to find that one of my stalwarts from the old game; To Madeira, is considered cheating by many because he doesn't exist. Personally, he's in the game, so I have no problem signing him up. Although literally I may have a problem securing his signature, as many teams in Serie C2 have no funds available to buy players at the start.
To Madeira was a regular in my old Foggia side for 12 years and was top scorer in all but 1. The horrible 3rd season, where successive promotions had left me with a side woefully inadequate for the challenges of Serie B, and relegation was avoided, literally on the last day of the season. It's entirely possible my top scorer that season was a CB, I can't remember.
Anyway, this was supposed to be a brief post, so I'll wrap up. What have I learnt from a brief stint on the demo game? I think I'll be much better at it this this time. I'll have a smaller squad, focus even more on youngsters and not be so harsh on players that look a bit crap. Fabian O'Neill at Juve for example. I remember transfer listing him on day 1 when I played as them back in the day. He's a very competent back-up for Pavel Nedved, I dunno what I was thinking. Maybe this new attitude will prevent me repeatedly bankrupting my new club!
I think tactically it'll be a choice between a solid, if boring 4132 formation and the more adventurous 3412 that I used to favor back in the day. The advantage of the second one is that I wouldn't have to hunt down full backs, which is a pain in the arse because most of them are crap.
I tried this formation for 16 games with Juventus and only conceded 5 goals, so if you have 3 quality center-backs, you're solid defensively too. Until Paolo Montero gets an 8 game ban for headbutting someone at least. Obviously, this standard of defender will be unavailable to a team in Serie C2, but I think I may have discovered someone who could do an awesome job at that level. A certain Nelson Akwari, 19 year-old American available on a free at the start. Transfer target number 1. Sign him up on a long contract and I'll be laughing.
Also did a spot of research online and was surprised to find that one of my stalwarts from the old game; To Madeira, is considered cheating by many because he doesn't exist. Personally, he's in the game, so I have no problem signing him up. Although literally I may have a problem securing his signature, as many teams in Serie C2 have no funds available to buy players at the start.
To Madeira was a regular in my old Foggia side for 12 years and was top scorer in all but 1. The horrible 3rd season, where successive promotions had left me with a side woefully inadequate for the challenges of Serie B, and relegation was avoided, literally on the last day of the season. It's entirely possible my top scorer that season was a CB, I can't remember.
Anyway, this was supposed to be a brief post, so I'll wrap up. What have I learnt from a brief stint on the demo game? I think I'll be much better at it this this time. I'll have a smaller squad, focus even more on youngsters and not be so harsh on players that look a bit crap. Fabian O'Neill at Juve for example. I remember transfer listing him on day 1 when I played as them back in the day. He's a very competent back-up for Pavel Nedved, I dunno what I was thinking. Maybe this new attitude will prevent me repeatedly bankrupting my new club!
Monday, March 10, 2008
In the beginning there was only Tash... (or Epilogue)
So, I guess it all started in 1997/8 (I, like many football fans work in seasons, not calendar years) when a friend of friend got himself a copy of CM97/98. This was back in the day when you could just get a game once between all your friends and all install it off the same CD, which you didn't need to run the game. Or as I like to call it, the golden age. Anyhow, I digress. This was THE turning point in my life. From "straight A's" and in bed by 10, maybe 11 if something good was on TV, to scraping by in school and staying up well into the next day. This transition occurred in about 2 days. I loved that game. The only thing I've ever loved more is CM01/02 - THE BEST GAME EVER. And this is where Fantashtico was born.
It was 2003/4 and as a very poor student (both monetarily and academically) I had a lot of spare time on my hands. Between the 2 lectures a week I regularly attended and enjoyed, and football on sunday morning, I had a huge chasm of time to fill. CM01/02 fit the bill perfectly. With a computer that took an age to load, a SNES for the particularly long waits between seasons and a good friend who would come to share my obsession, I was set.
When it comes to CM, I'm a fan of taking a lowly club to great heights over a longish period of time. Hence, I chose to manage Foggia, a club with a decent history in Italian football and good facilities for a club languishing in Serie C2C (the equivalent of Coca-Cola League 2, assuming they haven't renamed it again when you read this). Then came the moment, the birth of Fantashtico. My friend decided to join the game, naming his character Salvatore Fantashtico and taking the reigns of fellow Serie C2C club Sant'Anastasia. If Foggia were the Man Utd of Serie C2C, then Sant'Anastasia were the Watford, namely, they weren't gonna be there long without some damn fine management. As you can probably imagine, the combination of a slow computer and two dorks with overactive imaginations resulted in some ludicrous back stories being invented surrounding our respective characters, which make me chuckle to this day and have resulted in me using the Tash character as my CM name of choice since then.
I'm not going to regale you with the entire history of this game. Needless to say the 12 year plan I enacted at the start of the game was a success. Season 12 resulted in Foggia lifting the Champions League and me quitting Foggia due to the boards total incompetence. This success came via me bankrupting Foggia 3 times, and did not include a Serie A title after being ripped off by Roma in a play-off.
Perhaps the stand-out event of this era was in season 1 as 5 weeks of the game were lost to a computer crash. After replaying those 5 weeks again, Foggia remained top of the league. Unfortunately, Sant'Anastasia were 2 positions lower and struggling to reach the play-offs. Cue Sant'Anastasia vs Foggia. Now, being assured of the title, and a thoroughly good friend to boot, I gave Tash the edge by playing my reserve team [useless cretins one and all] in order to redress the balance following the crash. I got battered 4-0 with 2 ex-players scoring against me, including the ridiculously poor Faveo. I have still not been allowed to live this result down. The name Faveo still haunts me to this day.
Miraculously, Fantashtico eventually led his team to Serie A and a couple of extremely respectable mid-table finishes before becoming manager of Italy, for a more laid back lifestyle and much, much bigger wage.
12 years of Foggia wasn't the end for me. Taking over a Fiorentina side completely bereft of any good players, bottom of Serie A in December and low on funds may seem a strange choice of follow up jobs, but a mere 6 months later, Fiorentina were lifting the title [my first Serie A trophy] in the most stunning turnaround ever. How was it done? Stealing many of my old players from Foggia who were deemed surplus to requirements by whatever joker they got in to replace me [they were relegated 2 seasons later] was the main reason. 5 successive Serie A's and 4 Champions Leagues later, I was bored and began to repeat the story at Bologna.
Meanwhile, Fantashtico was leading repeatedly cataclysmic attempts by Italy to earn some silverware for the national team. Always blaming me for not having any Italian players in my squad, rather like England being crap is allegedly Arsene Wenger's fault.
The culmination of our endevours was a 20 season epic game which, due to the useless computer we were using, took 45 days of ACTUAL time to play. Or just over 6 weeks of game time in a period of about 8 months calendar time. Wow. So that's why my degree is none too impressive, although that I got one at all is a surprise to many. But I'll never forget those glorius days in front of the PC.
So, this blog. Basically, I will be writing the summarized events of a new game of CM01/02 in order to see just how much I'll play with a faster computer. Although, now I have a job and a relationship too, so perhaps this is a bad idea... Screw it, I love this game. All I have to do now is wait for my CD to arrive in the post after a purchase from eBay. Being in the USA certainly makes it hard to obtain this game. Also, I guess I need to think about who will be blessed with the mighty Tash as their new manager. Gotta be a Serie C2 team of some description, perhaps Foggia again? Stay tuned...
It was 2003/4 and as a very poor student (both monetarily and academically) I had a lot of spare time on my hands. Between the 2 lectures a week I regularly attended and enjoyed, and football on sunday morning, I had a huge chasm of time to fill. CM01/02 fit the bill perfectly. With a computer that took an age to load, a SNES for the particularly long waits between seasons and a good friend who would come to share my obsession, I was set.
When it comes to CM, I'm a fan of taking a lowly club to great heights over a longish period of time. Hence, I chose to manage Foggia, a club with a decent history in Italian football and good facilities for a club languishing in Serie C2C (the equivalent of Coca-Cola League 2, assuming they haven't renamed it again when you read this). Then came the moment, the birth of Fantashtico. My friend decided to join the game, naming his character Salvatore Fantashtico and taking the reigns of fellow Serie C2C club Sant'Anastasia. If Foggia were the Man Utd of Serie C2C, then Sant'Anastasia were the Watford, namely, they weren't gonna be there long without some damn fine management. As you can probably imagine, the combination of a slow computer and two dorks with overactive imaginations resulted in some ludicrous back stories being invented surrounding our respective characters, which make me chuckle to this day and have resulted in me using the Tash character as my CM name of choice since then.
I'm not going to regale you with the entire history of this game. Needless to say the 12 year plan I enacted at the start of the game was a success. Season 12 resulted in Foggia lifting the Champions League and me quitting Foggia due to the boards total incompetence. This success came via me bankrupting Foggia 3 times, and did not include a Serie A title after being ripped off by Roma in a play-off.
Perhaps the stand-out event of this era was in season 1 as 5 weeks of the game were lost to a computer crash. After replaying those 5 weeks again, Foggia remained top of the league. Unfortunately, Sant'Anastasia were 2 positions lower and struggling to reach the play-offs. Cue Sant'Anastasia vs Foggia. Now, being assured of the title, and a thoroughly good friend to boot, I gave Tash the edge by playing my reserve team [useless cretins one and all] in order to redress the balance following the crash. I got battered 4-0 with 2 ex-players scoring against me, including the ridiculously poor Faveo. I have still not been allowed to live this result down. The name Faveo still haunts me to this day.
Miraculously, Fantashtico eventually led his team to Serie A and a couple of extremely respectable mid-table finishes before becoming manager of Italy, for a more laid back lifestyle and much, much bigger wage.
12 years of Foggia wasn't the end for me. Taking over a Fiorentina side completely bereft of any good players, bottom of Serie A in December and low on funds may seem a strange choice of follow up jobs, but a mere 6 months later, Fiorentina were lifting the title [my first Serie A trophy] in the most stunning turnaround ever. How was it done? Stealing many of my old players from Foggia who were deemed surplus to requirements by whatever joker they got in to replace me [they were relegated 2 seasons later] was the main reason. 5 successive Serie A's and 4 Champions Leagues later, I was bored and began to repeat the story at Bologna.
Meanwhile, Fantashtico was leading repeatedly cataclysmic attempts by Italy to earn some silverware for the national team. Always blaming me for not having any Italian players in my squad, rather like England being crap is allegedly Arsene Wenger's fault.
The culmination of our endevours was a 20 season epic game which, due to the useless computer we were using, took 45 days of ACTUAL time to play. Or just over 6 weeks of game time in a period of about 8 months calendar time. Wow. So that's why my degree is none too impressive, although that I got one at all is a surprise to many. But I'll never forget those glorius days in front of the PC.
So, this blog. Basically, I will be writing the summarized events of a new game of CM01/02 in order to see just how much I'll play with a faster computer. Although, now I have a job and a relationship too, so perhaps this is a bad idea... Screw it, I love this game. All I have to do now is wait for my CD to arrive in the post after a purchase from eBay. Being in the USA certainly makes it hard to obtain this game. Also, I guess I need to think about who will be blessed with the mighty Tash as their new manager. Gotta be a Serie C2 team of some description, perhaps Foggia again? Stay tuned...
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