Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender And Maiden

Nearing the end of Football Manager 2012 me and Shedender put our heads together to try and think of challenges for the game in which we could go head to head with each other just to prove I'm the better manager. We both came up with a variety of challenges but after my game fell a little sour and Shedender easing Rangers through the divisions, we decided to take on the 'Around Europe' challenge where we will aim to win every trophy playable in Europe. Not for the faint hearted! This will start in Austria and end in Wales, well that's the plan anyway. I am playing on FMC as it will run quicker and I only need one or two leagues loaded at a time anyway, meaning I can fly through this...hopefully.


So Austria is the starting place for us. Certainly not a bad starting place as I remember enjoying my time here when I attempted to do this challenge last season. With just two league titles and one cup available to win it should be a rather shortish stint here before moving on to the next country. However it would never be that easy so I expect a bumpy ride right from the word go!


And finally here is the manager. Once again its myself 'Dan' who will take this challenge on and who will easily romp past Shedender in this mind blowing challenge! Sunday League reputation starting unemployed to make the job even harder for us and the fact I have English nationality won't help my bid to land a first job.

At the start of the game there are no jobs available so it will be a couple months until I am likely to be in the job hunt. However this just gives me more time to take on a sinking ship which I can turn around and guide to the top.

May the challenge begin...

Good luck bud.

The bet is now on, who is going to get their first managerial job...

Thanks Shedender! Obviously the run for the first job is important, but its about getting the right job!

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So I've been in Austria for little over five months now and no jobs have really come about. However the hunt continued whilst I was sitting around nicely on the dole. I had to find something soon. Then I saw an insecurity come up and it was my time to make the most of this rare chance!


SC Austria Lusenau are the team with the manager's job who is slowly slipping away from him. He has been under pressure for the last month or so and with nothing changing it was time I declared my interest in taking over from under fire Helgi Kolvidsson. Should the board listen to my word, sack him and come running to me, we would need to hit the ground running though.


A few days later, another defeat for Helgi Kolvidsson and his days were up. They have been very disappointing this season and are massively under achieving and going nowhere with Helgi so he is now shown the door. Although this is good, it appeared I wasn't in the running for the club and not among their top three targets. However I will do my all to get that job now.


After another little nudge in the right direction SC Austria Lusenau finally came to their senses and approached me and so they should of. The club are in trouble and want me to turn around their fortunes. There won't be a transfer budget to spend and there is a little bit left in the wages front to try and fix a few deals in January. A year and a half deal to try and turn the club away from relegation is the plan.


Challenge accepted! It may be a lost course when I show you the table shortly. Its a tough time for the club but I am sure I can help turn them away from their current position and take them up the league. I may only be twenty six, on the game, but we have a long way to go and I can take them there. I will now show you the league table and you can see why they are in trouble.


And this is why. After eighteen games, halfway through the season, SC Austria Lusenau sit ninth, out of ten in the league despite being predicted to finish third! But with eighteen games still to play I'm confident we can turn the form around and boost up the table over the next few months. We are only fourteen points off the top so a good run and who knows, we could challenge for promotion still...right?

You're not that far from top spot tbh, similar to me, you will secure the title while I will struggle mid-table.

Shedender the top spot is obviously the aim from here and the players will be made aware of that! However if we finish mid table its still a good turn around. Guiding them clear of the relegation battle is the main focus right now though so we will see how it goes.

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There was nothing for me to do in January other than look through the team and try and make a few key signings which could influence the rest of the season. So I headed into the transfer market to sign a couple players and release a couple before getting the team ready for February where we faced a handful of friendlies and then ended the month with a league fixture.


So with the club heavily under achieving I had to try and find what I could to improve the squad. Firstly I let two players go who haven't played all season and are nowhere near good enough for the club to free up even more wages for my disposal. Then came two signings, firstly Aleksander Stanisavljevic was the first player to join this January and should provide a good attacking option as well as loanee striker Marc Sand. He's had a good season netting eleven goals in twenty games in an unplayable Austrian league so its my turn to help his career along, well he can help us!


Onto the winter friendlies and most of them were already arranged however I adjusted a couple to make them more morale boosting for us and keep us on top of the majority of sides. However seven friendlies saw us perform fantastically as we picked up four wins a draw and two defeats in a pleasing break. The two defeats were both against Switzerland higher league sides so a defeat was expected. But we played well heading back into competitive football and morale was on the high side.


A much better welcoming than I thought! Our only competitive game of February and my first one in charge was at home welcoming high flying, second place SCR Altach which should of been tougher than it was. Marc Sand made a fantastic start to his loan move as he netted twice in the opening twenty four minutes to put us two up. SCR Altach pulled one back before the break. Second half we continued to run riot and new signing Aleksander Stanisavljevic found the net before SCR Altach pulled another back to make it three two. In the dying moments we secured the points as we moved two infront with Roth nodding home a corner. However a late injury to new loan addition Sand will now see him ruled out for up to six weeks! A big blow!


That win boost us straight out of the relegation playoff spot and up a position into eighth. Just the start we needed to make and the squad looks more than capable of continuing this run now. Another big point to make is we have shut the gap off at the top to eleven points already and if it continues to topple at this rate, come the end of March we will be sitting top. But that's a dream, we will focus on survival for now! Our poor goal difference is a stumbling block right now but it should sort itself out with a few decent performances.

This looks like a blinding challenge. I might have a crack at this myself for a change of scenery.

Are you just loading up one country at a time ?

what do you make of the classic version?

Maiden it sure will be a tough challenge, made more exciting by the fact I'm going head to head with Shedender should keep motivation at a high! Yer I am loading one at a time until I think I'm near completing a country then I will add the next one in ready to move straight on.

dramacydal2002 this is my first use of the classic version. I do like it, its really quick and love the screen layout.

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March saw my first full month of competitive football on the scene here in Austria and it had to be a top month for us. We knew nothing but the best would help us move away from the relegation battle and upwards in the table. All together we faced five league games this month as we looked to put our best form in.


The first game of March and my first away game since taking over saw us travel to BW Linz and record a comfortable victory. A first half goal from stand in striker Roth got us away after twelve minutes before adding two in the second half through Riga and Salomon!

Our winning run came to an end as we returned home to welcome SKN St. Polten a narrow game saw both sides grab a share of the points. The away side took the lead in the first half before a goal just after the restart from Roth secured us a vital point.

Our unbeaten run then came to an end as we traveled to Kapfenberger SV as we were destroyed four nil and showed little chance of a come back. Three goals before the break followed by one after the break certainly was a hard pill to swollow but I knew we'd bounce back.

Back at home we returned to winning ways as we welcomed FC Lustenau. A better performance from us saw us take the lead through Boller after just ten minutes before the away side leveled. Second half we carried our momentum through and Zwischenbrugger put us back infront before Durr doubled our advantage. FC Lustenau grabbed a late second but we were home and dry.

We ended the month with a trip to SV Horn who were struggling this season but a third win from five games left us continuing our rise through the positions. All three of our goals came before the break, Roth netted bang on the half hour mark before Kampel doubled our lead nodding home a corner. A minute before the break Zwischenbrugger netted for the second game running. SV Horn grabbed a late consolation goal but we were already home and dry.


So I've been in charge for six games now and the transformation is already happening and coming along nicely. We have moved from ninth since I took over up to sixth in the table now and continuously closing down the league leaders. Now down to eight points behind despite the leaders having a game in hand. It definitely looks like we could be up there come the end of the season.

Near the top of the table, you'll be there in no time if you keep up the form.

Nice start! KUTGW!

One quick question about this challenge, when you say every trophy, you including Champions League and Europa League, or just the domestic stuff?

Thanks for such a positive comment Shedender! We are looking towards the top now!

Thanks Gunnerfan!

At the moment the Champions League/Europa League are just bonuses I believe but I may add it into the challenge as they are European Competitions.

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April saw a bumper month for us as we head towards the end of the season. Seven huge games for us this month saw us having to give it our all to continue our rise up through the table and make the top spot hunt! We had the players to perform over the next two months and maybe this could still be our season. However first we had to battle through the seven games of April.


We've traveled to TSV Hartberg for our first game of April in the league. We conceded early in the first half but managed to perform a brilliant fight back in the second half to secure a point. Boller netted with twenty five minutes to go to secure a one all draw.

Our first home appearance of the month saw us welcome SV Grodig, a team I managed on this challenge last year. However I made an impact here as we recorded a confident win. Boller put us infront after twenty three minutes before SV Grodig leveled before the break. Luckily we were gifted a late penalty in the second half as Silva converted to guide us to all three points.

Our first and only defeat of April came as we welcomed First Vienna FC and they ran the show from start to finish to send us to an awful defeat. A single goal before the break deflated us before First Vienna Netted two more after the break with another one ruled out for offside, however it made no difference. We were poor!

As we traveled back on the road to SCR Altach, the team I faced in my first competitive game we recorded a second win over them. Loanee Marc Sand returned to the squad from injury and proved to be a huge player for us. Marc Sand netted twice for us, the first coming after twenty three minutes before adding his and our second on the verge of the break. No goals in the second half but we were home and dry.

Back at home and welcoming BW Linz and once again Marc Sand found the back of the net to gift us the lead after just thirty seven minutes. A second half equaliser came for BW Linz which killed our passion a little and sent us to a solitary point, but it was better than defeat.

An away trip to SKN St. Polten saw our massive month continue and we returned to winning ways in a five goal thriller, with us netting four. A fast start saw Zwischenbrugger open the scoring for us after twenty two minutes which was quickly followed up with Marc Sand finding the back of the net three minutes later. Second half we conceded after five minutes and the game was back on, however a routine final twenty minutes saw Sand net his fifth goal in three games since his return and Boller netted with nine minutes left on the clock.

The final league game of a monstrous month saw us welcome Kapfenberger SV and ended the month on a high with our fourth win from seven. A poor first half for us saw us concede with Kapfenberger opening the scoring after twenty one minutes. However an inspiring second half saw us change the mentality and grab two goals to win. Roth stepped up confidently from the spot with half an hour to go to put us on level terms before securing the win with his second just welve minutes from time.


Another decent month for us once again saw us fly up the league and now we have moved up to fourth in the Erste Liga and with five games to go our promotion hope is more than alive. We've transferred our form massively and since taking over the club have performed perfectly however it was expected of them. We are joint third with TSV Hartberg and just three points behind first and second. The final five games are all played through May so it will all be in one month! We will give it our all now!

Another one of your fantastic challenges here mate. will be interesting to see how you both do and i shall follow as much as i can

Thanks for the support Zan! It certainly will be interesting to see how me and Shedender approach each challenge and the teams we take on, be interesting to see if we take the same clubs at all!

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May 2013, the final month of the season. We have come along way since the start of my reign here in January. They were underachieving massively and now we are in the run for the title if we could remain confident in the last five league games for us. We faced an easy'ish' run in with just one tough game which would be against First Vienna FC at the end of the season, but first the other four games.


A perfect run in for us was what we needed and what we produced. The final month began against FC Lustenau and it looked like we were in for a tough run in as we conceded within five minutes. But a thrilling second half saw us net twice in the final thirteen minutes to secure a win. Soares netted the first for us to bring us level before an own goal in the final three league games secured the win.

A second away game on the bounce saw us travel to relegation threatened SV Grodig who played us a great game but recorded a win. Marc Sand was brilliant once again as he netted twice in the first half to gift us the lead at the break. Second half SV Grodig pulled one back but a goal with half an hour to go from Boller secured a dominant three one win.

Our first home game of May saw us welcome another relegation threatened side, this time SV Horn visited and an absolute storming first half saw us hold a three goal advantage come the break. Winkler netted first, nodding home a corner before Sand doubled our lead after twenty three minutes and Kaiser made it three two minutes before the break. Second half we slacked off a little as SV Horn netted twice and almost came level, luckily we held out.

A second home game on the bounce saw us welcome TSV Hartberg but they proved to be no competition for me...well, for Marc Sand as he put in a top performance to net all four of our goals and we recorded our only clean sheet of the month. His first came after thirteen minutes and his second came just two minutes later. Just after half an hour was on the clock Sand netted his and our third and finally in the forty second minute he netted his and our fourth of the game! Unfortunately no goals came in the second half, but we were home and dry!

It came to this, we sat third going into the final league game of the season, behind second place SKN Polten on goal difference and a point behind league leaders First Vienna FC only a win would give us a 'chance' of winning the league. A good start saw an own goal gift us the lead after just half an hour and things looked like they were swinging our way. A minute later we doubled our lead with Stuckler nodding home a corner. However the second half started badly and with First Vienna netting twice to bring the scores level with half hour to go we were on the verge of blowing it. Three minutes after the equaliser we shot straight back up the other end with Sand netting his fifteenth goal in ten matches before Riga secured the win! But was it enough to claim the title?


We had done it! Our final league game of the season was enough to secure the top spot and secure the first trophy here in Austria and the first of many of this challenge! Game on Shedender! Made an instant impact to the challenge and now we can focus on promotion and moving into the top flight.


The final league table looks exactly like this! The final day saw us move from third to first as SKN St Polten lose their final league game as do First Vienna to us. Meaning we jumped top by just two points over the two teams. Our goal difference proved to be the second best in the division, but more to the point we did it! Champions of the Erste Liga and promotion to the top division!

Fantastic turn around since taking over in jan. top work

How on earth do you do this.

My thoughts too, im absolutely shite ffs,

Thanks Zan! It was a team under performing and with the right tactics they seemed to find their feet.

Kez and 'A Little Bit Of Merson Magic' the team were heavily under achieving when I got here, they were predicted third and we were only 14 points from the top as I took over with half the season to go, the right tactic proved to be the one I used and with the loan deal of Marc Sand he proved to be a vital scorer for us.

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So I was about to step into my first pre season in Austria and it was one I was looking forward. Having turned the club around last season and taking them from second bottom in the table to top in just eighteen games we now looked towards a new division. Promotion was ours and the board needed to back me this summer if we were going to compete for another title, however survival will be the main aim.


Okay, so the board aren't quite backing me as much financially as I would of liked for but with the club in some debt it was to be expected. We have a whole £36 to spend this season which isn't going to get us very far, however I have already signed a player worth £10k so I suppose the budget has been taken out of that. On top of that we have £23k to spend on wages, already spending £20k of that we definitely have room to add to the squad.


Here is our financial situation so far. Its not pretty at all, it stands roughly the same as when I took over a couple months ago so I can't say I've helped out there much. But with almost two thousand pounds spare in wages I will definitely look to find a couple freebies and loan deals to help us meet our expectations this season.


Our friendlies this season have been confirmed and there certainly is a mix of talent to be playing. We will face similar strength teams to us in Wacker Innsbruck and TSU Matrei I believe. However we have already played one friendly which I will add to the list come the end of pre season. The easier games should raise morale and keep the team learning the tactics to be successful as last season was.

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My first pre season of the new installment in Austria has run through its paces and I've done what I can to change the squad around in the best way possible. Admittedly not a lot of transfer have taken place but our friendly form has been very good and we head into the season looking to make an instant impact.


Firstly the transfers that did take place this season. As you can see there were more exits than entrances so far but deals could still happen, I will see how the season begins. Four players left for three whilst Mittelberger was snapped up for three thousand pounds from FC Kassian. With this we hand ten thousand to spend and I brought in last seasons top scorer for us Marc Sand. This time he has been signed on a permanent deal so the twenty five year old has plenty of time to grow and impress.


Our friendlies went to plan as we remained unbeaten through them but this was kinda expected as I was arranging them. We picked up valuable wins against Stuttgarter K. FC Wacker Innsbruck and TSU Matrel as well as beating Schaffhausen. Two careless draws were picked up against Breitenrain and Heidenheim however the form I can't really grumble at, we just need to start the season fast.


The financial benefits from the friendlies have shown as we reduce the debt from half a million down to just under three hundred thousand pounds. I'm not sure how this will continue through the season but if we can make a profit each month then come next season we will be in a fantastic spot financially. However we will just go with it and take each month as it comes for now and focus on the football.

Here it was, following promotion and a carefully planned out pre season we now head into the league season and as we enter the top flight our main objective is to hold our position there and survive the division. We didn't have a busy month to get started so we eased ourselves back into competitive football with my first appearance in the OFB-Cup and then two league games to deal with.


The 2013/2014 season began with a cup game and it was my first appearance in the OFB-Cup as the club were already out last season when I took over. We faced a trip to non league side SVG Reichenau and kept a clean sheet as we also advanced into the second round. A first half goal after eighteen minutes from Roth put us infront before we sealed the win in the second half as Boya netted with half an hour remaining.

The league didn't quite start to plan however as we traveled to a team of SK Rapid Wien's standard it was never going to be easy. We held strong and didn't concede in the first half and come the break I felt we could take a huge point from this. However the second half saw Rapid Wien net twice within fifteen minutes which didn't completely sink us. Boya managed to find space to net with eight minutes to go but we couldn't quite carve out an equaliser.

To end the opening month we had our first home game of the season and were favorites against traveling SV Reid. A good game it was as we recorded our first three points of the season. We took the lead through winger Boller after eighteen minutes however on the half hour mark SV Reid netted to be back level. Second half we turned to in form striker Boya as he netted a superb break to take his tally to four goals in the opening three games this season to guide us to a confident three one victory.


The league tables not really worth looking at right now but I will do a quick run down anyway. Not a bad start to the season as we pick up one win and one defeat and propel ourselves up to fourth in the table. Its vital we try and keep on top of the goal difference and keep it positive. With just two teams winning both their opening games we are in good shape so far and a mid table finish is expected of us.

You win the league first season and I'm still rock bottom. No fair.

KIU though.

I'm more than confident you will win the league this season too Shedender, the teams seemed to have slacked off near the end and we just romped it! We're playing well this season too!

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So July had been quite a decent starting month for us, we didn't blow ourselves out the water in the opening two games an settled for a win and a lose. The cup isn't played this month meaning all we had to focus on was the league and with four games to go through in August we were confident of keeping the run going. Two at home and two away to try and impress the fans.


The month began by welcoming Wolfberger AC and we won our second game on the bounce as we faced third vs fourth. A good first half showing was enough to guide us to the three points and clean sheet. Boller netted after just sixteen minutes with Riga doubling our lead with the final goal of the game three minutes before the break.

Surprisingly our only set back of the month came as we were held to a point at home against SC Wiener Neustadt. We raced into the lead with Roth netting after just nine minutes. However Wiener Neustadt didn't lie down, they leveled after the break to secure a point.

A second home game on the bounce and the final one at home of the month saw us welcome FC Admira Wacker Modling and we stretched to four without a defeat. It proved to be a single goal game and late on. It was very even and it looked like we were heading for a point until Boya netted with just five minutes to go to guide us to all three points and return to winning ways.

Now five games unbeaten in the league as we recorded a surprising victory against league leaders and title holders FC Redbull Salzburg. The home side took the lead twice in the first half, only for both goals to be ruled out for offsides. However second half was our chance and when Boya was fouled in the box Riga stepped up confidently to convert with just under half an hour on the clock. We added a quick second two minutes later as Zech netted to claim all three points for us.


What a storming start we've made to the division and I must be honest, the two leagues really don't seem too different to each other. We've gone an unbeaten month and now after six games sit up in second with four wins a draw and a defeat behind league leaders and current title holders FC Redbull Salzburg who we most recently recorded a huge result against. We may only be six games in but we are looking fine so far this season.

great work on your first promotion, thanks for making my days at work go faster! I refresh every 30 minutes looking for an update lol

Great run in there buddy, very impressive, KIU, could be on for Europe at this rate haha.

Epic challenge is epic!

Good luck to both of you and congrats on the sensational turn around last season!

Thanks dramacydal2002! Everything just seemed to piece together perfectly last season and it helped us to promotion! Hahaa glad I can help!

EXODDUS Europe would be a bonus but I'd rather not look into that at the moment, if we can avoid Europe it would be better as there will be less games for the players to get tired with but who knows!

Thanks a lot Thederbyjack! We are both in this for the long run and its good to have the first trophy knocked off the list instantly!

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After we continued to fly high through August, September was set to be a small stumbling block for us as our winning ways came to a sudden stop. With four league games and the OFB-Cup second round it was important we gave it our all and didn't let ourselves slip too far behind but kept up our fantastic ways which has been the case right from the start back in January.


As you can see, a very different month from before. We began at home welcoming SK Sturm Graz and despite falling behind after seven minutes we put a game on as we leveled through Boya after twenty one minutes. Unfortunately a second goal for the away side gave them control at the break. Second half SK Sturm Graz added a third to put the game beyond doubt and send us to just our second defeat all season.

However form continued to topple as we hit the road to face SV Mattersburg. Another narrow game saw us lose out by the skin of our teeth. We took the lead within ten minutes as Riga put us infront but two for Mattersburg before the break once again saw us behind. We leveled things up again with just over twenty minutes to play as Boya found the net but once again it was to no aveil as we conceded a third to slip to back to back defeats.

And it got worst, our worst form we've been in since I've taken over saw us go three without a win as we hit our third defeat on the bounce. Back at home welcoming lowly placed FK Austria Wien saw us not take our chances. We took the lead once again after twenty minutes with Boya netting. But three goals after the break from the side occupying the relegation spot saw them claim a priceless win.

Luckily we went into the OFB-Cup second round after the poor league run and with a non league team to play we expected a win and that was delivered. Only a narrow win though as Boya found the net for the fourth game running with his strike after twenty two minutes being enough to propel us into the third round.

To end the month we returned to winning ways in the league with victory at home against SK Rapid Wien. The high flying side narrowly lost out to us with a first half goal being enough to sink them. The goal came on the eighteenth minute through Riga as we looked to be back on track.


The first quarter of the season is now done and played through and we can continue to focus on the good position we are in at the moment and the points we already hold on the board. We may of lost three out of four of our league games this month but we still sit fourth in the league and only six points off league leaders and title holders FC Redbull Salzburg so anything can happen.

very good start to the new league

Thanks for the continued support Zan! we have certainly made a decent start to life in the higher division, long may it continue!

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After we continued to fly high through August, September was set to be a small stumbling block for us as our winning ways came to a sudden stop. With four league games and the OFB-Cup second round it was important we gave it our all and didn't let ourselves slip too far behind but kept up our fantastic ways which has been the case right from the start back in January.


A much better month began with a thrilling four two victory which saw us come back from two behind at the break. We were one down after six minutes and two down within twenty seven despite them being down to ten men. Second half we pulled out a brilliant performance with Boller netting and then Boya bringing us level. Shortly after Riga made it three two and we were in the driving seat before we rounded up the win with Boya netting his second and our fourth.

As we returned home for the only game this month we welcomed Wolfsberger and chucked away the lead twice to end all level. We took the lead through Durr after twenty minutes but come the break were back level as we conceded a sloppy goal. Second half we once again took the lead, this time through Riga but again chucked it away to end level at two a piece come the end.

Our third and final league game of the month saw us travel to SC Wiener Neustadt and record a narrow three two win. We raced into a three nil lead before the break as Roth netted inside ten minutes before Boller doubled our lead before the half hour mark. Come the break our third was added through Boya. Second half it got a little nervy as the home side netted twice but we held strong to record the win.

To end the month we faced the OFB-Cup third round and again faced a non league side. This time up against FC Gratkorn we sailed through. Despite being behind come the break we pulled out a thrilling second half to secure the win. An own goal after the break put us on level terms before the winning came with ten minutes to go. Riga's long range strike enough to sink FC Gratkorn. We now head into the quarter finals! Where we will face FC Redbull Salzburg!


So thirteen league games in and we have risen back up to third in the legaue table and once again looking thretening to the top two teams. They have stretched away and sit six points clear of us and Rapid Wien who are level on points and goal difference with us. But then we have a five point gap over fifth place so are really sitting well at this early stage of our season in the top division.

Well done on winning the league!

Fantastic work as always Dan, really impressed with how you can go into a completely unknown league and deliver results! Keep up the good work mate, really enjoy reading your updates.

Apart from the obvious teams, I know nothing about Austrian football so it's great to see something completely different.