On a quest to be the best II

Hello all and welcome to what I hope will be my one and only Football Manager 2017 career as I attempt to once and for all conquer Europe and then, eventually, the World and I'll try not to stop until it's conquered. When I last attempted this on Football Manager 2015 which you can see HERE I reached the year 2074 before losing interest and even then I was nowhere near completed which isn't surprised.

I attempted the career previously with @Dan.


Europe is the most difficult to complete as you can see there is thirty four playable countries along with the "big four" of England, France, Germany and Spain. Africa only has one playable league and that's South Africa while Asia has eight (including Australia) and South America has six.


After trying different countries but failing to get employment, I've decided to opt for the much 'safer' route and that's starting in the home nations alongside Republic of Ireland. I've loaded all playable divisions from the five countries loaded as I look to start 'employment' on what should be an memorable journey around Europe and potentially the World.

Goes without saying, good luck man!

Cheers @Dan, I'm looking forward to the challenge but dreading it at the same time and I don't even know what leagues to load yet.


Instead of posting this in the OP I've once again decided to do the "meet the manager" in a separate post which will have a picture of me (well not quite me, but still, my "manager" as well as my managerial stats although truth be told, they won't be much to look at. When I done this on FM15 the manager stats allegedly rose quite fast in the beta, I hope this year is different.

Just like always in my career, I am "Shedender", a twenty nine year old Football Manager who just wants to finally make a break in the management game and it's something I've been looking forward too since I was a little boy playing football games on the orignial Playstation. I was born in Dundonald, Belfast and support my local club Bangor.

I'm also a massive fan of English club Newcastle United, Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers and German Bundesliga club Dortmund. As per the norm, I'm going to try and play a 4231 (wide) formation but I have no idea what style I'll be playing, yet.

So, what do my managerial stats look like?


Poor but that's absolutely fine as I'll be starting on a 'traditional' Sunday League Footballer reputation (Boys Brigade reputation wasn't available, the last time I actually played football, poorly, but still played) and I'm sure the stats will rise up but I'm hoping not too quickly as that'll be unrealistic indeed. All stats are currently on one except for Mental and Youngster Knowledge which is on two while Tactical and Player Knowledge are on three. I've stated that I'm a 'knowledgeable' manager.


These are the jobs that are currently available (there's two International jobs which are England and Algeria but International jobs don't help this career) but I've already ruled out the vacancies at English League One duo Coventry and Shrewsbury and Scottish Championship side St. Mirren.

I don't really want to manage in England yet so that also rules out the possibility of Bishop's Stortford and Weston-super-mare - there's one job in the bottom tier of Scottish football in Stirling while there's one job in Wales and that's Cardiff Met Uni, Galway is available in Republic of Ireland while Northern Ireland has four vacancies and they are Premiership side Carrick, Championship One's Loughgall and Premier Intermediate League's (Championship Two on the game) duo of Newry City and Dundela.

I've an idea at who I want to start at, just need to boss an interview.

Good luck with this

Cheers @Ipswich Knights.


I didn't ideally want to begin this career within the combines of the United Kingdom but sadly I did and I have began this career up north in Scotland at the very bottom. For those who can't remember, I've started this career with NO coaching badges and a reputation of a Sunday League Footballer so it's going to be an epic challenge of success, failure, heartbreak and success - but mostly heartbreak and failure.

I should've been at our twelfth festivities here in Northern Ireland but instead I'm starting a quest in football management.


And my, soon to be hopefully epic career begins in the land of Irn Bru and Tunnock's Tea Cakes as I've been appointed the new manager of Scottish League Two club Stirling Albion as I agreed to sign a one year deal at Forthbank Stadium.

For those who don't know Stirling Albion, they're a semi-professional club and they ply their trade in the bottom tier of Scottish league. They're predicted to finish the season in fourth place which would equal a play-off spot and I feel that's acceptable. I don't have much money in the way of a transfer budget or wages but that's fine as it's my first job in management and I can't expect Real Madrid/Manchester City etc. types of wage/transfer budgets.


We've got a decent squad at my disposial but the problem is I've only got one out and out striker and that's Blair Henderson while we've got not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE right wingers which is unbelievable but Callum Morrison is only on-loan until January I believe.

Improvements are needed but it won't be easy.

I wasn't sure on how I was going to update this career but with our section being quiet at this moment in time I've decided to do mid season and end of season update. If I was to do updates every month like I used to then I'd become quickly demotivated, lose interest and this career would die before it's even begun. The more comments I receive means the more I'd be motivated to play. I've reached the New Year here in Scotland so it's time for an update.


I'm sorry to regret that we have exited all the cup competitions before Christmas which is massively disappointing. We had a dreadful stint in the League Cup, losing all our group games conceding eleven times and scoring the one meesley goal against Premiership side Hamilton. The club fared better in the Challenge Cup before our quarter final exit to run away Welsh Premier leaders The New Saints who ripped us to shreds while our run in the Scottish Cup was halted in the third round, losing at home to non-league side Forres Mechanics in which, despite dominating large parts, we just couldn't get the goals.


With our disastrous run in the League Cup, confidence was shot as our league campaign began with a six match win-less run in League Two but we then quickly recovered and won three on the bounce before two 1-0 defeats against Montrose and Edinburgh City. Our main issue is the defence/goalkeeper as the club have kept just four clean sheets in the league thus far. In our game away to Berwick we came from three goals down to salvage an unlikely point which was excellent.


All the eggs can go into one basket now as since we are out of all the cup competitions, my Stirling side can concentrate on trying to win promotion to League One and I'm close to deciding the league's impossible as we're currently eleven points behind leaders Arbroath. Annan looked close to be doomed and finish bottom as they're nine points behind newly promoted Edinburgh.


The last piece of news in this update is that the Stirling Albion board have allowed me to begin getting my coaching badges as they've accepted my request to start studying for my National C which is going to take approximately four months to study and the football club are paying the six hundred pounds fee to cover the course, so I better pass.

Arbroath killing it this season! Hope they hit so drab form this second half of the season to give you a look in!

It's more fun to go up through the play-offs anyway

They are @Dan and unless they've a terrible second part of the campaign, well, I don't think we'll be able to overtake them.

Yeeeeeah, I've heard those 'rumours' myself @Suffolk Seasider.


Season number one has come and gone and we've had a decent start to the campaign thus far although those draws (seven thus far) have damaged our potential promotion hopes, thus far. But we are unfortunately out of all the cup competitions before Christmas time and now we can full on concentrate on attempting to get promotion to League One.


Just three defeats and three draws came in the second part of the campaign as our form drastically picked up. The year began with a single goal victory at home to Edinburgh City while we ended our League Two campaign with a seven match unbeaten run, keeping six clean sheets out of those seven and in five consecutive game as confidence is high - but, did we at least reach the play-offs?


Yes! The club have ended the league campaign in third place and thus we've secured a play-off spot and we will face Forfar Athletic in a two-legged semi final and although the games are going to be tough, we should have confidence. We finished just three points behind the champions Arbroath while Elgin will be in a two-legged relegation play-off.


The first leg in the semi final against Forfar Athletic ended in a 1-1 draw which I was a little disappointed with as attacking midfielder Jack McCue had given us the lead but that only lasted two minutes as Travis levelled for the Station Park outfit.


And it's Forfar who have progressed to the final after a single goal win at Station Park courtesy of Lewis Milne's strike ten minutes into the second half and it was a tight game iirc and despite playing on several options including 'overload' we just couldn't bag a leveller to force a minimum of extra time and it's another season in League Two for Stirling.

Near the end of the campaign I applied for a vacant job at National League side Dover Athletic who were in a relegation battle and I believe might've ended up being relegated and I'm sure they would've been favourites for their respective league - sadly I was unsuccessful and I remain at Stirling . . . for now.

Superb second half of the season and final run in with not only win after win but plenty of clean sheets. Positive signs for next season if you make it to the end

It was nice to get those clean sheets @Dan but I need to remember, those happened last season and this season will be another tough 'un.


We had a tremendous end to last season until we lost to Forfar Athletic at the semi final stage of the relegation/promotion play-off so another season in League Two awaited not just Stirling Albion but also myself. Near the end of last season I applied for the Dover job who ended up being relegated to the National South and because they're predicted to finish twelfth, I'm glad I didn't get the job after all - they're also manager-less now after the latest manager got sacked after 61 days.

I've also applied for another vacancy in Scotland but I'm still waiting a response from them.


And this will be our first team squad heading into the new campaign and my second season at Stirling and although there's still room for improvement, well, not much talent is available at the moment. Despite being released in the summer (wouldn't agree to a new deal) Scott Davidson has re-signed for the club while Kyle Turnbull, Steven Swinghurst, Murray Loudon, Alan Gow and Kalvin Orsi are all new signings for this season.

I'm still looking for a youngster goalkeeper and will continue until the end of the transfer window.


It would turn out to be a mixed pre-season program for ourselves as we'd either win 2-0 or draw 0-0. Four games were played all on the road and things began with a two nil win at Hurlford before drawing a blank at Oakley despite dominating, Stirling Thistle were eased past two nil while our short pre-season preperations ended with a scoreless draw at Tynecastle FC.

Just got round to reading this @Shedender, unlucky in the play-off last year!

A good summer mate, hopefully press on now!

A decent first season there! Time to press on and win the league this season!

Been playing catch up with all the careers having taken a break from football manager in general. When the game is released, I might try join in this is looking good though, keep it up, will be following @Shedender

Cheers for the comment @Sean_ but sadly Forfar were too strong for ourselves.

It was @Dan but one things guaranteed, if we fail to get promoted this season then I'd be tempted to resign.

Promotion to League One would've made it perfect @tongey but it wasn't too be, I'm hoping promotion will happen this season, if not then I'll need to 'consider my future'.

First of all, welcome back to Susie @Parker26. Secondly, I'm hoping, like Dan, you make your return because we sure do need more careers on Susie.


Because no other jobs were available in the summer, well except for one which still says 'applied', I have had no real choice to remain at Stirling Albion for at least another campaign in an attempt to get promoted to the Scottish League One, I don't want to remain 'loyal' because this challenge is about trophies and not loyalty.


For the second season running we are out of all the cup competitions before Christmas which is massively disappointing but c'est le vie but it's progress as we actually picked up points in the League Cup, beating Stirling 2-0 at home and beating Stranraer on penalties. Yet again we crashed out of the Challenge Cup to Welsh Premier League side The New Saints while the side also crashed at the first hurdle in the Scottish Cup against League Two 'rivals' Clyde.


It's been an enjoyable first part of the season minus that away defeat to Clyde in which we got outplayed and lucky only to have lost three nil. Our league campaign began with three consecutive clean sheets, continuing on from last season. One season I'd love to go an entire campaign unbeaten at home but it won't happen this season. We ended twenty seventeen with a hard fought 4-2 win away to Edinburgh City.


And we will head into twenty eighteen second in the League Two table but nine points behind the leaders Clyde and we face them next at Forthbank Stadium. Stenhousemuir, despite beating us recently, are bottom and three points behind Elgin City who escaped relegation last season by winning the relegation/promotion play-off.


And the final piece of news in this update is the board are once again allowing me to take my coaching badges and if I'm successful, it will be my National B as I slowly get my required coaching badges which'll make this career 'easier' in the long run. Once again it's going to take approximately four months of study and once against Stirling Albion will be paying the six hundred pounds fee for the course.

Good run in the Scottish Cup, shame to see league rivals Clyde knock you out of it. They're flying in the league and once again at the halfway point you've got your work cut out to try and catch them!

Didn't realise one game in the Scottish Cup equalled "good run" @Dan but yeah it was a shame to see us get knocked out but promotion has been the aim all season and remains the same.


Promotion to League One has always been the aim this season so I'm not overly disappointed we exited all the cup competitions before Christmas, okay maybe slightly but the possibility of promotion will get me over that pretty quickly. We have had a tremendous first half of the season even though we're nine points behind the leaders Clyde but they have to drop points, correct?


The new year began well as we trounced the leaders Clyde 5-2 at Forthbank but then followed that up with a disappointing defeat at home to Elgin while the rest of our defeats in the second part of the campaign came on the road to Berwick, Clyde, Elgin, Cowdenbeath and more annoyingly bottom of the table Stenhousemuir. The league campaign ended with perhaps an undeserved single goal win at home to Annan. Frustrating enough for me, Kalvin Orsi's goals have dried up.


So it's got to be the play-off's for the second season running as Stirling finished nine points behind the champions Clyde who, although we 'duffed' them at the beginning of the year, had a tremendous season (+33 GD as well) and I'm sure they'll do well next season but the question remains, will we join them? Stenhousemuir finished bottom and will need to win a two-legged play-off to remain in League Two.


We travelled to Annan Athletic for the semi final first leg as a classic play-off contest ended all square. Winger Murray Loudon gave us the lead on nineteen minutes but we couldn't hold on for a first leg advantage as Ryan Watters levelled at Galabank.


The second leg was a lot better, as despite falling behind twice due to goals from David McKenna and Ryan Watters, we struck four times at Forthbank Stadium. Murray Loudon struck two wonderful free kicks while Connor McMullan and an Peter Watson own goal also struck and we'll face fellow League Two side Berwick in a two-legged final with a place in League One awaiting.


Despite taking the lead twice we had to settle for a draw at Berwick. Ross Smith had headed into a nineteen minute lead but Euan Bauld made it one apiece on a half hour, seven minutes later Murray Loudon had regained our advantage, Darren Whyte made it two two with seventeen minutes remaining and that's how it ended.


But trophy #1 was secured as we've been promoted to League One after this two one (four three on aggregate) victory at home to Berwick as full back Ross McGeachie and left winger David Turner scored to give up a 2-0 lead on the night, Alisdair Stark pulled a goal back for the Wee Rangers but Stirling held on to secure promotion to the third tier of Scottish football.

Another play off promotion! I will convert you all to my thinking eventually...

I bet the board are glad they didn't give you the sack afterall

Congrats on promotion! What's the plan now? See if double promotion is on the cards or have you got ants in your pants already?

Great work to finally rick off the first trophy, hopefully the first of many at that!

I've never 'disrespected' the play-off system @Suffolk Seasider because a trophy is a trophy, even if that trophy is technically a promotion.

It was important I got the first trophy out of the way @Dan and I'm sure more will follow in due course.


Even though promotion was won to League One in Scotland via the play-offs, I felt my time at Albion was up as I needed to progress in this career. Just days after a two legged win over Berwick I headed to the 'Job Centre' in an attempt to find work, I found a job in England which I found appealing and I quickly applied, attended an interview and was offered the job which I snapped and my time at Forthbank Stadium was over.


So I'm delighted to announce that I've been appointed the new first team manager of National League side Sutton United who ended the campaign being relegated to the National South, I've agreed to sign a one year contract at Gander Green Lane and I can't wait to get started. Sutton paid £28k to Stirling for my services - I was happy enough at Stirling but this career is about trophies, not loyalty. Finally, of course it had to mention my humbling Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Forres Mechanics, of course it did.

And now, I had to make the seven and a half hour journey down from Stirling with all my s**t to start my next chapter.


I've ended up making three signings thus summer and although I'd like to add another one or two, it might not be feasible. Lewis Ward is a shot stopper who has cost us four grand from Reading, Dan Matsuzaka has re-joined on loan from Southend and Aaron Cunningham has left National League's Hartlepool United for fourteen and a half grand. I had re-mewed a few loan deals already at the club as I thought they could've done a job for us this season.


And this will more than likely be the squad that'll begin our National South campaign and it's a squad that's def. capable of getting an immediate return to the National League at the first time of asking. I'm not one for being a 'fan' of loan deals as I'd rather have the players on a permanent basis but I've five currently on-loan including two central defenders who, more than likely, will be first choice. I'm hoping Jack Stevens (AMC) and Michael Cregan (ST) can be crucial in my success this season.

Best of luck with Sutton Utd, the Vanarama South can be a tough league to get out of!

Congratulations on your first trophy, as you said, hopefully more to follow!

Time to conquer the South! Good luck at Sutton!

Doing well so far! Didn't Richard Eckersley play for Man United a while back?

I'd imagine it would be @Suffolk Seasider but I also realise I'm under pressure to secure the title or face the possibility of being chopped.

Really hope so @tongey, I'm hoping I can secure at least one trophy this coming campaign at Sutton.

He did indeed @Parker26, left them in 2009 for half a million to join Burnley.


At the end of last season I made the decision to leave Scottish side Stirling despite getting promoted to League One but whether I'll end up regretting the switch the Gander Green Lane will remain to be seen. They're predicted to win the league and an immediate return to the National League but whether that'll happen or not remains to be seen.


For the first time in this career, we remain in a cup competition after Christmas after progressing to the second round of the FA Trophy but we needed not just penalties but also a replay to get past fellow National South side Wealdstone. Our run in the FA Cup ended in the first round proper, losing to League One's Oxford United - in the previous rounds Sutton beat Cirencester (5-0 after a replay), Harrow (3-2) and Chelmsford (2-0) before the first round exit, but we did force them to a replay.


And it's been an enjoyable first half of the 2018/19 campaign but it's also important we keep it up if we're to try and get a title/promotion back to the National League. The side had lost two of their opening ten games (and drawing one, on the opening day to less), we also had went on a goal 'drought' in which we had failed to score in four of five games while the calendar year ended with back-to-back victories although no clean sheet.


But that doesn't bother me too much because we will begin 2019 top of the National South table and nine points clear of second and third placed Maidenhead and Bath. Sutton currently have a +16 goal difference and if the form can be maintained then we'll win the league, but it'll be tough.

Looking like plain sailing thus far @Shedender well done

It's sure looking that way @Dan but I'm just hoping the job can be finished.


So season one has been concluded at Sutton United and it has been an enjoyable campaign thus far as not only do we sit top of table, nine points clear but we also remain in the FA Trophy - it would be quite remarkable if we were able to chalk of a double this season but it won't be easy.


We only remained in the FA Trophy come the New Year but I'm delighted, shocked, but delighted to announce that the FA Trophy has been chalked off after an excellent 2-1 win over former holders Dulwich Hamlet in the final. Waltham Abbey were defeated in the third qualifying round, a replay and penalties were needed to see off Wealdstone in round one, round two saw us stuff Maidstone at home, the third round we eased past non-league Barwell 5-0, Torquay were beaten 1-0 in the fourth round at Plainmoor before we beat Salford City in a two legged semi-final.

The win in the final against Dulwich was made even sweeter after we had lost our first choice 'keeper in the last league game for nine weeks.


And wow, what a tremendous second half of the season as we dropped points in only seven games (three draws and four defeats) and kept eight clean sheets in the process. The club were already nine points clear heading into the New Year and going throughout the month of January maintained our top spot placement. We did have a slight 'stutter' at the business end when we had won twice in six games but the campaign ended with back-to-back victories against Weston-super-Mare and Whitehawk.


Champions. It turned out to be an excellent campaign for Sutton United as not only did we secure not only the FA Trophy but the National South title as well, finishing twelve points ahead of runners-up Dover Athletic but whether I'll decide to remain at Sutton for next season in the National League or not yet remains to be seen even though I had recently penned a new one-year contract extension.

Thats some work, walked the league title in the end and to bag the FA Trophy from the conference north/south is incredible work! well done mate

Too easy it seems! Great work there and a boost to the trophy cabinet! It must be groaning under the weight now

I don't see you sticking around Sutton though, surely the green, green pastures of home are calling?

Was quite surprised we won the FA Trophy @Dan as I thought Dulwich Hamlet would've retained the trophy but glad it's done along with the league title aswell, it means I don't need to worry and can concentrate on the National League whenever it comes around.

The jokes on you @Suffolk Seasider, I've got the trophy cabinet lying on the ground.


Just one season was spent at Sutton United but the decision was made to resign at the end of the campaign. I didn't feel the club could compete to a high standard back in the National League and with this career being all about trophies and not loyalty, well, I made the tough decision to step aside.


And this is the conformation that my time at Gander Green Lane has indeed come to an end after just one full season at Sutton, but it was an enjoyable season as I not only won the National South title (as expected) but we also added the FA Trophy to my trophy cabinet, which is slowly starting to grow.

So the major question now needs to be asked, where's my next destination?


Unless I'm forgotten, I believe @Dan has managed this team briefly but I've decided that Institute Football Club will be my next destination on this journey. The football club were relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 18/19 campaign but I'm sure hoping they'll be favourites to win the Championship next season but I expect some players to be unhappy following relegation. I've penned a one year deal at The Riverside Stadium, earning a meesley £220 quid p/w.


We've a solid enough squad to choose from with two players returning from loan spells out while the two loanees the club had last season have also re-signed for another seasonal loan. A few players would like to leave the club following relegation - goalkeeper Harry Doherty (currently injured) and striker Danny McKee being two but they're under contract and I've no intention on letting them depart - if the squad can remain united throughout the season, I could secure a double.