International Save and Dual manage some club sides later.

I have gone for 4-2-3-1 wing play . Balanced vs top sides and attacking for the weaker nations. Ranked 6th in the World.

I am 24 yrs old with an International Pedigree to start the game but no management experience.

Opener is Euro Int League away to Croatia. 6/9/2018

Croatia 0 v England 3 ... spurs duo Alli (2) and Kane see us win surprisingly easily. Sancho gets his debut.

Now ranked 5th

England 8 v Anguilla 0 .. Kane gets 4 and Sancho his first goal .Henderson His first goal on his 46th appearance.
England 3 v Spain 1 ... Cook get his first goal and Kane has 3 game scoring streak.
England 3 v Croatia 0 . Cook gets another but Kane fails .Maddison & Grealish make debuts.
Now ranked 4th .

Last time I did Bath and England save I couldn’t keep a clean sheet ... this time with same formation I have 3/4.

Should not have said about the clean sheets

Spain 3 v England 2 .. 2 up at half time but totally outplayed after that ... only good news is we top the group.
England 11 v British Virgin Islands 0... as expected with 200 places between them in the rankings but another country off my play everyone list
Gunn made his debut and Grealish his first goal.

Euro Groups drawn starting March 2019
England ( 4th in World) , Albania (65) Austria (21) Georgia (88) and Ireland (27)
Only regret was next group had Wales & Scotland which would have almost been like and old Home Nations Comp.

Germany drawn in a Euro League Semi Finals ... greyed out team so no scouting them first.

7th March 2019 in game ... invited to interview to manage Everton who are 14th in Prem League after 29 games... but overlooked for Mircea Lucescu.

England 3 v Ireland 0 .. comfortable against 10 men. Declan Rice makes his debut after late call up ( lost Maddison & Barkley)
Goal machine Henderson scores again😂

Austria 1 v England 1 .. held by an screamer of an equaliser .. just didn’t take our chances.

Semi Final .. Germany 1 v England 3 (aet) .. Trailing until late when a red card changed the game. Winks debut. Maddison gets debut goal. Team stripped by me of u21’s for their Euro Tournament which having lost my U21 mgr I am running.

Germany come 3rd with a 10 man win over Italy.

Applied for Man Utd job but do not get an interview.

Belgium away in the Final.

Winners ... Rashford with only moment of quality in a drab match🏆

Next U21 with opener against Russia.. Won 4-2 with my Senior team members Trent A-Arnold and Sancho being key.
However the win does not count on my manager stats so that answers that question.
Draw with Germany .Beat Poland but lose semi final to France after Skipp early Red ..Mbappe just too good.

Last Friendly of 18/19 Season ... SAN Marino 0 v England 11 .. Wilson debut in 2nd half. Winks first goal.

In summary Won 9 Drew 1 Lost 1 . Won a Trophy. Good First Season.

Good luck! Nice little win over Spain there, but the Caribbean has taken a bit of a hammering away from home...

Season 2

After a decent first season I look at a Squad with an avg age of 23 and don’t think I will be changing many , bar any injuries.

The squad lacks cover if I lose Henderson or Cook with most midfielders having poor tackling or in the case or Rice or Dier being a deep DM which is not the set up I have ..Cook ( DLP) and Henderson (BBM)

6/9/19 - England 5 v Albania 0 ... Rashford on a five goal scoring streak.
9/9/19 - Georgia 1 v England 3 ... Streak over but goal machine Henderson has his 4th Int goal
10/10/19 Ireland 0 v England 4 ...Goal Machine Henderson now has 6 in last 9 internationals. Gomez gets his first goal.
15/10 England 4 v Austria 2 .. struggled again against them but a saved penalty saw us home. Henderson & Gomez score again as Top Spot and qualification is gained.
In other matches France win 20-0 against SAN Marino ( Lemar gets 7 ) and Ronaldo is up to 103 Int goals.

Looking at SAN Marino they have conceded 11 twice to Denmark and 7 against N.Ireland in their qualifying.

My First Choice Squad is Pickford,Trippier,Bertrand,Stones,Gomez,Cook,Henderson , Alli,Rashford,Kane,Sterling.

18/11 Albania 1 v England 2 ... late and not entirely justified winner ... Shaw sets up both Sterling goals from set pieces.
19/11 England 4 v Georgia 0 ... Brought back Sancho and Trent AA ( his First goal) both score in easy win.

World Ranking ... still 4th but Brazil have taken over from Belgium at the Top.

Lots of club jobs in Dec available ... missed out on Rochdale as job closed but have been interviewed by Relegation strugglers Southampton ... On Christmas Day !

After losing their next match to be 18th after 20 games ... Saints offer a 2 year deal.

19th at kick off and the squad in review are missing key areas .. no Redmond and no obvious attacking threats down the right. Defence ok but centrally no pace.

First up 7th placed Newcastle away but they are on a poor run.

Armstrong scores after 27 seconds but have to settle for a point .. 3 times hit the woodwork .

Transfers ... bid for Patrick Roberts at 7mill accepted and will be looking for more of the U21 squad to energise this team
Bid for Smalling , Da Silva , Oxlade-Chamberlain, Skipp .. both smalling and the ox are on the transfer list ... and cost 50 mill to sign ( Budget was 89m)

Dragovic wanted and sold to Brighton
Carrillo to Monaco.
Clasie already agreed to move to Nantes before I arrived.

Fa Cup against Newport next up to try and get some winning confidence back in the team. The ox and Smalling enjoy goal scoring debuts in a 3 nil win.

Some odd players for sale apart from Smalling & the Ox ..I have picked up Drinkwater ( no surprise ) and Trippier who was. Roberts completes my business whilst all but Armstrong who are unhappy have been moved out.

Home to Everton next and still 19th so need a boost.

Change of formation to 4-3-3 with the new signings and make us a bit tighter in midfield.

Ox double , Roberts on debut and even a sub pays off with Lemina scoring .. 4-2 ... not exactly tight but the new signings will have to gel. 7 without a win before and out of the drop zone. Villa/Saints/Fulham 17 pts .. Leeds/Brentford 15pts and Watford 11pts but bottom 3 have a game in hand.

Top of the Table Spurs away and I lose 4 players in the run up ... oddly enough I go down 4-2 but still one place above the drop zone.

FA Cup again against Derby ... 2 back and Trippier cup tied. Easy win and Bournemouth next.

Chelsea at home is the best we have played 4 up at HT .. my jibes about too many foreigners seems to have worked ..there best rating is 6.5 down to 5.5 ... I’ll take points anyway I can.

Draw- Bournemouth/ win - Burnley/ win - Lecicester & win Brentford in the league follow . Bournemouth who also knock us out in the FA Cup aet during these league results. Takes us up to 14th above Burnley & Brentford ( both had a man sent off) ..Leicester was due to playing them right after their Extra Time League Cup triumph over Man U in the final. 28 games down and 30 pts.

Hammered away at City affecting morale b4 the relegation double headers with Watford & Villa.

Somehow draw with Watford despite a classic FM goalie error passing to Ings and one of their defenders rating at 4.7.

Villa away sees us move up to 12th after 31 games ( Spurs 9pts clear at the Top) and 10 clear of the drop zone.

England Duty ..Eritrea & Latvia. Brought in a number of Saints players to boost their confidence and reflect my bias towards signing Saints players. Alli withdrawn from squad by Spurs. Foden gets his first call up.

England 8 v Eritrea 0 . 7 up at half time so a bit disappointed by second half. Shaw & Roberts on debut with their first goals. Wilson gets his first and goes on for a Hat Trick. Foden makes his debut.

Latvia 1 v England 4 ... Dull performance .. too many complacent which makes me laugh when they are getting a chance in national side after media Inbox messages pushing their claims.

My other favourite media was being criticised for being Saints biased ( true as trying to build that team around England players) but the next Inbox message says I should have picked a Saints players I did not add ( Ings).

Blew a 2 nil to draw with Arsenal then an easy win over rock bottom Fulham ... 12th and almost safe with 5 games left.

2020 Euro Group drawer .. England (4th World Ranked ) Swiss (14) Sweden (16) Scotland (32)

Our chance to spoil Liverpool’s bid for the title ... Ox and Ings before Virgil pull ones back and its 2 all after 13 mins. Ox again and its 3 -2 HT. Certainly a first half for the players haunting their old clubs.
Smalling sent off on the hour and my lack of a Centre Half on the bench haunts me.
15 seconds left ... 3-3. Where was VAR to save me as it did Arsenal.
Hammered at home to the Hammers ... hating VAR now
Love VAR .. 2 down at Utd .. fight back and then 2 disallowed goals for Utd in last 5 mins.
Relegation avoided ✌️
Easy win over Wolves ...12th with one game to go.
Spurs win the league after Burnley save themselves from relegation beating title chasing Liverpool.
Finish with a draw and 12th Place Won 10 Drew 7 Lost 4

Now to review the 16 on loan and move out at least 4 on the first team squad.... going to look at which young English players are available.

Euro League draw gives me Germany (10)& Iceland (35)

Back to the International scene ... picking a 23... touch and go if Henderson back from his broken leg.

Henderson made it back but Gunn & Maguire miss out through injury.

I ignore the Europeans teams put to me for friendlies and pick Sao Tome for a goal scoring morale boost ... 14 nil does the trick.

Euro Championship -Opening Round

Bosnia beat Belgium 4-3

Rashford hits 5 in a 7-0 win over Scotland ... my favourite FM moment in sometime.
Sterling rescues a point .. poor performance and trailing for most the the game... 1-1.
Better 2nd half sees a 3-1 win over Switzerland

Qualification achieved and season ends with this new format.

Portugal failed to qualify plus Scotland & Wales and 5 others.

Premier League ...Transfers of note

Mbappe signed by City for 153mill. ....... I pick up a disgruntled Demarai Gray for 3.9mill plus too U16s

Watford being relegated opens up the chance to raid some English players ... Chalobah signs

Season 3 20/21

Transfers from 24th June 2020

Will Hughes joins from Watford

Lascelles signed from Arsenal for 11m .. picking up cheap unhappy English talent.


England.

27/6/20 Iceland v England carries forward the Euro championship tournament with Henderson suspended. Iceland are home team at the neutral venue of Wembley . Narrow 2-1 win

3/7/20 QF .. Holland v England to be played in Russia. 3-0 but only after VAR pen for the Dutch turned down when they were on top. Greater fitness of not playing too many pre tournament friendlies helped.
Somehow Belgium are still in it despite only 1 win in the groups and a penalty win over Sweden.
Old foes Spain await after there 118 min winner over Belgium. Italy knock out the annoying greyed out Germans to meet Goal machines France.
No Shaw for me .. no Busquets for Spain.
An injured Sterling scores as I go to sub him .. 2 up at half time and 4 nil by the end as the counter attack pays off.

Final will be France whose 10 men one aet .. hopefully they are going to suffer from tiredness in the final as Lemar and Mbappe are scoring for fun.

Matuidi suspended, Mbappe injured....Must be my final .

19 mins gone and France down to 10 ... from the free kick a VAR pen and don’t look back.
4-1 with goal machine Henderson scoring again.
11 yellows and 1 red ... always seem to get lots of cards when I play France on any of my saves.

22/7/20

Match day Income & Revenue... Title Winners Spurs Top ... we are 12th ... exactly where we finished. Chelsea and Newcastle matched with most teams within a place of that listing.

Betting odds are in ... Fav Man City 2-1 ... we get 45-1 with 20-1 to go down.... Bookies Predict 9th.

Betting Top Scorer .. Kane then Jesus ... oddly then Gomez(wolves) and Ings ( Saints) ahead of Rashford .

First Team squad trimmed to 23 after losing 13 players and looking to trim some more U23s.

Burnley have signed 10 ... we have 7 to make us 4th highest.

August 2020

4 wins and a late Utd equaliser sees 5 games and 13 points ... Man City Top and our next opponents after beating a lacklustre West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

Saints 9th for Commercial Income.
Top Spenders City 197 mill / Chelsea 168 mill & Man Utd 166mill pounds

Danny Ings player of the month.


Sept 2020

Starts with two England wins ... Friendly vs Turks & Caicos and International League over the greyed out Germans.
Still Ranked 3rd in the World with Brazil Top.

City drop points at Leicester so a chance to go back top away at the Toon. Despite Roberts return the 1-1 result sees us stay 3rd.
Elsewhere Utd are 9th and Chelsea 19th .. they still have Kante and Hazard and Marcelino in for sacked Sarri.

Next up Saints 3rd vs Arsenal 4th. Lascelles playing both his former clubs in 2 matches and inspires a 1 nil win but gets injured.

Carabao Cup and 10 changes sees us see off Man City 3-2 courtesy of a late Keeper howler.

Not sure why I bothered resting players as Ings / Ox & Clarke join Lascelles injured.

Held nil-nil at Leicester and go Top briefly after City lose again.

As all teams finish their first 8 games its Spurs 19pts then Liverpool /Saints/City on 18pts with Arsenal 16pts in 5th. Baggies/Brentford/Leeds are bottom 3.

Oct 2020

An injury depleted squad do well .. WDW to go 2nd behind Liverpool.

Beat championship Villa with 10 changes ... Lankester finally scores his first Saints goal.

Chalobah demands a transfer

Nov 2020

Var pen in 91st min sees off a stubborn Leeds at Elland Rnd. City lose again ( 1 league win in 5) and drop to 6th despite Mbappe being fit during that spell.
Var pen and another win .... except Higuan against the run of play scores a 94th min equaliser for relegation threatened Chelsea.
Mirroring real life Liverpool beat City to stretch their lead Top of the table.

I don’t check my fitness levels and Germany beat England 2-1 .. need to beat Iceland to qualify on head to head
Get my squad right and 3-0 see us through to another semi final.

City(5th) vs Saints (6th) in last match of the day. VAR for 3rd game running .. allows Ings as onside .. easy 3 nil win over a side who have lost 6/7 in the league. Up next Liverpool which is now Top vs 2nd. United are now 3rd and Chelsea 16th and only 3 clear of the drop zone.

Saints 2 - Liverpool 1 ... Up there as one of my most dramatic FM games . No Salah was a boost. First 30 mins we were great and took the lead through a cracking Gray effort. VAR for the 4th game running then took over .... penalty given and we then struggled to get going until VAR ruled out another penalty with 5 mins to go and then in the 92nd minute Ings comes back to haunt his former club.

Klopp who before kick off was very complimentary is now all .. I can’t believe it / they are ordinary/ they will soon fall back.

These sees Southampton Top after 15 matches ... 35pts / Utd 35 /Liverpool 34//Arsenal 34/Spurs 30.

Dec 2020

Spurs away .. Gunn injured before .. Ings scores and Ox injured in first 5 mins before we are kicked off the park and Kane puts us to the sword .. first loss and its 4-1 .. down to 4th .. Zidane has United top for the first time.

Ings scores against another former club as we in away at Burnley

Leicester ( Carabao cup QF) less changes ..Wembley beckons ! 28 shots to 2 but ended 1-1 .. win 5-3 on pens. 3 injured and 2 suspended so will take that any day. Adrian Lee breaks youngest player record at 16yrs 126 days

Euro qualifiers ..drawn Swiss(19 ranked) Bosnia (50) Albania(70) Faroe (108)

Held away at West Ham as injuries and tiredness take affect ... 10 days until the transfer window....decisions to make.
Subs help me clawback to win 2-1 at relegation threatened WBA.
Stoke .. same again Sub score winner in 2-1 from behind win.......Chelsea win 8-1 in relegation 6 pointer against Brentford.
The year ends with Saints 4th... 5 pts off United and 2 off Arsenal & 1 from Liverpool.

January 2021

Transfer window opens with Benitez trying take grab Hojberg to Arsenal...Euro Cup has him interested.promise he can go If we fail to qualify this year.
Huddersfield want Lankester .. sulks when rejected and agent stirring it... I transfer list and will recall Ajeti from Celtic.
Jesus goes to Real for 93mill.
Lankester goes for 8.5mill to Brentford .. turning down Burnley.
Smallbone on loan to Rochdale.
Bid for Garner at his value rejected .. they want 143 mill for a 3.4 mill player.
Bid for Oxford again £3mill but they want 63 mill.
Bid 38m for Winks ... they want 146 mil
Targett of to Palace .. Voked promoted as cover to first team. Sims to Fulham.
Bid 20 m for Bowen ..valued at 16m .. Brentford was £46m
Bid £6 m. For Leeds Bennett ..They settle for 15m
Celtic want Forster... sold and Lewis promoted from reserves ...
1 in 7 out and promoted youth players per my club philosophy .


FA Cup ..Cardiff..Sims/Stephens/Targett brought in .. pen save with 5 mins left and weakened side working .. 89th min and they equalise....Only after I see they are Top Of Championship. Replay 3 nil and comfortable.

Carabao Cup semi 1st Leg Leeds. 4-0 and comfortable home win. Away leg rest players and Delph runs the show 1-4 win. Vokins make debut.

Confed Cup draw has England(3rd) /Australia(27)/USA (14)& oddly Nigeria B(28)

Brentford (18th) 3-1 should have been more.
Man U of the back of FA cup replay loss to Chelsea who hold Arsenal in the league ... the winner goes Top.
42 mins Ox injured but sub Clarke sets up a goal immediately. Lose other winger Gray on 52 mins. 95th minute and again a last second equaliser conceded. 4 points separate Top Six Teams.

Everton twice in 3 days .. FA Cup (a) win ..lose another injured winger...League(a) ..9 changes for us 11 for Everton..Ings hat trick helped by Darmian rated 4.7.

2 pts between Top 5...City 4 pts further back in 6th

My squad to see out this season:

GK- Gunn or Lewis
WBR - Trippier or Cedric
WBL - Bertrand or Vokes
CD - Lascelles /Smalling / Stephens / Chalobah
MCL - Hughes or Delph
CM - Hojberg or Drinkwater
MCR - Lemina or Ox
AML - Gray or Bennetts
AMR - Roberts or Clarke
CF - Ings or Ajeti

Talented back ups in reserves

Tchaptchet 19yr DC
Tal 17yr CF

Last game of Jan and blow an opportunity as Newcastle hold us nil nil at home.

Feb 2021.. 24 games ..5th and 4 pts off Top.

Arsenal(4th) ..Massive win against the team just above us..Clyne has a mare like most of there side.
Leicester (7th)...Gray haunts old side as we consolidate 4th place .. City &Arsenal drop points
Newcastle .... 10 changes in FA cup ahead of Carabao Final. Lewis makes debut in goal and get a surprise narrow win.
Man Utd .....Carabao Final .. My aim was to try win a cup.. Not to be ... Saints lose 3-2 with Lascelles having a mare... always find it odd trying to win against the team I support but gutted to get so close. Delph was the player to get injured b4 the final in usual FM training occurence when any Cup Final is due.
Wolves(16th away)..win but loseTrippier to injury. 2nd as Utd / Spurs drop points..Liverpool 3 pts clear and better goal diff.
Brighton... 1-1 after Ajeti scores in 93rd min. Drop to second as Utd and Liverpool win.

March 2021
Bournemouth(11th). . Jan player of the Month hits two as we win away. Ings gets his 23rd of the season. Playe 29 ..3rd to Liverpool /Utd by 2 pts.
Palace (20th) ..6 changes to freshen squad ... 2 of them score against bottom side in 3-3 draw. Missed opportunity as Top 2 drop points.
Leeds(12th)...Ings inspired win .. We go Top but other teams have 1 to 3 games in hand.

FA Cup Rnd 6 (QF) Villa again in a cup tie...9 changes a penalty without VAR and easy 1-3 away win. Two Villa players rate under 6.
Asked who I want in Semis .. Pick Watford (championship) who are still to play Liverpool .. they win and I get them. ( I picked Leeds in Carabao cup and got them .. hope I keep getting asked ).

Guardiola sacked after losing to Stoke in FA Cup. They are 6th in Premier 8 pts off top with a game in hand. They are still in Champions League and next up Liverpool in the league.

England duty starts with Pickford getting injured. My 100th game as manager of England (36) & Saints (64)
WCQ (H) Albania ... Lots of shots but held until almost half time .. 5-0 ..up next the Swiss who have scored 7.
WCQ (A) Swiss ..Lose 2 nil . Soft penalty and poor team shooting from 34 shots. Perhaps a mistake to rest all my Saints internationals in this match.

England U20 .. Win Elite League

Saints U23s win League

Chelsea((12th away) ..Liverpool held by City ..United win to open up 4 pts lead before this game we have in hand.
1 down and awful at half time. 2-1 down to an og before 2 goals in last 5 mins see a dramatic 3-2 win.

8 pts cover top 5 but Arsenal(5th) & Spurs (4th) have 3 games in hand and could go top.

City (6th) ..All Saints first half but goalless... Gray & Ings score.....Mbappe anonymous...only Sterling trying. Allegra has his work cut out.

April 2021
Watford (FA Cup SF) ....8 changes as squad is tired. Pushed all the way but narrowly get through. Certainly helped having championship sides in last couple of rounds. Stoke beat Spurs on pens in other semi final.. A big chance as Spurs are a bogey side.

Last 5 games ..Liverpool/Spurs//Burnley/Stoke/West Ham.. next 2 will decide my fate I believe.

Utd draw .Arsenal/Spurs/City win before Liverpool 1 vs Saints 2 ... Ings with late winner .. I’ve not been so nervous or excited in a FM save since a Championship Leeds side beat 4 Top teams to win the FA Cup.

Saints 79pts Utd 78pts Arsenal 73pts with game in hand Spurs 72 with 3 games in hand. Liverpool 72 City 67.

Lose Ings before the Spurs match and the Ox during it. But the dream goes on with 1-0 win from an own goal. Our early kick off applies pressure as even better Utd & Arsenal lose but Liverpool win a 7 goal thriller.

Next up Gerrard’s relegation threatened Burnley. WBA & Palace gone and a fight between Hammers/Toffees/Burnley.
Everyone else plays first with Utd drawing Spurs beating Arsenal & Liverpool winning.
No Ings or Ox so up to Roberts and Ajeti ... Win and we guarantee Champions League
3-0 Ajeti gets 2 and Watch our champions League .. little Saints are coming... Cedric gets injured but not seriously.

Saints ranked as making the biggest loss .... City made the highest Profit.
Lascelles injured in training ... Chalobah I’ll ....running out of players

May 2021

Prequel to the FA Cup ...Stoke (8th) ...0-0 HT. Roberts puts us ahead .. having had to rest Hojberg and Needing to bring on 16yr old Hrebeniak for Smalling. Stone equalise with 1 min to go before super sub Clarke replaces a tired Roberts to score the winner from Delph ( in for Hughes) Cross.

Saints Win the League ... I have won many times over many FM versions but this is my finest achievement . Not a money bag side with great players (United) or a falsely funded lower league (Rochdale) .. this was a save that started as making a better England squad and the players genuinely joined.. no replaying games by not saving ... simply my greatest triumph.

City won at West Ham to relegate them.

West Brom (19th) is last game but resting squad with only 6 days until cup final ... 8 new faces from the U23/18 squads and a 1 nil win over the bottom side with 5 debuts made.

Saints/liverpool/Utd/Spurs ...Top 4. Arsenal & City miss out by 1 point.

Ings top scorer and Footballer of the Year. Gray Young player of the year... 3.9mill what a bargain signing.

Now can we do the double ...leaving youngsters in First Team to see if that stops the Pre Final injury curse... worked as no one injured in build up.

We are named as best profit for transfers ... I did clear out a lot of players .. City lost 208m but mainly on Mbappe

Cup Final .. 1-0 down at HT and not at the races ...Ings gamble fails and Gray & Lemina not up for it ..caught on the break and Stoke deservedly win the final.

Season 2021/2022

After the excitement of my favourite ever League Win ... I am back to the original purpose of my save and managing England in two competitions.

First up the semi finals of the International League against Portugal before moving on to the Confed Cup.

Wingers make the difference (Sancho/Sterling) paving the way to an easy win over a Ronaldo less Portugal. France next.

Hughes after his Saints form made his debut.

Final...first blood Sancho to Sterling who scores again...1-0 HT. Hughes sets up Alli for the important second in what has been a very even contest...Trophy defended . 2-0 Win over the country that is now my main playing rival.

Next up Comoros away on route to Confed game against USA


June 2021

I have continued my Mainly English approach ...bids made for

Goldson/Accepted
Chilwell/..Delayed decision then accepted.
Cook/ Bournemouth want £107m ...I bid 38m Wolves bid 34m)..increase to 40m after 39 rejected in favour of Wolves bidding less. They want 103m after matching Wolves offer...give up at 41.5m
Grealish/ Accepted
Boorley ..16yr old and 925k bid accepted
director of football bid for Tagseth ( Norway)
Ajeti wants out and signs for Brentford who are now 3rd season in premier.
Aguero is a free agent and is signed as replacement.

More surprisingly Brentford pick up Rakitic on a free

Ings awarded Golden Boot
Saints up 14 places to 78th in European club rankings

Comoros vs England ... another new team on my way to playing all countries if I can.
Capt Dier leads by example. Chilwell debut and Ings & Lascelles first goals.

USA 1 vs England 1 ...Sterling rescues a point
Nigeria B ( due to African nations) thrashed 4-0
July 2021
Australia ..4-2 win as subs Foden & Kane make the difference... Qualified for next stage. Foden gets his first England goal.

SF - Brazil (Top of world rankings) .... even for 30 mins before being hit by 2 quick Brazil goals. Sub Foden pulls one back on 80 mins as I attack more ...hit on the break 3 mins later...think I was too defensive and paid for it in a 3-1 defeat .

Third place play off with USA who went out to France. Ings in for underperforming Kane ..Ox for a tired Sterling .. Ox with both as we win a one sided affair 2-1 .. they score from only shot in first 70mins.

The media call it a failed campaign .... The team ranked higher than us won !! France win it aet.

France now Top of world rankings / Brazil 2nd and England 3rd.

WCQ in September ... biggest concern is Kane and someone to cover Henderson.

England U19 win Euros

Back at Saints

Bertrand worried by Chilwell signing and Hughes still annoyed I rejected poor Utd and Chelsea offer. Arsenal want Gunn.

Match day Revenue ... Spurs top with £105m... Saints 8th with 26.83m
Ranked 7th favourites for title at 25-1 . City favourites.
Ings top scorer at 2-1 with bookies ( favourite)
Mbappe 4-1 to be top player.

Ward-Prowse resigned from Arsenal for 10.5mill as I increase my home grown players for Europe.

Aug 2021

Revenge over 10 man Stoke as we win Community Shield 4-0 .... Aguero gets 2 and Grealish & Chilwell make debut.

Biggest spenders Man Utd (201m) but they sold (185m). Chelsea biggest net spenders (123m)

Saints in August ...W4 D1 L0 ...Top from Liverpool/Arsenal on GD...but Klopp wins manager of the month

Commercial Income has Saints (9th) £43.75m.... City top £103m with Utd £99.09m

Sept 2021

Injuries wrecking my game vs Faroe Islands. Garner gets first call up and cap and Goal .
Thrash Bosnia with Rashford scoring again to go second in the group.

Beat Brugge 4-0 as Ings gets a hatrick in our first Champions League match
Ings scores 2 including 92nd min VAR pen in narrow 2-1 away win at Dortmund
Beat Birmingham 2-1 after 11 changes in Carabao Cup.
Premier League ... beat 10 Man City & Arsenal but lose to Stoke... Top 3 ... Arsenal/Saints/Stoke on 19pts

4 youngsters brought into main squad to boost training ( all available for u23)

Oct 2021

International weekend ..... But before I have looked at all English players under scouting and found a dozen youngsters who have good quality but not showing in my National Pool ... if playing International save I recommend reviewing this more regularly than I have.

Henderson is lacking game time / pace going and skill as my BBM has diminished ... not great choices to replace him

Albania (away) WCQ .... The Ox gets cap 50.....and gets his 20th goal to put us back in front. Leaders Switzerland are 6 up on the Faroe Islands.
Next up home to table toppers Switzerland...Kane finally comes good and win 3-1. Gap back to 1 point.
Stay 3rd in World Rankings

Win all 4 league matches .
Carabao cup see off Blackburn
Lose to Salzburg ... better of the stats but they are just clinical
Aguero is on 12 games without scoring

Nov 2021

Beat Salzburg 3-0 to gain revenge on 2-0 away defeat ... top the group by head 2 head ... 3 way battle with Dortmund for qualification .

Narrow win over Spurs (8th)

50th England match as manager vs Faroe Islands (a) ..goal down in 29sec ...Rashford gets 4 as win 1-7
Sterling and Sancho injured b4 match...N.Chalobah makes his debut.

Bosnia ...Gomez 50th cap ...Alli and Kane see us top the group and England+Swiss qualify for Word Cup.

Beat Won 2 ..Lost 1 ... Hammered by Utd away on Gunns 100th game .. 4-1 ht and 5-3 at the end.

Draw with Brugge sees us progress to next round.

Worry is Aguero who scored on debut but has failed in next 17 appearances .... pace has gone to 8

Dec 2021

Liverpool away ... 44 shots / 23 on target .. 1 down .. 4-1 up and then 3-4 before finally 3-5 win ... quite simply a fantastic match
Leeds beaten by as I rotate squad
Dortmund next..need a point but comfortable 3-0 win with youngster Ramsay setting up 18yr Tal for his first senior goal. Group topped after rivals draw.
Watford will be my 100th Saints game as manager...bore 0-0 draw

City sack Allegra as they languish 8th after 18 games but only 4pts off fourth.

Chelsea in 9th place offer me a job interview

World Cup Drawer

England get ... Australia (24). Croatia (12) and Ghana (26) in Qatar in Nov

Carabao Cup vs Stoke .. 10 changes to freshen squad and bring injured players back in Aguero still can’t score but Tal gets his 2nd in 2 starts. Win 3-1 in QF.....My powers of picking opponent fail .. get Leicester not Preston as asked for in press conference.

Dec finishes with lose to Brighton as injuries mount .. before beating Burnley who fail to have a shot all game

21 games gone second to United by 2 pts

Jan 2022

Transfer decisions ...Aguero/Delph & Smalling out.
Week left of window and both strikers and right wingers are injured.... United loan me Greenwood

FA Cup Wigan ..11 changes ..come from behind for narrow win
Carabao SF ...Gray inspires 4-2 agg win over former club Leicester
FA Cup Palace.. rotation works .. Tal scores 5th goal of season but then injured.
Premier ... loss at Newcastle after losing 5 to injuries . Beat bottom 2 just with VAR help ..VAR against at City in 1-0 loss
25 games gone .. Utd 60pts /Saints 56/Liverpool 53/Arsenal 53

Feb22

Premier .. WWD ...now 7 pts behind Utd and level with Liverpool with a game in hand.
FA Cup aet win at Burnley
Champions League .. outplay Real Madrid away ... but some how lose 2-0...gutted
Carabao Cup Final vs Arsenal .. can I finally win a final ...4 mins gone and 1 down .. still 1 down after 57 mins and then Saints get 2 in 2 minutes to turn it round ..... followed by 4 more to win 6-1 ... Benitez will not be happy.

Mar 2022

5 x Premier 1 x FA Cup and Champions League this month ... squad is going to be stretched.

Lose game in hand at Arsenal .. think that takes the title away and all but United’s now
Beat Leicester who have been hit for 8 and 6 this season

Totally outplay Real Madrid 43-3 in shots 12-2 on Target and score twice before losing on Penalties 4-5

FA Cup .Leicester for the 5th time this season ...Youth come good ..16yr old Richards(keeper) / Vokins & Ramsay 21 see us home 3-4
Richards at 16yrs 16 days is a new club record ..beating Lee 16 yrs 126 days both oddly in cup ties vs Leicester

England Duty .. multiple injuries for game against Belize
Kane makes 75th appearance ... Gray debut and sets up Kane second & third ..expected large win ends 7-0..Chilwell gets a debut goal after running 60yards

Greenwood scores for U21 .. 7 games on loan for me with no goals and injured. & two red cards for my U21’s on duty
Ox injured in training and out for 3 months
Narrow win at Spurs should help cement a Top 4 finish with 7 games left
Easy Chelsea win but still 5 pts adrift of Utd.

Apr 2022
Bournemouth twice in a row ... starting with FA Cup semi
Tight affair 0-0 before 4-3 penalty win
After Manchester Derby draw I have a chance to get 2 pts nearer and Liverpool/Utd are next games
Blow it in last seconds to draw 2-2... wonder kid Greenwood misses another 1 on 1 at 2-1 and no goals in 9 games.

Man City (£89m) top profits table despite being 6th and champions league... Saints 17th with a £29m loss

Utd win early kick off ...Liverpool tired after beating Real Madrid ...go for attacking style HT 2-1 from set pieces ..Ings from a corner and I go cautious as end to end ..counter for Ings To score again / Grealish and Ings set up each other as Liverpool collapse 6-1 but probably just handed UTd the title.
Perhaps not as a late Ings goal at home means my first ever win over United

3 games left ... Utd 81/Saints 79/Liverpool 78/Arsenal 68 so champions league qualification.

Greenwood finally scores (header ..his lowest rating at 8) at relegation threatened Leeds to maintain our title defence.
Finally end the month beating lowly Watford.
Elsewhere Villa survive in winner stays up win vs Leeds

England wise I am disappointed by level of new talent coming through and worried about my squad going forward ..Best players seem to be French or South American

Int League Draw

Belgium (8th)and Norway(42nd)

May 2022

Final game of season Utd 2 pts and 18 goals ahead of Saints. Liverpool 3 pts and 13 goals as step too far for the title.

Saints have Wolves ... Utd have Villa ( 5 days after ECC semi)

Last Day ...
Liverpool score early .... then Rashford for Utd ... Saints wait until the 43rd min to break down a stubborn Wolves but so does Pogba as Utd and Liverpool both 2 up at HT
68 mins and Villa pull one back ... only for Lukaku to make it 3-1 on 73 mins... Wolves are down to 10 men but it does not matter
United are champions. ... only lost twice ... this time 6 for Saints ... last season they would be draws and we would be champions again..squad not quite strong enough.
The owners reaction .. disappointed as looked like title contenders at one point ... hang on .. it went to the last day !!

Leeds /Brentford and Cardiff down. City 6th and Chelsea 12th
Only Trippier makes team of year.. 7 Utd but not De Gea who had most clean sheets
Transfer news ..Everton &Leicester make profits ... the rest losses ..Saints 7th best at 16.56m ..Chelsea 112m Villa 74 Utd 61 City 52 m ... proving spending does not guarantee much.

Income Ration .. worst Bournemouth 57%. Top 3 clubs all 44%...Villa best at 31%

Lewis Cook ( 31m but 40m to buy) demands transfer ... rejected at 80m plus demanded
Also bid for Mbappe and Kane as no champions league football but not even sulking about it.
Garner bid also rejected.(18m they want 127m at Utd)

FA Cup Final vs City ...Go balanced style and a De Bruyne error lets Gray score after 2 mins. Corner and its 2 for Gray after 12 mins. Bernado 30 free kick pulls one back but Ings on 43 hits them in the counter...HT 3-1.. why do they play Mbappe as a right winger?
They change that after 71 mins as Jovic who has rated less than 6 is hauled off. Switch to cautious.
No more goals and it’s a cup double.

Transfers ... I place Cedric/Drinkwater & Chalobah on list ... all rotation players

Awards .. Gray is fans player of the year . Signing Goldson. Young player Bennetts

Top selling shirt Ings then Grealish and Hughes.

Spurs Win Champions League over OM

Utd/Saints/Liverpool And both north London clubs in ECC
City and Everton get Europa

June 2022

England international league time...... I check all Premier clubs for players not in the Pool that look a good bet .

Gomez banned for first match
Lascelles dropped for Holding as tired . Trent back after injury for a Walker. Garner in for Henderson who now seems only to be a slow Dc/DM ... miss his BBM role. (81 caps and 8 goals). Foden back after injury for Grealish my most difficult call.

June 2022

International League

Norway away... Trippier set for cap 50 and Kane can beat Rooney goal scoring record of 53.

Kane penalty from Trippier set piece opens the scoring and takes the Record.... Norway deservedly level by half time.
Below par performance and lucky to escape 1-1

Belgium next at home .... Kane again ( Trent assist) as the 9 changes look to improved the side ... HT 1-0. Sub Foden doubles the lead b4 Belgium hit back. Sancho on 88mins restores a deserved 2 goal lead. 89mins 3-2 and Foden strikes again ..classic.


Transfers

Arsenal activate Chilwell 47.5m release clause and he leaves .
United are after Hughes again....initial offer way too low of 51m for 49.5m value player .. he sulks ... but see below how inlflated it is for me.

Club up 7 to 71st in Euro club rankings

I target City players due to no champions league plus Dier and Bale.
Sterling 64m bid rejected...demand 199m
Dier 58m ... rejected initially but finally get my man and another new Record transfer
Bale 57m rejected but 63m accepted but salary way beyond my budget.
Stones bid met with inflated 117m counter by City..I keep trying and slowly they are asking less..down to 88m after 7 rising bids
82m accepted and 3rd time this window I smash transfer record.
Shaw bid of 34m accepted surprisingly and so is the contract...Chilwell replaced
Cook demanding transfer so try again with 31m offer...player is angry and finally get him for 38m...a new Southampton record transfer fee.
Nketiah signed as a free agent

Spurs Top the match day revenue with 114m ... Saints 9th with £34.6m

Title odds 25-1 ranking us 7th ... Utd /City/Spurs/LiverpoolArsenal & Chelsea make Top 6

Kane 2-1 fav to be Top scorer again...Ings 6th favourite at 16-1

Mo Salah 5-2 fav to be best player again

Mbappe 2-1 fav for young player ... doubt it if played as a winger again all season

Community Shield ... Draw 1-1 but lose on penalties to Man Utd

League starts in July as World Cup in November
Schedule is anAwful start .. Spurs /Liverpool/Arsenal and Chelsea in first 5 games.

WLD ..4pts and 11th in League as July ends.....Everton ,Liverpool and United only teams to win all 3.

12 fringe and youth players sent out on loan .. I’m accused of stockpiling players

August 2022

Top Spenders Saints 212m then Utd /Liverpool /City
Premiership WDWWW up to 3rd..... Spurs top

Champions League Draw ..Barcelona / Inter Milan and AS Monaco .. yuk

Commercial Income ..United top £93.15m ...Saints are 7th with just under £50m...Norwich bottom 11.27m

Kane out of my games with Norway and Belgium .. Wilson called up
Alli joins injured list ...Maddison back

Sept 2022

Belgium vs England

Trippier injured ..Clyne drafted in
Garner injured ...Grealish back

1-1 ..Sancho rescues deserved draw

Only need a point home to Norway .. go cautious to make them attack and counter at pace ..2 up in 20 mins ..Hughes and Sterling bossing it....both Double their scores and teams after an hour 4-1 up ...sub Gray makes it 5 ...then 6 his first international goals.
6-1 with 3 screamers from outside the box between the sides.
Grealish is injured

Premier .... WW to go second behind Liverpool

Champions League ..4-1 win at home to Inter. Counter attacked Barca ..outplayed them but like Real Madrid last season they score and we lose 1-0
Finish the month destroying Monaco away 4-0 having played on the counter.

Carabao Cup ..11 changes .....My 200th game in charge of ( Saints 144 ...England 56).....win 2-0 at Reading...Nketiah finally scores after 16hours

Oct 2022 .... a ridiculous 9 games

Premier WW( Ox 100th game ..10 changes made) D ( last minute Grealish equaliser) ..3rd vs 4th playing United ..as usual robbed at Old Trafford to a late a Rashford goal. Elsewhere Liverpool hit Arsenal for 7. Draw at Bournemouth with rotated squad before Monaco ....Draw and finally our first win in 5 games ...my English priority squad has not handled the rush of games as unable to sign enough top level players.

5th after 17 games ...Liverpool top having scored a ridiculous 52 goals so far

Champions league .. rested squad win 4-2 to top group with 2 games to go.
Carabao ..fully rotated squad beat Leeds

England stay 3rd in World Rankings ...never seems to change.....1 month until I pick World Cup Squad

Nov 2022 ...Dec 2022

Inter Milan ..end to end 5 goal thriller ...win 2-3 and qualify

World Cup Squad
Gk ..Butland /Gunn/Pickford
WIng Backs ..Trent AA /Trippier /Shaw/Chilwell
Centre Backs .. Stones /Holding/Gomez /Dier
Midfield ..Winks/Hughes /Cook/Foden /Alli/Grealish
Forwards .Sancho/Gray /Roberts /Kane /Sterling /Rashford

Fav Brazil 5-2 , France & Spain 3-1 , Argentina , Italy & England 4-1

Mbappe 5-1 ....Neymar 8-1 ....Kane 10-1 for Top Scorer and Top Player
Mbappe /Foden/de Ligt for Young Player award

Friendlies ..easy picks and countries I have yet to play

South Sudan ... Fringe players to get confidence boost ....Expected 5-0 win...Foden and Roberts shine.

Bangladesh ...Full squad change ..they all click ...16-0 ...Kane gets 6 ..lowest player rating 8.7...Record Win

Cambodia last warm up .. fringe players again and easy 8-0 win ... just about getting a happy confident squad.

First time I can recall ... no injuries in the run up or friendlies.

PLAYING THIS AS CORONAVIRUS STARTS TO BECOME SERIOUS ...MY WAY TO UNWIND AFTER A DAY WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC ..SOME OF WHOM STILL THINK LETS JUST POP OUT OR THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING DOES NOT APPLY TO THEM...LETS HOPE WE LEARN FROM THE GREAT EXAMPLES OF WORKING TOGETHER AND SHAME ON THOSE IGNORING ADVICE / HOARDING OR JUST USING THIS AS A GREAT WAY TO GET A FEW WEEKS OFF WORK

Croatia first up in the Group Stages ...Kane goal wins it 1-0 .....Mbappe starts with a hat trick in race for Golden Boot...

Ghana .... 3-1 ... Sterling gets 2

Milik gets 5 vs Qatar .. Mbappe 2 more

Oddly the draw for the Euros is made before the Ghana match ....Finland(52). Georgia(92) Luxembourg(138) Serbia (37)

Euro International sf draw ... Spain

Last Group game ..already through so rest squad ..Australia ...Stones gets his 75th cap ..Matt Ryan keeps us at bay until the hour mark ..two late goals see Croatia pip Ghana who were 2 minutes from holding on.

Colombia in 2nd Round who knocked out the Dutch in the group decider

Elsewhere Costa Rica knock out Germany in group decider

Round 2
Poland 1 vs Denmark 0
Brazil 3 vs USA 1
France 3 vs Senegal 2 ....Senegal had 2 sent off
Italy 0 vs Portugal 1.....scored in first minute
Belgium 0 vs Croatia 3 ....did not see that coming based on group games
England 3 vs Colombia 0 .... kept Foden in and inspired the victory ..Sterling /Foden/Kane score
Spain 2 vs Argentina 0 ... we get Spain in QF
Costa 2 vs Mexico 2 ... penalties win for Costa Rica

QF
Brazil 2 vs Portugal 2 ...penalty win for Portugal
Poland 2 vs France 3
Croatia 3 vs Costa Rica ...aet
England 3 vs Spain 1 ... 1 down until the half hour mark ...Sterling low corners along the ground to outside the box and twice Sancho drills it home. Foden Forman hour sensational and gets a fine goal.

SF
England move up to 2nd in World Rankings ... highest ever

France 2 vs Croatia 1 (aet) ...Madrid red card after 118mins ..France win it in 119th min
Portugal 3 vs England 5 ....
Brought Alli in for a tired Foden ...Alli scores .. Portugal score after 14 mins & 21 minsthen Alli & Sterling score in 44th & 45th min .. 3-2 up at half time.
Sub Grealish makes in 4 after 82 mins ... go Defensive ... so Portugal score again in 88th min before Grealish scores whilst playing very defensive in the 92nd min ..... France again in a final.

World Cup Final

Since I started as England Manager 1079 days ago ... I have played 65 matches but the French only twice .. both times to win the International League final
( 38 countries met with Spain & Albania ..four times each the most common foe)

3rd Place Playoff ... Croatia 1 vs Portugal 1 ... Croatia win on pens

Lemar out for the French..3 goals in last 3 games

The Final

Butland for Pickford and Trippier ahead of Trent with Alli getting nod over Foden

Mbappe and Pogba are carrying minor injuries and fitness levels down
Kane misses a 1 on 1 after 6 mins
Martial hits the post on 31 mins ... I change to cautious as giving up too many shots
Half time 0-0
Alli on 54 mins gives us the lead .... finishes Player of the Match
Trent /Cook & Shaw come on as subs as legs tire and Trippier on a yellow.
Shaw sets up Kane for the second and 56 years of hurt come to an end
England 2 vs France 0 .... WORLD CHAMPIONS 🏆

Now Ranked Number 1 in the World

Top Scorers

Mbappe & Milik with 5......Alli & Sterling got 4
Top Rated Mbappe ....Lewandowski(4 goals). Alli was 5th and Sterling 7th
Assists Sterling (6) Neymar (4) Guedes(4)
Headers Won Gomez 47 with Kane 3rd on 36

STERLING .. Winner of World Cup Best Player....4 goals and 6 assists
Mbappe ..Golden Boot
Dream Team includes ...Chilwell..Gomez..Sterling & Kane

Usual manager fallout after a competition with Spain & Italy bosses quitting..... Spain offer me the job....as do Brazil...

Back to normality ...player contracts and the Jan window ...how do I top winning a World Cup ... goals are now Confederation Cup as never won it playing FM and playing every country .. approx 166 to go

End the year away at Hull in the FA Cup ..4-1 win with back up squad

Bury and Ipswich sign my coaches as Managers.

Greenwood injured and loan likely to be terminated.

Mbappe names World Player of the Year.... has won nothing with France ... last trophy 2 years ago with Man City who have not been Top 3 for 3 years... don’t understand. Ronaldo 2nd and Messi 3rd also have little silverware so award makes no sense .

I won 3 cups if you include community shield ...United won the league ...Spurs won champions league ... not one player in the Top 3

Jan 2023

Draw 0-0 with Barcelona to top group..Valencia next in knock outs

Transfers ... very quiet from all clubs

Newcastle beaten in Carabao Cup...get Everton in SF..lose Dier & Ings ... 0-0 but win 4-2 on pens ..3rd successive Final and second against Utd.

FA Cup ..Millwall ...still no Dier or Ings ...comfortable 2-0 win

Premier ..Draw away at Spurs...Draw home to Liverpool ..I’m 15 pts off top and time to adjust tactics as just not scoring ..going more wing direct.

Stephens sold as unhappy with limited opportunities.
No purchases this window....City spend £93m ..

Premier .. new attacking tactic vs Arsenal ( battle of 5th vs 6th).. 1-0 win at home but 23-3 shots show an improvement

Feb 2023

Norwich (h)..21 shots and 2 goals by half time..34 shots and 5-0 at the end....still 5th
Chelsea (a..11th)....2 nil away win .. the new tactics are working
Burnley (h)..(16th)..Dier ignores stay on feet and gets straight red after 6 mins (.3 game ban). hang on for 0-0
Stoke (a)..bounce back from cup final loss ..Ings gets 2 and win 4-0
Brighton(h)..Cook scores two from outside the box ..gets his first hat trick ..win 4-1

FA Cup 5th Rnd (h) Brentford ...Dier dropped .Hrebeniak cup tied ..Richards played for U18’s ...Bennett’s gets injured after 20 mins and win 2-0
ECC (a) Valencia .. looked like a repeat of Madrid away last season but Ings gets the away goal. Win 3-1

My Cup dreams are now linked to Man Utd..drawn in the FA Cup and now its the Carabao Cup Final... Saints have one won of the last 11 meetings.

Repeat of last League game.. Rashford scores in 2nd half and United take the Cup Win 1-0
Young Jones makes his debut in the Final.

March 2023

Wolves away ..Gunn makes 150th league appearance...subs Jones and Grealish combine for the winner..drab 1-0

City draw and sack Manager whilst 5th with games in hand and still in Europa league

ECC Valencia 2nd leg ...Ward -Prowse set piece opens scoring .Grealish completes 2-0 win...agg 5-1

Spurs /Saints/Arsenal & Liverpool through with Utd 1-1 with away goal against PSG..and they do it 5 English clubs in last 8

Spurs vs United
Saints vs Porto
Bayern vs Arsenal
Atletico vs Liverpool

England squad to meet Luxembourg and Serbia ...two new teams will take me to 40 countries met..Kane out injured
Ings in as form better than Wilson .. 10 Saints in squad ..unsurprising as I have signed English only
Criticised for too many of my own but then questioned why no Ox in the team !
Sancho then gets injured ..Hudson-Odoi in.

First a QF FA Cup tie away at Man U ...Greenwood comes back to haunt us after his loan spell last season . Lose 1-0 for the third time this season to Man Utd in a row.

Luxembourg(h)..Hudson-Odoi scores 2 on debut and has 3 more disallowed ...Win 4-0

Serbia (a)...Alli scores twice on his 75th appearance ..lucky narrow 2-1 win...

Premier League .. 5 losses to Man Utd this season and this is the 4th time 1-0 in a row. Currently 4th but City level on points and two games in hand
Premier .. Ings inspired win at Villa .. fourth a possibility with City dropping points ..Spurs Top but United have games in hand.

April 2023

QF ECC ... Porto(H) ..win 3-0 ( elsewhere Bayern under new mgr recently sacked by Man City Tuchel beat Arsenal 3-0 and Atletico beat Liverpool also 3-0 ... Spurs take a slender 1-0 home advantage to old Trafford)

Premier ..Watford ..rotation needed for ECC 2nd leg .....they park the bus and held 0-0

ECC 2nd legs ...Porto score on the hour against run of play ..VAR pen missed by Ings ...I go defensive and they score another set piece .. lose 2-0 but through 3-2 on agg
Elsewhere Spurs draw to see off United
Bayern see off Arsenal and Atletico win at Anfield...weird how you get the game mirror real life on occasion
We get Spurs in the semi finals....based on this season pleased to avoid United

Premier ...City sack another manager ...Bournemouth for Saints..Lemina makes 175th appearance..Nketiah strike seals a narrow win.

Profits made in Premier ...Norwich ( bottom of league) tip with £47m ..only 7 clubs make a profit ..yes that includes Arsenal
Saints lost £13m just behind Liverpool
Stoke then Bournemouth bottom losing 46m or more
Managerless City away next ...They have no confidence lost 5 in a row and play like world beaters against me ..nice to see the FM cheating at its best..lose 2-1 ...elsewhere United hit 7 as they go 6 points clear at the top.
Leicester away ..Gray inspires win ...3-0
Everton away between ECC semis .. rotated squad see Bennett’s goal seal 1-0 win

ECC away to Spurs ... after my City rant I realise I tweaked tactics and left a great big hole for opposition to exploit

Tweak back worked and get vital away goal in 1-1 lucky 1-1 draw.

May 2023

ECC 2nd leg ... I have gone very defensive and hold what I have ...22-9 shots in my favour 6-3 on target and draw 0-0 to make our first ever Final !

We have played at Wembley all season whilst St.Marys expanded ...90000 watch this match .

Atletico win legs to see off Bayern.

City at home ends 1-1 but at least my tactics were better this time..Youngster Jones gets his first goal
Birmingham (a) .. Grealish starts against the old enemy and scores a cracker ..gets a 2nd in 4-1 win ...Ings 13 hrs with no goal
West Ham (h)win 2-0 ....Elsewhere..United retain the title to go with Carabao Cup & Community Shield
2 games left and 3 pts clear of 5th placed City... relegation threatened Newcastle next
Bertrand makes 275th appearance ... get 1-1 draw against 10 men

Transfer spends ..only Everton make a profit . Saints 2nd with 2.46m loss.
Wages to turnover ..Chelsea spend 63% ...Saints 19th 27%

Last Premier game ..1 point ahead of City in battle for 4th place...I forget to change my defensive set up for an hour .. var penalty gives Ings a chance ( 16 hours with no goal) and he doubles it shortly after ...City held at Bournemouth
Elsewhere Gerrard sacked as Burnley join Norwich and Birmingham being relegated.
Poch resigns from Spurs
Liverpool scores 104 goals ..25 more than anyone else but come 3rd......they do win the FA Cup against United

De Gea Golden Glove ....Gunn 3rd
Gunn names keeper for team of the year ...6 other United players in that squad .. but why not De Gea?
Top Scorers Jovic of City & Hazard with 20 ...favourite Kane 5th
Young Player ..bookies wrong again ...Ba (Stoke)

June 2023

Saints first ever Champions League Final ..hopefully Ings back in form at right time.

Griezman missing for Atletico ....Trippier back after injury ..Ramsay unlucky to miss out but going with experience

Lose 4-3 aet .... Gunn o.g 24 mins ...2 nil down bang on half time. Comeback to 2-1 ...Stones ignores stay on feet to get a staging red card (71mins) ...Ings gets penalty to level (84) ....91 mins they immediately score before another shot hits the post and goes in off Gunn for his second own goal ... Ward Prowse scores on 120 mins.
Looks like I was not meant to win this game.

June 2023

International League SF ...winners play Germany who saw off Italy

Sterling 100th cap .... Jones debut

30 mins gone and 5 up ..with Hudson Odoi 2 / Alli/Sterling & Rashford. Spain then go to 10 men on half time.
Hudson hat trick on the hour ..Stones from a corner for number 7 ..Sterling gets the 8th ..

I may not have been due to win the Champions League final against Spanish opposition but the game certainly wanted me to win this . 8-0 is ridiculous . Where were Koke and Williams awful ratings against Southampton when I needed them.

Spain beat Italy to take 3rd

Final vs Germany ...always a mystery match as I play with them all greyed out
1 down at half time ..go all out attack ...Sterling x 2 and Hudson seal the trophy
Three times Winners ... I love this tournament


Transfers... Relaxing my English only policy to keep squad in Top 4

United linked with Cook after taking Hughes last year...then Chelsea bid several times of 60m
Leicester pursue Hojberg for third year running
I bid for free agent Skipp as back up
Brighton want Gunn or Pickford...they get Pickford...so Everton bid for Gunn
I bid 70m for Rashford after United sign another striker...then Lukaku which is accepted for 61m
Free signing Nketiah leaves for Burnley
Bertrand pace fading so reluctantly let go after 10 years ..
Tagseth after successful loan joins Forest
Goldson wants more games .. goes to Brighton
Stoke want the Ox.
Ings stats dropping .. difficult decision ..goes to Valencia
Rangers sign Clarke & Bertrand...takeover money being splashed
Reserve keeper Lewis to Derby





Spurs offer me a job interview ... I am trying for the ten years at club award so decline it....Guardiola takes the job.

Trying to find a striker as Ings pace is going

Saints up 36 places to 35th in European Club rankings

Match day Revenue .. up to 4th after being at Wembley for the stadium upgrades earning 73m...Spurs Top 109m

Commercial income 7th with 53m Utd top with 93m

St Mary’s now holds 50240

Betting
Top Scorer ...Jovic / Lauwers / Wilson / Kane
Top Player ...Mbappe / Salah / Ascensio / Pogba
Young Player ....Ramsay /Foden / Jones / Tal

Tactics ..Going for my England 4-2-3-1

August 2023

Liverpool win community shield on pens

Transfer round up
United spend 103m on Felix and 82m on Ba.
Liverpool by French wonder kid Pottier for 69m
Saints 3 in and 17 out including loans ..73m spent and 112m received

I’m not going to give a game by game review going forward as time limited... just some key updates

100% start as I mix 4-2-3-1 and 4-2-4 formations ....Ward-Prowse makes 225th appearance

England squad injury ravaged .. Ramsay / Richards called up....lose Alli and Sancho in run up to matches

England vs Georgia ...Ramsay full debut ..Rashford 75th cap ..scores pen after 2 mins ..scores on 7mins and hat trick on 15 mins
Richards debut at 6-0 up ...Win 8-0 ..Rashford gets 4. Georgia have a player 4.7 rating

Finland vs England ..having played more games Finland are ahead of us in 2nd place in the group
A new country for me to play against
I make 9 changes ..wear them down to win 3-0

Premier League .. 4-2-3-1 destroys Liverpool and win 2-0 but should have been more .. change of tactic working ... they have gone more defensive this year and it’s Arsenal & Everton leading the charge.

Champions League is my 200th Saints game ..Barcelona awaits...Stones suspended ..Lascelles in.
2-2 ..still can not beat them ....but at least I scored this time
Lose away but Top Group after late win with rotation squad whilst Barcelona draw again with Dortmund .

200 games
Won 137 Win percentage 68%
Drawn 38
Lost 25
Scored 417
Against 167

England is 72 games ...63/5/4. 87% win..... 300 scored 44 against.



Beat West Ham ..Wilshere still playing and scores own goal ... I really thought he had retired .. but he’s played 150 matches in 6 seasons ... just wish with his talent that was really the case.

Ox plays 125th appearance League game in 5-0 hammering of Leicester.

Luxembourg (a) ...Tal injured and misses out after being called up...Dier 75th cap ...Rashford scores in 22sec ...Sessegnon debut ..Holding first England goal ..Greenwood debut as sub..Jones first England goal ...Win 7-0 and 3 Luxembourg players rate less than 6.

Serbia (h) .. Top two which will decide the group ...Kane misses 2nd min pen ..scores soon after..Sterling two more by h/t ..finishes 3-0 ... beat 2nd from bottom Georgia next and qualification complete ..30 games unbeaten run for us.

Elsewhere after France hit 9 ...Portugal beat Liechtenstein 18-0

Shaw makes 100th appearance vs Watford ..winning streak ends but 2-2 from 2 down keeps us top.

Basing my team around Grealish is working .. trying to get Foden in as he’s unhappy about his contract

Georgia vs England ..Tal makes debut ..and scores ...6-1 win and qualification
England vs Finland ..6-0 ..great end to the campaign.

Club philosophy changed as new tactics do not have as much possession .. added by younger players to training younger ones from youth set up.

Hojberg demands to leave .. I agree but not yet transfer window ... some squad moan about treatment,
.

Carabao Cup ..Lukaku scores “ Perfect first half hat trick”..win 4-0 with 38% possession..lose Sterling for 4 months from England squad

Premier game 18 .Top 2 ....United ..having lost last 5 ..can I at least score after losing last four one nil .....An improvement ..get a nil nil draw...United accused off constant fouling.

Game 19 totally outplay Chelsea away 6-21 shots .. and yet a VAR pen 13 sec before the end of extra time gives them a 3-2 win ...gutted.

Bounce back against Wolves and Trippier starts 100th league appearance...Grealish stars but injured again.

Jan window and I need a decent AMC.... Foden contract is running down !

Neymar wins World Player of the Year ... why ..winning Ligue 1 ...went out of Champions League in 1st knockouts and Brazil won nothing ..Lemar 2nd for winning a cup with Liverpool and runner up in World Cup...Hazard 3rd in a Chelsea/Belgium side who did nothing.
Rashford won the league ...winner in a cup and two international trophies ...makes no sense

Stones named a sub in team of the year ...3 Real and 3 PSG players ..Pogba only United player in squad

Jan 2024....Saints Top by 1 point

Bayern try to sign Foden on free so I bid 40m and land him ...was likely to be 128m from past scouting.

300 games in management up with easy win over League 2 Peterborough in FA Cup 3rd round .. Liverpool next.

Gunn moans I will not sell him to 3rd place Spurs who he says have better players ... placate him with end of season sale promise.

Hojberg wants away but turns down Bournemouth contract

Leeds Carabao Cup SF ...Foden cup tied ....1-0 away win

Foden scores on league debut ..in derby away win

17 yr old Althausen finally got ... been after him since he generated 2 seasons back

Highest league spenders and with Grealish going down with a Virus ! Gave me depth to cope ...Roberts also gets a Virus ... is this game linked to real life ... don’t recall virus before only colds /flu

Make another Carabao Cup Final 3 time in 4 years vs Man Utd
Lose FA Cup at home in 4th round to Liverpool but scape a 1-1 league draw at Anfield after and counter attack win at Spurs to stay 1 point clear after 26 games ... United are still unbeaten.

England maintain world ranking of First ⚽️

Champions League ...Lyon (a) ..2 down to win 4-2 ...Lukaku and Foden star. Win 4-2 at home ... Porto in QF

Carabao Cup Final ... Dreamland ... finally beat Man Utd .. 3-0 up by half time and Lukaku adds his second in 4-0 win.

Tal hits 5 at injury hit Everton but league is still tight with 3 pts in it....8 games left

March 2024 ..messed up two England friendlies by picking teams I have played before .. still on 40 countries played ... must learn to check and not rely on my old memory !

11 Southampton players in squad ...8 start vs Eritrea. Other 3 come on as subs

Ramsay gets first international goal. At 11-0 up and all subs made I lose 2 to injury ...Win 13-0 and they have 9 players with ratings of 5.5 or less.

Pointless mismatch but great for boosting squad harmony ready for the few tournaments I get to play .

Saints players rested for second game ... let’s knacker the other teams players and give me an edge in the league .
Klopp /Zidane & Guardiola of Spurs refuse to criticise.

Reiss-Nelson debut start ...and scores plus 4 assists.... Aaron’s debut as sub ....complacent attitude !

April 2024

6 Premier league games left .. nearly blow a 3 goal lead against Arsenal but hang on ..United in FA Cup action ..6pts clear .they have a game in hand and we play each other in game 37 .
Foden destroys Leeds as we move closer to the title ...can City de-rail Utd....No..but they do screw me as I’m held despite their awful form ..had beaten 10 man Newcastle before that game...United keep on winning.

36 games gone ..United still unbeaten on 94pts ..Saints 95pts ...Old Trafford showdown awaits..they had 1 less day to rest after playing twice in 3 days
United 1 up in 12 mins ..equalise on 31 mins ..go to balanced from positive and 2-1 up 49mins ...goal line clearance on 73 mins as we hang on ..Champions ...just as well as lost last game to Chelsea who again were outplayed but won.

Top 4 ...Saints / Utd / Liverpool / Spurs.......becoming the normal over last 4 seasons.
Guardiola sacked by Spurs
Villa join WBA and a woeful Newcastle in relegation.

Tal top scorer ... Jones best young player... 6xSaints 3xUtd and 2 xLiverpool make up Team of the Year

Roberts is fans player of the year ...Lukaku best signing .... I think Foden was better signing and Jones would have been my player.

Big changes needed to freshen up squad as 3 want to leave having achieved enough Gunn /Hojberg ( no one wants him until Leicester comeback in for the third year running) & Lemina.

Is this better than the first ...No ....that was a total surprise given the signings and squad ..Leicester like and built on solid defence
However this is based and seeing for 2 years Utd and Liverpool were better and changing squad and tactics ..albeit as a successful club the recruitment is easier. My best XI are all English and all played at International level which was the aim all those seasons back to improve the National squad.

Liverpool hit 111 goals for third .. Saints 97 is up from 69 last season ... we won the league with 78 goals last time.

Klopp joins Man City ... Why would he leave is beyond me...... Conte new manager

Champions League ..Porto ..Trippier injured but can use Dier who is banned in the league for 3 matches. Lukaku back for Tal .
At 1-1 the AI gives me an own goal and a Lukaku running by himself as Porto watch ..4-1 by half time. If this was the other way the lap top would have gone flying. 5 Porto players rated under 6. My lowest in 7.8 before subs. Win 7-1 . Agg9-5 after resting team in 2nd leg....Milan is semi finals.... Utd vs Liverpool in the other.
Utd 2 up in first leg .. Saints a goal down in 30secs at home ..lose 1-0
Going for it away .. need goals ...goal down in 6 mins ..2 down in 28 mins ..Var pen on half time kills us off ..Lukaku 51 mins consolation having gone all out attack..a game too far after the league exploits at Old Trafford... Champions League still eludes me.
Utd vs Milan for the trophy.... United make up for losing FA Cup again in the final to Liverpool to Win 3-1 vs Milan.

Mystery ... Top 4 Champions League 5th and 6th Europa ..7th Everton nothing and then 8th places City are Champions League !?

Profits ...United top 76m ...Saints 14th losing 9m
Wage turnover still good ..ranked 15th with 38%
The Ox gets a new contract .. reward for another great season

Southampton Euro ranking up to 14 to 21st.

Euro Championship Draw

England ... Holland ...Belgium...North Macedonia

International League Drawer

Germany and Wales.

Euros Squad...... England have youngest squad but most home based (22) and most international goals (301)

GK ... Pickford / Butland / Gunn
Fullbacks ... Trent AA / Ramsay / Chilwell / Sessegnon
Centre Backs .. Stones / Dier / Gomez / Holding
Midfield ... Hughes / Cook / Jones / Alli / Foden / Sancho / Hudson Odoi / Sterling / Roberts
Attack ... Rashford / Kane / Tal

Low key warm up .. just get goals and confidence up ... Kane gets 4 and Trent / Sancho 50th caps. Sessegnon first goal.

June 2024 ... Hosts Germany ... Holders ..England

Opening match France vs Bosnia .... 5-0 ...Pogba and Mbappe star.

England thrash Belgium 4-0 ....Sancho on 13 seconds ..2 more canx by VAR .. Odd selections and positions by Martinez ..after losing to Holland he is under pressure..they lose to North Macedonia

13 seconds breaks England record ( set 1947) ... Euro Championships (2020) ..both 17 seconds

Also new defensive record of 7 successive matches

Play well but struggle to finish in 2-0 win over North Macedonia ... Var pen for the second and another disallowed goal.

Holland vs England for Top Spot ...9 yellow cards as ref goes bonkers .. win 3-1 ..Rashford unlike Kane can score in the tournament ...Kane was smashing them in pre-tournament but can’t hit the target so far.
Jones missed this match suspended ... Dier misses the next vs Serbia

France ...Ireland ... Germany ..Swiss...Romania (3rd placed) ..Wales ..Croatia ..Serbia (3rd place) ..Italy ..Poland ..Portugal (3rd) ..Spain ..Denmark ..Ukraine(3rd) ..England ..Holland progress.
France /Germany / Italy & England all 100% from group games.

Kiss of death on Italy who go out to Holland. France see off Croatia and Ireland march past the Swiss.
Germany on pens over Portugal ..Ukraine surprise Wales ..Denmark battle past Poland.
England 1 - Serbia 1 ...win 5-4 on pens ... Should have been easy but late on Hughes passes straight to Jovic in front of goal ..Butland gets the blame on the commentary . Jovic misses the penalty. Given Serbia kicked us off the park they get 1 yellow card.
Romania shock Spain in last match of the 2nd round.

QF France vs Germany...shock 2-3 aet sees hosts through
Ireland vs England. 2 down after 54 mins as again Butland watches ball passed to their striker ..Kane inspires win.2-3 aet
Denmark vs Romania 2-1
Ukraine vs Holland ..... 1-2 as Holland come from behind.

Sf Denmark vs Holland 2-2 penalty win for Denmark
England vs Germany ..Cook suspended...which mystery German team will turn up ..Kane var pen after 12 mins ..Sancho after 29mins ...Humpenoder pulls one back on half time ...Sterling scores after the counter attack on 62 mins ..Humpenoder gets another on 65mins ..they hit post on 82 mins ...despite dominating that was another close run game.

Final England vs Denmark. .... a new nation for me to play ..number 46 out of 209.

They played extra time ..but 1 day longer off ... see who is fittest.

Half Time 0-0 ..Denmark playing two upfront in a 5-3-2...neither team have anyone rated above 6.8 as we boss the stats but no clear chances for either team. 4 players are nervous...i replace two of them Sterling /Gomez and immediately score through regen Jones ....sub Alli adds a second on 90mins...Kane rubs it in on 92 mins.

Back to back Euros... that should keep me in the job for a while longer.

Dream Team includes Chilwell, Stones, Ramsay , Jones & Kane ...two Danes , three French and a Dutchman.

Cook and Alli makes subs....alongside 5 more French players.

Lemar wins best player ..quarter finalist
Mionic best young player..Croatia didn’t make it past last 16
Pogba best goal
Depay gets Golden boot

July 2024

I have put the Euro win in the 2023 comments and start with transfer news .

During the Euros ... Jones signs new contract.....City sign Klopp and are tracking Ramsay for last 3 months

Trippier ..Lemina &. Hojberg gone ....Gunn wants away with Brighton only interested party so far .. youngster Vokes sold.

Leeds loan Bennett’s ..... I am going to try regen Borley as back up winger .. did well with Wales in Euros.

Bids for Mbappe and Rashford rejected.

Did get Garner from Utd due to Zidane liking me .

Sheffield Utd finally let me have the young English CB I wanted in Jan for less than January offer.

May keep Skipp as Cardiff loan went well last season.


AWARDS

I moaned about the stupid picks last season ... I am going to predict Lemar wins major player award... some one who came third with Liverpool and again only won an FA Cup...Mbappe 8th with City also in mix
Saints two trophies plus 9 players in Euro winning squad
Utd ..Champions League .. two x cup finals and league runners up with one loss all season.
None of these will win.

TOURNAMENTS

Going to check if per comments last season City who came 8th are really In Champions League.

Job Move .... Man Utd ..France job for Zidane and They want me ... agree to interview 11 days before Communtiy Shield ..get interviewed day before

Community Shield ... 1 up ...2-1 down ...Foden levels and Penalties

Southampton beat Liverpool 8-7 with newly resigned Calum Chambers getting the winner... both the famous Liverpool fullbacks miss. Saints second Shield win after 2021 victory.

On deadline day ... Man Utd offer me the job ....unlocks a trophy of dream job but seriously ..how can I put my stamp on it.

Saints gets 20m in compensation.

This will also give me a chance to play in the Super Cup and World Club ..trophies I’m yet to win on this save.

I know the youth set up is good ..I’ve been trying to sign them without success...sad I got Garner for Saints and now I’m here !

Tactics 4-1-4-1 was working here before so will initially stick with that.

Lingard in the reserves out to Leicester

I bid for Ramsay .. can’t let City have him now I’m gone from Saints and I have a fullback issue.
Also Dier for DM role
Both rejected

Meeting the squad ... Pogba as captain welcomes my experience ... complete opposite of job interview questions.

Not enough time to sign ...Gedson / Lopez and Upamecano in before I arrived

Out went Martial /Sarr/ Lingard / Garner and 5 others on transfers plus loans.

My United debut is away at Chelsea ... the team I lost both league matches too last season.

Former Saint ... Hughes gets the winner late on ...annoyed when l lost him .. glad he’s here now .

Next my first Super Cup and the answer to my City confusion ... they won the Europa League ... didn’t notice !...hence why eighth placed team in Champions League.

Early goal down but end up changing to 4-2-3-1 with Felix and two others back from International duty. Win 3-1

Saints next .. who appt France manager Jardim.... narrow 2-1 home win .. feel sad

2nd placed Leicester seen off next as go back Top. Chiesa and Ascensio have been sensational.

Destroy Liverpool 4-1 ..Pogba with a captains performance .... Conte tactics do not sort this Klopp side.

Gets better over a decent Fulham side with whole team performing in 8-1 win .. Ascensio and Chiesa are stunningly good ..Rashford yet to get going but converting the penalties ..Ba is in better form up front .. I didn’t buy at Saints due to injury record but so far good. North and Jones are decent regens I am integrating. The signings I inherited are very good. In jan window I want Ramsay as Dalot linked to PSG ... O Busquets will go as not wanting DM role. 4-2-3-1 working well.
Also get 8-2 win over Wolves ..both keepers make errors

Biggest transfer spenders were Simeone at Spurs and Chelsea again.

West Ham drawn in Carabao Cup...narrow win with rotated squad ..Birmingham next.

I get Barcelona again in Champions League .. can I win at last......Hughes get my first Champions league goal in 5-1 win over Kobenhaven. Dominate at Nou camp but held nil nil. Cska I drop points with 10 men ..group going to the wire.

England squad ... Sessegnon and Gunn put ... Da Silva and Richards in.

Germany vs England ...International League.....Having been thrashed by Wales the Germans are good against me and only a late Kane equaliser on his 100th appearance saves a draw ...Da Silva makes debut for an injured Chilwell.

Trying to get B team to work ... I have 5 players in there I did not put there and no team when I go to arrange friendly will play me.

Squad decimated before next double header .. lose Trent ,Butland , Sancho (Carrying illness) and Tal and then Ext day Kane and Ramsay.

First call up for North....he will start...sets up 2 goals

Stones 100th cap vs Wales...Wales set up 5-4-1 ...England 3 up in 9mins as The bus is breached ...Foden hat trick is his 20th goal Rashford as his 51st as 5 up on the hour ..Bring on Welshman Da Silva to rub it in ...ends 8-0 ..... Connor Roberts is rated 4.5 ..Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsay 5.2 ..two others 6 or less.

Now the lottery of Germany ...VAR double in 5 mins gives Rashford 2 goals ..Jones world beating free kick ..3-1 at full time

Noticed ....Odd signings ..Kyle Walker at Sheffield Weds ... no way a blade would have joined.

Next England squad ...American Samoa and Wales games .... Tal back..Rashford dropped on form ..Ramsay back for Aarons.

Rashford gets 2 as sub after being dropped ..hopefully the start of some form.

England vs American Samoa .. a new country to my aim of playing them all...Rotation of team as main squad for Wales game.
9-0 unsurprising win.... Tal gets 4 and Richards /North & Da Silva get more experience
Rashford back as Sterling picks up an injury

Wales do double over Germany ..need a point to ensure Topping group ...Germany relegated.
Spain and France already through. Italy despite defeat pip Portugal on Goals

Wales vs England ...Sancho on 22 mins as our fitter squad plié on the pressure ..Kane (29 mins 56mins) Roberts (32) wonder goal ..Foden (60mins) ..Garner (81mins) ... Ampadu scores again against me having scored for Wolves in last premier game b4 Internationals. Win 6-1 and through.

By December I am 14/14 in the league ...Saints 2nd & Bournemouth 3rd.

After seeing off Top 4 Spurs I go into the Derby confidently .. 2 nil down in 8 mins and after fighting back lose in the last 5 mins as Klopp gets the better of me ( they lose 5-1 to mid table Chelsea next match and gets sacked ).

World Club Squad picked with Lindelof / Gomes missed out .. aiming to prune fringe members in Jan window and try to get RB and AMR as Chiesa was missing for a month and lack cover.
Use weaker squad to beat Atlanta Utd before the surprise of Meeting Al Shabab who beat SAN .
Win the final with my fitter squad easily .. 3-0. Matches one of the boards expectations .

Jet lag affects next match back ..92nd min winner spares my blushes. 0-0 next up as fitness struggles kick in.
Italy in SF of International League ...a new country as surprisingly not met them yet.
World Cup group for 2025 drawn with Romania the only threat.

Confed Cup draw ... Argentina , Canada and China

Transfer window looms with Barcelona linked to both my strikers ...Chelsea want both my wingers.
Pochettino at Real Madrid after Rashford and one other.
PSG offer 141m for Chiesa..he sulks when it’s rejected despite dynamics stating he loves being at United etc

Mbappe wins Footballer of the Year from Foden and Lemar ...
de Gea wins Keeper
Foden in World Team and Dias for Utd

I want to trim squad by 3 overall. Wages 4.611 mill

Jan 2025
Top Man Utd 49 Liverpool 46 Saints 45 Arsenal & Spurs 42 Bournemouth 39

Foden inducted into England team of season with 10 goals and 7.83avg rating ... should have been player of the year not Mbappe for me.

Pogba reaches 275th appearance for the club ...Saints spoil it as another below par effort sees a 2-1 loss.

Heymans signed to cover right wing ...Chiesa leaves for 150 mill after initial 141 mill was rejected...New English transfer record.
Saints spend 109m on Prades from Barcelona

Rashford Scores in win over Liverpool ...his 300th appearance. DevGea reaches 475 league appearances against Everton.

I have rotated a cup team with My top XI used in league side until Carabao cup final ...want the win and my top side hammer Spurs in 5-1 win ....was 1-1 until 43mins.

Champions League has Rashford destroying Marseille in home 2nd leg ... English sides are dominating again.

With injuries mounting I’m playing my weaker cup side against Saints in FA Cup QF. Win 2-1 with two U23’s making debuts and another only his second appearance.

Persuade Luis Francisco to choose England over Brazil but not in time for the Cyprus and Romania World Cup qualifiers.

England vs Cyprus ...Kane with 84th goal (102 games) sets us on our way in opening fixture Sterling nets 60th ( 119 games) ..Kane gets another ...easy 3-0 win. ( Kane has gone 17 games for Spurs without scoring )

50 games unbeaten .... forgot we were on such an impressive run.

England U20 win Elite League for 3rd time in 5 years... Germany have 3 in last 7 years

Romania vs England .. narrow 3-1 win ..Sancho scores on birthday and Sterling nets again...3 months until the Italy semi final match.

That is 2 more new countries played.

As I move near to the title and Champions League place obtained ..board set a transfer budget of 413m

Wolves host my 400th game as a manager ..rotation needed before FA Cup semi final....Dull 0-0..13 pts clear with 6 games left

Win semi final and subsequent first leg at A. Madrid 3-2 ... Only 3 of 5 English teams win first leg matches .

I am for the first time I remember playing a chance to win the title in a derby match ..a draw with goal difference will probably do to pip Saints after Liverpool lost the Merseyside Derby and are a point further back.

City have gone 442 .. Dull match until VAR pen on 37 mins which Rashford converts. 71 mins Rashford doubles the lead and Ba seals it on 88 mins ..dream result ...Old Trafford goes wild..

Now 17th on Hall of Fame list

Relegation 2 pts covers bottom 5 with 4 games left

Profits ..United 3rd 64m behind Arsenal and Leicester ... Spurs bottom losing 105m

I go Cautious to see off A.Madrid .... VAR denies them a penalty on the hour ..but on 69 mins they counter attack and score ..Ba on as sub scores to draw level ..win 4-3 on agg .... down to Oblak giving the ball away in own penalty area in the away fixture.
Liverpool fail to overcome PSG but Saints do against Bayern to join us and Spurs...Yes I get Saints again !

I’m going to use youngsters to keep squad fit in the league as I could clean sweep the the competitions which would be a first on this save.
Youngsters come behind against relegation threatened Burnley ..3 make debuts another gets his first goal. Bacon at 15 Yrs 261 days becomes youngster ever player....lose next two games but squad for fit for semi finals.
U23 team win league and a International cup And semi finals of checkatrade.....U18 were 2nd and won a cup.

Win first leg 2-1 away with .... Rashford dominates at Old Trafford but 5-4 classic as 7 goals in second half leaves result in the balance until last kick.
PSG ahead over a Spurs and finish the job to win 4-1 on agg

Premier Places ..United /Saints/Liverpool/Spurs. Relegated Burnley / Brighton/Fulham. United score 100 goals , Saints 88 but Conte is more reserved than Klopp and they drop too 63.
Arsenal and Bournemouth get Europa League
Chelsea (8th) needed to win FA Cup ..losing sees City (7th) get Europa and Allegri sacked.
34 players used is most of all teams.

Premier Awards
Asensio new high League rating of 7.88 in 32 games get Player Player & Footballer of the Year
Tal 26 goals easily clear of Rashford & Asensio with 17 for Golden Boot
De Gea gets Golden Glove for 4th year in a row with Strakhosa second for 4th year
I get Manager for 3/5 years ..Zidane had the other 2
Team of year 8 United 2 Saints and 1 Bournemouth

United made a profit in transfers due Chiesa and no summer window for me...Saints spent 164m

FA Cup vs Chelsea
..Chelsea lose Sane...Pogba fitness test
Chelsea lose Casemiro on day of game...Hazard not in team.
1 up on the counter attack in 7 mins .(Fernandes) 2 up fromAsensio free kick after 17 mins as 2-0 half time
Second half change to balanced from positive .. Emerson pulls one back on 51 mins ..Heymans on 70 mins 3-1

The clean sweep still on ....just PSG and Chiesa to overcome.

RECAP of Winners
Who has won what since I started save in 2018

Premier. FA Cup. Carabao Cup. Champions League. Europa World Club
18/19. City. Liverpool. Liverpool City. Chelsea SAN
19/20. Spurs. Utd. Leicester. City Roma. City
20/21. Saints. Stoke. Utd. A.Madrid. OM City
21/22 Utd. Saints. Saints. Spurs. Inter. A.Madrid
22/23. Utd. Liverpool. Utd. A.Madrid. Dortmund. Not played
23/24. Saints. Liverpool Saints. Utd. City A.Madrid
24/25. Utd Utd. Utd . .Inter Utd

In 7 seasons Barcelona no finals or trophies ...Real 1 final in 19/20
Arsenal 1 Carabao final & 2 Europa

Champions League ..This for the clean sweep ( including Community Shield with Saints) .....Only just realised the final is at Old Trafford .
Dybala scores first before Fernandes equalisers and 1-1 at half time. Heymans makes it 2-1 on 47 mins before Dybala hits posts twice and has a one on one ...Rashford seals it in the 81st min And it’s my first Champions League of this save.
Rashford wins Golden Boot
8 players in Champions Team of year ..2 PSG and 1 Saints.
De Gea / North /Asensio and Rashford win individual awards.
Asensio pips Dybala and Neymar for best in Europe


ENGLAND

Francisco gets first call up as does Halom of West Ham

My top 3 most experienced players Sterling / Stones & Kane all still there and performing.

England vs Italy semi final ... Old guard all picked and Sterling opens the scoring. As with the Champions League final I’m against Chiesa who is out of positioning as a ML ... Francisco makes debut as sub. Both teams hit the post before Foden seals it.

Final against Spain who popped France on penalties...Sancho injured as we ended up with 10 men for last 10 mins.

4th International League Final appearance

Sancho passes fitness test and starts
Kane who was questioned after the semi final opens the scoring from a Sterling pass. Spain hit the post. Sancho subbed after an average effort .. Ceballos equalises with 5 mins to go .. sub Rashford counters to set up Kane in the 91st ..And the trophy is ours again

Kane is now 105 caps and 87 goals and I often rest him for the low ranked friendlies.

Friendly vs Algeria and time to see the youngsters I drafted

July 2025

England vs Algeria ... Inexperienced squad rise to the challenge against a decent Algeria (47th) team ..5-0
England vs CAR ... Tal hat trick in 27mins ..North & Francisco get debut goals ..6-0

Next up Confed Cup

England(1) vs Argentina (4) Messi last tournament before retiring in October... Will by my 100th game as England mgr and Butland set for 50th cap...playing at my American Football Team ..The Redskins Fedex.
Kane has one disallowed , Sterling hits crossbar 3 times..before he sets up Kane(25mins)..one sided first half. Argentina score twice in 2 mins with there only shots (74/76 mins)before Kane (88)scores late from the penalty spot.
I risk banning by criticising ref..get a warning.
China by Canada 6-3 in other match.
Argentina by Canada 2-0 ..Takes 69 mins to break down China ..Rashford as sub involved in two and Sterling seals 3-0
Eng vs Canada ..Kane (7) Sancho(78) ..laboured 2-0 win ..Argentina top group after 5-0 vs China.
Other Group sees NZ beat Ivory Coast and USA draw with Denmark.. USA by NZ Denmark by Ivory Coast.. USA & Denmark seal wins to progress in last group matches.

SF England vs hosts USA ..Kane scores after one sided but drab first half...USA level late on behalf an own goal with 2 mins of extra time left gives England a win and first final of the Confed Cup ( Denmark but Argentina 1-0)
Sterling breaks cap record with his 126th...he has been the best right midfielder throughout this save.
USA by Argentina on pens for 3rd place.
Final... Denmark lead on 10 mins ..lead at half time...Kane misses pen on 50mins ..despite dominating the stats it is Denmark who lift the trophy .
Press reaction to a tournament never won and despite being World /European & International league holders is negative and FA only just let me keep my job .




TRANSFERS

United up 3 to Top European club.

Not sure how to improve on a perfect season. Want more English but who do they replace .

Arsenal offer 77m for Back up winger Guedes ..he rejects them and wants to fight for place.
PSG offer 78m for Pogba...his agent wants the move....comeback in for 90m
Lopez sold with Henderson bid for to replace with a home grown...West Ham outbid me with silly bid.
Borisov bid for ..Guardiola at A.Madrid fallen out with player...PSG trying to hijack deal...his work permit rejected..appeal works
PSG bid for Rashford ...92m
Gaillardo sold ...bid for Shaw at 21m ..Saints want 62m
Grealish released so I approach on a free...Hazard available but his pace has gone.
Barcelona and Bayern want Ba.
Arsenal making multiple large bids for De Gea... I refuse and give a new contract.

United Top matchday income ...more than bottom 7 clubs combined.

Althausen signed at end of next season to allow development.

United 5-2 fav ..Saints ...Spurs ..Liverpool ...City
Young player is between 3 United and 3 Saints players per the bookies.

Going to limit commentary to key awards/games/transfers and Internationals.

Community Shield vs Saints ... Felix 45+1mins .. Rashford misses pen ..Asensio 62 mins ..Felix has pen saved ..Win 2-0

Euro Super Cup ..Thrash Inter 4-0 .... 3-0 before they went to 10 men.... all round great performance .

Top Transfer Spenders .. Southampton 223m. Spurs 195m. Chelsea 191m

Commercial Income ..City with Utd 4th and Saints 5th

England vs Slovenia ..Tal and .Kane out Injured Chilwell suspended...Aly Khalifa first call up and comes on as sub.
5-0 ...Sterling x2 ...Sancho ...og....Dier. Comfortable win.

Georgia vs England ... Chilwell 50th appearance.....Francisco ....Dier ...Alli (pen) ... 3-0 win.

Cyprus and Romania seen off next as Rashford makes 100th appearance and Kane back after injury ..Tal still out.

Slovenia and Georgia to finish World Cup Qualification

Kane & Sterling from my original squad in 2018 both score to get the points needed.
I fully swap the squad for the dead game and hammer Georgia 11-0 with Rashford having a hat trick by the 9th minute. Tal also gets a hat trick and even Dier gets his 10th International goal.
Khalifa gets first International goal ... 91 more to catch Kane
Top Scorers in National Pool
Kane 92 (113 caps)
Sterling 67 ( 130)
Rashford 61 (101)
Sancho 38 (68)
Alli 37 (103)
Foden 23 (54)

Hudson-Odoi has 20 in 26 but his youth figures are. Record 35 in 30 U21 games

Lost to Liverpool and City away to annoyance of board

World Cup Draw...hosts USA and Canada ..holders England 🥇

Group England ( Rank 1 ). DR Congo (20th) and Peru ( 51st)

Finally have a Player win World Golden Ball...Asensio with Rashford 2nd.🏅🥈 They also were the Top 2 for World Player of the Year.

However Neymar wins Footballer of the Year ..by 5 pts from Asensio who scored more , assisted more , avg more and won more.

De Gea 🥉 for Keeper of the Year

At 1/1/26 ...United played one game less but 1 point ahead of Liverpool/Spurs and Saints ... losing to Leeds has made it very tight.

Try to sign Da Silva as cover ..8m but Villa whack up price to 21m.

Sessegnon signed from Spurs
I want Foden but Saints not letting go.

Reach 100 games as United manager with a trip to Wolves (Jan 2026)

Won 84 D8 L8

Double header with lowly Caribbean sides ... chance to bring in some youngsters

Aruba demolished 9-0 as my new players blend with experience . Rashford (5) & Tal (4) Follows there 4/3 goals last game
Hrebeniak (start) Codling ( sub)
Six players in squad 21 or younger

Antigua & Barbuda next ...Greenwood & Hrebeniak get 1st International goal ..Rashford two more in 6-0 win.

Premier league almost won after 30 games with stupid defensive errors from West Ham and Chelsea gifting Rashford goals and giving me wins ... but soon levels up In 50 mins after going 4-0 down ( 3 giveaways to concede) in ECC to Real Madrid ..even miss one of two pens....and dominating all the stats.
Took out my frustration by thrashing City ..albeit with no Mbappe fit.

Most Profitable teams ...Arsenal (80m) with Utd 4th (27m) ..Southampton worst with loss of (64m)
Transfer Spend Saints 199m Arsenal 163m Spurs 136m ...United made a profit of 39m

2nd leg .. goalkeeper howler for 1 down ..(1-5agg) ..pull 3 back by 48mins (4-5) ..but comeback stops there and we are out.

Record gate receipts of 3.3m

No new contract offered yet ... maybe on my way out... title decider with 2nd place Spurs next..end Spurs 17 game unbeaten run with come from behind win ...Champions

A record 105 league goals ...4 games left is a new record.... will be rotating to keep squad fit for Cup Final.
2 games left of league and finally board want to discuss contract

New 4 yr contract ...break 101pts ... scored 113 goals

Utd/Spurs/Saints/Liverpool .... Cardiff/Wolves /Blackburn relegated

Utd 18’s win their league .. some interesting talent to bring through

Footballer of Year & Players Player of the Year.....Asensio
Top Scorer .....Rashford
Young Player ...Borisov
Keeper ..Alison with De Gea 2nd
Team of Year 10/11 from Utd
Best Player in Europe ..Asensio ... Rashford and oddly Mbappe

Prior to World Cup ...the draw for the International League ...draw Norway and Poland.

World Cup ...16 groups of 3 teams. Across USA /Canada & Mexico

Saudi Arabia only homegrown squad. 7 squads all play abroad including Argentina.
China have youngest squad
England most goals (396) ..although Kane injured in run up to Bahamas friendly....Greenwood hits 1st half hat trick ..Rashford gets 2 ( 4 games in a row).
Bahrain next as I maintain low key matches to meep fitness up for tournament ..( Gomez 100th cap and he scores ) Rashford scores again ..Greenwood another hat trick.

World Cup - Starts 5th June 2026 ... Starting new comments for 26/27 Season

Transfer window 9/6/26 .. Going to clear out U23 squad and look for more English players as squad needs an overhaul.. main target Khalifa from PSG ... PSG/Barca / Arsenal & Leicester linked with half my squad.
Althausen and Garner join from Saints per Jan window signings for end of season.

Rashford gets European Golden Boot Ahead of Asensio and transfer target Khalifa

England vs DRC (14/6/26) ..Rashford gets us Off to a flyer after 3mins ..Greenwood (24 mins) ..2-0 half time. Alli on as sub gets a late third ..credit the keeper who faced 20 shots on target. 3-0 and a solid start.

No shocks In other groups ... Mali beat Scotland but are 18 places higher in rankings

England vs Peru ...Rashford (pen 7mins)(54mins) ...2-0 and no injuries

DRC (19th) follow rankings to see off Peru (57th)

2nd Rnd sees Senegal vs England ..Sancho(4mins) NDiaye levels ..Sancho(49) Rashford(60) Kane(66) 4-1 Win Sancho stars on his 75th cap.

Rashford 8 game scoring streak

First shock as Swiss 15th overcome Germany ranked 6th Nigeria see off Mexico but both teams closely ranked. As was Ukraine beating DRC . USA beat Spain but were higher ranked.

Croatia score new quickest goal in 18 sec...Sukur and Robson from old tournaments would disagree with this.

3rd Round gets Portugal ..tough tie as I have a number of the squad in my Utd side .


5 United players in Portugal team....Sterling (2 mins) .Narrow 1-0 win

Brazil who I have not beaten before next in QF

Rashford pen (55 mins) confirms our superior play in the first hour ..Sterling (70) settles it ..Kane(80) adds to his earlier assist , Sessegnon goal disallowed but Foden (86j wraps up victory over the international side I like least IRL.

SF ..Holland (9j vs England (1) Plus France (2)vs Croatia (6). 4 Top 10 ranked sides Through with England having had to beat two in the top 5.

Kane in for tired Rashford ... Sancho goal disallowed by VAR (9) ..Possession all Holland ..shots all England ..0-0 half time.

Subs on Khalifa for Kane and he sets up Man of the Match Sterling (75) ...just after Chong missed a sitter ..Stones (86) from a set piece seals it.

France beat Croatia with a extra time pen from Pogba (117) ..almost survived having 10 men for last 26 mins( were 2-1 up)

Top Two to face off again.

More rest and they played extra time ... fitness advantage with England.

Mbappe shoved on the wing ( injured after 50 mins) and recent PSG signing from Utd Ba makes a sub appearance

Foden latches onto Sancho pass to open scoring after 15 mins ... 1-0 half time
Rashford hunt for top scorer aided by a goal (52) and secures it (72) as sub Greenwood feeds him. Foden adds (82) , moment of history as Rashford (91) does a Sir Geoff and gets a Hat Trick.
5-0 ... my best win over Zidane.

Kane retires as Captain ... but still available.

Winning Team 2026. 4-2-3-1 Positive
Butland (Stoke)
Ramsay (Saints)
Stones ( Saints)
Gomez ( Liverpool)
Chilwell ( Arsenal)
Jones ( Saints)
Cook ( Saints)
Sterling ( Man City)
Foden ( Saints)
Sancho ( Spurs)
Rashford ( Man Utd)

Subs
Greenwood ( Man Utd)
Dier (Saints)
North ( Man Utd)


Man Utd ... Friendly tour of China ... scarily first game is Wuhan !

Transfer window busy as I clear out squad ready to rebuild.

Game 499 of my overall career .... Beat 9 man Spurs in Community Shield.

Game 500 Premiership opened vs Liverpool (They have the most expensive £110m signing Jose Ferraz up front) Joint 2nd to a UK club behind Mbappe who was £153m

New club Capt Tierney makes 200th League appearance

Rashford misses penalty and despite dominating need a Gedson Fernandes Equaliser to salvage a point.

500 games (England / Saints / United). Won 394 Drawn 60 Lost 46 scored 1435 conceded 362 Cups 23 Leagues 4

Next International is Norway away in International League .. they were stubborn opponents lasts time
Decision on Kane ..pace going but he is 6 shy of the 100 international goals.

My best XI looking tired after World Cup and Community Shield / Premier opener ... full rotation needs at club and bottom side
Brentford is ideal..except goal down early and need Khalifa first United goal at half time. Danny Jones set up both Khalifa goals and scored himself in MoM performance and is knocking on International call up to vie with Gomez. Michael Jones at 16yr makes debut at left back after scouting Championship found him in Blackburn academy.

Commercial Income ..Utd (108m) City (104) Arsenal/Spurs/Liverpool/Saints /Chelsea well clear of the rest.
Premier League top spenders in transfer window by 1 billion from La Liga . Utd (239m) Saints (186) Arsenal (181). Madrid & Barcelona both 200+

International League
Norway(a) ...Drew this fixture last time and were lucky to get that .
Vino Jones makes 50th appearance ..Scores Direct freekick after 3 mins ..Rashford (44) and Sancho has had one disallowed as World Cup winning Team continue their winning ways at half time.
Sterling sets up Rashford again . Nice 3-0 start to the group.

Iraq friendly .. full rotation and Trent is captain. Youthful team doing well as 4 up by half time. Khalifa / /Tal / Garner / Greenwood.
Tal completes perfect hat trick as Utd / Saints players get all the goals in 8-0 win. Hrebeniak other scorer

31 United players on international duty across the 3 squads

Young squad sees Kane (118 caps and 94 goals) still not recalled for Barbados (127) Poland( 23) and Burkina Faso (71)

Sterling ( 140 caps and 70 goals) injured and Stones ( 124 caps and 9 goals) dropped due to lack of playing time and pace drop ..

Top 3 appearance holders in squad out but 4 more left with 100 caps or more...D Jones gets first call up

England vs Barbados ..Jones debut paired with Hrebeniak on 6 caps at centre back ..8/11 have 20 caps or less as I build a squad.

Hrebeniak (6) from a corner North(28) Using outside of left foot from right back ...and 2 nil half time.
6 subs at the hour mark ... 7 complacent or disinterested players including debutant Jones .
Sancho (87) but only 3-0 from 38 shots.

66 Countries I have now played.
Country 67 is Poland ( International League) .. brought back more experienced players and 5-0 up by half time and 8-0 at the end.

Rashford (4) Foden (2) Sancho and Jones were all 9+ ratings with goals and avg over 9 for whole team. Sancho and Rashford Combining were unplayable.

Country 68 on my attempt to play them all is Burkina Faso. Slow start and Trent AA pen only goal at half time. Subs improve performance as 3 late goals see a comfortable 4-0 win. V Jones scores a world class volley .

World Rankings at 13/10/26.
1.England
2.France
3.Brazil
4.Argentina
5.Portugal
6.Croatia
7.Holland
8.Germany ... now seeing regen players in the team and not just greyed out players.
9.USA
10.Spain

Others ....Italy 11 .Belgium 27. Wales 33 .. Eire 43 ..Scotland 50 and N Ireland 70. San Marino bottom of ranked sides in 211th and there are 16 non ranked sides with no points.

Sterling returns but no Kane despite being fit as we beat Norway 4-0 at home. Foden Sterling (2) Rashford. Qualification secured before the final match against Poland.

Hrebeniak suspended and Sancho out for 6 months after cruciate ligament injury early in the match.

Poland last ..chance for a record 9 game unbeaten in the International League..Rashford has 25 goals this international season so far.

0-0 (ht) .. different match to 8-0 drubbing last time. 1-1 by the hour mark ..Foden opened the scoring with our only decent piece of play....Glad to get a draw at the final whistle.

Nov 2026 .. draw for Euro Quals drawn
England (1) Holland (7) Scotland (52) Kosovo (82) Armenia (104)

Highlight is Scotland for me .. love a derby ...... which comes true next match as United hammer City 6-0 ( Rashford hat trick)

4 United players in the World Footballer of the Year list . Asensio. Borisov. Fernandes. Rashford

Dec 2026 sees Benitez (Arsenal 11th) and Simeone ( Spurs 6th) sacked....and yes my next two games are Spurs/Arsenal both won by goals from Asensio..should retain World Player title. ( Asensio passed 100 goals for the club in all comps)

Sure Enough ... Marco Asensio ... World Player/ Golden Ball Winner ( Martinez PSG 2nd and Borisov 3rd)

Footballer of the Year ...Asensio. Mbappe . Borisov

Rashford hits his 150th league goal for United .....PSG bid 68m with 32m add ons

Jan 2027 .. City spend most (192m) in Europe ( new 93m striker Khellaf) ... We sell biggest (Premier) 83m Francisco and Atletico sell 2 big stars including Khellaf to rake in £260m

3 youngsters out on loan to gain higher level experience ( Fulham and Glasgow Rangers)

United have set A new defensive record of 15 clean sheets in The Premier League ( have conceded in cups in between ) next up second place Saints.
Get to 16 clean sheets before bottom team Brighton are given a goal by a keeper howler .

Much vaunted defence concede 3 in a pulsating Carabao Cup final as the Top 2 ( United vs Saints) clash for the first trophy.

1 down , 1-1 , 2-1 down at half time before an 85th goal sends it to extra time. 4 mins left and Saints steal it.

The irony is all 3 scorers were signed or brought through when I managed Saints 😂

England Squad ( March 2027) ..Dier long term injury opens the door for West Ham’s Halom. No room for Kane or Sancho.

Really concerned by lack of England midfield talent coming through ... going to search the squads again to see if I have missed any for the National Pool.

With 8 games left ..Premier is Utd vs Saints with Liverpool a distant 3rd.
PSG 17 pts clear in France. Rangers/ Celtic tied but Rangers 3 games in hand. Barca 1pt clear of Real. Bayern who were struggling 2 pts clear in Germany.

Euro Qualifier ... England 6 vs Holland 2 .... Rashford hat trick and D.Jones first international goal. Was 1-1 and 3-2 before TrentAA made the difference in Midfield.

Kosovo who lost late to Scotland up next. Easy 4-0 win ..Rashford gets his 90th goal. Country 69 played.

Premier Teams make an average 11m profit ( 13/20 made the profits )
Chelsea Top 115m Arsenal 84.5m and Spurs 57m. United 11th at 7.76m.
Saints lost 75m City 66m and Liverpool 33m

Transfer spends ... Everton & Utd make a profit. Arsenal spent 169m

Wages ratio Watford 61% City 60% Liverpool 55% ....Saints 40% Utd 35% and Fulham best 29%

Champions League ..Saints stun Real overcoming a 3 goal deficit. (QF)
Former player Chong (Bayer04) scored equaliser in away leg 1-1 and does so again at Old Trafford 3-2 agg at half time but real threat of away goals counting. 87th min to go 4-2 on agg ..4-3 ...91st min ...And hang on to win.

4 games to go and title can be secured against Leicester ... 4-1 and job done ... 3 in a row.. Only Saints (2) and United (4) winning in last 6 seasons.

United have beaten the Arsenal unbeaten record ... now at 53 ..54 after a draw at rejuvenated Spurs under Zidane...55 vs Villa ( relegates them) 56 vs Leeds

Stoke avoid relegation ... remarkable after 7 pts in first 17 matches ....33 pts in next 19.

Champions League (sf) ..Saints (away) ..Althausen against former club to take narrow 1-0 win.
Home leg and 1st min goal only for Saints to equalise and in the balance until 84th minute winner seals 3-1 agg win.

Barcelona who beat mega spenders PSG await in the final.

With the possibility of an unbeaten season we blow the last game to Arsenal 2-1 and having skipper Tierney sent off.

Premier ends
1.Man Utd
2.Saints
3.Liverpool
4.Man City
Europe for Spurs and Fulham.
Relegated Norwich / Brighton / Aston Villa

Footballer of the Year ( England) ...Asensio
Top Scorer Jensen (Saints) Rashford and Khalifa runners up
Borisov Young Player of the Year
Henderson wins Golden Glove
Team of the year ..10 Utd plus 1 Saints

After losing to Arsenal .. FA Cup Final with the noisy neighbours .. Rashford scores the winner after 5 mins .. City hit the post in the 92nd minute but overall dull and comfortable. Three League and Cup doubles in a row.


City beat Chelsea 3-0 to secure Europa League ...Chelsea sack manager

Other Leagues

France ..PSG again ( 10 in a row)
Spain ..Barcelona by 2 pts from Real. (2 in a row)
Germany Bayern again ( 15 in a row)
Scotland Rangers

Champions League Final vs Barcelona ..... 0-0 HT which we look better in. Forced into subs due to injuries and a yellow card ( 3 made on 58mins). Sub Felix scores ...Heymans in for Greenwood on experience and knack of scoring in Europe is sent off and have a nervy last 10 mins before Barca have a player sent off and it’s 10 vs 10 for the last 10 mins.
Hold on for a 1-0 win.

United Awards .Player Asensio....Goal ..Heymans...Signing..Henderson...Young..D.Jones

Champions League Golden Boot ..Paulinho (Real M) from Khalifa
Champions League next Keeper ...Henderson ..Defender ..D.Jones ..Midfield ..Borisov ...Forward ..Khalifa

4 days later and it’s International League semi final vs France..... Not lost in 4 meetings.

Hammered ... 5 down at half time ...5-1 at full time but Mbappe was unplayable .( Come down for keeper Henderson who had just equalled the clean sheet record for Utd)

Wales hammer Ireland 5-0 in Euro qualifier same day In the real world they draw 0-0

Croatia in 3rd place playoff ....Sterling dropped after sulking about my brutal press conference response to losing.
1 down in 17mins ..Go attacking and Foden equalises Greenwood then puts us ahead but back to 2-2 after the hour. Foden in injury time nicks the winner as we play much better second half.

Mbappe scores twice to see off Portugal and deservedly win the Trophy for France. (77 international goals)

Greenwood Barcelona target at 92m

Dalot says he wants to leave having won everything he can.

Scott Parker taken from running my U23 squad to manage Brighton.

Season ends

Season 10 .... 2027 - 2028

England vs Belarus ( Country number 70 faced)...they have 10 back ...I go very attacking .

Tal with 2 headers and an Alli penalty to lead 3-0 at half time. Sancho blockbuster makes it 4..Kane gets 95th International goal coming on as sub..to complete an easy 5-0 win.

Benin next to make it 71 different countries faced.

Khalifa (15min) Sessegnon (38) For a 2-0 half time lead. Foden (pen) ..subs Kane (64) Greenwood (73) ..another easy 5-0 win.

Another 80 days before Armenia in a qualifier.

Barcelona try to get Greenwood ..second bid £133m ... promise of more trophies keeps him for now.

Match Revenue ... Spurs (126) followed by United (£102m) ..Brentford lowest with 11.69m

Pre-Season kept to home or Europe ... clean sheets and easy wins have followed. This year loan out as many as possible as not developing quickly in my reserves....19 on loan.

I’m trying to run with 25 man squad and then under 18’s in both u23/u18 teams

Community Shield is vs Southampton .( These two have won the trophy 7 times in last 8 years).. 2 key injuries from the friendlies. ( G.Fernades and Althausen)

Asensio scores in 1st minute .. great way to start a new season...2nd on 20 min before Foden pulls one back.
Halom makes debut in 2nd half ...2 unstoppable long range strikes in injury time give Saints an unlikely 3-2 win.

Transfer Window closes

City spend 143m on a player ...Spurs 134m. And Leicester 119m..Saints 109m. Elsewhere. PSG 205m As Monaco 176m and Barcelona 167m

Top spenders Spurs ( 243m) Leicester (241) City (162) Saints (149) United 8th (77)

Commercial Income .. Arsenal/Spurs/United all £97m....Burnley bottom £20m

Opening fixture sees Arsenal draw with Chelsea.....Leeds hit 7 and Liverpool hit 6 as goals fly in except at big spenders Spurs & Leicester who draw 0-0.

Euro Super Cup at Windsor Park vs City........ Mbappe gifts Greenwood opener Andrew it’s 4-0 by half time.
16 yr old Hickman makes his debut ( Signed from Reading for 10.5m) .. the others subs are 17 & 19.

4-1 ... Mbappe was rated 5.9 after 70 mins finishes at 7.3 after one assist late on....9 yellow cards in a proper derby match.

England vs Armenia next ( Kane injured after call up) 3rd in group vs 5th

9/11 in line up are Man Utd ( Foden /Cook of Saints the other ) Foden starts his 75th Cap ...35 goals.

Foden makes 75th cal with an 18 second goal. Rashford (2min) Khalifa (7) ..all out attack backfired as it goes 3-1.(16 min)...only makes us deadlier ..by half time its 10-1 ( hat tricks for Khalifa and Rashford) .
Ends 12-1 as Greenwood gets his hat trick.

Rashford has overtaken Kane to go to 123 caps but is 3 goals behind with 93.

Scotland away next...both teams 1 point behind Holland.

Sterling (4 mins) ...1-0 half time but Scotland were coming back in the later stages.
1-1 deservedly on (86) but sub Tal scores the winner on (89).

Carabao Cup 21/9/27 sees my 200th game in charge of United vs Cardiff ...easy 3-0 win. Liverpool and City already out in round 3.
Holland vs England .....Rashford starts in his 125th cap and misses an early penalty . Sterling has to equalise after Holland lead against the run of play. (1-1 half time).
Sterling sets up Rashford b4 a late Sessgnon on as sub seals a 3-1 win.

England vs Kosovo ..rotation made ...Alli gets only goal in first half ...Greenwood seals it late on ..( elsewhere the Dutch put 13 past Armenia).

5/11/27 ... I reach my 600th Game vs Arsenal

Rashford and 2 Asensio long range free kicks seal an important league win.

Internationals ..Armenia & Scotland...my 139th and 140th matches after over 3400 days in charge.

United have 37 players on international duty across all squads

New U21 manager wins first game after Southgates departure

Can Rashford catch Jimmy Greaves 13 goals in season record ..5 off it .

Armenia vs England ...Rashford scores in 63seconds and has a hat Trick by half time as we lead 7-0.
7 Armenian players are rated 6 or less.... Khalifa gets 5 playing out of position on the left and Win 11-0.

Rashford now on 97 goals to overtake Kane as leading scorer.

We have qualified again for the Euros.

England vs Scotland .. main team brought in with 9 changes.
Scotland are 2 pts ahead of Holland to claim 2nd place.

Rashford (5mins) .. comfortable 1-0 at half time.
Foden /Rashford add goals b4 the hour mark ..3-0 full time.

Only team to win all 8 matches and top scorers with 43.
Romania remarkable record pl8 w 4 d3 L1 sc 9 against 1

Mbappe takes Player of the Year award ...Asensio had better agg from more games , more assists and just 2 less goals.
Henderson runner up to ter Stegen despite having more clean sheets and winning more trophies.

Jan 2028 ... Borisov and Heymans subject to 160m plus bids ( PSG & Real) ...promises of trophies to keep them.

Real go after Asensio next (92m) ..he is keen on going despite winning more trophies this season.

Deal accepted ... Miles brought from loan at Bayer04 and will use Sessegnon/ Khalifa to cover.

I do not bring any players ..top spenders Liverpool & Arsenal but generally a quiet window.

After a tough run of games I finish with a narrow Carabao Cup Final victory over Spurs ..Greenwood the only scorer in a yellow card ridden foul fest.

I have 4 injured first team players so lowly Hammers may put a dent in our title charge.

After a tough domestic run...two International friendlies
Azerbaijan ( 72nd country faced) ...Rashford gets his 100th ( Paneka pen that almost fails) 101st ( Great free kick ) and 102nd to round of hat trick. Sessesgnon and Sterling seal the 5-0 win.

Bermuda ( Country 73) ...rotate to get all squad experience. Cook(23) Greenwood(29,35) Khalifa(45). Easy as expected ht 4-0
2nd half continues same way 8-0 ..Sterling scores again as sub.

Key part of season starts with losing to Stoke ( rested players) and with 7 games left ...1 point ahead of Saints who we play after a cup double header with Liverpool.
Fa cup semi ..win 3-0 ... Champions league QF ....win 2-0
Now the likely title decider with injuries biting....but Saints also suffering and win 3-0
2 days later and it’s Wolves ..and more injuries ....2-1 win and now 6 pts clear

Euro 2028 Draw .... England / Russia (31)Denmark(13) Poland (28)

Profit made ...Top Leicester £88m ...Utd are 5th £15m ...bottom Saints losing 96m

International League draw ..Spain (9) and Russia (31).

Injury ravaged and tired squad fall to a 2-0 Champions league sf away leg defeat to Saints.(Lose Greenwood / Rashford and day after Fritsche injured and ill).
Barcelona win 2-1 vs Man City.

I have 4 league games left ..need 1 pt and under 23 squad going to be used.( 4debuts made).
13th placed Fulham ... 6 new squad numbers and they help seal a 4th title in a row. Win 2-0

City win 4-1 to beat Barca 5-3 agg
Goal in 3 mins and level on 18 mins ..Tal gets his 3rd goal of the tie and it’s 2-3 agg at half time
55 mins and level on agg ..95th winner from sub Fritsche.

A late Leicester goal against Liverpool means Man City take last champions league spot
United / Saints ...a distant 3rd Spurs and finally City./Liverpool/Everton/Arsenal.
Burnley / West Ham and WBA relegated.

Cup Final ..Utd vs Chelsea..... Outplay O’Neils Chelsea and Win 3-0. (Rashford & G.Fernandes 2)

ECC Utd vs City ...No Mbappe ....0-0 ht. Greenwood scores(46) and immediately Fernandes sent off ..10 mins later it’s 10 vs 10 ....hang on for a 1-0 win.
Porto see off Spurs in Europa cup.

Greenwood ECC golden boot (8) Henderson (Keeper award) Halom (def) Khalifa ( for)...odd given Greenwood goals.

Man Utd (139m) Watford (13m) only teams to make a transfer profit. Spurs lost (157m)

Wages to Turnover City top 58% Utd (16th) 37% and Saints (20th) 25%

English Footballer of Year & Players Player & Young Player ....Borisov
Top Scorer ..Torben Jensen (24) Saints
Golden Glove ..Henderson
Manager . I win 5th in a row and 6 th in 8 years
Team of Year .....United (6) Saints (3) City(2)
Fans player ...North. Goal ..Felix ..Signing Halom..Youngster ..Borisov
Best Player in Europe ...Khalifa

Title Winners ..SV Werder break Bayern (6th) streak of 15 titles. PSG win again. Celtic regain...1984 another team other Celtic/rangers won in Scotland...Milan first title since 2010.
Barcelona pip Real Madrid.

I am thinking of a new challenge .. was going to be Germany ... now torn between ending French or Scottish dominance....will decide after Euros.

Minor injuries ahead of 3 easy warm games ( countries 74-76 faced) and then the Euros.

England vs Bhutan ..(5-0 ht) ..Win 8-0 ..Tal hat trick
England vs Botswana ..Full rotation ..(4-0 HT)..Win 6-0 Sterling ( 156 caps with 79 goals ) & Rashford ( 130 caps and 104 goals) both get 2

England vs Bolivia..... Gomez (125th cap)..(3-0 HT)..Win 7-0...minor Sessegnon injury

Just b4 Euros..PSG unsettle Borisov with 103m offer ..he sulks ... how he can win awards and trophies and then sulk is beyond me ...time for a new club challenge.(Elsewhere Spurs are offering 197m for a world class midfielder).

Euros
England vs Russia. ( Ironically vs a annoyed Borisov & new country faced 77) ...Sterling (6/13) Sancho(90) 3-0 win
N.Ireland hold France and Wales get a point...then beat Ukraine & Cyprus to qualify Top.

England vs Denmark ..Top 2 in the group ...0-0 ..var rules out 3 goals. I risk sanctions by saying the decision by officials cost us...I get my second warning.
Scotland get first points hammering Romania.

England vs Poland...Rashford dropped for Tal ....Tal (6) Foden(13/39) Jones (73) ..qualify with Russia

Germany beat Scotland to set up a clash with England in the next round.

England vs Germany ..up against 2 of my young stars ....0-0 but all England in the first half. The subs combine Tal fouled ..Alli penalty (67) to win 1-0 but should have been more comfortable.

Shock result sees Ukraine(rank 21) see off Croatia (8th)
Swiss(14) beat Italy (12)
Turkey(51) beat Wales(27) biggest shock
France (2) beat Scotland (48).... we get France
Spain (9)beat Russia (25)
Portugal (6) beat Sweden (45)
Holland(5) beat Denmark (13)

Euro QF ...England vs France ( My 150th game in charge)
Time to avenge the 5-1 drubbing last time we played. Both teams have identical tactics.
Ht 1-0 France against run of play ..hit bar and post and Alli penalty saved.
Sterling(50) Khalifa hits bar 118th minute and it’s penalties. Four times we hit woodwork.
Not to be ... lose 4-3 on penalties...Rashford/Garner and North all miss.

Savaged by the Press for losing too World Number 2.

Job status ...very insecure.

9th July 2028...Season 11

Portugal win the Euros.

The teams awful performance per the media sees me sacked after Winning 2 x World Cups ..2 x Euros and 4 x Euro International Leagues Won 134 Drew 9 Lost 7 ( 2 on pens)

Replaced by Slaven Bilic from Bournemouth .

I apply for the Brazil job...annoyed I turned them down b4 ..they hire Melo without telling me.
There are 12 countries needing managers ..no offers and I am 5/star rated.

Borisov has stopped sulking and wants to stay.

North bid rejected from Barcelona.

Preston tie up ends after they get promoted ...replaced with Notts Forest

Spurs Top for match day income (123m) United second (105) other end Brentford (11)

Rashford has his testimonial vs Wolfsburg ...a dour 1-0 win. 398 league games and 175 goals plus 42 assists. 24 player of the match . 134 caps and 104 goals.

I’m going to play the Community shield and Super Cup and the decide on staying.

0-0with Saints before North misses another penalty ... Saints win 5-4.

Rashford scores in 12secs vs Bournemouth ..my fastest goal on any FM game I believe.

Win the Euro Super Cup ...quick fire Rashford double sets up 3-1 win vs Porto.

Hall of Fame
Worldwide ...Guardiola Top ( 6140pts) ...I am second ( 5194)
Continent Guardiola / Ferguson and then me.
Nation ..Ferguson (3123) and then me ( 1830)
Nationality ..Me first ( 5194) Paisley second.

I need a new challenge so will resign.

PSG manager goes to United ..I’m leading candidate ... no other team despite saying I would do lower leagues or abroad come near.

Interview has concerns on lack of language skill and only managing 2 clubs and never abroad.

Takes 2 weeks but get the job

I’m back with Ba/Upamencano/Asensio / Pogba and Chiesa I sold previously.

I meet the squad in International week ..Only 6 players to talk too.

I’ve played many FM games .... my first time with a French team.

No goalkeeping coaches and transfer window missed. In fact coaching is poor in general.

This team would not make Top 4 in Premier League and can see why they do not win Champions League ...a lot of rebuilding to do

16 yr old Blanc scores on debut and next league match 15/yr old Martin not allowed under league rules

35yr old Pogba taken off transfer list and my player of the month in a October.
Top Champions League Group with a game to play ( Possibly the worst two bottom teams I have ever seen in Besiktas and Kiev who have been thrashed by both us and even worse Southampton Who have hit 7 and 10 vs Kiev and 9 against Besiktas) qualification secure and Monaco/ Lyon keep dropping points in the league.
Board will not back my request to get Mbappe ..at odds with their own demands of star signings ... I will persist with this.

Martin makes his debut later than I wanted due to a u19 match clash ...bottom club FC Metz the opponents ..gets a booking ..but a new record youngest player at 16 years 5 days ...3 days later than I wanted. Blanc on his 17th birthday sets up our second goal.

Turns out this beats the league record of 16yrs and 9 days as well as the PSG record.

Don’t play whilst distracted ...forgot subs and got hammered 3-0 by Marseille ...not gone down well.

The French league has a Joker transfer window ... may sign 1 player from a French club....I have learnt something new.

Jan window ...Mbappe worth 82m ( 30 yrs old and Injury issues) .. pay over the top £100m
Funding this by getting shot of unhappy back up keeper / Midfielders
In June I will get rid of a number of the 40plus on loan.
Meanwhile Pogba & Milinkovic-Savic contract extended .. been superb.
Juventus linked with back up winger Guedes who I sold to PSG some time ago !

Window shuts ..Guedes stays ...and after a slow start ..Mbappe starting to score regularly .

I reach 700th game as Manager having qualified for next seasons Champions League with 9 games left.

Game 700 is vs Inter Milan (away in Champions League ) ..0-0 after home leg.
Mbappe (3) gets away goal before injury (47) ..win 1-0

700 games won 563 drawn 79. Lost 58. For 2021 against 447. Cups 31 leagues 6

Youth intake gives me a 14 yr old ... never happens in England. But can not be used in any competition in France we play in until 16.
Coupe de la Lihue bkt vs lower division Nimes ( they are doing well in both cups).

4-0 at half time as big guns shine upfront ..my first French trophy awaits ..5-0 as we ease off .

Next up Man Utd in QF of Champions League whose former PSG manager says my success is undeserved ..I’m ranked Hall of Fame 2 ...he is ranked 7.

Battle of two keepers not conceding ... Greenwood (32) (92) break my spirit ( I had 7 former Utd players play).Woodwork hit 3 times !
Lose at home to St.Etienne .. OL draw then lose so championship a step closer
Draw at United to go out 3-1 ..... press say we were Underdogs but board are unhappy.
19th place Metz await ..a win for the title ( 33/38 matches played) ..Asensio gives us 1-0 ht lead. Asensio second and sub Bumbac seal the Title.
I’m going to use more youngsters in last 5 games.....They come from 3 down to draw 4-4 vs AMIENS.

My former sides make it to the ECC final. Utd are again champions of England with Saints 2nd.
Saints win the Fa Cup
They then beat Utd in extra time to take the Champions League for the first time.
Everton vs Arsenal in Europa league as English clubs sweep the final spots.( Everton winners)

French cup won and 2 of the youngsters get on as subs in a 3-0 win over Rennes...a cup run that had penalty shoot outs and extra time wins to get to the final.
Rennes sack the manager who came 5th and runner up in cup.
Board seem forgiving of champions league exit.
Pogba decides to retire ... I have asked him to reconsider ..
Elsewhere Mbappe helps France beat England in International League semi final with 2 goals.

Season 12..2029/30

England under Slaven Bilic win there first Confed Cup.

At PSG I get back all the loan players and decide who to keep / sell / loan again.

Australia and Mali international roles available .. tempted to win a different international tournament.

I apply for both and not fail ... not best candidate despite Hall of Fame rank of 2.... both go homegrown.

Trophies de Champions ... come from 1-0 down at HT ...Mbappe hat trick secures 3-1 win.

Transfers ... 3 in ( two free from Barcelona and a German wonder kid 67m).
... 9 sold. 1 released . 19 loaned out.

After a great start ..draw with Juventus and lose twice in the league ...offered a new contract !
Job secure despite finishing 3rd in group after 3-2 home loss to Juventus .
Squad injury ravaged as Mbappe broke arm and 4/first team injured short term .

17 matches in ..PSG 45pts OM 43pts OL 38pts ... play OL next..... trusting my 18 yr old Blanc over former UTD wonder kid Ba to replace Mbappe.... Ba is incosistenand why I sold him when I got to Utd previously.

Mbappe back with 5 in 2 games and Ba demands a transfer ... Watford linked with 92m bid

Cska Moscow in Europa draw.
Back up squad dominate Rennes in BKT trophy .. but from 1-0 in 85th min draw 1-1 and lose the penalty shoot out...almost transfer window time.

Thrash CSka 7-1 on agg and 4 pts clear of OM despite losing to them again with 29games played.

QF vs Dortmund awaits.( home leg 2-0) (away ..7 goals in first 24 mins ..2-5 win and 7-2 on agg)

OM and OL take points of each (32played) ..now 7pts clear with a game in hand as I reach game 100 vs LOSC. (W78 D11 L10)

1st minute goal is a wonderful start ..and Milinkovic-Savic gets his his second after 11.
Mbappe on 17 has probably sealed it. Win 4-0

OM drop points again and 6 pts from title... 2 games later and my Second and PSG’s Thirteenth title in a row.

Elsewhere Saints just gone ahead of Utd with 5 games left.
Utd and City through to Champions League SF ( Utd hammer OL)joined by Saints and Barcelona both pull off a remarkable 2nd leg comeback vs Atletico/Schalke.

Europa sees more English teams dominate ..last years finalists Everton & Arsenal joined by PSG and Leipzig .

Arsenal vs PSG .
Everton vs Leipzig

Lose on pens in the cup to OM ... 3 losses to them this season.

European semi finals start with Saints and Utd ahead in their first legs.
PSG win home leg 2-0 over Arsenal and Everton draw 1-1

Titles in England / Spain and Germany all too tight to call.

Away goal puts us 3 up but Arsenal score 3 with 5 mins left before Mbappe calms the nerves with a 4-3agg win.
Everton win 3-1 to reach the final as defending champions.

Champions league is a repeat of Saints vs Utd.

United pip Saints to the title by 3pts
Barca pip Real by 2pts
Rangers cruise Scottish title...33 years of Glasgow domination.

PSG vs Everton ( 1st Europa Final ). International call ups take players away !
Milinkovic-Savic injured early (18) Asensio soon after.
Half time 0-0
Full Time 0-0
Extra Time 0-0 ..dreaded penalties ..Everton retain their trophy 7-6

Mbappe wins European player of the year

But I need a new challenge and resign.

Season 13

 

I take on my biggest challenge and join Aberdeen… no trophies in 6 years and no team outside of Rangers or Celtic have won the league since 84/85.

 

Both United and PSG have had the dons as a feeder team so hoping to get loans to offset lack of budget.

 

3rd biggest stadium but finished 6th last season 38 pts off top spot.  Ranked behind Hibs who won a cup final  / Motherwell / St Johnstone who made a cup final and both Glasgow clubs .

 

Will look out for an international team as World Cup tends to see many vacancies…forgot to apply and 10 teams went to 1 in 5 days.

 

Opening league fixture ..home to Dundee Utd .

Board expect Top Half finish and QF performances in both cups.

Players want European football.

 

Transfers 

Sold ….Reed (35yrs and on 3.3k) frees up wages and budget in kitty boosted.

             Monteiro (30 yrs on 7.5k) ..this gives me scope to sign a player…until 2 signings made before I joined arrived on 1/7/30

4 went before I arrived .

Turton poached by former manager McInnes to Millwall.

 

In .. 3 free signings b4 I joined 

…. I arrange for 4 loan signings using my favourite status with young players from Utd and PSG who i had set up feeder status with over the years…this allows me to keep budget under control and move on older players with limited pace and higher wages.

 

4-2-3-1 set as my tactic …. lacking a defence minded midfielder and 1 wing back.

 

Win opening friendly 10-0 vs Cambridge City

 

Free signing Prunty from Celtic out of 2 months and has an attitude when speaking too him.

 

my loan signings are :

BBM .. Bruyninckx ( 21) … no league appearances for United ..had a good loan spell under me at Rochdale

and had 3 cup games under my management.

AMR …Perkovic (19) … no appearances for United 

AMC …Palmer (18) ..( 1 cup and 3 sub appearances) 

Striker ..Ithurralde ..made his debut under me at PSG as 3rd choice striker ..6 sub appearances 

 

Free loans from link up only way to stay in budget … I could spend but have no wage cap left.

 

i think a cup run and top half is possible with these signings.

 

Betfred Cup sees my Aberdeen debut vs Cowdenbeath…Perkovic (8) with my first goal..Win 4-0 with 3 loan signings and a free transfer on as sub getting the goals.

11 changes for Montrose …Win 3 -0 and some depth in squad shown.

Rotate back for Dunfermline and Palmer gets his first goals. Win 6-0

11 changes again for Stirling Albion ..Win 5-0

 

Next …Hamilton from championship in last 16 ( Neil Lennon ..another former Aberdeen mgr)

Win 2-1

St.Johnstone next and board expectation met of a QF….lead twice but go out on penalties after a 3-3 thriller.

St.Johnstone match real life today (beating Livingston 28/2/21) by beating Rangers on pens ( 1st Dec 30).

 

Having those initial 4 competitive matches pre the league has been very useful to sort out a 22 man squad.

in the World Cup England beat Uruguay 6-0 in the semi final ! ….Italy next.

England aet to retain the World Cup I won in 2022/2026

Pep takes charge of Olympic Lyon.

 

Perkovic early form makes him favourite to be best player & young player… other 5 from the Big 2 for top player……I think they are wrong.

 

St.Mirren manager says we will be relegated … the rivalries have started .

Livingston Mgr Moyes says the same after 8 games with Aberdeen top on 19pts and Livingston bottom with 1 !!

 

Sell out for Dundee Utd ….quizzed why Aberdeen lose opening fixture regularly .

 

1min 50 seconds to open the scoring ( Ithurrade) ..Perkovic (12) as my league campaign starts like a dream.

89 min goal for Dundee Utd but we hang on.( Aberdeen had no wins in last 7 league matches).

 

Hearts look to break their transfer record with  a £1 mill  bid for McKenzie 

 

St.Mirren next in manager grudge match ..( Kennedy was Aberdeen mgr for 1 yr before being sacked in 2028)

 

Come from 1-0 to win 4-1 …looking forward to the press conference .

 

Yohan Benard offered by agent for loan by PSG … with injuries striking I accept. ( i gave him his PSG debut and another as sub )

Young Icelandic left back signed as Prunty keeps getting injured….Only signing to cost money £12.5k

 

Great Start ends … despite 61% possession hammered 3-0 at Ibrox….Rangers go top.   Celtic go top a few games later after also taking their chances to win 3-0.

 

5 key players now injured as we struggle stay in the Top 4 after 13 matches. ( Hearts up their ). Celtic unbeaten….get some back but lose 2 more.

 

Dec 2030 ….. My transfer budget is 1.34m and I have 7.79k wages available.

The press are saying do I wish to buy Perkovic …value £26m and on £60k !

 

Gone defensive for Rangers at home ….they are 8 pts behind in third …seems it’s onply us that can’t beat them currently ….Ithurralde scores on the hour …Palmer against the run of play adds a late 2nd and finally I beat a Glasgow giant.

Back to earth as Kilmarnock outplay my tired and injury deprived squad.

 

With the transfer window approaching 3 players have said they want new challenges …Jan will be busy .

 

21/12/21 and Celtic finally lose (Hibs) in their 18th match ..we close the gap to 1pt but played a game more.

 

Game 800 as a manger vs St.Johnstone who I wanted to manage but the job wasn’t available.

 

Played 799 Won 636 Drawn 90 Lost 73.  For 2275. Against 526.  Leagues 8. Cups 34.  Win 2-0

 

Rangers beat Celtic … 20 games gone and 1 pt gap still but level on games played.

 

Game 21 ..home to Celtic …go defensive again as I did to beat Rangers ..Palmer pen after half time gives me hope of a famous win … but not to be and a late equaliser stops the Dons being top as 2031 starts.

 

Transfer window :

Liveston bid from Hamilton (gk)below value and rejected ( have promised to sell ! )…Barnsley bid 275k

Edwards goes to Charlton.

2 players bid For by Hamilton as less than 6 months on contracts.

Stoke after Coyle ( injury prone no1 keeper)…that could be both Keepers taken as both want a move now.

Blackburn come in with promised amount bid so Im left hoping my number 3 keeper can step up.

Free signing Steven Evans in …fans underwhelmed.( replaces Edwards)

Sign Vural with 5 months on contract left for 57k ( I gave him his debut 3 yrs ago) but frozen out at United ever since I left. Cover for midfield.

Loan for Bernard converted to a buy…free up a loan spot.

Sign Dutton ..makes his professional debut as sub in 2-2 draw at Hibs.

 

 

Vural / Evans and reserve keeper Simeri make debuts in come from behind revenge cup win over St.Johnstone.

 

Draw to let Celtic go 5 pts clear .. they lose to Rangers but from 2-0 can not hold on when injuries leave us 10 against Ayr .. 4 instead of 2 pts behind.

Robbed vs Hearts of a goal …drawn 5 of last 6 matches ..Celtic 6 clear after 26 matches

 

Press ask why I’ve used 28 players ……constant injuries ..2 more vs Hearts.

 

Hamilton again in the other cup competition ….( Lennon has been sacked) ..Won 3-0 16yr old Baxter makes his debut at Centre Back / Scott 18yr old makes debut in Goal.

3 injured away to Rangers ..go down 2 nil and drop to third …Celtic 9 pts clear of Rangers/ Dons .

 

Despite a decent season and a £3.5m profit from transfers … the board have to inject £4m quid into the club to avoid receivership and we are cash strapped …. I just hope I can loan again from Utd/PSG to keep costs down next season.  I will sell reserves and work with U18 squad only in reserve team.

 

31 games in …. qualified for Euro Cup.  32 games and Celtic lose ..4 point gap ..

Aberdeen reserves win first cup in 13 years ( only 1 previous final)

 

Match 33 and I final beat an out of form Celtic …2-0 away ..Rangers draw 

Celtic 74 Aberdeen 73 Rangers 69 …. at one point I was down to third in the first half before late goals…. could I nick a title I had thought out of range 6 games ago.

 

Beat Hibs 2-0 and 10 man Rangers beat Celtic 1-0 in the cup semi finals.

 

Title challenges crashes after Palmer sent off and lose at Rangers …it’s almost Celtic Title as Scotland continues to be the most predictable league in the World .

 

Cant get loans to resign so far .. hoping European football attracts them.

 

Lose to Kilmarnock and it’s the Big 2 who will win the title ( 3 pts in it)… tired squad rotated and no cutting edge.Draw at Hibs and Celtic thrash Rangers to take the title. ( There main players have played 14 more games than us but fully fit !?)

Lose final game to Celtic despite outplaying them to end up 3rd.

Going to look at going 4-3-3 next season

 

Southampton win in England 

PSG in France

Bayern in Germany

 

Scottish Cup Final and all fit for a change….not won this trophy since 1990

Go positive and Ithurralde scores (68) before shutting up shop and (87) he adds another….WIN 😀🥃

Rangers were missing two key players and it made the difference .

 

Awards

Perkovic fans player of the year( also young player)

 

I win Scottish Football Writers manager of the year.

Jardim (Rangers) beats Perkovic to Player of the Year

Perkovic wins young player

Perkovic runner up for goal of the year.

 

I rank winning the Scottish Cup just behind the Southampton League win on this save and on par with my old Leeds cup win when it was pre premier league and I was Division 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 14

 

Linked with vacant Man Utd job ( they do not approach and hire Porto manager)… but feel unfinished business at the Dons.

 

10 in ( I have been scouting young talent whose contracts are ending)..includes 3 loaners from United ( Gale/Hickman and Oliver)

Dunfermline who were promoted have 12 new signings.

 

10 sold …1 released  and 5 loaned out….Change of formation means I do Not require wingers.

 

Switching to back up 4-3-3 formation for the season .  Mainly because none of the loan signings are returning. United want lots of money for a second season (Perkovic/Palmer/Bruyninckx)and Ithurralde turned us down despite First team football and Europa league.( Later linked with St.Johnstone who finished lower in the league and joins them)….they have a higher rankings currently in Scotland than the Dons.

 

Dundee Utd opening premier fixture again ..new formation sees 4 first half goals.( Celtic have shock loss at St.Mirren). Hickman who I bought And gave United debut in 27/28 season scores twice. Gale & Oliver also made their United debuts in the cup under me but have not broken into first team since.

Win despite 10 men for large portion of the match vs Hearts …Celtic draw and Rangers lose.

 

Win in the cup despite rotating but Celtic knocked out as they have horror start to the season.

 

Playing Celtic who have gone very defensive under the new manager ..Win 4-0 and I suspect Roberto Di Matteo will not last long ( Celtic 11th place now)…I think they have financial issues as a number of players sold including on the transfer window shutdown.

 

Euro Cup draw reasonable ..Schalke toughest test.

 

Wins away at Rennes ( familiar foes ) and surprisingly home to Schalke have set up a chance of progressing. 
oddly Schalke was the first time being slightly less offensive ( balanced) worked well for the new tactic .

Amazing win away at AZ …Hickman scores 6 with Suanes( 4 assists) … win 2-8……. just didn’t see that coming.

Beat Rennes at home to secure qualification .

 

Return leg 7-0 and Hickman doesn’t score …..The worst side I have faced in Europe in 14 seasons

Secure a 6/6 wins ….away at Schalke who fall apart chasing a win once Rennes came from behind against AZ.

£511k per win has brought in over £3m so far this run …plus 897k for topping the group…184k tv revenue.

 

League … St.Mirren end our perfect start with a tough fought draw … W7 D 1 … 2 pts clear of Rangers.

 Massive win at Ibrox and I’m beginning to hope I’ve found a way to break Glasgow domination ….Celtic continue to struggle .

 

Betfred Cup secured by going from attacking to balanced to see off an average Rangers 3-0

 

England manager seen looking at 4 of my English recruits

 

Game 19 … my more defensive style out possessions Rangers again and win 3-1 … 11 points clear …Celtic are getting better and up to 6th and no panic sacking .

 

Almost gave up on save when I couldn’t upload records ..this is an attempt to break many FM19 records but will need many more seasons for all the career ones.

 

Rangers and Celtic stuttering form has me 14 pts clear after the transfer window in Jan 32… added just the one Serbian striker ..talented youngsters but whilst I have a better budget …Scottish League rep and wages are an issue…late on add a right full back Min-Soo

 

 Celtic finally sack Di Matteo after 20 games … they hire Mulgrew who holds Rangers and helps extend my lead to 16 pts over them…25 pts ahead of Celtic who have only won 10/22 this season.

 

47 years of Glasgow titles is now under threat….. my next challenge may be an English team who have never won the league ( only Saints -3 and United 8) have won since 2020.   Bristol City are an option going forward…but they are doing well in League 1 so probably not available .

 

Europa first knockout and one of my best European nights 

 

Roma 3 vs Aberdeen 4 …hat tricks on both sides and came back from 3-2 down. Hickman again the Star just wish he would join as his contract is ending …may change if we secure the title and Champions League.

 

Rotating tired Squad before second leg fails ..lose to Motherwell (10th) but Rangers are held at St.Mirren so little damage to title hopes.

 

Aberdeen vs Roma…6 mins gone and Roma level tie (4-4) ..just before HT Hickman makes it 5-4 agg.

new signing Mitrovic makes it 2-1 on 79mins and I can finally relax. Cooper  seals the win 3-1 ( 7-4 agg)

 

On a night Benfica / Liverpool / PSV / Lyon and Rangers …all get eliminated ..this is a great result and one I will look back on as special.

 

Next Round …Athletic Bilbao

 

Rangers lose for the 6th time in a shock at lowly Dundee Utd …we beat St Mirren to go 18 points clear ( Aberdeen played 26 Rangers 27)

Celtic Beat Rangers next match and 10 changes see off lowly Ayr to extend the gap too 21pts

Rangers lose in the cup and sack Steve Clarke…win next 3 matches .

 

Home vs Bilbao … Cooper (24)  starts me dreaming …Bilbao seems to want a kicking contest …we win 1-0 …..Bilbao 6-1 on yellow cards.

New gate receipt record of £775k

Elsewhere top of tables in Germany and France sees Dortmund beat OM.

 

Bottom placed Dunfermline … I rotate all and name 6 U18‘s subs including 4 just taken through intake.

Goal down in 23 seconds but 3 second half goals in five minutes and it’s time for the 15yr olds.

4 debutants and qualify for Champions League.  
Brad Mair becomes our youngest ever player  at 15 years 253 days  ( 23 days younger than Premier Record and 167 days younger than Dons record).

 

Euro (2nd leg) ..Cooper & Gale and its (3-0 agg at HT)..Cooper again and it’s a 4-1 agg win.

Lazily next.

 

Full rotate again ..have loaned in Omar Mebarakou to break youth record on a short deal with view to. It for my U18.  I noted you get 14 yr old intakes in France but they can’t play.( 6 pts needed for the title)

Bozak gets his first goal and Mebarakou comes on after 60 mins.

Win 2-1 vs Ayr.     Record broken at 14 yrs and 220 days For club & league.

 

Hibs next and on the verge of the title after 47 years …. looking back the awful Celtic start and a change Of formation set up the chance .

Loanees have all fired and got it right in January with striker / full back cover as injuries struck and bringing back loaned out players to add cover , especially GrIgoras who is able to play in many positions without dropping performance.

 

Press say Suanes not scoring befor kick off …. 2 mins in he converts the penalty…(30mins) his second….I had said I had faith 😀…hat trick stopped by an offside ……But we are champions with this 2-0 win …well not quite but Rangers need to win all ..we lose all and overturn 25 goals….oh and Rangers next After the International break.

 

Missing a full back away with Korea for the away game at Rangers …a point will do it and we have won the last 4 meetings .

 

1-0 …1-1 ..2-1 down at half time…. I go more attacking for the second half ..attacking subs and equalise on 78 mins through Suanes. ..back to balanced and hold on for the point 🍾🍾🍾

 

Back in International Management ….Ivory Coast … never managed an African team in the many versions I have played of FM.

 

Rotation fails away at Celtic who score 4 in the second half to win 4-1….but it does pay off as a rested first team beat Motherwell in the cup SF

 

Money wise its 28k to win a Cup semi …..but I’m pulling in 500k minimum in Europe.

 

100th Aberdeen game ..rotation again before Lazio ….get a 1-1 draw but deserved more.

 

Lazio Europa QF ….away goal against run of play  Suanes(22) ..go defensive but Lazio level. Then 2-1 b4 we level on HT.  Hold on 2-2.

 

Return leg and Gale back from suspension…Hickman (10) …1-0 HT and 3-2agg…even contest… Vural(53) makes it 2-0 and dreamland Cooper against a Lazio side pushing makes it 3 and we win 3-1 ( 5-3 agg)…£1.34m prize money is handy .

 

Hickman still not interested in signing with 3 months left on his expiring Man Utd contract and we have Champions League next season .

 

Aberdeen vs Dortmund (SF) … Hickman scores and 1-0 half time….hold until 81st min ….ends 1-1 and VAR stops it being worse.

 

Dortmund vs Aberdeen ..last time I had Mbappe when i beat Dortmund with PSG in the Europa QF.

 

1-0 down at half time ..time to attack ….gets worse and 2-0 …4-0 chasing the game before a late Hickman consolation.

 

Old foe Simeone ( Athletico and Spurs) will have an all German final …which he Wins vs Bayer04

 

My Jan signings and loaned player brought back do not show as winning the league despite 10 plus appearances? Reserve keeper also no award but may be only 9 appearances….gets a tenth and no sign.

 

I am Manager of the Year … Kilmarnock 2nd & St Johnstone 3rd …shows a bad season in Glasgow …they will only come second and third in the league ! Also win Writers award ( Hearats/ St.J)

 

Not bad for a squad with only 5 players with senior International caps 33/14/8/2/2…one of those capped this season.

 

Europa exit has flattened the squad ..Mitrovic ten without a goal and get held 0-0 by St.J.  Eleven after 1-1 with Celtic.

Heparts last game of the league ..find form before cup final…..6 first half goals do that …sub Mitrovic fails again.

 

Hickman still not interested in joinIngs and 2 weeks left on his Man U contract…but he was the Europa top scorer & player of the season.

He is also named Scottish Golden Boot.

 

Scottish Cup Final ..and Celtic are favourites 🤯…can we win back to back Scottish cups ..media are doubting it…Celtic winning 42 cups must be the basis of this….. surprisingly no injuries in week leading up to the game.

 

Straight Red afterwards 7 mins …Suanes converts pen…dream start to the domestic treble…another on (21) ..Hickman(34) ..3-0 half time.

Hickman(47) …Mitrovic on to end his drought ….not to be but I’ll take the win 4-0.

 

Season Round up …. Brilliant effort …loans worked and right decisions in Jan window. Lucky Celtic started so slowly .

 

3rd most players used ..28.

88% ground capacity 25872.

Club made a £86.7m profit ..mainly Euro earnings…..get taxed £7.25m

El Armani pips Hickman to best player Fans award plus signing and young player.

Back Campbell wins goal of the season….his only goal.

Simieri sets clean sheet record (23)

Hickman most Aberdeen goals/assists/Pom ….United have given him a new 4 year contract.    18/42 goals in the league 17 in Europe.

 

Players player and all Football Writers awards & Golden boot…Hickman 

 

Elsewhere

England …..United by 1pt from City ..Saints 4 adrift and Spurs miles back. Watford make Europe …Liverpool and big spending Leicester miss out.

Germany ..Bayern pip Dortmund by 1pt

France ..PSG well ahead of OM.

 

June 2032 ..loanees go back ….United want too much to bring Hickman back from initial negotiations .

 

Overall I have enjoyed breaking the Scottish monopoly on titles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 15…. June 2032.

 

My Ivory Coast journey starts with 2 friendlies….. failed with persuading 3 dual nationality players ..all pick France..only 1 has made their squad.

 

Aged squad and 2 retire before the fixtures.

 

Ivory Coast vs CAR ….Same 4-3-3 as Aberdeen …..Konan(3) for dream start. ..odd match they have more of the ball …we have 26 shots to nil and a 5-0 win. …debutant Konate scores….. also a record for lowest attendance ..not a great start from the fans. Both debutants declare how happy they are.

 

8 players released and 2 staff from scouting set up.

 

My first transfer bids are for players I have worked with Ithurralde (free)& Oliver( staged payments 3.2m but 1m will never be paid as will or make 20 England caps) ….. land both.

Warren sulks at refusal to sell to Liverpool ..agree a min 25m release

 

Aberdeen move up from 153 to 57th in European rankings ….United top despite Spurs winning Champions League

 

Ivory Coast vs Djibouti ….Konan(2) ..even quicker than last match ..hat trick in (34th)..7-0 at half time.

Finishes 13-0 ..Konan gets 5.  ( A new scoring record) No Time to train international teams …hence weak opponents to build momentum .

 

Konan for sale at 240k … I take the risk.

 

Warren release fee met so board agree to sell….. ( he moaned he wanted Liverpool and goes to Newcastle) I use the money to bid for a youngster at Fulham who did well on loan at Celtic.   Sale was an Aberdeen record ..helped that 3 clubs were bidding…£28m plus extras sets a Scottish record as well.

Pick up former don youngster McAndrew from Celtic.

Unsettled Kozak returns to Croatia.

 

Gale comes back on loan from Man Utd.

 

I kept getting messages to improve depth of attackers last season from squad ..despite record goals …sign some defenders ( 1 ready for Warren going) and its …I’m worried they are signed to replace me !

 

Bid for 6 youngsters to boost my U18 squad…. get most.

 

Board expects …Final of both cups ..win the league and Group stages of Champions League …..I’m getting sacked .

 

Hire Scholes for the third time ( Utd and PSG)

 

Scotland knock out Wales & England plus favourites France before losing the Euro Finals in extra time to Spain.

England sack World Cup & Confed Cup winner Bilic….Patricio of Stoke takes over.

 

Season starts with 3-1 home win over Hibs ( Konan who scored in all 4 friendlies ..no goals and injured).

 

Rashford at 34yrs leaves United for Inter ( I failed with my loan bid) 

Season tickets up 1100

 

Im away for African Nations qualification and have persuaded someone to join us not France.

Zimbabwe (5-0 HT) ..Konan again main man.   Ends 5-1 and clear at the Top of the table.

Burundi..they park the bus..(2-0 HT and another 2 ruled out) ..Konan gets late goals ..Win 5-0

 

Last day of transfer window and with 4 hours to go PSG trigger our star defender El Amrani   £39.5m clause .. devastated .  It’s a Scottish and club record but leaves me no time to get a replacement.

Rangers top spenders . 
Fans unhappy with sale despite it being the clause and a high one plus Ferguson sale despite it being by his request .

 

Elesewhere Celtic have again started slowly with W0 D3 L1.  Rangers again main rivals after 4 games with there 10point haul…next up away at Celtic Park.

Celtic race 2-0 before a late comeback rescues a point …allowing Rangers to go level with the Dons after 5 matches.

 

Champions League sees me drawn with Man City / Barcelona & PSV …help !

PSV(a) to kick off theDons first ever Champions League fixture….a lack of pace at Centre Half to expose. All Dons first half but 0-0 (HT)… second half and 2 goals in first 7 mins are a proper reward for 70% possession …Cooper hat trick sees a fantastic 4-0 win ..matched by City over Barca.

 

Back to Back hat tricks for Cooper as he does a first treble against Dundee Utd…..Celtic lose again and are 9th ..no idea why they have gone so bad …they were very good against us for 75mins.

10 changes For St.Mirren in Betfred QF as squad are tired ..keep Cooper in to see if he can get 3 hat tricks in a row…he doesn’t and it takes a second half comeback to progress…Mitrovic finally scores in the 94th minute…an 18 match drought but many as sub.

 

After a tough 2-2 draw with Hearts ( Konan given pen for hat trick and missed it ) ..we were lucky Rangers lost to stay top By 1pt.

 

Next up Man City and the gulf in finances ….

 Aberdeen stats in Premier League.

1.Top earner on 25.5k per week. ( Celtic top earner £86k) 

2. Average wage £5525 … league average £6398

3. Average caps 5 …league 4

4.4 Current internationals …Celtic 9

 

Man City 17 internationals . Average 21 caps   Top earner on £400k per week …min first team salary 12k. Average £144k

 

I go balanced from Positive …does not work as I go a goal down in 65 seconds …2 down in 6 mins …pull one back from a corner ..HT 1-2

Gale equalises deservedly on 83 …only for a 91st min City winner.Ancelotti admits they were lucky.

New gate receipt record of £925k……Europe is the financial boost to move to compete with the Glasgow Clubs.

 

Southampton I have just noticed now play at the Matt Le Tissier Park ..and have attendances of 101513.

 

Game 900 is against Motherwell …. so far W 711 D 107 L 81 …..For 2534. Against 604    37 Cups & 9 Leagues. Bought 91 Sold 139

Grandolfo makes 150th league appearance ..need an 88th min penalty to win …thought the park the bus routine was going work.

 

African World Cup Qualification … 

Sierra Leone vs Ivory Coast … Konan has scored in six straight matches ..6-0 at half time but none for Konan…finishes 6-0 after a drab second half but young Sangare makes his debut.

Ivory Coast vs Madagascar ….Rotate a bit but not a strong squad of reserves. 8-0 and Sangare gets a hat trick.

Mitrovic gets first cap for Serbia….and scores.

 

Held 0-0 by St Johnstone before getting a lesson in finishing at home to Barcelona.(1-3)

 

Betfred SF ..make some changes and struggle to see off Hearts … needs an Extra Winner (3-2)..get Hibs who surprised everyone to beat Rangers.

Narrow win over St.Mirren who have taken points off both the Glasgow giants

then Continue to struggle with a hard fought draw with Rangers …(Forster makes 300th league appearance) but I am missing the goals Hickman scored last season ..Konan off form ..Mitrovic has 1 and Ithurralde not firing either.  Suanes  good in the league again and Cooper seems better in the cups.

Away to Barca is not making my fixture list easier .Klopp has just won manager of the month as well.

8 mins gone they take their only chance …3-0 down at half time…I clearly have players who don’t turn up on the big stage…can’t score when they go down to ten men.

Mitrovic goes in Jan ..on another goalless streak…5 hrs plus.

 

However sorry I feel for myself …Man City put 10 past PSV .

 

Held by lowly (9th) Hibs and Rangers go top …think my formation has been sussed and the lack of a potent striker.  Celtic and 10 new signings embedding and they are flying.

 

African Nations Qual ..Cape Verde (a) ..Kinnear to make debut ..trying to persuade anyone my scouts find to join our country.  3 up at HT.   Win 6-0 and hopefully Konan is getting goal rhythm back.

Zimbabwe (a) 1 up HT … Win 4-0

Elsewhere Egypt / Senegal / South Africa / Tunisia / DRC / Morocco / Mali & Algeria also won there groups with maximum 18 pts.

 

After beating bottom placed Hamilton its PSV and hopefully build momentum after a poor run of form. Mitrovic dumped in the reserves and will be sold ( 25 league appearances and 2 goals)(Head of Youth Develpoment immediately praises him)..  3-0 win and Europa league sealed .  Two wins useful before Betfred Final vs lowly Hibs.

 

Dani Alves ..Brazil legend …new Motherwell manager.(11th) ..wins first match.

 

Betfred Cup Final …A Turkish bid for a 3.2m player we have …40k offer !

 

Hibs goal up in (2) ..two up (34) …get level (57/59) but Hibs score (60) ..we have hit woodwork 4 times ..Suanes 3-3 on (89)

Extra Time ..Suanes ( 105) ..first time we have led …go very defensive and they make it 4-4 and pens.   Aberdeen win 5-4 on pens ….total relief.   Konan not only ended goal drought but got winning penalty …he missed his last one.

 

i can’t seem to get the balance right ..tactically I have no plan B and the AI has a plan for my 433.

not helped by strikers hitting posts and bars unlike last year where Hickman put away 40+ goals.

 

After Barca easily dispose of me in the Nou Camp we drop more points in the league( lose to Kilmarnock) … Hearts go second after beating Rangers giving me 2 games in hand to overhaul Rangers (1st) and Hearts (2nd) .. but after being 2 up on Celtic (4th) they hold us 2-2 with late goals.

Man City provides the shock of a comeback win …they then lose top spot in Premier league to Saints next match.

I hope the form and luck has changed ..go 1 down to Hearts and then 2-1 down … before scoring 4 in the last 10 mins to win 6-2.

 

As year is ending just top from Rangers but 4 teams in it.

 

I need to recall Dutton/ Souttar and sign a striker/midfielder who are good quality ..my reliance on youth prospects was fine but I have a bigger budget …wages are the greater issue..may need some expensive loans.

 

Nearly quit to take Rochdale job …. they are my favourite lower league club and I usually manage them …but I need to see if I can fight through and adapt …my first real challenge since taking over relegation threatened Saints at the beginning of this save.

 

Mitrovic will go as will Spencer / Campbell and possibly Grandoni…all moaning about playing time.

 

Beat Dundee Utd but then get held 2-2 by bottom of the table Motherwell ..thankfully Rangers are dropping points e.g. Losing to St.Mirren ….. I really need the transfer window .. thinking for adding 442 formation.

 

Narrow win over St.J ..has Aberdeen Top after 19 games with 40 pts ..Rangers who I play next on 39 points. Celtic 37  (22 Dec 2032)…Glasgow pair have played 20.

Rangers last 9 premier games is won 5 lost 4 .

Aberdeens historic record vs Rangers W8 D9 L31

Rangers start well but giveaway a pen and it’s 2 soon after ..Suanes of course who completes his hat trick on 40 mins.  Without him I would be 5th in this league . Goes 3-1 as I make subs but my own Ithurralde actually finds the net ..his first in the league.

 

Gets better as I see off St.Mirren …10 man Rangers draw and Celtic lose.

 

The Dons top by 6 pts and a game in hand as 2033 starts.( Perhaps I’m being hard on myself but it seems I’m there by the poor form of others ).

Reviewing list of contracts about to run out and Chelsea reject bid for Scottish International who rarely plays.

Trent AA turns me down as apparently 11th placed Liverpool and last won a trophy 8 years ago and not in Europe are too good a standard to leave for trophy winning and still in Europa League Dons.

 

Suanes wins European Golden Boy award.

Yang Min-Soo in Asian XI

 

4 debutants in the Cup plus Dutton and Souttar after loan Recalls in a new formation … ends 1-1 as again I can’t score the chances.

 

Kept with 4-2-4 after 5 wins …Celtic hold us to 1-1 and then an injury ravaged squad play Rangers (cup) ..3-0 up by HT ..the AI can’t work out my change of formation … win 4-0.

Europa league knockout vs Schalke next….4-2-4 is an issue with Dutton unable to be registered ..switch at half time to 4-3-3 and sneak a 1-0 away win.

Kept 4-3-3 and failed to scored despite dominating vs Dundee Utd ..however it is too good for Schalke …goal up in a minute , 2 up by half time ..3 up ( 4-0 on agg ) …but Schalke pull two back ..goals rain in Suanes ends with 4 goals and win 6-3 ( 7-3 agg).

 

Struggling to score in the league but Feyenoord on receiving end as cup contests go well ..3-0 in 2nd knockout.

 

6/3/33 … Aberdeen Pl29 ..64 pts.    Rangers & Celtic Pl30 ..58pts   Hearts & St.Mirren the surprises …St.Mirren over the old firm is why I am top despite 10 draws.

Moving to 4-2-4 has seen 5 clean sheets in last 6 ..was not expecting that …but only 7 scored …in the cups scored 14 in 4 .

Loan signing Frasanella has 5 cup and 1 league goal.

Allowing my contract to run down ..ends 31/5.

Quality of youth intake ok this year.

 

Feyenoord return ..injuries mean back to 4-3-3 within 6 minutes ..both loan signings injured by 21st…win 2-1 and through…both injuries are weeks.

Europa QF …Watford are my opponents ( avoid Arsenal / Chelsea )

 

In a week when Ancelloti left Everton for Real Madrid …. Fm19 in 2033 has him joining Real Madrid .

 

Ivory Coast .. issues with a player withdrawn and another refuses a call out ..he is booted from my National Pool.

Sudan in a friendly ..all about momentum ….win 4-0 ..expected more.

 

Beat Kilmarnock to reach cup final.

 

Game 33 …Beat Rangers with an 85th minute wonder strike …. 7 pts clear of Celtic who have won 8 in a row.

 

Europa QF ..Watford(a) …Behind twice …ends 2-2 …those away goals are useful.

 

Switch to 4-3-3 for home leg after injuries ..Watford have not won in last 4 games ..var awards them an early goal and its 0-1 at half time…they score from all 3 shots and Dons lose 1-3 and 3-5 agg..they nose to Napoli ion away goals in SF.

 

Title decider with Celtic …(4-2-4 back) ..1-1 ht despite dominated possession.2-2 as comeback twice then lead 3-2 before Celtic level with 3 mins left …then the drama of our 94th min winner from the sub .

Suanes breaks Hickman goal record with number 43 .. just as well as next best is 14 and on,y one other in double figures .Young centre half McAndrew has 9 ..my corner routine has worked well this season.

 

Hibs away for the title ..2 up quickly ..corner goal again  and keeper saves their penalty. Bad start tom2nd half as Bernard sent off…no difference as go 3-0 ….in fact Suanes reaches 50 league goals for the club overall as he hits a hat trick …end 3-5 and Champions again….despite Celtic getting a 90th min winner. St.Mirren beat Rangers again and they may not even get third.

 

Rotate vs St.Mirren and comeback to draw from 3-0 ..Frasanella 7 min hat trick.

 

Bayern have sealed German title.

Saints despite a loss to City just hold off United ( those 2 have won last 13 titles)

 

 

African Cup of Nations 2033 .. I get Algeria (33) Tunisia (48) and Zambia (87) we are 20th in the World.

 

Cameroon and South Africa are topped ranked African countries in the World 16/18.

 

Hearts Manager wins Scottish Players Manager of the Year…for coming 3rd.

 

Win Scottish Cup after 2-2 draw ….Suanes gets 50th of the season    Win 5-3 pen.

 

Not a bad way to finish with 10 days left on my contract……linked with Borussia Dortmund (5th) ..after Simeone sacked….not won the Bundesliga since 2011/12.

 

Awards .. Suanes Fans Player / Young player of the season.

Goal …de Koning.  
Signing ..McAndrew 

 

Scottish Writers Winner …Me 

Scot Wrinter ..Player …Grossi…also gets Young Player …I don’t agree 

Goal Scorer ..Suanes

 

Napoli win Europa League.

Psg ..mbappe inspires 4-1 win over Saints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 16

 

Starts with me out of contract and preparing for African Cup of Nations.

 

Friendlies first …all low key Ranked 150 ish opposition to build form.

IC vs Chad .. Win 4-0 ..need to finish better.

IC vs Ethiopia Win 6-0 ..Kobe first goal.

IC vs Eritrea Win 7-0 Kinnear first goals . N’Da first goal.

 

Job interview held with Dortmund…overlooked for it.  United job goes elsewhere and Atletico say it’s too late to apply…..all this and I am still no.2 behind Pep in Hall of Fame…..There hire lasted 169 days and looking at Mar 33 ..Poch is the mgr and doing very well.

StoKE job available ..they came 5th in Premier ..will they contact me ? They want Conte from PSG…he has just won Champions League…But they hire Van Bommell who finished 16th in Bundesliga.

 

Cup of Nations ..Holders are Cameroon.

 

First shock Zimbabwe beat Egypt …33 ranks higher.

 

IC vs Zambia ..weakest opponents to start ….Our ranking of 20 makes us 3rd best in Africa… Nando (15) for 1-0 HT lead. Gnolou(47) for dream start to 2nd half ..Nandi(87) puts it to bed ..Win 3-0.

Algeria and Tunisia draw there derby 0-0.

 

IC vs Algeria ..see saw match which ends in a 3-4 defeat…..Algeria were very good in attack And my centre half’s rated at 6.

 

IC vs Tunisia …This time we score after 2 mins ..again on (7) ..number 3 on (52) ..an o.g. Makes it nervous end ..Win 3-1 ..elsewhere Algeria hit 7

 

2nd Round ..get South Africa in a world ranking Top 20 clash…it seems we are now ranked 22 to there 16.  We have a record of 1 win 6 matches against them.

 

IC vs SA ..Cagey match 1-0 at HT ..end 1-1 … take our chances in extra time to win 3-1.

 

QF ..Going attack again as I did with SA.

 

IC vs Nigeria … easy 3-0 win with a new snake formation ( looks like a backward S) due to suspensions…took 3rd striker out and an AMR in. Moved Left full back to WBL.   mystery why Chukwueze not in team ( Celtic nemesis)

 

SF ..Tunisia again …Algeria in the other SF …clearly had the toughest group.

 

Kone (1) ..we do like an early goal against Tunisia ..Star of the tournament Ouattrara (23) Doumbia (46) with a dream start to 2nd half.  3-1 (64) ..go one up Top and crowd midfield…Win 3-1 

 

Final ..our 9th in the competitions history.( W4 L4)

 

IC vs Senegal …I’m pleased to avoid Algeria….Senegal are based on defence ..Scored just 7 goals and needed pens vs Ghana.

 

Algeria beat Tunisia to 3rd place.

 

Game has it all…1-0 down at half time …a dramatic sending off sees us 2-1 up with 1 minute left having scored what I thought was a winner (87) ..extra time and a penalty (Ouattara) plus counter attack goal (Konan)seal a 4-2 win.

 

39 shots to 6 as I went for it .

 

That is my first ever African Cup of Nations win in any of the many FM versions I have played.

 

Ivory Coast up to 14th in World Rankings …I’m hoping this Championship will allow me to attract those who are thinking France or IC. ( One does in Sept 2033)

 

My 9th International Trophy takes me Top in Hall of Fame .

 

No teams available to manage except USA ..tempted to win another trophy I haven’t won before but choose to stay .

 

Sept 2033 …African World Cup Qualifiers …We won first two games earlier.

IC vs Ghana …One sided and 1-0 HT…2-0 and it takes Ghana 85 mins for a shot…Win 2-0.

IC vs Sierra Leone …4 changes due to suspension risk …0-0 ht and lay into them ..Win 3-0

Move up to 13th in Rankings

 

Franck Bamba first to switch from France to IC ..3 others decline….all over 30 with no sign of playing for them.

 

IC vs Madagascar ( 136) away ..rest some players ..18 shots to nil ..but goalless …move 4-2-4 and sub Konan scores ..Bamba makes debut ..other Depode scores ..Win 2-0:and qualify For World Cup.

 

Ghana (39) vs IC ….Best XI play ..1 up at HT …win 3-1

 

A Peruvian has applied to play for us .

 

Reached Nov 2033 and not one club has approached me ..Dortmund are languishing in lower half of Bundesliga so that choice worked for them .

 

I decide to go for the Stockport job ( Top of Vanarama) ..their manager went to Aldershot in L2….also 2 month gap until next international after Iraq match.

 

IC vs USA (16) ..want to test myself for World Cup …USA playing 8 back behind half way ..one sided 4-1 HT ( 20 shots to 1) ..Loba makes his debut …win 4-1 …the USA were woeful for their ranking.

 

IC. vs Iraq …Diallo 50th cap ..easy win …5-0

 

I have sort of done my managerial career backwards ..started with England then UTD / PSG before moving down reputation to the Dons and now looking at Vanarama Stockport.

 

Takes 10 days but I get an interview …job is mine …( lost last 2 matches) .they are now 5th in Vanarama. 150th year anniversary of being founded.

 

Only an Asst Mgr and a Chief Scout as staff.

 

At least I get lowly Chorley for opening fixture ..Youngster Beeney scores winner on debut.

FA Trophy draw is former league club Blackpool.  
 

Beat Blackpool (13th) 1-2 away and then 1-0 home in FAT ..helped by 3 loan signings who joined between matches.

 

4k over wage budget ..need to sell and pick up free loans 

 

World Cup Drawer … Haiti (78) and you couldn’t write it ..Scotland(22)

 

CHAN squad wants only domestic ..I go on hols for 1 day as unable to pick a squad (IC)…first time I have used holiday in 16 seasons.

My squad is mainly greyed out players and I’m stuck with them for two friendlies and a competition.

 

My fullback (IC) wins young African footballer …senior squad not in Top 3 African players.

 

Morecombe (19th) next as I am lucky with low level opponents ..0-3 away win.

Kidderminster (22nd)…Tough 2-1 win.

Dagenham (5th) first real test ..3 up HT …win 4-0 and with Boreham Wood dropping points again we are 4 pts clear. Had 3613 crowd .

 

Striker Reece is player of the month ..I get Manager of the Month .

 

Jan transfer window …need to sell .especially Colback who is sulking and moaning to the press…tells me he has given so much to the club ..played 1 season.

Coback is wanted by Everton & Motherwell ..why is beyond me ..Motherwell take him .

Get a fourth loanee and after a fullback

 

See off Macclesfield field in the derby and on a good run.

FAT ..destroy Hereford with a faultless performance.

Next round Eastleigh and make a lot of changes to maintain League Title tilt ..Win 1-4

IC vs China with 18/23 greyed out and uncapped . Squad has 39 Caps and 5 goals in total….lose 3-1.

 

IC vs Morocco …Surprisingly win 3-1

 

Competition starts ..Holders South Africa

 

DRC vs IC …no records produced for greyed outplayers ..no form or tactical from friendlies …very difficult to manage.

 

Win one sided match 0-3

 

IC vs Somalia …. 2 up HT and QF spot almost booked …finishes 2-0

 

IC vs Burkina Faso ..battle of the 100% teams …2-1 HT ..bit harsh on BF….they deserve the 2-2 draw.

 

Defending champs out in Group stages ..came bottom.

 

QF IC vs Senegal …not seeing much ball but chances even and sneak a goal 1-0 HT ..experienced fullback Lago scores the winner 2-0 after much more defensive and seeing more of the ball.

 

SF IC vs Morocco ..I make them favourites 20/23 proper players and lots of caps…Go and attack and 1-0 ..now back to balanced. 1-0 HT…somehow hang on .

 

Other SF Guinea have surprisingly beaten Algeria Aet.

 

Final IC vs Guinea …1 up in 25 seconds …before my star of the tournament Lago concedes a pen.. 1-1 HT ..ref only Booking our fouls .

1-1 FT …extra time …attack for last 15 mins …Pens ..win 4-3. IC first win since 2028.

 

However it appears that the computer has changed my captain and now people are angry with me ..very confused.   Especially as the captain appointed is not in the squad.  Lago set new avg high rating of 8.15

 

Then I have to appoint another who again is not in the squad which has 5 players but I can’t add any.

 

Cancelled the next Friendly and hope a tournament later will let me pick a squad.

 

You know it’s your time when you concede a 91st min equaliser and still win it …Stockport on a roll…11 in a row in the league.

Run ends with Stevenage scoring a great goal to hold us 1-1 ..Boreham Wood close the gap.

Odd referee decisions see us with 5 yellow cards and a red …10 men hang on 0-0 at lowly Billericay.

….Social feed quote ..They could use that game to cure insomnia 

 

View incident which unlocks armchair expert but stops me appealing.

 

Lots of changes for FAT vs Stevenage …oddly enough win 0-2 …bit of a surprise.

 

Rest has worked and player I suspended ..3up HT ..ends 3-2 ..a nervous finish .  8 pts clear with 10 games to go after second/third both drawer.

 

Back in form home to Ebbsfleet (6th) ..3 up again ..this time no comebacks …Win 5-1 .   Fylde comeback To maintain challenge ..Boreham W are falling away and Barnet making a charge.

 

IC squad will let me change after using suggested squad ..pity I cancelled England for a lowly opponent in case of squad issue continuing.

 

Tried to sign IC players to Stockport Who out of contract from IC clubs ..they don’t want to travel.

 

Dover 1 up but we score two in 41 seconds .. 3 disallowed goals and a missed penalty later ….lose 4-2 away…bottom team Wealdstone next …Flyde 5 Points behind.

Our left back must know I’m searching for a signing ..2 in 2 from long range ..They have no shots until 80 mins then lots but hold on 1-0

 

IC African Nations Qual.

 

Benin vs IC ..Try 4-2-4 as we look to break the undefeared record for this competition going back before my tenure .

Youngster Lybohy makes debut …( Aberdeen 2 sub appearances at 16yrs and Stockport loaned)

Held 0-0 HT ..lots of the ball and shots …..Goal comes (61) ..og to complete a rather laboured 2-0 win.

Break records started b4 I was hired for wins and unbeaten in this competition .

 

FAT SF … Harrogate ..I have 2 away on international duty and others tired … counter attack win 1-3 first leg.

 

IC vs Namibia …and lowly Maidstone vs Stockport played at the same time !

Once game went to vs 10 men ..easy IC win ….4-0

Another player wants to wait for France …why give me the option to talk to him.

Also 4-0 in Stockport match …Fylde lose … 6 matches left and 8:pts clear

 

Win at home to Harrogate 3-2 to secure FAT final…..meet York.

 

Beat Boreham Wood (3rd) to keep gap at 8 points with 5 to play ….4 to play …both teams have similar run ins and both play Barnet (4th)..it will turn out that despite being out of form…Barnet beat both in successive matches….they take that momentum to win the Playoff place and get promoted.

 

Injuries strike before York match ..untried CD brought in ..slow start But improve ..Flyde losing ..7 on target to 1 but ends 0-0 …ten man Fylde lose.   9  points and 3 games ..plus 17 goal difference ..should be up.

 

Out of form Barnet go 1 up ..and then 2 as I chase the game ..The team did not react Well in the most part to my pre match title chat.

Lose 2-0 but Flyde drop points and we are Champions ….my first Promotion in this save …I started at the Top and worked down in a reverse of usual management ( but I did say I was a former international so perhaps not).

 

Stockport turn professional.

 

The 5 loaned players made the difference especially at AML and RB.

 

Final game ends 0-0 and with a cup final looming we do appear to have lost the knack of scoring…Crowd high in the league of 6661 ( avg 2800)

 

All the leagues With exciting finishes 

Premier ..Utd And City 88. Saints and Spurs 87 with 1 game left…..Top 3 win …United take the title.

Saints win FA Cup and sack Zidane.

Aberdeen beat Celtic to go top on goal difference with 3 to go…Celtic win it by 2 points.

Barca 2 pts ahead of Real with 2 left…Barca hold on.

 

FAT ..in the 20 day run up ..2 long injuries and 3 minor…vs York … Beeney finally scores after a goalless first half…and it’s a winner …11 hours without a goal before this .44909 crowd….I now have more domestic cup wins than the Legend Fergie…in England.

 

It is 2 days for Euro England vs Scotland ….and FM in 2034 draws England / Scotland /Wales in International League.

 

World Cup squad due and Saints job is available …so tempted…. but also fancy resurrecting Ipswich who have been relegated to League 1.

 

I apply for Saints & Atletico but turned down as they have better candidates ….who ? when I am Highest rated manager in hall of fame.

 

I say interested in relegated Ipswich ..no approach.

 

Apply for Augsburg ( 8th last season) for my first Bundesliga team….They offer the job as I lose to Scotland.

 

They have 2 x Regional Div SW titles and 5 Bavaria Div trophies.

 

World Cup. holders England …Hosts …China…June 2034.

 

Easy build ups go well….kept my inverted S formation.

 

Group Haiti and Scotland. 
 

IC 3 vs Haiti 0 ….Straightforward win with Konan bagging 2.

IC 1 vs Scotland 2 …Even game but 2 down at HT too European Champion Runners up…Fight back but they took the chances that fell.

2 injured players in first 20 minutes did not help.

We progress and draw Denmark.

Shock result so far ..France 1 vs Paraguay 5 ….both go through.

 

Wales who started drawing with Iraq have progressed through round 2 beating USA.

NZ knock out Ukraine on pens…..Wales then beat them on pens next round.

Swiss knock out hosts China.

Spain beat Uruguay.

Germany knock out France and Mexico see off Scotland 

 

IC 3 vs Denmark 0.   12 mins in and down to 10 men. I stay attacking but just Konan upfront ..1-0 from him at HT.  Lybohy double on the counter sees us home….last African side left.

 

After a close matching in rank ..get 33rd placed Paraguay in next round…we are favourites !

 

England still on course for a fourth successive win…they see off Ecuador in Rnd 3.

 

IC 2 Paraguay 1 aet ..comeback from 10th min og. Konan (73) and 103 successful passes star Ouattara (93) smashes a stunning winner.

 

Unclear why press surprised as a Top 16 side and now in QF after beating lower ranked side.

 

QF get Costa Rica ( Rank 24) ..miss 8th min pen as Ouattara has a mare …Konan (109) steps up against 10 men ( they had 7 others booked) to win aet 1-0

 

England score two extra time goals before beating Wales on pens.

Spain leave it late to beat Croatia 2-1

Brazil by Mexico 3-2

 

SF we draw Spain ( Rank 3)…IC rise to 11th….winners meet Brazil who one 1-0 with a 118th minute winner…scored by United new very expensive striker.

Man Utd splash out £205m on a striker from Arsenal.

 

World Cup Semi Final turns out to be as dramatic a game as I recall…started as expected ..1-0 down in 5 mins. 2-0 down in 12 mins …I switch to balanced from positive to get the ball.  Ouattara misses another penalty before one back in 45+3 mins. hT 2-1

Go 2-2 on 59 mins only to concede again (60) .  95th min Loba equaliser sends to extra time then pens ..before he misses the crucial penalty

Out but so happy to defy the odds.

 

3rd Place playoff vs England…7 of there starting XI I gave debuts too…Press call it two even sides ..England are Ranked 1

Ouattara makes 100th appearance ..

HT 1-1 as we equalise through Konan …4 yellow cards is a worry as ref only books us.

FT 1-1 ..took off 3 booked but we are now up to 6 yellow …ref still doesn’t book Englishmen.

95th min and despite subbing a fourth on yellow ..Kinnear is sent off…8 yellows now to nil.

 VAR penalty ..which for once we score in 118th minute  to somehow win 2-1.

 

16 yellow and 2 red is a tournament record 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 17

 

Spain 1 vs Brazil 0 and lift the World Cup.

 

RB Coulibaly runner for a Best Player …behind England RB North.

Konan wins Golden Boot with 7…also in Best XI

Lybohy best rookie.

 

17 International Jobs become available…including England / France / Argentina and most surprisingly …Spain.

 

Part of me wants England job back …part wants to try and win in South America which I have never done ……France offer me a job which I accept…Current Rank 4th. …I am going 4-2-4 with them.

Next day England & Argentina say they have better ..Frank de Boer no trophies and Batista ..no trophies.

 

Ticket revenue …Dortmund Top & Bayern both £50m.     Augsburg 10th £17m

Commercial Income …Bayern £54m ….Augsburg £35m (5th)

Player Wages ..Bayern 4.3m Augsburg 1.3m ( 9th) ..Schalke a surprise 2nd.

 

6 Players in and 17 out as I clear house to move to 4-2-4.

 

We are 25-1 for the League ( 7th)….Bayern and Wolfsburg have top rated players to score or be rated highest.

I am struggling to get Augsburg Reserve and U19 staff.

 

Debut match a low ranked team in the German Cup …ideal.

 

SC Hessen Dreieich vs Augsburg ….24/54 shots on target and a 5-0 away win..with debut striker and winger scoring.

Elsewhere Wolfsburg hit 15 and Mainz + Schalke hit 8 & Bayer04 ..get 7…we draw Bayer next.

 

Open Bundesliga opener away at St.Pauli who just avoided the drop…..like the cup ..lots of shots but take awhile to score ..1-0 win but penalty miss annoying.  Pogba at Mainz follows up 8 in the cup by putting 5 past Dortmund .

 

We rake in Top 2 transfers out and largest one in .  St,Pauli brought in 10.

 

First international with France is away at Croatia in International League

 

The game I played on this save 17 seasons ago was Croatia vs England (International League)

 

Same result as I somewhat luckily win 0-3 with debutant Framery getting the third.  ( Croatia had two of my Augsburg players and it was a tough match especially first half).

 

Uruguay ( home friendly next ) …My former striker Suanes opens scoring for Uruguay …Framery equalises and sets up another as Ferraz has a hat trick by HT ( 4-1) ..6 subs disrupts the flow but win 4-1.

 

Suanes is against me again with Leipzig ..defensive works despite him scoring in a 1-3 away win.

 

Unbeaten start ends away at Bayern ….but happy overall with start of season.

 

France 3 vs Ukraine 2 but played majority of match with 10 men after being 2-1 up…Top of Intrnational a league …don’t appeal red despite Asst Mgr Zouma wanting me too.

 

France vs Chile ( Friendly) ..win 4-0 but Zouma managed it as I had set the wrong staff responsibilities.

 

I have a Bayer league+cup double header …in the league it’s a dramatic comeback win after they were leading and then had a red and the cup less dramatic but again a comeback after Bayer lead  we were  2-1 up when the red card happened this time ( 3 matches in a row now a straight red for the opposition). The cup squad had 7 changes so very happy the gamble paid off.   Wins are 1-2 away & 5-1 home.

 

Apparently board unhappy with youngster numbers signed …I check the philosophies ….Attacking football is a tick … First Team youngsters ..not ..  There have a 22 yr old winger and 22 yer old striker on loan. 15 yer old can’t play.

 

France hit with injuries b4 final International League matches plus suspension …wish I had Ukraine and Not Croatia first.

 

France vs Croatia …goal down so I go attack …1-1 HT and the recalled Khellaf. Wins it …SF here we come.

 

Ukraine vs France ..easy 5-1 win and wonder kid Mathis gets first goal.  Rested those on yellow card warnings.

 

Current Rankings

England ….Brazil …Spain ….France …Germany …Holland ….Argentina…Mexico..

IC (11th) Wales (16th) Scotland (17th)..worst Liechtenstein 211th 

 

Loss of form in the league but Offered a new contract which I take….inconsistency continues ..after 15 games third having lost to First/second & Third( Bayern/Dortmund & Wolfsburg) ..not a surprise and would have taken third at this time.

 

Euro Qualifying Group ….France (4) Poland (28) Iceland (57) Montenegro (94) North Macedonia (99)

 

Took a break for 4 months ( played Truro City for a surprise promotion) .. but ready to finish this German season ..then really want to go back to Scotland.

 

Beat out of form Leipzig and then a lower division Kiel in the cup ( allows me to Rotate the squad) before a flattering win at lowly B-M-G.

This sets up a Top of the table clash with Bayern Munich … 2 of my back 4 suspended but after scoring in 44 seconds we comfortably hold on to win 1-0 in front of a sell out 30660.

Top of the league and Schalke in QF of Cup to come.

 

After a draw ( Dortmund also drop points) ..Feil ends his goal drought with goals in 2 of our next 3 wins before the international break….5 pts clear of Dortmund with 8 games left.( including Dortmund).

 

Euro Champ Qual …..France vs Montenegro … Ferraz( 4th min pen) ..Tisserand (14) ..then up against 10 men ..2 disallowed goals before scoring another 4 and having a thrived disallowed. HT 6-0….Finishes 8-0 and Ferrari gets 4.

 

North Macedonia (a) .. rotate 9 of the squad …Tisserand (9 +29) with perfect start.HT 3-0. Tisserand completes hat trick in another easy win ….FT 8-0

 

( In real Life …France win 8-0 the next day vs Kazakstan).

 

Back to Augsburg and main striker injured with Serbia.

 

Hamburg (a) 12th placed …1-0 against run of play ..but Lose 2-1 … the keeper performances the difference.

 

Played 27 …now 4 pts clear of Bayern / Wolfsburg and 5 from Dortmund…Dortmund meet Wolfsburg next 

 

QF Cup ..Schalke (H) ….b4 kick Bayern and Dortmund knocked out in early kick offs.

Win 1-0 and a real chance to win this competition.

We get lowest ranked side SV Werder (10th) in semis.   Koln play Leipzig.

 

Bosanac back as seek to stay clear at the Top ….against cup drawn Werder …held 0-0 despite dominating.

Bayern draw .. Wolfsburg go second beating Dortmund.

 

Hertha(a) ..14th placed outplayed and win 3-0….qualify for Champions League….

Bayern draw with Dortmund.   Wolfsburg win.

 

Massive home game next ..Wolfsburg …2 pts seperate us…is this the title moment.

Pressure on as Bayern/Dortmund win early kick offs.

Dobre opens scoring as we go Defensive after 5 mins ..a second chalked off as off offside…HT 1-0

Hold on against A barrage of constant fouling a 5points clear with 4 games left.

 

Cup SF …SV Werder …Stay defensive ..1-0 up at HT and no fouls made !…Win 3-0 ..Vourgoutzis gets his first ever goal for the club.   We will meet Koln In our first ever Cup Final ….Koln last won 1983.

 

Under19 team are joint top after 25 games.

 

Hoffenheim (a) (6th) …will rest 3 on yellow cards b4 Dortmund match.Framery makes 150th league appearance.    1 up at HT .Dominate possession and hold on for 1-0. Vourgoutzis scores again.

Whatever happens ..this is Augsburg best ever league effort. 5 pts clear with 3 games left.

 

Dortmund(a) …Battle of big spending Dortmund ( £66m) vs big selling Augsburg ( £151m).

Bayern also made a profit in transfers ( 8 teams in profit).

Early kick off ..Wolfsburg draw a 5th place Koln.

 

Concede an early penalty …two down on 70 mins as team fail to perform.lose 2-0

Bayern win and are 3 pts behind.

 

Freiburg (H) 17th …ideal opponents….Feil ends drought (15hours)…as I go more attacking ..HT 2-0 ..Win 3-0

 

Only Bayern can stop us in the last game …we are away at 5th places Koln but 3 points clea…Koln also Cup final opponents….Bayern play Hamburg (11th)

 

Under17 Bundesliga Winner … our back up WB Winfred Addy.

 

Dream start after 12 mins (Takac) ..miss a pen but Takac again and 2-0 HT ..Bayern losing to a 45th min goal.

Feil makes it 4 -0 and title is ours with 20 mins left …ends 4-0 and Wolfsburg sneak second.

 

Augsburg win their first ever Bundesliga …Bayern have won 20 of last 22…..They sack my old adversary from France and Saints …Jardim.

 

Elsewhere ..Man Utd win again .Real Madrid  plus PSG are unsurprising winners.

After losing to Celtic last year..Aberdeen Win their 3 league in 4 years By a mile …Rangers are 4th 35 pts off.

 

Our First Cup Final against 4 times winners Koln …I’m sticking to the same tactics .

Feil(9) Tamac(29) …..HT 2-0 and the doubles on…..easily hold on for a 2-0 Win ….The Double done in front over 52000.

 

Fans Player + Young Player & Best Signing …SerHan Okumus….set new club avg rating record of 7.56

Best Goal …Takac 

used 21 players ..15/18

98% full stadium …30053.

 

Okumus wins Footballer of the Year & Players Player….can not recall a defender winning it before .

 

Bos ( Wolfsburg) best newcomer ….with Feil coming 3rd.

 

I win Manager of the Year & Players manager .

 

9/11 Augsburg players in team of the year…including Keeper and back 4 who set a clean Sheet record.(20)

 

56% possession ( 3rd by 1% from Top 2). 11th for yellow cards . Most goals (71) from most chances(85).4th for crosses Completed and 2nd for crosses completed. Top for goals from corners (10). 3rd for indirect free kicks. 10th for passes completed. 
 

Shirt Sales .Ockmonek/Okumus/Takac/Aratore/Lukenjic

 

In European rankings …Augsburg drop 2 places to 79th 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

United beat Saints to win Euro Champions League.( United win a treble).

 

France semi final vs Portugal ( International League my next fixture in June 2035).

Drop Framery after a hectic run in for Augsburg….Bonnin in his first squad.

 

Spain 2 vs England 1

38 mins for a shot on target but 0-0 as we miss 45+3 pen.(Ferraz)

Moreau (78) scores after I bring on Bonnin for his debut….Gros injured.

 

Final vs Spain……3 in from semis but 1-0 down at HT….all out attack gets Khellaf equaliser(73) …go back to balanced and this time we do score a penalty ..Ouattara (92) …many question why in team … it he never lets me down.

 

My 5th International League Win after 4 with England.

 

France have won 4 of last 5 and are joint with England on 4 wins….Portugal have 1.

 

England 3 vs Portugal 0 to Seal Third place.

 

In real life …Van Bronckhorst is announced as Rangers manager …in 2035/Everton sack him to be replaced by Chris Powell.

 

France vs South AfrIca ( Friendly) ….They are ranked 21 so should be a reasonable test against a rotated squad.

Dupuy scores his first international goal (30) ..as does Bonnin (58) ..down to 10 men after injuries with 10 mins left …but Dupuy scores again and win 3-0.

Last game of the season ..friendly vs Wales ..Rank 17…..Tisserand (5) Moreau(8) as I go on the attack early .

Make 6 changes and Wales score ….sub Mathis scores for 3-1 and recentlay drafted Teixeira seals 4-1.

 

Board refuse several requests but still currently untouchable.

 

Spurs want Tizie ..who despite his high regard of me etc …wants to go.

 

I bid for former Myles who I gave his debut at Utd & England… 11 seasons earlier….accepts but wage demands are high…….£80m is a new club record…beats German record of just £27m.

Also bid for France international Moreau who demanded to leave Arsenal…£68m

Also bid for BrAnnan from Arsenal..£56m accepted.

 

Going to need to sell some fringe players .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 18.            2035-2036.

 

Media predict we will come Second.

 

Trying to extend Bosanac loan from PSG.

 

News item Heymans gets Testimonial at Man Utd …. I remember signing him from £35m from Bayern. 285 league games with 71 goals. ..30 trophies.

 

Feil & Laisney worried by the expensive signings …both placated …for now.

 

Some of the squad unhappy I will not let Achiriloaei go to Man U.

 

Framery and Myles score in all 3 pre season friendlies.

 

Odds ..Bayern fav ..then Augsburg / Wolfsburg / Dortmund.

 

Top scorer fav … Longelo ( Hamburg)..none of my players in Top 6.

 

My new signing Moreau is rated fav for top player.  Takac rated 6th.

 

Approx 24400 season tickets from a 30k capacity.

 

Super Cup …Wolfsburg stand before me and more silverware….being played at their new stadium 🤦🏻‍♂️ ( Eden Dzeko Park)……lose 4-2 on penalties after a tight 0-0 draw.

 

Set a new record win 10-0 away in German Cup ..Myles /Feil get hat tricks and Bosanac ends goal drought.

Haghdoust makes debut ..been at club since 14 .

 

Start league defence with a win ( Goal up in 67secs).

 

Champions League Drawer….Spurs/Real Sebastian & Ajax….Spurs are 3 times winners and group is difficult.

 

International Break after 4 mixed results to start the new season.

 

I now leave Asst Kurt Zouma to deal with most press conferences.

 

France vs Iceland rank 58( Euro Championship)……Start 2nd in group but Poland have played 2 more games.

All over Iceland ..but they score an equaliser with only shot ..but back in charge by HT 3-1.

Win 5-1 … now the top of the table clash with Poland.who are Rank 30

 

Poland vs France …Ferraz follows a double vs Iceland with a first half hat trick ..0-5 up away at HT.

Win 6-0 …we are the only team with a positive goal difference In the group.

 

14/14 since I took charge .

 

Mbappe holds records with 200 appearances and 111 goals ( also youngest goalscorer)…….Ferraz is now 98 caps and 64 goals.

 

Go 433 as opponents used to our style …WWD ….. one of those away at Spurs although nearly blow a 3-0 lead .

Tweak the passing from wings to over the top to make use of the pace… 

Try against Dortmund who like us and Bayern have started slowly.

All 3 strikers score in a 1-3 away win….Played 5 and now 6th.

Lose to Hamburg and then miss a late pen to only draw 0-0 at home in Champions League.

 

Montenegro vs France ..Dominate but only 1-0 at HT….clinical in 2 half and win 5-0 away.

 

France vs Macedonia and qualification at stake …Ferrara wins 100th cap…scores a free kick and pen after going behind …then Moreau sent off …all happening after 29 mins…HT 4-1….ends 6-1 …9 yellows and a Red.

 

Qualification sealed for 2036 Euros.

 

France move up 1 place ..now World Rank 3.

 

Still tweaking my 433…now Positive and quicker….Myles after 5 goals for England ..scores…win 2-1

 

Oddly im Quoted discussing Aberdeen vs Bayern ..despite having had no media questions !

 

Beat Ajax 3-0 away and top Group after 3 games.

 

Mainz away is another tough match and Afkir makes his 250th appearance for us ..Feil scores his 50th goal.

HT 2-2 …VAR saves us from 3-2 …ends 2-2 and a great attacking game But I am unhappy with getting this tactic working.

 

Played 9 and currently 5th …4 points behind Hamburg And 6 behind Wolfsburg…they have played 10.

 

Going to try 4-1-4-1 ..3rd of my formations in the Cup vs out of form Leipzig…HT2-0 and dominant. Win 2-1 but had 33 shots to 5. Lose our right winger for 3 months.

 

Next up Bayern (6th) who lost to 17th placed Nurnberg in the cup…2-1 HT and then get better ..win 4-2.

 

Home to Ajax …despite dominating rely on pen save ..0-0 HT. Win 2-0 as subs change the game.

 

League form improving as next International break comes up…Iceland & Poland.

 

Drop Khellaf as I bring in younger players to an already qualified team.

Iceland (a) ..3 up at HT ..Ferraz with goal 67….Win 4-0 with front 4 all scoring.

 

Checking all time scores …Ronaldo ended his career with 106 from 175 caps..Mbappe/ Lewandowski 111 from 185 caps…but Rashford ended with 128 from 189 caps.

Hunted through Malaysia ..Dohari has 125 goals.  Egypt Saad 115.

Kane was 96/122.  Sterling 83/170. 

Poland …win 3-1 to finish with 8 wins from 8…. Only group with all other teams having a minus GD.

Only team with 100% record.

Move up to World Rank 2.

 

After going top of Bundesliga after 12 games …Spurs then Wolfsburg(2nd on goal diff) up next .

 

Spurs 0-0 sees us go through to the next round…worth £807k.

 

Dominate Wolfsburg but ends 0-0 ….Missing two injured wingers and not creating clear cut chances.

 

Now it’s time for my 1100th game as a manager….Win 2-0 at home .Top by 2 goals from Wolfsburg…but Schalke have a game in hand. ( They lose to Koln)…  Another injury and a suspension.

 

Played 1100.  Won 868. Drawn 134. Lost 98.  For 3075  Against 758. Win % 78.  Cups 44 Leagues 12 Promotions 1.

Bought 108 and Sold 176.

Club jobs 6 and Countries 3.  
6358 days ..1 on holiday when I got stuck with an Ivory Coast team pick bug.

 

Patrick Vieira slags my style off as I play his 16th placed Nurnberg…Wolfsburg held by lowly Leipzig …Tough game but win 3-1 away …war of words continues.

 

Glad I’m qualified as my tired squad needs rotation…16yr old Mauger gets his debut…17yr old Radke on the bench could also make his….4 players moved in from Augsburg 2 team.

Mauger scores on debut and makeshift team 3-0 up away in Spain. Radke gets on and win 4-1 to top the group.

Mauger is now Clubs  Youngest Goal Scorer ..16 years and 357 days…also a Champions League Record.

 

Addy unhappy with amount of football but was injured ..demands a move and I agree…Goes to Barcelona.

 

 

Champions League Drawer sees us against Europa Holders Leicester(6th in Prem)…Leicester are undefeated in 3 previous meetings.

 

Dortmund in 12th sack their manager….Emery favourite…gets job and by Feb improving.

 

Top at Xmas 2035 ….. now to work out transfer targets during the winter break….wages an issue so may need loans…Apply to Leeds to cover Addy departure. Cheap Czech midfielder..balancing the books helped.

 

No other bids fro my main squad …a successful window.

 

Keren Tal (Saints ) win World Footballer despite winning nothing last season. 
Codling Keeper Of the Year … Salger of Augsburg second.

Both these winning players I gave debuts too.

 

Played my first game at -6 degrees C …win 3-1 away …new signings not match fit yet.

 

Dortmund continue to fail …13th/18th .

 

Feb 2036 …. Bayern paying most wages £4.2m ,…Augsburg 6th £2m ….lowest Ingolstadt 575k.

 

Top spenders England £436m.  City £238m United £51m …..4th Bundesliga £49m

 

Next 4 matches show wisdom of transfer signings as I have suspensions and injuries but come through with wins In league and German cup…Played 20 and 2 pts clear of Wolfsburg.

 

My former player from Aberdeen ..Mitrovic who I sold to Partisan despite wonder kid tag due to 5 goals in 40 appearances is now doing well at PSG …my scouts want me to bid !

 

All goes wrong at Koln ..keeper injured …red card for half fit Takac with Moreau out … go for it with ten men and some how snatch a draw through new signing Buchta.

Opens the door for Wolfsburg …who also get a red card and lose to improving Dortmund.( 10th).

 

What does surprise me is that former teams Southampton & Aberdeen have continued to do well after I left…I assumed bigger teams would poach players and they would drop away.

e.g. Man City ..no Premier league wins …but do have 3 Champions League titles…..but so do Spurs in the same period…Liverpool and .Chelsea no Premier or Champions League titles…Chelsea can’t get above 6th in the Premier.

Chelsea have 1 x Europa league (2019) and 1 x Carabao ( 2026)

Liverpool ..no Europa leagues ( Everton have won 2 )…..have 1 x Carabao (2019) 2 x FA Cup ( 23+24)

No I have not edited or changed those teams …I thought having a British database would mean English teams did better but not the shift in Power towards a United/ Saints and Spurs domination of trophies.

 

Injuries mount as Dortmund and Big spending Leicester await .

 

I risk the keeper but 2 main midfielders and a winger still missing.

Dortmund are playing a very defensive midfield line up …takes 22/25 mins for us to breach it…left back injured on 33 mins 🤦🏻‍♂️…Big Win 2-0.

 

Go Positive away at Leicester and 2-0 up at HT … dominate but concede to win 2-1 .

 

Elsewhere Klopp is sacked by Chelsea ( After leaving Liverpool he has managed Man City / Sevilla / Bayern and Barcelona).

 

Nagelsmann sacked from Bayern but I deny interest ..24 games gone and with Takac scoring 3 important goals we are 5 pts clear of Wolfsburg and 15pts clear of Bayern in fourth.

 

Feil steps us as I rest Myles For Leicester …. He gets injured after 42 mins so Feil back in.

 

Bayern still invite me for an interview ….I decline On the day of my Leicester 2nd leg tie…former United player of mine Greenwood in form.

 

I go counter attack after 10 mins to fool the AI … score through Takac …. 2 up on 56mins so make subs to protect those on yellow cards. Sub Laisney seals it … 3-0 and 5-1 agg.

Even more irony … I draw Bayern ( 5 times winners) in QF of Champions League…elsewhere Liverpool vs Man Utd.

Bayern re -hire Klopp who last managed them 12/27 to 01 29 …first time I’ve seen a manager return .

 

Pogba ( Mainz) dents my title push by holding us …but Wolfsburg blow a 3-1 lead at Koln to also draw.

 

France have friendly double header with Liechtenstein …all about record setting …can I beat 20-0 win vs San Marino set in 2019.

 

Main Team ..except keeper in 1st Match … then fully rotate for 2nd.

 

Game 1 ….2 up is 6 mins using very attacking but then 34th min to score again…..7 up at half time.

Win 9-0….. Ferraz fails to add to his 67 goals….. Stats 57 shots to 0….63% possession .

 

Augsburg improve my contract…..expected to sign youth for first team.

 

Game 2 … Will try Positive not all out attack….reserves match 7-0 at HT….Our keeper rated 7.2 but has not had a shot to save.  62 shots to 0 …Win 14-0 with 64% possession.

 

I am happy with the France squad overall.

 

Big match as I get Bayern (a) in the league ….struggle to get the ball early ..go back to balanced and 1 up before another injury ( already 2 main players out) ..concede on HT.

Ends 1-1 but we seemed to get booked excessively …. Not happy with decisions.

 

Hammered by Schalke 4-1 in the Cup QF as tiredness and injuries hit home .

 

Lowly Leipzig beaten before Bayern in Europe…. Some players on the way back to fitness…Talisman Takac suspended .

Switch to counter attacking and lead early through Bosanac ..Myles switched to the wing due to injuries….he gets injured …Win 2-0 and clean sheet at home important…Bosanac moans about playing holds up with his brace.

 

Euro Draw ( Holders Spain) …. Get Czech(39)Swiss(15)Serbia(42)….being played in Germany.

 

International League Draw …Portugal (9) Russia (40)

 

All teams in Bundesliga make a loss .

 

Champions League second legs …City destroy Real Madrid (5-1 agg)…Dortmund loss out to Inter on pens.(0-0 agg)

Both wingers injured by half time as I defend ….0-0 and just 45 mins to survive…Bosanac grabs a goal on (47) but Bayern strike back (54) ..Bosanac gets a quick fire hat trick (63/67) and Myles (pen) ..6-1 agg win.

 

Liverpool knock out Man Utd.(1-0 agg)

 

Draw Inter.

 

Title …. Home to Wolfsburg who are nearest contenders.  Takac back and scores the winner and title nearly sealed…. With goal difference …need a point .

 

Rest players before Inter match …grab a draw with Werder … should be enough…But Wolfsburg get 3 points and 3 goals back.

 

City 3 vs Liverpool 1

Inter Milan 0 vs Augsburg 3 …. Defensive stategy wins out as did resting Myles & Lukenjic

 

Top 3 in League with 3 games left are Augsburg/Wolfsburg & Hamburg …On transfers  we spent the most with Hamburg 4th …Wolfsburg made a profit selling. Dortmund will feel £80m for 7th not good enough.

 

42% wage to turnover is second best.

 

Title hopes hit by awful ref … bookings early mean I sub 2 on 40 mins to protect our 1-0 nil lead .. only to get a Red Card ( deserved)…they just get warnings ….worse I do not have any Centre half’s on the bench. Thankfully playing lowly and out of form Nurnberg who fail to get past makeshift defence.

 

We are Champions .🏆🥇

 

Elsewhere Man Utd are clear winners from Cits & Saints …Spurs a distant 4th.

France …PSG miles clear from Marseille and Lille.

 

Euro semis …Augsburg vs Inter …concede early (5) but big time player Takac (25) sees it 4-1 agg at HT.

Ends 1-1 on the night and we are through to first ever Final ….my first Euro final since PSG in 2030 and first Champions League since Man Utd 2028.

 

Surprised game was not a sell out …but was record receipts of £675k.

 

Playing Liverpool (8th in premier)who overturned a 3-1 agg to go through 3-3 on away goals against City.(2nd)

 

Game will be in Istanbul …Liverpool will have happy memories.

 

I will rest entire First XI …. Not worried about losing but do want a decent chance for the Liverpool match.

I have a winger at Centre Half and another Centre Midfield. Only two x 17 yr olds to qualify under League Rules ..one of them Mauger scores opening goal…other Muller makes debut.

Surprised to win 1-0 away at 7th placed Schalke.

Aratore makes 20 min cameo for 150th League appearance.

 

Same team vs Makele and his cash strapped lowly Bayer04 …smash them 4-1.

 

Can not play most of my Under 18’s which is frustrating as I want to blood youngsters.

 

Have to pick France Euro squad … decide to make 3 changes to get best balance and losses to injury.

 

Porto beat Arsenal to win Euro Cup…..been 8 years since they last won it.   Arsenal have been runners up in last 2 years and 6 times with 1 win since I started this save.

 

Aberdeen win Scottish title again …4 in 5 years…….Hibs pip them to the Cup.

 

Wolfsburg pip Schalke aet to win German Cup.

 

I win German Manager of the Year ….but 3rd in Players Manager of the Year

7 of my team in German Team of the Year.

 

Clubs first Champion League Final in 129 year history…..Liverpool are 5 times winners….Antonio Conte is the current manager ( 2nd stint).

 

Allowed 12 subs which allows me a spare a Keeper for once .

 

VAR allows our Opener through Lukenjic (6) ….counter attack works again (26) as Aratore doubles the lead and all going to plan….But on (42) their leading striker Mayor pulls one back.

Take off Talisman Takac as on a yellow card .

Hold on easily to win 2-1 ….Poss 59/41 and shots 26/08 in our favour.

 

Augsburg 1st Champions League …the club Official Supporters name me a Bona Fide Legend.

I now have 4 Champions Leagues ( Utd 3 Augsburg 1).

 

Mayor is a champions League Golden boot …Bosanac 3rd

Salgar wins Keepr award.

Okumus wins defender award

Takac wins midfieOder award

 

 

Fans Player Of Season ….Takac …..I agree , he has scored many vital goals.

 

Goal of the Season …Takac 

 

Signing ..Bosanac ….not my choice as 3 others made more impact.

 

Young Player …Bosanac .

 

I am criticised for German Cup performance ….praised for Champions League.

 

PSG linked with Takac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

Season 19 …June 2036.

Second most Goaks and Best defence key to league win.

 

Augsburg shirt sails ..527,291.  Bosanac / Okmus / Ockmonek / Myles / Moreau…..surprised No Takac .

 

Augsburg up 52 places to 27th in Euro Club Rankings.

 

Expectation ..win League …Final of Cup and knockouts of Champions League.

 

Yet again refs are downgraded …never seen any improve .

 

8 games rescheduled after fixtures announced ….we start against Bayern.

 

 

 

France duty in Germany for Euros.

 

Warm up with Hungary sees an injury and Red Card before HT.  Carissoni gets his first goal …one of my 3 changes to the squad…Win 2-0.  Ferraz injury not too bad.

Final warm up …thrash Luxembourg but Ferraz not yet fit …it was 11-0 at HT….ends 11-0 ..makes no sense.

 

Euros start

Wales lose …N.Ireland /England and Scotland win …Scotland beat hosts Germany.

Wales and N.Ire best 3rd place +…Scotland and England Group Wiiners through.

 

Each group match sees me up against Augsburg players.

 

France vs Serbia ….Dubois (Centre back) makes 50th appearance. Dupuy gets our opening goal of the tournament against the weakest side in the group.  HT 1-1 . Needs an 87th Ferraz winner to win 2-1

 

France vs Switzerland … 1-1 at HT as we come from a goal down. Win 3-1 ..Ferraz gets 2.

 

France vs Czech ….1-0 HT ..tight contest.Win 3-0 and top group ..Serbia pip Swiss with 93rd min winner.

 

Round 2 ….France vs N.Ireland …..Dupuis(4) ..HT 1-0 ….Dupuis(70) ..seals 2-0 win but bookings will cause suspensions next round.

Holland ko Wales

Scotland pen win over Swiss.

Myles extra time goal Sees England edge past Germany.

 

QF …France vs Serbia ..seems odd to get them again……Play less attacking ..Win easily 4-1 ..Bosanac got their consolation.

Scotland ko by Italy.  England see off Portugal. Spain beat Holland.

 

SF …France vs Italy …..Gros(32) Tisserand (33) Ferraz(38)  as an even first half goes one sided. HT 3-0

Easy 2nd half ….Win 3-0.

 

France in their first Euro Final since 2020 …when I beat them with England.

 

England beat holders Spain on pens.

 

Final France vs England …both have won it twice…media build up rivalry as former manager.

 

England have 5 of my old squad in the starting XI and 5 more on the subs bench.

 

Augsburg‘s Moreau opens the scoring (15) …Tisserand (41) …HT 2-0

Myles wonder strike makes it 2-1 …I make subs of those on yellow cards….Ferraz (71) restores two goal cushion ….win Euros 3-1.

 

Ferraz ..Best Player and Golden Boot of Euros

Best team … 5 x French 5 x English 1 x Italy ….another 6 on subs bench.

 

Sackings after tournament …Wales /  Belgium / Hungary plus two other European and 4 South American ( Brazil) 

 

Transfers … Sell some older players to bring in younger talent and make room for talented youngsters.

Myles not settling in Germany ..goes to Leicester 

3 in and 6 out.

 

Stadium changes finish to increase seating capacity slightly .

 

Augsburg Fav for title from usual suspects.

Top scorer ..a young reserve from my team is amongst the favourites !!

Top player …Moreau in the mix.

 

Wolfsburg again in SuperCup at their stadium.   Var save us early on …ends 0-0 again. ..this time win shoot out 3-1….I had 3 debutants.

 

Porto is Euro Super Cup …could be a fantastic first week of the season….

Porto last here in 2028/29…last won it 87/88.

 

Tight first half and I decide to go from cautious to balanced ….does the trick in the second half as Dobre celebrates his new contract with goals (47/58) …injury hit new signing Simeone on (78) leaving us with 10 men….Hold for for 2-0 and inaugural SuperCup tournament win.  Porto fail to get a shot on target.

 

Luckily next up cup tie vs lowly Bayern Hof ..beat them 10-0 at this stage last year.

 

Debutant 16yr old Ngono scores on his debut…HT 4-0……Feil hits 5 as we win 8-0.

Gluck also makes debut at 22yrs.

 

Ngono becomes youngest ever club scorer ..16 yr 340 days …17 days better than Mauger.

 

Top spenders …Leicester / Arsenal / Chelsea ..with Premier league spending 1 billion more than Bundesliga.

 

Wage expenditure …Bayern £4.1m …. Augsburg 4th £2.5m.

D

Still can’t get Augsburg 2 to play matches …it’s either U19 or main squad.

 

2 years after his debut Ze Serrao makes his Portugal debut…aged 20.

 

France vs Russia ( Int League) …Ranked 42 ….Goal down (2) ..Russia ten men (26) Nine men (34)..Ferraz(35) equalises.Ferraz(47) for 2-1 Win …..not a great result against 9 men.

 

Ferraz now on 78 goals.

 

Portugal vs France ..Rank 10th …..Losing 1-0 at HT…..Make 3 subs and go Positive …Dupuy equalises but we concede against run of play …Lose 2-1.

May be time to tweak tactics

 

Away to Dinamo Zagreb and former player Vural ( Utd) ..Bosanac difference on Stroke of HT.

Win 1-0 ….Bosanac first goal in 10 hours of playing.

 

I have passed 100 ga see for Augsburg.

 

Denmark (24th) vs France in a friendly…Tisserand gets 50th cap …Dupuis scores in 25secs and 3 up in 9:minutes …the 4th sees Tisserand score….Guerin makes his debut and scores and assists as this goal fest ends 3-7.

 

Russia ( Int league away) …5 players walking suspension tightrope.

1-0 down against run of play …1-0 down at Half Time.  Tisserand equalises as I go more attacking but ends 1-1.

 

After winning opening 7 league games my rotated post internationals team goes a goal down to a penalty ..first goal conceded this season and then after going 1-1 the ref sends off 2 of my players and grateful for 1-1 draw At lowly Nurnberg.

 

Game 3....Champions League vs Spurs…..easy 3-0 win as resting squad pays off.

Game 4 return at Spurs is a 0-0 draw and sees qualification.

Top group after easy last 2 wins.

 

France vs Portugal sees revenge meted out as we win 3-1 and have a good chance of qualification…which is sealed by 1 point after the final match.

 

Win friendly vs China 2-0 ..Lefeuvre misses his hat trick penalty.

 

I argue with Van Bommel over rough tactics ..say he will get sacked if he doesn’t change ..week alter …sacked !

 

First World Club Championship (Qatar)…Semi Final vs Al- Hilal Saudi FC …Winners. VS River Plate who knocked out Tigres.

Full rotation to be ready for the final….Stevens (6) for 1-0 HT lead…win 1-0 and Young Keeper makes debut as sub….I will use all 23 players over the 2 games.

 

Final is a comfortable 3-0 win ..Dobre/Takac and Bosanac…River Plate failed to get a shot on target.  This is my 4th World Club ( 3 with United).

 

France Euro group drawer …. Belarus / Montenegro / Norway / Sweden….easy group.

 

Champions League Drawer …Juventus ( they pipped Aberdeen) .

 

The usual weird choices for footballer of the year..e.g. Ba of Watford who won nothing and he is not in my France team.

 

Zidane( Saints ) wins it ..his last silverware was 2 and half years ago for club or country!!??

 

Salgar wins Keeper award …at least he won things.

 

Team of Year …only Salgar in the squad ….No French players despite international trophies.

 

Elsewhere 18 games in and Man Utd are mid table but sticking with Klose.( He has won lots so deserves some patience)….he wins 9 in a row and then walks to go to Arsenal who are 5 places lower.

 

At age 37 Donnarumma is retiring at end of 2035/2036 season….only 50 caps and 4 domestic medals.

 

Jan 2037 …Transfer window opens … I have no need to buy for first team.

 

Confed Cup Drawer ( Hosts South Africa and holders Spain )…Not won this yet.

Mexico (6th) Algeria B (22) Chile (31)

I am interviewed for the vacant Man Utd job …I ask to start at end of season.

Utd fans appear not to have forgiven me leaving …Zidane new favourite who I replaced when he resigned himself….I won 22 trophies to 8 ….they hire Zidane .

Augsburg now want to talk to me to stay ..should have listened to my requests before.

Board then sell my Young up and coming Keeper without my blessing.

 

I get on with Zidane who usually accepts my bids ..so after losing to Bayern and drawing with Leipzig I loan in a left wing/ striker from United….squad is thin with injuries.

 

Poor league run ends with 5-0 win ( new signing scores to end his goal drought) and even better a come from behind win vs Juventus away in Champions League 1st Knockout round….win through after 0-0 home leg (2-1 agg)…..next up Man City.

 

Feil wins his first German call up.

France vs Belarus ( opening World Cup Qual)…using 2nd string as ranked 114th.

Goal up in 2 mins and against 10 men in (9) ..HT 6-0. Ferraz has a hat trick as only 3 strikers in squad. Lefeuvre completes his hat trick …win 9-0.

 

Augsburgs Nico Stevens scores on his Belgian debut. New loan signing Araujo hits 4 for Portugal ..first international goals.

Serbia hit 13 vs Andorra.

 

Norway (44th) vs France …HT 0-0 as first XI not firing…takes Ferraz(82/90/91) with successive hat tricks …he now has 86 goals in 120 caps.

 

Augsburg lose 2 French players to international injuries .

 

Win German Cup QF …comeback from 2-1 to win 3-2 aet Vs Dortmund….next up Mainz.

 

Game 26 is. 0-0 foul fest …now 7 pts Clear of Bayern ….2 games in hand due to Xmas world club games.

April 2037.

 

Elsewhere Man U dent Southampton title charge …Spurs lead.City second.

Chelsea (13th celebrating surviving another season).

 

Euro Cup QF …Man City (a) …City are firm favourites….(4) mins we have one disallowed ..City lead (9) …..hamg on in and after City see red in (93) min ..we score a 95th min equaliser ….1-1 and in with a chance.

 

Augsburg post biggest loss in Bundesliga …£79.73m …this despite making £99m transfer profit And finances show Over all balance at £113m.

Have best wages ratio at 38%

 

Augsburg vs City … nearly hold out but City score (42) and game plan out the window.

out shoot them 17-6 but can’t score and get knocked out 2-1 agg.

 

 

Elsewhere Saints overturn a 4-1 away defeat to beat Barca 7-0 at home .

 

German Cup SF vs Mainz ….Comfortable 3-0 win….I have dropped loanee and brought back Feil upfront.

 

4 Home matches to hopefully seal the title ..need 4 pts ( 3 win goal difference).  Schalke (10th) Wolfsburg(4th) and Dortmund (3rd) and Koln (5th) in 7 days as fixture back log catches up with us.

Red Card and late equaliser hold us to a 1-1 draw vs Schalke.

Forced into playing 3 youngsters and squad will not cope with this amount of games.

Goal up (34) vs Wolfsburg …hold on and seal the title …..in my 1199th game.

 

Elsewhere Zidane staged a remarkable comeback to win the League .

 

I will play youngsters so I can keep squad fit for cup final.

 

2 debuts vs Dortmund and 1-0 up (2) by 18yr old Radke who has another ruled out….surprise 1-0 win

 

Radke first senior goal after 150 goals for U19 in 4 seasons.

 

Lose to Koln but worth the defeat.

 

Hamburg in Cup Final ..gamble on goal shy Araujo upfront ….however Star a winger Rafael sent off after under 4 minutes.

HT 0-0 …but 18 secs into second half and Araujo scores …1-1 (50) but Takac with a brace makes it 3-1 ..late Hamburg strike 3-2 …but hang on for the win.

 

Fans Player Okumus . Goal ..Stevens. Young player/ best signing …Rafael.( he set a new assist record)

 

Bosanac sells most shirts from Ockmonek …neither regular starters.

 

Board looking to add 11k seats.

 

England vs France (sf..int league).key injuries in my squad…1-0 down but red card overturned by var.

plate 2-0 whilst chasing the game.

3rd place match vs Holland ..rotate squad for dead rubber…..Ferraz gives us 1-0 HT lead.  Dupuy scores very late to seal a poor match 2-0.

 

22 days until Confed Cup starts…will I be in role?

 

England vs Italy like the real life Euros ends 1-1 …this time England win penalty shoot out.

 

I declare interest in Edinburgh City of League 2 job …I need a new challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 20

 

Job interview successful and I join Edinburgh City … I see them like Tranmere … long term goal to be better than Hearts and Hibs…have an affiliation for loans with them.

 

Last trophy Scottish 5th Tier 2016.

 

I am looking at other affiliates and loans for u16 talented players….I remember the French leagues full of 14/15 yr olds who can not play …Scotland allows them.

 

Pick up 14 and 2 x 15 yr olds plus a loaner from Hibs.

 

Also look at Amateurs for cover…they all play for Queens Park…..sign 3 and DC cover via Free Agent.

 

With a small squad and no reserve system …I decline invitations to these leagues.

 

Board announce low cup expectations….except for 4th round Scottish Cup.

 

Ironically up against Hibs Res in Irn Bru Cup

 

Change to 4-1-2-3 defensive…..leave asst mgr to friendlies as I am away at Confed Cup.

 

Hibs friendly is a sell out of 3000 fans and a narrow 2-1 loss.

 

First Confed Cup …not sacked after Int League defeat and yet to win this trophy …if I do I will quit France.

 

5 changes made to 23 man squad.

 

France vs Chile .HT 0-0 but subs win it 2-0.  Mexico 5 vs Algeria 0

 

France vs Mexico …RoTate squad …Tisserand (5/8/15) blitzes a fab start….only for Bonnin (22)to be sent off.

Hold until late and then Mexico pull 2 back …but do win 3-2 to qualify.

 

Chile beat Algeria 3-0.

 

Final game rotate a few …2-0 up in 6 mins vs Algeria….Ferraz has 4 by the hour mark …use an old technic from previous games as I replace both wingers with keepers to keep players fresh …Win 6-0.

 

Ferraz has 91 goals now.

 

Mexico beat Chile 3-0.

 

SF vs South Korea ….Moreau(19) Tisserand(35/43) ..HT 3-0.   Win 4-0.in front of 108,075 fans.

 

Mexico come 3rd.

 

France vs Spain who beat Mexico..they are without their main striker and right back.

 

Final ….Ferraz makes 125th appearance….and he scores (15) ..Tisserand (36) as he competes for golden boot…Ferraz wants it too (44)…HT 3-0.

Spain score twice to make it 3-2 with 60 mins gone….(73) var disallows an equaliser …Ferraz hat trick disallowed (89) …and finally I have won the Con fed Cup .

 

Target achieved and with Ferraz stepping down as Captain ….I resign as Manager.

 

Edinburgh City ….. I will due to real life time constraints only be giving short updates.

 

First match in charge vs Premiership St,Mirren (a) Betfred Cup.  5 x 15 yr olds and a 16 yr old to start.

Hibs loanee ineligible.

 

Betfred Cup 

St.Mirren (a) ..HT 1-0 …FT ..Lose 4-0…..we had 63% possession….6 players make debuts. Renault 15yr 15 days now youngest ever player for club.( Was Jamie Aitken 15yr 356 days).

 

Stranraer (H) Mirval scores our first goal. HT 2-0 …FT …4-0 Mirval hat trick and Poncet first senior goal. ( Both are 15 yrs old).Turner makes debut after bringing in from debt ridden Hamilton. Poncet youngster scorer for club at 15 yr 31 days.( Was Andy Erwin 16y 26d). Todd win over higher level opponents.

 

Queen of South (a) …( Championship side) …Mirval/Poncet score but QOS hit 4 …HT 4-2 down.Lose 5-2.

 

Berwick(H) ..dead rubber as out. Former manager at Berwick makes it interesting. 0-0 With my rotated squad. Win penalties 6-5.    We come 3rd of 5 teams.

 

AYR United win it .

 

162 season tickets sold ( up 4 )

 

Transfers 13 in and 1 out.    Paid £4.5k and received £500.   

 

Irn- Bru Cup vs Hibs Reserves (h) …Fordyce on loan from Hibs not Cup tied .  Win 3-0 Fans 573.

                                                           O’Halloran / Turner / Brewster. 
Montrose (a) …Rest players as league priority and they are higher league.Lose 2-1 ….Archibald levelled scores….Renault youngest ever Irn Bru player at 15y 68d.(from Tommy Dean 16y 3d)

 

Scottish Cup

Round 2 ..Lossiemouth (a) win 2-0 against lowly opponents with a fully changed squad .

Round 3 ..Cumbernauld (h)..0-0 draw ..no punch upfront…again fully rotated squad…winners play Rangers away.

Replay (a) ..Poncet back from injury …1-0 down at HT …the sending off changes it ..Win 3-1

Poncet youngest Scottish Cup Player 15y 164d ( from Bryan Bannier 16y 77d).

Round 4 ..all about money from a tie at Ibrox…Rangers in 3rd place and no trophy for 3 years..no league title in 8…..they have lost 4 of last 5 matches …I go cautious …and hold out for 34 mins …boss possession but finally lose 1-0 …in front of 28520 Fans.  Nearly £19k in prize money And £400k in gate receipts.

 

 

 

Win £12750 prize money.

 

League ..Scottish 2 …..My appointment makes us Favourites ..East Kilbride / Stirling/Albion/Elgin / Queens P.

 

Queens Park (a) ..I have taken 3 of their amateurs….Poncet first league goal a penalty ..Draw 1-1

Stenhousemuir (h) ..Win 2-0 …Poncet gets both….465 fans.

Peterhead (a) ..Win 1-0 …MacMillan.

Albion Rov ( h) …Win 1-0 Turner.  Change of corner tactic sees Turner score.  422 fans.

Cowdenbeath (h) .. 4 clean sheets in all comps end …Win 4-2 …Poncet hat trick & Mirval.  500 fans. Archibald makes debut.

Stirling (a) …Win 3-1 …Poncet (2) Morel.

Elgin (h) …Draw 1-1 …Poncet….Fans 419

East Fife (h) …Win 2-0 ….Hall & Archibald.  467 fans.

East Kilbride (a) ..Top 2 battle it out ….Poncet / Turner / Morel …Win 3-1.

 

After playing all teams …Position 1 …W7 D 2.       6pts clear of Elgin.

 

I apply for Scotland Manager …looks like my English connections are against me . Despite winning titles with Aberdeen , currently being in Scotland and top manager in Hall of Fame….apparently I’m not best person !

 

Job has gone to Romanian Olaroiu …who was at Hamilton. Won a Scottish Championship 2 years ago.

 

Game 16 vs 2nd placed Stirling Is a huge win 1-0 with 3rd place Elgin drawing…gap 9 pts..Only 432 fans.

Lose Hall to long term injury…can’t terminate contract yet .

 

Game 23 ..Poncet ends goal drought and record win 6-0 Vs Cowdenbeath..no hangover from Rangers loss…475 fans enjoyed this.

 

01/03/2038….Game 28 completed and rotated squad just hold off Stenhousemuir…19 points clear and I am offered a new contract….I accept.

 

Game ..29 seals the title at home vs lowly Queens Park ..but only 438 fans watching.

 

Game 30 and lose at home to in form Peterhead..dominated but couldn’t comeback from 2-0..Poncet hits his 20th goal ..not bad for a promising 15 year old …if only I could get wonderkids !

 

Time to plan for next season….more difficult without France scouts doing the work for me,

 

Former Edinburgh manager at Berwick still questioning my ability !   This is despite now being No.10 in Scottish Hall of Fame and Worldwide Number 1.

Berwick having to fight through play offs to avoid relegation ..and fall to Albion in SF.

 

Last game of the season vs bottom of the table East Fife (a);…goalfest HT 2-5 up. …goes 4-5 before finally winning 4-7….I suspect a record scoring game for the league.it is and for the club .

 

Betting odds were good with only Peterhead crashing the predictions….Also gate crash Promotion.

Edinburgh / Stirling / Peterhead / Albion …Elgin and EK miss out.

 

Win £150 k prize money.

New kit deal 4K more.

 

Fans Player ..Mirval / Turner / Morel

Goal ./ Signing ..Poncet

Young Player ..Mirval

 

Archibald player of year with new high rating for league 7.34

9/11 in Team of Year .

 

 

League winners 

Man Utd

Psg

Aberdeen

Augsburg

 

My legacy lasts elsewhere…but England and France getting boring now…Man City have pushed to last day games in last 2 years….Southampton beginning to drop…Chelsea & Liverpool mid table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 21

 

Klopp sacked by City ..2nd in Prem ..Carabao Runners Up ..Champions League & FA Cup SF.

Simeone sacked by Saints ..he won the Carabao Cup. 5th in league . champions League QF.

 

7 players set to be released And 2 loan deals end….2 more end in 3 weeks and Angers will not re loan Mirval.

Release Head Scout and Head Physio ..replacements are better and want less pay.

 

Big clubs trying to poach my players ..Turner head turned by Livingston.Ruiz ..St Mirren/ Caen. Morel by Derby…/ Forest ..all bids under £1k.

 

World Cup in South Africa affecting transfers.

Canada beat England !

Spain beat Portugal …Colombia 3rd Brazil 4th.

 

England/France / Holland /Italy / Argentina / Brazil plus 3 more sack managers.

I apply for England ( fans don’t want me per social feeds ..despite winning 8 trophies in 10 years) and Brazil try Argentina..I’m not the best Person.  England appoint Gary Rowett who was runner with Norwich in Championship….loses his first match to Peru.

 

Archibald vale £2.2k Poncet £2.8k in League 2 …Mirval £220k as at a French Premier side.

Now in League 1 after waiting until 21/06/2038 …Archibald now worth £5.25k and Poncet down to £2.7k.

 

I reject all offers and play hardball.

 

Eventually manage some loans and free signings….8 in only released out …lowest in the league.

 

Betfred Cup sees opening game vs Hearts.

 

4-0 down at home but end up losing 4-1 …in front of a full house ..Club Record 3000 fans ..beating Patrick Thistle game of 1436 before my time…Record gate receipts of £45k.

Its the Berwick match I want ( former Edinburgh manager Abbott and his constant sniping comments )..hopefully last 3 signings in squad then.

Lose away at Morton and really missing Morvel on the wing…out of the Cup.

Berwick (a) Lynch in 14 seconds with dream start…dominate but takes a late burst to win 1-4.

 

 

 

League ..Favourites Falkirk/QOS / Edinburgh / Alloa / Montrose / Arbroath

 

Board ..Fight bravely vs relegation. Scottish Cup 4th Rnd …Irn Bru 2nd Round.

 

QOS (h) ..hoping for bigger crowds…relegation hangover as we outplay them ..Win 4-0 ..674 fans.

 

I need 4 more wins for 1000 in this career save.

 

Irn Bru …Berwick again ..the AI loves a controversial game …Debutant Girard scores (3 & 8 mins) Hat trick on 40 mins another 42 mins HT 5-0….Win 7-1 …Berwick keeper rated 3.7/10…..846 fans….
Robert new youngest scorer in Cup ..15y 247d ( from Stewart 16y 42d)

Clubs Biggest ever Win.

Most goals by one player in a game.

Win 999 of my career .

 

Top of table clash in Game 4 ..after good start ..Falkirk show why they are favourites.HT 3-1 down….86 min equaliser completes comeback to 3-3.

 

Arbroath provide win 1000 …..surprise as they were 2nd …win 4-0 away Despite rotating.

 

No comment for this landmark from 1266 games ….51 cups 15 Titles 2 Promotions.

 

irn Bru vs Aberdeen Res … rotate squad…reserve strikers do the biz HT 3-0 ..FT 3-1…..2 debutants…including one last deadline day signing …. I do not sell anyone.

 

Game 9 … QOS away who have improved since opening day ..but we win again 2-0. back2back wins ..previously QOS won 9 in a row.   Girard has scored in all three matches he has played ..two from out of position on the wing.

 

No sign of a reserve league being playerd despite accepting invite.

 

Bogey team Peterhead winning against run of play at HT (a) …. Lose again 1-0.

 

Lose again to them 1-1 but go out on Penalties 5-4….Irn Bru Cup.

 

Takes a replay with reserves to finally score past Stenhousemuir .. 0-0 & 1-0 in the cup ..then St.Mirren.

 

Rangers win Betfred Cup from Aberdeen…. We get £50.5k prize money and we’re competitive.

 

Game 18 …Peterhead awaits after a good run …HT 1-0 at home …winger McManaman continues his great recent scoring form ..Win 2-0…. Finally a win over them.

 

Game 19 ..red card in 10 mins vs QOS at home …QOS miss penalty ..sub Archibald scores a winner as I sacrifice the striker before QOS get a red with 5/mins left…..NOW 15 pts clear.

 

01/ 01 / 2039 …..Two of my reserves make free transfers away.

 

First signing is a free agent DC ..Ernst.

 

Have two bids in for approx £10k outlay.

 

More interest in 17 yr old Poncet …Brentford bid £11,500.00. ..I slap a £1m price tag …they have a similar back up striker who is valued at £875k .

By mid month best offer £29k…from Motherwell 

Week to go ..£35k bid ..Brentford are back in ..

 

I wonder if we will go from semi pro to Pro if I complete the promotion.

 

R4 Scottish Cup (h) to 2nd in Championship  St.Mirren …HT 0-0 …Turner grabs a shock goal on the hour ( corner routine works) …Shock 1-0 win….in front of 1829 fans .   £19k prize money.

 

Alloa (7th). Ring a reality check ..held 0-0.

 

St.Johnstone away in next round….Take lead Poncet(22) ..HT 1-1 …Lose late (82) but good effort 2-1 vs Premiership team…in front of 7758 fans.

 

Feb 2029 I apply for Australia job….not best person 🤷🏻‍♂️and don’t get it…must be being English or is it managing at a low level club …they have had foreign managers…they hire Tim Milicevic who has retired as a player and has no management experience.

Falkirk sack the manager ..they are 2nd in the league.

 

Looks like City may end Utd / Saints monopoly as they are 18 pts clear.

 

Great home crowd …924 fans …see 4-0 win vs Montrose 

 

Game 28 ..shock lose at home to lowly Brechin …this is why reserve strikers are not starting….and we had 1013 fans .  Elsewhere Montrose 4 vs Peterhead 7.

 

Game 29 ..win 1-0 away at QOS and title sealed…bottom team Stranraer late equaliser over Falkirk did it.

 

Apply for Saints job and get it 23/03/2039 …5th in league and still in Europa.( Given negative press and fan reaction I am surpprised to get through interview process).

 

My old tactics have been remembered !…..I left 8/8/24……8 managers since.

 

City are running away with the league ..my aim is sneak into 4th …12 pts from 3rd.   7pts from 4th.

 

Set up high press 4-1-4-1 ..away at Everton ..Doherty (7) ..20th goal of season ..Zidane gets 29th and HT 0-3 up at Goodison.  Win 4-0.  Doherty made is 300th league appearance.

 

First Home match vs Fulham ( former player Tal against me..now 35y) …slow start b4 VAR pen by Doherty ..gets another for HT 2-0 ….Win 2-0 in front of 68277 fans .. we hold 101513 now ..that got big after I left the first time.

 

Borley and Castillejos want to leave ..the second is a disappointment .

 

Game 1300 of my career ..Home to Cardiff ….Won 2-0……I am lucky with fixtures being mid to lower table.

 

Win Euro QF vs Lille 3-0 agg…Home leg in front of just under 99,000 fans.

 

Irony is I get Leicester in SF …the team I’m trying to catch in the league…Leicester knocked us out of Carabao Cup at SF stage.

 

Man City win the league with 4 games to spare.

 

Man Utd sack the manager ( hire Bayern manager )…should have gone with me last time ..I intend to destroy them now I’m back at Saints.

 

4 games left and Leicester drop points at 2nd place Spurs ..gap is 3 pts but there GD is 14 better.

 

18th placed Blackburn next for us ..36yr Heymans left Utd for them ..back ups deal with non stop fouling HT 2-0 …..FT …3-0

 

Concede 3 vs Stoke as I continue back ups b4 3 games in a row vs Leicester …but score 5.

 

Leicester Part 1 ..Europa SF (a) ..2-0 down at HT 2-2 until late Leicester winner …Strikers letting me down …3-2 but at least 2 away goals.

 

Leicester Part 2 …Premier (h).need a win to go above Leicester into 4th …101513 full expected .. Lose first choice LB for rest of season….Myles (Utd & Augsburg) back to haunt me ..HT 0-0 despite us dominating .

Despite 8 shots to nil on target ..ends 0-0. …Zidane now 9 hours with no goals.
1 game left and Leicester ahead on goal difference.

 

Leicester Part 3 ..Europa (h) ..another 0-0 wI’ll not do….Drop Zidane for winger Siminov …Leicester bring back 30 goal striker Etten…Doherty (65) as again we dominate shots 12-3 ….Win through on away goals ( agg 3-3)

Porto 98th min goals sees off Liverpool also on away goals agg 3-3.

 

Europa league ….first time Southampton have made the final …I am yet to win it. Aberdeen (QF) PSG (Runners Up).

 

 

Zidane now at Augsburg after Pochettino sacked … he accepts my bid for Moreau ( always agrees to my requests).

 

Two games left to gain Champions League place 

 

Saints(5th) away at Watford (7th) …..Leicester (4th ) play champions Man City….Leicester 9 goals better off with both teams on 71 pts

 

I choose too rest players ..lose 2-0 …Leicester won 3-0 so it would have made no difference.

 

The media questions are about the whole season .. I had only a few matches .

 

Our Keeper gets Golden Glove award.

 

Man City thrash Everton 5-1 to seal League & FA Cup double.

 

Moreau transfer from Augsburg confirmed …Zidane as ever nice with my transfer bids for his squad.

 

Then Europa Final….I have injuries to key defenders ..Have an U18 on the bench as right back cover.Left back lacks fitness as just returned from injury.

Porto have midfield issues with injury.

Both teams with same formations.

 

Utd beat City to win Champions League ( Won 4 of last 6).

Siminov upfront with Zidane on bench.

 

I have gone Positive in approach …HT 0-0 despite dominating ( Porto did hit bar but no shots on target).

Porto miss pen (60) and who else but Doherty (86) to seal the Win.

Mine and Saints first ever Europa Trophy.

 

Season ends City / Spurs/ Utd / Leicester/ Saints / Arsenal / Watford for European places.

 

Awards..Saints

fans player ..Zidane…not for me in my short spell

goal ..Zidane 

youngster ..A.Jones

 

Doherty gets player of the season.. certainly my star ..in Europa league

 

Will be sad to see Borley go ..a last link to my first time here ..460 league games with 80 goals 65 assists

97 caps and 20 goals for Wales.  Not bad for the £1.7m I paid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 22 …. June 2039

 

Massive rebuild required …some are players wanting to go …some is getting players of my style.

Last time I brought back former players .. will look at past Transfer History… alas no good former players.

I am looking at my old Augsburg squad ..some have moved on.

Top shirt sales Doherty / Zidane ( my shock one to transfer out) / Jones / Siminov / Fernando

10 of first team are 30 plus in age.

 

Why did they program players sulking when not bought ..I’ve offered to clubs and no initial interest ..outside transfer window starting ..what can I do as a player differently.

 

Also improving back room staff ..short of coaches and quality of some ..retirements help from sacking Some.

 

Near Club Record Bid for 22 yr old wonder keeper from Spain…short & long term replacement for my 36yr old. ( Record is Zidane £142.145m from Inter).

 

Moreau joins 9/6/39 …That’s my DM position improved. ( Always good for Augsburg there)…£80m

Gonzalez bid of £132m accepted and will join us….Keeper sorted.

 

Start clearing out the unwanted before launching some more bids….so many players were out on loan.

 

Man U players out of price range ..going after Leicester duo and former Aberdeen player at City.

 

July 2039 … 4 in and 19 out …… 4 over 30’s out …11 are U23’s who have been on loan….

                    Pick up 3 more but these are free signings to boost reserves and pick up a transfer/loan fees.

 

Youngster England questioning my signing of Etten to replace him ..he is back off loan at Swansea and has made 1 sub appearance for Saints…..I have also sold 2 strikers.

 

Rios has same issue with McAndrew … he has a point !  Brown with Moreau ..again …true.

 

Spurs top match day income (77577 seater) Utd 2nd (75635) Saints 3rd ..need to start selling out.

 

Top Scorer odds sees No Saints player In Top 6.

Etten 8-1 ..3rd fav for Top Player.

Top Young Player …Gonzalez 5th fav.

 

I predict City / Utd then us.

 

Expectations :

Champions League …1st Knock outs

Premier …Qualify Champions League

FA Cup ..6th Round

Carabao ..n/a

 

Season opens away at Spurs …difficult 1-1 draw.  4-1-4-1 cautious formation.

 

Super Cup and go to back 4-3-3 as UTD very defensive 5 at the back. HT 2-1 up ..Go 4-1-4-1 after Utd get a red card ..Etten completes hat trick in 5-1 win.

 

Saints 2nd win …I have 6 with three different teams.

 

5 is highest score by a team in the Super Cup.

 

League … lots of drawers as I struggle for a formation.

Champions League ..Beat Feyenoord as I finally go more Attacking.

 

Carabao ..lots of changes ..away at high flying Chelsea ..lose 2-0 …Brinkmann makes debut now our youngest player at 15y 362d ..replacing Richards who I gave a debut too 16/years ago.  (16y 16d) ..also youngest ever Carabao player ( Morgan Rogers 16y 19d).

Qualify for Champions League after 4/4 wins .. Atletico in games 3 and 4 are key wins,

 

Beat Utd again in league and unbeaten after 13 matches ..surprise leaders Brighton are only team using 3-4-3 …City and Spurs make up Top 3.  Too many draws as we struggle at times to score enough… I have gone from Cautious to Balanced more often and this has started to help.

 

Transfer window needed as Right full back long term injury .. a surprising lack of English talent available ..most wonder kids are French or Portuguese.

 

New record youngest player for Saints and Champions League …Bright Sarpei( 15y 242d)  ..only recently set Saints record with Brinkmann ( 15y 362d in Carabao loss to Chelsea)…Champions League was ( Koller 15y 317d)….. won dead rubber vs Feyenoord 2-0 with 3 young debutants 

 

Our keeper wins Goalkeeper of the Year … Partly In Spain and Partly here are Saints.

2 current and 1 former player in Team of 2039.

 

Poor end to Dec 2038 sees us 3rd ..6 pts behind free scoring City after 20 games.

 

End 2039 with Birmingham grabbing an unlikely late draw against my reserves in the Cup.

 

Jan 2040 … 

 

Arsenal want Perdomo …Frees me up to sign a Brazilian.  Sell another injury prone fullback (33yr) and promote a U23 player.

Aiming to buy a few English U23 but otherwise keep squad intact.

 

Game 24 sees City smash us 5-0 in what was 1st vs 2nd. Brighton now above us and City 8;pts clear after 24 games ( City played 23).

Cant blame injuries ..they are just superior with 4-2-3-1 system.

 

I have reached that fatigue moment many FM players will know … I want something else but can’t quite decide what … I have decided to leave Saints at end of Season and try to win competitions around the world plus look for International job in Oceania …New Zealand though can not be managed so wasting my time.

 

Champions League …Khalifa now at AC Milan back to haunt me,.lose 1-0 away in 1st knock out leg.

 

My Top 4 ambitions before I leave face a stiff test with Liverpool (5) Stoke (6) in successive matches .

 

Strong defence and Etten taking his chances see a 3-0 home win ..101513 fans are happy.

Beat Stoke 2-1 with comeback win ..Moreau (94th min) ..elsewhere Brighton were 3-0 down and won 6-3.

 

Elsewhere …Utd down to 10th ( lost to bottom team) ..manager not yet sacked.

They lose in ECC 1st Knock out to Lille.

PSG knock out Aberdeen (agg 5-4).

 

Fulham (19th in Prem) beat Arsenal ( pens after 3-3 draw) to win Their First Carabao Cup.

 

March 2040 .. win at Old Trafford and they finally sack Tedesco…..Tuchel is linked with the job !

City hammered by Liverpool in a shock result .. 3 pts behind but City have game in hand.

 

AC Milan hold us 0-0 ( I did have 4 missing and lost 2 to injury during the match ..but did create 4 good chances).  Knocked out of ECC.

 

Tweaked  tactics ..suddenly creating chances for fun … should have done this earlier than League game number 30.

 

 Brighton hold City and now it’s 1 point behind but they have that extra game.

 

Game 32 we go top as City lose to Arsenal (4th) and Brighton (3rd) lose to 5th placed Liverpool….my mind talk the title was City to lose may be working ( they still have an extra game).

 

City draw and suddenly in our hands after beating Chelsea …I’m astonished by their drop in form.

 

Game 34 … I might be playing lowly Fulham(19th) ..but when the back up CB scores twice you know it is all going your way ….3-0 win away sees Champions league secured.

All the derbies during this round of games ..Liverpool 4-1 , Arsenal thrash Spurs 6-1 and lowly Utd win 3-0 at City…that could hand me a surprise title.

 

I said City form had shocked me … they have lost 4/6 in the league plus 1 draw 4/18 pts taken…. And for the cynics …no I have not edited / taken over the club or any other classic cheats ( They do have 5 injured) …. I was resigned to ending my season with Just a European Super Cup win and hope for Top 4.

 

Game 35 …Propper sent off in 96 seconds ..can’t recall losing a player quicker ..playing bottom side Sheff Utd and at home …get to HT 0-0 and controlling possession.  Hit bar (81st) before a 82nd min winner Through a sub.

 

City form so bad now losing to mid table Spurs 5-3 …and Arsenal are now 2nd….

 

Game 36 ...Arsenal apply the pressure by beating improving Man U in early quick off …we away at Villa and  Stefan Jones scores early …and a second just before HT to get lead back….go more defensive and Marcelo gets his first club goal ..Doherty seals it as counter attacking wins the day ..5-1 and goal difference now better than Arsenal which may be needed.

 

Game 37 ..Everton(h) ..need a point ..veteran Jones celebrates a new contract with a goal (42) ..HT 1-0.

Arsenal are 0-0.  Moreau who used to get vital goals at Augsburg delivers another here ..Title sealed ..much to my surprise …..This 3rd Title in 39/40 win comes 16 years after my 2nd with Saints .

Makes 7 Premier titles….Fergie has 13……. I have matched his 17 Domestic Titles.

 

My run in was 9 teams in 9th place or lower .

 

Saints first title since 32/ 33 ….breaking the Manchester dominance ( Utd 5 City 1).

 

Based on possession and a tight defence . Gonzalez wins Golden Glove ( Premier). 18 clean sheets and only 29 conceded.

5 players in team of year ..Arsenal 2 City 2 Liverpool and Brighton 1

 

Fans Player ..Vino Jones 

Goal ..Vino Jones 

Signing ..Etten

Young Player ..Runcan

 

Doherty/Etten/Jones/Siminov / Fernando top shirts .

 

In Europe ..Bayern Munich have set a new crowd record be Napoli …101,734 beats Saints 101,513 in the Europa competition from 4 years ago. ( Capacity is now 108,71…..largest in the world ).

 Made me look for biggest stadiums 

 

Barcelona 104,000

Kaizer Chiefs 108,075

 

Game 38 … 3 clubs battling for 4th place .( Brighton play  Stoke and need to win by a few) City could still take 2nd ( Arsenal are playing 4th place chasing Liverpool).

Lose at Brentford ..injuries and over celebration I feel as not on it ..

City lose again and Arsenal hold Liverpool for 2nd.  Stoke edge out Brighton on goal difference For 4th.

 

Champions League is PSG vs Leicester ( who Poch manages !) …PSG win 3-2 aet.

 

PSG have won in France 

Aberdeen and Augsburg have last day deciders…..Aberdeen do it ..Bayern pip Augsburg.( Zidane sacked).

 

Man U beat Stoke 3-2 to win FA Cup…interim manager then replaced by treble winning Wells from PSG

 

European Championship …Doherty misses out ..England squad all play in Premier league. 11 are over 30.

 

Sainst have 13 players in the tournament ( 3 with England).

 

Saints takeover finally happens …no investment due and rip up my philosophies …. I do not like it and refuse contract talks …replaced by Zidane.

 

June 2040 ..I was going to move to South African leagues and set that league up ready to start from July …however I have been contacted by PSG immediately and being wanted influences me…fans want me back too…..Offered job but on £20k per week.  £12m budget …. I still take it.

Schalke offer job interview.

Tuchel takes Augsburg.

Klose takes City job ..was at UTD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 23

 

Euros

 

Germany bottom of group.

 

England out in 2nd round to Sweden ( had cruised the group ) …Scotland out on pens to Italy.

Vino Jones retired after 227 caps and 39 goals. Myles who I also gave his debut retires 79/40.

France make the final and beat the Dutch 2-1 to retain the trophy.

 

I apply for Argentina job again…declined again as not best candidate.

I apply for England again ….as above ..Scott Smith appointed who appears a regen with no experience.

Same with Spain application.

Lots of other jobs including Spain/Portugal and Italy .

 

PSG .. Clear out the unwanted loan players and a couple of veterans.

Break transfer fee on full back ..Poch sells due to good relationship .

PSG unsurprisingly Favourites for the league.

August 2040.

 

4-2-3-1 Positive …and 3-1 up at Half time …2nd Half balanced to get a bit more possession ..doesn’t get poss up but do win 5-1.

 

Trophee es Champions …. First Silverware against AS Monaco 5-1 ( battle of past 2 Saints managers).

 

Back after 4 months playing a Northern Ireland save with Queens Uni.

 

Open League campaign with a win and now it’s Super Cup vs Bayern.

 

15/8/40 …Ignore going cautious ..stay positive and Win 3-0 …My 6th win with 3 clubs.

 

Hall of Fame in France …need another 25pts to go 10th on Leaderboard.

 

Champions League Drawer ( Board want this won) .. AC Milan / Ajax and Stoke.

 

Stoke success made me look around the English league as we reach 2040 For other surprises.

 

Derby no financial issues are in the Championship alongside Bury ( went bust and out of the league) 

Wrexham L1 with no big USA owners….with Neymar as Manager.

Boreham Wood are L2…Bromley/ Flyde/.Ebbsfleet & Eastleigh made it but then relegated.

Blackpool are in the Vanarama alongside Carlisle / Bristol Rovers / Wycombe / Accrington & Cheltenham.

 

Come a cropper at lowly St.Etienne …there 4-2-2-2 dominates possession.

 

Record gate receipts in thrashing AC Milan 4-1….£3.1m

 

Game 7 ..OL top by 1 point as we clash (h) … ..win 5-1….gamble of resting entire team pays off despite 2-2 draw Vs lowly Nimes In previous match.

 

Game 4 .. thrashed at Stoke ( I had 1 injury otherwise Best XI all fit)

 

Former PSG now at Utd gives grief in media about me …. Given he is not in Top 4 he may need to stop talking.

 

Qualify for Champions League and Juventus next.

 

Injury hit squad go to World Club …( Bother Right Wingers ) ..1-0 SF win vs LA Galaxy 

Final … River lead against run of play at HT .. Gill on a sub takes it 1-1 and ET..another sub nets a brace and win 4-1.

 

Extends my Hall of Fame lead over Guardiola .( Spurs Manager).

 

Jan 2041 … French joker transfer carries over into main window…..sell some fringe players….finally get Cuenot.

 

St.Etienne hold us too a 0-0 before we play them again and win 2-0 in the Cup SF ..Mitrovic with 100th goal for PSG…ironically sold him in 32  / 33 season from Aberdeen to Partizan due to 2 goals in 25 league games.

 

Feb 2040 ..8 pts clear and 2 games in hand in the league …Juventus awaits In Europe.(a) leg first.

Lose 1-0 after 89th min against run of play….not a great way to end my 1399th game as manager.

 

After beating Nantes lose an epic 4-3 away at 2nd place Lyon….gap is now 8pts .

Fixture back log is stretching injury hit squad …but beat Marseille 

Youth intake match attended … some decent talent this time.

After shuffling team …Juventus 2nd leg ….. midfield options stretched with only 1 fully fit player.

Go attacking ( mistakenly left it cautious first leg) …Win 3-0 

QF draw ..Barcelona.

 

Another striker reaches a landmark ..Jose Mario gets at hat trick for 200 league goals in 11 seasons …no wonder with such expensive strikers PSG have won last 23 titles.( Only OL / OM & Monaco have come 2nd in that time ).

 

French Cup and Coupe de Ligue Final coming up … time to try some reserves in the cup against Auxerre And keep first team fit for Final……win 2-0 …5 debuts and a striker back from injury scores in 41secs..the plan has started well.

 

Final vs Amiens (18th in league) …trail after 21 mins but 2-1 up by HT and against 10 men (45 min). Win 4-1.

 

Both main right wingers injured again for Barcelona tie…A cautious approach at home ..Win 2-0

 

Champions League SF .. PSG/Saints/Augsburg my last 3 teams plus Bayern Munich.

 

Need a win for the title as 3 more injuries hit …League won with 6 games to spare….too easy…24 in a row.

 

Saints win Premier League .

 

Jose Mario scored and his 184th league goal is now a club record 

I am now 7th in the Nations Hall of Fame.

 

Rest squad before key SF with Bayern … lose 4-0 to relegation threatened Amiens.

 

SF ..Bayern (a) .. CD/AML injuries affecting chances ..HT1-0 down .. despite playing against 10 men it’s soon 3-0 down … ends 3-1 …var prevents 3-2.( My former player Althausen is the man of the match).

 

SF French Cup …Lyon have a player called Mosquito …… win 2-1.

 

Champions League SF ..rush back unfit players and go positive ….goal down on the hour …all out attack started …lose 2-1 …agg 5-2 to Bayern…..the Board May sack me for this failure of expectation.

Southampton also 5-2agg vs Augsburg.

 

Man Utd beat Fulham 1 - 0 in Euro Cup. 
 

Bayern 2 vs Saints 0 …their first Champions League since 2013.

 

French Cup final and playing winger at LB due to injuries ..win 3-0 

Hall of Fame now ranked 6th in France.

Dupuy ..fans player and signing of the season. Young player Lallemand.

 

Bored of France …. I have resigned and applied for St.Johnstone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 24

 

Augsburg have moved to a stadium named after me …(57597 capacity).

 

I am the new St.Johnstone manager with a young player philosophy … aim is to win their first ever League.

 

Going 442 which served me well on a previous save when taking a break from this.

 

History wise …no trophies in 11 years and 1 x Scottish Cup & 3 Betfred ever for the team. 7 lower league championships.

 

Board Expectations

1. Euro Cup Qualification
2. Both cups ..QF.
3. Euro Cup ..reach group round.

Transfers are harder than expected …I found it easier at Aberdeen…partly my bad relationship with United Manager Wells is seeing transfer requests turned down for fringe players.

 

Use good relationship with Zidane for loan full back From Bayern.

 

Elsewhere Zidane leaves Saints for Bayern…

Tuchel leaves Augsburg for Saints and Gareth Bale is the new Director of Football.

 

..Vino Jones who I gave a debut at club/international level retires with 227 caps and 39 goals from midfield. 614 premier games for Saints and 86/goals for this one club man.

 

Gone full youth recruitment …2 incomings arranged before I arrived . For every youth in I see an older player to improve finances and wage limits.

 

As of Mid July …6. signings in age 16-21.  4 out ..3 were 26-29.

 

Pre season has got better each game.

 

First competitive game is Euro Cup best placed 2nd qualification round vs a Cypriot side in :

 

St J vs AS Nea Salamis Famagusta …Saints loaned Williams scores in 86 secs ..Win 2-0 ( 4 debutants )

 

AS vs St J …Win 0-3 .

 

Looking at International mgmt to run alongside …South Africa available …England have just failed in Confed cup Group.  The regen England manager has only 1 skill above 9.

 

Opening league fixture is newly promoted Kilmarnock (a)managed by a former Aberdeen player of mine.

 

Season ticket sales up nearly 200 from last year at 3718.

 

Dream start HT 2up …Win 3-0 with both strikers scoring.

 

Apply for South Africa and England ( again my interest is met with derision)… I won World Cup x 2 Euros x2 and 4 International Leagues ..3 more trophies with France and 2 with Ivory Coast.🤷🏻‍♂️…hoping likes Saints this is media nonsense only as next 5 managers since me win 4 trophies and that’s with the database being skewed in Englands favour.( England hire Ebanks Landell).

 

I am offered/take the South Africa job… hope this will help bring in players next transfer window.

 

Euro 3rd Rnd vs Young Boys (a) ..HT 1 down against run of play ..ends 1-1 despite dominating poss/chances.

 

First home game should be a sell out .(10696) ..with a chance to go top as Glasgow pair lose and Dons held 4-4 by Hibs.

 

Lee McCoist 225th league game …Dundee U miss a pen to level it …but do score (89) to end it 1-1. ( I needed the team who have in real life just lost 9-0).

 

Euro (h) .. HT 1-0 up …confused by a comment our keeper had joined the attack ! …Win 2-0 ( 3-1agg)

 

Keeper comment had shown several times … I had messed up corners and put GK to attack near post😂

 

Whilst searching South Africa National Pool i find a Keeper with no club .. a little better than my existing one and get him free .. then shows £6m valuation … other keeper is £700k.

 

Betfred … 5 debuts and 10 players get squad numbers in narrow 1-0:win before next Euro game.

 

19/8/41 … 9 players in ..total spend £215k.

 

Europe (a) to Viktoria Plzen …. Loanee Williams hat trick in 4-0 win.

 

Transfer window closes with 4 games gone :

1st Placed Aberdeen spent the most £38m but sold £86m

2nd St Joh stone spent £250k and recouped £10m

Rangers in 11th spent £10.75m with no sales.

 Celtic in 6th spent £38.5m and recouped £52m

Motherwell & Dundee U did not spend at all ..of the rest only Kilmarnock spent over a £1m.

 

International..My first double header with South Africa.( Ranked 24).

I have kept with 442 I use at club level and made 6 changes to the squad.

 

WCQ (a) Togo ( Rank 81)….30 yr old .Debutant Liedson(4) gives me my first goal …my fix to corners hasn’t worked (exported formation) and Keeper has gone up for a corner…HT 0-3 .Win 5-0 and Motebang gets a hat trick.

 

Sudan(Rank 92)  (h) …Liedson(15) for first home goal …HT 2-0 …Moholo gets his 89/90th international goals but a missed pen ruins the hat trick…Win 3-0…..23yr old Wakefield makes debut

Both debutants are playing in China.

 

League  Celtic (a) First test vs the Big 3 …HT 0-0 and dominating poss ..dominate 2nd half but Celtic debutant wins it in 91st minute .

Beat Togo 1-0 and qualify for World Cup with a game to spare.

 

Guinea-Bissau(a) …first real test after being brought back to 1-1 …Win 4-1.  Mohohlo hat trick.( 93 international goals ) … Thoahlane gets his first .

 

Win in Europa league for 3 from 3 before a Derby match with Dundee in the Betfred semi final …oddly the teams have few meetings and Dundee have Won more of those clashes.

 

Epic match ends 3-2 and now Celtic in the Final.

 

Top the table and former team Aberdeen next … the games are catching up and team fitness is dropping.

 

Got distracted and forgot to make subs …lose 1-0 🤦🏻‍♂️
 

CHAN draw made ( no foreign based players) …South Africa upto (22) ..Nigeria (27) Mozambique(69) Tanzania (101).

 

28/11/ 2041 … Need to improve squad in Jan.   4th in league after 13 games ..Hearts (28) Aberdeen / Celtic (25) St J (23) Hamilton (22) Ayr(21).

 

I rotate squad fully before Lazio dead rubber ( win 1-0 and 2 disallowed goals)..as Celtic next in cup final.

 

 Betfred Cup Final …..I go cautious and hope to hit on the counter with my quickest young strikers.

1-0 up (35) mins ..Emmanuelli (PSG loaned) …ex Celtic player Sinclair ( fell out with current manager Russell) seals win in (93) ……….I really expected to go trophy less this season.

Only St J 7th win against Celtic …Drawn 4 Lost 58

 

Reach 24/12/2041 having beaten Rangers after a run of draws …Hearts (19 games 35pts) Aberdeen 19/35 ..Celtic 19/34 and then St .J. 19/33…Rangers are 9th 19/22.

 

Loanee Williams has 20 goals but 13 goals in 9 Euro games …7 league in 18 games.

 

Picked CHAN squad which is not easy with no National Pool domestic filter.  Win both friendlies with a squad that has 19/23 with 4 caps or less experience…injuries see U20’s raided.

 

Winter break let’s me bed in new Argentine wingers….. Aberdeen spend £10m on a player … not in that spending bracket…still think 4th is possible…. Cant find the defenders to be more attacking.

 

Elgin (cup) . 1 day … Mozambique the next .. busy schedule.

 

Elgin ..win 5-0 ..centre half scores 2 pens and Harand sets you best goal scorer record 16y 352d 

 

Win 6-1 against Mozambique .

 

Relegation Hibs away ..ends 5-5 ….. I had the the best defence 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

24//01 / 2042 Celtic linked with a takeover….manager under threat (3rd with a game in hand on 2nd).

 

 Beat Kilmarnock & Nigeria on the same day ..Nigeria is with 10 men and a debut goal…QF qualified.( dead rubber with Tanzania to go).

 

Injury to only main St.J…Keeper means 17 yr old makes debut in big win over lowly Livingston ( on a run of lower teams).

 

31.01.42….Thrash bottom Side and local rivals Dundee Utd whose new manager I have slated b4 his first game….. We are Top St .J, Played 24 Pts 43 / Celtic 23 / 43 Aberdeen 23 / 42 Hearts 23 / 41 Ayr 24 / 40

Rangers still 9th but 10 pts clear of relegation.

 

Transfers ..Aberdeen spend £10.25m …I spent £1.2m on 3 players.

 

CHAN QF ..1 suspended for the game with Ghana……. Play the perfect game and win 6-0 ..Ghana players just didn’t perform with 3 rating under 6.

 

Beat Morocco 3-0 in SF….Mali next and they played extra time then pens.( South Africa lost last game ).

 

Final same day as cup tie with Forfar….rotated squad with easy win.

 

CHAN final vs Mali …HT 2-0 up Centre Half gets both ..back to 2-2 before 92nd winner from another inexperienced player( Khumalo)  winning his 8th cap…..last won it with Ivory Coast 8 years ago. Khumalo also broke assist record with 5 and won best player with 3 goals along with assists in 6 games. Chauke wins best keeper.

 

Oddly squad now unhappy I replaced Captain .. but he plays abroad and does not qualify for the competition .

 

They follow up with moaning when I bring back the overseas players who I was forced to drop.

 

Euro games settled by away win and home draw ( agg 3-2)….last 16 tie with Juventus Next.

 

Inbetween rotation fails and thrashed by CeltIc 3-1.

 

League Draw ..Scottish Cup Win then lose 1-0 away in Turin.

 

9.3.42 ..New Intake …. Seem better than current U18’s….and .beat them 5-0 in a match.

 

Go positive to overturn Juventus deficit ….level tie (11) ..2-1 down on agg (15) ..ends 1-1 so out 2-1 agg.

 

30 games gone …8 left and great time to have just beaten ( managerless ) Aberdeen for the first time …yet to beat Celtic in the league …or Ayr and Hibs at all.

1st St.J 56pts  2nd Hearts 56 pts 3rd  CeltIC 55pts 4th Aberdeen 52pts 5th Ayr 51pts.

 

International Break …. Back up striker gets his first Scottish Call up.

 

African cup of nations Qual starts.

 

Guinea(70th) vs South Africa (20th) …..Khune wins 50th cap. Sub Madala scores late winner after dominating.

 

S.A vs Botswana (159th) …9 changes ….Win 3-0.

 

Game 31 ..Top 3 all win but Hearts narrow goal difference.(Finally beat Hibs).

Game 32 ..Thrash Hearts 4-0 in Top of Table clash ..Capt Methven makes 100th league appearance.

Game 33 ..Rangers (a)…Lose one of my main youngsters upfront to injury …. HT 0-0 and not threatening..tried Positive to Cautious to get the ball…..ends 0-0 ..Celtic go top and Rangers miss out by 1point on Top 6.

 

Too many games in close proximity and my squad is too thin.

League now splits for final 5 games with Celtic now favourites .

 

Only 1 games in 2 weeks so squad gets a rest after a comfortable 3-1 win over Ayr in Cup SF ..Aberdeen next.

 

Game 34 … Usual whipping boys Hearts hold us 0-0….Celtic blow a 2 goal lead at Hamilton ends 3-3 …Aberdeen grab the win and now it’s 1 point covering Top 3….European football guaranteed .

 

England ….Southampton are champions with games left and currently 18pts clear…Spurs/City/Man U.

 

Game 35 …the big Showdown with Celtic … going defensive and see if I can repeat cup final win….lost all 3 league games….however they have an extra Euro Cup SF game before we play.

Head 2 Head W7 D15 L 59

Hearts  beat Aberdeen .. I gamble with fitness returners ..Dominate the stats ..but ends 0-0…….now 3 points cover the Top 4.

 

5/5/42 …. Named Players Manager of the Year. Ayr/Hearts managers 2nd and 3rd.

 

Celtic make it through to play Leicester in Europa Final.

 

St.J ..move up 142 places to 126th in Euro Rankings.

 

Game 36 …..This will be game 1500 as Manager ..against former side Aberdeen.  
My 59% win rate is my lowest of any side …career avg 78%.

Start cautious and cant get a shot and Dons 1-0 up HT … aggressive team talk and go attacking ..equalise before going 2-1 down …and that puts Dons top with  Celtic playing later ..they beat Ayr.

 

1500 games …W 1170 D 193 L 137 ….Scored 3999 Against 1041.    Cups 60 Leagues 18 Promotions 3

 

Game 37 … Ayr who are on a bad run …miss early pen …still 3 up in 27 mins ..goes 3-2 ..ends 3-3 after stoppage time equaliser .. no longer can win the league.

 

Celtic lose to Hearts …. Aberdeen 70pts Celtic 69pts St .J & Hearts 66pts….last game is Top 2.

 

Game 38 …Hamilton finishes season ..media say 5 games without a win = discontent 🤦🏻‍♂️
 

Livingston relegated …Rangers end 7th…they are linked with a relegated Championship clubs manager.

 

I win Writers manager of the Year. 

Early goal disallowed …Aberdeen 1 up (11) ..Ayr beating Hearts …HT Dons 2up ..Hamilton kicking us off the park but 0-0.

Finally break deadlock and with Dons 3up .. we leapfrog Celtic …and so it ends we a Runners Up place…St.Johnstones best ever finish and a shock Champions League place.

 

Board announce a new budget of £7m for transfers .

 

Director announces prize money of £5m but do not get carried away as we looked title challengers at one point … board is beginning to annoy me.

 

Win £384k for Europa run ..board are happy with that…Leicester beat Celtic in final. Loanee Williams named in best XI

 

Last Match of Season … our first Scottish Cup final since 2014.

Lose Williams and his 34 goals to an U20’s call up. Back up fall back also out for same reason.

 

I go positive after last league match didn’t work being defensive …HT 0-0 but better performance than league fixture and will keep this tactic …My old player Blanc scores yet again against us (46) ..2-0 down soon after … go very attacking …doesn’t work … lose 4-0.

 

End of Season …Williams (34)breaks scoring record of Liam May (21)…also Golden Boot … 18.  Wins Youno Scottish Player Award Of Season .

Peters (26) breaks Clean sheer record of Elliot Casey (16)

Sinclair runner up in Scottish Player awards.

 

St.J Awards

Fans Player ..Sinclair

Goal ..O’Neill

Signing .Strahinja 

Youngster ..Williams

 

Time for contracts and World Cup with South Africa.

 

Williams and Emmanuelli both resign on loan …… West Ham want too much money for re loaning Bailey.

 

McCoist wants new challenge … why when in first ever Champions League.

 

Win both easy pre tournament friendlies … lack of a proper left midfielder is an issue.

 

World Cup ( England King Power) vs China …. Motebang (6) Liedson (17) Mohohlo (21) HT 3-0 and excellent football.  Mohohlo gets a hat trick …upto 103international goals . Win 5-0.

Ndwandwe earns 100th cap at centre back.

Germany beat China 3-0…. This qualifies us to for the next round.

 

Shock as Iran beat hosts England 2-0.

England beat DRC 5-2 to get through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 25

 

World Cup Contiunes and finally I go to my favourite FM club and manage lowly Rochdale who just avoided relegation from League 2….. too many issues to make St.Johnstone fun this season and finally job available.

 

Ends 0-0 vs Germany at St.James Park and top group on goal difference.

 

Round 2 …. Tunisia ( Goodson Park) … All over them but 1-0 down (38) ..down to 10 men (57) ..go all out and equalise (77) through Mohohlo ..ends 1-1 …Penalties … Win 3-0.

 

South Africa reach Ranking high 15th . ( Best was 16th in 1996).

 

England beat free scoring Mexico 1-0.

Scotland beat Cameroon 5-1.

Shock is Peru (47)knocking out Italy(6) on penalties……Japan (29)knock out Holland(7)….3-1 win.

 

Round 3 … Belgium (14) at Anfield…… Mohohlo (9) ..Perfect start …HT 1-0.. Belgium dominate possession so go defensive …helps a d hold on without any scares for 1-0 win.

Ecuador(29) knock out England(4).  2-1 …Manager Ebanks-Landell under pressure.

 

QF vs free scoring Portugal (7)….Matt Le Tissier Stadium …back at the Saints for me.

Dull first half ( went balanced) …HT 0-0 …FT 0-0 11 shots on target to 2 but can’t break through.

Sub Wakefield (114) with the shock Winner In front of over 101500 fans….his first ever goal.

 

SF …Ecuador (24) .. we are favourites in a World Cup Semi final ….South Africa rise to (12th) ..

Match at Spurs …

Other SF is Brazil (1)vs France (2)

 

I am confused why i have players with poor morale when the team are doing so well 🤷🏻‍♂️
Start Positive as i have with every game … Motebang(30 & 35) ..survive a VAR pen shout and dreamland at HT as we lead 2-0.   62% poss ….replace those on bookings … go to balanced and Win 2-0 

 

Surprised is an understatement … I expected Round 2 or 3 … now can I deliver the real shock.

Africa’s best finish was 3rd in 2034 with my Ivory Coast side ( they were better as a team .. I am playing without a proper left sided winger).

Brazil beat France 3-1 ….. Going to be tough against the World Rank 1 side.

 

Ecuador beat France 2-1 to finish 3rd in World Cup.

 

Brazil at Wembley …World Cup Final …. 100,000 sell out .  Mohohlo is 2nd in scoring charts …had most shots and most on target ..scored 5 from 19 on target and 29 shots in total.

 

Peters has 5 clean sheets and will be Top Keeper.

 

Use .. create an upset talk and start positive ….2 booked in first 13 mins and go to balanced …hit the post (22) ..Goal down to their top scorer (26) …Motebang equalises (45) against run of play. HT 1-1.

 

3 of my midfield on yellow… change to focus play down the right as left side is failing.

 

Replace all on yellow after the hour mark … getting a bit more possession.

 

Mohohlo(73) and the shock is on …..SOUTH AFRICA WIN THE WORLD CUP …. Ranked 10 now.

 

I think this is my greatest FM moment … not expected and not done with editing etc … I am simply astounded.

 

With an English database winning it previously with England was sort of a high chance .. this is just a miracle 

 

15 nations sack their Managers..Apply for England / Spain / Argentina … I will never repeat that shock.

Back at England 

 

Mathibe best Player of Tournament.

 

Transfers.

Man Utd who have a long standing feeder team with Rochdale let me loan 21yr old Backhouse ( was with me for half of the season with St.Johnstone when I was there and has me as favoured staff). Plays ML but will be used AML unless formation fails.

Loach LWB also joins from Man Utd.

 

But playing awkward with U18 players…this changes after World Cup win.

 

Watford loan me an AMC Drury ..did not Realise that former player Pogba is the manager and he is happy to help.

 

Millwall loan GK … Hurley

 

Spurs loan versatile Midfielder …Millington.

 

Sign youngster Shannon from Swansea U23’s….AMR…. Never played a competitive match.

 

Youth Development sell a talented youngster … had settings wrong.

 

I also attend Trialist Match… none grab my attention.

 

Checkatrade Draw … League 1 clubs Burton & Doncaster plus Man City U23’s.

 

League starts away at Tranmere ( Win 3-1) then Home to Harrogate.

 

We are 2-1 second favourites behind Southend…..We are Ranked 15th on salary spend.

 

Declan Nichols(CF)  gets my first Rochdale goal Backhouse the 2nd & 3rd. Dominate possession  in a game with both sides playing 4-2-3-1. 

Lowly rated Harrogate score against run of play and takes a 92nd min equaliser from Shannon ( 1st senior goal) to get a draw…. In front of 5186 fans….only twice had more than that last season.

 

10 Teams all on 4 points from 2 games.

 

Carabao Cup … Rotate all Eleven ( 7 debutants) after 3 leagues games and sign a free transfer ( Nwachuckwu) as AMC cover … lose 1-0 away at high flying Championship Wigan.

Rotation works … beat Grimsby (h) .. in front of 5834 fans … 1700 up on last season….Only Bolton game with 6765 had more fans last season.  Loanees Drury & Millington gets first senior goal.

 

Port Vale (h) Fans 5642 ….. Win 3-1.

Dover (a) .. Win 3-0

 

Beat Bolton in a thriller in front of 9339 … (6765 last year).

 

Checkatrade

Rotate team vs Man City U23 … win pen shoot out after 0-0.

Roration vs Burton ends 1-1 but lose pens .

 

 

29/8/42 .. Pick first England squad…..Only 1 goalkeeper has experience …with 1 cap.

 

Nelson makes debut in goal … A.Jones is new skipper. Only 2 players with over 50 caps.

 

Vs Poland (a) …Simpson ( most experienced with 85 caps) gets my first goal back in charge …4-2-3-1 formation is identical to Rochdale . Palmer got the second ( had him on loan at Aberdeen) before losing two to injury and finish with 10 men … scored 2 goals with the 10 …Win 4-0.

 

I draft 2 of my loaned players into squad as cover Vs Peru … hoping this helps me sign them later.

 

Game 9 get a draw from 2 down … need to do it again in Game 10 ..not to be and lose to Southend 3-0 away in our first loss…. Top but only by 3 points from Port Vale.

 

Great start but really lacking cutting edge up top .. just couldn’t get a striker on loan and missing so many chances …. Back up striker yet to score as sub.

 

Game 11 is vs lowly York ( their manager is Neymar )….dominate but 1-3 down before all out attack and draw 3-3 with back up finally scoring.

 

Going through a phase of poor form …. Checked stats …we have the most goals ..so may be being harsh on strikers …Joint Top for goals from corners … 2nd for poss (56%) …Top for cross attempts … Completed Crosses 13th and headers won even worse. Top for dribbles.

 

England squad for South Africa (10)friendly … want to test myself against the current World Champions.

Then Sweden (31) in International league.

 

2 new caps …Nxumalo (29yr) Forrester (23yr) … due to injuries .

 

South Africa have changed from 442 to 4231 wide which is my current formation.

 

Palmer misses pen (6) ..Skillen (12) Palmer (14) as Nxumalo debuts with a great first half performance (27) and debut goal …HT 3-1…..Forrester comes on as sub and also scores on his debut … ( stayed attacking throughout) ..Win 7-2.   Genovese also gets 1st goal during 4th cap.

 

Williams makes debut vs Sweden …. Simpson returns with a goal (33) but shock equaliser sees it HT 1-1.

27 shots to 4 …  it ends 1-1.

 

Reach end of October with issues defensively … seem to concede until I go attacking so switch to attacking.( Injuries also didn’t help with 3/5 loanees out).

 

Elsewhere 8 managers sacked and Utd + Saints crash out of League Cup…We are Top at Halloween but only just from 4 other teams.

 

Going to put out reserves and youngsters ( 3 debuts) for FA Cup tie … as league game 3 days later….dominate but against run of play concede (84) … robbed….their keeper is man of the match.

 

England Squad … drop Williams to get a young wonder kid in before Argentina steal him.

 

England vs Poland ..HT 2-0 up .. Skillen stars in 4-0 win ( youngster I signed for Saints).

 

Injury allows a 16 yr old from Borough to be called up.( McMaster-Utterson).

 

A draw away in Sweden will see us through…Skillen (31) Simpson (32) & Hard (38) ..HT 3-0 up.

Skillen(50) before McMaster debut ..Skillen 87 …hat trick… ends 5-1.

 

McMaster is now youngest ever player 16 yr 294 days …from Malachai Richards 17y 196/days who I gave a debut too in 2023.

 

Draw Holland in SF .Playing .June 2043.

 

Rochdale (3rd) vs Doncaster (2nd) …winner takes all Checkatrade match …I go for it. HT 1-0 up.

1-1 early in 2nd half but 2-1 up on the hour … Win 2-1 against higher league opponent ..and with Burton losing we surprisingly top the group.

 

Rochade get Liverpool U23’s in next round ….. HT 1-0 up with rotation …ends 3-1.

Rivals Bury ( L1) up next.

 

01.11.2042 …Played 19 and Top by 5 points on 42. Bolton(37) Vale (35) Bristol R (34).

U18’s are Top and unbeaten .

U23’s are 8th from 10….. January clear out planned .

 

Rochdale extend my contract .

 

Euro Qual Draw..starts March 2043.

 

Russia(35) Greece(76) Cyprus(102) Lithuania(141).

 

26.12.2042 …. Offers coming in from abroad and enquires domestically for some of my first team squad .

 

Year ends with a run of bottom of the league sides and we’ll clear … Corner routines now up to 10 goals in 25 matches.

 

Year ends with a draw at Grimsby and after 26 games … Rochdale 59 Peterborough 51 Bolton 49 Vale 45

 

Jan 2044 …. I need a striker and centre half cover.

 

20.1.42 … Striker ( Freeman …West Ham reject and free transfer) and Roberts ( ex Swansea youngster ) signed and reserve striker and some U23’s released.

 

Portsmouth try to poach both centre halves on deadline day… I refuse.

 

Played 29 games ..Top by 9 points ( Freeman scored 2 on debut vs Vale).

 

The big Derby next …. Bury (League 1) in Checkatrade …. Winners take on Man Utd U23’s.

 

Bury Vs Rochdale HT 0-0 ( We have a goal disallowed) …FT 0-0 ..Penalties …..Win 8-7 💪🏼
 

Game 30 ..vs home to high flying AFC Wimbledon … loanee Backhouse sent off (7) ..Lose 3-1

 

I get my first ever ban overturned as Backhouse red card rescinded.

 

QF vs Man Utd U23’s ….. underdogs again …. There keeper is worth £12.5m and a £54m winger . Two others front worth £10m and £3m.
HT 0-0 and we dominating possession … Freeman (59) and shock is on …. Abdo from a corner in injury time seals it 2-0.

 

Liverpool win Carabao Cup for first time in nearly 25 years.

 

Notts County (SF ) Checkatrade ..suspensions and injuries ahead of game..  

Bell(16) before County hit back twice .. Millington (45+2 pen) …HT 2-2.

Game turns on County red card (65) ..Freeman (68/83) and win 4-2.

Only 4287 fans is a disappointment.

Fairytale final vs Colchester…….last made a final 23/24 when Ipswich won it.

 

Lose in the last minute vs Oxford in Game 36 … Peterborough close gap to 5 points.

 

Game 37 … slender win …before Top 2 battle with Peterborough …injuries to RWB and AMR…..Keeper own goal and Firth red card as we lose 2-1 at home in front of 7281 fans.

 

12.3.43 … Youth intake … King / Edwards and Knight look good….best name Gideon Tenkorang or Kimmari Anguin… Also as I watch I’m a celeb … I have a Declan Donnelly.

 

England squad for Greece/ Lithuania picked ..18yr old Leigh called up .. Right WB is lacking cover.

Long takes exception to being dropped .

 

Greece. VS England ..Heller to Get 100th cap ..Skillen(11) Palmer(45) Simpson (45+2) HT3-0 in a one sided game ..17 shots to nil …Genovese 33 secs into 2nd half …then Greece down to 10 men .. bring on Leigh for debut. Win 4-0.   3 goals in under 3 minutes is a first on the game.

 

Game between internationals … blow a lead but Peterborough also draw … playoff spot secured.

Knight & King make debuts and Knight is youngest player 15y 232 days .from Driver 15y 303 days.

 

England vs Lithuania … Palmer(5 pen) Skillen(19,40,45) HT4-0.  Genovese (48) …Win 7-0.

 

Game 40 … Bradford (h) .. goal down at HT … go all out attack and sub Knight equalises … Freeman goal disallowed as we claw a draw in last 5 mins.  Knight youngest scorer at 15 y 235 days.

 

Checkatrade Final ..( Expectation was round 2)…. Vs League 1 (5th placed) Colchester.

 

Stick to attacking …dominate with 63% in 1st half …HT and 1-0 courtesy of Millington (45+1).

Go to positive .. Colchester level (58) … Freeman restores lead (65) ..go to balanced.

Shock as hold on and Rochdale have a first Win …. Expected to make a run at this next season.

30968 fans … biggest for most my squad…..£132k prize money will help.

Knight sub appearance is Checkatrade record at 15y 240 days.

 

Game 41 … ahead of Peterborough on goal difference … squad tired after final so need To rotate.

 

Promotion guaranteed before we play and Posh ( also up) only draw … 3-1 win and regain top spot.

 

Game 42.… Rochade away at bottom place Scunthorpe and Posh (h) to Grimsby (16th)

 

Win 3-2 with rotated squad and 10 man Posh finally lose a match after 7 wins and 2 draws…Gap 5points.

 

Game 43..(h) to 3rd placed Bristol Rovers …Knight & King injured .. win despite missed penalty and Posh draw 0-0 so gap upto 7 points.

18.4.43..Game 44 …Home to Wrexham (18th) …a win and the title is ours.

 

Backhouse (16secs) with his 20th goal of the season ..1-1 (4th min) ..Backhouse again (15) hatrick from penalty spot (45) Freeman (45+2) ..HT 4-1 . Backhouse off injured but for a player playing slightly out of position he has been fantastic….shame only 6774 fans.

Title secured despite Posh hitting 6 …..Rochdale win League for the second time ..after 2028 triumph .

 

Elsewhere Southampton thrash City in Top 2 battle and look set for the Premier League ..Villa breaking into Top 4 and United are 10th.

Saints win Premier League & FA Cup

 

Aberdeen already Scottish Champions …. Rangers are better and St.J in Top 4.

 

1.5.43 … 1 game left but I am now looking at transfer targets.

 

Finish with 4-2 away win at Newport .  Bristol R pip Southend to final promotion place.

Great season with 99 points and 100 goals but neither a club record.

 

Fans Player&Young Player … Abdo.   Goal …Nichols.  Signing….Freeman.

 

Backhouse wins Golden Boot L2 … all 22 goals were in the league.

 

2 of my out of contracts signed up ….4 put up for sale.

My first bid is £250k valued 18yr old RB Spink-Reece … Liverpool accept 0 bid as contract due to end.

Same offer for existing Loanee Loach From Utd….Utd want £49k ..agent unsure & contract declined.

Ask Utd to reload Backhouse & Spurs for Millington & Millwall for Hurley & Drury from Watford….all requests  are accepted …down to the players ….Backhouse rejects …Millington /Drury/Hurley stay.

Cheeky bid for McMaster - Utterson rejected…try to boost it with add ons…. Fails.

 

U18 Manager retires.

 

England vs Holland … 2 major injuries rule out Palmer and Downes.

 

1.6.43 …Transfer embargo as Chairman is stepping down and a takeover is announced.

2.6.43 ..Bought by Supporters Trust…… No investment and no new philosophy.  Embargo ends.

 

Holland ( SF International League) .. VAR stop goal (4) Genovese (5/45)Skillen (18) ..HT 3-1 up.

Skillen (93) … through to final 4-1.

France (2) lose to Scotland (13) 2-1

 

I have a fabulous record against the Auld Enemy .. so very happy with this.

 

Current Rankings to see how this final affects points:

Brazil 2252. France 2209. Spain 2186. England 2142. Mexico 2077.  Scotland(13) 1901

Current World & African champions South Africa(10) 1970

 

France beat Holland for 3rd and rise to 2216 points …Defending champions Holland drop below Portugal.

 

7.6.42…..England (4)vs Scotland (13) International League Final ..Scotland are here for the first time ..England have 6 wins ( 3 under me)  & 5 third places in 12 competitions played.

 

Both teams 4-2-3-1 wide.  Pre final I’m asked about the Austrian manager I have no connection too.

 

HT 0-0 ..Scotland 16 fouls is a clear game plan… McMaster-Utterson on for injured Genovese scores in the 95th minute to win it 1-0.

 

McMaster-Utterson is now Youngest England Scorer 17 y 131 days ….202 days after his debut.

 

England gain 7 points but still Ranked 4th …Scotland lose 8 points despite their best ever finish as Runners up. Spain gained 4 for getting promoted from Group B to Group A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 26

 

England vs Saint Barthelemy

Chance to see back ups And chase records 

HT 8-0 ..Skillen has 4……Ends 15-0 …. Skillen 5 ..even centre half York gets 3 ..Bayley 4 assists.

Kane 6 in a 16-0 win vs Bangladesh are the records.

Will England makes debut … Ellis gets first goal.

 

Tuvalu next …England out injured and replaced with Moore.( Debut as sub).

Long makes 50th appearance and scores ... Heller ( Centre Back gets a hat trick in first 37 mins) …HT 10-0

Ends 15-0 again ..had 14 after 63 mins so disappointed not to get record ..Heller got 4. Williams gets first goal.

Next match Cyprus in 80 days.

 

17.6.43….Transfers.. tough so far with limited success with bids.

 

Callum Wilson signed as U18 manager … odd as I have just watched him play in the World Cup (irl).

 

Board Expectations :

 

League 1 …Top Half

FA Cup ..3rd Round

Carabao Cup .. 2nd Round

 

Rochdale set new avg attendance record of 5532 ( was 4679 In 2033).

 

Finances rocky … have a £1,4m debt to repay so going free loans and free signings.

 

In .

3 loans extended … Hurley/Millington / Drury

1 new …Alley-Barfoot( DC) from Saints .

Free Signings … Spink-Reece ( RB) Wilson (AML / Striker).Carter (LWB )

Sign Sam Smith on deadline day …Free Agent.

Sign another Free agent after deadline day …Jennings(MC).

Try for out of contract Loach again but he wants 135k signing on fee.

 

Out

 

16 released

2 out as contracts not renewed.

4 sold.

Bigger clubs sniffing around King / Knight … I slap a reject all transfers.

Chairman undermines me on deadline day by accepting bids which smash Hogan 750k from 2014.

King goes to Chelsea after Leeds/Liverpool fight for him for £11m … my captain sulks about a decision I have no control of….. a similar player at Utd U18 was quoted at £47m.

 

Later Board Confidence Update .. They believe King’s departure could be regarded by the fans as a poor piece of judgement ! …It was his decision 🤦🏻‍♂️

 

By Game 4 … I have a squad I can make 2 alternating XI from .

 

League 1 odds … Preston/Reading/Pompey/Barnsley/QPR / Rochdale 8-1.

 

Season tickets up from 3510 to 4394

 

Linked with Chelsea .. I’m not interested…they still me an interview.

 

Checkatrade draw is Villa U23 plus League 1 Lincoln & Shrewsbury

 

League 1 …. I have gone Balanced from Attacking as playing a higher level.

(A) QPR 0-0

(H) Pompey HT 3-1 FT 3-3 ..not clinical enough .. Spink-Reece / Wilson get debut goals.  6856 fans.

(A) Salford ..rotate squad .. minus King now …HT 1-2 up ..Win 3-5.    9th in the League.

(H) Barnsley …3rd of the Top 5 favourites I have played …1-0 down , miss Pen ..HT 2-1 up .. Win 3-1 …9054 fans and upto 4th.

(H) Shrewsbury ..HT 1-1 Jennings debut goal equaliser … Sekyere rescues late 2-2 Draw.6897 fans ..6th.

(A) Crewe … Freeman hits 4 in a comfortable 4-1 win….Back to 4th.

(A) York who are bottom ….. 16yr old Knight & sub Freeman star …Win 2-0 and have gone Top.

Beat Donny at home in front of 8906 and draw with Reading …Top after 9 games.

Game 10 ..lose away at Millwall .. Keeper can’t play against parent club and U18 deputy not good enough.

 

Carabao Cup ( H) L2 Bradford ..rotate again come from behind to draw 1-1 ( Wilson) ..win Pens 4-3

2nd Rnd (H) Championship Sunderland..poor form and a new manager … out play them and nice to win against a former player (Firth) … Win 2-1 ..should have been more ……6261 fans.

Elsewhere … L2 AFC Wimbledon knock out Man Utd on pens.

3rd Rnd (H) L1 Fleetwood …red card in first 15 mins for Fleetwood ..they score and despite dominating lose the match on pens after a 1-1 draw ( they had another sent off 77mins)… follows Millwall loss and form has dropped.

 

Checkatrade defence starts 1.9.43 … have battled to keep St.J and 20 other teams in signing Knight.

(H) Aston Villa U23 … 2 on international duty … 0-0 ..win 4-2 on pens.

(A) Shrewsbury .. 1-1 .. come from behind with 10 men and win Pens 5-4…..My 1600 game as Manager.

(H) Lincoln … They are already through … Win 2-1 and top the group.

 

Round 2 … (h) vs Man City U23 ….   4-3 Win.   Freeman 2 & Jennings & Nwachukwu

 

20.1.44..Round 3 … (H) vs Salford ..Win 3-0 as Nwachukwu gets a brace.

 

Feb 2044 … vs Rotherham(h) .. Millington(2) but miss pen ..HT 1-1 … Freeman (55) Sekyere(71) but could have gone either way in a 4-1 win ..just better finishing.   Edwards makes debut.
 

SF .. (h) Peterborough …Come from behind twice (HT1-2) as subs seal a 4-2 Win. Carter suspended for final.

 

Final vs Orient …ironically our very next league game in Feb44 after beating Posh.

 

Sept…England Squad  Cyprus & Russia… McMaster out .. not playing at Boro and bring Genovese back. Bruce in but is DM ..hoping he can adapt to MC.

 

Cyprus(A) HT 1-0 ..Moore 1st International goal ..should be more ..Ellis(2) Downes seal a 4-0 win.

Russia (H) ..this for top spot …Brown(28) Cahill(38) HT 2-0 and dominating …Win 2-0

 

Oct … Late injury sees me call up Millington from Rochdale ..hope this helps me sign him at end of season.

 

( H ) Greece …. Skillen ( 14 ) Gardiner (37) HT 2-0 and going top of the group… or a single shot from Greece …Downes (70) Genovese (72/80) ..Win 5-0 and 35 shots to 0.

 

(A) Lithuania … Millington debut …. Downes(2) Williams(14) Shaw(55) ..easy 3-0 win.

 

League ..Game 16 … Stay Top 24.10.23 …… sell out for the first time 10037 in 1-0 win vs Rotherham.

 

FA Cup ..1st Rnd ..(a) Ebbsfleet ( non league) …Win 3-0.   Barrino makes debut 23 yr old and been at the club for 8 years.

Rnd 2 (a) Boston Utd ( non league) …Blow 2-0 lead to end 2-2. Donnelly makes debut in much changed side.

Win replay 2-0.

Rnd 3 (a) Huddersfield … ( First game of 2044) ..Early lead soon cancelled out despite dominating …. 2-1 down before back to 2-2 …another Cup Replay in a busy season.elsewhere promotion rivals QPR have a replay after holding Man City 3-3.

Round 3 ..Replay … Win 4-0 …total domination which is a surprise against a mid table Championship side.

£85k prize money is handy….also A RECORD GATE RECEIPTS OF £230k from sell out crowd.

Jan 2044 ..Round 4 …(L1) Fleetwood (a) ..Rotation due to run of games … dominate stats Win 1-0 £113k prize money.

Round 5 … Man City (a) .. Think that the run will be over .. City play 3 non internationals…get to HT 0-0 and dreaming…. Soon 2-0 down before Abdo gets a surprise goal back but end up losing 2-1 which is no disgrace.

Nov 2043 … England vs Cyprus (h) … Dunne makes debut … 6-0 Win ..Skillen gets 4 ..Bruce hits 1st goal.

 

Russia (a) …. HT 0-0 …. Lost 1-0 as tired team underperform In the snow….StI’ll qualify for Euros.

 

Dec 2043 …Game 24… despite dominating lose 3-1 at home to 2nd placed QPR … now just 3 points clear.(8065 fans)…game in hand vs Notts County is won 2-0 … 6 points clear…oddly 8973 fans …why more than the top of the table clash?

Game 26 ..away at 3rd placed Pompey … draw 1-1……. Gap now 4 points.

Game 27 .. rehearsal for Checkatrade .. (h) Salford …. Come from behind to win 2-1.

 

I am linked with the Arsenal job ( 13th in Premier league)…after Patrick Vieira is sacked.

Elsewhere Pogba sacked by Watford.

 

Jan 2044 …. Extend contracts and set release for a number.

 

Transfer offers at 100k …would cost me £1m min for a replacement so demand more.

 

I bid for 3 of my Loanees .. free up space for more loans.

Saints want £136m for a £1m defender... Spurs £72m for a £675k midfielder.

Millwall accept £87k offer for Keeper.

Loan for King accepted by Chelsea whee he has made no appearances under a new manager.

Sold 4 squad only players From U23’s.

 

26.1.2044 … 100th game for Rochdale vs York…Win 2-0 in Game 30 ..7 pts Clear of QPR.

 

Played 100 Won 66 Drawn 23 Lost 11 For 199 Against 104 Win 66%… all lower than Overall Career stats.

Played 1630 W 1261 D 219 L 150 For 4319 Against 1161 Win 77%

 

1.2.44…Deadline day .. multiple offers of 100k …the. 225k rejected before Chairman accepts bids from Liverpool/ West Ham & Fulham ..all over £1m with large add on values…..UNHAPPY…and tell press conference so.

 

Knight …. Ends up at Liverpool …£2.1m …. Upto £6m.

Dundee United sign Declan Donnelly and have to pay £80k compensation due to age.

 

Zac Drury agrees to go to the MLS at end of season .. I missed that opportunity.

 

Feb 2044 ..Game 32 after the transfers .. We beat bottom of the table Donny .. relegation threatened Crewe thrash QPR to move out of bottom 4 and gap is now 8 points . Pompey in 3rd now just a point behind QPR.

 

Game 33 .(h) Millwall ..early kick off and blow a lead  due to fatigue FT 1-1.

 

March 2044 …England have 3 easy friendlies ..chance to win and blood a few newbies ( 1 will earn Rochdale £850k as Liverpool deal included this 😈).

 

Rochdale have 2 league fixtures so can not blood any of mine…Game 39 Secure Playoff spot.Game 40 plays the same time as Friendly vs Liechtenstein…. Point gained with only 10 men.

 

England vs Luxembourg … Keeper Batten and Winger Knight make debut( Now youngest ever player)..Knight debut goals In first half ….HT 6-0

Win 14-0 ….Hat tricks for Knight/Skillen and Downes.

Knight also takes youngest goal scorer record from McMaster-Utterson … ..16y 230d now was 17y 131d

Confidence improves after defeat in dead rubber vs Russia last time.

 

England vs Liechtenstein ..Skillen in 72 secs sets the tone ….HT 8-0 .. Skillen 4 with Knight 3 assists again.

Knight picks up a knock and Long gets his hat trick …Win 12-0 .   Leigh (rb) gets 1st goal.

 

EURO DRAW .  Holders France ..Hosts Dutch/Belgian

. Seeded Pot 1 … get Denmark(18)/Spain(3)/Slovenia(58)….we are ranked lower than Spain.

 

 

Checkatrade Final …opponents Orient stuffed 5-2 away at Luton 4 days Before the final.

 

27.3.44…Crowd likely to be higher than last years 30,968.

 

Carter ( lb) suspended King on International Duty.

 

FINAL ..Millington (11) Drury(25) ..HT 2-0 up..Orient no shots on target…Win 2-0 in front of 34705.

 

Only Ipswich 19 years early have back 2 back victories .  Win £132k prize money …£102k player share paid.

 

FInal League Push starts 27.3.44.

6 games left.

Rochdale 85 …. Pompey 78…..QPR 71….Lincoln 69 …. Will be 2 from these 4.

All at home and only Pompey drop points … now only Top 3 can gain automatic promotion.

 

April 44 …Game 42 (h) Preston .. 1 point for promotion …crowd of 8700 expected …( avg 8157 is 21st in league)…..Crowd actually 9653.

All top teams are home again…..Draw 0-0 as Pompey win QPR draw …Promotion achieved

 

I start to look at free transfer options to improve my squad.

 

Game 43 .. comeback twice away at Luton to salvage a 2-2 draw .. Pompey lose …gap 8 poinst.

 

Game 44 … tired First XI .. rotated but Posh in form … lose 2-1 but Pompey draw with relegation threatened Reading sees us win the Championship….a Club Record High League Position.

 

I bid a club record £675k for Millington ….Spurs want £64m

 

30.4.44 ..Final home game sold out VS Cambridge … Freeman needs a hat trick for club scoring record ..still scoring few corners despite tweaking tactic in latter part of season…Win 1-0….Keeper Hurley makes his 61st appearance of the season.

 

Only 4 losses a club record … per previous clubs I do draw a lot…..Lincoln pip Pompey to 2nd.

 

Pompey & QPR blow playoff SF games.

 

Man City pip Saints by 1 pt to the title…They also win the FA Cup.

 

Liverpool ..Carabao Cup.

 

Leicester win Europa League

 

Celtic win League …St.J the Cup.

 

 

ENGLAND.

Euro League …draw Scotland (13)and Wales(39)love local derbies.

 

Must pick a 23 man squad for the championship.

 

Draft in Hayes (LB) from U21 as cover .. uncapped.

Easy friendlies set up to boost form…..A.Jones makes 50th cap and Hayes makes debut off the bench. Dunne gets his 1st goal.  Skillen also 50th cap … already has 55 goals .

 

Linked with Spurs job on eve of tournament…Guardiola has retired aged 73.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 27

 

8.6.44 …. European Championship.

 

4-2-3-1… Positive then Balanced.

 

Group B

Slovenia … HT 3-0 …Skillen / Palmer / Gardiner.  FT 4-0 .  Long.

Elsewhere Denmark & Spain draw 0-0.

Denmark …HT 2-0 ..Genovese / Jones ….FT 3-0 o.g…..Seals qualification.

Elsewhere Spain beat Slovenia 5-0

Spain …HT 0-0 ..go Cautious to try get the ball. FT .. 0-0 …we wee outplayed…2 players suspended Now.

Slovenia beat Denmark 2-1.

 

Round 2…Tactics Balanced.

26.6.44 

Slovakia (68) ..HT 6-0 up Brown hat trick Palmer brace and Genovese.  FT 9-1 ..o.g / Bruce/ Baykey ..also 2 disallowed.

Record Euros win ..beats my 7-0 vs Scotland in 2020 

Portugal (9)knock out France(2).  Germany (8) Spain(2) Italy(10) ..highest ranked teams still in it.

 

QF 

1.7.44 

ITALY … 5 of the squad on yellow cards.  Italy have 3.  They are also 4231 but DM set ..usually a good sign for me.

DLP .. Gardiner(2)  / Skillen (pen) plus another on stroke of HT …Lead 4-0

Take off 3 of my yellow card players … Winger Genovese injured (71) down to 10.  FT 4-0.

Germany knock out Scotland.

 

SF

7.7.44

Spain (3) ..Best teams in competition meet in semis.  Spain have 4 x Euros Trophy wins ..England 2.

Winners will play Portugal who ended Germany run.

 

BEST GAME I CAN RECALL .. WENT Attacking …

 1-0 down against run of play (29) ..then Genovese o,g (45) before he scores right end HT 2-1 down.

3-1 down (48) .. Skillen (62) ..go all out attack … Bayley (78) …. 3-3 

Go Cautious … Skillen (82) Long (84)

Win 5-3 In front of 120,000 fans in Belgium.

 

10.7.44

Spain 2177 England on 2174 points . Portugal 2029. France 2191. Brazil 2281.

Final vs Portugal(7)

Another Epic … but this time lose 5-3 on pens after a 3-3 draw.

Goal down in 26 secs , 2 down (11) …. But Genovese and Skillen make it 2-2 on half time.

(47) behind again before Brown set up extra time (65).

Simpson made 100th appearance.

 

Portugal move to 6th with 2044 points….after 3rd Euro Win.

 

Brown voted best player ( I agree)

Skillen Golden Boot ( 6 ) Genovese and Brown (4) made up Top 3.

Skillen best young player ( I signed him for Saints as a Wonderkid but left before he played).

 

 

Club

New record avg attendance of 6746 ..up from 5532.

 

Transfers.

 

Have to wait until 24.6.44 to make loan offers for Millington / Alley-Barfoot as clubs wanted them playing at higher level …despite being in my team that was promoted ..once Championship fixtures issued the clubs then allowed me to apply…both accept.

Recent signing Hurley (£87k now worth £750k in Championship) That signing was our highest since records began in 18/19 season… I expect to break it… but struggling to find quality.

I am searching Partizan and Red Star for cheap signings ..usually have some.

I have also gone through the European Countries  ( Main Squads) for end of contracts.

 

Signings start 30.6.44

Phillips 18yr old on a free from Saints.   Value £18.5k

Dragojevic 18yr old free from Sutjeska….Value £78k

Zdravkovic 20yr old from Iskra … £70k compensation.  Value £46.5k

Moore 23yr old free from Burnley.  ( For the 1st team).   Value £1.5m after joining.

Backhouse back on loan from Man Utd ( Blackburn last season but only played 6 times).

Seal also joins from Man Utd U23’s ( 3 of my midfielders are now loans)…then Wins U19 with England alongside fellow Loanee King. Named in Best XI

Tompkins ..Free release from Arsenal…. Age 23 and no first team games at Arsenal or on loan.

Mason free release from Portsmouth.

29.7.44…..still a week to go to change this.

7 in ….9 out ( sold and loans) for Rochdale.

Boro spend most ..£10m net spend…also most out (12).

Cardiff make over £76m profit after relegation from Premier League.

5 teams spend nothing including Ipswich with 5 loans and 4 free…9 in joint top with ironically Norwich.

 

 

 

Got Away

AMR Slade from Saints ..they want £4m ..Valued at £5.5 .. I offer £1m upfront plus game/international adds ons that make it worth £4m .. offer accepted…wage demands £7.5k above club limit.( On 18.5k .. wanted 17,5k).

Bigvava bid declined due to Georgia lowly ranking and failing work permit…Appeal fails…also suffer same fate with South African keeper Prodigy Mahlangu.

 

Staff

Sign my old player Keanen Bennetts as a coach.( Saints 20/21 to 23/24).

Cirne joins as new Chief Data Analyst..

Ashbee new Head of Youth Development.

 

BOARD EXPECTATIONS

 

Avoid Relegation…..Squad pre season talk shows players agree.  Odds 350-1 promotion 6-1 relegation.(19th)

FA Cup 4th Round

Carabao 2nd Round

 

Pre-Season camp ….Liverpool…cost £48.5k … assessment is went well.

11.7.44…..Win friendly vs Accrington 2-1.

13.7.44 … Win friendly vs Coventry 2-1 despite Backhouse red card.

16.7.44 … Win friendly vs Barwell  6-1. Alley-Barfoot gets 90th min red.

20.7.44 … Lose 3-1 at home …in front of 9796 fans….worth £127k in gate receipts.

CHAMPIONSHIP 

 

Tactic 4-2-3-1- Balanced.

 

Game 1 …Stunning 4-0 home win vs Sunderland.  Tompkins brace on his 1st ever professional game.

 

Wages … Norwich paying most £1.1m per week.  Least Rochdale £83k per week.

 

McMaster-Utterson who I wanted but couldn’t afford at £24k per week plus wages loan ..scores a brace on his Birmingham loan debut…. He also scores a wonder goal against Rochdale in Game 2 but hold out for a 2-1 away win…Top after 2 games.

 

Game 3 ..Remarkable 3 goals from corners vs fellow Unbeaten side Wolves …draw 3-3.

 

Game 7 (10.9.44)… Keeper Hurley (125th Appearance) .. Impressive away win at Cardiff.

 

Game 15 .. 2nd time in 5 games a red card with both overturned on appeal ..this time lose to lowly Sheff W.

Now 5th and clear leaders Boro next.( narrow loss and out of play offs now).

 

Game 17 ..away at local rivals Bury ( relegation places) ..They are down to ten men ( 10 mins) and dominate the game …HT 2-0 up and Bury have not had a shot ….FT 5-0 with Freeman -2 Seal -2 & King.  Back to 4th.

Bury manager sacked.

 

Game 23 .( Halfway) .. Beat Bristol City 1-0 and 3rd in League .  Boro 51pts Cardiff 48pts Dale 43pts.

 

Boxing Day fixture Game 24 … 3-0 away at Sunderland …. only to blow it and hang on for 3-3 .. end 2044 in 3rd place.

 

Busy transfer window ahead with loans ending and injury issues.

 

Carabao Cup

 

Will be rotating squad.

 

Top of L2 …Barrow (a) .. Mason debut … 3 other new signings on the bench. Dominate 32 shots to 4 but 1-0 Win (Bell).

All 3 new Signings make debuts from the bench.

 

Round 2 ..Get West Ham at home next … They are 5th in Prem …Dale Top after a shock win at Palace …

England star Dunne runs us ragged and lose 3-0.

 

Liverpool win the final 6-0 vs Everton …… That is 3 wins in a row.

 

FA Cup 

 

31.12.44 ..no chance at Premier (2nd) Spurs…probably playing a weakened squad.

 

5 players need numbers assigned.  1 player makes first start of season … 3 others make first start.

2 youngsters make debuts from the bench.

 

Tuchel plays my former French star Dupuis and he scores the penalty. HT 1-0 …. Late goals FT 3-0. In front of our biggest ever audience …77,577.

 

 

ENGLAND
 

24.8.44 … drop Simpson (100 caps) and replace with Thackeray who is quicker.   Main keeper Nelson missing with injury .. first call up for Adams of R.C Lens.

Media question my removal of experience.

 

31.8.44.   Friendly ..Belguim(Ranked 14)(a) .. Previous 11 meetings ..Won 10 D 1.

York wins 50th Cap. Adams makes debut.

Belguim get a Red Card in 34 seconds .. never seen quicker.

Jones scores and lead 1-0 at HT. Brown scores (61) and thats 2 from corners .Thackeray gets his first international goal on his 3rd cap….Win 3-0 but red card spoilt it.

6.9.44… (h) Scotland … Euro League . Press conference a bit heated due to previous match Comments.

Scotland thunderbolt (14) ..but Long equalises (15) Brown (62) sub Thackray(67) Genovese(82) sub Downes(87).   Win 5-1.

 

England move up to 3rd in Rankings.(2181 points)…. Above Spain who drop 1 

 

6.10.44 ..(a) Wales (40th) … Narrow 2-1 win.  Long (pen) before Wales level .. Genovese secures win… hit woodwork 3 times…..Rochdale Winger Shannon makes his Welsh debut.

 

9.10.44 ..(a) .Scotland (12th) … 1-0 down ( 12 secs) ..3-0 down (11 & 26) ..go attacking … 3-3. by half time ….Long (32) Skillen (42/43).

Boyle (67) 4-3 down .. Long (71) Dunne(72) 5-4 up … Long (91 & pen 95) ..Remarkably ends 7-4 win.

 

Rochdales Bell scores 1st Northern Ireland goal after 24 caps.

 

13.11.44… Wales (h) …. Genovese (30) Gardiner(38) HT 2-0. Sub Downes (74)  FT 3-0.  Comfortable.

 

15.12.44… World Cup Qual Draw … Poland (42) Iceland (54) Georgia (92) Estonia (130)

 

 

 

 

8.12.44 ….NEYMAR takes Lincoln job from York has also been at Wrexham / Forest Green / Swindon / Sheff Weds and Bristol City.

 

Jan 2045

 

Getting bids from Ghana for my Ghanaian winger ..just not enough initially for my value .

 

I am allowed to change season aim to mid table finish and given an £11m transfer budget …it’s the wages I will struggle with.

 

King signed from Chelsea for a club record £3.3m .( Was £150k for Paul Connor)

Loans failing due to 1st team commitments … they have made 1 sub appearance .

 

Smith out for £250k … a profit as a free signing previously.

Sekyere out for £225k to MK Dons.

Leeds sign talented youngster Edwards … £1.6m plus add ons … reluctant but not in my starting X1

Fulham also bid large money for him…. £3.3m ( upto £9m).

 

11 in … 7 for 100k or less and 3 on free …9 of these are future investments.

Chelsea youngster upfront on loan completes the window.

On deadline day ..Boro who are top keep trying to buy Abdo for £400k …worth £3.3m….must be his 9 goals from corners.

 

Championship 2045

 

Game 25 vs Mid table Wolves (a) HT 0-4 up …Left back Carter has 3 assists and yet another corner goal.

Corner tactic is just attack near post but Abdo seems unplayable ( jump 16 head 9 ) a surprise.( 11 goals).

End 4-0 and close gap on Boro & Cardiff. 
 

Game 30 .. My 1700th game …. Vs Cardiff (2nd) who are 1 point ahead of Rochdale.

2 up HT ..back to 2-2 before sub Freeman scores an 86th min winner…94th min goal to win 4-2.

 

2 games later Cardiff sack manager as they free fall …Hull on a charge with Norwich.

 

Game 34 away at Derby and need a late equaliser to draw .. seem to be getting more bookings for the same amount of fouls currently. New Loanee upfront struggling 1 goal in 6.

 

Game 35 is a home tie vs 3rd placed Hull … All over them …1 nil down at HT ..level only to lose to last kick of the game .

 

Game 36 .. win 9-0 away at relegation threatened WBA … almost all WBA players rated Under 5.8 and one rated at 4.6.  8-1 vs Chesterfield was old record.

Hull draw and now Dale / Hull / Cardiff all on 68 points ( Boro top on 75).

 

This is a new record win & scoring match in league or cup for Rochdale.

 

Game 37 .. Top 4 all win …. Abdo now has 10 league goals from corners.( Team have 13).

 

Game 38 .. Rotation and works well .. Boro lose to Brentford ..Hull get hammered at Palace .. Cardiff win.

 

Game 39 ..Away at table topping Boro … Straight Red for Boro on 20 mins … we score 2 mins later …by Half Time 3-0 up. Full time 3-0 win.

 

Boro 78 Dale 77 Cardiff 77 Hull 74 Norwich 68.

 

Game 40 .. Rotate for bottom placed Chesterfield and after going 1 up …Carter gets a straight Red … hang on  for a 2-0 away win…..Bell makes 200th league appearance.

 

Game 41 …Derby day Home at lowly Bury …. Boro home to Sunderland.  Hull home to Sheff Utd. Cardiff away at Bristol City. 
 

Go top .. Rochdale 1-0 ….. Boro 2-2. ………Hull lose 1-3 and Cardiff lose 1-0.    
 

Rochdale& Boro in the playoffs.

 

Get into an argument with Swansea mgr after media ask me if they will go down.

 

Game 42 (h) to 5th placed Sheff Utd….Abdo corner goal (4) ..sheff goal (5) disallowed HT 1-0.

blow a 2-0 lead (65) after making subs …Sheff Utd win 4-2.

Boro beat Swansea to go back top. Hull also win.

 

Game 43 .. have to rotate and just edge Colchester 2-1 away .. 10 man Boro draw .. Cardiff draw with Hull 

 

5 points clear of third with 3 games left.

 

Game 44 …(a)  Wigan in 9th …Wigan miss pen(7) .. injury to Backhouse and Wigan Immediately score … go attacking … last minute goal disallowed and undeservedly lose 1-0.

Boro and Cardiff win… Boro 89 Dale 86 Cardiff 82 Hull 81 …all now in playoffs.

 

That is now 10 league losses .. my most in any Season of their career .

 

Game 45 ..10 man Boro early KO … draw 0-0 with Sheff U… enough for their play off spot.

Bristol City (a) … I go defensive after 30 mins …. 0-0.  Loanee Reed has gone 387 mins without scoring.

Norwich secure last Playoff spot.

Late game is Welsh Derby .. Swansea need something or they go down … Cardiff win 3-1… My media point is proven.

 

Rochdale U18 win a first ever league title…. Been runners up twice.

 

 

22.4.45…. Game 46 … 1 point needed ( 18 goals ahead of Cardiff). Boro need a ppoint to win Championship.

 

Rochdale (2) vs Norwich (6). King (25) .. feeling Better ( go defensive) .. HT 1-0 Reed (86) seals promotion.

FT 2-0 …..Kent had gone over 450 mins without a goal .

Colchester (16) vs Cardiff (3) HT 0-0.  FT Cardiff scored (48) …win 1-0

Boro (1) vs Sheff We’d (15).  HT 0-0 FT 0-0 …. They deserve to win the Title…. I am amazed to get within a point.

Swansea/Chesterfield/Burnley go down.

Hull beat Cardiff in play offs.

 

Media point out ground is not premier standard … this will affect my transfer budget I suspect.( Board initially set £30m and £350k wages p/w.

 

Our wages were lowest in the league and a tenth of Norwich.

 

END OF SEASON ROUND UPS 

 

Lack of injuries helped … 8 players made between 34 - 49 appearances . Ranked 14th lowest.

Wilson (19) Seal (15) from mid field and Abdo (11) from centre back at corners are top scorers.

Stats ..Rochdale best at Corners (16) just attack near post. Goals 101. Avg poss (57%). Shots on target (418) Clean Sheets (24) 

Seal won Championship with Blackburn last season and promotion this.

 

Sold 5519 shirts … Reef sold best ( avg Loanee at Jan ..makes no sense). Abdo/Backhouse/Freeman/Seal.

 

Board announce 4500 expansion ( 14708) .. Will cost £5.5m…. 7 months with £2.8m covered by grants.

 

Team losses are £5.5m.

 

Fans Player & Young Player....Abdo….also Sky Championship Player of the Year.

Goal ..Seal……also Young Championship player of the Year.

Signing …Sandor

 

 

Man City champions also Club World Champs also add FA Cup vs Fulham

 ( 3 pts ahead of Saints)/ Leicester 3rd then Spurs …… Forest worst recorded team with only 10 points.

Saints sack the manager ( Tedesco).

Aberdeen champions (Celtic 5pts behind) Rangers / St.J.

 

 

ENGLAND 2045

 

10.3.45 ..Time to change squad … 36 year old Richard Shaw will be dropped after 93 caps & 12 goals.

Steele ( CD) gets first call up.

Shawn Edwards ( 26 U21’s caps)..replaces Adams as 3rd choice Keeper ….10 games for Watford in 4 years.

He has a negative reaction to attention.

Michael Worrall ( 5 U21’s 2 goals) replaces 29yr old Bayley at AMR.

 

Press question inexperience .

 

World Cup Qual vs Georgia ( a) .. all debutants start …. Worrall gets an early assist And a debut goal.Downes ahead of Skillen.

HT 3-0 …Downes -2 Worrall…FT  5-0 ..Downes completes hat trick & o.g.

 

WCQ …Iceland (h) … Injury to Genovese so I call up Edwards to get money on his transfer deal from Fulham.

Edwards makes debut from star…earns Rochdale £1.1m.
HT 2-0 …Long & Gardiner.  FT 6-0 .. Hall , subs Downes & Worrall and another for Long.

 

29.3.45 ..Move up 1 to 2nd in World Rankings (2187) …Brazil top ( 2253).

 

25.5.45 … SF Int league vs Holland.   Genovese back in for Edwards. Brown injury sees King ( Rochdale) gain his first call up.

 

Tough game but Gardiner on stroke of half time for 1-0.  Genovese makes it 2-0 having gone defensive for second half. King makes debut (62) .. Win 2-0.  Skillen on as sub continues poor form.

France (3)beat Spain (4)3-2.

 

England rise to 2195 ranking points 

France 2188

 

FINAL vs France ( Last 10 games is W5 D1 L4).

 

Ten man France after 22 mins .. win it 1-0 (86) completely against run of play .

 

I finish the season without a trophy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 28

 

France now ranked 2nd 2200 points …England drop 3rd with 2182 points.

 

Hoping my sponsorship improves …. Earned £240k last season … Cardiff made £30m.

 

Stature increased … hoping that helps sponsorship .. Spurs winning Champions league sees them overtake City who won 4 trophies.

 

£101m Premier league money given … board offers to increase wages cap.( Max I can offer is 72k / week).

 

Rochdale earn £6.31m from ticket/ match day … Spurs earn £132m.( Hull 2nd lowest is £14.26m).

Rochdale earn £6.45m in commercial income (20th) and Saints top with £101m.

 

Expected to try and avoid relegation. Carabao Rnd 3  Fa Cup Rnd 4.

 

10037 new record attendance for a season ( was 6746) and Abdo new rating high of 7.55. ( from Michael Clarke 2032 of 7.27).

 

Opening fixture (a) Man City the Champions. 
 

Signings … Only 2 signings before the game updates we are in the Premier League at which point more players available.

1st July .. Lots of great free transfers .. they just don’t want Rochdale …e.g. Ged Palmer ( current England star and my former Loanee at St.J).

 

1. Kovacevic ( 19 yr old Croatian Keeper 1x U21 cap ) … £60k.    As good as existing keeper Hurley.
2. Miranda ( 24 yr old Italian Left wing 37 U21 caps ) .. £725k . Had as a loanee at St.J. Replace Backhouse whose loan is ending.  Board question deal .. but now valued at £8m.  ( Started well and 6 goals by Dec).
3. Robinson ( AMR) .. joins from Watford in a CLUB RECORD DEAL … £7.5m + £2.8m add ons. ( Made 3 appearances from Watford despite them paying £27m from Juventus for him).
4. Williams (Striker) on loan from Saints …had him at St.J previously. ( 5 goals In 15 games for the season By Dec).
5. Anderson ( LB) on loan from Man Utd U23’s.
6. Mason ( MC) released on a free from Hull.  ( By Dec 45 it is clear he is struggling ).

 New Captain in King.

3 youngsters moved from league winning lower ranks as I fail to sign any of the centre halves I bid for …Rees from United dropped out on day b4 deadline.

 

Premier League .. Take  the lead away to City in our first ever Premier League game .. all turns in the 2nd half as Moore gets booked twice in a few minutes and can’t hang on ..lose 2-1.

 

Then it is the finishing of Watford as we lose our first home match 3-0. ( 8902 fans due to building work).

 

Fellow strugglers West Ham in game 3 and go 2-0 up ( Williams gets his first) before it’s back to 2-2 … Williams scores a late winner for Dales first ever Premier league Win/ Points..

Follow up with 2 draws but were winning both.  5 games ..5 points and 13th.

 

Form continues between Carabao ties .. beating both Merseyside clubs … FFP failed Everton ( although no point deduction showing) and even better 4th placed Liverpool.

 

My back up keeper makes his N.Ireland debut.

 

Lose to Leeds and 3-0 down to Leicester on 60:52 mins ..63:46 it’s 3-3 and that’s how it ends .Nwachukwu makes 100th league appearance.

 

9 games down .. W3 D3 L3 .. 12th and 10 clear of 18th placed Hull. Boro 1 point but 2 games in hand and Hammers have lost 7/7.

 

Game 12 and it’s a big one away against relegation threatened Arsenal. Comeback twice 2-2 for a forth successive draw.  13th position with 15 points. 8 clear of improved Hammers and 7 clear of Arsenal.

 

1.12.45… Due to all the TV revenue .. transfer budget raised from £9m to £41.5m.

 

Lose games 13 & 14 to Top clubs 3 Fulham & Man Utd ..both narrowly and now getting criticism of my approach. 
 

Game15 .. Goto back up 4123 counter attack away at 9th placed Brighton… Win 2-0.  Press hail my genius but call it 4141dm wide.

I will need to invest in more midfield and sell AMC in January window.

 

26.12.45 .. Having lost to Saints .. I know get City ..This will be the opening of my new stand .. capacity rises to 14708.

I realise that my keeper has been going up for corners from the right 😱

HT 0-0 ..Very Defensive and we are better side. Not so second half …lose 3-0

Carabao Cup

Beat cash strapped WBA 4-0 .. then with a young squad need pens (4-1) after a 2-2 draw to beat L1 Walsall.

Round 4 … Win a rollercoaster 4-6 away at Stoke ( Miranda hat trick). 
QF (a) Man City…try new 4123 .. var soon gives City a pen…. HT 2-0 …3-0 soon after .. subs make it 3-2 ..FT 4-2 loss.

 

18.2.46………..MAN CITY  …win Final with 5-1 victory vs Fulham  ( First Carabao in 11 years).

 

2045 ends with Dale in 15th on 18 points . 6 points clear of Boro in 18th.

 

Watford/Everton and just b4 we play them West Ham all sack their managers in December.

 

FA Cup 

Crewe (a) …Win 2-1 with a fully rotated squad … 3 youngsters make debuts ( Suk / Robinson / Tenkorang).

 

England 

 

2.9.45 …Estonia (a) …. Cahill to get his 50th cap.  Win 6-0 . Garnes  scores on debut. Steele 2 on second appearance. Skillen injured . I replace with my 16 yr old centre back for the development.

5.9.45 …Poland (h) …. This is to go top ..Poland players a game more.

52 secs and 1 down with my better squad ! … Genovese levels. Gardiner it’s 2-1 just after HT … Byrne-Fitzpatrick makes his debut .Long seals it in the 93rd min. Win 3-1.     Byrne-Fitzpatrick is now youngest player (16y 156d)…from fellow Dale player King (16y 230d).

Elsewhere Italy put 15 past Liechenstein.

  5.10.45  (H) Georgia … Keep a young team in …HT 2-0 only despite dominating ( Bruce/Moore). FT o.g and Hayes first Int goal 4-0 Win….. disappointing from 46 shots….Skillen has lost his form completely … I criticise him ( first time I ever done this in a press conference) and he goes awol before the Iceland match… he may never play again….Media have him missing from Southampton but seen at a nightclub. 23yr old whose blown his career ?!

9.10.45 Iceland (a) ..HT 1-0 with Long scoring.  FT 1-0 .. again 26 shots but only 1 goal. World Cup Qual successful With 2 games to spare.

Nov 45 games … Skillen dropped / York suspended. Bring in Will England & U21 youngster Beattie-Prescott.

Skillen objects before acknowledging his error .. we will see…68 caps and 64 goals is a big decision to drop.

Garnes injured day b4 .. replaced with 27yrvold Udoh gets first call up.

 

Estonia (h) … Both newbies set for full debut.  Only 2 starters have 47/34 caps … rest under 19 with 6 under 8.(Only 5 have scored).

HT 3-0 …Brown ( 2 pens) Thackray. FT 10-0 .. England & Thackray get hatricks . Byrne-Fitzpatrick and Hayes complete the rout….for England these are his first international goals.

 

Byrne -Fitzpatrick breaks youngest scorer record ( 16y 223d) ..7 days quicker than Ian Knight.

 

Poland (a) ,,In the snow and frozen conditions ….defensive starting tactic ..Worrall(4) Genovese (5) for a dream start HT 2-1 …Steele makes it 3-1 sub Brown Completes 4-1 win.

 

World Cup … draw Australia ( 30th) New Zealand (87th). Hosts Japan gets Wales . My old country and holders South Africa get China/ Denmark.

 

 

Jan 2046

 

Transfer window …. With relegation a major threat I use the TV cash to boost the squad.

In (4)… Bailey ( midfield) Blackburn ( championship) £24m 

         Cotton ( midfield) Newcastle ( championship) £15m

        Moss ( LWB) Southampton ( U23) was on loan at Preston and near end of contract £325k

         Mijailovic ( Striker) PSG .. a youngster I had a St.Johnstone .. £3.2m ( expects Champions League in 3 years !).

Out .(10) . includes 3 x AMC players due to change of system. ( Nwachukwu / Tompkins & Halilovic). Mason ( LB) makes room for Moss. 2 other U23’s sold and 4 set for loans.

 

Result wise in first 3 weeks of January ….Draw with both Hammers 0-0 Watford 0-0 away.  

With new signings settling Beat Spurs 2-1 and Draw 1-1 with Villa who were 9th/5th Both at home.

21 games gone …15th with 24 points and 9 points clear of Boro ( teams below have games in hand) ..More hopeful with new formation and have really worked on set pieces instructions.

 

FA Cup ( h) Mansfield (L1) Win 2-0 with a much changed line up. Stefanik makes debut. Walters a first start in 5 years. Phillips & Rouse first appearances of season as subs.

RECORD GATE RECEIPTS OF £400k. ( Was £230k vs Huddersfield ).

No shocks but several lower Prem teams get replays which suits me .

Pogba is the new Bournemouth manager.

 

23.1.46 ..Go above nemesis Everton (a) comeback to win 4-2 away.  I just don’t understand how they break FFP for second time in 5 years but have no point deduction.  ( Have to be fair made no signings in Jan and sold 3)….Fitter players from rest during FA Cup helped in the second half.

Finish Jan with a thrashing of Hull …3-0 … This new formation is finally seeing me on the front foot ( Positive) and creating crosse/chances.

Even better new signing Mijailovic gets his first goal.  Dales first win over Hull ever.

 

Feb ..lose a classic 4-3 at Stoke being losing on penalties to High flying Fulham in the FA Cup after 2-2 draw ..miss pen to win in normal time.

League .. win at Anfield 2-1 ( they do miss a pen ) but stats even. That’s the double completed. Move to 12th and almost out of negative goal difference after 25 games. Xabi Alonso sacked 3 games later.

Rotate at lowly Boro (a) .. somehow lose 2-1 …. Referee seemed to want to book my entire team…King now suspended…. Then lose to Leicester.

Improve with WDW before International break …..Arsenal moan we were too physical.

Gamble to spend  in January has paid off….Played 30 …40 points reached … 9th.

Elsewhere City sack Wells despite him winning Carabao Cup after Champions League exit./ Prem 3rd.

 

March 2046…. England …2 low rank friendlies….Long injured. Skillen given another chance ..York refused permission to join squad . Moore gets injured in FA Cup tie. World Cup 90 days away .

 

England U20’s win 3rd Elite title in a row.

 

Change of tactic to match Rochdale with a DM.

 

Latvia (155th) …HT1-0   21 shots / 8 on target…Worrall(39/86) Downes(62/79)on 50th appearance. Win 4-0

 

Andorra (209th)…Worrall ( 17 secs /5/30)..Gardiner(2)..  Downes (10/17/18) ..Price(32). Brown(43) ..HT 9-0

Downes 47mins is his fourth… Skillen (61/73/77) …Bradley-Fitzpatrick (66)Thackray(88)..Win 15-0.

Taken 46 cap….Full back Price finally scores.

Dales Stefanik makes debut for Slovakia.

 

 

League ….. 1.4.46 … blow title race wide open by beating Man Utd 3-1 at home .. this was off the back of them thrashing Arsenal 7-1 and they took the lead… I had 5 players out.( Keeper/ Wingers/ midfield  are Injured / parent club loan etc). Can not remember last time i had a long term keeper injury.

Formation … Positive and it seems to suit better than defensive Or cautious.  Also changed wingers to IF.

 

Sign Loanee Williams at end of his contract for £2.5m as a back up for next season.

Bid for Owens from cash strapped Everton who is also nearing end of contract to play IF…Miranda too injury prone.

Issue with my scouting continues as 58 yr free agent shows but can’t be signed .

Checking other players whose contract ends in June.

Throw champions league places open by thrashing 4th placed Fulham (a) 3-0…..Villa go 4th.

Win means we avoid relegation.

 

Thrash Leeds 4-0 ( but results mean they stay up)… next up Southampton( lost all 12 matches) …. Media stir up my former association with them … elsewhere Hull have gone 11 games without a goal to set a new record in the Premiership and have only 10 points from 35 games.

 

Lose 2-0 away but even contest….Saints need 2 points in 3 games to be champions.

 

Saints seal the title with a game to spare…Utd/City/Villa complete Top 4.

Finish away at Spurs(12th). with Tuchel  under fire and 1 point behind us.

5 teams are 2 points points apart 9th to 13th….£10.2m prize money difference.

Get hammered (3-0 down ) to end losing 4-2 and finish 11th …Tuchel sacked…I Decline job interview.

I have lost 12 games in the league for my worse ever season…but am satisfied given my squad and team size.

 

Another trophy less season With Rochdale…..as Chelsea beat Fulham ( they lost both cup finals).

Leicester beat Hammers to relegate them and pip Liverpool to last Euro place.

Hull and Bournemouth ( managed by Pogba) also relegated…. I will target these for transfers and The cash strapped Merseyside teams.

Aberdeen win Europa Cup On pens from Man U.

Saints beat Bayern to win Champions League.

 

 

Board announce a plan to build a new stadium … but just no other details .

Training and youth facilities upgraded .

Shirt sales ..1.Robinson 2.Mijailovic 3.Miranda 4.Williams 5.Bailey

Wage ratio is only 11% but expect it to rise.

 

Coty earn £201m in sponsorship …we get £11.5m

 

12066 avg crowd is a record after stadium increase ( 10037 previously).

 

 

 

ENGLAND WORLD CUP JUNE 2046.

 

Picking the squad is tough and I look at form and change of formation ..biggest choice is Long out and uncapped Tucker drafted in from U21’s In midfield. Keeper Nelson out and uncapped U21 Griffiths in.

 

9 players with 0-9 caps.  5 players with 51-70 caps.

5 players have no goals. 13 have  1-8 goals. 
Skillen 67 ..Downes 38…. Genovese 22. Brown 13 … Gardiner 12 main scorers in squad.

 

7 of the squad are from Southampton.

 

Thailand / England only domestic based squads … Saudi Arabia youngest and Mexico have 408 goals across whole squad.

 

Friendly ..Algeria.Rank 25th  (a) .. Tucker will start on his debut.  HT 1-1 ..Worrall equalises. Sub Byrne-Fitzpatrick scores a late winner which we deserve based on stats.

 

Friendly ..World Cup Hosts Japan (20th) at Wembley …Rotate squad and England/Brownx2/Hayes set up a 4-0 at HT.   Griffiths starts to make his debut.  Bruce makes it 5 at Full Time.

 

World Cup starts…Will be my 50th game of this second spell in charge.

 

New Zealand (87th) … Skillen( 22 sec / 3min /30 ) England (11 & 42) King(33) ..HT 6-0.

Skillen makes it 7 … England completes hat trick for 8-0 victory.

This was a first international goal for King.

 

Ironically Elsewhere Saudi play Argentina in a direct copy of this years World Cup from Qatar…except Argentina win 2-0.

Defending champions South Africa lose 1-0 to Denmark.

 

Australia ( 30th) .. early o.g. 1-0 to England … York near half time and it’s 2-0.

Skillen & Genovese 4-0 before subs made. FT 4-0.    Qualified for next round…NZ stun Aussies in game 3.

 

Hosts Japan out after loss to Wales.

 

Round 2 …Iran ( 15th) .. apparently we lost Last encounter…Skillen 75th cap.

HT 1-0 Worrall .  Bruce gets our first booking of the tournament .

Brown makes it 2-0 early after restart … Win. 2-0.

Holders South Africa out on pens to Mexico.

 

Round 3 ..Sweden ( 24th) … Skillen bid for golden boot starts early ..  Brown and Worrall make it HT 3-0

Sub those on bookings from Rnd 2 and York completes 4-0 rout.

Brazil ( Colombia) & France (Spain)both out.

July 2046

QF ..Swiss (20th) ..they knocked out the Germans…  Bruce inj after 2 min….Swiss player breaks arm in same incident …HT 0-0

Needs subs to strike late and win 2-0 ( Downes & England).

Mexico see of Spain on pens. Colombia thrash Italy.

 

SF .. Colombia ( 12th) … Gardiner & Downes Inbetween an equaliser HT 2-1..VAR denied a third.

Downes not denied again for 3-1 and completes his hat trick. Sub Thackray makes it 5-1 ..Downes fourth for 6-2 ( left back Cahill has 3 assists ) and ends 6-3.

Argentina see of Mexico aet.

 

Colombia  beat Mexico aet for 3rd.

 

FINAL ( should have been the same in real life if Saka had got the decisions he deserved vs France).

 

Argentina (5th) hopefully tired after 2 consecutive extra time matches….1 player out injured for them.

Not lost in 6 meetings (w5 d1) ..hopefully not ending that run today.

HT 3-1. Worrall(10) ..equaliser(12).. Downes (14) 2-1..England (38) 3-1.

FT Downes with a late finish for 4-1 WIN.

 

Go to number 1 in World Rankings.

7 games ..30 goals (1st)…from 95 shots on target(1st)

.5 from corners (1st). 5 clean sheets(1st). 
Possession 53% (15th). Headers Won 265 (2nd).64% (11th).

Crosses 83 (1st)

Golden Boot …Downes 7  Skillen 6 ( level with Stevens of Belguim)  England 5

Golden Glove ..Batten 5 clean sheets.

Leigh…Best Young Player

10/11 England players in Dream Team.

 

16.7.46….Kyle retires as England coach ..replaced by Critchley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season 29

 

15 International jobs up including Brazil & France. South Africa & Spain.

I send team to China for pre season …. Big market.

 

Elsewhere as of 20.7.46

Liverpool 20 out and Everton 14 out … neither have signed anyone due to financial issues…both made over £120m plus in sales.

 

Spurs  get £127m in match day revenue ..Dale £7.27m last.

 

Transfers:

IN.

Leigh for £52m smashes transfer record ( Met his release clause from West Ham after relegation ).

O’Leary and Owens  strapped Everton for £11.4m combined.

Osmani £87k 

Madec on a free …Experienced Keeper..Eintract.

Williams £2.5m…Contract ending at Saints.

Alvaro joins as DM cover from Saints .

 

I have a 25 man squad I’m happy with.

 

OUT

3 loaned out.  3 for under £100k

Shannon £4m …Carter £5m … Moore £7.5m… Miranda £10m…Kovacevic £25m (Record Sale).

 

ODDS ..We are 650-1  ..Expected 16th.  Relegation favourites Wolves/Boro/Norwich.

 

Rnd 2 …Carabao Cup (h) to L1 Pompey …Win 5-0 with a fully rotated squad . 

Rnd 3 Chesterfield ( Championship) .. 1-1 after they score late ..win shoot out 3-2.

Rnd 4 Chelsea (a) … Early own goal sees us through 1-0.

QF … Southampton (h) ( Who rest several players) HT 2-0 up ..win 2-1 for first win over Saints.

SF .. Watford(a) .. 1-0 down at HT and so many bookings .. sub Williams turns game round but Watford hit back in a classic that ends .. 4-3 after Williams completes a hat trick late on. First win over Watford.

SF ..Watford (h) .. 2 players including Willams suspended and 2 cup tied. I have gone defensive.

Cotton opens the scoring (26) agg 5-3 and at HT Watford have had no shots on target. Arsenal await the winners.  Final made as stop any shots over 90. mins.  Agg 5-3.

FINAL ..Rochdale 2nd appearance in 140 years and first since 1962.

 

Feb 2047 …Rochdale vs Arsenal …. Goalkeeper breaks finger on eve of match. Gone balanced as I think I will have more possession.

Mijailovic (8min) for a dream start. HT 1-0.

Rather like England vs Italy irl .. yellow cards an issue and now have 4 yellow cards on the hour.

Go Very Defensive on 80 mins … and 3 more yellow cards but hang on for a 1-0 WIN and our first ever Carabao Cup as a club.( My 5th …Saints x2 United x2 ).

 

European campaign awaits next season … Rochdale first ever.

 

 

Premier League 

 

3 games in and both Merseyside clubs are punished for financial breaches ( both in administration) 

Unlike top of the table Villa they have not become oil rich.( Bournemouth/Hammers/ Newcastle also have Rich owners).

Top Spender’s were Leeds £155m and Fulham £121m City £107m.

 

Draw 3-3 with Leicester again .. this time they comeback on us.

Fab start and Game 5 vs Man City is the highlight win 4-3 vs 10 men in a game that had everything.

Game 6 .. come from 2-0 to draw with runaway leaders Villa who had won 5/5 ( King makes 100th league appearance).

 

Game 10 before Dale lose first match away at Spurs ( who go Top, briefly b4 Villa win their late match) .. 2-1 against all stats .. off day up front.

 

Game 11 will be my 1800th as a manager.  Still waiting on new 23375 seater stadium.

1799 games overall win rate 75% … with Rochdale 57%. 65 cups 20 leagues and 6 promotions.

10343 game days ..1 on holiday … when I got stuck with an Ivory Coast domestic selection.

207 players in …315 out.

 

Game 12 .. after 13 losses … get a draw vs 2nd placed Saints…. Also have them next in Carabao Cup.

 

Boxing day loss with 10 men to Utd at home plus injuries can not stop me being very pleased after 19 games and 4th with 36 points…. Lose next 2 league matches ( drop to 6th) b4 a run of cup ties.

 

Game 22 .. Finally beat Leicester ..Downes gets first Rochdale goal On league debut.

 

Jan 2047 ….Transfers … Downes in … Bailey out to AC Milan for a club record £30m. ..replaced with a loanee.

 

FA Cup …Round 3 beat Leeds 2-0 at home and set Record Gate Receipts of £425k.  Downes makes debut after raiding cash strapped and relegation threatened Liverpool for £40m.

2047 …Round 4 (h) Fleetwood L2 ..  Full squad change after Watford game and Wembley . 7 players  given squad numbers… Win 3-1 but despite dominating takes 2 late goals from Petrovic.

3 players make their debuts ..Hudson from start and subs Hallgrimsson & Owusu.

Round 5 .. 2-1 aet away win at managerless Newcastle … more important ..No injuries b4 Carabao Cup Final.

Round 6 (h) to Southampton .. can we beat them in another cup tie. FT 0-0 with defensive plan working.

Go 1-0 up in extra time (107) before left back is sent off with 11 mins left ..Skillen equalisers straight (113) after and 121 mins they win it…Red is harsh and very unhappy at press conference.

 

Southampton beat 10 man Villa 2-1 in the Final.

 

ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

 

Injuries to York / Genovese & Hayes … replaced with Beattie-Prescott / Cunningham & Owens (Rochdale).

 

Serbia (42nd)(h) … Gardiner 50th cap. Cunningham / Owens sub debuts.  HT 1-0 Worrall. 
FT .. Leigh adds to make it a 2-0 Win.

 

Germany(8th) (a) … HT 1-0 Worrall

FT 1-0 …scores reflects an even Contest. After 29 seasons the German side can be scouted and not greyed out.

 

Next games see a number of entries …. Cahill / Moore /Skillen/Brown.

 

In for debuts squads are King ( Saints) .. Williams ( Spurs ) ..both U21 members. Avg squad age 24.

 

Elsewhere Kirilov ( Dale u23) earns first Bulgaria cap.

 

Wales (39) Friendly …. Danny King debut & Shaun Williams scores on debut. HT 1-0.  Sub Downes scores 2-0.

 

Serbia (41) Int League …. A draw to qualify… Tucker first International goal ..HT 1-0

Gardiner & Jones 

 

Nov 46…Last game of Int League vs Germany(8th).  Kabangu makes debut in goal from start. 

Worrall (2) Tucker(15) Genovese(35) ..HT 3-0. Genovese (60) Williams(80) Tucker(83) ..FT 6-0

 

Friendly vs India ( 105th) … Watson will make debut. 
Watson scores on debut. Danny King gets his 1st & 2nd international goal( also misses pen….Cahill & Williams …HT 5-0.

King completes hat trick / Williams / England and Skillen complete 9-0 rout.

 

 

FEB 2047 ..After Carabao Cup win I am still 920 points behind Sir Alex Ferguson in Nation Ranking.

                    Worldwide I am 2445 points clear based on international trophies with 2nd and 3rd retired.

 

Premier League .. Lose to Boro straight after final but comeback with wins against Spurs & 10 man Brighton.

 

After 29 games we officially avoid relegation and are 3rd ( miles behind Villa and Saints who have played less games).

7.3.47 .. Youth intake … given the cost on youth facilities the intake seem underwhelming.

 

Liverpool relegated ..9 point deduction and selling 13 players & 27 loaned out to balance books is too much ( no surprise as only 3 Carabao cup wins as trophies in last 23 years & outside Prem Top 3 for 20 years).

Everton in a similar position are also in danger.

 

Profits Made .. Everton top list but Liverpool still lost £10m. Rochdale 9th /10 clubs who make a profit (£2.86m). Leicester bottom with £109m.

 

Game 30 ..King makes 125th league appearance vs Wolves …. Highlight is Bradley-F scoring a hat trick from centre back… all 4 goals from corners he got his head on. …He has 11 goals this season.
Rochdale have 13 corner goals …Southampton have 15 .

Game 32 .. Blow it away at Arsenal .. they avoid relegation and 3rd place is now in danger with 6th placed City just 1 point behind.

 

Game 34 beat oil rich Leeds and secure a Top 7 finish .

 

Game 35 .. Blow a 2-0 lead vs relegation threatened Norwich. 3rd on goal difference from 4th & 5th . 6th placed are 2 points behind.  
 

Game 36 .. Top of the table Saints .. Red card again ( and left back again) … hang on 0-0 away .( Now 1 point clear in 3rd).

 

Game 37 .. (h) Watford .. 1-0 win but Downes can’t hit a barn door. ..should seal a Top 4 after Villa beat City.

Norwich & Everton relegated. Saints seal retain the Title. ( Nagelsman is the manager ..irl Bayern have just sacked him).

 

Game 38 .. (a) Man Utd … HT 2-0 ..but Spurs being thrashed should mean we come 3rd. Ends 2-1 with Downes finally scoring. ..Leray sacked as United Manager.

 

Used 27 players which is 7th highest.
 

1.Saints. 2.Villa. 3.Rochdale. 4.City by 3 goals from 5.Spurs.6.Man Utd.

Transfer spending ..Worst Leeds £151m loss (14th) but Villa £143m (2nd) 

Only the Liverpool clubs in debt and Brighton made a profit.

Wages ratio:

Leicester 73% ….. to Everton 11%…Dale 21% but rising.

 

Bradley-Fitzpatrick is Players Young Player. 11 goals and 7.39 rating. 2 assists.( another in the cup).

Oil Rich Leeds are linked with buying him for just £36m and no European football.

He also has 9 m.o.m. Which is a new club record.

I get Manager of the Year ..52% win ratio. W20 D9 L9 …. I still can’t unlock the Undeafeted achievement on steam.

 

Top shirts .. 1. Robinson. 2.Downes. 3.Leigh.  4.King.  5.Mijailovic.

 

All revenue up except TV.

 

News of new stadium … The Reg Jenkins Stadium capacity 25658 costing £41.5m approved. Will sell Crown Oil Arean for £1.2m. Starts 22.5.47 ..opens 29.6.49.

I need this Achievement so at the Dale for at least 2 more years … I do want to manage in N.Ireland but that will wait.

 

 

Aston Villa win Champions League vs Barcelona.

 

March 2047 ..England squad for 2 x Euro qualifiers.

 

Genovese out injured ..4 return as I go for my top rated players …Dunne for Thackaray is most difficult decision.

 

U20 team win Elite league for 4th year in a row and explains why I have bloodied young players .. also it is an English database so expect better regens coming through.

 

(H) Romania ( 38th) .. Byrne-Fitzpatrick (21) Tucker(32) HT 2-0 …late Tucker strike seals an easy 3-0 win.

My plan to use the 4 Rochdale players In this game and rest the 2nd back fires as Leigh out for 6-7 weeks injured.

 

(A) N.Ireland ( 80th) …. 1-0 down (6) ..Worrall (7) levels … HT 1-1. Dunne(89) seals the win.

 

June 2047…International League …Defensive for both to maximise possession.

 

SF …(a) France (2nd)…. FT 0-0 ..Penalties win 5-4.      France beat Portugal 2-0 to come third.

 

Final (a) Holland(9th) Genovese (39)  HT 1-0.  FT 1-0.

 

 

Friendly .. lowly ranked to finish the season and blood the inexperienced….Positive approach.

 

Cape Verde (108) … Downes in for misfiring Skillen …HT 4-0. FT 5-0

Downes (7/40) Watson (27/30) England(54) 

Downes how has 48 goals in 66 caps.