Nordic nights & Scandinavian days

God try saying your keepers name when drunk? Not a chance!

nice to see you getting the overachievers award once again, and good to see you getting that coaching qualification!

Heres to a strong season!

Hahah I've given up trying to say it, canny player like. Fingers crossed he can keep some clean sheets this year

Season number 2 in Hugginn begins now, as we registered an away win over KF in the 89th minute gave us all 3 points.



We then lost to IF before back to back 2-1 wins over the other KF in the league and Vikingur in the cup.









We’re also drawn against my managers randomly selected favorite team Leiknir Reykjavik in the next round of the League Cup.



A resounding 4-1 away win over KP rounded out May 2021 which leaves us 3rd after 4 games







Preceding the first of 2 upcoming games against my favored team Leiknir was a 2-1 win over recently relegated side IA.



So my first taste of seeing my favored team in action, and they’re only the favored team because I like their kits. Anyway 5 minutes in we gave away a penalty, which Vaitsiakhovich saved. From there it was all us we steamrollered them, with Johannsson getting a first half hat trick. 5-0 flattered them really, and they, just like us last season have been promoted to this league, but hopefully they can pull it together and stay up.



The wins kept coming for me and the Hugginn boys, as we beat Grindavikur, Leikinir again (in the cup), before going down to Sindri, beating Viginkur Olafsvik and drawing with IR to round out June which now sees us occupying 2nd place in the league and looking good with a 4 point lead over 3rd place Sindri who do have a game in hand.















I’m also linked to the UBK job, but I've got absolutely zero interest leaving Huginn any time soon.





July kicked off with a defeat in the Icelandic FA Cup, an absolute end to end game with Selfoss saw us go down 5-3. We get knocked out at the quarter final stage this year, not too disheartened as we’ve got our sights on the league only.





In the league, we got a win over HK & KF before a draw with IF







My assistant manager had also accepted an offer from Vikingur to become their new manager. Will be interesting when we play them as they are bottom of the league at the minute.





Final game of July was a 1-0 away win over the other KF which sees us still second but only 1 point behind leaders IR







So with 8 games to go, we’ve got a nice 8 point cushion over third place, so we are definitely in the driving seat for promotion.

Random news time now, as I’ve just noticed Rafa Benitez is in charge of Kobehhaven in Denmark. It’s weird things in FM like this that I like.



Next update will be those final 8 games, where we finished and any other business. Thanks for reading.

Promotion surely on the cards with that gap... hope so!

Yeah man nice little cushion just in case some bad form comes.

Definitely don't consider leaving just yet? You're onto a winner here at Huginn! Promotion should be secured now really?

So 8 games to go then in my second season here, and despite my shortcomings in my second season at my last 2 clubs, it looks as though I will at the very least finish this season here and not get sacked!

First up was a home game against KP which we won in style 3-0.



Back to back wins over Leiknir (sorry my favorite team) and favorites to win the league IA before we’re up against Grindavikur in a game that if we win, we’re promoted to the Pepsi-deildin, the top division in Iceland







We’re the overwhelming favorites for this game, and I tell the team just to play their natural game.

It doesn’t take long before something of note happens. 2 minutes in


5 minutes later


Literally 60 seconds later



All we need to do is sit back, keep the ball and don’t do anything stupid





All we need was a win in our next game, a home encounter with Vikingur Olafsvik to secure the league title



I’m now favoured personnel here at Hugginn, after winning the league title! The remaining games of the season were a 0-0 draw with IR, a loss to Sindri and a final day win over HK.

So with the season coming to a close, last seasons winner of this division IP managed to stay in the top division this season, so if they can stay up, so can we!





End of season stuff now, Captain Fantastic Conde gets the player of the year award, Compton with goal of the season award, Willis signing of the season and Egisson young player. Can’t complain I totally agree.









Comptons goal of the season, I have actually seen better this season:

https://youtu.be/GD4Rn6WP-a8

With the end of season here, the usual sackings start, and I'm linked to the IA job, despite them staying in the division I’ve just won, so that’s a definite no.



Same situation with Fram Reykjavik who have just been relegated from the top division.







I am invited to interviews with plenty of teams during this part of the year.

First up are Norwegian side Ranheim







14th in the league. No thanks.



Next up are relegated side Fram Reykjavik offering me an interview as already noted above. I’ve just won the league you’re now in, so no thanks.



IA next offer to interview me, again you’re in the league I’ve just won, so no



Skive Idraets next get on the phone, they’re currently rock bottom of the Nordic Bet Liga, Denmarks second division.



If it was a Danish top division side, I’d consider it, but they're bottom of the league on 11 points and 5 away from safety, I'm not leaving Hugginn for them at this time





Shortly after another team in the same division offer me an interview, Alliance Club.

Same situation, declined



Now I’m getting mixed feelings. Suprettan (Swedish second tier) side Goteborgs in Sweden offer me an interview, but it took me a while, but eventually I said no to them as well.







Now this is where I get all disappointed, as this is a challenge and I can only go to teams that meet certain criteria, I get interview offers which I begrudgingly decline from current League 2 sides Oldham Athletic, Carlisle United & Blackpool







Before heading into the next season, I wanted to do a quick 5 year round up of the save so far.

My first club FC Hollviken, we survived relegation in season 1, but they sacked me in season 2 but still got relegated, and then got relegated again, and haven’t come back up





IK Oddevold. In season 3 of the save we finished 2nd and were runners up in the play offs. Season 4 saw them sack me, but they did manage to stay up that season after I left. Season 4 they finished 10th. They are still playing their league season and are currently 9th





Hugginn of course finished 3rd in season 4 and we won the league in season 5 of the save.





Finishing off this post, is something I have to post. 19th December 2021 and Liverpool, yes that Liverpool are currently 19th in the Premier League!



Results have been poor to say the least



Just look at the absolute mauling Man United gave them!

Bang average squad at best



Secure finances so not like they're in administration or anything, and in game they won the league in season 1, recorded back to back 6th place finishes before finishing 11th then 12th





Managerial history makes for some good viewing



Klopp won the league as noted, then was sacked in 2020 4 years later. Stale Solbakken (who once had Wolves IRL) then took over and lasted 6 months, then Erik Bakke from Leeds United back in the day took over, lasted 10 months before getting sacked, and now Leonid Slutskiy of CSKA Moscow fame is now in charge.

Unreal some of the stuff FM throws at you!

Anyway thanks for reading my long winded post. Next update is going to be the start of the new season.

Sure is mate!

That's class! Nice work!
Also, absolutely love that 9-0 United gave Liverpool! Their managerial history is quite something!

Awesome to see ain't it mate! Erik Bakke of all people too!

As is the case in Iceland, the first month of the new season sees the top 2 divisions compete in the Upper League Cup. I checked and there is a Lower League cup, and that is for teams in the unplayable divisions. We kick off our campaign against second tier side HK.



Before then however mister consistent and my right hand man Andreas Persson is missing Sweden. I let him go on a leave, hopefully he comes back raring to go.





A so-so result in an even game. No problems here, the opening game of a new campaign and we didn’t lose.



We pick up our first win in the league cup over UF (I'm not going to try an retype their name) in another even game, but 1 we came out on top of.



Another win followed, with 3 points gained over Grindavikur, before getting thumped by fellow top tier side KA, we got absolutely pummeled in this one.





We dusted ourselves off and picked ourselves up with a tough 3-2 win over IK as well as a resounding win over Sindri and a win over IV which confirms we’ve qualified from the group finishing second and into the quarter final











Our reward for finishing second was a quarter final game against recently relegated side Fram Reykjavik



As seems to be the case most teams are playing their second string side, as a number of Fram debutants played this game and helped us to a 3-1 win. Is the dream of a cup final on?





We’re then drawn against UF in the semi, and we’ve already beat them in this competition.



Something that never ever happens, is that we came out on top in a penalty shoot out! An even game all around, it was 1 all after 23 minutes, and neither side managed to get that winning goal. As soon as the full time whistle went in extra time, I just thought this is it, this where the journey ends, but somewhat surprisingly we scored all 5 of our penalties and our keeper made the save in the final penalty. We’re only in the bloody final!!







@r96Skinner will be happy to see that we’ve got Fylkir in the final, and Huginn have never even got to the final of this cup yet alone win it, so just getting here is a massive achievement.





So here goes, a first ever cup final for the club as well as me. We’ve got to be happy to get this far, and in cup football anything is possible.











From the first to the last whistle in the first half, we’re by far the better team. 14 shots, 5 on target and 1 clear cut chance, we’re in danger of being FM’d here. I just tell the team to keep going, all we need is 1 goal.



From the second half neither team actually makes anything of the game, and we’re still 0-0 in the 82nd minute. I tell the team to push forward in a passionate voice, 83rd minute and


That was the only thing of note, as from then on we kept Fylkir at bay, and held on for a remarkable 1-0 win, and the cup is ours!











I’m sure his wife will agree that Poulson is a great name

After that cup win, I am now surprisingly a club legend here at Huggin.



I think we can be considered somewhat lucky in this cup win. We scraped by UF on penalties, and had played lower league opposition in the Quarter, and I’ve noticed most teams don’t class this cup as worthy and have put their reserves out, but it makes no difference to me, I’ve not only won the league last season to get promoted but now a cup win is bound to help my reputation.





Overachiever award for the cup win and rightly so, we weren’t supposed to be anywhere near the final. Which brings us to the start of the new league season, and despite winning the Upper League Cup, we’re still expected to finish bottom of the league, but so were IP last season and they survived, so anything is possible.

Last bit of news on this update, is very, very surprising. As noted last time, Liverpool were struggling, and have just been beaten 2-0 away at Arsenal which confirms their relegation from the Premier League! Wow, just wow!



Here’s their line up from that Arsenal game, and it’s clear to see why they’ve been relegated. Despite having quality in Mahrez, Henderson and Ryan Gauld, it’s just not enough. But relying on Alcacer for goals with Afobe as back up just can’t cut it in the Premier League. I haven't got a screen but they sold Firminio to Dortmund I think, can confirm on next post, as well as letting Mane leave and just not reinvesting. I will be keeping an eye on how they do from here on.



Thanks for reading. Next update will be the first set of games in our maiden season in the Pepsi-deildin, Iceland's top division, and if this cup win is anything to go by, we should fingers crossed have enough to secure survival.

Nicely done!
rip Fylkir tho

A legend you say? Rumour has it Iceland's big guns are now thinking this:
https://youtu.be/Q6MkmonoaSw

Cheers mate. I seem to be playing Fylkir a lot

Our maiden campaign in the Pepsi-deidlin got off as expected, with a loss to IV.



We managed to get our first point of the season with an away draw with Valur Reykjavik which we needed to get as that preceded back to back to back losses against KR, VJ in the cup and KA









Very early doors of course but we’re second bottom with a single point from a possible 12



The job interview offers didn’t stop as Dundee United ask for a chance to speak to me at this time.





Stuck in the Championship after relegation last year, I’d love to go there, but I can’t just yet.



Burton Albion were next on the phone, just finished bottom of League one, that would be a great job to get but sorry but it’s a no at the minute



Same day and Southend next wanted to talk to me,finished 1 point from relegation from League 2, another great job but I can’t right now, sorry



We got out first win of the season with a good 3-1 victory over IBK, but the good showing didn’t carry on as we got thumped 5-1 at home to KV and that was followed up with another loss, this one to IR







2 big games next, as we lost yet again this one to FH but we followed that up with an incredible 6-1 away win over Stjarnan





Finishing off June was a well earned 1-0 win over IA which sees us occupy 8th in the league on 10 points.







After continuing on this update was another job interview, and 1 I am interested in going for. Rovaniemen Palloseura FC, better known as ROPS, are a Finnish side who are currently bottom of the Veikkausliiga, ,Finalnd's top division.







This would be a great job if I got, so I did the best I can in the interview. If I get the ROPS job, it would be a good move and possibly a chance to secure a league title, obviously not this season but I’m sure the opportunity to challenge is there.




The first game in July 2022 was a big scoring game, but we came out the losing side, as we went down 5-3 away to IV



How did that interview go?



Our next game is against KR, and I know we need to do something here with this team, something that will give us a spark. We’ve got some money left in our transfer and wage budgets. I make an offer for an out of contract experienced striker, someone that is far too good for this league but someone who came up on the scouting tab as a realistic option.

So after offering a contract, getting a good deal I think, the coaches think he’s a good signing and I definitely do, his stats are probably the best for this league, he’s even agreed to play as a back up (I intend to start him however) but the fans don’t think so at all,in fact they don’t think he’s good enough. All I can do is play him, and hope my faith in him is good enough.

Next update will be the who we have just signed in our survival bid, the next set of games and any other business..

That's a great win over Stjarnan, could be a crucial 3pts!
Unlucky with the RoPS interview, perhaps another time!

For sure, any points gained are going to be crucial

I hope all you people reading were on tenterhooks on who it was that we signed, well ponder no more (sorry, it sounded good in my head), in real life he’s quite a potent finisher and can be considered a decent Premier League player, say hello to the man we’re pinning our survival hopes on

If someone could let the fans know this guy is different gravy for this league, that’d be great. In game he’s been at Brondby since the start and hes been let go on a free. As the Danish league runs August – May, his contract ended in May and we signed him here in July. Quite remarkable no other teams were in for him. For me, he’s the best player we’ve got, the best chance of staying in this division. We’ve got third placed KR away next, and you can be assured the new man starts.

If there’s any game to prove we’ve got what it takes to stay up, it’s this one.







Not long into the game, we’ve found the ball out wide, it’s played along the floor in the box, and you already know what happens next















It’s amazing what 1 signing can do, 5-0 and we looked good, surely this is the start of us securing our place in this division next season?


Maybe not. Terrible. Move on.

With Pukki signing and Persson wanting to leave after being given a leave of absence due to being home sick, he’s said he wants to leave permanent. No hard feelings Andreas, maybe we’ll meet again sometime, thanks for the last 2 seasons and helping us get in to this division. Good luck.





Back to the games now, we got a good win over Valur, but no goals from Pukki but a win is still a win, and we need all the points we can get



That sees us finish July 2022 in 7th place on 16 points, currently 5 points off relegation with 8 games to go.



Before heading into those final 8 games, there was the small matter of the World Cup, held in China. This year saw Canada and South Africa surprisingly get out of the groups, Sweden getting to the semi before getting knocked out by the Winners France. Certainly can’t deny France deserved to win it after beating Portugal and Spain on the way to beating Belgium in the final.



In our ongoing league campaign we then went down 1-0 at home to KA before a Pukki goal gave us all 3 points at home to IK





Valur Rykjavik offered me an interview after this game, as do KV, both in the same division as me, Valur are currently bottom whilst KV are sat 8th a place below us.









I’m not interested in the Valur job, but the KV job is something I’d be tempted with, so I attend the interview with them.



I didn’t even realise who we play next, turns out it’s the team I just had an interview with Vikingur and we won 3-1.



A day after that win, the Vikingur board were obviously not happy with me and turned me down for the job, oh well I just beat your team so…



Oh dear, another piss poor showing. Not even going to discuss this one. Move on



End of August and we’re still very much in the survival picture with 22 points and 7 points from the relegation places with 4 games to go



The first of our 4 games turned out to be yet another loss, this one at home to FH, an own goal in the first 90 seconds pretty much summed up our afternoon in this one



Persistence can be a good thing in life, and that is the case with Ranheim as they again offer me an interview. This time they’re actually bottom of the league, last season they survived and this time time around they’re struggling.





Bottom of the league and 8 points off the relegation play off place, a definite challenge. I decline this interview, not a chance they’d make up the 8 points and hope the other teams drop points in the final 8 games of their season.



As for ourselves, we need some points badly, but those points didn’t come in our next game against Stjarnan.



They score a last minute winner despite being down to 10 men, hopefully this isn’t a sign of things to come

We’re now at the penultimate game of our season, an away game with IA, and Pukki is doing his part



If we win we should be safe.



But we laboured to a 1 all draw.

So this brings us to our final game of the season, a home time with 4th placed UF.



A win here would be great, but we only need to match VR’s result as we have a better goal difference to be safe, however I really don’t want to rely on other results.

We’re 9th now, 23 points, with the sides in 10th and 11th having 22 and 21 points respectively.



We can go down, but we just have to do as well as we can to stay up.



Thanks for reading, next update will be the final game of the season, if we stay up or go down.

God you're good at leaving things on a cliffhanger!

You're also the master of negotiations, getting Pukki in through the door in a stroke of genius! Football god did someone say?

Come on the Huginn!

What a signing and what a debut!
Good luck on the final day!

I genuinley could not believe that he was willing to talk, and the opening squad status was back up, and he took a low wage! Needless to say he's the first name on the team sheet!

Cheers mate. That final day update is on it's way

Here goes then. A final day game against UF. Losing isn’t an option. Avoiding defeat is acceptable if VR lose or don’t win. Pukki knows the deal.



My message to the players, go out there and win, I will accept nothing less.

Exactly 70 seconds into the game. The ball is already in the back of the net.



The score stays like this until half time. We’re keeping up our end of the deal here, as VR are also winning their game 3-2 at home to KR, but at the minute we’re sitting in 7th place in the table, and staying up.





Its end to end stuff in our game, both teams are going for the win, we are holding on really but we’ve got something they don’t have, a top striker.

Center half Sarr plays a long looping ball over the top



1 touch to steady himself, another to take it away from the defender










Good job we got that late goal, because KR won their game 5-3 and survived. We would’ve gone down had we lost as well as IP have a better goal difference, so this was probably the biggest win of our season.







So survival on the last day of the season, very good feeling for us. We finish in 7th place, and 3 points safe.



End of season stuff now, the usual things









But I’m still in demand, as 1 of Iceland's top clubs want to interview me, Knattspyrnufelg Reykjavik.







I sit and ponder this for a while, one the 1 hand they’re easily going to challenge for the top of the league with a couple of signings despite them finishing 1 place below us in 8th this season, and that away kit is sexy AF not gonna lie, but on the other hand I’m actually enjoying being at Huginn, and they’ve given me a decent enough wage budget this season, we’ve got Pukki, so I decide to say no.



It’s at this time I also sign a contract extension, and I have identified the players we’re going to sign to really make sure we’re not dragged into another relegation battle.



First in is full back Hattab from France to replace the retiring Sarr.







Next in are Danish players, winger Hoist and central midfielder Guldbrandsen.









We also signed center half Matt Olosunde who started at Man United. A definite improvement on our current center halves





We’re also given the overachievers award for the season that’s just finished, and that makes it 3 seasons in a row we’ve claimed that tag



As is the case, the Upper League Cup is the prelude to the new season, and we’re drawn in Group C this time, and we’re going to hope for a strong showing and hope we can reclaim the cup.



Before then however we’re greeted with the news that the new manager at KR, the team I turned down, is after a new striker, 1 of ours



Griti has 1 year left on his contract, and is valued at 15k. I won’t be accepting any bids for him and the player even says he wants to stay.

They do bid 35K for him, and before I even get a chance to look at it, the board have kindly accepted on my behalf



I make my feelings known and protest it to the board







Thanks Mr Director. Now we can move on with the season.

Our first game of the Upper League Cup is against BU. We’ve got some quality players in, Pukki’s got a goal in him in any game, so we can be hopeful of a good season.

Nicely done avoiding the drop!

Yeah for sure, onward and upward

We’ve got to realistic, we just want a good showing in the Upper League Cup, we overachieved massively winning it last year, so I'm not too concerned with the cup run this time around but the board are expecting a quarter final visit



We drew 1 all in the opener against BU, with a Pukki goal for us before we conceded in the second



A 2-0 win over Fram Reykjavik preceded my 100th game for Huginn





The 100th game of my time here ended in a 2 all draw with UF, before back to back wins over Grindavkiur and IK







A 3-1 win over Fylkir sorry @r96Skinner and a 3-0 win over Valur confirmed our passage into the quarters







We’re drawn against IR in the quarters

Just before that however I'm offered an interview, and this is 1 don’t hesitate to attend. Danish NordicBet Liga side Silkeborg want to speak, and I attend.









4th in the league and within a shout of finishing in the play offs, it’s a no brainer

The quarters were easier than I thought they would be, as we dominated IR 3-0 to set up a semi final clash against my favoured side Leikinir Reykjavik





That game was also cut and dry, 2-0 and we didn’t even break a sweat.





We’ve got a second final in a row! This time we’ve got FH in the final.



Not going to lie, a second final was not on the cards, but the eagle eyed among you will notice Pukki has got 9 goals in 9 cup games so far, without him we certainly wouldn’t be here

How did it go?


So another cup win to set us off in the league. We’re still favorites to finish bottom, but just like last year I;m confident we’ll stay up.




Next update will be the first few months of the new season. Thanks for reading.

Another medal in the bag!
I'm sure you'll miss relegation once more - wish you luck!

Cheers man, I am surprised we won the cup again, just hope that form carries over into the league

What happens to a cup winning squad that overachieved last year and strengthened in every position and is looking to improve? They lose their star striker of course!



Only silver lining is this deal goes through when his contract ends in November.

Season preview has us finishing bottom again. Again despite winning the cup for a second time



We kicked off our season with another win over my favoured team Leikinir, Pukki grabbing the winner on the stroke of half time.



Our next game was a home tie against Vikingur, and we had a man sent off on 50 minutes, with left back (and all around drainer) Gunnarson getting himself sent off. Before this game he was moaning for a new contract, despite playing second fiddle and coming off the bench. Anyway it didn’t matter as we got a goal on the break through Guldbrandsen. We then went defensive and somehow, remarkably held on for an impressive 1-0 win!



We managed a 0-0 draw with IR before beating KF in the cup to round out the first month of the new season and siting in 4th place







Before we continued our own season, in England the Championship play off happened, and Liverpool got beat by Hull







Judging by the shots on goal and possession, 1-0 flattered Liverpool, nothing better then seeing an 89th minute going in. Lol.

Once again we beat Fylkir ( sorry @r96Skinner ) I don’t think I've lost to them yet, with Pukki grabbing a hat trick and showing that we’re probably, most definitely going to miss him come November.



During the off season in England, Bury (RIP IRL) offered me an interview as they sacked their manager





Bottom of league 1, this would be a great move to make, but as I can only go to Scandinavian clubs for now, it’s a no.

A win over Stjarnan confirmed we’ve gone 18 games unbeaten stretching back to September, a nice little record to have made.





Of course after getting a notification of an unbeaten run, we lose our next game to FH, but redeemed ourselves in the cup with a win over lower league side IF





A 2-0 win over IV and a 1 all draw with KA saw out June





3 poor results followed, as we went down to UF, a 2 all draw away to IK and a 3-0 loss to IV in the cup to knock us out in the quarters.









The downfall continued, as we went down 4-0 at home to KR and 1-0 away to Vikingur.





More losses now, as we lost to my favourite team Lekinir 2-1, and 5-0 to IR which then brought criticism for my tactics.







A slight tactical tweak now as we got 4-1-2-3 in our next game



Which pays off as we win 1-0 away to Stjarnan





Here comes the end of this update, as I am invited to an interview with Finnish side KUPS.







10th in the league, and in a higher rep league, I don’t hesitate to attend

The media asked me about it, and I just side it’s nice to see my name linked to big jobs.

Then the next day, in the same division, FC Inter Turku offered me an interview.







So I attend. Either of these jobs is a step in the right direction, and again the media ask me about it and I say the same thing.

Then the board at my current club want a word.



They’re saying I declared my interest in those jobs, but I didn’t really, I just answered the questions posed to me, I definitely didn't press the declare interest option on either club. But we'll see what comes of the meeting.

That’s it for this update. Next update will be the outcome of my meeting with the board, the next set of games and any other business.

Thanks for reading.

James Wilson, a former Man. United player, stopping Liverpool getting promotion - club hero imo!

Quite the up-and-down form for you, some very good wins but some bad losses too.
Fingers crossed for the KuPS and Inter Turku interviews!

If I had an in game editor I would make him a Man U legend



Next update is on it's way too