Fc Carl Zeiss Jena-back to the top

Hey

I have been playing with FM for a long time -typically with my favourite teams- but now I decided to play first time in the German football system. I prefer to play with smaller clubs, so I started a save with Fc Carl Zeiss Jena. At present, the club plays in the Regionalliga Nordost (German IV. tier), but before the fall of the Berlin Wall, they were Champions of the German Democratic Republic 3 times (1963,1968,1970) and won the GDR Cup 4 times (1960,1972, 1974, 1980). In 1981 they were runners up in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, but defeated against Dinamo Tbilisi. 

The board's objective: mid-table finish, the team predicted for the 15th place, I hope we can finish higher 🙂 In the 3.Liga clubs only allowed to sign EU-players, but I want to made it to more exciting, so I want to sign foreign players only from countries which was part of the Eastern Bloc (Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, ex-Czechoslovakia, ex-Yugoslavia). 

My most valuable players:

Ole Käuper (22), midfielder on loan from Werder Bremen (475.000 Euro)

Eroll Zejnullahu (24) Kosovoian midfielder, currently joined to the club (140.000 Euro)
Julian Günther Schmidt (24) forward, he is also new signing (125.000 Euro)

Daniele Gabriele (24) forward, new signing (120.000 Euro) 

The pre-season worked very well, so let's the business begin 🙂 

I know, that some FM players think that you should make your own tactic and make a 10th tier English club the champions of the world..well, I'm not like that, unfortunately, and I use downloaded tactics, with minor modifications. In Jena, I try 4-4-2 formation (see below). 
So I started the season, but I should wait for the first win, because in July, I could collect only 2 points from the possible 9..In the first match against Hansa Rostock at home we went up 2:0, but in the last 5 minutes the team lost the concentration, and the Rostock equalized. Ole Käuper missed a penalty when we had a 2 goal advantage, this made even harder the result.
The next match against Uerdingen away, we lost, they were the better team, no more word need.
And the last match in July at home against Zwickau, in the first half they scored 2 goal, but in the second half a sensational freekick from Nico Hamman, and the late equaliser from the debutant Kilian Pagluica in the 86.minute made the final result.

I have to strengthen the squad, -especially in the RB position- my main RB are injured an another 2-3 months, and Tim Kircher (on loan from Karlsruhe) is a bit weak. Unfortunately Zejnullahu, who made 2 assist injured in the last match, and won't be available in the next 2-3 week. We are in the 16th position, I hope the next month will be better 🙂 
 

So I had to make a few transfers to strengthen the squad but I tried to reduce the numbers of transfers, the team is full of new players. I sold Marius Grösch (CD) -who was transfer listed when I arrived)- to Dukla Praha for 50.000 Euro, and signed 2 free agent players. Björn Lindemann (35) is a left midfielder, honestly, he is crap, I don't expect anything from him. My other new arrival Eduardo, 36 years old Croatian forward, who spend 3 years in Arsenal earlier. 

His wage is a bit high, but if he score a few goals, absolutely worth it. 

Our first match in August we gained the first clean sheet- in away-, in the next match in the local derby against Magdeburg we reached our first win in the season. Eduardo scored on his debut from penalty. In August we achieved 5 from the possible 12 point, still not good enough I think. 

Two players scored in this month, Eduardo (against Magdeburg and Köln, both from penalty) and Ole Käuper scored his first goal in Jena against Würzburg. Here is the league positions: 

Unfortunately Zejnullahu injured again, right after he recovered from his previous injury, my first choice left back Nico Hamman injured also (hip injury, 2-3 months). 

Here comes September, and Jena still not won a match away.. In the first match of the month they had a chance to change this, but Münster won (2:0) - 21 years old Joel Grodowski scored his first two goal in Münster against us, hurray..-. At home against Bayern II every pundit said there is no way Jena could keep at least 1 point at home, but René Eckard and Jannis Kübler and the whole team thought differently, 2:1. On the next 3 match, Jena gained 3 point without a loss (2 match in away), then I think they played the best match against Kaiserslautern at home in the season so far. 
 

Daniele Gabriele found his goalscorer shoe finally (he had played ten hours of competitive football without a goal). Meris Skenderovic scored his first goal in Jena, Daniel Stanese (who has 4 caps in the Canadian national team) the best defender in the club at now,) 
In the end of October, Jena travelled to Braunschweig and lost, still waiting for a first win away from Ernst Abbe Sportfield.
 

2 points away from dropping zone:

In September René Eckardt won the Player of the Month award in the 3.Liga. 

By the way, Eroll Zejnullahu injured AGAIN… Goalscorers of September-October: René Eckardt (2) Jannis Kübler, Eduardo, Daniel Stanese, Meris Skenderovic, Daniele Gabriele

The 3.Liga and the FCC goes on, we are in the middle of the season. In November, Jena played 4 match, (1win 1 draw 2 loss), this was a most difficult period so far. We started with a local derby against Chemnitz at home, but missed the opportunity to rise on the table (1:1), then another loss in away against Duisburg (2:1). At home we won against Grossaspach (1:0), no one understand how could we keep the 3 point, -neither do I-. When we met with Halle away, they were 3 place below us, it was a must win-and we lost 3:0.. Jena slipped back to the 16th place, and my name is added to the “sack race list” Things only got worse when we traveled to Munich and we lost again (2:0). After this match, I had a meeting with the board, but I could persuade them that I am the best choice for the team. This has been proved on the next two match, in the Ostseestadion against Hansa Rostock we played the season most exciting match so far (3:3). -Friday 13..-

Before the winter break,we hosted Uerdingen, and got revenge for the first match, and won 3:1. In the winter transfer season, I have to strengthen the squad, and we need offload some players. 

Here is the schedule of November-December: 

Jena's performance away still disappoint, there is a big difference between home and away form:

In November and December the team scored 9 goal: Daniele Gabriele 5, Meris Skenderovic, Matthias Kühne, Ole Käuper, Maximilian Schlegel -he is a left midfielder who was promoted from Jena II in the beginning of the season. In December after René Eckardt, another Jena players was Player of the Month: Daniele Gabriele. 

The two best defenders in the team, Daniel Stanese and Dominic Volkmer signed a new contract with the club 🙂 

Here is the league standing after 21 match, 13th position, but still 2 point away from the dropping zone. 

Best goalscorer: Daniele Gabriele, most assist: Eroll Zejnullahu, best pass completion: Ole Käuper
 

The winter break is ended, and the team returned to the pitch. I scheduled 2 friendly match against Braunschweig and Ceske Budejovice (Czech First Division). Jena won both match, and we felt fully prepared against Zwickau, then bamm, Zwickau won 4:1.. After this defeat, I expected in the rest of the season blood and sweat, still without a win in away, the team full of crap-or/ injured players, 2 points away from relegation zone.
In February, I raised my hat for the guys, in the next match against Unterhaching, we took the lead with a penalty, and thanks to the excellent defending, we won, 1:0. Next time against Magdeburg thanks to Skenderovic late goal, we ended 1:1. It would have been a must win against the 20th club, but I didn't care,because in the next 3 match we gained 9 points (such as our 1:0 win away against Würzburg). First away win in the season, here we come 🙂 

After the match against Fortuna Köln, left midfielder Maximilian Schlegel (who scored the 2 goals against them) won the Player of the Week. 
 

Our goalscorers in this 6 league match: Maximilian Schlegel (2) ,Meris Skenderovic (2), , René Eckardt, Ole Käuper, Pierre Fassnacht, Daniele Gabriele and Björn Lindemann. The team's top goalscorer: Daniele Gabriele (8 goals), most assist: René Eckardt and Eroll Zejnullahu (4-4).

Currently we are in the top half, thanks to the excellent results 🙂 

The end of the season is getting closer, thanks to the good results in February, we were in a good position  in the top half. In the first match in March against Bayern II, -after 5 unbeaten match- we lost again. Despite the loss, Daniele Gabriele scored 2 goals, and won the Player of the Week award. In the next 3 match we took the 9 points without conceding and moved up the table. Unfortunately the team unable to show continuous good performance, the next 4 match in April we got only 1 point against Kaiserslautern. We have two important player who is injured now, my first choice goalkeeper Jo Coppens suffered a sport hernia, Dominic Volkmer suffered a hamstring strain both are out until the end of the season. 
Anyway, Jo Coppens agreed about a new contract with the me and the club (his previous contract lasted only the end of the season). The club also offered a new contract to me, we extended until 2022. 

Goalscorers in this 2 month: Daniele Gabriele (4), Eduardo (4), Ole Käuper, Björn Lindemann, Anton Donkor.

The remaining 3 match: Grossaspach (A) Halle (H), 1860 München (H). We have to gather ourselves, and trying to get at least 4 points. 

The 3.Liga 2019-20 season in Germany finally is over. The team has a 7 match run without win, despite all my expectations we lost the last 3 match also….

Against Halle, we conceded the goal in the 95.minutes, though there were only 3 minute extra time.. In total I can't complain, we finished on the 12th place, the board is happy, I am too 🙂 In the last 3 match, we scored only 2 goals, Daniele Gabriele and René Eckardt (and Matthias Kühne scored an owngoal against 1860 München). 

My targets in the next season:

-Finish in top half

-Strengthen the squad and the staff. 

Player stats in the 2019-20 season, 3. Liga

First of all, Daniele Gabriele finished on 3rd place on the scoreboard. 

Team's scoreboard (best 4 players): 
Daniele Gabriele 13
Eduardo 7
René Eckardt, Meris Skenderovic 4

Most assist:

Eroll Zejnullahu 6 (Currently on international duty with Kosovo in the European Football Championship)
René Eckardt 5
Anton Donkor, Meris Skenderovic 3

Most yellow card:

René Eckardt 15 (Most yellow card in the 3.Liga)
Daniel Stanese 10
Anton Donkor 9

Average rating:
Eroll Zejnullahu 6.96
Daniele Gabriele 6.92
Dominic Volmer, René Eckardt 6.88

 

After a short break, the 3. Liga starts again. Unfortunately the preseason was very short, (barely two weeks), we had only two friendly match (Bohemians 1905 Czech First Division 1:1, and we lost 4:3 against Fc Magdeburg-they relegated from the 3.Liga in the previous season.) 

The pundits predicts Jena to finish 9th place, honestly, I would accept this in the end of the season. Osnabrück and Dynamo Dresden relegated from the Bundesliga 2, this means Jena will play against one of his fierce rival. 

Promoted teams from the Regional Leagues: Lotte, Bayreuth, Berliner AK, Vfb Oldenburg. (Unfortunately I couldn't find good database with German lower leagues before I started this save.)

The most important transfers at Jena
OUT:

Forward Julian Günther-Schmidt 66000 Euro to Osnabrück -His performance was quite frustrating in the last season, 9 league match 0 goal 1 assist.

Justin Schau 21000 Euro to Fc Eindhoven -The young midfielder had only 2 apps.

Björn Lindemann retired

IN:

18 years old Moritz Römling (left back) on loan from Bochum-he has a bright future, I hope he can justify the expectations

21 years old Baris Ekincier  (left midfielder) on loan from Bochum
18 years old Florian Püschel (right back) on loan from Bochum
23 years old Deniz Undaw (striker) free signing, in the last season he played the relegated SV Meppen

27 years old Kevin Giese (midfielder) free signing
23 years old Thore Jacobsen (left back) 80.000 Euro from Werder II. 
 

We played 7 match in the 3. Liga and I have to say, I am pleased with the results. I wanted to try a new tactic, but because of the short preseason, we hadn't enough time. In the first match of the season we lost against Halle, with same tactic which we used in the previous season. In the next match against Bayreuth I switched for this:

In the first match we played 0:0 against the newly promoted Bayreuth, but in long term, I think this will work. 
 

So we had a 5 match unbeaten run. Here is the standings for the 3.Liga:

Our goalscorers in this 7 match: Deniz Undav (8), Anton Donkor (4), Dominic Volkmer, Max Schlegel, Vladimir Rankovic, Daniele Gabriele

Hello guys, we are in the middle of the season soon, and Jena have a 8 match unbeaten run. 

The team rised up on the table, we are 4th, 1 point below playoff-place. Goalscorers in October, November: Maximilian Schlegel (3), Eroll Zejnullahu (2), Anton Donkor (2) Deniz Undav, Daniele Gabriele, Florian Püschel. Unfortunately Deniz Undav had a pulled knee ligaments, and he missed against Grosaspach and Uerdingen, but still he is the best goalscorer in the team. As I wrote earlier, Dynamo Dresden relegated from Bundesliga 2, so we got a chance to play against a big rival. Well, we won the first match in the Ernst Abbe Sportfeld 🙂 

Contract news: Eroll Zejnullahu (who scored a great freekick goal against Münster) signed a new contract, until 2022. 

Good read this mate keep it up

Thanks 🙂 

The winter break is coming, and the team going to a well-deserved rest after the last 2 months. 6 match, 4 win 1 draw 1 loss (this is hurt for me against Halle, it looks like they are Jena's cryptonit, 4 match, 4 loss..)

Anyway, we had a 12 match run without loss, so thank you for having me over..












 

After the defeat, I was so angry, that the guys didn't stop until they scored 6 goals in the next match against poor Bayreuth 🙂

3 players named Player of the week: Anton Donkor, Eroll Zejnullahu and Max Schlegel. Goalscorers in November -December: Anton Donkor (5), Eroll Zejnullahu (3), Max Schlegel (3), Deniz Undav, René Eckardt, Dominic Volmer, Janis Kübler (after a long injury), Mariann Sarr, Vladimir Rankovic. 
 

We are 2nd in the 3.Liga, but I'm sure the second half of the season will be harder (based on my experience since I play with Football Manager, my teams almost never has a perfect season, if we are good at the first half of the season, we are struggling in the second -or vice versa). 

My plan for the next transfer season: sell the dead weight, there is a few players who had a short contract left and didn't play in this season, but my financial situation is not so good, so we have to say goodbye to the free riders.




 

The winter break is over and Jena is back to the 3. Liga against Würzburg, in the Flyealarm Arena. 

We played 4 friendly match, against Miedz (Polski Ekstraklasa), Erzgebirge Aue, 1.Fc Nürnberg (Bundesliga 2), Jablonec (Czech First Division). 

I wanted to unload a few players, of course I could sell only 1, Raphael Obermair signed to Újpest Fc (Hungarian First Division) for 22000 Euro, not so much. 

Good news: Eroll Zejnullahu named Player of the month in December 

Bad news: two key members of the squad is injured. Dominic Volkmer suffered a hamstring strain and will be out for 3-5 weeks, my captain, René Eckardt has a twisted ankle, he won't be available in the next 3-5 weeks also. It's a big loss, because he has the most assist (7) and the best average rating (7.59)I have only 5 midfielder in the squad, I had to promote a 17 years old player from the Jena II squad. In the next match against Würzburg, Zejnullahu also will be unavailable, because he is suspended. 

A lot of club tried to appoint me as manager in the last few months, (Bundesliga 1-2, and the Hungarian Fehérvár Fc) but I consistently rejected the offers, who want to be manager at Werder Bremen and face to Bayern München, when they can play against Vfc Oldenburg in the Marschweg Stadium? It seems we can avoid the decline of form, 6 match in the 3.Liga, 3 win 3 draw.
 

Goalscorers in January and February: Deniz Undav (3), Maximilian Schlegel (2), Anton Donkor, Vladimir Rankovic.

 

We are 1st after 27 match, this 52 points means we have 5 points more now, than in the end of last season. Nice 
















 

There is a few illogical things in the game, one of these, when a player unhappy. In this case, my goalkeeper Jo Coppens, because I sold the “star player” Julian Günther Schmidt, and he is not satisfied with the replacement. Well, Günther Schmidt played 9 match in Jena, and had only 1 assist, I sold to Osnabrück for 66K Euro, he played 15 match, and so far, he has only 1 f.cking assist. I signed Deniz Undav for free, 32 match, 14 goal 3 assist, 3 POM-avard. Sooo..

Anyway, we are in a 15 match unbeaten run (though too mutch draw, 1 draw away from the clubrecord).

Goalscorers in March and April: Maximilian Schlegel (3), Deniz Undav, Mariann Sarr, Anton Donkor, Dominic Volkmer, Thore Jacobsen. Against Dynamo Dresden in front of 31000 fan we played the most dirty match in the season, my players switched to lumberjack-grade. But we took 1 point 🙂 

We are 2nd in the 3.Liga, Ingolstadt won the championship already. Remaining mathces in May: Köln (H), Ingolstadt (A), Osnabrück (H). 






















 

7000 supporters celebrated after Jena won 3:0 against Fortuna Köln at home, and secured the promotion to the Bundesliga 2, 2 match before the end of the season. Jena played last time in the German second tier in the 2007-2008 season,but finished in the bottom of the table. 

Goalscorers: Maximilian Schlegel (2)-unfortunately he injured and missed the last two match-, Deniz Undav, Jannis Kübler, Thore Jacobsen, Anton Donkor. 

Rostock will play against Braunschweig in the playoff.

The board decided to build a new stadium,because in the Ernst Abbe Sportfeld we can't play Bundesliga 2 match. In the next season Carl Zeiss Jena will play in the Erzgebirgsstadion (Fc Erzgebirge Aue), in the city of Aue, 114 km away from Jena. 

Here is some stats from the season:

Top goalscorers: Deniz Undav (15), Maximilian Schlegel (14), Anton Donkor (14)
Assist: René Eckardt (10), Vladimir Rankovic (6), Thore Jacobsen (6)
Average rating: René Eckardt (7.43), Eroll Zejnullahu (7.38), Dominic Volkmer (7.25)

Most yellow: Daniel Stanese (10), Thore Jacobsen (9), Dominic Volkmer (8)

The team scored 64 goals in the 3.Liga (this is the most), and conceded 23 (3rd best).

A small review of Jena's previous season: Eroll Zejnullahu won the Player of the Year award, and Dominic Volkmer finished on 2nd place.

Our challenge in the Bundesliga 2 starts soon. The bookmakers predicts us to the bottom of the league in the season, I hope we can surprise a few team, and reach at least the playoff position. The transfer budget is very small, originally 54000 Euro (10% revenue from the transfers), so I had limited options to strengthen the squad, unfortunately.
Major transfers:
OUT:

Eduardo retired
Daniele Gabriele → Meppen 205000 Euro
Patrick Schorr →Dynamo Dresden free

4 talented players went to loan:
Steffen Henning (striker) →Unterhaching (3.Liga) He already scored his first goal
Michael Bock (attacking midfielder) →Grosasspach (3.Liga) 1 match 1 assist
Nick Neca (central defender) →Grasshoppers (Swiss Challenge League)

Philipp Ahlke (midfielder) →Lübeck (3.Liga). 
IN:

Franck Evina 21 (attacking midfielder) on loan from Bayern München

Philip Menzel 22 (goalkeeper) on loan from Vfl Wolfsburg

Florian Püschel (right back) free from Vfl Bochum, he played at Jena in the last season on loan, he showed convincing performance when he played.

Florian Mayer 23 (central defender) free signing from Borussia Mönchengladbach
Taylan Duman 23 (midfielder) free signing from Borussia Dortmund
Kewin Wolze 31 (left back) free signing from Osnabrück, he played a lot of season in the Bundesliga 2 mostly with Duisburg, I hope his experience will help to us in the season.

The preseason was short again, we played 3 friendly match:

Halle (3.Liga) 1:1
Ceske Budejovice (Czech First Divison) 2:1
Darmstadt 98 (Bundesliga 2) lost 3:0 

In this year we can play in the DFB Pokal, in the first round we will play against Bundesliga 2 side SpVgg Greuther Fürth. 

The Bundesliga 2 has started, and we are through 5 match in the championship, and 1 match in the DFB-Pokal. In total, I would say, I'm pleaed with the result 🙂 

Only the first match against Ingolstadt was bitter to swallow, because in the last 2 year we were unbeaten against them (4 match 1 won 3 draw), but in August we were underdog in all matches and took 7 points, so what can I say? In the DFB-Pokal we reached the penalty phase, but Greuther Fürth were luckyer, (in the extra time Zejnullahu made a foul inside the penalty box but Paul Segiun missed-I hoped he will repeat this in the shootuot but he scored..) There is 1 positive thing: Jena got around 700K Euro (200 prize money-500 television rights).

In the last few days I signed 3 players:
Paul Nebel 18 (attacking midfielder) on loan from Mainz 05-he scored on his debut against Greuther Fürth. 

Stephan Reitz 18 (forward) free signing
Fatos Beciraj 33 (forward) free signing, I hope the Montenegrian will be a good backup for Deniz Undav. 

Goalscorers in the first 6 match: Deniz Undav (3), Maximilian Schlegel (2), Paul Nebel, Kevin Wolze, Daniel Stanese.

Currently we are 10th, not bad 🙂 

I had a little break from this save in the past weeks, but few days ago I went back to Thuringia. The winter season is coming, it's time to summarize, what happened in the first half of the season:

Stable mid-table position, 7 place above than expected 🙂 We had a 6 match run without a win in September-October, but we could turned back our luck. Deniz Undav is the top goalscorer in the Bundesliga 2, I hope we can keep him until the end of the season, because at present his value is 1.6 million Euro, but he has a release clause in his contract (575.000 Euro), and I can't offer new contract to him at now (lack of money).

Few words from the arrived players:

Biggest dissappointment: Franck Evina (loan from Bayern)
However, two other loanee, Philip Menzel and Paul Nebel have a good season so far 🙂

Our first Bundesliga 2 season is finally ended: https://fccbacktothetop.wordpress.com/2021/08/01/end-of-the-season-with-a-surprise/

Our second Bundesliga 2 season will start soon 🙂