TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522

As shown previously, the beginning of my tenure with Vitória Setúbal couldn't have gone much worse. Did things improve across January 2023?

 

That was the debut in charge. It actually began splendidly, as Kamo-Kamo put us a goal ahead. Sadly, the team just capitulated after that to go on to suffer a heavy 4-1 home loss to Caldas.

 

Minute solace was found in the form of a friendly, as CIF were beaten 3-0. I had hoped that may slightly raise belief and morale, not quite…

 

The other match of the already shown results, as Santarém put three unanswered goals past us. We did suffer a ridiculously early red card though, as Mano (he didn't give us a hand, no) got himself a straight red on 28 minutes; having already been yellow carded after 10 minutes, twat.

 

Holy moly, one actual point! We actually played well against Alverca but just couldn't find the back of the net. Before this match I did change tactic, as my previous one evidently required too much attacking capabilities - so here I went defensive and it improved things, albeit minorly.

 

The same tactic didn't fare well against Académica next time out, though they are a recently relegated Liga Portugal 2 team so you'd expect them to be strong - 3-0 was harsh, given their xG was a tiny bit higher than ours.

 

January concluded with another point, so we've only lost once in three matches now - huzzah! Unlike the Alverca fixture, we were lucky to get a point on this occasion - Torreense should've won that easily.

 

Remember I said how excited I was for this new job? Oh how naive I was, sweet summer child. I think I should rename the save as “Relegationman”.

 

My job security is described as “very insecure” which is extremely concerning, but entirely understandable. I've had no board meetings yet and the media (and players) haven't got on my back at all yet, but if we lose next time out against fellow strugglers (and only team below us in the table) Cova de Piedade then I think I may be out of a job - which would be unfortunately hilarious, given I've only been employed for 54 days as it stands.

 

Checking in my ex, Real have also gone through a rough patch of form - they've had four matches since I departed and only won once, losing twice, even dropping off top spot until a recent victory. Grass isn't always greener etc.

 

On the transfer front, there wasn't much to work with nor was there much out there to sign in truth.

 

I ended up signing 21yo centre-back João Dias on loan from Estoril and former Sporting CP young forward Tiago Rodrigues on a free. Dias has only played once, Rodrigues penned terms on Deadline Day - which also saw the departure of promising youngster Daniel Carvalho, who went to Estrela Amadora for an exceptional £100k - sadly it went through in the literal final seconds, so I couldn't spend the percentage of £ that I got from the deal.

 

Next Update: end of First Stage (or job centre 😬).

 

#

Year(s)

Team

Nat.

Record

Honours

Pro/Rel

Departure Reason

01

2021–2022

Real

POR/3+4

W: 13 D: 3 L: 12

0

0/1

poached

02

2022–

Vitória Setúbal

POR/3

W: 0 D: 2 L: 3

0

0/0

 

TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522

After January 2023's terribleness, the end of the First Stage across February and early March could only go better, right? … Right? … right?

 

Yes, a victo… nevermind, only in a friendly against lower-league opposition.

 

Cova de Piedade, who were actually below us in the table and therefore in just as bad - if not worse - form than us, whipped our asses by four goals to one - and that's the good version, given it was only 4-1 due to Murilo Rosa's 90'+2 goal. Somehow the sack didn't follow.

 

I am officially a friendly manager nowadays. 2-1 win over lowly Botafogo (of Portugal obvs, not the Brazilian club).

 

Obligatory (see Real) defeat to Sporting CP B - I coulda skipped that, not checked the result and still told you the outcome.

 

Hello, hello. Another point, I'll take that thank you. That makes it 3pts for José Nunes at Vitória Setúbal. Impressive, I know.

 

Could be worse… well, actually no. An incredibly terrible stint in the First Stage (finally) ends with a record of P8 W0 D3 L5. To no-one's surprise we are into the Relegation Round, where we'll meet Torreense, Caldas and Cova de Piedade. Same as before, bottom team gets relegated.

 

Will we stay up? Will I get sacked? Find out on the next instalment of this truly thrilling and in no way bad save.

 

Next Update: End of Relegation Round (or job centre 😬).

 

#

Year(s)

Team

Nat.

Record

Honours

Pro/Rel

Departure Reason

01

2021–2022

Real

POR/3+4

W: 13 D: 3 L: 12

0

0/1

poached

02

2022–

Vitória Setúbal

POR/3

W: 0 D: 3 L: 5

0

0/0

 

TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522

Liga 3 Relegation Round, we meet again! One year on from suffering relegation with Real, could José Nunes this time avoid the drop and save Vitória Setúbal?

 

Three friendly wins in a row. Find a better exhibition manager, I'll wait.😎

 

Great start, lads! OK display, but a 1-0 loss nonetheless.

 

Another one! That Kenneth Kalunga is a problem, haven't checked but fairly sure he has scored against me every single time I've played his club(s).

 

Finally, a win! After ten matches in charge without a victory, the boss finally has his first competitive three points. Torreense actually hit back twice to 1-1 and to 2-2, but thankfully Tiago Rodrigues finally netted a winner.

 

 

Consecutive victories, out of nowhere. André Pedrosa with the clincher this time.

 

A loss, but we go into the final day 3pts off Caldas. They lose, we win = we stay up. Simple, I'd say.

Could we save ourselves right at the death?

 

,..no we couldn't, obviously. A late goal from Torreense should've been gutting, though was more the exact opposite in truth. Caldas lost their match too, so all we had to do was win.

 

…wait a minute, that looks familar.

 

Same run of match outcomes (LLWWLL) as with Real a year ago. Spooky coincidence! 😨

 

Speaking of Real, unfortunately they missed promotion after losing a play-off to Benfica (of Castelo Branco, not Lisbon). Sad times everywhere.

 

Two seasons, two clubs, two relegations. If that's not impressive I don't know what is.

The big question: Can we make it a hat-trick?

I look forward to leaving Vitória Setúbal in December 2023, joining a Liga 3 team and then relegating said Liga 3 team in the following May with a LLWWLL record in the Relegation Round. Let's go!

 

On a more serious note, though. What can I say? I'm consistent at least.😂

 

#

Year(s)

Team

Nat.

Record

Honours

Pro/Rel

Departure Reason

01

2021–2022

Real

POR/3+4

W: 13 D: 3 L: 12

0

0/1

poached

02

2022–

Vitória Setúbal

POR/3

W: 2 D: 3 L: 9

0

0/1

 

Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964

Oh no! Not ideal, dont tell me Real went on to win promotion…

TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522
By Dan 18 November 2021 - 12:22 PM UTC 

Oh no! Not ideal, dont tell me Real went on to win promotion…

 

Thankfully, or unfortunately depending on what way you wanna look at it, they didn't. Everyone's sad now, basically. 😆

TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522
By Dan 18 November 2021 - 12:22 PM UTC 

Oh no! Not ideal, dont tell me Real went on to win promotion…

 

Correction: Real did actually win promotion; I initially noticed they lost in a play-off and presumed that was that, but turns out it was a play-off between the promotion round winners to claim an outright champion so are promoted. Imma take credit for that! 😎 (not really)

 

 

 

I, unintentionally, took a long break from FM across the last week or so, but got back into the save on Saturday and flew through most of the season - therefore, no month-by-month updates, instead seasonal ones from now on probably. Full update incoming, but boy has it been an interesting 2023-24!

TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522

As noted previously, I've flown through 2023-24 so haven't be collecting screenshots for monthly updates. Fear not, seasonal updates it shall be. In this one, and after relegation (back-to-back for me and my manager, awkwardly), it was our goal to regain Vitória Setúbal's Liga 3 status. Could we? Let's find out.

 

As with Real, I had a complete overhaul of the squad to root out the deadwood. 19 players departed, some youth but most of which were first-team players in one shape or another.

 

6 players came in, including goalkeeper Ricardo Ribeiro who needed signing (free from Benfica) after the board forcibly sold our best goalkeeper (and arguably best player, period) to Alverca for £425k. Great offer no doubt, but it was literally days before the first game of the season. Twats… I almost walked, but thankfully Ribeiro was available.

After struggling in Liga 3 with a mixture of formations last season, I made a drastic change for this new season and switched to a 3-5-2 (or 5-3-1-1, if you will). I very rarely play three at the back, but felt it would suit the players we had and the players that were available in the market.

Promotion stage football secured, but literally by the skin of our teeth. We were 1-0 down on the ‘final day’ to Juventude and, due to other results, were facing the possibility of missing the critically needed promotion round. Thankfully, and unexpectedly to me, we turned it around with 77th-minute and 91st-minute goals. Kamo-Kamo, who has been outstanding all season, saved our bacon!

 

So, promotion stage. Could we get the club back into the third tier?

I mean… right?

 

Flashback to one of my previous posts:

I look forward to leaving Vitória Setúbal in December 2023, joining a Liga 3 team and then relegating said Liga 3 team in the following May with a LLWWLL record in the Relegation Round. Let's go!”

 

I was obviously joking when I said that, yet I… kinda wasn't that far off, was I?

tangent incoming, apologies!

On this occasion, it's even more crazy as Rio Ave are a Liga Portugal 2 team - two steps above Vitória Setúbal's level. Who am I to judge the game's realism, I'm quick to knock FM when it's unrealistic against me so I guess I should be happy when it works in my favour.😂

 

Similarly as with Real, I received a job interview out of nowhere - no media speculation (that I saw; and I do press conferences) or anything. I was very surprised to see that they are a second tier team, but simply had to attend the interview as it's a logical thing for a manager to do. Didn't expect to get a job offer, yet it followed very quickly after the interview. You'd think back-to-back relegations would've turned them off…

 

Perhaps I'm being harsh on the game when I say it's unrealistic. Let's look at it from a different viewpoint: I'm a young manager, switched relatively seamlessly to a new style of play and, this one I like, we did face Rio Ave in the cup months back and it took extra time and a red card for them to beat us - perhaps they were impressed with my management then? I'm probably giving the game too much credit, I doubt that sorta thinking is in the game, but hey I'm gonna run with it.

 

Anyway, back with my head in the game, what a great move for José Nunes! From the Campeonato de Portugal to Liga Portugal 2, some story! Now, and this is gonna be funny, here's how Rio Ave currently stand.

 

3pts above the relegation zone, what could possibly go wrong? Three straight relegations, despite two ‘poachings’ by higher up clubs, would be hilarious I must say. I'm begging it doesn't happen, needless to add. Elsewhere, here are the squad, squad dynamics, board vision.

 

Rio Ave be in good form, off two straight victories and only one loss in five games… step forward, Mr. Nunes etc.

Marítimo (3rd) is a tricky first game away, table toppers Chaves up soon too.

 

Interesting times, again.

 

Next Update: End of the 2023-24.

 

#

Year(s)

Team

Nat.

Record

Honours

Pro/Rel

Departure Reason

01

2021–2022

Real

POR/3+4

W: 13 D: 3 L: 12

0

0/1

poached

02

2022–2024

Vitória Setúbal

POR/3

W: 12 D: 3 L: 15

0

0/1

poached

03

2024–

Rio Ave

POR/2

W: 0 D: 0 L: 0

0

0/0

-

TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522

Rio Ave, of Liga Portugal 2, were under new management. José Nunes was given the task of making sure the club avoided relegation to Liga 3. Seven matches left to play and three points clear of the relegation zone, surely Mr. Nunes wouldn't suffer a third straight relegation in literally three seasons as a manager?

 

We. Actually. Didn't. Get. Relegated. I have no idea how, but we actually did it. Unreal scenes, ladies and gentlemen!

Mr. Nunes literally won ONE MATCH in charge, and that was on the last day against fifth place Feirense; even madder, it was a late penalty via Júnior Franco.

Varzim and Oliveirense both lost, the latter to Covilhã who were on 26pts so us winning kept us away from them. Against all odds, it was the perfect outcome. In our match, Feirense went down to ten men early in the second half, so that helped hugely. Pre-match, as we sat in the relegation play-off spot, I was fully expecting relegation.

 

Next Update: Not in Liga 3, incredibly. TBD; probably end of 2024-25.

 

#

Year(s)

Team

Nat.

Record

Honours

Pro/Rel

Departure Reason

01

2021–2022

Real

POR/3+4

W: 13 D: 3 L: 12

0

0/1

poached

02

2022–2024

Vitória Setúbal

POR/3

W: 12 D: 3 L: 15

0

0/1

poached

03

2024–

Rio Ave

POR/2

W: 1 D: 2 L: 4

0

0/0

-

bigmattb28
10 years ago
3 days ago
1,474
Premium

Just read through this again, not been online for a few days. As if you managed to not get relegated a third time, you need a medal for that!! Let's hop you can get Rio Ave to the dizzy heights of the top of the league this coming season

TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522
By bigmattb28 14 December 2021 - 05:57 AM UTC 

Just read through this again, not been online for a few days. As if you managed to not get relegated a third time, you need a medal for that!! Let's hop you can get Rio Ave to the dizzy heights of the top of the league this coming season

 

😆

I'm intrigued to see how it goes with Rio Ave, who should (!) be a decent club to build with.

 

 

Side-note: Still very much planning on continuing this save. I've barely played the game itself across the last number of weeks, but unintentionally so - I need to wiggle some time out for it.

bigmattb28
10 years ago
3 days ago
1,474
Premium
By Skinner_ 14 December 2021 - 12:56 PM UTC 

😆

I'm intrigued to see how it goes with Rio Ave, who should (!) be a decent club to build with.

 

 

Side-note: Still very much planning on continuing this save. I've barely played the game itself across the last number of weeks, but unintentionally so - I need to wiggle some time out for it.

 

Looking forward to seeing how it goes / is going mate. I've hardly played the game much recently too.

 

TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522
By bigmattb28 28 December 2021 - 05:42 AM UTC 

Looking forward to seeing how it goes / is going mate. I've hardly played the game much recently too.

 

I've not found the time, despite wanting to, yet, but I'm planning to get back playing the game by the end of next week; so hopefully - progress depending - I'll get new posts up soon.

bigmattb28
10 years ago
3 days ago
1,474
Premium

I know the feeling mate!

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