Otis Boudreaux - Growing From An Unknown

As I start the game, I have one additional “unwritten rule” that I will not apply for any jobs until after 1 January. So now it is just a waiting game. 

After waiting until 1 January 2024, I expressed interest in a job in Cyprus and this was the reaction:

This was followed up with the much anticipated interview offer….

And here it is, the signed, sealed, and delivered contract. The team reports and updates will be coming up. But as an Amateur team, lots of options for sure.
 

Overall Organization Review

The organization is an amateur organization. There are U-21 and U-19 developmental squads.

Coaching Staff - Since it is an Amateur organization, none of the staff have a salary. I have hired the following staff:

• Coach
• Goalkeeping Coach
• General Manager
• Scout
• Physio
• U-19 Assistant Coach

Team Analysis - there is a mix of positions represented in the squad so I will be using a control-possession 4-2-3-1.

• Strikers - Solid 1st choice but then there is a drop-off. I will be digging into the players on amateur contracts
• AMR/AMC/AML - Right wing looks solid with good depth. There is also some good options in the center. But AML is very weak.
• MC - Mid-level talent here so will be another focus as we move forward
• Fullbacks - Right is good, left not so well. So another need
• Centerbacks - A great one, a weak one. So another targeted need.
• Goalie - Actually none on the senior squad. So this is obviously my biggest need.

Season So Far - End of January

When I took over Elia Lythrodonta was in 2nd place. There were only 4 games left in the season and league-leading Thoi had a solid 9-point lead. 

The first game of my career was an away match against Adonis Id. Elia started the match strongly and recorded 16 shots and maintained a 65% possession rate. We left Adonis as the 1-0 winners with AMC Nikos Chatzikonstani scoring on a screamer from 21 yards out in the 2nd minute. I would have preferred more goals, but starting out with a win is always a good thing.

There are only 3 games left in the regular season, Home against Elpida (3rd), a much-anticipated match at Thoi (1st) and finishing up with another home match against Frenaros (8th). We currently have a 3-point lead over Elpida. 

At the end of the regular season, the top 8 teams enter a playoff scenario. This lasts until 25 May. The top 3 teams will be promoted to the Triti Katigoria.

Focused Items

• Sign a first-team goalie
• Upgrade the Central Defenders
• Upgrade at AML

End of Regular Season - February

Games

With only 3 games I didnt have much more time to see how the team would play before the playoffs. But, surprisingly things went really well.

Elpida (H): W, 2-1. The game was not as close as the score indicated. 16-year old Nikos Chatzikonstani playing in the midfield is a real gem. He, not only pulls the strings on the pitch, but he also can seemingly score at will. He started out the scoring in the 14th minute. Striker Ryan Williams added to the tally in the 21st minute. Even though we had multiple shots on target and seemed to hit every piece of woodwork there is, we never were able to find the back of the net again. Elpida were able to pull one back in the 80th and I felt myself becoming more apprehensive with each highlight that they had the ball in. But we were able to hold them off and enjoyed the victory.

Thoi (A): W, 3-2. This is one I actually had us down to lose, or at best get a draw. I changed the tactic to be much more defensive and to rely on the counter-attack instead of focusing on our traditional possession game. It paid off as 22-year old midfielder Giannis Papadopoulos started off the scoring in the 3rd minute. I was really pleased with how we were able to withstand their onslaught. But they were able to break through our defense in the 36th minute to draw the game level going into the half. The second half was just back and forth with both sides almost finding the net, but luck seemed to have abandoned both sides. Then another 16-year old, Giorgos Charalabous, playing as our striker was able to find a crack in their defense in the 70th minute. But the 2-1 lead only lasted 7 minutes as Thoi were able to fire the ball into the net after a harsh tackle in the box sent Andreas Makris to the spot. With the 2-2 game starting to wind down, Charalabous once again was able to beat the defense and find the back of the net in the 82nd minute. I still cant believe we won this one. It was really a back and forth game and I would have been pleased with the draw, so the victory was a nice surprise.

Frenaros (H): W, 4-1. This game was never really in doubt. Charalabous scored a hat-trick (4,9, 54 minutes) and the other 16-year old Chatziknstanti scored the 4th in the 36th minute. We gave the vistors a concellation score in the 85th minute. The team is playing really well and I am pleased with how we handled these 3 games.

We now are entering the playoffs. The top 3 teams after this 14-game “2nd season” will be promoted. I am not going to think we can take the top spot, but I do feel we can get into one of those promotion spots.

Roster

Goalie: I was able to find one, well, the best of those available. I still am not pleased with him, but he is holding his own. This is still my top target.

The rest of the squad: I am bringing in everyone I can to go on trial with us so I can hopefully find some diamonds in the rough, so to speak. I am adding players to the roster (I have signed 9 players) but with us being an Amateur side I have some flexibility in who I bring in.

Plans Going Forward

My plans are to continue to bring in players and look for who I can find. Also, to finish the season strong and win promotion.

We are on a 12-game non-losing streak and even though those look nice, it seems to add even more pressure to win since no one wants to have that loss that costs us the streak. I know it will happen, but I still like seeing all of those victories.

One thing that is a change for me is not having the editor turned on. I didnt realize that I had gotten so used to the other information that we have access to. Im not concerned about changing any ratings or anything, just less info available.

I also had forgotten about what a challenge scouting is at these lowest levels with amateur-level staff. 

While I love winning (I mean, who doesnt!) I am concerned about us getting promoted. I havent really looked at the higher league so I am not sure what it looks like, as far as team quality. But being an amateur team against semi-professional ones is interesting for sure.

One thing that happened is that I put my favorite team as Bath City, which is really my favorite team. Well the manager got the sack and I was offered an interview. That is one thing I dont like about FM, getting interviews for positions that I am definitely not qualified for. But this one, I actually tried, but I didnt get the job. 

I think this amateur one is more realistic, a Sunday-league player with no coaching experience, yea, I needed to start at the bottom.

Min-Month Updates

Coach Course: The board has agreed to fund my first coaching badge. I was really nervous asking since we are in the midst of the promotion play-offs, but luckily they have agreed to do it.

Financial Status: We are in an okay position, but only have about $22,000 and I know we are going to need more to compete at the next level. So, on top of the football, this is a major concern for me.

Scouting Concerns: Right now, we have the scouting package to allow us to scout players in our league, the Cypriot Lower League. Sadly, the talent pool there is lacking, at best. I have been toying with the idea of increasing our scouting range, but the doubling on the monthly charge is something I just cant do right now. I am not sure if that will follow us if we get promoted. But right now, I am not sure about that added expense.

Additional note about the team performance: I would love to take credit for how well the team has been doing, but they were in 2nd place with only 4 games left in the regular season and on a 10-game unbeaten streak when I took the reins. So, in all honesty, I have not really done anything to help the team. I am just hoping to use it as a spring-board to a more lucrative offer somewhere.