On a quest to be the best. [FM15]

That's an excellent league run in mate well done on the league win!

Well done mate, easy in the end!

Whats been your favorite club to manage at to date? Whos the best player in the game so far? Which country can't you wait to get to manage in?

Couldn't believe our excellent run in the second half of the campaign ChrissBurns1993, it was just remarkable.

Okay Dan, thanks for the trio of questions and I'm going to write them down in order:

1) It has to be the over five year spell at Vasas, it was the first time I had managed in Hungary since last years game when I just couldn't get 'started' and ultimately lost my job at Honved but yeah, I really enjoyed my spell at Vasas and if this career wasn't about just winning trophies then I'd probably still be there.
2) Who is the best player currently in the world? It's (apparently) Alassane Diedhiou who has spent his entire playing career at Italian side Inter Milan but he's surprisingly not won a league title, time is running out . . .
3) That's a tough one, er, I'm going to say Germany mainly because I've unfinished business after my 'disgraceful' sacking from Paderborn.


Following our league success last season in the First Division, we're back in the top flight after a four year absence and I don't know what to expect this season as I'm unsure on what the boards expectations are going to be but I just hope they aren't too unrealistic as it's going to be a tough campaign ahead regardless for Odd.


With the seasonal expectations announced for the forthcoming season, the clubs board expect a minimum mid-table finish and because their only sixteen teams in the league (or so I believe) then a mid-table finish is achievable and we've received a transfer budget of one point four million and whether that'll be spent remains to be seen.


I'm delighted to announce that I have penned a two year contract extension in the close season that'll now see my contract expire at the end of December in the year twenty fifty one and I'd love to see that contract out with hopefully Norway completed but it isn't going to be an easy task, I still had over one year left on my current deal but I wanted to commit. I'm sixty one years old (in the game, not real life, ha) and I'm still going strong.


I managed to bring in five players this summer, with only Trond Kirkaas being the only non-permanent signing as he joined on a season loan from Stabaek. Rasmus Henriksen and Adrian Stoicescu are two fantastic players who both agreed pre-contracts before signing while Nikolai Andreassen should be nothing more than a back-up left winger while our last signing was another left winger as English man Jack Rochester joined on a free and will be first choice.

And he'll be first choice because Junior Okoronkwo has departed to join fellow top flight side Rosenborg for four million pound and I felt 'powerless' as he wanted to leave the club and couldn't risk team morale suffering, Mateo Preciado was our other cash sale as he cost Gefle half a million pound while Oystein Werven was released and both Sami Agrebi and Bjornar Berge agreed pre-contracts at both Libourne and Sandnes respectively.


It turned out to be a busy but successful pre season friendly campaign as we ended up playing nine games and winning seven of those - losing to Baltika and drawing (despite dominating) with BATE but most of the opposition weren't the strongest and the league campaign is going to be a lot tougher.

Ambitious board, but thats what we like!

Same here Dan, it's going to be a tough season I'm sure.


Following a successful pre season on the pitch it was time for the league season to begin and I was under no illusions that this was going to be a tough season for the club and with the club predicted to finish twelfth, I believe that's achievable but it's also going to be tough.

Norwegian Cup:


Our chances in the Norwegian Cup ended in the fourth round following an extra time defeat at home to Rosenborg which I was gutted about - in the previous three rounds we beat Notodden, Tynset and Lyn all away from home before the exit, we'll win this competition one season or so I hope.

League - Premier Division:


Wow, as expected this has been a tough season for the club so far as we've only recorded four wins from our opening sixteen games and drew five games as well. The team got off to a horrible start, conceding eighteen goals in the opening four games, picking up one point but we've somewhat recovered and I'm hoping we can have a better second half and push away from the danger zone.

I'm hoping that single goal win away to KIL/Hemne can be the turning point . . .


Anyone confident we can win the league as we're only eleven points behind the leaders Korsvoll? Ha. It's been a tough return (as expected I suppose) to the top flight of Norwegian football but I'm just pleased we find ourselves out of the relegation/play-off spots but it's tight as I'm only five points ahead of bottom club Kristiansund who did beat us four one a few weeks ago. I should be confident but I'm not that we'll survive this season.

Looking good for survival matey, really expect you to do it now!

It's going to be tough Dan but doable but we need to find some luck and/or consistency in the final fourteen league games if we're to achieve survival but I'd be lying if I said I was confident.


This season has been a struggle and perhaps that's been expected but now we head into the final fourteen league games with no cup distractions (but I think everyone else near the bottom have cup games, I'm not sure), I'm not confident we will survive this season but we'll certainly fight till the very end and then, well, who knows what'll happen,

League - Premier Division:


Just four wins came in the final fourteen league games as we had a dreadful second half to the season in which we still failed to find consistency and also failed to keep a single clean sheet which was slightly annoying. The team also drew four times before losing the other six games - our four wins came against Sarpsborg, Molde, Stabaek and Kristiansund.

And now the question is, did we end up surviving against all the odds?


Yes we did, an unbelievable achievement for a team who I thought were destined for the drop as we just failed to find form in the second period but somehow we ended the season in twelfth place, a remarkable achievement and thanks to both Lillestrom and Molde failing to win on the final day while we lost five two away to Fredrikstad.

Well done on survival mate! Superb work!

Come the year 2048 you've now claimed 48 trophies! On my game in 2048 I had 46 trophies!

It's the proudest I've felt while playing Football Manager because I thought we would have been getting relegated Dan due to our poor form. As for the trophy count well, I'm hoping I can add two more (that are required to conclude Norway) come the end of the 2050 season.


After avoiding relegation at Odd last season, which I considered the great escape as I thought we were destined for the drop due to inconsistency, as soon as a certain job vacancy became available I decided that my time at Odd was coming to an end at the end of the league season providing I was offered the job, which in the end I was.


I'm pleased to announce that after a much anciapated wait, I have officially been named as the new manager of Fredrikstad, penning a three-year deal at Fredrikstad Stadium but I'm hoping that we'll only need the one year to win the two remaining trophies in Norway before I can officially leave but we'll see.

Before the 2049 season officially concluded, I had to deal with two Europa League group games.

Europa League:


When I took charge the team had two Europa League games remaining and we managed to win them both as we beat Middlesbrough two one at home before easing to a three goal to nil win away to a Young Boys side who sacked their manager afterwards.


And we will be remaining in the Europa League next season after qualifying as group winners which surprised me as we had a goal difference of +1 as Middlesbrough finished runners-up, we'll play PAOK in the first knock-out round and that's a winnable tie for sure.

PAOK are beatable, but you'd imagine someone tougher will be waiting after them.

Indeed they are bmg033 and I just hope we'll be able to progress, if not then it'll be a massive disappointment


I have officially arrived at Fredrikstad who ended up having a disappointing season last year, finishing down in fifth place and thus not qualifying for European competition (they still remain in Europe from the previous campaign, that make sense? Good) and they're favourites to win the league and also the Norwegian Cup so the pressure is on.


Due to the lack of Norwegian's on the books I needed to delve into the transfer market and sign some, six ended up arriving including three from the previous employers Odd as Andor Reinhardsen, Kim Andre Nordseth and Jorgen Zachariassen all joined while Bengt Olsen came from Gjovik-Lyn, Erik Revhol arrived from Korsvoll and Jan Age Blindheim joined from First Division side Valerenga.

The major departure this summer was Argentine centre back Guido Chivilo who joined French side Monaco for £30m while winger Jean-Claude N'Goma cost Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow for £8.5m while Andre Salomonsson, Ilias Karvounidis (loan), Chrisoph Wengerek and Santos also departed.


The clubs assistant manager ended up arranging a crazy fourteen pre season friendly games which I thought was mental but the majority of them was against "rubbish" opposition who we expected to beat and did, bar the game against Santa Claus. The side lost to both Dinamo Zagreb and Dinamo Moscow. The league season is going to be difficult but it's a trophy we are expected to win.

Year 2050... Sick patience, Shedender.

Cheers for the comment MadeiraOliveira, I was determined (same as Dan) to have one career on this years Football Manager game and so I'm pleased that I've stuck to that promise.


The first part of the twenty fifty season has been concluded and it's been a mixed season to date but that's fine because no season can be perfect, it's quite impossible but we're still remain in promising positions in the two domestic competitions and I'd love to win both of them so I can get out of Norway but I know it'll be tough.

Europa League:


Yeah that's quite embarrassing because I thought PAOK were beatable but unfortunately our run in the Europa League ended in the first knockout round against the Greeks as we lost both legs. The first leg ended five two in a game that saw us surrender a two goal lead while we lost three two at home and crashed out eight four on aggregate.

Norwegian Cup:


But I'm pleased that we remain in the Norwegian Cup and will face fellow top flight side KIL/Hemne in the quarter finals and with home advantage, I expect to progress to the semis. In the previous three rounds we beat Fana, Tonsberg and Stabaek away from home and second tier side Bodo/Glimt at home.

League - Premier Division:


I'm a little frustrated that the league form has been inconsistent at times and we also got off to a dreadful start in the league, picking up only two points from a possible twelve - not ideal for the league favourites but we've recovered and only lost one more game. If we fail to win the league then the draws are going to cost us and we've drew six times thus far and won seven times including a four nil win at home to my former employers Odd.


We will head into the final fourteen league games lying in second place and seven points behind Viking and I've to remain confident that we can end up champions but know it's going to be difficult. We have bagged thirty five goals in our sixteen games and conceded twenty five times and more goals I hope will follow in the second half of the campaign.

Europa League isn't a biggy in this league anyway! But not bad in the league and cup, in competition for them both thats for sure

30M for a player in Norway is just insane! That's probably more than half of what the other squds are worth in total.

Good start with Fredrikstad!

Oh I realise the Europa League isn't important but I really thought we could have progressed against PAOK Dan but it just wasn't to be. The annoying thing about the league and cup is the board expect us to win both so the pressure is on.

It was a mental amount of money that's for sure and I couldn't really turn it down itchycoo, he was rated at four and a half stars. Cheers.


The second half of the season is upon us and the pressure remains intact as we're still competing in both domestic competitions and it's the two domestic competitions that the board want and I feel I need to deliver at least one of them, preferable the "big one" or risk getting the chop at the end of the season.

Norwegian Cup:


Success. We may have needed extra time in the final and right back Henrique's first goal of the season to win it, but I'm 'over the moon' to have chalked off the Norwegian Cup in what turned out to be a pretty even game against Viking. We beat fellow top tier teams KIL/Hemne and Rosenborg in the quarter finals and semi finals before winning the competition.


League - Premier Division:


Do you want some final day drama? The race for the Premier Division title went to the final day with SIX teams in with a shout of winning the league, yes that's how tight it was. We lost five times in the second period of the season but was a single goal win, against already relegated Sogndal enough for us to be crowned champions?


It was but my word it was very tight in the end as we finished only two points ahead of Haugesund who lost on the final day, as did KIL/Hemne but those results didn't make a difference as all we had to do was win our game and we'd be champions and that's what we done. Former employers Odd were relegated and that's a shame but the guy that took over them was a prat.


Breaking news:


I've been at the club for just under one year but after doing the double it made sense to tender my resignation immediately at Fredrikstad and now I'm taking a deserved break from football management . . . until a job that I really want becomes available but that might not be until the summer but that's grand.

Not surprised to see you win the double yet again

Top work here fella. Looking forward to seeing the next challenge.

Got lucky in the end Dan, but at least it means I don't need to return to Norway and their stupid "fourteen registered Norwegians" rule.

Cheers for the comment Cymro, I'm determined to complete all the countries I've loaded before loading up more so that leaves Scotland, Switzerland and Germany still to complete.


After my resignation was "reluctantly" accepted by the Fredrikstad board I decided to take a break from football management until the end of the current season before looking for work once again and now I felt it was time for a return and it's a job that I'm hoping will see finally complete Scotland once and for all.


I have been appointed the new manager of East Stirlingshire after they parted company with their previous manager following relegation from the Championship, I've agreed a three year deal but I'm hoping it'll be done within a year but I know it isn't going to be easy.


This is just conformation that they've been relegated from the Championship along with Alloa Athletic as both clubs finished seven points behind Dumbarton while Partick Thistle won promotion to the Premiership as league winners while Highland duo Ross County and Inverness failed in the play-off's.

Good luck in Scotland mate. This really is a great read, amazing how you've kept this going for so long? After you've finished in a country, do you remove the league? Just wondering as my laptop would be going extremely slow if not.

We both remove the leagues once completed Fola, as you said, the laptops would run stupidly slow if not!

Ah, I see. It's a shame really because it would be nice to look back at your previous clubs and see how they have done.

As Dan has already posted Fola, as soon as the leagues have been completed then they'll be removed for the main reason you have said at the end - if the nations/leagues weren't removed upon completion then our laptops would be slow . . . I've kept this going for so long because I'm determined to only have one career on this years game, at times it's been a struggle but rewarding nonetheless.


I have had a long enough break in football management and now the batteries have been 'recharged' and I'm raring to go in an attempt to finally conclude Scotland once and for all and with just League One needed, it shouldn't take me too long...or at least I hope not. The club are predicted to finish the season in second place, I'd presume behind St. Johnstone but I didn't check.


Only one player joined the club this summer as I wanted to keep the majority of the squad who suffered relegation from the Championship as I'd assume they'd be 'hungry' and looking for an instant return to the second tier - central defender Cammy McGowan joined on a season long loan from Premiership giants Rangers. The nine players who departed the club all left before I arrived and thus don't really care as I doubt they'd make much difference.


It was a short but mixed pre season campaign as we won fifty percent of our fixtures, both on the road as we beat feeder clubs East Kilbride Thistle four nil and Maryhill five two while we expectantly lost to both Premiership side Dundee and English Championship Hull City both at Ochilview Park but we didn't disgrace ourselves and that's what is important, well that and fitness.

We have reached the end of the calendar year in twenty fifty one and that means it's time for the mid-season update here at East Stirlingshire and the clubs board expect us to finish runners-up and secure the minimum of a play-off spot but of course it's going to be tough as in the lower leagues in Scotland anyone can beat anyone, it's unpredictable.

Challenge Cup:


Although this competition has been previously won and thus not important, I'm still a little disappointed to have crashed out on a penalty shoot-out against Championship side Airdrie as we had surrendered a 2-0 lead that had been given to us by Steven Black and Mark Buchan inside the opening twenty minutes.

League Cup:


Our run in this seasons League Cup ended in the third round as my former employers and Premiership side Rangers dumped us out of the competition, we didn't play too bad but their experience told in the end. We had beaten fellow league side Raith and Championship side Forfar in the previous two rounds. It's another competition that has previously been won.

Scottish Cup:


This is another competition that has been won when at Inverness if I remember correctly, but we still remain in the Scottish Cup and we'll face Premiership side Partick Thistle in the fourth round and although I'd love an upset, I can't see it happening. Queen's Park and Peterhead were beaten in the previous two rounds.

League - League One:


It's been a mixed first half of the league season and that's a little frustrating, especially when we had gotten off to a dream start, winning our opening five league games but then come the end of November and the end of December we have went seven league games without a win and that needs to change as quick as possible.

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control, I have been unable to post the league table but I believe we ended the calender year down in fourth place.

The end of the season is upon us and somehow I have remained in a job . . . for now after surviving I believe it was either two or three 'emergency board meetings' throughout the second half of the campaign, I blamed injuries, they said it wasn't good enough but somehow I survived but if I'm still at East Stirlingshire next season then I'd be surprised.

Scottish Cup:


Our run in the Scottish Cup ended in the fifth round following a defeat to Partick Thistle which frustrated me to an extent because when you score four goals against a Premiership team you should be allowed to progress but instead we conceded six. We have beaten Queen's Park and Peterhead in the previous two rounds.

League - League One:


Now this was an absolute horrific second half of the campaign in which we only won seven times but failed to find any sort of consistency, losing the other eleven times including the last four games of the season but yet in the two games against leaders Clyde we struck twelve goals (six in each game) and that's the frustrating part.


The horrific end of season form as ultimetialy cost us a place in the play-offs as East Stirlingshire finish the season in fifth place and I'm surprised I managed to survive the campaign when I did have three 'emergency board meetings' and players unhappy and 'demanding' to leave throughout the season, which was annoying me.


And this has to be the most expected news item of the campaign, I have been sacked as manager of East Stirlingshire and 'failure to win in the last match' was the reason for me being chopped but truth be told, I was always going to get the chop, this season ended as a complete write off and now I'll need to return to/remain in Scotland to try and get the League One trophy.

Following my sacking at East Stirlingshire, a sacking that was inevitable, I was out of work for around one month before a certain job in the third tier of German football became available, a job that I couldn't say no as it's one I've been wanting for the past while but wouldn't become available, they've been in the Third Division for around seven seasons and it's time for me to try and get them out of it.

So, who is the club?


This is just conformation that Wolfsburg sacked their previous manager Marcus Baumann after it was reported that the players had lost confidence in the manager and that was the reason for them terminating his contract, of course I applied and they offered me an interview, around four years after they first 'laughed me off' due to being in administration.


I'm thrilled that I've been able to 'wow' them and thus be offered the chance to manager Die Wolfe, I have penned a two year contract that should expire at the end of June 2053 and also received a transfer budget of £1.4m, which is quite incredible for a third tier side, whether I need to spend the budget or not remains to be seen.

Like I've said, this is a job I've wanted while they were remaining in the Third Division and I'd love this to be another 'long term' team, similar to my five year spell at Vasas, returning Wolfsburg to the elite of German football but it isn't going to be easy - I'm sure I'll be expected to win promotion to the second tier.

This is a job that I wanted a few years ago but because they were in administration they decided to 'laugh me off' and 'spit' on my application but now a good few years down the line they have offered me a job which I couldn't turn down, they've been in the third tier of German football for around seven seasons and it's up to me to bring them up to the Bundesliga, were they should be in my opinion.


I've brought in eight new faces this summer but I'm not sure how many will be first team regulars. I've spent money on Branislav Jovanovic, Saboor Paikar, Sasa Kostic and Ali Haidar while Omer Saglam, Jordan Pearce and Lee Kerr on free transfers, Muamer Hodzic joined on a free after agreeing a pre-contract from Karlsruhe.

Four players departed the club this summer and the one I'm annoyed about is Lothar Rudolph who had agreed a pre-contact with Augsburg before I arrived at the club - Axel Ansorge and Johannes Ememann both left when their contracts had expired (again before I became manager) and then Stefano Corradini went to Essen for one hundred and forty five thousand pounds.


I can't complain with how pre season went as we only lost one game - a three one defeat at home to English Premiership side Burnley - we won the other four games, beating Pogon at home while winning on our travels against Vorsfelde, Wormatia Worms and Gavorrano.

This season all determines on star striker Max Meyer, if he can score goals then we could have a good season.

It's time for my first mid-season update since arriving at Wolfsburg and it's been a great season to date for the club as things are looking quite good for a promotion push and I'm praying we won't mess things up. The club aren't competing in the German Cup this season but that's fine as it means I can concentrate on the league.

League - Third Division:


Wow. I can't complain with how the first part of the league season has went as we've been consistent throughout (minus those two defeats in which we didn't score), but the goals have been getting scored and we haven't been conceding too many either, just nineteen or so have been conceded while fifty four have been scored in twenty one games.


And this is how the league table reads after twenty one league games, as you can see, we are in complete control at the top, sitting fifteen points clear of second place Cottbus and already it's our league to surrender and I believe our next game is against the second placed side. The Second Division is the aim and so far things are looking good.

Incredible to see them in the third tier! Should be a great challenge and you've started well

I like that you have a Max Meyer too

Just caught up with this. I had to read some of that twice, didn't expect to see Wolfsburg in division three!