In Pursuit Of The American Dream

That was shocking.

Tough choice about that decision but you need to move forward and hope for the best.

As you can see, Fuli are a side that in terms of wages, should be no-where near the bottom of the league. However, I am not too sure what went on here last Summer as this side is absolutely terrible. For the next two months I will have to use youth players in all of the defensive positions so we will see how it goes.

Happy days.

Transfer Window



We have made it to the transfer window meaning I can now replace all of my youth team crap with players who I think can really change this team's fortunes. I have gone back to Geylang and brought over the players who I really think can make a difference for me. It's a big step up for some of the lads in terms of quality and I hope they can grasp their opportunity. I have also managed to get one of the high earners off the books as Aaron Samuel has signed for fellow Chinese side Renhe on a free transfer. Not a clue how we managed to win three games to be honest, the squad on paper was unbelievably unbalanced.



I won't leave screenshots of the players who joined as it will take up too much space but people who have been reading this from the start will notice quite a few of the names there. Firstly, Zhou Habin was my captain for the Chinese Under 23 side when I was at the Asian Games. He is 33 years old now but his stats are still OK, he has 15 vision which is great for a playmaker role. Ozcan, Tay Wing Hong. Nishida, Lele and Teh Darren all join me from former side Geylang. Lele is already rated a star player for this league so I'm sure he will fit in well. Excited to see how Teh Darren steps up to this division as well. The transfer budget above is the money I have available AFTER these transfers. This is a club with some amazing finances.

26th September 2021 - Fuli Adventure Over So Soon



In one of the harshest decisions I have seen on the game I have been sacked as Fuli manager after only twenty league games at the club. For eight of those league matches I had to work with some of the worst players in the league but really felt like the transfer window had gone well and the club were on the up.



Above are the results after the transfer window with my new squad and to be fair, I was quite happy with how it was going. As I pretty much changed the whole starting XI I knew it would take some time for the players to adapt. Due to the rule where I could only use 5 foreigners and also the rule which meant I could only purchase 5 over 21 domestic players, it did mean some youth team players had to feature which I think has cost me. On paper, Fuli was a team which was in a transition phase and no longer had any worry of relegation. I was planning on bringing in some more players in the pre season and having the full pre-season for the players to settle in together.

My lads from Geylang actually settled in really well after quite a rough start. Teh Darren picked up his great goalscoring form from Singapore and managed five goals in five matches, unfortunately he picked up two 4 week injuries so couldn't feature as regularly as I would of liked. Lele played every game for me in CM and actually stood out, I can see a team in Europe taking a punt on him soon. Ozcan managed to score a goal and cause problems in LM and Tay Wing Hong looked good off the bench. Nishida hardly featured due to the foreigner rule.



I highly doubt that now I will be given a opportunity at a club as big as Fuli so will definitely have to take a step down in terms of quality. I will just have to hope that I find a new club whose finances are relatively OK as I will be looking to bring Teh Darren, Serkan Ozcan and Tay Wing Hong with me to my next club. I would love to bring Lele over but he is a key man in Fuli team and I don't think there is any chance the new manager will let him leave. I just need to hope that the other three are placed on the transfer list by the new manager. Unfortunately though. there is a rule in China where players can't play for two clubs in one year, meaning that if I was to stay in China and buy these players, they wouldn't able to play for me until the midway transfer point. Which knowing my luck is a gamble as I could bring them to the club on a pre-contract deal and I could of been sacked before they arrive.

All in all, very disappointed to have been sacked in a decision which I think was really harsh. I am looking to stay in China as I really feel like I have unfishied business here and of course I am still managing Senegal which I will update you guys on soon. The Senegal job has increased my reputation so I hope I can find a job which isn't too crap.

16th October 2021 - I AM STAYING IN CHINA

Three weeks on from my sacking at Fuli and I have managed to get myself a job in China. This is a much smaller club than Fuli and a club of a much lower quality but overall, I am very glad to be here. In terms of transfer and wage budget, they stand at £24k and £18k which in comparison to Fuli's is absolutely nothing. At Fuli, I had a player on £115k a week, no chance that would happen here.



The season has just finished and I am really happy to have managed to got a job so soon. This means I will have pre season at the club to really try and assemble a squad which will be my own and not the previous management team. Obviously with the transfer and wage budget being so low I will be unable to bring over Teh Darren, Tay Wing Hong and Serkan Ozcan from Fuli. They have all been placed in the reserve squad at Fuli so I am hoping they are placed on the transfer list when pre season begins.

They came 9th which is promising. They are side that are well and truly a mid table side and they do possess a bit of quality. I will be fully assessing the squad over the Summer and will update you guys before the new season starts with my new starting XI. I haven't even looked at the squad yet so I may not need to make any changes, who knows. I really want to put my own stamp on team so we will see how it goes.



F*ck Fuli.

My reputation has dropped from Continental to National after joining Qingdao. It's unfortunate as that means my dream move in America may still be a long, long way away.

I am hoping that in a few months time he will realise that he is not wanted my Fuli and he will come and join me here at Qingdao. He's a player who I cannot wait to manage again. Like I said before in this thread, if possible I want to take him with me throughout all of my clubs. He's proving hard to get at the moment but I hope this will change in a few months.



I always keep on eye on Geylang and despite me taking their best players off them last season, they have won the league again. Fair play to their new manager, I wish them all the best.



Senegal update coming up next.

13th November 2021 - Disaster



Despite our team being quality on paper, we have failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup after losing over two legs to minnows Angola.



We managed to win the group on goal difference, finishing just ahead of Morocco. We then faced Angola in which the winner would qualify for the World Cup. We did all of the hard work, winning away from home but then blew it in front of our own fans. I have somehow kept me job but I doubt I will be here much longer. On a personal point of view, managing at the World Cup would of done wonders to my reputation. We do not have a game for a while which will let me concentrate fully on my domestic job.

We have dropped to 35th in world after this disappointing run.

I made this guy who he is today. If it wasn't for me he would be playing in the second division of Singapore. He was my top goalscorer for every season I was at Geylang before I gave him his big money move to Fuli, a huge step up from Geylang. He then managed 5 goals for me last season and after being told he is no longer wanted at Fuli, he decides to f*ck me over.



Devastated.

Wait, I've played in China before, you can definitely get players much, much better than Darren. Quite surprised you've picked up so many of your ex-Geylang players, since the standard between Chinese and Singaporean football is massive tbh.

Get sacked and move 3 places up in the league, screw you Fuli!

25th February 2022

The new season is about to start as I embark on my first season as manager of Qingdao. I have no competitive games this year for Senegal and to be honest, I don't plan on booking any friendlies either. I am purely staying at Senegal to keep my reputation on a high for the time being.

Before the season starts, I just thought I'd give you a lowdown on my transfers and the key players in my squad. I have been reunited with one player from my time at Geylang, hope he can do the business here for us. As you know, I was unable to tempt Teh Darren to join me at Qingdao so it's his loss really. Can't see him featuring much at all for Fuli anyway. We are predicted to finish 9th this season, the same position as the club have finished the past two seasons. My highest earner at this club is £2k which is you compare that to my time at Fuli, it really is a fall from grace.



In terms of transfers in, I made a few signings and ones I am very happy with. I don't want to bombard this post with screenshots but I will post screenies of my key players shortly. Then, as time goes on I will post more screenshots if any player impresses me. I let quite a few players leave the club which actually gave me a lot of money to spend. There were quite a few high earners whose contracts either expired or were paid off and they gave me the money to bring in this new set of players.

He Chao is a CM (who I will screenshot below) who was a regular in the division below for many years. At 27 years old he is somewhat just coming into the peak of this career and he's a player I expect to do well. Alpha Thiao is a player I know from being Senegal boss. I actually found him in the Senegal under 19 team and I gave him a brief substitute appearance in my last Senegal game. To have a Senegalese national striker on the books is pleasing, even if that was down to me. On paper, I don't expect him to be with me long. Chris Anderson is a player well known in this thread after his successful time with me at Geylang. He is now 31 years old so doesn't have many years left in him. I am thinking of moving him back to a deep lying playmaker in CDM to try and extend his playing career. I'm interested to see how he adapts to this league as it is quite a step up from what he will be used to. Wang Shuai joins on loan from our parent side Corinthians. He actually started off his career at our youth team but moved on to Corinthians, he will be more of a back up player. Mustapa is a Chinese defender who will act as back up at RB/LB. Zhou Haibin joins me again after his short spell with me at Fuli, he was my captain at the Olympics at at 36 years old, offers us great experience in the middle of the park.

Key Players:



Will be my number one goalkeeper. He's been at the club since 2003 meaning he's now entering his 19th season at the club which is quite remarkable.



Good all round stats that I look for as a CB. He's only 25 so still has a lot of time to improve as well. There are quite a few good young CB's at this club but I am looking to send a few of them out on loan for this season.



Geylang legend and I player I know really well from my time there. As I said before, he now 31 so I will be looking to retrain him as a CDM and play his as a deep lying playmaker. Saying that, he still has some good stats for this side. I'm not expecting anywhere near the same impact he had for me at Geylang but I think he will do a job for me.



My highest transfer of the window and I player I am expecting big things from this season. His passing and long shots are what appealed to me and he comes here as probably my best midfielder at the club. He's 27 so pretty much in his peak, I hope he can handle the step up.



My Senegalese diamond. He's only young but has some raw potential that I feel can really benefit this club. His pace is an obvious asset as well as his finishing. Yes, he has a lot to work on but I hope he can be a big player for me. As manager of Senegal, I am going to play him regularly in the national side, really expecting big things from this lad in the future.

Qingdao have only been in this league two seasons so there reputation isn't really high enough to attract any sort of quality. My highest wage at the club is £2k a week so in terms of money, we need to win trophies to try and attract the big names. As you can see, Anderson a player who was good for me at Geylang, is pretty much on the same standard as the rest of the lads here. Still not given up hope on Teh Darren, it's purely sentimental but I think he can do the business over here in China.

Very harsh sacking, wasn't it? Hey, never mind. Qingdao is the way forward even though I would be lying if I said I wasn't missing Fuli's finances. They also have Teh Darren, Tay Wing Hong, Ozcan and Nishida rotting in their reserves. The bastards.

We have no wingers at the club so gone for this formation:



Really hope it pays off for me. I have never really played with no wingers, we will have to see how it goes. I have decided to keep Anderson as a CM for now, it will all depend on how he plays really. If he does end up playing poor, I will look to move him back to CDM. The starting XI above isn't my first starting XI, just the team that started my last friendly.

May 2022 - Ten Games Gone

A third of the season down and I am quite happy with how we have started. We were never going to be anywhere near the top of the table but we have played some really good football and sit just one place below our predicted finish. We are only 1 spot behind Fuli as well, it would be great finish above them. Their new manager has spent £9 million in the last transfer window, doesn't seem to be working out too well for him.



The transfer window in the Chinese league opens in 5 games time, exactly midway through the season. I will be looking to bring in a few players to sure up the squad but I don't need any drastic changes. As the gulf in finances and quality in this league is so large, I never really stand a chance against the top teams such as Guangzhou, Jiangsu, Changchun and Renhe. All of their transfer budgets and wages are out of this world compared to mine. My highest wage is £2k, all of their highest are probably around the £90k a week mark. The key this season is to ensure we get results from the teams around us. We've managed wins against Chengdu, Shandong and Yongchang, whilst getting a draw against Yiteng. If we pick up results from the teams around us then we definitely stand a chance to be competitive this season.

In terms of player performances, there have been a few bright sparks in our first ten matches. He Chao and Anderson seem to have settled into the squad well and neither of them managing to get on the scoresheet they've got a good few assists between them. Up top, club veteran Zhu Jianrong has surprisingly been my star man, getting himself amongst the goals whilst new signing Alpha Thiao has had to be content with a few substitute appearances here and there. Overall, the squad has played well and hopefully it can continue. We have about £150k to spend if we need to strengthen in the window but I am yet to decide on that. We face Fuli soon, f*ck you Fuli.

Transfer Window 2020 - Incomings

Firstly, I have signed a new deal at the club until the end of next season which is pleasing. I have also gained my Continental 'A' Licence but unfortunately the board can not afford to pay for my Continental Pro Licence. This means that that will all depend on us doing well and getting some money into the club or it may have to be a licence to gain in the future, most likely at another club.



I have made four signings this mid-season transfer window and they are ones that I am extremely happy about. We are building quite a strong team here now, we should be no-where near relegation if this team starts to gel. You may notice one signing there which I don't think many would of expected after my recent knock backs but I finally managed to persuade him to re-join me. Teh Darren has joined me at Qingdao after bagging 5 goals for me last season at Fuli. Before that, he was my top goalscorer at Geylang for the past 3 seasons. He's a player who I feel has improved massively due to my management and I hope he can grasp his chance here. At Fuli, he has been rotting in the reserves. He would probably be back in the Singaporean league if he wasn't for me so I hope he repays me with a few goals. Yes, it's a step up for him but I am confident.



Another player who has joined me thanks to my connections in Senegal. I was searching through the under 20 squad for players to promote to the senior side and this lad caught my eye. I didn't think I would be able to get him here at Qingdao so I am thankful I did, especially at such a low price. He has a lot of potential and I hope he can be a key player here for years to come. Due to the foreigner rule, he will not play every game but he will be a good rotation player for me. Hopefully will get a good re-sale value off him in the future, especially once I give him a chance at international level as well.



As you all know, my main aim is my manage New York Red Bulls in the MLS at some point within this career. This lad has been the captain at New York Red Bulls for the last seven seasons before leaving last Summer. He has not played a competitive game of football for a year but I am really glad to have been able to bring him in. He is a player with brilliant mental statistics and someone I expect to be a key feature of this squad for the rest of the season. I am counting on this guy's experience to help us stay in the league.



You all know this guy so I don't really think he needs much of an introduction. A player who I have grown extremely fond of due to my time at Geylang. He's only 24 so still has a good ten years or so and I would like them all to be with me. He's a natural goalscorer and I really hope he can handle the step up to this league. In Singapore, he shone but it was a poor league. Yes, he did OK at Fuli with me last season but he hasn't featured at all this season. Fingers crossed.



Finally, another player who I am sure you all notice. Taiyo Nishida was my captain at Geylang and a key part of my success with the club. I brought him along to Fuli with me but he was transfer listed when I left. Unfortunately due to the foreigner rule, he will probably find himself on the bench a lot this season but he's another leader to have around the squad. Since his time at Geylang, he has taken up Singaporean nationality and is now a regular for them. Nishida joins Teh Darren and Chris Anderson as my former Geylang players at the club.

1st August 2022 - 10 Matches To Go

In the league we have had a real mix of results, as you can see below.



Out of the last ten matches in the league we have lost 6 and won 4. Faye, McCarty, Teh and Nishida all joined the club after the win at Yongchang so have been at the club for the last 4 league matches. We have had some poor results like our most recent loss to Meizhou and also our loss to Hangzhou but I tell you what, we have had some great performances as well. We have somehow managed to beat the top two in the table and to be honest, we did it quite convincingly. Yes, we needed a last minute goal against Jiangsu but we battered them all match. It's crazy how we did so well in those matches but still manage to f*ck up and throw away results.

Overall, we have ten matches left. I strongly believe that we will stay in the league but it won't be certain. My aim this season is to finish 9th and hopefully come above Fuli, we will see.



We also had the Chinese FA Cup where we lost in the Quarter Finals to Beijing. We played really well and Teh Darren scored a great equaliser late on but new signing Dax McCarty was the man to f*ck up in the penalty shoot out which was annoying.

The results are ok.
But i don't see why you want all your old player because of the lack of abilities

October 2022 - Season Over

We managed to stay in the league but wow, we had such a terrible end to the season. Our poor results and performances have really pushed me to ensure this club has a massive reshuffle before the start of next season. I will be letting go of many older players and trying to focus around the younger lads within the squad. This could mean a goodbye to players such as Chris Anderson but we will see.



We lost our last seven matches of the season and to be honest, we didn't look like winning any of them. I am glad the season has now ended so I can make some big changes before the new season starts. T`he past three seasons, Qingdao have finished 9th so this season has been a failure in terms of improvement.



I need to gain 7 points from my first five matches next season or I am back at the job centre. I need to hope the fixtures are nice to me. I have played a few matches with Senegal for the African Cup Of Nations Qualifiers which I will update you with soon.



Next season needs to be better.

Season 2022 - Player Review



Goalkeepers


In goal, Liu Zhenli was my starting goalkeeper. Liu Zhenli has been at the club for his whole career, spanning a huge 23 seasons. At 39 years old, he has expressed his desire to leave the club at the end of the season. Liu Yipeng is no-where near good enough so a new GK is a priority.

Defenders


In defence, I will be making big changes. I have 2 defenders in the youth team who I feel are good enough to make the step up next season and feature in the first team. Yang Shuai is my captain and is a key player for me but the rest are all pretty average. I will be having a massive overhaul of my defence so expect to see a completely different back line next season. Taiyo Nishida will be put on the transfer list, I expect him to return to Singapore. I am looking to bring a much more youthful approach next season ahead of sticking with the older lads.

Midfielders


Midfield is another area which I will looking to change quite drastically. Chen Yongchao is a young up and coming CM who is probably already better than Zhou Haibin and Chris Anderson. I also have a loanee from Corinthians who for some reason is not on the list who will play a big part for me next season. This season, I didn't play with wingers, I may look to change that next season if I can find the right players. He Chao was my star midfielder but I may look to get rid of McCarty, Guowen, Anderson and Haibin before the new season begins.

Strikers


I was actually really happy with my strikers last season. Alpha Thiao is now a regular in my Senegal set up and ended the season as top goalscorer at the club in his first season in China. Teh Darren did really well since joining and bagged a goal on average every other game. I was unsure whether he would be able to make the step up but he seems the only one from my time at Geylang who has been capable of that. Khalil Folly is a good back up whereas Daniel Wilson is a 6ft 3' target man who gives us another option off the bench. Zhu Jianrong is another one who has been at the club his whole career and wants a new challenge so I will be letting him leave the club.

As I said before, the club will be getting a complete overhaul before the new seasons starts. I just need to hope I gan 7 points from the first 5 matches all it will all be worthless.

December 2022 - Qualification For African Cup Of Nations



After the disappointment on not qualifying for this year's World Cup, things are looking up as my youthful Senegal side have qualified for the African Cup Of Nations which takes place next month (January 2023). Since the our disappointing World Cup Qualifying campaign, I have dropped many of the players who let me down and have replaced them with some young and up and coming players. Alpha Thiao from my Qingdao side is a key member in the squad these days and he's doing well which is pleasing.





We have been drawn in a relatively tough group for the tournament but it's a group that I am confident we can do well in. I will give you a full lowdown of the 23 man squad I will pick shortly. I will once again be showing faith in Senegal's somewhat new generation of players and I hope that won't back fire on me.



Come on Senegal!

24th December 2022 - Early Christmas Present For Me



One of the main objectives when I started with career was to eventually manage and be successful within the MLS. My initial aim was to take over at New York Red Bulls but I have now been given a brilliant opportunity in America and one that I cannot wait to start. I am genuinely over the moon with this. After seven long seasons, it was all to make sure that I got a move to America and now I have got it. It is a massive shock that I have been given this opportunity. To be completely honest, I have had quite a mediocre managerial career to date. After the end of my stint at Qingdao I was not expecting this opportunity but once the job came available, I knew I had to apply. I think I owe a lot of this opportunity due to the fact that I am Senegal manager, but I have decided after the African Cup Of Nations, I will be leaving the post. I need to 100% concentrate on being a success here. The rules in the MLS are extremely complicated and to be honest, I will need to get a full lown down on these before I load up the game again.



Kansas City are a top club in America and are currently ranked 8th in terms on the rankings within the game. I need to get fully familiar with the rules and will give you all a lowdown on how the club has done over the previous seasons. I have had a quick look at the players currently at my disposal and I have some very talented players here. As many of you may of guessed, I will be looking at bringing Teh Darren over to the MLS with me. I will try and explain the MLS rules as I go along as I know it probably won't only be me who doesn't completely understand them.

The pursuit of the American Dream has got one step closer.

Well done Fola. Read through all of this last week.

Good luck in the States!

Yes here we go! Good lukc man!

November 2023 - Season Round Up

Sorry for not posting for a while but I have now finished my first season at Sporting Kansas City. I have not got FM16 yet and probably won't until the release date. I am enjoying this career so much that I doubt I will be purchasing FM16 until I get sick of this so I hope you will keep on reading. The MLS is a very confusing league with all of their rules but I think I got the grasp of it. I also should let you know that the day after I accepted the job at Sporting Kansas City, I resigned from Senegal. The job really helped boost my reputation but I didn't want any distractions now I am in the MLS. I will now be doing seasonly updates as I feel it is easier in this league.

TRANSFERS - In terms of transfers I brought in a few players who I have been successful with previously in my career. I was reunited with Serkan Ozcan after his release from former side Fuli. I was also reunited with Teh Darren after I forked out £300k to bring him to the club from my former side: Qingdao. He has now been with me at Geylang, Fuli, Quingdao and now here. Teh Darren was also appointed as my Captain shortly after he joined the club. My staff don't rate him but as you all know, I do.




SUPPORTERS SHIELD - We came 5th out of the 20 teams in the MLS containing the Western and Eastern Conferences combined. To be honest, if you do not come 1st in this, none of the other positions really matter.

WESTERN CONFERENCE + EASTERN CONFERENCE - We finished 3rd in our Conference which was really pleasing. Due to this, we gained qualification for the MLS Play Offs.

MLS Cup Play Offs
After making the MLS Cup Semi Final, we were convincingly beaten by Seattle which was a massive shame after doing so well to make it to this stage. The season hasn't finished yet but I will update you when the winner of the MLS Cup has been decided. Just a reminder, the winner of the MLS Cup will be the winner of the Eastern v Western Finals.



Here is a small and simple breakdown of the rules in the MLS for anybody who is interested:

I will give you all on overview of my squad in the next update.

November 2023 - Squad Review

Goalkeepers


MacMatch played every game for me and was a key player this season. I will be keeping him as my number 1 GK. Kassel wants to leave the club and will probably be let go.

Defenders


At the back my starting back 4 was usually: Delgado, Campbell, Jones, Yazzie. Overall, my defence are brilliant and will probably not be changed. Yazzie is only 17 year old and has been a key player for us. The other three have had a few bids in for them from European sides but for the time being, are staying here for now. Matt Besler is one of my designated players but will be leaving at the end of the season so we will have an extra spot there.

Midfielders


Summer signing Rafinha was the key man for me this season. There are a few players who have a bright future at this club especially Ben Serrano who played pretty much every game for us this season. Former Wolves winger Zeli Ismail had a great season as well for us on the left wing. Serkan Ozcan did really well as well since his move from Geylang. Again. he's another one who my staff don't rate but I will be sticking with him.

Attackers


I only played with one striker this season and that man was Teh Darren. Many people were shocked when I brought him to the club but was again, he has defied the odds and finished as our top goalscorer. Captain Fantastic. Mayron George is a designated player who I am looking to get rid of.

Key Players