[FM17] Climbing Jacob's Ladder (Part Deux)

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 2



First point on the board, yet it probably should have been more. Kabura didn't offer the same oomph effect this time around, but did come close to breaking the deadlock but the keepers flapping body denied him. Perhaps against the run of play we fell behind, Tarasevich pulled way out of position to put pressure on the rest of the defence, thus allowing Vasiliauskas an open invitation for a 1-0 HT lead. Red card for Scurtu softened Utenis up before we eventually drew level. Another impact sub with Edgaras Marcinkevicius replacing Kabura on 75 minutes and with his first touches of the game shot home from a corner. Edgaras almost won the game for us too, heading narrowly wide with five minutes left. Steady start to life here.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 3



Opted for a more defensive 4-4-2 approach and it worked to a tee, grinding out a first win against champions Atlantas. Pavlyukovich and Kabura both had blocked shots at one end, while Atlantas spurned their best chance when Cortinovis' fast breakaway - the finish was not up to par. Chiorescu nearly came to the rescue with a free-kick, though the upright had other ideas. Ten minutes left and the ref pointed to the spot, leaving responsibility in the hands of our right back Poskus and had no jitters to confidently put it away.





Newton's third law in effect again. Losing our only right back, plus our best left winger for the reunion against Suduva after the international break.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 4



Yep, think I've found a system to complement our style. Well drilled defensive performance was half the job (even played a 17 year old left back on the right), the other was creating goals - both executed finely to demolish my former club. Pavlyukovich chimed in with his first goal in speedy fashion and setting the tone for the game. Midway through the half and we were 2-0 up, awarded a pen in consecutive games, McParland took the duties and slotted his first goal for his new club to light up my face. A frantic first half ended with Zutautas shooting long onto the crossbar to avoid holding a three goal lead at the break. Second half was just how I remembered Suduva; great going forward, intimidating attacking press, absolutely useless at finishing. With Turbic seeing a straight red it was job done, Chiorescu got in on the action in injury time for a rather smug mental victory over the enemy.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Steadying ourselves nicely in the league with a lot of positives to take away from the month, despite the opening defeat. Tightened our defence and it's helped us to two wins on the bounce. Kabura beginning life well, just needs more consistency.

LEAGUE TABLE



The Trakai defeat doesn't seem so bad after all, they lead the way with us chasing behind them in second, level on points with Zalgiris. Poor start for champions Atlantas, picking up only one win and losing three.

APRIL 2042 SCHEDULE



Busy April in store with six games, two of them against local opposition. Back to back home games with Zalgiris and Trakai will offer a strong test before the two away days.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 5



ez pz. Local derby brewed up one way traffic for us, thanks to a catalogue of errors from the visitors. Zukauskas was gifted the credit of an opening goal thanks to a wayward defensive header landing straight into his path. Kabura smashed in a second thanks to a beautifully weighted pass by Zutautas before another clumsy defensive mix up allowed Marcinkevicius to ram into an empty net for complete control of the game. Unbeaten in four with three consecutive wins and clean sheets, our system is adding up nicely.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 6



The second local affair ended in the same fashion. The defensive strategy armoured every move ZK came up with, combined with Arnas Zukauskas' commanding performance on the right wing. He assisted all three goals, Kabura converting twice while Chiorescu backed it up for a third 3-0 win on the trot. Elastic football from our boys.

Two absentees for a big clash with Zalgiris. Sarkisyan bruising easily it seems.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 7



A respectable draw against the strongest team in the division. Zukauskas on form again, whipping in a delicious cross to Pavlyukovich for his second goal of the season and handing us a rather surprising lead. Zalgiris were on shaky form, winless in three, but Entonio Rrapaj secured them an equaliser from a corner to make it game on. Kabura came closest to a winner, narrowly poking wide as he ran into the area to end it in a cagey draw.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 8



Moments away from handing revenge to Trakai, but denied by that man again Dominykas Zutautas. We felt we had done enough with a deflected Chiorescu shot on the lead up to the end, but a direct gameplan worked with the clock ticking. Zutautas was quiet for the most part, until that one moment cost us three points. On the bright side it stretched our unbeaten run to seven games and still looking hard to break down.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 9



Utenis upset the form book, inflicting us with a narrow defeat. Kabura completely off colour, missing two key chances in the first half to which we'd pay a price. That price came in the WORST possible time to concede, two minutes into first half injury time - Taavi Unt nodding in at the back stick from a corner to squeeze in front at HT. It completely took the wind out of our sails, looking awfully timid thereafter and almost conceded again with sloppy defending. Substandard display to end our run.

We're monumentally boned now. Down to one proper striker.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 10



Kabura's loss undoubtedly showed as we failed to devise any attacking threat, causing to lose back to back games. Safe to say it wasn't a classic but the one goal that counted came late in the game, Petravicius heading in with help from the crossbar to deflate a solid showing.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



It was going so well until the decline, now finding us four games without a win. The Kabura loss is huge and now leaves it in the hands of Pavlyukovich who only struck one this month. For continuity sakes, we seem to win, draw or lose by the same scoreline every two games. By that logic we should expect two wins coming up?

LEAGUE TABLE



Lost a lot of ground, especially to runaway leaders Trakai. A great fall to fifth now, though not too far from second but not too far from seventh either.

MAY 2042 SCHEDULE



May greets us with the return of Suduva, the two Kaunas clubs plus more tough match ups with Zalgiris and Trakai. Hoping for better fortune before the transfer window reopens.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 11



Not quite the bounceback I wanted, but at least it wasn't a defeat to former side. A rare marking error from McParland allowed Slovakian striker Tomas Cicman to get goal side of him and finish off comfortably from close range. The central midfield exploitation was the formula to chalk up the equaliser; Lukas Zutautas and Ştefan Chiorescu magnetised the Suduva line to be drawn out, leading to a killer pass into Pavlyukovich for a well worked equaliser. It ended up finishing that way with Suduva missing a key chance late on.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 12



At last something to savour, then again they're rock bottom. Pavel Pavlyukovich stepping up to the plate with a goal and an assist to Audrius Urbys to calmly see the game out on the right side of the scoreline. FBK Kaunas' day wasn't made any better with a red card but frankly they were never in it.



Seems that Urbys broke a goal drought in the process.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 13



Hacked off, we should have buried Zalgiris Kaunas six feet under. Gave the nod to 16 year old striker Marius Vasiliauskas to aid our striker crisis and almost lit the fuse immediately but devilishly unlucky the post got in the way of his shot. Lukas Zutautas doesn't score many and it continued that way as a low shot from outside the area shaved the post from a corner. The visitors were never in it and we'll rue these dropped points.



Making matters worse, in form Chiorescu is suspended for the tough game at Zalgiris coming up.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 14



Obliterated in a defensive mismatch with Zalgiris' terrifying attack. Pavlyukovich may have brought us some early thrills but soon became downhills. Rrapaj cancelled it out just four minutes later and not even ten minutes since being in front, we fell behind with a Seslija penalty. Matas Stesko rallied home a third for good measure to have us silenced by half time. Zalgiris were awarded another penalty straight into the second half but Raimondas Zukauskas came true this time to keep it out, but what goes up must come down and Lukas Zutautas saw red to kill any hope. Arnas Zukauskas' consolation didn't smooth over two more Zalgiris added to submit to their superiority.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 15



Going from bad to worse, cruelly denied something with two late Trakai goals against our ten men. Had no attacking threat on the game and resorted to guarding ourselves at least a point, even moreso when stand in midfielder Matulevicius saw red with consistent fouling. Trakai deserved their win and Igor Villerruss broke our resistance with five minutes left and it was only a matter of time before the floodgates burst open with Kancelskis applying the second. One win in our last nine games, should I be nervous?

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 16



Make it one win in ten, at least we looked a lot more vibrant without breaking through. Pavel Pavlyukovich came closest but was denied by Utenis keeper Armen Zaqaryan, while at the other end Utenis rattled the bar midway through the second half. It fizzled into nothing and with a break nearing, our momentum is really slowing down.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Worrying form, only picking up six points from a possible eighteen. Not too upset about the Zalgiris and Trakai results but Zalgiris Kaunas was a banker for us, and should have delivered something at home to Utenis too. Pavlyukovich is finding rhythm now to grab us some goals, but it seems he's the only one who can nowadays with Kabura's lengthy absence.

LEAGUE TABLE



You can well discount us from winning the league this season, falling like a stone and may even be out of the running for Europe too with a nine point gap to third place Atlantas. Trakai pleasantly surprising the league sitting safely top midway through the campaign. Imperative that we finish in the top six at the very minimum.

JUNE/JULY 2042 SCHEDULE



A less frantic few weeks as we enter a mid season break. First obstacle in the LFF taurė followed by key games at home to Atlantas and an away day to Suduva. Wins are necessary.

LFF TAURĖ

THIRD ROUND DRAW



I Lyga side Lietava summon us to their place to do battle.

LFF TAURĖ

THIRD ROUND



Making light work of Lietava. A special day for Pavel Pavlyukovich to mark his 50th goal for Stumbras, ploughing a shot into the top corner in a relatively controlled first half. Our wingers combined for the second as Marius Urba crossed in to be headed home by Marcinkevicius to book our place in the next round. Lietava could have gatecrashed when Stankevicius got lucky with a pot shot that Zukauskas couldn't get to, but going through the motions we saw it out.

FOURTH ROUND DRAW



Uh-oh. Not them again. Confused? Go back to the brief Suduva spell where they stunned us on penalties in the same competition.

The end of June and beginning of July greeted us with various injuries to throw curveballs before the league return.

TRANSFERS

IN



We were busy boys in the next transfer window; recruiting four new names, filling in voids where we really need substance.



A fifth was almost on the cards with Seslija getting headhunted to help our striker undersupply. Deal was nearing completion, especially since he was only on an amateur deal until Zalgiris stepped in with a renewed permacontract. Curses.



Alexandru Turdean - M(C) - unattached free agent

Could be a coup, especially with those stats at 23. Looks well rounded, even to the extent of a roaming playmaker if we're lucky. Technique and vision lit up my eyes along with his physicals, could complement Chiorescu (who has Romanian background) nicely in the middle. Took a chunk of the wage bill, but I think its shrewd business on my part.



Giorgi Abesadze - D(R) - unattached free agent

Someone whose blipped on my radar over the last few months and have officially pursued for his signature. Solves the right back shortage (despite having a player retrain there), strong teamwork and footballing brain still as a teenager, good strength to outmuscle those on the ball - all in a £600 p/w package. Ups the foreign quota a bit, but well worth it.



Adrian Burcă - ST(C) - free transfer from Chiajna

Work in progress is how I'd describe this purchase, a protégé shall I say. Needs a lot of work mentally, though with the right tutor he'll fit in like a puzzle piece. Tall enough to win headers and physically in great shape, but still requires upskilling to fully get into the side. The gaffer has a plan, don't worry.



Jurgen Hoxha - ST(C) - end of season loan from Zalgiris

And this is why Burcă won't exactly feature. Experienced striker from a strong side, but ebbing out of the selection - one man's trash is another's treasure. Should operate nicely in the front two 'poacher/advanced forward' amalgam, casting as the poacher with Pavlyukovich opposite. Destined to shine to get back into the game, here's hoping it'll be with us.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 17



Now that's what I call instant impact! Hoxha delivered the goods as we hoped he would, hammering home as half time approached while also at the crux of the second goal, moving into the left channel to gather space for Birskys who set up Pavlyukovich for the second. The scoreline perhaps flattered us, Atlantas pressurised but came with no punch. Zukauskas brought one decent save but that was about it. The winning feeling returns.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 18



Returning to our best, pushing Suduva aside and take the spoils. Marius Urba slammed in a wonderful free kick only five minutes in with Hoxha picking up where he left off, linking up with Pavlyukovich for the second. The Belorussian is in a rich vein of goalscoring form, whereas the league's top scorer Tomas Cicman showed the polar opposite. The Slovakian had a 'mare, missing twice from close range and failed to put anything impactful towards Zukauskas in goal. Back to back clean sheets and wins, loving life again.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Back in the green with three wins in succession. Pavlyukovich on fire currently, Hoxha injecting some extra life into the team since he's come in but the unsung stallion of the moment has to be Chiorescu with his commanding midfield presence. Top buy so far.

LEAGUE TABLE



The wins lift us back into European contention as we safely can look over our shoulders again. Alas it doesn't bring us any closer to Trakai, trailing by 15 points with the same amount of games to play. Could still push in for a top three?

AUGUST 2042 SCHEDULE



Back to another sardine packed August, starting with two crucial games to the local boys before a date with the LFF taurė. Both Zalgiris and Trakai make their way to our turf, fingers crossed we'll grab something and close off with Utenis away.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 19



Christ almighty...only us eh? Bottom side FBK Kaunas pulled the carpet right up from under us in what I can only describe as 12th man influence (i.e. the ref), dishing out 8 yellows and 1 influential red. It was our own fault for the opener with slack defending allowing on loan Rusetskiy in, however it was cleared up quickly with a superb passing play eventually put in for Pavlyukovich only four minutes later. Igor Petrauskas got into some hot water with his first half red, completely changing the spin axis of the game. The visitors took advantage of the extra man, Dambrauskas from range and a Petrauskas free effort handed them a much needed victory to avoid relegation while we floundered.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 20



Nervy, but snatched it at the death against our other Kaunas rivals. Good first half pressure gave way for Jurgen Hoxha to grab his second goal since his loan move from Zalgiris. Such a soft equaliser to concede straight after the restart, switching off completely as Slavickas finished from close range. We threw the kitchen sink trying to restore our advantage, Pavlyukovich giving their keeper a busy shift but not quite getting there. It was only until a corner as injury time approached that he thundered home a vicious effort to breathe a huge sigh of relief. Deserved result on balance of play, but almost not getting our way.

LFF TAURĖ

FOURTH ROUND



No banana skins here, Adrian Burcă showcasing his skills in a glistening full debut. A rare goal from Artem Tarasevich got us out of first gear, but we really revved up in the second half. Pavlyukovich and Burcă were like waves in motion, dancing gracefully together to both secure braces to complete a demolition job. Two goals and two assists for the Romanian, perhaps he'll be in the first team sooner rather than later.

QUARTER FINAL DRAW



Avoiding top division opposition and welcome FK Silas to our patch.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 21



Huge win to reel us back into top three contention. Giorgi Abesadze celebrated his first goal in a Stumbras outfit, sending Daniel Horvath the wrong way in a penalty won after McParland was bundled over in the area without complaint. Of course Zalgiris are one of those sides who don't lie down and Klimavicius punished us, shrugging off two or three defenders before driving a low effort away from Zukauskas' fingertips. The boys in green looked dangerous but it was the boys in blue who won the game, that man Burcă picking up where he left off to poke home what proved to be the winner. Despite Zalgiris' late pressure, we hang on to the three points.

Some bad news with Abesadze, ruled out of the cup match coming next.

LFF TAURĖ

QUARTER FINAL



Crashed and burned in extra time to hand us a shock exit from the cup. Silas made life very difficult for us despite Zukaukas firing us in front, but their star striker Dusan Vignjevic mugged us right off before netting in the corner for half time parity. Second half brought nothing but a disallowed goal for offside against Silas, but it was a prelude of what came after the 90. Robertas Beniusis was the jewel in the crown, finishing twice in five minutes before Vignjevic's second ruined us completely. Tarasevich added insult to injury with a clumsy red card to send us packing.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 22



Definitely flattered Trakai with that scoreline. A few fortunate efforts and they won the game, and that's not me being salty. That bastard Zutautas scored once more against us, Zukauskas failed to keep it out when he really should have. The second made possible by a series of deflections that landed at Jarmalavicius' feet to sweep into a gaping net. Nothing fortunate about the third - just our heads were down as Dominykas Urbys casually potted a third. Not the rosiest couple days on the back of that Silas defeat.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 23



At least we ended the month positively, recording a safe 2-0 win at Utenis. Jurgen Hoxha, the man of the hour with two classic poacher goals from crosses on either side. A rare start for Vahagn Sarkisyan and almost brought an impression, however a good effort presented to him ended up saved by their goalkeeper. Nevertheless, it's nice to get that winning feeling back.



THIS however was not okay, might be missing Pavy for some key matches.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



One of those 55/45 months I suppose. On the one hand we won four, but foolishly lost three. Hoxha and Burcă look to be inspired additions, helping the goals cascade again along with Pavlyukovich who is also impressing me of late. The cup exit is a bit gutting and thought we might have won something this season, but it lifts pressure off the series of league matches coming up.

LEAGUE TABLE



Slipped down to fifth again behind Suduva, but suddenly the table doesn't look so bad and lie within 11 points of top (unrealistic, but doable) and 7 points of second (certainly doable).



The Utenis win also made sure of a spot in the top six 'champions playoff'. No relegation this season to my relief.

SEPTEMBER 2042 SCHEDULE



A calmer month on the horizon, all winnable games and 'must wins' in an aim for Europe.



Another bit of good news...Kabura is nearing his return!

YOUTH INTAKE



Greeted with not quite the 'golden generation' of youth intakes but some keepers in there for sure...not the goalkeepers though, they're sh*t. Also a surprise to see a paddy in the list.

Dainius Marcinkevicius - AM(RLC) - youth intake



Somewhere we don't really have a lot of options is in the attacking midfield area, and this lad is versatile to play all across the board. Far too early to be shoehorned in but has ample time to improve. One of the more exciting ones.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 24



Exactly what the doctor ordered, the benefits of having a sturdy defence. Weathered storm Atlantas for the first half hour before taking a surprise lead when Chiorescu let fly into the top corner from 25 yards out. More weathering but Atlantas couldn't uproot anything, leading to us stealing another with Hoxha beautifully turned his markers inside out leaving clear blue water to calmly place his shot. Atlantas got the message and fired back immediately but time had run out to rescue any points. Crucial win.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 25



Man like Pavlyukovich. The brazen Belorussian gets us out of jail again with two late show stoppers, overturning Suduva's first half lead. Took a while to get our sea legs after Deividas Stesko caught us by surprise to leave Zukauskas rooted and have my former club in front. Almost got worse when Emilijus Cesnauskas put the ball in our net a second time, luckily for us he was offside. Incoming frags from Pavel; bailing us out first with a vicious strike that unforgivably richocheted off a defender and in, then came some classic off the ball movement had him perfectly placed for Birskys' floated through ball. Job done, Suduva continue to fall at our feet.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 26



Sighs and tuts, another set of dropped points at FBK Kaunas. Pavlyukovich won't get a better opportunity to score a one on one, goal spread wide open but instead fired straight at the keepers chest. It wasn't the best chance of the game, FBKK striker Valeriy Rusetskiy on loan from BATE denied by Zukauskas who turned it onto the post before getting hacked clear. These are the kind of games we need to capitalise on.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



A positive outcome this month with seven points from nine. Dogged determination goes a long way, both defensively and offensively as both wins illustrated.

LEAGUE TABLE



Climbing right back into the mix and now hyperfocused on a European placement as we near the conclusion of the regular season. Might just be too late to grab hold of Trakai's ankles. As long as we withstand Suduva, we should be in the clear.

OCTOBER 2042 SCHEDULE



Two games before disembarking to the Champions Playoff, two games to gain points and put us in the best possible position.



In other news, a new deal for me until the end of the season.

A LYGA

MATCHDAY 27



Destroyed our local adversaries yet again, gallivanting to a 4-0 half time lead. Pavel Pavlyukovich flaunting that 16 finishing with a first half hat-trick plus a Jurgen Hoxha header had us going like a freight train, especially since they were down to ten men for 69 minutes. Second half we eased off the gas, perhaps giving benevolence towards our visitors who pulled two back in between Romualdas Birskys' landmark first goal for the club. Professional(ish) display.



Made even better by a record attendance. Shame we couldn't convince 4 others to go.