International Save and Dual manage some club sides later.

Season 30 … hoping to unlock Value for money achievement…..Finally unlocked 8.7.48

Transfers … Man City trying to get Leigh for a club record fee £43m….he is now sulking ..a year ago he was relegated with West Ham and I have him in my England squad.

Leicester offer £50m for King.

Everton after reserve keeper for £8.75m..I demand more ( £20m plus add ons) they decide to pay.

Badec ( Keeper) .. Taken my A.Madrid for a club record £31m…. Replaced by Spurs wonder kid Harvey on loan.

Also gone are Abdo / Bell / Mason who were fringe players … Loanees from last season promoted.

I release 9 …3 go to Wigan and 2 to Ipswich.

In ..Yoshida ( Left winger from Saints) .. been using strikers as back up last season.

In ..Lee ( Centre Back cover from West Ham).

In ..D’Elia ..Free signing at DM.

Spent £15.5m … Received £62m

Earn £13.69m for Champions League Group Stage… more than a seasons match-day income.

Group is Celtic / FCP and PSV.

Matchday income shows why we need a bigger stadium ..Saints £118m …to…Dale £10.1m

Bookies rate us 100-1 …12th place expected.

With N.Ireland now available to manage in …  U23 Manager taken to Title dominating Crusaders as manager.

ENGLAND DUTY Sept 2047

Euro Qualifiers …2 easier fixtures so intend to blood some inexperienced squad members .

U21 Harvey(gk) in for injured Batten.  Genovese rested ..Evans called up to ensure English nationality.

King out Gardiner back.

Kazakstan(h) ( 123rd)… Win 4-1 . Watson ( 5/48) England (32) Tucker (86).   Evans debut as sub.

Georgia (a) ( 89th) … Win 6-1 .. Tucker(24) Gardiner (28) Skillen ( pen34) England (45+2) Williams(75) Evans first ever international goal (81).

Romania (40th)(a) .. Top 2 clash and despite Romania scoring their only 2 shots it’s an easy 4-2 win. 

Genovese(18) Skillen(45+2) Tucker(67/71).

N.Ireland (81st) (h) .. HT 1-0 Skillen(43) and it’s one way traffic… ends 1-0 …33 shots to nil .. disappointed.

Qualification complete.

Kazakhstan (121st) (a) ..Convince Petrovic to pick England over Serbia .. scores twice on his debut. Downes also hits two .. upto 50 England goals.   Win 6-0 ..King(19) Dunne(37) Downes(47/77) Petrovic (65/90)… Roch Dale have 6 players in the squad ( same as Saints) and 3 players scored 5/6 goals…Proud my domestic bias is working.

Georgia (88th) (h) ..Easy finish with a 5-0 win from 38 shots to 1.   Skillen (13) and Worrall ( 39/45/61/68) with the goals.

March 2048 ..2 low level friendlies….Saints withdraw 2 players.

(h) Liechtenstein( Rank 211)  … They lost 14-0 to Italy in their last match.  Genovese gets his 50th cap…misses a pen.

HT 7-0. FT 15-0 .   43 shots to 1.   ( Equals 15-0 vs Andorra 2046).

Downes (1/5/12) own goal (10) Worrall (17) Petrovic (25) King (43/80) Watson (47/68/70) Genovese (47)

Skillen (64/75 pen) Tucker (89). 

Biggest win 2022 ( 16-0 vs Bangladesh).

(h) San Marino ( 210) .. Skillen equals Harry Kane’s record of 6 goals in a game ( 3 of Skillen’s goals were penalties). Won 9-0.

Skillen ( 2/8/75 & pens 36/45+1/70)  England (45+3) Watson(82) Gardiner(89)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE .( Holders Villa).

DALES first ever match will be Home to CeltIC.

(H) Celtic … Goal down to former player Poncet .. 2-1 up at HT ( Leigh/Downes). Yoshida King/Owens complete a memorable 5-1 win.  Earn £2.42m prize money.

(A) FCP .. off the back of a thrashing at Spurs with 10 men … start like a rocket and 3-0 up in 10 mins.

Yoshida/Downes/ Cunningham…. Win 3-1.

(H) PSV .. After being outplayed by Saints in our Top 2 clash .. Win 5-1 ..Robinson hat trick / Byrne-Fitzpatrick and Kelly-McCammon.

(A) PSV … Lose to 19th placed Bournemouth …. Cunningham(38secs) .. Downes & Yoshida & Robinson extend lead after going 1-1 ( HT 4-1 up). King & Robinson complete a 6-1 win and qualification.

(A) Celtic .. off the back of blowing a 2 goal lead to draw at City .. rotate squad . Ends 1-1 after leading .£807k prize money.

(H) FCP … For once coming in off the back of a come from behind win vs relegation threatened / managerless Chelsea.

Again use squad …..FCP have a player called Baby … don’t take chances and lose 1-0.

All 5 English clubs through including Leicester (Qual by winning Europa for a 5th time).

1st Knock Out .. Juventus (a) … Go attacking for 1-0 up then defensive and counter attack to a 5-1 win

Yoshida (5/76) Byrne-Fitzpatrick (17) Downes(62) Robinson(78)

Leg 2 ..Juventus (h) … Rotate and defend …. HT 1-0 down . Cotton(58) levels. Late goals sees a 2-1 loss but go through agg 6-3.

Only 3 English teams left ..Rochdale / City and defending champions Villa.

QF .. Real Madrid (a) .. Just gone top of league but now a run of hard fixtures .. underdogs for this so go defensive… but a goal down after (31). hT 1-0 .. Aggreesive speech and go attacking as stats for shots are appalling…. Miss a penalty(69) and after a triple sub lose full back to injury and end with 10 men…soon after Real lost a player to a red card… nothing went right.

Lose 1-0.

Real Madrid (h) .. Injuries still there after Villa game … They are favourites .. their back 5 is valued at double our prices. I am going attacking from the off a d have nothing to lose.

HT 0-0 but are creating chances… 1-0 down after (61).. go Very attacking … Lose 1-0 to their only shot on target 2-0 agg.

Winners City 3 vs Villa 1…. Second win in last 5 years .(5th title since I started save).

CARABAO CUP ..DEFENDING OUR TROPHY… Main Keeper is cup tied so using Ramon (16 yrs old) vs Hull.

Round 3 (a) Hull ..Win 2-1 … Come from behind as Sandor (59/94) wins it with last kick of the game.

Revenge in Round 4 away at Spurs … Win 2-1 being more attacking than league game. U23 Keeper Kay now fit and played.

QF .. Resting players vs FCP works as win 1-0 vs fellow Champions league rivals ..Villa.  ( Robinson on 39 Mins).

SF … Wolves 

Other tie is Leeds vs Blackburn .. We are highest rated team left.

Rested players in FA Cup Tie so a fit squad.

Leg 1(a) …  Var denies early goal .. ends 0-0.

Leg 2 (h) … Off the back of a narrow home loss to Top 4 rivals Arsenal. 3 first team missing.

Downes (2/55) Byrne-Fitzpatrick (7) .. 2 up in 7 minutes and win easily 3-1.

FINAL … LEEDS … Follows 5-1 win in Turin….. A trophy would be nice in my pursuit of Sir Alex Ferguson who is still 920 points ahead of me in Nation Hall of Fame .( Winning is 58 points).

Attack for 30 mins then switch to defensive .. Yoshida(38) Downes(44) for HT 2-0

Byrne-Fitzpatrick (72) is on a purple patch from corners(8 in last 16 games) makes it 3-0 in front of 100,000 fans.

Robinson injured for Top 2 clash with Saints in a few days .. squad is tired.

Won with a reserve Keeper who is playing all domestic cup completions and has 10/12 games across 4 cup competitions .

January 2048

Transfers .. McDowall (dm) loan will not be extended … but they will sell Almeida (dm) for just £15m ... Who stat wise is younger and better🤷🏻‍♂️.

City offer a club record £58m for King …I reject it…he sulks… closely knit bunch comment placates him and a new contract.

Raid Championship Liverpool for their Portuguese full back Correia

FA CUP ( Holders Saints).

On the day Brighton & Man U meet in a cup SF … FM19 pits them together in round 3 . (3-1 United).

Round 3 away at Newcastle (ch) .. Almeida on as sub for debut ..Williams on a rare start scores twice , Sandro and Owens the back up wingers add the others in an easy 4-0 win.

Elsewhere Hull thrash City in an all Prem game and L1 Tranmere hold Chelsea. 

Round 4 ..Barnsley (ch) away again…Full rotation … 1-0 down b4 missing a penalty against 10 men. Finally level but concede immediately before a late equaliser FT 2-2. Mijailovic (75) Cotton (85).

Round 5 ..Forest (ch) (h)straight after Saints .. rotation needed … Defensive picked .. Williams (2) Suk(61) .. bring on Mead from U18’s for his debut. Williams (91) seals a 3-1 win.

Round 6 ..Spurs (a) ..4th meeting of the season … League Loss/Drawbut did win the Carabao clash.

HT 1-0 up Robinson (pen 30) ..hoping he changes mind about leaving after Saints unsettled him.

Pegged back after 62 mins … VAR denies Downes a late winner …extra time.

Change a midfielder for a striker with better penalty ability after 100 mins.( He later scores his pen).

Fails to work as Spurs win 4-3 on pens

Southampton 4 vs Arsenal 1 as they retain the trophy ( 2nd vs 3rd in Prem)…. Might just save the Saints managers job…. 2 days later he is sacked…later awarded manager of the month award.

PREMIER LEAGUE

30.1.48 … 2nd behind Southampton as I reach 300 games in charge of Rochdale…current win rate is 59% 

Overall 1884 games managed and 75% win rate.

26.2.48 .. Played Juventus and Leeds and now Saints in 7 days… down to 3rd behind Arsenal.

Bryne-Fitzpatrick makes 100th league appearance . 2 wingers injured.

Defensive for home encounter … HT 0-0 but outplayed. Sub Leigh sets up Downes (69) but fellow England striker Skillen ( 71) levels … sub Mijailovic (77) seals only our second win over Saints and now just 4 points behind.

7.3.48 .. Win games in hand and Saints continue poor run ( LDD) and being knocked out by Real Madrid.

Played 28 and top League on goal difference from Saints ( 1 goal in it)…not for long as both Saints & Arsenal win games when we are in Europe a go above .

April 2048 … Game 1900 of this Save vs Leicester( away )  … game in hand as the Saints & Arsenal are involved in the FA Cup.( Both win).

Win 3-0 and go Top after 31 games.  Rochdale 71pts.   Saints 70 pts.  Arsenal 68 pts ( 32 games).

Game 32 ..After 1st leg Real Madrid loss ..3 of the back 4 injured and Keeper not 100%.  Arsenal lose to Chelsea.( Game 33 for them).

Tweak corner routine as not beating defenders enough with first ball . Change AMR to IF from Winger.

(h) Villa (7th) ..Narrow HT 1-0 lead thanks to Yoshida and hold on for the win. Saints win at Blackburn.

Game 33 ..After knock out by Madrid vs Chelsea (12th)…. 1-0 down early ..2-1 up but back to 2-2 before an own goal and a lot of defence secures a 3-2 away win….Champions league place secured.

Arsenal beat Saints to give us a 4 point lead with 5 games left.

Game 34 ..Poor away draw at Leeds.(7th)….Spurs hold Saints the next day .

Game 36.. Win 4-0 away at Fulham(9th) ..highlight a hatrick from corners for the centre half.

1 win away from the title .

Elsewhere Villa sack Huntelaar after drawing 4-4 in the Champions League SF  1st leg away … the same manager who won it and the World Club 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️… bonkers…I’m linked with the job.( I turn down an interview ) … Villa & City qualify for the Champions League Final subsequently.

Game 37 .. Home to Brighton and an early Robinson penalty is cancelled out by the visitors ..HT 1-1. Saints 2-0 up.

2-1 as Yoshida scores and go defensive … WIN 2-1 and due to Saints poor recent form we have some how won the League. Earn £48.8m

Man Utd have 34 titles … now Rochdale have their first .

I have moved closer to Sir Alex and now just 715 points behind . His 13 Premier wins are the key factor … I have 8 with 3 teams ( Rochdale / Saints x3 Man U x4 ).

Game 38 .. win 2-0 at Wolves which relegated them alongside Bournemouth & Boro who sack their managers ( Liverpool & Everton bounce straight back from Championship).

Celtic Champions. Crusaders win again in Ireland.(7 in a row .. 20 of the last 21).

Oddly Bundesliga replaces Premier in Euro comp ratings despite all European finals having English teams .

Champions League ..Rochdale / Saints / Arsenal   Europa City/ United….May change based on Villa vs City in Champions League Final. (City win).

Man U vs Spurs is Europa Final.( Utd win on pens )

Fitzpatrick- Burns wins … Footballer of the Year / Players Player & Players Young Player/ Fans Player& Young Player. Champions League best defender.

Harvey wins Premier League Golden glove with 19 clean sheets.

I am Manager of the Year.

Team of the year contains 9 from Rochdale.

Petrovic fans goal of the season. Yoshida fans favourite signing. 
Robinson gets a new contract and a club record 19 assists.

Petrovic wins best Champions League goal … but caption is of Virgil van Dijk 🤷🏻‍♂️( Retired 20 yrs ago). 

Shirts .. 1. Downes 2.Robinson 3.Byrne-F 4.Yoshida 5.Leigh

TV Revenue was £106m ..securing the clubs finances .

New stadium 1 year away.

Make an early transfer bid for Cifuentes of Leicester ( Saints want him too) .. they want too much so have gone after Saints winger who this signing would replace .. also interested how much they will pay as they offered less so far…. £57m with add ons £72m … I had £77m rejected.

Rochdale up 703 places to 69th in Euro club rankings.

EUROPEAN SQUAD 13.5.48

Change both reserve Keepers .. bring back Batten and include uncapped Kay.

Left x2 and Right x2 Fullbacks long established.

4 Centre backs long established ..York returns after being withdrawn last game.

Midfield is a dilemma … Have one main DM and 2 who can cover but not well.  Decide to bring back King of Saints who can play 6 positions.

Wings are different issues .. too many good Right sided .. poor choice on the left.

Going with 3 strikes .. 1 of whom is back up left inside forward On left wing.

Southampton have 8/23 Main Squad. Rochdale 7 .. follows my usual pattern of buying young English talent.

Domestically 21 of 23 in England is highest.

Youngest Squad but most goals at 286 ( Skillen 86 / Downes 53 / Genovese 28) account for the majority as 13/20 excluding Keepers have less than 10 .. all outfield players do have a goal .

My 78 yr old asst mgr with England Steve Holland is going to retire atbend of the tournament.

Low key Friendly vs old foes Liechtenstein … HT 9-0. Hayes assists 5 from LB. FT 13-0.  Kay makes debut.

Genovese / Skillen x3 / Dunne x4 / York x2 / Tucker / England & J.King.

Rotate fully for other friendly vs Gibraltar … HT 5-0.  FT .. 11-0.

England x2 / Worrall / Petrovic x3 / D.King / Downes / Skillen / J.King x2

Euros… Going Defensive and 4141 DM Wide with IF roles on wing.

Switzerland (23rd)…They line up 4411… Flying start from Dunne (5) and a corner goal from York (25) HT 2-0

FT 3-0 ..Dunne again (52) …. 28 shots to 2 as formation works…hit woodwork 3 times.

Norway (37th) … 41311 … Change 9 outfield players … HT 0-0 .. not taking chances.

FT 1-0 … Worrall (57) .. poor shot conversion Made this a much tighter match…Qualified for next round.

Russia ( 33rd) .. 4222 ..Lost my match against them … York makes 75th appearance ..HT 0-0 ..ref booking every foul … Late Tucker( 90) goal wins it…Russia barely had a shot…Both teams qualify.

Scotland through …Wales through … N.Ireland out….Elsewhere Holders Portugal knocked out in the same group by Romania and Ukraine…Italy & Wales & France through as best 3rd placed teams.

ROUND 2 … Wales ( 44th) .. Slow start until.  J.King ( 19) HT 1-0 … var denies a 2nd … Win 1-0

Russia knock out Scotland … Ukraine surprise Germany.  France beat Spain in toughest Game of the round.

QUARTER FINAL ….Ukraine ( 42nd) … I have 5 players on yellow cards. Hayes suspended by 30 mins.
HT .. 2-0 Genovese (12) Skillen (34)…. Make 3 subs to prevent some suspensions.

FT .. 3-0 Dunne (60) ..Skillen misses penalty and var deny another goal.

12 clean sheets equals national record.

Unlock value for money achievement.

SEMI FINAL …Holland ( 7th) .. 451 formation.

HT .. 0-0 ..They have not had a shot but we lose Tucker to injury.

FT .. They score with their first shot (58) ..go all out attack …. Lose 1-0.

Media say I’m unlucky as outplayed them … then state squad needs major overhaul for dismal performance .

France beat Croatia on pens.

FINAL …France beat Holland 1-0.   They have won 3 of the last 4 titles.

Season 31.

1 more year as England manager my aim … I want a crack at the Confederation Cup.

Rochdale squad ..some changes but aside from the Record purchase of England the transfer window should be low key.

My learnings after 30 seasons.

1. Can win with any formation .. I’ve used 4231 442 433 4141 etc
2. English database only has led to a heavy bias in Europe for Premier teams.
3. Playing vs AI always gives your team an advantage as quicker to tweak tactics.
4. A good relationship with other managers helps with transfers..e.g Zidane and Pogba have allowed me players I had no chance of signing from other clubs.
5. Trust the younger players to improve.
6. Teams you manage and leave tend to stay better.

Club winners and losers.( 30 seasons I have played).

Premier League … Man Utd ( 14 titles) Southampton ( 10) City (4) Spurs & Rochdale.

Losers …Liverpool & Chelsea & Arsenal.

FA Cup

Man Utd ( 10) Southampton (8) Man City (5) Liverpool ( 3) Chelsea / Stoke / Arsenal / Spurs 

Carabao Cup

Southampton ( 6) Man Utd (6) Liverpool ( 4) Man City (4) Spurs (3) Leicester (2) Rochdale (2) 

Chelsea / Fulham / Everton 

Losers… Arsenal

Champions League

Man Utd ( 9) Man City ( 5) Spurs (5) Southampton (3) PSG (2) A.Madrid (2) Bayern / Barcelona / Augsburg / Aston Villa / 

Loses Real Madrid … all Italian clubs.

EUROPA LEAGUE

Leicester(5) Dortmund (3) Inter (2) Roma (2) City(2) FCP (2) Everton(2)  Spurs(2) / OM / OL / Arsenal / Napoli / Aberdeen / Villa / Man U / Bayern / Saints / Chelsea

Losers .. Any Spanish and Dutch sides

Premier odds …Rochdale are 6th fav 8-1. ( Saints / City/Villa/ Spurs/ Utd )

Everton 1-2… favourites for relegation.

Transfers 

In (4) .. England (£63m) ..Club record from Saints. Mauger(£62m) from Chelsea .. I started  his career with Augsburg .. Anderson (£26m) Man U … Morawski ( Free) Eintracht

Out. ( 7)  Robinson for a club record £65 to Augsburg. Cotton £54m Leeds and O’Leary £25m to Spurs are the Highlights.

£151m spent …. £168m recouped.

Leeds seem biggest spenders with a week to go £221m spent and just £33.5m recouped…Blackburn £68m and Cardiff £49m are the Top3 ….Chelsea with a £81m profit recouped the most.

COMMUNITY SHIELD …A first for Rochdale.

Southampton at Wembley ….  Remember to change my tactics for corners etc before kick off after departure of Robinson in particular. Saints have 7 of the starting XI who played in Euro semi final.

HT 0-0 .. had gone Cautious … allowed only 1 shot but only had 42% poss.

FT .. 0-0 …down to penalties …. Lose 3-2.

ENGLAND

3 injured for Jamaica/ Swiss games Sept 2048

(Friendly) ..Jamaica (30th) .. Leigh set for 50th cap… Skillen 100th cap … HT 2-1 Skillen (92nd goal for England) & Genovese(31st goal for England).

FT .. 3-1.  A.Jones ( 10th goal from centre back) …Corey Howarth makes his debut.

( EIA) ..Swiss (28th) … away to start campaign … Holland & the Swiss drew opening fixture 1-1

HT 2-0.   Genovese & J.King….Balanced formation tactic and no shots from the Swiss.

FT 4-1 Worrall & Tucker … Swiss scored with their only shot on target.

Despite transfer window being closed Leeds / PSG & Bayern all linked with £97m bids for J.King. Having watched him in the internationals

October 2048

(EIA) ..Holland .. 3 months after painful Semi final defeat ..extract revenge with a 6-0 win.

Skillen(2) J.King(2) Steele and an own goal … Dutch had 2 sent off ( 9th and 89th minutes).

Joe Irons makes his debut after Price injured b4 game.

November 2048

(EIA) .. Swiss (27th) (H) … Loughlin set for debut after Genovese injured and misses squad.

Weaker side before the Dutch … HT 3-0. Petrovic / Downes / Byrne- Fitzpatrick

FT .. 4-0 ..debutant Loughlin scores.( He had 12 goals from 27 U21 caps).

(EIA) (away) Holland … HT 0-0 . FT 1-0 with a very late Skillen winner.

December 2048 … A season review

17/12 .. Have beaten Saints twice ( First had 10 men) /City & United ( at Old Trafford without committing  a single foul).

Played 18 Won 12 Drawn 4 Lost 2 ..second behind Leeds United whose large transfer spend is working.

( Next Leeds before lowly Liverpool to end the year). lose at home to Leeds who extend lead at the top.

Beat Liverpool to end 2048 in 3rd.

Carabao progress tough in 1st match and went to pens vs a Chelsea side who beat us in the league.

Rotated squad ( busy Xmas period) blow a 2-0 lead away at Championship Wolves and ends 2-2 ..loose pens 4-3…Trophy defence over.

I berate referee for disallowing a winning goal late on for 3-2….FA warning follows.

Champions League saw me get last years foes Real Madrid ..managed a loss and a draw but did qualify by outplaying CSKA Moscow and Anderlecht … draw my old club PSG next.

Unhappy player ..Mijailovic wants to leave as Downes is main striker .. he has had 7 starts and 15 sub appearances. 
Owens ( LW) also unhappy behind Yoshida in pecking order.

Correira (RB) also unhappy being behind England no.1 fullback.

2049

Starts with easy FA Cup win over Northampton and mixed results in transfer market ( want Runcan who is unhappy at Saints but they want too much at £90m …sell to Villa for £50m when I pull out.

Do sell unhappy players and get a new back up striker and a back up left wing ….also recall right back from loan to cover.

League will restart with City who won World Club and sacked the manager due to league form which in part is due to playing 2 less games.

Arsenal win Carabao cup ( 1-0 vs Saints).

March 2023..Champions League .. blow a 3-0 lead at home ( ends 3-2) before losing 2-1 late on in Paris and PSG go through on away goals.

Premier League .. 30 games gone .  Leeds draw with Saints opens a Top 4 tussle.

Leeds 71 pts .. Saints 68 pts ..  Spurs 67 pts and Rochdale 65pts. United hanging on with 61 pts.

FA Cup QF knock out 10 man Arsenal ..15yr old new recruit Fontan makes his debut.

April.

SF …Get Table toppers Leeds ( under management of Joe Gomez who was a star of my early England squads in 2018/19 )… being defensive has failed in the league so go for it attacking from the start,  3 up in 30 mins and HT 3-0 . Capt King who Leeds have chased all season scored the secon… and immediately after restarting the fourth .

Win 4-0 and Leeds fail to get a shot on target.

Rochdale reach first ever FA Cup final … and only real chance of silverware.

Leicester (8th) create a small shock over Man U (5th)to make the Final…They have lost previous 4 finals.

ENGLAND WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS( March).

Rest Downes and call up Baldwin . Price & Genovese recalled. Bruce suspended for Game 1.

Armenia (A) ( 123rd).  HT 3-0 …King(pen) Loughlin and own goal.

4-0 win as Byrne-Fitzpatrick ends the scoring. 
 

Montenegro (h) ( 104th) … Dunne / Genovese hat trick and Skillen ..HT 5-0

Baldwin opens his international account … FT  8-0   York / Baldwin/ Tucker 

Neither Game saw a shot on target from the opposition.

Premier League run in …April 2049.

Saints top after 33 matches .. Dale and Leeds with a game in hand.

Win Game in hand but have 2nd/3rd and 5th in my run in … Spurs have easiest run in.

Leeds finish with 4 games against Top 7 opponents .

Game 34 sees easy win over bottom club Blackburn ( Petrovic makes 100th league appearance ).

Game 35 vs Spurs ( 1 pt behind us after surprising draw to lowly Hull last match).

Downes gets his 50th Dale goal in a dominant 4-0 away win.

Elsewhere Utd vs Leeds ends 1-1.

Leeds top 82pts / Saints 81pts/ Dale 78pts 

Game 36 (h) vs Man Utd .. 3-0 win as playing Leeds a few days b4 catches up with them.

Guaranteed Top 4 finish.

Leeds drop points at Villa (8th) …Saints beat City (6th).

Saints 84 … Leeds 83 … Dale 81 

Everton & Blackburn relegated .

May 2049

Game 37 … Spurs and Saints playing Champions league SF matches.

Home to 15th placed Liverpool who could still go down.

Liverpool uphold their reputation as the dirtiest for fouls .. but old boy Downes gets two is a 3-0 win.

Man City end Leeds hopes of the title .. Saints win again.

Saints 87pts Dale 84 Leeds 83 

Game 38 .. I need Saints to lose at Old Trafford… I just have to beat Leeds at Elland Rd !…..Saints & Spurs make Champions League Final.

After 29 mins we go top thanks to Downes goal….33mins back to second as Saints level at United.

HT both games 1-1.

Go attack with nothing to lose for the title … Not to be ,.ends 1-1 and Saints win.

ROCHDALE runners up.

Fulham go down on goal difference.

Media say we bottled it despite being out of our hands.

Board criticise result.

Saints / Dale / Leeds / Spurs / Utd / City / Villa…Top 7.

Bradley - Fitzpatrick is Players Young player for 3rd Year.

Harvey Golden Glove for 2nd Year .. 21 clean sheets this time.

Saints have 8 Dale 2 in Team of the Year …No Leeds players is bizarre.

FA Cup Final vs Leicester (8th)…. I am level with Sir Alex on 5 FA cup wins.

I lose 3 players to an U20’s World Cup & 3 ineligible…....Leicester have 4 injured.

Downes misses a penalty After 26mins and by the hour mark as lost all form .

Finally win it with a late corner goal.

Southampton win Champions League on pens vs Spurs after a 0-0 draw aet.

Aston Villa beat Hoffenheim 3-0 for Euro Cup.

End of Season Awards

Fans and Young Player ..Bradley-F

Goal .. England

Signing ..Mauger

Shirts Sold … Yoshida / Downes / England / Leigh / Mauger.

Fallout over training facilities With Chairman…. I want a new challenge .

New ground opens 29/6/49.

Scott Parker ..my U18 mgr retires.

June 2049

International League vs Spain (SF)…. Pick an experienced squad.They are World Rank 3.

They are 4-1-4-1DM 

I go Balanced .

Saints players are tired after Champions league final…. Skillen & Dunne pulled early in 2nd half

Sub Downes scores immediately after replacing Skillen. Genovese scores late on as Spain fail to get a shot on target….Win 2-0

Match at St.James Park with a balmy 14c temp.

Continue my media argument with Spanish manager Lavin.

Spain beat France for 3rd Place.

FINAL vs Germany ( beat France on pens) ..I’m happy to avoid the French.Germany 8th to France 2nd In rankings.

Another balmy match at St.James as it hits 7c.

Germany given a var pen against run of play and their constant fouling (11mins)…Genovese levels and Bradley -Fitzpatrick scores from a corner .HT 2-1 …Pen is their only shot on target.

VAR denies a Tucker goal and then he is injured…comfortably hold on for a 2-1 Win.

8th success ( England 7 France 1) … I am generally lucky in this competition.

England extend to 9 wins ..France 5 .. Holland & Portugal 1 each.

Germany runners up for 3rd time.

Confederation cup starts in 21 days vs Iran.

Rochdale rise 27 places to 42nd in Euro rankings.

I want a new challenge .. had loaded Danske League 2 seasons ago and wanted Dungannon as they had no titles.

They won this years .. however the Manager has been poached by Rotherham and I took the asst mgr to manage the reserves at Rochdale.

Going to apply.

Season 32 

Apply for Dungannon job .. first time I have applied to the League Champions..however it is their first with the dominant force being Crusaders with 23 of the previous 25 titles ..Linfield had the other 2.

Given an immediate  interview ..contract has 5 days left.

Offered job and I delay for a week to allow stadium opening.

With 2 days to go they ask which staff I want .. but can’t afford any compensation.

Rochdale new stadium complete and I thought this would unlock Steam Achievement .. apparently it unlocked when announced.

I end my time after 2558 days . Played 379 Won 232 Drew 81 Lost 66 . Win rate 61% ( career avg 75%).

5 cups 3 leagues and 3 promotions.

Munir takes over from Leicester.

Join Dungannon … they are celebrating 100 years.

Will start 4-1 down to TNS in Champions League qualifying.. trying to get some Loanees in Appears to be no restrictions of under 21.  Some of the Dale youngsters I put on loan b4 leaving and Cardiff so far have agreed.

Confederation Cup …Same team that won International League selected.

Iran ( 11th) .. Dunne breaks deadlock after 31 mins of domination. HT 1-0.

Bradley-F scores again from a corner. Tucker completes a 3-0 win.

July 2049
Mexico ( 6th) .. King gets 50th cap …Skillen opens the scoring.  HT 1-0…. Ends 1-0 …Qualified.

Peru ( 24th) ..rotation needed … Downes & Worrall with early strikes. Gardiner makes it 3-0 at HT.

FT 3-0.

SF …USA ( 15th) .. Genovese after a scramble opens the scoring ..Skillen gets his 98th goal. HT 2-0

Hayes with a rare goal completes a 3-0 win

France beat USA for 3rd.

Final .. Mexico beat France on pens … Chance to beat them again.

Genovese opens scoring(25) as both sides play same formation …King (35) and Genovese again 3-0 at HT.

Dunne denied by VAR late on ..Win 3-0 ..my first Confedreaction with England ( did win with France).

I am torn about staying ..want a crack at a South American or Asian team to win tournaments I have never won.

Iran sack manager but not showing as vacant…. Research shows it’s not available for an unplayable league.

Pass 2000 games as manager in a League win over Linfield.

4.9.49

World Cup Qual

Ukraine (a) ( Rank 43) .. Unchanged squad from Confed win.

1-0 down early and switch to attacking. HT 1-0 to their only shot. Triple subs and one of them Downes levels . Ends 1-1 and we can take top spot by winning game in hand.

Eire (h) ( 58) .. 3 up in 17 mins ..HT 4-0 .. Skillen ( 99th strike) Watson / Bradley-F & Genovese.

FT 4-0. 
 

October 2049

England Game 100 reached as manager 2nd time round…. 150 games first time…. 13 trophies In total.

Armenia (h) ( 123rd) … HT 8-0 .    Downes ( hat trick) Watson ( hat trick) Genovese. Bradley-Fitzpatrick 

FT 10-0 .  Downes ends with 4 goals . sub England completes the rout.

Montenegro (a) ( 103rd) … HT 3-0 ..Dunne & Skillen x 2 .. passes 100 international goals In 114 games.

FT 5-0 ..Dunne & York complete the scoring.  Gardiner comes on for 75th cap.

Nov 49 .. Watson injured D.King drafted in

Ukraine (h) ..A win to get Top Spot in the group needed.( Given last 2 matches vs weak teams).

HT 1-0 …Skillen (32) ….. 22 shots to 1.

FT 3-0 sub Downes (69/82) …38 shots to 1 …. Should have been more From 13 on target .

Eire (a) .. Rotate squad … Worrall score after 65 seconds  D.King(19) And a rare Price goal (22) before back up striker Baldwin ( 28) and stand in skipper Tucker (39) show gulf in teams …HT 5-0

Not sure how my own loan youngster with 3 caps has been dropped by Eire based on this.

FT . 5-0 .

DUNGANNON 

3-0 home win  on debut …80th min penalty seals a 4-4 agg and go through on away win. Champions League 1st Qual phase .

3000 is a new attendance record ( 2618 a year ago vs Hadjuk).

Record receipts £50.85k ( Was 35k vs Hadjuk).

Qual 2 vs BATE… Win 1-0 in front of a new record 4832 fans ( 5000 capacity).

Record receipts … £81.96k

Bate (a) .. Mead scores his first Dungannon goals (47/49)..his first senior goals after 44 non competitive goals for Dales U18’s.

3rd Qual …Midtylland….Lose away leg 1-0 .  Never looked like scoring.

(h) .. Go attacking but concede on 7 mins .. get 1 back (42) HT 1-1 … 2-1 down on agg.

M.Bassett gets his and our second (52) .. but despite 10 shots to 4 on target we go out on away goals .

Sell out record crowd of 5000 … receipts £84.88k.

Prize money £430k….plus £1.02 million for participating in champions league.

Receipts from 3 champions league matches is £228,528 …. Last season total for all matches £332,172.

I invest in young Irish talent ( compensation payments) and an old timer coming back from England.

Nagelsmann happy to loan me players due to our good relationship.

Only 2 squad members have International caps ..Nugent 99 for N.Ireland ( retires end of season) and Brighton Loanee Wise with 3 Irish caps. 4 have U21 appearances.

Avg wage £228/wk … Rest of league £213/wk

Avg age 24 

Euro Cup 4th Qual Rnd .. Slavia Prague (a) .. 9 loan players in starting eleven …Mead scores twice in a 3-0 away win playing defensive.

Slavia Prague (h) .. Draw 1-1 ( agg 4-1) .. in front of 8000 at the Oval ( Glentorans pitch in Belfast)…41 miles away.  Receive £2.62m for Euro Cup group stage.

8000 is new record attendance but seems odd at another’s ground. £115k is new receipts record.

This money is vital to my long term plan to improve facilities.

Seeded in 4th pot in the draw. We are lowest ranked with a 1.5 co efficient.

Avoid both Manchester clubs … do get Dortmund / Napoli and Midtylland again… I can see 6 losses.

Group Stage

Dortmund (h) Moved to Windsor Park due to our ground not meeting regulation.

Go Defensive. Shock lead (22) ..all over them at HT 1-0 up ( they had their only shot after 40mins).

A wonder 35yd strike from our sub against run of play (77) and it’s dreamland stuff ..Win 2-0

Crowd of 16877 ( Dortmund brought 7867) and receipts of £242k are new records.

Prize money £511k for a win.

Midtylland (a)..Only team in 23 matches to stop us scoring During last meeting in Champions League.

HT 0-0 .. comfortable defensive effort. FT .. 0-0 … last 20 mins we were hanging on .

Gain 170k for the draw.

Napoli (a) .. Defensive display sees a 1-0 lead at half time ..they started better we got stronger.

Despite a rare keeper performance rating over 7 .. they level (62) ..sub Bright (64) scores and we are in dreamland 

He had just asked to come off transfer list.( His 3rd long range screamer… no trait suggests why).

I’m front of 56,621 which for most of my squad is their biggest crowd . Earn £511k again.

I don’t understand how but Top group after 3 games .

Napoli (h) Sold out Windsor Park expected . They use 4222 again which seems to restrict shooting chances.

HT 0-0 .. stats suggest comfortable .. I would take the draw.

FT ..Keeper makes 3 fine saves in last 20 mins and ends 0-0. Dortmund win but we are Top by 1 point.

Sell out 18000 (2300 away fans) is a new record … so is £259k gate receipts.

Dortmund (a) .. Held 0-0 at home by bottom club Ballinamalkard with rotated squad in previous match.

HT 1-1 Mead goal cancelled out .

FT Superior finishing sees Dortmund go top with a 3-1 win…. Crowd was 73,509.

We need to avoid defeat in last match to go through.

Midtjylland (h) ..Winner takes all….well a draw is ok for us🤣

Ends 2-2 … but the 90th min leveller has cost us Top Spot.

Draw 170k + £448k for second place + £122k unallocated.

1st knock out …Kilmarnock drawn…. Feb 2050.

(h) .. New loan signings start. Defensive does not work and goal down (7 and then two down 17)….go on the attack ..   new loanee Branch makes it 2-2 ( 37/39) at half time.

Go balanced after subbing those on yellow cards ( hour mark) … ends 2-2.

17966 happy fans.

(a) ..Decide to start attacking and go for them …. Plan seems good until 45+1 when they score against run of play ..HT 1-0 down ..agg 3-2 down.

Make 3 subs and they score again ..go Very attacking now … fails and 4-0 down soon after. 
No disgrace and 10/11 Kilmarnock players rated over 7.1.

Reward £448k.

Forster is my former Dons player .. despite winning his next round he is sacked by end of March.

They go onto beat Juventus on way to semi final & then AC Milan to meet Man City in the Final.

Danske League…. Last years League winning side + 9 loans +3 young signings = 2 squads for a lot of matches.

Game 11 is the crunch vs Crusaders and after being pulled back to 1-1 ..Win 4-1 to maintain 100% start.

Game 13 finally drop points at 7th placed Linfield …Lead but ends 1-1.

Game 19 ..1-0 to Coleraine at HT. Level (54) and then Coleraine red cards (55/58). Ends 1-1. Lead cut to 6pts.

Game 22 Crusaders(a) gap down to 4pts … HT 0-0 . FT 0-0 despite attacking last 30mins.

Other Trophies …. and there are many in Northern Ireland.

Aug 2049…

NIFL Charity Shield …Coyle ( pen 9 mins) … Win first silverware…. Oddly played in Eastbourne , England.

Worth 2 points but not showing as a trophy in Hall of Fame.

January 2050

Board agree to go Professional from May 2050 after I struggle for signings…. Only Crusaders also Pro.

Game 25 sees my triple sub work & fail … score on 69 through sub Forsyth  but he’s injured and Linfield le el vs 10 men .. lead down to 2 points.

Game 27 ..lose 4-2 at home to Cliftonville … I still haven’t had an unbeaten League season .

Game 29 confirms European football .. but Mead injured … get 2 more loaned from Cardiff .. they seem happy to loan without fees .

Feb 2050 ..Bet McClean Cup Final 2 days after Kilmarnock first leg vs Glenavon.( Dungannon have been runners up for last 2 years ..only win was 2017/18).

Lots of changes and keep defensive to avoid fatigue .

HT 1-0 …Coyle (14) .. totally dominant and Glenavon yet to have a shot.

FT 1-0 .. 22 shots to nil against lower league opponents … but only had 3 on target .

March 2050 … Northern Irish Mid Ulster Cup vs Banbridge … We are massive favourites vs lower league side.

Full rotation as Game 34 Danske league is 2 days later.

3 up in 27 mins as the underdogs fail to perform. HT 5-0.

Win 7-1

16th time Champions. ( Portadown have 28 wins).

Danske ..Game 33 ..title showdown with Crusaders .. gap still 4 points….. come from behind for a 1-1 draw.

Game 36 vs Crusaders can seal the title after they finally dropped points in a 0-0 vs Linfield.

My squad are tired after a tough Irish Cup semi final vs Coleraine.(72hr gap). Mead banned for bookings.

Go defensive and an early penalty settles the nerves…they have to win.  HT 1-0

Miss a pen ..but same player scores from resultant corner … FT 2-0 and CHAMPIONS.

On the Top 10 Nations board with 25 pts now … Leader Coyle has 288 ( 13 leagues & 31 cups).

WITH 2 GAMES TO GO …THOUGHTS ON SEASON

1. Still can’t unlock unbeaten Achievement ( Steam ) after 32 attempts and conceded 14 goals ( how has anyone got nil in a season ( Sortitoutsi records).
2. Loans is way to go from managers / teams you get on with .. all my loans were free.
3. The money from Europe is game changing and allowing me ( board request made)to go Professional … the cup run boosted income from £1.3m to £10.5m albeit costs up £1m.
4. Get the tight Director of Youth to improve new regen hires.
5. Look for an experienced old pro … I got Nugent who was showing as retiring after the season ..35yrs old and played in every English league .. 101 caps for NI.. only trophy was U18 title with City in a 18yr career. Leads my mentor group.
6. Stay On feet reduced fouls ( least committed ) and 2nd least yellows.. only 2 suspensions.
7. A lack of internationals meant I had no issues with players missing for key cup matches.
8. Almost impossible to get permanent signings as a part time club… of any quality.
9. Set pieces important as keepers not great .. my best ever DFK result with 11.
10. Used 30 players … worth trying the youngsters in cups… 24 of them scored in the season.

Irish Cup Final ends the season ..and Nugent delays his retirement until after the final.

Portadown stand between me and a brilliant season.

Dominate first half but can’t finish HT 0-0. Portadown without a shot.

Unsung hero Stephenson scores after an hour.

Nugent comes on for final game before he retires.

Bassett ends with 3 assists in a 3-0 win.

2nd Trophy win of this competition.

Reserves lose NIN final to Institute.

END OF SEASON STUFF

Board offer new contract and confirm Professional status with more back room staff.

Fans & Young player ..Suk …. But Rochdale will not re-loan.

Goal ..Bright Mohammed .. long shot of 6 skill with a 30m screamer.

Signing ..Lewis Rogers .. I disagree and think McMullan better.

Loanee Watkins sets new avg rating record of 7.64 ( beating J Bassett 7.28 last year).

He also land Player of the Year & Young Player in the League.

Even better he is one of the 3/10 loan players who immediately resign on loan for next year……. After waiting another month some other loan players are allowed to rejoin and only 1 with a fee ( 10% for McMahon).

Club plan to sell ground and build a new 7650 capacity ground… 2 years away..

Set up an affiliation with Hibernian…. Quality of players is not exciting.

Euro ranking improved 452 places to 180th.

Despite run .. Danske rating stays at 71 .. just below Sky Bet L2

ENGLAND MARCH 2050

2 x Friendlies.   Suriname & N.Ireland.  Skillen injured in 7-0 champions league win. 4 players withdrawn.

Suriname … 4 players with 45mins instructions.

Debutants Kemp & Greenwood & Sahin all score HT 8-0 … Worrall ( 4 goals) and an own goal.

Greenwood gets a second . Sub Baldwin completes a 10-0 win.

Northern Ireland …. HT 1-0 … Sahin(37).

FT. 3-1    Dunne (47) Watson (53) 

Elsewhere …Rochdale get better without me … Community shield & Premier League titles…Then add FA Cup.

Rochdale cap it with a 3-1 Champions League win over OM .. their new offensive style is something for me to think on.

Liverpool relegated for 2nd time in 3 seasons…Everton in play offs to return…and win on pens vs Fulham.

Aberdeen pip Rangers for the title in Scotland.

Europa ..City held 0-0 by Kilmarnock before they win on penalties .. nice to lose to runners up. ( Earns another £528k in revenue For Dungannon).

Kilmarnock also lose Scottish Cup final a few days later.

May 2050 …WORLD CUP FINALS

Pick 30 man squad as some are injury touch and go….more injuries follow In run up.

Orrell is uncapped … leaving out Watson hardest decision.

Easy warm ups start with:

Cuba (123rd) .. Orrell debut ..takes 27 mins to score. HT 4-0. Skillen x2 Genovese x2.

FT 10-0 .. subs Sahin x2 and Downes x4 complete the expected rout.

Next up Cyprus ( 103) .Dunne 50th cap.

HT .. 3-0 Tucker / Dunne and King.

FT … 5-0 Genovese & Steele

Finally Bolivia ( 114th) 

HT 3-0 …. Worrall x 2 and Sahin.

FT 8-0 ….. Worrall ends with 4 . King & subs Downes and York.

World Cup ..Group N..Usual formation and Balanced style.

Egypt ( 54). …. Tucker 50th cap.

HT 3-0 .. O.G. / King and Tucker.

FT 5-0 ..Tucker gets a second & Hayes.

20.6.50.   Chile ( 22) HT 2-0 Genovese & Skillen but Dunne picks up a knock.

FT 4-0.. at 2-0 Skillen misses pen and var denies Tucker … King & Skillen complete the scoring . Top of Group.

24.6.50. Round 2 … Spain ( 3) .. Something wrong to get such a high ranked team so early 

Team requires 8 changes due to fatigue.

HT 2-0. Sahin in for Genovese (16) & Worrall in for injured Dunne (29).. so far so good.

FT 4-0. Var pen from Downes (64) ..Sahin gets his second (69) .. much easier than I expected.

28.6.50Round 3 …Holland ( 7th)

HT 1-1 …Nightmare half ..1 nil down ..Bruce injured ( out of tournament) Leigh booked = suspension ..but Genoverse levels ..albeit also has a minor knock.

FT. Genovese scores again as I go Defensive to try and keep some energy.  Win 2-1

2.7.50 QF …Mali ( 22nd)

HT 1-0.   Petrovic (13) …quiet match which statistically we are dominating.

FT 2-0     late own goal seals a comfortable win.

Same day Dungannon playing Albion in a friendly ..trying to win a tournament and plan signings as I have a early Euro round.

6.7.50. SF vs Belguim ( 9th)…. Dungannon also playing Alashkert Champ Qual 1 leg 1 ( Won 6-0).

Winners play Italy whose 122nd min goal vs 9 man Argentina was part of an incredible game.

HT 0-0… Tight match … This is Belguim‘s best effort since Euro 3rd place in 2019. World Cup 3rd 2018.

FT 0-0 … 7 shots on target to 3. Otherwise close game.

AET  Penalty after 113 mins sees us through courtesy of Genovese .

10.7.50 …Italy ( 7th).  York to make 100th appearance.  Go defensive as team is tired.

Dream start as Bradley-F scores (5) from a corner. Skillen (44) all going to plan until Italy score (45) HT 2-1

Win 2-1 after Italy fail to attack … 13 shots on target to 2.

World Cup win x 4 with England plus South Africa miracle win.

Time to leave … hopefully get a South American or Asian job to win a new Trophy and complete my set.

13 international jobs available … Brazil / Mexico / Jamaica are interesting…Brazil application expected to fail They do not even bother to respond .. just unavailable… a few days later I am declined as not best candidate 🤣

Mexico reject me as not best candidate🤷🏻‍♂️

Jamaica still possible.

Season 33

July 2050 Highlights :

Won World Cup with England and step down for a new challenge…but Brazil/ Mexico & Jamaica say I’m not best qualified !

Dungannon win 6-0 twice vs Alashkert in ECC Qual 1

Olmpiakos in Qual 2 .. win 2-0 away as they get 6 yellows and a red from 24 fouls… win 4-0 agg .. almost lost this after laptop battery died .

Transfers

Renew 4 of last years loans and Working on others to get through early games… 4 definitely not returning .

3 in on free transfers and 3 with fees… Potter is club record £775k.

Also look at all N.Ireland players for out of contract options .. sign a few U19’s that may turn good.

August 2050

ECC Qual 3 .. FCSB ( Romania) … Through on agg 4-0 .. Better than last seasons effort when went out to Mitdjalland at this stage..they then lost to Ajax ..guess who I get .

NIFL Charity Shield …. Vs Portadown …. Chance to play reserves / back ups including 3 debutants Start.

Win 2-0 vs 10 men.

Ajax next ..(h) sets a new gate receipts record of £316k. Also win 1-0. They have no shots on target which is A surprise when reviewing squads. MCMahon on loan worth £1.9m next highest under £450k in my squad.

Ajax have 19 players worth more than McMahon.

Anang makes 100th league appearance.

Ajax (a) Branch (5/8 mins) .. the dream is on … HT 2-1 up. Agg 3-1.

Ajax score on (77) and (91) ..Agg 3-3…. Forgot away goals and delighted not extra time .

Group stage reached and £13.69m earned … This is possibly my greatest FM achievement.

Co-eff rating 9.5 .. 31st /32 teams ( Strasbourg last with nil).

I draw Galatasaray / Inter and my old team Southampton.

Transfer Window ..Larne 15 Dungannon 14 Cliftonville 11 ..Top 3 signing teams

Out …Dungannon 4  Crusaders & Cliftonville 3 ..Top 3

Only the 2 professional teams paid fees.

SEPT 2050

First ever Champions League Group game for an Irish side.

Galatasaray ( H ..Windsor Park).. They have 16 Senior Internationals….Dungannon have 4.

Loanees Turner & Branch with earky strikes .. HT 3-1 as another Loanee Watkins scores late.

Despite a late strike …hold out for a 3-2 Win .

Game 7 held 2-2 .. so again I fail to go a season without conceding In the league.

Double header with Crusaders … Late come from behind win at home in league 2-1.

Bet McLean Trophy 2 days later .. playing reserves and youngsters … (a) Goes to extra time .. 105/106/118 minute goals seal victory 3-0.      2 debutants from U20 squad.  Playing again in 48hrs so plan works.

End the month away at Inter Milan … hold out for 29 mins .. Lose 3-1. Branch scores again. 76382 is biggest crowd we have played in front of.

OCT 2050

Meet Crusaders for 3rd time in 11 days.(League away) .. Win 4-1 ..There squad is knackered by too many games.

Rotata away again vs. Every in Bet McLean cup and again goes to extra time. Comeback twice in extra time to draw 3-3 … Penalties .. Win 4-3 …Free signing makes debut plus youngsters make debuts.

19 yr old Adair makes Northern Ireland debut ( bought him for compensation money last season) .

I become Australia manager…. Recent form was Lost 4 of Last 5 games and only scored in the draw .

Current Ranking 36th.

Southampton (h) .. I fear the worse in career game 2100….U18’s lose 6-0.

4-0 defeat despite going Very Defensive .. lucky just 4.

NOV 2050

Southampton (a) .. Hold on until 89th minute before losing 1-0.

First Australia game … Bulgaria (58th)  (a) .. Both teams in awful form. HT 0-0. .. FT 0-0 .. at least not a loss.

Ciroth makes debut…. 3 games with no goals for this team.

Ecuador(39th)  (a) … HT 1-0 .. 44th min sees Calabria score in a decent first half display. A first win in 7 internationals.

FT 1-0 Win … this is a side lacking striking and right wing options.

I reach 100 games in charge in Bet McLean Cup vs Glentoran… Takes 72 mins against 9 men. Win 2-0

Galatasaray (a) .. Mess up going balanced and then Watkins booked twice in minutes in between a goal for them. hT 1-0 down.  Lose 1-0.

A partially rotated squad shakes off the Galatasaray result with a 9-1 away win at Larne…new record.

Red card in 4 mins vs Portadown in Bet McLean SF .. Go 2-0 up but then down to 9 men ..I have stay on feet set but both have dived in …60 seconds later it 9 vs 10. Lose another with 4 month injury.

Asia Cup draw is kind ..India / UAE / Thailand…..arrange 3 weak countries for friendly matches to boost scoring and confidence.

Last Champions League match …Inter (h) ..Very defensive and hope for a point.  We are bottom on goal difference …need to better Galatasaray.  They go 1-0 down and shortly after we are 1-0 up .( 28 mins gone).

HT .. The dream is still on… Inter yet to shoot at all .

FT .. 2-0 up on 70 mins as players worth £66k and £275k ( on loan) outplay the big guns.

Going Professional has helped … but reserve left back Anang wants a new challenge… immediately get bids with a small fee… before fees were rare…. Goes a few days later to his native Ghana.

I sign  Ian Knight on a free .. the same guy who left Rochdale for Liverpool for a then club record £3.4m… made 9 Premier appearances in 7 years for Liverpool & Watford…Last year on loan in L1 and did well But side-was relegated.

End of Year Round up .. Earned £6.7m for Europa run last year ..Champions League run was worth £19m

Still can’t go unbeaten as Crusaders win 1-0 against the match stats at our ground in Game 24.

Flora have bid for reserve keeper .. they let him go on a free in July. Possible new club record £20k Sale.

Looking to boost squad goals as Australia have only 36 between Them.

Australia vs Micronesia ( no ranking ) .. Won 5-0 .. Brooks get first goal. This now means 9 of my 23 man squad have scored ..16/12/4/3/2 and four with 1 .. 

JAN 2051 

1.1.2051 .. Ivanov deal goes through for a club record £25k to Flores.

New record Win 9-0 vs Queens Uni in the Irish cup with a rotated squad. 
 

Win Bet McLean Cup 1-0 vs Carrick. 

Australia vs Macau(194th) … Win 6-0.  Back up winger and corner routine are the highlights of this friendly.

Australia vs East Timor(179th) …. Win 2-0 …Disappointing from 17 shots on target.

3 weeks until Asia Cup kicks off … I have a back up winger I will draft in case of injury.

I am hoping some wins will boost confidence for better performance level in the tournament .

Holders Iran … Hosts Qatar.

Group Stage:

UAE ( 101st) .. Penalty (7) for a flying start. HT 1-0. FT 3-0 …. 45 shots to nil.

Thailand(94th) .. HT 0-0 .   FT 3-0 ….Only took 22 shots this time. 
India (100th) .. HT 4-0   FT 5-0 from 33 shots…. The late 5th goal (92nd min) sees Thailand go above India .

Ciroth gets his first international goal .

Round 2 

Sri Lanka ( 141st) ..Should be easy .. Mazis earns 75th cap . HT 2-0 .. FT 4-0 

Feb 2051 

QF .. Big Team time.

Japan ( Joint 32nd) … Go defensive. HT 1-1 ( was leading). FT 3-1 Penalty King ( Calabria) slots his 5th in last 6 matches.

SF .. South Korea (25th) … HT 0-0 FT 3-0 ..Striker Pain gets his 1st goal after 12 caps.

Europa League 1st K.O. Vs Anderlecht (a) .. HT 1-0 … Was 3-0 up …FT 4-2 away win. ( Forgot to change from balanced until 75 mins).

Final vs Holders and Favourites Iran ( 13th) … 1-0 down (17) .. HT 1-0 down. 
Go attacking .,sub Pain (76/77) wins my first ever Asian Nations cup in any FM game I have played.

World Ranking up 12 places to 23rd.

Australia now have 4 Wins…. Level with Iran & S.Korea … 2 behind Japan.

Europa 2nd leg … HT 1-0 up. Remembered defensive this time .. FT 2-0 … Win 6-2 agg.  ..Went out to Kilmarnock at this stage last season.

Lose away at Glentoran 1-0 and despite a 14pt lead the media say “ has lost his golden touch”.

March 2051

Check staff tab and both my jobs rated Untouchable.

Real San Sebastián ( Sociedad) ..in Europa 2nd K.O.

(a) Injury and suspension takes 2 players out… But 1-0 up in 3 mins… forgot to change to Defensive again and they level . 2-1 up after changing formation only it to go 2-2 near half time.

Have late chances but ends 2-2.

(h) Branch scores in under 2 mins to ease the nerves.. HT 1-0.  1-1 (67) ..Owusu restores lead 62 secs later.

Win 2-1 …agg 4-3 .  Their team was worth more but had several greyed out players as well as their established internationals…… Reward is Schalke in QF.

Worth £987k in prize money.

Youth intake .. Young keeper better than my 19yr old backup .

McCabe makes 100th league appearance vs Ballymena in a rotated squad.. title could be secured.

Knight scores twice for a 4-0 HT lead.  At 5-0 up Ballymena go down to 9 men within 3 mins 

FT 6-0 and the Title with 5 games to spare. ( Knight only had a Checkatrade with Rochdale 8 years ago .. now he has 2 trophies .. hoping this encourages other old teammates).

Rogers ( a youth signing who cost £66k compensation) last seasons first signing ..Makes N.Ireland debut.

Australia friendly vs New Zealand ( arranged before winning Asian Cup).  Ranked 80th.

Roscoe drafted in for 1st cap.

HT 2-0 ..Calabria with another penalty.   FT 3-1

Mid Ulster Cup Final vs Newry … Won 3-0
 
April 2051

16 yr old Walsh makes debut after recent Youth Intake.

Europa QF .. Schalke (a) .. Defensive .. HT 0-0. FT 0-0. We had more shots so will repeat at home.

Schalke (h) .. Again we are dominating on shots but HT 0-0. FT 0-0  Aet ..Sub Quinn (98) .. 29 shots to 2 but it’s that’s One from Quinn that takes us beyond anything I could believe.

Earn £1.34m prize money.

I avoid Utd & Arsenal and get Celtic in semi finals.

SF .. Celtic(h) .. Champions of Scotland this season ..They have 12 full internationals but 9 have 8 caps or less. ..16 of there squad worth over £10m pound.

Dungannon have 6 full internationals .. 5 with 8 caps or less. My highest value player is a Loanee worth £900k.

Defensive seems obvious formation style. 4-1-2-3 not being changed at this stage.

Celtic have 4xYellow cards before Branch (31) scores ..our Keeper scores an own goal (36) HT 1-1

Celtic keep fouling and 6 yellow cards as they hold us to just 7 shots ..FT 1-1.

Season ends with rotated squad vs  Newry (a) .. sub Bassett scores 93rd min winner in a 1-0 win ..100 points achieved.

MAY 2051

Celtic (h) .. 2-0 down by HT .  Going attacking  .. FT 4-0… agg 5-1….Disappointing end to a great campaign.

Receive £2.15m

Irish Cup Final vs Crusaders .. Branch (16) HT 1-0 up. FT 1-0. 

Rochdale Champions again.

Saints win FA Cup and Champions League.

Man Utd beat Celtic in Europa league. 

End of Season.

Branch ( Cardiff Loanee) sets new scoring record of 33 from Rochdale Loanee  Mead.

Ramon ( Dale Loanee) ..new Clean Sheet Record  of 33….24 in the league.

McMahon ( Dale Loanee) Player of the Year.

Hill ( Arsenal Loanee) Young Player of the Year.

Challenge is keeping some of the 9 on loan…. 3 agree . 1 in on a free( Wise) . 1 in on a transfer.( McMahon).

Shirt Sales … Wise / Watkins / Knight / Turner / Branch…. 1103 sold.

Danske League rises 10 places after cup run…. Coefficient up 9 .. improves when we enter competitions.

Club Ranking up 129 to 51st.

June 2051

Oz vs Hong Kong (FR) .Rank 122nd……Draft Barlone after he changes allegiance from England  ..he scores on his debut…. Roscoe & Sullivan get first goals … Win 4-0.

WCQ .. vs UAE ( away / rank 105th). Barlone (2) with perfect start. Calabria two pens. HT 3-0. FT 5-0.

WCQ vs Tajikistan ( home / rank 139th) .. McAuley in as injury cover for Roscoe…who lastEd less than 30 secs as sub against UAE.  Calabria earns Cap number 50.

Barlone scores for 3rd successive game ..HT 3-0.

McAuley debut as sub … FT 5-0.

Season 34

Transfer Headlines.

Leeds have smashed the transfer record with a £207m purchase of my former player Greenwood from Rochdale ( bought for £41m originally).

The Income from 2 successful Euro runs is letting me 1. Improve facilities 2. Buy / loan with fees better players. 3. Seeing players bought .. record signing Potter has already been taken in a 3 way bidding war by Everton for £1.2m.( His release clause).

After winning first ECC qualifier and getting injured my on loan winger comes out as gay .. no other media comment to this important event ..why has it taken until July 2051.

After an easy qualifying campaign .. Draw Rochdale in the Group Stage ( Rangers & FCP too).

Sept .. McCabe finally gets first N.I cap … Rogers his first N.I goal…McCabe gets his 1st goal next match.

Chile hold Oz 0-0 in a friendly.

WCQ (a) Kyrgyzstan (144th). Shakespeare gets Cap 75. ..Win 7-0 .. ( 3-0 until Red Card). McAuley 1st goal.

Champions League (h) ..Rochdale ..toughest start … especially as Keeper & RB can’t play against own team.

Surprisingly no media quizzing. Defensive not working as 2-0 down in 13 mins. Lose 3-0

Oct … Rangers (a) ..1-0 down playing defensive .. Change to balanced … Win 2-1

N.Ireland … O’Driscoll wins first cap.

WCQ ..Maldives (h) Rank 185th … Win 6-0.  Orfanidis gets 1st goal.

WCQ ..UAE (h) Rank 105th…. Ryan gets 75th cap. Win 6-0

FCP (h) .. Defensive holds until HT 0-0.  Some late scares but ends 0-0.

Nice battle with old managerial foe ..Wells.  I am Number 1 and he is 2 in Nationality Rating.

Nov 2051 

FCP (a) .. 1-0 down despite Defensive at HT . Go cautious and level … VAR pen call goes in our favour before Knight fires a 94th min winner…. Memorable 2199th game in charge.

Cardiff Loanee  Branch scores 1st goal for Wales .

Tajikstan(a) ( 139th).. Pugh changes Nationality and makes debut… HT 3-0 ..Pugh two on debut. FT 3-0.

Krygyzstan (h) ( 142nd) .. Magas(50th cap)… Win 6-0 …Another Calabria penalty 

Back up Keeper Vance now oldest player at over 38yrs of age.

Bassett 125th league appearance in 10 man win over Crusaders.

Rochdale (a) .. I get to Manage at the Reg Jenkins Stadium.  Hold for 20 mins then a VAR pen as 2-0 down in 30 mins.  Missing my best Keeper and RB is not helping. FCP leap frog is into 2nd place. 
Lose 3-1.  O’Driscoll with consolation.

Fans gave me a warm reception.

Dec 2051 

Rangers (h) .. I could end up 2nd or 3rd in the group ..all to play for a actually favourites as Rangers have lost all 5 matches.

Over zealous ref kills the game .. approaching HT with my usual Stay On Feet instructions and but Hunter (45+1) sent off for 2 yellows. Elsewhere FCP beating Rochdale so 3rd place seems likely. HT 0-0.

Go 1-0 down after 56 mins and gamble … still Lose 1-0…. I feel a ref rant coming In press conference.

China (a) ( 49th) ..Friendly … Oddly the club 45min instruction was for most my sub players .

Another Calabria penalty .. A Pugh hat trick .( Even scored a pen with Calabria subbed).  Win 5-0

Seal a major transfer coup ..Kay ( Rochdale reserve Keepr with 10 England caps) .. for a cut price £3.2m .

Cup runs have given money and status. Good relationship with player and club help.

Draw Real San Sebastián again in Euro Cup.

End of Year .. Unbeaten after 24 matches .. could I finally go unbeaten for a season after 34 seasons.

Transfer window ends with a current and a former Rochdale player signed.

Out 1 x transfer and 1 x loan

Upset 2 by refusing transfers.

Feb 2052 … Bet McLean Final vs Newry … 3 game in a row in different competitions against Newry .

Won 2-0.  Our 4th win …. Linfield have 39.

Euro Cup 1st knock out round leg 1

Real San Sebastian (a) .. HT 2-0 ..Branch & Rogers defy media expectations. 11 shots to nil playing defensive as again a better non playing league side fail to perform. FT 2-0 win.

Home Leg … My 200th game at Dungannon. HT 1-0 FT 1-0. 3-0 agg win .

26.2.52 ..Beat Linfield 1-0 and seal the title after 32 games…. Still on for the unbeaten season.

Squad average age 24 .. Only 6 loanees this time .  12 squad members now Internationals ( 1 to 24 caps) Of which 8 are N.Ireland ranked 78th. Only 5 worth over £1m of which 4 are loanees.

Now ranked 3rd in Ireland as a manager but miles behind the Top 2. 
 

March 2051 .. Euro 2nd Rnd Knock out vs AZ . (A) ..  Branch who can’t score many domestically scores in Europe again and at HT 2-0. FT 4-0 

Club Record Winning run of 25 ends with a 0-0 draw vs Cliftonville as rotated squad can’t finish.

As a long standing United fan .. nice to see a Whiteside in my Youth Candidates.

Saints nearly blow a 5-0 agg lead vs Celtic .. Celtic score in 81/84/85 and tie ends 4-5 agg .

AZ (h) .. 3 players injured day before game. Elsewhere my old side St.Johnstone get knocked out by Leeds and like another old side Aberdeen they are having an awful league season. 
HT 1-1 Branch scores but Clean Sheet run ends at 14 With a Keeper o.g.

FT 4-1 ..Agg 8-1 …Branch now has 10 European goals in 18 games vs 10 League goals in 21+2 games.

Beat Glenavon in a cup SF  with 3 keepers on the pitch due to lack of fit subs.

Australia vs Fiji ( Friendly ..Rank 112th).. HT 0-0 . FT 3-0 . McCarthy scores on debut.

Australia vs Maldives ( WCQ ..Rank 184th).. HT 4-0 . Pugh scores for 5th successive game. 
Win sees us into Group stages in September. 
Iran (13) China (50) Iraq (72) Indonesia (85) India (93).

April 2052 

Mid Ulster Cup Final. VS Portadown .. 2nd string side ahead of Tottenham game.  HT 3-0. Mohammed hat trick .. Bassett hat trick …FT 6-0.

Europa QF ..Spurs (a) .. Branch again (32) HT 1-0.  My former England forward Moore levels for Spurs and an even contest ends 1-1.

Spurs (h) ..1-0 at half time … hang on until late .. go attacking with subs but can’t finish ..FT 2-0 loss.

17 of their squad worth more than my entire squad.

Achievement on the line vs Crusaders (a) … can I go a league season undefeated at last .

Rogers (3) calms the nerves .. HT 1-0. FT 1-0.

Set new points record of 110 points. Only 2 draws a league record. 36 is most wins. 0 defeats .

May 2052

Irish Cup Final vs Linfield.  Lose key player on eve of match. 
Rogers (21) and my player of the season opens the scoring. Travis (37) HT2-0

Travis error leads to 2-1 on the hour . Branch 3-1 but Linfield pull another back (75) sub Watkins ( 81) makes it 4-2 and another sub Turner (92) completes an epic match and a 5-2 Win.

TV revenue down about £4m but still substantial for a Danske Bank club.
 

Elsewhere 

Rochdale ..Carabao Cup Winners but poor league form.

Southampton .. Community Shield & League plus Super Cup & World Club Under Pogba.

Aberdeen finished in lower half of table after domestic split .. first club I have left whose form has really crashed.

Champions League is Rochdale vs Man Utd …. Rochdale lift the trophy 1-0.

Europa Leeds vs Spurs ( we lost to finalists for a 3rd year ) .. Spurs win on pens after 2-2 draw.

Usual Loan player issues with clubs now wanting them to play a higher level ( despite my European runs).

Of the 6 .. 1 will not be needed ..1 club agreement for a 4th successive year with no costs ( Watkins) .. 4 refused.

Fans Player .. Hughes ….. 

Goal .. Rogers

Signing .. Wise ( Free after 2 season loan spell from Brighton)… sets assist record of 20 from midfield .

Youngster .. McKee 

Scored a record 17 goals from corners in the league.  7 DFK also good. We were fouled against the most by some margin .. 787 in 38 games ..next was 630.  Only commuted 198 ..next best 400. 
Scored 18/20 penalties .. by our right back.

N.Ireland Player of Year … Hughes

Top Scorer ..Lawlor ( on loan from us to Linfield)

Youngster ..McKee

Used 30 players .. second highest.

Going to run U23 squad in Olympics.

Season 35

Move to new Dungannon Stadium complete .. new capacity is 7650 ( 15300 expansion) from Stangmore Park ( 5000 capacity).

Lewis Rogers trying to force a move ..I refuse .. eventually a new contract.

Fail in Brazil job attempt.

Approached by France/Italy and Holland….Take France for 2nd Time.

Dungannon ranked in Pool 3 for Champions League ..rated 49.5

NIFL Charity Shield .. Win 1-0 through an own goal.

Champions League .. Make group stages after being in Pot 3. Get PSV/Celtic/Man Utd .(WDLWW) 

After losing at Old Trafford ..Win at home against them and comes down to avoiding defeat to Celtic in game 6. .. HT losing to 10 man Celtic 1-0… level on (71) .. hang on and come second in group.

France .. Strong start .. 3 new players bloodied as I have a small pool of ageing players.

Youngster Dallas makes N.Ireland debut…. My Young Danish signing makes his Bosnian debut 🤷🏻‍♂️

Other youngsters Adair & McKee get first goals for N.I.

Jan transfer window .. Make 4 successful free transfer bids for June. 
Reality is after Schalke in Champions League unlikely to progress so building for next season and accept a bid from West Ham for Rogers ( £5m instead of £1.3m from other clubs). Blackburn & Boro match it. 
Goes to West Ham .. My first Dungannon deal (£110k compensation) .. New record sale £5m.
Also start the month with 5 injured or unwell… and take charge of game 2300 of my career.

Cardiff Loanee Watkins makes 100th league appearance in his 4th year at the club.

Start Feb by sealing title after 31 games.

Several starters want to leave at end of season.

Bet McLean Final .. Beat Linfield 2-0.   The highlight is 39yr old Keeper Vance scoring .. put him on upfront to see if I could break club Oldest scorer record and he did . I used to use keepers regularly at International level on previous FM games to keep squad fresh but tactic never really worked on FM19.

March 2052 .. Schalke win 2-1 at our home ground and despite attacking and dominating ..0-0 in return leg knocks us out at the 1st knock out stage … but have £5.8m extra in prize money than Euro runs in previous years.

April .. Lose my striker for £1m release fee to New England Revolution.

Win Mid Ulster Cup vs Warrenpoint 1-0.

May ..

Irish Cup vs Crusaders … Vance retires after the game ..new U18 coach.  I give him last 20 mins upfront to try and score again.  Win 2-0 ..double by loan striker Greaves.

Season Highlights:

1.Another unbeaten season ..82 games now…No surprise with only Crusaders a professional outfit. 

2. Record Clean Sheets in a season .. Kay ..68 games 54 clean sheets .. 16 conceded.

3. Youngest Player ( Morrison at 15y 269days) ..Beating Club (16y 39d) & League (15y 280d).

4. Vance Oldest Player (39y 357d) & Oldest Goal Scorer despite being a Keeper.(39y 273d).

5. Most League Goals ..119

6. Coming 2nd in Champions League Group and making a knock out round.

Awards

Fans Player .. Hull Loanee Delmotte.

Best Goal ..Wise

Young Player ..McKee

Signing ..Law (£1.8m from Southampton).

League Player of the Year .. My back up CB ..Batty

Young League Player… Watkins ..who after 4 loan seasons joins on a free. ( 49 league goals in 107 games).

Elsewhere ..Man Utd pip Saints on last day to win Premier … first in 15 years.

United also see off Saints to win Champions League.

Leeds hold off Barcelona to win Europa … last won this 1971 and no trophy since 1992 Premier.

Celtic see off St.Johnstone & Kilmarnock …..Aberdeen slip to 8th. Rangers 7th.

I reject Chelsea interest.

Season 36 …2053/54.

Most Popular by shirt sales …Watkins/Wise/Knight/Dallas/Greaves

Out … Change of players as 3 stalwarts ask to leave for new challenges….2 change their minds.

In…6 Free transfers sorted by May .. 5 for the First Team.

In…2 more re-join on loan.

As August arrives .. 7 in ( no fees just 5 free and 2 loans) and 8 out. 
With early round European ties I have to get transfers done early.

3 of those signed Free had loan spells at the club. ( Hughes / Watkins / Lammers).

France .. After seeing off Belguim in SF ..England await in the final of International League.

I have won 7 titles with England (2019-2049) & 1 with France (2035) 

A battle of top 2 ranked sides.

Skillen is 1 goal away from equalling Rashford record of 128 goals .

The New England manager is a regen with no experience .

My Young Right back has gone AWOL .. no reason given .. just says Abs.

Tight match but finally score with Chauvin (85) … Win 1-0.

NIfL ..Lose Charity shield with my mainly reserve and youth squad FT 0-0 ..Pens 5-4 to Crusaders.

After breezing through 3 qualifiers and Seeded in 3rd pot ( Co eff 67.5) .

Get OM /PSV/Leeds ..PSV in group last season… Aiming for 3rd place. As I beat PSV twice last time.
Start OM (h).0-0 ..13-2 on shots to us. A capacity 7650 enjoy a surprise point.

PSV (a) .. They lost 6-1 to Leeds in game 1 … Win 4-0 .

Leeds(a) . Held to a controversial 0-0 in the league with 2 disallowed goals .. and a FA warning before this match ..gets worse as 57 mins of holding out ended by 2 quick goals .. Dallas pulls a late goal back .Lose 2-1

Leeds (h) .. Injuries affect team … Lose 1-0

On loan Diaz gets first international goal.

McMullan N.I. Debut.

O’Driscoll gets first international goal.

Gacic gets first goals for Serbia.

Have gone from Defensive to Balanced this season in the league/cups .. oddly it’s reduced the shots against us.

  Richard Morrison (16y 37d) is New Youngest Dungannon (Was 16y 131d) & Bet Fred Cup scorer . .(Cup ..Was 16y 63d).

Bet McLean Cup  (QF)21 players On International duty . costs me dear as I lose 3-2 vs Portadown. 
2 youngsters make debuts.

Won eventually by Crusaders 1-0 vs lower league Ballyclare.

After 2 weeks on hols ( In real life)   … comeback to no adverse affects of my cup exit from the board .

Both Celtic & Leicester offer me job interviews that I decline.

Later Utd and Spurs .

25/11 … Back to Game 5 of ECC (a) at OM .. Need to win to try and get through.  
Goal down in 31 seconds 🤦🏻‍♂️.. HT 3-0 down. Both centre halves after going 5-0 down rated at under 6.0

Lose 6-1 … My best centre back rated 4.7 the other 5.7 . Winger 5.9…. Awful.

PSV left to play but they have lost all 5 games so through to Europa league.

Europa League ..draw old club St.Johnstone in 1st knock out.

Jan 2054 .. linked with Chelsea …. Elsewhere Pogba leaves Saints (2nd in Prem) for Villa ( 10th) 🤷🏻‍♂️

Watkins breaks club record with his 57th goal league goal.( Also has 25 cup goals)…..Timmy Adamson had 56 previously.

JAN ..transfer window sees No new signings … 4 x loaned .. 4 x free and 1 sold for £10k.

Now have 9 out on loan ..2 earning me 8k/ month plus in fees.

3.2.54… Chance to seal league title … McMahon makes 125th league appearance having spurned multiple transfer bids for him.   Injuries to RB and AMR.
Game 30 at Cliftonville… 1-0 down (19 mins) .. HT 2-1 up. (39/45). FT 2-1 . 
Title number 5 with an avg squad age of 23……Career title 26.

Quickiest title … has gone 32 .. 31 ..and now this year 30 games to achieve the title.

Club now have 6 Championships ….Linfield 62.

Europa (a) St.Johnstone ..HT 0-0. FT 0-0 ..a game of few chances.

(h) .. Main striker Gacic out injured. HT 0-0.  Dallas scores (61) but I have 3 on yellow cards. Mair (72) levels for St.J. 
Go out on away goal rule.

A lack of young French players is affecting my squad choices as I cannot draft some for friendlies due to lack of U21 numbers.

Friendly vs St,Maarten ..just for goals and confidence …. Win 11-0 

Ferris ( out on loan) … makes N.Ireland debut.

Lammers makes Dutch debut.

Debut  for recently signed Youth candidate .. 15 yr 268 days old J.Rea ( Breaks youngest player record by 1 day from R.Morrison). in Mid Ulster Cup Final.(20th title). Win 3-1 vs Newry.

End season unbeaten again …120 games without a league defeat…. Pass 2400 manager games.

Irish Cup to end season vs Crusaders who have 2 trophies already.( Top scorer Gacic injured).

Linfield have 47 titles …Dungannon 6.

HT 0-0 . FT 1-0 ..Back up striker O’Driscoll (91st min).

Southampton win Premier again ( Rochdale/Utd/Leeds ….City 14th).

ECC Leeds vs PSG….PSG Win 2-1 aet.

Europa Rochdale vs Bayern …Bayern Win 1-0 aet.   King sent off after (52) . Bayern winner (111).

I can’t recall the last time an English Team didn’t win one of the European titles.

Kilmarnock Win the Scottish League ( Celtic/Aberdeen/Rangers/St.J). Rangers win Scottish Cup.

Summary of Achievements … Being more attacking has worked.

Gacic breaks scoring records League scoring record with 32 ( T.Harkin on Institute 2050/51 & this season had 26).( Brown of Portadown also got 26 this season).

Broke club records ( Rogers 17 in the league) & ( Branch 33 for the season)…Gacic has 41 from 42 appearances.

Also breaks MoM award with 11 ..was Rodrigues 8 for the club.

Gacic wins Europe Top Marksman .

Knight 15 assists in the league breaks P.Harkin & Harrison both Portadown shared 13.

Knight 21 overall breaks Wise 20 assist record.

On loan Youngster ..Scannell (Striker) wins BSC Young League player & Top scorer with 15. ( Ards).

Season Awards ..

 Gacic … Fans Player & Signing & Young Player……Also gets League Player of the Year.

Dallas gets League Young Player.

Average crowd 6898 beats old record of 6821.

McKee avg rating of 7.94 beats Hill (7.93).

Finances down £9m after early exit in Europa…..Still earn £41m 

 A. Ben Thabet … Watford Loanee extends contract and I give him French debut in time for World Cup.

Season 37.

Dungannon move up 3 places to 22nd in Europe Rankings.

Danske 46th up from 50th.( Was 71st 5 years ago).

This season I will go Positive/Attack .

France in World Cup.

Group ..Game 1 vs Tunisia .  HT 3-0.   FT 4-0.

Group ..Game 2 vs Canada .  HT 2-0 .. Playing with 10 men after (38). FT .. 5-0.

Round 2 ..Uruguay .. HT 0-1 down. FT .. Shock loss 1-0 loss. I expect to get sacked…tough media session…I resign after World Cup.

World Cup Final …..Argentina beat Wales 1-0 aet.

 I take the Mexico job…World Rank 5th.

(Fr) vs Nicaragua. HT 7-0. FT 8-0…. Lack of DM & LWB & AMR cover.

(Fr) Away vs South Korea ..HT 2-0. FT 6-0

(Fr) Away vs Honduras … FT 4-2 win. 4-0 defensive subs made.

(Fr) Away vs Ivory Coast .. HT 0-0 ..FT 3-0

(Fr) Away vs England .. HT 1-0 ( Only 3 of my old team in their squad). FT 1-1.

(Fr) Away vs Wales ..HT 1-3( Goal down in 18 seconds).FT 1-5 Win .. not bad vs World Cup finalists.

(Fr) Away vs Peru ..Win 5-0 …. United withdraw Keeper .. may drop him . Lose 3 injured in run up to Game.

(Fr) Away vs Paraguay .. HT 0-0. FT 2-0.

New Season .. Clear out some established names …. Refuse to sell others.( Kay / McMahon / Gacic/ Mcakee / Dallas).

Smash Club and Irish Transfer Record for N.Ireland international Clark (£7.5m) From League 1 Barnsley.

Competitions ( Domestic).

NI Charity Shield .. Follow up 4-0 league win a week earlier by again beating Crusaders 2-0 for first trophy.

Bet McLean Cup vs Crusaders … Win 5-1 ( Went a goal down in 16 seconds ).

Danske League sealed with a draw after 32 Games .. 6 in a row for me.

Mid Ulster Cup Final ..  vs Glenavon … Win 2-0 .

Irish Cup Final .. vs Portadown .. Miss another penalty .. sub Gacic (73) …Win 1-0.

Champions League ..Playoff .. (h) . Lose 1-0 .. shock result and ends club record 37 game unbeaten run.

(a) .. Win 3-0 and miss a penalty .

Group Stage .. Marseille/AC Milan/ Hadjuk….Win opening 3 games before OM win game 4 (4-2).

Key game is away at AC in game 5 .. come from behind (1-2) despite another missEd pen too qualify.

1st Knock Out … (a) Celtic .. despite playing against 10 men for 54 mins it ends 0-0.

(h) . Stay with Positive mentality against struggling Celtic (4th in Prem).HT 1-0. FT 2-0 Gacic (45/85).

QF ..Porto (a) .. Gacic scores two including a penalty .. missed 3/6. Win 2-0. Stayed Positive.

(h) .. Dallas(5) Watkins (43) ..HT 2-0. Watkins second makes it a surprise 3-0 Win ..Agg 5-0.

SF .. All 3 possible opponents I have Managed .. Rochdale(1st in Prem) / United (2nd)Saints.(3rd)

(h) Rochdale ..Stick with Positive mentality .. 2-0 down after (9/14). Gacic scores for HT 2-1.

Disaster start 3-1 (46) .. 4-1 down is soon 4-2 ( Gacic again ) sub Watkins makes it 4-3 ..Lose 4-3 but what a game.

(a) . Need a miracle against the team who have won Premier League & Carabao Cup this season…Nagelsmann now has 4 league wins and 8 domestic cups. 
Still going for it as I have all season ..Positive Mentality.

My former player Leigh sees Red (30) .. Gacic ( pen 45) ..HT 1-0 but going out on away goals.

FT ..1-0 win but still fail to join Man Utd in the final. 

Achievements :

Oct 2054 ..Dallas gets first N.Ireland goal.

Oct 2054 .. Kay makes 100th league appearance.

Nov 2054 ..Clark gets first N.Ireland goal.

Nov ..New Positive approach breaks Bet McLean scoring record in SF ..now upto 21 scored.

Nov ..Gacic scores his 50th league goal ( when scoring his 4th vs lowly Ballymena).

Dec ..New League record for consecutive wins broken ( was 27).

Dec ..Dallas joins Watkins in coming out as gay.

Jan .. Club & Nation record transfers as Cardiff & Leicester raid my squad.

Feb .. McMahon 150th League game.

Feb ..Gacic scores league goal 71 to pass Watkins .. should have earlier but missed a number of penalties ..also broke individual record with 5 in the match vs Newry…3 players had scored 4 previously.

Mar ..Walsh makes N.Ireland debut.

Mar ..David makes Irish debut.

April ..O’Driscoll takes his goal scoring record back with 6 vs Cliftonville.( Passes 50 league goals for club).

April ..Young makes debut and now youngest player by 1 day ( 15y 268d). 

May .. Gacic ..Most overall goals 62 . Most league goals 42..club and Danske… Most MoM (15).

May ..Lammers sets new avg rating of 8.07.

Fans Player .. McMahon .. I don’t agree.

Goal ..Knight

Signing ..Wheatley

Young Player .. McKee

League Player .and Golden Boot …...Gacic …. Also gets ECC Golden Boot .

Young Player ..Davis

Top Shirt Sellers .. Watkins / Dallas / O’Driscoll / Gacic / Knight

Season highlights elsewhere:

Nov .. 18 managers sacked /.vacancies available.

Dundee United win Betfred Cup from Hamilton.( They are 11th in Prem). First win since 1981.

Saints beat Leicester on pens to win FA Cup.

Kilmarnock retain Scottish Premier…St.Johnstone lost last 3 games to blow it.

Season 38.

Gacic confirmed as European Golden boot for last season. 42 goals = 63 points.

Danske Bank moves up 11 places to 35th.

Dungannon move up 9 places to 13th in European Rankings.

N.Ireland move up 2 places to 9th in Euro coefficients. … Automatic Group Stages in ECC and Europa.

2 Key loan players not being allowed back.

Break transfer record for club and nation .. King £10m from Boro.
 

Mexico  start American Nations League.

Game 1 …(h’ vs Barbados. Ht 4-0.   FT 6-0.

Game 2 … (a)vs Honduras. HT 4-0.  FT 6-0

Game 3 …Came after Gold Cup Games below) vs (h) Honduras .. Chavez cap 100.  HT 2-0. FT 4-1

Game 4 .. Oct 2055 .. Dead rubber vs Barbados.. Ibarra (CB) 125th cap .. HT 4-0 FT 7-0

Friendly vs Fiji .. HT 6-0 ..FT 10-0. …Rodriguez makes 7 assists.

Friendly vs Finland ( Mar 2056) ..Win 2-1

SF vs Jamaica .. ( March 2056) .. HT 0-0 FT 1-0.

Final ..March 2056 vs arch rivals ..USA … Rank 4 vs Rank 25 ..Should win this and my first American Nations.

HT ..Albarran scores 75th goal for us ..USA no shots at all..lead 1-0

FT .. USA finally shoot after 70 mins … but not much else and secure Win 1-0

North American Gold Cup

Game 1 .. vs Antigua .. Lara makes 125th appearance. HT 1-0 . FT 3-0

Game 2 .. vs Guyana .. HT 4-0. FT 7-0

Game 3 .. vs Canada .. HT 3-0.FT 3-0

QF …vs Haiti .. ( Jamaica and USA knocked out this round).. HT 5-0.  FT 10-0 … 8 Haiti players rated 5/10.

SF …. vs Costa Rica .. HT 2-0 .. FT 3-0

Final .. vs Canada .. HT 1-0 .. FT 4-0.   No surprise as 5th ranked beat 36th ranked.

My 1st Gold Cup.   Mexico 17th triumph.

Oct (fr) 12th International since June ..vs Scotland(Rank 22nd)  (away) .. 1-1 ..concede late equaliser.

Oct (fr) Away in Iceland .. Albarran gets 70th goal.  HT 4-0.  Lopez gets 40th goal. FT 7-0

Achievements

July 2055 .. Watkins 150th League appearance.

August …. Lose Charity Shield 1-0 vs Portadown .. miss a penalty on 7 mins and dominate stats. ..L.Crawford makes debut.
Sept ..Parr gets N.Ireland debut and scores.

Sept .. I reach 2500 games in charge vs AC Milan…ends 1-1 away in Milan.

Oct .. Lose my Keeper Kay for 5-6 weeks Just in time for ECC game 2 . Win 1-0 away.

Oct ..Highest league win 9-0 vs Newry ..Walsh deputising in goal yet to concede.

Oct ..Young U20 midfielder P.Rea grabs 4 in a senior game…also Goal of the Month.

Oct ..19yr old Davis scores 1st senior goal .

Nov ..Kay returns but Gacic now out for 3 weeks. U18 King makes debut upfront as a sub.

Dec ..Adair ( one of my first signings ) makes 100th league appearance.

Dec .. Game 20 and concede 1st goal of the season vs Linfield. Still playing Positive mentality in all matches.

Dec ..Xmas Day cup tie sees youngster J.Rea scores his first senior goals. Gibson makes his debut.

Jan 2056.. Loanee Menga scores on debut. 17yr old Montgomery makes debut.

Feb 2056 ..Game 29 .. Keeper Kay makes 150th League appearance .. another clean sheet.

Feb ..Win with back ups in Bet Maclean Cup .. Ards ( Top of BSC)lose all discipline plate on and have 3 sent off.

Feb ..ECC back vs Monaco.(a) Early Red for them after we score .. but they dominate possession ..a win 1-0

Feb .. Game 31 ..Win League with Crusaders a distant 2nd…Gacic passes 100 league goals next game.

Feb .. Southampton offer me an interview .. I’m trying to get too 20 seasons here and only 7 in.

March .. 2 Youth candidates given debuts in 2-0 win. M.Dallas 15y 222days is now youngest Irish Cup player ( was 15y 282days for Warrenpoint). Also clubs Youngest Player.

March ..ECC vs Monaco (h) … Gone Cautious … 1-0 (20 mins Wheatley) .. Parr (71) .. Agg 3-0.  Man U next.

March .. Mid Ulster Cup Final .. Back ups squad used ..HT 5-0 with Knight assisting 4 against our lower league semi pro opponents. FT 6-0. Knight has 5 assists ( new record) 23 goals betters record of 19 in tournament.

April … McMahon 175th League game vs arch rivals Crusaders .. 2-0 down in 14 mins .. only conceded 2 in previous 32 games .. fight back HT 4-2 up. Win 6-2 away .. great game.

April ECC QF (a) vs Man Utd … Utd Loanee excluded. Cautious mentality. Saints just thrashed them 5-1.

HT .. 2-2 ..but were 2 up. FT 3-3. Gacic with leveller .. but 3 away goals .

(h) 0-0 and away goal win over defending champions United. Bayern next and no English teams left.

April .. Knight makes 150th league appearance in Game 38 … Win 3-1 for 1st Ever 100% winning Season.

April ..ECC SF vs Bayern (h) .. Knight (5) dream start .. Clark(33) ..HT 2-0 and Bayern yet to shoot.

        FT ..Knight (51) for 3-0 but Bayern finally attack and goal back (79) ..Shock 3-1 win.

May ..ECC vs Bayern (a) .. Despite Cautious approach again 2-0 down (22mins) but Clark (26/39) restores agg lead . HT 2-2 .  
FT .. After var deny us a goal Clark completes hat trick (61) … Win 3-2 ..agg 6-3 ….Dreamland.

Nou Camp for Final vs OM … should be biggest ever crowd for my team … 107 years as a club ..biggest game.

The irony is my Mexico Star Striker is OM star who has 4 goals against Dungannon previously.

FINAL … Cautious approach …HT 0-0 we are yet to shoot on target.  FT 0-0 and still no shots on target.

AET … Gacic ( 92 )  ..OM level (108) …Full Time 1-1.  Penalties - lots of saves win 4-3

My 5th Win …Man Utd x3 / Augsburg & now Dungannon. 

Right up there with my greatest achievements .

May ..Irish Cup Final … HT 2-0 FT 2-0.

End of Season.

Man City …First title in 11 years.

Kilmarnock .. 3 titles in a row … Celtic 5th.

Gacic has new high rating of 8.24 ….Also League Top scorer despite injury lay off.

Knight 16 assists and new League record….His 25 overall also breaks his own record.

Clark ..Player of the Year.

Davis ..Young Player of the Year./ Fans Young Player.

Watkins ..Fans Player….I agree. 
Goal ..Youngster P.Rea.

Signing Liam King.

6 Players in ECC Team of the Year. Davis and Clark win Defender/Midfielder awards.

Used 30 players ..Linfield 32 only team to use more.

Try Mexico U23 management for first Olympic Games…can only find 13 players I can pick.

Have to hand back to asst mgr as I can’t find any keepers ..U23 squad still in Copa America and national pool not big enough….Reminds me of CHAN tournament with Ivory Coast.

Mexico B are in the Copa America but I am not managing First game but take over after a draw.

Peru .. HT 1-0 FT 2-0.

Bolivia ..HT 1-0 FT 3-0

Neither game counting towards my career totals…but is giving players caps.

QF vs Brazil … HT 1-0 ..FT 3-2 .. pegged back twice before winning. 

SF vs Colombia ..HT 1-0. FT 2-1

Final vs Uruguay .. As per Last 2 matches ..we are underdogs. HT 0-1 own goal from club less winger. 0 shots.

FT ..Change front 3 and finally have a shot (75) .. go 2-0 down soon after…Lose 2-0.

Dubois makes French debut.

Shirt Sales ..Gacic / Clark / O’Driscoll / Watkins / Parr.

Danske League up 3 to 32nd in Euro Comp Rankings.

Dungannon up 5 to 8th in Euro Club Rankings.

N.Ireland down 1 to 10th in Euro nation co efficient.

Season 39

MEXICO….Ranking upto 3rd.

Mexico…U23 Olympic Squad . ..Take back control but their are ineligible players in squad 🤷🏻‍♂️but come tournament time I am allowed to play the Star 32yr old keeper.

Game 1 vs Saudi Arabia .. HT 3-0 FT 4-1 …Game not counting on my career stats.  Lose a midfielder injured.

Game 2 . vs Belguim ..HT 1-2 down after leading. FT 1-3 ..hammered by a better squad. Lose a midfielder.

Never lost 2 players in 2 games from a tournament before.

Knocked out by Turkey.

Aug 2056 … (Fr away) vs Serbia 0-0 but 5 players with 45min instructions.

Aug ( Fr away) vs Cyprus .. 3-0 ..disappointing against 10 men.

Oct .. WCQ NAM (h) vs Haiti … Win 4-0

Oct .. WCQ NAM (a) vs Trinidad … Mercado gets cap 100. Win 4-1

Nov ..WCQ (h) vs Barbados … Win 5-0

Nov ..WCQ (a) vs Haiti … Win 6-0

Mar 2057 .. WCQ vs Trinidad (h) .. Rodriquez 50th cap and scores) ..Win 5-0

Mar 2058 ..WCQ vs Barbados (a) .. Win 3-1.    Mucino-1st goal.

DUNGANNON

My longest time at any Club as I pass 7 years in the job with Dungannon.

Transfer News.

Both Chelsea & Man Utd refuse to re loan their Midfielders.

IN

Break transfer record resigning Dallas from St.Johnstone ( amazing how new found success attracted him).£10.75m.

Free signing ..Schwarz (CB)from Rochdale.

Free signing ..former Loanee Magee(RB) hence King allowed to go.

Fail to get Harvey due to Excessive pay demands .,.until large agent payment .

OUT

L.King (£45m) ..smashes £12.5m previous record … after bidding war with Leeds/City…City win.

Kay ( £20m) to Chelsea after sulking I turned down previous bids.

Turner ( £2,5m to Tranmere ).

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS

O’Driscoll makes 125th league appearance.

Lammers makes 100th league appearance.

A.Hudson makes Scotland debut.

Whiteside scores first senior goal.

Injuries (Nov) see debuts for U18’s .. Dillon/Lecky & Henry ( also scores a debut goal).

Gacic makes 100th league appearance & 150th career league goal. Reaches 200 career goals.(285 games).

Harvey 350th Career Game.

Rafferty & Wright make debuts.

Burke & Montgomery get first senior goals.

McKee reaches 125th league appearance and scores.

Watkins passes 100 league goals .

Knight Reaches 450 career games/ 175 league appearances for the club.

Request to expand stadium granted … next season over 10000 in ground.

COMPETITIONS

NIFL Shield … vs Crusaders …Win 3-0

Euro Super Cup. Vs Aston Villa ..Lose 1-0 …119th minute goal.

ECC .. Group .Qualify (W4D1L1). / 1st KO ..Porto ( Win 4-0 agg). QF .Barcelona ( win 5-3 agg with late goals).

SF ..Lose away to OM 3-1 ..Mexico star striker scores against me again. 
SF ..HT at home 2-2 ( 3-5 agg) ..go all out attack … Ends 2-2. 

World Club Championship .. (SF) vs Al-Ahly .Won 2-0. ( Final) vs River Plate .. Win 2-1

Bet McLean Cup Final vs Cliftonville … Win 4-0.

Dankse League Game 33 vs nearest rivals Linfield for title…. Win 3-0 .

Mid Ulster Cup Final … Rotated squad thrash 10 man Portadown. 8-0

Irish Cup Final vs Institute … Win 4-0

Clark .. Fans Player / Young Player … League Player of the Year.

O’Driscoll .. Best Goal

Signing ..Dallas 

Gacic ..League Top Scorer.

Davis ..Best Rookie.

OM beat City 1-0 in Champions League Final…..first Win since 1993.

Man City ..Win Premier League again ..plus Community Shield.

Leeds beat City to Win Carabao Cup.

Unoted pip Villa 2-1 for FA cup.

Celtic win Scottish League.  Aberdeen win Scottish Cup.

Season 40.  2057/58

Mexico

June 2057 .. Nations league vs Honduras (h) .. Win 7-0

June .. Friendly vs Panama (a) .. Asst mgr retires and struggling to replace . Win 4-0

July ..Confed cup starts :

Game 1 .. Argentina .. come from behind with 10 men ( injury ) to win 3-2.

Game 2 .. South Korea .. Godinez gets cap 150. .. Win 4-0….Gonzalez 1st goal.

Game 3 .. Tunisia B .. Thrash 10 men …Win 5-0

SF ..Turkey as reigning Euro Champs  vs Argentina ( no idea why here)..Rank 7 see of Rank 2.

SF vs Uruguay …. Win 1-0

Final vs Turkey ..Go in as favourites in rankings … Best CB is suspended. ..Win 1-0

Mexico ..3rd Confed Cup Win. …My 3rd win with England / France & now Mexico.

M.Albarran retires after 147 games and 87 goals .

I retire from Mexico … eye on N.Ireland job….Falien to 64th in ranking.

N.Ireland … Take over in August 2057…. Change the Captain. Only 70 goals between whole squad and most by 2 players ( O’Driscoll and Rogers).

Euro Table ..Serbia 9pts / Spain 8pts / Turkey 3pts / N.Ireland 2pts / Belarus 0pts.

Aug ..World Cup Qualifier (h). vs Serbia (43rd Ranked) … Up against my former striker Gacic. …Win 2-0.
Quinn scores twice on debut …Youngest scorer at 17y 8d.

Harkin gets harsh late Red card.

Euro .. away vs Belarus (116th) … Win 7-2. Parr gets a hat trick. McMullan 1st goal on 34th appearance .

Oct vs (h)Luxembourg (friendly ranked 191st)..Lewis gets 50th cap and scores .  Win 10-0..not a record.

Harkin and Crawford get 1st international goals.

Oct vs (h) Turkey ..Crunch qualifier…1 point covers Top 4 teams. Win 2-0 with a Quinn brace ..Quinn has scored in 4 successive games. First win over Turkey in 6 attempts. Go Top as Serbia/Spain draw.

Move up 2 in the rankings to 62nd.

Nov vs Serbia (a)( WCQ rank 47th).. Gacic injured…. Win 4-1 …Parr hat trick.  Quinn fails to score.

Nov vs Belarus (h) ( WCQ rank 115th)…Make 8 changes .. Win 6-0….Cleary makes debut.

 Qualified for World Cup for only 4th time….Move up 1 to 61st.

June ..World. CUp friendly vs Turks & Caicos … Win 8-0……. Douglas & McAllister makes debuts. Lowest crowd record 12051 ( was 12145). 

June ..World Cup friendly vs San Marino … Win 11-0 ..Quinn hat trick . Kinsella 1st goal. 2 red cards for visitors.

Group…. Ivory Coast (14th)/Jamaica (38th)/N.Ireland 

Danske League up 1 to 9th.

Transfer News.

Chelsea have already sold Keeper Kay after 1 season .. netting a bonus £2m in sell on fees.

Playing at Windsor Park all season.
 

Achievements for Dungannon..

June ..Wheatley first England cap.

June ..Shirt sales … Gacic /Parr/Dallas/Clark/Watkins.

August ..16yr old Quinn scores on debut.

Aug ..McKee reaches 200 league appearances. McMullan 150 league appearances.Dallas 100th game.(scores twice ).

Aug ..Rouyard & Douglas 16yr olds makes debuts. 19 yr old Cleary makes debut.

Aug ..O’Driscoll scores 100th league goal.

Oct ..McKee reaches 300 career games.  Harvey 400 career games.
Oct ..18 yrs old Graham makes debut on right wing.

Oct ..League winning run ends as held 1-1 vs Crusaders who missed a penalty.

Oct … Record Club/ League win vs Newry 11-0.

Nov ..Break Gate receipt record (£325k vs Ajax ) .. now £400k vs Bayern. 
Nov ..Dubois gets 1st France goal.

Nov .. Davis 100th league game.

Dec ..Clark scores 100th career goal…Makes 100th league appearance.

Dec ..Watkins 150th career goal.  Wheatley 250th league game.

Jan 2058 … Make 1 key signing from Brentford .. versatile N.Ireland midfield / right back .. Greenwood.

Makes debut vs Donegal Celtic in the Irish cup ..so does 16 yrs olds McLaughlin & Dillon & 17yr old Hazley

Greenwood scores twice on debut. 18yr old Robinson-Welch makes debut as sub.

Jan ..O’Driscoll reaches 250 league games. Knight 350 league games/ 200 for Dungannon…he scores A hat trick. McMullan 175th league game for the club.

Jan ..Record win vs Carrick ( 13-0) against 9 men for nearly an hour.

Feb ..My 9th title secured …in my 599th club game…2700th career game.

Feb ..Youngster Quinn on track to break League and  club scoring records. 10 of my starters are over 6ft tall

League goals scored record broken with games to spare .. many more sendings off vs Dungannon this season have helped.

Mar .. Adair makes 125th appearance ..one of my first 3 signings with European money success.

Mar … Knight 500 career games. David 200 career games.

Mar..Break gate receipts vs Barcelona ..up £25k to £425k….again set at Windsor Park.

Mar .. After 2 good youth intake years .. only 1 reasonable looking prospect…whose Italian 🤷🏻‍♂️

April .. Achieved 20 consecutive games without conceding Trophy on FM 19.

April .. New 12000 capacity stadium expansion built.

April ..Wheatley 100th League game for Dungannon….New records 181 league goals & Quinn 50 league goals.

Competitions 

Aug… NIFL Charity Shiled vs Institute ….. Win 4-0.     8th Title

Feb… Bet McLean Cup vs Crusaders …… Win 4-0.     9th Title

Mar .. Mid Ulster Cup vs Portadown …… Win 2-0.     24th Title ..4 behind Portadown. 15yr old Bartoli debut.

May .. Irish Cup Final vs Crusaders …. Win 2-0            10th title. 
June ..ECC Final vs Rochdale …. My old team under Pogba have won both domestic cups. I thrashed another old team United 7-3 agg in the semi finals.

Final … 1-0 down (31 secs) .. Quinn (12) levels … HT 1-1. Clark free kick (62) ..2-1 up and win our 2nd Champions League ( same as Rochdale have).

Other Titles

Arsenal win Premier League ( 1st since 03/04)…biggest shock is Saints 10th.

Celtic regain League Title …Dundee as shock 3rd.

Player Records

McMullan new High avg 8.35 and Player of the Year.

Quinn 50 league goals and 12 league & 7 other POM and Young Player of the Year. ECC Golden Boot (16) European Golden Boot. 

Clark ..Goal of the Season.

Shirts ..Quinn / Clark / Dallas / Parr / Watkins

Season 41.

World Cup ..Ranked 60th 

Early shock has Canada beating France.( Dubois of Dungannon featured)… they still qualify.

Game 1 vs Jamaica (39th) … My Former team Ivory Coast have already beaten Jamaica.

Clark(18) McMullan (22) as we lead 2-1 against 10 men on stroke of HT .

Dallas (84) caps off a 3-1 Win.

Game 2  vs Ivory Coast ( Rank 14) .. Quinn (4) ..1st World Cup Goal …HT 1-0

Clark (46) Rogers(60)…late goal back (87) …FT 3-1

Round 2 vs Ecuador ( Rank 42nd) … Clark (9) (72) (89) Quinn(92) Win 4-0.  England out to Russia.

Round 3 vs Uruguay ( Rank 9th) .. Quinn (pen 45+2) HT 1-0.  Clark (62)  Own Goal … Win 3-0

QF vs Russia ( Rank 14th) .. Adair 50th cap. Quinn (6) .. Russia level (44) HT 1-1.

Quinn(56) but our Keeper gifts a leveller (59) ..var pen gives Quinn his hat trick (61)  Win 3-2 

Argentina knock out France. Swiss beat Russia. Colombia beat Croatia.

SF vs Swiss ( Rank 8th) … McKee banned.  Dallas (13) dream start Quinn(27) HT 2-0. FT 2-0 
Colombia beat Argentina 1-0.

Final vs Colombia ( Rank 4th) ..We are now ranked 39th from 60th. McMullan injured in semi final misses out.

Colombia are current Olympic Champions.

 .. 1-0 down (14) .. level through Harkin(21) … 2-1 down (46 secs later) ..3-1 (32) ….HT 3-1 down.

Go attacking …. Garcia completes hat trick 4-1 down .. Quinn(80) 4-2 but 2 goals (82/83) and FT 6-2 loss.

Quinn best Young Player / Best Player and Golden Boot with 8.

September 2058 … International League Div B ..Holland (13th) and Ukraine ( 39th joint with N.Ireland ).

Dropped a striker and brought in another Midfielder from World Cup squad ..lose another to injury.

Elsewhere 1st cap (England) for centre back Schwarz.

Holland (a) .. Narrow 2-1 win.  Quinn & Crawford.

Ukraine (h) .. Win 2-0 despite Parr late red card. Collins breaks Jennings cap record.( 120th Game).

Oct 2058 ..Friendly vs DR Congo … Win 4-1 ..Quinn x3 & O’Driscoll….McMullan injured for Holland Game.

Oct 2058 ..Int League vs Holland (h) .. HT 0-0. Dutch down to ten after 50 mins. Quinn(95) for a 1-0 Win.

O’Neill of Crusaders makes debut as injury replacement for McMullan. Ranking up to 36.

Nov 2058 ..Friendly vs Israel ( Rank 64th) .. McMullan gets 50th cap.31yr old Inter Milan player  Gowdy 1st cap after switching from England. …Dominate but held 0-0
Nov Int League vs Ukraine (a) .. 2 suspended ( McKee / Rogers) . Quinn(26) Dallas(36) ..HT 2-0.

Sub Crawford on to give Parr a rest scores (68) …Win 3-0.

N.Ireland are Promoted.

March 2059 ..Hill switches from England to N.I … improves right wing option.

Euro Qual vs Gibraltar (198th)...weakest in group ( England / Scotland / North Macedonia & Gibraltar ).

They play England 3 days before ..Hill set for debut. Clark 50th cap. 
Game 1 (a) ..Douglas (43 secs) Quinn ( 8 pen / 15 ) Red card for Gib after 12 mins….Clark (22) Quinn hat trick (41 / 45+3) HT 6-0.  O’Driscoll x2 / Clark & Rea and Hill on debut complete a FT 11-0.

June 2058 ..double header with Scotland …They drop my star Scottish DM .. good for my chances.

(a) .. HT 3-1 ( Douglas set up by Quinn …then Quinn twice includes a pen). FT 3-2

(h) .. HT 1-0 ..Quinn on the counter. FT 2-0 …a late Quinn goal seals a great win.

Dungannon ..Top European Club Rankings.

Transfers 

Sign a 57yr old to set a new oldest player recor…Hagiu…from Municipal D….great mentor stats.

Find a 60 yr old at same Romanian club …. 2 older players do not allow me to access them.

( Break player/scorer records ..both retire end of season).
Looking at Chelsea as they got relegated …sign 2.

Tenorio .. Break club and Nation record with £50m fee for the Peru left back.

Frimann joins for £15m ..20yr old Danish midfielder.

Stadium .. latest expansion due to be built by 8/11/58 … 1500 reduction until then.( Corners still have no seats).

14.11.58 new 15300 all seater ready. ..Opening game vs Monaco in ECC .Win 2-0 .. in part with VAR help.

Jan Transfer Window 2059.

New club / nation record sale ..Dubois goes to PSG £60m.  A Saudi team was in for him .. never used to get them bidding.

Club legend Watkins ( former leading League scorer for club) leaves for Livingston .. felt fair to give more game time for a fantastic club servant with 111 league goals in 230 games.

Trophies

NIFL … vs Crusaders …. Win 6-0 ….. Played vs 10 men from 2-0 up…3rd successive game opponents sent off ( Opening 2 league games saw me playing vs 9 ). Record winning score in the NIFL.

Euro Super Cup .. Villa again in our 2nd Final of this contest …. Lose 1-0 despite dominating 1st half.

World Club Championship vs Racing Club … VAR rob us the lead and Racing against run of play score HT1-0.

Gamble with 3 subs and all out attack ..Quinn levels (69). FT 1-1. AET .. 1-1.

Penalties 3-0 as Harvey saves all 3.

Win number 2 in the competition for Dungannon …Personally title 7 …. Man Utd have 11 titles.

Danske Premier League ..Won after 28 games . Title 10 for me in a row.. No surprise based on finances.

 Bet McLean Cup vs Crusaders ..FT 0-0 …Win 2-0 aet.

Mid Ulster Cup ..vs Portadown ..1st half blitz wins it 4-0.

Irish Cup Final vs Coleraine …. Win 8-0

 Champions League .. saw off Spurs/Monaco in group .. then off to Augsburg who have my name adorn the Ground. Won away 2-0. 1-1 Home ..next Barcelona in QF. After 0-0 away win home leg 4-0.

SF ..Real Madrid ..Win away 2-0 .Home leg … Win 2-0 ..Quinn scores 2 to pass 100 goals.

Final vs Rochdale …. Repeat of last year. 5 meetings ..3-2 to Dale. They are playing there best CB at RB ?

1-0 down ( pen save but rebound scored) 2-0 down soon after ..disaster first 23 mins. HT 2-0 ..Go attacking

3-0 down by the hour ..all out attack now … Lose 3-0

Elsewhere 

Aston Villa win Premier League. Leeds /Rochdale & City complete Top 4.

City win Carabao cup vs Leeds.

Saints win FA Cup vs City.

Achievements.

New avg attendance breaks 9721 (2057) now 12863….. holds 15300 now.

Quinn 62 league goals ( 50 year before )….most man of match in league (17 ..was 12).

Parr 21 assists in league ( was 16)…Beats overall club record with 27.

Harvey 34 clean sheets ( was 32) ..Beats club record with 56.

Quinn wins all awards…including European Golden Boot again.

Shirts … Quinn/Dallas/Clark/Parr/McMullan.

Season 42.

Danske League up 7 to 20th.

Euro Club Ranking …1st.

Changed The Pitch to bigger measurements and going Wingers over Inside Forwards.

Transfers … Overhaul time for this squad .. some I’m just fed up with the moaning about bigger sides ..when we are rated No.1 🤷🏻‍♂️

Out …. Stalwarts ..O’Driscoll (101 league goals) / McKee / and Big signings Knight & Harvey.

4 other lesser players.

In … New Keeper Fallon-Lockwood and Striker Moller

Internationals …Euro Qualifiers

September… (h) vs Macedonia ….Narrow 1-0win.

September …(h) vs England .. Win 2-0 .. miss a penalty and var chalks off another.

October (h) Friendly vs Egypt .. Win 1-0 .. rotated squad…Nelson makes debut.

October ( h) vs Gibraltar .. Win 9-0.

Nov … (a) vs Macedonia ..Win 4-0 but lose several injured. Qualify as England held by Scotland .

Nov ..(a) vs an England ..just as well 5 pts clear in final game as squad stretched. Win 1-0 against the worst England squad I have seen in 41 seasons.

March 2060 .. (Friendly) Win 6-2 away in Lithuania.

I draw England in Euros and then International league .

May 2060 ..Must Pick Squad for Euro Championships.

May ( friendly ) vs Kosovo ..low key warm up ..Win 3-0….Agnew makes debut.

June ( friendly) vs Malta ..low key warm up .. Quinn (12sec goal) .. Win 8-1..Agnew first goals.

Club .. Move to wingers from IF .. after 2 months go more attacking wing play and expansive…. Change back as just not converting chances .defensive stats were perfect though !

Just not getting it right tactically .. keep tweaking and not happy despite reasonable results. The change of team and new faces not quite working and 2 new wingers from youth system not ripping it up yet as year ends and Jan window is tempting to buy in.

Quinn breaks league scoring record for club with his 132nd goal .. took 87 games. After 128 games he has equalled Gacic again ..this time goals for the club ( 59 games quicker).

Next target Watkins overall goals 185.

Jan 2060 ..Break Transfer record with a AMR .. Brodie from lowly Premiership Fulham £64m. Takes time settling in.

NIFL Charity Shield … vs Coleraine …..Win 5-0.

Bet McLean Final vs Carrick ( Dislike their manager but play reserves with Champions League game restarting within a few days vs Oil Rich Leeds who have World Top 3 players)… Win 6-0

Danske Title sealed Game 31 with away win at Crusaders.  Change of formation produced less goals.

Mid Ulster Final vs Portadown … Win 7-0.

Champions League ..See off Spurs ( Group) Leeds & QF Bayern ..Man United in SF…despite losing away leg

Final vs City …. Quinn (20 seconds for dream start)…HT 3-0.  FT 4-0. City keeper rated 4.6.

Third Title 🏆🏆🏆

8 players in XI squad and have best Keeper( Fallon-Lockwood) Def ( Davis) Striker (Quinn)

Irish Cup vs Glentoran .. Win 2-0

OTHER NEWS

Dundee win Scottish League ..1st time since 1962.

Kilmarnock win Scottish Cup vs Rangers ..2 wins in last 3 years.

Saints beat Cardiff 2-1 for Carabao Cup.

Leeds win 1st FA Cup since 1972….3-1 vs Villa.

Rochdale pip City by 3pts to the Premier League.

End of Year

Parr .. Most assist record and Player of the Year/ Fans Player

Quinn.  League Young Player and Top Scorer.( League & Champions League).

Fans Goal of Season ..McMullan 

Fans Young Player ..Davis

Fans signing ..Fallon-Lockwood.

Shirts .. Quinn / Dallas/Clark/Parr / McLoughlin

Season 43 

European Championship ( Ranked 29). Balanced approach.

My National Pool is now showing players from all countries and can’t fix it.

Game 1 vs England ( Rank 1) .. McKee 75th cap. .Clark (19secs) Brennan (13) levels. Read(25) for 2-1 down before Douglas (30) 2-2 and Quinn (32) to regain lead .. HT 3-2 in a fantastic match.

Quinn(56) ….Win 4-2 ( Both teams had 5 shots on target).  England had 2 of my Dungannon squad.

Rank up to 23 ..England drop to 2.

Quinn with 47 goals now leading national scorer.

Game 2 vs Norway ( Rank 45th) … Clark (48secs) another early goal (11) adds a second. HT 2-0 FT 2-0

Game 3 vs Belguim(Rank 12th) ..They beat England 2-0 in last match. Dominate early but 1-0 down (26)

Tired effort and only 2 players rated over 7. Clark levels (63) .. injury leaves us down to 10 after  (83).

Lose FT 2-1 ..Belguim given VAR pen (93). Norway draw with England and we are 2nd in group and qualify.

Coming second avoided Italy in next round…Belguim beat them.

Shocks ..England & Spain & Holland all bottom of their groups.

France ( Rank 6 ..Top side left in competition).

Round 2…Ranked now 25th

Ireland (49) shock Czech(32)

Bosnia (55th) … HT 1-0 against possession but we had the chances when I went Positive …Clark(26)

Parr(49) and Greenwood 1st ever goal (53) ..Cautious last 20 mins … FT 3-0

QF ..Eire pull off another shock with 2-0 win over Belguim.

Croatia (12th) .. HT 0-0 . In control. Quinn(60) before VAR again gives a injury time pen(94) but missed by Croatia and Win 1-0.

SF..Highest ever Ranking passing 20th in Sept 2017 achieved …16th.

France (7th) who had extra time and pens to beat Austria next…Go Positive against an ageing squad..

HT 0-0 . McMullan (55) wonder strike from left back ..go Cautious last 20:mins ..Agnew (93) seals it. FT 2-0

Turkey (6th) vs Ireland (44th) other game….Dream over as Turkey Win 2-0.

Final vs Defending champions Turkey.

Hill(10) as I go Positive and have a go . HT 1-0.   45 mins from glory.

Var rules out an equaliser against run of play (48)…..go Cautious last 20 mins.

Dallas long range effort (79) gives some breathing space.

Agnew (91) puts the icing on the cake …..FT 3-0

Clark (5) Golden Boot  and Best Player

…Parr (4) ..Most assists.

Ranking up to 13th.

Sept

Friendly vs Wales(a) (37th). Rest key players. HT 0-0 FT 0-0

Euro League vs Croatia (h) (11th) .. Win 1-0 ..Dallas 1st half goal.

Oct

Euro League ..England (a) .. HT 0-0 FT 0-0 .. England had 1 current and 3 former Dungannon players in starting line up and another 3 current squad as subs…Burgess debut for injured Rea.

Euro league vs Croatia (a) .. Quinn (35) HT 1-0 …FT 1-0

Euro League decider vs England (h) … Just need a draw. HT 1-0 down (45+1 pen) . Quinn just out of form and lose 1-0.

March 2061 .. WC Qualifier ..(a) Malta (201st) … Quinn passes 50 international goals in 43 caps

Win .. HT 7-0 FT 12-0 … Quinn scores 7 , Clark gets 3 plus Agnew and an own goal.

March 2061 vs Italy Rank 24(h) … Clark 75th cap. HT 3-0 Quinn x2 & o.g. FT Quinn completes hat trick 4-0.

New High Ranking of 11th achieved.

Dungannon

New increased stadium 20000..breaking attendance and gate receipt records (£475k).

NIFL .. Win 6-1 vs Glentoran

Euro Super Cup …Win 3-2 aet. …. Was 2-0 up and cruising ( Quinn opener 32 secs).  My 8th win as a manager with 5 clubs.

World Club .. Win SF vs Seattle and Final vs Boca .. both 5-0….A 3rd win for the club In 5 years.  17yr Old Keeper Oliver makes debut in final ..Brodie scored a hat trick.

Bet Fred Cup vs Institute ..Win 7-0 with a Brodie hat trick.

Feb 2061..League Won after 29 matches ( was winning away in Monaco when titled sealed)…odd press conference as asked about being knocked out of champions league despite 3-0 away win and then how winning it will affect a player 🤷🏻‍♂️

Mid Ulster Cup vs Glenavon …. Win 5-0 ….Quinn hat trick.    Still 5 titles behind Portadown.

Irish Cup vs Institute  …3 key injuries after beating Leeds (champions league SF) ..Win 6-0

Champions League .. vs Arsenal ( Premier League Winners) .. Dominate every stat ..Lose 1-0 in 93rd min

Arsenal 1st ever Title.

Squad Achievements

Hudson 1st Scotland goal

McDowell Irish debut and 1st goal.

Bartoli ..Italy debut whilst away on loan

Quinn reaches 202 league goals at end of the season and 300 + in club career.

Quinn… World Golden Ball … my first since Mbappe 28 years ago.

Parr .. Footballer of the Year .. again first since Mbappe.

Quinn .. World Player of the Year … and U21 player of the Year .. first since Stevens for Augsburg.

Fallon-Lockwood ..Keeper of the Year … first since 2028 Henderson.

Quinn .. Europe golden boy…first since Suanes 2032.

Quinn wins all Danske player awards.

Goal of Season ..Dallas

Shirts …Dallas/Quinn/Clark/Parr/McLoughlin

Tweaking tactics paid off with more goals 

League 165

Irish Cup 30

Mid Ulster 22

Bet Mclean 40

Charity 6

Champions 26

Super Cup 3

World Club 10

Club 302

N.I .. 24 goals July to April…plus May & June below.

Bulgaria (h) (62nd) WCQ…. McMullan cap 75.  Shiels debut as sub after England switch. Win 3-0

Quinn x2 and Gillian.

Kazakhstan (h) (123rd) WCQ.. Win 3-0 … Parr/Quinn/Douglas.

Bonaire (fr) .. My 50th game in charge. Full rotation . Win 7-0 ..Sub Quinn second half hat trick.

Trying to win my 4th Confed Cup with a 4th nation ..Eng/Fra/Mex.

Australia (23rd) Confed Cup .Most squad from my days running them and other 33yrs old.

HT 3-0  Clark/Parr/Quinn. FT 4-1 Quinn gets his 2nd.

Canada (39th) Confed Cup.. 4-5-1- gives us issues getting the ball. HT 1-1 ..Quinn.

FT 3-1 ..Quinn completes hat trick but they were late goals and we huffed and puffed a lot.

Total Int goals July to June is 44

Season 44 … 1/7/61

More and more errors creeping in.

1. National Pool no longer works ..I get players from every country.
2. Contradictory Media questions.
3. Part way through season penalty taker switched to Clark from Quinn.

Confed cup

N.Ireland ( 10th) vs Paraguay ( 39th) .. already through. Quinn 50th cap. HT 1-1 Quinn.FT 2-2 Quinn again levels as defensive frailties exposed.

SF vs Colombia ( 4th) .. Repeat of World Cup Final. HT 3-0 Quinn x2 Agnew. FT 4-0 Quinn hat trick.

Final vs Paraguay who shocked defending champs Mexico… Go more attacking than group game.

HT 1-0 Quinn. FT 2-0. Quinn gets a second.

WCQ vs Finland (a) (76th) .. HT 3-0 Greenwood/Quinn/Dallas. FT 3-0:..English makes debut.

WCQ vs Malta (h) … Gardiner makes debut after Greenwood injury in previous match.

Quinn second goal is his 80th .Shiels 1st goal. English 1st goal.. HT 4-0 FT 9-0. Quinn x3 / Shiels x2 Agnew / Dallas / Douglas / English.

WCQ vs Italy (a) ..HT 2-0 .. Quinn x 2 . Part breaks WCQ assist record with his 10th. 

FT 3-0 ..Quinn competes hat trick.

WCQ vs Finland (h) .. HT 0-0 .. yell at them and pull Quinn who misses a scoring record (23) by having 20 in qualification . FT 3-0 Agnew x2 and Dallas.

WCQ vs Bulgaria (a) ..Injuries affect squad … game crashed so replayed after a 1-0 win.

2nd time round … FT 2-0  Quinn & Clark.  Curran makes debut.

WCQ vs Kazakhstan (a) Gowdy suspended . FT 4-0 . Clark/Parr/Quinn/Dallas …Quinn ends on 22 goals for the campaign.

March 62 ..friendly vs Liechtenstein ..Win 9-0 . Quinn x 5/ Parr / Dallas / Agnew and Rea.

Quinn x 1 assist and Man of Match.

June 62 ..Friendlies and World Cup starts.

Zanzibar … Cancelled

Sint Maarten..HT 8-0 FT 12-0 ..Clark/Dallas both get 3. Quinn 2 and 3 assists. Parr X2 .Hill and Shiels.

Spackman makes debut as Keeper sub .

San Marino .. FT 10-0:… Quinn x 3 ,Clark,Douglas,Gowdy(1st goal after 41 caps) ,Hill,Greenwood,Rea and Agnew. Dallas 100th cap.

World Cup Group E

Mali  (47th) .. HT 4-1 FT 6-1 Win….. Quinn hat trick / Dallas / Hill and Clark… Ranking upto 8th now.

Australia ( Joint 29th) .. FT 2-0 .. Parr and Quinn.   Second game VAR allows opening goal…Rank 7th

Quinn reaches 100 international goals in 63 games.

Round 2 …France (9th) .. Nightmare tie after they come below Ivory Coast in group stages.

HT 1-1 Quinn opener cancelled out by Pineau with their only shot on target.

FT 1-1 …Extra Time … Quinn (108) ..Deserved win after 44 shots to 6.  Win 2-1

Domestic 

McMullan has a testimonial due…TV pay £10k for it…In his 12th season and 415 games. 81 caps and just broken assist record for Confed Cup with 6. Has 59 career titles.

Sell ageing Centre Back pairing ..ageing DM and young back up striker.

Loaning to Institute / Glentoran to boost Europa efforts.

Changing From Positive to Attacking for League Campaign… fails against higher teams.

Expensive Argentine CB ( Vizcarra) and youngster De Meyer in squad. 

Game 1 (a) to Carrick ..biggest difference is red cards (2) as they keep fouling. 15yr De Meyer scores twice on debut. Vizcarra also scores on debut. Win 9-0.

Silva makes Dutch debut. Sept 61

Rouyard makes French debut. Sept 61

McLoughlin 1st goal after 33 caps.

De Meyer now youngest scorer 15yr 324 days. ( Morrison 16y 37d). Also beats league record held by a Carrick player C.Burns 15y 353d. 
 

De Meyer youngest scorer in Champions League  in 5-0 away win in Bilbao.  16y 53 days was Jack Nicol of Celtic at 16y 234d.

Doe and Bisgaard makes debuts in Bet McLean SF vs Bangor.

Elsewhere in the Champions League ..Scotland are represented by Dundee/ Dundee Utd and Aberdeen plus less surprisingly Celtic….only Aberdeen fail to make next round. 

Parr & Dallas reach 150 career goals. Quinn passes 250 league/350 career goals.( also approaching 100 for his country).

McMullan 50 career goals from full back. Clark 200 goals.

Clark reaches 200 league appearances.Dallas /Davis 225 league games.Fallon-Lockwood 100 appearances As does Frimann who scores on his. McMullan 275th league game.

I reach 3000 games as manager Nov 61.

Quinn Wins ..World U21/Golden ball / Footballer and World Player awards ..64 games and 99 goals.

Fallon-Lockwood retains Keeper award.

McDowell European Golden Boy.

Oddest game .. Win 12-0 despite losing star striker injured early … and their manager claims we were lucky !

Taken 4 years actually playing .. 30 games without conceding .. Immovable object Achievement …. Run ended by a lower league team in the Cup (34 games) … concede next 2 games as well.

Trophies…
 

NIFL vs Institute … HT 3-0. FT 4-0.

Danske League number 13 sealed game 28 vs Cliftonville in new Red Kit. ..Yet to concede a goal.

After 4 years in real life and 44/seasons of this save .. I go all season without conceding .. 75th minute of last match the Crusaders striker was free on goal and thought it was not going to happen.

Not surprisingly a new clean sheet record for Fallen-Lockwood.

Bet McLean Cup Final vs Institute .. 1-0 down early ..HT 2-1 up Quinn/Clark. FT 4-1 Brodie/Rouyard.

Mid Ulster Final vs Portadown … FT 0-0 after 47 shots to nil. Extra time 1-0 ..own goal 92nd minute.

Irish Cup vs Crusaders… Quinn ends drought .. HT 2-0 FT 2-0 ..Quinn with both.

Champions League ..SF (1st leg) 1-1 after missing a pen and conceding 92nd min goal away at City ..but destroy the Premier League runaway winners at Home ..5-0 up in 37 mins and Quinn not among the scorers.

Ends 9-0 ..Dallas x4 Clark x 3 Brodie x2 … reminds me of the freak game I had between England and Spain many seasons back….. and no I do not and have never managed the other team to gain a victory.

Breaks goal tally for Champions League set by Southampton (43) now 45.

Best Players Keeper Fallon-Lockwood ..Def Davis ..Mid Parr & Striker Quinn.

Final at Celtic Park vs Arsenal again ..want revenge for 93rd min loss last season.

HT 0-0 ..Keeper booked ..can’t remember that happening.

FT 3-0…. Quinn hat trick for Dungannon 4th Champions League Win

Quinn wins the end of season awards again.

Clark best goal

Vizcarran. Best signing.

Shirts … Dallas/Quinn/Parr/Margarit/McLoughlin.

Other News

Dundee Win Scottish League easily from Kilmarnock.. Rangers just avoid relegation coming 10th.

Aberdeen win Bet Fred.

Kilmarnock win Scottish Cup.

Man City Win Premier League by a lot from  Villa/Rochdale/United

Leicester 4 vs Man Utd 1 in Europa League

Season 45… 1st July 2062

World Cup 

July ..Round 3 vs Iran.( 13th) .. Like France an ageing squad .. hopefully you get legs win out. McKee banned.

Back to balanced as Positive not entirely successful due to defensive frailties.

HT 1-0 Quinn(41) . FT 2-0 Quinn ( pen 93).

England (2nd)knocked out by Argentina.(1st)….. Rankings making no sense to draw.(see below).

Defending Champions Colombia(4th) knocked out in round 2 by hosts Mexico(3rd).

QF vs Holland (12th). HT 0-0 .. can’t get the ball. FT 0-0. Extra time 0-0. Penalties Win 4-3

Turkey(6th) knocked out by Ecuador (34th) after a first minute red card.

Chile(11th) beat Uruguay(10th)

Brazil(4th) beat arch rivals Argentina(1st).

SF vs Brazil .. Goal down in 21 seconds .. HT 1-0. Go positive ..Quinn(69) levels. FT 1-1 despite dominating.

Quinn(98) having gone back to Balanced .. Quinn(110 disallowed by VAR). Win 2-1.

Ecuador vs Chile 0-0 ..pen win for Ecuador.

3rd Place ..Brazil 2 vs Chile 1 aet.

FINAL ..N.Ireland ( now 6th) vs Ecuador ( now ranked 25th). Their first final. Staying Balanced.
 

Parr shot turned into own net (18) for an early lead. They level 45+1 From their only shot  HT 1-1.

They score with their only other shot and lose second successive final …Lose 2-1

I resign … re apply after as No candidates after 2 months and this has fixed the National Pool issue.

Argentina refused me again .. just wanted to do the Super Classico vs Brazil.

Accidentally Cleared My Tactic from last season as I tried to copy it 🤦🏻‍♂️….

Having to try remember it so early games could be interesting.

So far ok but held 0-0 by Crusaders and 1-0 narrow win vs Linfield alongside big wins .. possession is an issue but if I win ..I am happy.

Sept 62 …International League

Wales (h) ( Joint 31st) .. Clark 100th cap. Past 15 meetings we have W1 D7 L7.

Dallas sent off(8) nightmare start. HT 3-0 up Clark/Shiels /Quinn despite playing with only 2 in midfield.

Wales (46) down to 10 men. FT 3-0.

Austria (a)(friendly) ..Injury issues ..L4 W1 in last 5 meetings. HT 1-1 McMullan (44) levels.

FT 3-1. McKee and Quinn 

Oct 62 (a) vs Serbia in International League.(Rank 49).. Dallas suspended.  Serbia managed by a Serbian player I gave his debut too ( St.J 2041 and then managed at Aberdeen and Rochdale).

McMullan reaches 100 caps. Kolarov debut after switching countries. 
HT 1-0 own goal. FT 2-0 .. Greenwood .

Oct 62 (a) vs Spain (a) ( 18th) ..HT 0-0 dominating 14 shots to 2. FT 0-0 … 20 shots to 3…Frustrated..

Nov .. Int League vs Wales (a) .. HT 0-0 dominating again . FT 1-0 Quinn ..but had 25 shots.

Nov ..Int League vs Serbia (h) .. Clark suspended. HT 2-0 . English & Greenwood. 
FT 4-1 … was 2-1 but Harkin & Quinn seal big win.

March Euro Qualifiers.

(h) vs Turkey (7th) ..Won 2-0 …. Shiels and English.

(a) vs Montenegro (102nd) .. FT 4-0 …Parr x 2 , Quinn and Gowdy.

June vs. Belguim (15th)… International League SF … HT 1-0   Clark.  FT 3-0 English & Hill

June vs England (2nd) in the final …. They are 12 times winners. HT 2-0 down .. Dungannon player Brodie scores the second. ..FT Lose 4-0 after going for it.

June ( fr) vs Liechtenstein .. FT 13-0 …Quinn / Parr / Shiels all get hat tricks . Kolarov / Gardiner and Clark x2.

1st goal for Gardiner .

Domestic

Stadium Expansion announced by Directors underway to add another 5000 capacity.

Oct 62 .. 5267 added and capacity now 25,267…3 away games before Institute are hosted.

New Gate receipts record of £600k vs PSG.

Transfers .. 4 youngsters without permits … sent on loan to Antwerp.

1 good youngster from Portugal (Matos) to cover Parr injury. 1 free signing as left back cover.

Returning loanees will get more of a chance this year as achieved Goal challenge .

New signing Matos ..Portugal debut…. scores during Cap 4.

Rouyard ..1st French Goal…10th cap.

Miskovic makes Serbian debut.

Quinn hits 8 on return from injury to break league/club record vs Bangor.

Quinn passes 500 club goals in Jan 63 win vs Carrick.

Trophies

NIFL vs Crusaders ..7th meeting in last 14 seasons. ..Win 4-0 and miss a penalty.
 

Euro Super Cup vs Leicester .. Up against former CB Schwarz. HT 4-1 with a Quinn hat trick.

Bring on two youngsters and ends with a 4-2 Win.

2 Wins ..2 Runners up now for the club.    Leicester also 2 Wins but a 4th runners up.

Man Utd 12 times winners most successful .. also 6 runners up.

Bet McLean 2nd Rnd ..6 x debutants ( Morales scores). Final vs Linfield after a loss away at Celtic and is the third game vs Linfield in 11 days and overall 5th game in 14 days as U20 players get matches to cope.

HT 2-1 … Linfield score 2 of 3 shots before Quinn pulls one back and misses a pen.

FT 3-2..    Quinn hits crossbar but does level up with pen. Clark scores 3 mins after Linfield red card. 

World Club ..Win 3-0 vs GRE in final .. Quinn hat trick .

Danske League title 14 for me sealed vs Glentoran at home after 31 games from Institute & Cliftonville.

This overtakes real life legend Roy Coyle and his 13 titles ( Linfield/Glentoran).

Finally unlock unbeaten achievement despite doing it for many seasons.

Mid Ulster Cup vs Glenavon .. number of U20’s in team as they featured in early rounds.

HT 2-0 FT 3-0 … Clark / Quinn / Margarit.

Irish Cup vs Institute .. Goal down to their only shot (24) … HT 1-0 down.  Struggling for chances.

FT subs change game (Parr 58 & Dallas 60) … late Quinn pen seals 3-1 Win.

Champions League vs Atletico Madrid.( Winners 20/21 & 22/23). 
Knocked out Leicester(sf) City (QF)  Celtic (knock out).

HT 2-1 . 1-0 down (3) ..Quinn gets a brace.

FT 4-1 ..Quinn gets all 4.

Finally defend the title and this is number 5.

His 21 goals beat Ronaldo (17) from 2013.  8 xPOM beat Dybala from 2023.

Fallon-Lockwood/Davis and Quinn Champions League best players.
 

Other

Man City ..Premier League (Spurs/Utd/Dale) and Carabao Cup winners.

Arsenal win FA Cup.

Celtic pip Dons / Dundee Utd and Dundee….Rangers 7th.

Rochdale Europa Winners

End of Year

Quinn breaks league record with 74 goals ( 62 previously) .. this system is more crossing to him.

Fans Young Player.

Matos ..Young Player….Fa s Signing.

Quinn ,,Best Player.

McLoughlin ..Fans Goal.

Another Expansion announced .. 6318.

Shirts ..Dallas / Quinn / Brodie / Vizcarra / McMullan.

Season 45

Domestic ..Changed back after 2 games to more possession based per Board instructions.

Aug 63…. NIFL vs Institute …. Win 2-0 ( from 25 shots). McLoughlin & Margarit.
 

Aug 63 …Euro Super Cup vs Rochdale … ( at Saints ground) … FT 2-3 come from behind . Rinaldi(2) & Parr. 
In front of 101,513 fans and we took 50,756 !

Dec 63 .. World Club Champions …. Win 4-0 vs Boca … Quinn/Vizvarra/Matos/Rinaldi

Feb 64 .. Danske League sealed Game 30 vs Coleraine in a 4-0 away win.

Feb 64 ..Bet McLean Final vs Portadown … Win 2-0.  Dallas & Matos.
 
Apr 64 ..Mid Ulster Final vs Warrenpoint ..Win 3-0. Parr x 2 & Rinaldi

Apr 64 ..Champions League ..Win 1-0 at home but despite dominating loss QF 2-0 away at Man City.

May 64 .. Irish Cup vs Portadown … Win 3-0.  Margarit / o.g / Parr

Internationals

Sept 63

(h)Gibraltar ( Euro Qual) .. J.Bigard makes debut. HT 3-0 / FT 7-0. Clark x 2 Quinn x 2 Gillan / Parr and Shiels. 
 

(A)Greece (Euro Qual) .. HT 2-0 / FT 3-0   Quinn / Parr x 2

Oct 63

(a) Turkey (Euro Qual) .. 7th ranked team vs us in 6th. ..HT 0-0. FT 1-1 ..after Turkey score with only shot after 86 mins….Quinn who was toothless scores on 92 mins.

(h) Montenegro ( Rank 100) … HT 3-0  English x 2 / Quinn. FT 4-0. Clark.  
 

Nov 63 (a) (Euro Qual ) vs Gibraltar .. HT 3-0 Agnew/English/Quinn.  FT 6-0  Clark & English completes Hat trick .  Turkey shock loss away at Montenegro sees us qualify.

Nov 63 (h) Euro Qual vs Greece … HT 2-0 Quinn(pen) / English  FT 3-0 Agnew.

Mar 64 (Fr) vs San Marino … Agnew 50th cap. Red card in 4 Mins makes this game easier than it was.

FT 6-0. FT 10-0.  Dallas x 3 / Clark x 3 / Parr and subs English x 2 / Seery.

May 64 (fr) vs Djibouti … HT 9-0 (29/48 shots on target). FT 17-0 including a missed penalty.

McLaughlin ( 2 on debut) Clark (2 with 7 assists) English x 3 , Quinn x 6 , Agnew,Dallas,Shiels & Gillian.

June 64 (fr) vs Liechtenstein …HT 13-0. FT 21-0    English x 8,Clark x 2,Quinn x 3,Kolarov x 2 ,Agenw , own goal, Hill x 2 , Shiels x 2.

Achieve highest ranking of 5th.

End of Season 

Jan 2064 … Another expansion and a new record of 31064 vs Linfield …1st sell out Feb 31585 vs Crusaders.

Jan 2064 … Quinn scores 600th career goal.

Jan 2064 .. I reach 1000th games managing Dungannon vs Cliftonville.

Feb 64 .. Smash receipts £775k vs PSG in winning 3-1 (4-2) in 1st knock out Champions League.

Fans Player / Young Player … Quinn

Goal / Signing …. Rinaldi

Dankse Player & Golden Boot …Quinn

Youngster ..Bigard

European Best Player …Quinn

Premier League … Man City from Arsenal/Leicester/Rochdale( FA Cup & Euro Winners).

Scottish League … Dundee United from Dons/ Dundee

Champions League ..Spurs beat Augsburg .

Shirts Sales .. Dallas/Quinn/Margarit/Vizvarra/Douglas.

Season 46

June 64 ..Euros Start….Northern Ireland Ranked 5th.

19yr old Spackman now better than 188 cap veteran keeper Collins. After 48 teams goals in last 3 friendlies the squad scoring ratio is healthy ..Quinn 130 in 88 games / Clark 55 in 118 from Midfield the stars.

15/6 .. Slovakia (67th) ..W2D4L1 previously. Greenwood cap 100.  Czech 2 vs England 1 opens group up.

HT 2-0 . Agnew(23) English(25/66) Clark(73) …Win 4-1………..Now Ranked 4th(Joint with Colombia).

19/6 .. England (2nd) ..HT 0-0 but dominating. FT 2-2 Quinn( var pen 52) VAR denies a Quinn goal at 1-1 go 2-1 down before Shiels levels (93).

24/6 .. Czech ( 40th) .. HT 1-0 English (14). Elsewhere Slovakia holding England who have to win 0-0.

FT 1-0 ….Elsewhere Slovakia shock England with 1-0 win scored on 90mins.

Ranking moves to 2nd.

Confused by Group F .. where all teams drew / scored the same ..Bosnia miss out but no idea why but does allow Wales & Eire to go through with Spain.

29/6 ..Round 2 vs Eire ( 47th) .. HT 1-0. English (41). FT 3-0.  Quinn(70/79)

3/7 …QF vs Norway ( 38th) .. W1 L3 not great stats and also Greenwood is suspended. Gowdy retired so Harkin back in squad.

HT 1-0. Quinn(26)   Norway level (54) and it’s a closer game ..Var pen Quinn 81 and hat trick sealed 87

Win 3-1…….. Depsite World 2 Ranking we are the surprise package 🤷🏻‍♂️

9/7 ..SF vs Poland ( 28th) .. HT 1-0. English (23)  FT 1-0

13/7 ..Final vs France(10th) who thrashed Slovakia in other SF 5-1.  There squad has 8 players over 32yrs.

Half Time 2-0. Quinn ( pen 8) Douglas (38) ..no shots at all from France.

Full Time .. Quinn (53/58) completes hat trick ..sub Parr (66) Clark (70) Quinn again (79) .Win 7-0 freak score.

International League Div A … I have youth players picking Ireland drafted into squad. 
 

6/9 .. (a) Austria (20th).  De Meyer makes debut.  Sub Milosavljevic makes debut.
HT 1-0 Agnew FT 2-0 Agnew scores again.

9/9 ..(h) Serbia (49th). HT 1-0. Agnew.  FT 3-0. Dallas x 2.

Go Joint 1st in World Rankings with Brazil.

8/10 (fr) vs Djibouti (208th).. Rogers 75th cap. HT 7-0. FT 10-0

Greenwood x 3 Quinn x 3 English x 2 Kolarov & Shiels.

12/10 International League vs Serbia (a) .. HT 2-0. Dallas / Douglas.  FT 5-2. Quinn x 3

13/11 Int League vs Austria (h) .. Quinn 100th cap. Lindstrom debut. 
HT 1-0 Quinn (147th goal).  FT 1-0

17/11 (fr) vs Pakistan .. Collins sets retirement date earns cap 191.

HT 5-0  FT 6-0. Quinn x 3 ( Reaches 150 goals)  Parr, Clark and Agnew.

Mar 65 ..WCQ (a) vs Bosnia ( 53rd) .. HT 2-0 Quinn x 2. FT 4-0   English and Quinn gets his hat trick.

Mar 65 ..WCQ (h) vs Georgia (72nd) .. HT 2-0. Quinn / Dallas. FT 2-0

June 65 vs Portugal (sf International League) .. Shiels gets 50th cap.  HT 0-0 , Quinn misses penalty

FT 1-0.  Sub and debutant Rooney scores.   Following a poor Champions League final , Quinn is below par again.

June 65 vs England ( Final) … HT 1-0 ..Greenwood misses penalty despite not being picked to take them. Quinn 45+1 score. FT 3-0.  Quinn (47) Parr (67) 

28/6/65 vs Ecuador ( Confed Cup) ..looking to avenge World Cup Final Defeat.

HT 0-0 FT 2-0.  English and sub Shiels …Bigard misses a pen.

Domestic News…Sell 2 Buy 2 ..Key Players.   Refuse transfer request from another.

Club reportedly up for sale 16.10.64….Several Transfer embargoes as story persists.

Break Win record with a mainly U20 team vs local rivals Loughall 19-0 in Mid Ulster Cup.

Pass 10000 goals as a manager.

Clark reaches 300 league games.

4 Players earn suspensions … never had so many bookings ( stay on feet is my option in tactics).

Trophies….

Danske League remains 11th.  Other Irish teams not improving in Europe from player releases.

League ..Game 3 vs Crusaders ends 0-0 as new signings bed in and ends a run of 74 wins.

Game 31 see off nearest challengers Institute 3-0 …Red card (29) helped. Title 16 for me.

NIFL vs Portadown … HT 2-0  McLoughlin / Quinn / Krneta(1st club goal) / Matos/ Rooney …Win 5-0

Bet McLean vs Larne .. Play a lot of U20 as this is days after beating Aberdeen in Champions League.

HT 0-0. FT 1-1 ..Clucas. AET Win 3-1 as need to bring on subs Parr & Margarit who both score.

Mid Ulster Cup Final vs Portadown … Win 1-0  Quinn.

Irish Cup vs Larne .. Rest squad after CL SF win vs City.   Win 3-0. Bradford x 2 & Margarit.

Champions League vs Rochdale… Lose 2-1 as too many fail to deliver.

17.5.65 ..New Chairman from White is now Ross Eades,

Awards

Danske Player / Scorer ….Quinn

Young Player ..Kolarov

Fans Player ..Davis

Goal ..Bradford

Signing .. Cordero

Young Player ..Quinn.

Shirt Sales .. Dallas / Quinn / Parr / Margarit / Vizcarra.

Elsewhere :

Europa Cup … Man Utd beat Watford on pens and immediately sack the manager.

Premier League ..Arsenal / Spurs / West Ham & Rochdale

FA Cup ..Rochdale 2 vs Arsenal 0

Carabao .. Leicester 3 vs Rochdale 0

Scottish Premier League ..Kilmarnock pip Dundee / Dons on last day. Celtic (5th) Rangers(7th).

Celtic win Scottish Cup.  Dundee Utd win Betfred Cup.

Season 47

July 2065

N.Ireland vs Australia ( Confed Cup) .. FT 3-0.  Dallas (7) Agnew (23) English (77)

N.Ireland vs New Zealand ( Confed Cup) .. Rotate squad. FT 4-0.  Rooney (40) Hill (58) Seery (65) McLaughlin (85)

N.Ireland vs Brazil Ranked 3rd ( Semi Final) .. FT 3-1.  McLaughlin (1) , Quinn (9) , Milosavljevic ( pen 63) .. His 1st goal …despite giving Quinn penalty duty.

N.Ireland vs Australia ( Final) .. FT 4-1.  McLaughlin (14) Quinn ( 17 / 40 ) Shiels ( 86 )

Confederation Cup Retained …… 34yr old and 129 Cap Hero McMullan retires despite asking him not too.

English named Top Player …McLaughlin Top Scorer … Lindstrom Top Keeper.

Parr after 535 games and 13 seasons gets a testimonial vs Galatasaray .

Clark after 12 seasons ..testimonial vs Inter Milan.

8/8/65 ..NIFL Shield vs Larne .. Just beat them 6-1 a few days earlier. Rotate squad. 
Win 4-1  Dallas (2) Clark (pen 33) Margarit (40) Sayer (52).  10 in a row won.

3.9.65 WCQ (a) vs Faroe Islands … HT 4-0 FT 10-0  Quinn ( 22,pen 36, 43,59,67,78) McLaughlin (45+2) Dallas (53) Douglas (86) Rooney (87) …. However Quinn injured for Poland game.

 Battle of Top 2 in the group with Poland the leaders.

6.9.65 (h) vs Poland ..HT 2-0 FT 2-0. Agnew (2,40). Decent effort without Quinn. McKnight makes debut.

10/10/65 .. vs Bosnia (WCQ) (h) .. HT 4-0. FT 5-0  Douglas (19) Quinn ( pen 28/42/89) Agnew (45+2)

Agnew sent off (54).  16 WCQ games over 8 years is a new defensive record.

13/10/65 ..vs Georgia WCQ away… HT 2-0 FT 3-0.  Parr (4). Quinn (21/53).  World Cup Qualification secure.

October 24th ..away at 2nd place Crusaders and win 2-0 despite down to 10:men after 37mins.

Nov 13th 2065 (h) WCQ vs Faroe Islands … English earns 50th cap. HT 5-0. FT 7-0. English (4) , Quinn (9,11) , Parr (25) , Douglas (27,59) and Dallas (83).

Nov 16th (a) vs Poland ..Already 10 Points and qualified . HT 2-0 FT 4-0  Douglas(2) , Bigard (40) , Quinn (48/49).  Bigard 1st goal after 34 caps.

19.1.66 … Held 0-0 at home vs 2nd place Institute despite 42 shots to 1 and 21 on target. A run of 61 league wins end.

6.2.66..Lose Quinn for months ..his first major long term injury…broken leg.

13.2.66.. Bet McLean Final vs Linfield ..3 major injuries and U20 have a match. 17 yr old Evans makes debut. HT 2-0 misses pen (20) 

Win 2-0. Parr(25) Sayer (35)

20th Feb .. Matos 100th league appearance vs Crusaders … need 1 point for title.  Game 31 ..HT 3-0 up.

Win 5-0…. My 17th title in a row …18 in a row for Dungannon.

March 2066 ..Sayer earns 1st England cap .. elsewhere major injury issues.

April .. Mid Ulster Final vs Portadown .. miss a pen but HT 1-0 Sayer (45) FT 2-0 Matos gets pen this time (65).

April .. League Draw with Larne as injuries continue to hit the squad worst I have experienced At the club.

April/May lose Champions League SF vs OM after missing pen in 1st leg. 1-0 agg.

May .,Irish Cup vs Linfield … HT 1-0 Sayer (24) ..own goal (47) Arthur (62) .. 2-1 down and ends that way .. an injury ravaged season ends in failure .

I will tear ageing stars out and rebuild a younger team…Used 31 players this season.

Fans Player ..Margarit from Quinn ..both spent a lot of time injured…Margrit had 7 Seperate issues.

Goal .,McLoughlin

Signing ..Mangalo

Youngster .. De Meyer

Quinn golden boot and European top player despite missing 3 months of the season.

Stadium expansion + 7638 to 39223 announced.

Arsenal win Premier from Rochdale / Leeds / Villa.   Carabao ..City Beat Utd. FA cup Utd beat City.

Celtic pip Kilmarnock on goal difference …Rangers 7th Dons 8th.( Did win Betfred Cup). Dundee win Cup.

PSG beat OM to win Champions League.

Europa ..OL beat Brighton.

31st May ..Friendly vs Madagascar…HT 4-0 Agnew(14) Quinn(42/45) o.g.(45+3). FT Dallas(58) Clark(68) Quinn (hat trick pen 81)  Shiels (90) . Win 8-0……Niedziela makes debut.

June 2066 Friendly vs Puerto Rico … early Red (4) HT 5-0 Quinn subbed. FT Another Red (49) so win against 9 players …. Win 8-0  Quinn (7,11,39) Agnew (18,21) Niedziela (53) Kolarov (56) Dallas(82).

World Cup Squad has most goals of any team with 435. 
Hosts Italy ( lose opener to Tunisia) ..Holders Ecuador
 

Game 1 vs Ghana(25th) .. Dallas 150th Cap. HT 1-0 Quinn(3) FT 4-1 Quinn ( pen 68,84) Agnew ( 90+4).

Game 2 vs Peru (40th) .. HT 0-0 FT 2-0 De Meyer(70) his 1st goal after 23 caps. Gardiner (90+1).

Round 2 vs Ivory Coast (13th) .. HT 0-0. FT 2-0. English (53) Quinn(pen 68).

Hosts knocked out by Austria on pens. Holders Ecuador lose to Holland.

Round 3 vs Switzerland (17th) .. HT 1-0. English(13)  FT 1-0

Season 48 

July 2066 

World Cup QF vs England … HT 0-0 .. lots of chances but Dungannons English keeper saving all.

FT ..Lose 1-0 … had 11 vs 3 shots on target but not good enough.

My National job at Risk after losing to a Top 4 team…. Sacked after awful performance ..QF and 2 x runners up and 5 trophy wins .

Peru beat England in the Final on pens after a 0-0 draw.

Apply for Argentina and Brazil .. Brazil interested…. Appointed by Brazil which has taken too long based on my reputation but fits with my plan to manage in South America after I complete 20 years at Dungannon.

Rebuild at Dungannon begins.

Clark asks to leave … great servant.

Fallon-Lockwood keeps moaning .. get great deal from Arsenal.

Spurs take injury prone Margarit and Matos…..United sign Sayer.

Testimonial for Dallas … Win 6-0 .

August 2066 .

NIFL vs Linfield … Win 4-0.  Quinn(24,24,59) and Niedziela (20)

Quinn passes 500 league goals.

Beat high flying Glentoran 10-0 then draw 0-0 to lowly institute .. all the youngsters need time to settle.

Sept 2066

Quinn reaches 325th league game…fails to score as form dips.

October 2066

SuperClasico Brazil (5th) vs  Argentina ( 3rd)  .. HT 1-0 Soares (26) FT 3-0. Rinaldi(57)  Antonio (77)

Brings an end to 4 Argentina wins in a row.

Champions League vs Celtic ..new Expansion ready ..Sell out 39223 in a 4-0 Win.

Record 950k gate receipts.

McLoughlin reaches 50 league goals…. Set team to Very Attacking from positive and may try this in the league all season. …. Change mind and will go attacking.

Feb 2067 … McLoughlin earns 225th league appearance.

Danske League .. 1st league sell out of new stadium vs Crusaders … Win 2-0 and League Title sealed…hit woodwork 5 times.

Bet McLean Final vs Linfield … 1-0 down (10) … HT 1-0 to Linfield.  1-1 Niedziela (58) levels.

FT 1-1….Extra time  Niedziela (98) scores again Kudimbana(107) for 3-1 victory.

March 2067 ..Brazil vs Bahamas ( friendly) … HT 5-0. FT 9-0

Mid Ulster Cup Final vs Portadown … We have won 97/100 matches. HT 1-0. FT 2-0

April 2067 ..QF Champions League Porto 2 vs Dungannon 2 .. salvage a draw from 2-0 down after forgetting to change attacking mentality.

2nd Leg … Despite a penalty miss .. Win 3-0.

SF … Celtic 0 vs Dungannon 0 … Failed to beat 10 man Celtic … 

Dungannon vs Celtic … 1-0 .. Disallowed goal (36) before Quinn ( pen 60) seals a final spot.

SF Dundee Utd vs Rochdale also 0-0.    2nd Leg Rochdale score a 94th min winner to win agg 1-0

May 2067… Final (won 5/8) vs Rochdale ( Won 4/6 finals). 4th meeting in the final For these teams ..Rochdale won 2 of the 3.

HT 0-0 .. Poor opening half. 
FT Win 3-0. Quinn ( 51,66) Niedziela ( 76) .

Quinn wins Champions League Golden boot…best striker

Lindstrom.. best keeper

Kudimbana ..best defender

Niedziela ..best midfielder

May 2067 …Irish Cup vs Newry …. Reserve Bradford gets 4 and youngster Beunardeau first senior goal in a 7-0 win.

Rochdale….Premier Champions from Arsenal/ Spurs / Leeds.

Spurs beat Rochdale in Carabao Cup.

Celtic pip Rangers to the title and Betfred Cup.   
St.Johnstone win Scottish cup.

New Signing Klaus breaks assist record and is Player of the Year.

Quinn Top League Scorer

Niedziela Young Player And Fans Young Player

Fans Player and Signing ..Klaus…. He breaks assist record with 38.

Goal . mangolo

June 2067…

Club Legend  McMullan announces retirement .  367 league games and 20 goals. Career  418 games and 31 goals.

129 Northern Ireland caps and 4 goals. 

Club Legend Dallas asks to leave…….580 app 226 goals 7.58avg

Club Legend Parr asks to leave  ………351 league games and 137 goals.

Brazil vs St.Kitts ( fr) .. Soares gets 75th cap and scores.   HT 2-0. FT 6-0.   Klaus gets 2 more assists in a record breaking year.

The brilliantly named Frank Sinatra gets his 1st goal.

Shirts … Quinn/Dallas/Klaus/Niedziela/Lindstrom

Season 49

Parr leaves for Everton after 16 years and 596 appearances.

Dallas moves on loan to Kilmarnock. Wages met and £99.03k per month fee.

Testimonial. for stalwart Davis … 603 games over 18 years .   BEat Strasbourg 5-0

August 2067

After opening day 12-1 thumping of Carrick …. 3 of my main stars unhappy not being allowed to join PSG.

NIFL Charity Shield vs Newry … Win 10-0.  Back to Back hat tricks for Quinn.

Euro Super Cup vs Aston Villa ..3rd meeting ..lost the other 2.   HT 0-0. FT  1-0.  Late Quinn winner.

Super Classico vs Argentina …. HT 2-0 Pedro and Marcos.  FT 3-0. Soares .    Former Dungannon man Rinaldi retires after 98 caps & 50 goals..

Oct 2067

Quinn gets his 900th Dungannon goal in a 14-0 win vs Knockbreda in the cup ( Knockbreda are several leagues below).

WCQ .. Away to Venezuela (91st) .. HT 2-0 ..comfortable even with Klaus missing injured.  FT 4-0

WCQ ..Home to Colombia ( 4th) .. HT 1-1 level of going behind. FT 1-1

Nov 2067

WCQ ..Away vs Chile (11th) .. Win 3-0.    Richard makes debut.

WCQ ..Home vs Ecuador (35th) .. Score Early but then down to 10 men. 2-0 Iuri 1st goal. Win 4-0

Dec 2067

World Club Final vs Chicago Fire … HT 4-0 Quinn has all 4.  FT 7-1 win.  Title number 6.

Quinn passes 600 league goals after scoring 4 penalties in the match.

Feb 2068 …Game 29 vs Glentoran at home for the title. HT 4-0 FT 6-0

Bet McLean Final vs Crusaders … FT 2-0.  Rooney & Quinn.

Reach 3500 games as a manager vs Linfield.

March 2068

WCQ .. Brazil (Rank 4) vs Uruguay (11th) .. HT 1-0. FT 2-0

WCQ ..Argentina vs Brazil .. HT 2-1 up. FT 3-2 ….go joint top with World Cup holders Peru.

Mid Ulster Cup Final vs Newray … Win 5-0    Quinn x 2 Niedziela x 2 De Meyer.

April 2068

Having already knocked out former club Rochdale .. beat another former club (QF) Augsburg 5-3 agg. Elsewhere Arsenal thrash Spurs 8-0.

Arsenal win a 3rd Premier in 4 years.

Dundee Utd see off Celtic/Dundee and Kilmarnock.

Southampton win the Europa League .. 29 years since last win.  Beat Utd on pens.

May 2068 

Irish Cup Final vs Linfield …. Win 5-0.  17yr old Youngster Goethals scores on his debut as sub.

Champions League Final vs Bayern ..both teams have 6 Titles.  Have won 6/6 against them in this competition .

HT 1-0. Quinn (5). FT 2-2 Quinn (59) before (66/68) shock as Bayern actually shoot. Aet 2-3 down (96). Shock 3-2 loss.

Awards

Fans Player ..Quinn (81 is a new league record) (38 man of match a new record).

Fans Goal ..Rooney

Youngster …Niedziela (53 is a new league assist record)

Shirts ..Niedziela / Quinn / McLoughlin / Dallas ( on loan away all season) and Klaus.

June 2068

Brazil vs Tuvalu (fr) .. HT 7-0. FT 9-1 …disappointed as 9-0 after 50 mins.

Brazil vs Kiribati (fr) ..HT 4-0 FT 9-0

Copa America

Brazil vs Colombia ..HT 1-0. FT 3-0

Brazil vs Bolivia ..HT 0-0. FT 1-0 …disappointing after 33 shots .

Brazil vs Paraguay ..HT 0-0. FT 3-0

QF Brazil vs Ecuador .. HT 1-0. FT 2-0

Season 50

July ..Copa America

SF Brazil vs Uruguay … HT 1-1…they level with only shot.  FT 1-1 …no extra time … Win 4-2 on pens.

Final . Brazil vs Colombia … HT 0-0. FT 3-0 …. win my 1st Copa America.

Bizarrely the game has changed Captains and I’m getting criticised…. I resign as entire squad unhappy.

August .

NIFL Shield vs Linfield … HT 4-0 .. FT 5-0. Quinn x 3 Niedziela x 2

Game 1300 in charge of Dungannon vs Crusaders …Davis makes 375th league appearance.  Win 6-0

FEB 2069

Bet McLean Final vs Institute ..Win 3-0. Niedziela /Quinn/Douglas.

My 20th title in a row sealed … aiming to leave at end of season when 20 season achievement unlocked.

Quinn reaches 425th league games…SCORES THREE VS CRUSADERS.

NEW CHALLENGE NEEDED .. THIS LEAGUE IS TOO EASY WHEN YOU CAN LOAN IN AN UNLIMITED NUMBER AND I HAD EUROPEAN MONEY FROM THE START GIVING A MASSIVE ADVANTAGE AGAINST SEMI PRO TEAMS.

LEAGUE HAS FAILED TO PROGRESS.

Thoughts on this club save:

BEST EVER REGEN IN QUINN .

SO MANY REGENS CALLED DALLAS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED !

EASY LEAGUE TO GAIN LOTS OF CUP VICTORIES.

BOARD SURPRISINGLY QUICK AT BUILDING STADIUM EXPANSIONS.
REMARKABLE EUROPEAN SUCCESS.

JUST DO NOT SELL AND PLAYERS QUICKLY STOP SULKING.

SET MANY FM19 Records but can’t get close to goals in a league season despite a brilliant striker and poor opposition. 
 

April 69

After 14 wins and 4 draws ..lose away at Porto in 1st knock out round .1-2 Loss.

Return fixture … HT 2-1 ..reverse of leg 1 where they went 2 up.  Agg 3-3

FT 3-1 … nice to have a proper contest.

Mid Ulster Cup Final .. Beat Portadown 2-0 with Quinn + own goal. New youth intake Dunlop makes his debut in goal as a sub at just 15 years 244 days ( 22 days off the club record). ..does set a Mid Ulster Cup record for youngest player.

Struggle for form whilst balancing Champions League ( see off Celtic after away draw) and after being held by Linfield 1-1 have to recover from 2-0 down at half time away at Cliftonville by bringing on rested first team players to win 3-2.

After Leeds U20 team thrash Dungannon U20 ..7-1 … I draw the senior team who are 3rd in the Prem in the SF of Champions League…… draw 1-1 away.

Home .. HT 3-0 down and gets worse despite subbing underperforming star players … lose 5-1 .

NOT THE DREAM END I WANTED … HAD SOME GREAT SIDES BUT NEVER MANAGED MORE THAN 3 WINS IN A ROW IN THIS COMPETITION .

Irish Cup Final vs Glentoran … Make 7 changes … HT 1-0. Quinn. FT 3-0. Quinn got his hat trick.

NICE WAY TO END MY TIME HERE.

AWARDS:

Fans Player … Quinn

Fans Goal .. Mangolo

Fans Signing … James

Fans Young Player .. Niedziela

Danske ..Golden boot ..Quinn

Danske .. Youngster .,Lambert.

Shirts ..646504 sold …Niedziela / Quinn / McLoughlin / Klaus / Ribiero.

WINNERS

Premier ..Man Utd from Dale / Leeds / Villa…..City 15th.

Scotland .. Celtic from Dundee Utd / Kilmarnock / Rangers. ( Dons 8th St.J 9th).

Carabao Cup ..Arsenal.

Champions League …Leeds 2 vs Real Madrid 1

20 Season achievement unlocked 8/7/69

Season 51 

Allow contract to end and apply for Envigado in Colombian 2nd division.

Tough interview ,. Oddest question ..Why I leave jobs quickly ..having just completed 20 seasons.

22/7/69 ..Start new job.  They are top after 22 games but with no manager all season since adding the league.

Why Envigado ?

1. Never managed a South American team in any version Championship/FM I have had.
2. Youth facilities were Excellent
3. Wanted to get a non Brazil/Argentina side to Copa glory.
4. They were available.
5. Lots of room to improve the club … 11000 ground seems plenty.
6. Youth Philosophy fits with plan…. 5 players under 18 in first team.
7. No Cup wins and last of 4 second tier titles was 29 years ago.
8. Can I take having best players sold constantly … I’m not good with this !

Have to get some staff as none in place and then find its 1 week until end of transfer window .. better players already being poached for end of season free transfers.

Tactics … team are set for 442 so using this for rest of the season.

Set up corner routine … Goalkeeper suddenly up front so have to adjust ! 

Adverts for U19 positions made and sign asst mgr / scout / coach / physio / head of youth.

Make 2 loan signings.   Look for youngsters but wage demands too high For all but 1.

Board request for feeder and facilities … fail with both as too soon.

29.7.69…..1st match (h) vs 4th placed Cortulua … Scottish striker Rojas scores 1-0 ( leading striker in the league).  Rojas gets a hat-trick and Cordoba his 1st senior goal.

End of transfer window a nightmare .. not enough time to stop 6 first teamers in last 6 months of contract leaving End of December.

Break transfer record (sale) was £20k … youngster Henao bought for initial £250k.

Turned down bids for £2m plus.

Owners undermine me by selling for £4.5m despite my objections…I get £1.6m to budget.

However they are now refusing £6.5m bid for Scottish striker from Dundee Utd.

Make a few free agent signings ..including ex player Greenwood.

7.8.69 … Suspensions kick in after 3 bookings .. 2 players out plus another 3 on International break and no option to postpone the fixture ..crazy as games every 11-14 days.

May have tactics wrong I imported as 4 bookings and a sending off by half time but 2-1 up at home.

Win 3-2 ..6 bookings , 1 Red a missed penalty and a disallowed goal … also computer goal at bottom of screen is very South American.

Qualified for end of season games.

Oct 2069 … Drawn against teams 4th,5th and 8th in Semi Final group A…win to set up final….had nearly 8000 at the final match.

30.11.69 ..1st leg (a)  vs Cortulua ..missing 3 key players ( keeper / dc / left wing).  Win 1-0

5.12.69 ..(h) .. Greenwood delays retirement to play this game.  Sell out 11000 expected. Win 3-1 ( agg 4-1)

star striker Rojas nets a hat trick .

Clubs first title in 29 years.   Get 40pts In hall of fame.

11000 is highest gate and highest receipts £180k.

Now hard work to replace 7 key players.

Having battled through most of the transfer window .. fallout over Youth Set Up and after leaking to the press and refusing to back down I am fired.

12.2.70 … Confirmed as new League 1 Nottingham Forest Manager 

Last trophy 2026 ..League 1 

Been in League 1 for 3 years

They have DM in the squad so opt for 4-1-2-3.

Played 32 games .. 4th on 54 points.    Burnley running away with it on 77pts.

Tranmere (a) …Dream start as Anderson scores (44 seconds). Win 1-0

2nd placed Carlisle win but Millwall & Mansfield drop points … upto 3rd.

Mansfield (a) ..Key promotion game as we play 5th in a local Derby. HT 1-0 as corner routine works.

Full time 1-1 as their top scorer shows me what i am missing up front.

CARABAO CUP ..Southampton 2 vs Rochdale 1.

March 2070 ..1st home game vs high flying Barnsley ..new free agent striker makes debut.

Fightback for a 1-1 draw. 35149 fans is second best of the season.

Ask for a senior affiliate to aid with loan signings….. offered Arsenal or Man U …want Utd.

Game 39 is away to Burnley who are Top on 84pts  … we are 2 points behind Carlisle (67pts) .. lose to a late long range strike … Carlisle also lose late.

Game 40 ..Carlisle throw away a 2 goal lead to lowly Fleetwood … go 2nd on goal difference….despite a surprising  loss ..Burnley are Champions.

Game 42 ..Play off place secured .. still 2nd on goal difference from Carlisle . They have the easier run in.

Game 44 held 0-0 by 7th placed Exeter …Carlisle beat bottom of the table Vale .. drop to 3rd.

Game 45 … Everything going on .. disallowed goals , having to fightback against the run of play but ends 2-2.

Carlisle save a pen but still lose … gap now 1 point for the final game.

Game 46 .. Sunderland (9th)(a) .. 1-0 up (18) .. level (31) ..2-1 up (38) 3-1 (39) HT 3-1..FT 3-1

Carlisle are at mid table Coventry(14th).. HT 1-0 to Coventry. .. Coventry won 3-0 to seal our promotion.

Burnley reach 100pts / Forest 82 / Carlisle 80 / Barnsley 75 / Huddersfield 71 / Exeter 69

My 14 games W8 D4 L2

Dungannon go unbeaten without me at the helm.  Only make QF of Champions League.

Celtic win Scottish League from Rangers / Dundee / Kilmarnock

Villa see off Leeds to win a 2nd Premiership ( last 2059).

FA cup ..Spurs beat Man U.

Season 52

After a takeover I have an interview for the vacant Man Utd job …42 years since I left .

Forest paid £825k compensation …can’t resist coming back.

After a failed World Cup bid ( Brazil beat Spain ) … I’m back as England manager.

Sell 4 star players aged over 33yrs whose pace have gone … 2xCB and 1 xLB and the Keeper.

Arrange a lot of friendlies .. promote youth centre backs and bring former Dungannon keeper in from Roma.

August … Win opening game vs Villa 3-0 with former Dungannon striker Sayer getting 1st goal.

August .. W3 D1 L1 ( lowly Rochdale).   Taken a few tweaks to get 4231 formation right.

3rd highest spenders Man City are 18th ..Leeds who spent most 9th , Saints 2nd highest are 2nd.
 

Sept ..England vs South Korea(32nd)  (fr) .. 4 uncapped players brought in.  3 debuts Made. Win 6-1 

International League (h) vs Austria (26th) .. HT 2-0 Davies reaches 50 goals. FT 5-0

Another debutant & Collins debut goal.

4th Oct .. Having issues vs 442 with 4231 … lowly West Ham 3-1 up after 53 mins until I just go all out attack and Win 4-3.

England vs Swaziland (190th) Friendly … Headland (17yr old United wonderkid) makes debut at CB.

Torres (Arsenal) 23yr old scores on debut as sub.

Goal machine Davies gets perfect hat trick in first 8 mins. 
HT 5-0. FT 10-0. 
 

Int League away vs Serbia (24th) .. HT 1-0 FT 3-1 

Friendly vs Djibouti ( 208th) .. Headland gets 1st goal. HT 5-0 FT 16-0

After 10 games Joint top with Leicester and Saints and Spurs 1 point behind.

Everton manager  (16th)  trash talk in media that I will struggle to stay up !  Win 3-0

Comeback win away at Saints in Carabao Cup before top of the table clash with Spurs.

Spurs(a) goal down in 15 seconds .. level (82 seconds) .. HT 2-1 down as Spurs score only shots on target.

At 3-1 (50 mins) I  sub underperforming front 3 and go all out attack … lose 3-2.

I need a world class striker as created plenty of opportunities.

Nov Int league (h) vs Serbia .. HT 3-1 FT 3-1 …Brockbank makes debut. Davies has scored in all 6 of my matches since returning.

Final group game vs Austria (a) ..Davies gets a hat trick within 25 mins on his 75th appearance. FT 5-0

I rotate squad for last Champions League game with Zenit .. 3 players injured within 18 minutes , all were playing AMC and last two were subs on for an injured player !

Game 15 … Derby vs Man City (h) ..Currently top on goal difference from Saints , Spurs 1 point behind and Leicester 2 points. City are 6th.

Man Utd offer increase 1 year contract before the game ( given injuries they may change their mind) !

Pay up 90k but now expect Champions League finish.

City play 5 at the back and another 2 defensive midfielders .. i have never seen this work…expect victory now….by end of Jan 71 he is sacked.

HT 2-0 FT 7-0. 
 

December 2070 … Carabao Cup QF vs Former side Rochdale who have just brought in a Former signing I made their from Leicester as their new manager. ( Record sale Greenwood in 2051).

(a) .. They no longer use 442 which beat me in the league. HT 1-1 FT 2-1 ..tight win which 2 x VAR goals being chalked off didn’t help.

xmas period starts with loss away at Villa whose 442 system outplays me .. injuries prevent me having much in the way of tactical options.

Big match (h) vs 2nd placed Saints .. only separated on goal difference. Win 5-0 .. beat a 442 formation.

FiHal game of the year is in form Brighton … Win to end the year after 20 games Top ..3pts clear of Saints who hit Wolves for 7.

Jan 2071 … lose away at Leeds 3-0 and now only 2 points ahead of Southampton after 25 games.

Feb 71 .. Halewood makes 325th league appearance in win over Bournemouth.

Feb 2071 ..Carabao Cup Final vs Arsenal … United not won since 2041 ( 11 wins and 12 runners up) Arsenal 2069 ( 5 wins and 9 runners up).

1-0 up (3) .level (7) …HT 1-1 .. 3-1 up before lasting final 10 mins with 10 men due to injury.  Win 4-1.

After poor league result vs Everton (18th) when they comeback to draw when injuries leave me with 10 men .. I risk the FA Cup vs Chesterfield ( Championship) to blood youngsters. Comeback to Win 6-2 with new youth intake Jordan among 3 making debuts as subs.   Jordan scores.

Stephen Jordan breaks  youngest player ( club / FA Cup) appearance and goal scoring records.

Draw Watford in FA Cup semi ( following beating them in Carabao semis).

March 2071 … European Qualifiers…U20’s win Elite league .

(a) vs Bosnia … 2 major injuries after squad picked … Fallon-Lockwood 125th appearance. HT 2-0:..Davies scores for 8th successive match. Goss makes debut as sub.  Win 3-1.

(h) vs Luxembourg .. Davies makes it 9 games in a row .. HT 6-0  Moss debut as sub . FT 12-0

April ..Platt makes 200th league appearance in derby vs City as we aim to go back top. Win 2-0 away.

The Premiership Profit shows City/Blackburn/Derby only 3 to make a profit . Rochdale worst with a massive £148m loss. Saints 11th & United 12th .

April .. defeat Barcelona in QF and draw Villa in Champions League semis.

Saints saw off Dungannon and will see PSG in other semi.

Game 33 ( first of two games in hand on Saints ) narrow win over Leicester 1-0 in early kick off….Saints win to go 1 point clear again… Saints have played 35 games.

Game 34 .. beat Spurs (3rd) 2-0 to go top again.

Game 35 ..rest players before champions league semi final … 1-1 vs Stoke until Martin sent off and lose late on.  Still 2 points clear with a game in hand.

Villa 1 vs Utd 2 … 2 up early before Villa fight back.

PSG 1 vs Saints 2

May .. Game 36 .. lowly Brighton but my side have suspensions and tiredness/rotation.

HT 3-0 up FT 6-0 and after Saints draw with Wolves we are Premier Champions.   ( Title 36 for United).

Champions League SF 2nd legs

Utd 1 vs Villa 0 ..Win 3-1 agg but thankful for VAR.

Saints 1 vs PSG 1 ..Saints win 3-2 agg.

Game 37 .. Play reserves/ youngsters vs relegated Norwich .. Win 5-0

My end of season is Saints in the league and Saints in the Champions League Final.

Game 38 .. HT 1-1 . FT 2-2 ..Platt scores his 38th goal ( 100th league goal of his career).

Premier Win is despite 6 losses …..7 points ahead of Saints , Spurs and Villa complete Top 4. 
Surprises are Arsenal 12th , Man City 13th and Rochdale 14th.

FA Cup vs Aston Villa … Win 2-1 .  Goal down until 57 mins before subs turnaround performance and Headland scores from a corner to win it (87mins).

Champions League vs Southampton .. Minor injury issues. HT 0-0 , very even first half.

Lose 1-0 as my fear of big match temperant amongst my forwards is shown to be true.

Euro Cup .. Arsenal 3 vs Rochdale 2 aet.

Youngster Headland ..Footballer & Players Player of the Year & Young Player.

Platt ..2nd in scoring charts.

Lindstrom 19 clean sheets is enough for Golden Glove.

Fans Player ..Sayer

Goal ..Brockbank

Signing ..Stevens

Youngster Headland

Shirts … Sayer / Halewood / Clarke / Platt / Lindstrom

European  International  League semi final vs N.Ireland … HT 1-0 my former Dungannon star Niedziela scores early.  Davies fails to score for the first time and is subbed on the hour for golden boot winner Elmes. 
Lose 1-0

I am reconsidering having amc role as most success has come with a DM.

Season 53

Several players want away and I want to sign 2 top players upfront .

3rd placed Int League vs Turkey … HT 1-0 up. FT 3-0 win with Goss scoring his first goal.

Friendly vs Gibraltar .. HT 5-0. FT 9-0. Brockbank gets first 2 goals for England.

Saints manager leaves for Villa.

Massive transfers £113m each for Quinn and Niedziela from Dungannon.    
Press say he has dropped his standards as Dungannon ranked 1 ..United up to 12th.

Ironically Dungannon offer me a job interview having taken their stars.

After nearly selling out ground again I ask for and this time get a stadium expansion from 75,635 to 89,082.

Hall of Fame ..Still 2nd in England to Sir Alex Ferguson .. he has 13 Premier Titles to my 9 ( Utd 5 , Saints 3 and Rochdale 1 ).   I am 294 points behind.

I am 7 to 5 up on FA Cups. and 7 to 4 up on Carabao Cups.

Fergie 10 to 4 up on Community Shields …

Game 1 … Charity Shield vs Saints …  Back To DM formation. HT 3-0 .. Ganear & Quinn & Niedziela all score on debut. FT 4-2 win. 
 

Premier League opener .. thrash Leicester 11-1 for a new club record win.  3 class signings and new DM formation ( thank you Knapp) have made a massive difference. 
Also a new Premier record …was Saints 10 vs Leeds 0 from Nov 28.

Next away at Blackburn which ends 3-2 only because they score 2 screamers from only 2 shots on target.

Sept 71 ..England away vs Kazakhstan Euro Qual … Reverted to DM formation. Cooper earns cap 50.

HT 4-0 up with 2 more disallowed. FT 8-0

Sept 71 ..vs Denmark (h) .. Top 2 battling it out .. HT 1-0 FT 3-0 win.

Sept ..After going 1-0 at home to Madrid switch from Positive to Balanced …score 8 without reply.

12 games into new season with new DM and 12 wins however only 4 clean sheets. 54 scored 11 against .

The 3 new signings have scored 33.  Young centre halves will improve.

Halewood makes 75th cap vs Bosnia ( Euro Qual) .. HT 1-0 but should be more. Late call up Steels makes debut. FT 4-0. Davies gets all 4 .

Luxembourg (a) ..HT 2-0 up.  FT 5-0   Disappointed by number of complacent players in a qualifier.

6 wins is enough to qualify the group. A 23rd European Championship awaits. 
 

Oct 71 .. Top of the table clash with high flying Bournemouth at Old Trafford.  Back up striker Platt failed to shine in last few outings and has no goals in 5 matches. Narrow 1-0 win.

Change to balanced and destroy high flying Saints away 6-1 … no logic to scoring performances this season.

Perhaps its Saints ..they lose 6-0 to Spurs next game.

Nov 71 .. England vs Kazakhstan (h) .. Injury replacement gets injured and replaced , hopefully no more.

Slow start ..change to balanced and start scoring. HT 5-0. FT 6-1.  L.Moss 1st goal.

Denmark (a) .. Come from behind for a 1-1 draw.

Dec 71 … After 15 straight league wins a tired and suspension hit squad loses 1-0 away at high flying Arsenal.

Rest players and use youngsters in Carabao Cup vs Cardiff ..Win 3-1  2 debutants and another gets his 1st United goal.

End 2071 losing away at Leeds as I get a new contract.

Need January to get players off loan to boost push for trophies.

5-0 up from 1st leg vs Derby (championship) in Carabao SF .. draft in 6 youngsters to rest squad.

HT 1-0 down. FT 1-1.  3 debutants in this 6-1 agg win.  Saints beat Leeds 6-1 on agg in other semi.

Feb 2071.

Carabao Cup Final vs Southampton … Goal down after 19 but hit back 39,42,43 as young centre Martin celebrates new contract with a goal between two Clarke strikes. HT 3-2 as Saints score 45+2.

FT 3-2 ….  Teams keep converting their few shots on target this season but at least that’s a Trophy Won.

Man Utd now have 13 wins in this competition .

 New intake has three really good recruits … one ( Milsom ) is very good But only 5ft 7in.

FA Cup 6th round..shock win over Villa having rested entire main squad ..2 Young debutants do well in 2-0 win.

England ….. Friendly vs Canada …. Deer makes debut after missing out through injury last squad.

HT 2-1 , disappointed after going 2 up in 14 mins and missing a penalty.

FT 3-1 .   Should have done better from 22 shots on target.

Friendly vs Faroe Islands … I allows me to call up one of my talented youngsters .. keeps them loyal.

Ball makes debut . After a missed penalty by Deer …Ball scores on his debut.

HT 4-0 …Ball gets a hat trick.   Has 22 goals on loan at Linfield this season.

FT 8-0 …Ball has dream debut with 4.

England have won every Euro Elite U20 since 2060.

April 72 …win League without playing after Arsenal keep dropping points.

Celebrate by beating City in a dirty game with 10 yellows and a red for one of my subs 2-0… get my first ever fine due to failure to control players of £25,000.  Not set for stuck in so surprised by number of cards this season.

After resting players ..destroy 2nd place Arsenal with a 4 goal blitz in first 31mins….but goal machine Quinn picks up an injury.

Game 35 ..Rest players again against Stoke and risk potential record performance to be ready for Champions League semi final. Lose 1-0 with U23 and U18 players. 2 debuts made.

Champions League SF vs Lyon(a) … HT 1-1 but not playing well. FT 1-1

Sayer reaches 150th United  goal in revenge win over Leeds.

Many club goal records under threat this season. E.g Dennis Violet 1959/60 league goals .

U23’s relegated which is a result of me loaning out so many players.

Champions League (h) vs Lyon … Quinn the difference in a tight 1-0 win…repeat of last year as I look for revenge on Saints.

Game 38 … miss the 100 points despite coming back from 2-0 to get a draw away at Cardiff. 
 

Finish Top on 99 pts and a Goal Diff of 100.

Spurs 2nd / Saints 3rd and Arsenal 4th.

New signings and change to DM formation has improved league performance by 20 points , scored 14 more goals and conceded 7 less.

Quinn has shown he can do it away from the easier Irish league with 41 goals from 32 starts.

Quinn wins … English Footballer of the Year & Players Player & Premier Golden Boot.

Martin .. Young Player.

Lindstrom …Golden Glove.

FA Cup Final vs Chelsea with some injury and suspension issues Plus 2 more cup tied.

HT 2-0 Quinn & Martin show why they are award winners.

Win 2-0  Young full back Jibrin makes debut as a sub.

A 27th FA Cup win for United.

Have to select England squad … Have a new 3rd goalkeeper and injured Brockbank misses out.

3 uncapped players 

5 outfield players yet to score.

21 / 23 domestic based in England is highest … all foreign based for Holland.

Poland youngest squad.

N.Ireland most goals with 446.  Quinn has 244 of them.

Champions League Final vs Southampton … HT 0-0. Lots of possession but 1 shot on target.

FT 3-1 … Investment in Quinn (62 & 90+3) Niedziela (69) pays off 

1st Champions League in 17 years.   15th success in this tournament .

Quinn ends with 63 goals … had doubts about step up from Danske League to Premier but along with Niedziela they have thrived.

Shirt Sales .. Sayer / Clarke / Halewood / Quinn / Platt.  1.534m sales.

Quinn broke Dennis Law (46 in 1963) with 63 goals.

Niedziela broke Heymans (28 in 2029) with 30 assists.

A further expansion of 16000 announced which will take seating to 91,365.

MAY . Euro warm ups

Kenya (fr) .. 3 debutants make starts.  HT 7-0. Debutant Osman has 4 goals.FT 13-0 win.  Includes 4 pens.

Now this, THIS is the dedication I want.

Season 54

Man Utd up 5 places to 7th in Euro Club Ratings.

Niedziela sets new avg rating 7.92 … was  7.9 in 2029.

June …Friendly vs Gibraltar … HT 5-0. Osman gets another hat trick …FT 6-0

Friendly vs Andorra … HT 9-0.  Sayer gets perfect hat trick. FT 12-0 .  This is my best side.

Euro Champ Group F ….. Hosts Ukraine & Poland … Holders N.Ireland.

Both hosts lose opening games … Holders win 4-2 vs Turkey.

Game 1 vs Eire( Rank 46) HT 3-0. FT 3-1   Goss / Davies & Sayer.   France beat Croatia in other group game.

Game 2 vs Croatia (17th) HT 2-0 FT 3-1 Osman x2 Davies.  Several injury issues and my squad lacks defenders after making selection errors.

France drew and qualify with game to go …England had gone out in group stages in last 4 tournaments.

Game 3 vs France (11th) Rotate those on yellow cards. Clarke 50th cap. HT 1-0 FT 4-0 Sayer / Martin / Halewood & Bradford.  Bradford gets 1st goal.  Both sides progress. 
 

Only 2 of the Top 16 European sides fail to progress. 

2nd Round vs Serbia (28th) .. HT 1-0 Sayer(44 pen). Scant reward for 17 shots to 1.  FT 1-0 

Lowly Bulgaria(54) see off France on pens. Iceland (51) see off Turkey(10) aet. Portugal(11) see off Holland (6)

July 2072

QF  vs Spain (9th) .. They were poor in group games … HT 1-0 Sayer(6 pen). FT 2-0 Clarke(93) seals victory.

Good win without a proper right back.

Bulgaria pull off another shock , this time holders France on pens.

Iceland continue their shocks on pens vs Switzerland.

Austria(24) see off Portugal(11)

SF vs Iceland (50) .. Sellears back from suspension. Change a winger.  HT 2-0 Davies (8) Martin(23)

FT 4-1 ..nervy when it went 3-1 and a player struggling with injury . Sayer (61) Osman 91).

Austria just get past Bulgaria after 1-1 draw on pens.   Yet to miss a penalty in 2 shoot outs.

Final vs Austria(23rd) … I am aiming for my 3rd win with England and 6th overall.  France have 5 wins.

HT 0-0   Despite dominating, let rip at interval. FT 1-0 Davies(53)    Should have been more.

England now have 4 wins.

Sayer Best Player & Golden Boot (5 goals) 

Martin Best Young Player 

McLoughlin retires after missing tournament (140 caps and 4 goals). Dungannon player.

Quinn retires from N.Ireland at just 31yrs ( 195 caps and 247 goals). 
Fellow United player Stevens retires from Belguim. (126 caps and 1 goal).

Halewood steps down as England Captain.

Man Utd 30/7/72 …. After 54 seasons only my second gay player as Niedziela comes out… this is expected to increase his shirt sales.

31.7.72 .. Community Shield vs Spurs … United top wins with 33 In this competition .

HT 2-2 .. even contest . Moreno makes debut and scores.
FT 3-3 … make 4 subs which is a first as always been a max 3.

Pens win 8-7.  
 

Euro Super Cup vs Bayern … HT 0-0 FT 3-0. Despite red card at 2-0 up. ( Martin 52 / Halewood 70 / Niedziela 81). Stevens off 77 mins after 2nd yellow card.  13th title…5 with me and first since 2028. Have another with Saints.

After a decent start to the Premier league it’s already time for another England squad.

Want to freshen up squad after recent title.

Biggest decision is dropping 30yr old striker Davies 93 caps and 75 goals for uncapped Barton.

Commercial Income sees United 5th £77.92m.   Arsenal £105, Spurs £104m … how difference will new stadium make.

International League 

(h) vs Serbia HT 1-0. Elmes (17)  FT 1-0

(a) Friendly vs Jamaica … Asquo & Barton make debut as starters. Oliver debut as sub.

HT 5-0 .. Caswell gets a Red Card (45+1).  Goss x 2 , Caswell , Barton and Martin. 
FT 5-0. Wasted chance to experiment.

Int League (a) vs Russia .. HT 0-0. FT 2-0. D.Martin / Elmes.

Friendly vs Belize(h) .. Due to injuries I drafted a U19 into the team P.Martin Who makes his debut.

HT 2-0 FT 3-0 from 43 shots.  D,Martin/ own goal and Elmes.

Nov 72 .. Int League vs Serbia (a) .. Fallon-Lockwood earns150th cap. HT 0-0 FT 1-0. D.Martin (76)

Russia (h) .. Doran makes debut as injury replacement. HT 1-0 D.Martin (45+1). FT 3-1 Osman(58) Sayer(83).

DEC 72 ..lost my way tactically and over thought it .. change to attacking down flanks and put 6 past PSG away.

DEC ..World Club SF vs NYCFC … FT 3-0. Youngsters Ball & Wallace make debuts as subs.

Final vs River Plate ( United have 11 wins and are most successful side ever….River have 1).

FT 3-0 win.  Quinn scored in both games. 
Last won this with Dungannon 5 seasons ago..

FEB73 …Carabao Cup Final vs Villa … HT 1-0 ( Keeper own goal 35 mins)  FT 1-1 … Extra Time Win 3-1 sub Niedziela (92) Quinn (111). Title 14 Takes United ahead of City.

Quinn reaches 100 United goals during 2nd leg vs Benfica.  62 league & 38 cup.

Mar 73 .. number of games stretching squad ..draft in a 15yr old intake player P.Lucas vs Rochdale (4th in league). Do have a large lead at top of table having recently beaten Saints (2nd). Game 29 of the season. 

Draw 1-1 with a 92nd leveller after Dale score in 89th.  Lucas makes debut as sub. 
 

Get Newport(League 1) in Fa Cup Rnd 6 .. decide to use youngsters to rest squad.  10 players given squad numbers. 4 debutants start.

HT 0-0. FT 0-0 AET 2-0. 19yr old Sukhanov scores on debut.(100 mins)  Sub Osman misses pen (114) scores (120+1).

Internationals … Davies back for injured Elmes.

WCQ (a) vs Eire … HT 3-0. Caswell(5) Sayer(29) Davies(45). FT 3-1.   95 undefeated games in World Cup qualifying.

WCQ (h) vs Poland .. HT 0-0. FT 2-0.  Sayer misses pen (47) but scores (50/53).

Apr 73 .. Big cup matches will define the season after new contract given.

FA Cup SF vs Leeds … Thrash them 6-0 … midfielder Ganser with a hat trick.   Spurs 4 vs Bournemouth 0 in other semi.

Saints lose same day in the league to seal the Premier title with 6 games to spare.

Champions League QF vs Saints (h) … 3-0 win.   Hit woodwork 4 times.

Elsewhere Spurs win 4-2 at Arsenal.

13th placed City in league … rotate squad with Champions League away leg in mind. HT 4-0 up despite a missed pen . Halewood now has 150 United goals. Win 4-1 despite var disallowed goal. U18 Milton makes debut as sub.

Win 2nd leg 2-1 away to join Real Madrid , PSG and Spurs in semis.

Ironically get Brighton away ( day after match IRL) can we do better than a 95th min loss … Win 2-0

Quinn stars are beginning to drop ..still brilliant but not the Haarland like return of old ( last season 41 league goals in 35… this time 26 from 33).

Bring first team back together but Arsenal see us off 2-0 .. not great before Spurs in Champions League .( Spurs won 8-3 agg vs Arsenal).

1st leg (h) … HT 1-1 after being behind.  FT 3-1 ..Front three share The goals.

2nd leg (a) .. HT 1-0 despite Quinn missed pen. FT 2-0 with Spurs missing a penalty.

Final will be vs PSG who thrashed Real Madrid.

End the season at home to Spurs … Lose 3-2 but at least Quinn finally scores.

D.Martin Premier footballer of the Year / Players Player & Players Young Player.

Lindstrom Golden Gloves.

Quinn 2nd to Villa striker in golden boot.

Ironically Spurs again in FA Cup Final .. HT 1-0 Award winner D.Martin scores (7) .. Spurs have 2 disallowed (18/22).

FT 2-0. Fellow centre half Headland scores.

Champions League vs PSG … Headland out injured. Gregory follows soon after.  HT 1-0 down ( var 33) before Sayer levels (41) …HT 1-1

2nd half … delay subs until 75th min , usually go at 60. Var this time in my favour(86) … FT 1-1

AET .. 1-1 

Penalties … Win 6-5    Only English missed. 
 

Now have more Premier League Wins (14) than Fergie 😀

Shirts … Quinn/Clarke/Niedziela/Martin/Sayer. Sold 1,789,392.

31.5.73…Int League (sf) vs Denmark … HT 2-0 Sayer & Clarke … Sayer converted pen he earnt.

FT 4-2 subs Barton & Holland score.  Was 3-2 until 89th min.

Czech Republic (18th ) stun Holland (6th) 2-1 to make the final.

Final vs Czech … This will be 37yr old Fallon- Lockwood last game as he announces retirement plan on eve of the final. Will be cap number 155 and he also set oldest international at 37y 72d.

HT 1-0 D.Martin(7)  FT 2-1   After late equaliser (80) , Clarke wins it in extra time (90+2).

Season 55

23.6.73 …. Old Trafford expands to 91,635.

Fallon-Lockwood record is for my saves …does not break Stanley Matthew’s 42y 103d

He also extends his stay for the Conderation Cup which is June 2073.  Make some outfield changes to squad to lower age ready for bigger tournaments.

26.6.73 vs Uruguay .. Win 2-0.  Recalled Best & Sayer (pen) seal a comfortable victory.   Gregory makes debut as sub.

29.6.73 vs South Korea .. Win 4-1. Sayer destroys opposition fullback ( rated 5) ..Var disallowed ,Scores and sets up 2 others.

Sayer(pen 29) , Barton ( 40,64) , Best (43).

2.7.73 vs New Zealand .. Rotate squad .. FT 6-0. Halewood 1st half hat trick , Holand , o.g. & Bradford.

6.7.73 SF vs Mexico .. Best earns 50th cap. FT 2-1 D,Martin & sub Elmes(90+2) before late reply (90+5).

9.7.73 Final vs Uruguay who saw off Brazil on pens.  Clifton out injured.

HT 2-0. Osman ( 11,39).  FT 3-0. Barton(49).   
Halewood announces his retirement after 92 caps and 38 goals.  Fallon-Lockwood ends on 159 Caps.

Now time to refresh the squad .. had too many out on loan and will sell a number. Time to move Halewood on as his pace / dribbling stats are dropping.

Community Shield vs Saints ..media remind me unbeaten in last 16 matches against them ..yep Lose 1-0 despite dominating🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

Beginning To plan new challenge as getting too comfortable … Bristol City ruled out now they have made Premier league this season. Rangers also as they won Europa League for 2nd time in 3 years…although no League win since 2030.

Wycombe & Yeovil have fallen to Vanarama South.

In National League FC United , Chester and Eastleigh appeal.

KA Iceland having recently visited there but want promotion chances… too similar to Dungannon.

Berwick , Queens Park or East Stirling ( Only trophy 141yrs ago) in Scottish League 2.

Opening Premier game sets new attendance record vs Everton …. Win 5-0 after changing to Positve attitude. Crowd 91,365 sell out.

Only surprise is record gate receipts not broken..still from 2026 vs Real Madrid off £3,25m.

As well as balanced to Positive ..amend crosses to mixed from whipped.

Super Cup vs Rangers … HT 6-0. Quinn 7 min hat trick the highlight. FT 6-0

Reach 200th game in charge of United vs Blackburn but in poor form ( Spurs lost , Chelsea draw) .. comeback 1-1 draw. 
August .. Played 4 ..5pts and 13th.. Poor starts from Saints , Spurs ,Chelsea , Leeds & City.
 

England duty vs Luxembourg WCQ (a) .. Clarke hat trick highlight of 7-0 win.  19yr old Hall makes debut in goal.

(h) vs Slovenia .. Win 3-0. Sayer gets a brace.

Drop to 17th after a thrashing away to Watford b4 back to back wins ( Marseille & relegation candidates Bristol City).

Break gate receipts vs Partizan in Champions league. £3.8m

WCQ vs Eire(h).. Bammant makes debut at fullback.  Win 5-0 

WCQ vs Poland (a)  Win 2-0 … Qualify for 29th World Cup.  100th qualifier without defeat.

Sept 6 wins on the trot …Oct DWLD* … Only win Champions league. Bournemouth thrash us 5-3 and Table toppers West Ham win Carabao cup tie on penalties.  Buck trend to beat high flying Rochdale away but job security has dropped.

Nov ..(h) vs Luxembourg .. Game 50 of this 3rd spell in charge. Lovegrove to make debut as avg age just 24 for this squad.

1 up in 20 seconds but elsewhere Belarus score quicker(13 secs).  HT 11-0 from 15 shots on target. Lovegrove x 2 on debut . Frammant 1st goal.

FT 15-0. Elmes hits 5.   Lovegrove hat trick on debut. Elsewhere N.Ireland hit Andorra for 10.

Slovenia (a) … 21yr old Martin with cap number 50.  HT 3-0. FT 3-1.   Elsewhere Sweden put 11 pass Andorra.

Break gate receipts vs OM £3.9m

25/11/73 ..Manchester Derby ..Utd (4th) vs City(16th) ..if only this was the real life position 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ after 13 matches. W7D3L3

Easy 4-0 and go Top having played more games.  Spurs win top 4 clash vs Hammers to go back Top.

Go into the World Club having lost away at Saints despite dominating ( same as Community Shield) 1-0

SF vs Al-Ittihad … Win 5-0

Final vs River Plate .. Repeat of last years final . Quinn (11seconds) sets tone and HT 3-0   FT 6-1.

Go big in the transfer window ( Jan 74).

Break record for a Portuguese player ..Ribeiro from PSG £178m. Former player at Dungannon. Immediate lose on his debut to West Ham away.

Spurs board except £300m bid for wonder striker Barton which will be from End of season.

No clean sheets in first 3 matches for Ribeiro .. not helped by Red card after making all my subs in the FA Cup tie.

1st vs 2nd as we take on Arsenal … Quinn brace for his 150th United goal as we destroy them 6-0.

Follow this result losing to Monaco 1-0 and then draw 4-4 with Leeds when I make 3 subs and Osman injured within 3 minutes of coming on.

FA Cup Round 5 vs Villa (h) have to rest players before Monaco 2nd leg having been forced to win vs Newcastle in the league days before.

HT 3-1 down and then miss a penalty (46) .. Niedziela brace (51 United goals) makes it a close finish but lose 3-2.  2 debutants in the game.

Monaco (h) ..1-0 down from away leg … Quinn levels tie (3) and puts us ahead (31) HT 3-0.  FT 3-1 …Win 3-2 agg.

 Board Confidence .. criticised for lack of major signings having spent £178m on top defender and £300m end of season striker🤷🏻‍♂️

Rochdale beat West Ham to lift Carabao Cup.

March 74 ..2 x international friendlies… squad racked by injury issues in run up.

England U20 win Elite League again ( 2058-2073) with Turkey runners up for third year in a row ( 9 in last 11 years).

Vs Luxembourg … HT 3-0. FT 5-0.  Tried various styles of play.

vs Gibraltar .. HT 5-0 Sayer has 4 goals and Clarke makes 75th appearance . FT 12-0.  Sayer 6 goals and Gibraltar lose 2 players late sent off.

End of March and players wondering why no new contract offered to me.  I want a new challenge and decline offer that arrives a few days later.  I want to add some more promotions to my achievements.

Invested in youth and U18 side win Divison 1 title for first time in 11 years.

Game 32 ..After seeing off OM to make Champions League SF ..it’s bogey side Southampton( They were knocked out by Dungannon) Finally score against them after a VAR check and look to extend lead over Arsenal at top of table.  Win 4-0 and now 8 points clear.

Game 35 after a run of 3 top 6 sides and Champions League sf vs Arsenal(2nd) lose to relegation threatened Brighton ..worse lose Quinn for 5-7 weeks and Gregory 3 weeks.  Gap is 5 points with 3 games left.

Game 36 .. Irony as Ronaldo of mid table Wolves forces a late draw 1-1.  Arsenal lose and gap is 6 points. With goal difference that is the title.

Game 37 .. U23/18 players only as I rest for Champions League sf Vs Stoke … Lose 2-0  But 9 players make debuts.  Forced into this as the Arsenal game is 48hrs later but they have a week off.

PSG see off Dungannon … gamble with players works .. HT 1-0 up ( agg 3-0) .. FT 1-0

Game 38 .. ( Arsenal finish season a week later) . Fans grumbling after mini blip and West Ham take early lead. Osman levels for HT 1-1.

FT ..after Goss red card (60) .. and going 2-1 down ..Ganser scores penalty(94th min) to seal 4th successive title.

Elsewhere Dundee win the League and Betfred Cup.

Rochdale do cup double beating Brighton.

Champions League Final vs PSG … I am unbeaten in last 7 meetings ( that did not bode well in opening game vs Saints )  Quinn risked.

HT 2-0 ..Ball(22) Quinn(36).  FT 2-0. Helped by PSG red card (75).

Quinn .. Fans Player

Ball..Goal of the season

Signing ..Ribeiro

Young Player..Martin

Shirts Quinn/Clarke/Niedziela/Martin/Osman. £72.17m from 1,834,040 sales .

Season 56

World Cup due … have some easy friendlies set up.

Andorra(fr) .. FT 11-0.  Highlight a Barton hat trick.

San Marino(fr)..FT 14-0 Highlights Barton & Martin get 4 . Sayer 4 assists.

Apply for the St.Albans job … want a Vanarama South team and their available.  Dungannon approach me.

World Cup starts

DRC … HT 1-1 Clarke(6) but they level from only shot (32). FT 4-1 win as Barton (46/54) continues run of 2nd half goals. Sayer(73) after DRC Red card.

South Korea .. Couple of changes … Sayer earns 75th cap.  HT 1-0 Sayer(4) FT 2-0 Sayer(78)

Round 2 vs Mali HT 1-0 Sayer(40) FT 2-0 Sayer(70)

Elsewhere Scotland rout France.  N.Ireland go out on pens to Denmark. Croatia see off Argentina.

Take St.Albans job.  Last trophy 88 years ago ( Tier 7 Isthmian League).  Linked to Watford so going for their players on loan.

Round 3 vs Russia .. They are top scorers so far. Long gaps between games is helping.  Ref is card happy ( 10 yellows) with both sides potentially losing players suspended.. HT 2-0 Barton & Clarke. FT 3-0 Barton adds a second.

QF vs Portugal .. My former player Coutinho scores a var pen first  , we hit bar , var denies them a second and then Sayer misses var pen      HT 1-0 down.

I let rip and Captain Martin gets his 20th international goal ( not bad for a centre back) from the restart.

Sub Bradford scores but Headland & Osman bookings are a suspension should we win.

Barton adds a third and I sub Martin to prevent him being booked and losing both CB for next round.

Bradford & Ball score as Portugal chase …Win 5-1.    Another 7 yellow cards in the game.

SF vs Denmark ( saw off holders Brazil aet) .. They have a full squad. 
Barton(12) is followed Denmark levelling(14) , Ball(21) Barton(25)  HT 3-1 … breathless end to end game.

Have used 4-1-2-3 DM Wide …Positive all tournament.

Headland replacement Gregory scores 4-1 up and make subs to rest key players.  
 

Final vs Tunisia …3 changes for the final.  One way traffic and Sayer(13) opens the scoring. Sayer scores this penalty(30) past old teammate at Dungannon Sassi.  Clarke scores two within 69 seconds and this game is all over. HT 4-0.  Recalled Osman has 3 assists.

FT 6-0.  Ball & Sayer pile on the misery in a one sided game ..1 shot vs 44.

England Victory number 7. ( If only in real life).  5 won with me over 52 years.  I also have 1 with South Africa.

On that I resign to concentrate on St.Albans.

St.Albans .. Get 2 in from Watford on loan but others reject the chance. Concentraing on staff and free loans…worked early at Dungannon.

Opening match with 4 x loanees and some free signings vs Havant & Waterlooville at home. 960 fans enjoy a 2-0 win.

By early September have 5x loans and 3 free transfers.  Applying for 2 other loans.  Win first 6 games before a surprise loss to Welling.

I an expected to reach FA Cup round 1 proper .. need some luck.

Get the maximum 8 season long loans 7 are free and only 20% wages on other.  Watford x3 Sheff W x2 MK Donsx2 

I am in the 2nd qualifying round of FA Cup .. get lower league Concord.(H) Not sure I’ve ever played this round.  Win 2-0

Next up 3rd Round Qual (A)…Slough who are also a lower league.

Qual Round 4 vs Dagenham & Redbridge ( 24th in Vanarama League) …Win 4-0 and a crowd of 2254 ( usually approx 1000).

FA Cup proper Round 1 vs Harrogate (a) 19th in Vanarama League ..Narrow 1-0 win

Fa Cup Round 2 ..away again to Barrow ( 3rd Vanarama league)..Given a new contract prior to the game. Late 2-1 win.

FA Trophy qualifier vs Thatcham ( lower league) .. Rest first team .. Win 5-0   4 players make debuts. 
FA Trophy Rnd 1 vs Canvey Island ( same league VNS) (a)..FT 1-1 , they level with only shot.   Win replay 3-0

Jan 2075 … Played 23 W19 D2 L2 … Top from Hungerford by 7pts.  Still in both cups but Swindon should beat us.

Record bid in for Dugdale of £5500 From Bradford City..he turns it down.

FA Cup at Swindon .. HT 4-1 up ( scored 4/6 shots on target). I know there relegation threatened in Championship but still a shock. Win 5-1

Worth 92k in prize money.  74 places between the 2 sides.

FA Cup Round 4 vs Swansea (a) ( Championship) … injury ravaged squad before biggest ever game( see below) ..  Shock HT 1-0 lead as 16th placed Swansea fail to convert from more shots . 
2nd half ..another red card (62) var denies them(63) they level (64). They go ahead (91) as my back up left back misses a header. Lose 2-1.

FAT Rnd 2 vs (h) to Dartford (VNN) .. Have lost top scorer injured .  Win 2-0.   Lose left back to a broken leg.

FAt Rnd 3 vs (h) fellow promotion chasers Hungerford ( straight after league win) .. Rotate squad. Win 1-0

March 75 FAT QF vs Aldershot (VNL) (h) ..Win 1-0 .  Relegation threatened Aldershot have 9 yellows and a late red card in their defeat .

Game 28 .. Lose star Loanee winger after 11 mins and then another Loanee to a broken arm ..still win 2-0 vs lowly Grays.

Feb 75 Game 30 (a) vs 2nd placed Hungerford … Despite injuries and suspension ..Win 3-1 ..open up a 14 point lead.

Game 31 (h) vs 3rd placed Dulwich Hamlet ..win with 2nd half goals despite missed pen 3-0. Elsewhere playoff hopefuls Salisbury beat Hungerford and gap is 17 points with 11 games left. Decent crowd of over 1400.

Feb 75 A first for me playing any save On FM19 …. Game at Chelmsford was postponed due to water logging . Never had a cancelled game.

Game 36 (h) Ebbsfleet (8th) A point with goal diff will do it ..A win guarantees it. Key midfielder returns To the bench. HT 2-0 FT 3-1

First ever VNS Title Sealed. ( Have been runners up 2006/2022/2030). 
 

FAT (h) vs Solihull Moors ( VNL 13th) Win 2-1  Goal up before their 1st Red Card .. they get a 2nd at 2-1. Crowd 1688.

Did not realise its two legs !   (A) draw 1-1 and make the final 3-2 agg

FAT vs Forest Green  ( VNL 6th) .. HT 0-0. They shaded 1st half.  FT 1-1 Leading through Rees(57) they level (65). They are down to 10 men (77).

AET 2-1 … Winner as Rees (109) seals the game in front of 25,460 ( we took 9295).

St Alban’s 1st title on their 1st visit …. Stevenage have most with 7.

End of Season

Most points ..105pts

Most Wins in VNS ..34

Most team goals ..102. ( But I don’t have leading scorer).

Fans Player …Newcombe (MK Dons Loanee ).

Goal ..Welch ( Watford Loanee ).

Signing ..Hobbs ( Free)

Youngster Bowra ( Reading short term loan).

Harding sets new clean sheet record ..25 ( was 22).

7th placed Maidenhead win the playoffs.

Board agree to improve youth set up.
 

Season 57

Not easy transfer market and only 5 loans allowed.  Signed some of the loanees on free transfers.

1st game in Vanarama League vs Morecombe is dramatic. 2-0 up (36 mins)   3 x red cards later and it’s a 5-0 win.  There were also 11 yellows.

Crowd 1811 is a decent start to the higher league.

Only signed 7 players which is 22 of 24 teams.

Game 3 is my 4000th game as a manager vs Stevenage (h).  Win 3-1.

Game 13 and lose 1st match away at Forest Green 2-0 .. Still top by 1 point from Gateshead.

Game 22 away at lowly Dartford ( Dec 75) ..5 games without a win and now 6th.   Draw 0-0 and need transfer window. Some loanees wanted by teams to buy.

Game 23 ..end the rot with two very late goals away at Kidderminster. Still 6th   7pts off top and 6pts clear in playoffs.

Game 26 beat Stevenage 1-0 for a 4th straight win and end year 2nd to Chester by 1pt. Top 4 are 2 pts apart.

New contract to be offered…£1100 up from £725.

Game 30 (24.1.76) Top 2 battle vs Bromley (a) .. Watson finally scores after 20 hours in narrow 1-0 win.

Game 34 ..100th game in charge vs 2nd placed Chester (h) .. HT 1-1 level from o.g. FT 2-2 They level and survive with 10 men for last 18 mins.

10 points cover Top 8 teams with 12 games left.

Game 42 vs Lowly Kettering and scoring since Cox was suspended hard. Main striker and U18 15yr old  striker have failed to score and Relying on wingers and a strong defence. Need a win as just 3 pts clear of Forest Green. Still not guaranteed play offs.

Loanee DM scores only goal in munch needed win.  6 points clear but now lost Watson to injury. Forest Green has easier run in.

Game 43 vs Peterborough (6th placed and they have W4D1 in previous matches) …. lose key left winger loanee(7th min).. Very late 2-1 win.

Game 44 vs Gateshead(8th away) .. Still 6 pts ahead.  They score with every shot HT 4-1 down. Lose 5-1 and Forest Green win to cut lead to 3pts and goal difference now the same for both clubs.

Game 45 .. Kidderminster (10th home) .. Relying on a 15yr old striker whose never scored.  HT 0-0  FT 1-0 92nd minute own goal winner as Forest Green draw and that is the title….Last won it with Stockport 42 seasons back.

Drew 15 of 45 games which is the difference over Forest Green.

FA cup 4th Qual ..beat Chelmsford 5-1 at home. 
FA cup 1st Round .. home to bitter rival Hemel Hempstead .. Record crowd for my tenure expected. Lose game before rotating vs Woking and drop to 3rd in the table.   Win 3-0  in front of 3571

FA Cup Round 2 ..away at Bolton ( 4th placed in League 2) ..Win 2-0 .  
FA cup Round 3 away at 17th Championship Bury.( Jan 76) .. 1 x new Loanee is cup tied.  Lose 3-0

FAT defence starts Dec 75 vs Leamington ( VNN Home) .. Watford moan about use of Loanee .. 73mins to get a Red card when played ..1-0 up at the time ..ends 2-0.

FAT round 2 vs Spennymoor ( VNN away) Jan 76 … Narrow 1-0 win.  New striker fails to score again.

FAT round 3 vs Crawley .(h). lead twice but end 2-2 ..Replay away Win 4-0 ..Watson gets 2 ( but only 3 in 10 appearances).

FAT round 4 vs Oldham (h) .. Rotate squad with league run in .. concede a 2nd as I make subs .. go all out … Watson misses sitter ..lose 2-1

Man City ..Carabao Cup winners

Man Utd ..Premier league winners.

Following Title win …Board discuss going Full time.  Agree and due 2.7.76.
To survive at next level will need a big squad change.

Game 46 is home to Dartford (9th) ..Lose 1-0   Forest Green also lose.  Crowd was 4881 only 93 short of record .

Bromley join us in promotion.

Board announce plan to expand by 1358 … ready in September.