The Fallen Will Rise - a youth academy challenge

The story so far...
RC Strasbourg used to be a top-division club. It is associated with the illustrious names of Arsene Wenger and Raymond Domenech, and most recently won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2005 and the Coupe de France in 2001. Then came the financial issues and the arrogance and the mismanagement that led to its relegation to the fifth tier of French football in 2011.

Now it is 2013, and after two successive promotions, the club is in the third-tier, the Championnat National. In light of the club's recent financial troubles, the chairman has made a brave decision that he hopes will revolutionize French football: to go completely home-grown. He has brought in a young American manager with little experience but huge potential to lead this charge. The club will not purchase nor loan any players, and will rely on its academy to produce the future of its first-team. It will be difficult, especially in a country competing against the millions of PSG and Monaco, but he, and his young manager, believe that this move will bring them, and France, glory in the long-term.

The rules...
The challenge is set forth here: http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/319117-ri916-s-FM13-Anglo-Euro-Youth-Academy-Challenge. Strasbourg was one of the clubs that was promoted in 2013 to the Championnat National, and so I took control for the 2013-14 season.

Season 1: 2013/14 Championnat National

Story of the season: 3rd place finish, promotion
Predicted to finish mid-table in 9th place by the media, the team matched those expectations for the first half of the season, before a late-season surge took us to a clean promotion in 3rd place. We went unbeaten between January 31 and May 9, with 7 clean sheets over those 12 matches. It was a very good season with a solid group of part-timers that grew into our relentless possession strategy over the course of the year. We suffered an early cup loss, although with our priority being promotion, it was not a tough loss to handle.


Star of the season: David Ledy - Our star 26-year-old striker scored 14 goals and assisted 9 in the league to lead us to promotion. Playing either as a withdrawn striker or as a second striker, Ledy rarely had a bad game the entire season.

Honorable mentions: Julien Perrin (28-year-old striker, 13 league goals), Abdoulaye Coulibaly (23-year-old DM, 5 league assists), Ludovic Golliard (31-year-old defender, 7.28 average rating, played every match)

Existing Youth
Among the existing youth at the club, there are four players that have first-team potential:

John Weiss (YP01a) - A decently-sized striker with pace. He's very raw at 15, but his determination and ambition should see him improve in the years to come.
Badara Diedhiou (YP01b) - I'm not sure what position he will play, but he's another raw forward with pace.
Vauvenargues Kehl (YP01c) - Already very good, this 20-year-old Ivorian is a starter from day one and should only get better.
Sidy Faty (YP01d) - A pacy, tricky winger, the unfortunately-named Faty looks to have the tools to terrorize opponents in future years.

Youth Intake
Our first youth intake in this new era has produced three candidates with first-team potential:

John Dietrich (YP02a) - An already incredibly intelligent player at just 15, needs to add some strength and continue improving his defensive abilities.
Christ Masudi (YP02b) - Another mature player beyond his years, Masudi will eventually take over the left-midfield role as a solid defensive presence, but also offering flair in attack.
Serge Ouattara (YP02c) - And the third unbelievably poised young man, this central defender has height and a workhorse attitude. A few years of defensive experience should provide him with more tools to succeed.

Goals for 2014/15

• Avoid relegation from Ligue 2
• Upgrade training facilities
• Introduce several youth players to the first team

Transfer history

Season 2: 2014/15 Ligue 2

Story of the season: 6th place finish
A remarkable end-of-season surge saw us push on in a packed mid-table to finish 6th, a mere seven points from promotion. With a focus on defense and ball retention, we proved difficult to beat, with 12 draws and a positive goal differential highlights of that focus. Once again, we failed to achieve any sort of cup success, with both cup runs ending at the turn of the year. Still, a sixth place finish was beyond our greatest expectations, and the revival of RC Strasbourg looks well and truly on.



Star of the season: Ludovic Golliard - Our captain and rock in the back, 32-year-old Golliard was one of the main contributors to our successful first year return to Ligue 2. He ended the year with a 7.34 average rating and a team-high six man-of-the-match performances in the league.

Honorable mentions: Anthony Sichi (29-year-old attacking midfielder, 5 goals, 8 assists, 7.29 rating), Abdoulaye Coulibaly (24-year-old defensive midfielder, 7.27 rating), Gauthier Pinaud (27-year-old winger, 4 goals, 9 assists, 7.24 rating), Julien Perrin (30-year-old striker, 10 goals, 4 assists, 7.25 rating)

Existing Youth
Several of the existing youth at the club have begun to break into the first team as the club's youth strategy takes shape.

John Weiss (YP01a) - (11 league appearances, 2 goals, 1 assist, 7.08 average rating) The speedy striker had a romp through the cup (5 goals in 4 matches) and I gave him some runs in the first team, but he did not light the world on fire. Still growing, and should continue to improve.
Vauvenargues Kehl (YP01b) - (35 league appearances, 37 conceded, 13 clean sheets) The young keeper was first-choice in the back and put through match-winning performances, allowing just 1.06 goals a match on average.
Sidy Faty (YP01d) - (20 league appearances, 6 goals, 7.11 average rating) The young winger was a revelation, using his tremendous pace and dribbling ability to terrorize the opposition. His six goals were all well-taken, and he should prove a huge cog on that right wing. Gauthier Pinaud is the star man there and still young, but Faty should be pushing for his spot soon.
John Dietrich (YP02a) - (3 league appearances, 7.10 rating) Did well, but still very young.
Christ Masudi (YP02b) - (16 league appearances, 7.14 rating) Was a startling spark at the left-midfield spot for a 16-year-old. Will be the starter next season.
Serge Ouattara (YP02c) - (8 league appearances, 7.04 rating) As a defender, the boy needs more time and experience.

Youth Intake
Armand Riviere (YP03a) - At just 15, this fleet-footed striker will challenge Perrin and Ledy for their starting spot now. He's got flair and a natural nose for goal, and should only improve. A model professional, Riviere is not just one for the future, but one for right now. Keep your eye on this kid, because he could be a Strasbourg legend before he hits 20.
Charles Le Goff (YP03b) - This very young playmaker has flair but lacks the pace and vision to make a true impact today. With Sichi, the club's main man at the attacking midfield spot, getting no younger, Le Goff's development will need to be rapid if he's to slot in there in coming years.

Season goals

• Avoid relegation from Ligue 2 ACHIEVED
• Upgrade training facilities ACHIEVED
• Introduce several youth players to the first team ACHIEVED

Goals for 2015/2016

• Consolidate top-half position in Ligue 2
• Upgrade youth or training facilities
• Introduce several youth players to the first team

Transfer history