'Y Sialens Chweongl'

June was cup month. Only the game against a new resurgent Antlers troubled us. Jair seems to found his scoring boots, hopefully he can take this into the league and more importantly the Champions League.



Qualified top of the group and into the QF. Hopefully this is another piece of silverware we can add to the cabinet.

Right this is a bit of a long update in terms of games ...





Just to explain. I have been working nights and my body isn't quite caught up with the sleep needed. Problem came today when I was playing the game and went to holiday to the next game to close the gap between games ... but I fell asleep and awoke to find the game was on holiday until I told it to stop being in holiday mode. Which meant from the last game to the game against S-Pulse (tell a lie, I didn't get to stop until end of the season but luckily the last of the 3 backups meant I could resume before the end of the season). What this meant I missed the chance to progress in the ACL and had to wait for another year. It brought me to a dilemma within the save. Do I finish or carry on? I might well have lost the games in the ACL but it wasn't the same because I wasn't controlling the side and that annoyed me. Add to that the failure to delete the .INC files at the start of the save to enable the correct team names and Japanese and German players getting called up for international duty has really annoyed me.

However I have decided to stick it out. If I can find another club within Asia that will get me my target then I will move. The chairman at JEF has literally played me into a corner and without the financial backing I can no longer see myself working at the club.

Keep with this save mate but try and move on to another club.

great job so far!

intro sounds very familiar tho...

Fola - If the right club comes along then I will seriously look to move. I have taken them as far as I can but something is telling me after they have given me a chance then I should look to repay. Time will tell.
laudrup_11 - Here he is. The master returns. Hopefully we will see another story of yours grace the forums again!
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So normal service resumed and the squad quickly got back on track for the league. If I couldn't get the ACL this season then the J1 League title would have to do. The goals came from all round contributions from the squad and that was pleasing to see, Jair keeps on scoring and hopefully he will stick with us for another season.



Hopefully Uwara will drop points and we can sneak in. All to play for.



Forgot to mention I have also qualified for next seasons ACL. Tidy!

Also there was a Cup Final ...

This hurts me ... could have and should have been us.

So two wins for us and a slight stumble by Uwara has meant that it all comes down to the final day of the season.



So there it is, very very close. Tight as. Uwara have been dominant over the last couple of years, can we be the side that breaks the cycle?



Both got home games, we have the slightly tougher opponent. Can we do it?



Jair is a legend.

So in the early kick off Uwara somehow and I mean somehow threw it away. They were playing a side looking for a last day survival job and got the necessary points to keep themselves alive.

So what did that mean? We needed a draw or better to secure the J1 title. Something I felt we could achieve, but did we do it?

The odds came out and we are being labelled as a club to push Uwara and Grampus this season. I think with the squad that has been assembled and the fact that we know we can compete in the league, I can't see why we can't go and defend our title. It will be tough but we have a good chance of doing so.



A good draw and one we should progress out of. Just got to keep composure and not do anything stupid. Shanghai and Suwon are the dangerous clubs to watch. Perth have been struggling recently in the A-League but could well be tough. But as I said, I still believe we should qualify from the group.



In terms of transfers it was a busy one. We shipped out the two South Korean defenders, this enabled us to go out and find another two foreign players of quality for the squad. It was out of our hands but Nigerian international and steady left back Deniran left for Turkey. We offered him a great deal and broke the bank for him. But he felt it was time to have some time in Europe.

In the transfers in we saw three new foreign players added to the squad in Khalil, Wague and Tae-Hee. These three will add much needed quality and depth to the squad. The biggest coup will be that of young center back Matsumura, this lad has bags of potential and looks the real deal. The signing of Kawashima was also essential as we didn't have a guy yesterday apparently on beers,



Not the best start. Couldn't buy a win. Hopefully not a sign of things to come.

So the first month of the new season saw us go undefeated. Very happy with how the new squad and signings have gelled together and sticking at the club has helped. I was bitterly disappointed with what happened last season especially as I can only hold myself to blame for the error. The squad now has a good mix of youngsters and experienced players which will hold the club in good steed for this season and more.

Each game we played we were very clinical and took our chances and we didn't give our opponents that much of a sniff which is pleasing to say. It was also nice to kick the campaign off with defending the Super Cup. Another medal and trophy for the cabinet. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.



After one league game this is how the table looks.



I was offered a job on a constant basis throughout the month, 3 separate approaches and a rejection notice was sent back each time. If I was to move in Japan to Uwara and Uwara only. But I am happy at JEF so moving is out of the question.

But was there more to it?

March saw us take control of the league and also assert our dominance in the ACL. Khalil and Jair are continuing to duel it out for the lone strikers role in the team and whenever they get the chance they always seemingly take it. This is pleasing as competition will drive both to do well.



The league table lies like this. We are now 3 points ahead. If the form continues then I cannot see why we can't defend our title.

You'll finish this in 6 seasons. At most.

I'm already in my 4th so I don't think so. North America and South Africa will be tough as will South America. All to play for in this.

6 seasons from now. You'll take Asia this season - move to Boca, there you'll do it in two, tops. Then you get north America done in one, then two seasons in Europe.

That's how I saw it, I forgot Africa...

A solid start to the month which then saw us fade away and get a hammering by Perth Glory. The squad is now familiar with the way I have set the tactics up and I now have a squad that is willing and will listen to what I say. The only time they have come unstuck was against Perth. We had out chances if course, but when you don't take them then it causes problems. Not to worry. We have qualified as group winners in the ACL and face Grampus in the next round.



Still top and have a good lead.



Despite the hiding we still ended top.

May was another positive month. Progress in the league and the ACL. Big win at home against Grampus and back to back away visits saw us gain valuable point and a clean sheet to allow us to progress in both cup and league.

Goals are coming from all round the park and the defence is looking solid. This is good signs for the future.



Table looks like that. A big gap has opened up, now it's down to us to widen it.

So June and July were another set of good months for JEF United. One blemish against Antlers in the last group match in the Nabisco Cup but overall it's been a pleasing month. We have found it tough however, injuries to star center back Wague and striker Jair have caused is slight problems. Others in the squad have had niggles and have missed the odd game here and there so it has affected the game plan and some of the games we have won have not been as convincing as it should have been.

Despite all of this Ahmed Khalil is still scoring goals for fun and the midfield is providing ample service to him as well as chipping in for goals.

I also got a slight surprise when we played Brazilian side Vitória in the Suruga Bank Championship and managed to steal a win thanks to a header from our center back Kushi. We did dominate possession in the game but not the opportunities created but it's another piece of silverware added to the cabinet.

In the two month period we only played one league game and extended the lead at the top of the table. Khalil is a monster in this league, I am very happy I managed to snap him up.



Table looks encouraging. But it's not the league that's important at the moment, rather the ACL. The next round of the draw has been made and we face Suwon in the next round.

Big month again. Only blemish was against Cerezo and that was down to the squad being very tired. The squad is quite thin at the mo but over the next couple of weeks players are coming back from injury.

Also got the advantage in the semi final of the Nabisco Cup also. All to play for.



Still top of the table. Got to keep the gap as big as we can.

Not a great month in the league but progression in the Emperor's Cup and the Asian Champions League. Fatigue and injuries are hampering the league campaign but as I have said previously we are here to win the ACL not the league and anything outside the ACL is a bonus. With both Jair and Khalil out it was down to the Japanese youngsters upfront to fire home the goods, sadly they didn't find the net but did take their opportunities well.

Beating Suwon twice is great news and now sets us up against a very tough opponent in Chinese power house Guangzhou Evergrande. Still believe we can go all the way. We are good enough just got to hope everyone stays fit.



Poor month in the league has meant competition has caught up with us. Yes we have two games in hand but if we don't gain points then the sides below will catch up. Big month next month. Cup Semi Finals galore. Time to step it up.

Good luck mate, enjoying this

KEZ_7 - Glad you are enjoying this!
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October's league form has carried on from September. It didn't start off well when we lost to 2nd place Grampus, who played us off the park and with a tired squad it was not a surprise. A poor draw against FC Tokyo and then we managed to get a win against a side in the relegation zone.

Outside that, our progression in the ACL saw us see off Chinese big guns Guangzhou Evergrande we managed to hold for the draw in the second leg after getting the all valuable goal in the home time. It was down to a goal in the 80th by Wague to see us with a chance of clinching the ACL. We face Qatar side Lekhwiya in the final in November.

We also faced my former club in the Emperors Cup and we dispatched them 4-2. Still a lot of ground work to be done.



Still two games in hand a point behind, still favour us to get it together and clinch the league.

Oh there was another final to be had ... but how did it go?

Doing well here mate.win your games in hand and it'll be yours to lose!

Charlie M - Thanks mate. Yep all in our hands, but as it shown recently we are not quite that invincible anymore!
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So the day had finally arrived. It was us against Lekhwiya SC of Qatar. Big game for both and first time finalists. The press had made us favourites but on paper you looked at the squad Lekhwiya had, and you worried yourself. Lot of good foreign players and a lot of handy players who have played for some major clubs in Europe. Both squads had fully fit players to select from and it was going to be an interesting final.

So how did it pan out?

Well done mate. Looking at the highlights, it's a display of horrible defending and, especially, goalkeeping! Never the less, a great year in Asia for you and good luck on a new continent!

itchycoo - Big time terrible defending. Something I have noticed in Japan. Good attacking teams but little at the back. Yep be interesting to see if Boca still offer me the deal at the end of the season.
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One thing I won't miss about Japan is the crazy schedules for games. Sometimes it's a day off and we are back playing and in this month it all took its toll. Jair and Khalil found themselves working overtime and lot of youngsters from the U18s made their way onto the bench to cover for tired bodies. That said the team preformed admirably. Despite finishing the league season on a loss, we played well all season and with bodies thin for the final league game I was not that upset.



The game against Airbex confirmed the title. It was pleasing to do so also.



The league table ended up like that. Did pretty well to defend the title.


So whats left? Small matter of the Emperor's Cup and the Club World Cup. All to play for.

This is excellent. Well done on the quadruple pal.

I hope Boca still want you, would be a great club to challenge South America with. Out of interest, what have they done inbetween times? Interim manager?

Shedender - Cheers pal, two more Cups to challenge for in this month before I leave.
KEZ_7 - Well it's quite confusing really. They have hired a manager when I delayed and the deal is still on the table according to the transfer screen.


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So a two more cups to challenge for and came away with one. I was ever going to get the Club World Cup, especially when you draw the likes of Dortmund in the Semi Finals. Dortmund are unreal strong and we did really well to compete with them and even their manager said how well we did. We managed to scrape a third place after our defence decided to go for a spot of tea and biscuits during the middle of the 3rd place game. It was penalties that separated us after us being the better side. Will take a third place finish. Achieved so much here and we did the club proud.

So the Emperor's Cup. We managed to get to the final really quite easy only conceding sloppy goals late on.



Took it right to the wire.



Best ever manager in Japan and second in the list of managers in Asia. Tidy. Not bad from a lad who no one wanted, who's laughing now Gangneung City?

So the formalities of stepping down once the season had started was completed. JEF United will forever hold some wonderful memories for me. I leave the club in a very healthy state, a lot more money in the bank turning profit in every month bar 3. The squad is young and with a few experienced heads here and there then this squad will once again compete at the top. Still no offer from Boca Juniors yet. Starting to feel worried.



Lot of loyalty shown. Nice touch by many but how many will follow me is to be seen.

So some 8 months down the line and the job with Boca never emerged ... no jobs of note came up and when it did like the DC United ... it was laughed off. It has left me confused and disappointed. My reputation should be good enough for DC United. The hunt will continue.