[FM14]Johno's career

May and end of the season 2015 – Athletic Club



We was far too good for Zaragoza, just lack of focus in last few minutes let them scored 2 goals.

We battered our biggest rival, but thanks to fan favorite, Toquero, grabbing two goals for us.

Was all over Celta but just couldn't break them down until 10 minutes period set us 3 points up.

Disappointed to end the season with a defeat against Sevilla, it was simple reason why we lost, we didn't take our chances and they did.


Pretty happy we finished 2nd, 12 points ahead of Real Madrid. Barcelona was confirmed champions after they thrash Real Madrid a day before, 4-0.

Players stats




Impressed with Guillermo, Captain Herrera, Susaeta and Ibai Gomez this season. They have been massive for us this season. Also impressed with Casado, have improve massively since he came through the academy. His stats for us and U's 19 are impressive for at his age.

Captain Hererra just recently signed new contract with us until 2019 and got minimum release clause at 105M. Man City wants him but If I get a offer over 50M for him then who knows. Laporte is being chased by Arsenal and Chelsea.

Here Casado when he first popped up


A season later


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John Olsen ( scout) is retiring at the end of the season, so I will be bringing in couple scouts next season.

The board gave me 20M in January which I haven't touched, so I will be looking to bring in a goalkeeper, right back and 2-3 midfielders.


We're going on tour to England against Millwall, Yeovil and Sheffield United.

Another fantastic news for us. Good to see the board upgrading the youth facilities, hopefully we can get better youth intakes next season.

Brilliant. Double than our previous deal. Nice to see our income getting boost.



Not so brilliant.



Not bad transfer budget for next season, could possible increase it more if I need another players in.

I like Urruita and pretty much accepted everything I requested.



Another boost to our income. I asked the club for merchandise feeder and they let me pick one which I picked a Japan club and came back 2 weeks later saying both club failed to agree.

Pre season 2015 – Athletic Club



Played a young side with few first team players. Nice to see Susaeta carrying on with his goal scoring for us.

Was great to see Raul Garcia bagged 2 penalties for us on his debut, was disappointing that we conceded a goal right after his first penalty for us.

We was the better side against Sheffield United and we only scored on 34th minutes and just couldn't score again.

Went on another tour to Japan, Facing Antlers, we was playing well up to half time and 2nd half we just simple exploded and they battered us.

We went ahead on 54th minutes thanks to Casado's header. We conceded 5 mins later due to sloppy defending. We was heading for a draw until Susaeta got fouled in the box which Arteta converted to give us the win.

We was far the better side and could have scored 2 more goals. Both of his goals was from corner.

Decided to play them twice, We went behind this time after San José mistime his clearance kick which they scored from it. Told the team to keep on going at half time and two of our youngsters got themselves on the scoresheet and Ibai Gomez finished the game off in injury time.

Transfers



Busy summer for us, Laporte was in a bidding war between Real Madrid and Barcelona and Juventus blew them away with 41M bid for Laporte. Decided to get rid of deadwood players and brought in decent players that could improve the team.

Send couple of youngsters out on loan to get game time.



I agreed to sign him in January, will be working on his technical and mental attributes.



It was no brainer for me. Surprise I got him for 800k. Will improve our midfielders immensely.



I decided to get Ruffier in as Iraizoz is getting past his best. Definitely number 1 keeper in upcoming season.



Brought him in as my scout rated him very highly and spent just under 6M on him.



Another experience player joins us, after selling Ander Iturraspe to them, Raul was transfer listed. To my amazement, I was the only club was interested in him. Will be interesting to see how Raul, Arteta and Captain Herrera perform together in my formation.



Good to see him staying on

I got transfer budget of 30M after selling Laporte. I'm still on the look out for a right back, hopefully I can sign one before transfer window closes.

August 2015 – Athletic Club



We start our season with away to Getafe, both sides was wasteful on chances in front of the goal. We went behind thanks to Arteta being stupid by getting booked and gave away a free kick, immediately, Pedro Leon scored a free kick on 8th minutes. Guillermo was the guilty one of missing hostful of chances, we went in half time a goal down, I took off Guillermo for Toquero. He became a supersub for us. 3 goals in 8 minutes period!! Toquero had a chance of getting his 4th goal but was tackled as he was about to shoot.

Atlético travel to San Memés for our match, this time we was the better side. Captain Herrera took the lead for us, with a well worked finish between him, Ibai Gomez and Arteta. Which Herrera slotted it after being set up by Gomez inside the box. They couldn't break us down which was I was pleased about. Susaeta finished the game off in 84th minutes to give us 3 points.

Definitely a fair result for us. We took the lead with a header from Guillermo inside the 6 yards box. He disappointed me again as he keep missing chances, might play Casado or Toquero next few games. They level the score 3 mins after we did.



Pretty happy to take 7 points so far in first 3 games tbh.

UEFA Champions League


Yikes. Will be looking at 3rd place finish.

Transfers news



Brought him in for cover at right back.




Yup, blew all my transfers budget on him. I decided we need to strengthen our AML position as Ibai Gomez is only decent player we have got there.

September 2015 – Athletic Club



We absolutely battered Sevilla. We took the lead thanks to Aurtenetxe header from corner. We then doubled our lead after Susaeta headed in Saborit's cross from 4 yards out. We conceded as Dzeko jumped above Aurtenetxe and San José to head in. Thankfully Captain Herrera finished the game off on 66th minutes.

We faced Juventus at their place, amazingly we took the lead under 60 seconds with a header by Etxeita. Munoz grabbed his first CL goal with a good strike. Former player, Llorente scored 2 goals on 23rd and 26th minutes to level the game for them. Could have done better with his first goal. Captain Herrera went off injured on 41st minutes which I replaced him with Sebas. We then went on counter attack with Ruiz setting up Guillermo's goal. Ruiz cut out Bonucci's pass and flicked it to Guillermo, did one two one with Ruiz and ran toward the box and drew Juventus's defender into him which left Guillermo unmarked and Ruiz slipped the ball through which set Guillermo one on one with Begovic, which he slammed home to give us the lead. Juventus was all over us 2nd half and thankfully the team held on for famous win!

After the game, found out that our captain is out for 4 months Our injuries are stacking up in our midfielders department, Arteta out for 3-4 months, Raul Garica is out for 3 weeks.

We welcome Real Madrid at San Memés. Before the game I told the team to exploit middle of the pitch as there was a huge gap between their attackers and 2 defensive midfielders. It was a even games, we went behind on 39th minutes after Ruffier parried Benzema's shot into Bale's path to give them the lead. Until 80th minutes Undabarrena drew us level, by heading in Munoz's corner from outside 6 yards box. Griezmann ( the 31.5m man) grabbed the winner for us 2 minutes later. We crowded around Alonso which forced him to lose the ball on the half way line, which started our counter attacking, Munoz chipped over 3 Real Madrid players, just few yards away from the box which Undabarrena, chested it down to Guillermo, Griezmann lost his marker and ran onto Guillermo through ball and slammed home to give us 3 points over Real Madrid.

As our injuries in midfielders leaves us short, which forced me to play Etxieta as MC. Surprisingly he set up 3 of our goals before got injured. Malaga had no chance against us. As we ran riot and should have got a cricket score.

As we got Benfica few days later, I decided to rest Guillermo and play Hernandez his first start, Griezmann gave us the lead on 11th minutes with a good finish inside the box. Poor defending by us let them equalized the score on 15th minutes. Hernandez got his first goal of the club on 29th minutes. We got lucky to come out of this match with 3 points.

What an crazy game against Benfica. Once again, Griezmann scored on the 11th minutes. We kept pushing for another goal. 2nd half, Benfica level the score after they capitalized on San José's mistakes. We was heading for a draw until Benfica went for 2-4-4 formation against us. Undabarrena mopped up Fabaino's hopeless pass and passed it through to Guillermo who saw Susaeta unmarked and slipped it through to him and blasted it home to give us fantastic win.

October 2015 – Athletic Club



Disappointing with 3-3 draw with Elche. We went 2-0 down and clawed back to 3-2 until they scored 9 minutes after we took the lead. Mikel José's miss penalty on 20th minutes was the turning point.

We welcome Luciano Spalletti's Valencia to San Memés. Valencia was the better side but we took our chances to win the game.

Disappointed with the team, was hopeless in 2nd half and they deserved to win.

Another loss against Villarreal, ffs. We took the lead via Guillermo. The team capsulated on 60th minutes which let Villarreal player score 2 goals within a minute to give them a win, We had a chance to draw the game as Susaeta was fouled in the box on 65th minutes. Munoz stepped up and the keeper saved it to keep the score in their way.

Hammered them easily, shame it wasn't more than 3. Mikel Jose got us on our way with a header from corner. We won a free kick, Griezmann booted it down the box from right hand side and Moran headed it in to give us 2 goals lead going into half time. Guillermo finished the game off on 59th minutes.

We faced Osasuna , Brought on Ruiz at half time for Guillermo who had a shocker. Ruiz won a penalty for us on 84th minutes after a foul from their right back. San José stepped up to score the winning goal. Griezmann and Aurtenetxe both picked up injury, Griezmann is out for 10 days to 2 weeks with gashed leg. Aurtenetxe out for 3 months for torn hamstring.



our draw and loss definitely was the turning point.



Been given 40M as we got 120M in the bank, I'm not interested in spending the money.

November 2015 – Athletic Club



We start November with home match against Monaco. Was disappointed with the officials as they missed an offside player which set up Falaco's first goal. We drew level with San José header on 50th minutes. We took the lead 8 minutes later after Guillermo was fouled in the box, Iraola slammed it home. Monaco snatched a point after a counter attack from poor san José pass which Rodríguez intercepted it and started the counter attack. Wasn't impressed with Monaco, made 18 fouls and picked up 6 yellow cards. Dirty

Worst performance of my career. Team was utterly pathetic and deserved to get battered. Guillermo was pathetic and has 5.0 rating, after the game I told him I wasn't impressed with his performance, and said to me he thought he played well?!

Another disappointing performance against Córdoba.

Fantastic performance against Juventus. They went down to 10 man on 41st minutes after Vidal two footed tackle on Susaeta. We won penalty on 64th minutes, after Susaeta was tripped up in the penalty box. San José converted it to give us 3 points. After the match, it was confirmed we have qualified to Knockout Round Will rotate the team around for our match against Benfica.

After 3 days playing in CL, I rested Susaeta and play Ibai Gomez in his place. Sebas was fantastic for us and grabbed his goal on 7th minutes with a well work from Ibai Gomez, which passed it just inside the box to Sebas whom slammed it home. Meré's missed heading the ball and they level the score. Griezmann put us in front again with a brilliant pass from Sebas which Griezmann ran inside the box and booted it into left bottom corner. 2nd half we up the game and scores another 2 goals.



Our draw against Cordoba sees us trailing away from Real Madrid/Barcelona.



Thanks god I'm not in a shoot out for 2nd place

December 2015 – Athletic Club



Disappointed with the team over 2 legs against Leganes.

Not surprised to see us lost to Benfica even we didn't take our chances as usual.

Fair result against Celta, was lucky to escape with a point.

GRIEZMANNNNNNNNN




Copa del Rey draw



Not bad draw.

Champions League draw



Not again ffs

Full draw


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Might look to strengthen in January, currently looking at Iñigo Martínez to improve our defence, possible another striker.

January 2016 – Athletic Club



We went behind on 15th minutes after pathetic defending by San José to let him score. Susaeta level the score on 31st minutes which came off Betis's Insua which Susaeta slammed it home. We was all over them in 2nd half and couldn't break them down until Meré found his way through and headed in Herrera's corner to give us 3 points with 5 minutes left.

Was definitely smash and grab for us. We took our chances. Pleased to see Gorroño grabbed his goal for us.

We smashed them to pieces, Guillermo missed handful of chances which is getting annoying now.

I decided to go on holiday and left it to my assistant manager, He went for 4-2-2-2 and a youngish XI and held them to a draw which sees us go into next round.

Captain Herrera handed us 3 points with 2 brilliant strikes.

Massively disappointed with 3-0 loss, we had 2 CCC which we should have taken them. But meh.

First defeat in 7 games against Atlético. We was so unlucky to lose, Casado was guilty one, missed 2 easy chances to level or win the game for us.

Close but no cigar. We stuffed them but just couldn't find that touch to put it in the back of the net. Gorroño was superb for us and got MOTM.

Another poor performance despite won the game. We should have wrapped it up before Guillermo's winner but hey ho.




We are falling behind against Real Madrid, I can't see us catching them now. 2nd place is the main objective.

I resigned after we got thrashed 4-0 against Sevilla. Basque policy got the better of me. I just couldn't see any way to improve the team, left them in a good hands, with cracking team and youngsters. with 150M in the bank. Frank De Boer is Athletic new manager.



Celta offered me job interview, which I attended and they agreed to the request that I asked for, few days later they approached me to be their manager, I asked them to delayed it until end of the season, just to keep my options open.

I'm also keeping a eye on Villa Boas's job at Atlético, at the moment it's at insecure, attended most of their games to up the pressure on him and hopefully gets the sack.

I have also added Belgium, Croatia, Holland and France top leagues only. I fancy a crack at Croatia clubs but wouldn't mind going to Belgium or France or Holland.