On a quest to be the best. [FM15]

With only two games played so far this season it has been a promising start to the campaign and one that'll need to continue if we're going to have another successful campaign. Six league games were played in the month of August as we looked to continue our promising start to the Challenge League.


We began the month with a two goals to nil defeat away to Schaffhausen in a game that'll be remembered for poor discipline as we had two defenders sent off - centre back Davide Goretti was shown a straight red card on thirty three minutes while left back Fadri Hamidovic was sent off for two yellows eleven minutes into the second half - the hosts scored a goal in either half but it was a poor game.

The side bounced though in their next game and in style as well, thumping Servette 5-1 in our second consecutive away game this month. Theo Oliveira scored a hat trick, including two spot kicks (he'd leave the club at the end of the month, I didn't want to lose him but can't have anyone disrupting the side), on-loan Giacomo De Maio also scored twice.

We'd then welcome relegated Vaduz to our home and ease to a 2-0 win as the side recorded their first clean sheet of the season. Theo Oliveira broke the deadlock on four minutes before star right back, Miguel Martin added the second goal in second half stoppage time.

It was then back-to-back home games as Wil arrived and were beaten two one as Jose Antonio Saso and a Theo Oliveira penalty were the difference makers.

A trip to Le Mont then saw us record a 2-0 win but we had to rely on two late goals thanks to an on-loan duo. Andy McCormack opened the scoring on seventy nine minutes before Giacomo De Maio added the second goal in the first minute of stoppage time.

The month then concluded with a trip to basement boys Wohlen and recorded a straight forward 2-0 victory, Giacomo De Maio and Gudbrand Larsen the goalscorers.


I can't complain about the start to the season as we're sitting top of the table and four points clear of second placed Winterthur but as only eight games have been played so far this season, I refuse to get carried away. One thing that needs to be noted is that at the moment, we have conceded just the six goals in eight games and scored nineteen.

Not too bad a start mate.Great opening day win away from home.Good to see you sitting on the top of the pile even if it is only 2 games played.

We have actually played eight league games SBR but yeah, it has been a promising start to the season.


Just eight league games have been played so far this season but it has been a promising start to the Challenge League season as we are sitting top of the table and four points clear of the team in second place as we enter September and we have just two league games and a Swiss Cup first round tie this month.


Experienced striker Gudbrand Larsen came off the bench to bag a hat trick in the first game this month as his treble saw us beat Bienne 3-1 at home. Larsen's treble arrived after thirty four, forty four (penalty) and ninety minutes.

Despite playing poorly, the side progressed to the next round of the Swiss Cup after seeing off Gossau two one away from home. Jose Martin scored on the stroke of half time before Giacomo De Maio's goal on sixty six minutes proved to be the winner.

And the short month concluded with a single goal home win over Tuggen, Emanuele Farina scoring on 67 minutes from the spot.


Ten league games have been played this season and we've opened a six point lead at the summit but I still refuse to get carried away as their is still loads of football to be "played" this season. I'm still pleased with how the defence is holding up as only seven goals have been conceded in the opening ten games but that'll change no doubt.

Very strong start pal, looking good!

Decent start

Superb start, this is the year!

How did I get that so wrong.I am going to blame lack of sleep after a night shift.Excellent start to the season continues.Keep it up mate and the title will surely be yours.

Cheers KEZ, I'm pleased with the start.

Cheers Johno.

I'd love it to be our year Dan, I really would but can't get carried away.

Haha I wouldn't even worry SBR because it's an easy mistake to make, it has been a fantastic start to the campaign and I'd love that to continue.


Top of the table after the opening ten games and six points clear, it has been a strong start to the season by my Lugano outfit as we hope to secure promotion to the Super League and I do believe that's achievable but it isn't going to be easy for sure. Five games await us in October, four in the league and one in the Swiss Cup.


It was a disastrous start to the month as the side made the trip to Winterthur (I had previously turned down an interview with them) and they made me "regret" that decision as they demolished us four goals to nil at their place, we were absolutely woeful and I'm saying nothing else about that game.

Four days later we welcomed Schaffhausen and for the first time this season we suffered back-to-back league defeats, losing three one. On-loan Italian striker Giacomo De Maio scoring our goal after fifty four minutes.

Our second round tie in the Swiss Cup took us to non-league side Wangen b. Olten as we advanced following a two nil win thanks to two first half goals - Giacomo De Maio broke the deadlock after ten minutes, right back Miguel Martin doubled the lead from the penalty spot with eight first half minutes remaining.

A return to league action took us to Vaduz as my Lugano side bounced back to winning ways after securing a 1-0 win. Our new right winger Johnny Ravelli scored the winning goal on thirty seven minutes.

The month ended with back-to-back wins and back-to-back clean sheets as we sealed another 1-0 win, this time at home to Servette as Giacomo De Maio bagged the winning goal on the half an hour, could have been more but I'm just pleased to be back to winning ways in the league.


Our lead at the top has been cut to just three points following those back-to-back defeats at the beginning of the month but at least we're still top of the table...for now. It still has been a tremendous start to the season as we've two months remaining before the 'traditional' winter break here in Switzerland.

Not a great start to the month but a great recovery with 3 wins and 3 clean sheets.

It was a terrible start to the month SBR but I'm delighted we recovered in the last two games.


We have reached the penultimate month of the calendar year and it has been a season to remember thus far as we are proudly sitting top of the table but only three points clear of second place Winterthur - four league games were played in the month of November and a Swiss Cup third round tie vs. Super League side Young Boys,


It was a horrible start to the month as we made the trip to Wil and suffered a six nil defeat. Enough said.

However the club bounced back in their next game as we secured a 4-2 home victory over Le Mont thanks to three second half goals. Experienced striker Gudbrand Larsen scored our first goal before Giacomo De Maio, Ross McKay and Andy McCormack added further goals within twelve second half minutes.

A trip to Bienne was up next and a five two victory soon followed as the on-loan Italian striker Giacomo De Maio bagged a hat trick as he scored after eighteen, twenty nine and sixty two minutes while Johnny Ravelli and Danny Whittaker also scored.

We then welcomed bottom of the table Wohlen and disposed of them easily as we recorded a 3-1 victory as Gudbrand Larsen scored a goal in either half while Andy McCormack scored in between the Larsen double.

The month then concluded with a sensational 3-1 win over Super League side Young Boys in a game that saw us outplayed at times but we took our chances. Early goals from Giacomo De Maio and Ross McKay seemingly had us in control after the opening fifteen minutes, the visitors pulled a goal back but Jose Martin's goal, with four minutes remaining, sealed the upset win.


Once again the lead at the summit has been slightly cut as we now only lead second placed Winterthur by two points after the opening eighteen games as we have one more month to play before the winter break. We have bagged thirty eight goals in the eighteen games and conceded twenty five times, it hasn't been a bad season to date.

Sure the title will be yours mate, keep it going

I hope so Dan, I hope so. It's been an outstanding season and a half to date.


And now we have reached the final month of twenty thirty six and even though some inconsistency has been slipping in (three defeats in two months) I can't complain because we are predicted to finish fourth and for the second successive season, we are exceeding expectations and long may that continue. Only three games were remaining before the winter break, all in the league.


What a shocking month and one I wanted to try and avoid but c'est le vie. December began with an away trip to Tuggen as we suffered a four goals to three defeat. Andy McCormack (14), Emanuele Farina (63 pen) and Luigi Demontis (83) the goalscorers.

Four days later and we welcomed second placed Winterthur to our home venue in a 'top of the table clash' and we surrendered top spot after losing three one as Jose Martin's goal on thirty one minutes proved just to be a consolation goal.

Our final game before the winter break was away to Schaffhausen and it would be a third consecutive defeat this month as the hosts secured a single goal victory, it was a poor enough performance but that just continued to prove this month as a whole, we must bounce back after the break.


Top spot has been surrendered after this shocking month that saw us lose all three games and concede eight times and score four. We will return to the competitive action after the break in second place and only a point (thankfully) behind Winterthur so at least we're still deep in the title picture.

As usual, I won't post the winter friendly fixtures as I can't be bothered and our first game back to competitive action will be against Vaduz, I believe it's away from home but I don't have the game currently loaded to find out. We need to make the second half of the campaign though one to remember if we're going to attempt to win the league.

Well that was horrid, however you've barely dropped behind so you'll make that back

It's just as well we haven't Dan, that was a horrible month and one I didn't see coming but we'll recover, we usually always do.


On the field it was a torrid as we only secured one or two wins in the friendly fixtures, not ideal as we returned to competitive action in the month of February and unfortunately I got a little carried away so I've had to throw March into this update as well. Eight games have ended up being played, seven of those in the league as we looked to bounce back to winning ways after a torrid December.


Our winless run stretched to four games as we returned to competitive action on the twenty second of February twenty thirty seven and suffered a two one defeat at home to Vaduz, our goal arrived five minutes before the interval through Italian winger Johnny Ravelli.

However in the next game, the side bounced back to winning ways as a single goal from Giacomo De Maio sealed a 1-0 success away to Servette.

Wow, were did that come from? We concluded the month of February with a 6-1 demolition on the road was we thumped Le Mont LS. Jose Martin scored twice while Ross McKay, Lucien Leroux, Giacomo De Maio and Jose Antonio Saso also scored, we led five one at half time. Sensational result.

The first game in March saw us play out a scoreless draw at home to Wil.

Seven days later and my Lugano side beat Bienne 3-1 at home as Spanish striker Jose Martin scored twice while an own goal from Bruno Zeier was scored in between the Jose Martin double.

We then made the trip to basement side Wohlen and eased to a four goals to one victory - Johnny Ravelli scored twice, Jose Martin and a Miguel Martin penalty were on the scoreboard.

Our final league game of March saw us welcome Tuggen as we played out a four all draw, Jose Martin was the 'hero' as he bagged a hat trick, including a goal in the ninetieth minute while the other goal of the game was a Dario Jimenez own goal that came after twelve minutes.

Jose Antonio Saso headed home the winning goal in second half stoppage time to secure a 1-0 Swiss Cup quarter final success away to Wil. We'll make the trip to Super League struggler's Grasshoppers, we could cause an upset there if we're lucky.


Despite only dropping points twice over the past two months, we have fell three points behind the leaders Winterthur but their is still eight league games remaining and I'm pleased we're still in the title picture and we face the league leaders next month, I'm confident we can secure maximum points in that game.

If you can keep up the form in the last 8 games as you have done recently you could still win it.December could well of cost you the title though.

Hope you're right SBR as I'd love to secure the league title this season but I'm just pleased we're exceeding expectations once again.


It's now the penultimate month of the season and what a season it has been yet again at Lugano as we're exceeding expectations in the Challenge League, four league games are played this month as we hope to return to the summit and continue or potential promotion push while we also travel to Grasshoppers in the Swiss Cup semi final.


April began with a home fixture against Schaffhausen and despite Miguel Martin converting a fourth minute penalty to put us into the lead we got pegged back and could only manage a point.

It was then a top of the table clash as we made the trip to Winterthur and moved to the summit following a 1-0 win. The winning goal came after fifteen minutes courtesy of right winger Johnny Ravelli.

We then advanced to the final of the Swiss Cup in which we'll face Super League runners-up Basel following a 2-0 win on the road against Grasshoppers thanks to two second half goals from Andy McCormack and Jose Martin.

Challenge League action resumed with a trip to Vaduz and a three one victory meant we remained top of the table as Giacomo De Maio scored a goal in either half while another Italian, Luigi Demontis added the third goal with nine minutes remaining.

The penultimate month then came to an end with a 1-0 success at home to Servette - Jose Martin the scorer on seven minutes.


Only four league games are remaining and with a five point lead at the summit then it's surely our league to surrender now? It's been a season to remember, we have bagged sixty seven goals to date in our thirty two games while we've shipped forty four times. We are potentially four games from me wrapping trophy #1 up in Switzerland.

Definitely yours to lose

Cheers Johno, you're right and I hope we don't blow it.


The final month of the competitive season is upon us and with only four league games remaining, we have a five point lead and it's our league title to lose.


We began May with a trip to Wil as we secured a four two victory which I am delighted with - Luigi Demontis, Benjamim Bengue O.G., Johnny Ravelli and Miguel Martin (pen) were the goalscorers as we potentially closed in on the league title.

Nine days later we welcomed struggling Le Mont in a game that was 'televised', the side won 3-0 at home and in return secured the Challenge League title as Johnny Ravelli broke the deadlock in first half stoppage time before second half goals from Giacomo De Maio and Oscar Lanza sealed the trophy.


No pressure was on us for the remaining two games and it's just as well because in our next game the side slipped to a three one defeat away to Bienne, Giacomo De Maio scored our goal with ten minutes remaining.

The league season then concluded with a 5-2 victory at home to relegated Wohlen as goals from Michele Consoli own goal, Luigi Demontis and Johnny Ravelli inside the opening nine minutes had us in control before second half goals from Oscar Lanza and Jose Martin sealed the win in a seven goal thriller.

We then faced Basel in the Swiss Cup final, we lost seven nil and were outplayed and deserved to be hammered.


This is how the league season has ended up and we secured promotion to the Super League much to my delight, finishing eight points ahead of runners-up Winterthur as we had a fantastic second half to the season to secure the league. Vaduz will be in next seasons Europa League due to once again winning the Liechtenstein Cup.

When the season ended, I had this interesting offer and I really don't know what to do...


After finishing third in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich sacked their manager and I decided to apply for the post just to see if I'd even get offered an interview and much to my surprise I did, I thought I would've been 'laughed off' from the vacancy as they're a massive club. £4m transfer budget although that could change and they've a good but experienced squad iirc.

Bloody hell, it's a tough decision - accept Bayern's offer or remain at Lugano for at least one more season?

Not surprised to see you win another league title! well done mate

Cheers Dan, pleased it's been chalked off and now I don't need to return thankfully.


After applying for another vacancy (I turned down the offer from Bayern, a tough decision) I was summonsed to an emergency board meeting to discuss stuff and despite trying to say everything I could the Lugano board made their decision quickly and it's one I don't agree with and one I really hope they regret making as they embark their return to the Super League.


Yep, I have been sacked as manager of Lugano despite guiding the club to promotion and having two fantastic seasons at the club but that's good enough for chairman Pablo Vayzendaz but that's fine because I'll move on - last season we won the Challenge League and finished runners-up in the Swiss Cup while the previous season we finished third and got to the quarter finals of the Swiss Cup - yet I have been sacked because I applied for a new job.

Sorry folks but they won't be accepting usual 'Football Manager ' applications, they want someone with 'real-life' experience.

Following my sacking at Lugano which did upset an annoy me because I was looking forward to playing in the Super League but I suppose it's my own fault for applying for one job vacancy too many but I've got to move on and when a certain vacancy became available in England (the one that led to my Lugano sacking), I needed to apply for it.


As you can see, I have been approached to become the next manager of Newcastle United and one I'm so excited to take as I support the club in real life and I can't wait to get started at St. James' Park. Over the past three seasons the club has been finishing in the bottom half of the table and last season only finished seven points above the relegation zone.

I've been given a transfer budget of twenty one million and that sounds good, doesn't it? It's not because the wage budget isn't great so I'm going to need to adjust that before I can even consider bringing any players in over the course of the summer. I've penned a three year deal at the club and that'll see me 'earn' twenty nine thousand per week.

Not surprised to see you move on already, sure you'll be just as successful here!

Congratulations on another title.Wasnt even close in the end.Good luck at Newcastle.

When you get sacked Dan then you don't really have a choice but to move on.

Cheers SBR, I hope I can be somewhat of a success at Newcastle.


After arriving at St. James' Park I am ready to get started at Newcastle, a club who I support in real life but I'm under no illusions that this is going to be an easy job because it's not. They're predicted to finish twelfth in the league and truth be told, I don't know what to expect from this season.


No one joined the club this season as I've decided to give the players at the club already a chance to show me what they can do, that and I couldn't find any players of better calibre to join the club.

Ten players left the club - four on-loan deals. I decided to release Mads Windstrup when his contract had expired, he was on £62k p/w and was never going to get much game time this season. Adnan Hodzic, Peter Everson, George Brooks, Richie Fenton and Steve Roberts also left when their contracts had ended while Mitchell Leach, Luc Meunier, Jonathan Paul Mills and Dean Fox left on--loan.


It was a busy pre season program as nine games played an although we didn't play 'tough' opposition (bar Kaizer Chiefs, Inter Milan and River Plate) I am delighted that we went through the friendly games unbeaten and kept six clean sheets in the process but I know when the competitive stuff begins then it's going to be different.

We start the Premier League season at home to Everton.

Newcastle is my team so I do want you to do particularly well there.Fantastic pre season.Hopefully you can carry it into to the league.

This is a crazy challenge :O

Congratulations on all the success you've had so far. Hopefully you can take Newcastle back to the Champions League and finally earn us some Silverware!!!

Good Luck

They're my English team as well SBR so I'd love to be a success at the club but it's not going to be easy and I know that for sure. We had a tremendous pre season but we didn't play that many tough teams so it's hard to judge on what to expect, we have a tough opening three games but I've to be confident.

Indeed it is Pippadoc but for me that's the only way to play Football Manager these days. Don't expect silverware please because during this long career the club have won absolutely NOTHING, not even a League Cup and they've been runners-up in the League Cup once and that was four years ago. Cheers though.


With a successful pre season program behind us that saw beat Italian side Inter Milan amongst other games, some against local sides (e.g. Whitley Bay) it was time to begin the competitive campaign and with three tough league games this month, I didn't know what to expect on my return to managing in England, we also faced Championship side Cardiff at home in the League Cup.


It has been a fantastic start to the campaign but it should have been perfect in my opinion. We began the campaign at home to Everton and beat them 4-2 at St. James' Park as Spencer Hardman scored twice before late goals from Patryk Bak, who wanted to join Liverpool in pre season but no bid came forward and Luis Estevao sealed the points.

We then travelled to Blackburn Rovers and played out a three all draw but I'm disappointed because we had a three nil lead after forty nine minutes as winger Luis Estevao scored twice and midfielder Bill Elliott scored between the Estevao double.

The side then edged past Championship side Cardiff City in the League Cup second round, winning two one thanks to two goals in the space of thirteen second half minutes courtesy of Spencer Hardman and Lewis Addison.

August then concluded with a sensational 2-1 home success over Arsenal who are predicted to finish as runners-up. Dave Ross broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on twenty one minutes before world-class right back Brian Villerman doubled proceedings ten minutes later, Arsenal pulled a goal back in the second half but we held on for maximum points.


I'm pleased with the start we have made to the campaign but I know we can't afford to get carried away as loads of football still need to be played this campaign, after the opening three games we find ourselves in fifth place and if the season ends like that then I'd be delighted.

Wow, I thought you was going to take Bayern job Good luck with Newcastle

Solid start to the season mate.Hope you can win it.

See, I was going to take the Bayern job Johno but then had a 'change of heart' because managing them would have been the easy choice so I declined the offer. If it comes up again in the future then I'd seriously consider applying again no doubt.

Ha, we won't be winning the league SBR, not this season anyway.


It has been a promising start to the league season at St. James' Park as we have remained unbeaten throughout the opening month of the campaign - two wins and a draw from our three league games while the side progressed in the League Cup, beating Cardiff at home. September proved to be another short month as once again we had three league games await us and a trip to Championship side West Bromwich Albion in the LC third round.


The month began with a sensational 3-1 victory at Lampard Park as we defeated Chelsea - Spencer Hardman found the net to equalise before late goals from Luis Estevao and Mario Ruiz sealed the surprising win as we maintained our unbeaten start.

However we'd then lose the Tyne Tees derby in our next game as Middlesbrough deservedly won two one and that proved how 'unpredictable' English football can be, substitute Marcin Dudek scored our consolation goal with five minutes remaining but we just couldn't find a leveller.

We would progress in the Capital One Cup though, securing a three one win away to Championship side West Brom thanks to goals from Virgil Sietsma, Patryk Bak and Spencer Hardman. We will host another Championship side, Stoke City in the fourth round and that should see us advance to the quarter finals but you never know.

The month then concluded with a 3-0 victory over struggling Sheffield Wednesday as we kept our first competitive clean sheet of the season. Fernando Godoy broke the deadlock after only six minutes, Dave Ross doubled proceedings after nineteen from the penalty spot before Ross' double two minutes into the second half sealed the points.


We will end September in second place and only a single point behind Manchester City and that's something I didn't even dream about as we've had a fantastic start to the campaign - bar that away defeat to Middlesbrough - we have conceded just the nine times in six games and scored sixteen but I still refuse to get carried away. The trio of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are struggling early doors but that's fine.