'Y Sialens Chweongl'

Day after the above message ...



So the tale takes another twist ... despite them denying interest they want me.

Looks like it's the USA and DC United.

So I took up the offer. I was 9 months without a job and I was bored of waiting for a possible offer from Boca. DC United are like a fallen giant in the MLS, absolutely perfect fit for me.



Close to 10 years without success, down to me to bring something back to the capital. Looking really forward.



Squad is weak at the back, despite possessing a good goalkeeper. Midfield and Strikers are probably one or two short of being on par with the best teams in the league so will be looking to address the defence as well as upfront options as soon as possible.



My three games in charge, all wins. New manager and new found belief.



How the season ended up.



Looks like I've sorted out upfront ...

So in my first full month in charge we managed to stay undefeated. A real good start for a side last season who under fired throughout the entire season. The squad has adapted to the tactics I want to play well and the squad has trained well over pre season.

Big wins against New York and Toronto show our intent for the season. Hazard and Sturridge are running the show and ruining sides in the MLS.



Sitting comfortably in second place in the division, keep this form up and we will be there of there abouts come end of the season.



How the transfer window has panned out. Some good signings in Sturridge and Hazard. Pity I couldn't afford to keep Adnan Januzaj, just couldn't fit into the salary cap. Take note of Indian international striker Ansari. Bloke could provide good competition for Sturridge up top.

Another undefeated month, mainly down to the fire power upfront. The annoying thing about this month? Failure to capitalise on a 10 man Seattle. We had the chances and they held on. We really should have scored another to claim all the points. But sometimes when you come up against a goalkeeper who saves everything it's tough. Sturridge is scoring for fun at the moment. Really has gelled in well and if we can keep him and Hazard then I cannot see why DC United can't win the MLS this season and the Champions League next season if we qualify. The side has talent but it's depth at the moment is not good enough.



Top of the conference for now. Just got to make the position ours.

So a month where we saw Sturridge injured for the most and goals came from elsewhere. We were lucky to escape draws, especially against Toronto. We also managed a big escape against Montreal when in deep injury time our left back pops up and scores. Bar from that it was a routine month, which ended with a confident display in the US Cup.



Still top and still progressing.



Club is losing money, despite the increase in shirt sales from Sturridge we are taking a bit of a hit on the financial side. However I am pretty confident some silverware this season will help ease the burden.

First piece of silverware was won when we beat the New York Red Bulls who are on somewhat of a downward spiral. So we secured the Atlantic Cup by beating them three consecutive times this season. First time in two seasons that the cup returns to DC. When Sturridge goes quiet there are others it seems keen to pounce on the opportunity that he doesn't always take. This month Bogdan Stancu was that man. Really impressed and pleased with his contribution this month. We are through to the Semi Finals of the US Cup after we dispatched a poor Colorado side, Stancu once again displayed his class by securing the match ball.



Confirmation of the Atlantic Cup.



Keep building the gap.

I have to say, what you achieved is really impressive. I have read it all, today You inspired me to start a game like this, I hope I'll be as good as you are. Can't wait for the next update.

Gangenung city has been popular with a few people I know, so I would go with them.

He accepted Waitakere because he wanted to win OCL

Roby - Cheers pal, it's tough going. You always need a bit of luck with these saves to get the right job. Been fortunate in a lot of things going my way and of course the odd ones that don't add to the interest of the save.
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July saw us be grateful that we have Daniel Sturridge in our ranks as he scores when he wants. He single handedly destroyed Portland. It was also the month of the Revolution when we played New England three times. Staying undefeated was very pleasing and the victory in the semi final was clinical as anything. Had it not been for their goalkeeper then we would have scored more. Chris Pontious, Hazard and Stancu are all contributing with goals from the attacking midfield slots so it's really really pleasing to see these guys do the business. I am likely to get rid of Stancu at the end of the season to help keep some of the costs down at the club.



Looking good at the top. Keep pushing to qualify now for the play offs.

So the day had arrived, quite a weird one having it midway through the season. A chance to grab some silverware so I was really keen to ensure that we took the chances we had and win this competition.

As you seen in the post above we won the US Cup and then immediately after that had to play Philadelphia. Cup success had meant that the squad had lost focus for the game and of course we were duly punished for our sins. Few choices of strong words saw us pull it back against Toronto, Kansas and Columbus. We ended the month on form and a month when DC United under my management picked up its first piece of silverware.



Still top and still have a gap. Qualified for the play offs also.

A really poor month. Players fatigued and just not concentrating. Obviously the issues at the back need addressing still. So will be looking to improve here when I can.



Top and qualified. No changes.

So we closed the regular season with two comfortable victories to solidify ourselves at the top of the table. New signing Espinoza scored and of course Sturridge. Just awaiting who we face in the play offs.



Ended top of the Conference which is a marvellous achievement.

Well done mate!

Charlie M - Cheers mate.
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So we are now Champions of the MLS. Really big effort from a squad that was assembled during the off season and gelled really well. When you sign a designated player you always hope they have the same impact as the likes of Daniel Sturridge has had. He has been a class act banging in 35 goals in 37 league appearances.

Both Columbus and Houston proved tough opposition to pass, teams seemed to have worked us out so we had to change tactics to ensure we got the victories needed. In both the semi final and final we needed extra time to see off the opposition despite dominating the stats and having the chances, nerves were obviously on show and chances that were normally taken during the season were squandered.

Sturridge secured the MLS title in the very last minuet of extra time to a crowd and bench that erupted in celebration.



Done the double, US and MLS Cup's. Really happy with these in my first full season here.



How the final was seen by the media.



Loved by the fans.



So DC United have now won the MLS the most time, outstanding feet. First time they have won anything in over 10 years.

So been a while since I touched this ...



Boca came back, but only after sacking their manager. Sadly for them I'm not interested in them at the moment. I have a good time at winning the Champions League with DC United. I have a strong squad at my disposal so I don't think leaving now is the right thing.

Start of the new season and a very strong outing from the squad. Sturridge has started well and has been supported well from his team mates. Just to to keep plodding away at the league and just await the group draw for the NACL.



Strong start to the season.

So to catchup to where I am at. It's been a tough mid season with DC United. Quite a few loses started to creep in here and there and it led to us losing out in the US Cup to New England. Bitter defeat and the players were made fully aware of how disappointed the club was that they failed to beat such a poor side. Form dipped dramatically towards the end of the season and it's something I'm looking to sort out ASAP.



Top of the conference with quite a few games in hand. Still the conference is ours for the taking.

The poor form continued into the start of August with the squad threadbare with injuries and lack on any cohesion meant thing's weren't going our way. The poor form didn't continue into the NACL luckily for us and these games provided welcome relief from the toughness of the MLS. Saying that we were brought back down to reality when a tired squad played a confident New York Red Bull side who battered us 4-0. However a strong performance towards the end of the month has shown things might eventually start to be getting back on track.



Teams catching up after a poor month.

Normal service resumes. With a squad that has seen injured players return to boost numbers it was inevitable that the form would turn around. Goals are flying from all over the park and it was pleasing to see that youngsters were also stepping up to the mark.



Taken the conference by storm. Next month will see us complete the league season and then pre-season and onto the NACL knockout rounds.

So the season ended and it ended us as Champions once again of the MLS.

It was strong performances right up until the final when we were just complacent and had it not been down to Daniel Sturridge's brilliance then we wouldn't have won the game.

It was also Stancu's last game for the club. He rejected our contract offer in favour of a move to Turkey. Not to worry, we will be looking for a replacement. In other news our next opponents in the NACL is Seattle. Bring them on.

So a very positive start to the new campaign. No new transfers to really talk about, I decided to stick with the same squad and just rely on the draft to bulk up the fringe of the squad. Of course the one loss was that of Stancu but the squad is good enough to deal with his absence.

So we progressed with relative ease to the Semi Finals of the NACL. Our only problem still comes at the back, the defence is relatively young and probably needs an experienced head to help them along.



Undefeated, not to far away from the top.

So ...



We had an extraordinary semi final tie against Mexican giants Monterrey. At home we played in a classic shoot out. Literally every shot on goal, ended in well the goal. Sturridge was man of the hour. In the away tie, we had to pull back twice to ensure we went through. Was really happy that we made the final.

So the final legs ...



Job done. Held out for a bore draw.[/spoiler]

So April was a real busy month. We did lose two games in the MLS but in the grand scheme of things it didn't matter. Players were rested and rotated to ensure the assault was made on the NACL. It's sad that the last MLS game I was in charge we lost but can't have everything.



So there we are ... next chapter.

So news came into the feed that Boca who seem to have a high turnover of managers have gotten ride of another and so, after being chased it was time to apply.



Within 24 hours. I was offered a deal. So Boca Juniors is where I go.

So my first month in charge could not have gotten any better really. The squad has settled into the style of play I wish to play, Similar to that I played in New Zealand, Japan and the US. The squad (which I will get round to showing you all) does possess some quality but very surprising the club only possesses one international in any form and he's not even Argentinian which gives me the impression that either Argentinian internationals are sold fairly quickly or that the club is not producing many any more. Again this something I will look in another post.

So we beat some big sides in the first stage of the league. Argentinian football I think is split into two parts and the team with the overall best points tally wins the league? I think. Lanus and Colon are tough sides and have been challenging for the title in recent years and we did remarkably well to see them off. Contributions to goals have come from around the park but what we do lack is an out and out poacher.



Comfortable win of the league. Time to press on.

So the closing part of the league saw us coast home with easy victories over lower league placed opponents. Despite his stats Carboni seems a decent prospect, so I am hoping he will develop more in the future. Goals again came from all over the park and that was again pleasing to see. The squad is content at the moment but I have a feeling we can push them even further if given the chance..



Table showed that we won the first stage comfortably. Which we did. Even when the playing squad was rotated we still didn't take our foot off the pedal. Very pleasing to see. Only half the job done mind. Got to move on and win the second half now.

Undefeated during the friendlies period which was good as it gives us momentum to start the season. As I said previously the squad has gelled and it now seems that some of the youngsters I first didn't feel could make the step up are currently doing so and I hope that they continue to do so. Money is tight so the young guys are going to be given a chance.



So to the transfers. I've only made 3 transfers since I arrived and all three will have a different role in the levels of contribution they will give to the squad. Banega is the experienced head needed in the center of the park, at the age of 32 he will be rotating with the youngsters in the middle of the park to help bring the next generation through. Morello is the poacher Boca are looking for but he's only 17 and needs to be managed to ensure his development is maximised. Sanchez is another experienced player who will add quality to the 'hole' position.

In the transfers out only a few youngsters have gone on loan in hope to get them first team experience ready for them to comeback and push for a spot in the first team. Gomez was sold as he was sort of useless and money is key for Boca at the moment.



As promised I would give a look at the squad here at Boca. Zone is a quality goalkeeper, in the short time I have had the pleasure to manage him he has been outstanding and mops up with many a mistake that the team makes. I see him getting capped by Argentina at some point. Pinto and Fernandez are the main players at the back and with these two the defence is rock solid. These two will hopefully develop the youngsters around them to make them as equally as good as themselves.



The midfield is a bit of a mixed bunch, the good, the bad and the ugly. Over the coming off season I hope to look at improving this area the most however with the formation we play then some of the players won't always get a game. Morales is a class act and his form has drawn attention from the media and the national manager. Benitez could develop but he lacks confidence in himself so it's a task for myself to turn him around and get him to believe in himself. If he does that then he could well be a big player for the club. Upfront there is quality but not a real natural finisher. Morello could well develop into that player but needs guidance and playing time to do so. Something I aim to do.

Great job finishing off North America. Now good luck with Boca, should be quite easy?