Waterdeep70 - Comments

Season 37.

Dungannon move up 3 places to 22nd in Europe Rankings.

Danske 46th up from 50th.( Was 71st 5 years ago).

This season I will go Positive/Attack .

France in World Cup.

Group ..Game 1 vs Tunisia .  HT 3-0.   FT 4-0.

Group ..Game 2 vs Canada .  HT 2-0 .. Playing with 10 men after (38). FT .. 5-0.

Round 2 ..Uruguay .. HT 0-1 down. FT .. Shock loss 1-0 loss. I expect to get sacked…tough media session…I resign after World Cup.

World Cup Final …..Argentina beat Wales 1-0 aet.

 I take the Mexico job…World Rank 5th.

(Fr) vs Nicaragua. HT 7-0. FT 8-0…. Lack of DM & LWB & AMR cover.

(Fr) Away vs South Korea ..HT 2-0. FT 6-0

(Fr) Away vs Honduras … FT 4-2 win. 4-0 defensive subs made.

(Fr) Away vs Ivory Coast .. HT 0-0 ..FT 3-0

(Fr) Away vs England .. HT 1-0 ( Only 3 of my old team in their squad). FT 1-1.

(Fr) Away vs Wales ..HT 1-3( Goal down in 18 seconds).FT 1-5 Win .. not bad vs World Cup finalists.

(Fr) Away vs Peru ..Win 5-0 …. United withdraw Keeper .. may drop him . Lose 3 injured in run up to Game.

(Fr) Away vs Paraguay .. HT 0-0. FT 2-0.

New Season .. Clear out some established names …. Refuse to sell others.( Kay / McMahon / Gacic/ Mcakee / Dallas).

Smash Club and Irish Transfer Record for N.Ireland international Clark (£7.5m) From League 1 Barnsley.

Competitions ( Domestic).

NI Charity Shield .. Follow up 4-0 league win a week earlier by again beating Crusaders 2-0 for first trophy.

Bet McLean Cup vs Crusaders … Win 5-1 ( Went a goal down in 16 seconds ).

Danske League sealed with a draw after 32 Games .. 6 in a row for me.

Mid Ulster Cup Final ..  vs Glenavon … Win 2-0 .

Irish Cup Final .. vs Portadown .. Miss another penalty .. sub Gacic (73) …Win 1-0.

Champions League ..Playoff .. (h) . Lose 1-0 .. shock result and ends club record 37 game unbeaten run.

(a) .. Win 3-0 and miss a penalty .

Group Stage .. Marseille/AC Milan/ Hadjuk….Win opening 3 games before OM win game 4 (4-2).

Key game is away at AC in game 5 .. come from behind (1-2) despite another missEd pen too qualify.

1st Knock Out … (a) Celtic .. despite playing against 10 men for 54 mins it ends 0-0.

(h) . Stay with Positive mentality against struggling Celtic (4th in Prem).HT 1-0. FT 2-0 Gacic (45/85).

QF ..Porto (a) .. Gacic scores two including a penalty .. missed 3/6. Win 2-0. Stayed Positive.

(h) .. Dallas(5) Watkins (43) ..HT 2-0. Watkins second makes it a surprise 3-0 Win ..Agg 5-0.

SF .. All 3 possible opponents I have Managed .. Rochdale(1st in Prem) / United (2nd)Saints.(3rd)

(h) Rochdale ..Stick with Positive mentality .. 2-0 down after (9/14). Gacic scores for HT 2-1.

Disaster start 3-1 (46) .. 4-1 down is soon 4-2 ( Gacic again ) sub Watkins makes it 4-3 ..Lose 4-3 but what a game.

(a) . Need a miracle against the team who have won Premier League & Carabao Cup this season…Nagelsmann now has 4 league wins and 8 domestic cups. 
Still going for it as I have all season ..Positive Mentality.

My former player Leigh sees Red (30) .. Gacic ( pen 45) ..HT 1-0 but going out on away goals.

FT ..1-0 win but still fail to join Man Utd in the final. 

Achievements :

Oct 2054 ..Dallas gets first N.Ireland goal.

Oct 2054 .. Kay makes 100th league appearance.

Nov 2054 ..Clark gets first N.Ireland goal.

Nov ..New Positive approach breaks Bet McLean scoring record in SF ..now upto 21 scored.

Nov ..Gacic scores his 50th league goal ( when scoring his 4th vs lowly Ballymena).

Dec ..New League record for consecutive wins broken ( was 27).

Dec ..Dallas joins Watkins in coming out as gay.

Jan .. Club & Nation record transfers as Cardiff & Leicester raid my squad.

Feb .. McMahon 150th League game.

Feb ..Gacic scores league goal 71 to pass Watkins .. should have earlier but missed a number of penalties ..also broke individual record with 5 in the match vs Newry…3 players had scored 4 previously.

Mar ..Walsh makes N.Ireland debut.

Mar ..David makes Irish debut.

April ..O’Driscoll takes his goal scoring record back with 6 vs Cliftonville.( Passes 50 league goals for club).

April ..Young makes debut and now youngest player by 1 day ( 15y 268d). 

May .. Gacic ..Most overall goals 62 . Most league goals 42..club and Danske… Most MoM (15).

May ..Lammers sets new avg rating of 8.07.

Fans Player .. McMahon .. I don’t agree.

Goal ..Knight

Signing ..Wheatley

Young Player .. McKee

League Player .and Golden Boot …...Gacic …. Also gets ECC Golden Boot .

Young Player ..Davis

Top Shirt Sellers .. Watkins / Dallas / O’Driscoll / Gacic / Knight

Season highlights elsewhere:

Nov .. 18 managers sacked /.vacancies available.

Dundee United win Betfred Cup from Hamilton.( They are 11th in Prem). First win since 1981.

Saints beat Leicester on pens to win FA Cup.

Kilmarnock retain Scottish Premier…St.Johnstone lost last 3 games to blow it.

1. Biggest Career Profit Record picked
2. Type in the fields ..see attached 
3. Get the error message above

Different issue ..sorry

No worry .. I am 35 seasons into a save and decided to have all categories with a record for “ My Record” section…. May find some other problem areas.

I imagine that with Records able to be “ fixed” using add manager etc .. it makes it less popular.

I had a record rejected for Most Goals years ago (2019 I think with Harry Kane getting 12) but never understood why when it was as International Match vs a low ranking country you cannot play ( not add or influence) and yet 8 goals in a premier league game goes through ( Never seen more than 5 in any top league in all my saves and I’ve managed PSG 🤣).

Also an issue with worst discipline

Thank You for sorting .. there is a different issue with a drop down for currency not working.

I have tried with and without £ in the number box

See attached.

Season 36 …2053/54.

Most Popular by shirt sales …Watkins/Wise/Knight/Dallas/Greaves

Out … Change of players as 3 stalwarts ask to leave for new challenges….2 change their minds.

In…6 Free transfers sorted by May .. 5 for the First Team.

In…2 more re-join on loan.

As August arrives .. 7 in ( no fees just 5 free and 2 loans) and 8 out. 
With early round European ties I have to get transfers done early.

3 of those signed Free had loan spells at the club. ( Hughes / Watkins / Lammers).

France .. After seeing off Belguim in SF ..England await in the final of International League.

I have won 7 titles with England (2019-2049) & 1 with France (2035) 

A battle of top 2 ranked sides.

Skillen is 1 goal away from equalling Rashford record of 128 goals .

The New England manager is a regen with no experience .

My Young Right back has gone AWOL .. no reason given .. just says Abs.

Tight match but finally score with Chauvin (85) … Win 1-0.

NIfL ..Lose Charity shield with my mainly reserve and youth squad FT 0-0 ..Pens 5-4 to Crusaders.

After breezing through 3 qualifiers and Seeded in 3rd pot ( Co eff 67.5) .

Get OM /PSV/Leeds ..PSV in group last season… Aiming for 3rd place. As I beat PSV twice last time.
Start OM (h).0-0 ..13-2 on shots to us. A capacity 7650 enjoy a surprise point.

PSV (a) .. They lost 6-1 to Leeds in game 1 … Win 4-0 .

Leeds(a) . Held to a controversial 0-0 in the league with 2 disallowed goals .. and a FA warning before this match ..gets worse as 57 mins of holding out ended by 2 quick goals .. Dallas pulls a late goal back .Lose 2-1

Leeds (h) .. Injuries affect team … Lose 1-0

On loan Diaz gets first international goal.

McMullan N.I. Debut.

O’Driscoll gets first international goal.

Gacic gets first goals for Serbia.

Have gone from Defensive to Balanced this season in the league/cups .. oddly it’s reduced the shots against us.

  Richard Morrison (16y 37d) is New Youngest Dungannon (Was 16y 131d) & Bet Fred Cup scorer . .(Cup ..Was 16y 63d).

Bet McLean Cup  (QF)21 players On International duty . costs me dear as I lose 3-2 vs Portadown. 
2 youngsters make debuts.

Won eventually by Crusaders 1-0 vs lower league Ballyclare.

After 2 weeks on hols ( In real life)   … comeback to no adverse affects of my cup exit from the board .

Both Celtic & Leicester offer me job interviews that I decline.

Later Utd and Spurs .

25/11 … Back to Game 5 of ECC (a) at OM .. Need to win to try and get through.  
Goal down in 31 seconds 🤦🏻‍♂️.. HT 3-0 down. Both centre halves after going 5-0 down rated at under 6.0

Lose 6-1 … My best centre back rated 4.7 the other 5.7 . Winger 5.9…. Awful.

PSV left to play but they have lost all 5 games so through to Europa league.

Europa League ..draw old club St.Johnstone in 1st knock out.

Jan 2054 .. linked with Chelsea …. Elsewhere Pogba leaves Saints (2nd in Prem) for Villa ( 10th) 🤷🏻‍♂️

Watkins breaks club record with his 57th goal league goal.( Also has 25 cup goals)…..Timmy Adamson had 56 previously.

JAN ..transfer window sees No new signings … 4 x loaned .. 4 x free and 1 sold for £10k.

Now have 9 out on loan ..2 earning me 8k/ month plus in fees.

3.2.54… Chance to seal league title … McMahon makes 125th league appearance having spurned multiple transfer bids for him.   Injuries to RB and AMR.
Game 30 at Cliftonville… 1-0 down (19 mins) .. HT 2-1 up. (39/45). FT 2-1 . 
Title number 5 with an avg squad age of 23……Career title 26.

Quickiest title … has gone 32 .. 31 ..and now this year 30 games to achieve the title.

Club now have 6 Championships ….Linfield 62.

Europa (a) St.Johnstone ..HT 0-0. FT 0-0 ..a game of few chances.

(h) .. Main striker Gacic out injured. HT 0-0.  Dallas scores (61) but I have 3 on yellow cards. Mair (72) levels for St.J. 
Go out on away goal rule.

A lack of young French players is affecting my squad choices as I cannot draft some for friendlies due to lack of U21 numbers.

Friendly vs St,Maarten ..just for goals and confidence …. Win 11-0 

Ferris ( out on loan) … makes N.Ireland debut.

Lammers makes Dutch debut.

Debut  for recently signed Youth candidate .. 15 yr 268 days old J.Rea ( Breaks youngest player record by 1 day from R.Morrison). in Mid Ulster Cup Final.(20th title). Win 3-1 vs Newry.

End season unbeaten again …120 games without a league defeat…. Pass 2400 manager games.

Irish Cup to end season vs Crusaders who have 2 trophies already.( Top scorer Gacic injured).

Linfield have 47 titles …Dungannon 6.

HT 0-0 . FT 1-0 ..Back up striker O’Driscoll (91st min).

Southampton win Premier again ( Rochdale/Utd/Leeds ….City 14th).

ECC Leeds vs PSG….PSG Win 2-1 aet.

Europa Rochdale vs Bayern …Bayern Win 1-0 aet.   King sent off after (52) . Bayern winner (111).

I can’t recall the last time an English Team didn’t win one of the European titles.

Kilmarnock Win the Scottish League ( Celtic/Aberdeen/Rangers/St.J). Rangers win Scottish Cup.

Summary of Achievements … Being more attacking has worked.

Gacic breaks scoring records League scoring record with 32 ( T.Harkin on Institute 2050/51 & this season had 26).( Brown of Portadown also got 26 this season).

Broke club records ( Rogers 17 in the league) & ( Branch 33 for the season)…Gacic has 41 from 42 appearances.

Also breaks MoM award with 11 ..was Rodrigues 8 for the club.

Gacic wins Europe Top Marksman .

Knight 15 assists in the league breaks P.Harkin & Harrison both Portadown shared 13.

Knight 21 overall breaks Wise 20 assist record.

On loan Youngster ..Scannell (Striker) wins BSC Young League player & Top scorer with 15. ( Ards).

Season Awards ..

 Gacic … Fans Player & Signing & Young Player……Also gets League Player of the Year.

Dallas gets League Young Player.

Average crowd 6898 beats old record of 6821.

McKee avg rating of 7.94 beats Hill (7.93).

Finances down £9m after early exit in Europa…..Still earn £41m 

 A. Ben Thabet … Watford Loanee extends contract and I give him French debut in time for World Cup.

I am still unable to upload records for FM 19 game .. and it appears no one has uploaded one in the last 7 days on any version.

Any idea when this will work again .

Thanks

Is there an issue with uploading Records currently .. have been trying for a few days and keep getting error messages ( I’m using the same method that has updated successfully before ).

The current issue is saying it’s an image issue.

Also attached a separate issue when uploading.

Thanks

Season 35

Move to new Dungannon Stadium complete .. new capacity is 7650 ( 15300 expansion) from Stangmore Park ( 5000 capacity).

Lewis Rogers trying to force a move ..I refuse .. eventually a new contract.

Fail in Brazil job attempt.

Approached by France/Italy and Holland….Take France for 2nd Time.

Dungannon ranked in Pool 3 for Champions League ..rated 49.5

NIFL Charity Shield .. Win 1-0 through an own goal.

Champions League .. Make group stages after being in Pot 3. Get PSV/Celtic/Man Utd .(WDLWW) 

After losing at Old Trafford ..Win at home against them and comes down to avoiding defeat to Celtic in game 6. .. HT losing to 10 man Celtic 1-0… level on (71) .. hang on and come second in group.

France .. Strong start .. 3 new players bloodied as I have a small pool of ageing players.

Youngster Dallas makes N.Ireland debut…. My Young Danish signing makes his Bosnian debut 🤷🏻‍♂️

Other youngsters Adair & McKee get first goals for N.I.

Jan transfer window .. Make 4 successful free transfer bids for June. 
Reality is after Schalke in Champions League unlikely to progress so building for next season and accept a bid from West Ham for Rogers ( £5m instead of £1.3m from other clubs). Blackburn & Boro match it. 
Goes to West Ham .. My first Dungannon deal (£110k compensation) .. New record sale £5m.
Also start the month with 5 injured or unwell… and take charge of game 2300 of my career.

Cardiff Loanee Watkins makes 100th league appearance in his 4th year at the club.

Start Feb by sealing title after 31 games.

Several starters want to leave at end of season.

Bet McLean Final .. Beat Linfield 2-0.   The highlight is 39yr old Keeper Vance scoring .. put him on upfront to see if I could break club Oldest scorer record and he did . I used to use keepers regularly at International level on previous FM games to keep squad fresh but tactic never really worked on FM19.

March 2052 .. Schalke win 2-1 at our home ground and despite attacking and dominating ..0-0 in return leg knocks us out at the 1st knock out stage … but have £5.8m extra in prize money than Euro runs in previous years.

April .. Lose my striker for £1m release fee to New England Revolution.

Win Mid Ulster Cup vs Warrenpoint 1-0.

May ..

Irish Cup vs Crusaders … Vance retires after the game ..new U18 coach.  I give him last 20 mins upfront to try and score again.  Win 2-0 ..double by loan striker Greaves.

Season Highlights:

1.Another unbeaten season ..82 games now…No surprise with only Crusaders a professional outfit. 

2. Record Clean Sheets in a season .. Kay ..68 games 54 clean sheets .. 16 conceded.

3. Youngest Player ( Morrison at 15y 269days) ..Beating Club (16y 39d) & League (15y 280d).

4. Vance Oldest Player (39y 357d) & Oldest Goal Scorer despite being a Keeper.(39y 273d).

5. Most League Goals ..119

6. Coming 2nd in Champions League Group and making a knock out round.

Awards

Fans Player .. Hull Loanee Delmotte.

Best Goal ..Wise

Young Player ..McKee

Signing ..Law (£1.8m from Southampton).

League Player of the Year .. My back up CB ..Batty

Young League Player… Watkins ..who after 4 loan seasons joins on a free. ( 49 league goals in 107 games).

Elsewhere ..Man Utd pip Saints on last day to win Premier … first in 15 years.

United also see off Saints to win Champions League.

Leeds hold off Barcelona to win Europa … last won this 1971 and no trophy since 1992 Premier.

Celtic see off St.Johnstone & Kilmarnock …..Aberdeen slip to 8th. Rangers 7th.

I reject Chelsea interest.

Season 34

Transfer Headlines.

Leeds have smashed the transfer record with a £207m purchase of my former player Greenwood from Rochdale ( bought for £41m originally).

The Income from 2 successful Euro runs is letting me 1. Improve facilities 2. Buy / loan with fees better players. 3. Seeing players bought .. record signing Potter has already been taken in a 3 way bidding war by Everton for £1.2m.( His release clause).

After winning first ECC qualifier and getting injured my on loan winger comes out as gay .. no other media comment to this important event ..why has it taken until July 2051.

After an easy qualifying campaign .. Draw Rochdale in the Group Stage ( Rangers & FCP too).

Sept .. McCabe finally gets first N.I cap … Rogers his first N.I goal…McCabe gets his 1st goal next match.

Chile hold Oz 0-0 in a friendly.

WCQ (a) Kyrgyzstan (144th). Shakespeare gets Cap 75. ..Win 7-0 .. ( 3-0 until Red Card). McAuley 1st goal.

Champions League (h) ..Rochdale ..toughest start … especially as Keeper & RB can’t play against own team.

Surprisingly no media quizzing. Defensive not working as 2-0 down in 13 mins. Lose 3-0

Oct … Rangers (a) ..1-0 down playing defensive .. Change to balanced … Win 2-1

N.Ireland … O’Driscoll wins first cap.

WCQ ..Maldives (h) Rank 185th … Win 6-0.  Orfanidis gets 1st goal.

WCQ ..UAE (h) Rank 105th…. Ryan gets 75th cap. Win 6-0

FCP (h) .. Defensive holds until HT 0-0.  Some late scares but ends 0-0.

Nice battle with old managerial foe ..Wells.  I am Number 1 and he is 2 in Nationality Rating.

Nov 2051 

FCP (a) .. 1-0 down despite Defensive at HT . Go cautious and level … VAR pen call goes in our favour before Knight fires a 94th min winner…. Memorable 2199th game in charge.

Cardiff Loanee  Branch scores 1st goal for Wales .

Tajikstan(a) ( 139th).. Pugh changes Nationality and makes debut… HT 3-0 ..Pugh two on debut. FT 3-0.

Krygyzstan (h) ( 142nd) .. Magas(50th cap)… Win 6-0 …Another Calabria penalty 

Back up Keeper Vance now oldest player at over 38yrs of age.

Bassett 125th league appearance in 10 man win over Crusaders.

Rochdale (a) .. I get to Manage at the Reg Jenkins Stadium.  Hold for 20 mins then a VAR pen as 2-0 down in 30 mins.  Missing my best Keeper and RB is not helping. FCP leap frog is into 2nd place. 
Lose 3-1.  O’Driscoll with consolation.

Fans gave me a warm reception.

Dec 2051 

Rangers (h) .. I could end up 2nd or 3rd in the group ..all to play for a actually favourites as Rangers have lost all 5 matches.

Over zealous ref kills the game .. approaching HT with my usual Stay On Feet instructions and but Hunter (45+1) sent off for 2 yellows. Elsewhere FCP beating Rochdale so 3rd place seems likely. HT 0-0.

Go 1-0 down after 56 mins and gamble … still Lose 1-0…. I feel a ref rant coming In press conference.

China (a) ( 49th) ..Friendly … Oddly the club 45min instruction was for most my sub players .

Another Calabria penalty .. A Pugh hat trick .( Even scored a pen with Calabria subbed).  Win 5-0

Seal a major transfer coup ..Kay ( Rochdale reserve Keepr with 10 England caps) .. for a cut price £3.2m .

Cup runs have given money and status. Good relationship with player and club help.

Draw Real San Sebastián again in Euro Cup.

End of Year .. Unbeaten after 24 matches .. could I finally go unbeaten for a season after 34 seasons.

Transfer window ends with a current and a former Rochdale player signed.

Out 1 x transfer and 1 x loan

Upset 2 by refusing transfers.

Feb 2052 … Bet McLean Final vs Newry … 3 game in a row in different competitions against Newry .

Won 2-0.  Our 4th win …. Linfield have 39.

Euro Cup 1st knock out round leg 1

Real San Sebastian (a) .. HT 2-0 ..Branch & Rogers defy media expectations. 11 shots to nil playing defensive as again a better non playing league side fail to perform. FT 2-0 win.

Home Leg … My 200th game at Dungannon. HT 1-0 FT 1-0. 3-0 agg win .

26.2.52 ..Beat Linfield 1-0 and seal the title after 32 games…. Still on for the unbeaten season.

Squad average age 24 .. Only 6 loanees this time .  12 squad members now Internationals ( 1 to 24 caps) Of which 8 are N.Ireland ranked 78th. Only 5 worth over £1m of which 4 are loanees.

Now ranked 3rd in Ireland as a manager but miles behind the Top 2. 
 

March 2051 .. Euro 2nd Rnd Knock out vs AZ . (A) ..  Branch who can’t score many domestically scores in Europe again and at HT 2-0. FT 4-0 

Club Record Winning run of 25 ends with a 0-0 draw vs Cliftonville as rotated squad can’t finish.

As a long standing United fan .. nice to see a Whiteside in my Youth Candidates.

Saints nearly blow a 5-0 agg lead vs Celtic .. Celtic score in 81/84/85 and tie ends 4-5 agg .

AZ (h) .. 3 players injured day before game. Elsewhere my old side St.Johnstone get knocked out by Leeds and like another old side Aberdeen they are having an awful league season. 
HT 1-1 Branch scores but Clean Sheet run ends at 14 With a Keeper o.g.

FT 4-1 ..Agg 8-1 …Branch now has 10 European goals in 18 games vs 10 League goals in 21+2 games.

Beat Glenavon in a cup SF  with 3 keepers on the pitch due to lack of fit subs.

Australia vs Fiji ( Friendly ..Rank 112th).. HT 0-0 . FT 3-0 . McCarthy scores on debut.

Australia vs Maldives ( WCQ ..Rank 184th).. HT 4-0 . Pugh scores for 5th successive game. 
Win sees us into Group stages in September. 
Iran (13) China (50) Iraq (72) Indonesia (85) India (93).

April 2052 

Mid Ulster Cup Final. VS Portadown .. 2nd string side ahead of Tottenham game.  HT 3-0. Mohammed hat trick .. Bassett hat trick …FT 6-0.

Europa QF ..Spurs (a) .. Branch again (32) HT 1-0.  My former England forward Moore levels for Spurs and an even contest ends 1-1.

Spurs (h) ..1-0 at half time … hang on until late .. go attacking with subs but can’t finish ..FT 2-0 loss.

17 of their squad worth more than my entire squad.

Achievement on the line vs Crusaders (a) … can I go a league season undefeated at last .

Rogers (3) calms the nerves .. HT 1-0. FT 1-0.

Set new points record of 110 points. Only 2 draws a league record. 36 is most wins. 0 defeats .

May 2052

Irish Cup Final vs Linfield.  Lose key player on eve of match. 
Rogers (21) and my player of the season opens the scoring. Travis (37) HT2-0

Travis error leads to 2-1 on the hour . Branch 3-1 but Linfield pull another back (75) sub Watkins ( 81) makes it 4-2 and another sub Turner (92) completes an epic match and a 5-2 Win.

TV revenue down about £4m but still substantial for a Danske Bank club.
 

Elsewhere 

Rochdale ..Carabao Cup Winners but poor league form.

Southampton .. Community Shield & League plus Super Cup & World Club Under Pogba.

Aberdeen finished in lower half of table after domestic split .. first club I have left whose form has really crashed.

Champions League is Rochdale vs Man Utd …. Rochdale lift the trophy 1-0.

Europa Leeds vs Spurs ( we lost to finalists for a 3rd year ) .. Spurs win on pens after 2-2 draw.

Usual Loan player issues with clubs now wanting them to play a higher level ( despite my European runs).

Of the 6 .. 1 will not be needed ..1 club agreement for a 4th successive year with no costs ( Watkins) .. 4 refused.

Fans Player .. Hughes ….. 

Goal .. Rogers

Signing .. Wise ( Free after 2 season loan spell from Brighton)… sets assist record of 20 from midfield .

Youngster .. McKee 

Scored a record 17 goals from corners in the league.  7 DFK also good. We were fouled against the most by some margin .. 787 in 38 games ..next was 630.  Only commuted 198 ..next best 400. 
Scored 18/20 penalties .. by our right back.

N.Ireland Player of Year … Hughes

Top Scorer ..Lawlor ( on loan from us to Linfield)

Youngster ..McKee

Used 30 players .. second highest.

Going to run U23 squad in Olympics.

Season 33

July 2050 Highlights :

Won World Cup with England and step down for a new challenge…but Brazil/ Mexico & Jamaica say I’m not best qualified !

Dungannon win 6-0 twice vs Alashkert in ECC Qual 1

Olmpiakos in Qual 2 .. win 2-0 away as they get 6 yellows and a red from 24 fouls… win 4-0 agg .. almost lost this after laptop battery died .

Transfers

Renew 4 of last years loans and Working on others to get through early games… 4 definitely not returning .

3 in on free transfers and 3 with fees… Potter is club record £775k.

Also look at all N.Ireland players for out of contract options .. sign a few U19’s that may turn good.

August 2050

ECC Qual 3 .. FCSB ( Romania) … Through on agg 4-0 .. Better than last seasons effort when went out to Mitdjalland at this stage..they then lost to Ajax ..guess who I get .

NIFL Charity Shield …. Vs Portadown …. Chance to play reserves / back ups including 3 debutants Start.

Win 2-0 vs 10 men.

Ajax next ..(h) sets a new gate receipts record of £316k. Also win 1-0. They have no shots on target which is A surprise when reviewing squads. MCMahon on loan worth £1.9m next highest under £450k in my squad.

Ajax have 19 players worth more than McMahon.

Anang makes 100th league appearance.

Ajax (a) Branch (5/8 mins) .. the dream is on … HT 2-1 up. Agg 3-1.

Ajax score on (77) and (91) ..Agg 3-3…. Forgot away goals and delighted not extra time .

Group stage reached and £13.69m earned … This is possibly my greatest FM achievement.

Co-eff rating 9.5 .. 31st /32 teams ( Strasbourg last with nil).

I draw Galatasaray / Inter and my old team Southampton.

Transfer Window ..Larne 15 Dungannon 14 Cliftonville 11 ..Top 3 signing teams

Out …Dungannon 4  Crusaders & Cliftonville 3 ..Top 3

Only the 2 professional teams paid fees.

SEPT 2050

First ever Champions League Group game for an Irish side.

Galatasaray ( H ..Windsor Park).. They have 16 Senior Internationals….Dungannon have 4.

Loanees Turner & Branch with earky strikes .. HT 3-1 as another Loanee Watkins scores late.

Despite a late strike …hold out for a 3-2 Win .

Game 7 held 2-2 .. so again I fail to go a season without conceding In the league.

Double header with Crusaders … Late come from behind win at home in league 2-1.

Bet McLean Trophy 2 days later .. playing reserves and youngsters … (a) Goes to extra time .. 105/106/118 minute goals seal victory 3-0.      2 debutants from U20 squad.  Playing again in 48hrs so plan works.

End the month away at Inter Milan … hold out for 29 mins .. Lose 3-1. Branch scores again. 76382 is biggest crowd we have played in front of.

OCT 2050

Meet Crusaders for 3rd time in 11 days.(League away) .. Win 4-1 ..There squad is knackered by too many games.

Rotata away again vs. Every in Bet McLean cup and again goes to extra time. Comeback twice in extra time to draw 3-3 … Penalties .. Win 4-3 …Free signing makes debut plus youngsters make debuts.

19 yr old Adair makes Northern Ireland debut ( bought him for compensation money last season) .

I become Australia manager…. Recent form was Lost 4 of Last 5 games and only scored in the draw .

Current Ranking 36th.

Southampton (h) .. I fear the worse in career game 2100….U18’s lose 6-0.

4-0 defeat despite going Very Defensive .. lucky just 4.

NOV 2050

Southampton (a) .. Hold on until 89th minute before losing 1-0.

First Australia game … Bulgaria (58th)  (a) .. Both teams in awful form. HT 0-0. .. FT 0-0 .. at least not a loss.

Ciroth makes debut…. 3 games with no goals for this team.

Ecuador(39th)  (a) … HT 1-0 .. 44th min sees Calabria score in a decent first half display. A first win in 7 internationals.

FT 1-0 Win … this is a side lacking striking and right wing options.

I reach 100 games in charge in Bet McLean Cup vs Glentoran… Takes 72 mins against 9 men. Win 2-0

Galatasaray (a) .. Mess up going balanced and then Watkins booked twice in minutes in between a goal for them. hT 1-0 down.  Lose 1-0.

A partially rotated squad shakes off the Galatasaray result with a 9-1 away win at Larne…new record.

Red card in 4 mins vs Portadown in Bet McLean SF .. Go 2-0 up but then down to 9 men ..I have stay on feet set but both have dived in …60 seconds later it 9 vs 10. Lose another with 4 month injury.

Asia Cup draw is kind ..India / UAE / Thailand…..arrange 3 weak countries for friendly matches to boost scoring and confidence.

Last Champions League match …Inter (h) ..Very defensive and hope for a point.  We are bottom on goal difference …need to better Galatasaray.  They go 1-0 down and shortly after we are 1-0 up .( 28 mins gone).

HT .. The dream is still on… Inter yet to shoot at all .

FT .. 2-0 up on 70 mins as players worth £66k and £275k ( on loan) outplay the big guns.

Going Professional has helped … but reserve left back Anang wants a new challenge… immediately get bids with a small fee… before fees were rare…. Goes a few days later to his native Ghana.

I sign  Ian Knight on a free .. the same guy who left Rochdale for Liverpool for a then club record £3.4m… made 9 Premier appearances in 7 years for Liverpool & Watford…Last year on loan in L1 and did well But side-was relegated.

End of Year Round up .. Earned £6.7m for Europa run last year ..Champions League run was worth £19m

Still can’t go unbeaten as Crusaders win 1-0 against the match stats at our ground in Game 24.

Flora have bid for reserve keeper .. they let him go on a free in July. Possible new club record £20k Sale.

Looking to boost squad goals as Australia have only 36 between Them.

Australia vs Micronesia ( no ranking ) .. Won 5-0 .. Brooks get first goal. This now means 9 of my 23 man squad have scored ..16/12/4/3/2 and four with 1 .. 

JAN 2051 

1.1.2051 .. Ivanov deal goes through for a club record £25k to Flores.

New record Win 9-0 vs Queens Uni in the Irish cup with a rotated squad. 
 

Win Bet McLean Cup 1-0 vs Carrick. 

Australia vs Macau(194th) … Win 6-0.  Back up winger and corner routine are the highlights of this friendly.

Australia vs East Timor(179th) …. Win 2-0 …Disappointing from 17 shots on target.

3 weeks until Asia Cup kicks off … I have a back up winger I will draft in case of injury.

I am hoping some wins will boost confidence for better performance level in the tournament .

Holders Iran … Hosts Qatar.

Group Stage:

UAE ( 101st) .. Penalty (7) for a flying start. HT 1-0. FT 3-0 …. 45 shots to nil.

Thailand(94th) .. HT 0-0 .   FT 3-0 ….Only took 22 shots this time. 
India (100th) .. HT 4-0   FT 5-0 from 33 shots…. The late 5th goal (92nd min) sees Thailand go above India .

Ciroth gets his first international goal .

Round 2 

Sri Lanka ( 141st) ..Should be easy .. Mazis earns 75th cap . HT 2-0 .. FT 4-0 

Feb 2051 

QF .. Big Team time.

Japan ( Joint 32nd) … Go defensive. HT 1-1 ( was leading). FT 3-1 Penalty King ( Calabria) slots his 5th in last 6 matches.

SF .. South Korea (25th) … HT 0-0 FT 3-0 ..Striker Pain gets his 1st goal after 12 caps.

Europa League 1st K.O. Vs Anderlecht (a) .. HT 1-0 … Was 3-0 up …FT 4-2 away win. ( Forgot to change from balanced until 75 mins).

Final vs Holders and Favourites Iran ( 13th) … 1-0 down (17) .. HT 1-0 down. 
Go attacking .,sub Pain (76/77) wins my first ever Asian Nations cup in any FM game I have played.

World Ranking up 12 places to 23rd.

Australia now have 4 Wins…. Level with Iran & S.Korea … 2 behind Japan.

Europa 2nd leg … HT 1-0 up. Remembered defensive this time .. FT 2-0 … Win 6-2 agg.  ..Went out to Kilmarnock at this stage last season.

Lose away at Glentoran 1-0 and despite a 14pt lead the media say “ has lost his golden touch”.

March 2051

Check staff tab and both my jobs rated Untouchable.

Real San Sebastián ( Sociedad) ..in Europa 2nd K.O.

(a) Injury and suspension takes 2 players out… But 1-0 up in 3 mins… forgot to change to Defensive again and they level . 2-1 up after changing formation only it to go 2-2 near half time.

Have late chances but ends 2-2.

(h) Branch scores in under 2 mins to ease the nerves.. HT 1-0.  1-1 (67) ..Owusu restores lead 62 secs later.

Win 2-1 …agg 4-3 .  Their team was worth more but had several greyed out players as well as their established internationals…… Reward is Schalke in QF.

Worth £987k in prize money.

Youth intake .. Young keeper better than my 19yr old backup .

McCabe makes 100th league appearance vs Ballymena in a rotated squad.. title could be secured.

Knight scores twice for a 4-0 HT lead.  At 5-0 up Ballymena go down to 9 men within 3 mins 

FT 6-0 and the Title with 5 games to spare. ( Knight only had a Checkatrade with Rochdale 8 years ago .. now he has 2 trophies .. hoping this encourages other old teammates).

Rogers ( a youth signing who cost £66k compensation) last seasons first signing ..Makes N.Ireland debut.

Australia friendly vs New Zealand ( arranged before winning Asian Cup).  Ranked 80th.

Roscoe drafted in for 1st cap.

HT 2-0 ..Calabria with another penalty.   FT 3-1

Mid Ulster Cup Final vs Newry … Won 3-0
 
April 2051

16 yr old Walsh makes debut after recent Youth Intake.

Europa QF .. Schalke (a) .. Defensive .. HT 0-0. FT 0-0. We had more shots so will repeat at home.

Schalke (h) .. Again we are dominating on shots but HT 0-0. FT 0-0  Aet ..Sub Quinn (98) .. 29 shots to 2 but it’s that’s One from Quinn that takes us beyond anything I could believe.

Earn £1.34m prize money.

I avoid Utd & Arsenal and get Celtic in semi finals.

SF .. Celtic(h) .. Champions of Scotland this season ..They have 12 full internationals but 9 have 8 caps or less. ..16 of there squad worth over £10m pound.

Dungannon have 6 full internationals .. 5 with 8 caps or less. My highest value player is a Loanee worth £900k.

Defensive seems obvious formation style. 4-1-2-3 not being changed at this stage.

Celtic have 4xYellow cards before Branch (31) scores ..our Keeper scores an own goal (36) HT 1-1

Celtic keep fouling and 6 yellow cards as they hold us to just 7 shots ..FT 1-1.

Season ends with rotated squad vs  Newry (a) .. sub Bassett scores 93rd min winner in a 1-0 win ..100 points achieved.

MAY 2051

Celtic (h) .. 2-0 down by HT .  Going attacking  .. FT 4-0… agg 5-1….Disappointing end to a great campaign.

Receive £2.15m

Irish Cup Final vs Crusaders .. Branch (16) HT 1-0 up. FT 1-0. 

Rochdale Champions again.

Saints win FA Cup and Champions League.

Man Utd beat Celtic in Europa league. 

End of Season.

Branch ( Cardiff Loanee) sets new scoring record of 33 from Rochdale Loanee  Mead.

Ramon ( Dale Loanee) ..new Clean Sheet Record  of 33….24 in the league.

McMahon ( Dale Loanee) Player of the Year.

Hill ( Arsenal Loanee) Young Player of the Year.

Challenge is keeping some of the 9 on loan…. 3 agree . 1 in on a free( Wise) . 1 in on a transfer.( McMahon).

Shirt Sales … Wise / Watkins / Knight / Turner / Branch…. 1103 sold.

Danske League rises 10 places after cup run…. Coefficient up 9 .. improves when we enter competitions.

Club Ranking up 129 to 51st.

June 2051

Oz vs Hong Kong (FR) .Rank 122nd……Draft Barlone after he changes allegiance from England  ..he scores on his debut…. Roscoe & Sullivan get first goals … Win 4-0.

WCQ .. vs UAE ( away / rank 105th). Barlone (2) with perfect start. Calabria two pens. HT 3-0. FT 5-0.

WCQ vs Tajikistan ( home / rank 139th) .. McAuley in as injury cover for Roscoe…who lastEd less than 30 secs as sub against UAE.  Calabria earns Cap number 50.

Barlone scores for 3rd successive game ..HT 3-0.

McAuley debut as sub … FT 5-0.

Season 32 

Apply for Dungannon job .. first time I have applied to the League Champions..however it is their first with the dominant force being Crusaders with 23 of the previous 25 titles ..Linfield had the other 2.

Given an immediate  interview ..contract has 5 days left.

Offered job and I delay for a week to allow stadium opening.

With 2 days to go they ask which staff I want .. but can’t afford any compensation.

Rochdale new stadium complete and I thought this would unlock Steam Achievement .. apparently it unlocked when announced.

I end my time after 2558 days . Played 379 Won 232 Drew 81 Lost 66 . Win rate 61% ( career avg 75%).

5 cups 3 leagues and 3 promotions.

Munir takes over from Leicester.

Join Dungannon … they are celebrating 100 years.

Will start 4-1 down to TNS in Champions League qualifying.. trying to get some Loanees in Appears to be no restrictions of under 21.  Some of the Dale youngsters I put on loan b4 leaving and Cardiff so far have agreed.

Confederation Cup …Same team that won International League selected.

Iran ( 11th) .. Dunne breaks deadlock after 31 mins of domination. HT 1-0.

Bradley-F scores again from a corner. Tucker completes a 3-0 win.

July 2049
Mexico ( 6th) .. King gets 50th cap …Skillen opens the scoring.  HT 1-0…. Ends 1-0 …Qualified.

Peru ( 24th) ..rotation needed … Downes & Worrall with early strikes. Gardiner makes it 3-0 at HT.

FT 3-0.

SF …USA ( 15th) .. Genovese after a scramble opens the scoring ..Skillen gets his 98th goal. HT 2-0

Hayes with a rare goal completes a 3-0 win

France beat USA for 3rd.

Final .. Mexico beat France on pens … Chance to beat them again.

Genovese opens scoring(25) as both sides play same formation …King (35) and Genovese again 3-0 at HT.

Dunne denied by VAR late on ..Win 3-0 ..my first Confedreaction with England ( did win with France).

I am torn about staying ..want a crack at a South American or Asian team to win tournaments I have never won.

Iran sack manager but not showing as vacant…. Research shows it’s not available for an unplayable league.

Pass 2000 games as manager in a League win over Linfield.

4.9.49

World Cup Qual

Ukraine (a) ( Rank 43) .. Unchanged squad from Confed win.

1-0 down early and switch to attacking. HT 1-0 to their only shot. Triple subs and one of them Downes levels . Ends 1-1 and we can take top spot by winning game in hand.

Eire (h) ( 58) .. 3 up in 17 mins ..HT 4-0 .. Skillen ( 99th strike) Watson / Bradley-F & Genovese.

FT 4-0. 
 

October 2049

England Game 100 reached as manager 2nd time round…. 150 games first time…. 13 trophies In total.

Armenia (h) ( 123rd) … HT 8-0 .    Downes ( hat trick) Watson ( hat trick) Genovese. Bradley-Fitzpatrick 

FT 10-0 .  Downes ends with 4 goals . sub England completes the rout.

Montenegro (a) ( 103rd) … HT 3-0 ..Dunne & Skillen x 2 .. passes 100 international goals In 114 games.

FT 5-0 ..Dunne & York complete the scoring.  Gardiner comes on for 75th cap.

Nov 49 .. Watson injured D.King drafted in

Ukraine (h) ..A win to get Top Spot in the group needed.( Given last 2 matches vs weak teams).

HT 1-0 …Skillen (32) ….. 22 shots to 1.

FT 3-0 sub Downes (69/82) …38 shots to 1 …. Should have been more From 13 on target .

Eire (a) .. Rotate squad … Worrall score after 65 seconds  D.King(19) And a rare Price goal (22) before back up striker Baldwin ( 28) and stand in skipper Tucker (39) show gulf in teams …HT 5-0

Not sure how my own loan youngster with 3 caps has been dropped by Eire based on this.

FT . 5-0 .

DUNGANNON 

3-0 home win  on debut …80th min penalty seals a 4-4 agg and go through on away win. Champions League 1st Qual phase .

3000 is a new attendance record ( 2618 a year ago vs Hadjuk).

Record receipts £50.85k ( Was 35k vs Hadjuk).

Qual 2 vs BATE… Win 1-0 in front of a new record 4832 fans ( 5000 capacity).

Record receipts … £81.96k

Bate (a) .. Mead scores his first Dungannon goals (47/49)..his first senior goals after 44 non competitive goals for Dales U18’s.

3rd Qual …Midtylland….Lose away leg 1-0 .  Never looked like scoring.

(h) .. Go attacking but concede on 7 mins .. get 1 back (42) HT 1-1 … 2-1 down on agg.

M.Bassett gets his and our second (52) .. but despite 10 shots to 4 on target we go out on away goals .

Sell out record crowd of 5000 … receipts £84.88k.

Prize money £430k….plus £1.02 million for participating in champions league.

Receipts from 3 champions league matches is £228,528 …. Last season total for all matches £332,172.

I invest in young Irish talent ( compensation payments) and an old timer coming back from England.

Nagelsmann happy to loan me players due to our good relationship.

Only 2 squad members have International caps ..Nugent 99 for N.Ireland ( retires end of season) and Brighton Loanee Wise with 3 Irish caps. 4 have U21 appearances.

Avg wage £228/wk … Rest of league £213/wk

Avg age 24 

Euro Cup 4th Qual Rnd .. Slavia Prague (a) .. 9 loan players in starting eleven …Mead scores twice in a 3-0 away win playing defensive.

Slavia Prague (h) .. Draw 1-1 ( agg 4-1) .. in front of 8000 at the Oval ( Glentorans pitch in Belfast)…41 miles away.  Receive £2.62m for Euro Cup group stage.

8000 is new record attendance but seems odd at another’s ground. £115k is new receipts record.

This money is vital to my long term plan to improve facilities.

Seeded in 4th pot in the draw. We are lowest ranked with a 1.5 co efficient.

Avoid both Manchester clubs … do get Dortmund / Napoli and Midtylland again… I can see 6 losses.

Group Stage

Dortmund (h) Moved to Windsor Park due to our ground not meeting regulation.

Go Defensive. Shock lead (22) ..all over them at HT 1-0 up ( they had their only shot after 40mins).

A wonder 35yd strike from our sub against run of play (77) and it’s dreamland stuff ..Win 2-0

Crowd of 16877 ( Dortmund brought 7867) and receipts of £242k are new records.

Prize money £511k for a win.

Midtylland (a)..Only team in 23 matches to stop us scoring During last meeting in Champions League.

HT 0-0 .. comfortable defensive effort. FT .. 0-0 … last 20 mins we were hanging on .

Gain 170k for the draw.

Napoli (a) .. Defensive display sees a 1-0 lead at half time ..they started better we got stronger.

Despite a rare keeper performance rating over 7 .. they level (62) ..sub Bright (64) scores and we are in dreamland 

He had just asked to come off transfer list.( His 3rd long range screamer… no trait suggests why).

I’m front of 56,621 which for most of my squad is their biggest crowd . Earn £511k again.

I don’t understand how but Top group after 3 games .

Napoli (h) Sold out Windsor Park expected . They use 4222 again which seems to restrict shooting chances.

HT 0-0 .. stats suggest comfortable .. I would take the draw.

FT ..Keeper makes 3 fine saves in last 20 mins and ends 0-0. Dortmund win but we are Top by 1 point.

Sell out 18000 (2300 away fans) is a new record … so is £259k gate receipts.

Dortmund (a) .. Held 0-0 at home by bottom club Ballinamalkard with rotated squad in previous match.

HT 1-1 Mead goal cancelled out .

FT Superior finishing sees Dortmund go top with a 3-1 win…. Crowd was 73,509.

We need to avoid defeat in last match to go through.

Midtjylland (h) ..Winner takes all….well a draw is ok for us🤣

Ends 2-2 … but the 90th min leveller has cost us Top Spot.

Draw 170k + £448k for second place + £122k unallocated.

1st knock out …Kilmarnock drawn…. Feb 2050.

(h) .. New loan signings start. Defensive does not work and goal down (7 and then two down 17)….go on the attack ..   new loanee Branch makes it 2-2 ( 37/39) at half time.

Go balanced after subbing those on yellow cards ( hour mark) … ends 2-2.

17966 happy fans.

(a) ..Decide to start attacking and go for them …. Plan seems good until 45+1 when they score against run of play ..HT 1-0 down ..agg 3-2 down.

Make 3 subs and they score again ..go Very attacking now … fails and 4-0 down soon after. 
No disgrace and 10/11 Kilmarnock players rated over 7.1.

Reward £448k.

Forster is my former Dons player .. despite winning his next round he is sacked by end of March.

They go onto beat Juventus on way to semi final & then AC Milan to meet Man City in the Final.

Danske League…. Last years League winning side + 9 loans +3 young signings = 2 squads for a lot of matches.

Game 11 is the crunch vs Crusaders and after being pulled back to 1-1 ..Win 4-1 to maintain 100% start.

Game 13 finally drop points at 7th placed Linfield …Lead but ends 1-1.

Game 19 ..1-0 to Coleraine at HT. Level (54) and then Coleraine red cards (55/58). Ends 1-1. Lead cut to 6pts.

Game 22 Crusaders(a) gap down to 4pts … HT 0-0 . FT 0-0 despite attacking last 30mins.

Other Trophies …. and there are many in Northern Ireland.

Aug 2049…

NIFL Charity Shield …Coyle ( pen 9 mins) … Win first silverware…. Oddly played in Eastbourne , England.

Worth 2 points but not showing as a trophy in Hall of Fame.

January 2050

Board agree to go Professional from May 2050 after I struggle for signings…. Only Crusaders also Pro.

Game 25 sees my triple sub work & fail … score on 69 through sub Forsyth  but he’s injured and Linfield le el vs 10 men .. lead down to 2 points.

Game 27 ..lose 4-2 at home to Cliftonville … I still haven’t had an unbeaten League season .

Game 29 confirms European football .. but Mead injured … get 2 more loaned from Cardiff .. they seem happy to loan without fees .

Feb 2050 ..Bet McClean Cup Final 2 days after Kilmarnock first leg vs Glenavon.( Dungannon have been runners up for last 2 years ..only win was 2017/18).

Lots of changes and keep defensive to avoid fatigue .

HT 1-0 …Coyle (14) .. totally dominant and Glenavon yet to have a shot.

FT 1-0 .. 22 shots to nil against lower league opponents … but only had 3 on target .

March 2050 … Northern Irish Mid Ulster Cup vs Banbridge … We are massive favourites vs lower league side.

Full rotation as Game 34 Danske league is 2 days later.

3 up in 27 mins as the underdogs fail to perform. HT 5-0.

Win 7-1

16th time Champions. ( Portadown have 28 wins).

Danske ..Game 33 ..title showdown with Crusaders .. gap still 4 points….. come from behind for a 1-1 draw.

Game 36 vs Crusaders can seal the title after they finally dropped points in a 0-0 vs Linfield.

My squad are tired after a tough Irish Cup semi final vs Coleraine.(72hr gap). Mead banned for bookings.

Go defensive and an early penalty settles the nerves…they have to win.  HT 1-0

Miss a pen ..but same player scores from resultant corner … FT 2-0 and CHAMPIONS.

On the Top 10 Nations board with 25 pts now … Leader Coyle has 288 ( 13 leagues & 31 cups).

WITH 2 GAMES TO GO …THOUGHTS ON SEASON

1. Still can’t unlock unbeaten Achievement ( Steam ) after 32 attempts and conceded 14 goals ( how has anyone got nil in a season ( Sortitoutsi records).
2. Loans is way to go from managers / teams you get on with .. all my loans were free.
3. The money from Europe is game changing and allowing me ( board request made)to go Professional … the cup run boosted income from £1.3m to £10.5m albeit costs up £1m.
4. Get the tight Director of Youth to improve new regen hires.
5. Look for an experienced old pro … I got Nugent who was showing as retiring after the season ..35yrs old and played in every English league .. 101 caps for NI.. only trophy was U18 title with City in a 18yr career. Leads my mentor group.
6. Stay On feet reduced fouls ( least committed ) and 2nd least yellows.. only 2 suspensions.
7. A lack of internationals meant I had no issues with players missing for key cup matches.
8. Almost impossible to get permanent signings as a part time club… of any quality.
9. Set pieces important as keepers not great .. my best ever DFK result with 11.
10. Used 30 players … worth trying the youngsters in cups… 24 of them scored in the season.

Irish Cup Final ends the season ..and Nugent delays his retirement until after the final.

Portadown stand between me and a brilliant season.

Dominate first half but can’t finish HT 0-0. Portadown without a shot.

Unsung hero Stephenson scores after an hour.

Nugent comes on for final game before he retires.

Bassett ends with 3 assists in a 3-0 win.

2nd Trophy win of this competition.

Reserves lose NIN final to Institute.

END OF SEASON STUFF

Board offer new contract and confirm Professional status with more back room staff.

Fans & Young player ..Suk …. But Rochdale will not re-loan.

Goal ..Bright Mohammed .. long shot of 6 skill with a 30m screamer.

Signing ..Lewis Rogers .. I disagree and think McMullan better.

Loanee Watkins sets new avg rating record of 7.64 ( beating J Bassett 7.28 last year).

He also land Player of the Year & Young Player in the League.

Even better he is one of the 3/10 loan players who immediately resign on loan for next year……. After waiting another month some other loan players are allowed to rejoin and only 1 with a fee ( 10% for McMahon).

Club plan to sell ground and build a new 7650 capacity ground… 2 years away..

Set up an affiliation with Hibernian…. Quality of players is not exciting.

Euro ranking improved 452 places to 180th.

Despite run .. Danske rating stays at 71 .. just below Sky Bet L2

ENGLAND MARCH 2050

2 x Friendlies.   Suriname & N.Ireland.  Skillen injured in 7-0 champions league win. 4 players withdrawn.

Suriname … 4 players with 45mins instructions.

Debutants Kemp & Greenwood & Sahin all score HT 8-0 … Worrall ( 4 goals) and an own goal.

Greenwood gets a second . Sub Baldwin completes a 10-0 win.

Northern Ireland …. HT 1-0 … Sahin(37).

FT. 3-1    Dunne (47) Watson (53) 

Elsewhere …Rochdale get better without me … Community shield & Premier League titles…Then add FA Cup.

Rochdale cap it with a 3-1 Champions League win over OM .. their new offensive style is something for me to think on.

Liverpool relegated for 2nd time in 3 seasons…Everton in play offs to return…and win on pens vs Fulham.

Aberdeen pip Rangers for the title in Scotland.

Europa ..City held 0-0 by Kilmarnock before they win on penalties .. nice to lose to runners up. ( Earns another £528k in revenue For Dungannon).

Kilmarnock also lose Scottish Cup final a few days later.

May 2050 …WORLD CUP FINALS

Pick 30 man squad as some are injury touch and go….more injuries follow In run up.

Orrell is uncapped … leaving out Watson hardest decision.

Easy warm ups start with:

Cuba (123rd) .. Orrell debut ..takes 27 mins to score. HT 4-0. Skillen x2 Genovese x2.

FT 10-0 .. subs Sahin x2 and Downes x4 complete the expected rout.

Next up Cyprus ( 103) .Dunne 50th cap.

HT .. 3-0 Tucker / Dunne and King.

FT … 5-0 Genovese & Steele

Finally Bolivia ( 114th) 

HT 3-0 …. Worrall x 2 and Sahin.

FT 8-0 ….. Worrall ends with 4 . King & subs Downes and York.

World Cup ..Group N..Usual formation and Balanced style.

Egypt ( 54). …. Tucker 50th cap.

HT 3-0 .. O.G. / King and Tucker.

FT 5-0 ..Tucker gets a second & Hayes.

20.6.50.   Chile ( 22) HT 2-0 Genovese & Skillen but Dunne picks up a knock.

FT 4-0.. at 2-0 Skillen misses pen and var denies Tucker … King & Skillen complete the scoring . Top of Group.

24.6.50. Round 2 … Spain ( 3) .. Something wrong to get such a high ranked team so early 

Team requires 8 changes due to fatigue.

HT 2-0. Sahin in for Genovese (16) & Worrall in for injured Dunne (29).. so far so good.

FT 4-0. Var pen from Downes (64) ..Sahin gets his second (69) .. much easier than I expected.

28.6.50Round 3 …Holland ( 7th)

HT 1-1 …Nightmare half ..1 nil down ..Bruce injured ( out of tournament) Leigh booked = suspension ..but Genoverse levels ..albeit also has a minor knock.

FT. Genovese scores again as I go Defensive to try and keep some energy.  Win 2-1

2.7.50 QF …Mali ( 22nd)

HT 1-0.   Petrovic (13) …quiet match which statistically we are dominating.

FT 2-0     late own goal seals a comfortable win.

Same day Dungannon playing Albion in a friendly ..trying to win a tournament and plan signings as I have a early Euro round.

6.7.50. SF vs Belguim ( 9th)…. Dungannon also playing Alashkert Champ Qual 1 leg 1 ( Won 6-0).

Winners play Italy whose 122nd min goal vs 9 man Argentina was part of an incredible game.

HT 0-0… Tight match … This is Belguim‘s best effort since Euro 3rd place in 2019. World Cup 3rd 2018.

FT 0-0 … 7 shots on target to 3. Otherwise close game.

AET  Penalty after 113 mins sees us through courtesy of Genovese .

10.7.50 …Italy ( 7th).  York to make 100th appearance.  Go defensive as team is tired.

Dream start as Bradley-F scores (5) from a corner. Skillen (44) all going to plan until Italy score (45) HT 2-1

Win 2-1 after Italy fail to attack … 13 shots on target to 2.

World Cup win x 4 with England plus South Africa miracle win.

Time to leave … hopefully get a South American or Asian job to win a new Trophy and complete my set.

13 international jobs available … Brazil / Mexico / Jamaica are interesting…Brazil application expected to fail They do not even bother to respond .. just unavailable… a few days later I am declined as not best candidate 🤣

Mexico reject me as not best candidate🤷🏻‍♂️

Jamaica still possible.

Season 31.

1 more year as England manager my aim … I want a crack at the Confederation Cup.

Rochdale squad ..some changes but aside from the Record purchase of England the transfer window should be low key.

My learnings after 30 seasons.

1. Can win with any formation .. I’ve used 4231 442 433 4141 etc
2. English database only has led to a heavy bias in Europe for Premier teams.
3. Playing vs AI always gives your team an advantage as quicker to tweak tactics.
4. A good relationship with other managers helps with transfers..e.g Zidane and Pogba have allowed me players I had no chance of signing from other clubs.
5. Trust the younger players to improve.
6. Teams you manage and leave tend to stay better.

Club winners and losers.( 30 seasons I have played).

Premier League … Man Utd ( 14 titles) Southampton ( 10) City (4) Spurs & Rochdale.

Losers …Liverpool & Chelsea & Arsenal.

FA Cup

Man Utd ( 10) Southampton (8) Man City (5) Liverpool ( 3) Chelsea / Stoke / Arsenal / Spurs 

Carabao Cup

Southampton ( 6) Man Utd (6) Liverpool ( 4) Man City (4) Spurs (3) Leicester (2) Rochdale (2) 

Chelsea / Fulham / Everton 

Losers… Arsenal

Champions League

Man Utd ( 9) Man City ( 5) Spurs (5) Southampton (3) PSG (2) A.Madrid (2) Bayern / Barcelona / Augsburg / Aston Villa / 

Loses Real Madrid … all Italian clubs.

EUROPA LEAGUE

Leicester(5) Dortmund (3) Inter (2) Roma (2) City(2) FCP (2) Everton(2)  Spurs(2) / OM / OL / Arsenal / Napoli / Aberdeen / Villa / Man U / Bayern / Saints / Chelsea

Losers .. Any Spanish and Dutch sides

Premier odds …Rochdale are 6th fav 8-1. ( Saints / City/Villa/ Spurs/ Utd )

Everton 1-2… favourites for relegation.

Transfers 

In (4) .. England (£63m) ..Club record from Saints. Mauger(£62m) from Chelsea .. I started  his career with Augsburg .. Anderson (£26m) Man U … Morawski ( Free) Eintracht

Out. ( 7)  Robinson for a club record £65 to Augsburg. Cotton £54m Leeds and O’Leary £25m to Spurs are the Highlights.

£151m spent …. £168m recouped.

Leeds seem biggest spenders with a week to go £221m spent and just £33.5m recouped…Blackburn £68m and Cardiff £49m are the Top3 ….Chelsea with a £81m profit recouped the most.

COMMUNITY SHIELD …A first for Rochdale.

Southampton at Wembley ….  Remember to change my tactics for corners etc before kick off after departure of Robinson in particular. Saints have 7 of the starting XI who played in Euro semi final.

HT 0-0 .. had gone Cautious … allowed only 1 shot but only had 42% poss.

FT .. 0-0 …down to penalties …. Lose 3-2.

ENGLAND

3 injured for Jamaica/ Swiss games Sept 2048

(Friendly) ..Jamaica (30th) .. Leigh set for 50th cap… Skillen 100th cap … HT 2-1 Skillen (92nd goal for England) & Genovese(31st goal for England).

FT .. 3-1.  A.Jones ( 10th goal from centre back) …Corey Howarth makes his debut.

( EIA) ..Swiss (28th) … away to start campaign … Holland & the Swiss drew opening fixture 1-1

HT 2-0.   Genovese & J.King….Balanced formation tactic and no shots from the Swiss.

FT 4-1 Worrall & Tucker … Swiss scored with their only shot on target.

Despite transfer window being closed Leeds / PSG & Bayern all linked with £97m bids for J.King. Having watched him in the internationals

October 2048

(EIA) ..Holland .. 3 months after painful Semi final defeat ..extract revenge with a 6-0 win.

Skillen(2) J.King(2) Steele and an own goal … Dutch had 2 sent off ( 9th and 89th minutes).

Joe Irons makes his debut after Price injured b4 game.

November 2048

(EIA) .. Swiss (27th) (H) … Loughlin set for debut after Genovese injured and misses squad.

Weaker side before the Dutch … HT 3-0. Petrovic / Downes / Byrne- Fitzpatrick

FT .. 4-0 ..debutant Loughlin scores.( He had 12 goals from 27 U21 caps).

(EIA) (away) Holland … HT 0-0 . FT 1-0 with a very late Skillen winner.

December 2048 … A season review

17/12 .. Have beaten Saints twice ( First had 10 men) /City & United ( at Old Trafford without committing  a single foul).

Played 18 Won 12 Drawn 4 Lost 2 ..second behind Leeds United whose large transfer spend is working.

( Next Leeds before lowly Liverpool to end the year). lose at home to Leeds who extend lead at the top.

Beat Liverpool to end 2048 in 3rd.

Carabao progress tough in 1st match and went to pens vs a Chelsea side who beat us in the league.

Rotated squad ( busy Xmas period) blow a 2-0 lead away at Championship Wolves and ends 2-2 ..loose pens 4-3…Trophy defence over.

I berate referee for disallowing a winning goal late on for 3-2….FA warning follows.

Champions League saw me get last years foes Real Madrid ..managed a loss and a draw but did qualify by outplaying CSKA Moscow and Anderlecht … draw my old club PSG next.

Unhappy player ..Mijailovic wants to leave as Downes is main striker .. he has had 7 starts and 15 sub appearances. 
Owens ( LW) also unhappy behind Yoshida in pecking order.

Correira (RB) also unhappy being behind England no.1 fullback.

2049

Starts with easy FA Cup win over Northampton and mixed results in transfer market ( want Runcan who is unhappy at Saints but they want too much at £90m …sell to Villa for £50m when I pull out.

Do sell unhappy players and get a new back up striker and a back up left wing ….also recall right back from loan to cover.

League will restart with City who won World Club and sacked the manager due to league form which in part is due to playing 2 less games.

Arsenal win Carabao cup ( 1-0 vs Saints).

March 2023..Champions League .. blow a 3-0 lead at home ( ends 3-2) before losing 2-1 late on in Paris and PSG go through on away goals.

Premier League .. 30 games gone .  Leeds draw with Saints opens a Top 4 tussle.

Leeds 71 pts .. Saints 68 pts ..  Spurs 67 pts and Rochdale 65pts. United hanging on with 61 pts.

FA Cup QF knock out 10 man Arsenal ..15yr old new recruit Fontan makes his debut.

April.

SF …Get Table toppers Leeds ( under management of Joe Gomez who was a star of my early England squads in 2018/19 )… being defensive has failed in the league so go for it attacking from the start,  3 up in 30 mins and HT 3-0 . Capt King who Leeds have chased all season scored the secon… and immediately after restarting the fourth .

Win 4-0 and Leeds fail to get a shot on target.

Rochdale reach first ever FA Cup final … and only real chance of silverware.

Leicester (8th) create a small shock over Man U (5th)to make the Final…They have lost previous 4 finals.

ENGLAND WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS( March).

Rest Downes and call up Baldwin . Price & Genovese recalled. Bruce suspended for Game 1.

Armenia (A) ( 123rd).  HT 3-0 …King(pen) Loughlin and own goal.

4-0 win as Byrne-Fitzpatrick ends the scoring. 
 

Montenegro (h) ( 104th) … Dunne / Genovese hat trick and Skillen ..HT 5-0

Baldwin opens his international account … FT  8-0   York / Baldwin/ Tucker 

Neither Game saw a shot on target from the opposition.

Premier League run in …April 2049.

Saints top after 33 matches .. Dale and Leeds with a game in hand.

Win Game in hand but have 2nd/3rd and 5th in my run in … Spurs have easiest run in.

Leeds finish with 4 games against Top 7 opponents .

Game 34 sees easy win over bottom club Blackburn ( Petrovic makes 100th league appearance ).

Game 35 vs Spurs ( 1 pt behind us after surprising draw to lowly Hull last match).

Downes gets his 50th Dale goal in a dominant 4-0 away win.

Elsewhere Utd vs Leeds ends 1-1.

Leeds top 82pts / Saints 81pts/ Dale 78pts 

Game 36 (h) vs Man Utd .. 3-0 win as playing Leeds a few days b4 catches up with them.

Guaranteed Top 4 finish.

Leeds drop points at Villa (8th) …Saints beat City (6th).

Saints 84 … Leeds 83 … Dale 81 

Everton & Blackburn relegated .

May 2049

Game 37 … Spurs and Saints playing Champions league SF matches.

Home to 15th placed Liverpool who could still go down.

Liverpool uphold their reputation as the dirtiest for fouls .. but old boy Downes gets two is a 3-0 win.

Man City end Leeds hopes of the title .. Saints win again.

Saints 87pts Dale 84 Leeds 83 

Game 38 .. I need Saints to lose at Old Trafford… I just have to beat Leeds at Elland Rd !…..Saints & Spurs make Champions League Final.

After 29 mins we go top thanks to Downes goal….33mins back to second as Saints level at United.

HT both games 1-1.

Go attack with nothing to lose for the title … Not to be ,.ends 1-1 and Saints win.

ROCHDALE runners up.

Fulham go down on goal difference.

Media say we bottled it despite being out of our hands.

Board criticise result.

Saints / Dale / Leeds / Spurs / Utd / City / Villa…Top 7.

Bradley - Fitzpatrick is Players Young player for 3rd Year.

Harvey Golden Glove for 2nd Year .. 21 clean sheets this time.

Saints have 8 Dale 2 in Team of the Year …No Leeds players is bizarre.

FA Cup Final vs Leicester (8th)…. I am level with Sir Alex on 5 FA cup wins.

I lose 3 players to an U20’s World Cup & 3 ineligible…....Leicester have 4 injured.

Downes misses a penalty After 26mins and by the hour mark as lost all form .

Finally win it with a late corner goal.

Southampton win Champions League on pens vs Spurs after a 0-0 draw aet.

Aston Villa beat Hoffenheim 3-0 for Euro Cup.

End of Season Awards

Fans and Young Player ..Bradley-F

Goal .. England

Signing ..Mauger

Shirts Sold … Yoshida / Downes / England / Leigh / Mauger.

Fallout over training facilities With Chairman…. I want a new challenge .

New ground opens 29/6/49.

Scott Parker ..my U18 mgr retires.

June 2049

International League vs Spain (SF)…. Pick an experienced squad.They are World Rank 3.

They are 4-1-4-1DM 

I go Balanced .

Saints players are tired after Champions league final…. Skillen & Dunne pulled early in 2nd half

Sub Downes scores immediately after replacing Skillen. Genovese scores late on as Spain fail to get a shot on target….Win 2-0

Match at St.James Park with a balmy 14c temp.

Continue my media argument with Spanish manager Lavin.

Spain beat France for 3rd Place.

FINAL vs Germany ( beat France on pens) ..I’m happy to avoid the French.Germany 8th to France 2nd In rankings.

Another balmy match at St.James as it hits 7c.

Germany given a var pen against run of play and their constant fouling (11mins)…Genovese levels and Bradley -Fitzpatrick scores from a corner .HT 2-1 …Pen is their only shot on target.

VAR denies a Tucker goal and then he is injured…comfortably hold on for a 2-1 Win.

8th success ( England 7 France 1) … I am generally lucky in this competition.

England extend to 9 wins ..France 5 .. Holland & Portugal 1 each.

Germany runners up for 3rd time.

Confederation cup starts in 21 days vs Iran.

Rochdale rise 27 places to 42nd in Euro rankings.

I want a new challenge .. had loaded Danske League 2 seasons ago and wanted Dungannon as they had no titles.

They won this years .. however the Manager has been poached by Rotherham and I took the asst mgr to manage the reserves at Rochdale.

Going to apply.

Season 30 … hoping to unlock Value for money achievement…..Finally unlocked 8.7.48

Transfers … Man City trying to get Leigh for a club record fee £43m….he is now sulking ..a year ago he was relegated with West Ham and I have him in my England squad.

Leicester offer £50m for King.

Everton after reserve keeper for £8.75m..I demand more ( £20m plus add ons) they decide to pay.

Badec ( Keeper) .. Taken my A.Madrid for a club record £31m…. Replaced by Spurs wonder kid Harvey on loan.

Also gone are Abdo / Bell / Mason who were fringe players … Loanees from last season promoted.

I release 9 …3 go to Wigan and 2 to Ipswich.

In ..Yoshida ( Left winger from Saints) .. been using strikers as back up last season.

In ..Lee ( Centre Back cover from West Ham).

In ..D’Elia ..Free signing at DM.

Spent £15.5m … Received £62m

Earn £13.69m for Champions League Group Stage… more than a seasons match-day income.

Group is Celtic / FCP and PSV.

Matchday income shows why we need a bigger stadium ..Saints £118m …to…Dale £10.1m

Bookies rate us 100-1 …12th place expected.

With N.Ireland now available to manage in …  U23 Manager taken to Title dominating Crusaders as manager.

ENGLAND DUTY Sept 2047

Euro Qualifiers …2 easier fixtures so intend to blood some inexperienced squad members .

U21 Harvey(gk) in for injured Batten.  Genovese rested ..Evans called up to ensure English nationality.

King out Gardiner back.

Kazakstan(h) ( 123rd)… Win 4-1 . Watson ( 5/48) England (32) Tucker (86).   Evans debut as sub.

Georgia (a) ( 89th) … Win 6-1 .. Tucker(24) Gardiner (28) Skillen ( pen34) England (45+2) Williams(75) Evans first ever international goal (81).

Romania (40th)(a) .. Top 2 clash and despite Romania scoring their only 2 shots it’s an easy 4-2 win. 

Genovese(18) Skillen(45+2) Tucker(67/71).

N.Ireland (81st) (h) .. HT 1-0 Skillen(43) and it’s one way traffic… ends 1-0 …33 shots to nil .. disappointed.

Qualification complete.

Kazakhstan (121st) (a) ..Convince Petrovic to pick England over Serbia .. scores twice on his debut. Downes also hits two .. upto 50 England goals.   Win 6-0 ..King(19) Dunne(37) Downes(47/77) Petrovic (65/90)… Roch Dale have 6 players in the squad ( same as Saints) and 3 players scored 5/6 goals…Proud my domestic bias is working.

Georgia (88th) (h) ..Easy finish with a 5-0 win from 38 shots to 1.   Skillen (13) and Worrall ( 39/45/61/68) with the goals.

March 2048 ..2 low level friendlies….Saints withdraw 2 players.

(h) Liechtenstein( Rank 211)  … They lost 14-0 to Italy in their last match.  Genovese gets his 50th cap…misses a pen.

HT 7-0. FT 15-0 .   43 shots to 1.   ( Equals 15-0 vs Andorra 2046).

Downes (1/5/12) own goal (10) Worrall (17) Petrovic (25) King (43/80) Watson (47/68/70) Genovese (47)

Skillen (64/75 pen) Tucker (89). 

Biggest win 2022 ( 16-0 vs Bangladesh).

(h) San Marino ( 210) .. Skillen equals Harry Kane’s record of 6 goals in a game ( 3 of Skillen’s goals were penalties). Won 9-0.

Skillen ( 2/8/75 & pens 36/45+1/70)  England (45+3) Watson(82) Gardiner(89)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE .( Holders Villa).

DALES first ever match will be Home to CeltIC.

(H) Celtic … Goal down to former player Poncet .. 2-1 up at HT ( Leigh/Downes). Yoshida King/Owens complete a memorable 5-1 win.  Earn £2.42m prize money.

(A) FCP .. off the back of a thrashing at Spurs with 10 men … start like a rocket and 3-0 up in 10 mins.

Yoshida/Downes/ Cunningham…. Win 3-1.

(H) PSV .. After being outplayed by Saints in our Top 2 clash .. Win 5-1 ..Robinson hat trick / Byrne-Fitzpatrick and Kelly-McCammon.

(A) PSV … Lose to 19th placed Bournemouth …. Cunningham(38secs) .. Downes & Yoshida & Robinson extend lead after going 1-1 ( HT 4-1 up). King & Robinson complete a 6-1 win and qualification.

(A) Celtic .. off the back of blowing a 2 goal lead to draw at City .. rotate squad . Ends 1-1 after leading .£807k prize money.

(H) FCP … For once coming in off the back of a come from behind win vs relegation threatened / managerless Chelsea.

Again use squad …..FCP have a player called Baby … don’t take chances and lose 1-0.

All 5 English clubs through including Leicester (Qual by winning Europa for a 5th time).

1st Knock Out .. Juventus (a) … Go attacking for 1-0 up then defensive and counter attack to a 5-1 win

Yoshida (5/76) Byrne-Fitzpatrick (17) Downes(62) Robinson(78)

Leg 2 ..Juventus (h) … Rotate and defend …. HT 1-0 down . Cotton(58) levels. Late goals sees a 2-1 loss but go through agg 6-3.

Only 3 English teams left ..Rochdale / City and defending champions Villa.

QF .. Real Madrid (a) .. Just gone top of league but now a run of hard fixtures .. underdogs for this so go defensive… but a goal down after (31). hT 1-0 .. Aggreesive speech and go attacking as stats for shots are appalling…. Miss a penalty(69) and after a triple sub lose full back to injury and end with 10 men…soon after Real lost a player to a red card… nothing went right.

Lose 1-0.

Real Madrid (h) .. Injuries still there after Villa game … They are favourites .. their back 5 is valued at double our prices. I am going attacking from the off a d have nothing to lose.

HT 0-0 but are creating chances… 1-0 down after (61).. go Very attacking … Lose 1-0 to their only shot on target 2-0 agg.

Winners City 3 vs Villa 1…. Second win in last 5 years .(5th title since I started save).

CARABAO CUP ..DEFENDING OUR TROPHY… Main Keeper is cup tied so using Ramon (16 yrs old) vs Hull.

Round 3 (a) Hull ..Win 2-1 … Come from behind as Sandor (59/94) wins it with last kick of the game.

Revenge in Round 4 away at Spurs … Win 2-1 being more attacking than league game. U23 Keeper Kay now fit and played.

QF .. Resting players vs FCP works as win 1-0 vs fellow Champions league rivals ..Villa.  ( Robinson on 39 Mins).

SF … Wolves 

Other tie is Leeds vs Blackburn .. We are highest rated team left.

Rested players in FA Cup Tie so a fit squad.

Leg 1(a) …  Var denies early goal .. ends 0-0.

Leg 2 (h) … Off the back of a narrow home loss to Top 4 rivals Arsenal. 3 first team missing.

Downes (2/55) Byrne-Fitzpatrick (7) .. 2 up in 7 minutes and win easily 3-1.

FINAL … LEEDS … Follows 5-1 win in Turin….. A trophy would be nice in my pursuit of Sir Alex Ferguson who is still 920 points ahead of me in Nation Hall of Fame .( Winning is 58 points).

Attack for 30 mins then switch to defensive .. Yoshida(38) Downes(44) for HT 2-0

Byrne-Fitzpatrick (72) is on a purple patch from corners(8 in last 16 games) makes it 3-0 in front of 100,000 fans.

Robinson injured for Top 2 clash with Saints in a few days .. squad is tired.

Won with a reserve Keeper who is playing all domestic cup completions and has 10/12 games across 4 cup competitions .

January 2048

Transfers .. McDowall (dm) loan will not be extended … but they will sell Almeida (dm) for just £15m ... Who stat wise is younger and better🤷🏻‍♂️.

City offer a club record £58m for King …I reject it…he sulks… closely knit bunch comment placates him and a new contract.

Raid Championship Liverpool for their Portuguese full back Correia

FA CUP ( Holders Saints).

On the day Brighton & Man U meet in a cup SF … FM19 pits them together in round 3 . (3-1 United).

Round 3 away at Newcastle (ch) .. Almeida on as sub for debut ..Williams on a rare start scores twice , Sandro and Owens the back up wingers add the others in an easy 4-0 win.

Elsewhere Hull thrash City in an all Prem game and L1 Tranmere hold Chelsea. 

Round 4 ..Barnsley (ch) away again…Full rotation … 1-0 down b4 missing a penalty against 10 men. Finally level but concede immediately before a late equaliser FT 2-2. Mijailovic (75) Cotton (85).

Round 5 ..Forest (ch) (h)straight after Saints .. rotation needed … Defensive picked .. Williams (2) Suk(61) .. bring on Mead from U18’s for his debut. Williams (91) seals a 3-1 win.

Round 6 ..Spurs (a) ..4th meeting of the season … League Loss/Drawbut did win the Carabao clash.

HT 1-0 up Robinson (pen 30) ..hoping he changes mind about leaving after Saints unsettled him.

Pegged back after 62 mins … VAR denies Downes a late winner …extra time.

Change a midfielder for a striker with better penalty ability after 100 mins.( He later scores his pen).

Fails to work as Spurs win 4-3 on pens

Southampton 4 vs Arsenal 1 as they retain the trophy ( 2nd vs 3rd in Prem)…. Might just save the Saints managers job…. 2 days later he is sacked…later awarded manager of the month award.

PREMIER LEAGUE

30.1.48 … 2nd behind Southampton as I reach 300 games in charge of Rochdale…current win rate is 59% 

Overall 1884 games managed and 75% win rate.

26.2.48 .. Played Juventus and Leeds and now Saints in 7 days… down to 3rd behind Arsenal.

Bryne-Fitzpatrick makes 100th league appearance . 2 wingers injured.

Defensive for home encounter … HT 0-0 but outplayed. Sub Leigh sets up Downes (69) but fellow England striker Skillen ( 71) levels … sub Mijailovic (77) seals only our second win over Saints and now just 4 points behind.

7.3.48 .. Win games in hand and Saints continue poor run ( LDD) and being knocked out by Real Madrid.

Played 28 and top League on goal difference from Saints ( 1 goal in it)…not for long as both Saints & Arsenal win games when we are in Europe a go above .

April 2048 … Game 1900 of this Save vs Leicester( away )  … game in hand as the Saints & Arsenal are involved in the FA Cup.( Both win).

Win 3-0 and go Top after 31 games.  Rochdale 71pts.   Saints 70 pts.  Arsenal 68 pts ( 32 games).

Game 32 ..After 1st leg Real Madrid loss ..3 of the back 4 injured and Keeper not 100%.  Arsenal lose to Chelsea.( Game 33 for them).

Tweak corner routine as not beating defenders enough with first ball . Change AMR to IF from Winger.

(h) Villa (7th) ..Narrow HT 1-0 lead thanks to Yoshida and hold on for the win. Saints win at Blackburn.

Game 33 ..After knock out by Madrid vs Chelsea (12th)…. 1-0 down early ..2-1 up but back to 2-2 before an own goal and a lot of defence secures a 3-2 away win….Champions league place secured.

Arsenal beat Saints to give us a 4 point lead with 5 games left.

Game 34 ..Poor away draw at Leeds.(7th)….Spurs hold Saints the next day .

Game 36.. Win 4-0 away at Fulham(9th) ..highlight a hatrick from corners for the centre half.

1 win away from the title .

Elsewhere Villa sack Huntelaar after drawing 4-4 in the Champions League SF  1st leg away … the same manager who won it and the World Club 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️… bonkers…I’m linked with the job.( I turn down an interview ) … Villa & City qualify for the Champions League Final subsequently.

Game 37 .. Home to Brighton and an early Robinson penalty is cancelled out by the visitors ..HT 1-1. Saints 2-0 up.

2-1 as Yoshida scores and go defensive … WIN 2-1 and due to Saints poor recent form we have some how won the League. Earn £48.8m

Man Utd have 34 titles … now Rochdale have their first .

I have moved closer to Sir Alex and now just 715 points behind . His 13 Premier wins are the key factor … I have 8 with 3 teams ( Rochdale / Saints x3 Man U x4 ).

Game 38 .. win 2-0 at Wolves which relegated them alongside Bournemouth & Boro who sack their managers ( Liverpool & Everton bounce straight back from Championship).

Celtic Champions. Crusaders win again in Ireland.(7 in a row .. 20 of the last 21).

Oddly Bundesliga replaces Premier in Euro comp ratings despite all European finals having English teams .

Champions League ..Rochdale / Saints / Arsenal   Europa City/ United….May change based on Villa vs City in Champions League Final. (City win).

Man U vs Spurs is Europa Final.( Utd win on pens )

Fitzpatrick- Burns wins … Footballer of the Year / Players Player & Players Young Player/ Fans Player& Young Player. Champions League best defender.

Harvey wins Premier League Golden glove with 19 clean sheets.

I am Manager of the Year.

Team of the year contains 9 from Rochdale.

Petrovic fans goal of the season. Yoshida fans favourite signing. 
Robinson gets a new contract and a club record 19 assists.

Petrovic wins best Champions League goal … but caption is of Virgil van Dijk 🤷🏻‍♂️( Retired 20 yrs ago). 

Shirts .. 1. Downes 2.Robinson 3.Byrne-F 4.Yoshida 5.Leigh

TV Revenue was £106m ..securing the clubs finances .

New stadium 1 year away.

Make an early transfer bid for Cifuentes of Leicester ( Saints want him too) .. they want too much so have gone after Saints winger who this signing would replace .. also interested how much they will pay as they offered less so far…. £57m with add ons £72m … I had £77m rejected.

Rochdale up 703 places to 69th in Euro club rankings.

EUROPEAN SQUAD 13.5.48

Change both reserve Keepers .. bring back Batten and include uncapped Kay.

Left x2 and Right x2 Fullbacks long established.

4 Centre backs long established ..York returns after being withdrawn last game.

Midfield is a dilemma … Have one main DM and 2 who can cover but not well.  Decide to bring back King of Saints who can play 6 positions.

Wings are different issues .. too many good Right sided .. poor choice on the left.

Going with 3 strikes .. 1 of whom is back up left inside forward On left wing.

Southampton have 8/23 Main Squad. Rochdale 7 .. follows my usual pattern of buying young English talent.

Domestically 21 of 23 in England is highest.

Youngest Squad but most goals at 286 ( Skillen 86 / Downes 53 / Genovese 28) account for the majority as 13/20 excluding Keepers have less than 10 .. all outfield players do have a goal .

My 78 yr old asst mgr with England Steve Holland is going to retire atbend of the tournament.

Low key Friendly vs old foes Liechtenstein … HT 9-0. Hayes assists 5 from LB. FT 13-0.  Kay makes debut.

Genovese / Skillen x3 / Dunne x4 / York x2 / Tucker / England & J.King.

Rotate fully for other friendly vs Gibraltar … HT 5-0.  FT .. 11-0.

England x2 / Worrall / Petrovic x3 / D.King / Downes / Skillen / J.King x2

Euros… Going Defensive and 4141 DM Wide with IF roles on wing.

Switzerland (23rd)…They line up 4411… Flying start from Dunne (5) and a corner goal from York (25) HT 2-0

FT 3-0 ..Dunne again (52) …. 28 shots to 2 as formation works…hit woodwork 3 times.

Norway (37th) … 41311 … Change 9 outfield players … HT 0-0 .. not taking chances.

FT 1-0 … Worrall (57) .. poor shot conversion Made this a much tighter match…Qualified for next round.

Russia ( 33rd) .. 4222 ..Lost my match against them … York makes 75th appearance ..HT 0-0 ..ref booking every foul … Late Tucker( 90) goal wins it…Russia barely had a shot…Both teams qualify.

Scotland through …Wales through … N.Ireland out….Elsewhere Holders Portugal knocked out in the same group by Romania and Ukraine…Italy & Wales & France through as best 3rd placed teams.

ROUND 2 … Wales ( 44th) .. Slow start until.  J.King ( 19) HT 1-0 … var denies a 2nd … Win 1-0

Russia knock out Scotland … Ukraine surprise Germany.  France beat Spain in toughest Game of the round.

QUARTER FINAL ….Ukraine ( 42nd) … I have 5 players on yellow cards. Hayes suspended by 30 mins.
HT .. 2-0 Genovese (12) Skillen (34)…. Make 3 subs to prevent some suspensions.

FT .. 3-0 Dunne (60) ..Skillen misses penalty and var deny another goal.

12 clean sheets equals national record.

Unlock value for money achievement.

SEMI FINAL …Holland ( 7th) .. 451 formation.

HT .. 0-0 ..They have not had a shot but we lose Tucker to injury.

FT .. They score with their first shot (58) ..go all out attack …. Lose 1-0.

Media say I’m unlucky as outplayed them … then state squad needs major overhaul for dismal performance .

France beat Croatia on pens.

FINAL …France beat Holland 1-0.   They have won 3 of the last 4 titles.

Season 29

15 International jobs up including Brazil & France. South Africa & Spain.

I send team to China for pre season …. Big market.

Elsewhere as of 20.7.46

Liverpool 20 out and Everton 14 out … neither have signed anyone due to financial issues…both made over £120m plus in sales.

Spurs  get £127m in match day revenue ..Dale £7.27m last.

Transfers:

IN.

Leigh for £52m smashes transfer record ( Met his release clause from West Ham after relegation ).

O’Leary and Owens  strapped Everton for £11.4m combined.

Osmani £87k 

Madec on a free …Experienced Keeper..Eintract.

Williams £2.5m…Contract ending at Saints.

Alvaro joins as DM cover from Saints .

I have a 25 man squad I’m happy with.

OUT

3 loaned out.  3 for under £100k

Shannon £4m …Carter £5m … Moore £7.5m… Miranda £10m…Kovacevic £25m (Record Sale).

ODDS ..We are 650-1  ..Expected 16th.  Relegation favourites Wolves/Boro/Norwich.

Rnd 2 …Carabao Cup (h) to L1 Pompey …Win 5-0 with a fully rotated squad . 

Rnd 3 Chesterfield ( Championship) .. 1-1 after they score late ..win shoot out 3-2.

Rnd 4 Chelsea (a) … Early own goal sees us through 1-0.

QF … Southampton (h) ( Who rest several players) HT 2-0 up ..win 2-1 for first win over Saints.

SF .. Watford(a) .. 1-0 down at HT and so many bookings .. sub Williams turns game round but Watford hit back in a classic that ends .. 4-3 after Williams completes a hat trick late on. First win over Watford.

SF ..Watford (h) .. 2 players including Willams suspended and 2 cup tied. I have gone defensive.

Cotton opens the scoring (26) agg 5-3 and at HT Watford have had no shots on target. Arsenal await the winners.  Final made as stop any shots over 90. mins.  Agg 5-3.

FINAL ..Rochdale 2nd appearance in 140 years and first since 1962.

Feb 2047 …Rochdale vs Arsenal …. Goalkeeper breaks finger on eve of match. Gone balanced as I think I will have more possession.

Mijailovic (8min) for a dream start. HT 1-0.

Rather like England vs Italy irl .. yellow cards an issue and now have 4 yellow cards on the hour.

Go Very Defensive on 80 mins … and 3 more yellow cards but hang on for a 1-0 WIN and our first ever Carabao Cup as a club.( My 5th …Saints x2 United x2 ).

European campaign awaits next season … Rochdale first ever.

Premier League 

3 games in and both Merseyside clubs are punished for financial breaches ( both in administration) 

Unlike top of the table Villa they have not become oil rich.( Bournemouth/Hammers/ Newcastle also have Rich owners).

Top Spender’s were Leeds £155m and Fulham £121m City £107m.

Draw 3-3 with Leicester again .. this time they comeback on us.

Fab start and Game 5 vs Man City is the highlight win 4-3 vs 10 men in a game that had everything.

Game 6 .. come from 2-0 to draw with runaway leaders Villa who had won 5/5 ( King makes 100th league appearance).

Game 10 before Dale lose first match away at Spurs ( who go Top, briefly b4 Villa win their late match) .. 2-1 against all stats .. off day up front.

Game 11 will be my 1800th as a manager.  Still waiting on new 23375 seater stadium.

1799 games overall win rate 75% … with Rochdale 57%. 65 cups 20 leagues and 6 promotions.

10343 game days ..1 on holiday … when I got stuck with an Ivory Coast domestic selection.

207 players in …315 out.

Game 12 .. after 13 losses … get a draw vs 2nd placed Saints…. Also have them next in Carabao Cup.

Boxing day loss with 10 men to Utd at home plus injuries can not stop me being very pleased after 19 games and 4th with 36 points…. Lose next 2 league matches ( drop to 6th) b4 a run of cup ties.

Game 22 .. Finally beat Leicester ..Downes gets first Rochdale goal On league debut.

Jan 2047 ….Transfers … Downes in … Bailey out to AC Milan for a club record £30m. ..replaced with a loanee.

FA Cup …Round 3 beat Leeds 2-0 at home and set Record Gate Receipts of £425k.  Downes makes debut after raiding cash strapped and relegation threatened Liverpool for £40m.

2047 …Round 4 (h) Fleetwood L2 ..  Full squad change after Watford game and Wembley . 7 players  given squad numbers… Win 3-1 but despite dominating takes 2 late goals from Petrovic.

3 players make their debuts ..Hudson from start and subs Hallgrimsson & Owusu.

Round 5 .. 2-1 aet away win at managerless Newcastle … more important ..No injuries b4 Carabao Cup Final.

Round 6 (h) to Southampton .. can we beat them in another cup tie. FT 0-0 with defensive plan working.

Go 1-0 up in extra time (107) before left back is sent off with 11 mins left ..Skillen equalisers straight (113) after and 121 mins they win it…Red is harsh and very unhappy at press conference.

Southampton beat 10 man Villa 2-1 in the Final.

ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Injuries to York / Genovese & Hayes … replaced with Beattie-Prescott / Cunningham & Owens (Rochdale).

Serbia (42nd)(h) … Gardiner 50th cap. Cunningham / Owens sub debuts.  HT 1-0 Worrall. 
FT .. Leigh adds to make it a 2-0 Win.

Germany(8th) (a) … HT 1-0 Worrall

FT 1-0 …scores reflects an even Contest. After 29 seasons the German side can be scouted and not greyed out.

Next games see a number of entries …. Cahill / Moore /Skillen/Brown.

In for debuts squads are King ( Saints) .. Williams ( Spurs ) ..both U21 members. Avg squad age 24.

Elsewhere Kirilov ( Dale u23) earns first Bulgaria cap.

Wales (39) Friendly …. Danny King debut & Shaun Williams scores on debut. HT 1-0.  Sub Downes scores 2-0.

Serbia (41) Int League …. A draw to qualify… Tucker first International goal ..HT 1-0

Gardiner & Jones 

Nov 46…Last game of Int League vs Germany(8th).  Kabangu makes debut in goal from start. 

Worrall (2) Tucker(15) Genovese(35) ..HT 3-0. Genovese (60) Williams(80) Tucker(83) ..FT 6-0

Friendly vs India ( 105th) … Watson will make debut. 
Watson scores on debut. Danny King gets his 1st & 2nd international goal( also misses pen….Cahill & Williams …HT 5-0.

King completes hat trick / Williams / England and Skillen complete 9-0 rout.

FEB 2047 ..After Carabao Cup win I am still 920 points behind Sir Alex Ferguson in Nation Ranking.

                    Worldwide I am 2445 points clear based on international trophies with 2nd and 3rd retired.

Premier League .. Lose to Boro straight after final but comeback with wins against Spurs & 10 man Brighton.

After 29 games we officially avoid relegation and are 3rd ( miles behind Villa and Saints who have played less games).

7.3.47 .. Youth intake … given the cost on youth facilities the intake seem underwhelming.

Liverpool relegated ..9 point deduction and selling 13 players & 27 loaned out to balance books is too much ( no surprise as only 3 Carabao cup wins as trophies in last 23 years & outside Prem Top 3 for 20 years).

Everton in a similar position are also in danger.

Profits Made .. Everton top list but Liverpool still lost £10m. Rochdale 9th /10 clubs who make a profit (£2.86m). Leicester bottom with £109m.

Game 30 ..King makes 125th league appearance vs Wolves …. Highlight is Bradley-F scoring a hat trick from centre back… all 4 goals from corners he got his head on. …He has 11 goals this season.
Rochdale have 13 corner goals …Southampton have 15 .

Game 32 .. Blow it away at Arsenal .. they avoid relegation and 3rd place is now in danger with 6th placed City just 1 point behind.

Game 34 beat oil rich Leeds and secure a Top 7 finish .

Game 35 .. Blow a 2-0 lead vs relegation threatened Norwich. 3rd on goal difference from 4th & 5th . 6th placed are 2 points behind.  
 

Game 36 .. Top of the table Saints .. Red card again ( and left back again) … hang on 0-0 away .( Now 1 point clear in 3rd).

Game 37 .. (h) Watford .. 1-0 win but Downes can’t hit a barn door. ..should seal a Top 4 after Villa beat City.

Norwich & Everton relegated. Saints seal retain the Title. ( Nagelsman is the manager ..irl Bayern have just sacked him).

Game 38 .. (a) Man Utd … HT 2-0 ..but Spurs being thrashed should mean we come 3rd. Ends 2-1 with Downes finally scoring. ..Leray sacked as United Manager.

Used 27 players which is 7th highest.
 

1.Saints. 2.Villa. 3.Rochdale. 4.City by 3 goals from 5.Spurs.6.Man Utd.

Transfer spending ..Worst Leeds £151m loss (14th) but Villa £143m (2nd) 

Only the Liverpool clubs in debt and Brighton made a profit.

Wages ratio:

Leicester 73% ….. to Everton 11%…Dale 21% but rising.

Bradley-Fitzpatrick is Players Young Player. 11 goals and 7.39 rating. 2 assists.( another in the cup).

Oil Rich Leeds are linked with buying him for just £36m and no European football.

He also has 9 m.o.m. Which is a new club record.

I get Manager of the Year ..52% win ratio. W20 D9 L9 …. I still can’t unlock the Undeafeted achievement on steam.

Top shirts .. 1. Robinson. 2.Downes. 3.Leigh.  4.King.  5.Mijailovic.

All revenue up except TV.

News of new stadium … The Reg Jenkins Stadium capacity 25658 costing £41.5m approved. Will sell Crown Oil Arean for £1.2m. Starts 22.5.47 ..opens 29.6.49.

I need this Achievement so at the Dale for at least 2 more years … I do want to manage in N.Ireland but that will wait.

Aston Villa win Champions League vs Barcelona.

March 2047 ..England squad for 2 x Euro qualifiers.

Genovese out injured ..4 return as I go for my top rated players …Dunne for Thackaray is most difficult decision.

U20 team win Elite league for 4th year in a row and explains why I have bloodied young players .. also it is an English database so expect better regens coming through.

(H) Romania ( 38th) .. Byrne-Fitzpatrick (21) Tucker(32) HT 2-0 …late Tucker strike seals an easy 3-0 win.

My plan to use the 4 Rochdale players In this game and rest the 2nd back fires as Leigh out for 6-7 weeks injured.

(A) N.Ireland ( 80th) …. 1-0 down (6) ..Worrall (7) levels … HT 1-1. Dunne(89) seals the win.

June 2047…International League …Defensive for both to maximise possession.

SF …(a) France (2nd)…. FT 0-0 ..Penalties win 5-4.      France beat Portugal 2-0 to come third.

Final (a) Holland(9th) Genovese (39)  HT 1-0.  FT 1-0.

Friendly .. lowly ranked to finish the season and blood the inexperienced….Positive approach.

Cape Verde (108) … Downes in for misfiring Skillen …HT 4-0. FT 5-0

Downes (7/40) Watson (27/30) England(54) 

Downes how has 48 goals in 66 caps.

Season 28

France now ranked 2nd 2200 points …England drop 3rd with 2182 points.

Hoping my sponsorship improves …. Earned £240k last season … Cardiff made £30m.

Stature increased … hoping that helps sponsorship .. Spurs winning Champions league sees them overtake City who won 4 trophies.

£101m Premier league money given … board offers to increase wages cap.( Max I can offer is 72k / week).

Rochdale earn £6.31m from ticket/ match day … Spurs earn £132m.( Hull 2nd lowest is £14.26m).

Rochdale earn £6.45m in commercial income (20th) and Saints top with £101m.

Expected to try and avoid relegation. Carabao Rnd 3  Fa Cup Rnd 4.

10037 new record attendance for a season ( was 6746) and Abdo new rating high of 7.55. ( from Michael Clarke 2032 of 7.27).

Opening fixture (a) Man City the Champions. 
 

Signings … Only 2 signings before the game updates we are in the Premier League at which point more players available.

1st July .. Lots of great free transfers .. they just don’t want Rochdale …e.g. Ged Palmer ( current England star and my former Loanee at St.J).

1. Kovacevic ( 19 yr old Croatian Keeper 1x U21 cap ) … £60k.    As good as existing keeper Hurley.
2. Miranda ( 24 yr old Italian Left wing 37 U21 caps ) .. £725k . Had as a loanee at St.J. Replace Backhouse whose loan is ending.  Board question deal .. but now valued at £8m.  ( Started well and 6 goals by Dec).
3. Robinson ( AMR) .. joins from Watford in a CLUB RECORD DEAL … £7.5m + £2.8m add ons. ( Made 3 appearances from Watford despite them paying £27m from Juventus for him).
4. Williams (Striker) on loan from Saints …had him at St.J previously. ( 5 goals In 15 games for the season By Dec).
5. Anderson ( LB) on loan from Man Utd U23’s.
6. Mason ( MC) released on a free from Hull.  ( By Dec 45 it is clear he is struggling ).

 New Captain in King.

3 youngsters moved from league winning lower ranks as I fail to sign any of the centre halves I bid for …Rees from United dropped out on day b4 deadline.

Premier League .. Take  the lead away to City in our first ever Premier League game .. all turns in the 2nd half as Moore gets booked twice in a few minutes and can’t hang on ..lose 2-1.

Then it is the finishing of Watford as we lose our first home match 3-0. ( 8902 fans due to building work).

Fellow strugglers West Ham in game 3 and go 2-0 up ( Williams gets his first) before it’s back to 2-2 … Williams scores a late winner for Dales first ever Premier league Win/ Points..

Follow up with 2 draws but were winning both.  5 games ..5 points and 13th.

Form continues between Carabao ties .. beating both Merseyside clubs … FFP failed Everton ( although no point deduction showing) and even better 4th placed Liverpool.

My back up keeper makes his N.Ireland debut.

Lose to Leeds and 3-0 down to Leicester on 60:52 mins ..63:46 it’s 3-3 and that’s how it ends .Nwachukwu makes 100th league appearance.

9 games down .. W3 D3 L3 .. 12th and 10 clear of 18th placed Hull. Boro 1 point but 2 games in hand and Hammers have lost 7/7.

Game 12 and it’s a big one away against relegation threatened Arsenal. Comeback twice 2-2 for a forth successive draw.  13th position with 15 points. 8 clear of improved Hammers and 7 clear of Arsenal.

1.12.45… Due to all the TV revenue .. transfer budget raised from £9m to £41.5m.

Lose games 13 & 14 to Top clubs 3 Fulham & Man Utd ..both narrowly and now getting criticism of my approach. 
 

Game15 .. Goto back up 4123 counter attack away at 9th placed Brighton… Win 2-0.  Press hail my genius but call it 4141dm wide.

I will need to invest in more midfield and sell AMC in January window.

26.12.45 .. Having lost to Saints .. I know get City ..This will be the opening of my new stand .. capacity rises to 14708.

I realise that my keeper has been going up for corners from the right 😱

HT 0-0 ..Very Defensive and we are better side. Not so second half …lose 3-0

Carabao Cup

Beat cash strapped WBA 4-0 .. then with a young squad need pens (4-1) after a 2-2 draw to beat L1 Walsall.

Round 4 … Win a rollercoaster 4-6 away at Stoke ( Miranda hat trick). 
QF (a) Man City…try new 4123 .. var soon gives City a pen…. HT 2-0 …3-0 soon after .. subs make it 3-2 ..FT 4-2 loss.

18.2.46………..MAN CITY  …win Final with 5-1 victory vs Fulham  ( First Carabao in 11 years).

2045 ends with Dale in 15th on 18 points . 6 points clear of Boro in 18th.

Watford/Everton and just b4 we play them West Ham all sack their managers in December.

FA Cup 

Crewe (a) …Win 2-1 with a fully rotated squad … 3 youngsters make debuts ( Suk / Robinson / Tenkorang).

England 

2.9.45 …Estonia (a) …. Cahill to get his 50th cap.  Win 6-0 . Garnes  scores on debut. Steele 2 on second appearance. Skillen injured . I replace with my 16 yr old centre back for the development.

5.9.45 …Poland (h) …. This is to go top ..Poland players a game more.

52 secs and 1 down with my better squad ! … Genovese levels. Gardiner it’s 2-1 just after HT … Byrne-Fitzpatrick makes his debut .Long seals it in the 93rd min. Win 3-1.     Byrne-Fitzpatrick is now youngest player (16y 156d)…from fellow Dale player King (16y 230d).

Elsewhere Italy put 15 past Liechenstein.

  5.10.45  (H) Georgia … Keep a young team in …HT 2-0 only despite dominating ( Bruce/Moore). FT o.g and Hayes first Int goal 4-0 Win….. disappointing from 46 shots….Skillen has lost his form completely … I criticise him ( first time I ever done this in a press conference) and he goes awol before the Iceland match… he may never play again….Media have him missing from Southampton but seen at a nightclub. 23yr old whose blown his career ?!

9.10.45 Iceland (a) ..HT 1-0 with Long scoring.  FT 1-0 .. again 26 shots but only 1 goal. World Cup Qual successful With 2 games to spare.

Nov 45 games … Skillen dropped / York suspended. Bring in Will England & U21 youngster Beattie-Prescott.

Skillen objects before acknowledging his error .. we will see…68 caps and 64 goals is a big decision to drop.

Garnes injured day b4 .. replaced with 27yrvold Udoh gets first call up.

Estonia (h) … Both newbies set for full debut.  Only 2 starters have 47/34 caps … rest under 19 with 6 under 8.(Only 5 have scored).

HT 3-0 …Brown ( 2 pens) Thackray. FT 10-0 .. England & Thackray get hatricks . Byrne-Fitzpatrick and Hayes complete the rout….for England these are his first international goals.

Byrne -Fitzpatrick breaks youngest scorer record ( 16y 223d) ..7 days quicker than Ian Knight.

Poland (a) ,,In the snow and frozen conditions ….defensive starting tactic ..Worrall(4) Genovese (5) for a dream start HT 2-1 …Steele makes it 3-1 sub Brown Completes 4-1 win.

World Cup … draw Australia ( 30th) New Zealand (87th). Hosts Japan gets Wales . My old country and holders South Africa get China/ Denmark.

Jan 2046

Transfer window …. With relegation a major threat I use the TV cash to boost the squad.

In (4)… Bailey ( midfield) Blackburn ( championship) £24m 

         Cotton ( midfield) Newcastle ( championship) £15m

        Moss ( LWB) Southampton ( U23) was on loan at Preston and near end of contract £325k

         Mijailovic ( Striker) PSG .. a youngster I had a St.Johnstone .. £3.2m ( expects Champions League in 3 years !).

Out .(10) . includes 3 x AMC players due to change of system. ( Nwachukwu / Tompkins & Halilovic). Mason ( LB) makes room for Moss. 2 other U23’s sold and 4 set for loans.

Result wise in first 3 weeks of January ….Draw with both Hammers 0-0 Watford 0-0 away.  

With new signings settling Beat Spurs 2-1 and Draw 1-1 with Villa who were 9th/5th Both at home.

21 games gone …15th with 24 points and 9 points clear of Boro ( teams below have games in hand) ..More hopeful with new formation and have really worked on set pieces instructions.

FA Cup ( h) Mansfield (L1) Win 2-0 with a much changed line up. Stefanik makes debut. Walters a first start in 5 years. Phillips & Rouse first appearances of season as subs.

RECORD GATE RECEIPTS OF £400k. ( Was £230k vs Huddersfield ).

No shocks but several lower Prem teams get replays which suits me .

Pogba is the new Bournemouth manager.

23.1.46 ..Go above nemesis Everton (a) comeback to win 4-2 away.  I just don’t understand how they break FFP for second time in 5 years but have no point deduction.  ( Have to be fair made no signings in Jan and sold 3)….Fitter players from rest during FA Cup helped in the second half.

Finish Jan with a thrashing of Hull …3-0 … This new formation is finally seeing me on the front foot ( Positive) and creating crosse/chances.

Even better new signing Mijailovic gets his first goal.  Dales first win over Hull ever.

Feb ..lose a classic 4-3 at Stoke being losing on penalties to High flying Fulham in the FA Cup after 2-2 draw ..miss pen to win in normal time.

League .. win at Anfield 2-1 ( they do miss a pen ) but stats even. That’s the double completed. Move to 12th and almost out of negative goal difference after 25 games. Xabi Alonso sacked 3 games later.

Rotate at lowly Boro (a) .. somehow lose 2-1 …. Referee seemed to want to book my entire team…King now suspended…. Then lose to Leicester.

Improve with WDW before International break …..Arsenal moan we were too physical.

Gamble to spend  in January has paid off….Played 30 …40 points reached … 9th.

Elsewhere City sack Wells despite him winning Carabao Cup after Champions League exit./ Prem 3rd.

March 2046…. England …2 low rank friendlies….Long injured. Skillen given another chance ..York refused permission to join squad . Moore gets injured in FA Cup tie. World Cup 90 days away .

England U20’s win 3rd Elite title in a row.

Change of tactic to match Rochdale with a DM.

Latvia (155th) …HT1-0   21 shots / 8 on target…Worrall(39/86) Downes(62/79)on 50th appearance. Win 4-0

Andorra (209th)…Worrall ( 17 secs /5/30)..Gardiner(2)..  Downes (10/17/18) ..Price(32). Brown(43) ..HT 9-0

Downes 47mins is his fourth… Skillen (61/73/77) …Bradley-Fitzpatrick (66)Thackray(88)..Win 15-0.

Taken 46 cap….Full back Price finally scores.

Dales Stefanik makes debut for Slovakia.

League ….. 1.4.46 … blow title race wide open by beating Man Utd 3-1 at home .. this was off the back of them thrashing Arsenal 7-1 and they took the lead… I had 5 players out.( Keeper/ Wingers/ midfield  are Injured / parent club loan etc). Can not remember last time i had a long term keeper injury.

Formation … Positive and it seems to suit better than defensive Or cautious.  Also changed wingers to IF.

Sign Loanee Williams at end of his contract for £2.5m as a back up for next season.

Bid for Owens from cash strapped Everton who is also nearing end of contract to play IF…Miranda too injury prone.

Issue with my scouting continues as 58 yr free agent shows but can’t be signed .

Checking other players whose contract ends in June.

Throw champions league places open by thrashing 4th placed Fulham (a) 3-0…..Villa go 4th.

Win means we avoid relegation.

Thrash Leeds 4-0 ( but results mean they stay up)… next up Southampton( lost all 12 matches) …. Media stir up my former association with them … elsewhere Hull have gone 11 games without a goal to set a new record in the Premiership and have only 10 points from 35 games.

Lose 2-0 away but even contest….Saints need 2 points in 3 games to be champions.

Saints seal the title with a game to spare…Utd/City/Villa complete Top 4.

Finish away at Spurs(12th). with Tuchel  under fire and 1 point behind us.

5 teams are 2 points points apart 9th to 13th….£10.2m prize money difference.

Get hammered (3-0 down ) to end losing 4-2 and finish 11th …Tuchel sacked…I Decline job interview.

I have lost 12 games in the league for my worse ever season…but am satisfied given my squad and team size.

Another trophy less season With Rochdale…..as Chelsea beat Fulham ( they lost both cup finals).

Leicester beat Hammers to relegate them and pip Liverpool to last Euro place.

Hull and Bournemouth ( managed by Pogba) also relegated…. I will target these for transfers and The cash strapped Merseyside teams.

Aberdeen win Europa Cup On pens from Man U.

Saints beat Bayern to win Champions League.

Board announce a plan to build a new stadium … but just no other details .

Training and youth facilities upgraded .

Shirt sales ..1.Robinson 2.Mijailovic 3.Miranda 4.Williams 5.Bailey

Wage ratio is only 11% but expect it to rise.

Coty earn £201m in sponsorship …we get £11.5m

12066 avg crowd is a record after stadium increase ( 10037 previously).

ENGLAND WORLD CUP JUNE 2046.

Picking the squad is tough and I look at form and change of formation ..biggest choice is Long out and uncapped Tucker drafted in from U21’s In midfield. Keeper Nelson out and uncapped U21 Griffiths in.

9 players with 0-9 caps.  5 players with 51-70 caps.

5 players have no goals. 13 have  1-8 goals. 
Skillen 67 ..Downes 38…. Genovese 22. Brown 13 … Gardiner 12 main scorers in squad.

7 of the squad are from Southampton.

Thailand / England only domestic based squads … Saudi Arabia youngest and Mexico have 408 goals across whole squad.

Friendly ..Algeria.Rank 25th  (a) .. Tucker will start on his debut.  HT 1-1 ..Worrall equalises. Sub Byrne-Fitzpatrick scores a late winner which we deserve based on stats.

Friendly ..World Cup Hosts Japan (20th) at Wembley …Rotate squad and England/Brownx2/Hayes set up a 4-0 at HT.   Griffiths starts to make his debut.  Bruce makes it 5 at Full Time.

World Cup starts…Will be my 50th game of this second spell in charge.

New Zealand (87th) … Skillen( 22 sec / 3min /30 ) England (11 & 42) King(33) ..HT 6-0.

Skillen makes it 7 … England completes hat trick for 8-0 victory.

This was a first international goal for King.

Ironically Elsewhere Saudi play Argentina in a direct copy of this years World Cup from Qatar…except Argentina win 2-0.

Defending champions South Africa lose 1-0 to Denmark.

Australia ( 30th) .. early o.g. 1-0 to England … York near half time and it’s 2-0.

Skillen & Genovese 4-0 before subs made. FT 4-0.    Qualified for next round…NZ stun Aussies in game 3.

Hosts Japan out after loss to Wales.

Round 2 …Iran ( 15th) .. apparently we lost Last encounter…Skillen 75th cap.

HT 1-0 Worrall .  Bruce gets our first booking of the tournament .

Brown makes it 2-0 early after restart … Win. 2-0.

Holders South Africa out on pens to Mexico.

Round 3 ..Sweden ( 24th) … Skillen bid for golden boot starts early ..  Brown and Worrall make it HT 3-0

Sub those on bookings from Rnd 2 and York completes 4-0 rout.

Brazil ( Colombia) & France (Spain)both out.

July 2046

QF ..Swiss (20th) ..they knocked out the Germans…  Bruce inj after 2 min….Swiss player breaks arm in same incident …HT 0-0

Needs subs to strike late and win 2-0 ( Downes & England).

Mexico see of Spain on pens. Colombia thrash Italy.

SF .. Colombia ( 12th) … Gardiner & Downes Inbetween an equaliser HT 2-1..VAR denied a third.

Downes not denied again for 3-1 and completes his hat trick. Sub Thackray makes it 5-1 ..Downes fourth for 6-2 ( left back Cahill has 3 assists ) and ends 6-3.

Argentina see of Mexico aet.

Colombia  beat Mexico aet for 3rd.

FINAL ( should have been the same in real life if Saka had got the decisions he deserved vs France).

Argentina (5th) hopefully tired after 2 consecutive extra time matches….1 player out injured for them.

Not lost in 6 meetings (w5 d1) ..hopefully not ending that run today.

HT 3-1. Worrall(10) ..equaliser(12).. Downes (14) 2-1..England (38) 3-1.

FT Downes with a late finish for 4-1 WIN.

Go to number 1 in World Rankings.

7 games ..30 goals (1st)…from 95 shots on target(1st)

.5 from corners (1st). 5 clean sheets(1st). 
Possession 53% (15th). Headers Won 265 (2nd).64% (11th).

Crosses 83 (1st)

Golden Boot …Downes 7  Skillen 6 ( level with Stevens of Belguim)  England 5

Golden Glove ..Batten 5 clean sheets.

Leigh…Best Young Player

10/11 England players in Dream Team.

16.7.46….Kyle retires as England coach ..replaced by Critchley.

Season 27

8.6.44 …. European Championship.

4-2-3-1… Positive then Balanced.

Group B

Slovenia … HT 3-0 …Skillen / Palmer / Gardiner.  FT 4-0 .  Long.

Elsewhere Denmark & Spain draw 0-0.

Denmark …HT 2-0 ..Genovese / Jones ….FT 3-0 o.g…..Seals qualification.

Elsewhere Spain beat Slovenia 5-0

Spain …HT 0-0 ..go Cautious to try get the ball. FT .. 0-0 …we wee outplayed…2 players suspended Now.

Slovenia beat Denmark 2-1.

Round 2…Tactics Balanced.

26.6.44 

Slovakia (68) ..HT 6-0 up Brown hat trick Palmer brace and Genovese.  FT 9-1 ..o.g / Bruce/ Baykey ..also 2 disallowed.

Record Euros win ..beats my 7-0 vs Scotland in 2020 

Portugal (9)knock out France(2).  Germany (8) Spain(2) Italy(10) ..highest ranked teams still in it.

QF 

1.7.44 

ITALY … 5 of the squad on yellow cards.  Italy have 3.  They are also 4231 but DM set ..usually a good sign for me.

DLP .. Gardiner(2)  / Skillen (pen) plus another on stroke of HT …Lead 4-0

Take off 3 of my yellow card players … Winger Genovese injured (71) down to 10.  FT 4-0.

Germany knock out Scotland.

SF

7.7.44

Spain (3) ..Best teams in competition meet in semis.  Spain have 4 x Euros Trophy wins ..England 2.

Winners will play Portugal who ended Germany run.

BEST GAME I CAN RECALL .. WENT Attacking …

 1-0 down against run of play (29) ..then Genovese o,g (45) before he scores right end HT 2-1 down.

3-1 down (48) .. Skillen (62) ..go all out attack … Bayley (78) …. 3-3 

Go Cautious … Skillen (82) Long (84)

Win 5-3 In front of 120,000 fans in Belgium.

10.7.44

Spain 2177 England on 2174 points . Portugal 2029. France 2191. Brazil 2281.

Final vs Portugal(7)

Another Epic … but this time lose 5-3 on pens after a 3-3 draw.

Goal down in 26 secs , 2 down (11) …. But Genovese and Skillen make it 2-2 on half time.

(47) behind again before Brown set up extra time (65).

Simpson made 100th appearance.

Portugal move to 6th with 2044 points….after 3rd Euro Win.

Brown voted best player ( I agree)

Skillen Golden Boot ( 6 ) Genovese and Brown (4) made up Top 3.

Skillen best young player ( I signed him for Saints as a Wonderkid but left before he played).

Club

New record avg attendance of 6746 ..up from 5532.

Transfers.

Have to wait until 24.6.44 to make loan offers for Millington / Alley-Barfoot as clubs wanted them playing at higher level …despite being in my team that was promoted ..once Championship fixtures issued the clubs then allowed me to apply…both accept.

Recent signing Hurley (£87k now worth £750k in Championship) That signing was our highest since records began in 18/19 season… I expect to break it… but struggling to find quality.

I am searching Partizan and Red Star for cheap signings ..usually have some.

I have also gone through the European Countries  ( Main Squads) for end of contracts.

Signings start 30.6.44

Phillips 18yr old on a free from Saints.   Value £18.5k

Dragojevic 18yr old free from Sutjeska….Value £78k

Zdravkovic 20yr old from Iskra … £70k compensation.  Value £46.5k

Moore 23yr old free from Burnley.  ( For the 1st team).   Value £1.5m after joining.

Backhouse back on loan from Man Utd ( Blackburn last season but only played 6 times).

Seal also joins from Man Utd U23’s ( 3 of my midfielders are now loans)…then Wins U19 with England alongside fellow Loanee King. Named in Best XI

Tompkins ..Free release from Arsenal…. Age 23 and no first team games at Arsenal or on loan.

Mason free release from Portsmouth.

29.7.44…..still a week to go to change this.

7 in ….9 out ( sold and loans) for Rochdale.

Boro spend most ..£10m net spend…also most out (12).

Cardiff make over £76m profit after relegation from Premier League.

5 teams spend nothing including Ipswich with 5 loans and 4 free…9 in joint top with ironically Norwich.

Got Away

AMR Slade from Saints ..they want £4m ..Valued at £5.5 .. I offer £1m upfront plus game/international adds ons that make it worth £4m .. offer accepted…wage demands £7.5k above club limit.( On 18.5k .. wanted 17,5k).

Bigvava bid declined due to Georgia lowly ranking and failing work permit…Appeal fails…also suffer same fate with South African keeper Prodigy Mahlangu.

Staff

Sign my old player Keanen Bennetts as a coach.( Saints 20/21 to 23/24).

Cirne joins as new Chief Data Analyst..

Ashbee new Head of Youth Development.

BOARD EXPECTATIONS

Avoid Relegation…..Squad pre season talk shows players agree.  Odds 350-1 promotion 6-1 relegation.(19th)

FA Cup 4th Round

Carabao 2nd Round

Pre-Season camp ….Liverpool…cost £48.5k … assessment is went well.

11.7.44…..Win friendly vs Accrington 2-1.

13.7.44 … Win friendly vs Coventry 2-1 despite Backhouse red card.

16.7.44 … Win friendly vs Barwell  6-1. Alley-Barfoot gets 90th min red.

20.7.44 … Lose 3-1 at home …in front of 9796 fans….worth £127k in gate receipts.

CHAMPIONSHIP 

Tactic 4-2-3-1- Balanced.

Game 1 …Stunning 4-0 home win vs Sunderland.  Tompkins brace on his 1st ever professional game.

Wages … Norwich paying most £1.1m per week.  Least Rochdale £83k per week.

McMaster-Utterson who I wanted but couldn’t afford at £24k per week plus wages loan ..scores a brace on his Birmingham loan debut…. He also scores a wonder goal against Rochdale in Game 2 but hold out for a 2-1 away win…Top after 2 games.

Game 3 ..Remarkable 3 goals from corners vs fellow Unbeaten side Wolves …draw 3-3.

Game 7 (10.9.44)… Keeper Hurley (125th Appearance) .. Impressive away win at Cardiff.

Game 15 .. 2nd time in 5 games a red card with both overturned on appeal ..this time lose to lowly Sheff W.

Now 5th and clear leaders Boro next.( narrow loss and out of play offs now).

Game 17 ..away at local rivals Bury ( relegation places) ..They are down to ten men ( 10 mins) and dominate the game …HT 2-0 up and Bury have not had a shot ….FT 5-0 with Freeman -2 Seal -2 & King.  Back to 4th.

Bury manager sacked.

Game 23 .( Halfway) .. Beat Bristol City 1-0 and 3rd in League .  Boro 51pts Cardiff 48pts Dale 43pts.

Boxing Day fixture Game 24 … 3-0 away at Sunderland …. only to blow it and hang on for 3-3 .. end 2044 in 3rd place.

Busy transfer window ahead with loans ending and injury issues.

Carabao Cup

Will be rotating squad.

Top of L2 …Barrow (a) .. Mason debut … 3 other new signings on the bench. Dominate 32 shots to 4 but 1-0 Win (Bell).

All 3 new Signings make debuts from the bench.

Round 2 ..Get West Ham at home next … They are 5th in Prem …Dale Top after a shock win at Palace …

England star Dunne runs us ragged and lose 3-0.

Liverpool win the final 6-0 vs Everton …… That is 3 wins in a row.

FA Cup 

31.12.44 ..no chance at Premier (2nd) Spurs…probably playing a weakened squad.

5 players need numbers assigned.  1 player makes first start of season … 3 others make first start.

2 youngsters make debuts from the bench.

Tuchel plays my former French star Dupuis and he scores the penalty. HT 1-0 …. Late goals FT 3-0. In front of our biggest ever audience …77,577.

ENGLAND
 

24.8.44 … drop Simpson (100 caps) and replace with Thackeray who is quicker.   Main keeper Nelson missing with injury .. first call up for Adams of R.C Lens.

Media question my removal of experience.

31.8.44.   Friendly ..Belguim(Ranked 14)(a) .. Previous 11 meetings ..Won 10 D 1.

York wins 50th Cap. Adams makes debut.

Belguim get a Red Card in 34 seconds .. never seen quicker.

Jones scores and lead 1-0 at HT. Brown scores (61) and thats 2 from corners .Thackeray gets his first international goal on his 3rd cap….Win 3-0 but red card spoilt it.

6.9.44… (h) Scotland … Euro League . Press conference a bit heated due to previous match Comments.

Scotland thunderbolt (14) ..but Long equalises (15) Brown (62) sub Thackray(67) Genovese(82) sub Downes(87).   Win 5-1.

England move up to 3rd in Rankings.(2181 points)…. Above Spain who drop 1 

6.10.44 ..(a) Wales (40th) … Narrow 2-1 win.  Long (pen) before Wales level .. Genovese secures win… hit woodwork 3 times…..Rochdale Winger Shannon makes his Welsh debut.

9.10.44 ..(a) .Scotland (12th) … 1-0 down ( 12 secs) ..3-0 down (11 & 26) ..go attacking … 3-3. by half time ….Long (32) Skillen (42/43).

Boyle (67) 4-3 down .. Long (71) Dunne(72) 5-4 up … Long (91 & pen 95) ..Remarkably ends 7-4 win.

Rochdales Bell scores 1st Northern Ireland goal after 24 caps.

13.11.44… Wales (h) …. Genovese (30) Gardiner(38) HT 2-0. Sub Downes (74)  FT 3-0.  Comfortable.

15.12.44… World Cup Qual Draw … Poland (42) Iceland (54) Georgia (92) Estonia (130)

8.12.44 ….NEYMAR takes Lincoln job from York has also been at Wrexham / Forest Green / Swindon / Sheff Weds and Bristol City.

Jan 2045

Getting bids from Ghana for my Ghanaian winger ..just not enough initially for my value .

I am allowed to change season aim to mid table finish and given an £11m transfer budget …it’s the wages I will struggle with.

King signed from Chelsea for a club record £3.3m .( Was £150k for Paul Connor)

Loans failing due to 1st team commitments … they have made 1 sub appearance .

Smith out for £250k … a profit as a free signing previously.

Sekyere out for £225k to MK Dons.

Leeds sign talented youngster Edwards … £1.6m plus add ons … reluctant but not in my starting X1

Fulham also bid large money for him…. £3.3m ( upto £9m).

11 in … 7 for 100k or less and 3 on free …9 of these are future investments.

Chelsea youngster upfront on loan completes the window.

On deadline day ..Boro who are top keep trying to buy Abdo for £400k …worth £3.3m….must be his 9 goals from corners.

Championship 2045

Game 25 vs Mid table Wolves (a) HT 0-4 up …Left back Carter has 3 assists and yet another corner goal.

Corner tactic is just attack near post but Abdo seems unplayable ( jump 16 head 9 ) a surprise.( 11 goals).

End 4-0 and close gap on Boro & Cardiff. 
 

Game 30 .. My 1700th game …. Vs Cardiff (2nd) who are 1 point ahead of Rochdale.

2 up HT ..back to 2-2 before sub Freeman scores an 86th min winner…94th min goal to win 4-2.

2 games later Cardiff sack manager as they free fall …Hull on a charge with Norwich.

Game 34 away at Derby and need a late equaliser to draw .. seem to be getting more bookings for the same amount of fouls currently. New Loanee upfront struggling 1 goal in 6.

Game 35 is a home tie vs 3rd placed Hull … All over them …1 nil down at HT ..level only to lose to last kick of the game .

Game 36 .. win 9-0 away at relegation threatened WBA … almost all WBA players rated Under 5.8 and one rated at 4.6.  8-1 vs Chesterfield was old record.

Hull draw and now Dale / Hull / Cardiff all on 68 points ( Boro top on 75).

This is a new record win & scoring match in league or cup for Rochdale.

Game 37 .. Top 4 all win …. Abdo now has 10 league goals from corners.( Team have 13).

Game 38 .. Rotation and works well .. Boro lose to Brentford ..Hull get hammered at Palace .. Cardiff win.

Game 39 ..Away at table topping Boro … Straight Red for Boro on 20 mins … we score 2 mins later …by Half Time 3-0 up. Full time 3-0 win.

Boro 78 Dale 77 Cardiff 77 Hull 74 Norwich 68.

Game 40 .. Rotate for bottom placed Chesterfield and after going 1 up …Carter gets a straight Red … hang on  for a 2-0 away win…..Bell makes 200th league appearance.

Game 41 …Derby day Home at lowly Bury …. Boro home to Sunderland.  Hull home to Sheff Utd. Cardiff away at Bristol City. 
 

Go top .. Rochdale 1-0 ….. Boro 2-2. ………Hull lose 1-3 and Cardiff lose 1-0.    
 

Rochdale& Boro in the playoffs.

Get into an argument with Swansea mgr after media ask me if they will go down.

Game 42 (h) to 5th placed Sheff Utd….Abdo corner goal (4) ..sheff goal (5) disallowed HT 1-0.

blow a 2-0 lead (65) after making subs …Sheff Utd win 4-2.

Boro beat Swansea to go back top. Hull also win.

Game 43 .. have to rotate and just edge Colchester 2-1 away .. 10 man Boro draw .. Cardiff draw with Hull 

5 points clear of third with 3 games left.

Game 44 …(a)  Wigan in 9th …Wigan miss pen(7) .. injury to Backhouse and Wigan Immediately score … go attacking … last minute goal disallowed and undeservedly lose 1-0.

Boro and Cardiff win… Boro 89 Dale 86 Cardiff 82 Hull 81 …all now in playoffs.

That is now 10 league losses .. my most in any Season of their career .

Game 45 ..10 man Boro early KO … draw 0-0 with Sheff U… enough for their play off spot.

Bristol City (a) … I go defensive after 30 mins …. 0-0.  Loanee Reed has gone 387 mins without scoring.

Norwich secure last Playoff spot.

Late game is Welsh Derby .. Swansea need something or they go down … Cardiff win 3-1… My media point is proven.

Rochdale U18 win a first ever league title…. Been runners up twice.

22.4.45…. Game 46 … 1 point needed ( 18 goals ahead of Cardiff). Boro need a ppoint to win Championship.

Rochdale (2) vs Norwich (6). King (25) .. feeling Better ( go defensive) .. HT 1-0 Reed (86) seals promotion.

FT 2-0 …..Kent had gone over 450 mins without a goal .

Colchester (16) vs Cardiff (3) HT 0-0.  FT Cardiff scored (48) …win 1-0

Boro (1) vs Sheff We’d (15).  HT 0-0 FT 0-0 …. They deserve to win the Title…. I am amazed to get within a point.

Swansea/Chesterfield/Burnley go down.

Hull beat Cardiff in play offs.

Media point out ground is not premier standard … this will affect my transfer budget I suspect.( Board initially set £30m and £350k wages p/w.

Our wages were lowest in the league and a tenth of Norwich.

END OF SEASON ROUND UPS 

Lack of injuries helped … 8 players made between 34 - 49 appearances . Ranked 14th lowest.

Wilson (19) Seal (15) from mid field and Abdo (11) from centre back at corners are top scorers.

Stats ..Rochdale best at Corners (16) just attack near post. Goals 101. Avg poss (57%). Shots on target (418) Clean Sheets (24) 

Seal won Championship with Blackburn last season and promotion this.

Sold 5519 shirts … Reef sold best ( avg Loanee at Jan ..makes no sense). Abdo/Backhouse/Freeman/Seal.

Board announce 4500 expansion ( 14708) .. Will cost £5.5m…. 7 months with £2.8m covered by grants.

Team losses are £5.5m.

Fans Player & Young Player....Abdo….also Sky Championship Player of the Year.

Goal ..Seal……also Young Championship player of the Year.

Signing …Sandor

Man City champions also Club World Champs also add FA Cup vs Fulham

 ( 3 pts ahead of Saints)/ Leicester 3rd then Spurs …… Forest worst recorded team with only 10 points.

Saints sack the manager ( Tedesco).

Aberdeen champions (Celtic 5pts behind) Rangers / St.J.

ENGLAND 2045

10.3.45 ..Time to change squad … 36 year old Richard Shaw will be dropped after 93 caps & 12 goals.

Steele ( CD) gets first call up.

Shawn Edwards ( 26 U21’s caps)..replaces Adams as 3rd choice Keeper ….10 games for Watford in 4 years.

He has a negative reaction to attention.

Michael Worrall ( 5 U21’s 2 goals) replaces 29yr old Bayley at AMR.

Press question inexperience .

World Cup Qual vs Georgia ( a) .. all debutants start …. Worrall gets an early assist And a debut goal.Downes ahead of Skillen.

HT 3-0 …Downes -2 Worrall…FT  5-0 ..Downes completes hat trick & o.g.

WCQ …Iceland (h) … Injury to Genovese so I call up Edwards to get money on his transfer deal from Fulham.

Edwards makes debut from star…earns Rochdale £1.1m.
HT 2-0 …Long & Gardiner.  FT 6-0 .. Hall , subs Downes & Worrall and another for Long.

29.3.45 ..Move up 1 to 2nd in World Rankings (2187) …Brazil top ( 2253).

25.5.45 … SF Int league vs Holland.   Genovese back in for Edwards. Brown injury sees King ( Rochdale) gain his first call up.

Tough game but Gardiner on stroke of half time for 1-0.  Genovese makes it 2-0 having gone defensive for second half. King makes debut (62) .. Win 2-0.  Skillen on as sub continues poor form.

France (3)beat Spain (4)3-2.

England rise to 2195 ranking points 

France 2188

FINAL vs France ( Last 10 games is W5 D1 L4).

Ten man France after 22 mins .. win it 1-0 (86) completely against run of play .

I finish the season without a trophy.

Season 26

England vs Saint Barthelemy

Chance to see back ups And chase records 

HT 8-0 ..Skillen has 4……Ends 15-0 …. Skillen 5 ..even centre half York gets 3 ..Bayley 4 assists.

Kane 6 in a 16-0 win vs Bangladesh are the records.

Will England makes debut … Ellis gets first goal.

Tuvalu next …England out injured and replaced with Moore.( Debut as sub).

Long makes 50th appearance and scores ... Heller ( Centre Back gets a hat trick in first 37 mins) …HT 10-0

Ends 15-0 again ..had 14 after 63 mins so disappointed not to get record ..Heller got 4. Williams gets first goal.

Next match Cyprus in 80 days.

17.6.43….Transfers.. tough so far with limited success with bids.

Callum Wilson signed as U18 manager … odd as I have just watched him play in the World Cup (irl).

Board Expectations :

League 1 …Top Half

FA Cup ..3rd Round

Carabao Cup .. 2nd Round

Rochdale set new avg attendance record of 5532 ( was 4679 In 2033).

Finances rocky … have a £1,4m debt to repay so going free loans and free signings.

In .

3 loans extended … Hurley/Millington / Drury

1 new …Alley-Barfoot( DC) from Saints .

Free Signings … Spink-Reece ( RB) Wilson (AML / Striker).Carter (LWB )

Sign Sam Smith on deadline day …Free Agent.

Sign another Free agent after deadline day …Jennings(MC).

Try for out of contract Loach again but he wants 135k signing on fee.

Out

16 released

2 out as contracts not renewed.

4 sold.

Bigger clubs sniffing around King / Knight … I slap a reject all transfers.

Chairman undermines me on deadline day by accepting bids which smash Hogan 750k from 2014.

King goes to Chelsea after Leeds/Liverpool fight for him for £11m … my captain sulks about a decision I have no control of….. a similar player at Utd U18 was quoted at £47m.

Later Board Confidence Update .. They believe King’s departure could be regarded by the fans as a poor piece of judgement ! …It was his decision 🤦🏻‍♂️

By Game 4 … I have a squad I can make 2 alternating XI from .

League 1 odds … Preston/Reading/Pompey/Barnsley/QPR / Rochdale 8-1.

Season tickets up from 3510 to 4394

Linked with Chelsea .. I’m not interested…they still me an interview.

Checkatrade draw is Villa U23 plus League 1 Lincoln & Shrewsbury

League 1 …. I have gone Balanced from Attacking as playing a higher level.

(A) QPR 0-0

(H) Pompey HT 3-1 FT 3-3 ..not clinical enough .. Spink-Reece / Wilson get debut goals.  6856 fans.

(A) Salford ..rotate squad .. minus King now …HT 1-2 up ..Win 3-5.    9th in the League.

(H) Barnsley …3rd of the Top 5 favourites I have played …1-0 down , miss Pen ..HT 2-1 up .. Win 3-1 …9054 fans and upto 4th.

(H) Shrewsbury ..HT 1-1 Jennings debut goal equaliser … Sekyere rescues late 2-2 Draw.6897 fans ..6th.

(A) Crewe … Freeman hits 4 in a comfortable 4-1 win….Back to 4th.

(A) York who are bottom ….. 16yr old Knight & sub Freeman star …Win 2-0 and have gone Top.

Beat Donny at home in front of 8906 and draw with Reading …Top after 9 games.

Game 10 ..lose away at Millwall .. Keeper can’t play against parent club and U18 deputy not good enough.

Carabao Cup ( H) L2 Bradford ..rotate again come from behind to draw 1-1 ( Wilson) ..win Pens 4-3

2nd Rnd (H) Championship Sunderland..poor form and a new manager … out play them and nice to win against a former player (Firth) … Win 2-1 ..should have been more ……6261 fans.

Elsewhere … L2 AFC Wimbledon knock out Man Utd on pens.

3rd Rnd (H) L1 Fleetwood …red card in first 15 mins for Fleetwood ..they score and despite dominating lose the match on pens after a 1-1 draw ( they had another sent off 77mins)… follows Millwall loss and form has dropped.

Checkatrade defence starts 1.9.43 … have battled to keep St.J and 20 other teams in signing Knight.

(H) Aston Villa U23 … 2 on international duty … 0-0 ..win 4-2 on pens.

(A) Shrewsbury .. 1-1 .. come from behind with 10 men and win Pens 5-4…..My 1600 game as Manager.

(H) Lincoln … They are already through … Win 2-1 and top the group.

Round 2 … (h) vs Man City U23 ….   4-3 Win.   Freeman 2 & Jennings & Nwachukwu

20.1.44..Round 3 … (H) vs Salford ..Win 3-0 as Nwachukwu gets a brace.

Feb 2044 … vs Rotherham(h) .. Millington(2) but miss pen ..HT 1-1 … Freeman (55) Sekyere(71) but could have gone either way in a 4-1 win ..just better finishing.   Edwards makes debut.
 

SF .. (h) Peterborough …Come from behind twice (HT1-2) as subs seal a 4-2 Win. Carter suspended for final.

Final vs Orient …ironically our very next league game in Feb44 after beating Posh.

Sept…England Squad  Cyprus & Russia… McMaster out .. not playing at Boro and bring Genovese back. Bruce in but is DM ..hoping he can adapt to MC.

Cyprus(A) HT 1-0 ..Moore 1st International goal ..should be more ..Ellis(2) Downes seal a 4-0 win.

Russia (H) ..this for top spot …Brown(28) Cahill(38) HT 2-0 and dominating …Win 2-0

Oct … Late injury sees me call up Millington from Rochdale ..hope this helps me sign him at end of season.

( H ) Greece …. Skillen ( 14 ) Gardiner (37) HT 2-0 and going top of the group… or a single shot from Greece …Downes (70) Genovese (72/80) ..Win 5-0 and 35 shots to 0.

(A) Lithuania … Millington debut …. Downes(2) Williams(14) Shaw(55) ..easy 3-0 win.

League ..Game 16 … Stay Top 24.10.23 …… sell out for the first time 10037 in 1-0 win vs Rotherham.

FA Cup ..1st Rnd ..(a) Ebbsfleet ( non league) …Win 3-0.   Barrino makes debut 23 yr old and been at the club for 8 years.

Rnd 2 (a) Boston Utd ( non league) …Blow 2-0 lead to end 2-2. Donnelly makes debut in much changed side.

Win replay 2-0.

Rnd 3 (a) Huddersfield … ( First game of 2044) ..Early lead soon cancelled out despite dominating …. 2-1 down before back to 2-2 …another Cup Replay in a busy season.elsewhere promotion rivals QPR have a replay after holding Man City 3-3.

Round 3 ..Replay … Win 4-0 …total domination which is a surprise against a mid table Championship side.

£85k prize money is handy….also A RECORD GATE RECEIPTS OF £230k from sell out crowd.

Jan 2044 ..Round 4 …(L1) Fleetwood (a) ..Rotation due to run of games … dominate stats Win 1-0 £113k prize money.

Round 5 … Man City (a) .. Think that the run will be over .. City play 3 non internationals…get to HT 0-0 and dreaming…. Soon 2-0 down before Abdo gets a surprise goal back but end up losing 2-1 which is no disgrace.

Nov 2043 … England vs Cyprus (h) … Dunne makes debut … 6-0 Win ..Skillen gets 4 ..Bruce hits 1st goal.

Russia (a) …. HT 0-0 …. Lost 1-0 as tired team underperform In the snow….StI’ll qualify for Euros.

Dec 2043 …Game 24… despite dominating lose 3-1 at home to 2nd placed QPR … now just 3 points clear.(8065 fans)…game in hand vs Notts County is won 2-0 … 6 points clear…oddly 8973 fans …why more than the top of the table clash?

Game 26 ..away at 3rd placed Pompey … draw 1-1……. Gap now 4 points.

Game 27 .. rehearsal for Checkatrade .. (h) Salford …. Come from behind to win 2-1.

I am linked with the Arsenal job ( 13th in Premier league)…after Patrick Vieira is sacked.

Elsewhere Pogba sacked by Watford.

Jan 2044 …. Extend contracts and set release for a number.

Transfer offers at 100k …would cost me £1m min for a replacement so demand more.

I bid for 3 of my Loanees .. free up space for more loans.

Saints want £136m for a £1m defender... Spurs £72m for a £675k midfielder.

Millwall accept £87k offer for Keeper.

Loan for King accepted by Chelsea whee he has made no appearances under a new manager.

Sold 4 squad only players From U23’s.

26.1.2044 … 100th game for Rochdale vs York…Win 2-0 in Game 30 ..7 pts Clear of QPR.

Played 100 Won 66 Drawn 23 Lost 11 For 199 Against 104 Win 66%… all lower than Overall Career stats.

Played 1630 W 1261 D 219 L 150 For 4319 Against 1161 Win 77%

1.2.44…Deadline day .. multiple offers of 100k …the. 225k rejected before Chairman accepts bids from Liverpool/ West Ham & Fulham ..all over £1m with large add on values…..UNHAPPY…and tell press conference so.

Knight …. Ends up at Liverpool …£2.1m …. Upto £6m.

Dundee United sign Declan Donnelly and have to pay £80k compensation due to age.

Zac Drury agrees to go to the MLS at end of season .. I missed that opportunity.

Feb 2044 ..Game 32 after the transfers .. We beat bottom of the table Donny .. relegation threatened Crewe thrash QPR to move out of bottom 4 and gap is now 8 points . Pompey in 3rd now just a point behind QPR.

Game 33 .(h) Millwall ..early kick off and blow a lead  due to fatigue FT 1-1.

March 2044 …England have 3 easy friendlies ..chance to win and blood a few newbies ( 1 will earn Rochdale £850k as Liverpool deal included this 😈).

Rochdale have 2 league fixtures so can not blood any of mine…Game 39 Secure Playoff spot.Game 40 plays the same time as Friendly vs Liechtenstein…. Point gained with only 10 men.

England vs Luxembourg … Keeper Batten and Winger Knight make debut( Now youngest ever player)..Knight debut goals In first half ….HT 6-0

Win 14-0 ….Hat tricks for Knight/Skillen and Downes.

Knight also takes youngest goal scorer record from McMaster-Utterson … ..16y 230d now was 17y 131d

Confidence improves after defeat in dead rubber vs Russia last time.

England vs Liechtenstein ..Skillen in 72 secs sets the tone ….HT 8-0 .. Skillen 4 with Knight 3 assists again.

Knight picks up a knock and Long gets his hat trick …Win 12-0 .   Leigh (rb) gets 1st goal.

EURO DRAW .  Holders France ..Hosts Dutch/Belgian

. Seeded Pot 1 … get Denmark(18)/Spain(3)/Slovenia(58)….we are ranked lower than Spain.

Checkatrade Final …opponents Orient stuffed 5-2 away at Luton 4 days Before the final.

27.3.44…Crowd likely to be higher than last years 30,968.

Carter ( lb) suspended King on International Duty.

FINAL ..Millington (11) Drury(25) ..HT 2-0 up..Orient no shots on target…Win 2-0 in front of 34705.

Only Ipswich 19 years early have back 2 back victories .  Win £132k prize money …£102k player share paid.

FInal League Push starts 27.3.44.

6 games left.

Rochdale 85 …. Pompey 78…..QPR 71….Lincoln 69 …. Will be 2 from these 4.

All at home and only Pompey drop points … now only Top 3 can gain automatic promotion.

April 44 …Game 42 (h) Preston .. 1 point for promotion …crowd of 8700 expected …( avg 8157 is 21st in league)…..Crowd actually 9653.

All top teams are home again…..Draw 0-0 as Pompey win QPR draw …Promotion achieved

I start to look at free transfer options to improve my squad.

Game 43 .. comeback twice away at Luton to salvage a 2-2 draw .. Pompey lose …gap 8 poinst.

Game 44 … tired First XI .. rotated but Posh in form … lose 2-1 but Pompey draw with relegation threatened Reading sees us win the Championship….a Club Record High League Position.

I bid a club record £675k for Millington ….Spurs want £64m

30.4.44 ..Final home game sold out VS Cambridge … Freeman needs a hat trick for club scoring record ..still scoring few corners despite tweaking tactic in latter part of season…Win 1-0….Keeper Hurley makes his 61st appearance of the season.

Only 4 losses a club record … per previous clubs I do draw a lot…..Lincoln pip Pompey to 2nd.

Pompey & QPR blow playoff SF games.

Man City pip Saints by 1 pt to the title…They also win the FA Cup.

Liverpool ..Carabao Cup.

Leicester win Europa League

Celtic win League …St.J the Cup.

ENGLAND.

Euro League …draw Scotland (13)and Wales(39)love local derbies.

Must pick a 23 man squad for the championship.

Draft in Hayes (LB) from U21 as cover .. uncapped.

Easy friendlies set up to boost form…..A.Jones makes 50th cap and Hayes makes debut off the bench. Dunne gets his 1st goal.  Skillen also 50th cap … already has 55 goals .

Linked with Spurs job on eve of tournament…Guardiola has retired aged 73.

Season 25

World Cup Contiunes and finally I go to my favourite FM club and manage lowly Rochdale who just avoided relegation from League 2….. too many issues to make St.Johnstone fun this season and finally job available.

Ends 0-0 vs Germany at St.James Park and top group on goal difference.

Round 2 …. Tunisia ( Goodson Park) … All over them but 1-0 down (38) ..down to 10 men (57) ..go all out and equalise (77) through Mohohlo ..ends 1-1 …Penalties … Win 3-0.

South Africa reach Ranking high 15th . ( Best was 16th in 1996).

England beat free scoring Mexico 1-0.

Scotland beat Cameroon 5-1.

Shock is Peru (47)knocking out Italy(6) on penalties……Japan (29)knock out Holland(7)….3-1 win.

Round 3 … Belgium (14) at Anfield…… Mohohlo (9) ..Perfect start …HT 1-0.. Belgium dominate possession so go defensive …helps a d hold on without any scares for 1-0 win.

Ecuador(29) knock out England(4).  2-1 …Manager Ebanks-Landell under pressure.

QF vs free scoring Portugal (7)….Matt Le Tissier Stadium …back at the Saints for me.

Dull first half ( went balanced) …HT 0-0 …FT 0-0 11 shots on target to 2 but can’t break through.

Sub Wakefield (114) with the shock Winner In front of over 101500 fans….his first ever goal.

SF …Ecuador (24) .. we are favourites in a World Cup Semi final ….South Africa rise to (12th) ..

Match at Spurs …

Other SF is Brazil (1)vs France (2)

I am confused why i have players with poor morale when the team are doing so well 🤷🏻‍♂️
Start Positive as i have with every game … Motebang(30 & 35) ..survive a VAR pen shout and dreamland at HT as we lead 2-0.   62% poss ….replace those on bookings … go to balanced and Win 2-0 

Surprised is an understatement … I expected Round 2 or 3 … now can I deliver the real shock.

Africa’s best finish was 3rd in 2034 with my Ivory Coast side ( they were better as a team .. I am playing without a proper left sided winger).

Brazil beat France 3-1 ….. Going to be tough against the World Rank 1 side.

Ecuador beat France 2-1 to finish 3rd in World Cup.

Brazil at Wembley …World Cup Final …. 100,000 sell out .  Mohohlo is 2nd in scoring charts …had most shots and most on target ..scored 5 from 19 on target and 29 shots in total.

Peters has 5 clean sheets and will be Top Keeper.

Use .. create an upset talk and start positive ….2 booked in first 13 mins and go to balanced …hit the post (22) ..Goal down to their top scorer (26) …Motebang equalises (45) against run of play. HT 1-1.

3 of my midfield on yellow… change to focus play down the right as left side is failing.

Replace all on yellow after the hour mark … getting a bit more possession.

Mohohlo(73) and the shock is on …..SOUTH AFRICA WIN THE WORLD CUP …. Ranked 10 now.

I think this is my greatest FM moment … not expected and not done with editing etc … I am simply astounded.

With an English database winning it previously with England was sort of a high chance .. this is just a miracle 

15 nations sack their Managers..Apply for England / Spain / Argentina … I will never repeat that shock.

Back at England 

Mathibe best Player of Tournament.

Transfers.

Man Utd who have a long standing feeder team with Rochdale let me loan 21yr old Backhouse ( was with me for half of the season with St.Johnstone when I was there and has me as favoured staff). Plays ML but will be used AML unless formation fails.

Loach LWB also joins from Man Utd.

But playing awkward with U18 players…this changes after World Cup win.

Watford loan me an AMC Drury ..did not Realise that former player Pogba is the manager and he is happy to help.

Millwall loan GK … Hurley

Spurs loan versatile Midfielder …Millington.

Sign youngster Shannon from Swansea U23’s….AMR…. Never played a competitive match.

Youth Development sell a talented youngster … had settings wrong.

I also attend Trialist Match… none grab my attention.

Checkatrade Draw … League 1 clubs Burton & Doncaster plus Man City U23’s.

League starts away at Tranmere ( Win 3-1) then Home to Harrogate.

We are 2-1 second favourites behind Southend…..We are Ranked 15th on salary spend.

Declan Nichols(CF)  gets my first Rochdale goal Backhouse the 2nd & 3rd. Dominate possession  in a game with both sides playing 4-2-3-1. 

Lowly rated Harrogate score against run of play and takes a 92nd min equaliser from Shannon ( 1st senior goal) to get a draw…. In front of 5186 fans….only twice had more than that last season.

10 Teams all on 4 points from 2 games.

Carabao Cup … Rotate all Eleven ( 7 debutants) after 3 leagues games and sign a free transfer ( Nwachuckwu) as AMC cover … lose 1-0 away at high flying Championship Wigan.

Rotation works … beat Grimsby (h) .. in front of 5834 fans … 1700 up on last season….Only Bolton game with 6765 had more fans last season.  Loanees Drury & Millington gets first senior goal.

Port Vale (h) Fans 5642 ….. Win 3-1.

Dover (a) .. Win 3-0

Beat Bolton in a thriller in front of 9339 … (6765 last year).

Checkatrade

Rotate team vs Man City U23 … win pen shoot out after 0-0.

Roration vs Burton ends 1-1 but lose pens .

29/8/42 .. Pick first England squad…..Only 1 goalkeeper has experience …with 1 cap.

Nelson makes debut in goal … A.Jones is new skipper. Only 2 players with over 50 caps.

Vs Poland (a) …Simpson ( most experienced with 85 caps) gets my first goal back in charge …4-2-3-1 formation is identical to Rochdale . Palmer got the second ( had him on loan at Aberdeen) before losing two to injury and finish with 10 men … scored 2 goals with the 10 …Win 4-0.

I draft 2 of my loaned players into squad as cover Vs Peru … hoping this helps me sign them later.

Game 9 get a draw from 2 down … need to do it again in Game 10 ..not to be and lose to Southend 3-0 away in our first loss…. Top but only by 3 points from Port Vale.

Great start but really lacking cutting edge up top .. just couldn’t get a striker on loan and missing so many chances …. Back up striker yet to score as sub.

Game 11 is vs lowly York ( their manager is Neymar )….dominate but 1-3 down before all out attack and draw 3-3 with back up finally scoring.

Going through a phase of poor form …. Checked stats …we have the most goals ..so may be being harsh on strikers …Joint Top for goals from corners … 2nd for poss (56%) …Top for cross attempts … Completed Crosses 13th and headers won even worse. Top for dribbles.

England squad for South Africa (10)friendly … want to test myself against the current World Champions.

Then Sweden (31) in International league.

2 new caps …Nxumalo (29yr) Forrester (23yr) … due to injuries .

South Africa have changed from 442 to 4231 wide which is my current formation.

Palmer misses pen (6) ..Skillen (12) Palmer (14) as Nxumalo debuts with a great first half performance (27) and debut goal …HT 3-1…..Forrester comes on as sub and also scores on his debut … ( stayed attacking throughout) ..Win 7-2.   Genovese also gets 1st goal during 4th cap.

Williams makes debut vs Sweden …. Simpson returns with a goal (33) but shock equaliser sees it HT 1-1.

27 shots to 4 …  it ends 1-1.

Reach end of October with issues defensively … seem to concede until I go attacking so switch to attacking.( Injuries also didn’t help with 3/5 loanees out).

Elsewhere 8 managers sacked and Utd + Saints crash out of League Cup…We are Top at Halloween but only just from 4 other teams.

Going to put out reserves and youngsters ( 3 debuts) for FA Cup tie … as league game 3 days later….dominate but against run of play concede (84) … robbed….their keeper is man of the match.

England Squad … drop Williams to get a young wonder kid in before Argentina steal him.

England vs Poland ..HT 2-0 up .. Skillen stars in 4-0 win ( youngster I signed for Saints).

Injury allows a 16 yr old from Borough to be called up.( McMaster-Utterson).

A draw away in Sweden will see us through…Skillen (31) Simpson (32) & Hard (38) ..HT 3-0 up.

Skillen(50) before McMaster debut ..Skillen 87 …hat trick… ends 5-1.

McMaster is now youngest ever player 16 yr 294 days …from Malachai Richards 17y 196/days who I gave a debut too in 2023.

Draw Holland in SF .Playing .June 2043.

Rochdale (3rd) vs Doncaster (2nd) …winner takes all Checkatrade match …I go for it. HT 1-0 up.

1-1 early in 2nd half but 2-1 up on the hour … Win 2-1 against higher league opponent ..and with Burton losing we surprisingly top the group.

Rochade get Liverpool U23’s in next round ….. HT 1-0 up with rotation …ends 3-1.

Rivals Bury ( L1) up next.

01.11.2042 …Played 19 and Top by 5 points on 42. Bolton(37) Vale (35) Bristol R (34).

U18’s are Top and unbeaten .

U23’s are 8th from 10….. January clear out planned .

Rochdale extend my contract .

Euro Qual Draw..starts March 2043.

Russia(35) Greece(76) Cyprus(102) Lithuania(141).

26.12.2042 …. Offers coming in from abroad and enquires domestically for some of my first team squad .

Year ends with a run of bottom of the league sides and we’ll clear … Corner routines now up to 10 goals in 25 matches.

Year ends with a draw at Grimsby and after 26 games … Rochdale 59 Peterborough 51 Bolton 49 Vale 45

Jan 2044 …. I need a striker and centre half cover.

20.1.42 … Striker ( Freeman …West Ham reject and free transfer) and Roberts ( ex Swansea youngster ) signed and reserve striker and some U23’s released.

Portsmouth try to poach both centre halves on deadline day… I refuse.

Played 29 games ..Top by 9 points ( Freeman scored 2 on debut vs Vale).

The big Derby next …. Bury (League 1) in Checkatrade …. Winners take on Man Utd U23’s.

Bury Vs Rochdale HT 0-0 ( We have a goal disallowed) …FT 0-0 ..Penalties …..Win 8-7 💪🏼
 

Game 30 ..vs home to high flying AFC Wimbledon … loanee Backhouse sent off (7) ..Lose 3-1

I get my first ever ban overturned as Backhouse red card rescinded.

QF vs Man Utd U23’s ….. underdogs again …. There keeper is worth £12.5m and a £54m winger . Two others front worth £10m and £3m.
HT 0-0 and we dominating possession … Freeman (59) and shock is on …. Abdo from a corner in injury time seals it 2-0.

Liverpool win Carabao Cup for first time in nearly 25 years.

Notts County (SF ) Checkatrade ..suspensions and injuries ahead of game..  

Bell(16) before County hit back twice .. Millington (45+2 pen) …HT 2-2.

Game turns on County red card (65) ..Freeman (68/83) and win 4-2.

Only 4287 fans is a disappointment.

Fairytale final vs Colchester…….last made a final 23/24 when Ipswich won it.

Lose in the last minute vs Oxford in Game 36 … Peterborough close gap to 5 points.

Game 37 … slender win …before Top 2 battle with Peterborough …injuries to RWB and AMR…..Keeper own goal and Firth red card as we lose 2-1 at home in front of 7281 fans.

12.3.43 … Youth intake … King / Edwards and Knight look good….best name Gideon Tenkorang or Kimmari Anguin… Also as I watch I’m a celeb … I have a Declan Donnelly.

England squad for Greece/ Lithuania picked ..18yr old Leigh called up .. Right WB is lacking cover.

Long takes exception to being dropped .

Greece. VS England ..Heller to Get 100th cap ..Skillen(11) Palmer(45) Simpson (45+2) HT3-0 in a one sided game ..17 shots to nil …Genovese 33 secs into 2nd half …then Greece down to 10 men .. bring on Leigh for debut. Win 4-0.   3 goals in under 3 minutes is a first on the game.

Game between internationals … blow a lead but Peterborough also draw … playoff spot secured.

Knight & King make debuts and Knight is youngest player 15y 232 days .from Driver 15y 303 days.

England vs Lithuania … Palmer(5 pen) Skillen(19,40,45) HT4-0.  Genovese (48) …Win 7-0.

Game 40 … Bradford (h) .. goal down at HT … go all out attack and sub Knight equalises … Freeman goal disallowed as we claw a draw in last 5 mins.  Knight youngest scorer at 15 y 235 days.

Checkatrade Final ..( Expectation was round 2)…. Vs League 1 (5th placed) Colchester.

Stick to attacking …dominate with 63% in 1st half …HT and 1-0 courtesy of Millington (45+1).

Go to positive .. Colchester level (58) … Freeman restores lead (65) ..go to balanced.

Shock as hold on and Rochdale have a first Win …. Expected to make a run at this next season.

30968 fans … biggest for most my squad…..£132k prize money will help.

Knight sub appearance is Checkatrade record at 15y 240 days.

Game 41 … ahead of Peterborough on goal difference … squad tired after final so need To rotate.

Promotion guaranteed before we play and Posh ( also up) only draw … 3-1 win and regain top spot.

Game 42.… Rochade away at bottom place Scunthorpe and Posh (h) to Grimsby (16th)

Win 3-2 with rotated squad and 10 man Posh finally lose a match after 7 wins and 2 draws…Gap 5points.

Game 43..(h) to 3rd placed Bristol Rovers …Knight & King injured .. win despite missed penalty and Posh draw 0-0 so gap upto 7 points.

18.4.43..Game 44 …Home to Wrexham (18th) …a win and the title is ours.

Backhouse (16secs) with his 20th goal of the season ..1-1 (4th min) ..Backhouse again (15) hatrick from penalty spot (45) Freeman (45+2) ..HT 4-1 . Backhouse off injured but for a player playing slightly out of position he has been fantastic….shame only 6774 fans.

Title secured despite Posh hitting 6 …..Rochdale win League for the second time ..after 2028 triumph .

Elsewhere Southampton thrash City in Top 2 battle and look set for the Premier League ..Villa breaking into Top 4 and United are 10th.

Saints win Premier League & FA Cup

Aberdeen already Scottish Champions …. Rangers are better and St.J in Top 4.

1.5.43 … 1 game left but I am now looking at transfer targets.

Finish with 4-2 away win at Newport .  Bristol R pip Southend to final promotion place.

Great season with 99 points and 100 goals but neither a club record.

Fans Player&Young Player … Abdo.   Goal …Nichols.  Signing….Freeman.

Backhouse wins Golden Boot L2 … all 22 goals were in the league.

2 of my out of contracts signed up ….4 put up for sale.

My first bid is £250k valued 18yr old RB Spink-Reece … Liverpool accept 0 bid as contract due to end.

Same offer for existing Loanee Loach From Utd….Utd want £49k ..agent unsure & contract declined.

Ask Utd to reload Backhouse & Spurs for Millington & Millwall for Hurley & Drury from Watford….all requests  are accepted …down to the players ….Backhouse rejects …Millington /Drury/Hurley stay.

Cheeky bid for McMaster - Utterson rejected…try to boost it with add ons…. Fails.

U18 Manager retires.

England vs Holland … 2 major injuries rule out Palmer and Downes.

1.6.43 …Transfer embargo as Chairman is stepping down and a takeover is announced.

2.6.43 ..Bought by Supporters Trust…… No investment and no new philosophy.  Embargo ends.

Holland ( SF International League) .. VAR stop goal (4) Genovese (5/45)Skillen (18) ..HT 3-1 up.

Skillen (93) … through to final 4-1.

France (2) lose to Scotland (13) 2-1

I have a fabulous record against the Auld Enemy .. so very happy with this.

Current Rankings to see how this final affects points:

Brazil 2252. France 2209. Spain 2186. England 2142. Mexico 2077.  Scotland(13) 1901

Current World & African champions South Africa(10) 1970

France beat Holland for 3rd and rise to 2216 points …Defending champions Holland drop below Portugal.

7.6.42…..England (4)vs Scotland (13) International League Final ..Scotland are here for the first time ..England have 6 wins ( 3 under me)  & 5 third places in 12 competitions played.

Both teams 4-2-3-1 wide.  Pre final I’m asked about the Austrian manager I have no connection too.

HT 0-0 ..Scotland 16 fouls is a clear game plan… McMaster-Utterson on for injured Genovese scores in the 95th minute to win it 1-0.

McMaster-Utterson is now Youngest England Scorer 17 y 131 days ….202 days after his debut.

England gain 7 points but still Ranked 4th …Scotland lose 8 points despite their best ever finish as Runners up. Spain gained 4 for getting promoted from Group B to Group A.

Season 24

Augsburg have moved to a stadium named after me …(57597 capacity).

I am the new St.Johnstone manager with a young player philosophy … aim is to win their first ever League.

Going 442 which served me well on a previous save when taking a break from this.

History wise …no trophies in 11 years and 1 x Scottish Cup & 3 Betfred ever for the team. 7 lower league championships.

Board Expectations

1. Euro Cup Qualification
2. Both cups ..QF.
3. Euro Cup ..reach group round.

Transfers are harder than expected …I found it easier at Aberdeen…partly my bad relationship with United Manager Wells is seeing transfer requests turned down for fringe players.

Use good relationship with Zidane for loan full back From Bayern.

Elsewhere Zidane leaves Saints for Bayern…

Tuchel leaves Augsburg for Saints and Gareth Bale is the new Director of Football.

..Vino Jones who I gave a debut at club/international level retires with 227 caps and 39 goals from midfield. 614 premier games for Saints and 86/goals for this one club man.

Gone full youth recruitment …2 incomings arranged before I arrived . For every youth in I see an older player to improve finances and wage limits.

As of Mid July …6. signings in age 16-21.  4 out ..3 were 26-29.

Pre season has got better each game.

First competitive game is Euro Cup best placed 2nd qualification round vs a Cypriot side in :

St J vs AS Nea Salamis Famagusta …Saints loaned Williams scores in 86 secs ..Win 2-0 ( 4 debutants )

AS vs St J …Win 0-3 .

Looking at International mgmt to run alongside …South Africa available …England have just failed in Confed cup Group.  The regen England manager has only 1 skill above 9.

Opening league fixture is newly promoted Kilmarnock (a)managed by a former Aberdeen player of mine.

Season ticket sales up nearly 200 from last year at 3718.

Dream start HT 2up …Win 3-0 with both strikers scoring.

Apply for South Africa and England ( again my interest is met with derision)… I won World Cup x 2 Euros x2 and 4 International Leagues ..3 more trophies with France and 2 with Ivory Coast.🤷🏻‍♂️…hoping likes Saints this is media nonsense only as next 5 managers since me win 4 trophies and that’s with the database being skewed in Englands favour.( England hire Ebanks Landell).

I am offered/take the South Africa job… hope this will help bring in players next transfer window.

Euro 3rd Rnd vs Young Boys (a) ..HT 1 down against run of play ..ends 1-1 despite dominating poss/chances.

First home game should be a sell out .(10696) ..with a chance to go top as Glasgow pair lose and Dons held 4-4 by Hibs.

Lee McCoist 225th league game …Dundee U miss a pen to level it …but do score (89) to end it 1-1. ( I needed the team who have in real life just lost 9-0).

Euro (h) .. HT 1-0 up …confused by a comment our keeper had joined the attack ! …Win 2-0 ( 3-1agg)

Keeper comment had shown several times … I had messed up corners and put GK to attack near post😂

Whilst searching South Africa National Pool i find a Keeper with no club .. a little better than my existing one and get him free .. then shows £6m valuation … other keeper is £700k.

Betfred … 5 debuts and 10 players get squad numbers in narrow 1-0:win before next Euro game.

19/8/41 … 9 players in ..total spend £215k.

Europe (a) to Viktoria Plzen …. Loanee Williams hat trick in 4-0 win.

Transfer window closes with 4 games gone :

1st Placed Aberdeen spent the most £38m but sold £86m

2nd St Joh stone spent £250k and recouped £10m

Rangers in 11th spent £10.75m with no sales.

 Celtic in 6th spent £38.5m and recouped £52m

Motherwell & Dundee U did not spend at all ..of the rest only Kilmarnock spent over a £1m.

International..My first double header with South Africa.( Ranked 24).

I have kept with 442 I use at club level and made 6 changes to the squad.

WCQ (a) Togo ( Rank 81)….30 yr old .Debutant Liedson(4) gives me my first goal …my fix to corners hasn’t worked (exported formation) and Keeper has gone up for a corner…HT 0-3 .Win 5-0 and Motebang gets a hat trick.

Sudan(Rank 92)  (h) …Liedson(15) for first home goal …HT 2-0 …Moholo gets his 89/90th international goals but a missed pen ruins the hat trick…Win 3-0…..23yr old Wakefield makes debut

Both debutants are playing in China.

League  Celtic (a) First test vs the Big 3 …HT 0-0 and dominating poss ..dominate 2nd half but Celtic debutant wins it in 91st minute .

Beat Togo 1-0 and qualify for World Cup with a game to spare.

Guinea-Bissau(a) …first real test after being brought back to 1-1 …Win 4-1.  Mohohlo hat trick.( 93 international goals ) … Thoahlane gets his first .

Win in Europa league for 3 from 3 before a Derby match with Dundee in the Betfred semi final …oddly the teams have few meetings and Dundee have Won more of those clashes.

Epic match ends 3-2 and now Celtic in the Final.

Top the table and former team Aberdeen next … the games are catching up and team fitness is dropping.

Got distracted and forgot to make subs …lose 1-0 🤦🏻‍♂️
 

CHAN draw made ( no foreign based players) …South Africa upto (22) ..Nigeria (27) Mozambique(69) Tanzania (101).

28/11/ 2041 … Need to improve squad in Jan.   4th in league after 13 games ..Hearts (28) Aberdeen / Celtic (25) St J (23) Hamilton (22) Ayr(21).

I rotate squad fully before Lazio dead rubber ( win 1-0 and 2 disallowed goals)..as Celtic next in cup final.

 Betfred Cup Final …..I go cautious and hope to hit on the counter with my quickest young strikers.

1-0 up (35) mins ..Emmanuelli (PSG loaned) …ex Celtic player Sinclair ( fell out with current manager Russell) seals win in (93) ……….I really expected to go trophy less this season.

Only St J 7th win against Celtic …Drawn 4 Lost 58

Reach 24/12/2041 having beaten Rangers after a run of draws …Hearts (19 games 35pts) Aberdeen 19/35 ..Celtic 19/34 and then St .J. 19/33…Rangers are 9th 19/22.

Loanee Williams has 20 goals but 13 goals in 9 Euro games …7 league in 18 games.

Picked CHAN squad which is not easy with no National Pool domestic filter.  Win both friendlies with a squad that has 19/23 with 4 caps or less experience…injuries see U20’s raided.

Winter break let’s me bed in new Argentine wingers….. Aberdeen spend £10m on a player … not in that spending bracket…still think 4th is possible…. Cant find the defenders to be more attacking.

Elgin (cup) . 1 day … Mozambique the next .. busy schedule.

Elgin ..win 5-0 ..centre half scores 2 pens and Harand sets you best goal scorer record 16y 352d 

Win 6-1 against Mozambique .

Relegation Hibs away ..ends 5-5 ….. I had the the best defence 🤷🏻‍♂️

24//01 / 2042 Celtic linked with a takeover….manager under threat (3rd with a game in hand on 2nd).

 Beat Kilmarnock & Nigeria on the same day ..Nigeria is with 10 men and a debut goal…QF qualified.( dead rubber with Tanzania to go).

Injury to only main St.J…Keeper means 17 yr old makes debut in big win over lowly Livingston ( on a run of lower teams).

31.01.42….Thrash bottom Side and local rivals Dundee Utd whose new manager I have slated b4 his first game….. We are Top St .J, Played 24 Pts 43 / Celtic 23 / 43 Aberdeen 23 / 42 Hearts 23 / 41 Ayr 24 / 40

Rangers still 9th but 10 pts clear of relegation.

Transfers ..Aberdeen spend £10.25m …I spent £1.2m on 3 players.

CHAN QF ..1 suspended for the game with Ghana……. Play the perfect game and win 6-0 ..Ghana players just didn’t perform with 3 rating under 6.

Beat Morocco 3-0 in SF….Mali next and they played extra time then pens.( South Africa lost last game ).

Final same day as cup tie with Forfar….rotated squad with easy win.

CHAN final vs Mali …HT 2-0 up Centre Half gets both ..back to 2-2 before 92nd winner from another inexperienced player( Khumalo)  winning his 8th cap…..last won it with Ivory Coast 8 years ago. Khumalo also broke assist record with 5 and won best player with 3 goals along with assists in 6 games. Chauke wins best keeper.

Oddly squad now unhappy I replaced Captain .. but he plays abroad and does not qualify for the competition .

They follow up with moaning when I bring back the overseas players who I was forced to drop.

Euro games settled by away win and home draw ( agg 3-2)….last 16 tie with Juventus Next.

Inbetween rotation fails and thrashed by CeltIc 3-1.

League Draw ..Scottish Cup Win then lose 1-0 away in Turin.

9.3.42 ..New Intake …. Seem better than current U18’s….and .beat them 5-0 in a match.

Go positive to overturn Juventus deficit ….level tie (11) ..2-1 down on agg (15) ..ends 1-1 so out 2-1 agg.

30 games gone …8 left and great time to have just beaten ( managerless ) Aberdeen for the first time …yet to beat Celtic in the league …or Ayr and Hibs at all.

1st St.J 56pts  2nd Hearts 56 pts 3rd  CeltIC 55pts 4th Aberdeen 52pts 5th Ayr 51pts.

International Break …. Back up striker gets his first Scottish Call up.

African cup of nations Qual starts.

Guinea(70th) vs South Africa (20th) …..Khune wins 50th cap. Sub Madala scores late winner after dominating.

S.A vs Botswana (159th) …9 changes ….Win 3-0.

Game 31 ..Top 3 all win but Hearts narrow goal difference.(Finally beat Hibs).

Game 32 ..Thrash Hearts 4-0 in Top of Table clash ..Capt Methven makes 100th league appearance.

Game 33 ..Rangers (a)…Lose one of my main youngsters upfront to injury …. HT 0-0 and not threatening..tried Positive to Cautious to get the ball…..ends 0-0 ..Celtic go top and Rangers miss out by 1point on Top 6.

Too many games in close proximity and my squad is too thin.

League now splits for final 5 games with Celtic now favourites .

Only 1 games in 2 weeks so squad gets a rest after a comfortable 3-1 win over Ayr in Cup SF ..Aberdeen next.

Game 34 … Usual whipping boys Hearts hold us 0-0….Celtic blow a 2 goal lead at Hamilton ends 3-3 …Aberdeen grab the win and now it’s 1 point covering Top 3….European football guaranteed .

England ….Southampton are champions with games left and currently 18pts clear…Spurs/City/Man U.

Game 35 …the big Showdown with Celtic … going defensive and see if I can repeat cup final win….lost all 3 league games….however they have an extra Euro Cup SF game before we play.

Head 2 Head W7 D15 L 59

Hearts  beat Aberdeen .. I gamble with fitness returners ..Dominate the stats ..but ends 0-0…….now 3 points cover the Top 4.

5/5/42 …. Named Players Manager of the Year. Ayr/Hearts managers 2nd and 3rd.

Celtic make it through to play Leicester in Europa Final.

St.J ..move up 142 places to 126th in Euro Rankings.

Game 36 …..This will be game 1500 as Manager ..against former side Aberdeen.  
My 59% win rate is my lowest of any side …career avg 78%.

Start cautious and cant get a shot and Dons 1-0 up HT … aggressive team talk and go attacking ..equalise before going 2-1 down …and that puts Dons top with  Celtic playing later ..they beat Ayr.

1500 games …W 1170 D 193 L 137 ….Scored 3999 Against 1041.    Cups 60 Leagues 18 Promotions 3

Game 37 … Ayr who are on a bad run …miss early pen …still 3 up in 27 mins ..goes 3-2 ..ends 3-3 after stoppage time equaliser .. no longer can win the league.

Celtic lose to Hearts …. Aberdeen 70pts Celtic 69pts St .J & Hearts 66pts….last game is Top 2.

Game 38 …Hamilton finishes season ..media say 5 games without a win = discontent 🤦🏻‍♂️
 

Livingston relegated …Rangers end 7th…they are linked with a relegated Championship clubs manager.

I win Writers manager of the Year. 

Early goal disallowed …Aberdeen 1 up (11) ..Ayr beating Hearts …HT Dons 2up ..Hamilton kicking us off the park but 0-0.

Finally break deadlock and with Dons 3up .. we leapfrog Celtic …and so it ends we a Runners Up place…St.Johnstones best ever finish and a shock Champions League place.

Board announce a new budget of £7m for transfers .

Director announces prize money of £5m but do not get carried away as we looked title challengers at one point … board is beginning to annoy me.

Win £384k for Europa run ..board are happy with that…Leicester beat Celtic in final. Loanee Williams named in best XI

Last Match of Season … our first Scottish Cup final since 2014.

Lose Williams and his 34 goals to an U20’s call up. Back up fall back also out for same reason.

I go positive after last league match didn’t work being defensive …HT 0-0 but better performance than league fixture and will keep this tactic …My old player Blanc scores yet again against us (46) ..2-0 down soon after … go very attacking …doesn’t work … lose 4-0.

End of Season …Williams (34)breaks scoring record of Liam May (21)…also Golden Boot … 18.  Wins Youno Scottish Player Award Of Season .

Peters (26) breaks Clean sheer record of Elliot Casey (16)

Sinclair runner up in Scottish Player awards.

St.J Awards

Fans Player ..Sinclair

Goal ..O’Neill

Signing .Strahinja 

Youngster ..Williams

Time for contracts and World Cup with South Africa.

Williams and Emmanuelli both resign on loan …… West Ham want too much money for re loaning Bailey.

McCoist wants new challenge … why when in first ever Champions League.

Win both easy pre tournament friendlies … lack of a proper left midfielder is an issue.

World Cup ( England King Power) vs China …. Motebang (6) Liedson (17) Mohohlo (21) HT 3-0 and excellent football.  Mohohlo gets a hat trick …upto 103international goals . Win 5-0.

Ndwandwe earns 100th cap at centre back.

Germany beat China 3-0…. This qualifies us to for the next round.

Shock as Iran beat hosts England 2-0.

England beat DRC 5-2 to get through.

Season 23

Euros

Germany bottom of group.

England out in 2nd round to Sweden ( had cruised the group ) …Scotland out on pens to Italy.

Vino Jones retired after 227 caps and 39 goals. Myles who I also gave his debut retires 79/40.

France make the final and beat the Dutch 2-1 to retain the trophy.

I apply for Argentina job again…declined again as not best candidate.

I apply for England again ….as above ..Scott Smith appointed who appears a regen with no experience.

Same with Spain application.

Lots of other jobs including Spain/Portugal and Italy .

PSG .. Clear out the unwanted loan players and a couple of veterans.

Break transfer fee on full back ..Poch sells due to good relationship .

PSG unsurprisingly Favourites for the league.

August 2040.

4-2-3-1 Positive …and 3-1 up at Half time …2nd Half balanced to get a bit more possession ..doesn’t get poss up but do win 5-1.

Trophee es Champions …. First Silverware against AS Monaco 5-1 ( battle of past 2 Saints managers).

Back after 4 months playing a Northern Ireland save with Queens Uni.

Open League campaign with a win and now it’s Super Cup vs Bayern.

15/8/40 …Ignore going cautious ..stay positive and Win 3-0 …My 6th win with 3 clubs.

Hall of Fame in France …need another 25pts to go 10th on Leaderboard.

Champions League Drawer ( Board want this won) .. AC Milan / Ajax and Stoke.

Stoke success made me look around the English league as we reach 2040 For other surprises.

Derby no financial issues are in the Championship alongside Bury ( went bust and out of the league) 

Wrexham L1 with no big USA owners….with Neymar as Manager.

Boreham Wood are L2…Bromley/ Flyde/.Ebbsfleet & Eastleigh made it but then relegated.

Blackpool are in the Vanarama alongside Carlisle / Bristol Rovers / Wycombe / Accrington & Cheltenham.

Come a cropper at lowly St.Etienne …there 4-2-2-2 dominates possession.

Record gate receipts in thrashing AC Milan 4-1….£3.1m

Game 7 ..OL top by 1 point as we clash (h) … ..win 5-1….gamble of resting entire team pays off despite 2-2 draw Vs lowly Nimes In previous match.

Game 4 .. thrashed at Stoke ( I had 1 injury otherwise Best XI all fit)

Former PSG now at Utd gives grief in media about me …. Given he is not in Top 4 he may need to stop talking.

Qualify for Champions League and Juventus next.

Injury hit squad go to World Club …( Bother Right Wingers ) ..1-0 SF win vs LA Galaxy 

Final … River lead against run of play at HT .. Gill on a sub takes it 1-1 and ET..another sub nets a brace and win 4-1.

Extends my Hall of Fame lead over Guardiola .( Spurs Manager).

Jan 2041 … French joker transfer carries over into main window…..sell some fringe players….finally get Cuenot.

St.Etienne hold us too a 0-0 before we play them again and win 2-0 in the Cup SF ..Mitrovic with 100th goal for PSG…ironically sold him in 32  / 33 season from Aberdeen to Partizan due to 2 goals in 25 league games.

Feb 2040 ..8 pts clear and 2 games in hand in the league …Juventus awaits In Europe.(a) leg first.

Lose 1-0 after 89th min against run of play….not a great way to end my 1399th game as manager.

After beating Nantes lose an epic 4-3 away at 2nd place Lyon….gap is now 8pts .

Fixture back log is stretching injury hit squad …but beat Marseille 

Youth intake match attended … some decent talent this time.

After shuffling team …Juventus 2nd leg ….. midfield options stretched with only 1 fully fit player.

Go attacking ( mistakenly left it cautious first leg) …Win 3-0 

QF draw ..Barcelona.

Another striker reaches a landmark ..Jose Mario gets at hat trick for 200 league goals in 11 seasons …no wonder with such expensive strikers PSG have won last 23 titles.( Only OL / OM & Monaco have come 2nd in that time ).

French Cup and Coupe de Ligue Final coming up … time to try some reserves in the cup against Auxerre And keep first team fit for Final……win 2-0 …5 debuts and a striker back from injury scores in 41secs..the plan has started well.

Final vs Amiens (18th in league) …trail after 21 mins but 2-1 up by HT and against 10 men (45 min). Win 4-1.

Both main right wingers injured again for Barcelona tie…A cautious approach at home ..Win 2-0

Champions League SF .. PSG/Saints/Augsburg my last 3 teams plus Bayern Munich.

Need a win for the title as 3 more injuries hit …League won with 6 games to spare….too easy…24 in a row.

Saints win Premier League .

Jose Mario scored and his 184th league goal is now a club record 

I am now 7th in the Nations Hall of Fame.

Rest squad before key SF with Bayern … lose 4-0 to relegation threatened Amiens.

SF ..Bayern (a) .. CD/AML injuries affecting chances ..HT1-0 down .. despite playing against 10 men it’s soon 3-0 down … ends 3-1 …var prevents 3-2.( My former player Althausen is the man of the match).

SF French Cup …Lyon have a player called Mosquito …… win 2-1.

Champions League SF ..rush back unfit players and go positive ….goal down on the hour …all out attack started …lose 2-1 …agg 5-2 to Bayern…..the Board May sack me for this failure of expectation.

Southampton also 5-2agg vs Augsburg.

Man Utd beat Fulham 1 - 0 in Euro Cup. 
 

Bayern 2 vs Saints 0 …their first Champions League since 2013.

French Cup final and playing winger at LB due to injuries ..win 3-0 

Hall of Fame now ranked 6th in France.

Dupuy ..fans player and signing of the season. Young player Lallemand.

Bored of France …. I have resigned and applied for St.Johnstone.

Season 22 …. June 2039

Massive rebuild required …some are players wanting to go …some is getting players of my style.

Last time I brought back former players .. will look at past Transfer History… alas no good former players.

I am looking at my old Augsburg squad ..some have moved on.

Top shirt sales Doherty / Zidane ( my shock one to transfer out) / Jones / Siminov / Fernando

10 of first team are 30 plus in age.

Why did they program players sulking when not bought ..I’ve offered to clubs and no initial interest ..outside transfer window starting ..what can I do as a player differently.

Also improving back room staff ..short of coaches and quality of some ..retirements help from sacking Some.

Near Club Record Bid for 22 yr old wonder keeper from Spain…short & long term replacement for my 36yr old. ( Record is Zidane £142.145m from Inter).

Moreau joins 9/6/39 …That’s my DM position improved. ( Always good for Augsburg there)…£80m

Gonzalez bid of £132m accepted and will join us….Keeper sorted.

Start clearing out the unwanted before launching some more bids….so many players were out on loan.

Man U players out of price range ..going after Leicester duo and former Aberdeen player at City.

July 2039 … 4 in and 19 out …… 4 over 30’s out …11 are U23’s who have been on loan….

                    Pick up 3 more but these are free signings to boost reserves and pick up a transfer/loan fees.

Youngster England questioning my signing of Etten to replace him ..he is back off loan at Swansea and has made 1 sub appearance for Saints…..I have also sold 2 strikers.

Rios has same issue with McAndrew … he has a point !  Brown with Moreau ..again …true.

Spurs top match day income (77577 seater) Utd 2nd (75635) Saints 3rd ..need to start selling out.

Top Scorer odds sees No Saints player In Top 6.

Etten 8-1 ..3rd fav for Top Player.

Top Young Player …Gonzalez 5th fav.

I predict City / Utd then us.

Expectations :

Champions League …1st Knock outs

Premier …Qualify Champions League

FA Cup ..6th Round

Carabao ..n/a

Season opens away at Spurs …difficult 1-1 draw.  4-1-4-1 cautious formation.

Super Cup and go to back 4-3-3 as UTD very defensive 5 at the back. HT 2-1 up ..Go 4-1-4-1 after Utd get a red card ..Etten completes hat trick in 5-1 win.

Saints 2nd win …I have 6 with three different teams.

5 is highest score by a team in the Super Cup.

League … lots of drawers as I struggle for a formation.

Champions League ..Beat Feyenoord as I finally go more Attacking.

Carabao ..lots of changes ..away at high flying Chelsea ..lose 2-0 …Brinkmann makes debut now our youngest player at 15y 362d ..replacing Richards who I gave a debut too 16/years ago.  (16y 16d) ..also youngest ever Carabao player ( Morgan Rogers 16y 19d).

Qualify for Champions League after 4/4 wins .. Atletico in games 3 and 4 are key wins,

Beat Utd again in league and unbeaten after 13 matches ..surprise leaders Brighton are only team using 3-4-3 …City and Spurs make up Top 3.  Too many draws as we struggle at times to score enough… I have gone from Cautious to Balanced more often and this has started to help.

Transfer window needed as Right full back long term injury .. a surprising lack of English talent available ..most wonder kids are French or Portuguese.

New record youngest player for Saints and Champions League …Bright Sarpei( 15y 242d)  ..only recently set Saints record with Brinkmann ( 15y 362d in Carabao loss to Chelsea)…Champions League was ( Koller 15y 317d)….. won dead rubber vs Feyenoord 2-0 with 3 young debutants 

Our keeper wins Goalkeeper of the Year … Partly In Spain and Partly here are Saints.

2 current and 1 former player in Team of 2039.

Poor end to Dec 2038 sees us 3rd ..6 pts behind free scoring City after 20 games.

End 2039 with Birmingham grabbing an unlikely late draw against my reserves in the Cup.

Jan 2040 … 

Arsenal want Perdomo …Frees me up to sign a Brazilian.  Sell another injury prone fullback (33yr) and promote a U23 player.

Aiming to buy a few English U23 but otherwise keep squad intact.

Game 24 sees City smash us 5-0 in what was 1st vs 2nd. Brighton now above us and City 8;pts clear after 24 games ( City played 23).

Cant blame injuries ..they are just superior with 4-2-3-1 system.

I have reached that fatigue moment many FM players will know … I want something else but can’t quite decide what … I have decided to leave Saints at end of Season and try to win competitions around the world plus look for International job in Oceania …New Zealand though can not be managed so wasting my time.

Champions League …Khalifa now at AC Milan back to haunt me,.lose 1-0 away in 1st knock out leg.

My Top 4 ambitions before I leave face a stiff test with Liverpool (5) Stoke (6) in successive matches .

Strong defence and Etten taking his chances see a 3-0 home win ..101513 fans are happy.

Beat Stoke 2-1 with comeback win ..Moreau (94th min) ..elsewhere Brighton were 3-0 down and won 6-3.

Elsewhere …Utd down to 10th ( lost to bottom team) ..manager not yet sacked.

They lose in ECC 1st Knock out to Lille.

PSG knock out Aberdeen (agg 5-4).

Fulham (19th in Prem) beat Arsenal ( pens after 3-3 draw) to win Their First Carabao Cup.

March 2040 .. win at Old Trafford and they finally sack Tedesco…..Tuchel is linked with the job !

City hammered by Liverpool in a shock result .. 3 pts behind but City have game in hand.

AC Milan hold us 0-0 ( I did have 4 missing and lost 2 to injury during the match ..but did create 4 good chances).  Knocked out of ECC.

Tweaked  tactics ..suddenly creating chances for fun … should have done this earlier than League game number 30.

 Brighton hold City and now it’s 1 point behind but they have that extra game.

Game 32 we go top as City lose to Arsenal (4th) and Brighton (3rd) lose to 5th placed Liverpool….my mind talk the title was City to lose may be working ( they still have an extra game).

City draw and suddenly in our hands after beating Chelsea …I’m astonished by their drop in form.

Game 34 … I might be playing lowly Fulham(19th) ..but when the back up CB scores twice you know it is all going your way ….3-0 win away sees Champions league secured.

All the derbies during this round of games ..Liverpool 4-1 , Arsenal thrash Spurs 6-1 and lowly Utd win 3-0 at City…that could hand me a surprise title.

I said City form had shocked me … they have lost 4/6 in the league plus 1 draw 4/18 pts taken…. And for the cynics …no I have not edited / taken over the club or any other classic cheats ( They do have 5 injured) …. I was resigned to ending my season with Just a European Super Cup win and hope for Top 4.

Game 35 …Propper sent off in 96 seconds ..can’t recall losing a player quicker ..playing bottom side Sheff Utd and at home …get to HT 0-0 and controlling possession.  Hit bar (81st) before a 82nd min winner Through a sub.

City form so bad now losing to mid table Spurs 5-3 …and Arsenal are now 2nd….

Game 36 ...Arsenal apply the pressure by beating improving Man U in early quick off …we away at Villa and  Stefan Jones scores early …and a second just before HT to get lead back….go more defensive and Marcelo gets his first club goal ..Doherty seals it as counter attacking wins the day ..5-1 and goal difference now better than Arsenal which may be needed.

Game 37 ..Everton(h) ..need a point ..veteran Jones celebrates a new contract with a goal (42) ..HT 1-0.

Arsenal are 0-0.  Moreau who used to get vital goals at Augsburg delivers another here ..Title sealed ..much to my surprise …..This 3rd Title in 39/40 win comes 16 years after my 2nd with Saints .

Makes 7 Premier titles….Fergie has 13……. I have matched his 17 Domestic Titles.

My run in was 9 teams in 9th place or lower .

Saints first title since 32/ 33 ….breaking the Manchester dominance ( Utd 5 City 1).

Based on possession and a tight defence . Gonzalez wins Golden Glove ( Premier). 18 clean sheets and only 29 conceded.

5 players in team of year ..Arsenal 2 City 2 Liverpool and Brighton 1

Fans Player ..Vino Jones 

Goal ..Vino Jones 

Signing ..Etten

Young Player ..Runcan

Doherty/Etten/Jones/Siminov / Fernando top shirts .

In Europe ..Bayern Munich have set a new crowd record be Napoli …101,734 beats Saints 101,513 in the Europa competition from 4 years ago. ( Capacity is now 108,71…..largest in the world ).

 Made me look for biggest stadiums 

Barcelona 104,000

Kaizer Chiefs 108,075

Game 38 … 3 clubs battling for 4th place .( Brighton play  Stoke and need to win by a few) City could still take 2nd ( Arsenal are playing 4th place chasing Liverpool).

Lose at Brentford ..injuries and over celebration I feel as not on it ..

City lose again and Arsenal hold Liverpool for 2nd.  Stoke edge out Brighton on goal difference For 4th.

Champions League is PSG vs Leicester ( who Poch manages !) …PSG win 3-2 aet.

PSG have won in France 

Aberdeen and Augsburg have last day deciders…..Aberdeen do it ..Bayern pip Augsburg.( Zidane sacked).

Man U beat Stoke 3-2 to win FA Cup…interim manager then replaced by treble winning Wells from PSG

European Championship …Doherty misses out ..England squad all play in Premier league. 11 are over 30.

Sainst have 13 players in the tournament ( 3 with England).

Saints takeover finally happens …no investment due and rip up my philosophies …. I do not like it and refuse contract talks …replaced by Zidane.

June 2040 ..I was going to move to South African leagues and set that league up ready to start from July …however I have been contacted by PSG immediately and being wanted influences me…fans want me back too…..Offered job but on £20k per week.  £12m budget …. I still take it.

Schalke offer job interview.

Tuchel takes Augsburg.

Klose takes City job ..was at UTD.

Season 21

Klopp sacked by City ..2nd in Prem ..Carabao Runners Up ..Champions League & FA Cup SF.

Simeone sacked by Saints ..he won the Carabao Cup. 5th in league . champions League QF.

7 players set to be released And 2 loan deals end….2 more end in 3 weeks and Angers will not re loan Mirval.

Release Head Scout and Head Physio ..replacements are better and want less pay.

Big clubs trying to poach my players ..Turner head turned by Livingston.Ruiz ..St Mirren/ Caen. Morel by Derby…/ Forest ..all bids under £1k.

World Cup in South Africa affecting transfers.

Canada beat England !

Spain beat Portugal …Colombia 3rd Brazil 4th.

England/France / Holland /Italy / Argentina / Brazil plus 3 more sack managers.

I apply for England ( fans don’t want me per social feeds ..despite winning 8 trophies in 10 years) and Brazil try Argentina..I’m not the best Person.  England appoint Gary Rowett who was runner with Norwich in Championship….loses his first match to Peru.

Archibald vale £2.2k Poncet £2.8k in League 2 …Mirval £220k as at a French Premier side.

Now in League 1 after waiting until 21/06/2038 …Archibald now worth £5.25k and Poncet down to £2.7k.

I reject all offers and play hardball.

Eventually manage some loans and free signings….8 in only released out …lowest in the league.

Betfred Cup sees opening game vs Hearts.

4-0 down at home but end up losing 4-1 …in front of a full house ..Club Record 3000 fans ..beating Patrick Thistle game of 1436 before my time…Record gate receipts of £45k.

Its the Berwick match I want ( former Edinburgh manager Abbott and his constant sniping comments )..hopefully last 3 signings in squad then.

Lose away at Morton and really missing Morvel on the wing…out of the Cup.

Berwick (a) Lynch in 14 seconds with dream start…dominate but takes a late burst to win 1-4.

League ..Favourites Falkirk/QOS / Edinburgh / Alloa / Montrose / Arbroath

Board ..Fight bravely vs relegation. Scottish Cup 4th Rnd …Irn Bru 2nd Round.

QOS (h) ..hoping for bigger crowds…relegation hangover as we outplay them ..Win 4-0 ..674 fans.

I need 4 more wins for 1000 in this career save.

Irn Bru …Berwick again ..the AI loves a controversial game …Debutant Girard scores (3 & 8 mins) Hat trick on 40 mins another 42 mins HT 5-0….Win 7-1 …Berwick keeper rated 3.7/10…..846 fans….
Robert new youngest scorer in Cup ..15y 247d ( from Stewart 16y 42d)

Clubs Biggest ever Win.

Most goals by one player in a game.

Win 999 of my career .

Top of table clash in Game 4 ..after good start ..Falkirk show why they are favourites.HT 3-1 down….86 min equaliser completes comeback to 3-3.

Arbroath provide win 1000 …..surprise as they were 2nd …win 4-0 away Despite rotating.

No comment for this landmark from 1266 games ….51 cups 15 Titles 2 Promotions.

irn Bru vs Aberdeen Res … rotate squad…reserve strikers do the biz HT 3-0 ..FT 3-1…..2 debutants…including one last deadline day signing …. I do not sell anyone.

Game 9 … QOS away who have improved since opening day ..but we win again 2-0. back2back wins ..previously QOS won 9 in a row.   Girard has scored in all three matches he has played ..two from out of position on the wing.

No sign of a reserve league being playerd despite accepting invite.

Bogey team Peterhead winning against run of play at HT (a) …. Lose again 1-0.

Lose again to them 1-1 but go out on Penalties 5-4….Irn Bru Cup.

Takes a replay with reserves to finally score past Stenhousemuir .. 0-0 & 1-0 in the cup ..then St.Mirren.

Rangers win Betfred Cup from Aberdeen…. We get £50.5k prize money and we’re competitive.

Game 18 …Peterhead awaits after a good run …HT 1-0 at home …winger McManaman continues his great recent scoring form ..Win 2-0…. Finally a win over them.

Game 19 ..red card in 10 mins vs QOS at home …QOS miss penalty ..sub Archibald scores a winner as I sacrifice the striker before QOS get a red with 5/mins left…..NOW 15 pts clear.

01/ 01 / 2039 …..Two of my reserves make free transfers away.

First signing is a free agent DC ..Ernst.

Have two bids in for approx £10k outlay.

More interest in 17 yr old Poncet …Brentford bid £11,500.00. ..I slap a £1m price tag …they have a similar back up striker who is valued at £875k .

By mid month best offer £29k…from Motherwell 

Week to go ..£35k bid ..Brentford are back in ..

I wonder if we will go from semi pro to Pro if I complete the promotion.

R4 Scottish Cup (h) to 2nd in Championship  St.Mirren …HT 0-0 …Turner grabs a shock goal on the hour ( corner routine works) …Shock 1-0 win….in front of 1829 fans .   £19k prize money.

Alloa (7th). Ring a reality check ..held 0-0.

St.Johnstone away in next round….Take lead Poncet(22) ..HT 1-1 …Lose late (82) but good effort 2-1 vs Premiership team…in front of 7758 fans.

Feb 2029 I apply for Australia job….not best person 🤷🏻‍♂️and don’t get it…must be being English or is it managing at a low level club …they have had foreign managers…they hire Tim Milicevic who has retired as a player and has no management experience.

Falkirk sack the manager ..they are 2nd in the league.

Looks like City may end Utd / Saints monopoly as they are 18 pts clear.

Great home crowd …924 fans …see 4-0 win vs Montrose 

Game 28 ..shock lose at home to lowly Brechin …this is why reserve strikers are not starting….and we had 1013 fans .  Elsewhere Montrose 4 vs Peterhead 7.

Game 29 ..win 1-0 away at QOS and title sealed…bottom team Stranraer late equaliser over Falkirk did it.

Apply for Saints job and get it 23/03/2039 …5th in league and still in Europa.( Given negative press and fan reaction I am surpprised to get through interview process).

My old tactics have been remembered !…..I left 8/8/24……8 managers since.

City are running away with the league ..my aim is sneak into 4th …12 pts from 3rd.   7pts from 4th.

Set up high press 4-1-4-1 ..away at Everton ..Doherty (7) ..20th goal of season ..Zidane gets 29th and HT 0-3 up at Goodison.  Win 4-0.  Doherty made is 300th league appearance.

First Home match vs Fulham ( former player Tal against me..now 35y) …slow start b4 VAR pen by Doherty ..gets another for HT 2-0 ….Win 2-0 in front of 68277 fans .. we hold 101513 now ..that got big after I left the first time.

Borley and Castillejos want to leave ..the second is a disappointment .

Game 1300 of my career ..Home to Cardiff ….Won 2-0……I am lucky with fixtures being mid to lower table.

Win Euro QF vs Lille 3-0 agg…Home leg in front of just under 99,000 fans.

Irony is I get Leicester in SF …the team I’m trying to catch in the league…Leicester knocked us out of Carabao Cup at SF stage.

Man City win the league with 4 games to spare.

Man Utd sack the manager ( hire Bayern manager )…should have gone with me last time ..I intend to destroy them now I’m back at Saints.

4 games left and Leicester drop points at 2nd place Spurs ..gap is 3 pts but there GD is 14 better.

18th placed Blackburn next for us ..36yr Heymans left Utd for them ..back ups deal with non stop fouling HT 2-0 …..FT …3-0

Concede 3 vs Stoke as I continue back ups b4 3 games in a row vs Leicester …but score 5.

Leicester Part 1 ..Europa SF (a) ..2-0 down at HT 2-2 until late Leicester winner …Strikers letting me down …3-2 but at least 2 away goals.

Leicester Part 2 …Premier (h).need a win to go above Leicester into 4th …101513 full expected .. Lose first choice LB for rest of season….Myles (Utd & Augsburg) back to haunt me ..HT 0-0 despite us dominating .

Despite 8 shots to nil on target ..ends 0-0. …Zidane now 9 hours with no goals.
1 game left and Leicester ahead on goal difference.

Leicester Part 3 ..Europa (h) ..another 0-0 wI’ll not do….Drop Zidane for winger Siminov …Leicester bring back 30 goal striker Etten…Doherty (65) as again we dominate shots 12-3 ….Win through on away goals ( agg 3-3)

Porto 98th min goals sees off Liverpool also on away goals agg 3-3.

Europa league ….first time Southampton have made the final …I am yet to win it. Aberdeen (QF) PSG (Runners Up).

Zidane now at Augsburg after Pochettino sacked … he accepts my bid for Moreau ( always agrees to my requests).

Two games left to gain Champions League place 

Saints(5th) away at Watford (7th) …..Leicester (4th ) play champions Man City….Leicester 9 goals better off with both teams on 71 pts

I choose too rest players ..lose 2-0 …Leicester won 3-0 so it would have made no difference.

The media questions are about the whole season .. I had only a few matches .

Our Keeper gets Golden Glove award.

Man City thrash Everton 5-1 to seal League & FA Cup double.

Moreau transfer from Augsburg confirmed …Zidane as ever nice with my transfer bids for his squad.

Then Europa Final….I have injuries to key defenders ..Have an U18 on the bench as right back cover.Left back lacks fitness as just returned from injury.

Porto have midfield issues with injury.

Both teams with same formations.

Utd beat City to win Champions League ( Won 4 of last 6).

Siminov upfront with Zidane on bench.

I have gone Positive in approach …HT 0-0 despite dominating ( Porto did hit bar but no shots on target).

Porto miss pen (60) and who else but Doherty (86) to seal the Win.

Mine and Saints first ever Europa Trophy.

Season ends City / Spurs/ Utd / Leicester/ Saints / Arsenal / Watford for European places.

Awards..Saints

fans player ..Zidane…not for me in my short spell

goal ..Zidane 

youngster ..A.Jones

Doherty gets player of the season.. certainly my star ..in Europa league

Will be sad to see Borley go ..a last link to my first time here ..460 league games with 80 goals 65 assists

97 caps and 20 goals for Wales.  Not bad for the £1.7m I paid.

Season 20

Job interview successful and I join Edinburgh City … I see them like Tranmere … long term goal to be better than Hearts and Hibs…have an affiliation for loans with them.

Last trophy Scottish 5th Tier 2016.

I am looking at other affiliates and loans for u16 talented players….I remember the French leagues full of 14/15 yr olds who can not play …Scotland allows them.

Pick up 14 and 2 x 15 yr olds plus a loaner from Hibs.

Also look at Amateurs for cover…they all play for Queens Park…..sign 3 and DC cover via Free Agent.

With a small squad and no reserve system …I decline invitations to these leagues.

Board announce low cup expectations….except for 4th round Scottish Cup.

Ironically up against Hibs Res in Irn Bru Cup

Change to 4-1-2-3 defensive…..leave asst mgr to friendlies as I am away at Confed Cup.

Hibs friendly is a sell out of 3000 fans and a narrow 2-1 loss.

First Confed Cup …not sacked after Int League defeat and yet to win this trophy …if I do I will quit France.

5 changes made to 23 man squad.

France vs Chile .HT 0-0 but subs win it 2-0.  Mexico 5 vs Algeria 0

France vs Mexico …RoTate squad …Tisserand (5/8/15) blitzes a fab start….only for Bonnin (22)to be sent off.

Hold until late and then Mexico pull 2 back …but do win 3-2 to qualify.

Chile beat Algeria 3-0.

Final game rotate a few …2-0 up in 6 mins vs Algeria….Ferraz has 4 by the hour mark …use an old technic from previous games as I replace both wingers with keepers to keep players fresh …Win 6-0.

Ferraz has 91 goals now.

Mexico beat Chile 3-0.

SF vs South Korea ….Moreau(19) Tisserand(35/43) ..HT 3-0.   Win 4-0.in front of 108,075 fans.

Mexico come 3rd.

France vs Spain who beat Mexico..they are without their main striker and right back.

Final ….Ferraz makes 125th appearance….and he scores (15) ..Tisserand (36) as he competes for golden boot…Ferraz wants it too (44)…HT 3-0.

Spain score twice to make it 3-2 with 60 mins gone….(73) var disallows an equaliser …Ferraz hat trick disallowed (89) …and finally I have won the Con fed Cup .

Target achieved and with Ferraz stepping down as Captain ….I resign as Manager.

Edinburgh City ….. I will due to real life time constraints only be giving short updates.

First match in charge vs Premiership St,Mirren (a) Betfred Cup.  5 x 15 yr olds and a 16 yr old to start.

Hibs loanee ineligible.

Betfred Cup 

St.Mirren (a) ..HT 1-0 …FT ..Lose 4-0…..we had 63% possession….6 players make debuts. Renault 15yr 15 days now youngest ever player for club.( Was Jamie Aitken 15yr 356 days).

Stranraer (H) Mirval scores our first goal. HT 2-0 …FT …4-0 Mirval hat trick and Poncet first senior goal. ( Both are 15 yrs old).Turner makes debut after bringing in from debt ridden Hamilton. Poncet youngster scorer for club at 15 yr 31 days.( Was Andy Erwin 16y 26d). Todd win over higher level opponents.

Queen of South (a) …( Championship side) …Mirval/Poncet score but QOS hit 4 …HT 4-2 down.Lose 5-2.

Berwick(H) ..dead rubber as out. Former manager at Berwick makes it interesting. 0-0 With my rotated squad. Win penalties 6-5.    We come 3rd of 5 teams.

AYR United win it .

162 season tickets sold ( up 4 )

Transfers 13 in and 1 out.    Paid £4.5k and received £500.   

Irn- Bru Cup vs Hibs Reserves (h) …Fordyce on loan from Hibs not Cup tied .  Win 3-0 Fans 573.

                                                           O’Halloran / Turner / Brewster. 
Montrose (a) …Rest players as league priority and they are higher league.Lose 2-1 ….Archibald levelled scores….Renault youngest ever Irn Bru player at 15y 68d.(from Tommy Dean 16y 3d)

Scottish Cup

Round 2 ..Lossiemouth (a) win 2-0 against lowly opponents with a fully changed squad .

Round 3 ..Cumbernauld (h)..0-0 draw ..no punch upfront…again fully rotated squad…winners play Rangers away.

Replay (a) ..Poncet back from injury …1-0 down at HT …the sending off changes it ..Win 3-1

Poncet youngest Scottish Cup Player 15y 164d ( from Bryan Bannier 16y 77d).

Round 4 ..all about money from a tie at Ibrox…Rangers in 3rd place and no trophy for 3 years..no league title in 8…..they have lost 4 of last 5 matches …I go cautious …and hold out for 34 mins …boss possession but finally lose 1-0 …in front of 28520 Fans.  Nearly £19k in prize money And £400k in gate receipts.

Win £12750 prize money.

League ..Scottish 2 …..My appointment makes us Favourites ..East Kilbride / Stirling/Albion/Elgin / Queens P.

Queens Park (a) ..I have taken 3 of their amateurs….Poncet first league goal a penalty ..Draw 1-1

Stenhousemuir (h) ..Win 2-0 …Poncet gets both….465 fans.

Peterhead (a) ..Win 1-0 …MacMillan.

Albion Rov ( h) …Win 1-0 Turner.  Change of corner tactic sees Turner score.  422 fans.

Cowdenbeath (h) .. 4 clean sheets in all comps end …Win 4-2 …Poncet hat trick & Mirval.  500 fans. Archibald makes debut.

Stirling (a) …Win 3-1 …Poncet (2) Morel.

Elgin (h) …Draw 1-1 …Poncet….Fans 419

East Fife (h) …Win 2-0 ….Hall & Archibald.  467 fans.

East Kilbride (a) ..Top 2 battle it out ….Poncet / Turner / Morel …Win 3-1.

After playing all teams …Position 1 …W7 D 2.       6pts clear of Elgin.

I apply for Scotland Manager …looks like my English connections are against me . Despite winning titles with Aberdeen , currently being in Scotland and top manager in Hall of Fame….apparently I’m not best person !

Job has gone to Romanian Olaroiu …who was at Hamilton. Won a Scottish Championship 2 years ago.

Game 16 vs 2nd placed Stirling Is a huge win 1-0 with 3rd place Elgin drawing…gap 9 pts..Only 432 fans.

Lose Hall to long term injury…can’t terminate contract yet .

Game 23 ..Poncet ends goal drought and record win 6-0 Vs Cowdenbeath..no hangover from Rangers loss…475 fans enjoyed this.

01/03/2038….Game 28 completed and rotated squad just hold off Stenhousemuir…19 points clear and I am offered a new contract….I accept.

Game ..29 seals the title at home vs lowly Queens Park ..but only 438 fans watching.

Game 30 and lose at home to in form Peterhead..dominated but couldn’t comeback from 2-0..Poncet hits his 20th goal ..not bad for a promising 15 year old …if only I could get wonderkids !

Time to plan for next season….more difficult without France scouts doing the work for me,

Former Edinburgh manager at Berwick still questioning my ability !   This is despite now being No.10 in Scottish Hall of Fame and Worldwide Number 1.

Berwick having to fight through play offs to avoid relegation ..and fall to Albion in SF.

Last game of the season vs bottom of the table East Fife (a);…goalfest HT 2-5 up. …goes 4-5 before finally winning 4-7….I suspect a record scoring game for the league.it is and for the club .

Betting odds were good with only Peterhead crashing the predictions….Also gate crash Promotion.

Edinburgh / Stirling / Peterhead / Albion …Elgin and EK miss out.

Win £150 k prize money.

New kit deal 4K more.

Fans Player ..Mirval / Turner / Morel

Goal ./ Signing ..Poncet

Young Player ..Mirval

Archibald player of year with new high rating for league 7.34

9/11 in Team of Year .

League winners 

Man Utd

Psg

Aberdeen

Augsburg

My legacy lasts elsewhere…but England and France getting boring now…Man City have pushed to last day games in last 2 years….Southampton beginning to drop…Chelsea & Liverpool mid table.

Season 19 …June 2036.

Second most Goaks and Best defence key to league win.

Augsburg shirt sails ..527,291.  Bosanac / Okmus / Ockmonek / Myles / Moreau…..surprised No Takac .

Augsburg up 52 places to 27th in Euro Club Rankings.

Expectation ..win League …Final of Cup and knockouts of Champions League.

Yet again refs are downgraded …never seen any improve .

8 games rescheduled after fixtures announced ….we start against Bayern.

France duty in Germany for Euros.

Warm up with Hungary sees an injury and Red Card before HT.  Carissoni gets his first goal …one of my 3 changes to the squad…Win 2-0.  Ferraz injury not too bad.

Final warm up …thrash Luxembourg but Ferraz not yet fit …it was 11-0 at HT….ends 11-0 ..makes no sense.

Euros start

Wales lose …N.Ireland /England and Scotland win …Scotland beat hosts Germany.

Wales and N.Ire best 3rd place +…Scotland and England Group Wiiners through.

Each group match sees me up against Augsburg players.

France vs Serbia ….Dubois (Centre back) makes 50th appearance. Dupuy gets our opening goal of the tournament against the weakest side in the group.  HT 1-1 . Needs an 87th Ferraz winner to win 2-1

France vs Switzerland … 1-1 at HT as we come from a goal down. Win 3-1 ..Ferraz gets 2.

France vs Czech ….1-0 HT ..tight contest.Win 3-0 and top group ..Serbia pip Swiss with 93rd min winner.

Round 2 ….France vs N.Ireland …..Dupuis(4) ..HT 1-0 ….Dupuis(70) ..seals 2-0 win but bookings will cause suspensions next round.

Holland ko Wales

Scotland pen win over Swiss.

Myles extra time goal Sees England edge past Germany.

QF …France vs Serbia ..seems odd to get them again……Play less attacking ..Win easily 4-1 ..Bosanac got their consolation.

Scotland ko by Italy.  England see off Portugal. Spain beat Holland.

SF …France vs Italy …..Gros(32) Tisserand (33) Ferraz(38)  as an even first half goes one sided. HT 3-0

Easy 2nd half ….Win 3-0.

France in their first Euro Final since 2020 …when I beat them with England.

England beat holders Spain on pens.

Final France vs England …both have won it twice…media build up rivalry as former manager.

England have 5 of my old squad in the starting XI and 5 more on the subs bench.

Augsburg‘s Moreau opens the scoring (15) …Tisserand (41) …HT 2-0

Myles wonder strike makes it 2-1 …I make subs of those on yellow cards….Ferraz (71) restores two goal cushion ….win Euros 3-1.

Ferraz ..Best Player and Golden Boot of Euros

Best team … 5 x French 5 x English 1 x Italy ….another 6 on subs bench.

Sackings after tournament …Wales /  Belgium / Hungary plus two other European and 4 South American ( Brazil) 

Transfers … Sell some older players to bring in younger talent and make room for talented youngsters.

Myles not settling in Germany ..goes to Leicester 

3 in and 6 out.

Stadium changes finish to increase seating capacity slightly .

Augsburg Fav for title from usual suspects.

Top scorer ..a young reserve from my team is amongst the favourites !!

Top player …Moreau in the mix.

Wolfsburg again in SuperCup at their stadium.   Var save us early on …ends 0-0 again. ..this time win shoot out 3-1….I had 3 debutants.

Porto is Euro Super Cup …could be a fantastic first week of the season….

Porto last here in 2028/29…last won it 87/88.

Tight first half and I decide to go from cautious to balanced ….does the trick in the second half as Dobre celebrates his new contract with goals (47/58) …injury hit new signing Simeone on (78) leaving us with 10 men….Hold for for 2-0 and inaugural SuperCup tournament win.  Porto fail to get a shot on target.

Luckily next up cup tie vs lowly Bayern Hof ..beat them 10-0 at this stage last year.

Debutant 16yr old Ngono scores on his debut…HT 4-0……Feil hits 5 as we win 8-0.

Gluck also makes debut at 22yrs.

Ngono becomes youngest ever club scorer ..16 yr 340 days …17 days better than Mauger.

Top spenders …Leicester / Arsenal / Chelsea ..with Premier league spending 1 billion more than Bundesliga.

Wage expenditure …Bayern £4.1m …. Augsburg 4th £2.5m.

D

Still can’t get Augsburg 2 to play matches …it’s either U19 or main squad.

2 years after his debut Ze Serrao makes his Portugal debut…aged 20.

France vs Russia ( Int League) …Ranked 42 ….Goal down (2) ..Russia ten men (26) Nine men (34)..Ferraz(35) equalises.Ferraz(47) for 2-1 Win …..not a great result against 9 men.

Ferraz now on 78 goals.

Portugal vs France ..Rank 10th …..Losing 1-0 at HT…..Make 3 subs and go Positive …Dupuy equalises but we concede against run of play …Lose 2-1.

May be time to tweak tactics

Away to Dinamo Zagreb and former player Vural ( Utd) ..Bosanac difference on Stroke of HT.

Win 1-0 ….Bosanac first goal in 10 hours of playing.

I have passed 100 ga see for Augsburg.

Denmark (24th) vs France in a friendly…Tisserand gets 50th cap …Dupuis scores in 25secs and 3 up in 9:minutes …the 4th sees Tisserand score….Guerin makes his debut and scores and assists as this goal fest ends 3-7.

Russia ( Int league away) …5 players walking suspension tightrope.

1-0 down against run of play …1-0 down at Half Time.  Tisserand equalises as I go more attacking but ends 1-1.

After winning opening 7 league games my rotated post internationals team goes a goal down to a penalty ..first goal conceded this season and then after going 1-1 the ref sends off 2 of my players and grateful for 1-1 draw At lowly Nurnberg.

Game 3....Champions League vs Spurs…..easy 3-0 win as resting squad pays off.

Game 4 return at Spurs is a 0-0 draw and sees qualification.

Top group after easy last 2 wins.

France vs Portugal sees revenge meted out as we win 3-1 and have a good chance of qualification…which is sealed by 1 point after the final match.

Win friendly vs China 2-0 ..Lefeuvre misses his hat trick penalty.

I argue with Van Bommel over rough tactics ..say he will get sacked if he doesn’t change ..week alter …sacked !

First World Club Championship (Qatar)…Semi Final vs Al- Hilal Saudi FC …Winners. VS River Plate who knocked out Tigres.

Full rotation to be ready for the final….Stevens (6) for 1-0 HT lead…win 1-0 and Young Keeper makes debut as sub….I will use all 23 players over the 2 games.

Final is a comfortable 3-0 win ..Dobre/Takac and Bosanac…River Plate failed to get a shot on target.  This is my 4th World Club ( 3 with United).

France Euro group drawer …. Belarus / Montenegro / Norway / Sweden….easy group.

Champions League Drawer …Juventus ( they pipped Aberdeen) .

The usual weird choices for footballer of the year..e.g. Ba of Watford who won nothing and he is not in my France team.

Zidane( Saints ) wins it ..his last silverware was 2 and half years ago for club or country!!??

Salgar wins Keeper award …at least he won things.

Team of Year …only Salgar in the squad ….No French players despite international trophies.

Elsewhere 18 games in and Man Utd are mid table but sticking with Klose.( He has won lots so deserves some patience)….he wins 9 in a row and then walks to go to Arsenal who are 5 places lower.

At age 37 Donnarumma is retiring at end of 2035/2036 season….only 50 caps and 4 domestic medals.

Jan 2037 …Transfer window opens … I have no need to buy for first team.

Confed Cup Drawer ( Hosts South Africa and holders Spain )…Not won this yet.

Mexico (6th) Algeria B (22) Chile (31)

I am interviewed for the vacant Man Utd job …I ask to start at end of season.

Utd fans appear not to have forgiven me leaving …Zidane new favourite who I replaced when he resigned himself….I won 22 trophies to 8 ….they hire Zidane .

Augsburg now want to talk to me to stay ..should have listened to my requests before.

Board then sell my Young up and coming Keeper without my blessing.

I get on with Zidane who usually accepts my bids ..so after losing to Bayern and drawing with Leipzig I loan in a left wing/ striker from United….squad is thin with injuries.

Poor league run ends with 5-0 win ( new signing scores to end his goal drought) and even better a come from behind win vs Juventus away in Champions League 1st Knockout round….win through after 0-0 home leg (2-1 agg)…..next up Man City.

Feil wins his first German call up.

France vs Belarus ( opening World Cup Qual)…using 2nd string as ranked 114th.

Goal up in 2 mins and against 10 men in (9) ..HT 6-0. Ferraz has a hat trick as only 3 strikers in squad. Lefeuvre completes his hat trick …win 9-0.

Augsburgs Nico Stevens scores on his Belgian debut. New loan signing Araujo hits 4 for Portugal ..first international goals.

Serbia hit 13 vs Andorra.

Norway (44th) vs France …HT 0-0 as first XI not firing…takes Ferraz(82/90/91) with successive hat tricks …he now has 86 goals in 120 caps.

Augsburg lose 2 French players to international injuries .

Win German Cup QF …comeback from 2-1 to win 3-2 aet Vs Dortmund….next up Mainz.

Game 26 is. 0-0 foul fest …now 7 pts Clear of Bayern ….2 games in hand due to Xmas world club games.

April 2037.

Elsewhere Man U dent Southampton title charge …Spurs lead.City second.

Chelsea (13th celebrating surviving another season).

Euro Cup QF …Man City (a) …City are firm favourites….(4) mins we have one disallowed ..City lead (9) …..hamg on in and after City see red in (93) min ..we score a 95th min equaliser ….1-1 and in with a chance.

Augsburg post biggest loss in Bundesliga …£79.73m …this despite making £99m transfer profit And finances show Over all balance at £113m.

Have best wages ratio at 38%

Augsburg vs City … nearly hold out but City score (42) and game plan out the window.

out shoot them 17-6 but can’t score and get knocked out 2-1 agg.

Elsewhere Saints overturn a 4-1 away defeat to beat Barca 7-0 at home .

German Cup SF vs Mainz ….Comfortable 3-0 win….I have dropped loanee and brought back Feil upfront.

4 Home matches to hopefully seal the title ..need 4 pts ( 3 win goal difference).  Schalke (10th) Wolfsburg(4th) and Dortmund (3rd) and Koln (5th) in 7 days as fixture back log catches up with us.

Red Card and late equaliser hold us to a 1-1 draw vs Schalke.

Forced into playing 3 youngsters and squad will not cope with this amount of games.

Goal up (34) vs Wolfsburg …hold on and seal the title …..in my 1199th game.

Elsewhere Zidane staged a remarkable comeback to win the League .

I will play youngsters so I can keep squad fit for cup final.

2 debuts vs Dortmund and 1-0 up (2) by 18yr old Radke who has another ruled out….surprise 1-0 win

Radke first senior goal after 150 goals for U19 in 4 seasons.

Lose to Koln but worth the defeat.

Hamburg in Cup Final ..gamble on goal shy Araujo upfront ….however Star a winger Rafael sent off after under 4 minutes.

HT 0-0 …but 18 secs into second half and Araujo scores …1-1 (50) but Takac with a brace makes it 3-1 ..late Hamburg strike 3-2 …but hang on for the win.

Fans Player Okumus . Goal ..Stevens. Young player/ best signing …Rafael.( he set a new assist record)

Bosanac sells most shirts from Ockmonek …neither regular starters.

Board looking to add 11k seats.

England vs France (sf..int league).key injuries in my squad…1-0 down but red card overturned by var.

plate 2-0 whilst chasing the game.

3rd place match vs Holland ..rotate squad for dead rubber…..Ferraz gives us 1-0 HT lead.  Dupuy scores very late to seal a poor match 2-0.

22 days until Confed Cup starts…will I be in role?

England vs Italy like the real life Euros ends 1-1 …this time England win penalty shoot out.

I declare interest in Edinburgh City of League 2 job …I need a new challenge.

Season 18.            2035-2036.

Media predict we will come Second.

Trying to extend Bosanac loan from PSG.

News item Heymans gets Testimonial at Man Utd …. I remember signing him from £35m from Bayern. 285 league games with 71 goals. ..30 trophies.

Feil & Laisney worried by the expensive signings …both placated …for now.

Some of the squad unhappy I will not let Achiriloaei go to Man U.

Framery and Myles score in all 3 pre season friendlies.

Odds ..Bayern fav ..then Augsburg / Wolfsburg / Dortmund.

Top scorer fav … Longelo ( Hamburg)..none of my players in Top 6.

My new signing Moreau is rated fav for top player.  Takac rated 6th.

Approx 24400 season tickets from a 30k capacity.

Super Cup …Wolfsburg stand before me and more silverware….being played at their new stadium 🤦🏻‍♂️ ( Eden Dzeko Park)……lose 4-2 on penalties after a tight 0-0 draw.

Set a new record win 10-0 away in German Cup ..Myles /Feil get hat tricks and Bosanac ends goal drought.

Haghdoust makes debut ..been at club since 14 .

Start league defence with a win ( Goal up in 67secs).

Champions League Drawer….Spurs/Real Sebastian & Ajax….Spurs are 3 times winners and group is difficult.

International Break after 4 mixed results to start the new season.

I now leave Asst Kurt Zouma to deal with most press conferences.

France vs Iceland rank 58( Euro Championship)……Start 2nd in group but Poland have played 2 more games.

All over Iceland ..but they score an equaliser with only shot ..but back in charge by HT 3-1.

Win 5-1 … now the top of the table clash with Poland.who are Rank 30

Poland vs France …Ferraz follows a double vs Iceland with a first half hat trick ..0-5 up away at HT.

Win 6-0 …we are the only team with a positive goal difference In the group.

14/14 since I took charge .

Mbappe holds records with 200 appearances and 111 goals ( also youngest goalscorer)…….Ferraz is now 98 caps and 64 goals.

Go 433 as opponents used to our style …WWD ….. one of those away at Spurs although nearly blow a 3-0 lead .

Tweak the passing from wings to over the top to make use of the pace… 

Try against Dortmund who like us and Bayern have started slowly.

All 3 strikers score in a 1-3 away win….Played 5 and now 6th.

Lose to Hamburg and then miss a late pen to only draw 0-0 at home in Champions League.

Montenegro vs France ..Dominate but only 1-0 at HT….clinical in 2 half and win 5-0 away.

France vs Macedonia and qualification at stake …Ferrara wins 100th cap…scores a free kick and pen after going behind …then Moreau sent off …all happening after 29 mins…HT 4-1….ends 6-1 …9 yellows and a Red.

Qualification sealed for 2036 Euros.

France move up 1 place ..now World Rank 3.

Still tweaking my 433…now Positive and quicker….Myles after 5 goals for England ..scores…win 2-1

Oddly im Quoted discussing Aberdeen vs Bayern ..despite having had no media questions !

Beat Ajax 3-0 away and top Group after 3 games.

Mainz away is another tough match and Afkir makes his 250th appearance for us ..Feil scores his 50th goal.

HT 2-2 …VAR saves us from 3-2 …ends 2-2 and a great attacking game But I am unhappy with getting this tactic working.

Played 9 and currently 5th …4 points behind Hamburg And 6 behind Wolfsburg…they have played 10.

Going to try 4-1-4-1 ..3rd of my formations in the Cup vs out of form Leipzig…HT2-0 and dominant. Win 2-1 but had 33 shots to 5. Lose our right winger for 3 months.

Next up Bayern (6th) who lost to 17th placed Nurnberg in the cup…2-1 HT and then get better ..win 4-2.

Home to Ajax …despite dominating rely on pen save ..0-0 HT. Win 2-0 as subs change the game.

League form improving as next International break comes up…Iceland & Poland.

Drop Khellaf as I bring in younger players to an already qualified team.

Iceland (a) ..3 up at HT ..Ferraz with goal 67….Win 4-0 with front 4 all scoring.

Checking all time scores …Ronaldo ended his career with 106 from 175 caps..Mbappe/ Lewandowski 111 from 185 caps…but Rashford ended with 128 from 189 caps.

Hunted through Malaysia ..Dohari has 125 goals.  Egypt Saad 115.

Kane was 96/122.  Sterling 83/170. 

Poland …win 3-1 to finish with 8 wins from 8…. Only group with all other teams having a minus GD.

Only team with 100% record.

Move up to World Rank 2.

After going top of Bundesliga after 12 games …Spurs then Wolfsburg(2nd on goal diff) up next .

Spurs 0-0 sees us go through to the next round…worth £807k.

Dominate Wolfsburg but ends 0-0 ….Missing two injured wingers and not creating clear cut chances.

Now it’s time for my 1100th game as a manager….Win 2-0 at home .Top by 2 goals from Wolfsburg…but Schalke have a game in hand. ( They lose to Koln)…  Another injury and a suspension.

Played 1100.  Won 868. Drawn 134. Lost 98.  For 3075  Against 758. Win % 78.  Cups 44 Leagues 12 Promotions 1.

Bought 108 and Sold 176.

Club jobs 6 and Countries 3.  
6358 days ..1 on holiday when I got stuck with an Ivory Coast team pick bug.

Patrick Vieira slags my style off as I play his 16th placed Nurnberg…Wolfsburg held by lowly Leipzig …Tough game but win 3-1 away …war of words continues.

Glad I’m qualified as my tired squad needs rotation…16yr old Mauger gets his debut…17yr old Radke on the bench could also make his….4 players moved in from Augsburg 2 team.

Mauger scores on debut and makeshift team 3-0 up away in Spain. Radke gets on and win 4-1 to top the group.

Mauger is now Clubs  Youngest Goal Scorer ..16 years and 357 days…also a Champions League Record.

Addy unhappy with amount of football but was injured ..demands a move and I agree…Goes to Barcelona.

Champions League Drawer sees us against Europa Holders Leicester(6th in Prem)…Leicester are undefeated in 3 previous meetings.

Dortmund in 12th sack their manager….Emery favourite…gets job and by Feb improving.

Top at Xmas 2035 ….. now to work out transfer targets during the winter break….wages an issue so may need loans…Apply to Leeds to cover Addy departure. Cheap Czech midfielder..balancing the books helped.

No other bids fro my main squad …a successful window.

Keren Tal (Saints ) win World Footballer despite winning nothing last season. 
Codling Keeper Of the Year … Salger of Augsburg second.

Both these winning players I gave debuts too.

Played my first game at -6 degrees C …win 3-1 away …new signings not match fit yet.

Dortmund continue to fail …13th/18th .

Feb 2036 …. Bayern paying most wages £4.2m ,…Augsburg 6th £2m ….lowest Ingolstadt 575k.

Top spenders England £436m.  City £238m United £51m …..4th Bundesliga £49m

Next 4 matches show wisdom of transfer signings as I have suspensions and injuries but come through with wins In league and German cup…Played 20 and 2 pts clear of Wolfsburg.

My former player from Aberdeen ..Mitrovic who I sold to Partisan despite wonder kid tag due to 5 goals in 40 appearances is now doing well at PSG …my scouts want me to bid !

All goes wrong at Koln ..keeper injured …red card for half fit Takac with Moreau out … go for it with ten men and some how snatch a draw through new signing Buchta.

Opens the door for Wolfsburg …who also get a red card and lose to improving Dortmund.( 10th).

What does surprise me is that former teams Southampton & Aberdeen have continued to do well after I left…I assumed bigger teams would poach players and they would drop away.

e.g. Man City ..no Premier league wins …but do have 3 Champions League titles…..but so do Spurs in the same period…Liverpool and .Chelsea no Premier or Champions League titles…Chelsea can’t get above 6th in the Premier.

Chelsea have 1 x Europa league (2019) and 1 x Carabao ( 2026)

Liverpool ..no Europa leagues ( Everton have won 2 )…..have 1 x Carabao (2019) 2 x FA Cup ( 23+24)

No I have not edited or changed those teams …I thought having a British database would mean English teams did better but not the shift in Power towards a United/ Saints and Spurs domination of trophies.

Injuries mount as Dortmund and Big spending Leicester await .

I risk the keeper but 2 main midfielders and a winger still missing.

Dortmund are playing a very defensive midfield line up …takes 22/25 mins for us to breach it…left back injured on 33 mins 🤦🏻‍♂️…Big Win 2-0.

Go Positive away at Leicester and 2-0 up at HT … dominate but concede to win 2-1 .

Elsewhere Klopp is sacked by Chelsea ( After leaving Liverpool he has managed Man City / Sevilla / Bayern and Barcelona).

Nagelsmann sacked from Bayern but I deny interest ..24 games gone and with Takac scoring 3 important goals we are 5 pts clear of Wolfsburg and 15pts clear of Bayern in fourth.

Feil steps us as I rest Myles For Leicester …. He gets injured after 42 mins so Feil back in.

Bayern still invite me for an interview ….I decline On the day of my Leicester 2nd leg tie…former United player of mine Greenwood in form.

I go counter attack after 10 mins to fool the AI … score through Takac …. 2 up on 56mins so make subs to protect those on yellow cards. Sub Laisney seals it … 3-0 and 5-1 agg.

Even more irony … I draw Bayern ( 5 times winners) in QF of Champions League…elsewhere Liverpool vs Man Utd.

Bayern re -hire Klopp who last managed them 12/27 to 01 29 …first time I’ve seen a manager return .

Pogba ( Mainz) dents my title push by holding us …but Wolfsburg blow a 3-1 lead at Koln to also draw.

France have friendly double header with Liechtenstein …all about record setting …can I beat 20-0 win vs San Marino set in 2019.

Main Team ..except keeper in 1st Match … then fully rotate for 2nd.

Game 1 ….2 up is 6 mins using very attacking but then 34th min to score again…..7 up at half time.

Win 9-0….. Ferraz fails to add to his 67 goals….. Stats 57 shots to 0….63% possession .

Augsburg improve my contract…..expected to sign youth for first team.

Game 2 … Will try Positive not all out attack….reserves match 7-0 at HT….Our keeper rated 7.2 but has not had a shot to save.  62 shots to 0 …Win 14-0 with 64% possession.

I am happy with the France squad overall.

Big match as I get Bayern (a) in the league ….struggle to get the ball early ..go back to balanced and 1 up before another injury ( already 2 main players out) ..concede on HT.

Ends 1-1 but we seemed to get booked excessively …. Not happy with decisions.

Hammered by Schalke 4-1 in the Cup QF as tiredness and injuries hit home .

Lowly Leipzig beaten before Bayern in Europe…. Some players on the way back to fitness…Talisman Takac suspended .

Switch to counter attacking and lead early through Bosanac ..Myles switched to the wing due to injuries….he gets injured …Win 2-0 and clean sheet at home important…Bosanac moans about playing holds up with his brace.

Euro Draw ( Holders Spain) …. Get Czech(39)Swiss(15)Serbia(42)….being played in Germany.

International League Draw …Portugal (9) Russia (40)

All teams in Bundesliga make a loss .

Champions League second legs …City destroy Real Madrid (5-1 agg)…Dortmund loss out to Inter on pens.(0-0 agg)

Both wingers injured by half time as I defend ….0-0 and just 45 mins to survive…Bosanac grabs a goal on (47) but Bayern strike back (54) ..Bosanac gets a quick fire hat trick (63/67) and Myles (pen) ..6-1 agg win.

Liverpool knock out Man Utd.(1-0 agg)

Draw Inter.

Title …. Home to Wolfsburg who are nearest contenders.  Takac back and scores the winner and title nearly sealed…. With goal difference …need a point .

Rest players before Inter match …grab a draw with Werder … should be enough…But Wolfsburg get 3 points and 3 goals back.

City 3 vs Liverpool 1

Inter Milan 0 vs Augsburg 3 …. Defensive stategy wins out as did resting Myles & Lukenjic

Top 3 in League with 3 games left are Augsburg/Wolfsburg & Hamburg …On transfers  we spent the most with Hamburg 4th …Wolfsburg made a profit selling. Dortmund will feel £80m for 7th not good enough.

42% wage to turnover is second best.

Title hopes hit by awful ref … bookings early mean I sub 2 on 40 mins to protect our 1-0 nil lead .. only to get a Red Card ( deserved)…they just get warnings ….worse I do not have any Centre half’s on the bench. Thankfully playing lowly and out of form Nurnberg who fail to get past makeshift defence.

We are Champions .🏆🥇

Elsewhere Man Utd are clear winners from Cits & Saints …Spurs a distant 4th.

France …PSG miles clear from Marseille and Lille.

Euro semis …Augsburg vs Inter …concede early (5) but big time player Takac (25) sees it 4-1 agg at HT.

Ends 1-1 on the night and we are through to first ever Final ….my first Euro final since PSG in 2030 and first Champions League since Man Utd 2028.

Surprised game was not a sell out …but was record receipts of £675k.

Playing Liverpool (8th in premier)who overturned a 3-1 agg to go through 3-3 on away goals against City.(2nd)

Game will be in Istanbul …Liverpool will have happy memories.

I will rest entire First XI …. Not worried about losing but do want a decent chance for the Liverpool match.

I have a winger at Centre Half and another Centre Midfield. Only two x 17 yr olds to qualify under League Rules ..one of them Mauger scores opening goal…other Muller makes debut.

Surprised to win 1-0 away at 7th placed Schalke.

Aratore makes 20 min cameo for 150th League appearance.

Same team vs Makele and his cash strapped lowly Bayer04 …smash them 4-1.

Can not play most of my Under 18’s which is frustrating as I want to blood youngsters.

Have to pick France Euro squad … decide to make 3 changes to get best balance and losses to injury.

Porto beat Arsenal to win Euro Cup…..been 8 years since they last won it.   Arsenal have been runners up in last 2 years and 6 times with 1 win since I started this save.

Aberdeen win Scottish title again …4 in 5 years…….Hibs pip them to the Cup.

Wolfsburg pip Schalke aet to win German Cup.

I win German Manager of the Year ….but 3rd in Players Manager of the Year

7 of my team in German Team of the Year.

Clubs first Champion League Final in 129 year history…..Liverpool are 5 times winners….Antonio Conte is the current manager ( 2nd stint).

Allowed 12 subs which allows me a spare a Keeper for once .

VAR allows our Opener through Lukenjic (6) ….counter attack works again (26) as Aratore doubles the lead and all going to plan….But on (42) their leading striker Mayor pulls one back.

Take off Talisman Takac as on a yellow card .

Hold on easily to win 2-1 ….Poss 59/41 and shots 26/08 in our favour.

Augsburg 1st Champions League …the club Official Supporters name me a Bona Fide Legend.

I now have 4 Champions Leagues ( Utd 3 Augsburg 1).

Mayor is a champions League Golden boot …Bosanac 3rd

Salgar wins Keepr award.

Okumus wins defender award

Takac wins midfieOder award

Fans Player Of Season ….Takac …..I agree , he has scored many vital goals.

Goal of the Season …Takac 

Signing ..Bosanac ….not my choice as 3 others made more impact.

Young Player …Bosanac .

I am criticised for German Cup performance ….praised for Champions League.

PSG linked with Takac.

.

Season 2 

Fresh of Winning manager of the season…time to look at life in the Vanarama National League.

31/05/2019 ….End of many contracts and time to rebuild the squad on a small budget.

Difficult decisions on some who did well for promotion but pace especially not fit for a higher level.

Rowthorn back to Saints after 42 appearances….that contract ends in 1 month but not prepared to negotiate with me.

Rooney (31) and Battle (38) back to Plymouth.

Bignot announces he is winding down his career.

Change DOF and save £600/wk for a better judge of player stats.

7th June 2019 …. New transfer window starts.

Earn 5k TV rights money.

Board Aims

1. Attempt to avoid relegation
2. FA Cup 1st Round
3. FA Trophy 2nd Round

30/06 ..hoping more loans ending will improve pool of options….it does now have a few new names.

Asst Mgr released and a better cheaper option found.

Smallcombe (36 app) returns to Exeter….. resign on loan.

Lose 6-1 to Plymouth in friendly and choose now to switch to 4-1-4-1 DM narrow.

I will have 4 def 1DM 2 CM ..2 wingers and a striker.

Win next friendly 3-0….2 for Pritchard who has joined on loan.

Still can’t sign Billy Knott despite him being unattached.

26/7/19 ….10 In and 6 Out.

£500 fee paid for Green from Eastleigh …. 4 free transfers and 5 on loan including a decent looking U23 from Swansea.

First team squad of 20 with 3 non contract as I balance expenditure….I promote 3 under 23’s.

Club currently in a small profit.

Vanarama odds in …. We are 600-1 predicted 23/24 teams.  Bury Favourites 1-5 on . Orient/Flyde/Chesterfield…make up the Top 4.

3 Bury players favourite for Top player ..two on loan from Man City.

Lose to Blackpool in friendly …second game in a row with ten men … this one within 95 seconds on kick off…fastest red of my FM career.

Nearly 2000 watch us hold Everyon U23’s. 0-0.

League Season begins .

Barnet away ..see if my defensive tactic will work …4-3-3 DM wide .  Green scores our Free Kick ..first goal (38) and 1-0 up at HT… played well . Dreamland on 74 mins as Captain Corbridge scores a second From another set piece.

121 season tickets sold …up from 75.

Dont deserve to lose …but Hartlepool beat 2-0 in our first home match in front of 846 fans.

Billericay (a) lose 1-0 .

Bury (H) 0-0 as I go defensive / counter attack .. happy to get a point …social feed moan it’s boring.

Aldershot(H) both teams 1 point from bottom four…win 3-1 with a lot of luck…fans now love the style .

Solihull(a) swap 10 due to fatigue against team in 4th …Lose 2-0 but not unhappy.

Harrogate (H) ..3rd place team so tough match …They boot us off the field ..lose to disputed pen 2-1

Shaquille Hunter is not coping with the pressure .

Weston-SM want Jamie Richards who is non contract …he rejects them.

Boreham Wood (a) Important relegation battle … Try 4-2-4 to apply some pressure ..fails lose 2-0

Down to 20th.

Chesterfield(a) .. Another 6 pointer …Back to defensive mode ..Rooney ends goal drought to equalise 1-1

Going To take break And go back to my other save with us 1 point clear and 19th.

Choice one …. A team I have never managed ….having been to Cornwall last year I decided on Truro City.

Choice two … Club only or with a National side …. Going club only and see if I’m good enough.

The team is light in several areas and with some non contract I expect to lose some players.

I went to England Trial ( 3 vs 4) but did not find any Players.

Board Expectations 

1.Mid- Table …..media prediction is 11th.

2.FA Cup … 4th Qual Rnd.

3.FA Trophy … 1st Rnd.

Transfer Budget £500 and wages £4500.00.

League Favourites

1.Billericay .2. Torquay. 3.Woking. 4.Concord. 5.Dulwich H. 6.Chelmsford. 7.Welling

Transfers …7 done before I arrived … I pick up Hunter & Corbridge on frees and Smallcombe On loan from Exeter.   Corbridge I sigend before on a Bath save .talented youngster I will use from the start .

Sold Grimes to Exeter ..annoyed the fans for £1900 plus Keats on a free.

Friendlies … A mix of wins and a few 0-0 draws as i imbed a 4-2-3-1 gegenpress .

Opening League Fixture ….The favourites Billericay.

Started Positive and can’t get the ball and a goal down…..move back to Standard and get a 43rd min penalty .

Half  Time 1-1 .

Dominate second half and 3-1 up when new signing Shaquille Hunter goes in … a late fight back sees it go 3-2 but hang on to seal a win in my debut as Manager…. Very satisfying. ( Crowd 303…..98 were away).

Game 2 ( away) Weston Super Mare … Pittman ( striker) gets his first but 1-1 (ht) ..ends 1-1 which given our Statical dominance is disappointing….both teams on 4 pts now.(415 fans ..21 were from Truro)

Game 3 (away) Table toppers and only team with 2 wins ..Eastbourne. 1-1 (ht) .. gave away a late pen after controlling first half .. other striker Rooney off the mark ….followed by a 85th minute winner.

Upto 4th ….in front 566 people …but only 9 were our away fans.

We have sold 75 seasons tickets.

Game 4 (H) Chippenham ..kept L.Rooney upfront ..two goals in opening 19 mins ..(HT 4-0)

Winger Hunter finishes the rout to win 5-0….Gone Top in front of 228 fans (42 away)

Game 5 held 0-0 by 10 man  lowly Welling .( 223 fans - 28 away)…tiredness took affect.

Game 6 5th placed Woking (a) .. HT 2-2 ( L.Rooney two) ..sub Harvey long range Free Kick wins it 3-2

Regain Top spot by 1 point.    In front of 1817 fans ..17 were from Truro.

Game 7 ..Hungerford 8th(H) ..lots of tired players …u18’s drafted in. ..0-0 drop to second behind Torquay.

189 fans ..disappointing given our league position…but only 10 we’re away fans.

Draw 0-0 in next two games and it’s 3 games without a goal.

Finances are tight and squad thin ..looking for free loans…only 1 long term option left.( no good options ..only 6 players of poor quality).

Corbridge rating 7.16 but board say they are disappointed with signing.

Game 10 ..energy back up after a weeks gap …and our first goal in a long time against rock bottom Richmond Borough. Wait until 88th min for D.Rooney first club goal against the now 10 men 

70% poss throughout and 29 shots ..14 on target …what we would do with a decent striker.

10 games gone and Torquay lead by 2 points from Truro.

A Change ..2nd Qual Rnd FA cup….rotation will be in force….new non contract DC Challis makes debut ..front four all score before HT…6-0 away win and closer to meeting board target …it’s a shame this lower level team can pull in more fans than us ( 409 ..9 were fromTruro)….. does pull in £9k prize money.

Next round lower league Barking ..big chance to meet board target ,..and earn more prize ££££

Game 11 away to Concord who are second from bottom despite being 4th fav for the league.

Lead 1-0 ..2-1 down at half time … move to positive and Harding first goal wins a thriller 3-2.

I expected an easier win ..but rotation team struggle b4 Barking seen off 2-1 away and £15k prize money.( ref allowed 20 fouls against with no cards).

The board have set the next home match as Fan Day ..kids half price.

Game 12 ..home to mid table Hemel Hempstead …awful first half ..better in the second but blow a lead and chance to go Top …ends 1-1……287 fans attend.

Third away game in Fa Cup …this time as underdogs vs Dagenham&Redbridge.Dominate possession but can’t score ..HT 1-0 down…Stats show us to be better …but we lose 1-0….in front of 1352 fans (43away)

Game 13 ..home to 4th placed Dartford .. slow start but again Positive improves us ..Win 3-2 (272 fans)

Game 14 home to 15th placed Bath ..team getting tired ..3-0 HT changes upfront working. Ends 3-0 ..disappointed with only 249 fans given it was a localish contest.

Game 15 (a) East Thurrock…Goal up in 90 seconds ..win 3-0 and Top from Woking /Torquay by 1 point

Worked out that we are playing at Torquay …new stadium Jan19 … hence why I have lowest attendance …hopefully when back in Cornwall it will soar.

Game 16 & 17 …..Slough 0-0 … then beat fellow promotion rivals Dulwich 3-2 in a thriller … first team to keep me below 45% possession.  Top by 4 points … really enjoying the challenge and so satisfying knowing this is being played with no extra money or unlikely loans or boosting the fitness levels.  Had no injuries so far which surely can not continue.

Game 18 … unbeaten league start ends …2-0 at Chelmsford ..allowing Billericay to go Top.

First time with injuries and it Took it toll.

Draw Hornchurch away in 3rd Qual FA Trophy…opt against Extra Time….Get 10 day break b4 playing as out of the FA Cup

i ask for a senior affiliate … after pleading the financial benefit the hunt begins.

26/11/18 ..Offered a new contract ..£875 per week increased to £950/wk….Agreed.

Rotation for Hornchurch ..1-1 after reserve keeper blunder.

Game 19 Billericay shock loss and our comfortable home win sees us back Top.

Replay ..L.Rooney finally scores ..second by HT…D.Rooney also gets double in 4-1 home win.

1st Round expectation met ..Home to Totton..again no Extra Time.

8/12/18 ..offers Blackpool or AFC Wimbledon as affiliate…I recommend Blackpool due to better facilities.

Game 20 ..Win again and Billericay thumped 5-1 …. 5 points clear.

Two back up players moaning about playing time despite getting cup action.

Rotate for Totton and win a thriller 6-3 ..exceeded board target and win £6k….get York next.

At half way stage ..lose a game 0-3 chasing a game after Wealdstone score from their only shot and Top from Billericay by 2 points.

Reserve player kicking off in press … I release him.

Boxing Day fixture Torquay (4th) away …start slowly and 1 down in 10 mins ..2 down at HT ..can’t compete with my small tired squad.sub Battle gives up hope ..but lose 2-1 as Torquay go joint top with us a Woking.

Last game of 2018 before we go back to own stadium… I can not afford the new contracts that are recommended.

Change most the squad due to fitness and 1 up away at HungerFord (HT)…stats all in favour but nervous finish b4 1-0 win and top By 1 point from Billericay as the year ends . ( W 23 D 7 L 3). Best defensive record with only 20 conceded. Most clean sheeTal with 12.Top of Possession with 57% . Most passes with 10078 next best 9364. Best pass completion 80%. 94% tackles won. Our top scorer L.Rooney with 7. ( best on 13 goals). Ranked 14/22 for salary spend.

Shame our new ground is 2/1/19 and not the 1st when he host Torquay ( given we are using their ground).

1/1/19….Better performance but can’t finish and lose 2-0 … down to third.

The game sees us in front of 1416 which despite being at Torquay is now a new home record crowd.

Pittman released from loan back to Torquay as £600/ week is too much.

New Treyew Road ground opened …3500 capacity with room to expand to 16000.  Also ends a £10,000 a year rental to Torquay…hopefully finances will now improve.

Use affiliate Blackpool to pick up a striker for no wages.

Wages saved on Pittman allow Ziboth to have contract extended 1 year.

After losing to Welling and going down to 5th ….we get our first home match vs top of the table Woking and I change to 442 and win a thriller 3-2 with new striker Gnanduillet grabbing a 93rd min winner In front of 587 fans ..300 more than we got at Torquay. ( He had 7 goals in past 45 games for Blackpool).

Abandon 442 at half time to WSM and finally get the ball and dominate 2nd half .. 90th min winner from our on loan striker again to edge it 1-0 and back top…just over 420 fans which seems it will be our level unless a big away support comes.

With a weeks gap b4 bottom placed Chippenham … I keep 9/11 starters to play York in FAT … They are slight favourites despite Truro playing at home and they are same position in VNN.

Level until 79th min before subs see us home 3-1 …worth £7k and £2k in gate receipts.

Beat Chippenham ( we get our first red card) ..b4 playing two of the top 5.

Eastbourne have 4 shots and score 5 goals as we go from 1-0 to 1-5 ..turning point a goal denied at 1-0 and they score 2 in next minute including an o.g.

Outplay Billericay but ends 0-0 ..happy with an away point…They choose to kick us off the park.

FAT ..change team and rear guard action minimises lose to 1-0 away at higher x2 division Wrexham

Gamble works as over 500 watch us win and stay 2nd to Eastbourne.

Try to get left back cover on loan but no loans available and players unwanted elsewhere will not accept a short term loan.

Another 1-0 vs bottom side St.Albans and next up managerless and 2nd from bottom Bath.

On loan striker now not scoring and has a real attitude in training ..especially when called out about it.

Feb finances …. Make a 9k profit and overall balance nearly broke even.

Beat Bath(22nd) and East Thurrock (20th) to go top as 4 of the Top 6 played each over allowing Truro to go 2 points clear. With 8 games left I’m 14 points clear to stay in play off / title mix…over 500 again at home match.

Lose away at Dulwich ( in form team of the division ) 5-2 ..tried change of tactic and attacking but own goal and penalty showed it was not our day ..Chelmsford missed chance to go top by conceding late but they are next up at Truro .

League Played 35 W 20 D 8 L7 … long time since I lost 7 games add another  2 in the cup in a FM save.

Chelmsford manager tries to wind me up with several media comments.

Stats show I have used the fewest players (18) ..shows my luck with injuries ..just one long term all season.

Gnanduillet misses an easy early chance as I sit my midfield deeper …Torquay score early elsewhere to go Top until Chelmsford score (31) to go Top. 2-0 down at HT.3-0 after(88) and despite a late goal by sub Battle we are just not clinical enough. Drop to 3rd…disappointing in front of 827 fans.

Top 6 covered by just 6 points.

Can finally afford a scout.

 Mid table Dartford next … Deserved 2-0 away win (71% poss) … Chelmsford lose , Torquay draw so surprised to be Top by 1 point from Chelmsford & Woking.

Finally succeed with bid for Green from Eastleigh as he enters last 3 months of his contract.

River Allen (19yr) gets his first contract.

Home to Concord (17th) who were 4th fav for promotion.

Allen gets important goal ..Ziboth the second and playoffs obtained with 2-0 win….

Awkward away fixture at play off chasing Hemel H ..almost blow it after being 2 up ..win 2-1.

3 games left …could up 1st or 6th..only top Promoted.

Truro 77pts GD +24

Chelmsford 74pts +31

Billericay 73pts +25

Torquay 73pts +22

Woking 72 pts +20

Eastbourne 70pts +36

Next game Gloucester (9th)designated a fan day ..should be good now at our proper stadium .

Player of Season voting has 5 from Eastbourne ..deserved ..2 from lowly and relegation threatened Concord.?

None from players at Truro / Billericay/ Torquay and Chelmsford get just 1.

Game week (40).

Torqyay held 0-0 by lowly Chippenham in early kick off….move up to 3rd.

Win 4-3 from 2-0 down . Changed tactics at 1-0 ..turning point at 2-1 down ..red card and penalty ..4-2 up b4 Gloucester scored on 90 mins for 5 mins of nail biting additional time in front of 671 fans.

Chelmsford lose 4-3 .

Now 4pts clear with two games left from Billericay.

Game 41 …away to Hampton & R.  Title talk goes down badly with most the squad …Only 2 day gap does not help.

1-0 down at HT but hold my nerve as possession in our favour …3-1 up by 68 mins but injury puts us down to ten men.( no right wing) …and add a fourth on the counter ..Seal the title 4-1.

This is the White Tigers .. odd nickname … Highest ever finish…defying our 11-1 odds.

Board set a new budget of £7k per week 

Last game at home and Slough kick us off the field in a 0-0 draw….1103 fans is our best at new stadium.

Season ends. Truro (84 pts) … Billericay (82) …Chelmsford (80)

Scored 72 goals ( joint 7th). 10th for crosses. Joint 3rd with Direct Free Kicks.(5). indirect (7th joint) (6)

Most goals Eastbourne with 89

Best defence Wealdstone (40) ..Truro (44)

Corner Goals ..Chelmsford (12) Truro (8) joint second.

Avg Poss ..Truro (56%)

Most passes completed (80%) ..Truro…18681 passes in 42 games……Over 2200 ahead of second.

Most tackles won (93%) Truro…..Best defence against Free Kicks and 7th from corners.

Most clean sheets (21) Truro

Most dribbles..(6) Truro

Most fouled against ..(705) Truro

Best supported ..Woking (1905) ..Truro 15th with ground share at 469.

32 yellow .Truro best discipline.

Our wage budget of £188k is ranked 18th …Billericay only team over £1m.

Louis Rooney (68% on target shooting is Top)….Team had most shots on target (307)…17th for conversion rate.

Interceptions  Corbridge 7th and Richards 9th ( 139/137)

Fan Awards

Louis Rooney our top scorer with 17 …13 in the league.

Ziboth 11 assists …10 in the league….Also wins Fans Player of the Year+ Young Player of the Season.

Has our highest rating 7.19 and 6 POM.

Best goal Niall Thompson ..cup tie.

Best Signing ..Jack Challis

Used 23 players.

Only 5 first team injuries.

Squad expect to be fighting relegation next season.

Board postpone the unneeded expansion …3500 is plenty.

Request to improve youth facilities is rejected.

Sign Cardiff U18 player for Keeper cover.

May 2019 ….3 of my better players loans are due to end but no option to extend.

Billericay beat Torquay to promotion in the play offs.

Dean Cox of Eastbourne voted player of the season….He was second for avg rating. First for distance/ assists/key passes and chances.

Estimated profit is £43k so no tax bill.

Orient retain the FA Trophy.

Season 17

Spain 1 vs Brazil 0 and lift the World Cup.

RB Coulibaly runner for a Best Player …behind England RB North.

Konan wins Golden Boot with 7…also in Best XI

Lybohy best rookie.

17 International Jobs become available…including England / France / Argentina and most surprisingly …Spain.

Part of me wants England job back …part wants to try and win in South America which I have never done ……France offer me a job which I accept…Current Rank 4th. …I am going 4-2-4 with them.

Next day England & Argentina say they have better ..Frank de Boer no trophies and Batista ..no trophies.

Ticket revenue …Dortmund Top & Bayern both £50m.     Augsburg 10th £17m

Commercial Income …Bayern £54m ….Augsburg £35m (5th)

Player Wages ..Bayern 4.3m Augsburg 1.3m ( 9th) ..Schalke a surprise 2nd.

6 Players in and 17 out as I clear house to move to 4-2-4.

We are 25-1 for the League ( 7th)….Bayern and Wolfsburg have top rated players to score or be rated highest.

I am struggling to get Augsburg Reserve and U19 staff.

Debut match a low ranked team in the German Cup …ideal.

SC Hessen Dreieich vs Augsburg ….24/54 shots on target and a 5-0 away win..with debut striker and winger scoring.

Elsewhere Wolfsburg hit 15 and Mainz + Schalke hit 8 & Bayer04 ..get 7…we draw Bayer next.

Open Bundesliga opener away at St.Pauli who just avoided the drop…..like the cup ..lots of shots but take awhile to score ..1-0 win but penalty miss annoying.  Pogba at Mainz follows up 8 in the cup by putting 5 past Dortmund .

We rake in Top 2 transfers out and largest one in .  St,Pauli brought in 10.

First international with France is away at Croatia in International League

The game I played on this save 17 seasons ago was Croatia vs England (International League)

Same result as I somewhat luckily win 0-3 with debutant Framery getting the third.  ( Croatia had two of my Augsburg players and it was a tough match especially first half).

Uruguay ( home friendly next ) …My former striker Suanes opens scoring for Uruguay …Framery equalises and sets up another as Ferraz has a hat trick by HT ( 4-1) ..6 subs disrupts the flow but win 4-1.

Suanes is against me again with Leipzig ..defensive works despite him scoring in a 1-3 away win.

Unbeaten start ends away at Bayern ….but happy overall with start of season.

France 3 vs Ukraine 2 but played majority of match with 10 men after being 2-1 up…Top of Intrnational a league …don’t appeal red despite Asst Mgr Zouma wanting me too.

France vs Chile ( Friendly) ..win 4-0 but Zouma managed it as I had set the wrong staff responsibilities.

I have a Bayer league+cup double header …in the league it’s a dramatic comeback win after they were leading and then had a red and the cup less dramatic but again a comeback after Bayer lead  we were  2-1 up when the red card happened this time ( 3 matches in a row now a straight red for the opposition). The cup squad had 7 changes so very happy the gamble paid off.   Wins are 1-2 away & 5-1 home.

Apparently board unhappy with youngster numbers signed …I check the philosophies ….Attacking football is a tick … First Team youngsters ..not ..  There have a 22 yr old winger and 22 yer old striker on loan. 15 yer old can’t play.

France hit with injuries b4 final International League matches plus suspension …wish I had Ukraine and Not Croatia first.

France vs Croatia …goal down so I go attack …1-1 HT and the recalled Khellaf. Wins it …SF here we come.

Ukraine vs France ..easy 5-1 win and wonder kid Mathis gets first goal.  Rested those on yellow card warnings.

Current Rankings

England ….Brazil …Spain ….France …Germany …Holland ….Argentina…Mexico..

IC (11th) Wales (16th) Scotland (17th)..worst Liechtenstein 211th 

Loss of form in the league but Offered a new contract which I take….inconsistency continues ..after 15 games third having lost to First/second & Third( Bayern/Dortmund & Wolfsburg) ..not a surprise and would have taken third at this time.

Euro Qualifying Group ….France (4) Poland (28) Iceland (57) Montenegro (94) North Macedonia (99)

Took a break for 4 months ( played Truro City for a surprise promotion) .. but ready to finish this German season ..then really want to go back to Scotland.

Beat out of form Leipzig and then a lower division Kiel in the cup ( allows me to Rotate the squad) before a flattering win at lowly B-M-G.

This sets up a Top of the table clash with Bayern Munich … 2 of my back 4 suspended but after scoring in 44 seconds we comfortably hold on to win 1-0 in front of a sell out 30660.

Top of the league and Schalke in QF of Cup to come.

After a draw ( Dortmund also drop points) ..Feil ends his goal drought with goals in 2 of our next 3 wins before the international break….5 pts clear of Dortmund with 8 games left.( including Dortmund).

Euro Champ Qual …..France vs Montenegro … Ferraz( 4th min pen) ..Tisserand (14) ..then up against 10 men ..2 disallowed goals before scoring another 4 and having a thrived disallowed. HT 6-0….Finishes 8-0 and Ferrari gets 4.

North Macedonia (a) .. rotate 9 of the squad …Tisserand (9 +29) with perfect start.HT 3-0. Tisserand completes hat trick in another easy win ….FT 8-0

( In real Life …France win 8-0 the next day vs Kazakstan).

Back to Augsburg and main striker injured with Serbia.

Hamburg (a) 12th placed …1-0 against run of play ..but Lose 2-1 … the keeper performances the difference.

Played 27 …now 4 pts clear of Bayern / Wolfsburg and 5 from Dortmund…Dortmund meet Wolfsburg next 

QF Cup ..Schalke (H) ….b4 kick Bayern and Dortmund knocked out in early kick offs.

Win 1-0 and a real chance to win this competition.

We get lowest ranked side SV Werder (10th) in semis.   Koln play Leipzig.

Bosanac back as seek to stay clear at the Top ….against cup drawn Werder …held 0-0 despite dominating.

Bayern draw .. Wolfsburg go second beating Dortmund.

Hertha(a) ..14th placed outplayed and win 3-0….qualify for Champions League….

Bayern draw with Dortmund.   Wolfsburg win.

Massive home game next ..Wolfsburg …2 pts seperate us…is this the title moment.

Pressure on as Bayern/Dortmund win early kick offs.

Dobre opens scoring as we go Defensive after 5 mins ..a second chalked off as off offside…HT 1-0

Hold on against A barrage of constant fouling a 5points clear with 4 games left.

Cup SF …SV Werder …Stay defensive ..1-0 up at HT and no fouls made !…Win 3-0 ..Vourgoutzis gets his first ever goal for the club.   We will meet Koln In our first ever Cup Final ….Koln last won 1983.

Under19 team are joint top after 25 games.

Hoffenheim (a) (6th) …will rest 3 on yellow cards b4 Dortmund match.Framery makes 150th league appearance.    1 up at HT .Dominate possession and hold on for 1-0. Vourgoutzis scores again.

Whatever happens ..this is Augsburg best ever league effort. 5 pts clear with 3 games left.

Dortmund(a) …Battle of big spending Dortmund ( £66m) vs big selling Augsburg ( £151m).

Bayern also made a profit in transfers ( 8 teams in profit).

Early kick off ..Wolfsburg draw a 5th place Koln.

Concede an early penalty …two down on 70 mins as team fail to perform.lose 2-0

Bayern win and are 3 pts behind.

Freiburg (H) 17th …ideal opponents….Feil ends drought (15hours)…as I go more attacking ..HT 2-0 ..Win 3-0

Only Bayern can stop us in the last game …we are away at 5th places Koln but 3 points clea…Koln also Cup final opponents….Bayern play Hamburg (11th)

Under17 Bundesliga Winner … our back up WB Winfred Addy.

Dream start after 12 mins (Takac) ..miss a pen but Takac again and 2-0 HT ..Bayern losing to a 45th min goal.

Feil makes it 4 -0 and title is ours with 20 mins left …ends 4-0 and Wolfsburg sneak second.

Augsburg win their first ever Bundesliga …Bayern have won 20 of last 22…..They sack my old adversary from France and Saints …Jardim.

Elsewhere ..Man Utd win again .Real Madrid  plus PSG are unsurprising winners.

After losing to Celtic last year..Aberdeen Win their 3 league in 4 years By a mile …Rangers are 4th 35 pts off.

Our First Cup Final against 4 times winners Koln …I’m sticking to the same tactics .

Feil(9) Tamac(29) …..HT 2-0 and the doubles on…..easily hold on for a 2-0 Win ….The Double done in front over 52000.

Fans Player + Young Player & Best Signing …SerHan Okumus….set new club avg rating record of 7.56

Best Goal …Takac 

used 21 players ..15/18

98% full stadium …30053.

Okumus wins Footballer of the Year & Players Player….can not recall a defender winning it before .

Bos ( Wolfsburg) best newcomer ….with Feil coming 3rd.

I win Manager of the Year & Players manager .

9/11 Augsburg players in team of the year…including Keeper and back 4 who set a clean Sheet record.(20)

56% possession ( 3rd by 1% from Top 2). 11th for yellow cards . Most goals (71) from most chances(85).4th for crosses Completed and 2nd for crosses completed. Top for goals from corners (10). 3rd for indirect free kicks. 10th for passes completed. 
 

Shirt Sales .Ockmonek/Okumus/Takac/Aratore/Lukenjic

In European rankings …Augsburg drop 2 places to 79th 🤷🏻‍♂️

United beat Saints to win Euro Champions League.( United win a treble).

France semi final vs Portugal ( International League my next fixture in June 2035).

Drop Framery after a hectic run in for Augsburg….Bonnin in his first squad.

Spain 2 vs England 1

38 mins for a shot on target but 0-0 as we miss 45+3 pen.(Ferraz)

Moreau (78) scores after I bring on Bonnin for his debut….Gros injured.

Final vs Spain……3 in from semis but 1-0 down at HT….all out attack gets Khellaf equaliser(73) …go back to balanced and this time we do score a penalty ..Ouattara (92) …many question why in team … it he never lets me down.

My 5th International League Win after 4 with England.

France have won 4 of last 5 and are joint with England on 4 wins….Portugal have 1.

England 3 vs Portugal 0 to Seal Third place.

In real life …Van Bronckhorst is announced as Rangers manager …in 2035/Everton sack him to be replaced by Chris Powell.

France vs South AfrIca ( Friendly) ….They are ranked 21 so should be a reasonable test against a rotated squad.

Dupuy scores his first international goal (30) ..as does Bonnin (58) ..down to 10 men after injuries with 10 mins left …but Dupuy scores again and win 3-0.

Last game of the season ..friendly vs Wales ..Rank 17…..Tisserand (5) Moreau(8) as I go on the attack early .

Make 6 changes and Wales score ….sub Mathis scores for 3-1 and recentlay drafted Teixeira seals 4-1.

Board refuse several requests but still currently untouchable.

Spurs want Tizie ..who despite his high regard of me etc …wants to go.

I bid for former Myles who I gave his debut at Utd & England… 11 seasons earlier….accepts but wage demands are high…….£80m is a new club record…beats German record of just £27m.

Also bid for France international Moreau who demanded to leave Arsenal…£68m

Also bid for BrAnnan from Arsenal..£56m accepted.

Going to need to sell some fringe players .