DNZY - Comments

@Dan - Indeed, wonder how far we can go.

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MATCHDAY 9



Got one over on Crusaders following the miserable curtain closer to last season. Crues were far less intimidating going forward and our well oiled machine ran circles around them, nonplussing goalkeeper Niall Hamilton who couldn't wrap his hands around McSweeney's header to just allow the ball to fall onto him and into his own net. The chain mail must have certainly weighed the visitors down because by the hour mark the task was made a lot tougher for them, new signings Aaron Kane and Liam Watt both involved in the second - Watt tucking it home. Despite a weak fightback ignited by Steele's goal back, Dungannon well and truly won this battle.



The fans making themselves vocal about my style of play. Still unbeaten as September ends.



Five players in team of the week, granted it did carry the Coleraine result into that equation. Nevertheless, defensively sound.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Romping it so far given our inferior stature. Everyone in the eleven have been excellent with a part to play. Dropping points to Portadown and Glenavon aren't the end of the world.

LEAGUE TABLE



Only goal difference separates us from Glenavon, matching them stride for stride. Cliftonville have the game in hand and are still unbeaten. Are we going to shake up the apple cart?

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MATCHDAY 8



An almost complete performance against the resurrected Coleraine side who were promoted last season. The visitors foolishly set up 4-3-3 attacking the entire game and were justly punished. Two penalties in the first half allowed Donnelly to place one of them for the opener, but denied on the other by the strong hand of Barry Woods in net. Aaron Kane was crowbarred into the team ahead of Brady for me to dissect his performance and I was thoroughly impressed as he set up Dempsey for a 2-0 lead at the break. If it weren't bad enough for the Bannsiders, they conceded a THIRD penalty to which Donnelly made no mistake this time. Beggs deftly headed in for four and Kane's solid rendition deserved a goal of his own. Who's next guys?!

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MATCHDAY 7



The clash of the top two ended in deadlock, but lucky to escape with a point. Glenavon's pitch was as long as my schlong to favour direct style of football and it hurt us on many occasions. There was one man to praise and once again it was our centre back Conor McParland who dug in deep with 35 interceptions to foil the Lurgan Blues' waves of attack. Despite Andy Sproule's opener, we responded with a penalty from David Donnelly to finish the game level. Dempsey largely disappointing up front, we'll take it though.



We're the immovable object right now.



McParland's brilliance earned him a place in team of the week.

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MATCHDAY 6



Former swift Keith Meade spearheaded Portadown's 4-2-3-1 line-up but offered the courtesy of not inflicting damage on his former employers. On the contrary, we have no idea how we didn't inflict a massacre on my personal enemies, cancelling out their opener with Dempsey's fourth goal of the season and then holding the deck from there on in. Disappointed, but at least we're still unbeaten.



Keep 'em coming.

IRISH LEAGUE CUP

SECOND ROUND



Unconvincing even if we did field a second string team at our feeder club. Full debuts were handed out to Oisin Kelly and Aaron Kane (though Kane was embedded to an unnatural central mid role). Kyle Brownlee's free kick made the difference in the end to advance safely enough to the third round. The team in zebra stripes failed to deliver anything problematic, however did find space for a free header late doors that drifted harmlessly wide.



...elsewhere in the evening's results. Linfield had a mare at third tier side Barn United. Good grief they're in for a turbulent season.

THIRD ROUND DRAW



20 minute drive up the M1 for our local rivals Loughgall for a place in the quarter finals.

Top start to the season not going unnoticed, claiming my first Northern Irish manager of the month award.

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MATCHDAY 5



First game we laboured to score but still controlled in a slender win over a robust Newry side. The Brady/Dempsey partnership perpetually impresses, Brady shrugging off their right back with ease to exploit a huge pocket of space to square into Dempsey's path. All Newry attacks caused very minor trouble but we should have been out of sight nonetheless. Dempsey had to double his account; running half the length of the field for a counterpointed one on one but ran out of steam at the end, skewing his shot inches wide. Loving life at Dungannon.



The gift that keeps on giving. #TheNealonEffect

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MATCHDAY 4



Despite our hot start to the season, subconsciously I was pessimistic away to the champions. Well I was certainly proved wrong with a well deserved point at Solitude where former TNS lad Alexander D'Ath captained the Shamrocks. Even game but neither side gave in, although Cliftonville had their second wind late on but failed to bulge the net.



Wasn't all fairies and rainbows as new signing Watt faces sideline time.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Punching well above in our opening four games, only dropping points to the strongest side in the division. Brady and Dempsey are quite the partnership.

LEAGUE TABLE



Neck and neck with Glenavon at the very early stages. Cliftonville also remain the only other side unbeaten.

NEW SIGNING



Oisin Kelly - D(R) - free transfer from Moyola Park

One signing came in before the window slammed shut and my scouts recommended this young right back from third tier Moyola Park. Harboured suspicions about bringing him in, but it's hard to argue with prominent physicals like his coupled with decent tackling. Might get the odd game here and there, but definitely a prospect to whet Dungannon beatnik appetites.

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MATCHDAY 3



Silence rings around Windsor Park as a shellshocked crowd witnessed the swifts dominate the midfield to secure an unexpected yet valuable 3-1 win. Andrew Brady continued to impress with some intelligent link up play with Dempsey to the extent of almost exchanging roles to profit two goals while Dempsey finished off the third. Our passing possession style completely bamboozled them and the Huns couldn't get near us. In fact the only mistake we made in the entire game was an unfortunate o.g. from goalkeeper Montgomery where the ball landed on his back after a shot struck the underside of the bar. Three from three.



Almost half of the team of the week occupied by our lads. Everything is gelling so nicely.

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MATCHDAY 2



Two from two as Institute were easily swept aside. I honestly have no explanation for the first goal by Brady, you have to witness the build up with your own eyes to believe it. No doubt about the second as Sean Dempsey got off the mark despite keeper Casey's best efforts to deny his first effort. Linfield away next, suddenly feeling quietly confident.

https://streamable.com/3ox08



Left back Tom Fitzgerald highlighted in team of the week for a change with a solid 7.5.



Unrelated titbit of information - we drew our feeder club Dergview in the League Cup second round. Easy.

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MATCHDAY 1



Watt a debut from new boy Liam! A wasteful Ballymena display played right into our hands despite them getting a fortunate equaliser, but we landed the clean killer punches to an opening day victory. Watt had a bright second half, squaring for Donnelly to restore the lead plus securing two of his own to effectively kill the lights on the game. It ended with stigma on Peter Beggs, lunging in for a stupid straight red late on with the game already won.



Liam Watt was the only one to make team of the week. (Ignore the fact that Judas Meade also made it with his new club).

TRANSFERS

OUT





A minor tidy up to the squad before the new season was to get underway with a few terminated contracts, one in particular that surprised everyone in midfielder Paul McDowell. Long story short, we're in debt and was going to further cripple our turnover had we kept him. Little did I know, Keith Meade was due to leave on a free to my arch nemesis during January before I even arrived and was powerless to convince him otherwise. A major bummer to see him go after what was an encouraging end-of-season stint on his loan recall.

IN



Fear not as I've come bearing gifts, two promising free agents sign for the swifts.



Liam Watt - AM(L)/AM(C)/M(C) - unattached free agent

Let go by Coleraine, this young versatile midfielder could fit into where McDowell used to play (despite being a little bit more advanced position-wise). Team player with enriching mental character and some physicality besides his strength, he should bring a lot to the table going forward. Vision is rather impaired, but that could just be because of that coiffed hairstyle sinking to eye level.



Aaron Kane - M(L)/AM(L) - unattached free agent

Another left footed and left sided player to rival Brady's starting spot, injecting that little bit more quickness to the side. Catch 22 is he prefers to sit in a deeper midfield role despite playing with two attacking wingers in a generic 4-2-3-1 outlook. Great crossing could be pivotal to finding the lone striker, even if he refrains from using his head.

FRIENDLIES



A solid mini tour of Scotland, thrashing local Dergview and finished off with a very respectable draw against Premier League Brighton. Six goals for Dempsey, hoping a pattern emerges going into the main season.

SEASON EXPECTATIONS



The board seriously mitigating any pressure on my job permutations by only asking us to make top half in the league. The Irish Cup may be more of a minefield as the minimum stands at a semi final. Although my aim is to win trophies, the League Cup and Mid Ulster bear no real significance. We'll have to see about that.



The bookies don't fancy our chances to steal an unlikely threepeat away from Cliftonville, but instead top six at 19-1. Sides including Glenavon, Glentoran, Crusaders and Linfield will surely give us the runabout on top of the champions.

Think we know the real reason why @Dan chose this club.

Hoping for a better challenge after the Leverkusen mismatch. Let's get some shrimps on the barbie!

TRANSFERS



A whole lot more business despite only a £15m budget, but heavily influenced by sales of first team players. Kylian Mbappé secured a loan extension, plus six newcomers unveiled in schwarz und rot. Leander Dendoncker was announced as the marquee signing from Anderlecht to bolster the midfield along with Demme from RB Leipzig, secured Alberto Cerri on a cheap deal from Spal to equip our attack with a dedicated target man and Januzaj strengthening our depth. Antunes and Tete were brought in as emergencies, conveniently as Wendell and Henrichs both picked up long term injuries on the same day. On the outs we garnered more than £60m from sales of Toprak, Kampl, Mehmedi and a few starlets from our youth academy which included two stunning regens who left for Bayern for almost a combined £12m.

BUNDESLIGA RESULTS

FIRST HALF



I'll be honest, we did a lot better than I expected in the first half after changing the system following two very enough defeats to Augsburg and Bremen eclipsing a rather impressive win over Gladbach on the opening day. Çalhanoğlu's free kicks were crucial to the team plus Alberto Cerri burst into life to grab a couple while Hernández had patchy form. A derby win over Koln grabbed another five points for the challenge and kept on a good run of form before the yellow wall of Dortmund swallowed us up. Couldn't break down Bayern but gained a credible draw thanks to Kimmich putting one into his own net. A battering to Hertha followed some great form with three wins in four including a big 2-0 win over Leipzig before a narrow defeat to Frankfurt and interluding to the winter break with a rout at home to Schalke.

SECOND HALF



The winter break didn't do much use, in fact it weakened us with a plague of injuries left right and centre, meaning serious rotation and ultimately leading to some big points dropped. Had trouble against Gladbach and Koln in the reverse fixtures to fail picking up some well needed challenge tender while Bayern destroyed us all ends up despite only scoring two. Some really infuriating defeats to lowly opposition in St. Pauli and Stuttgart seriously put us in a precarious position to find the top six yet again. Draws to Leipzig and Hamburg sent us plummeting right down to 8th place going into our final two games; one was a hopeful 4-1 win over Frankfurt and ending with another odd goal defeat as Schalke earned revenge.

BUNDESLIGA FINAL TABLE



Shocker! Bayern run away with the league once again with Dortmund improving fortunes from last campaign to finish second. Seventh again for our boys in such a competitive league to where we finished two points outside the European places behind the likes of Bremen and f*cking Ingolstadt! Stuttgart and Darmstadt condemned to the 2.Bundesliga while Gladbach seriously struggled to square up for the relegation playoff (spoilers: they won on aggregate to Freiburg).

DFB POKAL



Another year, another quarter final exit to an overachieving Bundesliga side in the shape of Hoffenheim thanks to a header from Florian Grillitsch while Hernandez missed a penalty - typical! We started comfortably with a debut goal from Cerri to outmuscle Paderborn before a very nervy penalty win over Kaiserslautern and a Dragovic extra time winner over another second tier side, Freiburg. Hannover stunned everyone by winning the overall cup with a win over Hoffenheim.

EUROPA LEAGUE





Not quite with the big boys but we had a rather decent Europa League run, easily beating Slavia Prague to make the group stages. RB Salzburg, Besiktas and AEK Athens filled our group and despite losing the important match with Besiktas for top spot in the group, qualification was simple - including a rousing 8-1 win in Austria after falling behind. Pulled out of the hat to play in Russia for the First Knockout round and saw off Krasnodar thanks to a first leg win plus an away goal to seal the deal. That's where it ended, foiled by fellow Bundesliga side Schalke in the Second Knockout round. Despite losing in Gelsenkirchen, three away goals were integral to a potential overturn...but sadly we couldn't as we were held 1-1 with Lars Bender scoring a late goal, unfortunately with the momentum, it was too late. Funnily enough it was Bilbao who took the Europa League in the end.
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TRANSFERS



Little funds, little hope of bringing anyone in apart from one Kylian Mbappé on loan in January and was quite the game influencer when called upon. Stefan Kießling was the only permanent exit, lucky to get peanuts for him at such an experienced age. Pohjanpolo, Abu Hanna and Mehmedi got some game time elsewhere by securing loans to Hoffenheim, Aue and Saint Etienne respectively.

BUNDESLIGA RESULTS



I tell you, Leverkusen and consistency rarely go hand in hand other than when it goes bad for Bayer. The winter break nearly reshaped us with wins over Gladbach and Augsburg but soon sank into disrepute with three defeats on the bounce after that. March was a rough patch, frustratingly not winning in five games, securing four draws in games we should've put away. Amazingly changing the system ensured a 2-0 win over Dortmund before fading once more to Bayern a week later. The low point of my career thus far, an embarrassing 4-2 defeat to Ingolstadt making sure they did the double over us. With European qualification slipping through our fingers, something needed to change - luckily taking seven points from our final three with crucial wins over Hertha and Bremen. But was that enough to be playing any sort of European football next season?

BUNDESLIGA FINAL TABLE



Nope. A miserable seventh place finish, pipped by Frankfurt and Hoffenheim to leave us with nothing to look forward to next campaign. Bayern ran away with the league understandably, losing only three games - one of which were us. Gladbach, RB Leipzig and Schalke took Champions League places while Dortmund had a 'mare, finishing behind us in eighth with Tuchel losing his job.

DFB POKAL



Amazingly on our path in the German Cup, not one game lasted the standard 90 - needing extra time to defeat minnows Unterhacting, penalties against Gladbach and Darmstadt but crashing out in the quarter finals to Augsburg in the seventh minute of extra time. Frankfurt and Bayern were to contest the final...

Hang on a minute...

What's this?



GOD BLESS BAYERN! EUROPA LEAGUE IS ALIVE AFTER ALL!

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE



Despite muscling out of a tough group with Barcelona, Spurs and Club Brugge, Juventus were just a step too far. Two away goals for Juve killed it off but made a good effort in Turin to lose 5-2 overall on aggregate.



Somehow after all the catastrophes, the board offered me a deal to stay on as Leverkusen boss. No negative scoreline just yet!

@Shedender - Just a suspense tactic. Who knows? We could have won it!

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The fans sure love Peter Beggs, in fact almost three quarters who voted see him as the golden boy for the future and I tend to agree from the performances I've seen from him in a brief stint. McFarland was way out in second, followed by Donnelly. Andrew Brady's stunning 30 yard free kick in the 3-3 with Ballinamallard earned title of the goal of Dungannon's season. Paul McDowell didn't exactly show me why he was signing of the season but one I will agree on is Beggs being voted young player of the season.

https://streamable.com/z1jkm



Sean Dempsey may not have netted much under my control but alas he finished the top scorer with just shy of a score. I reiterate how key Peter Beggs may be for us next season; 19 assists, one for every year old he is, dead seven average rating and man of the match five times - new contract is imminent. Just ignore the fact he has a bit of a temperament, two reds this campaign. Pass completion of 75% is rather worrying over the course of a season but Paul McDowell seemed to be the most accurate in the side. McParland's 11 yellows are something I'll have to change as that one suspension ruined what could have been worth a lucrative Europa League spot.



The Swifts had a pretty decent season despite not winning silverware or securing European football, just shy of the Mid Ulster Cup final plus decent progress in the Irish Cup before Portadown put them down. The nightmarish 6-1 hammering to Crusaders understandably was the worst result of the season.



Overachievers of the season according to Goal, however claiming that McDowell was the signing of the season is a little bit delusional to be fair. Peter Beggs was the league's top assist maker.



Speak of the devil, Beggs was pipped to the post by Cliftonville's Lamont. Of course the sporting agenda favours a league winner over hard working performers.

Anyways, time to get to work for the forthcoming season!

Interesting concept, will be following!

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EURO PLACES PLAYOFF - FINAL

WARNING: This image may leave you in a state of shock.

@Dan - High praise there my man, much appreciated! 100% wholesome with no additives, don't you worry.

@Shedender - Linfield are a side I've done well against in previous FMs (throwback to a 6-1 win at Windsor Park with low league Killyleagh in FM14).

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EURO PLACES PLAYOFF - SEMI FINAL



BRAAAADYYYY! What a lionhearted performance from front to back,earning us a massive date in the playoff final! It's rare I get excited by a defensive performance but WOW @ Conor McParland - blew me away. 43(!!) interceptions, aerial battles unmatched and kept their top scorer Ronnie O'Neill in his back pocket. Linfield dominated the first half as expected and we fell behind to a header from centre back Harvey beating McDermott to the ball. Second half was a whole different story; chances start to flow and our efforts were rewarded with an equaliser from Dempsey squeezing home from a tight angle. Almost won the game within the 90 but Geoff Connor in the Linfield goal pulled off an immaculate double save to keep it all square. Into extra time and any time Linfield launced the ball, McParland thwarted it away and produced the counter attack for the win. Sub David Curtis whipped in a cross from the right and onto Brady's head to send the home crowd into raptures. The back four were down to 50% condition but they didn't rest until the whistle finally blew to stun Linfield, leaving us one win away from Europe. Absolute scenes.




A superb spectacle met by a bumper crowd (okay, it was under 1k but still).



Crusaders to stand between us and Europa League football (and by gum we need the money).




Impeccable timing. A tough task just got tougher as McParland earns one yellow too many which rules him out of the Crues game.

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MATCHDAY 38 - RELEGATION SPLIT



They must have been listening to my last comment. Final game of the season was a buffet of hurt in the second half, folding to a narrow defeat against my personal enemy. Lee Carlin planting the first half seed and Peter Beggs should have sowed it shortly into the second but for the post denying him. Portadown had Dean McDermott to thank for their revival, completely outpositioned for two of out three of their goals to pave the way. Dempsey gave brevity to our hopes with a late goal, but Mallon shot us in the foot by being dismissed to kill the game. Curtains close with a defeat.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



The colours started to fade towards the end of the season, most of them on the beach already. Recalling Keith Meade was a spot on call, scoring four in five on his returns.

FINAL LEAGUE TABLE



About as a surprise as Lukaku's United unveiling, 7th. Knew we'd be there when the split occurred. Cliftonville were runaway winners of the league while Ards were unsurprisingly heading in the opposite direction with Newry surviving the relegation playoff.



Speaking of playoffs, we've still an opportunity to reach Europe via the Euro Places Playoffs. Linfield at home though. No pressure!

@Shedender - Would've loved it to have been Portadown for what they did to me in FM16.

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MATCHDAY 37 - RELEGATION SPLIT



Such a drole affair, should have taken Ballymena to the cleaners but for our weak finishing. Montgomery pulled off a great stop to deny the sky blues a fortunate winner.

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MATCHDAY 36 - RELEGATION SPLIT



Strange but enjoyable game, lots of very impressive goals from both sides to cancel each other out. Ballinamallard's first and third were long range beauties while our second goal came from a 30 yard free kick too. Should have seen the game through thanks to a "You've Been Framed" level of own goal handing us a 3-2 lead but as mentioned previously their third goal to equalise was unstoppable. Not that it matters as we're cemented to seventh place.

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MATCHDAY 35 - RELEGATION SPLIT



Strolling to our fourth victory in five with Newry well out of their depth. David Donnelly missing another penalty was about as problematic as it got but with Keith Meade doing the business up front with a brace, we were almost certain to walk away with three points. Gelling together so well in this 4-2-3-1.

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MATCHDAY 34 - RELEGATION SPLIT





Pulverised Ards back to the NIFL Championship thanks to a striker recalled in from a loan spell at Ballymena, Keith Meade who scored after 14 seconds to stamp our authority on the game. It was also a good day for Sean Dempsey who finally got back to scoring ways to break off Ards piece by piece with Donnelly and McParland bagging the others. Cool, calm, collected.



Dempsey also shattered his own goalscoring record on top of that.

Good work, should certainly pose a threat back in the top flight!

@tongey - Cheers for the feedback mate! Also I have to point out again, it was IRAQ - not Iran.

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This isn't good. Our second choice keeper is now injured for the Glentoran game while first choice Dean McDermott is a few days premature to return from a broken ankle. Bit of a pickle.

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MATCHDAY 33





I can't believe it. We had this game in the palm of our hands only to implode in the short space of four minutes. Glentoran were much the better side and with only a 70% fit GK we did our best to hold them off. Peter Beggs delivered from long range to hand us a surprising lead against the run of play before a sloppy backward header allowed us to double that lead through Brady and rooting the Glens keeper to the spot. Stupidly but understandably I went on the defensive and boy oh boy was that a mistake. Glentoran fired back with Alan Maguire to intimidate us, allowing them to get inside our heads and within 90 seconds we went from leading to collapsing in a heap with Shaun Beggs and Maguire pinching a second goal. Cruel defeat and what made matters worse was Institute only drew with Ballinamallard.



We also lost our right sided winger mid-match too. Taking insult to injury quite literally.

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MATCHDAY 32



It was a must win at home to Institute and made it so in a lively afternoon at Stangmore. End to end first half but neither side could forge first blood, though we certainly came closest but for a missed penalty from David Donnelly that shook the post. Dempsey nearly ended his goalscoring drought shortly into the second half, somehow his effort managed to hit the inside of the post, rolled along the line and eventually hacked clear. Finally hit the front after 63 minutes when Donnelly picked out left winger Andrew Brady to angulate a shot from an acute angle to deceive Marcus McKee. The second was pitched well as McParland powerfully headed in David Curtis' free kick and to put us right in the chase for the top half split.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Good opening stint; two wins, four goals and four different goalscorers. Team performances so far and the chemistry is flowing very nicely.

LEAGUE TABLE





One point now from Institute who are away to Ballinamallard while we take on second placed Glentoran. Cliftonville confirmed as champions with five games remaining.

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MATCHDAY 31



Tested the waters against the basement side to get a feel for the style of play. Possession based default did enough, withstanding any puny attacks Ards threw at us. Took a bit of poking to finally break the deadlock, Peter Beggs on hand to deliver the first from the edge of the area and David Donnelly assured us of no slip ups to comfortably sweep Ards aside.

Loughgall, I've had a bit of history (beef) with them in the past on FM.