DNZY - Comments

Just a simple tactical change paid huge dividends! Hopefully it will hold!



To put things bluntly, it was a month spent riding on luck. Though luck equals wins and wins help us climb the table. Albeit playing careful football on the counter but for a team of our caliber its certainly overachieving beyond expectations. Despite the first and last match in the month of May, we looked quite impressive.





Keeping ourselves on the hunt for a top position, the Waterford defeat dented our confidence a bit. The defeat helped us slip from second to fourth going into the second half of the season. The Wexford boys seem to be proving a handful at the top but only five points to make up in order to dethrone them. Seems a bit wedged with a cluster of teams lying around me.

Airtricity First Division:

A tricky game to start off the month with a return fixture against Shelbourne. Fair to say this game hasn't the most glamorous with very little in terms of goal mouth action but nevertheless we handed their ass to them after an own goal and Dean Ebbe putting the cherry on top. Shels finished the game with ten men but posed us little threat with eleven anyways.





A long four hour trip to Cork to face Cobh Ramblers proved to be worth it with another glittering display. The first fixture ended in complete disappointment but revenge is a dish best served with Ebbe and Brown. It also helped us to our fifth consecutive victory in the league.





Athlone Town may be team struggling at the foot of the table but are proven to be a slippery bunch. Definitely rode our luck for this one as we deservedly went behind through early pressure in the opening eleven minutes. Despite getting a fortunate penalty, maybe a harsh one at that, we drew level from our right back Sean Burke. By my standards it was not good enough, but inspiration unraveled in the second half with a Purdy display. Richie was a hot potato and too hot to handle for De Town's defense, opening them up at any given opportunity. That said, it was a fortunate win.





Outshone, outplayed and battered against Waterford United to put an end to our winning streak. Simply awful, not even getting a shot on target. The first ten minutes were a killer to our hopes. Another charitable o.g. at one end to a silly o.g. at the other to put us 3-1 behind at half time. Nothing uplifted them in the second half and the nail in the proverbial coffin well and truly stuffed us. Not a great way to end the month.

EA Sports Cup:

It was the Don Cowan show as Longford Town's dominance in the first half ended our hopes to make the third round. A weakened team but no end product. Depth in squad doesn't look exactly promising.

In other news..:

Huzzah! My superiority shows by winning the MOTM award. Despite the woeful last performance I was top dog, grabbing four wins from five in May.

Current Player Stats:

Forthcoming Fixtures:

Since the month of June looks a little bare, I'll go for a blockbuster update with the months of June and July in one post. Three away matches in a row, starting with the FAI Cup against Longford won't help. U.C.D., Wexford and Shelbourne are three huge back to back games where we need at least six points from. Luckily no Waterford in sight.

Next Update: End of July 2015

If you run into Killyleagh YC and beat them, I will get the RA after you.

It's definitely up in my last post, but here it is again for your convenience.

Best of luck mate! I've been in the Gibraltar league with Britannia XI, it's a fun league.

@Dan - I think you might have had a hand in this!



After a particularly grim spell of recurring defeats, the Cabo boys finally found form...and in style! Team spirit has well and truly been lifted with four wins in five matches in the month of April and the first day in May. Perhaps the jury isn't out after all!





Although we are still quite a bit a distance from the summit, it looks much better than being grounded at the wrong end of the table. Spirited performances against tough opposition and keeping firm at the back helping us on the way.

Airtricity First Division:

At last! Our first three points of the season at home to Finn Harps. Goals from Purdy and O'Neill proving decisive. It was a tactical tweak going from a 4-4-2 Skinny Diamond to a 4-4-1-1 that finally cracked the code to win. Question is, would it spill over to the next games or was it a one off?





De Town, Athlone Town were our next opposition with a fair trip to the Midlands. It seems our team bus was well and truly left on the pitch as we seriously parked it in our own half and somehow sealed a point. Athlone registered 18 shots with 8 on target compared to our measly 4 to 1 ratio. But that only shot on target was vital with another goal from our golden boy Shane O'Neill. Molloy may have breached our defence but I'd happily take the point all day long.





Another match on the road, this time down the south to Waterford United, hoping to sneak more points. Careless antics giving away possession cheaply gave Waterford a soft 1-0 advantage at the half hour mark. However, we responded brightly with our Nigerian-Irish brickhouse Victor Ekanem powering in a header five minutes later. Suddenly, the tempo was in our favour and we were rewarded for our efforts with a penalty with the last quarter of the game remaining. Duly deserved victory and amazingly, our winning attitude started to show.





Back to Stradbrook for the local "derby" against U.C.D., hoping to compensate for our opening defeat to them. A structured defensive line was key here and somehow against the run of play an own goal gifted us the lead and the eventual win! Considering it took up more than an hour to get our first shot on target! The students did not become the masters on this occasion.





The start of May represents the beginning of summer. For us, it represented a fourth win in five as we kicked the Wexford Youths off the park with a clinical individual display for interim striker Dean Ebbe. With a cup match looming midweek, a few faces were rested and it worked for us! Wexford condemned to only their second defeat of the season.

FAI Cup:

Decent enough draw, but going to Flancare might be a big ask. The board only expect us to compete and weren't expecting us to get past the second round anyways.

EA Sports Cup:

Really, FM? Really? The same fixture but in reverse.

In other news..:

Well, I may not have won but I'm glad my form was recognised for manager of the month, sealing second. Bear in mind this was announced BEFORE with Wexford match.



Shane O'Neill also managed to come second, this time for goal of the month. Didn't see the winner but Shane's was quite decent to say the least.

Current Player Stats:

Forthcoming Fixtures:

A few number of fixtures, quite big fixtures at that. Might tire out some players but trying to maintain this record could prove to be even tougher.

Next Update: End of May 2015

@Cymro - I really hope not! The board didn't give me too much expectations other than just being competitive. Things should turn around soon once we fit into a winning tactic.

So starting the first few weeks at Stradbrook and the immediate reaction is "why have I come here?". But yes, it has been pretty shocking. Well maybe that's an overstatement considering our feeble reputation but nonetheless it has been a bit deflating. That being said, I'm not expecting miracles in the first season and must remain professional.





...yeah...may need to rethink my strategy. The results haven't been good but at least we do score goals but doesn't justify the performance. I mean we didn't even come out with a friendly win either. Anyways cracking on with the results from the league.

Leinster Senior Cup:

Pretty much thrown in at the deep end for my managerial debut against high-flying Dundalk. It might have been a poor choice of tactic but going 4-0 after 25 minutes is unacceptable at any level so a few changes were needed. And it started to work! Got back to 4-2 within seven second half minutes but fell flat on our face again coming to the dying moments. It was a good second half performance. Plus now it meant more focus on the league.

Airtricity First Division:

First match in the league against the students of UCD and we pretty much were 'schooled'. More first half woes but turning in another decent second half performance. Shane O'Neill grabbing our way back into the match until losing our concentration. We registered 16 shots to their 6, both with 3 on target. Seems like my strikers need to be fine tuned before any progress comes about.





So our first home game of the season welcomed the Wexford Youths in their camp pink and black. We were starting to find our shape again and posed threats within the first five minutes. However, it was Wexford who struck first. It didn't start off too well in the second half as with only 46 seconds, the margin doubled through Dean Broaders. An impact substitute loomed with Dean Ebbe firing us back into the game but we ran out of steam. 13 shots / 4 on target - the ratios starting to look better, but the scoreline didn't match.





What next for us? Oh, yes. A trip to Tolka Park and the favourites for the title, Shelbourne. Pessimistically, I fancied us to lose by more than three. But no. We hit them first through a defensive mishap, allowing Shane O'Neill doubling his goal tally for the season. And we looked strong! Almost making it two only for Dean Ebbe to fire straight at the keeper. Suddenly it led to a second half collapse with an equaliser, arguably against the run of play. Our team still went with an attacking mentality and almost clenched the lead with elevent minutes left only for a point blank save from the Shelbourne 'keeper. Frustration mounted after one of the worst kickouts from a goalkeeper I've experienced gifted the goal which sunk our chances of coming away with anything. Confidence destroyer right there.





It felt as if we were on the upward curve given the performances so far and Stradbrook hosted Cobh Ramblers for our fourth match of the league. Peaking a bit of confidence pre-match but it did not show one bit on the pitch. Messy, untidy, unconvincing football leaving no shot on target from six shots. To be fair, we were lucky to only concede two.


To sum up the performances so far, much work to do. Leaking goals doesn't help either so hopefully I can find a suitable tactic to play to our philosophy. But another problem is the morale...

Current Player Stats:

Forthcoming Fixtures:

Next Update: May 2015

Starting off in my home country again, taking the helm at one of the most unknown footballing powers, Cabinteely FC. Or how I like to call it..the kip five minutes down the road from me! Arguably the team with the least experience in the whole of British Isles and Ireland, I'll happily start from scratch. Especially with my horrible stats. Also, I couldn't help but notice this tweet from the club's official Twitter.






I mean it couldn't be a simpler choice.

Fun fact about Cabinteely, they don't even play in Cabinteely. Their home games are played in Stradbrook, Blackrock...about 15 minutes away.









Seem quite healthy financially too. (For a First Division Irish side).

Next update: April 2015

Time to get rolling!

Best of luck, I managed to get Killyleagh up to the Dankse Bank Premiership. Came across Tandragee on my journey.

He's a great laugh to have though. I'll be going on until the challenge is complete, even if it takes forever.

Glad you enjoy listening to it! It really is a great podcast to be part of, lots of fun.

02/38

I'll be resuming this after May 22nd.

Should be more on the way! Better than typing out a whole essay every month or so.

Well, top of the morning to ye! Think it's time I share with all of you how my British Steel Challenge has gone so far. I've actually been going at it the last six seasons but am only now making a story of it. I won't be going through much detail here, because I'm far too lazy!

Anyways, all my season stats have been uploaded to ensure that you get up to speed with all my shenanigans. I started off my challenge with Malahide United from the Leinster Senior League (just to make it that more difficult to get started). I got them promoted to the Airtricity First Division in 2016 and incredibly won my first trophy of the challenge in 2017 by winning the First Division crown! Only to be humiliated the next season..

I've decided to make this into a vlog as well, so feel free to check this first video diary of my career so far. All screenshots are provided in the seasons tab.



I'm currently into November 2019 as the manager of Killyleagh Y.C. in the Belfast Telegraph Championship 2, but yeah the video should do the talking.




Feel free to follow my diary on Facebook too: http://www.facebook.com/DBSC100

So we are up to the end of October, effectively half way through the season. Do we look like we're in with a shout? But before that...

Forthcoming Transfers:



I've signed Crnigoj in a previous save before and turned out to be very decent. Only 17 and has bags of potential.



Going on a hunch from my scouting team considering he'll reach four and a half stars. He's only 14 too so has loads of time to improve. Problem is I have to wait until 2017 to sign him because of the under 18's rule. Ridiculous if you ask me.

Anyways, on with the form.

EpiCentre Premyer-Liha Results:



Another solid set of results, but all by the slenderest of margins. Disappointed we couldn't hold on for a win against Chornomorets, but they are in good form so they were certainly up for the game. Lots of clean sheets too, thanks to the Kiev legend Shovkovskyi. Still has it at the age of 38.

EpiCentre Premyer-Liha Table:



Been a bit of a cakewalk so far, both delighted but disappointed at the same time. Think I was expecting Shakhtar to threaten a little bit more. But we still have to play them in the reverse fixture in Kiev so anything could happen. Could be a catastrophic second half of the season.

Kubok Ukrani:

Second Round (vs. Stal A)



Typical Borini, no goals in the league yet bring him on as a sub in a lesser competitive cup in extra time and manages to score four in the space of 17 minutes in extra time. Probably my quickest hattrick I've experienced too. Played a much weakened team and a bit disappointed we couldn't hold our 2-0 lead and had to go through extra time. Oh well, a win is a win.

Third Round (vs. Tavria)



Seems to be some kind of trend..hold out until extra time, make a few subs and absolutely pulverise them over the two halves. Brought Ruben on for a disappointing Gutierrez and scores two. Mbokani also got on the scoresheet.

Quarter Final Draw:



Of course it had to be us against Shakhtar, didn't expect anything less. Strange that it won't take place until April next year. Gives us time to prepare anyways.

Europa League Group Stage:

Matchday One (vs. Guingamp (H))



Disappointing result, switched off at the back and conceded a soft goal for a draw.

Matchday Two (vs. Dinamo Zagreb (A))



I think it's fair to say I 'FM'd' Dinamo, though I don't think the highlights reflected it. But solid performance from Maxym Koval between the sticks.

Matchday Three (vs. Viktoria Plzen (H))



Bit touch and go in this match, prevailed in the end. Glad to see Borini netting twice after a slow burning start.

Europa League Table:



Safe to say I'll qualify with one more victory. Whether I'll be top is another question.

Team Stats:

Goals:


Assists:


Last Five Games:


Fabio Borini started off very rusty but seems to have gradually become very solid upfront, mainly from the bench. Glad to see my other signing Jonas Gutierrez setting up the most goals too. Very encouraging to see a lot of players reaching over 7.00 in their last five games too.



Seems we're also breaking records too. Cor blimey! Can we keep this up until the winter break?

NEXT UPDATE: NOVEMBER 2013 - DECEMBER 2013

So here we go, beginning the quest to throttle Shakhtar and knock them off their throne.

Transfers In:



Not too much business, plenty of big names to choose from. Few positions were lacking, including left midfield which is where Jonas Gutierrez will fit in perfectly. Also decided to give Fabio Borini a chance to strike on loan from Liverpool.

Transfers Out:



Lots of dead wood had to be facing the wood-chipper, few went out on loan. The only transfer out was second choice keeper Denys Boyko to Dnipro, gaining a healthy £4.9m plus 10% of the next transfer. Seemed to please the fans too by the looks of it.



Friendlies:



Solid apart from the defeat in Denmark. Just friendlies anyways.

EpiCentre Premyer-Liha Results:



To say we had a great start to the league is a bit of an overstatement. Certainly haven't convinced me yet. The 2-2 draw with Volyn was very disappointing.
Notice that our second match was to face Shakhtar in Donetsk. First mighty test of the season.

Shakhtar vs. Dynamo Kiev:



Very pleasing result considering we looked on the back foot for most of the match. But eventually getting a quick equaliser from Marco Ruben. I'll gladly take a point!

EpiCentre Premyer-Liha Table:



Unbeaten so far, can't complain! Still need to face Dnipro though.

Team Stats:

Goals:


Top Scorer: Yarmolenko - 4

Assists:


Top Assister: Gutierrez - 3

Average Rating:


Top Average Rating: Kalitvinsev - 8.40 from 1 game // Younes Belhanda - 7.33 from 6 games

Europa League:



Looks like a very decent and winnable group, should get through to the next phase.


NEXT UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 2013 - OCTOBER 2013

So, basically decided to take on the task of getting Dynamo Kiev back to the top of the Ukrainian premier league and snatch it away from Shakhtar. Not saying it'll be easy but here's hoping it goes well.

First entry will be posted shortly.

Definitely up for this.

Definitely take it.

July 2018 - August 2018 - "ClusterFun"

Two months, ten games and a lot of tired legs, it certainly has been a huge last few weeks of games. I made my Champions League debut with NSÍ against Legia Warsaw and big top of the table clashes lied in between the lines. To my previous entry, I ended with a five game winning streak going into July with confidence looking high heading into a big rivalry clash against B36.

Effo-deildin Results:



Took our rivals B36 apart with strikes from Klæmint Andrasson Olsen in either half, clocked up seven yellow cards too and luckily escaped without a dismissal.
Sørvágur was our next destination to face 07 Vestur before we flew out to Warsaw midweek. A moment of brilliance for Ári Ólavsson Ellingsgaard picking up a terrific hat-trick and we were fully prepared for the trip abroad....but we'll get to that later.
Some say this game would be one of the crucial turning points of the season for us, facing KÍ on our turf and we simply took them apart. K. Olsen with two and sixteen year old centre back Jákup Jørgensen from the bench ensured us seven wins on the bounce.
But that's where it ended, a hiccup away to AB (FRO) which seems to be a regular occurance now. Dion Brynjof Splidt cancelling out Bárður Olsen's goal for a disappointing draw.
First of two huge games came against EB/Streymur at home, first against second. Nervy encounter but just about came out on top, but it could have so easily gone the other way.
Following that was another big face off, another home match this time to HB. Gutted that we lost our nine match unbeaten streak to a very lucky HB who shouldn't have got anything from the match. Angered to say the very least.
Nevertheless, wins against Skála and ÍF finish off the month on a high.

Effo-deildin Table:



Still a fairly tightly packed top three, HB lead by two and just ahead of EB/Streymur by two. Seems that KÍ have completely gone off the rails after a good start. Seven games remain, are we able to retain the title?

UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round:

Very tough pick of draw with Polish heavyweights Legia Warsaw, nearly 2000km from Tórshavn to Warsaw for the first leg. Can only hope for the best.

First Leg (Warsaw, Poland):



Second Leg (Tórshavn, Faroe Islands):




In Other News...:




Ker-ching! Lots of funding should certainly help us progress for planning training upgrades in the future.




Fantastic to see our reputation is increasing in the Faroes. But of course this wasn't played in our ground, we had to use the Faroese national team's pitch for this tie.

Forthcoming Fixtures:



Well, it's the run in to the remainder of the season again and it seems alright apart from those last three games.

What an absolute stinker of a last three games we have left. KÍ, EB/Streymur AND HB. ALL AWAY FROM HOME.

Can't see us winning it to be perfectly honest, but we'll have to wait and see.

Until next time.

Just found out my opposition for my Second Qualifying Round match.

May 2018 - June 2018 - "Pendulum swings back and forth."

Certainly been a very topsy-turvy last few games and it has affected our place in the table ever so slightly. Our confidence has wobbled and morale was a little bit in the yellow/orange but three straight victories may have remedied the situation.

Effo-deildin Results:



We travelled to face KÍ at Djúpumýra, but it seemed our form didn't even turn up. Outplayed and out muscled to a very poor 2-0 defeat.
Back to home soil (or in this case astroturf) to face AB (FRO) winning out by 3-1, left a bit shaky after a red card to Jens Joensen and a penalty brought the game to 2-1 but Leiver Højgaard settled the score.
But next we faced a trio of away games, starting with a calamity against HB. Another abysmal performance and could take away no positives from it. A lot of work was still to be done to make sure we weren't slipping away.
It didn't get any easier with an away match against EB/Streymur, we were fifth at this moment so a defeat was not an option. We somehow surpassed them after an impressive display from the league leaders. Somehow, we came from 1-0 down to win out by 2-1 and held firm until the final whistle. Definitely a massive relief and some firepower to take to Skála.
Again, we fell behind but our response was blistering in the second half with a fabulous performance by our top playmaker Árni Frederiksberg to seal an impressive 4-1 victory.
Two wins became three and then four with victories over ÍF and Vikingur Gøta respectively. ÍF game never looked in doubt with ourselves dominating from start to finish. However, it took a while to break down the brave Vikings, only for a super sub Gunnar Zachariasen to plant an important winner in the 79th minute.
A month break now before we hit the ground running back into the league and the Champions League too.

Effo-deildin Table:





Second and by no means comfortable judging by our positions. Up and down season so far and we'll need to maintain this form heading into the latter half of the season if we are to retain it.

Forthcoming fixtures:



Bit of a bumper two months heading to the end of August before the final stretch. Wedged between the Champions League is a huge home game to KÍ and I'm beginning to wonder if I should take it seriously after I received some interesting news.



And thus ends another entry in the diary of a small manager in a big pond filled with opportunity. Looking forward to these next two months and hopefully we can gain something out of the Champions League too. Onwards and upwards!

Well it's been a while since my last update on my Nordic challenge, what with this FM15 beta and whatnot, but I can't leave aside this career. The hard work begins if we are to retain the title, which means strengthening the squad.

Season Transfers:



Few new faces coming in, including two rival players from Vikingur Gøta.

Lots of dead wood going out, mostly youth who simply haven't made the cut. Bit disappointed to see Pætur Daum Jacobsen leave, but the time was ticking on his contract and decided not to renew. Suppose he's 35 after all.
As for Rói Zachariasen, he's young and wanted some game time, so I've lent him to FC Suðuroy for the season. Already receiving treatment for fractured ribs only a few games into the new season in 1.deild.

Transfers In:

Rógvi Joensen - M(C) - free transfer from Skála



The central midfield area is one we needed to combat, somebody to partner Karl Løkin. Rógvi is a likely candidate and has been solid for us so far in the early stages. Plenty of good attributes to his name and can only get better from here on in.

Heðin Hansen - M(C)/M(R) - free transfer from Vikingur Gøta



Our third choice midfielder, he'll probably get some appearances towards the second half of the season. For now, he'll be seen as a minor liability until disaster strikes.

Jógvan Andrias Nolsøe - ST(C)/M(R) - free transfer from ÍF



Again, seen more as cover as strike force in case something were to happen to one of the Olsens. After all, he can fill two roles so I thought why not?

Dion Brynjolf Splidt - M(L)/AM(L)/ST(C) - free transfer from Vikingur Gøta



A player who caught my eye last year, versatile, technical and has a knack for goalscoring. Scored two against his former club as well, so definitely he's made good headway into the first team already. One I may play often on the left hand side.

Youth Intake (pick of them):









We certainly get some good defensive players, both Jákup Jorgensøn and Símun Djurhuus look fresh. Goalkeeper Árni Johanssen certainly doesn't look great on paper, but his rating may make him a decent 'keeper. Finally, Ari Joensen in midfield and attacking midfield looks solid. Certainly a good year for intake.

Pre-Season Friendlies:



Not entirely the best, as we played one Faroese lower division team and three top flight Norwegian clubs (obviously you'll be able to distinct between them). One win out of four, meh.

Effo-deildin Results:



Not too bad considering picking up three opening victories back to back, only to lose a stinker against our rivals B36. And the form declined into a lacklustre draw against the minnows of 07 Vestur. Not the ideal start to the league season.

Effo-deildin Table:



Early days, but well up there with the best. Could and should be top though taking those two poor results out of the equation.

Løgmanssteypið:



Bottled it against EB/Streymur in the second round, conceding in the 93rd minute after one of the worst passes I've seen from Kristian Joensen our goalkeeper, giving it straight to Mouritsen who taps it home from 15 yards out. Couldn't make up for it in the penalty shoot-out either. Best to drop him for a few.

Atlantic Cup:

Ah, this was a new experience for me as we face the Icelandic champions in a prestigious little duel for the Atlantic Cup. My opponents were Haukar. Anticipating a highly, nervy encounter.



Forthcoming fixtures:



Not the kindest of fixtures, especially with our next match away to KÍ. Not to mention two away games back to back, facing both HB and EB/Streymur. Won't be easy.

Great to see you doing a save with the club I support.

I've given him a few first team starts, the lad is only 16 so I won't rush him. Already has featured for the Faroe Islands Under 21 side nine times.