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#174146 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
Better late than never though, a (belated) mid-term report:
Unbeaten, an incredible achievement given our slight lack of numbers in 2 competitions, and I know I'm a wet blanket for picking holes in our campaign so far, but still there are problems:
- 2 draws at the start of the season against sides we were supposed to beat, not costly now, but you never know;
- The draws against Ismaily and Al Ahly, where we threw away leads late in the game;
- And really dodgy performances in the latter part of this sequence, lots of 1-goal wins where we struggled to break down the opposition, or managing to do so but then seeing our defence collapse miserably.
Seems like the established order from years past has returned, it's a good thing then that we're top of the pile, and not having to chase a lost cause.
6 points clear, and if our latter performances are of any indication it's almost certainly not enough.
Confederation Cup then, and some personnel news:
Yes, they weren't eligible for the competition, so we do soldier on - would our continental form then suffer in the face of our league exploits?
Far, so far from the case - rotation of the squad for both competitions allowed us to keep the players fresh and on form.
In fact the group's results went in our favour so much so that:
We were able to rest the regulars for the remaining games.
Stopped at the Orlando Pirates game, where we (predictably) let slip a 3-goal lead.
We met the other group's runners-up, ES Tunis, who aren't exactly minnows in Tunsia:
Mad, mad game, maddest game all year, as we tore them a new one at their place.
Once we got the early goal there wasn't too much to fear, considering we had 6 away goals in our favour.
Orlando Pirates won the other semi, so it's a rematch of our group stage encounters.
Our 2nd loss in all competitions this season, and what a time to do so - letting in an early opener meant that we were chasing, and as a result our shots were often rushed and ineffective.
The good news (or silver lining really) was that we had also lost the 1st leg in our previous final appearance against Al Moaqoloun, but we won the return leg rather convincingly. Could we do it again?
Yes! And how, too - despite our sending-off, a switch to a counter-attacking approach paid off spectacularly as we repeated ran at their backline to great effect.
Very unusual that Harts of Oak are overachievers at all - they're one of Ghana's most successful teams for goodness' sake.
Now for the transfers - quite a few in fact, in light of our financial issues:
Deadline day deal in August, I had a younger left-wing prospect from last season (my HoYD's pick to be precise) so when he attracted interest it was only a matter of money.
Too bad the 500k was gone in a fortnight, used to pay the bills.
His contract was expiring at the end of the season, surprised someone was still willing to pick him up and pay good money for him.
He leaves, while younger, cheaper (and albeit shittier) Salah Amin returns from Seongnam, where he played a total of 2 games in 6 months.
Really torn on this one - on one hand he's been playing regularly this year, but on the other hand he's not really looking like he can truly establish himself as a regular.
In the end I gambled on the fact that the youth academy can produce players of similar ilk.
He's never improved at a sufficient rate despite consistently being regarded as our highest prospect, so he's moved off at a profit before injuries inevitably take their toll.
Probably worth more than $2.7 million, and definitely looks like a worthy starter for us, but in all honesty it was the end of the road for him here once he went to Bordeaux - he lost his accumulated days staying in Egypt, and we've already had our foreign quota filled up.
I might've farmed him out again to get him to improve further, but with our unstable finances it'd be safer to cash in now.
We do have a cut on any future deal, so he's still a cash cow as far as I'm concerned.
Speaking of cuts on future deals:
I knew that someone would overlook his propensity for card-collecting and get him back from the cold of the Soviets, and here's our reward.
Miscellany:
Rosella Sensi - apparently an ex-Roma president, now making waves in Egypt.
Well deserved - a storming previous campaign has been recognised by the continental body.
I'd much prefer him to stay on, he's a very good tutor and still a reliable left-sided player.
Again, we start our march to inevitable failure, this time against a fellow Premier League side.
#174110 Group G - Germany, Ghana, Portugal, USA
Eric Portapotty
#174101 Susie Twatball Championship 2014
Eric Portapotty
#174099 Group G - Germany, Ghana, Portugal, USA
Eric Portapotty
#174074 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
He'll probably convert him to a more advanced role.
#174030 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
One hell of a shot on his left, regular forays into the opposition half.
#174019 Susie Twatball Championship 2014
Eric Portapotty
#174018 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
We've not had a spine per se for some time now, more of an ability of sorts to make financially sound decisions.
#173954 Susie FC
Eric Portapotty
#173953 I came here to win the pentagon and drink vodka [FM12]
Eric Portapotty
Also I remember you posting around here some time ago before disappearing?
#173721 Barclays Premier League 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
It's not like Sherwood would have done well there though, don't think his ego would fit in well.
They should go for Allardyce when he inevitably gets sacked, they need a pragmatic manager.
#173405 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
#173396 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
We got Silvestre off your hands, it's only fair.
#173170 Group A - Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Eric Portapotty
#173083 It's been a while so I thought I'd remind you all
Eric Portapotty
#172945 Group A - Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Eric Portapotty
Or maybe he's had his favours given to him already.
#172935 The England National Team
Eric Portapotty
#172888 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
Probably, we didn't didn't want him, so fair dos.
#172885 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
It's all fucking happening, just seen someone post a Fabregas shirt burnt, people calling him a traitor, and Piers fucking Morgan.
And Sagna's said goodbye on Instagram, great day.
#172781 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
#172746 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Eric Portapotty
About time too, that XP antique.
#172348 Naming my baby
Eric Portapotty
#172184 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
An impressive surprise, as we finish with a 100% record.
And what of our continental interests?
We had managed a sufficiently clinical display in the 1st half, well I though it was sufficient anyway, only for us to lose our way and let them crawl their way back into contention.
Nerves on display as we conceded an equaliser and threatened to crumble yet again.
In the end we put it away with a slightly flattering scoreline.
Group stage draw:
On paper Lupopo are rank outsiders, while if Heartland can be put away then we are set.
Of course it hasn't start yet, so it is still fair game.
Oh right the small matter of Super Cup as well, hopefully we can achieve what we failed to do previously against El Gouna, and actually win the damn thing.
It was not to be, in an abject defensive display, exacerbated by this:
Misses the majority of our Group stage, and guarantees a tough start to the league season.
Financial news now:
Premium prices for premium goods, problem is that it bore fruit too late, and with subpar rewards.
No faffing about with high squad bonuses any longer, the onus is now on the team to retain the title.
Doesn't help that the media is buying into our 'favourites' tag.
Despite winning our 2nd league title and establishing ourselves as the 2nd best team in Egypt we're still struggling to get supporters.
Transfers now:
He asked for a transfer, which is just as well since he's been nothing more than a cash cow since he left for Bordeaux last season.
Having attracted no permanent offers he's now off to another prestigious club with great facilities, which will hopefully improve his game sufficiently to interest other parties.
3 signings, all loan, all to boost our continental numbers:
Since Mostafa is now gone I've had no deputy to count on, so (at least in continental level) I've enlisted some cover.
I'll have to play my cards right in the league, no real backup of any real quality there.
Rocha is here to take Abdel Kader's place as playmaker in the Confed Cup, because (again) due to releases.
Luis Perez was only signed on a 6-month loan, so I've needed to sign another centreback.
All these guys are all right, until recently when the game hasn't yet allowed me to re-register my squad, despite the deadline having passed.
I'll have to wait to our group stage's 1st matchday to see how it pans out, if they still aren't eligible then I'll send them all packing and soldier on with 24 registered men, including only 1 goalkeeper (Abdel Fatah).
I'll wait till January to see how this pans out, though it seems like a significant number will have to leave.
Hany Gamal is one of them, provided sufficient moneyed interest.
However I do have extension options on quite a few of these guys, so the threat of an exodus could be alleviated.
#172078 Susie Twatball Championship 2014
Eric Portapotty
#172076 Flight of the Dragon
Eric Portapotty
But really excellent work, especially the consistent trophy gathering
#172071 Chinese Super League Help
Eric Portapotty
Other than that I can't help.
#171891 Some seasons Ferrisin'
Eric Portapotty
#171787 Few Career Questions
Eric Portapotty
Use this, you won't regret it.
#171779 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Eric Portapotty
#171672 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
As it turns out, it's quite far from meh.
--------------
Preseason preview:
No fuss here, very well deserved.
Less so is Aymen Farouk's inclusion, he's good but not that good.
$16 million disappeared last season, which brings us on the brink financially, about 5 years since the last monetary crisis.
A drop in the ocean.
Another drop, though it's nice to get 2 straight seasons of TV money.
These financial news (particularly the losses) have contributed to us having only 5 million left in the back, and things like this start to happen:
And so it proved, as do playmaker Abbas and backup GK Mostafa.
These guys would be very difficult to retain as well, though a couple do have extension options.
This has happened as well, a far cry from the heydays of $20 million in transfer money.
Which also puts this rather vain transfer straight into the 'utter flop' bin, as his $5k wages will ride out the season.
Sad end to a legend's career.
Couple of transfer plans as well, of which capitalising on David Dadzie's France stint and moving him on to the highest bidder is a priority.
Only thing is no one's actually too keen on him.
Still around a quarter of Al Ahly's average.
Speaking of which:
Another man's last season in disappointment, while it's rather surprising to see Mostafa's stock rise so quickly considering the biggest thing he's done is last season with Damanhour.
I said no though, I need to win the CL with Smouha.
This is the preseason schedule, going to Bucharest will be an intriguing journey.