Eric Portapotty - Comments

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#152154 12 Years A Slave Alternative Trailer
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
You flatter yourself.
#152150 I'm bored, challenge me
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
The Bulgarian lower leagues might have them beat.
#152149 PREPARED FOR SOMETHING
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42612000/jpg/_42612527_winners_getty416.jpg

Also, very nice work in the league, good to see that my luck has rubbed off you.
#152140 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
Quite a career you've got going for yourself there. And unexpected success is always the best.

It's great initially, but fucking infuriating when you start fucking up and you don't know where to fix it, since you stumbled to the title in the first place!

Not to mention title-winning wages for a mid-table club.

-------------------

Big teams dropping points gave us a chance to keep pace, but we're gonna need to stop capitulating if we want to get a continental spot.


https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Ofc8v67lUNL14VW620bp1tBEpzSM13fhEfrugSNI.png
Before the Telephonat match Als Mokawloon and Ahly lost, while Zamalek only managed a draw - so it was only right for us to drop the ball as well.

Basically, 3 losses in 7 is not title-winning form, and it's more galling that our fallen opponents included El Gouna and Al Ahly - seriously threw our chances away.
Oh well, fining players seems to be a good way to balance the books.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/SgkHegrKjItmLHh4ZNXiNLJG6K7CU3YXqfosDGsF.png
Of the challengers only Ismaily await, our our fate is really in our own hands with regards to getting 4th and into Africa's 2nd-tier continental competition.
Obviously we'll lose out to Zamalek, because that's how life works.

We've also been through a couple of CL matches:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Q1fZ7NJvpbKirQ7wpFTCIu7alX1xizMCfErShFdf.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/oHZwKzFcfhIqoOOruSfSoW6C7Nyk92PiKl9ZcjEB.png
We had the 1st leg sealed up, so the return leg featured the reserves who served(an under-par but)sufficient performance.

Next up was a Togolese side with an actual manager and 3 regens, so while it might be tougher we'll still be expected to put them away with minimal fuss.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/8DJbGP7QnF97jy7RPO1QmMohkAH3lS2Kzjsy8Ppp.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/fpoxIqTkexZUg7U4AOTNAUQ6UMUlatrPl7HFPfB1.png
1st leg went as expected, so the 2nd leg was treated as per the last round.
The outcome was anything but certain, though - we were never really safe from elimination, and our defensive shambles in the 1st half contributed to that.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/yLds9EJDBqNg1uvj7IonYZ1po9nyUCdcAhT3wRWI.png
That's us out then, but at least we'll have some more matchday revenue and $143k in prize money.


Next batch of youngsters came trough as well, time to see if my investments in the youth system paid off:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Vh0BcpboqwjHAE0HfvmbV9KTUUvtvLNtvQy3jl6u.png
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Ak8YyVSV1de4JanBeoidUl6lz2NmTMmn02dCx9Ss.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Lx4b8yiqRrHMf7zu35forulyEt1wK40XVILC8Pij.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/7nizUenWzvB5QGVlDlgfSX2LXK4IhPYpaVG1qEjo.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/iQcvCoiLLqbHeviEuu7Hhu9BjrgJ5AlveTkwhenp.png

From a consistently average bunch, to some properly good ones and the rest being youth fodder - give and take, I suppose.
Emam's probably the best of this 4, but I've no real idea where he's going to fit in the team, considering the amount of mentally stronger AMs we already have; might have him trained to play in the left wing.
Really like Abdel Fatah as well, might have him feature prominently in the 1st team next season to try and develop a GK properly for once.

Now for some rather interesting news snippets:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/uYAOwRKt6EhWQrfL0bPFZjyui97BBe3yUMdHzZCg.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/uuYMhZE1rUCfBGaMYRY4CEssU9BQ4n8hPckYGRrx.png
Again, a couple of American sides with an interest - I rejected both, but it's intriguing how there's suddenly so much interest for my services.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/icMRT1lL2hqiohrv7fordKAcIcAew65uNDiNMV8I.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/URqSYxEuMiC6K3d8HkQtw0Xb8vyz4sh4yMPqkeFh.png
Now this is just weird - do they not know that I've only fluked my way to a league title in Africa? Because surely they'd have done their homework about me if they were going to hire a Singaporean who's ever only managed in Cameroon and Egypt.
#152124 Dallas Buyers Club Alternative Trailer
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
I'm sure there wouldn't have been such a huge reaction if you hadn't started a new thread for it.

Should've posted it in the Night Thread - or it's probably too late for that, since first impressions stick around these parts.
#151996 New Staff
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
What would the newsletter have?
#151990 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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Premium
A short transfer window update:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ZR1V93RHU1ykQXP6Jf6GZwVWGMuubWQ5jMlMGzbc.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/SROG780IQEiH2podRyXrCcJ46JEKOEWKBWMw5Xy6.png
As usual, choking -big time- against a giant, and again with Yao the main culprit. Might have to leave him out of the big games at this rate.
At least we alleviated the potential issue by winning against Suez Cement.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/M7SLd3ilehRPdkprh4YtHkINMh6wyjyZuWrTa2sG.png
Big teams dropping points gave us a chance to keep pace, but we're gonna need to stop capitulating if we want to get a continental spot.

My stock seems to have risen considerably as well:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ePD2zWAA2ooMwYTKWACPWujZ6SB9d0ZTUD6TCI0I.png
They beat us a day before, scoring the 1st goal despite El Sayed lying injured for over a minute.
I'm not managing unsporting scum.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/UkfXvGNPuxtRrJkPNIIJ172AZByBBeTHfMvqtQoJ.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/WwgALRCbf9bA5SPl39j96EJVH3YBISERk1jz7cKw.png
Both teams are financially worse off than Smouha, and struggling in their respective second tiers as well.
I'm also looking forward to a good bunch of youngsters this March, so no go.


Regarding the transfers - Ibrahim didn't leave, but other things happened:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/M1Pssj2aCO93mOBoJwipf1JVeXoMvrRCyQjumcwU.png
A reserve GK who wasn't likely to dislodge Mostafa, he left with our best wishes.
Damanhour was bought over by a Slovenian tycoon and are now the 2nd richest side in Egypt, so they've been splashing the cash this season.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/B4Sdz7bF2jCel3xIRGnhlopv0GrgkMZGZX7jayB5.png
All greyed-out on their side, so nothing less than a morale-boosting thrashing.
#151872 Gibraltarian Jesus
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
Remembered that you mentioned that SI should look to league DLCs as revenue sources.

Seems like you're probably going to be right.

Good luck with this though.
#151792 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
1st January 2023, and this is the mid-year report:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/OnJzMDxdjdSJ5fJBfazpjrFxQQX6C9MAYtHRrRtt.png
We're really like Arsenal - an ability to put away (for the most part) weaker sides, but capitulations against bigger sides and teams with some exceptional strengths (see El Gouna).

The consecutive winning runs are still there, as are the performances, but we've already lost the same number of games as we did last season.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/PNhsXfZufWXmRouz0Dpdklfn9RgCoOYZoP0eMEk2.png
We've dropped 17 points already, compared to 19 for the whole of last season.
Of course, last year's points total as a record, so it's not likely to be repeated, but it's a bit too tall of an order for us to defend our title - top 4 is attainable though, so long we beat one of the giants.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/l4iTnIzoWQk6cmHxzgvAWsRnKnPSdsNXLsJ4N3R3.png
They're not quite a bogey side, but we've been drawn with top-flight sides for 4 seasons now, and as has been seen we don't do well with that.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/eSbIc1GVdxqhJFrFwCZC7o6N5G8FCwN2ROhsfl4D.png
And what's a season without a financial crisis?
We've managed to blow all the sponsorship cash at the start of the season, and we face ending January in the red - again.
The Champions League starts in February, where the prize money and gate receipts might help alleviate the problem.

There is, however, a tried and tested solution:
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/RrxMUdE2JZYk8nFZ24pPwsQflOIYyG9UrWMRYcU4.png
Obviously I don't want to continually strengthen my rivals, but it's been an assured source of income and will like be the same this time round.
If I'm honest my asking price is $2 million, if they can meet that then he can go.
#151784 The Armoury
#151776 Barclays Premier League 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
Really want Spurs and United to get 5th and 6th, would love for them to get into the Europa League and suffer the fixture pile-ups.
#151549 Site Improvements
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
What do you mean?

Scratch that, seems to have come back on.
#151496 Site Improvements
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
Speaking of the archives, seems like they can't be accessed at all now.
#151455 The Manchester City Thread
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
Are you kidding? Touré's pretty much the big game player in the Premier League at the moment. His problem's not the big games it's the ones against smaller teams away from home, when he gets lazy.

Which is one of the points mentioned in the article in fairness - it's not putting in enough effort against the minnows..
#151181 Susie FC
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
Height in (cm): 179

Nationality (2nd nationally also if you want)ingaporean-Chinese

Position(s) (Can have a natural and accomplished position): RB/AML

Preferred foot: Right

Best Attribute: Passing

2nd best Attribute: Composure

3rd best Attribute: Positioning

4th best Attribute: Balance

5th best Attribute: Natural Fitness

Worst Attribute: Stamina

2nd worst Attribute: Bravery


Cheers george.
#151049 Old Trafford Lounge
#150882 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
This is glorious:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BjzV07zCUAA78md.png

"My guy gets fired a lot"



Harsh.
#150880 Barclays Premier League 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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Premium
I've to admit that I'm not one to judge - definitely hoped that we'd lose some games in the past in the hope that Wenger would do what was required at the time (probably transfers related).
#150851 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
Preseason's done, now to defend the title (somehow)!

But first off, some recognition:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/xyzuMGeZRazpX3zjQuPTMHz601BWjTn3phvPHM37.png
Massive, massive overachievers.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ZvpBEH4n3MLrjec11nDQoKJOqpfqbojRCCCO6Edp.png
Not him though, fully deserved.

And money matters:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/9U25WFwmRyyz1qRmjNf3br7oXX580Z2z78nLAcoM.png
2019 was our 1st season back in the top flight, fyi.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/pnrvqoi8GskBjQhVfIeetWHkfB7iLWdATyehzuP8.png
Essentially we get taxed for not driving ourselves to financial abyss.

Now for preseason:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/xCsvg0RmJXo1Dti3mcR1ZK4uisykSMEX05yI0CgJ.png
Not exactly the best way to start the season, albeit coming up against half-decent European sides was always going to be a struggles.
Losing to Sokar El Hawamdia didn't help though.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/IQRaFA9yu7ejazJW2HwIfLz5oPpVUsFx7h1BlpdH.png
An insipid performance where wee were very, very wasteful with our chances.

Transfers now:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/dx9bAQY8b5buzgfWotM3umrCjSGYMjc4DQifMJyf.png
True to my word there was a cull, and as a result the wage bill fropped by $15/k p/w.
Unfortunately renewals to the likes of Mabrouk and Adel pulled it back up to $26k.

Only transfer in:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/WK5WMV0AoVkxXEPbTHf9VtJntTHL697zJjMjKMOz.png
Covers a variety of positions, particularly the left-wing spot, where Amr Saleh has returned to his (now)-parent club.
Can play up front though, so this might be the season where I have sufficient reason to play with strikers again (4-6-0 having been the template for this side since the promotion season).
He's apparently inconsistent though, so not much hope with regards to that.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ZqISnCH6ySD7N692IDPXux5nLghg8VQwjgwF21WV.png
Al Mokawloon really are funding our financial survival here.

---

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/HlCOnCnrMp8uXwxEz5kQgnkF3cLecQ5GFgI1IcEk.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/vBg86JnNpeRKQzfyvFSt9AMAV1uOzYUObRRRemrx.png
The fear now is that we'll not even be able to secure a top-half finish!
#150675 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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It's not like you've pointed both out, so it's moot.
#150659 Old Trafford Lounge
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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I think he was drunk when he typed that.
#150652 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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Premium
A pre-Milan Flamini > Song, IMO.
#150648 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
What bookstore is it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_Holdings

I'm working in an outlet in an institution, so at least it's not retail hours.
#150506 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
Got a job as a bookstore assistant, starts tomorrow.

Turns out there's been a cock-up at their HR, and I was supposed to start work only in mid-April.

Which would've been better if I hadn't found out about it by going to the store.

Wasn't all bad though, 1st day of training, was fulfilling.
#150418 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
A postscript for the season, before the start of the next campaign:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/flxQzd3a0ML5copuXTup5gB2Bw56DmZA43c2iVRU.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/UaszjJEb3ToWoODH6bHvw4SKi4WCoQx3XdgBLsNK.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/7l1gj2P3eiZnd3uHoUdslpNZX1pIpCexMMQoDMnh.pnghttps://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/TdwnhY6X08ZVebfzuO6A4GTDu5oVQFl9r0KHTUpR.png
It's the board who has proposed this competition, so they must have the confidence that this'll bring in some cash.

I've also renewed deals for Yao and Ramadan, after the latter agreed to take a 25% pay cut.


https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/E4rbqk3nACjtviYs1S6CJZXEzFlEGl4LB6RdafA8.png
Best signing was a winger I sold in January and was loaned back, while despite winning the title the players didn't play to their expectations.

Says a lot really.
#150361 Old Trafford Lounge
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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Premium
What makes people think that Simeone and Klopp will be available?

Klopp may be having a poor season, but it doesn't necessarily mean that he'll jump ship - heck, he's repeatedly pointed to the fact that he has a deal to 2018(?).
#150183 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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Fucks sake.

Don't fucking do this to me, Arsene.
#150150 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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Premium
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/UbYcgPt0oxpcU2X3YBuygKYCkI6ULkSnRQDe75Ti.png

I'm going to regret this, aren't I.
#150146 Pentagon [FM14]
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
3,327
Premium
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/GSgxZPXpj4mIpjrdi7bpAkYGhcJtq81TpYUXnBt9.png
They scored straight from kickoff at 44 seconds, , and that set the tone for the match.

Oh well, time for the pragmatic side of club football - contract renewals.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/0IvfE3aTSobLyG6GYFtx0Ief2vmhOdfFZxqqgnhN.png
Most of this lot will leave by virtue of being failed youth teamers, but there are a couple others that will require reconsiderations...
(Note - the renewals will take into consideration that fact that we spend a million a year paying these guys, and we lost $200k per month this season, nearly bleeding out without the TV money and only saved by Al Mokawloon.)

1st off, Gibson will leave - I'd promised him that.

Iheanacho wants $4k p/w, I have Ahmed Mostafa lying in wait, so he might leave if we don't secure the funds.
Not to mention freeing up a foreign player slot.

Ezz Elregal wants $5k, and despite his performances and value to our backline this season, his age (31) means it's a dealbreaker.

Ramadan and Abdel Aziz both want $2k, and while it's not exorbitant, paying that to what are essentially squad players are a bit excessive.
Perhaps if thy lower their demands, but not at the moment.

As previously mentioned, Yao could well stay, and the multiple departures might free up the money to re-sign him.
#150127 The Armoury
Eric Portapotty
17 years ago
6 months ago
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Premium
I remember when you were getting prickly in October when pundits weren't considering you title contenders and most were saying you'd implode.

It a bit of a shame, because I don't particularly dislike Arsenal, that everyones been proven right again.

We had all of Ramsey, Ozil and Walcott fit then, and even though we did get thumped by City we'd come back with a decent run of form, and at that point the general consensus was that we'd regained our mental steel.

Making up for their injuries was going to be hard without messing with the team's togetherness (influx of new players in Jan)/fucking up the money, which for better or for worse Wenger has avoided.

That said, we've lost (or maybe never had) that steel, and we're a loss to Wigan from seeing this season go utterly tits up.