DP91 - Comments

When In Rome


So taking on the Roma position it was pretty clear that with a midfield of; Pjanic, Strootman, Florenzi, De Rossi, Kondogbia and Classie I sadly didn't actually need to bring in some of my favourite stars from Shakhtar, namely the Romero's. I did however look to prize away Bernard whom was priced close to £40m and therefore way out of my league.

Here is a summary of the transfers conducted by Shakhtar since my departure.

Well that's a kick in the teeth! Nearly every star has been sold, for less than they should have I might add, and additionally most to rivals! Brilliant.

So moving on, Roma transfers in.


With so many departures to reduce the wage bill and such the first team players leaving the club were: Gervinho - Lille £3.4m. Leandro Castan - Napoli £1m. Adriano - Palermo £550k. Lukas Podolski - Betis £350k & Boninsegna - Sampdoria £1.7m. Wages for Gervinho, Castan, Adriano and Podolski had totalled over £95k each!



Shock News

So by this stage I'd have expected to see the Champions League draw with Roma having finished in second place in the season prior to my appointment. Upon checking the competition it appears we are not involved in the competition this season, nor the Europa League. I have come to the conclusion that this must be a financial fair play enforcement even with the small spending conducted by Roma in the past seasons? Either way, onwards we go. A year out of the Champions League for me and Roma shockingly. Has anyone else had such an issue occur? I was at least expecting a message to inform me we were not able to participate in Europe for whatever reason!?

So this season we focus on nailing down our first team squad and hopefully challenging Juventus for their somewhat comfortable position on top of Italy.

A New Journey

So with our time at Shakhtar at an end I quickly turned to getting right back into the thick of it. Only a hand-full of clubs had positions available and only two stood out as clubs whom I believed I could quickly transform into sides in contention for 'European Glory'. In real life I am a big fan of the transition currently underway at Roma and therefore with the position vacant alongside Napoli I first approached Roma about the vacancy.


Whilst this application was in progress my successor at Shakhtar was announced.

A great appointment at Shakhtar and one I believe wouldn't have been possible prior to my achievements leaving me very happy that the club would be left in capable hands, but hopefully not too capable in retaining that Champions League trophy!


And that was all she wrote! Roma shall now undertake a quest for elusive 'European Glory'.



Now an interested turn of events as I take charge of Roma. I have been given a budget of less that £1m, last season the club spent £33.5m and made £31.5m therefore only spending £2m and prior to this the club has spent a total of £14m total over the seasons. Has anyone had experience managing Roma to find small budgets? It may be a harder task than originally imagined.

The club finished 2nd last season in Serie A which has been dominated by Juventus thus far. Time for change!

Where Next

European Glory. To be or not to be




So our first attempt at achieving 'European Glory' is upon us as Ukrainian giants Shakhtar take on giants of the footballing world Barcelona.
Going into the fixture I decided to start the better performing left back over the season, Sobol, the young Ukrainian talent over Balanta who probably due to the foreign player rule saw less game time and a less consistent season. Furthermore I decided to go with the Eastern European back 4 with Czech lad Kaderabek preferred to club captain Srna.

With the formations like for like in the pre-match warm up I was immediately worried due to the 'big names' comparing up against our side, however decided we couldn't change formation on such an occasion and would have to prevail over the Spanish giants.

Time to get things underway
0-1 Shakhtar - 12 mins

A great start for the Ukrainians as Shakhtar took the game to Barca in the early stages and after 12 minutes of play as an opportunity for Gabriel Barbosa was prevented before the rebound fell to Argentinian star Lucas Romero to put the Ukrainian outfit a goal to the good!

0-2 Shakhtar - 36 mins

A free-kick near the corner fell to Shakhtar late into the first half and as the ball was delivered into the near post, Ordets was there to head the ball past a flailing Ter-Stegan at the near post! A half of little key action and we now found ourselves 2 goals up!

0-3 Shakhtar - 48 mins

Incredible scenes!!!!! Just after the break a cross from Kaderabek met Gabriel Barbosa at the front post who saw a first shot blocked before the ball fell right back to the Brazilians feet who could not miss his second opportunity! 3-0 after 49 minutes against Barcelona, unbelievable!

1-3 Barcelona - 60 mins

A life-line for Barcelona as Suarez finds himself unmarked at the back-post to head the ball comfortably into the Shakhtar net. Time to make a change as Douglas Costa is warming up to replace Wellington Nem to offer a bigger set-piece threat.

2-3 Barcelona - 64 mins

Shit! Neymar curls one from the edge of the box after Barcelona retrieve the ball right after kick off and now find themselves only 1 goal down in the game. A bit of panic starts and Sobal is hastily replaced by Balanta having made the mistake which allowed Barca to regain possession and Neymar to make it 3-2.

Game time passes quickly without incident and I will it to run straight through to full-time. A chance for Barcelona as Messi blasts wide. A late sub just to waste time which also has a little bit of a message about it as Gabriel Barbosa is replaced by recent arrival at Shakhtar from Barcelona, Munir

2-3 FT Shakhtar have done it!

Unbelievably we've held on after a surge from Barcelona mid-way through the second half and won it! European Glory for Shakhtar as we achieve the Champions League crown on our debut appearance in the final!


European Glory. First Stop Ukraine. Complete.
Having this year signed the likes of Gotze for Shakhtar and started to really transform the side into a European force rather than just domestic gods, excuse the pun, it's almost frustrating to not be able to go again next year and see the force transform into it's next stage however after dominating Ukraine with ease since my appointment I'll be happy to see a real domestic challenge once more.

I will now be looking to move elsewhere in order to achieve 'European Glory' elsewhere for another side whom have never won the Champions League, find out where in the next post!

Bring It On!


Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg
So with our 3-2 first leg win which could have well been 4-2 had Barbosa converted the last minute penalty we are yet again on the verge of a Champions League final appearance. Our previous semi-final appearance was turned on it's head by Lewandowski as he put 4 past us in the second leg to take Bayern to the final, this time I was confident we could prevail!

We've done it!!! The Champions League final awaits! We were pretty much dominated throughout the majority of the game against PSG but counter-attacks and solid defending saw PSG unable to test Rulli too often and when they did he was equal to it. A late counter, finished by Tielemans put the tie to bed as PSG threw everything forward to force the tie in their favour on away goals but it wasn't to be the case!

We now have the task of seeing off Barcelona in Wales in our debut final appearance. No small task!


Domestic Dominance
Two seasons in a row unbeaten domestically and our third season on the spin as winners in Ukraine! It might only be Ukraine and I may be in control of the dominant Shakhtar but a big achievement I feel making it two seasons in a row without defeat. Still not a single home defeat in any competitive competition might I add!

Fortress


We were set to face our first game in the semi-final clash against PSG at home which would hopefully continue to prove itself a fortress having seen the club remain undefeated since my appointment.


A somewhat comfortable performance which saw us pegged back both times after gaining a 2 goal advantage. A late penalty miss saw us miss an opportunity to take the often 2 goal advantage we gained throughout the game into the second leg which could prove vital!

Unbelievable Run

Is This Our Year

Have been away this week and very busy meaning a lack of updates. I've also decided I will from now do either seasonal or half-season reviews due to time constraints and a some what small following with this career, I do really appreciate all those that have been following however!

Champions League - QF

Schalke were well and truly seen off in this game as we dominated right from the start and our clinical finishing meant Schalke were never really in this tie after the 3-2 home defeat we enforced.

Round-Up
A good month yet again, as mentioned at the top domestic fixtures and home fixtures in general seem to be extremely comfortable for us.


Champions League Semi Final Draw

We obviously got the best draw possible here as we face PSG whom we knocked out the year before last, mainly thanks to an own goal by Verratti! Let's hope we can do one better than last time we made the SF's and get our debut Champions League final appearance.

Champions League - Quarter Finals



We got the draw we probably could have best hoped for in the run in for this competition. Schalke had previously knocked out Chelsea with a 2-0 home win and 3-1 away win however so things weren't going to be plain sailing.

A good away victory over Schalke put us in a great position of once again reaching the Semi-Finals like we managed in our firs season 2014/15. Coming from behind twice before a last kick of the game win over the Germans was brilliant with Konoplyanka getting on the end of a surging run from Wellington Nem.


We were also just crowned champions once again in Ukraine. Dnipro had a season of two very different halves and actually dropped 4 points in the first two games back after the winter break opening up the gap in the league table. Another March league win wrapped up!

Whose Next!?


Winter Transfer Summary
Due to repeated transfer enquiries and players asking to leave should certain clubs make offer's leading to new contracts over the past season this Winter Transfer window was targeted for use of the bosman-rule in order to replace some potential outgoings in the coming summer. I had seen plenty of players with potential running down contracts and decided to get stuck in and ensure I can keep the wage budget down.

The youngster could replace the likely departure of Wellington Nem who once again received plenty of interest including the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Fernando has grown unhappy playing a majority second fiddle role to William Carvalho in the DM role in the squad and continued interest around Europe means a good chance to cash in the likely £20m fee and bring in a young like-for-like replacement in Casemiro, whom would also be less likely to complain at his rotational squad stance.

Cerri is a young talent for the future whom I believe to be a fantastic prospect in the real world and so do my in game scouts. The continued goals from Barbosa and Munir are only going to increase interest in the pair and an opportunity to bring in a potential long-term replacement couldn't be turned down.

Acosta is an attack minded midfielder I hope to convert into a central midfielder with preference to play the advanced playmaker role he currently favours. Again another prospect and with interest as always in both Romero's and improving performances from Youri Tielimans, there may be a role in the first team sooner rather than later.

Thats right! Gotze! The young World Cup hero was for some reason allowed to enter the final 6 months of his contract and after a little encouragement and a contract offer which will see him become the clubs highest paid player by £20k, he agreed to join the club. Clearly a player you couldn't say no to signing and once again with the interest in Wellington Nem mainly along with Bernard and Douglas Costa, a ready made replacement meaning a good cash in opportunity for a departing winger.

Champions League - Last 16
So Napoli. With a 4-2 agg. group stage win over the Italians we came into the fixture with plenty of confidence and rightfully so as we came away from the first leg fixture with a brilliant couple of away goals.


With that in the bag we approached the second leg with a remark to players to ensure that they were not complacent in thinking things were over in the tie. Well you make up your mind on how they reacted to that!


Bring on the Quarter-Finals!

Cheers again Dan appreciate the career following! Long may that unbeaten run continue!

Untouchable


Had a run of it today and so a large period of the season to summarise with this post as we entered the winter break.

Champions League - Group Stage
Our Champions League group draw proved one to be on paper an easy route into the later stages and we very much achieved as we predicted with a very dominant showing.

Viktoria Plzen Away

A good start away at Plzen in a fixture often part of our pre-season schedule and one we have yet seen a defeat in, even with the assistant often taking charge of the game! Brilliant news also as Besiktas defeated Atletico away from home!

Altletico Home

A good win with plenty of action against Atletico as we moved to within a game of qualification. The win furthermore put Atletico's chances of qualification on the brink should they not achieve a good result in the home tie against Shakhtar next up.

Besiktas Away

Our 2nd away game in the group and a third successive win placed us in a great position as we entered the reverse fixtures in the group as Atletico picked up a win to keep their hopes of qualification alive.

Besiktas Home

Qualification from the group was achieved in quick fashion as we secured a very comfortable win at home to the Turkish outfit.

Viktoria Plzen Home

A fantastic performance at home to Plzen but a poor result as we gave Plzen their first point in the group.

Atletico Away

A decent performance away at Atletico and a fantastic result and with it revenge in Spain after the 3-2 loss last time around. It additionally knocked Atletico out of the competition on goal difference even though Besiktas slipped up to give Plzen their only win in the group.

2016 Summary
A fantastic run of unbeaten games continued for the club going into the 2016 winter break and an additional unbeaten status in competitive fixtures for 2016 was also achieved.


We were however this time being kept pace with by Dnipro whom also held us to a goalless draw in the home fixture leading up to the Winter break. Seeing as we took Konoplyanka from them last season they are doing brilliantly well this far into the competition this year which also makes a change as we will unlikely see the league wrapped up in March this season.


Finally a good draw for the club in the Champions League - Last 16 as we drew Napoli whom we previously played in 2014/15 recording a 2-2 away draw and 2-0 home win.

The Raid

Offer's for every first team player under the sun started off the summer transfer window as we had almost every squad member coming to ask to leave should specific clubs ask for their services. Pyatov asked for a new challenge having become the clubs #2 over the past 6 months to youngster Pidkivka. A deal was agreed for £2.5m to Benfica however come July 1st fell through just like that. The second time I have seen this, anyone else had this? He later joined Granada for £2.5m.

Samuel Umtiti who arrived on a free last summer and found himself a rotation option for the club due to the foreign player rule was subject to 7 different clubs making offers for the player. Initially turning down all advances I had decided that should a fee be met he could be allowed to leave the club. Offers were made and a fee was agreed with Chelsea. Having only played 12 times in the league due to the laws which had also stifled Balanta's game time, a record sale fee of £24m was agreed as the player joined Chelsea. A shame as I believe he will become one of the best defenders in the world, not only on FM but due to the Ukrainian rules I felt it was too good to turn down.

With Pyatov looking to leave and Pidkivka being a great talent I still felt that a big keeper was needed for us to take our next step in achieving 'European Glory'. Another player I foresee a bright future for is Jeronimo Rulli of Real Sociedad and a fee was very quickly agree for the £24m that was received for the transfer of Umtiti. A bid was made for Ukrainian keeper Koval but rivals Kiev were not going to budge from a fee of £47m.

Luiz Adriano came and asked for a new challenge, similar to Pyatov and with Gabriel Barbosa and Munir fighting for the starting spot I felt it was also time to let the long serving club hero try his luck elsewhere and he soon joined Stuttgart for £5.5m.

We started off the campaign missing a huge proportion of first team players due to International duty but started as we ended the previous season and once again win the Superkubok, this time against Dynamo Kiev. Douglas Costa was forced to become a make-shift CM and Bernard a CF for the early campaign fixtures as we ground out some fantastic results in hindsight, including a hat-trick for Bernard in our opening league fixture.

Champions League - Group Draw



A good start but the pace is being kept by Dnipro so far which makes a change! A good group which should be fairly straight forward to qualify from also and a chance to get revenge away at Atletico after our 3-2 loss last season.

Invincible! 2015/2016


With the Champions League campaign over after our domination of Man Utd but penalty defeat the season quickly came to an end.

A very positive end as the club once again dominated the Kubok Ukraini although being taken to extra time by Dnipro. A good performance from Shakhtar and comeback in the end although frustrating to have even been taken to extra-time.


The club finished the season with an opportunity of completing an unbeaten domestic season with an away tie against Metalist and within 22 minutes the result looked in the bag along with the unbeaten season as Shakhtar were 3-0 up which was also the score come half-time. Metalist offered a potential comeback during the early parts of the second half with 2 goals before the 60th minute, however Shakhtar saw out the game and with it an unbeaten season!


Final standings.


Finally for 2015/2016 our new signing Gabriel Barbosa was crowned the leagues top scorer for the season with a quite low total of 12 goals however for a player who rotated in and out the squad for the majority of the season it was a great debut season for the lad!


Now the big struggle of keeping our ever improving side together for another attempt at 'European Glory!'

Champions League - Quarter-Final - 2nd Leg

It was a great start to the 2nd leg against United as Rooney was withdrawn with an injury and Luiz Adriano smashed the ball against the bar after 20 minutes just before G.G Romero saw his effort cleared off the line. The half teetered out and the clubs couldn't be separated after 135 minutes of football.

The second half also started brightly as the young left back and huge prospect Sobol intercepted a ball intended for Falcao leading to a quick break which found Wellington Nem once again strike the woodwork for Shakhtar. Just a minute later Konoplyanka fired just over after a great run as still the sides couldn't be separated. Just after the hour mark Konoplyanka once again darted into the area from a wide position and struck the crossbar as Shakhtar once again had a flurry of chances.
The 74th minute saw United almost end the tie as Januzaj struck the post with the ball falling to Mata for a tap-in before Ordets scrambled the ball away just a few yards from goal. Bernard and Barbosa were brought on for the faltering Luiz Adriano and Konoplyanka and quickly saw an improvement testing De Gea almost instantly however still the deadlock could not be broken and the game would go to extra time!

Shakhtar dominated extra time like the 90 minutes that lead to it and in the 106th minute a chance fell to Barbosa just 8 yards out but De Gea was equal to it. There was only one way to decide this tie. With De Gea tested throughout I had a bad feeling about the elusive shoot-out!

Both teams scored their first two penalties. Both Srna and Vertonghen missed their third penalties. After 13 penalties a piece still the teams could not be separated, incredible scenes! Up stepped L.Romero who found his penalty saved by De Gea leaving Di Maria to win the shoot-out, knockout Shakhtar and end the dream for another season

Winter Break & Champions League Progression


As we entered the winter break in Ukraine we once again dominated the majority of domestic awards.

I also bagged the next coaching license in the break away from competitive football prior to our first leg game away at Dortmund.


Champions League - Round of 16 - 1st Leg
A slight philosophy change was put into place for the away tie against Dortmund as we looked to improve upon our away form in Europe, concentrating on the use of quick counter tactics rather than the controlled slower home tempo. With such pace in the side from wide area's I thought we should look to flip away fixtures on their heads compared to the previous campaign and the tactics worked fantastically in this game!

A great win and likely progression to the Quarter-Final stage once again with 3 away goals in the bag.

A league accomplishment was furthered soon after as we recorded 43 games unbeaten as we continue to work towards an unbeaten season.


Champions League - Round of 16 - 2nd Leg

A comfortable night at home to Dortmund resulting in a 5-1 Agg. win over the two legs as we progress once again into the Quarter-Final stage of the competition.

Champions League - Quarter-Final Draw
We were left in the draw with the likes of Lyon and Juventus whom I had been hoping to draw at this stage however we found ourselves given an English tie.


Premyer-Liha Champions 2015/2016
We were again crowned champions of Ukraine in March and did so maintaining an unbeaten run in the league which marked Shakhtar's 10th competition win now sitting 3 behind Dynamo Kiev as most-time winners.


Champions League - Quarter-Final - 1st Leg
Finally in this summary we had our first game against Manchester United in the QF stage of the Champions League. Once again we were away in the 1st leg which has resulted in progression to the next stage every time so far in the competition since my appointment.

A good performance all round in this game as we came away with a goalless draw against Manchester United. In hindsight perhaps a missed opportunity to not grab an away goal as Phil Jones was sent of after only a third of the game gone. If we can shut-out United in the second leg I am very confident of progressing although we sit right in the balance after the 1st leg as a United away goal could well send Shakhtar out of the competition.

Winter Break Looms

Champions League - Group Stage - Fixture 6
Prior to the winter break we had our final Champions League game in the groups away to Anderlecht and having already qualified we were able to field a weaker/rotated squad for the game.

A good performance but not the result to go with it as we clearly leave our shooting-boots at home! Top of the group and into the round of 16 however.

Champions League - Round of 16 Draw

A good draw for us I feel although not the best in terms of the teams we could have drawn but nonetheless a draw which I believe to be easier than our draw against Juventus this time last season!