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A productive day for myself meant more time to also be productive getting right into the season with Shakhtar meaning a two-month update + the one pre-winter break fixture in December for a three month round-up.

Champions League - Fixture 2

We started September with our second group stage fixture against Maccabi which I had earmarked as a must win game no matter what and we duly delivered!



A pretty dominant performance and shock, just after praising Wellington Nem he flopped in this game with a 6.2 rated performance which saw him replaced after 60 minutes. Douglas Costa however stepped up to the plate to complete the job in our must win fixture. I was also very happy to see Benfica and Napoli share the spoils in the other fixture within the group which encouraged my belief of qualifying from the group having recently lost out late on for the 3 points away at Napoli.

Champions League - Fixture 3

Just one league game later we faced our final first round of fixtures against Benfica who were sitting joint top of the group going into this double fixture against the Portuguese giants, the first game the home fixture.

We absolutely played Benfica off the park for the majority of this game and when they had equalised to make it 2-2 from our early 2-0 lead I was livid! I wasn't however going to settle for a point after our domination and often 60% possession domination for the majority. A change from the 4-3-3 DM to a 4-1-4-1 with 4 in attacking midfield inspired a late serge however as predicted possession loss but it resulted in a much deserved late winner from star striker Luiz Adriano!



A very tight table after 3 games, however one which we are 2 points clear out at the top of going into the second half of the group fixtures, 2/3 being away from home.

One league game later we had our 2nd leg cup fixture against Metalurg ZP with the 2-1 deficit needing to be turned over with the away goal from the first leg. I decided that we would go for this game from the off and make an early statement with a formation shift to 4-2-3-1 Wide and an attacking mentality instead of the more standard 4-3-3 DM. Here's how we were looking after a quarter of the game gone.



Unbelievable! I couldn't believe it, chance after chance and what a lead after just a quarter of the game gone against opposition sitting at the time in the top 6 of the Premier League table. I'm not sure I've had a better start to any game in FM possibly ever. 5-0 after just a quarter gone against league opposition. Fair to say the tactical shift made the difference!

That rounded up September for us, a brilliant month picking up a win in every fixture, with the Benfica and Cup 2nd leg ties standing out for me.

Moving onto November where we were set to play 8 fixtures in 28 days, a hectic schedule but fantastic form going into it! We did however see our fixture against main title rivals Dynamo Kiev postponed until after the winter-break which I thought was fantastic as I did not want any potential hiccup in our run of form.

Champions League - Fixture 4

Our return leg against Benfica was set to be a very important game in the tightly fought group between ourselves and Napoli.



A great come-back in the return fixture against Benfica, a complete reverse of the first fixture as both times the home side had an initial 2-0 lead.
I captured the screen at the wrong moment but the scorers can be seen below in the fixture round-up for the month. The result was probably fair based upon the match stats however again we had plenty of key chances in comparison to those featured from Benfica. Very happy with the comeback and now we sit alongside Napoli on 8 points, 3 ahead of the trailing Benfica.

Champions League - Fixture 5

Our final major fixture and first opportunity at securing qualification within this group before the final away tie against Maccabi which although a game I believe we can win comfortably I would like to of course take the qualification at the earliest opportunity and perhaps play a rotated squad in the final fixture.



A great result in this fixture and qualification is secured! I was however slightly annoyed at the possession loss in this fixture, especially with it being a home tie. Again the goals can be seen below, 2 within the first half and it could be suggested that with Napoli needing a result the possession tipped back in their favour.

So here they are, the November fixtures in full and yet again what a month for Shakhtar! Not one defeat throughout and consistent goals flowing in. Note the goalscorer's featuring from the start of the season are those wide inside forwards and striker featuring consistently however more recently some additional headed goals helping the contribution from the team. Very happy with this so far as it has panned out exactly how I had predicted with the tactics, and formation as noted within the OP.

Finally what also happened during the window was the recognition of our form and furthermore the fantastic looking league table for Shakhtar fans going into the domestic winter break.





An 8 point lead over 2nd placed Dynamo Kiev and additionally a +17 goal difference advantage over our nearest rivals for the title, an unbelievable first part to the season which makes the one loss a real frustration to look back upon, especially in the fashion we lost it with an early lead.

Upon analysis of the statistics within the league so far this season my only gripe is perhaps the lack of clean sheets in comparison to Dynamo Kiev, which I believe is likely the basis of at times a central defence which includes 3 new signings this 14/15 season; Balanta, Kaderabak and Romanchuk.

Just one final game before the winter break saw our final Champions League fixture away to Maccabi, having already wrapped up qualification.

Champions League - Fixture 6

A slightly disappointing performance in our final group game and maybe I'm being harsh as we did win the game 2-0 also missing a penalty in the last 15 minutes as well.



I felt disappointed with the second half turnover of possession going from 62% at the end of the first half to falling well off the pace in the second and finishing barely in control of the game. My main reason for deeming it a slightly poor result is that previously Benfica had knocked 5 past Maccabi, circumstance of already securing qualification may be of explanation for the below desired result.

I must add that in a dramatic result, Napoli came from behind twice to secure a 3-2 win, joining us in the next round.

Next Up

The winter break ensues and so the following round-up will summarise the winter break happenings and presumed transfer acquisitions involving the use of that bosman-rule!

A good month for the club I thought, a run of 7 straight wins before a cup loss with a weakened team who did however hit the woodwork 4 times and control the game with 58% possession, I'm confident of making the next round with an away goal going into the home fixture.

6 straight wins now in the league after the Metalurg D defeat including a fantastic 2-0 win over potential league rivals and also general rivals Dnipro. The game was completely dominated by the club producing 14 more shots that the opposition, which does however perhaps question to finishing capabilities of the forwards!

The club is sitting comfortably at the top of the table after 10 games with 2nd placed Dynamo 4 points adrift. The first game against big rivals Dynamo is also still well over a month away so I am confident of stretching the league both prior to the game and with said game being a home fixture.



G.G.Romero has been an inspired signing so far into his debut season for the club, appearing in the most consistent performer lists as well as sitting joint top upon the P.o.t.M awards list with team-mate Wellington Nem whom I would list as the best performer so far this season for the club, notching an assist or goal in almost every single game so far!

Champions League - Fixture 1

A good result in our first game I thought, away from home against Napoli, producing a good point and maybe putting to bed any claims of shooting off target with almost every shot doing so in this fixture. Possession totals were in our favour for the majority of the game hitting figures of near 60% by the end of the first half.
As you will also see, the referee awarded Napoli a controversial penalty for their equaliser and I felt that we were unlucky not to come away with a brilliant 3 points away in Italy. The other game in the group was won late on by Benfica which was a shame as a point from Maccabi would have been very much welcome!



Next Up

November - Home Champions League fixtures against Maccabi and Benfica as well as the home cup tie against Metalurg ZP. Following this, our hectic November schedule and 8 games 28 days!

A very even game started the campaign proper in the Super Cup with a slight possession dominance over Dynamo Kiev before overturning a 1-0 deficit and hitting the woodwork 3 times before winning on penalties.

A good start to the campaign in general picking up 15/18 points in the first 6 games. A frustrating game against Metalurg D saw the opposition comeback from an early lead and score twice from their 4 shots on target to give the club and myself their first loss.

The squad has seen plenty rotation due to the foreign player rule in Ukraine proving to be a nuisance.

Final Summer Transfer Update



The club completed the signing of free agent Maxym Marusych, a great prospect at 3.5 potential whom I felt was a strange player to be a free agent with the potential he has & finally Romanchuk was signed as backup for the LB position and also a Ukrainian national due to the 7/11 foreign starters rule, a buy I didn't want to make but felt was necessary.

Volovyk asked to leave the club and wasn't necessary to keep due to the squads depth in central defence and finally Ismaily was loaned out with a future fee clause as a LB of foreign nationality deemed unlikely playing time along with future prospect Gryshyn.

Next Up

September round-up with the domestic league table and our first game in the Champions League, here's our group!



A strong group, but I'm quietly confident!

As shown in the above image the club start within the UEFA Champions League giving the club a great opportunity within the transfer market to strengthen and look to build towards the aim of the career, European glory. In recent years the club have qualified for the competition from time to time however have not faired well in making the later stages of the competition.

About the Manager

I myself a coach have started this career as realistically as possible. I am currently preparing to complete my Uefa B license and have only the experience of a 'Sunday League Footballer'. At the age of 23 it would appear the Ukrainian giants have taken a huge gamble here but it is one which I believe will pay off in time.

Tactics

I plan on using my current favoured formation which I believe will work very well for the current Shakhtar squad with my planned additional signings, 4-3-3 DM. My plan is to look to control the games within domestic competition due to one of if not the strongest squad within Ukraine, whilst also looking to encourage fluid movement and interchange of positions, again based upon the depth of positional capabilities within the squad.



My additional instructions look to keep to the squads strengths, looking to use the 5 in midfield to control the majority of the chances within the game. Going forward the formation often puts plenty of pressure upon the wide players and forward to make the difference with a supporting central midfielder. With this in mind the need to stretch the pitch and play long and wide attacking football will be key whilst also asking for overlapping wide play.
The squad has plenty of South American influence via Brazil and with this in mind the instruction to run at and therefore put some pressure upon the opposition defence seem's like a no brainer in terms of when in possession of the ball. I am unsure yet whether the game believes the instructions of 'Retain possession' and 'Run at the Defence' to be conflicting, although stating otherwise, however the intent is for the attacking 3/4 players to sometimes look to take a chance at running at the opposition.

Out of possession as with my team's I like to play a pressing style of play. Starting with the second tier of 'Closing Down' I will hope to regain possession of the ball often and therefore 'Tight Marking' in order to quickly apply a press is also key.

Pre-Season & Transfers



Pre-Season went exceedingly well picking up a win in every fixture with the win over Viktoria Plzen standing out having played 87 minutes with 10 men after an attempt at karate kicking an opposing player from behind. A tactical shift into a 4-2-3 and a brilliant win.



As for transfers I had identified that Shakhtar were somewhat lacking in terms of central players with potential or even real current ability other than Fernando, not to be confused with his name-sake playing for Manchester City.

The arrivals included L.Romero and G.G Romero, two Argentine midfielders I have heard plenty about in Argentina whom were also quite the future talent in last years addition. The 'Romero' central partnership in midfield I hope will dominate both Ukraine domestically and Europe within the coming seasons. William Carvalho, the much coveted defensive midfielder comes in to rotate with Fernando in DM offering plenty of strength in midfield with Alex Teixiera and Fred being trained to play as Advanced Playmakers from central midfield when more attacking threats are required.

Balanta, an FM favourite of most I am sure, was signed to partner Rakitskyi in central defence with ex Barcelona player Chygrynskyi departing the club for Rubin having decided that he was no longer up to the desired standards of the club.

Finally young talents Kaderbek and Savitskiy joined, Kaderbek as backup and potential replacement for captain Srna in future years and Savitskiy I believe to be of huge potential in the future, whom was loaned out to AZ for first team football.

As for the further departures, Stepanenko was no longer required as a defensive midfielder and a good profit was made from the sale along with Kaniboloskyi as the backup keeper, preferring to promote a younger talent as backup whom would no potential complain over a lack of first team football.

First Team

My likely first-team lineup for the season will rotate upon form and morale at times however is likely to appear as below, the only constant rotation of player being Douglas Costa and Wellington Nem as AMR Inside Forward. Rotation the defenders is additionally likely due to the 7/11 foreign player limit.



Next Up

The Ukrainian Super Cup and first game of the season against one of the leagues stronger side, Mentalist.

I also believe I may not yet be done within the transfer window with plenty of interest throughout the squad. My only target is a young LB, recommendations <£5m are welcome!