Dan - Comments

#39324 On the way to glory
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Interesting switch from Holloway however a somewhat unrealistic one you feel
#39299 Around Europe Backwards - from Wales to Austria
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Looks to have worked out better for you this time around mate! Best of luck
#290365 Getting Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Thanks Shedender however our stay at the top won't last long, it would be good to end up there come the end of the season though!

Thanks BOWC! It was a wise move and proving to be a good one!

Thanks Justicar however I wouldn't say too good! I played in these leagues last year on this same career so I kinda know tactics and things that work here! It will be interesting to meet around the halfway point!
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So we were looking good in both the league and cup as we headed into November with confidence proving to be better than many dubbed us this year. However with a top four finish predicted we were proving to be title challengers thats for sure. November wasn't a quiet month as we faced a grueling six game month with five in the league and the Confidis Cup seventh round as we looked for a spot in the quarter finals.


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A very homey month began by welcoming STVV in the league a side that weren't expected to do much this year and we eased past them. A goal moments before the break from andrade guided us into the lead before a goal five minutes after the restart from M'Sila doubled our lead.

We then welcomed KV Krotijk who managed to hold us to a surprising draw as we played poorly. We started slow and this saw us behind early on before we quickly conceded a second to find us two down at the break. Second half we pulled it out a little with Andrade netting again before N'Diaye struck in the final minute of normal time to earn us a draw.

Our third game of the month saw us welcome Club Brugge and draw for the second game running. A poor showing from both sides was matched and with no goals it was a boring nil nil affair.

At home in the Confidis cup we faced Lierse, the team who started strongly and had now started to slip away. In the cup we advanced to the quarter finals with a confident showing. Bruls netted with just over half an hour left on the clock before Simic netted eight minutes later to put us through.

Our final home league game of the month saw us slip up in the league for three games on the bounce. Another poor showing from us cost us dear as we welcomed Cercle Brugge. They managed to find the net either side of the break with no reply from us.

We ended the month with our only game away form home this month. A trip to Lokeren turned into an eight goal thriller. We fell two behind in ten minutes before Bruls netted after twenty three minutes. Second half we pulled it out the bag and an early goal from Andrade brought us level. Lokeren went three two up before Remerink and Bruls netted inside a minute of each other and Andrade netted in the final minute to guide us to a five three victory.

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Not a brilliant month and this has cost us on the top spot in the league. We slip to third despite playing a game more than both first place and second place. Standard go top with thirty nine points whilst Anderlecht continue their hunt to retain the title in second with thirty six points. We sit third with thirty five as the table begins to space out a little. Only a point ahead of Genk and five points ahead of fifth place Club Brugge at the halfway stage of the season.
#39252 Man of Steel
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Well done mate! Finally got it, remember normally to send the screenshots to me of the trophies
#39249 The British Steel Challenge 2013
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Good luck mate, you've been added to the leaderboard!
#39197 Travelling across Europe - proving I'm better than Dan!
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Good luck in Belgium, a semi professional side, you may need it if you dont leave within days again
#39165 Travelling across Europe - proving I'm better than Dan!
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
By Shedender | Permalink | On 02 January 2013 - 18:36 PM
I can never match Dan's success, I can try too.


The truths come out
#39137 Rule Britannia
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Good month there mate! Only just outside thoughs playoffs so battle for it!
#39136 Please delete
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Didn't you already have the succesful Celtic story going? Sure will follow this though!
#39108 Travelling across Europe - proving I'm better than Dan!
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Your season started excellently this year, shame you weren't there for the whole of it but moving to Belgium the same season I did. Ber interesting to see if you go straight into a job or wait till the new season like I did! Best of luck there!
#39106 Conquering Britain (British Steel 2013)
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Going to be a close ending however I'm more than confident you will find yourself out the relegation zone come the end buddy!
#39035 Around Europe Backwards - from Wales to Austria
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
good lad! look forward to you reupdating check mine over too?
#39019 Around Europe Backwards - from Wales to Austria
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
By Justicar | Permalink | On 02 January 2013 - 13:20 PM
Yeah I'm sure, unfortunately FMC, is completely unplayable. The scouting is awful (my scout only found 13 players, the customary pre-knowledge and then didn't find ANY at all when I assigned him). Also I can't tell my feckless idiots to do what I want.

I really don't know how you do it Dan.

I'm going to start this challenge again, and I am doing to do in on the normal FM. Sorry for wasting everyone's time so far, stay tuned and I'll start this again tonight.


The only reason I play on FMC is because I don't have enough time for the normal mode. I don't really use the scouts that much just try and find players myself but it sure is hard!
#39018 Turning Merseyside Blue
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Will be a huge blow losing Jelavic, just hope you got enough in backup to secure the trophy
#290364 Getting Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
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Still unbeaten after the first two months we were in control of our future with a shout of the title still following our more than pleasing start to the season. However we had a bigger month now and faced our second competition too. The Confidis Cup would begin for us in the sixth round whilst we also faced four league games, could our unbeaten run continue and could we hit the top spot?


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We kicked off October away to Zulte Waregem who had struggled this season. We put in a confident showing though to narrowly win. We took the lead after eighteen minutes with an own goal before doubling our lead after the break. Bruls netted to put us two up. We conceded late on but secured the win.

Back at home and welcoming Mons we narrowly won for the second game running. A good game saw us edge the opponents by a single goal. The goal coming in the sixty eighth minute as Simic progressed into the box unchallenged to fire home.

As we traveled to KV Mechelen we fail to our first defeat of the season. A poor showing from us for the third game running saw us finally get the defeat which we had deserved lately. A small blow with their first half goal killed us off and that was that, we never competed.

We then began our cup charge and began in the sixth round, the same round I got Kappellen to last year, showing how well we did. We faced tier two Belgacom side Ronse and edged our way into round seven. Eighteen minutes into the game Ghanassy put us into the lead before we wrapped up the game with our second goal coming ten minutes after the restart from M'Sila.

We ended the month away to third place Genk. A hard place to travel to. The league runners up of the last two years challenged us however we managed to return to winning ways in the league with a narrow one nil victory. Bruls' goal on the sixty sixth minute was enough to secure the win.

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Despite facing my first defeat in charge here at AA Gent the opening twelve league games have been very pleasing and with eight wins from the opening three months we have finally moved to the top of the table where I would like to stay! We have twenty seven points as do Standard who also match us on goal difference but our goals for are greater leaving us top. We now have three points over Anderlecht and Genk. Whilst Lierse have a terrible month moving from first down to fifth and trail by four points.
#290363 Getting Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Thanks Shedender, its nice to be at a big club so hopefully we can make an instant impact here before eventually dropping back down to tier two.
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We had made an exceptional unbeaten start to the season conceding just a single goal and slipping up by just dropping two points. However September was set to be a tougher month. We faced first place and also unbeaten Lierse, unbeaten Standard and then Anderlecht, how would we cope!


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The month started at home against third place Standard where we claimed a pleasing draw. A goalless first half saw us finally take the lead with just half an hour left on the clock as Andrade netted from close range. We conceded ten minutes later but a point was more than enough against a team such as Standard.

We then traveled to league leaders Lierse where we played out an eight goal thriller claiming a point each come the end. We took the lead after four minutes through an own goal before going two up after fourteen minutes with M'sila netting. We conceded just two minutes later however restored our two goal lead when M'Sila netted his second of the afternoon. We conceded again before the break but led three two. Second half we conceded within four minutes as Lierse brought the scores level before Ghanassy put us four three ahead with half an hour to go. But it wasn't to be our win as Lierse netted their fourth with fifteen minutes left. A four four draw.

We ended the month with another hard game against Anderlecht as we returned home. Despite falling behind early on we drew level six minutes before the break with Andrade finding the net. It was to be Andrade's game as he netted his and our second of the afternoon in the second half before putting us three one up. Anderlecht netted a second but Andrade put us four two up with his fourth of the evening in an easy win.

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From such a tough month I'm more than happy to accept five points from a possible nine during September and remaining unbeaten. We have now slipped to third, two points off both second and first place. Lierse stay top on twenty points with Standard second also on twenty points but slightly slacking on goal difference. We've now conceded eight but are the third and final team to be unbeaten.
#39005 Rick's Super Saddlers
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
#39003 Restoring The Might of Rome
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Tough game but a point against Milan can't be snubed!
#39002 Man of Steel
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Unlucky mate, maybe time to look for another job as you stated
#39001 Travelling across Europe - proving I'm better than Dan!
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
A good pre season buddy, I remember playing a career last year as RUOR!
#38999 Around Europe Backwards - from Wales to Austria
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Not the best of starts in the league but I'm sure its just the players getting use to the players and tactics!
#38997 On the way to glory
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Another couple of well written reports buddy!
#290362 Getting Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
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Following a wise choice to move to the Jupiler League and to AA Gent and following a strong pre season it was time I started competitive football here and showed what I was about. The first month in August of competitive football for this season saw us open with five league games, never easy but we wanted to hit the ground running in the league. With three games on the road and just to at home it wasn't going to be great.


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The season began on the road as we traveled to Cercle Brugge, not the easiest of places to start your season off but we made a confident start winning three nil. Within the opening minute of the season kicking off we were ahead as Andrade netted our first of the season. Then it was down to M'sila he netted either side of the break to give us a more than comfortable opening day win.

Going home for our first game infront our fans this season saw us welcome Lokeren who started with a defeat and we doubled their pain as we made it two in two. A narrow one nil victory enough to wrap up the points as Canali netted on the fiftieth minute.

Back on the road we traveled to Charleroi where once again we were quick at starting as we opened the scoring inside a minute, this time Bruls guiding us into the lead. We were two up moments before the break as N'Diaye doubled our lead. Second half despite conceding early on we went three one up as Bruls netted his second of the afternoon. We went on to add a fourth with half an hour remaining when Andrade nodding home.

Beeschot were our final opponents at home for the opening month and we continued our one hundred percent start with our fourth win from four games. A goal moments before the break sunk Beerschot as Curgten fired us infront. We made it two late on in the second half with M'Sila netting in the final minute of the game.

We ended the month on a slightly lower note as we were held to a draw when we traveled to Vise. A goalless draw saw both sides share a point as we remain unbeaten and confident this season.

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What a fantastic start we have made to life with me in charge. The opening five games could of gone better by two points however the start we have made we won't grumble. Picking up thirteen points from a possible fifteen leaves us second in the league as Lierse sit top with the same goal difference but they have scored more. We sit above Standard in third on goal difference whilst fourth place KV Kotrijk sit one point behind us in an even start to the league. We have a fantastic defensive record early on conceding just one.
#38830 From zero to hero
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Tough european group mate! made a steady start to life in the league too!
#290361 Getting Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Thanks Shedender, I only left after the job in hand was done and this is a great opportunity for us to win more trophies quicker. Gent are still in the top flight and predicted a top four finish so we should be able to compete, obviously we will have to drop down to the second tier at some point but thats in the future.
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So I had made the jump from the third tier in Belgium to the top tier now and with just one of five trophies ticked off here in Belgium a good stint here in the top flight with AA Gent could really see us flying out of Belgium in the near future. I have a four year deal at Gent but would like to win the league and two cups before my contract expires and I can move to the second tier. However moving to the club I didn't make any transfers this summer as the squad is already strong.


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Here is our very strong looking team report. We are predicted to finish in the top four this year so it was bound to be strong. But after reviewing it I felt I didn't need to make any transfers during the summer. We could do with another keeper obviously but with a strong defence, midfield and front line I am more than confident we can meet our goals this season.

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This is the current financial situation at the club as I didn't show it as I took over in the previous month. Its not as healthy as you would like at a big club such as AA Gent but we can handle it. We sit just over two million pounds in the red which is a blow and this saw a small transfer budget on offer which I haven't touched. We have just under ten thousand pounds spare on the wage budget to so if the right player comes up I can make the move.

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A quick pre season in terms of friendlies saw us grab our fair share of goals which was more than pleasing heading into the season. We played six games where we picked up four wins and lost the other two. Both defeats came against English teams in Premiership side Leicester and Championship side Southampton. We picked up four clean sheets in our four wins whilst twice smashing home seven goals.
#38814 Around Europe Backwards - from Wales to Austria
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Brilliant to see another challenger on this epic challenge mate, glad we inspired you! Be interesting to watch you come the other way as we go this way! Wales should be an easy enough start!
#290360 Getting Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
It is confusing Zan but its helped us out brilliantly so there is one taken off here in Belgium!

Thanks Bigbillzy
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With the season over we had a bit of time to look around what had happened in the other leagues and what potential jobs could be available. I know we will struggle next year having already seen five or more players securing a move away already. So I thought I would have a quick look around.


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As you may tell there were a couple of jobs that interested me so I went ahead and declared my interest in these. This annoyed my board a little as they want me to stay following our promotion but I have to get on with battling through this challenge and with AA Gent and Aalst both being the jobs in question.

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Both sides were flattered to have me interested in taking charge there. AA Gent were the first side to report back declaring their interest in me. So we are sure AA Gent are a Jupiler Pro League side (top league). Whereas Aalst are in the Belgacom League (second tier) and the same league my Kapellen side are going into so both leagues are a different competition but both jobs are high. Aalst and AA Gent are both predicted fourth in their respected leagues.

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Finally I had a job offer to consider, I am still here at Kapellen however this contract offer from AA Gent was one I had to consider. I had to think about what I wanted to do now. AA Gent offered me a very appealing offer, a four year deal on three thousand six hundred per week along with a small transfer budget and some spare wages. However I changed this slightly to the deal I would accept at three and a half thousand per week.

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And with life at Kapellen sure to get harder, I whimped out and jumped to the top division! AA Gent was a very appealing offer and with them predicted a top four finish and on a four year deal we can do a great deal here. With AA Gent I can look towards the league title, cup and super cup to then drop back down to the Belgacom League with hopefully just one trophy to hunt for, a tactical switch!
#38743 The British Steel Challenge 2013
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Happy new year guys! Lets hope its the year someone finally cracks this challenge!

Crashorburn becomes the first person to win a trophy this calender year!
#290359 Getting Around Europe Quicker Than Shedender
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Thanks Justicar, playing on the classic mode does have its advantages, like getting through seasons very quickly however the scouting issue is a big problem I feel. I struggle having just one staff member for each position at the club and it sucks a little.

Certainly has been another good year BOWC! Just hope we can make it count this late on!

Ah we need them to slip up now Shedender however they've been fantastic all year!
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Here it was the final month of what has been a fantastic start here in Belgium and with the season so tight it could go either way. April saw us face our final two league games and the title would be decided. We already had a playoff spot secured for the end of the year but we wanted to go out as Champions. It wouldn't be easy but here are the events of the last month of competitive action.


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We kicked off the final month of the season by welcoming already relegated and the leagues bottom side Witgoor where we narrowly won. We took the lead after eighteen minutes when Verboven nodded home a corner. We doubled our lead with a goal from Olieslager. Before the break Witgoor pulled one back but we were still in control. Second half we restored our two goal advantage as Leurquin, on as a second half substitute looked to secure the win. We conceded a second late on but held on.

Our final league game saw us travel to mid table side Hasselt and we slipped up! We fell behind after just ten minutes and come half an hour we were two down and the title was slipping. We scored moments before the break with Kil finding the net but failed to capatalise second half as we fell to defeat.

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The final league table looked like this. It was all over by the looks of things as Turnhout remained top of the table after thirty four league games as we sat level on point. Both sides played thirty four, won twenty four, drew six and lost just four yet their superior goal difference of +42, ten better than ares left them sitting top of the table. We gave it our best shot and it seemed the playoffs were for us.

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However it wasn't over yet! For some reason Tunhout weren't named as Champions, I'm not one hundred percent sure why, maybe because we were level on points but we are now going head to head in a playoff and once again we head the chance to win the league and promotion.

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Champions! Despite a couple days ago thinking we were heading for the playoffs, we played against the league leaders and seemed to have secured the title in a 'weird' sorting way. It had been tremendous for us to secure the title. At a neutral stadium we welcomed Turnhout and after twenty three minutes young winger Segers gave us the lead just inside the box. However just two minutes later we were pulled back level and the game looked to go down to the wire, just as the season had. However a strike on the eightieth minute from our in form loan striker Kil sent us into the lead and the fans into raptures! We were champions!

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We finished the season with the 'Derde Klasse Champions Playoffs, the champions from Derde Klasse A and Derde Klasse B went up head to head over two legs just for pride. A poor first leg saw us concede twice in the first half and fall to deafeat.

However a much more attacking and pleasing second leg saw us over turn the score in style. Kil put us infront early on before Van den Brandt doubled our lead on the night and brought us back level on aggregate. Second half Kil netted his second and third within seven minutes of each other to give us the advantage before Van den Brandt netted his second late into injury time as we ended the season with bragging rights following a fantastic five two aggregate win.
#38688 The conquest of Britain
Dan
13 years ago
5 months ago
16,964
Well done mate! Doing very well wth Athlone!