Shedender - Comments

To be honest Dan, replying to every comment at the top of each update you post (like this, see?) makes the thread more clean instead of replying to everybody individually as that then makes the thread look untidy, especially with all the quotes you end up doing mate.


There was only the one country I could head too to start my managerial reigns. Ruling myself out of jobs in England, the one in Greece and the international job that only left the two vacancies in Turkey for me to apply for in a hope to get my managerial run started but will I, or will they laugh at me and dent my confidence?


Only had the interest in managing one of the teams and that's the one I applied for. Second Division Group A side Kirklarelispor have received my application and now I am awaiting a replay to see whether I've done enough to secure an interview about the possibility of becoming the clubs new gaffer.


Seems I had impressed them enough in the interview as they have offered a cocky up and coming manager with Sunday League Reputation the chance to take the club forward and they offered me a one year deal and £650 p/w but I negotiated that down to £500 p/w and a two year deal. They accepted the offer and now I'm very close to my first managerial job.


Kirklarelispor have shocked the world, employing a "nobody" in the managerial world as their new manager, on a two year deal. We're predicted to have a successful enough season in the league but I want us to finish higher than our predicted finish. Can we have a good season? Why not, we have some talented players on the books.

I will never be as good a manager as you are Dan. I've come to accept that, hence the "trying".

Cheers George.

Sadly because of circumstances beyond my control Miimaa the European Adventure has to come to an abrupt end but don't worry, I'm sure myself and Dan will start over when FM14 comes out as I did enjoy it.

Thanks Zan. This career is going to be interesting I'm sure as I've loaded countries I've not managed in ever or for quite a while.

Cheers Benniewijs, glad you will be following


As I embarked on another journey around seven lovely countries around Europe I had to start searching to see what clubs were looking for a new manager this summer as I wanted to get into management as soon as possible after getting my "coaching badges" in the summer. I headed to the job centre to start looking for work and saw nine vacancies - eight club teams and an North American international side.


Five clubs from England were looking and I would have loved one as I only live a short plane ride away but unfortunately for this cocky manager with Sunday League Reputation the posts at Blackburn, Wycombe Wanderers, Bournemouth and AFC Wimbledon weren't feasible and I wasn't going to embarrass myself by applying for them. The same with Greek side Veroia so I left that for someone with more experience.

I wasn't ready for international management, nor would I even be considered so that ruled out the Curacao post so I didn't bother applying. The vacant Havant & Waterloovile job didn't appeal to me so I didn't waste my time handing in my CV, years ago it probably would have but now it doesn't so that left two jobs for me to apply for and hopefully I would receive a response - they were both in the Turkish Second Division and they were at Kirklarelispor and Cankirispor.

Knowing us Dan will win the league in his first full season.

You have received the first job offer (between us two) on this career and it's with a little unknown Portuguese club who I could have managed before I decided to scrap Portugal as I don't want to manage the same team as you - at least this early on. I'm sure you'll exceed expectations and finish at least mid table or just below.

With my European Adventure career coming an abrupt end due to unforeseen circumstances and Dan not having the balls to continue on himself we have had "in depth discussions" via PM and had been considering many different challenges to go head to head with but the one we've chosen with is a Journeyman Career. No goals. No points system - this should keep us over to FM14 comes out...or so we hope.

We've gone with very few rules. You must start unemployed. You must start with Sunday league reputation and you can load any league you want at any time. Meaning there was very little you had to abide by. The rest was your choice and the direction you took the challenge on in.

Setup:


This is the set up that I will be running throughout this journey. Seven playable leagues that have all the divisions loaded and despite considering it I don't have any other leagues on "view-only". Austria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland and Turkey and with all the divisions loaded from the leagues I hope I'm able to find a new job, at least six months into game time.

I won't be using the add/remove league feature until every league has been completed.


Yet again I will be playing as my forum username "Shedender" who is a young up and coming manager from a lovely country called Northern Ireland who will be looking to play an beautiful attacking style throughout this career or at least that's the plan.

Despite being from Northern Ireland and part Scottish I haven't loaded any of those leagues as I've played in Scotland before on this version and the Northern Ireland leagues aren't that up to date unfortunately.

Romp past me?! ROMP PAST ME?! Balls mate. I will beat you for a change.

Looking forward to this career, should be epic.

Balls they do mate. The board HAVE to sack him. Yourself and I would have walked the league w/ that squad.

It's actually Shedender and I. Shocking English Dan.

We will be going head to head again with another challenge but at the moment both of us have empty minds and can't think of anything that hasn't been done on here before or for quite a while.

I don't blame Dan for stopping this (temporarily at the moment) as if his game f**ked up then I would have probably done the same.

When I attempted to load up my game earlier today I received some heart-wrenching news:



I'm very much annoyed. Not only because my game cocked up but because I also forgot to create back-ups. I thought I would have learnt from when I lost my Portadown save on FM12 but obviously I haven't but from now on I will ENSURE I have at least two back ups of the save - I will NOT lose a third save due to zero back ups.

This was an absolute excellent career and one I thoroughly enjoyed but I don't think I will have the heart to restart it from the beginning again, if I was still in Austria then I would have but I was possibly going to complete Croatia and head onto Czech Republic but no one will know.

Will I return with another career that might actually last this time? Yes but I don't know who to manage yet.

So pissed.

Loaded up Football Manager earlier to receive this message:



How can it piss off? If it's a graphics error then it can't (surely) be as I've deleted all graphics when I reinstalled the game.

I haven't touched anything by the way, just came out of nowhere.

Friendly results weren't bad minus that defeat to a small side called Liverpool.

I can't get carried away despite winning the opening game 4-0 at the opposition are piss and I was expected to defeat them.


We're favourites for the league title so don't be surprised if we win the league as it would be expected but it's going to another tough campaign ahead.

August saw us kick off the twenty twenty-nine twenty twenty-thirty season with a trip to relegation favourites Vinogradar and on the back of a successful pre season and us playing a team who are predicted to come bottom, I'm sure everyone is expecting us to get off to a dream start, correct?


We didn't disappoint as we hammered the bottom club to start the season with maximum points as we defeated Vinogradar 4-0 away from home. We opened the scoring after seventeen minutes as summer signing Katsoudas headed home on his debut before attacking midfielder Grbac doubled the lead six minutes before half time. The points were all but sealed in the sixty ninth minute as Rac made it three and then we added a fourth goal with twelve minutes left when central midfielder Zovko scored.


Posting this league table seems pointless as we've only played the one league game in August and we're in second place due to Lokomotiva beating Radnik Sesvete 5-1. We're favourites to win the league but it's going to be difficult but I'm confident if we can go on a long unbeaten run, and beat Lokomotiva a few times.

They're the RNK Split of English football. Think they're good but clearly aren't.

But truth be told from the Liverpool friendly, I didn't expect much.

With my first season at Slaven Belupo upon us I've been busy in the transfer market as I've brought in six new faces while eight have exited as I hope to make an immediate return to the top flight of Croatian football. Nine pre season friendly matches have also been arranged.


The first signing I have made was to bring in a new shot stopper as twenty three year old Veloza has arrived on a free while twenty one year old striker Bade has became our second signing, also arriving on a free and then Marcao has became the third straight play to come on a free as the twenty one year old left back has arrived and will be first choice.

My fourth summer signing has seen central midfielder Palmer move to the club as the twenty one year old has joined on a season long loan deal from parent club Liverpool. Katsoudas has also came on a free as the twenty one year old has arrived from Panionios while Angelini has become our last signing...to date with Angelini joining on a free as the nineteen year old will be back-up.

I'm still looking to bringing more signings, including another right back but nothing has been finalised yet.

Lucas and Skocibusic have both departed the club as they had agreed pre contracts elsewhere before I had arrived, they've joined Botafogo and Lucko respectively.

Cvitkovic, Krklec, Skorjanec, Djurdjek, Perkovic and Cacic have all been released due to them being rubbish.


Nine friendlies were arranged and it was promising as we only slipped to one defeat, losing 7-0 at home to Liverpool.

In our first three friendly games we didn't concede as we hammered fellow second division side Vinogradar six goals to nil with Kero, Zovko, Erseg, an own goal, Bade and Kruspzky scoring before Kero scored the only goal as we defeated rivals Koprivinca 1-0 while Tekstilac-Ravnice were beat four nil as Erseg 3 and Petravic were on target.

The next three pre season games saw us hit 16 and concede just three times as we won five one away to Marsonia with Erseg, Mba 3 and Kero 2 scoring and then thumping Metalac Sisak 6-0 on the road as Erseg struck four times along with other goals from Nedjumurac and Kruspzky and then Medulin were turned over five one - Zovko, Erseg, Bade and two from Vukojevic for us.

Our big friendly game ended in a big defeat as Liverpool won 7-0. We were awful but I didn't expect anything from the game. A trip to Graficar Vodovod was next for our penultimate friendly game and we won five one - own goal, Palmer, Mba, Zovko and Erseg scored and then we won five nil to conclude the programme as Erseg struck a hat trick with Zovko and Bajan scoring the others as we kept our fourth clean sheet.

Our league season kicks off with a trip to relegation candidates Vinogradar. I expect us to get off to a good start, anything other than three points against the team who are predicted to finish bottom of the table - even at this early stage will be considered a failure.

Annoying, isn't it?

I think the site is working properly again so it's expect an update or two coming up shortly.

Will B 93 be playing in the lowest possible league? If they are then I'd take a look at their squad before you decide whether to jump or not. If you feel the squad is crap then I'd stay at Horsens and attempt to build a promotion squad for the forthcoming season.

Oh, well done on finishing third by the way. I suppose that's deemed a successful enough season?

Poor(ish) month mate but I suppose finishing third wouldn't be so bad, would it? KIU

Some reason imgur is being a c**t tonight and the screenshots are being messed up. I hope it's sorted now.

I don't know why that screenshot appeared for me in the wrong position but it's been sorted now, immediately I had thought. I feel privileged that your thousandth comment (since the site changed) was in my thread.

Our seasonal expectations and pre season friendly fixture list have both been announced for the forthcoming the season and the pressure is indeed on from the start as the board expect a successful league season.


Minimum expectation for the season is that the team win promotion back to the Croatian top flight at the first time of asking and with the side currently over it's wage budget and players leaving in the summer, it's going to be extremely tough unless I sign some quality - two players agreed pre contracts with other clubs and will depart while some players, who are on loan will return to their parent clubs.

I've an idea on what positions need to be made stronger and whether that's going to be possible due to us currently over the wage budget remains to be seen but I'm confident I can capture a few players.


Seven games have been arranged.

We will play fellow (or so I believe) second division side Vinogradar, Tekstilac-Ravnice, Marsonia 1909, Metalac Sisak, Medulin and Rudes while we'll be playing English Premier League side Liverpool as they visit us in our penultimate game. I'm looking to add at least another one or two games before pre season concludes but I haven't decided whether I will or not, yet.

With the league title wrapped up I resigned as Hajduk Split manager after just around one and a half seasons at the helm.

During my time at the club I won the Croatian Cup the season I arrived at the club while last season I won the Croatian Super Cup, league title and Croatian Cup as we celebrated a domestic treble before I departed the club due to me wrapping three trophies while at the club. Now I need to look for a new job.

The wait begins...


One year and three days (368 days to be precise) since resigning as manager of Hajduk I have been offered a job. I've been approached about the possibility of managing Slaven Belupo who have been relegated from the Croatian First Division and should be one of the favourites to get promoted next season.

Slaven Belupo last season found goal scoring a problem as they only managed to score thirty three times in thirty six games as they finished rock bottom. They only won seven league games, losing twenty and drawing nine as they were relegated from the top flight and deservedly so.

I've been offered a four year deal to take charge of the club.


Well, are you surprised? Of course I took the job as I had been out of work for over an entire year. They're delighted to have got me as their new manager and I'm relishing the prospect at the prospect of getting this club promoted possibily at the first time of asking but it will be tough.

I think this is now my tenth managerial role as I've previously been at Altach in Austria, Belarusian sides Zhlobin and Torpedo, Belgian sides Namur and Anderlecht, Levski and Montana from Bulgaria, two clubs and counting from Croatia, including most recently Hajduk and now I've heading to Slaven Belupo were I'm expected to only last a season as the club are expected to gain promotion at the first time of asking.

The pressure is on from the beginning!

Two players are departing the club after agreeing pre contracts elsewhere, before I took over.

I think it's pretty mental that I don't think anyone has sacked their manager this season, hence why I've had to wait.


It's incredibly annoying as I've been unable to find a job since departing Hajduk, One a job pops up, I want it.

Thanks. Five months down the line and I'm still waiting for a job offer.

I've only had the one but that was w/ a dead end team who were predicted to come ninth. Can't be arsed managing another relegation candidate. I really do hope a job opportunity (with a second division side) comes up soon. I hate "unemployment".

Was lucky though mate. Very lucky.

Now all I need to do is resign and look for a Second Division job. Would love Zagreb to sack their manager but can't see it.

We entered the final month of the season looking to secure Hajduk's first league title since 2005 but it wasn't going to be easy as we faced three taunting games to conclude the season while we looked to retain the Croatian Cup as we faced a two legged tie with Zagreb.


A trip to Slaven Belupo started the run-in and we picked up a needed four two win but it wasn't easy as we fell behind on ten minutes as Grbac found the net but we equalised a minute later through Tomas before falling behind for the second time on the quarter hour, Mba scoring. On twenty nine minutes we equalised for the second time as Rufino scored and then Lucas turned the game around before half time. Brazilian Rondinelli sealed the win with the game entering second half stoppage time.

We then made a second straight trip as we travelled to Inter Zapresic and could only pick up a point as Jonathan put the home side into the lead after twelve minutes before Hassan doubled the lead on forty two minutes. The "shoe was on the other foot" as we had to fight back to earn a point as Rufino and Trebotic scored inside the final twenty minutes. Champions.

Our next game was the Croatian Cup final first leg against Zagreb and we looked on course to retain our trophy following a 3-1 first leg victory as a Rondinelli double had us two up after only nine minutes before Rufino added a third goal after thirty eight minutes. Bunjevic pulled a goal back in the second half but it didn't change the outcome.

The league season came to an end with a tough game against RNK Split but with the title decided the outcome didn't really matter but we recorded an excellent four one victory as goals from Rufino, Tomas and Lucas had us three goals up at the interval before Rufino's second early in the second half made it four but Grgic denied us a clean sheet as he struck with five minutes left.

The final competitive game of the season was the second leg of the Croatian Cup final and we won the second leg three one to record a 6-2 aggregate victory with Rufino striking after only two minutes to give us the lead but Vukman equalised on the day before second half goals from Lucas and Rufino's second of the game sealed the win ensured we retained the Croatian Cup.


Championess!

What a season. A tremendous treble has been secured as we have won the league and Croatian Cup to go alongside the Super Cup that we had secured before the league season had started. We've finished four points behind last season's league champions Dinamo and I'm so pleased.

Our league success this season ensured that we've broken Dinamo's domination of the Croatian First Division and have secured Hajduk's first league trophy since 2005. I'm going to resign and it's up to whoever takes the reigns to ensure we retain the league title. It'll be tough because Dinamo will want their title back.

Three leagues remaining to win the league, I'm sure we can seal the league now.

With the penultimate month upon us and the race for the Croatian First Division league title heating up, we entered April with the side facing six league games and it wasn't our greatest month of the season as we only won three and lost three of our six games.


Our game in hand versus Rijeka started the month and we couldn't move eight points clear at the top as we slipped to a three one defeat on the road as we fell behind on nine minutes as Mertiri but we equalised on fourteen as Rondinelli found the net. Second half goals from Esteves on sixty five minutes and Francisco in stoppage time sealed the win for Rijeka.

We remained on the road for the second consecutive game as we visited Istra and came out on top in a five goal thriller, winning three two. For the second game in succession we fell behind on nine minutes as Strok scored but a double from Rufino turned the game around before half time but Cedric equalised a minute into the second half. We won the game with twelve minutes remaining as Rondinelli struck for a crucial and vital three points.

For the second time in three games we faced Rijeka, this time in Split and we picked up our second consecutive win as we beat them two one with Rufino scoring our first on three minutes before the same scored his and our second on fifty three minutes - Rijeka pulled a goal back with two minutes left.

A trip to Osijek was next and we slipped to a disappointing single goal defeat as Ereiz scored what turned out to be the winning goal after only four minutes. We didn't deserve anything, a poor day.

Our fourth away game of the month saw us make the journey to Zadar and we yet again suffered another crushing setback, again going down one nil on the road. Zadar scored the only goal after twelve minutes as Luizinho scored the only goal after twelve minutes. Should have at least picked up a point.

And the month concluded with a home clash against struggling Zagreb and we picked up a much needed three points following a two goal win. A penalty from Rufino separated the sides as he converted from twelve yards after twenty two minutes before Rondinelli sealed the win.


The league title still hasn't been assured as a poor month from us has seen the gap cut down to three points but it's still our title to balls up. Dinamo, who have been scoring for us this season are three points behind with three games remaining. It's going to be a tough run in for us as we face Slaven Belupo and Inter Zapresic both away and end the season with a home tie against RNK Split.

It's indeed possible but it's definitely a tough run in due to the amount of away games we've remaining. If we had more games at home then I'd have more belief that I could wrap up the league title.


Six of the remaining nine league fixtures are away from home and that's awful but I just need to "deal with it" and move on. The title is ours to mess up and hopefully that doesn't happen so I'd be annoyed.

Care to post what the tactic formations are and if you have had any success with them?

I’ve just had exactly the same but in the 2027/2028 campaign. Exact same venues and the final was also played in Turkey.

March proved to be an extremely busy month as we played eight games in all competitions as we looked to try and wrap up the league title as soon as possible and attempt to retain the Croatian Cup too as we had a semi final two legged affair with Slaven Belupo to overcome. In the league we faced Zagreb, Zadar, Slaven Belupo, Inter Zapresic, RNK Split and Dinamo. It was a busy, busy month.


We started the month on the road in the Croatian Cup semi final first leg as we travelled to Slaven Belupo and we had one foot in the final following a three one win with all the goals arriving in a crazy fifteen minute period. Two goals in four minutes from Rufino and Principe had us two goals up before Markovic pulled one back but Rondinelli's goal in first half stoppage time put us three one up and that's how it ended.

Back to league action and we stayed on the road as we visited struggling Zagreb and the home side were defeated three one as Rufino broke the deadlock for us on six minutes before Tomas doubled the lead after only nine minutes. With a rout looking on the cards the home side pulled a goal back on twelve and we added a third early in the second half courtesy of an own goal.

A single goal from Tomas ensured maximum points at home vs. Zadar.

We then faced Slaven Belupo in the Croatian Cup semi final second leg and it finished 1-1 on the night and ensured we progressed 4-2 on aggregate with Principe's goal on thirty five minutes being cancelled out with an equaliser through Andjelkovic a minute into the second half.

We returned to league action and our title challenge got stronger as we faced Slaven Belupo for the second time in succession but this time we defeated them four two in Split as we had a four goal lead at half time as Rufino opened the scoring on thirteen minutes before two goals inside six first half minutes from Trebotic had us three up before Rodinelli struck just before half time. The side switched off in the second half and allowed Markovic and Erseg to score but the result was never in doubt.

Our next game was at home for the fourth consecutive time and this time we faced Inter Zapresic and Hajduk produced another excellent display to defeat the visitors five two despite the away fans celebrating first as Hassan struck after only six minutes but they were pegged back as Radojcic equalised and then we took control as Principe, Trebotic, Radojcic's second and Simic struck to put us 5-1 up before Pinto fired a second consolation goal with fifteen minutes remaining,

The penultimate game of the month saw us make the short journey to RNK Split and we messed up another two goal lead, this time to lose three two at our bitter rivals. In-form striker Radojcic struck twice in the eleventh and thirty sixth minute to put us two up and what looked like in control but Hodak pulled a goal back just before half time and then doubled his tally as RNK Split equalised on fifty six minutes and eight minutes later Parac won RNK the points.

A home game with Dinamo concluded the month and I wasn't overly confident following our previous defeat but we produced a sensational performance to defeat them four one with Principe finding the net to open the scoring on just seven minutes and then the in-form Radojcic doubled the lead on twenty seven but Guilherme pulled one back before half time and I thought "here we go again, time to mess up another 2-0 lead. Same old" but we scored two more in the second half to seal 3 points as Vukusic and Barisic both scored.


Was going to say can you smell the league title? but I don't want to get carried away as we're only five points clear at the top with nine games remaining (we have a game in hand, away vs. Rijeka - win that and we're eight points clear) but it's incrediably tight at the top as Dinamo are still in second place. It's also tight at the bottom with just three points separating bottom of the table Slaven Belupo and second bottom Zagreb.

Hajduk's league run in:

APRIL:
Rijeka (A)
Istra 1961 (A)
Rijeka (H)
Osijek (A)
Zadar (A)
Zagreb (H)

MAY:
Slaven Belupo (A)
Inter Zapresic (A)
RNK Split (H)

It's a tough run in for us. Six games away and just the three at home. Couldn't be trickier.