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#259241 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2046/47
The TV money appears to have levelled out at a cool £100 million. Quite frankly I'm about to write to the Gibraltarian Broadcasting Corporation and demand that heads roll. Just not good enough.
For once, not too much news on players leaving. Martin Maclean did move back to Scotland though, having struggled somewhat for appearances in the past couple of seasons. Hopefully he can get a good few matches under his belt in Dumbarton.
Coming in...
Rodrigo
Good versatile fullback, but will probably end up just as depth to the squad.
Noel Sylla
Similar to Rodrigo, although an even less hopeful outlook. Will definitely do a job when called upon though.
Ticao
I never really did replace Steve Keighren between the sticks, preferring to stick with Gilles Riviere for a season. That all changes now though. I don't even need to say anything. Just look at his attributes, and let's move on.
Robert Williams
Next on the train of youth strikers that may or may not come good is Robert Williams. Certainly has potential, and he'll take the 3rd/4th choice striker spot behind VDD and Kamar. Should get a good number of sub appearances, and domestic starts.
Results
Another breeze of a qualification campaign.
Back down to pot 3 unfortunately thanks to Zenit's rise, so we'll get a tough draw no doubt. My guess is Inter, Barcelona and Shakhtar as a lesson for being too baulshy.
Waaaaaay! Two out of three ain't bad. Dortmund are the interesting ones - are they a beatable top seed?
Before we get to that though, I'm going to cover domestic football. Why? Well, you'll see. Some of you may realise that I'm currently on a ridiculous run of form in domestic league football. We are unbeaten in 294 games, and I think we last lost a game around the time that Mods and Rockers were knocking **** out of each other in England. But seriously, it was 6th of November 2032 the last time we lost a league game, so coming up on 14 years when young upstarts Gibraltar United invited us to their (bigger) ground. What could possibly go wrong?
This could.
294 games up in smoke, thanks to a quite unbelievable United performance. When you're 4-1 down at half-time, you're unlikely to get something out of the game, but when you play as dreadfully as we did you're surprised it isn't more. 6-3 was lenient, and we now stare down the barrel of a problem. We play each team three times in the League, so it comes down to a best of 3 really. Especially when your opposition have become as efficient at putting the rest of the teams to the sword as you are. We annihilated United in the return game, winning 7-0, but that only put us ahead on goal difference as Gibraltar United just. Kept. Winning. It came down to the penultimate game of the season in the end, and an end-to-end battle finished 2-2. We closed out the season and won the title on the final day with a customary 9-0 win.
Now I know we won it by some distance on goal difference, but if Red Imps had managed to sneak a draw in one of our matches, or United had scored in our draw, we would have lost the title. I've gotten really complacent to be honest, and taken the league for granted, which is something I will not be doing again.
Especially when the cups happened.
Yes, United got their revenge ultimately by putting us out of the cup at the semi final stage. Again, it was a close battle, but they won out in extra-time and caused us to explain a £10 million hole in our budget come the end of the season.
But anyway, back to Europe.
And it was all going so well.
After three games, we were on top of the group, and absolutely cruising. We absolutely deserved it too, having beaten Barcelona at home, and then top seeds Dortmund in the Westfalenstadion.
But then it all went wrong. We could have all but won the group against Dortmund at home, but contrived to throw away the lead. Twice. Then Barcelona finally got revenge for that 4-0 pumping at the Nou Camp by beating us there. We still had hope of finishing top, should Dortmund get something against Barca and we beat bottom seed Shakthar. Neither happened, as we struggled to a draw, and Barca breezed through to win the group. Bitterly disappointing after such a good start.
And how were we rewarded for that collapse?
Not much to say really.
Facilities Update
Quite a few changes as we improve training, youth facilities and youth recruitment. My aim is to get the training facilities up to state of the art, but the board seems to really disagree with my view. Maybe I'll have to deliver them a Champions League before they realise that I'm right and they're wrong.
Club Update
Rumours that I'm now driving a solid gold tank to work are unfounded. In the meantime, our club continues to grow, 21st in the World now, with a burgeoning bank balance despite my reckless spending.
Coefficient Update
No results update this year, so a double one next year - with our co-efficient how it is, we'll be seeing how Gibraltar United get on in Champions League competition. I'm guessing pretty badly.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
Up to 19th in the league placings, but the big story is of course our cup exit. It's not just a trophy lost, it's about £10 million too.
End of Season Review
Finances
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven
A season of extreme tension and bitter defeats, but it's been a wake-up call. away from results, player performance from one guy in particular has been first rate.
Vic Vandendriessche was brought in to replace Silva, and this year he did that and then some. He was voted onto the FIFPro World X1 subs bench and broke Silva's farewell goalscoring record. The boy's got some way to go to reach his potential, so my main aim now will be to keep him at the club while he does it.
In other news, training and youth facilities will get another boost.
#259240 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2045/46
We've broken the £100 million mark in TV money as the deal ramps up once again. ****s gettin' real bruh! That also means that we've risen in the rich list, up to 30. The interesting news is that Gibraltar United have completely fallen away, with only Gibraltar Pheonix and St. Joseph's still keeping pace, probably due to their board takeovers. I would like to see some distance between us though, given that our club is infinitely more successful than any other in the country.
Only two players in, but a lot of money spent. First up, the outgoings. Quite a lot of them, but a few were particularly notable.
Steve Keighren moves to Fenerbahce, leaving us without a proper number 1 for the season. I'm happy enough to stick with Gilles Riviere for now, as there isn't too much value out there for goalkeepers, but it's a worrying situation to be in going into an important season.
Javier Iburlacea and Charlie Sinton also leave, but it's the latter that is most "interesting". We spent a lot of money on Charlie, and he's already spent time away on loan. Now he leaves for QPR for a fraction of what we paid. Oh well.
Most impacting though is the departure of Nicao. I waited a long time for him, and spent quite a bit of money, but once again he demanded a move to a "bigger" club, and I couldn't stand in his way. £15 million into the coffers, so a slight profit, but he's one player I think we'll regret leaving.
Blas Guerra
Added some depth at full-back through Blas, but I get the feeling he's not going to feature enough for his liking.
Ederson
Over on the other flank, we've got Ederson, who will feature much more.
In October, the board decided that we needed more players, so the budget was increased accordingly to a healthy £52 million.
Even so, there were more sales to come.
Yes, you read right. Blas Guerra did indeed have less football than he hoped for, and demanded to leave as early as January, just a few months after he joined. A considerable loss made, and lesson learned.
I didn't manage to get screenshots, which is a shame, as we had a very busy January. A lot of youth, with one defensive midfielder (Borrelli), three wide players (Delattre, Gobbi and Mutombo) and one striker in Emiliano Cardinale.
Results
None of the struggles that we had last season - we battered our way through the opposition with little trouble.
We sneaked into the second pot by the skin of our teeth thanks to our heroics last season, which should make it easier to qualify for the next round again. Should.
But that is a tough, tough draw. Two of the sides are high in their pots, and the other is Liverpool. I said when I drew Arsenal a couple of seasons back that I always worried when drawing English sides, and this is no different. They've been constantly upper mid-table over the past decade or so, and to do that you have to have quality. To get into the Champions League, it doesn't matter what your co-efficient is, you'll be a tough opponent. I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool were in with a chance of 2nd behind - surely - PSG. We'll hope to spoil that party though.
I called it right, but we managed to just about edge Liverpool out in the final reckoning. PSG wiped the floor with the group, leaving ourselves and Liverpool fighting it out for 2nd. A disappointing defeat at Anfield meant that we would have to win back at the Spiteri and better their result to go through - providing they couldn't beat PSG in their final match. They didn't, and we beat them 3-1, sneaking into the knockout stages on head-to-head.
I will say though, we had two fantastic battles with PSG. They came out on top both times, but are we really that far behind them? On our day, we can beat anyone.
A very professional first leg performance meant we headed into the second leg in Amsterdam in my favourite position - ahead, with no away goals conceded. Wilburt (fantastic name) de Groots got the opening goal in the second leg, but two goals in eight minutes swung the tie well and truly into our grasp. They needed to score three then, and although they got one quite quickly after our 2nd, they couldn't do much more. I was happy to take all the pace out of the game and let it finish 2-2. Onwards to the quarter finals we go.
But who do we face? Internazionale.
Yeah...that was predictable. Absolutely battered, comprehensively. I said after the group stage that we can beat anyone on our day. Our day has never seemed so far away as it did over those two legs. 5-3 was actually not too bad a result in the first leg, but it looked a lot better at 4-3 going into injury time. That 91st minute goal from Inter to make it 5-3 was probably the key moment, and I don't think we were ever going to be able to go home and win by two. Our best chance was to have a similar game to the first leg and just try and outscore them. In the end we managed none of that, going out with a whimper to the best team in Europe.
£10.56 million this time for the winner. Over £2.5 million a game for us.
The only other thing to say is that Gibraltar United have finally seemed to put up a fight. Sure they fell - and fell hard - in the matches against us, but those were the only ones they lost all season. Could this be the beginnings of competition?
Facilities Update
Quite a few changes as we improve training, youth facilities and youth recruitment. My aim is to get the training facilities up to state of the art, but the board seems to really disagree with my view. Maybe I'll have to deliver them a Champions League before they realise that I'm right and they're wrong.
Club Update
Rumours that I'm now driving a solid gold tank to work are unfounded. In the meantime, our club continues to grow, 21st in the World now, with a burgeoning bank balance despite my reckless spending.
Coefficient Update
I said earlier that Gibraltar United have perhaps started to give us competition, and this seems to strengthen the argument. Red Imps managed one round before getting put out by the extravagant Irony of Israel (what a team name), but United managed to get as far as the 3rd round before Feyenoord taught them a lesson. Even then though, if they'd kept it tight in that first leg, who knows what could've happened.
We just need a break - I'm improving the coefficient single-handedly, but if Gibraltar United can get a good draw and make it into the group stages...well, we'll improve a lot quicker.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
The 34th best league in Europe...drink it in.
End of Season Review
Finances
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now?
Wow.
In other news, guess who ended up winning European Golden Boy this season...only our old player Nicao. I said he'd be one we regretted selling, and looks like I've been proved right.
Also, Andy McAree's time with the club has finally come to an end. He was coming to the end of his contract, and with clubs sniffing around him I decided to give him one last contract in the hopes of keeping him around until he retired, with a view to bringing him on as staff. Unfortunately, Ipswich offered a better package, and he'll probably finish his career over in England. Disappointing, but I imagine they'll be able to give him far more football than he would've managed here.
#259239 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2044/45
The season started, as is now customary, with an increase to our TV deal. If the same number of goals are scored as last season, then that's about £24000 a goal. It's all about value.
First up, the outgoings. As Tullem already noticed, we lost a massive player this summer to a free transfer. It looks like a terrible decision, but in February I opened contract talks with Silva, and he demanded a king's ransom. I think it was around 150k a week, which you can imagine was way over our budget. I negotiated him down, but he still wanted ridiculous bonuses and appearance fees. I could have probably persuaded him, but I'm the manager, damn it, I'm not going to let him dictate my budget. I broke off talks, and Silva has joined Montpellier. Will I live to regret that choice?
Elsewhere, the only real departure of note was Luciano del Cero. Again, he was a player we couldn't stand in the way of. He wanted to move to a bigger club, and I let him once I received a good enough bid. We make a slight profit on him, but he'll be tough to replace.
So on to the players that are coming into the club.
Emiliano Lugo
Not a huge fee, but could well be a huge player. We're building a fairly formidable middle to our team, and allied to Emiliano's strength and tackling is a bit of pace and an eye for a pass. Coming into his prime, and could even be deployed as a ball playing defender.
Vic Vandendriessche
Silva left obviously, so we needed a new striker to hold the line. We've got Volodymyr Kamar of course, but with us playing 4-4-2 most of the time, we need someone to support him. I'm saying it now - I've found him. He is going to be huge over the next few years, and I'd wager we're not going to miss Silva too much.
Ivan Barrionuevo
Another very good capture for us. Strong and very creative, I'd expect him to take his place on the right of midfield, but he can easily do a job in the center, or at AMC if we move back to that.
Gilles Riviere
An underwhelming signing probably, but one that was needed. We've had a few occasions where our first choice keeper gets crocked, and beyond him we have nothing. Gilles won't play much, perhaps in cups, but I know I'll be glad to have him if we end up needing him.
Michael Klose
Another winger who can play inside, Michael will be another great addition. Slightly older than I usually like to add to the squad, but then we get the benefit of his experience. Technically and mentally excellent, with good physical stats to back it up.
Martyn Cannon
Adding a bit of depth around the right back area, with an option of filling in further forward too. He'll be a short term solution, but a vastly experienced one.
Then we moved onto January, hoping for a quiet month...unfortunately, this happened...
Lucio Gonzalez and Connor Hewitt both left the club. Hewitt was disappointing - not because he left, but more because we had him at all. He was unhappy with his playing time, understandably, so he jumped at the chance to move on. Gonzalez was a first-choice center back, so to lose him was disappointing, but after a couple of weeks of searching, we found a replacement for him.
Walter Villarreal
What is it with these Argentines? Walter is only 19, but already has better stats than most experienced players. He can be improved, but he is a player that could grace any pitch in the World. A massive coup for us.
Results
Two rounds this year, and we certainly enjoyed our trip to Cyprus. Granted, we were already 9-0 up from the home leg, so we could enjoy the late Summer sun in Larnaca without too much pressure.
*record scratch*
But then we faced Bratislava. An absolutely woeful first leg result, made worse by the lack of any away goals. I sent the team out with a fire under them to the second leg, and promptly went one down. Then the fear came, as we stared down the barrel of Champions League elimination. Luckily, the team woke up, and by half time we were 3-0 up and back ahead. We added a 4th in the second half, and a crisis was averted.
And breathe.
So I go to the Europa League final, and get rewarded by almost getting kicked down to the 4th pot. I say almost, it's not quite that bad, but I had hoped for a big boost in coefficient. Either of the Czech sides from pot 4 would be...undesirable. Then Bayern from pot 2, and - to be honest - any of the pot 1 teams.
For once, I think we've actually done alright there. West Ham will be very tough, but not the most difficult pot 1 team we could've got. CSKA Moscow and Dinamo will both be very tough away trips, but again, not the worst team we could've drawn. What's this...optimism? Surely not...
Surely yes!
We could scarcely have started better to be honest. We've often seemed uncomfortable in the group stage, fighting for every point. This is the first time we've looked totally comfortable with our own game. 5-0 up at half time, and the only blemish was the two goals we conceded. I'll forgive them since they got two back in reply.
West Ham were predictably tough, but we pushed them close in the Olympic Stadium before eventually succumbing. Normality resumed on matchday 3 as we fought to a 1-0 victory at home to Dinamo, and then compounded that with a more comfortable win in Croatia. That meant that a win in Moscow would guarantee us a place in the knockout stages for the first time in our history. A thoroughly professional 90 minutes later, and we could possibly dream of topping the group if we could beat West Ham. As you can see, we absolutely didn't, getting absolutely thumped to bring us down to Earth with a considerable bump. We'll need to improve come February in the knockout stages.
Sparta Praha up next in the 1st Knockout Round.
Job done. Two very different performances, have to say. We sneaked into a narrow lead come the end of the first leg through a mature defensive performance, before throwing that all away and reverting to the harem scarem method we usually use. We were 3-0 down after 12 minutes, leaving us reeling in front of a capacity crowd of almost 20000. We had to hit back soon, or we would've gone under I imagine. As you can see, we didn't just hit back, we ran over them. Four goals without reply sent us two clear in the tie, and Sparta just had no answer. We march into an unbelievable Quarter Final against...Barcelona. Standard.
Speechless.
It wasn't just the absolute humbling we gave them on their own patch, although that was pretty unbelievable. In fourteen first half minutes, we went from level in the game, to 3-0 up, and Barcelona just had no answer for us. Going into the second leg they obviously needed at least four. Nerves began to fray as they took the lead in the 5th minute, and all of a sudden it looked like we might be on the end of one of those unbelievable tankings that snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. At least until sixty seconds later when we equalised, and then 60 seconds after that when we went ahead. Andy MacAree and VDD were having an absolute field day, and if it wasn't for a goal back in stoppage time, we would've gone in at half time 8-1 up on aggregate. As it was, 8-2 wasn't too bad. We added a deserved 5th in the second half, and strolled into the semi finals.
Surely we couldn't, could we?
No, we couldn't.
Back down to Earth with a crash as Man City deliver a footballing lesson. Now I know how Barcelona felt, as City smashed four past us on our own turf. The second leg became a mere formality then, with us not really having any chance of clawing back four. We gave it a shot, but City sat back, soaked up pressure, and won on the night anyway. So close, and yet so, so far.
Just the £8.83 million for the Rock Cup this year. Standards slipping.
Another domestic clean sweep, with Gibraltar United far, far behind in 2nd.
Stats and Key Players
Vic Vandendriessche
Anyone remember who was our striker before Vic VVD? Me neither.
Michael Klose
Did exactly what was expected of him, and forms an absolutely crucial part of our side.
Martyn Cannon
Came in as backup to be honest, but made the position his own. Wonderful performance in the twilight of his career.
Facilities Update
Club Update
We're heading into the stratosphere in terms of finances thanks to the new TV deal, and made it into the top 30 in the club list.
Coefficient Update
Just the one success, this time for St. Joseph's as they beat HB of the Faroe Islands. They were unlucky against AEK in the next round, as were Red Imps, but that's about all she wrote.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
The 34th best league in Europe...drink it in.
End of Season Review
Finances
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven
Even bigger money for next season thanks to our success. Can we build on that semi-final appearance and make it one step further next time?
It was Gibraltar Pheonix's turn to receive a takeover approach this season, and it's a biggie - £133 million nets Aaron Galviso the club. Big talk.
Barcelona offered me a job, clearly impressed by the 9-2 humbling we handed out. I went for the interview, but with no intention of actually taking it. It was all about trying to extort a stadium expansion out of the board. Did it work? Nope. A decent offer, but I'm afraid I'm not interested.
#259238 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2043/44
Stats and Key Players
Silva | Ivan Graham | Martin Maclean
Silva needs special mention here, as he's breaking records all over the place. 66 goals in a season, and 17 Man of the Match awards, beating club legend Joe Jones at his own game. He also broke the record for league goals - both with us, and the league itself - again beating Joe Jones. As a final note, he also won the Golden Boot. Unbelievable for someone in what is considered a poorer league.
Facilities Update
Club Update
And look at that value and balance rise. TV has ruined modern football, eh?
Coefficient Update
Red Imps opened a new chapter in mediocrity as they got absolutely reamed 13-0 against Twente. They got a second chance in the Europa League against Maritimo, but a terrible 4-0 loss in the first leg made their good 2-2 result in the 2nd irrelevant. The rest were just generally terrible.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
End of Season Review
Finances
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now?
Player of the Year | Top Goalscorer | Young Player of the Year
Our budgets for next season are absolutely huge thanks to the new TV deal, so already looking forward to spending it. But then some of it should probably be spent on facilities, as our training ground fell further behind the competition. I did ask immediately for an improvement, and it was denied. It's good news on the youth front though, as we improve those facilities.
Unfortunately, despite our good performance this year, the co-efficient has taken a dip.
Fortunately or unfortunately, who knows, but our link with Fulham has been cut. Given that we've outgrown them, it's probably the right decision.
But definitely fortunately, it's facility improvement time. Training Facilities, Youth Recruitment and Youth Facilities are all going to be boosted, putting us closer to where we want to be in terms of World Standing.
In other news, the extra money flooding into the country is attracting all kinds of attention. Tycoon attention. St. Joseph's FC received an £86 million takeover, so I expect to see them up top in the next few years. Can they get near us though?
#259237 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2043/44
Europa League Final 2044
Gutted.
For once, we just didn't turn up. Last final we had, we pressed and harried the opposition so much that they really struggled to lay a hand on us. Tonight was the complete opposite. Nothing really came off, shots we should have buried went well wide, and Zenit controlled us from minute 1, probably up to the point we scored. After that, we still had 20 minutes to claw it back, but Zenit kept us at arms length.
Bitterly disappointing, but still, an appearance in the final is still good.
#259236 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2043/44
Europa League Final 2044
So it's Gibraltar vs Russia. Might sound like a particularly one-sided battle, but hopefully the match itself won't be.
We're in Florence, at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, for a second Europa League final. Quite a stadium, and I can tell just by looking at it that it has that kind of atmosphere that newer stadiums don't have. It's good enough for Fiorentina anyway. It's also good enough for (definitely) UFOs, as back in 1954 there was a mass UFO sighting during a reserve game.
Getting Here
You know how we got there, but it's fair to say it's been a long journey.
Like us, Zenit were a Champions League dropout. They haven't really wowed to be honest, but their last outing in the tournament was a 5-0 routing of Malaga, which completely overturned their first leg loss. That alone will give us a difficult task.
The Odds
Zenit are the favourites, and probably deserve that. But then we were the underdogs the last time we were in a major final, and we're probably underdogs for most of our European matches. It won't phase us.
Team News
Zenit are likely to be playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, which will give us a lot to think about at the back. Barao has been singled out as a particular danger.
We'll be sticking with good old 4-4-2, but will be without hero of the previous rounds Volodymyr Kamar through injury. That could be crucial.
Preview
#259235 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2043/44
So after receiving £64 million last year in TV money, this year they decided that that wasn't quite enough for us. Another £14 million should do it, to make the deal worth over £78 million a club. Unbelievable money. So much so that we've just made it onto the rich list, in 48th place. However, it's easy to see how much this TV deal is propping us up when you look at the actual list - six of the eight top-flight clubs make it into the top 60. But perhaps the biggest thing is that Gibraltar United are twenty million pounds better off than us. I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but they currently have a bigger stadium than us, which I'm not happy about at all when the board refuse to extend it. Given that we're regularly raking in the prize money, I have to assume that the gate receipts they are managing are what's pushing them ahead. Furious at the board for letting this happen.
For one season at least, we managed to stop hemorrhaging players at an alarming rate. That didn't stop us spending though!
Volodymyr Kamar - Every team needs a Volodymyr. He'll tear Gibraltar apart with stats like that, but the real test will, as always, be in Europe. Confident he can assist Silva well.
Javier Ibarlucea - Another one for the future, but probably good enough to start featuring immediately domestically.
Connor Hewitt - Had a good season last time on loan, so taking a punt on him as a permanent signing. Always a good option to have on the bench.
Lucio Gonzalez - Argentina is very profitable for us at the moment. Lucio will step straight in at the back I imagine, but with potential like that, I'd imagine he'll be in high demand in the coming seasons.
Given Nzimande - We've always struggled for depth on the flanks, and Given can play in both positions on the right.
Nicky Bligh - At 21, he probably should be better than he is based on his potential, but happy to give him a shot.
Ivan Graham - Another loan signing made permanent. For some reason, Man City let his contract run down, and I was happy to oblige by letting him stay on with us.
Nicao - Literally years in the making this one. A fee was agreed ages ago with Cruzeiro, but Brazil's rules deny a move to players until they're 19. So I've waited, and waited, but he's finally here. And he's going to be a star.
The board decided that spending all that money wasn't quite enough in the Autumn, and raised my funds to £24.5 million. I doubt I'll spend it though.
Results
Just the two rounds this time, and navigated without too much bother. At least on the face of it. Maribor were bloody awkward to be honest, and twice we came from behind in the first leg to finish 2-2. They then opened the scoring in the 2nd leg, and we looked leggy, tired, and generally pretty poor. Kramar hit back quickly though, and from then on it was pretty smooth sailing. Club Brugge were another big test, but we passed it without too much trouble, and it's on to the group stage again.
I will burn this place down if we draw either of the Milan sides. Or PSG. Or West Ham.
It's not the top seeds, but it remains a very awkward draw. Arsenal would've been high up on the list of teams we wanted to avoid from the bottom pot. They spent around seven years in the doldrums from the mid 30's onwards, and have only recently recovered to where they should be. Of course, that meant that their co-efficient suffered to the point where they're in pot 4 now. Are they a true pot 4 team? Are any English sides ever? They worry me. Lyon wasn't the greatest pot 2 side either, and Barcelona are probably artificially low too. It's going to be a tough one.
In the end, we were pretty far away from finishing in 2nd - a win against Arsenal instead of a draw would still have left us in 3rd thanks to the head to head record against Lyon and Barcelona (I think, I'm not going to calculate the mini-league). In the end, we deserved no better than 3rd really. Arsenal surprised me - I expected to have tougher games against them. The first leg at home went pretty well, but it took what ended up to be a massively important equaliser in the 93rd minute by Mat Bradbury to send us into 3rd. If all other results stayed the same, again we would have still finished 3rd with a 2-1 Arsenal victory, but who knows what would've happened in the final two games if Arsenal had grabbed the win? As it is, we're in the Europa League once again, and I fancy another title.
A good introduction into knockout football again in February as we dispatched Hajduk Split fairly handily. We were cruising at 2-0 in Split, but after they got a goal back, we didn't look entirely comfortable. We pretty much ended the tie as a contest early in the 2nd leg with another two goals, leaving their goal naught but a consolation. A thoroughly professional job.
A rip-roaring tie this one. Man Utd played it exactly how they wanted to in the first leg, soaking up the inevitable Lincoln pressure before hitting us on the break and winning 1-0. It didn't help that Roger got sent off ten minutes before their goal of course, but it was a deserved win for the men from Manchester. Our task in the 2nd leg was then pretty clear - stop them scoring by any means, and get at least one in return.
That lasted for 26 minutes. Darren Jones felled in the penalty area, he picked himself up, dusted himself down, and smashed home the penalty to leave us staring down the barrel of elimination. We now needed three, with extra-time not an option. Andy MacAree made us believe with a goal six minutes later, but as we ticked into the last ten minutes we looked to be struggling to break down a disciplined defence while still being worried about getting hit on the break.
Then we got a penalty of our own. Scored. Then, dream of dreams, Martin MacLean popped up with his second, our third, and the key goal in the tie. What followed was 4 minutes of bedlam as we tried desperately to repel a white tide. But repel it we did, and I have to say, we've just stolen one.
If you want goals, you get goals. Two cracking matches for the neutral, but not great for either side I imagine. A defensive horror-show at times, especially in the first leg, as goal after goal flew in. We went 1-0 up, then 2-1, then 3-1, before they clawed it back to 3-3. As stoppage time began, I sent the players forward, desperate to get that goal that would give us a slight edge, because going back to Liverpool with three away goals against us seemed like suicide. Then Joe Lordan struck, 91st minute, to give us a priceless win.
The second leg was seeming so straight-forward as we raced into a 3-0 lead. Surely it wouldn't be that easy, right? Right. Everton struck two quick goals back, and the wobble began. With 12 minutes left, Everton knew that 2 more would give them extra-time, and the way we were playing I could see them getting them. Luckily, we held something akin to firm, and moved into the semi finals.
Ever get the feeling that it's your year? Two more 90 minute goals seem to suggest so.
It was a tie very much of two halves. Or four quarters I guess. The first one involved Bayern romping it. We got the opening goal, but two in the second half for Bayern meant two away goals, and a huge blow to our hopes. But then up steps Silva in the 90th minute to give us a valuable lifeline.
We travelled to Bayern still slightly behind, but by the 13th minute all thoughts of that were gone. We were 2-0 up, the German's away advantage evaporated, and seemed to be cruising. But of course, it's never that easy, not at this stage, and in a crazy 4 minute spell, we crumbled. Going from totally through, to all but out in 4 minutes was pretty tough, but we desperately tried to steady the ship. I was torn between battening down the hatches and waiting for extra-time, or going for it for a crucial away goal. I waited, and waited, and as injury time loomed, I prepared to make my move.
But the Rad Russian had other ideas, and Volodymyr Kamar struck a 3rd. Bayern deflated, and that is how you do that. We're in another final.
First up though, domestic football.
Once again, the TV deal is supplemented by a ridiculous prize pot for the Rock Cup - I pick up a touch over £8 million for 4 games of football. Sweet.
Once again, describing the competition as "distant" doesn't really cover it. For all their money, Gibraltar United still can't touch us.
I'll be back with coverage of the Europa League final, as well as the season round-up
#259223 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
This, pretty much. It happened on FM14, where a completely random TV deal got added many years into the save. Means that unless I go mental transfer-wise, I'm never likely to be in financial difficulty.
#259218 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2042/43
So what is everyone's ideal way to start a season? Personally, I like to start it with the introduction of a ridiculous TV deal. Yes, the pseudo-"bug" that affected my FM14 save has hit again, and money is now absolutely pouring into the Gibraltarian game. It will be interesting to see how this affects us long term, ad especially interesting to see if my rivals can deal with the influx and not completely waste all the money on **** players, like they did last time.
First up, the outgoings. A whole load of uber-fringe players leaving on loan and on free transfers, but it's the ones who left for fees that will obviously grab the attention. We're perpetually in motion in this sense - we're rising rapidly, but our reputation is no match for teams that could be considered below us in European competition. So we constantly have players wanting to leave, and there's little I can do about it. With a few exceptions, I'm mostly happy to let these players leave, providing I get enough money for them.
Kenville Steele ended up being a particular success story as we negotiated a £7.5 million deal for him, having bought him for £1 million just the season before. A massive boost for us, considering he wasn't exactly electric last season.
Matty Breeze was a disappointing departure. The Welshman I would have hoped stayed with us for the remainder of his career, but as it is he would probably struggle to keep up the amount of football he wants in doing so. He goes with my blessing.
It was all looking pretty good until transfer deadline day, when we lost Sergio Heredia and Keith Hagan. Good amounts clawed back on them, given they were both free transfers when they joined us, but it did leave us in a fun position going into the final hours of the window.
Jamie Low - Good solid young defensive midfielder, and one who'll sit quite nicely as an option for us in the middle, despite not being a top drawer player.
Rob Carter - Not quite the quality that Jamie Low has right now, but has space to impriove. Also a bit more versatile.
Ivan Graham - He's English apparently. Maybe a Cold War plant, but we'll take him anyway. Hopefully we win the Champions League before he's activated and heads off to Blighty to kill the Prime Minster or something. A very good center back, and one that could be in place for a long time for us, or at least until he has his head turned by a more reputable club.
Mark Hart - Another young, versatile midfielder with room to develop.
Martin MacLean - A huge amount of money spent on someone who doesn't look that good by his stats, but my coaches and scouts believe that this guy can make a real difference on the left flank. I'm inclined to agree with them.
Connor Hewitt - A bit of a punt here. Connor joins on loan with no plans to make it permanent, but it'll be in the back of my mind if he proves particularly successful. Good to get numbers and depth at this stage.
January
Charlie Sinton - Charlie joins us for a hefty fee, and probably represents my biggest risk in terms of transfers. Definitely one for the future, but for a fee that means he should be good now. Remains to be seen how successful he'll be.
Luciano del Cero - Ivan Graham's arrival had lessened the impact of Heredia leaving us on deadline day, but Luciano finally fills the gap completely. We paid a fair whack for him, but should definitely prove worth it in the end.
Valentino Conti - And back to another risky one. Massive potential it seems, but will he get the game-time to prove that potential?
Results
Breezed through. Our playoff match was all but over after 12 minutes in the first leg as we fired two away goals into the BATE net. We couldn't add to it in the remainder though, and when they opened the scoring back in Gibraltar, there were some nervy moments. We shot two quick fire goals mid-way through the first half though, and that was enough to send us through pretty easily.
Inter become the "must-not-draw" side this year, closely followed by West Ham. I would say AC Milan join them from pot 2, but at least if I draw them, I'm guaranteed not to get their city rivals. Real Madrid are loitering with intent, and absolutely love to draw us, so I'm expecting them. We made it into the 3rd pot. Just. Shakhtar, Basel and Celtic will all be tough tests from pot 4.
**** off.
A pretty poor showing in the group stage, but one that was not entirely unexpected. We should have beaten Basel twice, despite being tough opposition, but we managed to throw away the match in Switzerland. Luckily though, we'd somehow got a point from group favourites West Ham, and then finished our campaign with an unbelievable win against Monaco. It was enough to send us into 3rd place, and the Europa League.
We drew Sporting Lisbon, and I was pretty confident, have to say...
I shouldn't have been though. Well and truly beaten after a dreadful home leg. Although we were losing pretty convincingly for the entire game, it was late on that Sporting stuck the knife in to score the 4th and 5th. We had our work cut out in Portugal, and a 0-0 was most definitely not enough. So out we went.
At least we're predictable back home. Another absolutely perfect season, thirty-one played, thirty-one won, four trophies. Next?
Stats and Key Players
Andy McAree | Silva | Paul Campbell | Joe Lordan
Facilities Update
Club Update
I expect both value and balance to jump massively in the coming seasons now that TV money has gone through the roof. Remains to be seen though.
Coefficient Update
Just the one success story in Europe as St. Joseph's battled their way into the 3rd qualifying round, for the right to get battered off Saint-Etienne. But next year we have that extra Champions League place...God knows what'll happen with that.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
The 34th best league in Europe...drink it in.
End of Season Review
Finances
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now?
Player of the Year | Top Goalscorer | Young Player of the Year
Our budgets for next season are absolutely huge thanks to the new TV deal, so already looking forward to spending it. But then some of it should probably be spent on facilities, as our training ground fell further behind the competition. I did ask immediately for an improvement, and it was denied. It's good news on the youth front though, as we improve those facilities.
#259217 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2041/42
So yeah, of course I didn't go to Real Madrid. That screen from the previous post was from an alternate save I've got kept. I was very, very tempted, but in that alternate save, first day on the job, looking at that squad, I just couldn't get excited about it. Plus I'd feel wrong abandoning the side now, even if we are struggling to really push on. In the end, I'm Lincoln, and that's the way it's going to be until I've achieved what I set out to.
So I brought in a lot of players early on through pre-contract agreements. But it was good I'd arranged those, as all hell broke loose when the window opened. Luc Pastor and Michel Leroy both left early on, closely followed by Brian Clancy and Ivan Scaramellini, and then Juan Dominguez and Tony Gannon. We've always been inclined to sell one or two, but I don't think we've ever had such a comprehensive set of exits as this, particularly as most of them are defenders. So my hand was kind of forced with the players I intended to bring in in the summer.
Cole Jones is a youngster who I'm hoping can come in and be the new Joe Jones. Free transfer, so little risk, and hoping to get him some games domestically to help him develop.
Max Parsons was another that my scouts were much more enthusiastic about before he arrived. Good player, and comfortably good enough for domestic football, but at 23 I have my doubts he'll reach the potential he supposedly has.
Brian McCann was purchased before we realised what a horrific defensive crisis we would end up having, so fantastic foresight from me there.
Lewis Richardson, another shrinker now he's arrived, but I'll need all the players I can get at the back. Versatile too.
Bradley Rickets is about as versatile as you can get, and exactly the kind of player I'm looking for. Another freebie, could be key for us.
I'll certainly happily take players like Sergio Heredia on a free transfer. Absolutely crucial to us.
When Scaramellini left us, I needed another top quality center back to arrive, so I turned to Paul Campbell of Dumbarton. Big fee, but big quality, and young enough too.
Another purchase as a result of a sale, David McCarten arrives on loan with a view to possibly signing him permanently. We badly needed a left winger with losing a few in the past couple of seasons, so he fits the bill.
Kenville Steele...I'd pay £1 million just for the name, but he should be good backup for our first choice strikers.
Steve Keighren was our final signing, in more ways than one. At 21:15 on deadline day, I realised that we were still in the position of relying on Spencer Short not getting crocked, given we only have one decent keeper. So I upgraded with Steve Keighren with just minutes to spare. Ouch, there goes the budget.
You think it's over now though? Oh no...
January came and went, and so did a few more of our players.
Zema Parkes and Ron Mewis were both defenders in line for starts, but were desperate to leave. As was Spencer Short, who well and truly threw his toys out of the pram at not being first choice anymore. All three left with little fanfare, but I decided to wait until summer to think about replacing them.
Results
Once again, rarely troubled in the qualifiers, although Club Brugge made it a very tense tie by keeping us down to one goal in the first leg.
Our poor performance in the past couple of years has caught up with us as we move into the bottom pot. If we qualify this year, I'll be amazed. Let's face it, we're going to draw Inter because they're the worst option, and then we're going to get Real Madrid again, because we always do. Please just give us a low 3rd pot team...
I hate you.
Predictable, given we were up against the top side in Europe, a sleeping giant, and a pretty decent Dortmund side. But thanks to our battling win at home to Dortmund, we were in a position - for the second year in a row - to finish 3rd if we could better Real Madrid. You can see how that went for us.
Smashed the competition once again in the cups, made all the sweeter by being awarded a ridiculous £5.56 million for our Rock Cup win. Just a touch over a million a game. Nae problem.
About as dominant as you can possibly get without conceding less. I think four goals is acceptable though.
Stats and Key Players
Andy McAree | Silva | Paul Campbell
Facilities Update
Club Update
Attendances keep increasing, but money hasn't really. I think we've hit about the limit of what we can earn with just group stage appearances in the Champions League now that our wages have risen.
Coefficient Update
Back to the usual terrible season in Europe as all three clubs got put out at the first stage. Having said that, we're now looking at two sides in the 2nd round, and that is obviously going to mean tougher games. Gibraltar United were unlucky not to go through.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
And into the top 50 we go. We're still ranked well below some leagues we should be above, but that will change as we go.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven
Player of the Year | Top Goalscorer | Young Player of the Year
Get out the ****ing bunting guys! I won the Manager of the Year! #Scenes.
We rose in the coefficients table last year, but this year we've hit the jackpot. From 2043/44 there will be two sides in the Champions League qualifying stages, and still three in the Europa League qualifying rounds. Looks like I'm dragging the other sides in the country kicking and screaming towards the top. I just hope that they don't get embarrassed.
#259216 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2040/41
A tide appears to be turning at this club. In recent seasons, we've had quite a few high-profile sales of players, as "bigger" (at least in FM terms) clubs pick them off like vultures. Of course, I am driving the price upwards, and if I don't get the value that I initially ask for, then it better be pretty close, otherwise they're not going anywhere. If I double the players value, and get back all of what I paid for them and then some, then every player has their price - the problem then is, of course, replacing them without spending everything we have. I get the feeling this is going to be a recurring theme in the next few years.
Why do I give this preamble? Well...
The pre-season began early as Matt Cross moved to Huddersfield. Given we signed him on a free, I'm pretty happy with getting some money back for him. Apart from that, it was loan-o-rama with several of our deadwood players going out to prop up the other teams in Gibraltar.
Now I'll admit now, this screenshot is a couple of seasons old as I misplaced the one I originally took. As a result, I have no idea who Craig Haines was, only that he is now completely gone from the database. Must've made quite an impression...elsewhere though, I brought in Alessandro Bellani as backup for the left flank, and then - I couldn't resist - Brazilian striker Silva for a club record amount. Probably madness given we've already got club legend Joe Jones too, but come January, that would change...
Yes, that club legend is now a Celtic player. In the end we couldn't really reject the amount, and after negotiating them upwards a little more, I reluctantly accepted. What it effectively means is that I've swapped Joe Jones for Silva, with the Brazilian being considerably younger. Time will tell if I made a good decision or not.
Results
Apart from quite a wobble in the first leg in Romania, we weren't really troubled in the qualifiers this season. Breezed into the group stages, as expected.
3rd seeds again, so I'll be expecting at least a 3rd placed finish. I could say who I'd like to avoid, but I'd be better telling you the sides I'd like to get. It'll be a tough draw no matter what.
*sigh*
Oh deary, deary me...
I expected third until I drew Celtic, but that remained the game I absolutely had to win. Unfortunately, two close matches came out on Celtic's side with us only managing a point, meaning that to overtake them, we'd have to go out and take four points from Real Madrid and Porto at least. We were set well on our way with a fantastic 4-3 win at home, but that 4-0 defeat in the Bernabeau meant that we would have to beat Porto and hope that Celtic could beat Real in their final match. We couldn't, and 4th it was.
Better news domestically, but we did throw away another perfect season, once again against Gibraltar United. I really, really hate them.
Stats and Key Players
Andy McAree really stepped up to the plate after Joe Jones left, scoring twenty-five goals from February onwards. Of course, he also deserves credit for his early season work given he got twenty-five there too. Should get more of a chance now Jones has left.
Probably on the downward slope now, but Joe Lordan continues to be fantastic for us on the right wing. Will probably remain there for the next few years before I bring in someone to replace him long term.
If there's one thing I love slightly less than signing a striker, it's a creative midfielder, and Michel Leroy has been a great one. As a result, expect him to leave the club in the next couple of seasons for not quite as much money as I really wanted.
Facilities Update
Club Update
Our Europa League win filters in, and we're now more well off than we've ever been. That'll change thanks to our big spending though.
Coefficient Update
The promised update for the past two seasons in Europe, and I have to say it's very good news. Red Imps have made it through to the 2nd round both years, with St. Joseph's and Gibraltar United managing it once each. Their journey ended there, but in 2039 Red Imps were not too far away from going through against Polish opposition. Still, 3-1, so far enough away.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
And into the top 50 we go. We're still ranked well below some leagues we should be above, but that will change as we go.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven
Player of the Year | Top Goalscorer | Young Player of the Year
The money from the Champions League is clearly doing us some good as the board announced the clearing of our debts. Fantastic news, and means I can start to push forward without the spectre of several million pounds worth of debt hanging around us. We also improved in the co-efficient table to point where we'll have a team in the 2nd Qualifying round of the Europa League by default. Not earth-shattering news, but it's a step in the right direction for the country.
AC Milan offered me a job in the off-season, which, while flattering, wasn't really for me. Then the floodgates opened...Huddersfield Town, Valencia and Ajaccio all requested my services, but while they'd be a good bet for a journeyman save, I still wasn't interested.
Then this happened...
#259215 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
2040: A Round-up
As promised, here's the competition round-up to the current date
For the most part it's Manchester that has dominated England. In almost two thirds of seasons, one of the Manchester sides have come out on top. However, recently that domination has moved to London, and specifically to West Ham, who have shot into the stratosphere in terms of European football. When they haven't ended up as Champions, they've usually been a fixture in the top 4, allowing them to move to the top of the seedings for the Champions League. The big time. For those interested, this is down to a tycoon taking over the club in 2028 after David Sullivan left. However, it might not all be rosy - they've failed FFP twice now. Trouble ahead?
Elsewhere, perhaps the most interesting thing is Stoke's relegation. Just ten years after they won the title, they've been relegated. They were under consortium ownership back when they won, and since then they've had a number of consortia claiming ownership, but they've also failed FFP three times. Will be interesting to see what happens to them in the coming seasons.
Since the last time I updated, you could say that Scotland has gone back to normal, but at least now there's a third horse in the race. Rangers, Celtic and Hearts have all had periods of dominance, with St Mirren staying up there in a number of seasons. Perhaps the biggest surprise would be both Dundee clubs going down in the same season. Imagine it was an odd atmosphere in the City of Discovery when that was confirmed...
At least Spain stays predictable...
Apart from Sevilla's lone win (by seven points, no less) it's been same old, same old. Barcelona are the side on top at the moment, but there's been some very close finishes, including a win on goal difference last season.
A new addition in the past decade in Germany, and to be honest I'm thinking it wasn't even worth writing up. One title for Dortmund, but the story has been of German - or particulaly Bayern - efficiency. They've added a few Champions League titles - as you'll see later - and they've only really struggled in the cups once the league became active. I guess the years before that show how much reputation matters in inactive leagues, as they clean-sweeped every single competition before that.
Much like Bayern, Juventus have been the dominant force, but once the league went active that changed immediately. Udinese managed a really good title win before disappearing from the top four again, but it's the beautiful city of Milan that is on top now, with five titles for Inter and three for AC Milan. Hard to see beyond those two, but Juventus are still hanging around.
And so to Europe. After Bayern Munich did the double over the first two seasons, no other side has managed to do the same, with a different winner each year. Barcelona are probably the MVPs of the tournament though, with six titles to their name since the save began. The Europa League is a lot more unpredictable though, with little teams like Lincoln even winning it.
Meh, nothing entirely exciting happening in the International tournaments.
#259214 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2039/40
A tale of two windows here, as we made a rare dip into the fetid waters of the January window. First up, the Autumn.
Ron Mewis | Michel Leroy | Matt Cross | Luc Pastor
Four signings that were made a long time before as the magical six-month contract period came into force. I signed all four men on pre-contract agreements, and after our Europa League win last season, the future looks very, very bright. Three young, defensively-minded players arrive, along with Michel Leroy in AMC. Big wages though, which seems to be the norm for us. We can attract the players with fantastic potential, but they - understandably I suppose - want big money to make the move. Normally we can negotiate them down once it comes towards the end of their initial contract, but it's a dangerous game we're playing. We're forever two missed Champions League appearances (give or take) away from financial meltdown.
So January rolled around, and as usual I planned to do very little, given that I've usually *****ed the metaphorical load all over Europe by the time August rolls to a close. However, in early January, Javier Martinez came to me and asked to be allowed to move to Club Brugge. An interesting move, given how every player we've let go to Belgium has had a torrid time, but I couldn't really stand in his way, as long as we got a decent amount. Days later he was off to the very pretty city of Brugge for an initial £4.5 million. Disappointing on our part, but an injection of funds that allowed me to go spending again.
Davy Roger | Sergio Heredia | Juan Dominguez
Zema Parkes | Federico Cascino
First up, two loans. Sergio Heredia joins on a short-term basis to see whether or not he's worth signing. I have my doubts, but then that's why he's here on loan and not permanently. Cascino joins from parent club Fulham, and is more a case of "may as well" than anything. Completely free of charge, so nothing ventured, nothing gained. After that, I took the opportunity to strengthen our full-back positions with two young players brought in on the right and left to give us more options. Parkes will probably just be a backup, but Davy Roger should be our left back for some time to come.
All in all, an exciting year.
Results
First up, our first appearance in the UEFA Super Cup. Unfortunately, it resulted in defeat as Bayern Munich proved just too good for us. We went ahead twice, both times pegged back, and then our high-pressure, high-tempo game just fell apart. To tell the truth, it could've ended up 9-7 or something, but it was always going to be a Bayern win in the end.
It's been a long time, but I think we're finally reaching the stage where we can go into the qualifying rounds and have little trouble. Maccabi Haifa gave us a slight scare, but Andy McAree's penalty in the second leg gave us the key away goal, and ended up putting us through.
We're still pot 4, but pretty close to moving up one, which on paper should help massively. As for the ones we want to avoid, any English pot 1 side and either of the Milan sides from pot 2. We're in the odd situation where it could go any way though - we haven't reached the knockout stages of the Champions League to date, but I think we're capable of it. Conversely though, we're more than capable of finishing 4th too.
Can I say banana-skin? Believe it or not - well, let's face it, I showed you the pots, so you should believe it - Real Madrid are a second-pot side these days. They're also down as the side James Spiteri supports. How sweet it would be to beat them, or even just grab a point. Monaco are this year's top pot opponents, and on paper that's a good draw. Hoffenheim round things out, and again, it's a decent draw. I'm still wary though. I can't see us getting 2nd at this stage.
But what do I know, because we almost, almost managed it. We were thumped at the Bernabeau, but a run of four games unbeaten put us into a fantastic position. Our 0-0 draw with Monaco was probably the pick, except - you know - beating Los Galacticos at the Spiteri Stadium 3-2. A right royal rumble of a match that we edged, putting us to within - probably - a point of the knockout round. But we still had to play Monaco, in Monaco. You can see what happened.
In the end, a draw with Monaco in that final game would have sent us through in second, but it wasn't to be. We easily dispatched of Hoffenheim though, so a repeat of last year's Europa League triumph is on the cards. We're arguably stronger than this time last year, and when we drew Basel in the first knockout round, mirroring what happened last time, it seemed like fate.
But then fate gave us a 50 Shades style lesson.
A 2-1 defeat in Switzerland was not bad at all, so we knew we just needed to keep them out in the second leg and score one of our own. We had to come from behind twice to bring it to 2-2, and still needed two more as the game petered out to a finish. A desperately disappointing result for the reigning Champions.
And it gets worse. Our first domestic defeat in over eight years, and it comes in the Rock Cup - the competition we really didn't want to lose. Bitterly disappointing, especially at a relatively early stage. The players better make this right next year.
Gibraltar United once again pushed us close, and denied us a 100% record, but we keep our league undefeated streak going. It's approaching 200 games now.
Stats and Key Players
Joe Jones
Ivan Scaramellini
Andy McAree
Facilities Update
Club Update
Our Europa League win filters in, and we're now more well off than we've ever been. That'll change thanks to our big spending though.
Coefficient Update
I'll update you with a double post on how the other sides did next time, as I need to load up FM to get the results. Co-efficient wise though, next season will be big for the country as one lucky side will enter the Europa League in the 2nd round. And probably promptly get booted out in a humiliating display. Natch.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
So close to that top 50 now. Thanks to our heroics in the Group Stages, we should rise, as long as it isn't offset by the dreadful Europa League exit.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven
Player of the Year | Top Goalscorer | Young Player of the Year
Facilities have been downgraded again annoyingly. Not much more to say about the season. We must do better next time around.
Next time out, I'll give a run-down of competitions around the world up to now. You lucky, lucky things.
#259213 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2038/39 Round-up
Here's the end of season round-up that was missing due to our appearance in the Europa League. I'm sure you're all waiting patiently for it.
Stats and Key Players
Joe Jones
It was set up for Joe Jones to strut his stuff on the biggest stage, but he didn't quite fire in the Europa League final. But he did manage 16 goals in European competition this season, including five when it really mattered in the Europa League knockout rounds. He's still our main man.
Joe Lordan
He scored in the final, and won it for us. Not much more needs to be said. But in case it is, just take a look at his assists for this season. Forty-four of them. Unbelievable.
Javier Martinez
Over on the other flank, young Javier has been amazing. Not as many assists from him, but still a fair few. Perfect foil for Joe Lordan, and the future is very bright for him.
Facilities Update
Club Update
Our trip to the Europa League quarter finals boosted our finances, but you may notice that our debt has risen again. That's due to a few developments mid-season...
A new chairman, but not the tycoon I had hoped for. Not even a consortium. Dylan Buttigieg comes in (I'm sure he's a real person, or at least a real family, Buttigieg is a familiar name in Gibraltarian football), and he's decided to lump us with another loan. I don't know enough about finances to know if that's a good move or not, but if we keep qualifying for the Champions League then it shouldn't be an issue. I'd really love to be debt free though.
Coefficient Update
Next season we should see a big rise thanks to our Europa League win, but for now, we remain at the usual level. Three more places higher and we get a team in the 2nd round of the Europa League, but we need to rise by about 15 to change our Champions League entry.
And as promised, I've included the results for the past two seasons. In 2037/38, it was Red Imps who once again broke through the glass ceiling and headed into the second round. They fell to Debrecen though, as expected. They are making strides though, and really, really need to consolidate their position.
In 2038/39, it was heartbreak for Gibraltar United who threw away a 2-0 lead after the first leg to lose on penalties to Glentoran. Red Imps were also back to normal, losing to Suduva. Disappointing.
History and Stats
A bit of a jump for the league - should jump further next season when our Europa league triumph filters through.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now?
Penny for Joe Lordan's thoughts? He wrestled fans' player of the year away from Joe Jones last season, but even a Europa League winning goal couldn't do the same this season. Unlucky, although it was a close vote.
Elsewhere, Jair Franco has decided to call it a day following the Europa League final. I had set him for release to give him a chance at more football next season, but he's jumped anyway. His two seasons with us were fantastic for a man of his age, and he did the job I wanted him to. Maybe he'll be back one day as a staff member.
Also, our new board struck a puzzling deal in the off-season, announcing a link with Fulham. I'm not sure what to think of this - to be honest, it'll just be a source of funds for me, and it's good to notice the absence of any first option on players. I'm not interested in being their feeder club, and given they're a Europa League qualifier, I would put us around their level, if not better. Interesting to see how it goes, or if they can provide us with some quality on loan.
Once again it's awards season, which seems to happen randomly. It should be every year, but most of the time it doesn't happen. I guess our Europa League win roused the FA from their slumber. It was almost a clean-sweep for us - Joe Jones won player of the year and top goalscorer, and Martinez won young player of the year. However, I was cruelly denied Manager of the Year once again thanks to Philip Navas.
Not much I can say about that season. Clearly the best we've had, but we can't sit back on that. On FM14 we won it again the next season following our maiden win, and then won the Champions League three seasons later. However, we did take almost fifty years to win that first tournament - we've done it in 25 this time. Sounds great, and it is, but we're not as well set up as we were then. When we won the Europa League we were 27th on the club rep list, and had a value of over £80 million. At the moment, we have a value of just over £8 million and we're 59th on the club rep list. We're not quite Champions League ready yet, but we can certainly get to the knockout stages, and at the very least bother the latter stages of the Europa League again.
#259212 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
21:35 - Lincoln are Champions
Unbelievable scenes here! Southampton players are on the pitch motionless, but the men in white are absolutely loving this! I don't think they can quite believe what they've done today. Everyone before the match was saying that if they were going to win, it would be a smash-and-grab, but they've proved everyone wrong today. They've deserved this win.
21:36 - Reaction
Ex-Lincoln Midfielder Anthony Bardon - "I'm shocked, to be honest. I always wanted them to win, and always believed they could, but for it to actually happen...it's mind-blowing. They fully deserve it though, they were the team that turned up today."
Ex-Southampton Striker Rickie Lambert - "The better team won tonight. It wasn't a classic, but I'm afraid Southampton just didn't turn up, and nothing really came off for them. Bitterly disappointing"
21:38 - Reaction
You can't say that Lincoln don't deserve this win. The game was fairly even stats-wise, until you look a little closer. Southampton made more fouls, and Lincoln made more successful tackles. Looking at how the men in white threw themselves into tackles at the right times, it's easy to see that as the key.
If there's one aspect that let Southampton down, looking at the match ratings, it was their forwards. If they had fired, we'd probably be here talking about a win for the Saints, instead we have to praise a wonderful team performance from the opposition.
#259211 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
20:48 - 45 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
We're off and running in the second half, and Southampton signal their intent straight from the kick-off and almost fashoin a chance for Johnson. McBride slides in though and clears.
20:49 - 46 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Another move breaks down, and Lincoln try to break. They look like they could really do something on the counter, but not this time. It breaks down and Southampton clear. End to end stuff here, but Lincoln still looking the more likely. Just.
20:50 - 47 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
What is he doing? Southampton defender Rak is under absolutely no pressure, but he shanks his pass-back straight out for a corner. Could he live to regret that?
20:51 - 48 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
No, in a word. Poor corner, and Aniche can't get it back into the danger area. Another Southampton attack off the back of it is foiled by a well-timed diving challenge, and it goes all the way back again. They work their way up the wing, and find Spencer with a cross...but the header is straight at the keeper.
20:53 - 50 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Another corner, this time for Lincoln, but the resulting header is straight into the keeper's hands.
20:55 - 52 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Southampton could have had a penalty there! Johnson bundled over, but the referee waves play on! It's just a corner. And it almost leads to a goal! A Southampton boot gets on the corner and fires in a shot. It takes a huge deflection off a defender and spins away. Unfortunately for them, it's agonisingly wide, and Short happily watches it bounce out. He was rooted to the spot after diving to his right there. Big let-off
20:56 - 53 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Ball fired long from Clancy towards Jones...but is that a foul! Jones going clean through and Gosset slides in! Not much of a reaction from Jones, but on first viewing, that looked like a foul.
20:57 - 54 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Just looking at that one again, and I think you have to give the benefit of the doubt to Gosset. Not sure whether the referee had a great view of it - if Jones had claimed, it might have been different. Anyway, corner it is...
20:58 - 55 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
It's not great, but as Aniche receives and shapes to shoot, he is felled. Referee once again waves play on, and once again there is little complaint. Southampton need to be careful here, it won't take much in the box.
20:59 - 56 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Big chance.
Southampton have been waiting all night for a chance like this. Drake is sent through, free and clear, but despite being quick as a flash usually, he seems to take an age to turn towards goal. When he does, it's a tame shot, and Fitzgerald deflects it out for a corner.
That's their 12th corner, and what seems like their 12th dud. It's cleared easily, and Rak has to chase well back into his own half to retrieve the ball. Time running out.
21:00 - 57 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Lordan getting closer with his free kicks, but still off target. He fires one hard over the wall, but a yard or so over the bar too as Brooks watches it go. He clearly wants more than just the one tonight.
Up the other end, a nigh-on-perfect through ball finds Pollius, but his shot is fluffed, and it drifts a couple of yards wide of Short's left post.
21:02 - 59 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Is it subs o'clock? For Lincoln it must be. The Saints have already made two changes, but Lincoln haven't made any. Jones hasn't been too effective, so could we see McAree? Or will it be Martinez to make way? It's a tough decision though - no-one is really playing badly, and Spiteri will probably be reluctant to change a winning formula.
Back on the pitch, Short's long goal kick finds Lordan in space, but he makes a hash of taking it down, and Hyodo gets back to bundle it wide for a corner. Can you guess what happened? Wasted. Deliveries have been dreadful today from set pieces. Lordan gets the ball back eventually, and his lofted shot comes close to catching out Brooks. It's over though. Goal kick.
21:05 - 62 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Can we please have a good free kick or corner? Please? Lordan gets light headed and fires another over the bar from around thirty-five yards away. Wasteful. Spiteri is furious on the touchline.
21:06 - 63 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Clean shorts? Lincoln don't now the meaning! Slide tackles galore, but pretty much all of them right on the money. Another good chance blocked, another corner wasted from Southampton. They come again, and find Drake inside the box, but he's offfside.
21:12 - 69 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
The game has hit a bit of a lull at the moment, which Lincoln will be thrilled about. It's not been a classic, but do the men in white care? Lordan receives it just inside the Saints half and flicks iit back to Maxwell confidently. A good passing movement ensues, but McBride's hopeful spray out to the wing is intercepted, break on Southampton with Polius. Drake picks it up, but again he's too slow, and turns back, giving time for Lincoln to get numbers back. Within moments, eight white shirts back. They find Rak on the right though, teasing cross...and Johnson hits the post! A free header, but he didn't get enough on it! It floated out of reach of Spencer Short and struck the base of the post. Big let off for Lincoln.
21:13 - 70 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
There are a lot of tired legs out there, but one pair still has a bit of gas left as Jones shows a clean pair of heels to skip by Rak on the break. But then he holds the play up considerably, eventually playing it all the way back to Fitzgerald. He doesn't have nearly the level of skill his striker does, and just falls over. Southampton clear. Looks like we're expecting a Lincoln change soon...
21:14 - 71 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
But not before a big chance! Just as Matty Breeze prepares to arrive on the pitch, Bradbury finds himself clean through on the penalty spot. But he fluffs his lines, and his shot is closed down. Lincoln try and work an opening, but Lordan - who eventually fires wide - was offside. How many more chances? And will they regret not taking these?
21:14 - 71 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Confirmation of that change - Matty Breeze joins the field in place of Martinez. It also looks like Jones will move onto the left with Breeze up front. Big moment for Matty Breeze.
21:15 - 72 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
How are Lincoln not two up?!
A long ball forward is nodded down by Bradbury under pressure straight into the feet of Breeze. His first touch is perfect, taking it beyond the defender, and his second is just as good as he fires a low fizzing shot...but it hits the post and comes back out. Chance gone, and the biggest one yet. Instant impact from Breeze.
21:16 - 73 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Franco and McAree warming up, but Spiteri will hope he doesn't need them. He's just about to call the striker over when Johnson is sent clean through. but somehow, he waits just long enough for Short to close down the angle and smother the eventual shot. A shocking miss.
21:17 - 74 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
There are ironic, mocking cheers coming from the Lincoln fans behind the goal, as they've just witnessed the sublime, fading to the ridiculous, via the farcical. Johnson is almost immediately given another chance, but his shot strikes Drake square in the face. It would've been bad enough, but it hit him while he was in an offside position. When it's not your day...
21:18 - 75 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Ticking towards the last ten minutes. You can't help but feeling the scoring isn't over yet though. Bradbury certainly doesn't think so. A dinked cross in from Lordan is perfect for the volley, but it strikes a defender and goes out. A corner, and surely, surely, this can't be as bad as the rest.
It is. Near post again. But that one was better! Bradbury's shot on the turn is deflected towards Lordan who plays a fantastic, dangerous ball into the six-yard box, but no-one's there to nod it in. Pressure remains on Southampton though, and they concede a free-kick over on the right, Aniche tumbling under Pineda's challenge...
20:19 - 76 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
They're determined to get one right today! The freekick is headed out for another corner, but again Southampton clear it.
20:26 - 85 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
This is your five minute warning. Spiteri knows it, and he's called his subs back from their warm-up. Do or die time here. Aniche is found with a cute ball into the box, but it's blocked. Another corner. But this time it's a good one! Fantastic save from Brooks as Bradbury volleys straight at him from ten yards!
20:27 - 86 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
And that's why they're so dangerous.
Lincoln almost cap a free-flowing counter-attack with a winning goal for Bradbury. He was found in the box, but not for the first time today he shoots straight at Brooks. Ball runs out for a throw-in, and we're about to see Jair Franco arriving. Five minutes for the veteran to make a difference in his final match for the club.
20:29 - 88 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
And they almost blow it! After concerted pressure up the other end, Southampton spring a break of their own. Lincoln look to have it under control, but a terrible pass from the flank over to the center gives the another chance. Spencer Short once again comes to the rescure with a sprawling save. Minutes to go, and you have to say that Southampton look the more likely. A mix-up at the resulting throw-in, and Southampton have a corner...
20:30 - 89 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
And it's almost an equaliser. Finally a good cross, but Johnson just can't bend his neck muscles around it well enough to direct it on target. It bounces harmlessly wide, and we're into the final minute of the 90.
20:31 - 90 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
There will be three minutes of added time. The board has elicited a chorus of whistles from the Lincoln fans, and a deafening roar from the Saints end. Both sides know what needs to be done. We're going to see Keith Hagan, on for goal-scoring hero Joe Lordan, and I think that signals the Lincoln withdrawal here. Three nervy minutes to go.
Maxwell with the throw, and he's taking his sweet time over it. On to Franco, infield to Bradbury. Holds on to it, Jones...fouled. Soft one.
He'll take the free kick...short and backwards. Standard. Maxwell receives it, sprays it out to Hagan, who opens up his legs, and wins a throw-in. They're not going for the corners here, and perhaps fortuitously, Maxwell is fouled at the edge of the box.
And still they refuse to go for the corner! This ones going in to the box. Remarkable.
And it almost pays off! Clancy heads inches over the bar, but that should be enough. Brooks tries to retrieve the ball but time is almost up.
Southampton launch it forward, but that's terrible, fired well wide from the sub. And that should be that.
There are deafening whistles as Spencer Short hits this goal-kick...but it's short, and maybe one more chance for the Saints. Polius charges forward...but for some reason he decides to shoot from near enough 40 yards. That is dreadful. Waaay over the bar, but that can only mean one thing. AND THERE IT IS! THAT'S IT! LINCOLN ARE EUROPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!
20:34 - 90 mins (+3 mins) - FULL TIME - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
They've only gone and done it.
#259210 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
19:45 - 0 mins - Southampton 0 - 0 Lincoln (GIB)
And Lincoln get us underway, kicking from right to left in this first half
19:46 - 1 min - Southampton 0 - 0 Lincoln (GIB)
Lincoln starting off with a good spell of possession, crisp passing finding players in a good amount of space. Good start by the side from Gibraltar. And that's Lordan slipped through on the right, he crosses, but it's headed away for a corner. The ranks of Lincoln supporters behind the goal show their appreciation, but it's short lived. The corner is easily cleared. A signal of intent though with an attack down the right.
19:48 - 3 mins - Southampton 0 - 0 Lincoln (GIB)
But Southampton show they are dangerous too. Good wing play on their right wins them a corner. It's hoofed clear at the near post, but Lincoln can't get it totally away with Southampton pressing so high up the pitch. Orlandi then fails to get onto the ball slipped through, and Spencer Short collects.
19:51 - 5 mins - Southampton 0 - 0 Lincoln (GIB)
I think we're starting to see a pattern early on. Southampton clearly concentrating on the Lincoln left back as they fire another cross in. It's cleared for a corner, which is then wasted by hitting the first man. Lincoln break, but Martinez gets crowded out before it can do much damage. Finely poised.
19:53 - 7 mins - Southampton 0 - 0 Lincoln (GIB)
Lincoln really having trouble with Southampton's wing play as they force another corner, but again it's first man. They wait too long as they approach again and Lincoln steal to break. But they take too long, and the move breaks down. S outhampton try and break, but a fine tackle from Maxwell stops it.
19:55 - 9 mins - Southampton 0 - 0 Lincoln (GIB)
I talked about a theme, and that theme is clearly "terrible corners". Southampton work another opportunity, but again it's first man.
19:56 - 10 mins - Southampton 0 - 0 Lincoln (GIB)
After early pressure, the game has settled down and the fans have quietened slightly. Not a great game so far.
19:57 - 11 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
GOAL FOR LINCOLN - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Lincoln have the lead in the cup final and, it's that right flank that has come back to haunt Southampton again. Joe Jones does well to hold the ball up and find McBride in midfield. He passes it onto Aniche who clips a splendid ball over the top to the onrushing Lordan. Pineda reacts far too late, and Lordan's first time shot flashes past Brooks at his near post. He should have done better there.
19:58 - 12 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
What can Southampton do to reply now? Not that, as they lose possession straight from the kick off. This is how Lincoln like it, getting ahead and really causing teams problems. And that's Lordan played in again in space! But his dangerous ball into the box finds a Southampton defender and it's hoofed clear. Scaramellini could keep it alive though...no, straight into Brooks hands, high and hopeful.
20:00 - 14 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Polius has switched wings, and he plays in a teasing ball which forces an acrobatic save from Short. The resulting corner doesn't clear the first man, continuing the theme of terrible deliveries.
20:02 - 16 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Southampton steal the ball on the half-way line and send Bistoni through, but Maxwell gets back wonderfully well. Another corner...it's better, but still cleared easily.
20:05 - 19 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Lordan free-kick...he fancies this...but it's well wide. Can't blame a guy for trying! Almost twenty minutes on the clock, and it's been a bit of a shocker for Southampton really. Pressure, but no end product. Lincoln took their greatest chance.
Lordan wins another free kick but plays this one short to McBride. He finds Aniche in acres of space, and he slips a ball through to Jones...hits the post! But the flag is up, it wouldn't have counted. A let off for Southampton there, they were nearly cut open.
20:06 - 20 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Ooh! Hesitation there from Maxwell, and the Southampton winger nicks it off of him straight into the path of Drake in the six yard box! He doesn't want it though, and quickly gives it back - he knew he was offside. Let off.
20:07 - 21 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Southampton growing in confidence now, and they stride forward. A shot is blocked, and then the rebound hits Drake, again in an offisde position. Watch the line, is the cry from the Southampton bench. You learn that in school!
20:10 - 24 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Southampton definitely getting back into this. They force a decent save from short with a daisy-cutter from the edge of the box.
20:13 - 27 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Free kick for Lincoln floated in, but it's easily cleared. only as far as the three-man white wall on the half-way line though. Southampton pegged back, but at some point they're going to need to come out - but can they risk being hit on the counter? Lincoln are playing this so, so well.
20:14 - 28 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
The game has settled into a rhythm a little - I attack, you attack. But it's Southampton who come now with Drake, but he's stopped easily on the edge of the box. Just hasn't come off for him so far. As if to prove me right, it's right up the other end. Bradbury has a snapshot, but it's well wide
20:15 - 29 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Who is Southampton's set-piece coach? The fans groan in dismay as they waste not one, not two, but four opportunities. Two throw-ins, a corner, and a free-kick, all eaten up by the Lincoln defence and cleared. Wasteful.
20:20 - 34 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Lincoln midfielders seem to have all the time in the World when they receive the ball. Bradbury takes his time once again to find Jones. Suspicions of offside, but no flag. He fires in a shot, but it's too high. Way too high. Over the bar.
20:22 - 36 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
If anything is going to happen for Southampton, it'll probably be down the wings. Another long floated cross into the box, but Clancy is there to head over and wide. Yet another corner...
20:23 - 37 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
I'm a neutral, and even I'm exasperated. First man again. Bistoni looks wistfully away before giving chase. He's had a shocker from set pieces so far. Drake then fires high over the bar from the edge of the box. They just haven't been at it at all today
20:28 - 42 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Approaching half-time, so who's your winner on this evidence? Lincoln ahead, looking good value, but you feel that if Southampton click, they could cause lots of problems. Free-kick around forty-five yards out, but there's a delay here, and it looks like Southampton forward Orlandi is going to have to come off. Disaster for the Saints, but Johnson - hat-trick hero in the semi remember - will come on. Two minutes to be added on.
20:31 - 45 mins - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
Jones takes the ball on a walk - you'd think that Lincoln would be delighted with taking this score at half time. He's fouled...no! The referee waves play on and Southampton could break here. Ball worked into Johnson, shot blocked but it falls to Pollius...who drives straight at Spencer Short. Jones is still asking the referee about that foul earlier - he stayed on his feet after stumbling under a challenge. Was it a foul?
20:32 - 45 mins (+1 min) - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
The half will end with another Saints corner on the right. Wil this one be better? Oooh yes it is, but the header goes just over the bar. Is that an omen for the second half?
20:33 - 45 mins (+2 min) - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
HALF-TIME - Southampton 0 - 1 Lincoln (GIB)
#259209 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Twenty-five years is a long time in any way, let alone football. Twenty-five years after England won the World Cup, the heartache of German revenge at Italia 90 was still fresh in their minds. Twenty-five years after Liverpool were double Champions of Europe, they've fallen behind other rivals in England, let alone Europe. And who would have believed the success Sir Alex Ferguson would've managed twenty-five years after he steered the club away from a possible relegation? Twenty-five years ago, James Spiteri joined the Lincoln Red Imps at the same time as Southampton prepared for life without Mauricio Pochetino. Ever since, they've been building up to this moment. It's Southampton versus Lincoln, for the Europa League Title.
19:02
Good evening, and welcome to live coverage of the Europa League Final, from the magnificent San Nicola Stadium in Bari, featuring Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar, taking on Southampton. Some might say that this final is a foregone conclusion, but could we see a giant-killing? Ask Schalke. Ask Parma. Ask Dortmund. They'll tell you that this is far from a foregone conclusion.
19:04 The History
Now everyone will know who Southampton are. Since 2012/13, they have never been outside of England's top league. However, this will be their first major final since the FA Cup in season 2020/21. They have only appeared in the Europa League four times before now, and haven't really impressed. However, it's hard to class them as anything other than favourites tonight.
Lincoln of Gibraltar, on the other hand, a lot of you won't have heard of. Those that have, be honest, had you ever heard of them before their fantastic win over Manchester United last season? Those with your hands up must be from Gibraltar, where they have been utterly dominant. In their history they have won 133 trophies, and remain by far the best club in the land. But they've always struggled in Europe, despite massive strides under James Spiteri. Talking of the managers...
19:06 The Managers
You might know all about the teams, but what about the managers involved?
19:07 James Spiteri
So who is James Spiteri? The Maltese-born naturalised Gibraltarian has been in charge of Lincoln for almost twenty-five years now. He is no stranger to success either, winning the league every single year since then, and managing <> other trophies in the interim. Many have said that his success was guaranteed managing the biggest club in the land, but others are more kind. He is an enigmatic man, who routinely refuses to speak to the media, preferring to send his assistant. He caused a stir yesterday however as he appeared at the pre-match press conference, ready to take all questions.
On the touchline, he is often imperious, at least domestically. He came to the club boasting that under his tenure, Lincoln would end up being European Champions at some point. Tonight will be a massive test for them on the way to that goal.
19:08 Ben Gibson
Ben Gibson, manager of Southampton has had a somewhat nomadic career. As a player he had spells with Middlesbrough, Plymouth, York, Tranmere and Charlton, before beginning his managerial career at Notts County. He has worked his way up the leagues ever since, and now finds himself in his first Europa League final. In fact, the biggest achievement he's probably managed so far would be the 7th placed finish last year that qualified them for the Europa League. He does have a very talented team behind him though.
19:19 How they got there
Southampton began with a convincing qualifying round victory over Partick Thistle (which will give rumoured Jags fan James Spiteri more incentive...) and then Ferencvaros. Despite an unconvincing group stage, they still ended up on top, and barely looked back, only dropping the first leg to Stuttgart in the semi final before roaring back to book themselves a flight to Bari.
Lincoln, on the other hand, have had a more tortuous route. Three Champions League qualifiers and then six group stage games were down before they even sniffed a spot in the Europa League. When they got there, it's safe to say they had their fun. Basel were put to the sword, before Dortmund, Parma and then Schalke all fell to the mighty Lincoln attacking machine. For all their skills going forward though, they've leaked a hell of a lot of goals. That will be a worry for James Spiteri.
19:12
Recent form has definitely gone the way of Lincoln, but you could argue that their matches were slightly easier than Southampton's. No game is a gimme, but I'm sure James Spiteri would admit that he would rather be running out at the Victoria Stadium, rather than Old Trafford or Anfield like the Saints have.
19:17
Talking of James Spiteri, much was made about his last-minute trip to Anfield to watch tonight's opponents face Liverpool. He would have liked what he saw, with the Reds controlling the game, eventually winning 2-1. He would certainly take that come tomorrow morning.
19:18 The Squads
On the face of it, you would expect Southampton to win this match comfortably. They are the more experienced side, and certainly have a much larger financial advantage. But as a wise man may have once said - "Football isn't played on paper". Lincoln won't be paying attention to these stats, James Spiteri has made that very clear.
19:21 TEAM NEWS
No real surprises for Southampton with only one player unavailable through long-term injury. Edoardo Bonacci broke his ankle a few months ago, and this match has come a month or so early for the experienced defender to feature. Apart from that, it's a full strength team. Perhaps the biggest surprise then is that Richard Johnson has been left out of the starting eleven. A hat-trick in the semi final clearly not enough to give him his spot. Orlandi and Drake start.
No such problems for Lincoln however, who have no absentees through injury or suspension. It's a full-strength team, expected to line up in their favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. Although it's a predictable selection, with spots for Martinez, Jones, Aniche and Lordan in the lauded front four, that won't be much consolation for Franco, Breeze, and McAree. They should feature off the bench, especially if things start to go wrong late on.
Lincoln XI: Short, Maxwell, Scaramellini, Clancy, Fitzgerald, McBride, Bradbury, Lordan, Aniche, Martinez, Jones
Subs: Collado, Hagan, Franco, Breeze, Drury, Gannon, McAree
Southampton XI: Brooks, Pineda, Hyodo, Gosset, Rak, Polius, Bistoni, Jones, Lawrence
Subs: Wakeman, Kavanagh, Belakhdar, Johnson, Ekobo, Dillon, Hansen
19:23 The danger-men
For Lincoln, it's hard to look beyond Joe Jones. There's not much you can say about the man that hasn't already been said, so I'll just give his record for Lincoln. 135 games, 220 goals. Some might say that anyone could score that many in such a weak league, but his European record is similarly eye-opening. 82 games, 66 goals. I wouldn't throw the mortgage on him scoring tonight, but I'd have a look down the back of the sofa...
For Southampton, it has to be Paulo Orlandi. Singled out by Lincoln legend Lewis White before the game, the forward has 24 goals in 47 appearances. He'll certainly be a danger to the defence, along with his partner Johnson who fired the South Coast club to the final with a hat-trick in the semi.
19:30
The atmosphere is building inside the stadium here as we approach kick-off. It's almost a full-house, but I'd say there are definitely more Southampton fans inside. There would be though - Gibraltar's entire population would fit inside this stadium with space to spare...
19:35
So who is going to win this one tonight? The bookies think Southampton, but the gap is not as big as some would have you believe. A lot has been made of Southampton's weaknesses from the right, or their left. Most of their conceded goals have come from there, and with Joe Lordan scoring and assisting for fun from there, it's easy to see them having joy there. But their defence has been dreadful at times, with Spencer Short sure to have a busy evening. It's quite a close one to call, but for me, you have to side with the men from the South Coast of England. But what do other footballing luminaries think?
Anthony Bardon, manager of Scorpions, ex-Lincoln - "I think it's going to be very tough for Lincoln. They've ridden their luck at times in this competition, and on another day they would have been put out at the last 16 by Dortmund. But they've sneaked through, and I can't help but feeling that they have a chance here. It's not a big chance, and much as it pains me to say it, Southampton are favourites, but I fancy them to cause problems tonight"
Rickie Lambert, ex-Southampton - "Southampton will have too much for Lincoln at the end of the day. The quality difference is just too great, and I think they'll win by a couple of goals"
Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA - "I wish good luck to the men from Gibraltar in their quest to be respected as a footballing nation, but I believe that the English side will cheat to win"
Controversial there from dear and glorious leader...I mean, head of FIFA Sepp Blatter...
19:40
And out come the teams, led by their managers, into a chorus of noise. Will the Lincoln men wilt under this extra pressure? They've thrived on it so far...
#259208 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2038/39
One objective this season - get into the Champions League knockouts. At the absolute very least, we need to get into the Europa League knockout stages, at least the quarter finals.
But we'll have to do it without many new signings with money being pretty tight. I've metaphorically pissed it all up the wall on one player, but he is one we sorely need. Ivan Scaremillini is the right age that we want for the squad, and becomes probably the best defender we have. We're still pretty light in terms of depth at the back but this will help a lot.
Results
We've made it this far.
Dundalk were the recipients of our usual 2nd round battering, but surprisingly Maccabi Haifa were too. We started fantastically with a 7-1 home win, leaving us seeded in the playoff round against Slovan Bratislava. For once, that was a pretty favourable draw, and a 3-0 away win in the first leg pretty much drove us into the group stages alone. We closed it out with a draw back home, and we're back in the big time.
Nice to see us rise up the seedings pots - if we make it to the 3rd, I think we'll stand a decent chance of catapulting forward towards pot 2 and beyond. Not that it's impossible from pot 4. So let's play the usual game at this point - fantasy draw time!
Ajax, Monaco and West Ham would be the nightmare
Juventus, Marseille, Olympiacos would be the perfect
That will do. Certainly not the worst higher pot teams we could have drawn, and the best pot 3. If we don't finish in at least 3rd...
Now let me admit something. Half-way through this group I lost all motivation to continue this save for a while. I had a day off on Monday, so spent quite a while playing, but I was getting pretty bored by the time this rolled around. I was enthusiastic about the draw, but as the football started that soon waned. Two emphatic defeats from PSG and Bayern were expected, but we had to really fight to get anything off of Olympiacos, with a very late goal in each game drawing us level. Before Matty Breeze struck in the 88th minute of the away game, I was just about to turn off the game and take a break for a few days. But that 2-2 draw meant we edged ahead of the Greeks into 3rd place. We thought we'd consolidated that with a fantastic draw at home to PSG, but then Olympiacos drew in Munich. It came down to the final match, and we ended up managing to be just as bad as Olympiacos. We both lost, and my dream of the knockout stages was over. However, we parachute into the Europa League. Can we repeat our glory from last season?
We drew fellow Champions League drop-outs Basel in the last-32. It might look like a good start, but we went behind after 11 minutes in the first leg. What a response though - five goals smashed past the Swiss, with four coming in the second half. I've often had trouble in new stadiums in FM, never quite settling well, but the Spiteri Stadium seems to be a fortress for us.
Going into the second leg, we knew that a goal for us should be enough to close things down. Once again though, we decided to make things interesting by getting battered in the early stages. Two down with ten minutes gone, and just two more goals from going out. Four minutes after half-time they added a third, and suddenly things were looking pretty dicey. But goal-fancier Joe Jones got that key away goal to bring it back to two needed. We had almost closed the game out when Basel got a 91st minute goal, but luckily it was just too late. Into the last 16 we go.
I was worried when we drew Dortmund, but we've only gone and done it.
It seems the pattern of our play is that we're woeful early on, but very sharp late in games. Once again, we got an absolutely crucial away goal in the 87th minute through McAree. Our task was simple in the second leg - win 1-0. We got that opening goal and managed to keep things tight enough at the back that we hit them on the break, allowing Javier Martinez to finish it off and send us into the quarter finals.
Oh. Good. Lord.
This was a game of many, many twists and turns. I went out just hoping for the best - if we went out now, I wouldn't have been too upset, as to say you were in the last eight of the Europa League is massive for a club of our stature. We kicked off, and promptly went absolutely bonkers. First minute, Javier Martinez slotted home to give us a priceless away goal. Ten men behind the ball? No chance. Joe Jones added a second in the 4th minute, and Parma were stunned.
But then they woke up. They started to pin us back, and in those cases we usually end up under massive pressure. What I didn't expect was for Parma to rattle four past us. Three before half-time, and then a fourth three minutes later. We probably could've gone under there, but veteran Jair Franco struck two minutes later to make it 4-3. That steadied the ship somewhat, and the game ended that way. We may have conceded four, but three away goals is fantastic. We take them back to the Spiteri Stadium knowing that a win by a single goal will send us through to the semi-finals.
So the game-plan was to keep it tight and try and nick a....nah, course not. It was attack like mad and hope we don't concede. And it bloody worked. Once again we blitzed them in the opening minutes, and by the 21st we were 3-0 up. Parma looked absolutely distraught, and mounted attack after attack, but we held firm. They needed three, but late on we added a fourth, and even a late consolation goal couldn't stop us. Unbelievable. We're in the semi-finals.
In that semi-final, we drew Schalke. We'd already beaten German opposition this season of course, but Schalke are a different beast. To give it an extra edge, the first leg will mark my 1000th game in management. Will it be a happy anniversary?
52,000 Germans couldn't roar Schalke on to a goal at home, but we couldn't force one either. That was worrying going into the second leg, knowing that one goal for Schalke would change everything. It was a tight first half, but the game exploded into life in the second, with Schalke conceding a penalty. A professional foul, a red card for the defender, and when Tony McBride kept his head to smash it in, we were heading into the final. The raucous crowd were roaring us on, but Schalke looked dangerous. Too dangerous for their own good in fact, as we charged forward on the counter. Joe Jones swept home a second, and the place came unglued.
The minutes ticked down, and I knew that at some point we would have to stop attacking and start defending. But let's face it, I'm dreadful at that. I managed to wait until the 88th minute before pulling the wingers back, slotting Franco into midfield, and putting the lock down onto everything. Barely a minute later, we handed Schalke a life-line through a penalty. The whistles were deafening, but they kept their head to send it into the roof of the net, and move to within a goal of the final. Oh. Holy. Balls.
But despite a good chance to do so, they couldn't break us down, and the final whistle blew. We're going to the Final.
We kept up our good form domestically despite our extra exertions in Europe, and we remain unbeaten. In fact, we haven't lost a league game since late 2032, a massive 142 games. At one point, we had 111 wins in a row in the league. We're scarily dominant.
But you probably don't want to hear about all that. My next posts will cover the biggest game in our history. The Europa League Final, live from Bari.
#259207 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2037/38
In recent news, Jose Angel Pons is desperate for first team football. I didn't take his claims of a hunger strike seriously, but look at him!
He's taken his mouth off! He's got no mouth, he's got no moooooooooouth, Jose Pons, he's got no mouth! That's what the fans will sing about him. If he ever plays again...self-mutilation has no place at my club.
Moving on...
First up, departures. You may have noticed that two "big" names have left. Not in terms of how they've played - although they were pretty solid - but in terms of money lost, they're massive. Scott Hurst, the player I spent a year (and three and a half million) chasing leaves us on a free transfer, closely followed by Alejandro Serrano to a combined loss of around five million. Serrano I'm not too bothered about, as he won't really be missed, but Hurst I'm gutted about. Put simply, he just couldn't disaplace Joe Lordan on the right flank. He complained often about playing time, but giving him a shot here and there wasn't enough, and I can't really grudge him his release. The third story, and this time a much bigger problem, is the sale of Mikel Martin on deadline day. He came to me requesting permission to speak to Athletic, so I granted it pending a decent enough offer. I sent them away once, but when they returned with 800k plus add-ons, I couldn't really say no. I'll come back to this one following the run-down on my signings.
Andy McAree
Had been on a rolling contract at Dungannon for...well, I'm not really sure why. Fantastic player and joins our growing lightning quick front-line. Came at a price though with a hefty wage, but my scouts had been recommending him for a couple of seasons. Let's see if they're right.
Javier Martinez
A good young winger to solve the problem of our left winger always being a forward filling in there. Looking forward to seeing how he develops as time goes on.
Keith Hagan
Versatility is the word of the day again as we bring in Keith. Can play anywhere up the right, which could come in really handy with our lack of depth at right back. It's right wing/right midfield he's meant for though, but will he be able to push Lordan out of the way in the way Hurst didn't?
Jair Franco
I thought I'd take a punt and change my signing policy to bring in Franco. At 34, he's hardly my template signing after all, but maybe that's what we're missing in Europe - some experience, an old head that can make the difference between losing 2-1 and drawing a game. He's got a years contract, so we'll see how it goes. The board are certainly happy, particularly the commercial director, who has already said he'll boost shirt sales.
So that's my four signings, and I said I'd come back to the departure of Martin. I did try for a replacement, but there just wasn't enough value in the market, and all the interested parties wanted wages that I couldn't offer even if I wanted to. We go into the season with a less than experienced backline as a result...which should be fun, I guess?
Results
Our now tradition of taking apart our first opposition in Europe continues unabated as we well and truly pummelled The New Saints of Wales 12-0. We were magnificent, but it was hard not to feel sorry for the opposition as goal after goal flew in. We travelled to Wales for the second leg hoping for more of the same, but it was a much more restrained performance, just three goals. Still, 15-0 becomes one of the largest aggregate victories ever seen in Europe.
For the third year running, it was a trip to Romania to face AFC Astra that faced us. With memories of that 11-0 fresh in both team's minds, it was a much closer battle. 2-1 and 3-1 looks comfortable for us, but we were pretty lucky to get that. Once again, after such a good win earlier in qualifying, we struggled to keep up that level of performance. Still, we're through, and that's what matters.
Which brings me to the playoff. We got put out. Put simply, we were nowhere near good enough. Plovdiv deserve their spot in the group stages, mostly due to their 4-1 win at home. We went for it at 2-1 and paid the price, leaving them to complete a pretty professional job in the second leg. We missed chance after chance, and it looked set in stone that we would not get the two or three goals we needed, and we slipped out with a whimper. Europa League football for the second year running. That's the sound of our chairman shooting himself.
Valencia, Braga and Rapid Wien awaited us in the group stages, and I have to say we gave a brilliant account of ourselves. Europa League football is certainly a level we can get involved in. But we didn't have it all our own way as the momentum in the group swung back and forth wildly. We ended up winning the group, but at one point on matchday five we lay 3rd with the Austrians breathing down our necks. We came from behind there to win 3-2, and then sealed it with a wonderful 3-3 draw at the New Mestalla.
Think most of the squad ended up with nosebleeds from being up so high.
So who awaited us in the next two rounds? Only Feyenoord and Man United...
Absolutely wonderful. Probably the best two legged performance I've seen from this team as we fought hard in Holland, and then closed it out back home.
But if a trip to Feyenoord wasn't enough, our trip to Manchester proved even more eventful. I honestly don't know what to say about that one. We stunned almost 100,000 supporters inside the stadium by going at them like animals. We were 2-0 up with 17 minutes on the clock, before United finally kicked into gear. It 2-2 six minutes later, and I began to think that we were going to be on the end of a hiding. But then five minutes later, elder statesman Jair Franco put us ahead, then setup Joe Jones for a 4th. Half time, 4-2 at Old Trafford...unbelievable. It got even better after the break, as within eight minutes we were 6-2 ahead. Dizzying. I wanted to shut up shop, but I have a notoriously poor record at that, and my current gameplan wasn't exactly failing. Stick or twist? In the 73rd minute, United pulled one back, and I decided to stick, throwing men behind the ball and closing down the clock. We managed to keep from conceding and the match ended 6-3. Six away goals to take home. Surely we couldn't screw that up?
Remember I said that I expected a hiding? That's what United brought down on us at the Spiteri Stadium. They came licking their wounds, fire in their eyes, and went for us from the off. Four minutes in it was 1-0. Bear in mind that when we get beaten, we usually get beaten badly, so three more goals wasn't out of the question. We were penned back from then on, and when they added a second...squeakiest of squeaky bums. But then something amazing happened. Remember when I said that against Plovdiv, we missed chance after chance? Most of those chances fell to Javier Martinez. He sliced shot after shot wide, then one out for a throw-in. Not tonight though. He fired home in the third minute of stoppage time to give us a bit of breathing space and return United to needing three. Could we hang on then?
Nope. On 52 and 54, United struck to put them just one goal from the quarter finals. We fought - literally at times - to keep that from happening and as the final whistle blew, 9000 Gibraltarians rejoiced. We were in the quarter finals, where we would face Stuttgart.
But it wasn't to be. We gave it our all, but Stuttgart really were a class above, and nothing I did made much difference. We gave a good account of ourselves, and I think scoring three against them was good going. Unfortunately, a 3-2 defeat at home in the first leg sets you up horribly for the 2nd leg. They sucked us in and hit us on the break as desperation grew, and they won easily in the end. Not embarrassed though.
Despite European distractions, we hulk-smashed our way to another clean sweep of trophies. But that one draw in the league really annoys me. Even more so that it was ******* Gibraltar United...
Stats and Key Players
Spencer Short
Again, discounting his European record, where we're always going to concede goals, he was wonderful again. Kept us in a few games with his saves, and deserves all the recognition he gets.
Joe Lordan
Our flying winger just keeps getting better. Reaching his peak age now, so I'm expecting three more seasons at the top level before he starts to decline.
Michael Aniche
Safe to say, I'm very excited about how Michael is progressing. We'll do very well to keep him at the club in the coming years.
Facilities Update
An improvement to our training facilities the only change
Club Update
A massive dive in finances and value that will probably be cemented next year - hopefully our quarter final appearance has redressed some of the shortfall though.
Coefficient Update
I'll update you with a double post on how the other sides did next time, as I need to load up FM to get the results, and at the moment it's loading up upside down. I kid you not.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
Still hovering, but if we can consolidate that quarter final position, that should rise. Still, we need competition from below us.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now?
You know it's been a weird season when Joe Jones doesn't win Fans' Player of the Year. Joe Lordan deserves it though, and he only narrowly beat our number one forward to the prize. Not much more I can say about the season that hasn't already been said, but next season, we have to start aiming for the knockout rounds of the Champions League. We showed we can mix it with the bigger sides with our epic Old Trafford win, but we need to show it more often.
#259205 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2036/37
Another season, and another one where we chase the European dream. We were great in qualifying for the Champions League Group Stages, but then woeful once we reached there. We just have to be better than that, even if it's just from a financial stand-point - we get around 800k for each win, so it pays, quite literally, to win.
So who did we bring in to help that happen?
Well, we pushed the boat out certainly. Over nine million pounds spent, closer to ten, an absolutely massive amount for us. Tony McBride joins us on a free transfer to start with. Good young player, a bit of space for improvement, and crucially a very good defensive player. Also versatile, which is always a bonus. Jose Angel Pons joined to replace the departing Bardal who returns to his parent club after his loan spell. On paper he should rival Joe Jones, and he better, as it's quite a fee for him. Derek Maxwell is the exact type of signing that we want to be making. Only seventeen, and good stats in the right places for a right back. He is going to be massive for us if we can keep him on a long contract. And then the main event, Michael Aniche. He's on a (relatively) low wage, but we spent £5.5 million on securing his signature from Marseille. Like Maxwell, he is going to hopefully form the center of our team for some time to come. If he proves himself in the Champions League, then we could be looking at at least a tidy profit. Future looks bright.
Results
Qualifying had a familiar air to it. After we strolled past Crusaders in the 2nd round, we faced AFC Astra once again. However, where last year we ran out 11-0 winners in the first leg, this time we were a lot more reserved. Just the six over two legs, but we looked comfortable throughout.
Then it was another old foe as Partizan awaited in the playoff. We inched through last season thanks to a 93rd minute goal, but this time around it wasn't to be. Partizan battered us in the first leg 4-0, so we travelled back home with a huge deficit to recover and no away goals. And you know what? We almost did it. I sent my players out with fire in their eyes, knowing we had to score plenty, and within a minute we were ahead. By the twentieth, we were 3-0 up and suddenly it started to look like we might actually do it. But then I guess Partizan woke up, and settled down. Three minutes before half-time we got the sucker-punch as Partizan got an away goal. Now needing three goals, we petered out and the second half was academic. We're in the Europa League. Disappointing from a competition sense, very worrying from a financial sense.
Arsenal, Malaga and Olympiacos awaited in the group stage, and to be honest, it's another stinker of a draw. However, we gave a good account of ourselves. Taking each pot in isolation, we got nothing against pot 1 (Arsenal), six points against pot 3 (Malaga) and three against pot 2 (Olympiacos). Other results did not really benefit or hinder us, so the two matches in the middle of the run ended up being the clinchers. A wonderful 3-2 win thanks to a Pons hat-trick at home to Olympiacos edged us ahead, but a bit of a horror-show in Greece all but ended our hopes. We were 3-2 up and cruising, but then an equaliser, a sending off for Fitzgerald, and then another two goals meant that our mini-league went to Olympiacos should we finish on the same points. We both beat Malaga, and both lost to Arsenal in the final two games, so Olympiacos ended up qualifying in second place. Gutting.
Another clean-sweep, and some absolute hidings handed out.
Stats and Key Players
Tom Taylor
A surprise appearance, but Taylor has been fantastic this season
Joe Jones
Only fifty-five goals. He'll be sold in the summer. Donkey. But really, another wonderful season in Europe, and a very consistent flat-track-bully performance in Gibraltar.
Mat Bradbury
Mat was wonderful once again, and he's settling in nicely as a permanent member of our squad. But then it is his 5th season after all.
Matty Breeze
I feel a bit sorry for Matty at times. Joe Jones steals most of the headlines, but Breeze has been consistently great behind him. Or usually slightly to his left as more of an inside forward. When we've gone two up front, I've often preferred Breeze to some of the "better" strikers, and his goal record is nothing to be sniffed it. He's only failed to score over thirty goals during one of his four full seasons with us, and he deserves the recognition.
Facilities Update
An improvement to our training facilities the only change
Club Update
I'm expecting a crash next summer once the Champions League miss filters through, but at the moment we're looking good. Into the top 75 club-wise.
Coefficient Update
We may have had a pretty poor season, but the same can't be said for Gibraltar United and Red Imps who both made it through to the second qualifying round with massive performances. Unfortunately they fell there, although Red Imps had a good go against Slovakian side Trencin. Looking with interest to see how next year's coefficients turn out.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
We're hovering around the mid 60s in terms of league rep - would be nice to see that rise, but not really sure what we can do to really push it up. We need the other teams to start really competing, which is pretty far away to be honest.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now?
#259204 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2035/36
So last season was fairly eventful off the field, with the move to a new stadium giving us a much needed boost in funding from ticket sales. However, we're still in the unenviable position of being a team that costs a lot more than we're consistently bringing in. If we qualify for the Champions League Group Stages every year, we're fine, as the money that brings in will keep us rich. However, one season without that sees a noticeable dip. If we were to have two...that's unthinkable.
So once again, the focus is completely on getting to the money-spinning group stages. Beyond that, I guess we better start, you know, actually winning some group games so that we can stand a chance of reaching the knockout spots. At the very least, we should be aiming for 3rd to give us a shot at the Europa League after Christmas. Are we in a position to win either competition? Not even close, but I'd like to try.
An early season boost as I finally persuade the board to improve our training facilities.
In terms of departures, most are just the standard fare, but one jumps out. Dave Dunnan - the last man standing from our past youth intakes - has been released. He just hasn't really featured, so unfortunately he's out. Hopefully he can pick up another club, he deserves it.
In terms of incoming players, certainly a few interesting signings. I'm delighted to finally get Matt Bradbury to the club permanently. He spent three seasons on loan with us before we managed to negotiate a very decent deal for him. Mikel Martin arrives to slot straight into the center of defence. We're very good going forward with our front 3 or 4, and have good cover in the center of midfield, but we're a little light on real quality in defence. A decent first choice four, but if we lose a couple, we could struggle. Domestically, not so much, but in Europe we'll get battered if we have to go down to 4th or 5th choice.
Aside from those two, we brought in a couple of young strikers to give some competition to Joe Jones. Ignacio Bernal arrives on loan to see what he can do, and Serrano will be similar but with a bigger fee.
Youth Intake
I'm going to stop mentioning the youth intake to be honest, at least until I get someone worth mentioning.
Results
A bit of a mixed bag in the European Qualifiers this year as we swung from extremely comfortable, to outstanding, then back to head-scratchingly inconsistent. It's been fun.
We started out with a nice home match with KR. Joe Jones put us ahead after three minutes, and from then it looked like we'd go on to run up a considerable score. However, it took an own goal late on to double our lead, and that's how it ended. The second leg in Iceland was a bit hairy, but our 2-0 win in the first leg meant we kept them at arms length throughout. Still, a 3-3 draw at this stage is not boding well for the future.
Seems like I needn't have worried, as we spent the next game camped in AFC Astra's half, scoring eleven goals in an absolute drubbing. I rested a few in the second game, and paid for it, as a pretty insipid performance led to a 2-1 defeat. It was absolutely over from around the half hour mark in the first leg, but we shouldn't be getting beat.
When we followed it up with a 3-1 defeat in the first leg away in Serbia, my worst fears were looking like they would be realised. We deserved what we got, but that away goal ended up being crucial. Fast forward to the closing stages of the second leg, the scores locked at 3-1, and the game heading for extra-time. Then the legendary Joe Jones stepped up, 93rd minute, and smashed home a £12 million winner. We're into the group stages once again.
The draw could've been kinder, but could've been harsher too. Surely we've got enough about us to manage 3rd?
No. Nope. Nooo.
It looks terrible, and in truth it was, but if I had to say one thing to sum it up, I'd say 2-1. So many games with not much in it, and so many times that things could've been different. But they weren't, and we're out with no points.
And the run goes on. A 100% record across all domestic games, and another four trophies added.
Stats and Key Players
Andy Thompson
I didn't mention it in the transfers as it appeared at the end of the previous season, but I extended Andy's loan, and he responded with another fantastic season. He has no right to score 28 goals from his mostly defensive position, but he did it anyway. Wonderful performance
Spencer Short
Not the same level of absolute routings in Europe, and I think that's down to Spencer. I may have been disappointed to release Dave Dunnan, but when you have a keeper this good replacing him...
Joe Jones
62 goals, but that number - no matter how big - doesn't really tell the story. Given that a lot of those are scored on Gibraltar, it's obviously going to be inflated. It's the 11 goals in 11 games that he scored in Europe that points to how good he is. Even if we end up losing him in the coming seasons, Joe will go down as the greatest striker we've ever had.
Youth Round-up
Not a single youth left at the club from our intakes. This section will return when I do an update to see where each player is, but won't appear regularly.
Gone but not Forgotten
(YP15B) Louis McCoy
(YP15A) Jack Peachman
(YP15C) Andrew Baker
(YP16B) Andy Keen
(YP16C) Josh Miller
(YP17B) Jamie Peace
(YP18D) Andrew Dickinson
(YP18F) Tony Grainger
(YP18G) Dylan Alman
(YP19D) Ian Smith
(YP22C) Tim Connor
(YP20F) Brian Beaglehole
(YP16D) Fraser Willis
(YP17A) Andy Jones
(YP18A) Simon Forster
(YP18B) Luke Walker
(YP18C) Tom Wilson
(YP19A) Andy Hutchinson
(YP19B) Ross Donnachie
(YP19C) Ryan Lowton
(YP21F) Robert Ashley
(YP22A) Christopher Langtry
(YP22D) Danny Donachie
(YP23A) Charlie Bell
(YP25A) Ashley Russel
(YP22B) Gareth Bagu
(YP23B) Matt Bishop
(YP23C) Jack Cross
(YP23D) Shane Austin
(YP24B) Malcolm Ruddick
(YP24C) Ben Lewis
(YP24E) Billy Clough
(YP18E) Lee Ward
(YP19E) Darren Chambers
(YP21C) Mark Brown
(YP21D) Eddie Smyth
(YP21E) Greg James
(YP24D) Danny Hepworth
(YP25B) Jordan Ellison
(YP20A) Craig Owen
(YP20B) Kevin Ward
(YP20C) Kane Kitchen
(YP20D) Tom Campbell
(YP20E) Carl Dodds
(YP20G) Leon Hadley
(YP21B) Anthony Ford
(YP24A) Joseph Moreno
(YP25C) Jon Brownhill
(YP25D) Shaun Martin
(YP25E) Ashley Hargreaves
(YP26B) Michael Dodd
(YP27A) Chris Davies
(YP26C) Harvey Patterson
(YP27B) Callum Thompson
(YP28A) John Paul Ignacio
(YP28C) Nathan Hewitt
(YP16A) Derwayne Carr
(YP21A) Niall O'Connell
(YP29A) Adam Phillips
(YP30A) Joe Gill
(YP28B) Lee Olivero
(YP26A) Dave Dunnan
Facilities Update
No changes
Club Update
We're slowly chipping away at our loan while our balance and value increases. Nice to see our season tickets rising too. We're also well into the top 100 in terms of club rep too, which is a big thing.
Coefficient Update
Gibraltar United and Red Imps gave decent displays, the former against the side that beat them last year. It was an improvement from last time out, but a defeat nonetheless. Red Imps were slightly better, but again, they went out.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
The league fell this year, probably because of our European performance last year. It should rise, like our finances, this time next year.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now? | Commercial Summary
#259062 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2036/37
Another season, and another one where we chase the European dream. We were great in qualifying for the Champions League Group Stages, but then woeful once we reached there. We just have to be better than that, even if it's just from a financial stand-point - we get around 800k for each win, so it pays, quite literally, to win.
So who did we bring in to help that happen?
Well, we pushed the boat out certainly. Over nine million pounds spent, closer to ten, an absolutely massive amount for us. Tony McBride joins us on a free transfer to start with. Good young player, a bit of space for improvement, and crucially a very good defensive player. Also versatile, which is always a bonus. Jose Angel Pons joined to replace the departing Bardal who returns to his parent club after his loan spell. On paper he should rival Joe Jones, and he better, as it's quite a fee for him. Derek Maxwell is the exact type of signing that we want to be making. Only seventeen, and good stats in the right places for a right back. He is going to be massive for us if we can keep him on a long contract. And then the main event, Michael Aniche. He's on a (relatively) low wage, but we spent £5.5 million on securing his signature from Marseille. Like Maxwell, he is going to hopefully form the center of our team for some time to come. If he proves himself in the Champions League, then we could be looking at at least a tidy profit. Future looks bright.
Results
Qualifying had a familiar air to it. After we strolled past Crusaders in the 2nd round, we faced AFC Astra once again. However, where last year we ran out 11-0 winners in the first leg, this time we were a lot more reserved. Just the six over two legs, but we looked comfortable throughout.
Then it was another old foe as Partizan awaited in the playoff. We inched through last season thanks to a 93rd minute goal, but this time around it wasn't to be. Partizan battered us in the first leg 4-0, so we travelled back home with a huge deficit to recover and no away goals. And you know what? We almost did it. I sent my players out with fire in their eyes, knowing we had to score plenty, and within a minute we were ahead. By the twentieth, we were 3-0 up and suddenly it started to look like we might actually do it. But then I guess Partizan woke up, and settled down. Three minutes before half-time we got the sucker-punch as Partizan got an away goal. Now needing three goals, we petered out and the second half was academic. We're in the Europa League. Disappointing from a competition sense, very worrying from a financial sense.
Arsenal, Malaga and Olympiacos awaited in the group stage, and to be honest, it's another stinker of a draw. However, we gave a good account of ourselves. Taking each pot in isolation, we got nothing against pot 1 (Arsenal), six points against pot 3 (Malaga) and three against pot 2 (Olympiacos). Other results did not really benefit or hinder us, so the two matches in the middle of the run ended up being the clinchers. A wonderful 3-2 win thanks to a Pons hat-trick at home to Olympiacos edged us ahead, but a bit of a horror-show in Greece all but ended our hopes. We were 3-2 up and cruising, but then an equaliser, a sending off for Fitzgerald, and then another two goals meant that our mini-league went to Olympiacos should we finish on the same points. We both beat Malaga, and both lost to Arsenal in the final two games, so Olympiacos ended up qualifying in second place. Gutting.
Another clean-sweep, and some absolute hidings handed out.
Stats and Key Players
Tom Taylor
A surprise appearance, but Taylor has been fantastic this season
Joe Jones
Only fifty-five goals. He'll be sold in the summer. Donkey. But really, another wonderful season in Europe, and a very consistent flat-track-bully performance in Gibraltar.
Mat Bradbury
Mat was wonderful once again, and he's settling in nicely as a permanent member of our squad. But then it is his 5th season after all.
Matty Breeze
I feel a bit sorry for Matty at times. Joe Jones steals most of the headlines, but Breeze has been consistently great behind him. Or usually slightly to his left as more of an inside forward. When we've gone two up front, I've often preferred Breeze to some of the "better" strikers, and his goal record is nothing to be sniffed it. He's only failed to score over thirty goals during one of his four full seasons with us, and he deserves the recognition.
Facilities Update
An improvement to our training facilities the only change
Club Update
I'm expecting a crash next summer once the Champions League miss filters through, but at the moment we're looking good. Into the top 75 club-wise.
Coefficient Update
We may have had a pretty poor season, but the same can't be said for Gibraltar United and Red Imps who both made it through to the second qualifying round with massive performances. Unfortunately they fell there, although Red Imps had a good go against Slovakian side Trencin. Looking with interest to see how next year's coefficients turn out.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
We're hovering around the mid 60s in terms of league rep - would be nice to see that rise, but not really sure what we can do to really push it up. We need the other teams to start really competing, which is pretty far away to be honest.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now?
#259061 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2035/36
So last season was fairly eventful off the field, with the move to a new stadium giving us a much needed boost in funding from ticket sales. However, we're still in the unenviable position of being a team that costs a lot more than we're consistently bringing in. If we qualify for the Champions League Group Stages every year, we're fine, as the money that brings in will keep us rich. However, one season without that sees a noticeable dip. If we were to have two...that's unthinkable.
So once again, the focus is completely on getting to the money-spinning group stages. Beyond that, I guess we better start, you know, actually winning some group games so that we can stand a chance of reaching the knockout spots. At the very least, we should be aiming for 3rd to give us a shot at the Europa League after Christmas. Are we in a position to win either competition? Not even close, but I'd like to try.
An early season boost as I finally persuade the board to improve our training facilities.
In terms of departures, most are just the standard fare, but one jumps out. Dave Dunnan - the last man standing from our past youth intakes - has been released. He just hasn't really featured, so unfortunately he's out. Hopefully he can pick up another club, he deserves it.
In terms of incoming players, certainly a few interesting signings. I'm delighted to finally get Matt Bradbury to the club permanently. He spent three seasons on loan with us before we managed to negotiate a very decent deal for him. Mikel Martin arrives to slot straight into the center of defence. We're very good going forward with our front 3 or 4, and have good cover in the center of midfield, but we're a little light on real quality in defence. A decent first choice four, but if we lose a couple, we could struggle. Domestically, not so much, but in Europe we'll get battered if we have to go down to 4th or 5th choice.
Aside from those two, we brought in a couple of young strikers to give some competition to Joe Jones. Ignacio Bernal arrives on loan to see what he can do, and Serrano will be similar but with a bigger fee.
Youth Intake
I'm going to stop mentioning the youth intake to be honest, at least until I get someone worth mentioning.
Results
A bit of a mixed bag in the European Qualifiers this year as we swung from extremely comfortable, to outstanding, then back to head-scratchingly inconsistent. It's been fun.
We started out with a nice home match with KR. Joe Jones put us ahead after three minutes, and from then it looked like we'd go on to run up a considerable score. However, it took an own goal late on to double our lead, and that's how it ended. The second leg in Iceland was a bit hairy, but our 2-0 win in the first leg meant we kept them at arms length throughout. Still, a 3-3 draw at this stage is not boding well for the future.
Seems like I needn't have worried, as we spent the next game camped in AFC Astra's half, scoring eleven goals in an absolute drubbing. I rested a few in the second game, and paid for it, as a pretty insipid performance led to a 2-1 defeat. It was absolutely over from around the half hour mark in the first leg, but we shouldn't be getting beat.
When we followed it up with a 3-1 defeat in the first leg away in Serbia, my worst fears were looking like they would be realised. We deserved what we got, but that away goal ended up being crucial. Fast forward to the closing stages of the second leg, the scores locked at 3-1, and the game heading for extra-time. Then the legendary Joe Jones stepped up, 93rd minute, and smashed home a £12 million winner. We're into the group stages once again.
The draw could've been kinder, but could've been harsher too. Surely we've got enough about us to manage 3rd?
No. Nope. Nooo.
It looks terrible, and in truth it was, but if I had to say one thing to sum it up, I'd say 2-1. So many games with not much in it, and so many times that things could've been different. But they weren't, and we're out with no points.
And the run goes on. A 100% record across all domestic games, and another four trophies added.
Stats and Key Players
Andy Thompson
I didn't mention it in the transfers as it appeared at the end of the previous season, but I extended Andy's loan, and he responded with another fantastic season. He has no right to score 28 goals from his mostly defensive position, but he did it anyway. Wonderful performance
Spencer Short
Not the same level of absolute routings in Europe, and I think that's down to Spencer. I may have been disappointed to release Dave Dunnan, but when you have a keeper this good replacing him...
Joe Jones
62 goals, but that number - no matter how big - doesn't really tell the story. Given that a lot of those are scored on Gibraltar, it's obviously going to be inflated. It's the 11 goals in 11 games that he scored in Europe that points to how good he is. Even if we end up losing him in the coming seasons, Joe will go down as the greatest striker we've ever had.
Youth Round-up
Not a single youth left at the club from our intakes. This section will return when I do an update to see where each player is, but won't appear regularly.
Gone but not Forgotten
(YP15B) Louis McCoy
(YP15A) Jack Peachman
(YP15C) Andrew Baker
(YP16B) Andy Keen
(YP16C) Josh Miller
(YP17B) Jamie Peace
(YP18D) Andrew Dickinson
(YP18F) Tony Grainger
(YP18G) Dylan Alman
(YP19D) Ian Smith
(YP22C) Tim Connor
(YP20F) Brian Beaglehole
(YP16D) Fraser Willis
(YP17A) Andy Jones
(YP18A) Simon Forster
(YP18B) Luke Walker
(YP18C) Tom Wilson
(YP19A) Andy Hutchinson
(YP19B) Ross Donnachie
(YP19C) Ryan Lowton
(YP21F) Robert Ashley
(YP22A) Christopher Langtry
(YP22D) Danny Donachie
(YP23A) Charlie Bell
(YP25A) Ashley Russel
(YP22B) Gareth Bagu
(YP23B) Matt Bishop
(YP23C) Jack Cross
(YP23D) Shane Austin
(YP24B) Malcolm Ruddick
(YP24C) Ben Lewis
(YP24E) Billy Clough
(YP18E) Lee Ward
(YP19E) Darren Chambers
(YP21C) Mark Brown
(YP21D) Eddie Smyth
(YP21E) Greg James
(YP24D) Danny Hepworth
(YP25B) Jordan Ellison
(YP20A) Craig Owen
(YP20B) Kevin Ward
(YP20C) Kane Kitchen
(YP20D) Tom Campbell
(YP20E) Carl Dodds
(YP20G) Leon Hadley
(YP21B) Anthony Ford
(YP24A) Joseph Moreno
(YP25C) Jon Brownhill
(YP25D) Shaun Martin
(YP25E) Ashley Hargreaves
(YP26B) Michael Dodd
(YP27A) Chris Davies
(YP26C) Harvey Patterson
(YP27B) Callum Thompson
(YP28A) John Paul Ignacio
(YP28C) Nathan Hewitt
(YP16A) Derwayne Carr
(YP21A) Niall O'Connell
(YP29A) Adam Phillips
(YP30A) Joe Gill
(YP28B) Lee Olivero
(YP26A) Dave Dunnan
Facilities Update
No changes
Club Update
We're slowly chipping away at our loan while our balance and value increases. Nice to see our season tickets rising too. We're also well into the top 100 in terms of club rep too, which is a big thing.
Coefficient Update
Gibraltar United and Red Imps gave decent displays, the former against the side that beat them last year. It was an improvement from last time out, but a defeat nonetheless. Red Imps were slightly better, but again, they went out.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
The league fell this year, probably because of our European performance last year. It should rise, like our finances, this time next year.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now? | Commercial Summary
#259060 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2034/35
Well...turns out I ended up in pastures new at the start of this season...
Yes, it's a very sad day, as Lincoln of Gibraltar move out of the Victoria Stadium for the last time, taking up residence at the brand, spanking new Spiteri Stadium.
What? You thought I'd leave this fine club, even for the club I support? Naaah...
In other news, old legend George Cabrera returns to the club as a scout. His stats aren't fantastic, but I want to try and bring old favourites back as much as possible.
Scott Hurst | Spencer Short | Tony Gannon
Tom Taylor | John Fitzgerald
For the most part this window was purely about youth. I'm worried that we'll end up running out of home-grown players, so I'm now always on the lookout for youth we can bring in to boost those numbers. These guys aren't quite that young, but they certainly have potential. Two of them deserve an extra mention. First up, Scott Hurst. I had been desperate to sign him last season, but Aberdeen demanded a little too much. One season later and we had the funds, but he had improved, so up went the price. We settled on a club record amount to bring him to the club, and I just hope I don't regret it. The other is Spencer Short. Finally our youth intake's strangehold on the number one position is gone, as there is no way Spencer is coming here to be backup. We've been crying out for real quality there, so hopefully Short can be that.
Youth Intake
Once again, no youths worth tracking.
Results
Another year, another Champions League qualifying campaign. Linfield fell convincingly to us after a wonderful first leg. We returned for our first match at our new stadium and closed it out with a comfortable 3-0 win.
Drawing Olympiacos in the next round was not what we wanted, but we ended up with an absolute classic. The first leg saw us take the lead, before being pegged back and overtaken. In the 93rd minute, new signing Scott Hurst made it 3-2 to give us hope going into the second leg. Hope treated us pretty well back home as we smashed five first half goals past the Greeks to leave them reeling. They got one back, but it was well and truly over by then. A fantastic, wonderful result.
So into the final playoff round, and again we could have really done without drawing Basel. We're still unseeded at that stage, so it's always going to be a tough draw, but there were easier teams in the draw. However, it ended up being another absolute classic. When Joe Jones scored in the 3rd minute to give us an away goal, I thought we were going to end up with a Stromgoedset style stroll like last year. Not to be, as Basel got three back to end up looking very comfortable going into the second leg. We knew we would have to go out and score three, and that's just what we did, before Basel got a crucial goal back. So close to going through automatically, but in the end we had to settle on penalties. Basel missed their final penalty, and we scored ours, sending us through to the group stage once again.
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4
Yay! Back to the worst club in the draw! Once again, it's not going to really matter who we draw, but I'd like to avoid the usual suspects - any of the English clubs, PSG, Schalke etc...
Oh well.
Much, much better than last year as we manage to actually get a result. Roma were the 3rd seeds, so with memories of our Europa League win against them on FM14, we went into the opening match knowing that we'd have to get a result. And we did in an absolutely ding-dong battle. We went 1-0 up, then Roma got two to edge ahead. We equalised later, before finally taking the lead with the predictable Joe Jones goal. We just about held on to it, and grabbed three massive points (and about three quarters of a million pounds for the win. woot.) I didn't expect anything from Bayern or West Ham, and Bayern reinforced that fact by battering us in Munich. We welcomed West Ham to Gibraltar, and we almost did them, keeping them close before their quality eventually edged them ahead of us. Would we go on to regret that? Especially after we returned to London and suffered an absolute battering.
No matter really. Like I said, we didn't expect anything from Bayern or West Ham. What mattered was what happened against Roma. A win would pretty much assure our place in 3rd, and a draw would make us favourites. We managed the latter, in another epic battle. We really should have won it though - three times we took the lead, and twice we were pegged back within minutes. We really should be better than that, despite being underdogs. We need to keep them away for ten minutes at least following our goal and get settled. Lessons learned I guess.
Third place was up for grabs in the final match as long as Roma didn't beat West Ham. They had already done that once in the group, so any kind of point in London would sink us. Luckily, they fell to a 1-0 defeat, rendering our 5-2 battering at the hands of Bayern academic. We're in the Europa League knockout stages again.
And that's where the story ends. But what a story. The first leg was what it was all about - a packed Spiteri Stadium welcoming of the World's best sides. Eight minutes in, reality looked to be hitting as Arsenal took the lead. But then the amazing happened - Joe Jones equalised. We fought hard from then on, and although we're behind in the tie thanks to that away goal, in a way it doesn't matter. We would go to London on almost level terms.
I think the second leg was probably the most memorable match I've had so far in the save. After 36 minutes of not very much happening at all, Joe Jones silenced almost 57000 home fans with an away goal. Suddenly we were ahead, and Arsenal would have to get 2 to retake the lead. Like against Roma in the Champions League, we conceded soon after. Four minutes after to be exact. Extra time beckoned if we could keep it the same. The 70th minute came, and Arsenal broke our hearts by getting a second. It didn't really change much though - we needed a goal to head through before and we do again now. So there was only one thing for it - we went up-field straight from the kick-off and set up Scott Hurst to sweep home a second away goal. Dreamland. What followed was ten minutes of absolute backs-to-the-wall stuff, finally broken in the 81st minute as Arsenal got a 3rd. Two minutes later they added a 4th, and it was all over. Gutted that we were just ten minutes away from going through against such a huge club, but I'm proud of the players for their performances.
Red Imps gave us our only scare in the cups, with an absolutely epic extra-time period yielding four goals. Beyond that it was the usual sequence of batterings, including a splendid 13-0.
The league was even more one-sided, with just eight goals conceded in twenty-one games, and 121 scored. Absolutely dominant.
Stats and Key Players
Matty Breeze | Joe Jones | Spencer Short
The players of the year list is dominated by our two main forward players, with 99 goals scored between them. 64 went to Jones. Standard. Kudos to Spencer Short for really settling in quickly and effectively into the number one spot. A lot of goals conceded, but most were in Europe, which is fair enough. Definitely an improvement on what we have.
Youth Round-up
2026
(YP26A) Dave Dunnan - His time is probably just about up to be honest, now that Short has arrived.
Gone but not Forgotten
(YP15B) Louis McCoy
(YP15A) Jack Peachman
(YP15C) Andrew Baker
(YP16B) Andy Keen
(YP16C) Josh Miller
(YP17B) Jamie Peace
(YP18D) Andrew Dickinson
(YP18F) Tony Grainger
(YP18G) Dylan Alman
(YP19D) Ian Smith
(YP22C) Tim Connor
(YP20F) Brian Beaglehole
(YP16D) Fraser Willis
(YP17A) Andy Jones
(YP18A) Simon Forster
(YP18B) Luke Walker
(YP18C) Tom Wilson
(YP19A) Andy Hutchinson
(YP19B) Ross Donnachie
(YP19C) Ryan Lowton
(YP21F) Robert Ashley
(YP22A) Christopher Langtry
(YP22D) Danny Donachie
(YP23A) Charlie Bell
(YP25A) Ashley Russel
(YP22B) Gareth Bagu
(YP23B) Matt Bishop
(YP23C) Jack Cross
(YP23D) Shane Austin
(YP24B) Malcolm Ruddick
(YP24C) Ben Lewis
(YP24E) Billy Clough
(YP18E) Lee Ward
(YP19E) Darren Chambers
(YP21C) Mark Brown
(YP21D) Eddie Smyth
(YP21E) Greg James
(YP24D) Danny Hepworth
(YP25B) Jordan Ellison
(YP20A) Craig Owen
(YP20B) Kevin Ward
(YP20C) Kane Kitchen
(YP20D) Tom Campbell
(YP20E) Carl Dodds
(YP20G) Leon Hadley
(YP21B) Anthony Ford
(YP24A) Joseph Moreno
(YP25C) Jon Brownhill
(YP25D) Shaun Martin
(YP25E) Ashley Hargreaves
(YP26B) Michael Dodd
(YP27A) Chris Davies
(YP26C) Harvey Patterson
(YP27B) Callum Thompson
(YP28A) John Paul Ignacio
(YP28C) Nathan Hewitt
(YP16A) Derwayne Carr
(YP21A) Niall O'Connell
(YP29A) Adam Phillips
(YP30A) Joe Gill
(YP28B) Lee Olivero
Facilities Update
Quite a few changes now thanks to our stadium move. The condition has increased - as it should - along with our corporate ability. It'll give us a good base to build on.
Club Update
As expected, finances have been boosted by our European exploits last season, but that debt still hangs over us. We're also edging towards the top 100 in terms of club rep.
Coefficient Update
Although we did better, none of the other sides could muster anything other than complete submission.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
The league fell this year, probably because of our European performance last year. It should rise, like our finances, this time next year.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now? | Commercial Summary
#259059 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2033/34
We start the season off on a financial note as the board remind me that they made a pretty ridiculous stadium decision, and that we're going to have to pay it back. I am happy we've got a new stadium, but I'm not sure it was the best financial move at this moment, given we're not exactly regulars in the big-money stages of the Champions League just yet. There was also this worrying development - usually when the board starts pumping money in, the club is already taking on water. Our finances look OK though, so I guess we're good.
Just the one signing in the summer as we added Foday Nabay to give us some depth and experience to the key attacking midfield positions
Youth Intake
Not a single youth was worth picking up for tracking. I'm sure my assistant has brought on a few for the reserves, but it's disappointing how dreadful they've been recently.
Results
We started off with a home tie against Sarajevo, and made short work of them. They did grab an away goal, but we responded with six over there to breeze through to the next round. But then we drew Celtic...
First it was the blue half, now the green. Celtic fell to the sword despite a good result in the first leg at Parkhead. Joe Lordan's 59th minute strike gave us hope going back home, and we finished the job emphatically with a frankly unbelievable 4-2 win. It looks better than it was, as until the 91st minute we were heading out. Then new signing Foday Nabay scored, sending us ahead in the tie for the first time, and into the playoff round. Ooft.
If the Celtic second leg was fantastic, I'm not sure what our first leg performance at home to Stromgoedset was. We looked wonderful, going in 2-0 up at half time and then adding a late 3rd. This round is supposed to be where we scrape through against all odds, but we now found ourself 3-0 up with an away leg to come. Score once, and we'd be pretty much home and hosed. Instead, we decided to make things interesting by barely turning up in the first half. they went 1-0 up, and threatened to extend their lead while we sat and took it. We got lucky with the equaliser, but that was enough to pretty much end the tie. They got another back, but needed three more to wrestle control back. We equalised with just minutes to go, and ended up cruising into the group stages.
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4
We're not the worst team in the draw! Yay! However, we are the second worst, and there's a long list of clubs we should be avoiding. City, Milan and Monaco would be the toughest group on paper, with PSG, West Ham and Juventus not being too far behind. A combination of any of those six would be bad news for us.
Oh well, two out of three ain't bad.
An absolutely rank rotten group stage for us, and we are well and truly out. The Victoria Stadium (used instead of the Europa Point for Group Stage games for some mad reason) has seen its last Champions League games I'd imagine, ahead of our move in the summer. We hardly did it justice.
And with that, the clean sweep is ours. Every single domestic game won, and it's hard to see where a defeat is going to come from. The chasing pack are rapidly disappearing into the distance.
Stats and Key Players
Andy Thompson was supposed to be a key player last season, but ended up being outshone by the forward players. Not this time though. He re-signed for us for another year, and was absolutely immense in the middle of the park. Not many goals, but that's not what he's there for. He's there to control, and control he did.
Just the forty goals for Joe Jones this year. I'm having his legs broken in the Autumn if that doesn't improve.
Joe Lordan keeps up his wonderful form, managing thirty-two assists from the right wing position. He's one of the first on the team-sheet at the moment, and is so key to how we play.
Youth Round-up
2026
(YP26A) Dave Dunnan - As a hangover from when he was a youth, I realised all too late that Dave Dunnan was still on the development list. While I was on one of my many jaunts back to Blighty, my assistant decided to loan Dave to AA Gent. He looks like he hasn't played much, probably down to being in an inactive league. Nxumalo stepped in while he was away and did...alright I guess. I'm not too impressed, but he is better than Dave marginally. Looks like one of my final youth players is going to be gone soon...
2028
(YP28B) Lee Olivero - Hasn't featured enough for comment.
Gone but not Forgotten
(YP15B) Louis McCoy
(YP15A) Jack Peachman
(YP15C) Andrew Baker
(YP16B) Andy Keen
(YP16C) Josh Miller
(YP17B) Jamie Peace
(YP18D) Andrew Dickinson
(YP18F) Tony Grainger
(YP18G) Dylan Alman
(YP19D) Ian Smith
(YP22C) Tim Connor
(YP20F) Brian Beaglehole
(YP16D) Fraser Willis
(YP17A) Andy Jones
(YP18A) Simon Forster
(YP18B) Luke Walker
(YP18C) Tom Wilson
(YP19A) Andy Hutchinson
(YP19B) Ross Donnachie
(YP19C) Ryan Lowton
(YP21F) Robert Ashley
(YP22A) Christopher Langtry
(YP22D) Danny Donachie
(YP23A) Charlie Bell
(YP25A) Ashley Russel
(YP22B) Gareth Bagu
(YP23B) Matt Bishop
(YP23C) Jack Cross
(YP23D) Shane Austin
(YP24B) Malcolm Ruddick
(YP24C) Ben Lewis
(YP24E) Billy Clough
(YP18E) Lee Ward
(YP19E) Darren Chambers
(YP21C) Mark Brown
(YP21D) Eddie Smyth
(YP21E) Greg James
(YP24D) Danny Hepworth
(YP25B) Jordan Ellison
(YP20A) Craig Owen
(YP20B) Kevin Ward
(YP20C) Kane Kitchen
(YP20D) Tom Campbell
(YP20E) Carl Dodds
(YP20G) Leon Hadley
(YP21B) Anthony Ford
(YP24A) Joseph Moreno
(YP25C) Jon Brownhill
(YP25D) Shaun Martin
(YP25E) Ashley Hargreaves
(YP26B) Michael Dodd
(YP27A) Chris Davies
(YP26C) Harvey Patterson
(YP27B) Callum Thompson
(YP28A) John Paul Ignacio
(YP28C) Nathan Hewitt
(YP16A) Derwayne Carr
(YP21A) Niall O'Connell
(YP29A) Adam Phillips
(YP30A) Joe Gill
Facilities Update
As we round off our time at the Victoria Stadium, we were rewarded with the pitch degrading in quality and the training facilities falling. Quite telling what happened later in the season with regards to those facilities...
Club Update
Our finances took a bit of a beating after missing out on Europe last season, but they should recover next time around (these figures are taken in the summer, prior to the start of the season I'm covering.
Coefficient Update
Although we did better, none of the other sides could muster anything other than complete submission.
History and Stats
[CENTER]
The league fell this year, probably because of our European performance last year. It should rise, like our finances, this time next year.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | http://i.imgur.com/HyIktiO.png"">Where are they now?
Interesting news item about wantaway Michael Daly. Looks like he's been on his Twitter account waxing lyrical about me. I didn't know this was in the game, certainly haven't seen it before. It's certainly not going to persuade me to play him, that's for sure.
There was also interest in my own future, as three fallen giants of football asked for my services. Celtic go with the tried-and-trusted Rangers approach of trying to sign up the man who put them out of Europe, whereas Leeds and Forest are fairly standard fare at the moment from England. Rejections for all of them - it isn't time to go yet. But then the mighty Jags offered me a job...got to say, I was tempted, and the budgets and prospects are night and day compared to Lincoln. But I had to say no to the team I follow and stay on Gibraltar until the job is done.
But hey, there's no harm in attending the interview, right?
And the talks got worse from there. They ended up rescinding the offer of talks to stay, leaving me free to join Thistle...
But did I do it?
#258042 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2032/33
Some admin first. The save will undergo some enlargement in the coming seasons as I add more leagues as active. I mentioned that Spain would be added a while back, but now France, Germany and Italy join Scotland and England on the list. This should give us a bit more of a rounded experience in the gameworld, and maybe turn up some fantastic youth, as I've found things very UK-based so far. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
I was also offered an interesting role in the summer as Rangers came calling. While it would definitely be a step up, I'd rather get it right up them by rejecting the side we denied Champions League football to the season before. Yass. However, I was curious, so I went ahead and attended the interview, making sure that I answered each question in the most hostile manner possible, then asked for the Earth. Predictably, they ended up saying no, hiring Champions League Winner and balloon animal look-a-like Paul Lambert to the post, despite his green-and-white history. Odd. Still, I never really wanted to go anyway.
A slightly different start this season as I give you rare coverage of a friendly we played. It was a day for Lewis White as he returned to the Victoria Stadium with his new club. A second half penalty from the man himself gave Wien the wi(e)n. A pretty meh game otherwise, so not too bothered that we've ended up on the wrong end of a result. I'm pleased for Lewis no matter what.
Can you tell that I've been enjoying the Champions League money from last year?
A whole raft of signings in the summer, offset by just as many departures. A mix of youth players that didn't quite make the grade, and senior ones who definitely didn't. In terms of incoming players...that's where it gets exciting.
Mark Smith - a good utility player
Brian Clancy - A very good signing for us at the back. Brian's only 20, and with stats like that he'll be ready to make an impact immediately.
Aymar Kabamba Muana Bute - I'm tired after typing that...he's a prospect, certainly, but he'll definitely do a job domestically as a backup. Will be interesting to see how he turns out, but then he is only a loan signing, so he probably won't be with us when he reaches his potential.
Joe Jones - Absolutely thrilled to have Joe arriving on a free transfer. Look at those physicals. He will absolutely burn through the defences here, and probably in Europe too. He already has pretty decent striker attributes, but if I can add a few points onto those...could we have a striker that will lead us into Europe comfortably?
Phillip Donohoe - Good physical attributes, and a lot of space for development
Daniel Morrison - Another versatile player, someone who can appear anywhere on that left flank. Now that we're pretty much set on using advanced wingers, he could become very important. Only problem is that he's unlikely to improve too much. Should definitely do a job anyway.
Nathi Nxumalo - The young Spaniard is being brought in to hopefully be our long-term prospect between the sticks. Was initially glad to have him in, but to be honest I usually just keep a youth player in this position, then bring in a ready-made replacement once needed. Whether Nathi will get much of a chance, I'm not sure.
Scott Reid - Another player who looked much better in my scout's eyes than when he finally arrived. And he commanded a significant fee. However, his stats are pretty well balanced in the key places - we'll see how he goes.
Matty Breeze - I seem to be collecting strikers who also feature on the flanks, and Matty is no different. Along with Jones, probably the biggest prospect we have currently at the club. To be honest, he's pretty similar to Jones, with slightly worse physicals.
Danny Birch - Naturally a left back, but another versatile player to have in the squad.
Andy Thompson - It's obvious when looking at Andy's stats that he is just going to be a loan signing for us. Absolutely delighted to have him on board, and I just hope that we can turn his head so much that we can sign him permanently in future. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that he will be one of our most important players this season.
Jonathan Mellor - Another left winger signed on loan, and probably pushes other loan signing Bute further down the pecking order. Always good to have backup though, as the wings have been somewhere we've struggled for depth at times.
Youth Intake
Results
I started off in the second qualifying round once again, and expected a procession towards the Playoff at least thanks to our heroics last season. However, fate had other ideas. After dispatching KR fairly easily, we got a tough draw in Dinamo. We gave a fantastic first leg performance at home, although we conceded two goals, we went into the second leg one up. The task was simple - score first and shut up shop and hope to frustrate them. At half-time it was still 0-0, and I started to dream of a play-off spot. Then two minutes into the second half, they scored, and were heading through. We attacked, trying to force a crucial away goal, and ten minutes later the opposite happened. Then again. And then again. 4-0 down, and I have to say I'm not really sure how. Connor Budge got a consolation, but it was just that. We limped out of the Champions League, and into the Europa League playoff.
Now of course, after getting to the Europa League knockouts last year, we should have had enough to get to the group stages this time, right? I mean, we were even seeded!
Nope. Crvena Zvezda shocked us by beating us 2-1 at home, and then playing the perfect second leg as they picked us off on the counter. I have to hand it to them, despite us being dreadful, they were fantastic. They march into the Group Stages, and we're left wondering what went wrong.
With no European football to distract, we turned back to domestic action with aplomb. Well, right up until Gibraltar United served us up a dreadful defeat. I know it's just one blemish on a wonderful season, but it was very disappointing after our European exit to not finish the season unbeaten. Still, away from that we absolutely battered everyone in our path from minute one. We finished up with a +99 goal difference, and only 13 conceded. We were breaktaking at times, or at least certain players were, which you'll see soon.
Stats and Key Players
Joe. Jones. What a player. I said at the start of the season that he would burn through defences, and so it proved. I've always had trouble with strikers replicating their domestic form in Europe, and I guess in one way Jones was no different. He scored 58 goals in all competitions, with only 3 coming in Europe, but I'd say 3 in 6 is a pretty good European record given our terrible results. Away from Europe...how can you argue with that goal record? 40 league goals in 20 starts. 15 cup goals in 10 starts. Unbelievable.
If Joe Jones was praised for his goal record, it's only fair I praise our flying right winger for his assists. It must be so easy for Joe Lordan to play when you have someone like Jones up front, but the opposite is probably also true. I'd be interested to know how many of Lordan's 33 assists ended with a Jones goal. Imagine it would be pretty high.
Daniel Morrison completes a front three treble on this list. Not as prolific as Lordan, but if that man managed a high percentage of assists for Jones, I imagine Morrison contributed the rest.
Youth Round-up
2026
(YP26A) Dave Dunnan - Kept his place ahead of Nxumalo, as I expected. In terms of quality though, I know there's better out there. I'm not sure how much longer Dunnan will stay as our number one, especially after our capitulation in Europe.
2028
(YP28B) Lee Olivero - Hasn't featured enough for comment.
2030
(YP30A) Joe Gill - Played a lot on loan, but I doubt he'll make an impact with us.
Gone but not Forgotten
(YP15B) Louis McCoy
(YP15A) Jack Peachman
(YP15C) Andrew Baker
(YP16B) Andy Keen
(YP16C) Josh Miller
(YP17B) Jamie Peace
(YP18D) Andrew Dickinson
(YP18F) Tony Grainger
(YP18G) Dylan Alman
(YP19D) Ian Smith
(YP22C) Tim Connor
(YP20F) Brian Beaglehole
(YP16D) Fraser Willis
(YP17A) Andy Jones
(YP18A) Simon Forster
(YP18B) Luke Walker
(YP18C) Tom Wilson
(YP19A) Andy Hutchinson
(YP19B) Ross Donnachie
(YP19C) Ryan Lowton
(YP21F) Robert Ashley
(YP22A) Christopher Langtry
(YP22D) Danny Donachie
(YP23A) Charlie Bell
(YP25A) Ashley Russel
(YP22B) Gareth Bagu
(YP23B) Matt Bishop
(YP23C) Jack Cross
(YP23D) Shane Austin
(YP24B) Malcolm Ruddick
(YP24C) Ben Lewis
(YP24E) Billy Clough
(YP18E) Lee Ward
(YP19E) Darren Chambers
(YP21C) Mark Brown
(YP21D) Eddie Smyth
(YP21E) Greg James
(YP24D) Danny Hepworth
(YP25B) Jordan Ellison
(YP20A) Craig Owen
(YP20B) Kevin Ward
(YP20C) Kane Kitchen
(YP20D) Tom Campbell
(YP20E) Carl Dodds
(YP20G) Leon Hadley
(YP21B) Anthony Ford
(YP24A) Joseph Moreno
(YP25C) Jon Brownhill
(YP25D) Shaun Martin
(YP25E) Ashley Hargreaves
(YP26B) Michael Dodd
(YP27A) Chris Davies
(YP26C) Harvey Patterson
(YP27B) Callum Thompson
(YP28A) John Paul Ignacio
(YP28C) Nathan Hewitt
(YP16A) Derwayne Carr
(YP21A) Niall O'Connell
(YP29A) Adam Phillips
Facilities Update
No changes.
Club Update
Value and balance have increased massively as you can imagine, and our club rep has taken a bit of a rise too. Good news all round.
Coefficient Update
Back to normal in Europe - not even our performance could save it as all three sides get thumped on their way out in the first round.
End of Season Review
Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven | Where are they now?
A year or so ago, the board planned to build a new stadium. But now those plans have become a reality, as Spiteri Stadium reaches the light of day. A bit disappointed at the capacity - had hoped for it to be a bit bigger, but it'll give us an all-seater stadium with double the potential attendance. I just hope the cost doesn't cripple us, and the prospect of a bank loan is not great. However, it's happening, and in one year we'll move out. Can't wait.
History and Stats
The league is now up to 66th, which is great news. To put it into perspective though, that's about the level of Scottish League One, which is the second bottom tier. Doesn't sound so great now.
#258041 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Season 2031/32
This season began with a moan from Raymond Toth about our playing squad. To be fair to him, he was right in saying that it looked a bit thin, thanks to most of our players being released for being...well, ****. So this summer was going to be all about getting some real quality in to try and bulk out the squad.
Not quite the splurge I thought I'd make, but eight arrivals is quite a lot for us. The signings also continue to have a very home-nations flavour, with two from the Republic of Ireland, two from Scotland and two from England. Johnny McManus will step in as our new first choice right back. James Marks is really one for the future, but could do a job domestically right away. Callum Turner was purchased primarily as a left back by what seems like a blind scout. His versatility saves him here, because I doubt he'll pull up trees anywhere but in meaningless league games. Jamie Clark is another (hopefully) future star, not sure if he'll manage to play any games for the senior team just yet, but the reserves will definitely make use of him. Mat Bradbury sees our first foray into loan signings, and by the look of him I doubt it'll be the last. A wonderful signing, and at only 19 I'll be definitely hoping to persuade him that he should stay with us permanently. Will be tough, because it certainly looks like the boy could make it back at Villa, but a few loan spells with us and Champions League football...who knows. If Callum Turner was bought as a left back, he can think himself unfortunate, because we signed a new first choice just after him. Andy Byrne is just as versatile, but much, much better.
As deadline day drew on, and Jim White got more and more aroused, I tied up two final deals. Joe Lordan is a fantastic signing in my book. The Irishman could play anywhere along the right flank, but will be primarily used on the right wing, and stands as one of the best players at the club currently. The way our wingers have scored in the past, he should be a very, very important player. Zac Good closed out the window, and he'll be a wonderful squad player to have either on the right or the left.
After the window closed, I agreed one more transfer, to arrive in the New Year once his contract in Ireland ran out. Meet John Byrne, hopefully the absolute battering ram of a forward I've been looking for since Dave Barratt left. He'll no doubt miss this year's European festivities though, unless we reach a knockout stage match, which is pretty much impossible, but I have high hopes for him. Michael Daly also joined us, but this was later on after he ended up out of contract in January.
Youth Intake
Once again, the quality was pretty dreadful in the youth intake. My assistant will no doubt take a few on, but I have no interest in following the careers of players that I know will never make it. I think my days of expecting anything from this intake are well and truly gone.
Results
Before I get into the specific results, I'll just put this here.
That arse Lambert is still peddling this, a season later. To be fair to him I suppose, he was proven right last year after they soundly beat us, but this just gives us even more incentive to go out and put right the wrongs of last season. So did we?
We started off with the now customary 2nd round battering, this time of Jeunesse Esch. I was annoyed to concede in the first leg, and it put the nagging little voice in the back of my head on alert, wary of a shock defeat in the second. I needn't have worried, as we proceeded to smash nine past our sorry opponents and breeze into the 3rd round.
Next up were old foes Maccabi Haifa, a side we get drawn against very often in both FM14 and this year's version. This is usually the round we come unstuck, but a 0-0 draw in the first leg really gave us hope. Remember, that was at the Europa Point, meaning that for once we managed to not concede an away goal. However, it did mean that we would have to score in Israel. So finely poised...right up until David Hendry opened the scoring in the 10th minute. I was still trying to process and plan how we were going to protect our lead and ruin the game as a spectacle when he scored again. Fourteen minutes later, just after I'd extricated myself from the travelling fans, he completed a Champions League hat-trick, and left us three away goals to the good. Three. Away. Goals. Unbelievable. Of course, then the fear set in.
Haifa had a man sent off on 58 minutes, and we looked home and dry, but we'd let them back into the game. Four minutes later they had a goal back. We panicked, but looked to have righted ourselves. We ticked into the 86th minute, and it happened. Haifa goal. Jeeeesus. The game was slipping from our grasp, and we knew that if they got a third, we'd be in a perilous position while they chased a decisive fourth. I tried to close out the game, doing everything in my power to stop Haifa scoring, and we just about managed it. The final whistle brought jubilation as we secured our place in at least the Europa League Group stage, no matter what happened in our play-off match...against Rangers.
Now, in real life, I don't have anything massively against Rangers. I'm a Partick Thistle supporter, so my allegiance isn't on either side of the Old Firm, but I can't say I hate them. This incarnation though, I hate. Their manager saying that we were easy prey two years in a row was the last straw, and you can imagine that I really, really want to beat them.
At Castle Greyskull, I took an early lead. Away goal, brilliant. Twenty minutes later, Rangers equalised, but straight from the kick-off we went up the other end and re-took the lead. That would've been a great half-time lead, wouldn't it? Totally right! Unfortunately, we went in 3-2 down after some suicidal defending. They added a fourth towards the end of the game, and I was left facing a second successive exit at the hands of the blue half of Glasgow.
As we left the dressing room at the Europa Point ready to face them in the second leg, I told the players to go out there and play with no pressure. I mean, we were well and truly out as it stood, why not have some fun? The importance was not to concede, but when you need to score at least two goals, you have to go out and take the game to them. Four minutes in, we had the lead. A wonderful finish from Mark Curran, and suddenly there was a ripple of belief from the stands. We rode our luck, with Rangers finding Dave Dunnan in superb form. He held firm, saving chance after chance, and at half time we were still one up. Time ticked on though, and with the Scots controlling the game, the chance for a crucial second goal was narrowing by the second. I went for it, and on came Richard Trowbridge in the 70th minute, another striker on the field.
Then the ball floated in, and Trowbridge smashed it past their keeper and into the net.
The red half of the stadium erupted, and pushed the players on for the remaining twenty or so minutes. The final whistle blew, and we had done the impossible. Not only had we beaten the Scottish Champions, we had also secured ourselves a spot at the top table. The UEFA Champions League. Money, money, money.
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4
There you have the seedings prior to the draw, and it's clear that we are the worst club in the draw by some distance. But hey, with a kind draw, who knows what we could do. Given the league is decided on head-to-head, I like to split the group into three pairs of matches - home and away against the 3rd seeds, 2nd seeds and then top seeds. If we win on aggregate against the 3rd seeds, we should expect to finish above them more often than not. That's what I'm aiming for, and I would be ecstatic if we did it.
So, best case scenario? Shakhtar, Benfica, Chelsea. Worst Case? City, Valencia, Monaco.
In the end, we got Olympiacos (3rd), Benfica (2nd) and Juventus (1st). Happy enough with the draw.
And I'm absolutely delirious now.
I was pretty much writing off the matches against Juventus and Benfica, targeting the home match with Olympiacos as when we could possibly do something. By that, I meant push them close or nick a draw, so I couldn't quite believe it when we played them off the park. It was extremely nervy later on as the Greeks made it 2-1 quickly after it went to 2-0, but once Richard Trowbridge came off the bench to score the decisive goal, and send the home fans into raptures. The story was simple after that - beat Olympiacos in Greece, and we would be all but assured of 3rd place. Draw and we would have to hope they couldn't beat either Benfica or Juventus. The main thing was to not get beaten by worse than 3-1, which would put us ahead on head to head. We did manage a draw, in an absolute classic, coming back from 2-0 down to take a crucial point.
Unfortunately, the next week Olympiacos beat Benfica to draw level with us. On matchday 6, we just had to match Olympiacos' result against Benfica to finish in 3rd. Our 5-2 defeat matched their defeat in Portugal, and somehow, we finished our first season in the group stages in 3rd, moving into the Europa League knockout stages. Remarkable.
What wasn't remarkable in the end was our performance in said knockout round. Zenit murdered us, and the class difference was clear to see. Still, I'm so proud of my players for getting there in the first place.
Away from the delirium of Europe, we continued to dominate our own country. Only a 3-3 draw against Gibraltar United denied us a win in every single game we played domestically. A fantastic season for us.
Stats and Key Players
Mark Curran | Connor Budge | Michael Daly
Mat Bradbury | Johnny McManus
I couldn't just pick three during this record breaking season. It's obvious why four of them are there, but Michael Daly is added despite only joining in January. He played eight games since arriving and scored eight goals. What else can you ask for?
Youth Round-up
2016
(YP16A) Derwayne Carr - Looks like it's over for Derwayne - I'll look to organise a move for him, as it isn't fair for him to spend the remainder of his career slipping down the pecking order.
2021
(YP21A) Niall O'Connell - Hanging on to a spot in the team by his fingertips, but still doing it domestically for us.
2026
(YP26A) Dave Dunnan - Between the sticks for some absolute tankings in Europe, but he is comfortably our number one. Twenty clean-sheets through the season.
2028
(YP28B) Lee Olivero - Hasn't featured enough for comment.
2029
(YP29A) Adam Phillips - Hasn't featured enough for comment.
2030
(YP30A) Joe Gill - Hasn't featured enough for comment.
Gone but not Forgotten
(YP15B) Louis McCoy
(YP15A) Jack Peachman
(YP15C) Andrew Baker
(YP16B) Andy Keen
(YP16C) Josh Miller
(YP17B) Jamie Peace
(YP18D) Andrew Dickinson
(YP18F) Tony Grainger
(YP18G) Dylan Alman
(YP19D) Ian Smith
(YP22C) Tim Connor
(YP20F) Brian Beaglehole
(YP16D) Fraser Willis
(YP17A) Andy Jones
(YP18A) Simon Forster
(YP18B) Luke Walker
(YP18C) Tom Wilson
(YP19A) Andy Hutchinson
(YP19B) Ross Donnachie
(YP19C) Ryan Lowton
(YP21F) Robert Ashley
(YP22A) Christopher Langtry
(YP22D) Danny Donachie
(YP23A) Charlie Bell
(YP25A) Ashley Russel
(YP22B) Gareth Bagu
(YP23B) Matt Bishop
(YP23C) Jack Cross
(YP23D) Shane Austin
(YP24B) Malcolm Ruddick
(YP24C) Ben Lewis
(YP24E) Billy Clough
(YP18E) Lee Ward
(YP19E) Darren Chambers
(YP21C) Mark Brown
(YP21D) Eddie Smyth
(YP21E) Greg James
(YP24D) Danny Hepworth
(YP25B) Jordan Ellison
(YP20A) Craig Owen
(YP20B) Kevin Ward
(YP20C) Kane Kitchen
(YP20D) Tom Campbell
(YP20E) Carl Dodds
(YP20G) Leon Hadley
(YP21B) Anthony Ford
(YP24A) Joseph Moreno
(YP25C) Jon Brownhill
(YP25D) Shaun Martin
(YP25E) Ashley Hargreaves
(YP26B) Michael Dodd
(YP27A) Chris Davies
(YP26C) Harvey Patterson
(YP27B) Callum Thompson
(YP28A) John Paul Ignacio
(YP28C) Nathan Hewitt
Facilities Update
No changes.
Club Update
Last season of the missing data, so all I can say about this one is that our average attendance jumped. Probably due to having five extra sellout matches at the Europa Point though.
Coefficient Update
I'll start just showing the one season of results rather than piling more and more on top of old data. Why? Because we have something to celebrate! Red Imps - for the first time outside of Lincoln - have shown that a Gibraltarian club can win in Europe. An away goals victory over Kalju of Estonia meant they had the honour of getting pummeled by Rosenborg in the 2nd round. They won't care though, and I'm delighted for them. That and our exploits will really help the coefficient.
End of Season Review
Competition Record | Fans Player of the Year | Best Eleven | Overall Best Eleven
So come the end of what was an amazing season for us, I decided to get in early and spend some of our money on facilities improvements. Our youth players have been pretty dross for years now, so I'd like to get our facilities as good as they can be to see if we can squeeze a little bit more value out of them before we finally (metaphorically) shut the doors. The board had other ideas though, wanting us to rely on signing older first-team ready players. Annoying, but to be honest we're probably far past the point where youth players can be useful. I asked about training facilities, and got better news. This was absolutely non-negotiable, so good it didn't come to an ultimatum or anything.
However, then I noticed something interesting. On checking when the training facilities would complete, I noticed that the board were mulling over something else. That's right, the day after improving our training facilities, they decided that what we really needed was a new stadium. I can't say I disagree, but I find myself a little worried. We've had one fantastic season on the pitch and in the boardroom, but it's not really sustainable finance-wise unless we qualify every year. We're not at that stage yet, but in three years time we could have built a new stadium. The gate receipts will be great, but will they be enough? No news on capacity or anything like that, so I'll lie in wait.
History and Stats
Once again, our league rep did rise, but not by a great deal. You'll just have to take my word for it though.
#258040 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
Gibraltar Round-up
It hasn't been a good decade for Gibraltar really, but at least in the past few years they've put some small results together. On FM14 I managed to naturalise many, many more players, which really helped the national team. This time around it's not happening that way, so looks like the side will never really compete. Shame, but not my problem.
Only one player in the best eleven hasn't played for us at some point in their careers. In some cases - Carr, Walker, Joseph, Bardon, Peachman, Cabrera and Hutchison - the player was absolutely key to us. Really good to see that despite the nation being pretty poor when compared to others, we've still built it to what it is today.
#258039 Between a Rock and a Hard Place
forameus
Rocking their World: Gibraltar Redux
James Spiteri Relives a Past Life
State of the World Round-up
I said I'd do a bit of a round-up as I reached the fifteen season mark, so here it is. It's a bit late unfortunately, and I think most of the screens are from before last season. It gives you an idea of what's gone on though.
The World Rankings are a fairly unsurprising, but the presence of France and Portugal at the top is a bit different to what we're used to now. France have won a lot of tournaments though, so a bit surprised they're not further ahead.
The Italian leagues have recovered from their problems in 2014 to end up 2nd, but they're still someway behind the Premier League. However, this is probably because England was the only major nation loaded.
The top of the table of high-rep clubs doesn't look much different, but as you head downwards, there are definitely a few surprises. West Ham being the highest ranked English side is definitely one. Beyond that, it's mostly business as usual.
West Ham may be the side with the best rep in England, but Man City are still far and away the richest. Six clubs from the country in the top 10 shows you how much money is floating around there. It really is obscene comparatively.
Despite our dominance on the pitch, we haven't quite pulled away in terms of rep. Four other sides have joined us on 1.5*, but hopefully in the next few years we can push on. If the other clubs push with us, then great.
This is where we have pulled away though. We've had some great results in Europe, but to this day, no club other than ourselves have made it past the first qualifying round of the Europa League. That's really not good enough.
Strangely we're not the most valuable club either, with our feeder side rated higher. I'm not sure this is correct though, as value seems to fluctuate wildly.