kinggazzaman - Comments

#389373 Building a Yellow Wall - Borussia Dortmund
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
German Cup Second Round

The second round of the cup was a top flight clash against Hoffenheim, who are fighting for a Europa League spot in the Bundesliga.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/sQzpGsFI0X7Qmbxvb31smg8QYXk3BK9r8WrNpRQB.json
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/x4yfNQVDtBxoE8Fusssw9lBRVRM2XoIhhDZHK48U.json
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/e6bq8H7J7hyXSqXdUl5KhbNQjOlZGvEwCzXN6BsA.json

We went down early on which was very disappointing, but we managed to get a goal back through Timo Werner. That was how the first half ended, I realised that we weren't at all playing well, so I made some tactical changes, and changed the shape. We came back out for the second half and were much better, we managed to put some daylight between us and them, before they clawed one back but Barbosa managed to restore the lead and see us through to the next round. Turns out we were much the better side, but they took their chances well which is concerning.

One thing I did notice afterwards was we didn't have the same level of dominance over the midfield that we have had previously, we were the more dominant side in our attacking half but I think we might have allowed them too much time on the ball around the halfway line. How much of an issue this was I'm not sure because we still ran out winners.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/rIYua6l8QrpFboHj629w7xmDsOv4SkEyHPI7uSWP.json


Third Round Draw

There were some second and third division sides still left in the competition and drawing one of these would be the ideal situation. Alas, that wasn't the case and we drew a Bundesliga side that will surely test us...

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/rUGrIu5cVVMctpvTWFnV4r46QLhBqzn7ceZ9InOn.json
#389318 Building a Yellow Wall - Borussia Dortmund
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
2017/18 Season - Update 1

9 games into the season and we're doing well, it just so happens that Bayern have had a better start than we have. We've have pretty similar starts to the season in terms of the calibre of teams we've faced.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ktYmdK2aSpikdEVKNcTLam03W48siYexeAqv75dB.json

As you can see we've had some really good results, the wins against Wolfsburg and Schalke are those that come to mind at first glance. I think draws against Leverkusen and RBL are pretty respectable, I expect them to be up there fighting for the Champions League spots at the end of the season, but we really need to be looking to beat those sides if we want to retain our title.

My best result was the 3-1 victory against Schalke in the derby, it's actually the first time I've managed to beat them after drawing twice last season.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/HgvCNu8iMg6cNlF3xqHIz17VJKjXhjsISxnAcZ47.json

It was a strong performance from the team and Dembele and Werner hooked up really well together with three Timo Werner goals assisted by Dembele on each occasion. Each of the three goals came from Dembele getting to the bi-line and putting a cross into the danger area where Werner would finish well.

I think that the reason we were so comfortable in this game is because we controlled the midfield

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/fzyf3KOKyntPlohi3ch5e0bvoof6CR8FgQOPN7DG.json

If we combine that with our statistical dominance I'm really pleased with this result. We kept the ball well, moved it well and prevented them from having any real chances. I was disappointed to concede especially given how poor they'd been throughout the game. However, we created a large number of chances and were able to take a good number of them to take a great win against our local rivals.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/C0bxl81LBbJgmtBEKRqTeSXFLG7crT1ERPUsWWFj.json


So where does this leave us in terms of the Bundesliga table...

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ihHqrUksgS8UYzjXFRQiBEXUqMvYXoMJ0OJb13ay.json

We sit nicely at second in the league, and although we're still behind Bayern all it'll take is one slip up from them. We have to play them soon as well. Hakim Ziyech is one of the top performing players in the league, and Dembele is really stepping up to fill the shoes left behind by Marco Reus, and Timo Werner has appeared to have found his scoring boots.

I'll update again once the Champions League Group Stage has concluded, and bring you the draw for the first knockout round (Providing that we're there of course)!
I'll then post again about the league when the winter break begins.
#389298 Building a Yellow Wall - Borussia Dortmund
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
2017/18 Preseason

This was a big pre-season for me. I had little intention of really selling anybody, but would add if players would become available.

That wasn't the way things turned out. Aubameyang had been asking to leave for Real Madrid during the previous season, which is partially what led me to bring Volland in. Real Madrid came in with an offer, and I managed to negotiate a nice £65M price tag for him.

After agreeing that I immediately went looking for a replacement - this is where I suffered the inevitable "find a player - make an offer - get a ridiculous counter offer - cancel" cycle. I went after Timo Werner in the end, he was top scorer in the Bundesliga last season so thought he'd fit in well, and in the mean time taking a quality player off a rival team. Aubameyang left and Werner came in for half the price.

The deals didn't stop coming and Liverpool came in for Schmeltzer, £22.5M for a 29 year old defender when I have a ready made replacement in Raphael Guerreiro and then brought in a couple of younger full backs in Mensah and Miangue.

Bayern Munich enquired about Marco Reus and I had no intention of selling him, but when they agreed to pay £60M for him I couldn't really refuse. Ousmane Dembélé and Andre Schurrle both had good seasons last year so I had no issues with replacing him in the side. Timo Werner and Kevin Volland are also able to play out wide. I noticed that Gabriel Barbosa would be available to bring in, so went about doing so.

We now have a lot of strength in depth, particularly going forward that I'll be looking to utilise during the season.

Players who wouldn't get enough game time this season, Christian Pulisic, Lemos, Locatelli, Minague and Mensah all struck loan deals to move away, I've included a clause where I can recall them in January if I feel we'd need to.

Here are the screenshots of my signings.

Timo Werner

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/N9QZ6RgGQBRcs36YRBLVBZHiCAWuohIRCAiHgxx8.json

Gabriel Barbosa

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/fWG23oQGYhDfuLgIduTCjShbvRoXLq4MuSOrsPp2.json

Maurico Lemos

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/t2pVm1Pt9kuXtVJ2dpaQcB65eMVVXQc4R7peyu4v.json

Hakim Ziyech

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/qtTMLRlOyGwAC3VCG6EEXOtO6FAOEF4e539yOITo.json

Alphonse Areola

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/zPjhGUbl7KgcyDEzNSrCC0WaMmzc0VCcszN8nkw3.json

Senna Minague

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/42KBEC0fOfQahoRsveHAbzJTQCZtb8M3eWqimHNw.json

Gideon Mensah

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/HXFjtZZ3MDsFCLBK9GIaabsR9c9cy6pC89a7LmEM.json


Pre-Season


My aim really was just to get the team up to full fitness and bed the new guys into the team. We had a pretty successful run, here are the results:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/oaToiElaW3jq35gQmSpDUQOUhFi3ssLixCujVO1N.json


right in the middle of my pre-season friendlies came the Supercup against RBL, again I treated this as an elaborate friendly and a chance to give my first XI a full run out against good opposition.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/X58sTISWcDxNtpT64fupN1lrdHBJvGsABsfc3vBE.json

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Yco786zfurjEY7x5Y3avTzZ2FBC1SnjMLCsn8QRX.json


So a good run out, and a win on penalties. Not that it really counts for anything, but it's always nice to retain a trophy.

Finally, for this post, we started our competitive season with a first round DFB Pokal match against second tier Aue.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/LVqEn4awZ5aVw4DYp7idP9GXbst9G4FVJ3bCnRq6.json

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Jf5LxtrHPjTYEQxPMoTLi1TYFksRpJ0oacju8V3X.json


Season Expections

Supercup - Not Important
DFB Pokal - Reach Final
Champions League - First Knockout Round
Bundesliga - Champions League Qualification

Having the Bundesliga expectation set at Champions League qualification means I have a bit of room for a slip up, but hopefully I won't need that buffer


#389281 Building a Yellow Wall - Borussia Dortmund
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
I'm already just over a season into this save so I'll be picking up from where we are now. My aim, well that's simple - I want to turn Dortmund into the dominant force in world football.

So what's happened in my first season

Transfers

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/iphjYNLWYUZIQ1RKF2dbJn4cS977TUdQBkfnlTtn.json

I knew I had a strong squad so wanted to add some quality youngsters so I was pretty successful in doing this. When it came to January I was so reliant on Aubameyang I wanted to add a quality second striker to the side, and did this with Volland.

I'll look now into what we managed to achieve

Bundesliga

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/KgK7zLC9RKsh4rOcdQEerSalemKTi4Qrmbth49JW.json

It took us right until the end of the season to wrap up the title but we did and that's the most important thing.

German Cup

This was pretty disappointing, we went through the first two rounds against lower league opposition but as soon as we came up against Bundesliga opposition we didn't manage to break through and ended up losing out 1-0. I know it's cliché but it allowed us to focus on other competitions.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/GCmb5W9vOVHzkSbLnq9MX2Hs03LGY22II86kVoLJ.json

German Supercup

Not really too bothered by this, but it was a good test at the start of the season. We came out pretty convincingly, and it remains my only win against Bayern

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/PL2qurjUk67FknuLWfxRbv8f7Ho3ZUz8OFvr2MHK.json

Champions League

So this is the big one, the one we need to win to really start dominating Europe.

The group stage was pretty comfortable, and I was pretty pleased with the group we got drawn into.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Y9bh77ph42v1CUm1XpMseJ9eHaJjSB82IC9cJ2sT.json

We topped the group so moved onto the knockout stages

The tie against Shakhtar was comfortable and we managed to progress. Real Madrid was perhaps the worst draw we could possibly have been given. So I didn't really expect to gain anything from this at all. That proved to be the case and we lost out in the quarter final

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/xGk5oPUwzvqGvBJpTWWk5ne9qKLLu7w6iscelOZ8.json


Results

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/MiHvf3RbX8SBkIpoicEt9vtuSaNqWB8eprtviuOL.json

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/UfEnFvUBH3SWmlnz3EivD3WbntQ0hQnhh8jOCldO.json

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/PopjlLGI1xfTyMWKX2XN71kDYw8V2Biagpy1NXiM.json



#339138 Breaking Bela Guttman's Curse
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
https://i.gyazo.com/bbf8be6d125e1e5ce618b34d453f07d7.png

Some really good results in the league. Picking up 4 wins and only one loss signifies a good period for us. The loss to Porto could prove costly though as like I said previously they're not conceding many goals so we now need other results to go our way which may take a while.

https://i.gyazo.com/09b9015835f485b60e465c8ca03b0b0c.png

As you can see we're still just behind Porto in the league and the result against them is the reason that we're not sitting at the top. I still have complete confidence that we'll catch them, I doubt highly that they'll go unbeaten for the entire season.

https://i.gyazo.com/c0b8f58354ae46d5ad68615d6c6a547f.png

The Champions League hasn't gone to plan so far. We still have Spurs and Shakhtar to play who are arguably the most difficult games, given that it's so close it's vital that we pick up as many points as possible here. Beating Shakhtar is the most important, I think 4 points would see us through.
#339016 Breaking Bela Guttman's Curse
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
https://i.gyazo.com/330ebfab5118e9ee8dfe5376f4ceb5ab.png

https://i.gyazo.com/0411f7288370e9b0bf5f932bfe9e8092.png

5 games into the season and things are going well, although we haven't really played any of the top sides in the division. Apart from Sporting of course but that game didn't go to plan conceding the only goal of the game to a silly own goal. The problem we have is that Porto aren't conceding goals so that's going to have to change soon. I'm hoping that they can draw a game or two sooner rather than later so that we can build a little cushion back to them like we already have to Sporting despite losing to them earlier on.

I'm working on a tactic at the moment but I want to make sure that we're getting consistent results before I post about it. I'm also training players in a tactic that I've developed for another save I'm playing. I'll post about them soon
#339015 Breaking Bela Guttman's Curse
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
https://i.gyazo.com/330ebfab5118e9ee8dfe5376f4ceb5ab.png

https://i.gyazo.com/0411f7288370e9b0bf5f932bfe9e8092.png

5 games into the season and things are going well, although we haven't really played any of the top sides in the division. Apart from Sporting of course but that game didn't go to plan conceding the only goal of the game to a silly own goal. The problem we have is that Porto aren't conceding goals so that's going to have to change soon. I'm hoping that they can draw a game or two sooner rather than later so that we can build a little cushion back to them like we already have to Sporting despite losing to them earlier on.

I'm working on a tactic at the moment but I want to make sure that we're getting consistent results before I post about it. I'm also training players in a tactic that I've developed for another save I'm playing. I'll post about them soon
#338934 Breaking Bela Guttman's Curse
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
https://gyazo.com/98307847d2d79588206f3c436b8e8d6d.png

"It's a great way to start the season. I know that there are a number of fans who don't see the Supertaca as a legitimate competition but for me it's a game which provides us with a real understanding of where we're at with our preparations for the coming season. André had a great start to his career here at Estadio da Luz getting on the scoresheet in his first competitive game for us and of course it's always nice to lift a trophy, regardless of the prestige attached" - G Townsend following Benfica's 1-0 victory over Braga
#338919 Breaking Bela Guttman's Curse
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
BREAKING Japanese star joins Benfica

https://gyazo.com/6c94ba4e657c51a52b9f0e2a83a47186.png

Benfica have confirmed the signing of Japanese forward Yoshinori Muto. The 23 year old is able to play anywhere in the attacking third and will certainly be useful if Townsend is to be a success on multiple fronts this season. The signing is also said to have had an impact on the clubs standing abroad with many fans in Japan flocking to buy Benfica shirts with Muto's name across the back.

When questioned Townsend had this to say "The fee was certainly high, but that is sometimes a necessity when you look to bring in an important player. There were several offers floated around but an initial fee of around €12.5m there will certainly be an air of expectation around Yoshinori when he steps onto the pitch. Versatility was definitly a factor in this signing and adding to the depth of the squad was certainly what I had in mind when looking around. Our transfer business is now done, there will be no more additions to the squad and we can now get ready for the season ahead. I expect Yoshinori Muto to be heavily involved."

https://gyazo.com/2370ea7bdd925da5c899e28101b9f27d.png
#338795 Breaking Bela Guttman's Curse
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
https://gyazo.com/840eeea7fd211077736000a4e6cd8437.png

Townsend makes seasoned midfielder Fernando Gago his first signing at Estadio da Luz for an initial €5.5m saying that "Fernando brings a wealth of experience to this side and I have absolute faith that he will perform well in a holding role in midfield"

When pressed about any further additions he hinted that we could expect a younger player or two to join in the not too distant future
#338785 Breaking Bela Guttman's Curse
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
BREAKING NEWS: Townsend unveiled as new Benfica manager by Joao Gabrie

https://gyazo.com/62197610b39b1a0b69c426b3dfe465a0.png

Director Joao Gabriel called a press conference at the Estadio da Luz this afternoon to present new manager Gareth Townsend. The unknown English manager has recently retired from professional football due to a serious leg injury forcing him to call time on a budding career.

It is unclear at this stage how Townsend will cope with adapting to life in a new country, a new language and the small hurdle of commanding the respect of the Benfica players when he will only turn 21 in November.

Townsend said (with the help of his translator) "This is obviously a club with a huge amount of history winning back to back European Cups in 1961 and 62 is obviously a highlight in the clubs glittering trophy cabinet. 53 years is clearly a long time to wait for a European trophy and I understand that European Cup winning manager Bela Guttman placed a curse on this club. I'm here for the long haul. I want to break that curse and I will not rest until I get my hands on that Champions League trophy again."

Although little is known at the moment, this first press conference has certainly given fans here in Benfica a reason to be optimistic
#186583 2014/15 Kit Thread
kinggazzaman
11 years ago
2 months ago
80
http://www.footballkitnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/New-Oldham-Athletic-Away-Kit-2014-15.jpg Oh my word. Oldham do love a nice bright away kit!