Am a bit late to the party on this one mate, not been active online for a while. You've had a good number of great saves on here over the years. Definitely following!

You had me at Newcastle fan. Also a Magpie and my foreign team is AS Roma. Good work so far.

Can I request kits for my Al-Dhaid side:

Badge:

Home kit - Same as Ajax but in purple with gold stripe in the middle

Away kit, exactly the same but with gold outline and purple strip in the middle

Kit manufacturer - Nike or Adidas, doesn't mater

Sponsor: Fly Emirates

Thank you!

Every journey has a new beginning (Back to the journey, man Ep:2)

As soon as the interview ended I made my way to the training area where my newly inherited team were waiting for me, their new inspirational leader. I wasn’t prepared to start that quick so had no plans or had anything made up.

As I walked on the pitch the team were huddled around waiting for me to get them started. We’re playing league leaders Negeri Sembilan in 2 days time, out of the frying pan or however that saying goes.

My assistant manager introduces himself as Hamizar Hamzah, and I think he’s the assistant anyway, he’s the only one speaking English to me, tells me the club had agreed a loan deal with Pahang (another team I’ve never heard of) for striker Bright Dike (great name) but as I look around we’ve only got 1 playing that looks to be playing striker, and I did tell the chairman I’m gonna need help identifying players, so having an extra body in is bound to help us

The players train and the coaching staff see to them really as I just stand and observe. I pick out the best players in the squad, forward Kim Jin-Yong and midfielder Nasrullah Johan. Not world beaters by any stretch but for the division and position we’re in, definitely the best of a bad bunch.

I’m not entirely sure what I expected. The team are bottom of the league, but we’re 6 points away from safety with 8 games to go. Is it going to be that tough an ask to save us from relegation? We’ll need a few other results to go our way as well as picking up points ourselves as well. But as I tell the players there’s no pressure, well not on me I’m in a decent position. If we stay up I’m the reason why, a tactical genius if you will. If we go down, well the damage was already done and it’s not on my shoulders. Selfish I know, but I’m just starting out as a manager and I’m only looking out for myself.

DRB don’t have much in the way of training facilities, not that I expect many of the teams in the prestigious Malaysian second division do, but they do have some highlights from their games this season. It doesn’t make for good viewing. The man I replaced was hell bent on playing 3-5-2, so Hamizar Hamzah tells me, meaning the first official order of business I tell the team ‘Fuck that, we’re going the Dundee United special, 4-4-2. Any questions?’. No one replied so I assumed they were all on board with me.

Hamizar tells me we’ve only the 1 natural striker in the team, so playing 2 up top is out of the question for now. I bemoan my bad luck and watch as there’s an okay looking lad called Mohd Kamal who seems to play in the AMC position. When I say okay, I mean he’s quick and has made 5 out of 14 passes to Yong, the only striker we have.

The other decent looking player, well decent for the league we’re in, central midfielder Johan is one of the top players at the club, so we’ll be looking to him for some inspiration, despite not doing much up until now.

As I leave the training ground to head back to the hotel I left nearly 14 hours ago, I get a text from the chairman. Bright Dike has signed on a loan until the end of the season, with a fee of 30k to be paid upon surviving relegation. I actually forgot about this but it’s welcomed. The only issue is he’s not played this season so won’t be fit in time for the first game against Negeri Sembilan.

However, this bit of news tells me 3 things. 1, the chairman believes we can survive relegation so who am I to think otherwise. 2, there’s money to spend, or at least there was and 3, based off point number 1 the chairman is off his nut!

== == == == ==

Cross posted at The Journeyman Jock

Back to the journey, man.

I stood there, soaked wet through from the rain, half arsed clapping at the absolute shite I’d just seen. A 3-1 loss at home to Hamilton Academical. Hamilton, Aca-fucking-demical!. To be fair the season was already done by then and we’d been relegated. And to make matters worse, we went and lost to the dog nonces from the other side of the road. That’s the other team in Dundee in case you were wondering.

Despite a piss poor loss we went out after the game for a few slackners, sorry pints, another of my old mans sayings. After being merry for a few hours we’d got back home and watched Match of the Day to see the highlights of the game. I don’t know why we did that, we just always did.

After watching the highlights and the pundits reviews I thought at that point if given the chance I’d easily be able to manage a team. I mean, how hard can it be? Pick 11 lads out of the squad, tell them we’re going 4-4-2, long balls up to the big unit to knock down to the not as big unit to score. Rinse and repeat. Dundee United all over that!

But where to start my career in management? I’m from Dundee, great place, shite football teams, and support United so managing them would be nice, but I wouldn’t want to make things any worse, we’ve just relegated to the pissing Championship, I’d only take us further down at the minute and the sister shaggers would love that. Again, another reference to Dundee FC. There’s bound to be more as we go.

Who else in Scotland would want me, Saint Mirren? Cowdenbeath? Partick Thistle? All shit teams that could be just as bad without me in charge. Teams in Northern Ireland? Nah, that’s not for me. Wales? Sheep, so no. The other Ireland? Leprechauns and it’s green, which is Celtic, so no. England? Not yet, or even ever. I used to see a lass from Newcastle, long brown hair, lovely eyes and a nice pair of, well that’s a story for another time.

I’m young, determined, handsome and a nobody in football. What’s the best way for someone to like me to get into management? I don’t really know how it happened, it was like there was a list of teams that need managers, and lo and behold I’m declaring my interest for the top job at DRB-Hicom FC in Malaysia. No, me neither.

This lot are perfect I thought to myself. They’re in a nothing league which means no pressure, nobody knows me so I can just go about things as normal as a painkiller addict can go about things. Oh but they’re bottom of the league with 2 wins from 15. I didn’t actually tell them I’m not in Malaysia, but I’m quickly invited to an interview, and took out a payday loan I’ve no intention of paying back, and off I went.

Shaari Shazali (try saying that after a few gages!) had told me I was the only person that had applied for the job. I thought it’s gonna sting even more when he tells me I’ve not got it then. That didn’t put me off and I genuinely thought DRB were perfect. It’s a small team so no delusion fans to deal with. They’re not expected to win much so no pressure on my shoulders. The chairman also seems desperate enough to speak to a no name and no experience manager.

I tell him that the best players can often be found in the middle of nowhere as can managers. When he asked for an example I told him Maurice Malpas is Dundee United & Scotland’s best ever player and he was playing in the Farore Islands reserve division before Dundee snapped him up. I was hoping he wouldn’t check that up however. I followed this up by telling him I’m happy to look to strengthen the team using free transfers and loans if need be, but would need the clubs help identifying players. He just nods and makes notes on his pad.

Not enjoying the awkward silence I told him I’m the man, the only man that’s got the stones to take his team on and keep them from relegation. He looks up and says should relegation happen then he couldn’t keep the manager on no matter who it is. Something about the lower leagues not being playable. I’m not sure what he meant by that, it’s not like he’s playing a computer game is it.

He shakes my hand and we part ways at the door. I walk about 15 yards away before he calls my name and asks me where I’m going. I told him I’m going to get pissed in the bar at the hotel I’m staying at.

‘Not any more you’re not. Training starts at 10. You better get down to the changing rooms and introduce yourself’

== == == == == ==

Cross posted at The Journeyman Jock

It sure is. Thanks man.

I'm actually doing my own Red Bull challenge but with a number of other clubs added to the affiliated clubs. Definitely following this.

Really enjoying this mate keep it up. Love seeing obscure nations getting recognised on the forums

Can i get kits for a created Red Bull team, Red Bull Dubai

Home - White with red trim, same style as Salzburg kit below:

Away - As above, but red with white trim

Third - any stlye as long as it's blue

Badge:

Kit manufacturer - Adidas

Sponsor - Red Bull

Thanks in advance!

Thanks mate appreciate it, but can the text be the same as the New York style?

 

Can I request logos for 2 new Red Bull type teams please. 

Same style badge as Red Bull Brasil / Salzburg / New York, but where it says Brasil, Salzburg etc can I have one each with Shamal & Yagoua in please

Awesome mate thank you!

Sorry to ask again but could you do the same for Red Bull Ghana please?

Awesome mate thank you!!

Got these mate:

Melo:

Parana

Shanghai

Pulawy:

Thanks in advance!

Doing a Red Bull save where I've added a bunch of teams to the Red Bull umbrella / brand, so need kits and badges if possible?

I'd like Red Bull badges for new teams in Shanghai, Melo, Puławy & Paraná in the style of New York Red Bulls 

Can the kits be SS style please

Kit Maker: Adidas

Sponsor: Red Bull

Badge: See notes above

Home - White with red trim, same style as this Leipzig home kit:

Away - Same style as home kit but with colours reversed, so red kit with white trim if possible.

Third - Can it be same as this New York kit:

Thanks in advance!
 

Anyone able to help me out with this at all? In this style of Red Bull badge please, not the Leipzig style.

Thanks.

Can I request logos for 4 new Red Bull type teams please. 

Same style badge as Red Bull Brasil / Salzburg / Leipzig, but where it says Brasil, Salzburg can I have one each with Oleiros, Melo, Puławy and Paraná in please

Carry on wayward son, the journey’s finally begun

Could you call it picturesque where I started out? Possibly. It’s the capital city of Uruguay and probably it’s best and most welcoming. But the sight seeing and what not had to wait, I have a job on my hands. Well a couple of jobs:

• Save the team from relegation
• Improve the morale around the club
• Develop the clubs youth players
• Not get sacked

One of those I’ve added to the list myself, not sure if you can guess which one? Either way this clubs in a mess. Expected to finish bottom of the league and relegated and with money troubles that would worry most established coaches, but not me. I’m here to make the most of it, and if we go down then sugar we’re going down swinging. I just hope they don’t listen to Fallout Boy here. Not that I do, honest.

I’m nervous. Not because of the fact I’m about to take charge of a football team, an actual football team not a kids team like I volunteered at back home in Motherwell, but because of the copious amount of prescription painkillers I’ve taken and booze I’ve supped prior to walking in the door of the changing that first morning. I was having kittens as the players all looked round at me waiting to hear from their new boss for the first time.

As I walked in to the room the first thing I noticed was how many players there are. The chairman had said one thing I will need to do is trim the squad and with it the wage bill, but that was for another day. Today was about asserting my dominance.

‘Right, I’m Jock your new manager, but you can call me The Boss. Anyways you don’t know me and I do not know you, but one thing is for sure, you’re not gonna stuff my first shot at management. Between us we’ll stay up in the league this season and really push on as a team. Any questions?’ I was still having the figurative kittens as I stood there in front of the players, none of which I’ve ever heard of explaining my grand plan.

Silence. My worst enemy. Well worst after stairs. Walking stairs with my back is absolute agony. But I’d have happily killed all of those kittens I was having one by one if it would’ve helped my nerves in that first meeting with the squad. But what state is this team or the club in that they’d happily hire a manager with a crippling painkiller addiction and with less experience than a level 1 Rattata? If you get that reference you’re probably of a similar age to me and I love you for that. If not ask your parents. I’m going off track here, let me dial it back slightly.

We eventually have a training session and it’s clear who the stand outs in this squad are. Captain and center half Andres Fernandez and forward Julian Lalinde are who I notice first

I think I’ll be able to rely upon Fernandez to do a job at the back despite the previous manager only having him as a back up, which makes me wonder why he’s the captain.

But Lalinde looks like the type of target man / back to goal forward that needs someone running off of him, which is where Miguel Puglia will step in

I’ve been brought up watching absolutely dire Scottish football so I know 4-4-2 inside out, which is what we’ll be playing, at least early on. I don’t want to try and get too technical or use too many instructions, this lot are expected to be relegation fodder for a reason so we’ll be keeping things simple for the time being.

One thing that stood out to me was the lack of a solid right full back. I tell the clubs director of football and he lets me know that he’s already filled that void, that was apparently picked up by the previous manager. Indian national team regular Nabi was signed on a free.

Whilst the fans aren’t too happy about this deal apparently, I am. He might not be solid at every position but he is comfortable playing almost everywhere on the pitch which I am sure will help as we get our first season together underway.

The players don’t look as bad as the media prediction make out, at least in my mind. But I’m not sure what’s worse, me having them to rely on or them having me to lead them.

== == == == ==

Cross posted at The Journeyman Jock

Perfect thank you

At some point in December 2016 I found myself having a Skype call with Raul Aquino who is the chairman of Montevideo Torque, and it started out like a fan looking for information on the team but quickly turned into an informal job interview.

We had a good chat and spoke of a lot of things. I told him I’m young, determined, handsome and have a lot of playing experience to fall back on. He told me most coaches in Uruguay won’t go near his team due to the failed deal with The City Group, so he decided that he’s got to look for a foreign coach. He didn’t elaborate but hinted at some bribes and shady deals going on that cost him the City Group deal.

He probably thought an out of work painkiller addicted Scotsman would be the last person to contact the club, yet there we were. I got the feeling he was desperate for a manager to come in and stabilise the team as morale in the locker room and fan base was low. Oh, and he said the club don’t even own their own stadium any more and now ground share with Bella Vista FC, as they had spent all the clubs money battling rising court costs due to the deal falling through.

We discussed my own career aspirations and where I wanted it to go. I didn’t have much of answer as I’d not actually thought about it, save for winning the league, cup and Champions League with Motherwell, but that was good enough for him I think. I thought on the fly and said if given the chance at his club I’d do my best to stableise the locker room, and maybe get them into the top division before moving on but not before making sure the club is in a better position than it was when I took over.

‘This is no mission impossible Jock, but certainly mission very difficult’ he said in broken English as we wrapped things up and said our goodbyes. In my mind Torque are perfect really. A place to start where no one I know will be able to hound me or chase unpaid debts or give me a hard time, a small enough club that the fan base isn’t toxic and won’t make things hard for the team and they’re in a bad place so anything I do would possibly be seen as overachieving.

I go back to my daily grind of overdoing it with prescription painkillers, more on that as we go, maybe. But I don’t hear anything from Raul for a week and actually forgot about the interview. But being unemployed get’s real boring real quick just watching the days click by. There’s no other jobs that would either take me or I’m interested in. East Kilbride? No thanks. My pal Ginners plays for them so they’re a no, plus the only team in my country I ever want to be in charge of or work at is Motherwell. Moyola Park in Northern Ireland? Haha you’re having a laugh. Perlis in Malaysia would laugh in my face at the minute. I also see Crystal Palace, Everton and Nottingham Forest are on the look out as well, but none of them would have the stones to take me on at the minute.

But then my phone beeped with a Gmail notification. I see the subject line – contracto de embargo which I quickly translate to attachment contract. He must have just uploaded the contract as an attachment without changing the subject. I open the mail and read it with delight:

Jock, I want you to be my new manager. I’ve arranged flights from Glasgow to Montevideo. We’ll discuss things when you arrive.

Yours, Raul.

== == == == ==

Cross posted at https://thejourneymanjock.com/the-beginning/

I stood there, arms aloft scanning the crowd looking for her, but she must’ve been camouflaged in orange and black along with the rest of them. I turned to my left towards the John Hunter stand and all I could see was more arms and smiling faces, but not hers.

Someone jumped on my back and excitedly screamed ‘We’ve fucking done it boyo we’ve fucking done it’ and all I could do was smile back, I just wanted to find her and share this moment with her and only her, fuck the others.

Eventually I found her, she was in the Tommy Maclean stand right in the far corner not amongst the orange but she was mired in green and white, green and fucking white! Her arms were round some snot gobblers body as she was kissing him. I felt the steam coming out of my ears as I raced toward the stand screaming and arms flailing aimlessly.

As I approached the stand that was housing the Celtic fans, the security guards waltzed toward me their own arms raised telling me something about it’s not worth it, you’ve already won don’t set them off, but one of the fucktards was playing tonsil tennis with my girl so fuck the 3 points now I’m looking for blood.

I made my way up the steps in the stand hitting Celtic fans with left hooks and right hooks, bodyslams and uppercuts and I even gave an old lady a Stone Cold Stunner for good measure. As I finally made it to the far corner where she was sat my rage intensified. Not only was she necking on with someone else but that someone else was only James McFadden, my fucking hero of all people!

I screamed at her wanting an explanation that wasn’t forthcoming. She let go of James who smiled awkwardly at me and I was tempted to ask for an autograph but thought better of it. She steadied herself and turned around and I got the shock of my life. It wasn’t my beloved secondary school sweethearts face but it was Nicola Sturgeon that greeted me. She stuck her tongue out, reached in my direction expecting, what, I don’t know and I didn’t want to find out.

It was then I woke with a jolt, sweaty and breathing heavily. It was just a dream, luckily. I raced to the bathroom and emptied the full tube of toothpaste into my mouth. It might only have been a dream but Nicola Sturgeons gums were too close to mine for comfort.

Ever since calling it a day on the pitch due to injury I’d been having these weird dreams and all of them are football related somehow, this last one I was playing for my beloved Motherwell and we’d just smashed the green and white dog nonces in the league. I’m young, 28 to be exact, and I’d been having this itch to get back into football somehow despite only being out of it for a couple of months. I’ve been volunteering down the sports center in town and doing online courses for coaching but it’s not enough.

One night sometime in 2016 I had another dream, except this one was sort of reality based. I dreamt I’d gone to Uruguay to become a coach at Montevideo Torque, the team The City Group, who run Manchester City and other teams under their umbrella company had recently taken over. We won the league and I got offered a long term deal, it was then that I woke up, not with a jolt this time.

I decided I’d get in touch with Montevideo Torque just to see how they were getting on and if the Man City deal was paying dividends yet. I soon found out that the City Group deal fell through at the last minute. I also found out that Torque finished fourth in the second division in the shortened 2016 season, and as luck would have it they were looking for a manager.

== == == == ==

Cross posted at https://thejourneymanjock.com/

Please can I get kits for my new long term save at Montevideo Torque

Kit sponsor Addidas

Sponsor - Etihad Airways

Similar sort of style to this if possible:

Home Kit - Sky blue same as Man City but with the white trim

Away Kit - White with sky blue trim

3rd Kit - Red in any style

Thanks in advance.

Nigata Unicorn must've fallen on bad times they're usually the Celtic of Singapore in my saves. Interested to see how this goes for you

When I scrolled and saw Orlando Pirates I immediately thought of the ones in South Africa. However this will be a challenge like you've not faced yet. Good luck.

‘Lock up your wives and kids, we’re playing the tried, tested and boring 4-2-3-1’ I yelled at the players as they all looked on wide eyed albeit slightly taken back by my tone.

I didn’t want to play this formation really, everyone and their brother plays it, but as we’ve already seen the 3 best players at the club fit into this set up easy and under the guy I replaced they’ve been playing some atrocious 3-6-1 effort to no avail, going back to basics I think is the best thing to do

I also tell the lads to get revenge on Warriors (great team name by the way) since they beat us before I took over. It worked as most of the players responded positively, although that didn’t translate in the match at first.

Warriors were easily the better team early on. Despite our superior quality in midfield Warriors took the lead. Abraham out on their right hand side hit a first time time cross which found Karoglan he ran between our center halves for an easy goal

We equalised right from kick off however. A long ball from central midfield found Zerka in the box who played it into the area for Ahmad Latiff to get on the end of to level it up

We got in at the half at 1 each and I told the players to keep playing as they as we’d been the better team from the goal, but couldn’t find another way through.

We did get the breakthrough early in the second as captain and left winger Wilkinson got a goal which we definitely deserved.

Ahmad had broke the offside trap but his touch was bad and took him to the by-line. He recovered well though and crossed it in to the far post where Wilkinson was wide open and headed it in the net. 2-1 and we are in control.

The fightback from Warriors came as expected but we held on to the lead, although we weren’t under much pressure really. We pushed on for a third and get it on 66 minutes, Latiff doubling his tally on the day with Wilkinson turning provider this time

Getting the ball out wide on the right he had acres of space to run into, which he did and easily beating the covering defender. He cut inside on his right foot and played the ball into Latiff who was running inside the area. He hit it first time beyond the keeper to give us a 3-1 lead

Not content with just getting 2 on the day Latiff completed his hat trick with 20 minutes left to play. Ramdani in the middle found Zerka cutting in on the right, he played a first time pass into Latiff who struck it as sweet as you like around the keeper to give us a 4-1 lead

A couple of subs and a formation change succeeded the goal as I knew no matter how bad this time had played up until now, no way would we concede 3 in the last 20 minutes. Warriors seemed out of it and had a couple of half chances, but nothing to worry about.

We ended the game on the front foot and saw it out to give us a 4-1 win in the first leg of the Singapore cup quarter final and my first match as a manager.

Maybe it was just the new manager effect but we deserved the win. We’ll be sticking with the 4-2-3-1 at least until the end of this season. We’ve got a handful of league games and the Singapore League cup to go as well as the second leg of the quarter final against Warriors, although I was sure they wouldn’t over turn the 3 goal deficit they need.

To which I was right. We took the lead in the second leg through a fantastic free kick, played well and got a second goal with 20 minutes to go, to put us into the semi final 6-1 on aggregate

We’re drawn against Yangon United of Myanmar in the semi

Not sure what to make of the draw. On the one hand we should have enough about us to get the win, although on the other Yangon beat Hougang United who beat us before I took over, although we did beat them in the reverse fixture. 

Hopefully the 2 wins in the cup form the basis for the rest of our season

== == == == == == ==

Our search for a striker didn’t take too long. The clubs director of football conveniently already signing Sahil Suhaimi from fellow S League side Young Lions in a 12k deal.

Probably overpaid for him to be fair. He's not a world beater but knows the league and has a semi decent 4 in 9 for Young Lions last season. What I’d not noticed until the club signed Suhaimi is just kicking back in the reserves side was another forward, Ismael Benahmed which makes me think the deal for Suhaimi might be a waste of money.

Both are similar in that they’re as quick as each other, decent enough finishing for this league as well as being able to get into position off the ball some of the time. But with the 3 best players for us playing in the AML, AMC & AMR spots, it seems overkill playing 2 strikers in front of them, so do I go with both of the forwards on the bench or not? We’ll see.

As mentioned there’s some up and comers I’ll try and keep an eye on and I was pleasantly surprised to see James Maddison securing his first pro deal at Coventry City. 2023 me didn’t realise he started at Coventry, I genuinely thought he came through the youth team at Leicester. **Checks Wikipedia…….** Holy crap he was at Norwich as well?!? Shows how much footballing knowledge I have! Wonder what other young players I’ve forgotten about turn up in this save.

Ahead of the first game of my career we also secured a deal for out of contract center half Benoit Croissant. I asked the director of football if he is named after a breakfast food, to which he confirms our new defender is. C'est la vie then, or whatever that saying is. Playing over 100 times for our divisional rivals Tampines, he’s easily our best defender now, but the niggling question of why he was released is in my mind.

== == == == == == ==
 

‘Why do you think you’re the right man for the job?’

‘Well not to brag but the game picked me for the job’

‘The game? As in football, the beautiful game?’ the snotty nosed drip from the Singaporean Football Gazette asked

‘No, this game, FM….Oh never mind you wouldn’t get it’

The journos can smell fear I’m sure of it. What they don’t realise is that I was hand picked for this job, the first of at least 6 jobs on my quest for the Pentagon of football manager. The 5 Holy Grails of the footballing world. I’m not tied into staying at 1 team or giving any set amount of time to try and win a Champions League. I’m not here for a quick time, I’m here, like the rest of us FM’ers I’m here for a good time.

Lets fucking go.

== == == == == == ==

This is an attempt at the Pentagon challenge. It’s in FM14 for a couple of reasons. First is FM14 was the first FM since I started playing that I stopped doing 1 club saves, and that ties into reason number 2.

FM14, where inside forwards were all the rage, was the version that holds the best save for me, and that’s saying a lot considering I’ve played every version from CM99/00 to FM23. Ditching the 1 club save formula on 1 save that lasted until the FM16 cycle, this save was so good I only picked up FM15 right before 16 dropped, I managed a host of clubs including (teams I remember) in no particular order Wellington Phoenix, Perth Glory, Tianjin, Kitchee, Amkar Perm, Zenith, NY Red Bulls, York City, Gangwon & Pohang Steelers. I remember I did around 100 seasons and won a handful of things but don’t think I ever topped the hall of fame or won all 5 continents champions leagues.

== == == == == == ==

To lay the scene out, it’s summer 2013 and Bayern Munich have just won the UEFA Champions League, beating fellow German side Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the final. Atletico Mineiro won the COPA Libertadores on penalties against Paraguayan side Olimpia. Monterrey of Mexico won the Concacaf Champions League for a third year running. The African and Asian champions league of 2013 are still ongoing.

Man United had just won their 13th Premier League title and shortly thereafter Sir Alex retires. He hand picks David Moyes to succeed him. West Brom randomly finished 8th. Newcastle fans hatred for owner Mike Ashley is starting to pick up steam after a poor 16th place finish. Sunderland survived thanks to 3 points from Newcastle in the derby.

Juventus just won their second straight Serie A title. Nothing seems out of the ordinary here. Will they make it three in a row?

Gareth Bale left Spurs for Madrid for a record fee. Neymar left Santos for Barcelona in a deal which sparked investigations from the footballing authorities. Mezut Ozil left Real Madrid for Arsenal in another big money move.

PSG had won their third Ligue 1 title and first under their mega rich owners. Could this be the start of a dynasty? Zlatan was Zlatan and scored 30 that season.

Raul had left Schalke for the bright lights and mega bucks of Qatari club Al-Sadd. The Indian Super League was just becoming a thing. Del Piero is the best player in Australia by a country mile.

Up and coming footballers by the names of James Maddison, Jack Grealish, Marco Veratti, Memphis Depay, Ravel Morrison, Eder Fabian Balanta, Rafael Varane, Luke Shaw, Alvaro Morata and Emre Can to name a few were being touted as future stars.

Celtic probably won the league by 50 points. Rangers were somewhere lower down the leagues trying to get back to the big time and battle it out with Celtic.

== == == == == == ==
 

No one really knows how I got started at Tanjong Pagar United (No, me neither), it kind of just happened, like there was a button that says pick team for me and boom, I was walking into the doors of The Queenstown Stadium in Singapore and being introduced to the players.

But do you know how hard it is to make it in football? I mean even in a country such as mine, Canada if you’re wondering, where our football is described as terrible at best, to not being able to get a job, paid or otherwise in football is just depressing, so I was pleasantly surprised to have been given the job at Tanjong on an 18 month deal until the end of the 2014 season. The league runs February to September, with a couple of cups chucked in.

We definitely will not be playing that 3-6-1 abomination of a tactic the previous manger used.

For a team expected to finish third in the league, a run of 5 wins from 17 sees them 10th of 12 when I took over. Luckily there’s no relegations from the S league, but after 22 games the league splits in to 2 groups to determine the winner and who finishes bottom.

A bit of history, they’ve won both cups in Singapore plus a handful of lower leagues and have got a couple of decent players we can definitely work with.

I’m not surprised they’re struggling really. The 3-6-1 set up they’ve played all season doesn’t inspire me. There’s a couple of players that stand out to me who I’ll be building the team around. First choice left winger and captain John Wilkinson, right winger Monsef Zerka and attacking midfielder Kamel Ramdani look to be the 3 most creative players we’ve got and the natural thing to do would be play them as the 3 in a 4-2-3-1 set up

The best striker we’ve got is Ahmad Latiff, although he’s not been as prolific as we’d like. Despite being the teams leading scorer, 4 goals in 14 league games doesn’t fill me with confidence.

To put it in comparison, the leagues leading scorer is on 11 in 16 at Tampines. Luckily the transfer window is open and we’ve got money to spend.
 

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Short term goal – Find a reliable goal scorer. Sort the defence out. Avoid finishing bottom of the S league and try and have a good run in the cups.
 

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Luck o' the Irish - Chance always favors the brave

‘I’m glad you’ve agreed to speak to me’ The man said holding out his hand. I shook it and sat down

‘It’s okay. I’m flattered to have been asked to’

‘You’ve done well in 2 years at Boca. Why are you looking to leave?’

‘I’m not actually looking. You asked to speak to me and I said yes’

‘Okay, but why us and why now?’

‘Lincoln Red Imps are the biggest team here. I’d be stupid not to at least speak to you’

As the interview went on we discussed various things, my time at Boca and the 3 trophies I’d won, my plans for the future and other football related things. I tried, and failed to portray someone with a grand plan or an idea of how I want my team to play

‘Look, I’ll level it with you. Forget telling me your plans about tactics, or styles of play of any attractive Arsenal or Barcelona tiki taka bull shit. I need you to win football matches by any means. I don’t care if the goalkeeper takes corners blindfolded as long as we score more than the opposition. I’m sure you understand’

I did. And I told him as much.

‘We’ve won the league 15 times in the last 16 years. We’re winners, the standard bearers of Gibraltar if you will. Last season was a shit show of a year and those shits at College Europa, Lynx and Glacis have got a fire in their belly now. We finished fourth. FOURTH!’ He said the number with the sort of finality a judge gives when sentencing someone to life in prison.

He didn’t let me speak before continuing ‘It’s a season of transition for us. A couple of players have retired, a few more are leaving and we’re not even expected to finish in the top 3. All I want is for us to win the league title again, this season or next. After that we’ll review things’

‘I’ve just won the cup and we’re in the Europa league qualifying rounds. Why would I want to miss out on that?’ Sensing some desperation in him I tried my hand at negotiating, something I know I’m no good at, and failed

‘Because your team there is shit at best, you’ll get knocked out by some team in Luxembourg or in the arse end of The Farore Islands. You got lucky in the cup, all the teams you played you’d beat this season in the league, you didn’t play any of the good teams, not to mention playing a second tier team in the final. You got lucky son, like you had someone pulling the strings for you’

That hurt, a lot. Part of me wanted to scale the desk and stick him with a left right left combo, but knowing the state my back is in by the time I’d slowly arisen from the chair, climbed over the desk looking like a new born baby scaling stairs and thrown the weakest looking haymaker the worlds ever seen, he’d have probably died from laughing too much anyway.

I wanted to prove that I could hang in this managerial game. I knew the squad at Boca wouldn’t be improved, Andy had made that clear. And really we did get lucky in the cup as we played teams around us in the league and a second division team in the final. Lincoln are like the Celtic of Gibraltar and one bad season doesn’t make a team. I’d already decided I’m taking the job, so asked for 2 things in return

‘I want to bring my own assistant in’

‘Done. Anything else?’

‘Well you came calling to me without asking about my contract. I’m not an arrogant man, but you came to me so that tells me other teams will do eventually as well. I want a release clause in my contract’

‘No, I won’t be doing that. I’m only putting a 1 year deal on the table. Monty did the same with you and you got promoted and won the cup, then he gave you another year and you won another cup so I expect something similar. I’ve done a bit of background on you, I know you have friends here, that English lad, the chick in the bar’ Nosey fucker. ‘I doubt you’re going to suddenly leave anyway Scott’

He was right. I wasn’t going to leave Gibraltar any time soon and to be fair an opportunity like this doesn’t come up often enough.

Upon leaving the interview I ran into Ace and had a chat about the job as I was sure I was taking but didn't want him to know that.

‘I hear things around the league, and as far as I’m aware Liam Walkers gonna be available. You sign him and the league won’t be ready for you’

‘He didn’t do too much at Glacis this season though’

‘So what? For this division he’s absolute mustard and just needs the kind of squad at Lincoln to thrive. The Glacis squad is piss poor and nothing like Lincolns. As for the rest of the squad I’m sure it’s just 1 defender away from the league title’

‘What makes you so sure?’

‘Call it intuition mate. And look at it this way, you win the league this year it’s bound to open doors for you I’m sure of it’

So after 2 years and 3 trophies at Boca Juniors, I was given the opportunity at Lincoln Red Imps. The press had put whoever took the job would be guaranteed a league title, although they failed to point out the club finished fourth in the league the season just ended and a huge 13 points off top spot. 

But I was going up in the world, I just had to let Andy, the Boca owner know first.

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Cross posted at On The Break here

Luck o' the Irish - The second cup final

The Rock cup final, Gibraltars FA cup was a game for the first time in 2 years we were the favourites for. That was only because we were the Primera division team and Phoenix weren’t, which was 1 thing in our favour. The other was that our path to the Rock cup final this season was considered easy for us, as we avoided the country’s 2 biggest teams Lincoln Red Imps and College Europe, who were knocked out by Europa Point (a second division team) and Glacis United (who we beat in the semi) respectively.

The players made their way to the pitch ready to get going. I didn’t say much else to them other than we should be winning this game without too much trouble and that the cup win was as good as ours.

The huddled media, all 8 of them were standing at the tunnel as I made my through it to the dugouts. I shook hands with the Phoenix manager who said 'looking forward to another defeat Scotty' in English, and being half Italian (Italian dad) and fluent, I replied 'terza volta il fascino, succhicazzi' which means third times the charm dicksuker. He didn't react much to my disappointment.

As soon as the game kicked off I knew, or at least I felt like I knew. I knew regardless of how the game plays out we’re not losing it. We passed the ball around really well, well enough for a piss poor part time team from Gibratlar anyway. We held on to it for a long time before Robba had a shot that flew right over the cross bar. It didn’t phase us that miss. As soon as the Phoenix keeper kicked it long, Power at center half controlled it and was under no pressure at all. I could hear Alexis, my captain and soon to be backroom staff screaming and waving his arm frantically ‘Give it here and go go go’ and Power passed him the ball and went forward.

Alexis lifted it up and Power headed it down to Gonzalez in the AMC spot, he controlled it with his left and played it forward to Robba, all while Power was still pushing on. Robba held it up well and played it to his left onto Powers left foot, he took a touch, waited for the defender to commit himself before playing Robba back in on the inside right channel.

As Robba received the ball Power went outside causing the second defender to go with him leaving a gaping hole through the middle. Robba saw the gap and gently tapped a through ball onto the onrushing Gonzalez who thundered it home from just inside the area. First blood Boca Juniors

One of the staff on the Phoenix bench had looked my way and said something in Spanish, I couldn’t quite make out what he said but I replied ‘go fuck your mother’ in Italian. He didn’t respond just as I was expecting.

The game restarted after the goal on 28 minutes and finally Phoenix woke up and looked to give us a bit of a game. They resorted to long ball this early in the game but we were equal to it. Alexis, despite being a full back by trade handled the runs from their forwards well enough and he and Power were once again involved in the next goal of the game.

A long diagonal ball was cut out by Alexis just inside our area and this time it was Power screaming for the ball. He received it and caught everyone by surprise when he darted forward with the ball at his feet. He took it into their half before being closed down, but when he did he found Gonzalez wide open again. As Gonzalez took control of the ball he turned, saw Robba making a cutting run across the box and as sweet as could be just tapped the ball with the outside of his boot into the space Robba was running onto.

He, Robba, took a touch, faked a shot which caught the defender off guard who tried to block the shot that never came and took him out of the game momentarily. The keeper wasn’t as fooled and stood his ground but that was his downfall. Had he moved off his line he might have made up the space between him and Robba, but he didn’t and our striker had more time than he knew what to do with but found the far corner of the goal with the keeper just stood there.

Second blood and a 2 goal advantage Boca Juniors

Half time came and there wasn’t much to say. We’d been the better team, Phoenix hadn’t threatened us at all during the half and Hermida in goal hadn't touched the ball once in the game, seriously. I told the players just go out there and carry on playing like we are and that trophy is ours.

We kicked off the second just like we finished the first, with a goal. Gonzalaez doubling his tally on the day with a touch and turn finish inside the box after Robba had dribbled to the byline and pulled it back for Gonzalez. More than 40 minutes to go and we’re in the driving seat

Phoenix had given up by this point. They made their 3 subs at the same time shortly after the goal and they did actually cause us a problem. One of the subs was a big tank of a forward and he was immediately bullying Alexis around but despite winning his share of headers, his knock downs were either cut out by Power or the other forward for Phoenix was nowhere to be found.

We rode the waves of the Phoenix attacks without really being under much pressure save for Aleixs getting bullied, but we made the quality on the day count as we added a fourth goal to seal the deal.

Robba also doubling his tally on the day with a well worked individual goal. His darting runs caused issues all game long and on this occasion he had to stop inside the area, play a one two with Gonzalez and put the ball over the keeper who decided to come off his line that time.

Game, set, match. Scenes.

Once we got back to the dressing room and calmed down from the celebrations, we were given our medals and lifted the Rock Cup. This would be the clubs third trophy in just 2 seasons under my management but I had a niggling feeling the owner wouldn’t be too thrilled for whatever reason.

During that season I’d spoke to Andy a grand total of 3 times. I had a niggling feeling things weren’t going well with him but he never interfered in the team and only really got on my nerves by how little he did with the team.

From the cup final win and subsequent party at the Quartermasters Wife, I went home to my rented flat to get a couple of hours sleep. The next day I had a scheduled meeting I didn’t want to miss.

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Cross posted at On The Break here.