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#510069 Broke to Bank (Journeyman)
TinakoFM
#510002 Broke to Bank (Journeyman)
TinakoFM
#509975 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Current Team: Lisburn Distillery (Premier Intermediate League) | Honours With Them: 0
This Season's (2020-21) Expectation(s): Win The Title
Overall Team #: 1 | Career Honours: 0
Update: July 2020 to January 2021
January 2021 has arrived, as I've reached the midpoint of my second season in charge of Lisburn Distillery in Northern Ireland's third division. We narrowly missed out on the title and promotion last campaign as we failed the board's expectations, but we managed to snag a further year in charge of The Whites though the expectation now is to the win the division outright. A tough but very much doable task.
Here's our full expectations for 2020/21, while the bookies interestingly placed us as fifth favourites.
In terms of transfers, I signed just two players - central midfielder Tiarnan Boorman (NIR) from Coleraine and centre-back Matteo Lavorca (ITA) from Linfield. Craig Kennedy, our back-up goalkeeper, left for newly-promoted Belfast Celtic, while Anthony Byrne's contract expired. Steven Ferguson (cm), Stephen Curley (cb) and Andrew Long (rb/cm) all retired.
Thoughts
It hasn't gone great. We have been incredibly inconsistent, given we began the season in fine form beating our first three opponents in Dollingstown, Annagh United and Newington but that was coupled with a fall at the first hurdle in three different cup competitions; narrowly to Championship outfit Dergview in the League Cup and Belfast Celtic in the Steel & Sons Cup, but simply outclassed by last season's relegated Championship team PSNI; who beat us again days later.
We went winless in September, before winning just two of the four competitive matches in October - one of which being in the Intermediate Cup versus minnows Markethill Swifts; after extra time rather embarrassingly. Just two actual matches in November, as we lost to Banbridge Town but did progress in the aforementioned cup versus other lower leaguers Ardstraw. December was where it fell apart a little to be honest, despite losing just once - to Newington - we dropped points against Limavady United and Annagh United; securing a sole victory over Dollingstown.
We also met Dergview for the second time in a cup, again narrowly losing out to the team from the league above. It has been a frustrating campaign.
Thoughts
That looks a tad worse than it actually is, given we're just one point from 3rd and six points off 2nd. 1st is totally out of reach, given Tobermore United's sensational form which leaves them eleven points ahead of Portstewart - they've certainly reacted well to missing promotion, us not so much.
Cup-wise, we are out of the Irish Cup, the League Cup, the County Antrim Shield and Steel & Sons Cup but do remain in the Intermediate Cup; where we'll face divisional rivals Armagh City in round three.
Thoughts
As you can see, I still have the players on my side - all three categories are at least 'Good', with 'Managerial Support' even at 'Very Good'. The board are OK with me, though our title win league expectation has dropped to 'Disappointed' - much better than expected, given we are a massive seventeen points off reaching that target.
The next few months will be crucial in more ways than one, I fear I may be sacked/released unless we can sneak into the play-off spot come April.
Thoughts
In other news, I completed my first coaching course earlier in the campaign; achieving my National C Licence. I'll (hopefully) take the next course in pre-season, as I feel that's probably the most realistic time to take it. You can see that below, along with the squad statistics.
2020/21 almost done, just a few more months remaining; including that annoying mid-season break bug. A play-off place is all we can realistically hope for at this point, to get that we are going to have to improve tremendously.
Here's the fixture list.
Thank you for reading!
Next? January to May 2021! (hopefully)
Current Manager Profile:
Career Recap:
Job 001, 2019–:
#509913 (FM20) Arsenal Career - UEFA Revival Version
TinakoFM
#509800 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
#509798 The Long Haul (Everton FC)
TinakoFM
Great work getting that Europa League trophy! Onwards to next season!
#509608 The Long Haul (Everton FC)
TinakoFM
#509580 The 'Worldwide' Win It All Journeyman
TinakoFM
#509565 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Cheers! I'd definitely say this season is do or die, expectation raised from 'play-offs' to 'title win' indeed suggests that. It'll be tricky, for sure.
#509479 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
#509470 VP's Journeyman Career
TinakoFM
You staying put for 2029/30?
#509332 The Long Haul (Everton FC)
TinakoFM
#509331 The 'Worldwide' Win It All Journeyman
TinakoFM
Random, unimportant, question: Is Alfons Fosu-Mensah, brother of Man. United's Timothy, still knocking around in the Welsh leagues?
#509329 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Indeed it is. We didn't really deserve promotion to be honest, our dreadful festive period form cost us. Appreciate your comment, as always!
#509317 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Current Team: Lisburn Distillery (Premier Intermediate League) | Honours With Them: 0
This Season's (2019-20) Expectation(s): Reach Play-offs
Overall Team #: 1 | Career Honours: 0
Update: End Of The 2019/20 Season
I've belatedly reached the end of the 2019/20 season with Lisburn Distillery, having had to get through a bugged out schedule which made us schedule seven friendly matches to fill the gap between our penultimate match of the campaign and the final game of the season.
I usually take control of every match, even friendlies, but this time I delegated to my coaching staff; playing friendlies when there shouldn't be friendlies is extremely boring and demotivating. Added to the fact our season was likely already over, given second place Bangor had a game in hand and could end our promotion hopes before the competition's final day.
arguably unimportant editorial note: I'm changing the way I do my posts for this. I enjoy doing it the way I have been doing, especially with the detail it included, but I want to make more progress in the game itself; so want to spend most of my time with Football Manager in-game. The reasoning is that I don't enjoy FM as much as I used to but still like sharing my career(s) on here. So by doing an update every six months, I can fly through the game quicker; rather than loading/typing up/shutting down etc every game month.
Firstly, here's how the exhibition matches went.
My coaching team did a good job, securing seven straight victories over lower league Northern Irish outfits in Abbey Villa, Brantwood, Maghera Strollers, Banbridge Rangers, Coagh United, Albert Foundry and Rosario.
On the day of that Albert Foundry encounter, the rest of the league (bar Portstewart) caught up on games played. Tobermore United actually lost to Banbridge Town, but Bangor - the team we needed to lose - produced and beat Newington on home turf. Therefore, our season ended two weeks before our final Premier Intermediate League commitment versus Armagh City.
As you can see below, we eased past Armagh City 3-1 which secures us a merited third place finish ahead of Moyola Park. Above us, Bangor are promoted to the Championship as title winners while Tobermore United take the play-off spot; where they'll meet Ballyclare Comrades.
So, that is 2019/20 done and dusted. It wasn't to be for me and Lisburn Distillery this season, but we'll be back next campaign to hopefully correct our wrongs and get Championship football at New Grosvenor Stadium for 2021/22.
That's the plan, at least. The board have shown no sign of offering me a new contract yet, which is a little worrying given it ends in June. My manager rating, which you can see behind the 'spoilers' below along with other screenshots, is 'C' but they believe we are on course for promotion next season. I'm hopeful they'll offer me a new deal.
Thank you for reading!
Next? January 2021! (hopefully)
Current Manager Profile:
Career Recap:
Job 001, 2019–:
#509221 The Wealdstone Raider
TinakoFM
Best of luck with Wealdstone!
https://youtu.be/14IAqgLHoms?t=19
#509147 2019/20 Premier League
TinakoFM
As a United fan, I can safely say we run you guys close for that honour. United's wins against the top teams makes it look better than it has been, absolutely diabolical against the 'lesser' teams; lost to four of the bottom nine (+ Newcastle when they were down there), drawing with four of the other five!
#509144 The 'Worldwide' Win It All Journeyman
TinakoFM
#509143 Newcastle - The Road Back To Success
TinakoFM
#508974 FM2020 Challenge League Sign Up Thread
TinakoFM
I'm definitely interested! Only reason I always forget about/stop participating is if I'm not playing the actual game itself - if I'm playing it, I'll certainly be taking part with everyone.
#508973 VP's Journeyman Career
TinakoFM
Are the Glazers, Woodward & Co still there?
#508972 The 'Worldwide' Win It All Journeyman
TinakoFM
#508939 F.C. Valdelavilla (English Club in the Spanish Pyramid)
TinakoFM
Not sure about a solution, others might have one, but maybe just ride it out and hope it sorts itself out?
#508938 VP's Journeyman Career
TinakoFM
#508825 The TV Thread
TinakoFM
Over two years later, intrigued to see what you think of The Walking Dead now @Tarrantino @KEZ_7 (and anyone else, ofc)? I've always enjoyed it throughout, but since Angela Kang came in as showrunner for season nine it has been greatly received by critics; e.g. Rotten Tomatoes has S8 (2017-18) at 64% but S9/10 are both at 91%.
#508782 VP's Journeyman Career
TinakoFM
#508621 The 'Worldwide' Win It All Journeyman
TinakoFM
#508560 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Cheers, Dan! It might not be, unfortunately.
Bangor (2nd) vs. Newington (11th)
Banbridge Town (10th) vs. Tobermore United (1st)
Of course, what Tobermore do doesn't really matter to us given they are out of reach but you'd expect Bangor to beat bottom of the table at home; though Newington did beat Tobermore recently and gave us a strong test so who knows.
#508498 The Pride of Nottingham: A Notts County Tale
TinakoFM
#508235 The 'Worldwide' Win It All Journeyman
TinakoFM