clloyd - Comments

#185661 Where Can Football Take Me?
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/rmCzWV2tv4lYQalGN8lAvCSePVAWwSPt2dIJaYaF.png

This guy is the best signing of the lot in my opinion, Santiago Martinez comes in from Newelll's Old Boys for a bargain £115k as his contract was due to expire in 6 months. He combines pace, power, technique and ability which stands him in good stead to have a fantastic future with us in Brazil, he made over 100 appearances at Newells since coming through their youth setup and i'm looking forward to managing him at Vitoria.


I don't understand why players like this have such terrible scout recommendation rating or potential rating, when he clearly is gonna be insane ?

Looking good so far mate! Like the change in the story, pentagons do limit what you do which is why I'm doing a 'slow' version
#185563 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Had a little look at the Dortmund team and 5 keys plays (Over 20m value each) are injured for 3 months, and a few other first team players are unhappy. Whereas the Roma team are content and no one is injured.. Hmm.

I wana go to Dortmund but I think it will be a complete club rebuild :/


Oh to hell with it, It'll be fun!!
#185517 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Dortmund for me mate! Great career!

you got to go dortmund pal it might never come up again

Had a little look at the Dortmund team and 5 keys plays (Over 20m value each) are injured for 3 months, and a few other first team players are unhappy. Whereas the Roma team are content and no one is injured.. Hmm.

I wana go to Dortmund but I think it will be a complete club rebuild :/
#185283 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
So far we have two for Roma and two votes for Dortmund. They both have really decent players in the team, including olds and youths. I know Dortmund would be easier in terms of securing a decent league place which means Roma would be a better challenge. Still undecided!
#185158 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Roma or Dortmund for me. They're both good enough to compete but also not too good that you'll walk the league every time.

However this all depends on how they have done on your game so far. I'd try to go to an underperforming side then you have more scope for improvement and the chance to out your own stamp on the team.


Club positions:

Arsenal - 5th
Dortmund - 5th
Roma - 8th
Nottingham - 20th

I'm definitely leaning towards Roma though.. however I don't think a Dortmund job will come up again! aghhh
#185086 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
I've narrowed it down to just a few of the league offers so here they are:


https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ntZXjf9SdlHHovi1PPm8bSPf0h3XrEgbrmmRd2No.png


From the clubs offered, I know that Montpellier is the least reputable. I would absolutely love to work at Dortmund and Arsenal however I think the pressure would be too much, I've never worked at a club as big as those before as they are mountains compared to Guangzhou.

Roma have been a love affair for me alongside Villa since growing up, having been to see a couple of games as a child!

Nott' Forrest and Watford would be the most challenging as they have both just been relegated from the Premiership but are both capable of bouncing straight back up ( The idea of following Clough at Nottingham forest seems appealing however).

I'm going away for a couple of days so would love to see what you think now the clubs are up! I'm leaning towards Roma, Dortmund and Nottingham at the moment.. Arsenal just seem a little too big for my boots.
#185073 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Just a quick note, if you guys really want me to tell you the teams to help you make your minds it's up to you!
#185072 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Waking up to the sun glistening in my eyes through the curtains.. the silhouette of my fiance casting a shadow across the room. 'I think you'll want to see this sweetheart' she says..

I take the piece of coarse thick paper from her delicate hands, sleepily scanning over the document.. my heart stops beating, the world is now my oyster.

'One moment honey, I need to ring a few of my friends, I need to find out what the best option is.. go grab me the phone, I'll try find Tot's number'.

I search through my address book, thrashing the pages to find the people I need.. Tot, Dan, Dave, Gaz, George, Tongy and Xera.

'Guys, I need your help.. I don't know what to do'

___________________________________________________


I need your help to decide which league I head into, I'm not going to divulge into the teams that have offered me a job - just the Leagues. They are all world class offers, I really need your help. What do you think guy's? Oh okay I'll give you a couple of days to figure it out.. let me know. We can meet up over lunch this week to talk about it. Saturday? Tomorrow? Okay. See you then mate.


I disconnected from the call. Where to? You decide

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/OyLMsfrXu6MYRyfHwJQ2h7AtHh3uKJC3qs7Fxmyc.png
#185068 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
And so, I step out of the comfortable world of Guangzhou Football Club - as comfortable as I could see any position in management at the moment..

The worlds economy was in turmoil, clubs cutting back on staff, only hiring the best of the best. I knew it would be hard to secure a job on another continent given that my reputation of world manager is literally in the confides of Asia and only Asia. I attended meetings, interviews and group workshops to no avail. I say to no avail, I did however manage to narrow down potential job markets and their respective leagues.. Hopefully something will come up soon.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/hLAhTTB0S15kwW1PxTo0CToOTeo1mtFnVX6WKuO3.png


The Spanish Liga Aldenete is one of the top leagues to search. Given my continental reputation and utilising the advice from former Guangzhou, Juventus and Napoli manager Marcello Lippi, we discussed how the BBVA was almost impossible to get into right off the bat - the next possible location was of course the league below in the Aldenete.

The Serie A was also a contender, although at the same reputation level as la Liga BBVA it was almost 10 times more likely to get a job there because of the rate they go through managers.. which is great in terms of getting a job but equally as scary at the inevitability of one wrong result and off with your head!

My favored next move is an unlikely one, given how hard getting jobs in the English Divisions is. Unless the team is guaranteed relegation it is extremely difficult to survive, only if an opportunity to progress and succeed in the leagues would temp me.. But who knows. Entering in at the Sky Championship would be a sure fast way to try and reach my home team Villa, although that still seems a bigger task than anything I have ever taken before. The prospect of competing in the Sky Championship or even the Skrill premier makes the Chinese and Honk Kong leagues look amateur.. a scary thought.
#185066 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Well done mate, certainly can't complain at what you've done in China

Thanks, I've had a great run in China but it is definately time to move on!

What a fantastic story im loving it keep it up pal


Thanks bud! More coming, however slower updates as I have engineering exams next month!
#185037 Where Can Football Take Me?
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Thanks for the comments guys, unfortunately I blew my chance with Guangzhou as I turned them down to stay at Shandong a year and a half ago, it looked like the right decision when we won the league and knocked them out of the cup but it's the Champions League that matters. If I remain in Asia it will be in South Korea but I have other leagues loaded so there may be a surprise yet, if only someone would give me a chance.


Guangzhou can go through managers like haribo so just wait and see! I agree with the Korean idea, the Chinese talent is awfull unless you get amazing youth which is a complete gamble. You need a team that can win the ACL not a team that can just scrape through given the right games.. that's what happened with me! I was just incredibly lucky to come up against mostly sub par Korean and Chinese teams!
#185035 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
We gave it our all, losing out to River in the semi finals at 118 minutes is a tragedy for the team and they gave it there all, they know that they did too. The lads worked hard and earned Guangzhou a huge cash boost for their performances however it was not meant to be.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/09394NRHAka3CKRM6dfRV0EucE4V0lWcIt0NhDiU.png


The All Stars game went according to plan with a dominant 5:0 win, however even this was not enough to tempt me.. with recent results being good and three trophies lifted, I couldn't help but feel sad and even uncaring about the silverware won.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/3XiLLcr8LInRzqAvxUxN27orllIz2Ok1Qdh1oTWY.png


However it was my time to leave, having two seasons that I will never forget.. It has undoubtedly played a huge part in my managing career and hopefully becomes a stepping stone and a platform to launch into even bigger and better, even more challenging world class leagues and teams. I have kept my head held high when leaving, and have not left them in the lurch - Making sure all contracts have been sorted from players, staff and youths. I have set up a good mix of friendlies for the team and have created a huge profit from last year. So good luck to whoever takes over, I admit that it will be hard to fill the whole.. but no harder than the whole left by Lippi. Out of the pan and into the fire.. as they say!

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/7N4kFNFbWADqcgk5KPQXdxOkVu2Ya6rxAU2owIV7.png
#185030 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
And so comes my decision. I breath a huge sigh of regret or relief.. I'm not sure yet, as my printer finally finishes printing the page that seals my fate at Guangzhou.


'To the Board, most notably Chairman Xu Ming,

A club with the stature of Guangzhou is always going to be under tremendous pressure to perform, and since the first ACL win I took last year it seems the pressure has almost doubled and exceeded our realistic hopes, I mean winning the World Club ? That is a completely different ball game to the ACL.. You, Mr. Ming, have been exceptionally supportive with me over the past two years, however this declined after I was unable to sign high value and high profile players for the team. This in any other continent would have been fine, however the Chinese talent is sub par at the best, and every single class player in the League was already at Guangzhou!

The potential for the club seems to have hit this wall of none progressing Chinese players. With my youth system and facilities fully upgraded over the past year, the youth intake for Guangzhou was so low that not even a single youth was offered an U18 contract which is just ludicrous.. And believe me I needed to get in new blood as many of the golden oldies were refusing contracts - 'seeking better clubs'. Even Jikun was reluctant to sign a new contract at the team, however on his behalf I would encourage him to get out and follow in the foot steps of other world class Asian players such as Honda or Park Ji - Sung.

This reluctancy of the team showed in their play on the pitch, only just scraping the league title when in fairness we should have been miles ahead as you yourself have seen. I'm honestly suprised that we retained the ACL and I'm positive this was probably down to the excellent management team we have here, most notably Mario Tot my good friend and advisor.

I will be playing out the end of the season with my mind set to win the All stars game and push up the World Club rankings.. However with much regret if nothing substantial changes I am not sure the outcome to my career here at Guangzhou.

It has been an honour Mr. Ming,

Regards,

Chris Lloyd.'

I'm sure that I'll be called in a few days after the World Club, I can't see them signing me off before then considering the titles and accomplishments I have made at this club. It would be a complete dishonor. Oh well... Time to ring the wife at home and have a heart to heart, she's always been good at helping me come to decisions. Time for the All stars.
#185024 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
And now the time has come, to celebrate this season of which we finished in style. With worldsoccer.com finally putting a positive spin to my name, and seeing 'Chris Lloyd, and his reigning Chinese Dynasty' in the local paper back in Ol'England.. was music to my ears. I'd had the most up and down season you could imagine with these boys - and so onto the headlines.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/6DFBSUJy8FroYeQ6JEgK59P8UTfuTswft7tZ4RlR.png


Han Jikun has cemented himself into a Chinese Icon, all at the age of 20. Joining my ranks at the age of 19 he was a shy and reserved character, however through the tutoring of Elkeson, he flourished into a capable and dominating player

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/HENmKyD3BArwaY3Z9A4dyxhxGQw8V5lb7dldQXMn.png


He has come along way since he first started, and now at the age of 20 Tot has estimated his value to be around the $3m mark at a push. However here's hoping the club will hold onto him and further release his potential as the best defensive midfield in China. Even a personal phone call from the ex manager Marcello Lippi of Juventus and Guangzhou brought a huge smile to my face.. nothing could ever beat this feeling

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/P0x74oss2g9Fs4D5NVv0nP91eJOw2kvhtAvVfj2w.png


And finally to top it off, it seems that the team of the year happens to consist of a few Guangzhou players - I say a few I mean 90% of the team!

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/X1TlVke2X2cw21iuhlGyqeDff2qzovqKTgRyiOb1.png


Now it's time to relax and sit back.. I have a lot of thinking to do and a couple of games to just ease the season out. Most notably is our annual game against the CSL All stars, hoping to take the cup for the 3rd time in a row.. and of course the Club World Cup tournament, hopefully being able to last a little longer and break our 7th place finish from last season!
#185020 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Great work in winning the Champions league! Great career up to now! Some brilliant wins! 8-0


I know mate, unfortunately the 8-0 changed the team, but in the wrong way as you'll find out soon

Fitting that it was your 100th game in charge! brilliant season in the league and champions league mate! top work


Pretty funny actually! Shame that it could possibly be the end of a Dynasty!

Good work so far! Defending the ACL is no easy feat.


It was definitely harder the second time for a number of reasons that you'll find out soon :o
#184927 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
The game starts off at blistering pace, Han Jikun once again asserting his dominance against the older more experienced footballers from Naft Tehran.. he showed no fear, no pressure - something I wish I could do at this moment in time. Then BANG 4 minutes into the game, Chuang scores a sensational floating header that seemed to be in the air for hours, straight over the Naft goalkeeper - the pass of course from Jikun, directly placed into Chuangs run path, perfectly executed.

1:0

The half time team talk was quite simply 'You have done me proud getting this far, but just think of the reception you'll get off the fans if you win this Final, think of it for a few seconds, imagine it - You can do this, you will, trust me again,'

41 minutes into the game we missed an absolute sitter, right wing sensation N'Doumbou of whom celebrates his Chinese citizenship today, skews a shot on open goal under no pressure. I say no pressure, I mean under the pressure of most Chinese football fans. The oldest player for Naft at 28 secured the equalizer, with a long range effort from around 35 yards hitting Hao on the back and deflecting straight into the top left corner.. Nothing could have been done to stop that. Oh crap..

1:1

Huang Bowen retrieves the ball after a huge mistake from the Naft center back and captain, he dribbles along the 30 yard box, minutes to go.. then heads back towards the center ... ' GO FORWARD' I yelled onto the pitch, not that it made any difference under the roar of the Guangzhou fans. Suddenly Bowen pivots, hit's it with his weak foot.. the world seems to stop as the ball is in the air.. I feel faint.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/PJ1FYDovf2TXUtVY2FiHNhl83KKfP7q1pX0htBp5.png


Was it a dream?
#184923 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
The fans are singing my name, It's the last game of the season and I'm nervous as hell.. After checking over and over the league results, tactics fixtures and rivals I knew it came down to this game. Our league run this season was far from the dominance we showed last year, however we were still on top - 1 point in fact on top, ahead of possibly the most deserving team in the league, not us, but Shandong.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/p54pAKbVd0eElfKuqTNyDWvELe635dY2lCeEpB8Q.png


They thought it was all over... it almost is now!! Han Jikun, the sensational 20 year old who deserves no less than young player of the year sets us on our way to clench the League Title, a second year in a row. It was the most hard fought League I have experienced, loosing two games towards the end of the season really knocked our confidence.. I thought it was over but we held on. Key mentions to N'doumbou, Jikun, Elkeson, Chuang and Gao Lin for helping secure the title for me. Their futures, along with mine, are all but unknown. Elkeson being the only player out of the golden boys wishing to end his football career in Guangzhou and retire at the end of next season.. What happens to the others I'm sure depends on the ACL Final. Who knows.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/4bQiiAxE1XYzfJy29YGCjAutR6NkSPupvLunh6mF.png


What a fantastic result, not only the league title - was thrown a glorious party and brought to tears by my club.. in knowing that this will possibly be my last league trophy I lift in China. Again tomorrow decides my career, the big one. I give full kudos and respect to every single registered player for me to get this far, they have done me and Tot proud and I wish them all the best in the final. If I thought the league's last game was judgement day.. God knows what tomorrows ACL Final is.. can I win it?
#184919 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
And so the hard part begins.. could I possibly retain the Asian Champions League Trophy and hold onto the Chinese Super League title?

It's going to be incredibly tough.. but I have faith with my team. This run to the end of the season will determine what happens to my career, whether I stay or whether I go.

This years Champions league had to be the most nerve wrecking, tense set of games. All of me, my family, Commander Xu Ming and Marion Tot were given a nail biting run, with highs and lows.. fear of being knocked out - OH and the good old extra time win in the quarter finals.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/QYGRcT5b9DHsLx4vsciEnnMokSbyeDz9NXePWbGS.png


As you can see from the report my friends.. We almost lost out on our deserved final place. The injuries that hit on the 22nd October were disastrous. Not just one, not just two but three of my key players injured for at least 3 weeks. I thought that was it, I thought the call will come from Ming, that I was a goner.

But we preserved, and we are in the final! After rushing around, stressing and losing my mind over the ACL games, I haven't even checked our progress in the league.. I honestly have no idea - Apart from the odd glimmer of hope that I catch on the Chinese news channels.. I'm in the dark.

But before the final comes the league, Tomorrow. It's judgement day.
#184893 Onwards: A Journeyman Career
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
This is written really well mate, keep it up!
#184778 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Called into the Boardroom this morning, wasn't sure what Commander Xu Ming wanted to talk to me about.. but I was feeling slightly anxious after my response to the renewal contracting being late.. Hopefully he still wants me!

Well that went better than planned, it seems he wanted to praise my efforts in both the league and the ACL! What a surprise! He's handed me his report on the fixtures including the tables, and considering I haven't even checked yet through fear of wasting time that could be spent coaching - I believe it's time to have a look through!

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/38JMhSw4LH4BNRs54BIfAt8HwqUDWS77SwtHnoVX.png


There we go, top of the ACL table with a comfortable 6 point lead. Two hatricks were scored in the games including commanding veteran winger N'Doumbou and of course the inspirational inside forward Gao Lin. The only game that we had trouble with was the away game at Jeonbuck, now considering we were voted as the team to lose in this match up I think we played bloody brilliantly with Elkeson leveling the game after just 10 minutes, at which point we dug our heels in and parked the bus!

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/2WbwOJtqgkQxDbV5kSSbIpGuKfK22HmhSLudu96H.png


Onto Ming's second report, the overall fixtures results. The results went the expected way in both the league and the ACL, with dominant wins over teams that aren't considered top of the league. The two most notable performances were the Renhe and Baxy games.

In the Renhe game we collapsed a 2 goal lead all down to complacency, I absoluted grilled the team in the dressing room after the game because of this lack of discipline and concentration we dropped 2 points from what should have been an easy game to win against a bottom half form team, not a happy bunny with that complacency. To make matters worse Gao Lin was injured with a suspected back fracture, fortunately the diagnoses of the Chinese doctor was incorrect and he suffered with a minor pulled trap, only being out with the physio for around a weeks time.

After the grilling I gave the team, they seemed to have listened with an absolute demolition of upper mid table team Baxy.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/RGO0LzeQ7NTcmocJZZ2L5xVsEsz9e34sKMc8azQj.png


Golden wonder Gao Lin scores yet another hatrick and picks up my personal Man of the Match Award along side N'Doumbou. However the highlight of the match personally for my was Jikun's run from his secondary position of DRC through the whole Baxy team until the 30 yard box, smashes it into the top right corner of the goal.. due to the shear skill of the goal from Jikun, defender Yanfeng went ape at his own team member and was subsequently yellow carded!

That goal right there is why Jikun is going to be huge, he can play three roles naturally now including DM, DC and his favoured AMC making him one of the most versatile if not THE most versatile player in the Chinese Super League.. All of that at 19. Fantastic.
#184717 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Just a quick update... I completely forgot that the friendlies were managed by Tot in order to make them go past a little faster.. clicked proceed then went to grab a drink... came back to this.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/8SNPtms2ChyKpKxprhJ8wznCiW7FnuSsSdiHszBn.png


Not only did we completely THUMP our main rivals in the ACL group, but Gao Lin managed to bag a hatrick and of course Chuang scored the final goal with an absolutely beautiful long range finish.. and I really done mean beautiful as I replayed the highlight about five times to see!
#184714 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Wow the goals flew in pre season after changing the tactic and thats an insane amount of money to have!


I know mate! It really had made a difference, hopefully this will be applied to both league and ACL games! The transfer/wage budget is absolutely insane, only problem is that there aren't any decent Chinese players that I haven't already got to spend it on aha!
#184708 Chinese SL Players
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Can't see any need for you to restart and lose the first step that you've already completed, I started my story when my save was like 7 seasons in and just done season summaries until I caught up with the save file, now i'm doing monthly updates. Would be a nice read too and especially interesting for me with where I am on my pentagon challenge.

Out of curiosity, getting the Guangzhou job in season 4 is incredible, what club was you at before that? Also did you start as unemployed with sunday league reputation?


Okay I started up my story if you want to have a little read!

I was at Kitchee for two seasons winning the title both leagues, then a short (3 month) stint at Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League followed straight away by the Guangzhou job - All at sunday league rep
#184707 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
After a long talk with the coaches and my right hand man Tot, we decided to mix around the tactics a little bit.. This being after our friendly loss against Stuttgart, whom in all fairness are a decent team and we would have had to of played magnificently in order to beat them!

I decided to attend one of the teams training days along with Tot, and through watching the players I suddenly realised that they were much more capable than my old and beloved club Kitchee. Their ball control, passing and first touch was miles ahead of any team I'd seen before in both the Honk Kong league and the Chinese league. I noticed how easy it was for capable youngster Jikun and golden oldy Elkeson to unload long direct balls and initiate attacks, conduct wing runs and crosses. This made me think that maybe due to the high level of the players, other teams would not be able to handle the directness of the team.

Through many hours that evening we devised a more direct plan of action, further cementing youngsters Jikun and Chuang into the forefront of our goal scoring capabilities. With a few friendlies coming up before our annual Super Cup Final against Beijing, it was time to test the waters - and test the waters we did! Turning around our miss fortune at Stuttgart into countless goals and comfortable wins. This newfound passion for goal scoring and play making was then set in motion upon close rivals Beijing in the Super Cup.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Sem7EMuR6fTffbw2RbYPkAZXGppLI8keGsW3el4L.png


2:0 was the final score. Absolutely elated with how the team played, with Chuang hitting the post twice during the last 15 minutes to deny him a hatrick. The concept was simple, short passing through the defence and direct passing in the final third. Both goals were superbly masterminded wing runs created by unloading direct balls from Jikun and Gao Lin therefore bringing both Elkeson and Chuang into play. I must admit I felt sorry for Chuang as he more than deserved his hatrick, however after the game he simply said to me - 'It's a team game boss, we won it as a team, not individuals'. Summing up my expectations for this season.

Bringing in some more good news, our group draw in this seasons ACL seems to have been fairly kind to us, with previous groupies Hiroshima present, of whom we dominated last season, Adelaide United - who having looked at their current form aren't doing too well and we should be able to pick apart. With the only concern being Jeonbuk who are constantly in the top 3 of the K - League Classic.. slightly worrying.. We do get to test out our tactics against next game though in a nice friendly. Here's hoping.
#184604 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Well done on a superb season in China mate! Good luck with the new season and trying to retain it all!


Thanks! Hopefully this season will start better than my last one ended.. need to do a lot of reshuffling!

Awesome story, well written and interesting to read! Will definitely be keeping up with this one! Good luck retaining the trophies!


Appreciate it! I was skeptical of my writing as I never really did well at school in English aha
#184592 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Well the end of the season didn't exactly go to plan as I had hoped.. After flunking out of the Club cup against Club Africain we played Toronto FC in the 5th place play off.. only to lose 2:0 after some atrocious play from my team. Something that I don't want to see again next season. Oh and thanks worldsoccer.com, I am incredibly sorry I didn't live up to our none existent chances!

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/MLof39a78xl6JqzQPvwUBFV4hEOrrKd9twRpaeJb.png


Looks like they are now in my bad book of journalists..

Anyway after that thrashing in the World Club Cup, I decided to turn attention to our now annual event of the CSL all stars game, of which we have comfortably won the past 5 years, one of which being under my short command. We went into the game with huge expectations of thrashing them, and we simply did not deliver. In the 2nd minute we suffered a huge blow in which Huang Bowen, a normally level headed and experienced player, lost his cool and committed an absolutely discusting tackle from behind. Off you go Bowen, I will be having words with you later.

Fortunately we somehow managed to drag the game all the way to penalties which I suppose means credit is deserved to my man down team to finish on a score of 2:2.. however penalties loomed ahead, and out of the 6 penalty finals over my career only one of them has been won. Hmmm..

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/wXEkypOlaEiMywccaK6CezFIHxOCzMOqnlV0Pnbd.png


Result! Well... not really a result but I would have hit the fan had we lost. This does not bode well for our next season start, things need to change.. and they need to change now if we have any chance of lifting the ACL once more. Time for a weeks break with the family to nearby Japan, I have some thinking to do.
#184555 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/q5vLjHkDY9KB4bEs1bzUBqMP89K4mkcmW8DnEVfb.png


Absolutely gutted.. loosing 1:0 from a penalty that in my eyes shouldn't even have been awarded, I will be having words with Tot to raise this issue among the World Club officials.

Putting the result aside my boys played for their lives, with both Chuang and Elkeson hitting the wood work 5 times between them, alongside young star Jikun who dominated his AMC position, and controlling the midfield at an outstanding age of 19! Leading to a remarkable 56% possession to a team that should on paper be on 20-30%!

Since his rise to stardom and a quiet word with compadre Tot, we believed an increase in Jikuns contract should be done immediately in order to hold onto him - He will be a national star by the time he hits 20-21.. that's if he isn't already!
#184535 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
Season preparations begin well with the presentation of a new contract. I was skeptical at first with the way the board went about offering me the contract, they seemed very reluctant and this played on my mind a little bit. After confronting the board I found that the issue was my reputation increase, they didn't want bigger higher reputation teams to snap me up half way through the season! After assuring the supreme leader Oh chairman Xu Ming that this was most certainly not the case, and I would be there for the long run, well - another season at least, he threw the offer onto to the table and I gladly signed up.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/YCUCyQVCLF0BLINChAy1Y9v82tVCVaWLUGMRCVtG.png


As soon as the pen was to the paper his next agenda, along with Tot's was to assess the next big match. The club world cup, of whom we have drawn a team of which the press, the fans and even Xu Ming have no promise of us winning. Thanks Ming

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/U3srbMxepYV85g6py4RIQFo1SugXlM1K5ycmwG4P.png


The match preparations aren't going too well, with a few registered players currently on leave with international duty and a number of our players still hung over and aching from our league and ASL wins.. This will be a very short stint.
#184517 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
End of Season Annual Update!

Here is the news update for my first season, great to see that the chairman has faith in me by upgrading not only our training facilities, nor creating trial days for new players but also upgrading our youth facilities! Which is fantastic!

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/1F8HAUjmtUxIlx9rBrDRjAEiZw606a8pgPpACpGV.png


It's time to sort out the team now as we have a couple of older dead wood players, especially foreign players that can easily be replaced with much younger better models.
#184515 From Rags to Riches
clloyd
9 years ago
2 years ago
81
I like this! Good luck trotting the world pal, done well with kitchee!


Thanks mate, I have been keeping an eye on Kitchee incase they start dropping dramatically - however they are retaining a top three position which is good!

I always enjoy a pentagon! Good start so far!


Cheers It is essentially a pentagon challenge however I'm not intending to rush around clubs, I've watched a few on youtube or read some on other sites where as soon as the CL has been won it's move continent.. admittedly this was my intention at first but meh I have time to stay!