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#222838 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
November International Matchdays
No competitive matches for Spain this month, just two friendlies against Mexico and the United States. I suppose you could say both results were a bit unexpected:
Morata returned from injury in the the Mexico match and picked up where he left off, snagging a brace. That makes 6 goals in the three matches he's played for me in a Spain uniform. I hope he can remain healthy and available for the other qualifiers. The other two goals came courtesy of an own goal from off a corner kick and an absolutely ferocious strike from Diego Costa, who came on as a second-half substitute and played on the right wing.
The less said about the USA match, the better. We seemed flat, tired and uninspired. The Yanks were just beating us to the ball as you can see by the fact they had the greater possession. We did manage a lot of shots, but most were poor efforts and even the ones on target never really bothed USA keeper Brad Guzan. It was a friendly, yes, but it was a really disheartening way to close out 2018 for La Roja.
That's it for my role as Spain manager in 2018. The team will next meet up in March 2019 for a Euro 2020 qualifier against Azerbaijan, as we look to go back to the top of Group J.
#222818 Well Travelled
simoncoyne
#222778 Dans Journey Around The World [FM15]
simoncoyne
Still hoping you can get promoted by winning the league and actually getting that trophy. Only three points off with many matches left. KIU
#222773 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
October 2018
Five matches this month, and our old denfensive form seems to have returned. Meanwhile, it was an October to remember for Thomas Müller, with an astounding eight goals in five matches. He bagged a brace in our 5-0 Champions League whitewash against Grasshoppers, then a hat-trick three days later in a 5-1 win against a poor Kaiserslautern side that was 17th on the table.
That match sent the side into the international break on a high, albeit still in 2nd place one point behind Monchengladbach. We returned from the break with a 4-0 clean sheet against Wolfsburg on Manuel Neuer's return. Muller opened the scoring, but it was Gabriel Barbosa who was man of the match with a brace. Down 1-0 after four minutes against PSG in the Champions League, Muller equalised before Bastain Schweinsteiger gave us a lead; sadly, an own goal was the catalyst in a 3-2 defeat. Finally, it was that man Muller again to open the scoring in a 3-1 Süd Derby victory away to Stuttgart.
And it was that win, coupled with Gladbach's draw, that finally saw us go top of the Bundesliga. However, things are still tight, though not like they were a month ago, and a loss in our next match could see us drop to 3rd behind hated rivals Dortmund.
Speaking of tight, they don't get much more tighter than our Champions League group, with three teams bunched together on six points. Grasshoppers have it all to do if they wish to remain in Europe after the next three matches!
#222765 On a quest to be the best. [FM15]
simoncoyne
What a weird situation. You reckon it's a bug?
#222761 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
#222758 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
October International Matchdays
Two competitive matches this month for Spain. Hiring Zidane as my assman is already paying dividends. (There's a sentence I never thought I would write) He's been invaluable in pool selection, etc as I basically go off of his advice and then control the squad on matchdays.
Our first match was at home against Austria, our main competitors in Group J. Due the the expanded European Championships format of a 24-team finals, the top two teams automatically go through and the third place teams in each group (out of five) go into a playoff. For a top team such as us, the pressure is really off in qualifying unless you get drawn in a group of death or have a real surprise package pop up, neither of which is happening here. I say all this because:
We didn't really play our best against Austria, and could only manage a draw. We had plenty of chances to get a second goal but didn't finish. It was the first full match the Spanish players had under my system, so perhaps that accounted for it. As for the penalty - well, that was a bullshit call. Bartra redeemed himself (not that he really had anything to redeem) by scoring the equaliser. I was hoping for the opportunity to criticise it after the match, but I wasn't given the chance. Too bad, really.
Our second match was away to Romania, and this was a much better result. We dominated possession, but our finishing was poor. I gave both Soldado and Diego Costa the flick in this match and started youngster Guillermo up top. At least he was able to finish, but I am concerned that one of my centre halfs (Bartra) was the main offensive force this week!
In case you were wondering, hat-trick hero Alvaro Morata is out for 2-3 months with an injury, that accounts for some of our struggles in front of goal.
The Group J standings. Because we played Romania and Austria played no-hopers Azerbaijan, we're now currently second on goal difference and we won't play another qualifier until March. However, the fans and the RFEF haven't complained, and we've maintained our world ranking of 2 (behind World Cup champs Germany) so all seems well. It's just going to be eating at me that we're second and won't get a chance to put a bag full of goals past the Azeri until March. At least Morata will be healthy by then.
Next month, friendly matches against the United States and Mexico.
#222471 Gloria al Sammarinese...and myself
simoncoyne
Much of a muchness, really...
#222456 Dans Journey Around The World [FM15]
simoncoyne
You should be able to win the Championship at Fulham in the next two seasons. Will it feel weird to spend more than one year at a club?
#222139 On a quest to be the best. [FM15]
simoncoyne
I think we've all done that before. I know I have! July 1st rolls around and then all these new players keep coming, and they don't stop!
Better head to the shops to get some more name tags...
#222119 RasenBallsport Leipzig - Red Bull wants the Champions League
simoncoyne
#222117 Dans Journey Around The World [FM15]
simoncoyne
Have you been thinking of your next step? Going to stick with Blackpool or find a Championship contender and do the same thing you did this season?
#221996 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
#221797 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
October 2018
The matches this month:
We started with a surprising (and disappointing) draw on the road to mid-table Hoffenheim. If it wasn't for Thomas Muller popping up to score the equaliser during "Fergie Time" we would have dropped three points, instead of just the two we did. Honestly, though, it feels like we stole a period instead.
The squad seemed more relaxed after the international break and it showed in our next two matches. First was a Bundesliga tilt against Frankfurt, then our first Champions League game of the new season. Both were at home, and both resulted in a 3-0 scoreline. You'll note that none of the six goals were scored by my striker, Gabriel Barbosa. Gabigol is going through another mini-slump, and the press asked me a question about it. I brushed them off, but thinking back I should have answered the question in a way to boost his morale.
The Roma victory was particularly satisfying as they has been made 4-7 favourites (and us 4-1 dogs) for the match at Allianz-Arena! Morons.
The Dortmund matchup was disappointing, since we had a 2-0 lead, gave up a goal before halftime and then two more after the break. The loss dropped us to fourth on the table from second. We bounced back in the DFB-Pokal on Shahed Smith's debut for the club in goal, and rounded off the month with (what else?) another 3-0 win at home as Smith gets his first (of hopefully many) league wins for us.
At the same time we were beating Koln, Dortmund was losing to Hamburg, which meant we passed them in the table to remain second behind surprise package Borussia Monchengladbach. Extremely tight at the top, as you can see.
The whole concept of German-born and raised sons of American servicemen in the US national team is something that has gained prominence under Juergen Klinsmann but has been around since the days of Thomas Dooley in the late 1980s. I love that the database is coded so that there's even regens that reflect this situation.
#221389 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
September International Matchdays
Belatedly, I hired an assistant manager for Spain. It took me a little while to find how to approach people for a Spain job instead of a Bayern job. On the day of the first match, I finally figured out how to do it, so I didn't have the benefit of an assman for my friendly against Holland, but eventually I did get my man:
Unfortunately, my fears came true. I didn't get the sack, but morale dropped like a rock:
Oh well, time to lift those spirits with a match that actually matters:
A superb hat-trick from Alvaro Morata. Midway through the match, I decided to switch tactics to resemble what I use at Bayern instead of tika-taka. They hired me to do a job and my system works, dammit!
It really is an easy group:
#221360 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
Transfers and Loans
A fairly quiet close season, as you can see. I've only brought four players in as my squad is bloated enough. But the players I've brought in are all quality:
Tonny Trinidad de Vilhena, as I mentioned earlier, came on a free transfer from Feyenoord. He is the long-term solution at centre mid, along with Pierre-Emile Hjobjerg.
Aksel Uzel is a Turkish regen signed for €12 million from Besiktas. He is slotted to be our defensive mid of the future and the long-term replacement for Bastain Schweinsteiger.
In the close season, I identified two transfer targets, and was successful with prying Julian Brandt away from Leverkusen for a "modest" €34 million plus future incentives. He can play either wing but so far can't get a game in as Januzaj and Muller are playing very well. His arrival spelt the end of Florian Thauvin's time with us; I was happy to get €35 million from Tottenham for the Frenchman.
Other notable departures include Marco van Ginkel (the Dutchman was too injury prone, Trinidad takes his place in the squad) for €17.5 million to Southampton, Jerome Boateng on a free transfer, and Robert Bergmann (a regen rated only 2.5 stars) for €5.25 million to Dortmund.
Unfortunately I have been unable to secure my other transfer target, an 19-year-old regen named Benjamin Ferner who is already turning out for the national team and projects to be Philipp Lahm's successor at right back. I just need to be patient, as the story behind my final signing shows:
Two years ago, Shahed Smith was my main target at goalkeeper, but Leverkusen was unwilling to deal, quoting stupid amounts like €143 million or some such nonsense (like Schalke are doing now with Ferner). My scouts identified Smith as a unique talent, and I saw him as Manuel Neuer's logical successor (for both Bayern and Germany). When my attempts failed, I opted for the Timo Horn/Matheusao two-headed monster as my backup plan.
Following the Hannover match, Neuer broke his collarbone in training and was ruled out for 6-7 weeks, necessitating Horn's promotion to starter and Matheusao as his backup. When searching the free transfers for a keeper to replace Matheusao as Bayern II's starter (as the only other keeper on the books is a 17-year-old regen), I was shocked to find Smith was out of contract. Apparently, he couldn't reach an agreement with Leverkusen, because, as you can see, his talent is still there and there's no reason to release him. I snapped him up, fending off Zenit St Petersburg (who is a feeder club for Bayern anyway). Smith automatically become my No. 3 option, sending Matheusao back to Bayern II and an uncertain future with the club. His stats also compare favourably to Timo Horn's, and he will soon surpass him on the depth chart as well. Signing Smith is basically like getting Neuer's regen whilst Neuer is still active - it's the best of both worlds!
Finally, to celebrate my fifth anniversary as manager of Bayern, here's the "Where are they now?" of my first squad, back in 2013-14:
The three players to retire are Ribery, Robben and Van Buyten. Claudio Pizarro is a scout in his native Chile.
#221346 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
2018-2019 Season
It's a World Cup year, 2018, at eleven of my players are on various World Cup teams. Good news for fans of Die Nationalmannschaft as Germany wins the World Cup!
Because of the World Cup, we only had five friendlies scheduled, but the DFB-Supercup (against
Red BullRasenBallsport Leipzig) and the first round of the DFB-Pokal (against a team in the 8th division) effectively serve as two more friendlies. Speaking of which:Confirmation that we re-claimed the Supercup that we lost to Dortmund last year, surprise Pokal winners Leipzig will have to console themselves with their UEFA Cup place as they are still in 2.Bundesliga!
Notable because Neqrouz was a regen in my first youth development class, and he is now starting to turn out for the squad, five years on.
As you can see, the friendlies were easy going, more about fitness building than anything else, and the start of the season was good, too. Newly-promoted Hannover was no problems, with a hat-trick from Gabriel Barbosa and a quick brace from Tonny Trinidad on his debut. We needed assistance to defeat Hertha on the road, and suffered a disappointing draw against Mainz at home; Thomas Muller gave us an early lead but we threw it away on the hour mark.
Our Champions League group. Fairly happy with it; Roma isn't as good in this game as they are IRL, so PSG will be the only big test.
Finally, here's the Bundesliga table, with Dortmund ahead on goal difference:
#221323 Johno's Career
simoncoyne
#221295 bmg's British Steel Challenge
simoncoyne
THE REF-E-REE'S A WANKER!
THE REF-E-REE'S A WANKER!
#221251 Dans Journey Around The World [FM15]
simoncoyne
How many trophies have you won in your career now? Can we get a screenie of your profile when you have a chance?
#221241 Well Travelled
simoncoyne
#221092 1860 Munchen
simoncoyne
#221090 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
Some people may say I'm foolish to take this on as well but this is actually the first time I've played long enough and done well enough in a Classic game to be offered a job in international management, so I wanted to take advantage of the situation. Particularly with a team as big as Spain.
The goal is to qualify easily for Euro 2020 (which is being held in Turkey, BTW). And looking at our group, I think we should do that:
I've lined up friendlies against Mexico, the USA and Norway for my matchdays without qualifiers. My first game in charge, 7 Sept, will also be a friendly - against Holland (heh heh - hope we don't lose and I then get accused of being a mole sent by the KNVB to destablise the Spanish national team)
#221033 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
This would be the second time I'd follow Pep Guardiola. I'm thinking seriously about taking it, but I don't want to give up managing Bayern.
#220969 American Toffee
simoncoyne
#220917 On a quest to be the best. [FM15]
simoncoyne
9 points from five matches after the team had 13 points from 13 before you got there; I'd say you're making a positive impact.
#220785 British Steel
simoncoyne
Is that a pretzel in the club badge?
#220719 Tommos European Journey
simoncoyne
#220613 Bayern and Beyond
simoncoyne
The end of the season, six Bundesliga matches and then our season will be over. Thankfully, we will most likely win the league.
The Bundesliga has been secured after the first match in April. It's Bayern's sixth straight title and my fifth. Down 1-0 in the second half, I brought on good-luck charm Bernard on the hour mark and he immediately scored an equaliser. Three minutes later, Barbosa slots home the match- and league-winner
Werder's hopes for survival were dealt a big blow as they fell out of the playoff spot and into the relegation zone
Barbosa, Januzaj and Zouma score in what would turn out to be our last win of the season
A disappointing defeat against the third-place side. Down 3-0, Muller scored two goals in the last five minutes but that wasn't enough to end our monumental home streak. This match ended our 52-match Bundesliga home winning streak and, in fact, was the first league home defeat in my five years in charge at Allianz-Arena.
And that's the season. A lackluster draw that we didn't even score in, our goal came courtesy of Schalke's Leon Goretzka putting it in his own net off of a corner kick.
It's farewell to Werder, as they couldn't climb out of the relegation zone after we put them there on Matchday 31. Nurnberg was also relegated, meaning there will be no Bayern derby next season, at least not in the Bundesliga. Our other local rivals, Stuttgart, are also in trouble, having to go through the playoff to keep their 1. Bundesliga spot.
#220608 Dans Journey Around The World [FM15]
simoncoyne