Football Manager 2020

[Dark Soldier]

That's the one. I've taken it on. (Y) Cheers.



Will they work for FM Touch? If so then I'll have 'em. I can't figure out how to fix the logo's on FMT either. :moop:

Doubt it mate

[Lofty]

Doubt it mate

This is one of the reasons I want to fix my pc, so I can go properly balls deep on skins, logos, facepacks and running a massive amount of leagues at once for a filth journeyman save.

[Manc]

Still going strong with Scotland. I'll wash over the fluff that is the nations league and dive into our next qualifying campaign, Qatar 2022. Our opponents; Kosovo, Greece, Hungary & our old friends Belgium. After losing the opener 2-0 in Brussels, we picked up successive victories v Kosovo & Greece, the latter bearing witness to a debut goal from golden boy Billy Gilmour. The Hungarians held us to a stalemate both home and away leaving our qualification chances slim, that was until we conquered our new rivals narrowly beating the Belgians 1-0. Without doubt the greatest win of my tenure to date, a win which would guarantee a World Cup appearance provided we could gain 4 points from our two remaining games. We couldn't. Scott Bain threw an injury time winner into his own net in Athens and the misery was compounded as we drew 1-1 with Kosovo, Tom Cairney failing to score from the spot. A miserable 14 points saw us place seventh in the runners up league. Back to the drawing board.

New faces; Fraser Hornby, Dapo Mebude, Billy Gilmour, Allan Campbell, Anthony Ralston. Unless a world beater comes through on the wings, I'm sticking to my 5-3-2 shape. It suits our limitations and allows us to stay deep and compact.

[Smjffy]

1860 Munchen - Season 2019/2020


Twenty years ago, 1860 Munchen were playing Leeds United in the Champions League.



A 3–1 aggregate defeat, however, saw them play in the UEFA Cup (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Europa_League) that season, advancing to the third round (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000%E2%80%9301_UEFA_Cup) where they were eliminated by Parma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parma_Calcio_1913). The club, however, was unable to build on this success and after some mediocre performances by the team, manager Lorant was fired.
After a decade in the top division, 1860 burnt out in the 2003–04 season (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_Bundesliga) with a 17th-place finish that returned the club to the 2. Bundesliga (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2._Bundesliga). Wildmoser made the controversial decision to groundshare with hated rivals Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allianz_Arena), a move that outraged fans and led to accusations of a sell-out.


His downfall came when he and his son Karl-Heinz Wildmoser Jr. were caught in a bribery scandal around the awarding procedure for the contract to build the stadium



In addition to closely being relegated to the Regionalliga Süd (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regionalliga) (III) in the 2005–06 season, 1860 experienced severe financial difficulties. Stadium partner Bayern Munich bought out TSV's 50% interest in the Allianz Arena in late April 2006 for €11 million, providing the club some immediate financial relief. Following this move, the DFB was satisfied with the financial health of the club and duly issued 1860 a licence to play in the 2. Bundesliga for the 2006–07 season (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_2._Bundesliga).


1860 came close to insolvency for a second time in five years in 2011 when it needed €8 million to survive. Eventually, the club was rescued by Jordanian investor Hasan Abdullah Ismaik (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasan_Abdullah_Ismaik), who, for €18 million purchased 60% of the club's professional team's operating company


The 2014–15 season saw the club finish 16th in the 2. Bundesliga. It was forced to participate in the relegation play-offs against Holstein Kiel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holstein_Kiel) where it retained its league place with a 2–1 home win after a 0–0 draw in the first leg. 1860 survived courtesy to an injury time goal by defender Kai Bülow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_B%C3%BClow) in front of 57,000 spectators in Munich


In 2016–17, the team finished 16th in the 2. Bundesliga after a 1–2 defeat against 1. FC Heidenheim (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1._FC_Heidenheim) in the last game of the season. They played 1–1 and 0–2 respectively in the following relegation play-off against Jahn Regensburg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahn_Regensburg) and were therefore officially relegated. Managing director Ian Ayre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Ayre) and President Peter Cassalette resigned from their positions the following day.[4] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSV_1860_Munich#cite_note-4)[5] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSV_1860_Munich#cite_note-5) On 2 June 2017, it was announced that 1860 were unable to obtain a 3. Liga license for the 2017–18 season as a result of investor Hassan Ismaik's unwillingness to pay the necessary fees. As a result, the club was relegated to the Regionalliga Bayern (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regionalliga_Bayern) for the 2017–18 season.




Quite a fall from grace.





1860 Munchen - Season 2019/2020



The media predicted a 7th place finish and before the season kicked off I had no idea if that was optimistic or not as a small look into 1860's recent history suggested things had been far from easy.

Pre-Season

https://i.imgur.com/B6M1LP9.png

"It's not much but it's honest work."

Season Summary

Our campaign off got to a great start as loanee Osei Owusu scored three in a 4-0 win on the opening game of the season and it set the tone for what was to come as we remained unbeaten entering December. Kaiserslautern had only just lost.

https://i.imgur.com/1PBNCZ4.png

https://i.imgur.com/OjVTerD.png

https://i.imgur.com/zyVmzKj.png

https://i.imgur.com/t4oBvPr.png

https://i.imgur.com/BAoPR0P.png

https://i.imgur.com/UVQXzLs.png

https://i.imgur.com/tLxmuSq.png
Final round of results for 2019/2020.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about the squad as quite a few are due to be released from all squads so we can focus on quality rather than quantity since this is a YDWAWK save. Before the 2020/21 season starts I'll show the previous seasons newgens and a rundown of who's who.

(Manc, I tried Turkey but the names were too much)

[Spikey M]

attempting to do a YDWAWK save...

Just started one of these with Billericay.

We have no youth team. Well, 4 players.

Your move, Tim.

[Manc]

1860 is a strong choice. They've produced some filthy midfielders over the years.

[Smjffy]

I'll give you four 'Ones to Watch' that just come through but that's all I got at this early stage.

https://i.imgur.com/OWQ4tfD.png

https://i.imgur.com/BLkBzzB.png

https://i.imgur.com/uhqhfgW.png

https://i.imgur.com/j1EVYbD.png

[Manc]

A far reaching network. No Germans of any worth?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some tough old paper rounds there.

[Smjffy]

A far reaching network. No Germans of any worth?

I give you, The Germans and The Turk thus concluding with those above the intake of 2020.

https://i.imgur.com/mE8JlB8.png

https://i.imgur.com/kOybQJx.png

https://i.imgur.com/ABSRk3c.png

https://i.imgur.com/ULkS2hL.png

[Raoul Duke]

Immense 'tache on Luginger there for a 15-year-old

[John Arne]

In real football news, these are the new V.League dates. Cup game end of this month, league proper starts on 5th June (with crowds expected to be allowed, not yet confirmed)
:)

https://gyazo.com/9fb19d282a4edcb8bf4859c69e531cfe.jpeg

Edit: Posted this in the wrong fucking thread, haven't I.

[Pleb]

Naturally shagged the East Asian Cup because my main focus is primary not fucking up the World Cup qualifiers and having a go at the ANC.
A spot in the 2023 Nations Cup is secured by finishing top of a second round group in the World Cup qualifiers and not losing a single game up to that point. Finished third in the East Asian Cup somehow by not getting our bums fucked by South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong (though I was fucking SEETHING that we didn't beat them). Final Stage started and for us to get any chance of going to Qatar we need to finish 3rd for a playoff spot because somehow we lost our first three games to Uzbekistan, South Korea (twice naturally) and Iran :moop:

I dunno if using "Suggested Squads" for choosing the main squad list is the way to go but I seem to be using players with most stats averaging around 10 and/or under :sherlock:

[Smjffy]

1860 Munchen - Season 2020/2021



Season Summary

Just one win in our opening five league games suggested a season of struggle lay in wait and any hope of being distracted by a cup run were ended early doors as FC Augsburg knocked us out of the DFP-Pokal on penalties at the first hurdle.

As September got off underway though it was the solo strike of Niklas Lang that got our season back on track with a 1-0 with away at FC Heidenheim as we took 12 points from 12 to ease early concerns. Only two more defeats followed for 2020 which left us sitting comfortably in 4th place and an outside bet for a second successive promotion......but some cunts didn't get the message. WTF happened?



https://i.imgur.com/kxAxCLL.png

https://i.imgur.com/2JhaGOU.png

https://i.imgur.com/OLbPgO2.png

https://i.imgur.com/x7Hff3H.png


Class of 2020.

https://i.imgur.com/kADbaoe.png



I'll give you four 'Ones to Watch' that just come through but that's all I got at this early stage.

https://i.imgur.com/OWQ4tfD.png

https://i.imgur.com/BLkBzzB.png

https://i.imgur.com/uhqhfgW.png

https://i.imgur.com/j1EVYbD.png


I give you, The Germans and The Turk thus concluding with those above the intake of 2020.

https://i.imgur.com/mE8JlB8.png

https://i.imgur.com/kOybQJx.png

https://i.imgur.com/ABSRk3c.png

https://i.imgur.com/ULkS2hL.png


I can't help but rattle through the seasons on Touch so I am ahead of this post by maybe three seasons so more updates to come before I give a run down of who's who etc.

[Manc]

Nine games without a win must have been painful.

[Smjffy]

1860 Munchen - Season 2021/2022


Season Summary

I think if our squad had a bit more balance to it then we might have secured promotion this season but we kept dropping needless points throughout and just as it looked as though we would push on or take advantage of those above us slipping up. We never did though.

Noel Niemann topped the goal scoring charts both for the club and for the division but I do wonder where we would have been without him and although his strike partner Stefan Lex again grabbed double figures, he's the wrong side of his 30's to be considered a long term option.


https://i.imgur.com/6JWtbm8.png



https://i.imgur.com/es8JxYB.png

https://i.imgur.com/AojqvIG.png

https://i.imgur.com/LpaJuET.png


Class of 2021.

https://i.imgur.com/k2jQ8tT.png


https://i.imgur.com/R6uKxMV.png

https://i.imgur.com/eKx8HWo.png

https://i.imgur.com/UkKjGP8.png

https://i.imgur.com/vDMYjv3.png

[Manc]

The absolute state of Doda.

[Lofty]

Bit bored of my journeyman save at the moment, despite having got Brentford into the Prem. Think my struggles to sign a left back for three windows havent helped. May start a new save.

[Smjffy]

1860 Munchen - Season 2022/2023


Season Summary

After two seasons in the 2.Bundesliga it was time to bid farewell. Our steady rise throughout the campaign was clear throughout and the first team opportunities given to a number of youngsters allowed the supporters to see first hand that the clubs change in policy could yield results. Next season will be our first in the Bundesliga for the first time since twenty years and the future looks bright once more.



https://i.imgur.com/2TGkpsg.png

https://i.imgur.com/1JAkomW.png

https://i.imgur.com/M3812CS.png

https://i.imgur.com/LE0zqGS.png



Class of 2022.

https://i.imgur.com/n6IpTzY.png



https://i.imgur.com/y3KQCKa.png

https://i.imgur.com/91dzFDj.png

https://i.imgur.com/tvpIsEL.png

https://i.imgur.com/nVYY0mo.png

https://i.imgur.com/cgaE9Pm.png


One's To Watch

KLODIAN DODA

https://i.imgur.com/OT3TArQ.png


We knew when he first joined the club that we had something special and the bids we rejected on a regular basis suggests as much given the standard of clubs making the offers.

NUNI DERVISEVIC

https://i.imgur.com/Zz3ds8U.png


Klodian's PIC on occasions although I didn't risk them both all too often as I opted for the experience of Felix Weber and Aaron Berzel but both are nearing the end as far as their time at the club goes. I have less faith that he'll kick on but potentially he's a Bundesliga CB so we'll see.

HARALD LUGINGER

https://i.imgur.com/AFcHQu5.png


If points were won by what you could do with a ball then despite his early age Harald Luginger would probably win enough on his own but matches aren't a freestyle audition and so he needs to learn when and where to take chances.

NIKO JURIC

https://i.imgur.com/4rT52hf.png


With the 33 year old Stefan Lex likely to leave in the summer it was important to give Juric as much playing time as possible and although he never lit up the world in terms of goals, he shown enough to suggest that he'll link up great with Niemann next season.

[Smjffy]

Just one more season to update and then we are all upto date but since I just completed that one I am going to do a monster post so I can follow the same layout/structure going forward.

[Smjffy]

TSV 1860 Munchen - Season 2023/2024

https://i.imgur.com/PZIvlj8.png

Relegation in 2003/04 was a catastrophe for 1860 Munchen but few would have expected it to take twenty years before the Die Lowen returned.


https://i.imgur.com/WpueyJL.png
https://i.imgur.com/lYABs3D.png

The Results

https://i.imgur.com/AUfH7nG.png
https://i.imgur.com/XoAX8kD.png
https://i.imgur.com/9EgBXvu.png

https://i.imgur.com/hEXFrhc.png

We survived by the skin of our teeth in what was nothing more than a solid slog for survival and in another season we might very well have gone down had Dynamo Dresden not had Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz in their final three games. Our point against runners up RB Leipzig on the final day of the season ensured we had one final shot but prior to that we looked dead and buried. I had expected Hertha Berlin to put the final nail in the coffin but a certain someone had other ideas....

https://i.imgur.com/MHBdEIA.png

https://i.imgur.com/shN3gtx.png

The Great Escape?

https://i.imgur.com/DLZTjVc.png

MotY with a 25% win ratio. :cool: I'll take it.

The Casualties.

We might end up missing Hendrik Bonmann and the experience of a few others but the call has already been made that the following will leave the club before the summer gets underway as we look to go all in with our youngsters.

https://i.imgur.com/Hina4B6.png

The Future.

https://i.imgur.com/AbeNskI.png

Our current 15,000 stadium is clearly not enough but an increase of just 7,500 is disappointing.

https://i.imgur.com/yZglgbx.png

I hope Lewandowski might be OK.

The Class of 2023.

https://i.imgur.com/mCm3ZZN.png


https://i.imgur.com/fItpkkL.png

https://i.imgur.com/TTKFgda.png

https://i.imgur.com/zbI9aBB.png

https://i.imgur.com/jfIvVr3.png


Ones To Watch

KLODIAN DODA

https://i.imgur.com/57SUSPW.png


After breaking into the first team full time last season the youngest player to both play and score in 2.Bundesliga last season made the step up without much hassle and gained confidence after being selected for the Germany U21's who reached the European Championship final whilst claiming the U17 Players of the Year award.

HARALD LUGINGER

https://i.imgur.com/rUMdVJN.png


Although he was a regular in the squad it was largely down to our lack of options as opposed to me being overly comfortable with him. He's not ready for this level of football and unless he becomes more consistent then I doubt he will be in the future either.

GERHARD SAUER

https://i.imgur.com/axXrVdx.png


After hearing about the good things he had been doing in the Munchen II squad we felt obliged to give Gerhard a chance and he did himself no harm with a solid campaign. He should act as a reminder not to forget about those who get drafted to the II squad.

https://i.imgur.com/ibeFT96.png

NIKO JURIC

https://i.imgur.com/ZEmKIPV.png


I have to admit I was expecting a little bit more from Juric but the jump in quality compared to 2.Bundesliga is rather telling. Fortunately he has time on his side but perhaps a few adjustments to his role in the side might be needed.

NUNI DERVISEVIC

https://i.imgur.com/WqkcubC.png


I sympathise with Nuni since he's always going to look inferior to the clubs diamond in the rough Doda but he handled himself well enough given his inexperience. I hope this season was a good learning curve for him though as next season should be harder as our average age gets much younger.

ADRIAN BOCK

https://i.imgur.com/5AwXqop.png


I'm not too hopeful and he's playing way above his level in the few games he managed as at best he's a 3.Liga winger at this moment in time. He's ambitious which is nice but you do need talent as well.

(Sorry for the long posts but we're now up to date and I'll update as I go along.)

[Smjffy]

And they can fuck right off. :moop:

https://i.imgur.com/HVZhVN5.png


https://i.imgur.com/agOD5QY.png

[Smjffy]

1860 Munchen - Season 2024/25


Season Summary

With Stefan Lex retiring and the likes of Philippe Steinhart, Felix Weber and Quirin Moll all being released we knew that our experience was even more limited than last season as the 2024/25 campaign was the first in which we pretty much went all in with the youngsters.

https://i.imgur.com/Ya7UJmt.png
https://i.imgur.com/vnJOb5X.png

During the course of the season it was clear that a couple have been promoted too soon but I figured hands on experience is better than no experience and let's face it, the release of so many first teamers from last season meant I never really had a choice if they struggled or not. As it is, I was quite happy with our finish especially as we were 1/3 to be relegated and truth be told, I don't think we were once in a battle.

https://i.imgur.com/nd3aRML.png

https://i.imgur.com/Ee6Zjii.png

The Squad.

Goalkeepers

Aykut Ozcan is our first choice even though he's currently operating at 3. Liga level according to his report. He can and will be a Bundesliga goalkeeper in future. Or now, given he's our number #1. Soren Montag hasn't really had a chance other than reserve action.

Defenders

Klodian Doda now needs no introduction as simply put he's the clubs crown jewel although we need to improve over the next three years if he is to remain as the stubborn fuck won't renew his deal and the hefty minimum release clause still looms.

Nuni Dervisevic performed amicably throughout as his attributes are quite weak IMO whilst the same could probably be said for Stefan Birk who filled in at full back mostly. Niklas Lang, the clubs 4th choice CB was already at the club at the start of the game and his moment has long gone. Malte Itter is clearly rated by Germany as numerous clubs sniffed around but the season came way too soon for him but he got his minutes. Leon Klassen who's probably our second best defender continued to be solid if not spectacular.

Midfielders

We relied a lot on Dennis Dressel and Efkan Bekiroglu in the middle of the park and to be honest we might have fared a little worse without them. Gerhard Sauer improved whilst Sander Smeets started the season well before fading in the second half. The surprise(s) however was Harald Luginger scoring 8 as he was shifted here, there and everywhere as well as wing back. Adrian Bock covered the left wing as we changed formation, a position our main strike Noel Niemann eventually took over but 4 goals in 7(5) was a promising return. Johann Ngounou Djayo will most likely be leaving in the summer as he's far too injury prone and I hope to get Konstantin Blatter a few more minutes.

Forwards

Noel Niemann had been our main striker from the start but it was felt he was stopping Niko Juric from scoring more so Noel shifted to the left wing and Niko was asked to be the goal getter. Just four in the league suggests we have more work to do. Klaus Balke only got four starts himself but he's still doing well in the reserves with ten goals and 15 assists. I'm hoping him and Juric can link up soon.

Other:

Admir Hodzic started 9 league games before a decision to loan him out was made in January and he joined Turkish side Trabzonspor in what proved to be a positive move.

Others loaned out included Mario Birnbacher, Robert Buchtmann and Frederic Horn as all three needed minutes according to one of the coaches.

The Class of 2024

https://i.imgur.com/Bqu9Ujr.png

https://i.imgur.com/uMrDaCq.png

https://i.imgur.com/89Jsfwq.png

https://i.imgur.com/Llte9hM.png

https://i.imgur.com/xXUqhOb.png

[Raoul Duke]

Good write-ups, Smiffy. Enjoying this :thbup:

[Manc]

Good write-ups, Smiffy. Enjoying this :thbup:

Echo this. YDWAWK saves always make for top reads. John's effort with Dinamo Zagreb springs to mind.

Marching on with Scotland and we went from one failed qualifying campaign to another in quite spectacular style. The draw was kind, Italy were the top seeds followed by Bulgaria, N Ireland, Liechtenstein & San Marino. A second place finish was achievable, it was a must. It was a disaster, one that featured perhaps the darkest day in Scottish football history as the 12th June '23 saw us lose 2-1 in San Marino. My mutual consent speech was at the ready, but the vultures never came, neither from the FA nor the national media. Only managing to secure two points on the road, we finished a lowly third in behind the dominant Italians and plucky Bulgarians. All hope was not lost however, as yet again we qualified for one of the final four spots, this time Denmark standing in our way. The game was scrappy and tensions boiled over when with 15 minutes to spare Ryan Jack threw an elbow, straight red. Extra time was upon us, but not before Andy Robertson missed an open goal, albeit from 40 yards. The Danes struggled to take advantage of the extra body as we dug in with penalties a mere moments away. 121 minutes on the clock and a whipped cross bounced off Robertson and into the back of the net. Another tournament missed.

Rightly or wrongly the FA stuck by their man and we head into North America 2026 with renewed optimism having drawn Turkey, Switzerland, Hungary & Luxembourg.

The runners and riders:

Goalkeeper - After McGregor and Gordon became ancient, the path was cleared for Celtic's Scott Bain to become our No1. After his clanger in Athens I was forced to drop him, but he has improved with time and is now a steady hand. He is however 33 which means the gloves may change once again. Archie Mair is yet to make waves, so the job may fall to MacGillivray, Archer or Celtic academy graduate, Kerr Sandison.

Defence - Robertson(c) will continue to occupy the left flank with Anthony Ralston on the right. It's in the centre of defence were places are up for grabs. Previous years have seen a Bates-Hanley-Cooper partnership. With the latter two now 33+, the likes of Ryan Porteous (Hibs), JD Linden (Hearts), Scott McKenna (Celtic), George Johnston (Feyenoord), Liam Lindsay (Rangers) may cement a place in the eleven.

Midfield - McGinn, McGregor & Jack will more than likely join the over the hill club in the coming season. Current inhabitants include John Fleck, Kenny McLean, Stuart Armstrong & Tom Cairney. Behind these wise old heads perhaps lies our most promise as a footballing nation; Billy Gilmour, Allan Campbell, Ryan Anderson, Harry Cochrane, Connor Barron, Marc Leonard and our greatest hope, Jonathan Bradley. Bradley, a product of Dundee Utd was snapped up by Spurs for £11.75m after lighting up the SPL as a teenager and has shone in his 11 caps for the national side.

Attack - For the last few years it has remained one of McBurnie, Hornby & Mebude. With only 14 goals in 97 caps combined, I'm desperate for alternatives. Hearts prospect Brodie Service may be the one to watch.

[Smjffy]

Cheers chaps. I'm really enjoying it too although I wish FM was the reason for such late nights. :D

I really wish I had the full version now but I do love flying through the seasons and 'telling the story' as I hammer space bar. If we survive this season then I've got a mega mega post coming as next season we move into our new stadium. :drool:

[Smjffy]

Actually as a thought, anyone care to direct me in the way of sorting out my backroom staff? I lost my assistant manager a couple of months ago and I had just left him to put together the boot room. He got poached but our current AssMan is Lars Bender. :cool:

[Smjffy]

https://i.imgur.com/Ubej49b.png

:drool: Please be a good LB

[Raoul Duke]

Scottish

Where's McTominay in all this?

[Manc]

He doesn't fit into the system. Forrest another casualty of my stubbornness.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I honestly didn't think it was possible to lose to San Marino, unless Indoctrin is somehow back at the helm and Cristiano Ronaldo fathered sextuplets during a day trip to Serravalle.

[Smjffy]

TSV 1860 München - Season 2025/2026


Season Summary

Our third season in the Bundesliga and the third season in which we were tipped to go down. If the media were to be believed then it was going to be a threesome between ourselves, FC Heidenheim and FC Augsburg for the drop.

We would actually entertain FC Augsburg at home on the opening game of the season, our final season at Grünwalder Stadion and entertain we did with a 3-0 win thanks to a hat-trick by Niko Juric who matched his tally from the whole of last season on game day one.

Relegation candidates indeed. Our next match was away to Werder Bremen and Klause Balke was quick off the mark to give us a 1-0 lead before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat. Defeats were the theme of the day thereafter as we lost our next three, conceding 11 times in the process. :moop:

As we readied ourselves to face Hannover at the end of September we knew we needed to change things and we did this by reverting to a bog standard 4-4-2 which paid dividends immediately with wins over Hannover 96 and Mainz 05. It's fair to say that the change suited us as our form and results improved thereafter.

https://i.imgur.com/9i38Mxl.png

Our 7th place finish was impressive and secured European football initially with the club qualifying for the Europa Conference League.

https://i.imgur.com/aP5kElF.png

But UEL isn't the Conference League,.....oh, I know.....I know. I think whoever lives beneath me now knows too. The top three are just too damn good and in total we must have conceded at least 25-30 of our 70 goals against them alone but how close is that?! Painful to be Leverkusen or Dortmund.

DFB-Pokal


https://i.imgur.com/7zI7FpJ.png
https://i.imgur.com/wY5tLOb.png



We slapped FC Duren 7-0 in the first round but went into the second knowing that there was a very real chance that Borussia Dortmund could do the same to us.

But.

https://i.imgur.com/ySWhlQJ.png

To late late goals from Niemann ensured it was party time. We don't beat the big boys all too often.

https://i.imgur.com/wRWVlsR.png

Hertha came and went in the third but despite the scoreline we were pretty fortunate at times.

https://i.imgur.com/aOLs1GN.png

We knew we wouldn't be drawing Bayern Munich in the quarter finals as they were knocked out early doors and so we hoped to avoid Bayer Leverkusen. As it happens we drew 3.Liga side Jahn Regensburg and our passage to the semi's was pretty straight forward.

https://i.imgur.com/dsL7CBg.png

Which we did by drawing and beating 2.Bundesliga side Fortuna with the man, the le....nope, more to come later because Doda is an absolute cunt as it turns out but no one cared as the players danced late into the night after reaching the final. Inevitably we would face and get trounced by Leverkusen again, the unfortunate runners up had scored six times against us in both league games.

But...

But..

Mainz had other ideas!

https://i.imgur.com/T2dmvSK.png

Holy shit! Honours?!

https://i.imgur.com/ZBTGslO.png

:drool: You bet cha.

---------------------------------------

https://i.imgur.com/Rca7huf.png

Ha. Serves him right. I'm going to miss him.

https://i.imgur.com/iAxbMyN.png

https://i.imgur.com/7jyKPuC.png

:D

https://i.imgur.com/gkV9sbX.png

End of Season Awards

https://i.imgur.com/K53IgBP.png


The Squad.


https://i.imgur.com/fIMK0Vj.png
https://i.imgur.com/t6R3nN7.png


Buzzin'. Next season we've got European football as we move into our new stadium. Pre-season Mega Post up soon.

[Shindig]

Should've Germanified your name. Timo Schmidt.

[Baz]

Quick, give yourself an amusing nickname in case they name the stadium after you.

[Lofty]

Don't they let you pick what you want to call the stadium? First season in the Prem going shite so far :D got a 37 year old Mo Salah on a free, tried for De Gea too but he went to Everton instead. Highlight of the save has to be Son Heung-Min bagging a hat trick against Sunderland on the last day of the Championship before retiring.

[Adramelch]

Just had a goal disallowed for offside, and in the replay the red line was on the defenders and the yellow line on the attacker (who seemingly didn't even touch the ball). Such a weird bug. :D

[Pleb]

A spot in the 2023 Nations Cup is secured by finishing top of a second round group in the World Cup qualifiers and not losing a single game up to that point. Finished third in the East Asian Cup somehow by not getting our bums fucked by South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong (though I was fucking SEETHING that we didn't beat them). Final Stage started and for us to get any chance of going to Qatar we need to finish 3rd for a playoff spot because somehow we lost our first three games to Uzbekistan, South Korea (twice naturally) and Iran :moop:
So after losing four on the bounce we somehow get a run going and almost qualify automatically for Qatar but instead went through the playoffs :drool:

Destroyed UAE 4-1 in the AFC section then went on to dick New Zealand 5-1 before ultimately finishing last in the World Cup proper to USA, Spain and Turkey :moop:

[Kikó]

https://www.theguardian.com/football...er-use-of-name

Manchester United is suing the makers of the Football Manager series for allegedly infringing its trademark by using the club’s name “extensively throughout the game”.

The English Premier League club has taken legal action against Sega Publishing and Sports Interactive (SI), the publisher and developer of the popular football management simulation.

The club also argues that Sega and SI have infringed its trademark over its logo by not using the official Manchester United crest in the game, instead “replacing the club crest with a simplified red and white striped logo”.

United claims this “deprives the registered proprietor of its right to have the club crest licensed”.

Sega and SI say the use of the club’s name is “a legitimate reference to the Manchester United football team in a football context” and has been used in Football Manager and its predecessor Championship Manager since 1992 “without complaint by the claimant”.

The companies have accused the club of trying to “prevent legitimate competition in the video games field by preventing parties not licensed by the claimant from using the name of the Manchester United football team within such games”.

At a preliminary remote hearing on Friday, Manchester United’s barrister Simon Malynicz QC said “the name ‘Manchester United’ is one of the world’s most valuable and recognised brands”.

He said the money clubs made from licensing their names and logos was “very significant” and “the products and services that are licensed by the claimant benefit from an association with the club’s winning culture and its brand values”.

Malynicz argued, in relation to the alleged infringement of the trademark on United’s logo, that “consumers expect to see the club crest next to the name Manchester United ... and this failure to do so amounts to wrongful use”.

He accepted this argument was “somewhat novel, and certainly in the context of video games, but it is certainly arguable”.

The barrister asked Mr Justice Morgan to allow the club to amend its claim against Sega and SI to include allegations involving “the practice of supplying ‘patches’ or ‘mods’, essentially downloadable files containing replica trademarks, which consumers then incorporate into the game”.

Malynicz argued Sega and SI “encouraged” the use of patches supplied by third parties “by promoting the patch providers in various ways and, of course, they directly benefited from it by avoiding the need to take any licence and enjoying increased sales of their game”.

Roger Wyand QC, representing the defendants, opposed the club’s application to amend the claim.

In their written defence to United’s claim, Sega and SI said: “The claimant has acquiesced in the use by the defendants of the name of the Manchester United football team in the Football Manager game and cannot now complain of such use.”

Wyand argued the “simplified” club badge used in the game was “one of 14 generic logo templates that is randomly chosen by the Football Manager game engine each time a new game is started” and “clearly indicates that the use of the [logo of] Manchester United is not licensed by the claimant”.

Sega and SI said preventing them using Manchester United’s name “would amount to an unreasonable restraint on the right to freedom of expression to restrain the use of the words ‘Manchester United’ to refer to a team in a computer game”.

Wyand pointed out that “copies of the game have also been sent by SI to a number of officials and players at the [club] for a number of years and there have been a number of positive press comments and tweets about the game by them”.

He added: “Further, the claimant’s staff working in the data analytics and scouting teams have contacted SI on various occasions asking for access to the Football Manager database for scouting and research purposes.”

The QC concluded “there is no likelihood of confusion or damage to the claimant’s EU trademarks ... caused by the defendants’ activities”.

Morgan reserved his judgment on United’s application to amend its claim to a later date.

[Smjffy]

I can imagine a large portion of Man United fans would be fuming with that, let alone anyone else.

Out of curiosity, has anyone used the create a club option on Touch? It’s unlimited seasons isn’t it?

I was toying with it and I have two options in that I create a club and do YDWAWK starting at Conference South with zero staff players etc or I add an affiliate and I was tempted to do Qatar SC who would supply £10M a year as we sportswash our way to success.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Isn't it great free publicity for them and every other club?

Or are they just addicted to wanking money on lawyers for the sake of it?

[Manc]

57 games, 25 victories, 19 defeats & 13 draws, enough was enough. Failure to reach a successive World Cup saw me and the Scottish FA part ways and I hold no grudge. We were given a dream of a qualifying group yet couldn't take advantage. It was a tentative start as we drew our opening three games v Turkey, Luxembourg & Switzerland. A 2-1 defeat in Istanbul left us in a perilous position, but we redeemed ourselves with back to back wins scoring 6 goals in the process. Any chance of qualification now required a maximum 6 points from our remaining games, Hungary (H), Swiss (A). We drew both fixtures and subsequently finished third.

I left the job with a 43.86% win rate leaving me sandwiched in history between Walter Smith & Craig Brown. Greater quality in the business end of pitch and I'm confident we would have qualified for this World Cup and the Euros prior. Ah well.

https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44665000/jpg/_44665425_waltersmith_craigbrown.jpg

I've really enjoyed the pace of international management and may have another stab in my next venture.

[Mike]

Not posted much lately, but Southport is going well...
https://i.postimg.cc/3wQHZ199/E37-E4088-33-C9-4224-A058-AB576-F4-ECD18.png

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've been playing 19 a bit (assuming the match engine is more or less identical on 20 so not bothering to buy it) and whilst it's good fun, some of the stuff that happens is ludicrous. I've done a half season and I've had goals scored for or against me in the following ways:

- Keeper dribbling 30 yards out with his side 2-1 up in the 93rd minute, being tackled and conceding
- Keeper launching a clearance into an onrushing attacker and the ricochet dribbling in
- A glancing header just being totally ignored by the goalkeeper as it bounces three times before trickling off the post into an empty net
- A free kick bouncing down off the bar, off the keeper's arse and in

I know these things could all happen IRL, but they seem to happen every second game because the match engine is incapable of getting the players to be aware of where the ball is so they spend half the time in a fog with it bouncing off their arses.

[mugbull]

I've been playing 19 a bit (assuming the match engine is more or less identical on 20 so not bothering to buy it) and whilst it's good fun, some of the stuff that happens is ludicrous. I've done a half season and I've had goals scored for or against me in the following ways:

- Keeper dribbling 30 yards out with his side 2-1 up in the 93rd minute, being tackled and conceding
- Keeper launching a clearance into an onrushing attacker and the ricochet dribbling in
- A glancing header just being totally ignored by the goalkeeper as it bounces three times before trickling off the post into an empty net
- A free kick bouncing down off the bar, off the keeper's arse and in

I know these things could all happen IRL, but they seem to happen every second game because the match engine is incapable of getting the players to be aware of where the ball is so they spend half the time in a fog with it bouncing off their arses.

The systemic stuff annoys me more I think, like how strikers can almost always run past defenders, who always seem to run towards where the ball was half a second ago. This results in an absurd number of one on ones, which the creators have made unbelievably difficult to score in an effort to prevent what would otherwise be constant 10-goal games

EDIT: Oh, and first time volleys from the edge of / outside of the box go in with stunning regularity

[Mike]

Full backs running alone the byline, then shooting at an impossible angle instead of playing a simple pass for a tap in the ultimate annoyance for me. Just pass!

[Dark Soldier]

Just play the below and win everything

https://i.gyazo.com/925965b5f71a30fc6685df2a9f2dfe10.png

Myself and some other dude been working on the idea for a while on Discord

[Manc]

Three playmakers and not a ball winner in sight. Mental.

[mugbull]

There’s always a tactic like that on every FM, just overload with attacking players and you’ll do really well, even if you’re not a great team. Kinda puts paid to all those “strategy guides” that break down how to structure your team for success and always promote balance, when you could do way better if you forgot all of that and just went kamikaze

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't be arsed with that. Just put some shitkickers in my own functional formation and hope to break the ensuing 0-0 stalemates.

I'm in the Hungarian league (Ferencvaros) and it really is great. Every oppo team has 10 peasants and a single overweight African centre forward. My key player is a 37 year old Brazilian whose natural position is 'libero', like we're in 1993.

[Lofty]

Dusted off my old PC (state of the art in 2010) and downloaded FM20, loaded all leagues, pressed go then wandered off to do the washing up.

It's still thinking about it.

[wullie]

I'm in 2030 now as Cov. Made it to the PL in three seasons and then slowly crept up the division to be a solid top 3 contender. Won fuck all bar a League One trophy in the first season but I have lost an FA Cup and Europa League final which has been rewarded with a 50500-seater stadium that they're currently looking to build. If it's not named after me I walk.

[Lofty]

Good effort that!

Started a true Journeyman save today, Sunday League footballer with no qualifications, every league running. Start my career with Shanghai Shenxin in Chinese National League 1. No money and expected to be relegated, they appear to have a a decent set of young players but the chances of tying them down on long term contracts are slim. Turned down jobs in Indonesia for this, let's see if it was the right choice.

[Adramelch]

I'm just using the formation I've been using for a good 5-10 years in FM, a 4-1-2-2-1, focusing play down the wings, slow tempo, attacking mentality and it always does the job in a fairly unrealistic (last 6 seasons I have 3 CL wins, 1 final and 2 semifinal appearances with Atletico, Liverpool and Dortmund) yet non game-breaking way. It's just a fairly easy game once you get going.

By the way, do you think they're ever going to fix the 1-on-1 shitness of attackers? I'm 99.9% sure they keep it like that (although they did improve it significantly in 20.2 or whenever it was) because they can't make a match engine that's not easily broken by players. So they let you have a gazillion chances, but counteract it with abysmal conversion.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It isn't really a problem in the dogshit league I'm playing in, so I think what causes it is the super-strikers in the game are just too good for the defences that they are able to programme.

Straight one on ones I am always astounded when my man scores, you generally need some kind of angle or late pass to have the keeper out of position before it goes in the net.

[wullie]

I'm not sure if this is my profile or Barry Bennell

https://i.imgur.com/xDKBoZF.png

[Ian]

By the way, do you think they're ever going to fix the 1-on-1 shitness of attackers? I'm 99.9% sure they keep it like that (although they did improve it significantly in 20.2 or whenever it was) because they can't make a match engine that's not easily broken by players. So they let you have a gazillion chances, but counteract it with abysmal conversion.

I'd long since decided it's a combination of making up for the shonky match engine they refuse to re-do (because that's what it needs) and partly to make watching matches more "exciting." Probably the same reason every strikes turns into fucking Pele in the following two situations:

1) When they're going to be whistled offside. No striker in FM strikes a ball more perfectly, regardless of angle, when they're about to be offside. Your striker who hasn't scored in 10 games and misses every chance going? He will turn into an absolute goalscoring God provided it's not going to count.

2) When they're an opposing striker against the player team.

It had been that way for years by the time it came to 2015 (the last one I played) and it sounds like this is still the case. And why would SI change it when they know people will buy the game every year anyway?

[Dark Soldier]

You can no edit aspects of the match engine to try and sort that somewhat anyway. Just make the GKs worse and you score more, but then you concede more. I've tried a few out.

[Ian]

Interesting. How flexible is it? If some nerd hasn't basically used it to do SI's job for them then I'd say that confirms the match engine is in fact just knacked.

[Lofty]

Surprised how many game skins are hosted on dodgy 'install this toolbar first' sites and irritated to see a lot of sites have removed links for logo packs etc due to copyright fears. I am also looking for a nice face pack for existing players but I am fussy and would prefer it not to be one showing their current kit in the picture. Are kit packs worth getting?

[Jimmy Floyd]

The logo pack I have seems to be minus Man U and no other club, which makes me think Ed Woodward has dark agents patrolling the inside of my laptop removing copyrighted material.

[Ian]

Has it been replaced with Man Red?

[Ian]

This has just brought to mind a football game I had for some console or another (I'd say Dreamcast or the Gamecube) where they'd just hidden the real names behind an options menu cheat. :D

It wasn't a FIFA or PES (I don't think it was Worldwide Soccer either but I could be wrong) so I wonder if it was some shambolic devs who genuinely didn't realise the names were licensed until they were near release.

[Dark Soldier]

Interesting. How flexible is it? If some nerd hasn't basically used it to do SI's job for them then I'd say that confirms the match engine is in fact just knacked.

Not that flexible, you can basically edit physicality and goalkeeper reactions/distribution.

Here's the vid of it done to the extreme, halfway through for the mental shit:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbn-4RK5Sww

[Ian]

Interesting that as well as fiddling with the match engine they decided to improve Pereira as well.

[Shindig]

This has just brought to mind a football game I had for some console or another (I'd say Dreamcast or the Gamecube) where they'd just hidden the real names behind an options menu cheat. :D

It wasn't a FIFA or PES (I don't think it was Worldwide Soccer either but I could be wrong) so I wonder if it was some shambolic devs who genuinely didn't realise the names were licensed until they were near release.

I kind of miss PES' fake names. At least the ones they put the effort into. I don't even remember them naming Aston Villa 'Dublin' but apparently they did. :D

[Gray Fox]

If you have any logo packs from previous versions, carry them over. Looking for older ones might help too.

[Baz]

Why doesn’t one of you just upload them for everyone else?

EDIT: Does this work? (https://drive.google.com/open?id=1J5hAfNJoIEgJozzxkQRLhwL7IxJWCoNp) I’ve left it uploading.

[Smjffy]

I've just come to load up my FM save titled "Munchen" and I'm the manager of London City FC. I've only fucking saved over it when I tried the create a club thing. :cry:

I just don't know any more FML

[Gray Fox]

3 file rolling, weekly auto-save should be a default setting.

[Smjffy]

3 file rolling, weekly auto-save should be a default setting.

As it happens, as far as settings go, I have to reduce the to 85% so I can see all of the skin properly which I am fine with but any idea why it never saves? Every time I load FM I have to go back to preferences, change it so it rebuilds skin.

I've cleared cache and tried different skin but it's the same thing?

[wullie]

On my creaky PC I have to turn the graphics quality to the lowest setting to avoid the match engine running at 2fps, one sacrifice it makes is to remove the crowd entirely. I'm ahead of my time

https://i.imgur.com/8zctyJg.png

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nice touch with the bin in the background, a sparkling design and colour scheme. If you turn the graphics back up you'll also be able to see Miles Jacobson's dignity inside it.

[Spikey M]

I've just come to load up my FM save titled "Munchen" and I'm the manager of London City FC. I've only fucking saved over it when I tried the create a club thing. :cry:

I just don't know any more FML

Do you not have a back up save you can fall back on?

[Smjffy]

Do you not have a back up save you can fall back on?

I love you. :D Game on!!

https://i.imgur.com/ELVxByd.png

[Spikey M]

:cool:

[Smjffy]

Hmm. Now I have a decision, really.

The latest it saved is just after the 1st leg of the Europa League 1st knock out round but I ended up getting knocked out in the 2nd leg against Lyon and I'm 5 points behind 5th place in league which is closer than we were as it was all falling apart near the end of the season as I was in April when I last saved on my 'Munchen' file. That's irritating.

[Ian]

Most recent save. :dc:

[Smjffy]

Huh??

[Ian]

I thought you were debating which of two save files to pick up from, am I misreading like a twat?

[Smjffy]

Oh no, the other back up file isn't Munchen. I was in April the last time I saved so it means replaying nearly two months of games. I'm fine with that but if I do better/worse than I did on the initial save then it's going to feel a bit...I don't know the word I'm after. I even get the chance to keep Klodian Doda. It just ruins it a little bit for the story I tell in my mind when I play the game. I mean, I'm not the only one who interviews myself as I play, am I? :D

EDIT: I say worse, I can't really get much worse than how our sudden collapse was.

[Spikey M]

I'd holiday through 2 months. Then your hands are clean.

[Ian]

Oh no, the other back up file isn't Munchen. I was in April the last time I saved so it means replaying nearly two months of games. I'm fine with that but if I do better/worse than I did on the initial save then it's going to feel a bit...I don't know the word I'm after. I even get the chance to keep Klodian Doda. It just ruins it a little bit for the story I tell in my mind when I play the game. I mean, I'm not the only one who interviews myself as I play, am I? :D

EDIT: I say worse, I can't really get much worse than how our sudden collapse was.

Ohhhh, I see. Yeah replaying stuff (even if it's gone badly) always feels like a grind.

I'd do what Spikey said. Or just rattle through the games with zero highlights etc. and minimum effort.

[Smjffy]

Ohhhh, I see. Yeah replaying stuff (even if it's gone badly) always feels like a grind.

I'd do what Spikey said. Or just rattle through the games with zero highlights etc. and minimum effort.

I did that and I'm three points behind 5th. It's over. :( I just can't get back into it now I know, it really does ruin the entire save.

I'll come up with something else. Sorry to those that enjoyed it.

[Spikey M]

In more important news; how are you Smiff?

[Smjffy]

I'm OK thanks. I'll wait until Monday to be back home, do my isolating and then when viable start looking further into a few things health wise and what I can do to get out of the financial mess etc. I think it's been a bit of a wake up call to get my shit together in all aspects of my life. On the plus side, I'm finally going to get to see it!. #LFC

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2019/20

The Squad.

https://i.imgur.com/bA2kHlo.png


Summary.

We kicked off the summer by raiding the transfer market for loan deals as we sought to strengthen from the off and it's fair to say we managed that, especially in Fabio Tavares and Reon Potts who scored freely up front whilst both our wingers Kyran Wiltshire and Ben Allen posting double figures meant we weren't short on goals but conceding 44 meant they were needed.

https://i.imgur.com/4U9H25X.png

Our form throughout the campaign was quite steady but it was the twelve match winning streak at the beginning of September that confirmed we were promotion contenders however it was always going to be via the playoffs as league leaders Wealdstone made a mockery of the division. Just 17 goals conceded too which was quite impressive at this level. Although we eventually finished 4th, taking just one point out of 15 during the busy months of March and April made things harder than they probably needed to be but boded well for the actual playoffs.

We drew Dulwich Hamlet in the first round and a 2-0 win was enough to progress. Welling United came up next only to be undone by a solo strike courtesy of Ben Allen. Billericay Town lay in wait as we looked to secure promotion at the first time of asking but as we had shown during the season, we don't half make life hard for ourselves.

Oxford City V Billericay Town

Wembley would have been awesome but Court Place Farm was the venue which gave us confidence until of course Jack Burroughs and Doug Loft had given the away side a 2-0 lead after half an hour and our chance looked gone. I waltzed down to the dressing room early in preparation to dish out a bollocking until I heard the distinctive cheer that was certainly our own supporters. Had we pulled one back? Two minutes later I heard it again and then the players flooded in. We had made it 2-2 before half time!

The second half was less frantic but when Ben Allen struck after 70'minutes the non-existent roof was blown off the stadium. Promotion!

Or was it?! As we headed into stoppage time Billercay launched one final attack and then it happened. Femi Akinwande levelling the scores once more. Heart ache! Extra time it would be and the lads were fucked physically.

Well, everyone except Reece Fleet who smashed one in from 25 yards in the first half of extra time to secure the win. Yes!

https://i.imgur.com/WYEeF1i.png

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - Newhaven were our opponents in the 2nd qualifying round and came away with a 2-0 win. Yate were up next and got battered by five without reply. Bromley were the last hurdle to reach the first round proper and a 4-1 win secured just that. I wasn't too bothered who we would face next so long as it was away and they had a decent sized stadium but we drew Walsall who would visit us and I expected that to be that. As it is Reon Potts grabbed his magical moment as we stole a draw against the League Two side. We secured a replay! It must have drained the players because our following game in the league we didn't just get beat, we didn't just get battered, we got absolutely raped by Weymouth...8-0! Great warm up before the replay which we ended up losing by a goal to nil.

FA Trophy - In the space of ten days we lost to Weymouth by eight, lost to Walsall and then followed it up with an 8-2 victory away to Cirencester to put us through to the 1st round but again we rattled in the goals with a 6-0 win against Margate. Was further success on the cards? Concord Rangers did their best to say no by taking us to a replay in the 2nd round, 2-2 draw at their ground was followed by a 3-1 win at ours but Solihull Motors ended our run in the next round.

Finances

https://i.imgur.com/vyYL1yo.png

Next Season

The aim is a rapid rise through the divisions with the ultimate goal to be not only the biggest club in England but also the most successful whilst long term taking Real Madrid's Champions League record total would be pleasing.*

*On touch it seems you unlock stuff so I have activated the No Sacking one as well as making all players interested and scouting up to 100 players in a day. I also notice there's a golden generation which I am going to activate when the club has proper facilities to get the most out of it so maybe if and when we get to the top flight.

Long update but I'll do my best to ensure all follow the same layout and as I get a more consistent squad I can start detail more about the players but it's pretty pointless at this stage. Game on.
"

[Jimmy Floyd]

A modest ambition.

[Mike]

My Southport boys have just beat Newcastle to go 5th in the Championship after 35 games. I'm legit thinking of getting a Southport shirt.

[Gray Fox]

This is all making me want to load up a save of the local team here and take them to the top.

Downside is, I've never done proper LLM before. I tend to get bored quickly once you hit the winning everything stage. I'd hope spending 10 or so seasons just to get to the Prem would solve that.

[Mike]

Get on it, I’m on the brink of the Premier League and have you to pay for a player!

[Smjffy]

This is all making me want to load up a save of the local team here and take them to the top.

Downside is, I've never done proper LLM before. I tend to get bored quickly once you hit the winning everything stage. I'd hope spending 10 or so seasons just to get to the Prem would solve that.

Do it. It's high time this thread got some serious action.

[Spikey M]

What's LLM? Lower League Manager?

[Gray Fox]

Lower league management.

I suppose I'll check if they're even in the game.

[Gray Fox]

I'd be using FM19 as there's little difference in the two I think.

Though saying that, the games default database goes down to the Vanarama North/South(level 6). I need the next level down, the Northern Premier League.

[Spikey M]

You can download League expansion packs easy enough. I tried a tier 14 one once, but it took about half an hour to process each match day so I fucked that off quick time.

[Baz]

I'd be using FM19 as there's little difference in the two I think.

Though saying that, the games default database goes down to the Vanarama North/South(level 6). I need the next level down, the Northern Premier League.
If you can be really arsed, you can holiday the first season over and over again until they get promoted.

There used to be a challenge every year on the sigames forum where you managed the team who came up and try to get as high as possible. The game who made it used to upload saves each with different teams promoted. I remember cos I did one with Skelmersdale cos it’s close (and a shit hole) and was glad he did the hard work for me.

Edit: here you go https://community.sigames.com/topic/449347-dafuges-fm19-challenge/?do=findComment&comment=11538287

Any of these your local team?

Save 6a1 Kettering, Halesowen, Whitehawk, Kingstonian, Stalybridge, Basford (39)
Save 6a2 Salisbury, Basingstoke, Kingstonian, Bishop's Stortford, Matlock, Workington (40)
Save 6a3 Salisbury, Hendon, Chesham, Stourbridge, Bishop's Stortford, Workington (41)

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2020/21

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/SCETbaV.png


Summary

No fewer than 23 new arrivals joined the club in the summer as wholesale changes were made in anticipating for a second successive promotion and again it was the loaned players who did much of the business. Virgil Gomis and Saikou Janneh ensuring goals came as freely as last season, 115 of them in total whilst defensively our against total was reduced by half with just 35 conceded. We were rampant from start to finish and as the league graph below suggests, we were clear winners in a record breaking season. It is hoped both will extend their loan deals for next season especially Forest striker, Virgil.

114 points became a Vanarama National League record, as was the goals for but it was the surprising form of Josh Ashby that stood out as he broke records for most assists in a season, highest average rating and most MotM awards. I will try and keep him for a while purely so we can create one or two club legends as those already listed aren't in the game.

https://i.imgur.com/TGFEGb5.png

Over 12 times through the campaign we hit a team for four or more and it was telling that last seasons Conference South champions, Wealdstone found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-0 win in front of their own supporters.

https://i.imgur.com/87v7XgQ.png

Oldham were actually 2/1 favourites to get promoted whilst we were 5/2 so it was no great surprise that we managed to do so. Perhaps Yeovil being predicted to finish 3rd was though, not the prediction but the eventual 16th place finish.

https://i.imgur.com/fVPckDL.png

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - We successfully defeated Dartford in the qualifying round to to go into the first round proper and with Hereford pulled out during the draw we fancied our chances as they were a league below us. This confidence was rewarded with a 3-1 away win to set up a tie against Sutton United and another relatively straight forward win. 2-0, our third win against them including the league victories. 3rd round and obviously the hope was for a big club away from home and we got that to an extent by drawing Newcastle United.

Was there FA Cup magic? Close but no cigar. Joelinton's first half strike in front of 25,000 after 22"minutes put to bed any hope of that and Ilounga Pata's red card in the second half just sealed it. We got a decent income as a result but as you'll see further below, it was an expensive season. (All financial shots are taken on 30th May)

FA Trophy - Another opportunity in a domestic cup but we always deemed it a throw away competition and the teams fielded reflected that. A 1-0 win away to Harrogate set up a fixture against Kidderminster who we were fortunate to draw 1-1 with. We fancied our chances in the replay but they surprised us by defeating us 3-2. We were 3-0 down at one point too which was disappointing.

https://i.imgur.com/0IjVkVa.png

Next Season

We most definitely won't be bringing in all that many and the intention is to steal released youngsters from Premier League clubs so we can develop them ourselves and sell on as despite the turnover in playing staff, we still hadn't spent a penny on an actual transfer fee and probably won't until we reach the Championship. I imagine the current squad is good enough to challenge in League Two if this season was anything to go by.

Good fun though.

[Gray Fox]

If you can be really arsed, you can holiday the first season over and over again until they get promoted.

There used to be a challenge every year on the sigames forum where you managed the team who came up and try to get as high as possible. The game who made it used to upload saves each with different teams promoted. I remember cos I did one with Skelmersdale cos it’s close (and a shit hole) and was glad he did the hard work for me.

Edit: here you go https://community.sigames.com/topic/449347-dafuges-fm19-challenge/?do=findComment&comment=11538287

Any of these your local team?

Save 6a1 Kettering, Halesowen, Whitehawk, Kingstonian, Stalybridge, Basford (39)
Save 6a2 Salisbury, Basingstoke, Kingstonian, Bishop's Stortford, Matlock, Workington (40)
Save 6a3 Salisbury, Hendon, Chesham, Stourbridge, Bishop's Stortford, Workington (41)

My team isn't there but it is on one of the beta saves he has listed. I assume that'll work fine?

[Spikey M]

https://www.fmscout.com/a-fm19-database-england-lower-leagues.html

[Baz]

My team isn't there but it is on one of the beta saves he has listed. I assume that'll work fine?

I reckon. Just the database mightn’t be as upto date but who cares if you’re signing Kevin Watson from Marks & Spencer’s?

[Gray Fox]

Save file looks good, but it does have 53 leagues loaded. I'll go on add/remove and get rid of all but the English ones and that should sort it.

[Spikey M]

I'm not sure you can until the end of the current season?

[Adramelch]

You can't, no.

[Baz]

Save file looks good, but it does have 53 leagues loaded. I'll go on add/remove and get rid of all but the English ones and that should sort it.

Why would he do that! :cab:

[Spikey M]

Maybe he works at CERN.

[Smjffy]

Maybe he works at CERN.

:drool: The things I would do for a machine capable enough to run every league in the world whilst maintaining the speed of 0102 or something.

I can rattle through the season or two on FM Touch a day but I do wonder if I miss much from the full fat version. Scouts probably.

[Gray Fox]

The date he's left it at means I can get rid of some.

https://i.gyazo.com/89e6c05a0289caa8e94e78c612421850.png


I'll lose 17 leagues before a ball is kicked in my save and the rest by the end of the season.

[Spikey M]

I'd download the pack I linked to if I were you. Unless your computer is shit hot your processing time is going to be disgusting.

[Gray Fox]

Checked up on it and that one does seem good. A few people have noted they've got a bug 5 or 6 seasons in that means basically everyone sits a year out and no games happen.
Seems it can be solved by simming a year, but who knows if I even last that far.

[Mike]

You could always use the editor to just move your club up a division.

[Spikey M]

:o the dishonesty

[Mike]

Ha, can you just load the league they’re in up or if you use thar file is it right down to level 9 or whatever?

[Baz]

I’m always opposed to using files cos I’m a stickler for the Steam leaderboards. Does mean I end up with FCP and the like in Portugal, but I don’t mind.

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2021/22

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/CIAz7EY.png


Summary

We managed to extend the deal of Virgil Gomis which at the time was our most important bit of business but with his strike partner Janneh preferring to stay at Bristol City so we went into the market looking for a suitable replacement. Oof! Talk about a big name.

https://i.imgur.com/cFptBgW.png

Connor had spent the previous season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday but parent club Palace decided to release in the summer and he was happy to join under the premise of guaranteed games. I like to think the division sat up and took notice but if they didn't then they did a few weeks into the season as it became clear that we would definitely be at the right end of the table again.

Our first League Two game was away to Macclesfield Town and the 2-0 win was a good start which we followed up by dismantling AFC Wimbledon 8-1. It would kick start our unbeaten start to the league campaign, a run that never ended until November 20th and even then it was due to resting numerous first team players in anticipating for the FA Cup. Our attacking throughout the season belied our level but it came at a financial cost due to the wages of most the new arrivals.

Transfers In.

https://i.imgur.com/LfJQYb2.png


https://i.imgur.com/bWVo0Mi.png

https://i.imgur.com/LWb2gZR.png

https://i.imgur.com/jIgm4yq.png

https://i.imgur.com/H6EhzWC.png

https://i.imgur.com/luXSJrw.png

https://i.imgur.com/htwlTpT.png


As it is, although in hindsight perhaps, it was money well spent as our rise continued and whilst it's a minor gamble to play with the clubs future, I feel the level that we play at allows us to get away with it somewhat.

https://i.imgur.com/nCX2QlJ.png

The media had tipped us for the play offs but despite Wycombe's best efforts, we were just that bit too good and it was a relatively easy campaign. It's difficult to get attached to the players though given none are really long term options unless they develop and reach their full potential, no more so than winger Deji Sotona who was released by Man United. It was less expectation and more hope that we'd manage to pull in a player who could be resold later down the line as the finances are reliant on our success at the moment and that's an iffy game to play.

https://i.imgur.com/GTEol52.png

Domestic Cups

Carabao Cup - Promotion meant we would compete in the countries second domestic cup which is always pleasing as it's an extra opportunity to draw some big teams. As it happened we were drawn against Championship side Birmingham City in the first and Bobby Kamwa's double helped us on our way to a 4-1 win at St Andrew's but it was swiftly ended in the second round against Premier League outfit WBA who beat us 2-1 in front of 12,000. The Albion would find themselves relegated by time the season ended. Still a yoyo club. Nothing ever changes.

FA Cup - Again our promotion mean we now qualified for the FA Cup proper by default and the entire competition had a familiar feel to it as we raced past Barrow 5-0 in the first round before following it up in the second with a 1-0 win against Solihull Moors. As we awaited our third round opponents we were naturally hoping to get a top flight team with a big stadium again as our draw against Newcastle last season pretty much saved us financially and so it was a surprise when history repeated itself and we once again drew the Toon Army at St James Park. Last season we lost 1-0 and Ilounga Pata got dismissed....this season? Again we lost by a single strike as Newcastle recorded a 2-1 win and again Ilounga Pata got himself sent off. Summer signing Corey Jordan joined him on this occasion but we were so close to a giant killing. I felt sick afterwards.

https://i.imgur.com/bhGxTf5.png

EFL Trophy - Our group contained Leyton Orient, Stevenage and Tottenham Reserves and for me it was and always has been a nothing competition but we gave it a go due to the league season seemingly taken care of itself but after beating Orient and losing to Stevenage, we went into the final game needing to beat Spurs, unlikely I thought but a 2-0 win in front of 212 hard core supporters put us through to the 2nd round. Swiftly ended by MK Don's who proved more of a challenge and battered us 4-1. Cunts.

https://i.imgur.com/ERukgAi.png

The huge jump in finances was down to the clubs need to build a new stadium which will be completed by the end of next season.

https://i.imgur.com/QFE7LEi.png

5,000 is the minimum required but I hope it's got enough space to expand as I fully expect to be a top flight team in the next 3/5 seasons. I don't know if that's optimistic or not but we're going to spend our way there. At least in terms of wages.

We do need to keep looking into ways to ensure we're financially secure so it's important to find it where we can. Same applies to our commercial dealings. Long term I want the club to be self sustainable which I imagine will be easy enough if I don't go OTT with the wages. I already know we'll impose a cap later down the line.

https://i.imgur.com/ZheYNUE.png

Next Season

The temptation is to go bigger in as far as bringing in released youngsters from Premier League clubs whilst I want to push the boat out a bit in regards to loan deals and if we can bring in one or two similar to Connor Wickham's level then I imagine we'll push again at the right end of the table. I don't really see much difference in terms of quality as we're already above our level in that respect. We'll also be playing at Adams Park in High Wycombe which is a 9,000 capacity stadium so I want to try filling that on a regular basis hence the need for another 'name' or two. Time to prepare for a busy busy summer as I want promotion again but I also want to stop the huge turn over of players so it's important they might be able to play Championship football in the near future too.

[Gray Fox]

It's always a bastard when they build a stadium too soon. Though on the flip side of that, if you hit premier league you should be able to pay that off almost immediately.

[Smjffy]

It's a requirement for the division to have a minimum of 5,000 so it was unavoidable tbh but you're right, I just hope it doesn't mess with my wage budget as I'm reliant on that for the quick rise. I am trying to be restrained in terms of players as I didn't realise the option to make all players interested meant every player is actually 'interested' but most don't even want to get around the negotiating table. We could even push the boat out and bring in a released former international, I tried for Yaya Toure last season or the season before last and he at least listened but then I bottled it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I am still immersed in Hungarian football with Ferencvaros, it is a glorious shitshow. Can't pronounce anything and the football ranges from functional to truly dire. No one has any money, so the only way to compete is to try and nick bargains from other shithole nations, or develop from within.

First year we came 3rd by a single point losing out to relative money bags FC Vidi, and champions Debrecen, who I'm convinced were the worst side of the three. Second year we have been absolutely terrible and yet somehow still only three points off Vidi's lead in November (November is later in Hungarian terms than it is in England). First year we did quite a bit of giant killing in Europe and went out 3rd in Europa group stage, including a 3-0 win over Sevilla. Second year we just got too many injuries in the key August fixture rush and ended up going down to PAOK Salonika in the last qualifying round.

I'm not reallly sure what I'm trying to achieve, but the process is great fun.

[Gray Fox]

https://i.gyazo.com/610447942d752b2aeb5e680e576624d5.png

Stafford Rangers: An Introduction


I thought I'd do a little intro to the save in the hope it'll get me more into it. I live in the pokey old Town of Stafford. Your local support here is largely split 4 ways. Geographically Wolves and then Stoke are the closest 2 league teams. Depending on which part of Stafford you're in, depends on which one is actually closest.
Then comes the glory hunter team of years past in United and the current flavour of the month, at present this is Liverpool.

However inside the Town is where my journey takes place. There are 3 teams in the Town of any note. Firstly we have Stafford Town FC who play in the Midland Football League. This is the 10th level of English football.
Beside them there's a team called Brocton. They're in the same division as Stafford Town. Down here is very tough to get out of. It's where you'll find the likes of Coventry United or Hereford FC. Reformations or fan versions of other clubs.

However today we will be joining Stafford Rangers. They are the the Towns main club and they play in the Northern Premier League, this is the 7th level of English football. Recent Champions of this league include FC United, Blyth Spartans and Altrincham for context.

Established in 1876, the club is semi-pro at present but I hope to change that and we have 4 rivals.
Hednesford Town are listed as our only fierce rivals and are in our division. Instant rivalry :p . After this we have Tamworth in the division below and Telford United potentially in the league above us. I say potentially because I believe Stafford is in a border territory, so we could either go up to the North or South of the National League.
Lastly we have Burton Albion. Though I'd wager it'll be a good 5+ years before we meet them.

The club has never been massive, but you'll know this as it'll be 50/50 if you've heard the name or not at any point. Their biggest moment came in 2005/06 when they achieved promotion into the National League(conference to some). However after scraping by the first season there, they slipped back where they came from the year after. It was about this time the clubs biggest problems started.
When they were in the National League/Conference attendances went up to 1000. Due to this there was a temporary stand erected behind one of the goals at the Shed End. The quick relegation back saw interest drop again and the stand was removed and the Shed End partly redeveloped. The whole venture cost around £180k and was nearly the end of the club.
However there was a venture set up for fans to "loan" the club £200 each in order to save it. The club was saved but relegated twice more soon after, before popping back into the Northern Premier League in 15/16.

This is all part of Marston Road, the clubs stadium. I go by it every day to work and back.

https://i.gyazo.com/814f03b06e4291f0b6973ff25a7359fb.jpg

The main stand there holds about 530 people and the seats in it were I believe taken from Leicesters old ground Filbert Street. Hence the blue, while the clubs official colours are black and white stripes. There's standing room all around and the end where the photo is taken has the club bar. Home and away fans are welcome in there.

The game has capacity at 6,000 with 4,264 seated, but I know this is wrong. It's actually 2,530 seated(with shed end seated) and closer to 4,000 overall.

The rest of the facilities are listed as poor.

As well as the Northern Premier League, we will play in the FA Cup, The FA Trophy and The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup. I see those as unimportant any time soon, though the latter may be a good chance of silverware.
The club is predicted to finish 11th in the table of 22 teams and the board wants a top half finish.

In real life, the club at present sit rock bottom of this league and are relative no-hopers. However COVID-19 has saved them somewhat as the league has been null and voided. Though I see this as more of a stay of execution.

Assuming the database works and I keep up with it, the goal of the save is to continue on until Stafford Rangers is the biggest club in the world. I will consider this achieved if/when we win the Club World Cup or sit 1st in the world club rankings.

I have no idea what I'm doing in LLM though so whether we get there or not is another matter.

[P_3]

Really enjoying all these reads. Keep it up all. :thbup:

[Manc]

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/team/886.png

As I'm sure we all know Ligue 1 was prematurely ended this season (how very French). What you may not know is that Toulouse relegated as a result went down with a 0.46 PPG record, abysmal. With just 3 wins from 28 matches, I fired up fm to see if I could fare any better. With the summer transfer window disabled and the squad in need of greater depth, I hired Wenger favourite Gilles Grimandi and sent him into the free market. Gilles came up trumps and the following experience was added to the squad: Yoann Gourcuff, Mo Sissoko, Ze Ondo, Adil Rami, Bagayoko, Sankhare & Diafra Sakho. Former PSG assistant Zoumana Camara was brought in as my #2.

Further acquisitions were made in the form of Yohan Cabaye via the joker ruling and Samuel Moutoussamy for £6.75m (winter window), the latter signed solely after running a game for Nantes at the TFC.

Believing this was a league full of great players rather than great teams, I decided to park the bus and implement my Scotland 5-3-2 formation. My assumption was spot on. We spent the majority of the campaign flirting with the European places and come Spring relegation wasn't possible. Unfortunately for me the squad then went to the beach and we endured nine games without a win. A little pressure from the board was swatted away with two wins in the final month and we finished 10th with a 1.36 PPG record. We had an outside chance of French Cup success however, our run was abruptly ended by the Parisians who completed a successful treble.

I'm quite content with the squad and am enjoying the African talent we have: Max Gradel, Issiaga Sylla, Ibrahim Sangare, Kalidou Sidibe and that's before we delve into the dual nationals. I'll be consciously pursuing players from the continent with the help of Grimandi and the board who have given me a £16m budget. I'll also be pursuing veterans who can do a job as the mentoring benefits are monstrous for our youth players, in particular Bafode Diakite & Kelvin Amian.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/the-football-database/images/5/53/Gilles_Grimandi.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20161026153832

[Jimmy Floyd]

He is another who makes the top 20 Frenchest Frenchmen ever.

[Mike]

Playoffs Baby!
https://i.imgur.com/HUUsisa.png

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2022/23

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/Wx4uWrN.png


Summary

We went well over the top in the summer in bringing nineteen new arrivals to the club but again it was the loaned players that made the biggest difference. Whilst Connor Wickham continued finding the net on a regular basis, it was the performances of Rhian Brewster and Ben Gregory that impressed the most as both were clinical and in the instance of Gregory, he's clearly got a future at the highest level.

https://i.imgur.com/yTrntRS.png

Rhian, not so much. His loan spell at Swansea was hardly a roaring success with just 4 goals in 8 games and his return to Anfield saw his opportunities restricted to reserve team football. I wouldn't make the plunge on him.

https://i.imgur.com/Kl0JsDT.png

One of the surprising outcomes of the summer was bringing in Virgil Gomis in on a free after his release from Nottingham Forest. Virgil had scored 53 times for us in the previous two seasons but he could manage just two appearances this time round, owing to the form of our front three. Special mentions to Alfie Whiteman our sole goalkeeper and Marc Albrighton who was the coup of the window. I thought that would be Brewster.

David Kay, a full back released from Man United looks to have a bit about him but it's difficult to gauge as his weaknesses are also glaring and cost us on occasions. Kilian Gomez was signed purely in memory of Kilian Doda on the save I lost.

The season itself was nowhere near as easy sailing as last year with Charlton refusing to go away and with our inability to string wins together I had given up on the title and hoped for automatic instead but a resurgent Rotherham had ideas of their own.

With four games to go we faced Hull City who beat us on our own turf and before even seeing the results of other games I assumed that was game over until it transpired that Charlton had also lost to playoff contenders Crewe. The very same Crewe we smashed 7-1 in the following fixture (more to come on Crewe). Gregory grabbing four of the goals and Charlton once again dropping points by losing 1-0 to Wycombe. Was the bottle job on?

If we won our game in hand against Peterborough, another team chasing the play offs then we would head the table for only the second time during the campaign, the first coming in the 2nd week and we did. 3-2 courtesy of Brewster and Gregory. Another title? Probably not as with two games remaining we lost to Ipswich Town, again another home defeat and again at the worst time possible.

But.....again no one capitalised. Charlton who had been so strong throughout gaining just a point after a 0-0 draw and Rotherham could only manage a 1-1 scoreline with Luton Town. It would go down to the final game of the season in a three way tie for the title. At half time during that final set of fixtures we were the only side winning of the three. By full time that was still the case. I did not enjoy that season one bit.

https://i.imgur.com/DYnx3jI.png

https://i.imgur.com/o3fAGgu.png

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - As far as the countries better domestic cup goes we started off in great style by smashing Coventry in the first round 4-0 and were given Fleetwood, another home tie in the 2nd. We were confident going into the game as we expected to beat most in our own division and we weren't disappointed as again we scored 4 to progress.

We had now reached the FA Cup third round in three consecutive seasons which was fantastic but instead of a big club (or rather, Newcastle), this time we drew fellow League One side Crewe and absolutely dicked on them 6-1. Nice funds were brought in but also the opportunity for another big club away in the 4th.....we drew struggling Championship side Bristol City. It looked as though we were going to come undone once again....but....

https://i.imgur.com/x2zUgwX.png

We went wild. I went wild. It was way more than anticipated. Surely we must now draw a Premier League club? No is the answer. We drew another Championship side in Leeds United who had at least been relegated from the Premier League last season.

Rhian Brewster opened the scoring and as part of the familiar double act Ben Gregory doubled it. What on earth was going on?! I wondered. Was actual cup glory on the cards or something? Well, that feeling didn't last too long as Leeds came back from the brink but Kamwa. Bobby bloody Kamwa.

https://i.imgur.com/4SZuYqz.png

Quarter finals here we come! Of those we could have drawn, only Sunderland and Fulham remained as the Championship sides whilst unsurprisingly we were League One's sole representative. Would it be them? Would it be Man City? Man United? Arsenal? Southampton or would I get to go to Anfield......


https://i.imgur.com/GRoC5aU.png

I don't want to go back any time soon. We were mauled.


EFL Cup - We started round one against Wycombe and qualified after a 2-2 draw and penalties to set up a game against Fulham. I wasn't expecting much but it looked as though they fielded a weakened team themselves and got caught short as a 2-0 win sent us through to round three where we would draw Tottenham. Unfortunately that also meant one half of our strike team was automatically ruled out due to the terms of the loan but a 3-0 loss suggested he wouldn't have made much difference. 48,000 attended though which was pleasing.

EFL Trophy - Finally, the competition I will be glad to leave behind although one that now grates a little. We qualified from our group beating Gillingham, Ipswich and Watford Reserves scoring 9 and conceded 0. Northampton were put away 3-0 in round two, Luton came and went in round three by the same scoreline and by time we come to face Brighton Reserves in the Qtr's I had assumed that would be all she wrote but alas, a 4-0 win meant we were through to the semi's. 19 goals without reply. Swindon arrived and broke the clean sheet run but we replied with seven. Seven. We were on our way to Wembley!

But.....how shit that only 6,801 attended to see us lose the chance to lift some more silverware as Liverpool Reserves beat us 2-1. What a waste of time that was.

https://i.imgur.com/X64rm6S.png

Fuck you, HMRC.

https://i.imgur.com/HqyGDkU.png

On the plus side however, the commercial side was pleasing. Or rather the prize money.

https://i.imgur.com/AChgUH9.png

Next Season

It's a tricky position because I am expecting a jump in quality but we also brought in so many players this year that I'm apprehensive about doing the same this time round and so we have a decision to make. The temptation is to do another round of mass buying of youngsters whilst loaning as many of those brought in this season in the hope they can realise enough potential to be able to sell on. The good thing is that any transfer fee is a profit minus the wages.

I want to get away from loan deals a little bit so we'll need two new strikers at least, perhaps two midfielders and I think the defence can look after itself for another season given tactically we're always going to score. Stumped a little bit but until I hit the Premier League then I sense wholesale changes are always going to be abound. I would like to challenge for playoffs at a minimum but I feel like I'm walking into the unknown, really. I mean, was it Fa Cup magic or are we actually good enough to be beating Championship sides? I guess we'll find out next season.

[Mike]

Won the playoffs in an utter thriller, 0-0, won on pens.

Made it to the Premiership without spending a penny!

[Baz]

And I watched it LIVE [on Twitch]. :cool:

[thommo]

Did you post about it on reddit, by any chance?

[Smjffy]

:D Imagine the carnage.

https://i.imgur.com/KiYjFOd.png

[Mike]

Did you post about it on reddit, by any chance?
I did

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2023/24

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/gL4yjeY.png


Summary

Our unintentional transfer policy of bringing in released youngsters was ended during the summer as we brought in a more finished article. We did bring in a few youngsters too but the focus had to go on the first team as we aimed for our final promotion before we reached the promised land.

https://i.imgur.com/WUX6ODd.png

The signing of Neal Maupay and our agreement with Tottenham that we would keep Ben Gregory for a second season filled us with confidence that we would ignore the media's 14th place finished and challenge for the play offs instead. As the season progressed it proved that that would definitely be all we would have a stab at as West Ham and Norwich ran away with the top two spots. The Hammers winning it on the final game of the season in fact. Sam Byram's season ended in March with a 5 month injury. Sad.

https://i.imgur.com/3u5XEEY.png

https://i.imgur.com/BXiNpTr.png

We faced Fulham in the semi's of the play-offs and lost the first leg 1-0. I still fancied our chances in the 2nd leg as we were at home in front of our 5,000 supporters. We fill it every week but financially I just can't take the hit and so I decided to leave it to the board to decide when that gets done.


https://i.imgur.com/uVH83uw.png

And that's why this is going to be a shift and swift update. I'm gutted and fuming and meh.

Twats.



Domestic Cups

EFL Cup - Knocked out in the first round by Crawley Town after a 0-0 draw and penalty loss. :moop: This was going to be the season that kept on giving.

FA Cup - Stevenage were our third round opponents and a 2-1 home win was enough to set up another home encounter this time against Southampton. With our measly 5,000 capacity stadium I hoped for a draw and so achieved just that. 1-1 in front of the cameras. ££. The replay I anticipated elimination but our Fa Cup magic moment was finally achieved.

https://i.imgur.com/OMvB6s4.png

Deji. :cool: Our Waterford born winger winning it in style. :drool:

But all good things could must come to an end and our 5-1 drubbing away to Tottenham in the following round was only softened by the revenue it brought in.

I still haven't activated the Golden Generation as our facilities are still way too crap so I imagine another 4/5 seasons before it's even considered but hopefully something good crops up here.

https://i.imgur.com/RnS7haK.png

^^^ But of course, my expectations are low.

https://i.imgur.com/4hwqP2N.png

https://i.imgur.com/9fmO2U5.png

Phew.

https://i.imgur.com/hwgAvKJ.png

Next Season.

Sign what I can and go again. :moop: I'm so miffed.

[Spikey M]

I'm managing Billericay. Got back to back promotions to League 1, spent 2 seasons there, now in my 4th season in the Championship. Mid-table each season.

Struggling with low attendance figures, income and reputation. Starting to get pissed off with this now. :moop:

[Smjffy]

I'm managing Billericay. Got back to back promotions to League 1, spent 2 seasons there, now in my 4th season in the Championship. Mid-table each season.

Struggling with low attendance figures, income and reputation. Starting to get pissed off with this now. :moop:

Out of curiosity, what is your stadium capacity and wage bill?

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2024/25

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/wNL64C2.png


Summary

We decided to go a completely different route in the transfer window and brought in a whole host of supposed wonder kids from Liverpool, City, United and Chelsea whilst adding experience in Chris Smalling and Sigurdson, you might see they are missing from the squad and that's because both lasted no longer than January before they were off loaded. It was our outgoings that ensured the summer was hectic, mind. Saddening too.

https://i.imgur.com/7RN70ko.png

Painful.

https://i.imgur.com/X8gZJ7h.png

Telling.

https://i.imgur.com/uUkN2d1.png

Minimum release. Urgh.

https://i.imgur.com/dfFnyIZ.png

Silver lining.

https://i.imgur.com/YazulXM.png

Cheeky bastards.

https://i.imgur.com/i4hAVVW.png

You're killing me.

But we soldiered on and despite and tough start to the campaign which I put down to so many of the new arrivals being unfamiliar with one another, we started putting together a couple of runs and claimed 6th place with barely any games left at Sunderland's expense.

https://i.imgur.com/exdq1sd.png

We drew Crystal Palace in the first leg. A tough one given they finished above us in the league whilst beating us 3-1 home and away too so it came as a surprise to see us make light work of them.

https://i.imgur.com/vFsDCVN.png

Our first half onslaught far too much for them and although Lookman scored against us once again, (that's six now) it was of no concern. We weren't throwing away that lead.

https://i.imgur.com/e1F4SO0.png

Not even bothered. We would be off to Wembley to face Southampton for a shot at the big time. :cool: Oooo yeah. Favourites too.

https://i.imgur.com/fQh2Bqk.png



But fuck this game. Fuck it right in the A.

https://i.imgur.com/558ST52.png

https://i.imgur.com/qGcP31m.png



https://i.imgur.com/YE9wb8C.png

https://i.imgur.com/Zq0YM74.png

https://i.imgur.com/MW0onxV.png

:moop:

Next Season

God knows. I don't know if it's bed time or go again. I hate this division.

[Spikey M]

Out of curiosity, what is your stadium capacity and wage bill?

Capacity is 7000 but only ~5000 seating. Wage bill I'm not sure, but it's towards the upper end of the budget they gave me.

[Smjffy]

It don't matter no more. :cool: Three clicks later. :drool:

https://i.imgur.com/LALNQRp.png

https://i.imgur.com/RBvrUi1.png

[Manc]

Juan Foyth clearly had better plans come the final.

[Gray Fox]

Finally got into the game today. The virus combined with school returning has reduced my playing time somewhat but I still intend to carry on.

Immediately lost my best CM as he was poached before a ball was kicked. I can see that getting tiresome. Still, 6 games in and it's 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses. Even at this early stage, I'd take a play-off place gladly but I don't think it'll happen.

Still getting to grips with the lower league stuff though so hopeful of turning it around.

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2025/26

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/ve64sTB.png


The Results

https://i.imgur.com/JYNoWss.png
https://i.imgur.com/XdwJHSF.png
https://i.imgur.com/OMEwaiy.png


Summary

If we didn't make moves in the January transfer window then there is absolutely no way we would have finished anywhere near the playoffs as we were useless for much of the first half the season but the arrivals Jeff Maddison, Sergio Riquelme and Johnny added much needed quality. The only downside is once again our squad was made up mostly of loaned players.

https://i.imgur.com/vAUOGQb.png

https://i.imgur.com/xVItcIk.png

35 league goals from January onward's as our rise up the table finally came to fruition although at what cost long term, I don't know. I know we're going to make major changes in the summer both for the first team and the reserves as we attempt to build an actual squad moving forward because....

https://i.imgur.com/FviUvMr.png

For the third successive season we reached the playoffs, ending the season in 3rd place and not too far off the automatic spots which would have been amazing given where we were at the turn of the year.

https://i.imgur.com/YfdUjom.png

But at the third time of asking we achieved our goal of top flight football. :cool:

https://i.imgur.com/UJJb1pP.png

We drew the first leg 2-2 with Ipswich but truth be told we failed to beat any of the play off finalists during the season so we weren't overly confident in any fixture but a 1-0 win in the return leg set up a final big money clash with Derby who again, we'd failed to beat in the league drawing both games 0-0. But you know, Jeff Maddison init. :cool:

Promotion achieved but we have plenty of work to do.

https://i.imgur.com/VbCztfQ.png

One or two downsides albeit temporary is our stadium was almost completed but alas, we're going to be homeless for a few seasons.

https://i.imgur.com/g0PHzjJ.png

https://i.imgur.com/xXJr4Tb.png

https://i.imgur.com/7M5yGRQ.png

It feels like we've brought in way more players than just 66 but matching Mike, we've done so without spending a penny on transfer fees although god knows how much in wages over the years.

Again I anticipate wholesale changes as I want to build a team now that the aim of top flight football has been obtained and updates should no doubt slow down now I'm where I want to be as I've absolutely mauled the game this last week. I'll leave the update here and do a historic update next detailing the clubs rise but from hereonin it's about survival first and foremost, then European football, then to challenge for the top four whilst hopefully starting to chip away at the top teams so we can challenge for the title ourselves in our bid to become the biggest most successful club in the world.

What a slog. I appreciate the updates have lacked in quality so I'll make it up now I'm where I want to be. It's hard when you're rising up the tables to get overly attached to players who aren't going to be with you moving forward.

Either way. Game on.

[Manc]

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/team/886.png

Onwards to the summer of 2020 and with the squad in need of a polish, I dived head first into a mountain of player reports Grimandi had collated in the previous 12 months. Firstly came the youth in the form of Rayan Cherki & Amadou Onana. Cherki at just 16 years old is I'm told the next big thing to come from the famed lyon academy, perhaps France itself. £6.25m is a large outlay for a player who may not make his mark in the south of France for some years, but it's a calculated risk. Onana, a rangy midfielder capable of operating as a 6, 8 or 10 will no doubt get many more minutes. He's the best thing since a sliced baguette according to Grimandi, £2.1m then could be a real bargain. Away from youth our priority was the defence and we secured Chancel Mbemba, Pierre-Gabriel & Dimitri Foulquier for a combined £18m, magnifique. Returning to the club from loan deals were Corentin Jean and South London road man John Bostock, both of whom will be playing for a new deal. Departing Toulouse were Ze Ondo, Mo Sissoko, Gourcuff, Quentin Boisgard and record signing Wesley Said. Veterans Rami, Cabaye & Diafra Sakho would stay on and were joined by a 36 year old Valbuena.

On the pitch and my anti-football principles were hitting home as we kept eight clean sheets in our opening ten games. From this base we built a consistency that would see us in competition for a European spot come the winter break. I had planned to make no moves in January, but when Tottenham came calling for home grown talent Kelvin Amian and matched my £20m asking price, the hunt for a centre back was on. Grimandi had heard through the grapevine a certain Manuel Akanji of BVB was available and more importantly Toulouse was an option for the young Swiss. After bending my finances over backwards, £20m & £85k p/w was enough to secure his services. Shortly after Adel Taarabt was secured for £1m to increase our creativity going forward.

The new and improved squad led us to an 2nd place finish with a 1.97 PPG record. PSG lay 10 points ahead and Monaco & Lyon a point behind. In keeping with domestic matters, we once again reached the French Cup quarter final falling to Saint-Etienne. The Coupe de la Ligue has been binned. Rejoice.

No silverware to speak of as of yet, but I have proved my managerial credentials by successfully implementing a midfield containing both Bostock & Taarabt. Take that Harry!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l28CsUganII

[Gray Fox]

Am I wasting my time asking my players to play any kind of passing game in the lower leagues?

I'm also considering making a 3/5 at the back tactic. My team keeps scoring first then doesn't end up winning the game.

[Manc]

Shithousery all the way imo.

[Smjffy]

The Squad

Goalkeepers

https://i.imgur.com/NZNRnBP.png

Signed last season with the intention of replacing Alfie Whiteman who left for Bournemouth this summer. I'm not sure if he'll be first choice but he did get some game time last year so perhaps.

https://i.imgur.com/z6dh5OD.png

Signed in 2024 as cover. Released from Man United after failing to make the grade, he's had lown spells at Macclesfield, Cheltenham, Crawley and Scunthorpe and still leaves a bit to be desired.

https://i.imgur.com/FTYdx6b.png

Summer signing snapped up from FC Nantes. Scouts suggest he has potential to be a Premier League keeper so we'll see. He might even get game time this season given our assumed #1 is already injured.



Defenders

https://i.imgur.com/9ABnzXF.png

Rhys joined the club back in our League One days although he's an infuriating defender. Released from Liverpool after failed loan spells in the Vanarama and League Two but he's been decent enough for us. Regular in League One, not so much the last two seasons in the Championship and was shipped out on loan again as of January last year. He's not going to make it.

https://i.imgur.com/5GBs8k1.png

Brought in from Burnley last season and he's well on his way out. I don't know why we kept him for the upcoming season other than lack of options.

https://i.imgur.com/ZPsHDXZ.png

Nyambe's £7.5M move to Newcastle last season clearly didn't work with The Magpies willing to offload him for £3m. We snapped him up in the summer window as he can play CB as well as RB and defensively I think we're going to be in a spot of bother.

https://i.imgur.com/qPlHUK6.png

I'm not sure a panic buy is the right label but £22M means Benoit Badiashile is our record signing from Dortmund. I'm not overly happy with his wage but I couldn't let him go given the state of the rest of our defenders.

https://i.imgur.com/pv6ACCX.png

Experienced and at £2.5M it's a low risk transfer. He'll probably end up being a regular too. I'm going to concede a ton, aren't I?

https://i.imgur.com/fhKpSAj.png

Jake has been at the club for each of the Championship seasons after being released from Southampton and up until a week ago he would have probably been our first team LB too but we brought in someone else. He'll be back up but I think he'll handle his own if needed. Just.

https://i.imgur.com/k4yAF4e.png

His replacement. I actually paid £7.5M too. :moop:

https://i.imgur.com/UHIX5Gw.png

Mahlon will finally get to taste Premier League football after playing in every division in England since his release from Arsenal back in 2012.



Midfielders


https://i.imgur.com/pTocn8E.png

Signed from Chelsea on a free in 2024, the box to box midfielder has been a regular in the first team for our Championship campaigns in each of the last two seasons so hopefully he can not totally embarrass himself in the top flight.

https://i.imgur.com/EurGhmW.png

Summer signing released from Leeds United. He was free so why not. I doubt he'll be a long term option. Or at least I hope not.

https://i.imgur.com/CGibfhR.png

Kilian left Anfield in 2021 and has grown into his role at the club having been with us since our League Two days. The last three seasons he's been a first team option although has suffered a little due to the decision to raid the loan market on occasion. He's still got a chance.

https://i.imgur.com/Vh2RIRr.png

It speaks volumes that this might just be our best midfielder. Signed for £4m from Red Star this summer, he's already a decent Premier League player apparently but could be good. He'll definitely get enough games this season to improve so we'll see.

https://i.imgur.com/wMvXyjd.png

As the rules for loaned deals in the Premier League differ, we brought in a super cheap option to replace Hugo Sabino who decided to remain at Napoli. :moop: I wanted to bring Uprichard back in from last season too but you can only loan one from the same club and I had my eyes on another Arsenal starlet.

https://i.imgur.com/mancr8m.png

Louie is lucky to still be at the club. Released from Chelsea and barely made a dent in his debut season with us last season and if you can't do it in the Championship then I'd doubt he's going to get much game time this season.

https://i.imgur.com/Or4Isaj.png

If he can provide any sort of kick like coffee does then I'll be surprised but it's unlikely. He did OK on loan at Bristol City but not well enough for Brighton to keep him. I gave him a chance and we've regretted it ever since.

https://i.imgur.com/dVJfqrM.png

Once upon a time the highly rated winger had the world at his feet but moves to Bristol City and Huddersfield slowed him down somewhat. We snapped him up on a free but he made about a dozen appearances last season and that was that. I think I'm going to have to rely on him this season too.



Strikers



https://i.imgur.com/inX2QuE.png

Another released from Liverpool. He spent last season on loan at League One club Doncaster although we're going to give him some playing time this time round.

https://i.imgur.com/noazu1A.png

Arsenal agreed to a second year. :cool: His goals after joining on loan in January last year were instrumental to us going up. We've also managed to bring back his strike partner.

https://i.imgur.com/pko6rkb.png

And this fills me with confidence that we'll be able to hit the target every so often. If both can get into double figures then I'll be happy.

Finally....

https://i.imgur.com/njNs6wH.png

Quite why Barcelona deemed his surplus to requirements I'll never know but if we can help him get fit then we've got a right little diamond in the rough.



We've got Liverpool on the opening game of our league season and quite frankly if we don't get relegated with this shower of shit then we've done well. We've spent £40M in the window so there should be some left in January if we're struggling too much but if I can consolidate whilst building the youth facilities I'll be buzzing.

But yeah...shit squad.

[Raoul Duke]

Good write-up Smiff. Strikers look great but I'd worry you're missing a shitkicker in midfield - doesn't look like there's anyone really there to win the ball back regularly? Surely there's gotta be some absolute units you can pick up from Ivory Coast or whatever?

[Baz]

Oliver Walker is rubbish.

[Smjffy]

Oliver Walker is rubbish.

Who needs Oli when you got Pepe.

https://i.imgur.com/kbH6Y2n.png

I don't want to continue. End the season!

[Baz]

Liverpool have Mbappe, you say? :sherlock:

[Smjffy]

Liverpool have Mbappe, you say? :sherlock:

Patience is needed.



https://i.imgur.com/6fD0iSr.png

https://i.imgur.com/93E2vfs.png

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ferencvaros.

Things weren't going too well in year two as we looked to close the gap to moneybags hustlers FC Vidi. We cunted up November to fall 8 points behind their league lead at the winter break and into a chasing pack, along with spawny reigning champs Debrecen, and purple-clad underachievers Ujpest. In the January window, Vidi decided to go even more balls out by spunking £1.1 million (a HUGE sum in Hungarian football) on Debrecen's best youngster, while a fancy Brazilian too good for the league also joined them.

Not to be deterred, I changed up our faltering 3-5-2 formation and moved to a 4-5-1, which made a huge difference for reasons I can't really discern. We started putting away the shit on a regular basis - something we'd struggled to do throughout my tenure - and quickly moved clear into 2nd place, albeit still 8 points behind Vidi, who by this point were spanking everyone left, right and centre. We went to their place needing to win to keep any sort of title race open, and 1-0 down in a soggy piece of shit game at half time was not the way to start. I responded by throwing on veteran carthorse Böde to spearhead a guerrilla 4-2-4, and it changed the game, as we ravaged the wankers second half and won 4-1, closing the gap to five points with one eleven-game round-robin to go (it's three times through the pack in Hungary).

Well, all it took was that one mad 30 minutes of football and our friends at Vidi subsequently folded like a row of deck chairs. Meanwhile, we and our weird front three ('Little Nicky', 5 foot 5 midget teenage centre forward from the academy; 'Ivan the Terrible', genius on-loan Ukrainian winger who never passes; and 'Andy Cole's son', son of Andy Cole) managed to keep winning, and playing with a sheen that had been completely absent earlier in the season. Five games after ambushing Vidi, we took the league lead, and we never lost it.

Vidi, having been 8 points clear with 12 games to go, ended up finishing NINE points behind us. It was a proper avalanche of a bottle job from them, one of the great collapses. We also lolled them out of the cup semi-final with our reserves, before beating the Puskas Academy in the final to do the double. Vidi, Debrecen and Ujpest will join us in Europe next year, but it's the mighty green and white hoops of Ferencvaros who will get a first run at the Champions League in my tenure. At stake is not only glory, but also the twin jackpots of the money that comes from getting into the European autumn (a HUGE deal for a Hungarian club) and the coefficient points that could propel ourselves and Hungary up the pecking order in the future.

The next stage is to try and build a squad for 20/21 that can get us, if not necessarily to the CL group stage, then far enough down the qualifying route to make an EL group stage appearance a breeze. One of the challenges in Hungary is that you can only have 10 non-Hungarians in your registered league squad, and then from there, only 5 non-EUs in your on-pitch XI. That makes it a nice challenge trying to fill your 10 foreigner spots with a strong mix of EU and non-EU players, while also needing a decent flock of good Hungarians.

[Smjffy]

:uhoh: Covid?

https://i.imgur.com/Aec7NYW.png

[Manc]

Splendid scenes, Jim. Where are Hungary in the coefficients?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Really fucking low. Started mid 30s and even after two decent seasons are still 31st. There are a few loser nations ripe for the plucking in the next couple of years, but getting higher than 20th will be hard as we will need help from our dickhead local rivals.

[Smjffy]

Good effort, Jimmy.

I'll be finished the latest season tonight but :eek:



https://i.imgur.com/EbGmwuk.png

https://i.imgur.com/wstxqdf.png



:drool: Robbed.

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2026/27

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/Nd9wrgJ.png
https://i.imgur.com/fNzAywY.png


Results

https://i.imgur.com/rjqI6XZ.png
https://i.imgur.com/pZ1tSi9.png
https://i.imgur.com/Fq2qfq7.png





Summary

The media had us down to finish rock bottom and odds of 3/5 (bizarre!) to finish last reflected that. We opened up our debut season in the Premier League against last seasons champions, or rather the champions for the last three seasons, Liverpool. In fact the last decade had been the usual two with only Tottenham breaking it up back in 2020/21 with a second place finish.

Anyway, we got spanked 5-3 and although we were good going forward, defensively we struggled although that's not too surprising against one of the best two teams in the division. We bounced right back with victory against Leicester at our makeshift home ground, drew 1-1 away to Stoke (not a Tuesday) before claiming another three points at home to Ipswich. Early days but we were flying considering what I was anticipating.

We were swiftly brought back down with a crash after Nottingham Forest stole a 1-0 win again at our temporary home The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium....god knows who it belongs to. Manchester City were up next and I anticipated a beating. As it is we lost 2-1 and never really looked back. In fact with the exception of Southampton, the only games were lost for the remainder of 2016 were against those who occupied the top six. Not a bad effort by any means.

As we headed into the January transfer window we decided to bring in a couple more options, most notably in midfield but also up front with a former loanee returning as Oliver Williams sodded off on loan further down the leagues. Cheers Barry!

January Signings


https://i.imgur.com/fFZL90U.png

We had loaned Dosso from Man City in 2024/25 but the Manchester club refused to renew the loan deal for the following season but it would appear that was their mistake as he failed to make the grade at the Etihad. We brought him in for a bargain £4.5M.

https://i.imgur.com/vDcwvEd.png

Wilde had been a bit part player for Tottenham and with his contract coming to an end they accepted our £2M bid and it turned out to be a bargain as he slotted in seamlessly in our midfield. Not exactly hard given the lack of quality we had but I gotta be fair, they put us in the position we were in.

https://i.imgur.com/ko7D0kb.png

Another £2M although not quite as well spent as the previous. Chamberlain had been highly rated once upon a time and although only 22 and still with a bit of time, if I had a rewind button we wouldn't have brought him in.


https://i.imgur.com/ewgm205.png

You what?! Yep! We were flying and then some! For a short period it looked as though we might actually gatecrash the top six but our form against those very same clubs is what stopped us. As we headed into the final few games of the season we found ourselves so clear of 8th that we were hoping Chelsea or Tottenham slipped up. As it was neither of them did but in the case of Spurs, we went into the last game of the season needing Liverpool to win (they did) and for us to beat Manchester City (we didn't), if we had managed to do that (again) then we would have stopped them winning the title in favour of Liverpool. That would have been spesh.

As is, the season was special and it's completely reignited the game as I was expecting an absolute slog of a campaign. Woop!

https://i.imgur.com/qav1oVC.png

Europe baby! However....it wasn't always like that.

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - We started in the 3rd round and went on a mad 'un against opponents Colchester beating them 7-2. Plymouth were drawn in the 4th round and a 3-0 win achieved. Brighton came in round five and again we scored three times albeit the third arriving in extra time to set up a quarter final tie against Liverpool. After a 1-1 draw over 90"minutes we were undone by two goals in extra time to knock us out. It was wishful thinking but then so was:

EFL Cup - Ipswich were drawn in the 2nd round and we played out a 2-0 win in front of a smaller than usual crowd. Newcastle arrived in the 3rd round and as far as domestic cups go I felt we owed them one for knocking us out of the FA Cup twice in our earlier days so it was pleasing to beat them by 2 goals to 1. Reading were drawn in the 4th round and another opportunity to land a win against lower league opposition, 2-1 was closer than we wanted but it set up a quarter final match against Tottenham and our inevitable exit....

But no....absolutely no. :D

https://i.imgur.com/2t3KAAw.png

Riquelme with a penalty in the dying minutes was enough to prolong our stay and the resulting penalty shootout win sent us to our second Carabao Cup semi finals in succession after losing at the same stage to Aston Villa last season. This time round we'd face Man United so the same was expected.

But again...

https://i.imgur.com/HvoXr5H.png

A mental ten minutes gave us an unexpected win under the floodlights and Oxford was bouncing all the way to the 85th minute of the 2nd leg where you could hear a needle drop. We had thrown it away. 3-1 down at Old Trafford, 4-3 down on aggregate and heading out but that damn beauty Riquelme. It must be the name.

https://i.imgur.com/W701nnF.png

Ohhhh you beauty!! What a hit son.....what a hit! Our first final! But against Man City so meh. At this point I had hoped it was the FA Cup as at least we'd then qualify for Europe as runners up but ......but.....

https://i.imgur.com/uJrkDP1.png


https://i.imgur.com/LFODWfu.png

OMG!!!!!

https://i.imgur.com/5V5AOSS.png

:drool:



We qualified for the Europa Conference League! The first team in England to qualify for Europe which I made a point of telling the non-existent media that gathered round in my room because yes, I did do a live interview to thin air TV.

But more to come....because Chelsea reached the Champions League final and Tottenham reached the Europa League so we needed Chelsea to lose, Tottenham to win and then we'd take the Europa place instead of the third rate version and so it came to pass.

Madness! :D

https://i.imgur.com/V5DChus.png

I really wish I could keep Riquelme but fact is he's way outside our means and even Pepe is going to take some convincing to stick around. He wants a new deal less than 12 months into his current one but with a minimum release fee included. Well, unfortunately for him I still have a bad aftertaste of Maupay leaving the club after his got activated. Not happening.

https://i.imgur.com/KHZdYvR.png

Pennies!! I don't think I could have asked for much more from the season.

Next Season

Keep going. We've got a number of players who find themselves out of contract and none will be renewed as we start building for the future. With that in mind, we went on a little snoop around the grounds and well....sorry Man United fans but there was no way I was leaving this beaut. Maddison spent much of the season on the left wing and with Riquelme leaving he should get more of a chance as he doesn't score half as many stuck out wide. I want better quality all round but mostly at the back so I think another CB and two good full backs are the order of the day. We'll see. I'm going in a little blinded.

https://i.imgur.com/PkioE1K.png

https://i.imgur.com/kRk08M0.png

I think pouching others is the best route to go at the moment although our own youth facilities were meant to be completed in a couple of weeks time but it has been pushed back in what I can only assume is the board increasing it further?

One more season then we get our own stadium back and I'd like to greet it with more European football. Hopefully this up coming season brings it and I haven't just had a good first season. I actually found this season 'easier' than the Championship slogs.

Lovin' it. Good for morale this one. :D Goodnight!

[Gray Fox]

The utter state of that Premier League money boom. £93m more from the end of your last season to this one.

I also love how someone is labelled both the next Paul Gascoigne and a similar player to Youri Tielemans.

[thommo]

I revisited my save from FM19 the other week and have chipped away at a few games when I've had time. In my 3rd season in charge of Slough Town and I'm still in the National League South. I can't understand how to get this rapid rise everyone else can achieve so easily. It doesn't help that it's only the champions promoted with 2nd-7th going into the playoffs - both seasons have had leaders streak away and I've failed in the playoffs both times.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I revisited my save from FM19 the other week and have chipped away at a few games when I've had time. In my 3rd season in charge of Slough Town and I'm still in the National League South. I can't understand how to get this rapid rise everyone else can achieve so easily. It doesn't help that it's only the champions promoted with 2nd-7th going into the playoffs - both seasons have had leaders streak away and I've failed in the playoffs both times.

Not everyone else - I am also a rank average player. I just use my own tactics that seem logical with the players I have, no game breaking stuff.

[Luke Emia]

I revisited my save from FM19 the other week and have chipped away at a few games when I've had time. In my 3rd season in charge of Slough Town and I'm still in the National League South. I can't understand how to get this rapid rise everyone else can achieve so easily. It doesn't help that it's only the champions promoted with 2nd-7th going into the playoffs - both seasons have had leaders streak away and I've failed in the playoffs both times.

I've gotten to League One from National League North and I've really hit the ceiling now. I just cannot seem to push any further.

[thommo]

Not everyone else - I am also a rank average player. I just use my own tactics that seem logical with the players I have, no game breaking stuff.
I've stuck with the same 4-2-3-1 for all 3 seasons so far, with pretty simple lower league instructions. I don't like replacing players who I have some connection with either - for example, Slough have a non-contract right winger, Warren Harris, who only excels in crossing and pace. But in real life, he's scored over 100 goals for the club and I'm remiss to replace him, even if he is rated at 1.5 stars.


I've gotten to League One from National League North and I've really hit the ceiling now. I just cannot seem to push any further.
I can't wait to get into the league just to force the board to go professional. I've had a few ok youth players come through in the first season's intake but they will not develop because of the part-time training.

[Smjffy]

I can't understand how to get this rapid rise everyone else can achieve so easily.

It's the tactics as opposed to me. I'm using something called 442deeks at the moment but as with all tactics that I downloaded, I use it mostly as a base and modify it so little that it's practically plug and play. The save I am currently playing also has the scout 100 players a day and all players interested options ticked so take all successes with a pinch of salt. I've long played FM as less of a strategy game and more of a RPG of sorts. The story I write in my mind as I play is what does it for me and is probably where my interest comes from. It's also why I use fast result a lot unless it's a game I really need to be on top of hence the quick seasons.

If it was left to my tactical nous then I'd still be in the Vanarama I imagine. :D



I can't wait to get into the league just to force the board to go professional. I've had a few ok youth players come through in the first season's intake but they will not develop because of the part-time training.

Another issue I don't have as one of the unlocked things, either scout or all players interested actually turned us from semi-pro to professional as soon as it was clicked. Facilities are/were still shit though.

[Smjffy]

The utter state of that Premier League money boom. £93m more from the end of your last season to this one.

I also love how someone is labelled both the next Paul Gascoigne and a similar player to Youri Tielemans.

It's disgusting but at the same time so are the transfer fees and wages that are thrown around as a result.

[Baz]

The save I am currently playing also has the scout 100 players a day and all players interested options ticked.
What’s this?

[Manc]

Fast result. :sick:

[Smjffy]

January transfer window:

https://i.imgur.com/QXfHmTA.png

https://i.imgur.com/BZIn9Y8.png

:drool: Nicknamed Canti so it rolls of the tongue a little easier.

By contrast...

https://i.imgur.com/50JFCnU.png

https://i.imgur.com/l3LUlGX.png


https://i.imgur.com/cdEWMga.png


We've got the better deal, aye? Van Leeuwen is an elite striker apparently.

[Smjffy]

The utter state of that Premier League money boom.

Look away, Fox. :D

https://i.imgur.com/Kk0KvRW.png

[Raoul Duke]

We've got the better deal, aye? Van Leeuwen is an elite striker apparently.

Yeah, your guy is miles better :D

[Manc]

Could do with shifting a few pounds.

[Lofty]

Might put down my XCOM EW ios save for a bit because it turns out, as Ian noted, playing that concurrently with an XCOM 2 save is insanity and I'm burning out on the tactical goodness a bit.

So I am going to load up FM Touch again, my journeyman save is running too slow on the PC so the choices are Touch or Mobile.

Pick me a fallen giant to resurrect.

[Giggles]

Might put down my XCOM EW ios save for a bit because it turns out, as Ian noted, playing that concurrently with an XCOM 2 save is insanity and I'm burning out on the tactical goodness a bit.

So I am going to load up FM Touch again, my journeyman save is running too slow on the PC so the choices are Touch or Mobile.

Pick me a fallen giant to resurrect.

Man Utd.

[Spikey M]

Might put down my XCOM EW ios save for a bit because it turns out, as Ian noted, playing that concurrently with an XCOM 2 save is insanity and I'm burning out on the tactical goodness a bit.

So I am going to load up FM Touch again, my journeyman save is running too slow on the PC so the choices are Touch or Mobile.

Pick me a fallen giant to resurrect.

Southend United.

[Lofty]

Going for either Oldham Athletic, Swindon Town or AFC Wimbledon, the former two having previously been in the prem.

[Manc]

Wimbledon. Only sign homophobes with 20 aggression.

[Lofty]

Oldham Athletic.

https://i.ibb.co/xYndhjT/image0.png
https://i.ibb.co/4FMDGJv/image1.png

First game, friendly just to see what this shower of shit can do:

https://i.ibb.co/hFB7C7L/image2.png

Ched Evans runs riot.

First game of the season, against vegan wankhouses Forest Green:

https://i.ibb.co/3BbMdgs/image4.png

Just as I am contemplating game management with limited options due to a spiralling injury list we ship an equaliser deep in the second half, the red card is the cherry on top of 2 points lost. But wait, it wasn't just any fucking equaliser:

https://youtu.be/TsiAEVEedJc

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oldham is a great choice, there isn't a more 'meh' nothing club in the football league, at least from my southern pansy perspective.

[Raoul Duke]

Even Paul Scholes couldn't tame the might of Oldham

[Giggles]

If you buy Touch on iOS, there’s fuck all you can do about the names/kits/logos/etc is there?

[Lofty]

Apparently you can if you connect it to a pc and edit the files that way.

[Giggles]

Apparently you can if you connect it to a pc and edit the files that way.

On iOS? I didn’t think you could access app or system files at all, even using that method. Does it need to be jailbroken or something?

Interesting though, I’ll do a bit more searching. It’s a complete non runner without proper names and all.

[Lofty]

People reckon you download the files you want and make the correctly.named folder then drag and drop it onto the app when connected. Might try it tomorrow.

[Giggles]

Found this for 2019.

https://www.reddit.com/r/footballmanagergames/comments/aerf1w/how_to_import_logos_kits_and_face_packs_into/

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - Season 2027/28

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/Zz9J7PO.png


Transfers In

https://i.imgur.com/sqgov7k.png



https://i.imgur.com/DyjUemo.png

Brought in on a free from Lyon to go with the youngsters we swiped off Arsenal/City/Chelsea etc last summer. He spent the second half of the season out on loan at Barnsley but hasn't really shown much.

https://i.imgur.com/eUPtitx.png

Released from Watford we offered Craig an opportunity and he didn't do too badly considering he's by far the worst forward we have. 9 strikes in 9(11) games isn't a bad return. We'll make money on him when we inevitably cash in.

https://i.imgur.com/FrNaNMn.png

Scout centre suggested Rico and for £675k it was worth a put. Loaned out to Bristol Rovers in January but one to watch perhaps.

https://i.imgur.com/sK3vrmG.png

We had loaned Rubens in our promotion winning season from the Championship. Last season he decided to join Wolves on loan as opposed to renewing with ourselves but I forgave as we snapped him up for £9M off Man City this summer instead. He only played 9 times for Wolves last season so knows he made the wrong call.

https://i.imgur.com/yn8qxve.png

A familiar pattern will quickly emerge from here as we brought Cesar Vargas back on loan, another who had been with us for our promotion campaign in 2025/26. He was given game time by Real Madrid last year but hasn't really cut the mustard. We won't be looking into making it permanent. Or any of the loan deals actually.

https://i.imgur.com/eFHGzrO.png

After Arsenal refused to loan us Jeff Maddison again we took a look at some of their other options and stumbled across Molina. 25 goals over the course of the season was a good return but we're going to be moving on from loan deals, I feel. He's also the sole reason I found Yan Canti as both were in the running for the European Golden Boy award. Yan won. The injury prone bastard. Molina did end the season as the Golden Boot winner though so he got gold somewhere.

https://i.imgur.com/8YIh6zx.png

Well, it could have been better. A huge outlay, £125K a week wage and four injuries later. Yan is clearly going to be our main man up front alongside Pepe (if we can keep him in the summer) but already he's had a few niggling injuries and Manc sent him into a minor depression where he comfort eats following his fat shaming. Fuck you, Manc.

https://i.imgur.com/hx9AvFQ.png

Liability yet somehow now our number one. FML.



Summary

After finishing 7th last season I thought maybe we would push on but truth be told the whole season was just one giant stretch of boredom. I've never been so firmly stuck in one position for the duration.

https://i.imgur.com/1HxNfdC.png

That's half a season firmly lodged in 10th. :moop: It's like we flatlined.

https://i.imgur.com/CcBXkTM.png

It also confirms that there will be no European football as we open our new stadium after two homeless years. Minor annoyance but at least we retained our top flight status, I guess.

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - After Craig Laycock's treble in the 3rd round against Stevenage we had hoped for another cup run and another domestic cup final but the 4-1 win clearly gave us ideas above our station as Championship side Blackburn Rovers swiftly knocked us out three weeks later in round 4. Urgh.

EFL Cup - Everton only just avoided relegation from the Premier League by time the season ended but they also knocked us out at the first hurdle with a 3-1 win at our ground. Pepe's opener wasn't enough to even get going let alone go through.

Europa League - Our debut season in Europe and straight into the group stages where we'd face Rangers, Ferencvarosi and Sevilla but it was easier than expected.

https://i.imgur.com/WB6puwr.png

We were given a bye in the next round (?) which set up a 2nd knockout round tie against Italian giants Inter Milan. Luis Molina's late strike in the first leg at the Giuseppe Meazza gave us a 1-1 draw and an away goal but few expected the 4-0 drubbing we gave them in the return to progress. As it is, I doubt few expected the drubbing we would receive in the next round as Lyon demolished us 5-1 in France. Benoit Badiashile's stoppage time strike giving us a tiny tiny chance but despite Pepe's hattrack in the return fixture the 3-1 win wasn't enough and we bid fare well.

Meh.

https://i.imgur.com/QmzrNM2.png

The jump in sponsorship money was pleasing but with our new stadium close to completion it's time to start bringing in a few bigger names along the lines of Yan Canta as we're the worst club in the division as far as our commercial exploits go. I had the chance to bring in Mo Salah in the summer who would have added to shirt sales according to his report but age and lack of physical stats turned me off. I wish I had now.

https://i.imgur.com/bQzLgfM.png

Next Season

I need defenders of quality as we concede too many and perhaps a big name midfielder but we'll see. I need to have some sort of plan in place instead of just signing anyone who looks half decent after 1st July. We need to spend freely so we can hit Europe on a regular basis now I reckon. Maybe take some time out to scout the world for more youngsters and build an actual reserve squad.

[Mike]

Not one for big writeups, but heres some pictures from my Championship Season with Southport.
https://i.imgur.com/bAwA0Xe.png
https://i.imgur.com/gUaRI87.png
https://i.imgur.com/osCBeRZ.png
https://i.imgur.com/zf86vZB.png
https://i.imgur.com/Vppik0V.png
https://i.imgur.com/78vu75v.png
https://i.imgur.com/2GnfrC2.png

[Smjffy]

Cancel the Christmas party next year, Mike. :D

[Manc]

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/team/886.png

Season trois - With the club heading into a European campaign for the first time since 2009, myself and Gilles worked tirelessly over the summer to beef up a thinning squad. Arriving on bosman deals were Pione Sisto, Eliaquim Mangala & Steven Nzonzi, tidy work. Sisto a like for like replacement for the departing Max Gradel, Mangala for Rami and Nzonzi for Cabaye. The fans are less than pleased with my experience is key approach, but I will continue to bang the drum as it both suits our style of play and has a great impact on the youth players via mentoring. Other departures were Sankhare to Dijon and Bagayoko to Red Star.

With January arrived floods of offers and we waved goodbye to another academy star, Bafode Diakite moving to Lazio for a whopping £40m. Agustin Rogel quickly followed suit in a move to Fenerbahce for £10m. With my defence now threadbare, Akanji in his wisdom decided that 12 months with the club was enough and he needed to move on. Never one to stand in a players way I agreed to sell the Swiss, but only if a significant fee was received. It never came. With a surplus of cash and our strikers struggling to find the back of the net, £11.25m was spent securing the services of Jean-Kevin Augustin from Red Bull. He would go on to score 6 goals in 20 appearances.

UEFA Champions League: Runners up in Ligue 1 we were thrown straight into the group stage alongside Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Hapoel Be'er-Sheva. I would have happily taken a third place finish prior to the first game however, we progressed to the last sixteen thanks to the bizarre antics of the Israeli side who beat both Bayern & Chelsea. We did not suffer the same fate and a home victory against the English mob resulted in a second place finish via goal difference. We would return to London for the next round this time to face Jose Mourinho's Tottenham. A predictably drab 0-0 in the South of France provided a platform for us to steal the tie via a sole away goal on foreign sole. I had beaten Jose at his own game and in the process denied him a quarter final reunion with his beloved Barca. With Mane added to the triple threat of Suarez, Messi & Griezmann, we never stood a chance. Barcelona would go on to lift the trophy.

Domestically we would finish in fourth spot with a 1.81 PPG record. The gap to PSG was closed to just eight points however, both Lille and Monaco finished the season stronger and on another day could have easily upset the odds and clinched the title. PSG are having a bit of a mare having done nothing of note in Europe and the French Cup has now gone to Lille for successive seasons. Our performance in the cup was also one to forget as we fell in the ninth round to our fierce rivals Bordeaux, on what would be our third Derby de Garonne defeat that year.

Our academy producing former names such as Moussa Sissoko, Philippe Mexes, Etienne Capoue & Issa Diop is now starting to come good. Working in tandem with the internal recruitment, I've had Grimandi and his team scouring every inch of Africa. This season alone we've imported youngsters from Tunisia, Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Ghana & Algeria. With the Europa League lying in wait I'll be hoping to give as many opportunities as possible.

[thommo]

I may as well do a short mid-season update for my Slough Town save. In the middle of the 3rd season (2020/21), and we're fighting for a playoff spot once again, and not too far off of a potential title and automatic promotion to the National League. Cup commitments have put us a couple of games behind, but it also means a jam-packed January.

https://i.ibb.co/pLZrTdq/table.png

We've stumbled a little over December, with 2 points in 3 league games, twice conceding late equalisers (one of which was a 93rd minute penalty) but we've games against Dartford and Wealdstone in the next few weeks so we need a return to league form quickly.

In the cups though, we've been great. We stormed through the early round of the FA Cup, including hammering Whitehawk 6-0, and we saw off National League opposition in Maidstone and Stockport in the 1st and 2nd round proper. I was hoping for a bumper tie in the 3rd round, but we were drawn away to Coventry, still in League One. Bit disappointing as we weren't on TV, and an attendance of under 6500 meant not the swell to the coffers I was hoping for. However, we battled hard and almost pulled off the upset.

https://i.ibb.co/kyCYjpv/3rd-round.png

Under the cosh for the majority of the game as I sat deep with a defensive tactic, but it was a great feeling to equalise in the first half (with our only shot) through Warren Harris, on a non-contract but a modern Slough icon. Martin Atkinson then decided he couldn't have the underdogs fighting back as he awarded an extremely dubious penalty, but we hit back when Mason was sent off for a professional foul, and Bradley Ede (also on a non-contract) thumped in the resulting free-kick.

However, up against 10 men for 15 minutes, I didn't know whether to hold on or push a little in search of the winner. Staying on positive left gaps at the back and McNulty was able to break through, round the keeper, and end the dream. There was still time for a goalmouth scramble and a last-gasp clearance in stoppage time as we charged forward in search of a 3rd equaliser, but it wasn't to be.

We've also done well in the FA Trophy, with a 2nd round tie against Barnet coming up soon. Hopefully we aren't utterly shagged as we've got about 8 games in 4 weeks coming up. Playoffs is the minimum aim.

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2028/29

Transfers In
https://i.imgur.com/avRxK52.png


https://i.imgur.com/VrTJdNo.png

Swiped from Southampton's youth academy and stuck straight into the reserves. High hopes.

https://i.imgur.com/C5vwf45.png

Popped up in the scouting centre and well worth a punt. We subsequently loaned him straight out to Barnsley and he didn't do too bad. Perhaps needed to play at a level lower but still got important game time so hey ho.

https://i.imgur.com/KsMMO2d.png

Quite the outlay for a back up but with Pablo Mari calling it a day we needed someone and of much better quality. He didn't do too bad when called upon but £80K a week is a lot for someone who played half a season at best.

https://i.imgur.com/48qCTWp.png

A fickle wonderkid who broke into the Southampton first team last year after his move from Goias. £60M is huge but his age, potential and the fact he'd be a first team regular straight off the bat made it an easier decision than it otherwise might have. I need to get used to the stupid fee's. Improved on his debut season with the Saints and more to come, no doubt.

https://i.imgur.com/0WRQSdh.png

It took Bernd a while to get started but he finally found his feet in the league. I sympathise with him a little as our midfield is probably the weakest part of our squad. Hopefully he kicks on a bit more though. Just three goals during the season was a bit of a let down too.

https://i.imgur.com/udnyhbK.png

Initially Clive had joined West Ham for £12M but after just three league appearances they deemed him surplus to requirements. West Ham had yoyo'd a bit in recent years. Since 2022/23 their league finishes has been 18th Prem, 1st Champ, 17th Prem, 19th Prem, 1st Champ. Finally arrested the slump this season but what a joke of a club. Those facilities would be better served being mine. He did start more than expected but jury is still out.

https://i.imgur.com/RbisZ3m.png

So it's unfortunate that Hector Hernandez our £4M capture in January last year has proven to be absolutely useless so we had to open the coffers for a replacement. I never knew we'd miss Alfie Whiteman so much tbh. Agustin much more reliable so there's that.

https://i.imgur.com/I8RLSi8.png

We wanted to get away from loan signings but given how much we spent during the summer months we found ourselves to be too short on the wings. David Mitchell has been highly rated by Chelsea for a couple of seasons now and a decent stint at feeder club Vitesse, followed by a short loan to West Ham last season suggests he's almost ready for first team. After the campaign he had with us in which he scored a career best 10 goals, one imagines he'll get the chance at Stamford Bridge.

https://i.imgur.com/HW6CRMs.png

One who may not despite matching Mitchell every step of the way is Junior who's a bit of a frustrating player. We won't return for him but he served his purpose.



Summary

League

We wanted to finish higher than 10th for certain and claim European football again so we could fill out our new stadium and as it happened we managed to do so with relative ease. I think if we had a couple more decent options then we'd have taken 4th off Man United too as we were very much in the running throughout despite never really getting there. In fact if Man United hadn't beaten Manchester City with a game to spare in the league then it would have went to the final day but alas, we've got to be happy, I guess. Chelsea lucked out the crafty bastards. Five entrants next season for England. As far as being the most successful club in England btw way...Liverpool now have 24 titles. :moop: Urgh. It's gonna be a long long time.

https://i.imgur.com/wWoN4yc.png

https://i.imgur.com/P3hl4nS.png

Would we have managed top four if we managed to keep hold of Pepe? Who knows but for a man we brought in on a free, to get the sum we did off Tottenham was too big to turn down, or rather we refused to offer him a new deal that removed his minimum release clause but meh. We needed the cash, I guess.

https://i.imgur.com/30Ix7pm.png

I had hoped his departure would give Mohammed Hassan some game time but too much too soon for our 17 year Qatari international so it was left to Abdoulaye Dosso to fill the void. He didn't fare too well but that was owed to being on international duty for what seemed forever and a few injury issues. Twat.

EFL Cup - The fourth round was as far as venture. We had knocked out Bristol City in the 2nd round, survived an almighty scare against Championship side Crystal Palace in the 3rd having to rely on penalties after throwing away a 2-0 lead before Man United at Old Trafford put us in our place 3-2.

FA Cup - I hate Manchester. This time it would be Manchester City, again in Manchester that ended our run in the quarter finals but given the teams remaining were the big boys, I doubt we would have stood much of a chance even if we hadn't lost 2-0. Bournemouth, Middlesbrough (replay) and Derby were all eliminated but it's always a waste of time when you reach a certain stage and end up with nothing. It's not like we're reliant on the TV money any more.

Next Season

We've got to keep going and adding to what we have so we'll be raiding the top clubs for their youngsters again whilst making a couple of big purchases to push on and hopefully challenge for the Europa League itself and domestically, finish in the top 4 so we can start making headway on the bigger clubs in the division. We might have to bring in one or two oldies in the hope they rub off on some of our own youngsters. Paul Scott lost his next Paul Gascoigne label. :(

On the plus side, we asked for a stadium increase and we got it whilst the board have agreed to raise the bar as far as our youth facilities go, both are currently still 'average'. We've had to move to Stadium MK for the season too which is a minor gripe. I'm probably going to take a day off today as although it's been a great way to escape, I've lost way too much sleep.

Watch this space.

[Manc]

Sanca could be anything. Get him in the first team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Summer at Ferencvaros. Regretfully I had to give my marauding winger Ivan the Terrible back to Shakhtar, as they wouldn't take another loan and he wouldn't join permanently. I needed an equivalent who was equally as too good for the league, and found it in the German second tier (says a lot about our league) in the form of Paderborn's Marlon Ritter. I also added Morgan Fox from Sheffield Wednesday, and a couple of Hungarian shitters to make up the numbers. We're a bit thin in some areas but that's where the local 'versatile' (i.e. shit) players come to the fore. I also have a teenage Chilean right back who I picked up for buttons who is absurdly good at this level.

In the early running in the league, FC Vidi, having lost 17 points to us over the last 12 games of 19/20 to bottle the title in the biggest collapse you have ever seen, continued their Felix Baumgartner effort by taking one point from the first six, including a 4-0 home defeat to us. Every week there would be a new set of media ranting from their pisshead Yugoslav manager Marko Nikolic, who somehow still hasn't been sacked. 18/19 champions Debrecen are doing almost as badly and despite heavy rotation due to Europe, we appear to have basically won the title already, being 10 and 12 points ahead of them.

So, Europe. We have a very low club coefficient of 7.5 which meant no seeding in the Champions League qualifying except in the first round where we got past Ventspils 6-2 despite making a slight meal of the first leg. Next up we drew Red Star, which on paper seemed a tough one but we went there and completely dominated possession, winning 2-0 with about 70% of the ball. We saw that one out 1-1 at home and that took us through to face a reasonably favourable draw against Norway's Brann, who had defied their seeding to oust Steaua Bucharest. We went up to Bergen for the first leg and absolutely throttled them 4-0 in one of our best performances, to guarantee European football through to Christmas. However, there was still another playoff round to go to try and make the CL proper and that was against Rangers, the Scottish champions, who had seen off Olympiakos in the previous round. Again we were away in the first leg, and this time we absolutely mugged them off with three set piece goals in the first half. They got one back at the end but we still took a 3-1 lead back to Budapest, and although they scored early, we pinged them on the break as they became desperate in the second half and won that 2-1.

I came back from that game to find we had been awarded over £13 million for appearing in the group stage. To put into context what that means for a Hungarian club, our previous bank balance was £2.9 million. This money should give us the platform to really get to the next level.

Being by far the lowest seeded side in the CL group draw, I was just hoping to draw at least one vaguely beatable opposition to get a few more coefficient points (our useless compatriots have not helped with the Hungarian ranking) and maybe sneak into the Europa League in 3rd. Remarkably, we managed to avoid the smorgasbord of big guns and drew a pretty favourable group of Spartak Moscow, Besiktas and Benfica. My hopes are not necessarily high, but I think it's possible we could get 3rd in that. 2nd would need some proper heroics.

[Gray Fox]

It'll be worth throwing everything at those home ties in the Champions League. At least on 19, you could get £2.42m per win in the Group Stage, which is basically a years worth of funding per win for your team.

The only downside is, it does pull you away from the rest of the league fairly quickly.

[Manc]

Are we likely to see a Debrecen/Vidi revival?

[Jimmy Floyd]

That is a slight worry, as we want the league to stay fairly interesting and keep the coefficient rolling forward, but the big guns' transfers this summer have been awful and made them worse. I guess if we can drag the league rep up a bit it might help? Who knows.

In theory Ujpest, Honved and perhaps MTK could be able to be decent in the long run, the rest of them are just peasant teams playing on bogs.

[Mike]

Accidentally let my heart do a transfer rather than my head. Spent my first money in the save too, bringing in a 33 year old Andy ‘Robbo’ Robertson in for £5mil and making him my highest paid player on over double the wage of my star striker!

[Smjffy]

Accidentally let my heart do a transfer rather than my head. Spent my first money in the save too, bringing in a 33 year old Andy ‘Robbo’ Robertson in for £5mil and making him my highest paid player on over double the wage of my star striker!

I was tempted to do similar with a 35 year old VVD but my head ruled. In other news, dip ship Smiff brought in a loaned player from Liverpool and completely bypassed the fact that I agreed a £60M mandatory fee instead of optional. FML.

[Foe]

Just offer him a shite contract so he won’t sign?

[Smjffy]

Just offer him a shite contract so he won’t sign?

I'm sure I had to offer the contract after the loan was approved, no?

[Foe]

Well then. You’re fucked.

[Gray Fox]

Is he at least a good prospect?

[Smjffy]

Well then. You’re fucked.


Is he at least a good prospect?

Update coming up but as it transpired, he's repaid it already. :drool:

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - Season 2029/30

:drool: Pictures do the season better than my words will on this occasion. Posted in the order they were taken.



https://i.imgur.com/7jltcF1.png

https://i.imgur.com/pZCtg7W.png

https://i.imgur.com/0gX3Jz1.png

https://i.imgur.com/ujuHYjg.png

https://i.imgur.com/TMoYJOK.png

https://i.imgur.com/NVWa8kn.png

https://i.imgur.com/bH7gYBg.png

https://i.imgur.com/1w0Qxl2.png

https://i.imgur.com/HIyaQd8.png

https://i.imgur.com/J2ZuUxT.png

https://i.imgur.com/QvcDvVu.png

https://i.imgur.com/klF5QQn.png

https://i.imgur.com/UePpjh2.png

https://i.imgur.com/BQ8WHW2.png

https://i.imgur.com/NjhFufo.png

https://i.imgur.com/ffitGLP.png

https://i.imgur.com/bY10CmR.png

https://i.imgur.com/NE9F9l6.png

https://i.imgur.com/sBDyhyJ.png

https://i.imgur.com/tlhV4NX.png

https://i.imgur.com/lxTug1v.png

^^ Final games of the season.

https://i.imgur.com/fzzrWHH.png

https://i.imgur.com/RUSiuAO.png

https://i.imgur.com/S3yXKDl.png
https://i.imgur.com/IxpGVoM.png
https://i.imgur.com/AFqUjOi.png
https://i.imgur.com/ti8G9xx.png

https://i.imgur.com/3vsD8pJ.png

lol Harry Kane. :D

https://i.imgur.com/faJD8iW.png

https://i.imgur.com/b7lbgMY.png

https://i.imgur.com/6rVhk3B.png

Top 5.

https://i.imgur.com/jnaoBJe.png

Obviously.

https://i.imgur.com/OCt8Vg8.png

£66M summer signing from Real Madrid. Commercially he's good too apparently bringing in millions a year.

https://i.imgur.com/GgLkHQq.png

An absolute rock. :cool:

https://i.imgur.com/A7D6MtQ.png

An inspired purchase and done so for no other reason than to bring in some home grown players (like Kane). Maddison had joined Chelsea for £78M in 2022 before making a switch to Arsenal four years later for £71M. We brought him in on a free and after 25 assists and 10 goals, his average rating was a career best.

https://i.imgur.com/b6BBEGR.png

He'll be joining for the mandatory £60M but that's OK because as it turned out his goals were critical in many matches from April until the end of the season. Lucked out.

https://i.imgur.com/zbBcHFo.png
https://i.imgur.com/zlUknAq.png

https://i.imgur.com/m3Xutmy.png
https://i.imgur.com/KtPAFWX.png

https://i.imgur.com/jrwRror.png

https://i.imgur.com/LiwCNkZ.png

4 days 7 hours to go from Vanarama South to the Champions League. That's some serious game time. Our youth academy should be completed to 'good' (I hope) by October 2030 so I'm tempted to activate the golden generation one or shall I wait until it's state of the art?


Be warned, it's an absolute mammoth of a post picture wise.

[Manc]

Love the addition of the golden oldies. Kane with 7 pace at 36 years of age is a bit of a stretch.

I still can't wrap my head around Canti. 200lbs and under six foot.

[Gray Fox]

The mentals on Canti are obscene for a 21 year old.

Less than a week to do 10 seasons is mental as well.

[Luke Emia]

Managed to get King's Lynn into the Championship today courtesy of a crazy end of season run in League One winning 7 of the last 8 and then going up via the playoffs. Stadium is half the size of the next smallest in the division and my wage budget is half the size of the next smallest in the league and a 20th the size of Reading who are top.

I hardly bought anyone in hoping that I would have enough to stay up this year and then invest to push on next year. Looks like it could be tight as after 14 games I've got 16 points.

[Smjffy]

https://i.imgur.com/0hO279P.png

Odds on the impossible anyone? :D

[Mike]

Ha, slim!

I've played 4 premiership games. Lost all 4. Going to be a long season.

[wullie]

My first season up was horrendous, 8 points in the first half of the season and well adrift

https://i.imgur.com/orzgRJu.jpg

Loaned a youth striker from Southampton who scored 19 in 17 league games and basically kept me up single-handed

https://i.imgur.com/Le7zo3n.jpg


I then signed him that summer for £20m. Two seasons later he went to Chelsea for £80m, did fuck all there and came home for £15m. Still only 26, the boy has lived a life

[Kikó]

I can't believe Smiffy plays by fast sim. I don't know whether that's genius or filth.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That is a classic great escape season. 8 points from 22, finished on what looks to be 35, never in doubt.

[Raoul Duke]

I then signed him that summer for £20m. Two seasons later he went to Chelsea for £80m, did fuck all there and came home for £15m. Still only 26, the boy has lived a life

:cool: Give us a screenshot

[Mike]

https://i.imgur.com/v0eic8s.png
At least I'm not Fulham.

[Smjffy]

It's the likes of Fulham in that position that end winning runs.

After ten years at Oxford I've unlocked design a son. 8-) tempting.

[wullie]

:cool: Give us a screenshot

https://i.imgur.com/itagrz6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iBKttvi.jpg

Absolutely giddy when Chelsea put him on the transfer list. LOOK AT HOW THEY WASTED MY POOR BOY

[Giggles]

That's a name.

[Manc]

Just the 130 appearances. He should have the legs to reach 40.

[Giggles]

8 years at Southampton?

[Jimmy Floyd]

If ever there was an example of The Operation in action, that is it.

[Raoul Duke]

He has a touch of the Inzaghi's about him

[Danny]

Give it 6 months and you can probably sell him for 80 again

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ferencvaros third season (Europe edition)

Our first Champions League group stage experience proved both wonderful and unbelievably stressful. Drawn in a low-key group with Spartak Moscow, Benfica and Besiktas, I thought we would be capable of nicking some results here and there given our performances in the qualifying rounds. This proved the case immediately as we took the lead early in the opener at Spartak and hung onto it for a 1-0 win. £2.42 million for just doing that was more than the whole of a Hungarian season would generate for us in gates, TV and prize money.

Next up, Benfica visited the Groupama for our first home game and it was by far the best performance of my reign as we dominated from start to finish and thrashed them 4-0, including a hat-trick from eighteen year old hotshot Little Nicky Mazzonetto, the midget centre forward who, despite his name, is Hungarian/Ferencvaros born and bred. This left us riding high on top of the group ahead of a double header against bottom side Besiktas. Off we went to Istanbul and again we were completely dominant, running out 2-0 winners. So at halfway, we had nine points from nine and had not conceded a goal. Benfica and Spartak were on 4pts each, with Besiktas yet to get off the mark.

Before our next game at home to Besiktas, the other two drew with each other again in an early kickoff, meaning that a win over Besiktas would see us win the group with two games to spare. Alas, this moment was our Pickett's Charge; this was where the dream started to slide. We still did not concede, but we couldn't score either in what was becoming a theme as teams (particularly domestically) worked out that piling men behind the ball was the way to play against us. 0-0 left us 5 points clear of Spartak and Benfica with both of them left to play.

Spartak visited next for our last home game, and a point would take us through to the knockout stages. The game played out similarly to the Besiktas one, with neither side threatening and most of the game involved us having a lot of pointless possession. This time, though, we were stung in the 92nd minute by a heartbreaker of a set piece, nodded in by ex Man City counterfeit midfielder Fernando. So, with a game to play, the group looked like this:

1 Ferencvaros 10
2 Spartak Moscow 8
3 Benfica 8
4 Besiktas 1

Benfica v Ferencvaros
Spartak Moscow v Besiktas

So from having strolled through the first three fixtures, we were now right under the pump and on the cusp of going out - unless we could get something in Lisbon, we would be relying on the hitherto useless Turkish champions to do so in Moscow.

We held our own against a first half Benfica barrage, but on the stroke of half time, we monged up defending a corner and Jardel (presumably not that one) hammered one home to give Benfica the lead. This left us needing either to equalise, or for Besiktas to cling on to the 0-0 scoreline they had in Moscow, where the hosts had already missed a penalty.

The second half wore grimly on with no real threat from us, and no news from Moscow. With nine minutes to go, our skipper Fernando Gorriarán was sent off for a second yellow and that seemed to be it for our chances of getting it done ourselves. Then disaster, as in the 85th minute, Charles life-is-a-Kaboré-old-chum, veteran Burkina Faso playmaker, gives Spartak the lead. Just as we are preparing for the Europa League, though, in the 87th minute, there's some jostling in the box and after consulting VAR, the truly heroic Scottish ref awards us a penalty. Up steps utility attacker András Radó and fucking buries it. We cling on to the end and win the group BY THE BAREST OF MARGINS.

https://i.ibb.co/1fTDWRy/ferenc0.jpg (https://ibb.co/RpcxwQr)
https://i.ibb.co/5xJ4j7d/ferenc1.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)

In the league, we've been utter shite (largely due to the above exertions) but still three points clear of our newly promoted and surprisingly resurgent city rivals MTK. Debrecen have recovered a bit, but Vidi might as well start playing rugby or some other game, it's all over red rover for them.

[Manc]

You love to see it. Likely round of sixteen opponents?

Much love for Charles Kabore. I've come close to signing him on more than one occasion.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Barcelona.

They're an ageing outfit, but I think Lionel Messi should have enough to see us off, to be quite honest. Still, nice pay day at the Topps Tiles Nou Camp Stadium.

[Manc]

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/team/886.png

Season Quatre - Heading into my fourth year with the club and we were beginning to stabilise as a Ligue 1 power. Our fourth place finish last season ensured Europa league football and all the pitfalls qualification brings. Despite a potential 50+ game season, I was quietly content with the team and saw no reason for a wave of new faces. The one player arriving was former academy graduate Jean-Clair Todibo for the sum of £17m. Predictably his time at Barca was frustrating and he failed to make his mark in Catalonia. There were a plethora of reasons for securing his services, his ability to play both in defence and midfield, his age (22), homegrown, and more importantly he would cushion the blow should Akanji move on. Moving in the opposite direction were Diafro Sakho & Valbuena, neither saw fit to retire.

Ligue 1: Without doubt one of the most bizarre seasons I've been involved in. This was of course the year of the winter World Cup in Qatar and the scheduling around the competition was a little half hearted. With the European fixtures taking priority we arrived in November with just the 9 league games played amassing a measly 14 points. We weren't the only side struggling with all of Lyon, PSG, Marseille & Monaco languishing in the bottom half of the table. Only myself and Tuchel avoided the dreaded chop. The World Cup as it does came and went and January arrived with the small matter of TEN fixtures. Winless in four and lying 15th in the table, the media were convinced a poor result in the Garrone derby would see my demise, we won 1-0. Victories against Nice & Montpellier followed, but the pressure continued to mount as we failed to beat Strasbourg, Nimes & Reims. It would take until mid March for the vultures to stop circling and for us to climb the table. Despite finishing the campaign with 1 win in five games, we stumbled our way to a very undeserved third place. PSG secured their sixth title on the bounce thanks to a spectacular Lyon collapse, Monaco and Marseille never recovered. For those keeping score our we achieved a 1.68 PPG record.

Staying with domestic matters it was another French Cup failure as we fell this time in the semi-final to an underwhelming Monaco on penalties. They would go on to lose to Qatar in the final.

Europa League: We were imperious in Europe from start to finish. Five wins from six in a group consisting of Fiorentina, Partizan & BATE meant we progressed straight to the last sixteen (format change?). Lying in wait were Adolf's favourite team, Schalke. Just the one leg on this occasion and a 2-1 victory saw us for consecutive seasons progress to a European quarter final. Giants of yesteryear, we dispatched Benfica with relative ease (2-1) before beating Milan by the same score in the semi-final. The final would see Toulouse v Real Madrid played at the Commerz-bank Arena. This was a functional Madrid team featuring talents such as David Alaba & Marquinhos. After an edgy first half, Real took the lead in the 52nd minute through a deflected shot which bounced wickedly off Mangala. Before the game could settle down, Mangala then scored at the other end with a powerful header. Redemption. With neither side creating clear cut chances the game looked poised for extra time, cue Rayan Cherki. Ah yes the then 16 year old signed for £6.5m was now 18 and well and truly fulfilling his potential, scoring wonder goals aplenty and helping the French U-21 side lift a European Championship. With ten minutes to go he whistled a free kick into the top corner from 30 yards and that was that. Silverware.

Sadly that would be Cherki's final game for Toulouse as Atletico Madrid coughed up £50m for his services. What could have been.

[Smjffy]

Oxford - Season 2030/31

Transfers In - £63M

https://i.imgur.com/AZheHd7.png

Swiped from Manchester City's youth academy, Juan is a 'perfectionist' so I am hoping we've landed a long term option for £3M.

https://i.imgur.com/IYSwczj.png

He had a good end to the season last year and the mandatory transfer fee of £60M kicked in. I'm probably going to hold him to unfair standards as a result as I don't think he's worth that. If I ever get a chance to make my money back then I probably would cash in.

https://i.imgur.com/7iL5EBm.png

James Maddison leaving to Wolves for nearly £18M meant we needed an experienced head to take his place. Dani came in from Dortmund and did that sufficiently with a stellar season. 10 assists and 8 goals was a fair return.


Season Summary

League

Above all else I wanted to obtain Champions League football on a regular basis and this season was to be our debut in Europe's premier competition. It was clear our issues against the big boys were the main problem and although we only finished four points behind Arsenal (who ended Liverpool and Man City's decade of league dominance) we were never really 'in it' as those around us had so many games in hand it was barely worth getting excited about. It did leave a 'what if' feeling by time the final game of the season was played though.

https://i.imgur.com/VBrSxMQ.png

https://i.imgur.com/XK9nFem.png

https://i.imgur.com/WjQaMQu.png

EFL Cup

We faced West Ham in the third round and toughed out a 1-0 win on home soil to set up a fourth round tie with QPR. Three goals later we were through to face another Championship side in Blackburn Rovers but it wasn't meant to be. Wilde took the L and fired Wide.

https://i.imgur.com/zqBhsZd.png

FA Cup

Reading were first up and a 4-0 win at the John Woodley Arena was enough to set up another cup tie against Blackburn. This time we gained a measured of revenge with a 1-0 win at Ewood to progress to round five. Sheffield United were the opponents but they could do nothing to stop the 5-0 onslaught. However all things come to an end and it was Arsenal who did the honours this time round. They would eventually lose the final to Tottenham on pens.

https://i.imgur.com/auBD7Qo.png

Champions League

https://i.imgur.com/3ZTzCOC.png

We kicked off our European journey with a 1-0 win at home to Celtic as Madrid battered Slavia Praha. Our next game at the Bernabeu saw us come away empty handed as we were defeated 3-1. 8 goals, six points and two games later after the double header against Slavia saw us in with a shout to progress and we did that with a 2-0 win in Scotland. Madrid battering the whipping boys 9-0. The final game we again lost to Madrid 2-1 this time but in a better performance.

Juventus were drawn in the next round and after a 2-1 win in the first leg we had it all to do in Italy. Well....gutted.

https://i.imgur.com/g1w2Trf.png

Super Cup

An extra time winner by Canti was enough to secure a 3-2 win against Arsenal. Unfortunately match report unavailable due to when it was.

Match of the Season

We beat Manchester City 5-0 last season but the Etihad was full of action a year later too.

https://i.imgur.com/aqjxxhW.png

Game of Shame

https://i.imgur.com/KhNPXQq.png

We offered zero. Zilch. Nada.

Player of the Season

https://i.imgur.com/V5PKk8X.png

It has to be, doesn't it? 29 goals in total, 15 assists and named the supporters player of the year.

Next Season

It will be our 150th year anniversary so I'm going to do an update of where the club is at, the squad etc next, some where are they now yaddy yaddy. Genius btw Kiko.

[Kikó]

Keep it up!

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 150 Year Anniversary

The Squad

Goalkeepers

https://i.imgur.com/w674uiq.png

Entering his 4th season as the clubs #1 goalkeeper. After making the breakthrough at San Lorenzo, River Plate splashed our £8M on him before a quick move to Man United for £8.5M then to ourselves for £23.5M just six months later.

https://i.imgur.com/t26RNtz.png

Brought in from CD Leganes for a small £135K, Drissa is our number #2 but also one for the future. Unfortunately for him however though as have a very promising option in the reserves too.

https://i.imgur.com/crHcqi4.png

Ollie is tipped to be the next Gordon Banks. He was actually born in Hyderabad in Pakistan. :D



Defenders



https://i.imgur.com/4RXPl9y.png

£4M signing from West Ham in 2028 and he started more than anticipated last season as he battled fellow right back Alejandro for a starting place.

https://i.imgur.com/vYIcToE.png

Pinched from Chelsea in 2027, he's had loan spells at Aldershot Town, Bolton and Barnsley, fairing reasonably well in all. Last season was his break through season in our first team. Sort of. I'm excluding the six games of the season before last.

https://i.imgur.com/pwEFFer.png

Entering his sixth season as one of the clubs mainstays in defence. Joined in 2026 for £22M from Dortmund, at the time a club record, went on to become the clubs vice captain, lifting the EFL Cup in 2027 and the Europa League in 2030.

https://i.imgur.com/jO4bl8K.png

Another recruit from Dortmund, £20M and completely no-nonsense, Youssouf has proven himself a great back up and is competent across all three positions.

https://i.imgur.com/KmfwZLN.png

The thoughts of signing £60M defenders a decade ago seemed unfathomable but the riches of the top flight allow you to speculate a little. Southampton had signed Maxwell from Brazilian side Goias in 2026 after after a solid breakthrough season for them a year later we jumped in with our offer. Entering his fourth season as an automatic starter and you sense he'll be around for years to come.

https://i.imgur.com/awVtFEG.png

We had loaned Rubens back in our Championship days and made the move permanent in 2027. He's gone from strength to strength since then (although still, I think we can do better) and is now valued at six times his cost. (£9M)

https://i.imgur.com/BigKn20.png

He plays more reserve football than first team football but for £325K we can be reasonably optimistic about Clement if he gets his head in the game. Real Sociedad's loss could be our gain. He had a loan spell with Blackburn last which offered little encouragement though.


Midfielders

https://i.imgur.com/37pJuFN.png

Kilian has now been at the club for over ten years and has played in every season to date. Last season he spent the last six months on loan to Huddersfield however and his time is coming to an end.

https://i.imgur.com/TwlVcHW.png

Stolen from Southampton, last season he cemented his place as a first team regular and has every chance of being one of the clubs greats.

https://i.imgur.com/Tjbp7kL.png

A good debut season so makes sense to keep him on. We seem to have a lot of former Dortmund players which I hadn't noticed.

https://i.imgur.com/66YGgL8.png

He lost his Gazza tag and he's probably going to gain the failed and never made it one. I'll take some blame but for me it's over.

https://i.imgur.com/MgWfsfm.png

Needs another season like last season to truly pay back the £60M. Left wing is pretty much his domain but there's that looming feeling that he's just not great.

https://i.imgur.com/x20hL5i.png

But this man is. Brought in for £66M from Real Madrid, Ruben started his career at Benfica before moving to Premier League side Southampton. The Saints relegation from the league that same season probably helped him as he got a full season of Championship football under his belt. Moved to Spain in 2027 for £75M. Two years later back in England with ourselves.

https://i.imgur.com/C48qHVs.png

Summer signing set to challenge Sa for a spot in the first time. £37.5M seems a reasonable fee these days. Three successful years with Ajax and one that has raised an eye or two.

https://i.imgur.com/t3HtzkR.png

After ten years in Spain with Valencia, Thiago joined in the summer on a free and looks to give the Premier League a crack at the ripe age of 31. He'll do alright too.

https://i.imgur.com/UOAEZ2p.png

What do you know, another former Dortmund player. Summer signing for a whopping £95M but the unflappable midfielder is needed. We need quality and he provides it and then some.


Strikers

https://i.imgur.com/p4ryI7o.png

As does this man. There's not much I can add about Canti other than he's amazing.

https://i.imgur.com/4G7Betl.png

Kidnapped from Arsenal's youth academy, he had a decent season on loan to League One club, Birmingham City. Still got a way to go.

https://i.imgur.com/F6tyPE4.png

£89,000. That is all.

I am well ahead of these updates now.


https://i.imgur.com/XS9XZnh.png

https://i.imgur.com/KeEHcOr.png

[Manc]

Eye watering fees and talent. What's the end goal?

[Smjffy]

To be the biggest and most successful club in the world taking the records of Liverpool and Real Madrid domestically and in Europe.

[Manc]

If you upgraded the keeper and signed a battling midfielder you'd be on for the league imo.

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - Season 2031/32 - 150th Anniversary

Transfers In

https://i.imgur.com/Ls7RS1e.png

Season Summary

League

When your start to the season involves so many of the leagues biggest clubs then you start to wonder if it's going to be a season of playing catch up. Or at least that's what initially went through my mind until we found ourselves flying high early doors.

https://i.imgur.com/6J9NQJr.png

A banging start but made all the better by the teams we'd beaten en route.

https://i.imgur.com/Wucfmxj.png

Read it and weep.

It couldn't continue in that way, obviously so I expected the inevitable dip in form, the frantic change of tactics, the public blaming of players, the usual....but no.

https://i.imgur.com/qb6mbtJ.png

We were coming together.

https://i.imgur.com/5nt5nFW.png

So much so that by the half way point we were not only challengers for the Premier League title but the pace setters. We'd get pegged back though, surely?

https://i.imgur.com/ncudhl9.png
After 19 games.

Surely...?



https://i.imgur.com/p1UrEnh.png

But no. We just kept going and going to the point that it was all a bit of an anticlimax. Our first league title though!! :D We have 24 more to go to match Liverpool's current tally of 25.



EFL Cup

We faced off against Leyton Orient first and foremost and put them away 4-0 to set up an all Premier League tie against Southampton, Lucas Jimenez's sole effort enough to send us through 1-0. Man United lay in wait in the quarter finals at they needn't had bothered. Alejandro's double along with goals from Sanca and Sa recorded a 4-1 drubbing. Arsenal were up in the semi finals and after a shocking 4-1 loss at the Emirates, we could only manage a 2-2 draw in the return and were dumped out as a result.

FA Cup

We were handed a tough draw with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur in round three but Maxwell's header midway into the second half gave us a fortuitous 2-1 win. We would welcome another London club thereafter though as Chelsea arrived to the John Woodley Arena but again we'd send them packing as we scored four without reply. Madness.

Then again. A third London club, a third home tie and a third win.
https://i.imgur.com/817DePj.png

A chaotic end to any match.

Leicester were our opponents in the quarter finals but we felt confident we would progress and possibly win given the teams that remained. The 2-0 win, again at home validating our beliefs. Southampton were our semi final opponents but we both stank out Wembley with a 0-0 draw before we went on to win on penalties. Leeds United our final opponents and all that stood in the way of a domestic double.

https://i.imgur.com/Ea1Fnl2.png

It was easy. :drool:

Champions League

https://i.imgur.com/6DzCt1j.png

We got our European campaign off with a 4-0 win at home to PSV Eindhoven before travelling to Spain to face Real Madrid once more. This time we came away with 4-1 win in a comprehensive victory and one that the club could probably say was the best in its history. 3-1(h) and 5-2(a) wins against Inter Milan followed as we made short work of our group. 6-0 against PSV in Holland and a 2-0 win in front of our own supporters ensured it was 6 out of 6. Wonderful.

Or at least it was wonderful until we threw away a glorious chance against Juventus in the next round.

https://i.imgur.com/j7pN6Rw.png

But what an emphatic response...

https://i.imgur.com/u4SsSuu.png

On course of a history treble and no one would bet against us in our current form.

https://i.imgur.com/IeMMX2C.png

No one except Barcelona that is. :moop: The late goal was a killer and we would need a special performance on home soil. We weren't down and out, we still had a chance.

https://i.imgur.com/IYMMDeX.png

Savage. I felt as though we'd just been chewed up and spat out so Pitbull scoring the decisive away goal was fitting. Absolute c*nt.

Match of the Season

How can it not be the 7-0 home win against Juventus? Scenes.

Game of Shame

https://i.imgur.com/uhfwF4S.png

You have a shot of getting to a final and you serve up that?

Player of the Season


https://i.imgur.com/Iye1HoO.png


Why wouldn't it be? :drool:

Next Season

The world is our oyster. (I am 18 months ahead from here)

Just to assure no funny business is occurring as that was a rather poetic season.

https://i.imgur.com/U04GDMJ.png


It is now time to activate create a son and a golden generation.

[Mike]

Utterly amazing stuff! Well done!

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - Season 3032/33

Transfers In

None.

Youth in however....(disclaimer: all pics taken a year after intake and first team football, golden generation activated)

https://i.imgur.com/mzL6nGU.png

51 first team appearances. :drool:

https://i.imgur.com/8kZZJSF.png

10(18).

https://i.imgur.com/FKRKrMD.png

27(5) Very highly rated and helped by Ruben Sa missing three months of the season with a broken ankle. Already a Nigerian international.

https://i.imgur.com/cYV407m.png

Every damn game and 13 goals with 20 assists says I can. :cool: (BYO son)

Season Summary

League

As league champions we knew we were going to be a marked target going into the season but it was a disappointing follow up to what was an awesome year last year however the worst was yet to come.

https://i.imgur.com/RzaIe9e.png

https://i.imgur.com/pxEZrH3.png

???

:moop:

https://i.imgur.com/rMnqgPw.png

Man United beating Juventus meant they secured Champions League football....

https://i.imgur.com/8tfRAk4.png

But Chelsea beating Barcelona in the final minute of the Champions League final meant they took ours so it would be Europa League football too.

:cry:

It gets worse.

Champions League

https://i.imgur.com/7rXx3yE.png

Our passage through to the knock out rounds was plain sailing and we were even afforded the luxury of resting players in the final two games. That said conceding top spot to Milan was frustrating but perfectly in line with our inconsistent nature this season.

Lille finished third as Russian side Zenit bottomed out. We smashed them 9-0 as it happens.

We would draw German giants Bayern Munich in the 1st knock out round and a 5-0 home win put the tie to bed before it even began. We lost the return 4-3 but it wasn't important.

Atletico Madrid were offered up in the quarter finals and another fine performance at home meant we took a slender 1-0 win to Spain where we followed it up with another four to go through 5-0 on aggregate. Was Champions League glory on the cards? Well, we know the answer to that because of the above.

Last season we were knocked out in cruel fashion as a last minute goal ended our European exploits. This season we'd face Barcelona again and we were determined to put the record right. That last minute goal still stung.

After a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp, former Oxford striker Pepe scoring Barcelona's goal, we knew even a 0-0 would be enough to send us through to the final of the Champions League.

Well fuck you you stupid cunting fucking wanking splatting arsehole bitch tit fucking arghhh. Again! Fucking lightning strikes twice.

https://i.imgur.com/TM9expZ.png

EFL Cup

We dropped a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Burnley in the 3rd round before progressing on pens. Liverpool were put to the sword 3-0 in the 4th before Chelsea ended our participation with a huge 4-1 win.

FA Cup

Leeds United arrived at the John Woodley Arena and left having lost 4-2. Round 4 saw Luton defeated 3-0 before Stoke took created some magic of their own by knocking us out.

What a shit season.

Match of the Season

Oxford City 9-0 Zenit

A new record is always pleasing but any win by such a margin in Europe is to be cherished. Bless.

Game of Shame.

Fuck Barcelona.

Player of the Season

https://i.imgur.com/y1W4wTQ.png

As per. Canti now has 180 career goals in 296 appearances and since moving to the club has won the Copa America and Olympics with Brazil, the Super Cup and Europa League as well as the Premier League and Fa Cup. Hopefully more to come. Voted European Golden Boy in 2029, Footballer of the Year in 2030, Player of the Year, he's the real deal.

https://i.imgur.com/ZilPNpE.png
https://i.imgur.com/SzAVSzO.png

We saved goodbye to a few long standing players in Kilian Gomez and Benoit Badiashile.

[Manc]

Donned senseless by Mr Worldwide.

What is this golden generation bollocks?

[Smjffy]

Donned senseless by Mr Worldwide.

What is this golden generation bollocks?

You unlock it when you win a league with more than four players who came through the ranks.

[Smjffy]

Season 2019/20


Oxford City - 2019/20

The Squad.

https://i.imgur.com/bA2kHlo.png


Summary.

We kicked off the summer by raiding the transfer market for loan deals as we sought to strengthen from the off and it's fair to say we managed that, especially in Fabio Tavares and Reon Potts who scored freely up front whilst both our wingers Kyran Wiltshire and Ben Allen posting double figures meant we weren't short on goals but conceding 44 meant they were needed.

https://i.imgur.com/4U9H25X.png

Our form throughout the campaign was quite steady but it was the twelve match winning streak at the beginning of September that confirmed we were promotion contenders however it was always going to be via the playoffs as league leaders Wealdstone made a mockery of the division. Just 17 goals conceded too which was quite impressive at this level. Although we eventually finished 4th, taking just one point out of 15 during the busy months of March and April made things harder than they probably needed to be but boded well for the actual playoffs.

We drew Dulwich Hamlet in the first round and a 2-0 win was enough to progress. Welling United came up next only to be undone by a solo strike courtesy of Ben Allen. Billericay Town lay in wait as we looked to secure promotion at the first time of asking but as we had shown during the season, we don't half make life hard for ourselves.

Oxford City V Billericay Town

Wembley would have been awesome but Court Place Farm was the venue which gave us confidence until of course Jack Burroughs and Doug Loft had given the away side a 2-0 lead after half an hour and our chance looked gone. I waltzed down to the dressing room early in preparation to dish out a bollocking until I heard the distinctive cheer that was certainly our own supporters. Had we pulled one back? Two minutes later I heard it again and then the players flooded in. We had made it 2-2 before half time!

The second half was less frantic but when Ben Allen struck after 70'minutes the non-existent roof was blown off the stadium. Promotion!

Or was it?! As we headed into stoppage time Billercay launched one final attack and then it happened. Femi Akinwande levelling the scores once more. Heart ache! Extra time it would be and the lads were fucked physically.

Well, everyone except Reece Fleet who smashed one in from 25 yards in the first half of extra time to secure the win. Yes!

https://i.imgur.com/WYEeF1i.png

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - Newhaven were our opponents in the 2nd qualifying round and came away with a 2-0 win. Yate were up next and got battered by five without reply. Bromley were the last hurdle to reach the first round proper and a 4-1 win secured just that. I wasn't too bothered who we would face next so long as it was away and they had a decent sized stadium but we drew Walsall who would visit us and I expected that to be that. As it is Reon Potts grabbed his magical moment as we stole a draw against the League Two side. We secured a replay! It must have drained the players because our following game in the league we didn't just get beat, we didn't just get battered, we got absolutely raped by Weymouth...8-0! Great warm up before the replay which we ended up losing by a goal to nil.

FA Trophy - In the space of ten days we lost to Weymouth by eight, lost to Walsall and then followed it up with an 8-2 victory away to Cirencester to put us through to the 1st round but again we rattled in the goals with a 6-0 win against Margate. Was further success on the cards? Concord Rangers did their best to say no by taking us to a replay in the 2nd round, 2-2 draw at their ground was followed by a 3-1 win at ours but Solihull Motors ended our run in the next round.

Finances

https://i.imgur.com/vyYL1yo.png

Next Season

The aim is a rapid rise through the divisions with the ultimate goal to be not only the biggest club in England but also the most successful whilst long term taking Real Madrid's Champions League record total would be pleasing.*

*On touch it seems you unlock stuff so I have activated the No Sacking one as well as making all players interested and scouting up to 100 players in a day. I also notice there's a golden generation which I am going to activate when the club has proper facilities to get the most out of it so maybe if and when we get to the top flight.

Long update but I'll do my best to ensure all follow the same layout and as I get a more consistent squad I can start detail more about the players but it's pretty pointless at this stage. Game on.
"


Season 2020/21


Oxford City - 2020/21

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/SCETbaV.png


Summary

No fewer than 23 new arrivals joined the club in the summer as wholesale changes were made in anticipating for a second successive promotion and again it was the loaned players who did much of the business. Virgil Gomis and Saikou Janneh ensuring goals came as freely as last season, 115 of them in total whilst defensively our against total was reduced by half with just 35 conceded. We were rampant from start to finish and as the league graph below suggests, we were clear winners in a record breaking season. It is hoped both will extend their loan deals for next season especially Forest striker, Virgil.

114 points became a Vanarama National League record, as was the goals for but it was the surprising form of Josh Ashby that stood out as he broke records for most assists in a season, highest average rating and most MotM awards. I will try and keep him for a while purely so we can create one or two club legends as those already listed aren't in the game.

https://i.imgur.com/TGFEGb5.png

Over 12 times through the campaign we hit a team for four or more and it was telling that last seasons Conference South champions, Wealdstone found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-0 win in front of their own supporters.

https://i.imgur.com/87v7XgQ.png

Oldham were actually 2/1 favourites to get promoted whilst we were 5/2 so it was no great surprise that we managed to do so. Perhaps Yeovil being predicted to finish 3rd was though, not the prediction but the eventual 16th place finish.

https://i.imgur.com/fVPckDL.png

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - We successfully defeated Dartford in the qualifying round to to go into the first round proper and with Hereford pulled out during the draw we fancied our chances as they were a league below us. This confidence was rewarded with a 3-1 away win to set up a tie against Sutton United and another relatively straight forward win. 2-0, our third win against them including the league victories. 3rd round and obviously the hope was for a big club away from home and we got that to an extent by drawing Newcastle United.

Was there FA Cup magic? Close but no cigar. Joelinton's first half strike in front of 25,000 after 22"minutes put to bed any hope of that and Ilounga Pata's red card in the second half just sealed it. We got a decent income as a result but as you'll see further below, it was an expensive season. (All financial shots are taken on 30th May)

FA Trophy - Another opportunity in a domestic cup but we always deemed it a throw away competition and the teams fielded reflected that. A 1-0 win away to Harrogate set up a fixture against Kidderminster who we were fortunate to draw 1-1 with. We fancied our chances in the replay but they surprised us by defeating us 3-2. We were 3-0 down at one point too which was disappointing.

https://i.imgur.com/0IjVkVa.png

Next Season

We most definitely won't be bringing in all that many and the intention is to steal released youngsters from Premier League clubs so we can develop them ourselves and sell on as despite the turnover in playing staff, we still hadn't spent a penny on an actual transfer fee and probably won't until we reach the Championship. I imagine the current squad is good enough to challenge in League Two if this season was anything to go by.

Good fun though.

Season 2021/22


Oxford City - 2021/22

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/CIAz7EY.png


Summary

We managed to extend the deal of Virgil Gomis which at the time was our most important bit of business but with his strike partner Janneh preferring to stay at Bristol City so we went into the market looking for a suitable replacement. Oof! Talk about a big name.

https://i.imgur.com/cFptBgW.png

Connor had spent the previous season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday but parent club Palace decided to release in the summer and he was happy to join under the premise of guaranteed games. I like to think the division sat up and took notice but if they didn't then they did a few weeks into the season as it became clear that we would definitely be at the right end of the table again.

Our first League Two game was away to Macclesfield Town and the 2-0 win was a good start which we followed up by dismantling AFC Wimbledon 8-1. It would kick start our unbeaten start to the league campaign, a run that never ended until November 20th and even then it was due to resting numerous first team players in anticipating for the FA Cup. Our attacking throughout the season belied our level but it came at a financial cost due to the wages of most the new arrivals.

Transfers In.

https://i.imgur.com/LfJQYb2.png


https://i.imgur.com/bWVo0Mi.png

https://i.imgur.com/LWb2gZR.png

https://i.imgur.com/jIgm4yq.png

https://i.imgur.com/H6EhzWC.png

https://i.imgur.com/luXSJrw.png

https://i.imgur.com/htwlTpT.png


As it is, although in hindsight perhaps, it was money well spent as our rise continued and whilst it's a minor gamble to play with the clubs future, I feel the level that we play at allows us to get away with it somewhat.

https://i.imgur.com/nCX2QlJ.png

The media had tipped us for the play offs but despite Wycombe's best efforts, we were just that bit too good and it was a relatively easy campaign. It's difficult to get attached to the players though given none are really long term options unless they develop and reach their full potential, no more so than winger Deji Sotona who was released by Man United. It was less expectation and more hope that we'd manage to pull in a player who could be resold later down the line as the finances are reliant on our success at the moment and that's an iffy game to play.

https://i.imgur.com/GTEol52.png

Domestic Cups

Carabao Cup - Promotion meant we would compete in the countries second domestic cup which is always pleasing as it's an extra opportunity to draw some big teams. As it happened we were drawn against Championship side Birmingham City in the first and Bobby Kamwa's double helped us on our way to a 4-1 win at St Andrew's but it was swiftly ended in the second round against Premier League outfit WBA who beat us 2-1 in front of 12,000. The Albion would find themselves relegated by time the season ended. Still a yoyo club. Nothing ever changes.

FA Cup - Again our promotion mean we now qualified for the FA Cup proper by default and the entire competition had a familiar feel to it as we raced past Barrow 5-0 in the first round before following it up in the second with a 1-0 win against Solihull Moors. As we awaited our third round opponents we were naturally hoping to get a top flight team with a big stadium again as our draw against Newcastle last season pretty much saved us financially and so it was a surprise when history repeated itself and we once again drew the Toon Army at St James Park. Last season we lost 1-0 and Ilounga Pata got dismissed....this season? Again we lost by a single strike as Newcastle recorded a 2-1 win and again Ilounga Pata got himself sent off. Summer signing Corey Jordan joined him on this occasion but we were so close to a giant killing. I felt sick afterwards.

https://i.imgur.com/bhGxTf5.png

EFL Trophy - Our group contained Leyton Orient, Stevenage and Tottenham Reserves and for me it was and always has been a nothing competition but we gave it a go due to the league season seemingly taken care of itself but after beating Orient and losing to Stevenage, we went into the final game needing to beat Spurs, unlikely I thought but a 2-0 win in front of 212 hard core supporters put us through to the 2nd round. Swiftly ended by MK Don's who proved more of a challenge and battered us 4-1. Cunts.

https://i.imgur.com/ERukgAi.png

The huge jump in finances was down to the clubs need to build a new stadium which will be completed by the end of next season.

https://i.imgur.com/QFE7LEi.png

5,000 is the minimum required but I hope it's got enough space to expand as I fully expect to be a top flight team in the next 3/5 seasons. I don't know if that's optimistic or not but we're going to spend our way there. At least in terms of wages.

We do need to keep looking into ways to ensure we're financially secure so it's important to find it where we can. Same applies to our commercial dealings. Long term I want the club to be self sustainable which I imagine will be easy enough if I don't go OTT with the wages. I already know we'll impose a cap later down the line.

https://i.imgur.com/ZheYNUE.png

Next Season

The temptation is to go bigger in as far as bringing in released youngsters from Premier League clubs whilst I want to push the boat out a bit in regards to loan deals and if we can bring in one or two similar to Connor Wickham's level then I imagine we'll push again at the right end of the table. I don't really see much difference in terms of quality as we're already above our level in that respect. We'll also be playing at Adams Park in High Wycombe which is a 9,000 capacity stadium so I want to try filling that on a regular basis hence the need for another 'name' or two. Time to prepare for a busy busy summer as I want promotion again but I also want to stop the huge turn over of players so it's important they might be able to play Championship football in the near future too.

Season 2022/23


Oxford City - 2022/23

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/Wx4uWrN.png


Summary

We went well over the top in the summer in bringing nineteen new arrivals to the club but again it was the loaned players that made the biggest difference. Whilst Connor Wickham continued finding the net on a regular basis, it was the performances of Rhian Brewster and Ben Gregory that impressed the most as both were clinical and in the instance of Gregory, he's clearly got a future at the highest level.

https://i.imgur.com/yTrntRS.png

Rhian, not so much. His loan spell at Swansea was hardly a roaring success with just 4 goals in 8 games and his return to Anfield saw his opportunities restricted to reserve team football. I wouldn't make the plunge on him.

https://i.imgur.com/Kl0JsDT.png

One of the surprising outcomes of the summer was bringing in Virgil Gomis in on a free after his release from Nottingham Forest. Virgil had scored 53 times for us in the previous two seasons but he could manage just two appearances this time round, owing to the form of our front three. Special mentions to Alfie Whiteman our sole goalkeeper and Marc Albrighton who was the coup of the window. I thought that would be Brewster.

David Kay, a full back released from Man United looks to have a bit about him but it's difficult to gauge as his weaknesses are also glaring and cost us on occasions. Kilian Gomez was signed purely in memory of Kilian Doda on the save I lost.

The season itself was nowhere near as easy sailing as last year with Charlton refusing to go away and with our inability to string wins together I had given up on the title and hoped for automatic instead but a resurgent Rotherham had ideas of their own.

With four games to go we faced Hull City who beat us on our own turf and before even seeing the results of other games I assumed that was game over until it transpired that Charlton had also lost to playoff contenders Crewe. The very same Crewe we smashed 7-1 in the following fixture (more to come on Crewe).Gregory grabbing four of the goals and Charlton once again dropping points by losing 1-0 to Wycombe. Was the bottle job on?

If we won our game in hand against Peterborough, another team chasing the play offs then we would head the table for only the second time during the campaign, the first coming in the 2nd week and we did. 3-2 courtesy of Brewster and Gregory. Another title? Probably not as with two games remaining we lost to Ipswich Town, again another home defeat and again at the worst time possible.

But.....again no one capitalised. Charlton who had been so strong throughout gaining just a point after a 0-0 draw and Rotherham could only manage a 1-1 scoreline with Luton Town. It would go down to the final game of the season in a three way tie for the title. At half time during that final set of fixtures we were the only side winning of the three. By full time that was still the case. I did not enjoy that season one bit.

https://i.imgur.com/DYnx3jI.png

https://i.imgur.com/o3fAGgu.png

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - As far as the countries better domestic cup goes we started off in great style by smashing Coventry in the first round 4-0 and were given Fleetwood, another home tie in the 2nd. We were confident going into the game as we expected to beat most in our own division and we weren't disappointed as again we scored 4 to progress.

We had now reached the FA Cup third round in three consecutive seasons which was fantastic but instead of a big club (or rather, Newcastle), this time we drew fellow League One side Crewe and absolutely dicked on them 6-1. Nice funds were brought in but also the opportunity for another big club away in the 4th.....we drew struggling Championship side Bristol City. It looked as though we were going to come undone once again....but....

https://i.imgur.com/x2zUgwX.png

We went wild. I went wild. It was way more than anticipated. Surely we must now draw a Premier League club? No is the answer. We drew another Championship side in Leeds United who had at least been relegated from the Premier League last season.

Rhian Brewster opened the scoring and as part of the familiar double act Ben Gregory doubled it. What on earth was going on?! I wondered. Was actual cup glory on the cards or something? Well, that feeling didn't last too long as Leeds came back from the brink but Kamwa. Bobby bloody Kamwa.

https://i.imgur.com/4SZuYqz.png

Quarter finals here we come! Of those we could have drawn, only Sunderland and Fulham remained as the Championship sides whilst unsurprisingly we were League One's sole representative. Would it be them? Would it be Man City? Man United? Arsenal? Southampton or would I get to go to Anfield......


https://i.imgur.com/GRoC5aU.png

I don't want to go back any time soon. We were mauled.


EFL Cup - We started round one against Wycombe and qualified after a 2-2 draw and penalties to set up a game against Fulham. I wasn't expecting much but it looked as though they fielded a weakened team themselves and got caught short as a 2-0 win sent us through to round three where we would draw Tottenham. Unfortunately that also meant one half of our strike team was automatically ruled out due to the terms of the loan but a 3-0 loss suggested he wouldn't have made much difference. 48,000 attended though which was pleasing.

EFL Trophy - Finally, the competition I will be glad to leave behind although one that now grates a little. We qualified from our group beating Gillingham, Ipswich and Watford Reserves scoring 9 and conceded 0. Northampton were put away 3-0 in round two, Luton came and went in round three by the same scoreline and by time we come to face Brighton Reserves in the Qtr's I had assumed that would be all she wrote but alas, a 4-0 win meant we were through to the semi's. 19 goals without reply. Swindon arrived and broke the clean sheet run but we replied with seven. Seven. We were on our way to Wembley!

But.....how shit that only 6,801 attended to see us lose the chance to lift some more silverware as Liverpool Reserves beat us 2-1. What a waste of time that was.

https://i.imgur.com/X64rm6S.png

Fuck you, HMRC.

https://i.imgur.com/HqyGDkU.png

On the plus side however, the commercial side was pleasing. Or rather the prize money.

https://i.imgur.com/AChgUH9.png

Next Season

It's a tricky position because I am expecting a jump in quality but we also brought in so many players this year that I'm apprehensive about doing the same this time round and so we have a decision to make. The temptation is to do another round of mass buying of youngsters whilst loaning as many of those brought in this season in the hope they can realise enough potential to be able to sell on. The good thing is that any transfer fee is a profit minus the wages.

I want to get away from loan deals a little bit so we'll need two new strikers at least, perhaps two midfielders and I think the defence can look after itself for another season given tactically we're always going to score. Stumped a little bit but until I hit the Premier League then I sense wholesale changes are always going to be abound. I would like to challenge for playoffs at a minimum but I feel like I'm walking into the unknown, really. I mean, was it Fa Cup magic or are we actually good enough to be beating Championship sides? I guess we'll find out next season.

Season 2023/24


Oxford City - 2023/24

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/gL4yjeY.png


Summary

Our unintentional transfer policy of bringing in released youngsters was ended during the summer as we brought in a more finished article. We did bring in a few youngsters too but the focus had to go on the first team as we aimed for our final promotion before we reached the promised land.

https://i.imgur.com/WUX6ODd.png

The signing of Neal Maupay and our agreement with Tottenham that we would keep Ben Gregory for a second season filled us with confidence that we would ignore the media's 14th place finished and challenge for the play offs instead. As the season progressed it proved that that would definitely be all we would have a stab at as West Ham and Norwich ran away with the top two spots. The Hammers winning it on the final game of the season in fact. Sam Byram's season ended in March with a 5 month injury. Sad.

https://i.imgur.com/3u5XEEY.png

https://i.imgur.com/BXiNpTr.png

We faced Fulham in the semi's of the play-offs and lost the first leg 1-0. I still fancied our chances in the 2nd leg as we were at home in front of our 5,000 supporters. We fill it every week but financially I just can't take the hit and so I decided to leave it to the board to decide when that gets done.


https://i.imgur.com/uVH83uw.png

And that's why this is going to be a shift and swift update. I'm gutted and fuming and meh.

Twats.



Domestic Cups

EFL Cup - Knocked out in the first round by Crawley Town after a 0-0 draw and penalty loss. :moop: This was going to be the season that kept on giving.

FA Cup - Stevenage were our third round opponents and a 2-1 home win was enough to set up another home encounter this time against Southampton. With our measly 5,000 capacity stadium I hoped for a draw and so achieved just that. 1-1 in front of the cameras. ££. The replay I anticipated elimination but our Fa Cup magic moment was finally achieved.

https://i.imgur.com/OMvB6s4.png

Deji. :cool: Our Waterford born winger winning it in style. :drool:

But all good things could must come to an end and our 5-1 drubbing away to Tottenham in the following round was only softened by the revenue it brought in.

I still haven't activated the Golden Generation as our facilities are still way too crap so I imagine another 4/5 seasons before it's even considered but hopefully something good crops up here.

https://i.imgur.com/RnS7haK.png

^^^ But of course, my expectations are low.

https://i.imgur.com/4hwqP2N.png

https://i.imgur.com/9fmO2U5.png

Phew.

https://i.imgur.com/hwgAvKJ.png

Next Season.

Sign what I can and go again. :moop: I'm so miffed.

Season 2024/25

Oxford City - 2024/25

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/wNL64C2.png


Summary

We decided to go a completely different route in the transfer window and brought in a whole host of supposed wonder kids from Liverpool, City, United and Chelsea whilst adding experience in Chris Smalling and Sigurdson, you might see they are missing from the squad and that's because both lasted no longer than January before they were off loaded. It was our outgoings that ensured the summer was hectic, mind. Saddening too.

https://i.imgur.com/7RN70ko.png

Painful.

https://i.imgur.com/X8gZJ7h.png

Telling.

https://i.imgur.com/uUkN2d1.png

Minimum release. Urgh.

https://i.imgur.com/dfFnyIZ.png

Silver lining.

https://i.imgur.com/YazulXM.png

Cheeky bastards.

https://i.imgur.com/i4hAVVW.png

You're killing me.

But we soldiered on and despite and tough start to the campaign which I put down to so many of the new arrivals being unfamiliar with one another, we started putting together a couple of runs and claimed 6th place with barely any games left at Sunderland's expense.

https://i.imgur.com/exdq1sd.png

We drew Crystal Palace in the first leg. A tough one given they finished above us in the league whilst beating us 3-1 home and away too so it came as a surprise to see us make light work of them.

https://i.imgur.com/vFsDCVN.png

Our first half onslaught far too much for them and although Lookman scored against us once again, (that's six now) it was of no concern. We weren't throwing away that lead.

https://i.imgur.com/e1F4SO0.png

Not even bothered. We would be off to Wembley to face Southampton for a shot at the big time. :cool: Oooo yeah. Favourites too.

https://i.imgur.com/fQh2Bqk.png



But fuck this game. Fuck it right in the A.

https://i.imgur.com/558ST52.png

https://i.imgur.com/qGcP31m.png



https://i.imgur.com/YE9wb8C.png

https://i.imgur.com/Zq0YM74.png

https://i.imgur.com/MW0onxV.png

:moop:

Next Season

God knows. I don't know if it's bed time or go again. I hate this division.

Season 2025/26

Oxford City - 2025/26

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/ve64sTB.png


The Results

https://i.imgur.com/JYNoWss.png
https://i.imgur.com/XdwJHSF.png
https://i.imgur.com/OMEwaiy.png


Summary

If we didn't make moves in the January transfer window then there is absolutely no way we would have finished anywhere near the playoffs as we were useless for much of the first half the season but the arrivals Jeff Maddison, Sergio Riquelme and Johnny added much needed quality. The only downside is once again our squad was made up mostly of loaned players.

https://i.imgur.com/vAUOGQb.png

https://i.imgur.com/xVItcIk.png

35 league goals from January onward's as our rise up the table finally came to fruition although at what cost long term, I don't know. I know we're going to make major changes in the summer both for the first team and the reserves as we attempt to build an actual squad moving forward because....

https://i.imgur.com/FviUvMr.png

For the third successive season we reached the playoffs, ending the season in 3rd place and not too far off the automatic spots which would have been amazing given where we were at the turn of the year.

https://i.imgur.com/YfdUjom.png

But at the third time of asking we achieved our goal of top flight football. :cool:

https://i.imgur.com/UJJb1pP.png

We drew the first leg 2-2 with Ipswich but truth be told we failed to beat any of the play off finalists during the season so we weren't overly confident in any fixture but a 1-0 win in the return leg set up a final big money clash with Derby who again, we'd failed to beat in the league drawing both games 0-0. But you know, Jeff Maddison init. :cool:

Promotion achieved but we have plenty of work to do.

https://i.imgur.com/VbCztfQ.png

One or two downsides albeit temporary is our stadium was almost completed but alas, we're going to be homeless for a few seasons.

https://i.imgur.com/g0PHzjJ.png

https://i.imgur.com/xXJr4Tb.png

https://i.imgur.com/7M5yGRQ.png

It feels like we've brought in way more players than just 66 but matching Mike, we've done so without spending a penny on transfer fees although god knows how much in wages over the years.

Again I anticipate wholesale changes as I want to build a team now that the aim of top flight football has been obtained and updates should no doubt slow down now I'm where I want to be as I've absolutely mauled the game this last week. I'll leave the update here and do a historic update next detailing the clubs rise but from hereonin it's about survival first and foremost, then European football, then to challenge for the top four whilst hopefully starting to chip away at the top teams so we can challenge for the title ourselves in our bid to become the biggest most successful club in the world.

What a slog. I appreciate the updates have lacked in quality so I'll make it up now I'm where I want to be. It's hard when you're rising up the tables to get overly attached to players who aren't going to be with you moving forward.

Either way. Game on.

Season 2026/27


Oxford City - 2026/27

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/Nd9wrgJ.png
https://i.imgur.com/fNzAywY.png


Results

https://i.imgur.com/rjqI6XZ.png
https://i.imgur.com/pZ1tSi9.png
https://i.imgur.com/Fq2qfq7.png





Summary

The media had us down to finish rock bottom and odds of 3/5 (bizarre!) to finish last reflected that. We opened up our debut season in the Premier League against last seasons champions, or rather the champions for the last three seasons, Liverpool. In fact the last decade had been the usual two with only Tottenham breaking it up back in 2020/21 with a second place finish.

Anyway, we got spanked 5-3 and although we were good going forward, defensively we struggled although that's not too surprising against one of the best two teams in the division. We bounced right back with victory against Leicester at our makeshift home ground, drew 1-1 away to Stoke (not a Tuesday) before claiming another three points at home to Ipswich. Early days but we were flying considering what I was anticipating.

We were swiftly brought back down with a crash after Nottingham Forest stole a 1-0 win again at our temporary home The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium....god knows who it belongs to. Manchester City were up next and I anticipated a beating. As it is we lost 2-1 and never really looked back. In fact with the exception of Southampton, the only games were lost for the remainder of 2016 were against those who occupied the top six. Not a bad effort by any means.

As we headed into the January transfer window we decided to bring in a couple more options, most notably in midfield but also up front with a former loanee returning as Oliver Williams sodded off on loan further down the leagues. Cheers Barry!

January Signings


https://i.imgur.com/fFZL90U.png

We had loaned Dosso from Man City in 2024/25 but the Manchester club refused to renew the loan deal for the following season but it would appear that was their mistake as he failed to make the grade at the Etihad. We brought him in for a bargain £4.5M.

https://i.imgur.com/vDcwvEd.png

Wilde had been a bit part player for Tottenham and with his contract coming to an end they accepted our £2M bid and it turned out to be a bargain as he slotted in seamlessly in our midfield. Not exactly hard given the lack of quality we had but I gotta be fair, they put us in the position we were in.

https://i.imgur.com/ko7D0kb.png

Another £2M although not quite as well spent as the previous. Chamberlain had been highly rated once upon a time and although only 22 and still with a bit of time, if I had a rewind button we wouldn't have brought him in.


https://i.imgur.com/ewgm205.png

You what?! Yep! We were flying and then some! For a short period it looked as though we might actually gatecrash the top six but our form against those very same clubs is what stopped us. As we headed into the final few games of the season we found ourselves so clear of 8th that we were hoping Chelsea or Tottenham slipped up. As it was neither of them did but in the case of Spurs, we went into the last game of the season needing Liverpool to win (they did) and for us to beat Manchester City (we didn't), if we had managed to do that (again) then we would have stopped them winning the title in favour of Liverpool. That would have been spesh.

As is, the season was special and it's completely reignited the game as I was expecting an absolute slog of a campaign. Woop!

https://i.imgur.com/qav1oVC.png

Europe baby! However....it wasn't always like that.

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - We started in the 3rd round and went on a mad 'un against opponents Colchester beating them 7-2. Plymouth were drawn in the 4th round and a 3-0 win achieved. Brighton came in round five and again we scored three times albeit the third arriving in extra time to set up a quarter final tie against Liverpool. After a 1-1 draw over 90"minutes we were undone by two goals in extra time to knock us out. It was wishful thinking but then so was:

EFL Cup - Ipswich were drawn in the 2nd round and we played out a 2-0 win in front of a smaller than usual crowd. Newcastle arrived in the 3rd round and as far as domestic cups go I felt we owed them one for knocking us out of the FA Cup twice in our earlier days so it was pleasing to beat them by 2 goals to 1.Reading were drawn in the 4th round and another opportunity to land a win against lower league opposition, 2-1 was closer than we wanted but it set up a quarter final match against Tottenham and our inevitable exit....

But no....absolutely no. :D

https://i.imgur.com/2t3KAAw.png

Riquelme with a penalty in the dying minutes was enough to prolong our stay and the resulting penalty shootout win sent us to our second Carabao Cup semi finals in succession after losing at the same stage to Aston Villa last season. This time round we'd face Man United so the same was expected.

But again...

https://i.imgur.com/HvoXr5H.png

A mental ten minutes gave us an unexpected win under the floodlights and Oxford was bouncing all the way to the 85th minute of the 2nd leg where you could hear a needle drop. We had thrown it away. 3-1 down at Old Trafford, 4-3 down on aggregate and heading out but that damn beauty Riquelme. It must be the name.

https://i.imgur.com/W701nnF.png

Ohhhh you beauty!! What a hit son.....what a hit! Our first final! But against Man City so meh. At this point I had hoped it was the FA Cup as at least we'd then qualify for Europe as runners up but ......but.....

https://i.imgur.com/uJrkDP1.png


https://i.imgur.com/LFODWfu.png

OMG!!!!!

https://i.imgur.com/5V5AOSS.png

:drool:



We qualified for the Europa Conference League! The first team in England to qualify for Europe which I made a point of telling the non-existent media that gathered round in my room because yes, I did do a live interview to thin air TV.

But more to come....because Chelsea reached the Champions League final and Tottenham reached the Europa League so we needed Chelsea to lose, Tottenham to win and then we'd take the Europa place instead of the third rate version and so it came to pass.

Madness! :D

https://i.imgur.com/V5DChus.png

I really wish I could keep Riquelme but fact is he's way outside our means and even Pepe is going to take some convincing to stick around. He wants a new deal less than 12 months into his current one but with a minimum release fee included. Well, unfortunately for him I still have a bad aftertaste of Maupay leaving the club after his got activated. Not happening.

https://i.imgur.com/KHZdYvR.png

Pennies!! I don't think I could have asked for much more from the season.

Next Season

Keep going. We've got a number of players who find themselves out of contract and none will be renewed as we start building for the future. With that in mind, we went on a little snoop around the grounds and well....sorry Man United fans but there was no way I was leaving this beaut. Maddison spent much of the season on the left wing and with Riquelme leaving he should get more of a chance as he doesn't score half as many stuck out wide. I want better quality all round but mostly at the back so I think another CB and two good full backs are the order of the day. We'll see. I'm going in a little blinded.

https://i.imgur.com/PkioE1K.png

https://i.imgur.com/kRk08M0.png

I think pouching others is the best route to go at the moment although our own youth facilities were meant to be completed in a couple of weeks time but it has been pushed back in what I can only assume is the board increasing it further?

One more season then we get our own stadium back and I'd like to greet it with more European football. Hopefully this up coming season brings it and I haven't just had a good first season. I actually found this season 'easier' than the Championship slogs.

Lovin' it. Good for morale this one. :D Goodnight!


Season 2027/28


Oxford City - Season 2027/28

The Squad

https://i.imgur.com/Zz9J7PO.png


Transfers In

https://i.imgur.com/sqgov7k.png



https://i.imgur.com/DyjUemo.png

Brought in on a free from Lyon to go with the youngsters we swiped off Arsenal/City/Chelsea etc last summer. He spent the second half of the season out on loan at Barnsley but hasn't really shown much.

https://i.imgur.com/eUPtitx.png

Released from Watford we offered Craig an opportunity and he didn't do too badly considering he's by far the worst forward we have. 9 strikes in 9(11) games isn't a bad return. We'll make money on him when we inevitably cash in.

https://i.imgur.com/FrNaNMn.png

Scout centre suggested Rico and for £675k it was worth a put. Loaned out to Bristol Rovers in January but one to watch perhaps.

https://i.imgur.com/sK3vrmG.png

We had loaned Rubens in our promotion winning season from the Championship. Last season he decided to join Wolves on loan as opposed to renewing with ourselves but I forgave as we snapped him up for £9M off Man City this summer instead. He only played 9 times for Wolves last season so knows he made the wrong call.

https://i.imgur.com/yn8qxve.png

A familiar pattern will quickly emerge from here as we brought Cesar Vargas back on loan, another who had been with us for our promotion campaign in 2025/26. He was given game time by Real Madrid last year but hasn't really cut the mustard. We won't be looking into making it permanent. Or any of the loan deals actually.

https://i.imgur.com/eFHGzrO.png

After Arsenal refused to loan us Jeff Maddison again we took a look at some of their other options and stumbled across Molina. 25 goals over the course of the season was a good return but we're going to be moving on from loan deals, I feel. He's also the sole reason I found Yan Canti as both were in the running for the European Golden Boy award. Yan won. The injury prone bastard. Molina did end the season as the Golden Boot winner though so he got gold somewhere.

https://i.imgur.com/8YIh6zx.png

Well, it could have been better. A huge outlay, £125K a week wage and four injuries later. Yan is clearly going to be our main man up front alongside Pepe (if we can keep him in the summer) but already he's had a few niggling injuries and @Manc (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=171) sent him into a minor depression where he comfort eats following his fat shaming. Fuck you, Manc.

https://i.imgur.com/hx9AvFQ.png

Liability yet somehow now our number one. FML.



Summary

After finishing 7th last season I thought maybe we would push on but truth be told the whole season was just one giant stretch of boredom. I've never been so firmly stuck in one position for the duration.

https://i.imgur.com/1HxNfdC.png

That's half a season firmly lodged in 10th. :moop: It's like we flatlined.

https://i.imgur.com/CcBXkTM.png

It also confirms that there will be no European football as we open our new stadium after two homeless years. Minor annoyance but at least we retained our top flight status, I guess.

Domestic Cups

FA Cup - After Craig Laycock's treble in the 3rd round against Stevenage we had hoped for another cup run and another domestic cup final but the 4-1 win clearly gave us ideas above our station as Championship side Blackburn Rovers swiftly knocked us out three weeks later in round 4. Urgh.

EFL Cup - Everton only just avoided relegation from the Premier League by time the season ended but they also knocked us out at the first hurdle with a 3-1 win at our ground. Pepe's opener wasn't enough to even get going let alone go through.

Europa League - Our debut season in Europe and straight into the group stages where we'd face Rangers, Ferencvarosi and Sevilla but it was easier than expected.

https://i.imgur.com/WB6puwr.png

We were given a bye in the next round (?) which set up a 2nd knockout round tie against Italian giants Inter Milan. Luis Molina's late strike in the first leg at the Giuseppe Meazza gave us a 1-1 draw and an away goal but few expected the 4-0 drubbing we gave them in the return to progress. As it is, I doubt few expected the drubbing we would receive in the next round as Lyon demolished us 5-1 in France. Benoit Badiashile's stoppage time strike giving us a tiny tiny chance but despite Pepe's hattrack in the return fixture the 3-1 win wasn't enough and we bid fare well.

Meh.

https://i.imgur.com/QmzrNM2.png

The jump in sponsorship money was pleasing but with our new stadium close to completion it's time to start bringing in a few bigger names along the lines of Yan Canta as we're the worst club in the division as far as our commercial exploits go. I had the chance to bring in Mo Salah in the summer who would have added to shirt sales according to his report but age and lack of physical stats turned me off. I wish I had now.

https://i.imgur.com/bQzLgfM.png

Next Season

I need defenders of quality as we concede too many and perhaps a big name midfielder but we'll see. I need to have some sort of plan in place instead of just signing anyone who looks half decent after 1st July. We need to spend freely so we can hit Europe on a regular basis now I reckon. Maybe take some time out to scout the world for more youngsters and build an actual reserve squad.

Season 2028/29


Oxford City - 2028/29

Transfers In
https://i.imgur.com/avRxK52.png


https://i.imgur.com/VrTJdNo.png

Swiped from Southampton's youth academy and stuck straight into the reserves. High hopes.

https://i.imgur.com/C5vwf45.png

Popped up in the scouting centre and well worth a punt. We subsequently loaned him straight out to Barnsley and he didn't do too bad. Perhaps needed to play at a level lower but still got important game time so hey ho.

https://i.imgur.com/KsMMO2d.png

Quite the outlay for a back up but with Pablo Mari calling it a day we needed someone and of much better quality. He didn't do too bad when called upon but £80K a week is a lot for someone who played half a season at best.

https://i.imgur.com/48qCTWp.png

A fickle wonderkid who broke into the Southampton first team last year after his move from Goias. £60M is huge but his age, potential and the fact he'd be a first team regular straight off the bat made it an easier decision than it otherwise might have. I need to get used to the stupid fee's. Improved on his debut season with the Saints and more to come, no doubt.

https://i.imgur.com/0WRQSdh.png

It took Bernd a while to get started but he finally found his feet in the league. I sympathise with him a little as our midfield is probably the weakest part of our squad. Hopefully he kicks on a bit more though. Just three goals during the season was a bit of a let down too.

https://i.imgur.com/udnyhbK.png

Initially Clive had joined West Ham for £12M but after just three league appearances they deemed him surplus to requirements. West Ham had yoyo'd a bit in recent years. Since 2022/23 their league finishes has been 18th Prem, 1st Champ, 17th Prem, 19th Prem, 1st Champ. Finally arrested the slump this season but what a joke of a club. Those facilities would be better served being mine. He did start more than expected but jury is still out.

https://i.imgur.com/RbisZ3m.png

So it's unfortunate that Hector Hernandez our £4M capture in January last year has proven to be absolutely useless so we had to open the coffers for a replacement. I never knew we'd miss Alfie Whiteman so much tbh. Agustin much more reliable so there's that.

https://i.imgur.com/I8RLSi8.png

We wanted to get away from loan signings but given how much we spent during the summer months we found ourselves to be too short on the wings. David Mitchell has been highly rated by Chelsea for a couple of seasons now and a decent stint at feeder club Vitesse, followed by a short loan to West Ham last season suggests he's almost ready for first team. After the campaign he had with us in which he scored a career best 10 goals, one imagines he'll get the chance at Stamford Bridge.

https://i.imgur.com/HW6CRMs.png

One who may not despite matching Mitchell every step of the way is Junior who's a bit of a frustrating player. We won't return for him but he served his purpose.



Summary

League

We wanted to finish higher than 10th for certain and claim European football again so we could fill out our new stadium and as it happened we managed to do so with relative ease. I think if we had a couple more decent options then we'd have taken 4th off Man United too as we were very much in the running throughout despite never really getting there. In fact if Man United hadn't beaten Manchester City with a game to spare in the league then it would have went to the final day but alas, we've got to be happy, I guess. Chelsea lucked out the crafty bastards. Five entrants next season for England. As far as being the most successful club in England btw way...Liverpool now have 24 titles. :moop: Urgh. It's gonna be a long long time.

https://i.imgur.com/wWoN4yc.png

https://i.imgur.com/P3hl4nS.png

Would we have managed top four if we managed to keep hold of Pepe? Who knows but for a man we brought in on a free, to get the sum we did off Tottenham was too big to turn down, or rather we refused to offer him a new deal that removed his minimum release clause but meh. We needed the cash, I guess.

https://i.imgur.com/30Ix7pm.png

I had hoped his departure would give Mohammed Hassan some game time but too much too soon for our 17 year Qatari international so it was left to Abdoulaye Dosso to fill the void. He didn't fare too well but that was owed to being on international duty for what seemed forever and a few injury issues. Twat.

EFL Cup - The fourth round was as far as venture. We had knocked out Bristol City in the 2nd round, survived an almighty scare against Championship side Crystal Palace in the 3rd having to rely on penalties after throwing away a 2-0 lead before Man United at Old Trafford put us in our place 3-2.

FA Cup - I hate Manchester. This time it would be Manchester City, again in Manchester that ended our run in the quarter finals but given the teams remaining were the big boys, I doubt we would have stood much of a chance even if we hadn't lost 2-0. Bournemouth, Middlesbrough (replay) and Derby were all eliminated but it's always a waste of time when you reach a certain stage and end up with nothing. It's not like we're reliant on the TV money any more.

Next Season

We've got to keep going and adding to what we have so we'll be raiding the top clubs for their youngsters again whilst making a couple of big purchases to push on and hopefully challenge for the Europa League itself and domestically, finish in the top 4 so we can start making headway on the bigger clubs in the division. We might have to bring in one or two oldies in the hope they rub off on some of our own youngsters. Paul Scott lost his next Paul Gascoigne label. :(

On the plus side, we asked for a stadium increase and we got it whilst the board have agreed to raise the bar as far as our youth facilities go, both are currently still 'average'. We've had to move to Stadium MK for the season too which is a minor gripe. I'm probably going to take a day off today as although it's been a great way to escape, I've lost way too much sleep.

Watch this space.

Season 2029/30


Oxford City - Season 2029/30

:drool: Pictures do the season better than my words will on this occasion. Posted in the order they were taken.



https://i.imgur.com/7jltcF1.png

https://i.imgur.com/pZCtg7W.png

https://i.imgur.com/0gX3Jz1.png

https://i.imgur.com/ujuHYjg.png

https://i.imgur.com/TMoYJOK.png

https://i.imgur.com/NVWa8kn.png

https://i.imgur.com/bH7gYBg.png

https://i.imgur.com/1w0Qxl2.png

https://i.imgur.com/HIyaQd8.png

https://i.imgur.com/J2ZuUxT.png

https://i.imgur.com/QvcDvVu.png

https://i.imgur.com/klF5QQn.png

https://i.imgur.com/UePpjh2.png

https://i.imgur.com/BQ8WHW2.png

https://i.imgur.com/NjhFufo.png

https://i.imgur.com/ffitGLP.png

https://i.imgur.com/bY10CmR.png

https://i.imgur.com/NE9F9l6.png

https://i.imgur.com/sBDyhyJ.png

https://i.imgur.com/tlhV4NX.png

https://i.imgur.com/lxTug1v.png

^^ Final games of the season.

https://i.imgur.com/fzzrWHH.png

https://i.imgur.com/RUSiuAO.png

https://i.imgur.com/S3yXKDl.png
https://i.imgur.com/IxpGVoM.png
https://i.imgur.com/AFqUjOi.png
https://i.imgur.com/ti8G9xx.png

https://i.imgur.com/3vsD8pJ.png

lol Harry Kane. :D

https://i.imgur.com/faJD8iW.png

https://i.imgur.com/b7lbgMY.png

https://i.imgur.com/6rVhk3B.png

Top 5.

https://i.imgur.com/jnaoBJe.png

Obviously.

https://i.imgur.com/OCt8Vg8.png

£66M summer signing from Real Madrid. Commercially he's good too apparently bringing in millions a year.

https://i.imgur.com/GgLkHQq.png

An absolute rock. :cool:

https://i.imgur.com/A7D6MtQ.png

An inspired purchase and done so for no other reason than to bring in some home grown players (like Kane). Maddison had joined Chelsea for £78M in 2022 before making a switch to Arsenal four years later for £71M. We brought him in on a free and after 25 assists and 10 goals, his average rating was a career best.

https://i.imgur.com/b6BBEGR.png

He'll be joining for the mandatory £60M but that's OK because as it turned out his goals were critical in many matches from April until the end of the season. Lucked out.

https://i.imgur.com/zbBcHFo.png
https://i.imgur.com/zlUknAq.png

https://i.imgur.com/m3Xutmy.png
https://i.imgur.com/KtPAFWX.png

https://i.imgur.com/jrwRror.png

https://i.imgur.com/LiwCNkZ.png

4 days 7 hours to go from Vanarama South to the Champions League. That's some serious game time. Our youth academy should be completed to 'good' (I hope) by October 2030 so I'm tempted to activate the golden generation one or shall I wait until it's state of the art?


Be warned, it's an absolute mammoth of a post picture wise.

Season 2030/31


Oxford - Season 2030/31

Transfers In - £63M

https://i.imgur.com/AZheHd7.png

Swiped from Manchester City's youth academy, Juan is a 'perfectionist' so I am hoping we've landed a long term option for £3M.

https://i.imgur.com/IYSwczj.png

He had a good end to the season last year and the mandatory transfer fee of £60M kicked in. I'm probably going to hold him to unfair standards as a result as I don't think he's worth that. If I ever get a chance to make my money back then I probably would cash in.

https://i.imgur.com/7iL5EBm.png

James Maddison leaving to Wolves for nearly £18M meant we needed an experienced head to take his place. Dani came in from Dortmund and did that sufficiently with a stellar season. 10 assists and 8 goals was a fair return.


Season Summary

League

Above all else I wanted to obtain Champions League football on a regular basis and this season was to be our debut in Europe's premier competition. It was clear our issues against the big boys were the main problem and although we only finished four points behind Arsenal (who ended Liverpool and Man City's decade of league dominance) we were never really 'in it' as those around us had so many games in hand it was barely worth getting excited about. It did leave a 'what if' feeling by time the final game of the season was played though.

https://i.imgur.com/VBrSxMQ.png

https://i.imgur.com/XK9nFem.png

https://i.imgur.com/WjQaMQu.png

EFL Cup

We faced West Ham in the third round and toughed out a 1-0 win on home soil to set up a fourth round tie with QPR. Three goals later we were through to face another Championship side in Blackburn Rovers but it wasn't meant to be. Wilde took the L and fired Wide.

https://i.imgur.com/zqBhsZd.png

FA Cup

Reading were first up and a 4-0 win at the John Woodley Arena was enough to set up another cup tie against Blackburn. This time we gained a measured of revenge with a 1-0 win at Ewood to progress to round five. Sheffield United were the opponents but they could do nothing to stop the 5-0 onslaught. However all things come to an end and it was Arsenal who did the honours this time round. They would eventually lose the final to Tottenham on pens.

https://i.imgur.com/auBD7Qo.png

Champions League

https://i.imgur.com/3ZTzCOC.png

We kicked off our European journey with a 1-0 win at home to Celtic as Madrid battered Slavia Praha. Our next game at the Bernabeu saw us come away empty handed as we were defeated 3-1. 8 goals, six points and two games later after the double header against Slavia saw us in with a shout to progress and we did that with a 2-0 win in Scotland. Madrid battering the whipping boys 9-0. The final game we again lost to Madrid 2-1 this time but in a better performance.

Juventus were drawn in the next round and after a 2-1 win in the first leg we had it all to do in Italy. Well....gutted.

https://i.imgur.com/g1w2Trf.png

Super Cup

An extra time winner by Canti was enough to secure a 3-2 win against Arsenal. Unfortunately match report unavailable due to when it was.

Match of the Season

We beat Manchester City 5-0 last season but the Etihad was full of action a year later too.

https://i.imgur.com/aqjxxhW.png

Game of Shame

https://i.imgur.com/KhNPXQq.png

We offered zero. Zilch. Nada.

Player of the Season

https://i.imgur.com/V5PKk8X.png

It has to be, doesn't it? 29 goals in total, 15 assists and named the supporters player of the year.

Next Season

It will be our 150th year anniversary so I'm going to do an update of where the club is at, the squad etc next, some where are they now yaddy yaddy. Genius btw Kiko.

Season 2031/32


Oxford City - Season 2031/32 - 150th Anniversary

Transfers In

https://i.imgur.com/Ls7RS1e.png

Season Summary

League

When your start to the season involves so many of the leagues biggest clubs then you start to wonder if it's going to be a season of playing catch up. Or at least that's what initially went through my mind until we found ourselves flying high early doors.

https://i.imgur.com/6J9NQJr.png

A banging start but made all the better by the teams we'd beaten en route.

https://i.imgur.com/Wucfmxj.png

Read it and weep.

It couldn't continue in that way, obviously so I expected the inevitable dip in form, the frantic change of tactics, the public blaming of players, the usual....but no.

https://i.imgur.com/qb6mbtJ.png

We were coming together.

https://i.imgur.com/5nt5nFW.png

So much so that by the half way point we were not only challengers for the Premier League title but the pace setters. We'd get pegged back though, surely?

https://i.imgur.com/ncudhl9.png
After 19 games.

Surely...?



https://i.imgur.com/p1UrEnh.png

But no. We just kept going and going to the point that it was all a bit of an anticlimax. Our first league title though!! :D We have 24 more to go to match Liverpool's current tally of 25.



EFL Cup

We faced off against Leyton Orient first and foremost and put them away 4-0 to set up an all Premier League tie against Southampton, Lucas Jimenez's sole effort enough to send us through 1-0. Man United lay in wait in the quarter finals at they needn't had bothered.Alejandro's double along with goals from Sanca and Sa recorded a 4-1 drubbing. Arsenal were up in the semi finals and after a shocking 4-1 loss at the Emirates, we could only manage a 2-2 draw in the return and were dumped out as a result.

FA Cup

We were handed a tough draw with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur in round three but Maxwell's header midway into the second half gave us a fortuitous 2-1 win. We would welcome another London club thereafter though as Chelsea arrived to the John Woodley Arena but again we'd send them packing as we scored four without reply. Madness.

Then again. A third London club, a third home tie and a third win.
https://i.imgur.com/817DePj.png

A chaotic end to any match.

Leicester were our opponents in the quarter finals but we felt confident we would progress and possibly win given the teams that remained. The 2-0 win, again at home validating our beliefs. Southampton were our semi final opponents but we both stank out Wembley with a 0-0 draw before we went on to win on penalties. Leeds United our final opponents and all that stood in the way of a domestic double.

https://i.imgur.com/Ea1Fnl2.png

It was easy. :drool:

Champions League

https://i.imgur.com/6DzCt1j.png

We got our European campaign off with a 4-0 win at home to PSV Eindhoven before travelling to Spain to face Real Madrid once more. This time we came away with 4-1 win in a comprehensive victory and one that the club could probably say was the best in its history. 3-1(h) and 5-2(a) wins against Inter Milan followed as we made short work of our group. 6-0 against PSV in Holland and a 2-0 win in front of our own supporters ensured it was 6 out of 6. Wonderful.

Or at least it was wonderful until we threw away a glorious chance against Juventus in the next round.

https://i.imgur.com/j7pN6Rw.png

But what an emphatic response...

https://i.imgur.com/u4SsSuu.png

On course of a history treble and no one would bet against us in our current form.

https://i.imgur.com/IeMMX2C.png

No one except Barcelona that is. :moop: The late goal was a killer and we would need a special performance on home soil. We weren't down and out, we still had a chance.

https://i.imgur.com/IYMMDeX.png

Savage. I felt as though we'd just been chewed up and spat out so Pitbull scoring the decisive away goal was fitting. Absolute c*nt.

Match of the Season

How can it not be the 7-0 home win against Juventus? Scenes.

Game of Shame

https://i.imgur.com/uhfwF4S.png

You have a shot of getting to a final and you serve up that?

Player of the Season


https://i.imgur.com/Iye1HoO.png


Why wouldn't it be? :drool:

Next Season

The world is our oyster. (I am 18 months ahead from here)

Just to assure no funny business is occurring as that was a rather poetic season.

https://i.imgur.com/U04GDMJ.png


It is now time to activate create a son and a golden generation.

Season 2032/33


Oxford City - Season 3032/33

Transfers In

None.

Youth in however....(disclaimer: all pics taken a year after intake and first team football, golden generation activated)

https://i.imgur.com/mzL6nGU.png

51 first team appearances. :drool:

https://i.imgur.com/8kZZJSF.png

10(18).

https://i.imgur.com/FKRKrMD.png

27(5) Very highly rated and helped by Ruben Sa missing three months of the season with a broken ankle. Already a Nigerian international.

https://i.imgur.com/cYV407m.png

Every damn game and 13 goals with 20 assists says I can. :cool: (BYO son)

Season Summary

League

As league champions we knew we were going to be a marked target going into the season but it was a disappointing follow up to what was an awesome year last year however the worst was yet to come.

https://i.imgur.com/RzaIe9e.png

https://i.imgur.com/pxEZrH3.png

???

:moop:

https://i.imgur.com/rMnqgPw.png

Man United beating Juventus meant they secured Champions League football....

https://i.imgur.com/8tfRAk4.png

But Chelsea beating Barcelona in the final minute of the Champions League final meant they took ours so it would be Europa League football too.

:cry:

It gets worse.

Champions League

https://i.imgur.com/7rXx3yE.png

Our passage through to the knock out rounds was plain sailing and we were even afforded the luxury of resting players in the final two games. That said conceding top spot to Milan was frustrating but perfectly in line with our inconsistent nature this season.

Lille finished third as Russian side Zenit bottomed out. We smashed them 9-0 as it happens.

We would draw German giants Bayern Munich in the 1st knock out round and a 5-0 home win put the tie to bed before it even began. We lost the return 4-3 but it wasn't important.

Atletico Madrid were offered up in the quarter finals and another fine performance at home meant we took a slender 1-0 win to Spain where we followed it up with another four to go through 5-0 on aggregate. Was Champions League glory on the cards? Well, we know the answer to that because of the above.

Last season we were knocked out in cruel fashion as a last minute goal ended our European exploits. This season we'd face Barcelona again and we were determined to put the record right. That last minute goal still stung.

After a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp, former Oxford striker Pepe scoring Barcelona's goal, we knew even a 0-0 would be enough to send us through to the final of the Champions League.

Well fuck you you stupid cunting fucking wanking splatting arsehole bitch tit fucking arghhh. Again! Fucking lightning strikes twice.

https://i.imgur.com/TM9expZ.png

EFL Cup

We dropped a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Burnley in the 3rd round before progressing on pens. Liverpool were put to the sword 3-0 in the 4th before Chelsea ended our participation with a huge 4-1 win.

FA Cup

Leeds United arrived at the John Woodley Arena and left having lost 4-2. Round 4 saw Luton defeated 3-0 before Stoke took created some magic of their own by knocking us out.

What a shit season.

Match of the Season

Oxford City 9-0 Zenit

A new record is always pleasing but any win by such a margin in Europe is to be cherished. Bless.

Game of Shame.

Fuck Barcelona.

Player of the Season

https://i.imgur.com/y1W4wTQ.png

As per. Canti now has 180 career goals in 296 appearances and since moving to the club has won the Copa America and Olympics with Brazil, the Super Cup and Europa League as well as the Premier League and Fa Cup. Hopefully more to come. Voted European Golden Boy in 2029, Footballer of the Year in 2030, Player of the Year, he's the real deal.

https://i.imgur.com/ZilPNpE.png
https://i.imgur.com/SzAVSzO.png

We saved goodbye to a few long standing players in Kilian Gomez and Benoit Badiashile.

[Gray Fox]

Fucking hell Smiff. All of this in a week.

[Baz]

Gerrajob

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ferencvaros year 3 - domestic.

I should start by saying we lost 4-0 at the Nou Camp, then drew the home leg 0-0 so that was Europe done, but a transformative season for money and coefficient points.

In contrast to our European glories, the domestic scene in year 3 was fucking struggle street. Everyone worked out - as one - that the best way to play against us was not to play at all. For long stretches of the season, we would turn up to games and have 70% possession but not even threaten goal.

The epitome of this was our three part duel with newly-promoted Nyiregyhaza (you get used to these spellings in the end). Nyiregyhaza are the sort of team they make you watch at Dignitas to send you off the edge in case the drugs aren't quite cutting it. We played them three times and there was, in total, one goal scored, which was by us in the middle game. This was repeated across the whole season and in the end they finished 12th, and last, with F17 A32, from 33 games - total snoreadors.

To describe their football as agricultural would be an insult to some of the great names of farming who made their name finding creative solutions to achieve complex tasks more quickly. John Deere wouldn't send a single one of his machines anywhere near Nyiregyhaza, for fear it might get dismantled and used for shelter. No, the football played by Nyiregyhaza was more hunter-gatherer stuff - but without the hunting, or the gathering. By the time they rocked up at ours for the third of three turgid snoozefests, I basically gave up at half time because despite having gone super-direct with 4-2-4 from the start, neither team had had a shot at goal in 45 minutes.

Away from those hateful pieces of shit (they properly triggered me), we were uniformly terrible, struggling along at just over a goal a game, but luckily everyone else was dross too. Vidi continued their divebomb off the moon well into the season, only recovering when they finally sacked pisshead Nikolic and installed Debrecen's assistant manager, but by then it was far too late. Debrecen themselves started poorly and stayed bad, which meant that it was down to our Budapest derby rivals Ujpest to take up the mantle of title challengers.

With seven to play, we were level on points with Ujpest (they play in purple and are spearheaded by eleven-foot freak show Lacina Traoré). However, one of many weird tics in Hungary is that the first separator in the league is games won, rather than goal difference, and our battery of 0-0s weren't helping us there. The lead swapped over a number of times before we faced Ujpest in round 31 of 33, going in two points clear. We nicked that 1-0 to go five points clear with two to play. We drew the next one to be three points clear, with a superior goal difference, however we were still vulnerable on the games won rule. We went 1-0 down to a 30 yarder from MTK, then equalised, then immediately went back down 2-1 to another 30 yard thunderbolt. Meanwhile Ujpest were 2-0 up against Debrecen so the title looked gone - but, luckily, I had prayed to St Kevin, the patron saint of bottle jobs, and Ujpest duly surrendered their 2-0 lead in the last half hour to hand us a poor, weak and not particularly deserved repeat title.

The problem we had all year was nils - so many nils - I need to revamp the tactics because we are so, so profligate and inefficient in front of goal and I think it must be match engine related. The key stat for the year (in the league) was this. Ferencvaros: 62 'chances' created, 45 goals. Ujpest: 27 'chances', 51 goals. That is mind-bogglingly different and suggests that despite dominating all 33 league games in terms of possession and shots, something we are doing is badly wrong to let them anywhere near us. We are also nearly bottom of the pile for shots on target %, chance conversion, crosses completed, and every other stat to do with attacking efficiency.

I have now managed to assemble a pretty good young lineup with international prospects all over it - I have a Chilean right back, a Costa Rican midfield schemer, and a South African centre half among others. This next summer will be spent shoring up the Hungarian player aspect of it and maybe sprinkling some of that Champions League moolah over our domestic brethren in exchange for some squad padding.

Joining us in Europe next year will be runners up Ujpest, cup winners the Puskas Academy (an intriguing setup with great youth facilities but not much else, who also managed to come 4th in the league this year), and third place semi-surprise package Diósgyör, who even threatened to get involved in the title race at the end as we and Ujpest Benny Hilled our way towards the line. Frankly I am not expecting too much coefficient help from any of them, but having jumped 13 places to 18th this year and with two lean years still to come off the record, I am hopeful that there is still ground to make there.

[wullie]

https://i.imgur.com/AiRDFn5.png

Apart from one brief backward steps it's been constant progress so hopefully 31/32 is our year. The beauty is that despite four consecutive years in the top four we're never tipped higher than 7th by the media, so projected goals by the board just ask for a Europa League spot and then to be considered 'best of the rest'.

[Raoul Duke]

I've decided to give this a bash on the Switch. No idea who to play as just yet

[Manc]

Great write up, Jim. Didn't have you down as one for the possession stats.

A team from the Eastern Bloc. Raoul Duke

[Jimmy Floyd]

The first season I played kick and rush and we were basically dogshit, so ahead of year two I changed to a possession hound style and it brought much better results, until it didn't. In fact, it's still very effective against what you would call 'better sides', particularly away from home. At home to shite, it's almost useless now.

I think the way to go (aside from using a cheat tactic which holds no appeal to me) is just to keep changing every so often.

[Raoul Duke]

Went for Milan in the end. Squad isn't bad, nice spine and a couple of flair players in Paqueta and Zlatan.

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2033/2034

Transfers In.

https://i.imgur.com/giwvSMW.png



https://i.imgur.com/vDiJ7n0.png

The last time we stole a midfielder from Southampton we landed one of the best around in Aliu Sanca and whilst it would be a surprise to see the same apply to Zimmermann he's definitely got a touch of quality about him somewhere. One for the future regardless.

https://i.imgur.com/csojPVS.png

We upgraded most of the back line in the summer and the £70M purchase of Man United wingback Dario Gomez was just a part of it. Man United had snapped him up in 2027 from Lanus, loan spells at Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Newcastle was enough to be given the opportunity at Old Trafford. It's a sign of the times that we represented the step forward.

https://i.imgur.com/VyN2u5y.png

We snapped Dominik Schmitz up on a free as his contract was running down with Schalke and I reckon we saved at least £50M as a result. He rotated a little bit with youngster Matthew Proctor who'll end up taking his place in time so we'll make money on him if we need to sell.

https://i.imgur.com/z8wv2m4.png

Our success in bringing the ageing stars of the past in had been evident for all to see, especially under Harry Kane and Maddison but Kai Havertz was a step above. The wage was costly at £200,000PW plus £245K appearance bonus. If we had our chance again then we perhaps wouldn't have brought him in but I had no idea my son was going to be such a beaut. 3 goals in 25(26) games suggests to me that we're not going to get our fill.

As for Kai himself, he left Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 to join PSG where he'd stay forever more. Or at least until he joined us. Three Champions League titles and a World Cup trophy though....

https://i.imgur.com/IMNwI5m.png

Yeah, we spent £70M on him too. :moop: I know. He did OK, became a first team regular but definitely an impulse purchase as we could have got better for less, I feel.

https://i.imgur.com/aHLAaPF.png

We've had a few former Dortmund players over the years so it was perhaps no big surprise to see us go in for Sancho after his time at Liverpool came to an end. Experience again was the only reason and his modest wage suggested at the time it would be a decent transfer. As it turned out it was a pointless one as he just couldn't get the game time. Retiring in a couple of months too.

https://i.imgur.com/c6EohPx.png

Yeah there's a theme and mostly a failed one too. I thought the experience would mean we'd get by but all we really did was waste funds on wages. I think between him, Jadon and Kai it was nearly £500K a week for very little. That's without appearance fee's included.


Season Summary

League

https://i.imgur.com/IzCtkjk.png

We wanted Champions League football and anything else would have been a bonus but as the season progressed it quickly dawned on us that we might have a shot at the title. We weren't challengers by any stretch of the imagination as we were constantly playing catch up but as we headed into May it was only a defeat to Liverpool and a draw to Leeds that actually stopped us toppling Arsenal. Unfortunate but we got what we wanted with access to the Champions League again after last season's unlucky drop to the Europa League.

https://i.imgur.com/gsceNYJ.png

Domestic Cups

EFL Cup - Feeder club Sunderland were first up and we put them out 2-0 before following them out of the competition in the next round.

https://i.imgur.com/brwjDvc.png

FA Cup

We got underway with a 6-1 away win to Rochdale as our youngsters ran riot. Fulham were up next in round four and provided a sterner challenge which we navigated successfully 1-0. Leeds United were pumped 5-0 in round five and our quick start against Wolves was enough to win our quarter final tie and set up a semi final at Wembley against Liverpool. Ruben Sa's strike just before half time was enough to take us to the final where we would face Man City. We weren't very confident but reaching our second FA Cup final in three years was pleasing. As was the result in the end.

https://i.imgur.com/aOsZpeR.png

Gotta love Canti. :cool:

Europa League

https://i.imgur.com/OwRwhVy.png

We really should have been given a bye to the knock out rounds such was the ease in which we qualified. I'm pleased to say the entire group stage was with the youngsters too as we sought to dish out first team football.

We got off underway with a 7-1 win at home to APOEL before following it up with a 2-0 away win to Sporting. Nine goals, six points later we ensured Maccabi Tel Aviv were rooted and we were qualified. The final two games saw us beat APOEL 3-0 in Cyprus before dismantling Sporting in the final game at home.

No first round knock out for us but by time the 2nd arrived we were confident we'd dispose of AS Monaco. We did so 3-1 in both games thus moving to the quarter finals. German side Frankfurt would provide the challenge but again another set of 3-1 wins was enough. We wouldn't be done with Germany though as Schalke were drawn in the semi finals and the first leg was won by seven goals to one. Yeah, we lost the return 2-0 but the squad we put out for it made a mockery of the competition. We would go to the final however I suppose we would have been more annoyed if it cost us our CL spot again but thankfully we were safe despite the result.

https://i.imgur.com/CwGFexA.png

Match of the Season

Oxford 7-1 Schalke

Yan Canti opened up the scoring after just three minutes before doubling it on 12". Super star in the making Timber Rood (my son! grabbed a brace and Maxwell's bullet header before half time put the tie to bed. Two goals in the second half by Romero and Kai Havertz practically sent us to the final.

Game of Shame

Europa final defeat to Newcastle has to be here purely for throwing it away in the 93rd minute but because I should never have let Sancho take a penalty. He's English ffs.

Player of the Season

https://i.imgur.com/SwnYxvo.png

Of course it's going to be me. :cool: Not too sure what the stats are about though. I'm thinking maybe Europe it isn't calculating?

Bye Bye to the Boys

We sold £235M of talent in the summer with some big fee's so special mentions:

Paul Scott: We stole him from Man United and he was dubbed the new Gazza. It never quite worked out despite two loan spells and a handful of first team games. £20M to WBA.

Thiago Almada: Another freebie signing but one who'd been a regular in the first team in both his two seasons at the club but a £32.5M bid from Leeds was too much to say no to given our options.

Rubens Figueiredo - We brought him in from Man City for £9M in 2027 and he went on to be our first choice LB but a £53M bid from Chinese side Shanghai was enough to bid farewell. We later spunked £70M on a replacement who was better anyway.

Conrado - We brought him in for £89,000 and so a bid of £80M was always going to be accepted. He had formed a good partnership with Canti but I ain't turning that sort of money down for someone who'll never be first choice.

Ismael Rico - Another we departed to China but we never really gave him a fair chance. Signed from Villareal for compensation in 2027, he spent two seasons on loan to Bristol Rovers but nothing. A season on loan at Mallorca but nothing. Spells at Sheffield United, Norwich and Crystal Palace, all first team regular but still...nothing. I just don't know what he was meant to bring. Well, £12.5M from China but that's it.

Laurent Youssouf - It's like the Chinese remembered they had cash. We signed Youssouf from Dortmund for £20M in 2028 and he was a regular starter in all but one of his seasons at the club. 27 years old only but £37M offered and due to our riches at the back we decided it was time.

Next Season

Just keep going. We're clearly getting closer to the title again and I see us challenging in the next 2/3 seasons on a regular basis with our current crop of players but at the same time we need to do better than challenge if we want Liverpool's record so I might have to splash the cash on occasion too. The temptation is to just rob the youngsters off the bigger boys but we're one of those bigger boys now. Our stadium continues to be increased which is good, our recruitment and youth facilities are coming along nicely but our training facilities haven't been touched for ages.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Good stuff, the title surely a matter of time.

----

Summer 4 at Ferencvaros brought a re-evaluation of the tactics. Until now we've been going 4-5-1 with two wingers - an inside forward from the left, and a winger from the right - either side of a lone centre forward. This worked well for a long time but lost its effectiveness, at least in Hungary, in 20/21 when the inside forward changed from being ultra-direct Ukrainian, Ivan Petryak, to technical, slightly portly German Marlon Ritter. As a response - although by any measure he had had an excellent 20/21 season - I sold Ritter back to Bielefeld, offloaded Devante Cole to Sheffield Wednesday, and decided to switch to a diamond formation with an AMC playmaker the fulcrum of the team, and two up top.

This switch was partly just because I don't think the match engine rewards wide forward play particularly well, and was otherwise informed by the talent I'd managed to find on my hunts around the world. The AMC number ten position will be contested by three men: South African Menzi Mbhele, Costa Rican midget Rolando Salas, and former Man U sproglet Josh Harrop, who I paid almost £2 million to bring in from Preston, funds unimaginable to any other Hungarian side. Harrop is the most ready made of the three, but the other two are exciting for the future.

So to another European season, and another 4 rounds of qualifying lay in front of us as we attempted to make the Champions League group stage once again. Despite rising to 18th in the coefficient table, Hungary's champions must still go from 1st round qualifying and so we headed to the rock of Gibraltar to face Europa FC, winning the first leg 4-0 in first gear and the second leg 2-1 with the C team. Next up was a new name to me, Slovenia's champion club Aluminij Kidricevo. They proved a suitably steely outfit but offered zero going forward, and a pair of 1-0 wins sent us through (winning both legs is vital in the hunt for coefficient points). In the third round, we faced Israeli champs Hapoel Be'er Sheva, and utterly thumped them, 4-0 at the Groupama and 2-0 on the banks of the river Jordan, to progress to the final playoff round.

This was a different test entirely as we were drawn against Red Bull Salzburg. Into the fourth season, no one has yet deigned to take Erling Braut Haaland off their hands, and 20 year old Hungarian schemester Dominik Szoboszlai is valued at £41 million in game - on paper, they should have had too much for us. Once again, though, in the first leg in Budapest we were able to deny them any of the ball and kiddo Mazzonetto, who often seems to pop up in the biggest games, scored two beauties as we took a 2-0 lead to Salzburg. There, Haaland scored very early and I feared a counter-avalanche, but it never came, and we pinched a late equaliser to seal the deal. In European games we seem able to go to this magical level that far exceeds the sum of our talents, whereas domestically it's always a grind. We haven't scored five in a game in my tenure, and only very rarely four.

Last year the group draw had been kind to us but still seeded 30th of the 32, it looked unlikely the stars would align this time, and indeed they did not as we pulled out Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, and Valencia. The hope is that one of them will be turd enough that we can pinch third, but really I can't see it - I would put our level at probably mid to top half Championship now, and they are all considerably better than that.

[Manc]

This thread is a must atm.

What are the other three roles in your midfield diamond, Jim?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have a ball-winning midfielder DM (filled by German shitkicker Marcel Mehlem - this type of player is a must in any of my teams), a mezzala CM (captain and midfield general, Uruguayan bastard Fernando Gorriarán) and an advanced playmaker CM (pound shop Ballack-style local bomber Matyas Tajti).

Last year I had a flat three of the same roles but the shitkicker really comes into his own with a DM with three in front of him.

[wullie]

I like reading the biography section once you've fleshed out a game with a good few seasons played. My backup striker is a real walking cliche, following that well-trodden path of The New Saints to Lazio to Coventry. Classic stuff

https://i.imgur.com/89DpJfe.png

[Smjffy]

Oxford City - 2034/2035

Transfers In

https://i.imgur.com/A1LI7aR.png

What is it with Dortmund and Oxford.....initially we went through the summer without bringing in anyone in but the need for some firepower was evident throughout, Mohammed Hassan just not up to the standard required and so with that in mind we brought in £77M Adel El-Jindaoui to keep Yan Canti company. 11 goals in 21 appearances wasn't a bad start and it did bring about a change in formation so we'd have two strikers instead of one.

Transfers Out

https://i.imgur.com/0N9Y9sF.png

The expensive experiment of Havertz and de Ligt were quickly put to bed whilst last seasons number #1 Drissa Bah moved to Brighton for £23M. We can buy him back for £35M plus 25% off if the need is there but I doubt it.

So long Drissa.

https://i.imgur.com/Pcx5Zfc.png

Of those loaned out, Juan Munoz had a decent campaign in defence for Bournemouth but he's not progressed as one would expect. Sam Crane and Emmanuel Kone missed out on the playoffs with feeder club Sunderland whilst Dean Rooney is pretty much a write off. I don't feel I get the most out of youngsters.

Season Summary

League

Our start to the new season was an exciting one as we won our first six, wins over Arsenal and Liverpool suggesting a promising season was in the offering. We rested a whole host of names for our 0-0 draw with WBA which ended the run, a mind boggingly bad decision as I thought it was the EFL Cup were were playing, as it was that was the next game in which we beat Gillingham 8-0. :moop: Chelsea ended our run at Stamford Bridge 3-2 although at the time of writing the club are currently without a manager (little update for supposed rivals at the bottom of this)

https://i.imgur.com/LYtyhAK.png

So an almighty dip in form once Europe came around but it was stupid draws that cost us mostly. As the season progressed though I don't think it would have mattered what we did as Manchester City were just too strong. We were one of the three teams to beat them though so there's that. We finished six points clear of 5th in the end but that's not to say Europe wasn't firmly in our minds even after we waved goodbye to the competition ourselves. The Europa League proves to be a predominantly English competition with 2024 the last time the final failed to host an English side.

https://i.imgur.com/h0LHbbm.png

Yan Canti missed out on the golden boot by just one strike whilst my son Timber's (who I have grossly overbuilt albeit unintentionally) and Aliu Sanca mean we're set in the middle of the park for at least a decade. You've gotta love Yan the Man though.

https://i.imgur.com/7kH24l6.png

Domestic Cups

FA Community Shield

Yeah I'm including it. We beat Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley to claim an early present in the form of the shield, we had lost our only other appearance against Tottenham in 2032.

EFL Cup

We're reaching the point where we're quite happy to play reserve teams in the early rounds of the domestic cups and whilst we messed up with the team selection prior to the Gillingham game, an 8-0 win was still pleasing enough. Everton were drawn in the 4th round and four goals later we were through to the Quarter Finals. Unfortunately that's where we met a dominant Manchester City who had seemingly woken from their slumber.

https://i.imgur.com/m7zJZuH.png

FA Cup

Just like the countries other cup we opened up with an 8-0 win albeit this time against Crawley Town to set up a 4th round tie against Tottenham. Even though we played a strong first team we had to rely on Mohammed Hasan and youngster Matthew Proctor to send us to a replay as Tottenham threw away a 4-2 lead to draw 4-4.

It was our turn to do so in the replay though and that was all she wrote as far as domestic success went. Still, we got into the Champions League again init.

https://i.imgur.com/o5vJffd.png

Champions League

https://i.imgur.com/W0ZJ0AO.png

We were drawn against PSG who were one of the competitions favourites having won the competition three times since I started my managerial career and it was the away match against them that caused our only defeat in the group stage. Ajax were surprisingly easy whilst German popups FC Augsburg did enough to finish third and maintain their European involvement but for us it was light work. For PSG, even lighter.

We looked to the knockout stages and the usual suspects were through once more although AZ and Newcastle mixed it up somewhat but it was Italy for us as we drew AC Milan. Well....I'll go back any time.

https://i.imgur.com/fLrM2oX.png

Any. Time.

We drew the return 2-2 after going 2-0 up but truth be told the squad was a makeshift one as we weren't losing by eight. Our quarter final opponents would see Atletico de Madrid arrive but we felt confident given we'd beaten them two years earlier with relative ease. This time round we were better, stronger and the result much the same. We did concede for the first time against them though as we won 4-1 at home and 1-0 away to go to the semi finals.

Unfortunately though, Man City... We turned the tie right on its head after a mini blitz in the first leg.

https://i.imgur.com/oDF7dqT.png

If we avoided defeat in the return then we would march to the Champions League final. Scenes.


https://i.imgur.com/eRihVhI.png

But not for us as the Citizens reach yet another European final.


Match of the Season

It's tempting to say the 9-1 against AC Milan but there was also an 8-1 home win against Augsburg in the group stage, two 8-0 wins in the domestic cup but arguably I think our best has to be the 4-0 win at home to Liverpool early in the season as it showed us how far we'd come (or how far Liverpool had dropped since Klopp left)

Game of Shame

For all our goals during the campaign there was still seven games in which we failed to test the keeper enough and whilst the 1-0 defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea annoyed, it was the 3-0 battering away to Leicester City that really pissed us off.

Player of the Season

https://i.imgur.com/FQjoQUe.png

Not only did he enjoy a fine end to the season he was a rock throughout creating a formidable partnership in the middle of the park with Timber Rood. We're set in the middle but we do have other options in the youth team as well. I think the next 2/3 seasons will see the high earners fazed out but this beaut is a keeper.

Next Season

Well, I don't know if to stick or twist, go big or go home, sign young or sign ready made. We'll see.

Our Rivals

Less so rivals but I figured it would a nice addition so without further ado...

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta lasted nearly six years at the club before being sacked in 2025 after failing to take the club anywhere. He did win two EFL Cups and an FA Cup. Luciano Spalletti replaced the Spaniard and despite winning the Europa League he too was sacked just shy of his two year anniversary. Former Barcelona man Ernesto Valverde was the next to give things a go but again he fared no better. It wasn't until the arrival of Thomas Tuchel that Arsenal finally won the league title again, the first time since 2004. His resignation rocked the club but things are improving. Especially now the clubs manager is none other Pep Guardiola.

Chelsea

There has been no league title at Chelsea for a long time now but there has been plenty of managers coming and going. After Lampard was sacked the club opted to bring back Andre Villa-Boas, as expected he failed before Massimiliano Allegri was brought in with great fanfare but still....nothing. After one cup win in over four years Allegri called it a day and Chelsea lost their way. Stephane Jobard lasted under two years whilst bizarrely winning the Champions League, Leonardo Jardim came and left after two years and three cup successes whilst strangely, in 2033 Jurgen Klopp announced his arrival and 279 fucked off himself.

https://i.imgur.com/vYoZEPK.png

Odd.

Liverpool

The golden generation is well and truly over. After 16 years and 235 days in charge, Jurgen Klopp lead Liverpool to seven league titles and nineteen cup successes, another three European Cups and countless others but the decision to replace him with Antonio Conte was bonkers. He left less than a year later before another Antonio popped up....Antonio Rudiger. Yes, him. 220 days later and he joined his namesake. Peter Gulacsi became the clubs third manager since Klopp and that says it all. Sad times.

Man City

Liverpool should have learned from City. After Guardiola's 13 years came to an end, a run that included 23 cup wins and 6 league titles, Man City opted for.....Antonio Conte. :cab: He barely lasted two years and just two cup wins in his time meant he was never going to threaten Pep. Thomas Tuchel gave it a go thereafter and lifted the Premier League title whilst current manager Marcelo Gallardo seems to be restoring their form of yesteryear and that's bad news for the division.

Man United

I don't even know where you start with this shower. OGS lasted five years and with just two cup wins to his name he was replaced by.....Jose Mourinho. Because that makes sense. Mourinho lasted just as long as his first stint but success was limited to, well, nothing. Diego Simone replaced him in 2028 and gave Man United fans an EFL Cup to celebrate. He left in 2031 to be replaced by......OGS. Strange.

Tottenham

Not much doing other than the odd cup win here and there but since Mourinho it has been Robert Mancini = failed. Antonio Conte = Too much failing. Mauricio Pochettino = You should never go back. Paco Jemez = who?. Samir Nasri (incidently the clubs most successful manager with three trophies....) gone. Kevin Volland currently ensuring they finish 6th or above. Quite the nothing club given it's resources.

So yeah.

:moo: Strange times. We need some success of our own.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Paco Jemez is Spain's resident Good Football madman who can't organise a defence, him and Spurs would be such a perfect fit.

[Smjffy]

Paco Jemez is Spain's resident Good Football madman who can't organise a defence, him and Spurs would be such a perfect fit.

I don't understand his career path nor where his reputation is coming from.

Rayo Vallecano - 2019 to January 2022 - Nothing.

Stoke - January 2022 to November 2025 - Promotion to the Prem, relegated then left midway through Champ season for...

Bournemouth - November 2025 to December 2027 - Relegated by the end of the season, promoted a year later.

Wolves - February 2028 to December 2028 - Zilch.

Tottenham - December 2028 to January 2030 - Carabao Cup

Leeds United - March 2031 to December 2032 - Zilch.

Current job - Bayern Munich.

He's spent over £1.11B.....madness.

[Manc]

Two promotions and a League Cup. Born winner.

[Bob Sacamano]

I remember him being perennially linked with Barcelona years back, though considering their track record of bin men it's hardly an achievement.

[Smjffy]

https://i.imgur.com/nhBHgJc.png

Ooh...

Tristan took over Paul Lyon in 2025 and floated us on the stock exchange. Is there an indication in this picture as to what sort of takeover I might get?