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Post by Moo on Mar 15, 2006 14:46:21 GMT
I can't recall seeing that one on the Sping lists, Coffers, you may have found another one. Huzzah!
So is the squad for cITEH pants, or is it a case of "could be better"? Are there any jewels there that you can build around?
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Post by coffers on Mar 15, 2006 16:46:09 GMT
They have what appear to be 2 cracking keepers. The well known Kasper Schmeichel or whatever he is called an more than decent looking number 2 choice. They have Darius Vassel upfront and just signed Mido on a Bozzer before I joined. But no one stands out as far as I can see. In fact I don't know how they finished 4th last season with this lot. They sacked Pearce in December and ran without a manger for the rest of the season, perhaps they should have stuck with what they already had. The entire squad totals 84 players including a shedload of U18's. In fact I think I'd got to that point with Preston. I went back to try to sign a few of Preston's future stars that I had recruited and they weren't having any of it, they're asking for £8.75M for one of the 17 year olds and he isn't the one described as the future Michael Owen. The others I tried for just aren't for sale. I'm gad I saved Pre-cITEH now as at some point I want go on and develop that youth team. There should be some cracking players coming out of it.
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Post by Sonic on Mar 16, 2006 5:13:16 GMT
THat's exactly what I did with Charlton. I played it for a month and wasn't interested, saved, quit, and then restarted the Piast game. I played on for a month, setting up like I was still going to be there and then left after I received the manager of the year award. I then got offered the Nigerian jobbie, a no brainer, and later applied for Slavia Prague. With the Czech job, I'm first with about 11 or so games to go, but only by about 2 points. I'm currently working on the clubs finances as they've already injected funds into the club 2 or 3 times. I've sold a few players, and got some for future sales too. What surprised me was one of my forwards getting selected in Third for Czech player of the year, and he's only 20 too. The Nigeria job has gone very well now. Rubbing off the 2 friendly defeats in a row, I cruised to the African Cup Of Nations, beating Guinea in the final. Guinea had done my hard work for me by beating Cameroon in the Semi's I'm glad I've taken the Prague job as I've now got a new tactic. I've got another tactic with Nigeria too, a 433. Yakubu, Martins, Mikel are fantastic players, and this left back too, wow. I'm at the wrong club. As to manager stats, I've got 11 for the top 2, 20 for the next 3 and 16 for the last one. I think the Ambition one is bugged. Speaking of bugs, I got this weird one regarding the Polish league. I took a screen shot of it as I've forgotten exactly what it was.
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Post by coffers on Mar 16, 2006 9:58:22 GMT
Ok, so I have battled my way through a borong close season, fighting to bring in players who I couldn't get released or when the clubs accepted terms they didn't want to know about cITEH. So I ended up stregnthning the squad with players that looked decent to me but aren't that rated by the scouts or Ass-man.
Friendlies were played and we won them all, the last two being the 'biggest', ie a home game against Rapid Vienna and a hard game against St Etienne who played a strange system, but that managed to help me develop my 4-4-2 tactic a little to give the defence cover. I have about £2M left in the transfer kitty, but can't find anyone worth spending it on. There is a player due to come in in January 2010 and one in due in June/July 2010. I have to wait for that one because the stupid sod signed a year long loan deal with Fulham before accepting completing negotiations with us. I'm waiting on a work permit (an appleal is lodged after the first turn down) being granted for a Columbian WB/DM/M/R and some french full back to sign a contract offer.
In the meantime, just before the League season started we had an away trip to Real Betis to negotiate in the 1st Leg of the 3rd Qualifying round of the Champions Cup and it was a cracker. 1-0 up after 3 minutes then 2-0 up on 7 and we were playing very defensive. On 17 Betis were reduced to 10 men when their last man brough down one of our strikers who was through on goal. Betis pulled a goal back on 30. Two early second half goals on, 47 and 49 killed Betis off completely. A 79th minute debut goal from the spot for a newly signed Argentinian AM/RLC with an Italian passport finished the game off nicely, 5-1 away from home should make the 2nd leg a formality. The TV pundits expected at least a draw and were surprised by the comprehensive victory that we dished out.
The training is just starting to kick in. I desperately need a left back though and cannot get one for love nor money. We start the league season with a home game against Middlesbrough, then away to Sunderland on TV, the return leg against Betis is next followed by an away trip to Tottenham.
The scout bug is really getting on my nerves though.
PS. I was offered and took the job of managing Egypt, another national side that wants me to develop their young players.
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Post by coffers on Mar 16, 2006 13:58:52 GMT
Two games played at lunch:
First the opening day of the season saw Middlesbrough visit and take a very early lead which was annoying, but we didn't panic and slowly stamped our authority on the game, we eventually ran out 3-1 winners in a fairly evenly contested game.
The second game saw us travel to Sunderland who had started the season by losing 2-1 at Birmingham. We continued their disappointment by hitting two goals in a poor match, which leaves us top of the table on goal difference after two games.
The injuries are starting to pile up again. Is there any milage in dropping the workload from heavy to medium?
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Post by Moo on Mar 16, 2006 14:02:12 GMT
I've thought of doing that, Coffers, I don't know what it would do though. My Hungarian lot need the training points, but it seems that they can never get to 100% condition. It might be worth dropping the "overall" slider by a point and see how it goes.
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Post by coffers on Mar 16, 2006 14:16:49 GMT
When I moved the workload from Very heavy down to Heavy Moo, it resulted in better fitness recover levels between games, so maybe I'll drop the load down to the high end medium tonight, to see wht difference it makes.
I did mean to indicate in one of my updates that the new Preston manager was Brian Robinson. :humb:
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Post by Moo on Mar 16, 2006 16:01:41 GMT
:thumb: for both things there, Coffers.
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Post by coffers on Mar 16, 2006 16:40:28 GMT
The second leg of the LAC 3rd Qualifying Round was just as easy as the first, Betis came to prove a point and we did it for them, they managed to keep 11 men on the pitch this time, but still went away losing 5-0 on the night and 10-1 on aggregate. Next we faced a tough trip to White Hart Lane, the game would be televised and the pundits were predicting a draw. City were hammered 5-0 in the corresponding game last season but produced a much better performmance this time around. We scored the first goal inside 6 minutes, On 10 Spurs were down to 10 men and we had a penalty, we missed it. It didn't matter too much as we went on to record an easyish 3-1 victory, which maintained our 100% record so far. It leaves us 3rd in the table a point behind Chelsea and Liverpool, but we have a game in hand on them. It's a pleasing start to the season and City seem to be a better team than I first gave them credit for. In the meantime in an experiment the training workload was notched down to the high end of medium and the players recovered a bit more fitness between the midweek game and the Spurs game. I'll leave it on that setting for the moment and monitor fitness levels ans injury occurences, whilst at the same time checking that stats aren't falling in any significant areas. PS. In the LAC Group stages we are drawn against Loco Moscow, Villareal and Udinese. Oh and we're servicing a £40M bank loan to the tune of £350k per month until July 2034. PPS: The final game of the night was a midweek home game against Everton, the game in hand and despite scoring first with a 14th minute penalty and running the first half, Droga and co ran us ragged in the second period and grabbed a draw with a Cahill strike 8 minutes from time. That leaves us top of the Premier League on goal difference, from Liverpool then Chelsea, after 4 games.
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Post by Sonic on Mar 17, 2006 0:23:35 GMT
Very Nice start there Coffs, with that tonking of Betis being especially tasty.
I have my training on heavy, but the first one into it. I'm getting injuries at the moment, but fitness seems ok. 100% is reach a few times by some players, who probably have the better natural fitness stats. I might do what you've done with your training, drop it a notch.
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Post by coffers on Mar 17, 2006 9:16:34 GMT
After the disappointing Everton game there was a nice international break which gave some of the players time to recover from recent exertions. Englad have qualified for the next European Championships with 2 games let to play, Scotland are in the same Group and are currently in 2nd place. There didn't appear to be any injurie to players to speak of during the break period, so maybe the top end of medium training is a good move. ANyhow, next up was the visit of Steve Bruce's Birmingham, aye he's still there. We led the game at the break froma 5th minute Vassell goal but Birmingham were making things hard for us. A second Vassell goal on 55 settled things down, by 76 Birminham were down to 10 men and we scored a 3rd from the resulting penalty. Six minutes from time a debut boy headed a 4th to finish of the Brummies good and proper. Then came the first of the LAC Group games, a home game against Udinese, the pundits were tipping a close game with City doing enough to win, they just about got it right, Udinese were a tough nut to crack, but we managed to take a lead on the stroke of halftime. The second period was just as hard, but with Udinese looking desperately for an equaliser we grabbed a second with a minute of normal time still to play, to run out 2-0 winners. A tough away game at newly promoted West Brom was next. I say tough because they gave me all sorts of problems in the cup last season, Ellington up front was the main problem. I decided to jink my away tictacs a bit and go more defensive with a 4-1-4-1 formation. West Brom went at us like a rat out of a trap but the defense was solid in fact for all their trying they only managed 3 shots at goal all matcha nd only 1 was on target. At the other end our swift breaks caused them problems but we couldn't find the net. the game lookoed destined for a 0-0 draw as 90 minutes came and went, then two smash and grab goals on 91 and 93 ensured City left the midlands with all 3 points. West Brom were probably disappointed, their fans were more than likely asleep, but we won so I don't care. We now have a weeks break before travelling to Fulham, and then after that an away trip to Villareal in the LAC. Happily there are no training injuries to report, so things might be working. The fitness levels don't seem to have changed a lot from the training adjustments and I'm not sure if the stats have been affected that much either. Maybe the trick is to have the workload heavy in Pre-season to get fitness levels up, then drop back to high-mediuim when the season starts. PS. for Moo, Newcastle are top of the Championship with 22 points from 9 games, having won 7 drawn 1 and lost 1.
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Post by Moo on Mar 17, 2006 9:25:28 GMT
Cheers for that Coffers, you obviously saw the panic on my face. Excellent start to the season there, especially the Betis scores. It's always nice to sneak wins in injury time too, or so the opposition usually tells me. :cab:
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Post by coffers on Mar 17, 2006 11:45:38 GMT
I didn't even see the injury time goals as I'd gone to open the door for Mrs C who had just pulled up in the car, at that point 90 minutes 30 seconds were on the clock, I thought the game would have ended 0-0 and had a shock to see we'd won 2-0. I had to replay the goals to see what happened.
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Post by Moo on Mar 17, 2006 12:08:44 GMT
Nicely done. You'll have to boot her out into the cold more often, especially during important games.
"Go get some coal, woman!"
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Post by coffers on Mar 17, 2006 12:43:52 GMT
Events in Iceland continue to go well for my old club Fjolnir, as the 2009 season closed, they once again won the Icelandic Championship and Icelandic Cup. This year they also won the Upper League Cup. In Europe they were knocked out of the LAC at the 3rd Qualifying Round stage by Ajax 3-0 on aggregate, then they were knocked out of the UEFA cup by Rennes 3-2 in the 1st Round proper. The funds that I generated for the club have continued to give them success following my departure. Back at City we faced Fulham away, it proved a tough game, we took the lead on 27 with an own goal and looked comfortable as half time approached, then Fulham won a penalty with 2 minutes of the half remaining and equalised, they then scored a second a minute later. We'd gone to sleep. Despite a half time rollocking, things didn't improve a lot until we won a penalty on 63, Fulham were down to 10 men and we equalised from the spot. Eleven minutes later Vassell scored the winner and we ran down the clock. After that scare an away trip to Villareal seemed a bit daunting and the way they started did nothing to dispel my fears. But City held on bravely keeping their industrious attack at bay, and gave the a scare or too with the odd break, then disaster struck on 78, our right back was sent off for his second bookable offense. Everyone was pulled back to defend the point and again did well. Then we had a break but it broke down and our defence was caught napping with 3 minutes to go, a ball over the top to Makinwa who was yards offside (I've checked 3 times), play was allowed to continue and they scored. Bugger. Tictacs were hastily re-arranged and an assault was mounted on the Villareal goal, they crumbled a minute from time in a similar fashion to the way they scored, a ball over the top to Mido gave him a run on goal and he lobbed the keeper from outside the area. So a hard fought well earned 1-1 draw leaves us top of the group by 2 points. Charlton came visiting next for a televised match, the pundits predicted a win and that's what they got, 1-0 up after 11 minutes, Charlton down to 10 men after 16, then we doubled the lead on 28. A nice easy 2-0 win was fine by me. Rochemback didn't get going in this game neither did Charlton. Once the Monday night game is over I'll post a league table update. Newcastle won their next 3 games to stay top of the Championship by 5 points, they have 31 points from 12 games. They also entertain us in the 3rd round of the League Cup.
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Post by coffers on Mar 17, 2006 12:50:41 GMT
Woot Middlesbroough beat Liverpoo on Monday night to put daylight between us and the poo.
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Post by Moo on Mar 17, 2006 13:06:42 GMT
Great stuff, sir! It seems like you can turn things around when you need to mid game, which is always a nice thing to be able to do. I can't do that quite yet, I have to be ahead if I wan to win. Preston seem to be chugging along OK in your absence as are Fjolnir. Pedro still making himself understood at Nwecastle too. Nice. :thumb:
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Post by coffers on Mar 17, 2006 13:46:42 GMT
Pedro still making himself understood at Nwecastle too. Nice. Pedro & Nwecastle :checkit: :thumb:
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Post by Moo on Mar 17, 2006 13:57:48 GMT
It wasn't intended. bah!
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Post by coffers on Mar 17, 2006 15:32:12 GMT
On to our Third LAC Group game and away trip to Loco Moscow. Their defensive 5-3-2 formation gave us all sorts of trouble in the first half, so much so that they took a 26th minute lead which they held onto up to the break. I had changed the tactics a bit after the goal to stem the tide heading towards our area. At the break a couple more twiddles plus a team talk full of encouragement and we started to impose a bit more influence on the game. We finally got the equaliser on 59 minutes, by the end of the game Loco were praying for the full time whistle as we had them on the rack. We'll take an away draw in this competition any day, it still leaves us top of the group but only on GD from Villereal.
In the league we had a home game against Norwich to fulfill and got off to a nightmare start. They were walking all over us and scored on 4 minutes. I gave the game another 3 minutes before orchestrating changes. We were giving them too much space and they loved it. The changes started to swing the game back to us, a penalty in the 30th minute leveled the game. Two minutes later we were in the lead, which we held to the break. Four minutes into the second period and it was 3-1, Norwich were collapsing, when the fourth went in on 55 they looked dead and buried. To give them their due they came back in the last 10 minutes and snatched a goal on 89, but the game was over and we ran out 4-2 winners.
Newcastle away in the league cup next......
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Post by Moo on Mar 17, 2006 15:34:04 GMT
Howay Predo and teh Tooon!
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Post by coffers on Mar 17, 2006 15:45:11 GMT
The changes to training definitely seem to have worked, players are fitter when games come around, and there have been no more injuries in training since the change. The only injuries encountered have been during games.
I find I have to continually change the in game tictacs, to adjust for the changes the other teams make, especially when they seem to be getting the upper hand in midfield. I think in game tinkering is a lot more involved than previous versions I've played.
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Post by Moo on Mar 17, 2006 16:37:27 GMT
*writes that down*
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Post by coffers on Mar 17, 2006 17:17:27 GMT
Newcastle proved to be no pushovers in the league cup but it was city who struck first within 4 minutes of the start. Newcastle hit back on 10 minutes to level the tie, but were reduced to 10 men on 16 minutes when a central defender committed a cynical foul on Vassell as he threatened to get away on goal. Despite the setback Newcastle took it in their stride and attempted to make a game of it,, playing 3 at the back and 2 up front. The ploy worked up to the break and the sides went in on level terms. Team talks and tictac changes were in order and 2 minutes into the second period City struck a second. Vassell hit a third on 61 and the game was over. Newcastle are left to concentrate on the League and then the FA Cup. City are firing on all cylinders in all competitions at the moment. The media have recognized that I have based success on a mean defence, I hadn't planned it that way, but I'm happy with any wins.
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Post by Sonic on Mar 20, 2006 0:08:27 GMT
In game changes are a must if you really want to take a club as far as the players will let you. I've jumped ship again, after winning the Czech league with two games to spare, and a draw to Cameroon with Nigeria in Cameroon, I've moved to Lorca in the Spainish second division. It's near Murcia. I don't think I'm going to be as successful with this club as others, as the player personel are dire, and the best players are getting bought out from under me or are already moving on. The other bad thing is that it doesn't have an academy so I'm going to sign up any half decent youngsters and chuck them into the youth team.
I also have a dillema, I've been offered the Argentinian job. Should I leave Nigeria and take the Argie job? Nigeria's defence is what has me think I should jump, but its forward line and attacking midfield is very good. I'm definitely leaning towards Argentina.
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