Paolo Willenté Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Going to be honest, I chose this team purely on the name. I wanted to do a Scandinavian youth career because of the length of the season. Felt like I could plough through relatively quickly. (Having tried a similar challenge in Scotland I was getting frustrated by the long seasons and lack of progress). But I digress... I’ve chosen SportsKlubben Herd to take forward as my team. They are currently situated in the 3rd tier of the Norwegian league system and are in Group 2. As a Semi-Professional team, one of the main initial challenges will be to push for Professional status. I would post screenshots to facilities and what not but they are all **** so I won't bother. One thing I noticed though is that out pitch is "Synthetic. New type - soft". So make of that what you will. Maybe it means I won't have to fork out to replace it as often... Here is the only information Wikipedia has on them: Sportsklubben Herd is a sports club from Ålesund, Norway. It has sections for association football, handball and swimming, and was founded on 22 August 1932. The men's football team plays in the Second Division (fourth tier) from 2011. It was promoted from the Fourth to the Third Division following the 2008 season. Ahead of the 2009 season they signed Lasse Olsen and Karl Oskar Fjørtoft for both playing and non-playing capacities. In 2010 it contested a playoff to win promotion, and succeeded by beating Sunndal 8–2 on aggregate. You know the challenge; get to the top of European football using only the young lads coming through the youth system. Simple... Please ask if you want any more info/pics etc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 For ref. I started the game in Norway - January 2012 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | Season | League | Position | Norwegian Cup | EURO Cup | Champions Cup | Av. Attendance | Club Value (£) | |--------|----------------------|----------|----------------|----------|---------------|----------------|----------------| | 2012 | Second Division Grp2 | 10th | 2nd Round | - | - | 224 | 45k | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-Mon Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 For the record: Soft synthetic pitches have longer filaments, more rubber granulates, and is frequently "plowed" to ensure it all doesn't get packed together. Being on one on a hot summer day smells like you're standing in a tire yard, but at least the injuries (both repetitive strain injuries and impact injuries) are considerably fewer. Also, good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 Ah, good to know. Will be interesting to see if the injuries stay away, something to keep an eye on. And cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron6632 Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Good luck with this. I have found the step up to the first division in Norway is a huge step for Semi-pro clubs. Will read with interest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Right, so I don't think I'm going to be able to update this as much as I'd like to with work and stuff, but just as a quick update... Half way through the season of 24 games long. The media prediction for this season is 11th out of 13 teams and I'm currently sitting pretty in 10th position. A pretty rocky start which lead to A LOT of tactic changing and the realisation that every one of my players is terrible, means that it has been a slower start than I would have liked. I had said to the board at the start of the season that I'd avoid relegation, hoping that I'd over achieve (in a kind of anti-jinx way). Sadly, I think consolidation in this league is going to be the first task. The finances have spent the season so far in the red. However, there is talk of a takeover so we shall see where that goes. A fans trust apparently. Screenshots to follow when I get home... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Mid Season Update (ish) League Table Results As you can see, I've had a tough time keeping the ball out of my own net so far. More so at home as well. Having switched to a 4-5-1 recently I've managed to put a few points on the board, but still not really showing the signs of progression I'd like. Still, as I said before, I'll be happy if I can stave off relegation to nothingness this season and then hope I get some youngsters good enough to slot straight in next season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 This could be the shortest thread ever... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUTactician247 Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Don't worry, as long as you are out of the relegation zones, the new chairman should keep you as manager, look at my thread if you don't believe me . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Head shepherd keeps his job for now... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coentrao Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I love this type of threads, good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 The first lost of youth players have come through. The best two: Neither look particularly special, but beggars can't be choosers! They aren't too far off the first team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 So with 1 game to go the table looks like this... The final day fixtures for my team and the season's antagonists... Herd v Raufoss Lillehammer v Jevnaker So I'm set for an interesting finish to the season and another potential early finish for the thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Well... Match Stats Managed to pull it out my a**e! I think the deciding factor was that we actually took our chances. Something we have struggled to do all season. Luckily the boys rallied round and put in a big push for the last game. Season Overview to follow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK22 Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Will keep an eye on this. At least you've survived the first season, that's normally half the battle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 The youth influx commences... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 SK Herd - Norwegian Second Division Grp 2 - 2012 Season Report Competition League Table - Past Positions - Results Having expected to struggle in the league by the media, it was no surprise that the whole season came down to the last game. We struggled for the first half of the season due to not having a reliable tactic to all back on, and that didn't really change during the second half of the year either. Luckily we managed to scrape together enough points to stay in the league and do it all over again next year. Norwegian Cup Knocked out in the second round by the team that finished 3rd in our league this year - Kristiansund. We were only expected to get to the first round however so this worked out OK. Squad Squad The only real stand out player was Eirik Hoseth, but his age means that the performances will probably start drop sooner rather than later. But he will be in the team for as long as he keeps playing well. We still don't really have a main goal scorer. Thomas Pederson has been playing mainly on the left (AML in a 4-5-1) so 9 goals from there is a nice total, but can't rely on those every year. Someone needs to step up. Summary Pleased to have survived this year, but really need to crack on next year and get some early points on the board. The new owners have got the finances up to -£5,665 which is better than a poke in the eye but as long as we are still in the red we won't be able to make any facility improvements. Need to change that. More screenshots available on request Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 This happened. So then this happened. A step forward Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-Mon Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Paolo Willenté said: This could be the shortest thread ever... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Well isn't that just absurd. That man was once my manager IRL for a short while.He sucks Really? That's pretty cool. Who did you play for? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-Mon Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Paolo Willenté said: Really? That's pretty cool. Who did you play for? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Mo IL, although "play for" is an overstatement.He drafted some of the biggest local talents in other, smaller clubs in order to 'build a team for the future', then after 1 month of training he started going way over budget by hiring full-time players from clubs at the other side of the country that were no better than the seniors already in the club. Due to a board that had no idea what they were doing and didn't stop him before it was too late, the club eventually went bankrupt, lost most of their good players and promising youngsters, and dropped out of the Second Division in 2010 due to a poor squad with a lack of width. Also, it should be noted that I'd left by the time us "talents" were shoved to the B and U19-sides. Anyhoo, Charles Berstad isn't a name that rings well around those parts anymore Ah ok, so he thought he could translate FM to the real world and it back fired. Still, small world though! Ha! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-Mon Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Ah ok, so he thought he could translate FM to the real world and it back fired. Still, small world though! Ha! Indeed! x) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Wouldn't do very well even at FM. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Do they play like cattle? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 18, 2011 Author Share Posted December 18, 2011 Do they play like cattle? Pretty much. I think if you put 11 cows on a football pitch, you'd get similar results. Having said that, this season has been much improved. I will post the half season update soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scribe Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Good luck with this. I'll be watching with interest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 18, 2011 Author Share Posted December 18, 2011 Mid Season Update League Table Results Team A much improved start to the season. We've actually got a + goal difference and are currently only 4 points off our whole total for last season. Hopefully that means we are pretty much safe, but I'm not counting my chickens... I'm currently still playing with the 4-5-1 tactic which we are pretty au fait with now. A big reason for our success so far is keeping the morale as high as possible, even if it means telling the odd white lie. Pedersen has also continued his scoring form but I have been playing up top occasionally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Willenté Posted December 18, 2011 Author Share Posted December 18, 2011 Just had this epic game... 4-1 down at half time. A rollocking in the dressing room spurred the boys on to fight for the win. Obviously disappointed to concede that many at home, but it was against one of the top teams in the league so just pleased with the 'score one more than you' policy for now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Wow, left it late as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
City2000 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 What a game! I had a spell in the Norweigan lower leagues at the start of my career this year and had a great time, good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron6632 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Would have been dancing about the room with that late winner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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