[FM09] Feyenoord Supportersvereniging

[Elrithral]

I chose Feyenoord as part of the Guus Hiddink Challenge in the Stories forum, if you want to read the actual story with a little more depth, click HERE. I had been struggling to get into a save for some time, having enjoyed a lengthy career save with Udinese and Roma, and the challenge as well as the story helped me get into this quite quickly. The size of the Dutch league, only 18 teams, and work permit leniency also helped, however the poor starting reputation and distinctly average squad meant that this save really was going to be a challenge.

My starting squad was weak, to say the least, though age was on my side and there were a handful of gifted youngsters. Some were household names, some were not so familiar.

Goalkeepers
Henk Timmer was first choice, not because his attributes were all that impressive, but because his understudy’s, 18 year old Brazilian Darley, attributes were dire.

Defenders
Hofland and Bahia stood out from the pack, with excellent tackling and heading. Derijck and Vlaar were very capable backup and both were young enough to stake a claim for the first team eventually. De Cler and van Bronckhorst on the left and Serginho Greene or Danny Buijs on the right. As you would expect, former Arsenal and Barca favourite Gio was the pick of the wing back and defence, with good enough attributes to move into midfield if necessary.

Midfielders
Theo Lucius and Danny Landzaat offered experience in defensive midfield, going by attributes Landzaat was the better player, but going by squad status and value, Lucius was first choice. FM fans favourite Wijnaldum could play on either wing, Luigi Bruins was young but had excellent scores in long shots and passing. John de Guzman was excellent on FM08, so I didn’t even have to look at his attributes to know he’d be in my starting eleven. Slory and Biseswar looked good, but they were both those type players that you aren’t sure about, listed as AML/FC, and unsure which really is their best position. Janota, on the left, really caught my eye, only 18, but fantastic finishing and crossing, disappointing pace and acceleration though.

Strikers
Woeful is being too kind. Kermit Erasmus is rubbish and Jon Dahl Tomasson will forever be remembered as “that Newcastle flop”, whether he played for Milan or not. The only option was Roy Makaay, who was right up there in terms of finishing, composure and off the ball, but a little too old.

So, that was my team and the challenge was to win the treble before I could move on. There was no chance of that happening with the players there, but there was no money for wages so it looked like I would have to make do. Lucky for me I suddenly remembered the wonderful “budget adjustment” option and was able to filter enough money from my transfer budget into my wage budget, but only enough to sign one player, Robert Lewandowski was the player I picked, a strong lanky front man to partner Makaay and act as a target man.

August

Freindlies
Feyenoord 0 - 1 Fiorentina
Pontevedra 0 – 4 Feyenoord
Excelsior 1 – 3 Feyenoord
Ternassa 1 – 6 Feyenoord
Ravenna 0 – 6 Feyenoord
Osasuna “B” 2 - 4 Feyenoord

Dutch Super Cup
PSV 2 – 3 Feyenoord

The first month went quite well, I never play pre-season so the friendly results were down to my assistant. I was in charge for the Super Cup though and masterminded a 3-2 extra time win, courtesy of some inspired substitutions. Unfortunately, this was going to be the first peak of a very up and down season.

[Elrithral]

September
(L) Feyenoord 1 – 1 PSV
(L) Ajax 3 – 0 Feyenoord
(E) Vit. Setubal 1 – 2 Feyenoord
(L) Feyenoord 3 – 4 FC Groningen
(C) Elinkwijk 0 – 4 Feyenoord
(L) NEC 2 – 2 Feyenoord

October
(E) Feyenoord 4 – 1 Vit. Setubal
(L) Feyenoord 2 – 1 Heerenveen
(L) Roda JC 0 – 0 Feyenoord
(L) Feyenoord 1 – 1 Volendam
(L) Heracles 1 – 0 Feyenoord

November
(L) ADO Den Haag 2 – 3 Feyenoord
(E) Sevilla 3 – 1 Feyenoord
(C) Feyenoord 2 – 0 Heracles
(L) Feyenoord 4 – 0 AZ
(L) Feyenoord 1 – 1 Sparta
(L) Willem II 2 – 4 Feyenoord
(E) Feyenoord 2 – 0 Rapid Bucharest
(L) Feyenoord 2 – 0 De Graafschap

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   |       | FC Twente     |       | 13    | 7     | 5     | 1     | 20    | 12    | +8    | 26    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   |       | AZ            |       | 13    | 7     | 2     | 4     | 24    | 21    | +3    | 23    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | FC Groningen  |       | 13    | 6     | 4     | 3     | 24    | 20    | +4    | 22    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | PSV           |       | 11    | 6     | 3     | 2     | 16    | 11    | +5    | 21    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 5th   |       | FC Utrecht    |       | 13    | 6     | 3     | 4     | 22    | 18    | +4    | 21    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 6th   |       | Vitesse       |       | 13    | 6     | 3     | 4     | 19    | 17    | +2    | 21    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 7th   |       | Ajax          |       | 10    | 6     | 2     | 2     | 27    | 7     | +20   | 20    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 8th   |       | sc Heerenveen |       | 12    | 6     | 2     | 4     | 21    | 14    | +7    | 20    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 9th   |       | Feyenoord     |       | 13    | 5     | 5     | 3     | 23    | 18    | +5    | 20    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 10th  |       | NAC Breda     |       | 13    | 5     | 3     | 5     | 13    | 15    | -2    | 18    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 11th  |       | Heracles      |       | 12    | 5     | 3     | 4     | 8     | 10    | -2    | 18    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 12th  |       | NEC           |       | 13    | 3     | 7     | 3     | 19    | 14    | +5    | 16    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 13th  |       | De Graafschap |       | 13    | 4     | 4     | 5     | 11    | 19    | -8    | 16    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 14th  |       | Roda JC       |       | 13    | 3     | 4     | 6     | 13    | 24    | -11   | 13    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 15th  |       | Sparta        |       | 13    | 3     | 2     | 8     | 19    | 28    | -9    | 11    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 16th  |       | Willem II     |       | 13    | 2     | 3     | 8     | 14    | 24    | -10   | 9     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 17th  |       | ADO Den Haag  |       | 12    | 2     | 2     | 8     | 14    | 21    | -7    | 8     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 18th  |       | Volendam      |       | 13    | 1     | 3     | 9     | 5     | 19    | -14   | 6     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
|       |       |               |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

After a shaky start my tactic was starting to work, though it was probably too little too late. No chance of winning the league, but giving a good account in Europe and the Cup. Lewandowski was banging them in, but the poor start to the season meant that a number of players were already thinking about moving on at the end of the season when their contract was due to expire.

(L) League
(E) Europe
(C) Cup

[Elrithral]

December
(E) Hertha BSC 4 – 2 Feyenoord
(L) Utrecht 2 – 4 Feyenoord
(L) Feyenoord 4 – 0 NAC Breda
(E) Feyenoord 2 – 0 Aston Villa
(L) Twente 0 – 2 Feyenoord
(L) Feyenoord 6 – 0 Ajax

January
(L) Feyenoord 4 – 0 Vitesse
(C) PSV 3(5) – 3(4) Feyenoord
(L) PSV 0 – 1 Feyenoord
(L) Groningen 2 – 2 Feyenoord

February
(L) Feyenoord 1 – 0 NEC
(L) Heerenveen 2 – 1 Feyenoord
(L) Volendam 0 – 3 Feyenoord
(E) Feyenoord 1 – 1 Schalke
(L) Feyenoord 6 – 0 Heracles
(E) Schalke 1 – 3 Feyenoord
(L) Feyenoord 1 – 0 Roda JC

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   |       | Ajax          |       | 24    | 16    | 5     | 3     | 60    | 21    | +39   | 53    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   |       | Feyenoord     |       | 25    | 15    | 6     | 4     | 58    | 24    | +34   | 51    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | PSV           |       | 25    | 14    | 7     | 4     | 32    | 18    | +14   | 49    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | AZ            |       | 25    | 14    | 6     | 5     | 50    | 35    | +15   | 48    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 5th   |       | FC Twente     |       | 25    | 11    | 9     | 5     | 30    | 28    | +2    | 42    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 6th   |       | FC Utrecht    |       | 25    | 12    | 5     | 8     | 43    | 40    | +3    | 41    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 7th   |       | sc Heerenveen |       | 24    | 11    | 5     | 8     | 33    | 24    | +9    | 38    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 8th   |       | FC Groningen  |       | 25    | 10    | 7     | 8     | 39    | 37    | +2    | 37    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 9th   |       | NAC Breda     |       | 25    | 10    | 6     | 9     | 26    | 29    | -3    | 36    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 10th  |       | Vitesse       |       | 25    | 9     | 5     | 11    | 31    | 35    | -4    | 32    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 11th  |       | Heracles      |       | 25    | 9     | 5     | 11    | 23    | 33    | -10   | 32    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 12th  |       | NEC           |       | 25    | 7     | 9     | 9     | 36    | 31    | +5    | 30    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 13th  |       | Willem II     |       | 25    | 8     | 5     | 12    | 26    | 35    | -9    | 29    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 14th  |       | Roda JC       |       | 25    | 6     | 8     | 11    | 24    | 37    | -13   | 26    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 15th  |       | ADO Den Haag  |       | 25    | 6     | 5     | 14    | 31    | 36    | -5    | 23    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 16th  |       | Sparta        |       | 25    | 6     | 4     | 15    | 30    | 47    | -17   | 22    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 17th  |       | De Graafschap |       | 25    | 5     | 5     | 15    | 13    | 43    | -30   | 20    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 18th  |       | Volendam      |       | 25    | 2     | 4     | 19    | 10    | 42    | -32   | 10    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Quite a turnaround, boosted by Lewandowski’s goals and wins against Ajax and PSV. Unfortunately our run in the Dutch Cup was ended by a penalty shoot out, but our European journey continued.

[Elrithral]

March
(L) Sparta 0 – 2 Feyenoord
(E) Feyenoord 2 – 1 Zenit
(L) Feyenoord 4 – 2 ADO Den Haag
(E) Zenit 2(9) – 1(8) Feyenoord
(L) AZ 2 – 1 Feyenoord

April
(L) De Graafschap 1 – 4 Feyenoord
(L) Feyenoord 4 – 1 Willem II
(L) NAC Breda 1 – 3 Feyenoord
(L) Feyenoord 1 – 1 FC Twente

May
(L) Feyenoord 1 – 1 Utrecht
(L) Vitesse 1 – 1 Feyenoord

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | ECC   | Ajax          |       | 34    | 24    | 6     | 4     | 80    | 25    | +55   | 78    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | ECC   | Feyenoord     |       | 34    | 20    | 8     | 6     | 79    | 38    | +41   | 68    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   | EC    | AZ            |       | 34    | 19    | 8     | 7     | 60    | 41    | +19   | 65    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   | EC    | PSV           |       | 34    | 18    | 10    | 6     | 45    | 25    | +20   | 64    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 5th   |       | sc Heerenveen |       | 34    | 18    | 5     | 11    | 51    | 36    | +15   | 59    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 6th   |       | FC Twente     |       | 34    | 15    | 12    | 7     | 39    | 36    | +3    | 57    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 7th   | EC    | FC Utrecht    |       | 34    | 15    | 9     | 10    | 55    | 48    | +7    | 54    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 8th   | EC    | FC Groningen  |       | 34    | 13    | 12    | 9     | 48    | 41    | +7    | 51    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 9th   |       | Vitesse       |       | 34    | 13    | 6     | 15    | 41    | 46    | -5    | 45    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 10th  |       | NEC           |       | 34    | 10    | 12    | 12    | 47    | 41    | +6    | 42    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 11th  |       | NAC Breda     |       | 34    | 11    | 8     | 15    | 30    | 42    | -12   | 41    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 12th  |       | Heracles      |       | 34    | 10    | 10    | 14    | 29    | 44    | -15   | 40    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 13th  |       | Willem II     |       | 34    | 11    | 6     | 17    | 33    | 46    | -13   | 39    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 14th  |       | ADO Den Haag  |       | 34    | 9     | 9     | 16    | 47    | 48    | -1    | 36    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 15th  |       | Roda JC       |       | 34    | 8     | 9     | 17    | 29    | 54    | -25   | 33    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 16th  |       | Sparta        |       | 34    | 8     | 7     | 19    | 39    | 59    | -20   | 31    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 17th  | R     | De Graafschap |       | 34    | 6     | 7     | 21    | 22    | 61    | -39   | 25    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 18th  | R     | Volendam      |       | 34    | 3     | 6     | 25    | 14    | 57    | -43   | 15    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

An ultimately disappointing season, if the team had found form quicker then we could have won the league. Europe was a big disappointment, going out on penalties to Zenit in such a manner, very difficult to take.

PSV won the Dutch Cup, against Ajax, on penalties.

Lewandowski named fans player and young player of the season after an amazing 29 goals in 31 games.

[AcidBurn]

Good luck dude. Kermit turned into a wicked play on FM08, Hofland was a legend on the earlier games aswell.

Dutch league is wicked due to the fact that you can sign anyone.

[Elrithral]

Cheers AB, one season down, one to go and then on to regular updates.

[MeLikeFM]

So will you be continuing your story and will this be the same just less depth

[Elrithral]

So will you be continuing your story and will this be the same just less depth

I'll be continuing the GHC in FMS and updating it as usual, not sure how far i'll go with this though as I would rather create a save for this forum and add screenshots etc.