Now You Do Not Punish Someone, English Or Otherwise, For Being Rubbish At FM...

[SRL88]

Nice battle against relegation Snake and unlucky on failure to keep them up. Hopefully a crack at the League 2 title next season will see someone come in with an offer for you

[B.W.G]

Very unlucky with the failure of the relegation battle.Hopefully you will be able to have a crack at the League 2 title next season.

[Adelaidean]

Unlucky to lose out so late on, should go straight back up though!

Oh, also... Hopefully you will be able to have a crack at the League 2 title next season.

[iseemonsters1]

Oooooh... so close! Here's to a quick promotion next season!

Financially, looks like the biggest difference between this season and last season was a pretty big increase in wage costs - do any of your players have relegation wage drops built in, and if not, do you think you can rein in wage costs to get the club back on a financial even keel?

[SnakeXe]

Thanks for the commiserations, all.

It doesn't appear that Fossett Farm is included as a future stadium move in the game, there's no mention of a future move on the facilities screen...

[SnakeXe]

Financially, looks like the biggest difference between this season and last season was a pretty big increase in wage costs - do any of your players have relegation wage drops built in, and if not, do you think you can rein in wage costs to get the club back on a financial even keel?

It looks like the whole squad has 25% wage reduction clauses on relegation, which is excellent news. I'll still probably have to cut a couple of players but that should be alright, youth players can fill in for squad members. I'm not envisioning bringing too many new signings in, maybe a striker and an extra central midfielder but the rest of the team is fairly solid.

[lurkingwithintent]

Damn, your results were pretty good really, a bit harsh to have done well & go down. Hope you can bounce straight back up.

[SnakeXe]

Cack.

[Nordan]

Cack.

With a name like Till you'd expect there to be money.

Good luck with the season!

[Nobby_McDonald]

Relegation is what you get for quitting.

Nice away kit. Does your lady know you're a team that plays in pink?

[SnakeXe]

Relegation is what you get for quitting.

Nice away kit. Does your lady know you're a team that plays in pink?

Yeah I know, I'm a terrible career-driven brown-nosing harlot

I actually prefer it to the hideous green one Darlo had.

[SnakeXe]

2016 UEFA European Championship
Hosts: Spain
Holders: France

Group Stage:
Group A:

| Pos   | Inf   | Team    |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Denmark |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 6     | 4     | +2    | 6     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Germany |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 6     | 5     | +1    | 6     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   | Q     | Russia  |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 6     | 5     | +1    | 4     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Croatia |       | 3     | 0     | 1     | 2     | 5     | 9     | -4    | 1     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group B:

| Pos   | Inf   | Team    |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Ukraine |       | 3     | 3     | 0     | 0     | 6     | 2     | +4    | 9     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | France  |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 4     | 4     | 0     | 4     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   | Q     | Norway  |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 3     | 4     | -1    | 4     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Wales   |       | 3     | 0     | 0     | 3     | 1     | 4     | -3    | 0     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group C:

| Pos   | Inf   | Team           |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Spain          |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 9     | 3     | +6    | 7     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Austria        |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 4     | 4     | 0     | 4     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Czech Republic |       | 3     | 1     | 0     | 2     | 4     | 9     | -5    | 3     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Bosnia & Herz. |       | 3     | 0     | 2     | 1     | 5     | 6     | -1    | 2     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group D:

| Pos   | Inf   | Team     |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Italy    |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 7     | 3     | +4    | 7     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Slovakia |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 5     | 2     | +3    | 6     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   | Q     | Bulgaria |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 4     | 5     | -1    | 4     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Poland   |       | 3     | 0     | 0     | 3     | 1     | 7     | -6    | 0     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group E:

| Pos   | Inf   | Team        |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Switzerland |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 3     | 1     | +2    | 7     | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Scotland    |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 6     | 3     | +3    | 6     | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   | Q     | Sweden      |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 4     | 6     | -2    | 4     | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Serbia      |       | 3     | 0     | 0     | 3     | 2     | 5     | -3    | 0     | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group F:

| Pos   | Inf   | Team    |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Turkey  |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 4     | 1     | +3    | 7     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | England |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 8     | 3     | +5    | 6     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Iceland |       | 3     | 0     | 2     | 1     | 3     | 6     | -3    | 2     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Holland |       | 3     | 0     | 1     | 2     | 2     | 7     | -5    | 1     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Knockout Stage:
Second Round:
Denmark 0 v 4 France
England 3 v 2 Switzerland
Russia 3 v 1 Ukraine
Norway 1 v 2e Turkey
Germany 1 v 0 Scotland
Spain 4 v 2 Bulgaria
Italy p3 v 3 Sweden
Austria e2 v 1 Slovakia

Quarter Final:
England 1 v 0 France
Turkey 0 v 3 Russia
Spain 2 v 1 Germany
Italy 4 v 1 Austria

Semi Final:
England 2 v 1 Italy
Russia 0 v 1 Spain

Final:
England 1 v 3 Spain

So England couldn't quite follow up their World Cup win with a European Championship under new boss Michael Laudrup. That's reassuring. I don't like the new format though, it's bloated and overly complex.

[SnakeXe]

Bizarrely, both Laudrup and Spain's Pep Guardiola were sacked following the final.

[Flamers]

Clearly not good enough

[neushoorn70]

I'm not quite sure how it's possible there's an European championship in 2014

[deltablue]

Timey-wimey stuff no doubt.

[Nordan]

I'm not quite sure how it's possible there's an European championship in 2014

Looks like a typo,he is in the summer of 2016 according to earlier posts.

[neushoorn70]

Yes I got that.

[iseemonsters1]

Bizarrely, both Laudrup and Spain's Pep Guardiola were sacked following the final.

I've noticed a few weird sackings after international tournaments as well. I wondered if they were supposed to represent the way that after successful tournaments, sometimes managers move on and the FA freshens things up a bit - kind of the situation where both sides agree to a change, and the game is just representing it as a sack whereas it was more of a mutual thing. But that is wild speculation on my part!

[iamnobody]

Snake, I love the format of this thread. Mind if I steal the format? I'll definitely give you credit and link to this thread when I start mine.

Also, How do you post the tables with the code? Do you put it in Excel and past it over? I've never gotten how to do that.

[Azeryk`]

I've just been through the World Cup 2016 and nearly every manager left their position afterwards either from sacking or resigning, I'm one of the few left and I got KO'd in the first knockouts so I should have gone more than other.

[SnakeXe]

I'm not quite sure how it's possible there's an European championship in 2014

Alright Mr. Sarcastic, it's fixed now

I've noticed a few weird sackings after international tournaments as well. I wondered if they were supposed to represent the way that after successful tournaments, sometimes managers move on and the FA freshens things up a bit - kind of the situation where both sides agree to a change, and the game is just representing it as a sack whereas it was more of a mutual thing. But that is wild speculation on my part!

Yeah it's probably being misreported - perhaps their contract expired and it's shown as a sacking in the news.

Snake, I love the format of this thread. Mind if I steal the format? I'll definitely give you credit and link to this thread when I start mine.

Also, How do you post the tables with the code? Do you put it in Excel and past it over? I've never gotten how to do that.

You're very welcome to borrow my format - it's basically an amalgam of other people's anyway

The Euro/World Cup tables I get by going to print screen in the FM menu and selecting Text File. The history tables I do manually in Notepad (or TextEdit in plain text mode on a Mac). You're welcome to borrow the format for those as well.

[Nordan]

amalgam.

is not good for you

[SnakeXe]

SnakeXe's Career - Season 5 Preview - Southend United

Board Expectations:
League Two - Promotion (minimum of Promotion, Predicted 4th out of 24)
FA Cup - Second Round
League Cup - Learn from experience
Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Second Round

My Expectations:
League Two - Winners
FA Cup - Third Round
League Cup - Not bothered
Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Have a crack at the latter stages

Budgets:
Transfer: £0
Wages: £27,987/week (£30,289/week currently)
Balance: £501,210 (+£1,157,530 compared to when I joined - mostly due to a £975k loan taken out)

Squad:
With a couple more games in charge we'd probably have stayed up in League One, so keeping the same squad seemed a good strategy for League Two dominance. I managed to do just that, only losing the backup left back (who was rubbish anyway) and even adding a new striker.

Key Men:
Goalkeeper/Defence
Louis Rowley - DL - The flying fullback offers as much on the front foot as the back.

Midfield
Andy Fleming - M/AMC - Last season's player of the year.
Charlie Nunn - AML - Fresh from helping England U19s win the European Championship, I have really high hopes for this lad.

Strikers
Freddy Drogba - ST - Didier's younger brother should make a potent lone striker.

[iHeadHunta x]

Didiers Brother :O Good luck this season mate, Promotion definately on the cards !!!!!

[SnakeXe]

Not a bad way to kick off the campaign.

[SRL88]

Against your former club

[iseemonsters1]

Nice result - a little bittersweet, or just sweet?

[SnakeXe]

Well I still liked the players when I quit, but I'd had enough of the chairman. Honestly, if he'd just let me scout a little further afield or put a little more into youth coaching I'd still be there. Definitely relished showing him what he was missing, but other than that I took no pleasure in defeat over the players or fans.

[SnakeXe]

Shame it was a slightly rubbish 0-0.

[Blue_magic]

Shame it was a slightly rubbish 0-0.

200 games, great landmark to reach

[deltablue]

That's alright, at least they didn't spoil the party completely.

[AK22]

Bad luck with the final day relegation, so close to staying up. You'll be a big fish in the League Two pond this season, so I'm sure promotion will be a mere formality. No pressure

Does Baby-Drogba have his brother's tendency of falling over a lot?

[SnakeXe]

Unfortunately I couldn't tell you yet! He picked up a hamstring tear in that opening match and hasn't featured since

[Nobby_McDonald]

200? Pah, I recently reached 700 in my Newcastle Town FM2011 save.

[SnakeXe]

God knows how many I got through in my FM11 save!

[deltablue]

Went over 2000 before quitting halfway through the year to focus on testing and trialing the setup for the current one.

[SnakeXe]

Season 5: Halfway House Update

We started fairly slowly - after the 3-0 win over Darlington you'd think the goals were flowing and teams would be blown away, but we actually found it quite difficult to get the balance between offering a goal threat and keeping the defence tight, especially with Drogba spending 3 months on the treatment table. Nevertheless, we kept within a few points of the automatic promotion spots, before finally finding a good balance and really kicking on up the table.

We eventually reached top spot, even opening up a gap over second-place Stockport, but we then suffered a bit of a hangover after going out of the FA Cup and JPT in successive matches (second round against BSP Bury Town and semi-final against L1 Torquay respectively) and lost a couple of games to allow the gap to be closed. A very lucky 4-2 win over Hartlepool closed out the year, meaning we kept top spot on goal difference for the New Year's celebrations.

The Good

• Tight defence
• Top of the league
• JPT semi-final

The Bad

• Drogba has managed only 8 starts
• Slightly poor recent form
• Everyone wants massive wages to renew their contract past the end of the season

Results - League Table - Squad

[Nordan]

Everyone wants massive wages to renew their contract past the end of the season

Be careful,remember they also get 25% wage rise when you get promoted...

[SnakeXe]

Yeah I know that's the problem. I'm very concerned as to the future of this club given the parlous finances and the fact that I basically have a choice between decimating the squad and bankruptcy. I really don't want to be club jumping again, but it might be the best thing for my career to do a Harry Redknapp and get out before the brown stuff hits the fan. Is it worth jacking another job though? I have a year left on my contract after this season.

[Nordan]

Yeah I know that's the problem. I'm very concerned as to the future of this club given the parlous finances and the fact that I basically have a choice between decimating the squad and bankruptcy. I really don't want to be club jumping again, but it might be the best thing for my career to do a Harry Redknapp and get out before the brown stuff hits the fan. Is it worth jacking another job though? I have a year left on my contract after this season.

I dunno...sometimes it's best for both parties to split up.Southend sounds like they're in a rut and maybe can't afford where you want to go.

[SnakeXe]

If I stay I've got to be in it for the next 3 or 4 seasons, the squad needs rebuilding since I can't afford to keep it together, and I shouldn't rebuild it in my image and then quit after a year, that would be unfair on the club. Tricky decision.

[Adelaidean]

If I were you I'd stay and tough it out, I can never resist a good rebuilding job! Decent spot to be mid-season, hope you press on in the second half.

KUTGW!

[AK22]

Looking good for bouncing back up so far (asides from your little Nov/Dec wobble!)

If the finances are that bad, more often than not, a takeover will happen, which may put the club back on a sound standing. So it may be worth hanging around for a bit longer, but then again, takeovers are thwart with danger, and you could end up with the sack. As you've said, tricky decision!

[deltablue]

I'd probaby hang about.

[noikeee]

I'd move but then again I always move from places where I'm being successful and regret it later, so what the hell do I know...

Win the league first though, that's always a reputation boost. The best thing would probably be to stick with the club and then move as soon as something better appears - ie, don't resign but start applying for jobs as soon as you win the league.

[Nordan]

If I stay I've got to be in it for the next 3 or 4 seasons, the squad needs rebuilding since I can't afford to keep it together, and I shouldn't rebuild it in my image and then quit after a year, that would be unfair on the club. Tricky decision.

I'd say go with what feels right in order to keep the save fun for you.

[Azeryk`]

Do whatever you would do if you were in that situation in real life. Would you stay for the sake of the club and build them up or decide you need to move for the sake of your own career?

[Wavelberry]

Loving following this on Twitter and here. Also the thread title is genius.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Dogbreath by name and nature?

[SnakeXe]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Dogbreath by name and nature?

He's a dirty little so-and-so, but not in the same way as his brother - he keeps landing two-footers on a defender and getting a 3 match ban. Always injured as well.

[SnakeXe]

SnakeXe's Career - Season 5 - 2016/17

Story of the Season:
League Two - 1st, Promoted
Top at the half way stage, we really shouldn't have stayed there as we had a very large and protracted wobble. Luckily enough, so did the teams around us, and whilst theirs continued, allowing Chesterfield and Hereford to sneak into the automatic spots ahead of them, ours finally abated in time to cling on to a slender lead above them.

We finally secured automatic promotion with 2 games to spare, but needed a win in our final match to be sure of the title ahead of an in-form Chesterfield. Luckily, they were playing a similarly in-form Barnet away from home, whilst we were at home against playoff hopefuls Hartlepool, who counted Obafemi Martins amongst their ranks - a tricky proposition.

Fortunately, despite a very good performance from Hartlepool, we sucker punched them thrice to win it 3-1, whilst Barnet did us a favour in winning by the same scoreline to ensure we had a nice cushion to look down on everyone from. Campiones!

FA Cup - 2nd Round (lost v Bury)
After overcoming a good challenge from a Stevenage side who had not yet descended into freefall in the league, it was disappointing that a backup XI couldn't overcome BSP side Bury.

League Cup - 1st Round (lost v MK Dons)
A backup XI took Championship side MK Dons right to the wire.

Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Southern Semi Final
A great run in this competition this year, knocking out Gillingham then Stevenage from League Two, before doing another sort-of-giant-killing to League One Oxford. Unfortunately, Torquay proved too much for us in the semi-final, but not by much. Had we won that match we'd probably have taken the trophy, as Torquay went on to do so. Shame.

Results 1 - Results 2 - Squad

Transfers - £40k profit
Sold off the keeper I originally lauded our best player because his backup simply never gave me a reason to drop him.

Finances
Still a mess, despite a £975k restructuring loan.

5 Most Important Players:
Rather than 5 most important players this season, this is the 5 players most likely to help us back up next season.
5. Luke Young - M/AMRC - Consistent and occasionally spectacular.
4. Tony Garrod - AMR/ST - Led the line doggedly - a shame he left his finishing boots in League One.
3. Rohan Ince - DC/DM - The one player on our team capable of winning headers consistently in either penalty area.
2. Luke Rooney - M/AMRLC/ST - Our leading assist maker, breaking Garrod's old record.
1. Charlie Nunn - AML - Regularly tore opposition fullbacks to shreds, a fit and un-suspended Drogba should see his assist figures shoot skyward.

History:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Season  | Team            | League                | Country      | Position | Notes                                     |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2012/13 | Weymouth        | Blue Square South     | England      | 2nd      | Playoff Semi-finalists                    |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2013/14 | Weymouth        | Blue Square South     | England      | 3rd      | Resigned in October                       |
|    -    | Darlington      | Blue Square Premier   | England      | 14th     | 15th on arrival in October                |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2014/15 | Darlington      | Blue Square Premier   | England      | 2nd      | Playoff Winners                           |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2015/16 | Darlington      | League Two            | England      | 16th     | Resigned in January                       |
|    -    | Southend United | League One            | England      | 21st     | Relegated, 24th on arrival in March       |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2016/17 | Southend United | League Two            | England      | 1st      | League Two Champions                      |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next Season:
I've had some offers and interest come in from large-ish (larger than Southend anyway) foreign teams already - clearly my rep has taken a big increase with this season's success. I've managed to tie most of my key men down to new deals in the Southend squad, so I'm not totally against staying here next season, but based on the reputation of foreign clubs that are taking an interest, it's only a matter of time before I get an offer I can't refuse. Watch this space.

[SnakeXe]

Former Club Watch:

Weymouth F.C.:

Loris Karius remains the only hint of my reign now. A much improved season from the Terras.

Season    League                  Position  Notes                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012/13*  Blue Square South       2nd       Playoff semi-finalists
2013/14*  Blue Square South       9th       I left in October
2014/15   Blue Square South       10th      -
2015/16   Blue Square South       19th      -
2016/17   Blue Square South       9th       FA Cup 2nd Round

NB * indicates that I was in charge for at least part of the season.

Darlington F.C.:

Gary Phillips has sorted out the attack - Darlo scored just two goals less than us this season - but his defensive organisation leaves a lot to be desired. Also seems to be finally getting something out of Adorjan - 19 goals to be precise - good man.

Season    League                  Position  Notes                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013/14*  Blue Square Premier     14th      I joined in October
2014/15*  Blue Square Premier     2nd       Playoff Winners
2015/16*  League Two              18th      I left in January
2016/17   League Two              17th      JPT North Quarter Final

[Archwaypool]

This is a great blog Snakexe You have made me want to buy FM12, its on its way!

[SnakeXe]

I always think the best careers are the ones that leave you itching to play after hearing about them, so I'm delighted I got that reaction from you

[Azeryk`]

Congratz on finishing top, I'll be looking forward to seeing if you stay or where you go

[Archwaypool]

I'm definitely itching to play! I have told my Mrs that she is going to losing me for a few months!!
Cheers again, hurry up this the next session!

[deltablue]

Excellent work getting back up

[SnakeXe]

Nice little payrise, no extension to the contract length. They've given me a decent wage budget considering the financial problems as well. Could be tempted into sticking around.

[SRL88]

Could just sign the contract, take the extra pay home to the wife and then when a better offer comes along dicky off .

[duffy89]

Great thread Snake

I would give the shrimpers another season!

[deltablue]

I would give them another year as well.

[iHeadHunta x]

Congratulations on the Promotion mate

[ShyBaldBuddhist]

Great read so far Snake. I like the fact you're still hovering around the lower levels and it's not been a sprint to the top flight. A lot more interesting to read about the ups and downs of lower league management. I think it means that success is a lot sweeter when it arrives. It's also given me a few ideas for my own career game. I've always outstayed my welcome when things weren't going well instead of resigning. Shown me there's nothing to be worried about from jumping ship as there's always another job and another challenge around the corner.

[AK22]

Congratulations on the promotion

I'd say stick around for another season, maybe reassess at Xmas.

[SnakeXe]

Great read so far Snake. I like the fact you're still hovering around the lower levels and it's not been a sprint to the top flight. A lot more interesting to read about the ups and downs of lower league management. I think it means that success is a lot sweeter when it arrives. It's also given me a few ideas for my own career game. I've always outstayed my welcome when things weren't going well instead of resigning. Shown me there's nothing to be worried about from jumping ship as there's always another job and another challenge around the corner.

Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Actually I wish I'd stayed at Darlo longer, even if it was just long enough to ensure League Two survival. There's nothing wrong with leaving amicably at a sensible juncture, but I think that should have been that summer rather than mid-season.

[Adelaidean]

Agree with the above, definitely stay.

Great bouncebackability there too!

[SnakeXe]

I think I'm leaning towards seeing out my contract too

[SnakeXe]

SnakeXe's Career - Season 6 Preview - Southend United

Board Expectations:
League One - Mid-table (minimum of Avoid Relegation, Predicted 24th out of 24)
FA Cup - Third Round
League Cup - Learn from experience
Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Quarter Final

My Expectations:
League One - Lower mid-table
FA Cup - Third Round
League Cup - Not bothered
Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Try and win it

Budgets:
Transfer: £0
Wages: £42,671/week (£43,627/week currently)
Balance: -£366,402 (-£867,612 compared to last year)

Squad:
With the club finding budget from somewhere and some hard-nosed negotiating I managed to keep the key elements of the squad that won promotion. I still had to let a few useful guys go, notably my backup AML Swallow. Should be good enough to survive.

Key Men:
Goalkeeper/Defence
Ante Rozic - DC - The big Aussie should give our defence bite as well as offering a threat at set-pieces.

Midfield
Danny Guthrie - MRC - The former Newcastle and Swansea midfielder should excel at this level.
Charlie Nunn - AML - He'll miss the start of the season taking part in the U20 World Cup.

Strikers
Freddy Drogba - ST - If he can stay fit he'll keep us up.

[iseemonsters1]

Nice work getting promoted! Good to see your reputation is beginning to get you noticed elsewhere. If you were to leave Southend, do you have an itch to go abroad or do you think you'll stay in England - or does it depend on the offer?

[SnakeXe]

If I'm going abroad I'd realistically be looking at top division clubs, or large clubs recently relegated to the second tier, for it to be worth my while with the upheaval and learning the new language.

I'll probably stick with English football at least until I've managed in the Championship then maybe look at somewhere like the SPL or Eredivisie.

[hursty2]

Well done on going straight back up! Looks as if it's going to be a tough year financially this season so hopefully that doesn't impact too much on your performances.

[Archwaypool]

my games arrived!! Playing tomorrow!!

[Nobby_McDonald]

Well done on winning League Two.

Did you play Bury or Bury Town in the FA Cup?

[SnakeXe]

Bury - just noticed the mistake, thanks!

Flamers must have been yammering at me about Bury Town or something...

[Flamers]

Maybe... *trollface*

[Nobby_McDonald]

Troll face? That makes you more attractive!

[Flamers]

Nobby:

[SnakeXe]

Nobby's still right, mate.

[MattSpurs94]

I have a mate who looks so much like trollface, it's actually scary :P

[SnakeXe]

Finally got some time to play today! Might even get to the midseason update...

[BobBev]

SnakeXe - Well done on the promotion!

I saw from your OP that you are using a Solid State Disk. Can you comment on how big a performance boost it gives you with FM?

[SnakeXe]

I'd have to reinstall Steam and the game on my normal HDD to tell you exactly what the difference is the SSD makes.

The only comparison I can give is between this setup and the laptop I was running FM09-11 on, which was a MacBook Pro 15" with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM and a 256MB GeForce 9400M GPU.

Basically this computer gives the same performance with all the leagues I have loaded now as I got on my laptop with only Italy down to Serie C2 loaded. It's quite liberating!

[BobBev]

I'd have to reinstall Steam and the game on my normal HDD to tell you exactly what the difference is the SSD makes.

The only comparison I can give is between this setup and the laptop I was running FM09-11 on, which was a MacBook Pro 15" with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM and a 256MB GeForce 9400M GPU.

Basically this computer gives the same performance with all the leagues I have loaded now as I got on my laptop with only Italy down to Serie C2 loaded. It's quite liberating!

Sounds like quite an improvement. If I decide to get a new FM machine then an SSD might have to be part of the spec.

Cheers.

[SnakeXe]

The Hellas Verona job just came up and I was sorely, sorely tempted to apply. I think I'd have gotten it as well. Still, on we march (or whatever Shrimp do)!

[SnakeXe]

Season 6: Halfway House Update

We started surprisingly well, grinding out three 2-1 wins surrounding a planned exit from the League Cup away at Pompey. The bubble finally burst in the first game in which we actually had the majority of the play - at home against fellow division new-boys Hereford. We bounced back with a win in the next match, before settling into the sort of form I'd expected from this season - a win and two draws from the next 5 matches.

We also disappointingly went out of the JPT in the first round on penalties against Ebbsfleet at this stage.

Then something utterly incompehensible happened. We started playing well and winning. And we didn't stop.

Nine league wins in a row. Nine.

And we should have won the tenth as well - we were running in second, with Leeds a massive 9 points behind in 3rd. We went to Elland Road and took the lead, before missing two really excellent chances to make it secure, before Leeds' Swedish international striker scored a stunning brace on the stroke of half-time to turn it in their favour. We couldn't come back into the game after that, and the winning run was over.

Two wins and a draw from the next three matches still saw us celebrate the end of 2017 the same way as 2016 - at the top of the table!

Hands up, who saw that one coming?!

The Good

• Playing the best football of my career so far
• Challenging for an unexpected promotion
• FA Cup 3rd Round

The Bad

• JPT exit in the first round
• Ending the winning run away to the side immediately below us
• Lack of squad depth could prove our undoing in the second half of the season

Results - League Table - Squad

[Nordan]

Hands up, who saw that one coming?!

We all did,except maybe you.

Championship better watch out!

[SnakeXe]

SnakeXe's Career - Season 6 - 2017/18

Story of the Season:
League One - 2nd, Promoted
After a massively surprisingly good start, I figured it was only a matter of time before the thinness of our squad caught up with us, but actually it never really did.

We secured a playoff spot with 7 matches remaining, promotion with 2, but couldn't quite nick the title at the last. Wow.

FA Cup - 3rd Round (lost v Nottingham Forest)
Although it took a replay to get past fellow League One newbies Hereford in the first round, the BSP's Dagenham & Redbridge were torn to pieces in the second. Championship side Forest did much the same to us in the third.

League Cup - 1st Round (lost v Portsmouth)
Mission accomplished with another early exit for the reserves.

Johnstone's Paint Trophy - 1st Round (lost v Ebbsfleet)
I may not have played my best team in this match but I expected to beat these guys. As it was we lost on penalties.

Results 1 - Results 2 - Squad

Transfers - Broke even
Best signing was between Rozic and Ngakoutou, worst probably Jones as he moaned about not playing.

Finances
Godawful.

5 Most Important Players:
Rather than 5 most important players this season, this is the 5 players most likely to help us back up next season.
5. Josh Payne - DM/MRC/AMC - The most consistent of our central midfielders.
4. Luke Rooney - M/AMRLC/ST - Took a little of the creative burden off of Nunn, would have like to have seen a little more though.
3. Ante Rozic - DC - Talismanic presence at the back.
2. Quentin Ngakoutou - ST - Finally, a consistent goalscorer!
1. Charlie Nunn - AML - Smashed the club assist record with 27 in 35 starts.

History:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Season  | Team            | League                | Country      | Position | Notes                                     |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2012/13 | Weymouth        | Blue Square South     | England      | 2nd      | Playoff Semi-finalists                    |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2013/14 | Weymouth        | Blue Square South     | England      | 3rd      | Resigned in October                       |
|    -    | Darlington      | Blue Square Premier   | England      | 14th     | 15th on arrival in October                |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2014/15 | Darlington      | Blue Square Premier   | England      | 2nd      | Playoff Winners                           |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2015/16 | Darlington      | League Two            | England      | 16th     | Resigned in January                       |
|    -    | Southend United | League One            | England      | 21st     | Relegated, 24th on arrival in March       |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2016/17 | Southend United | League Two            | England      | 1st      | League Two Champions                      |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2017/18 | Southend United | League One            | England      | 2nd      | Promoted                                  |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next Season:
My contract is expiring and that's it for me at Southend - job most emphatically done. I have absolutely loved my time here though, Nunn is already one of my all-time memorable FM players. If the finances were in more of a position to actually compete in the Championship I'd have certainly stayed. As it is, I think we're a sinking ship at that level whosever hand is on the tiller.

I'd hope to get a mid-table Championship or SPL job next, but we'll see what comes up.

[deltablue]

Definitely deserve a good club now.

[SnakeXe]

Former Club Watch:

Weymouth F.C.:

The improvement continues, this time in spectacular style as The Terras win the playoffs! Delighted for them!

Season    League                  Position  Notes                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012/13*  Blue Square South       2nd       Playoff semi-finalists
2013/14*  Blue Square South       9th       I left in October
2014/15   Blue Square South       10th      -
2015/16   Blue Square South       19th      -
2016/17   Blue Square South       9th       FA Cup 2nd Round
2017/18   Blue Square South       3rd       Playoff Winners

NB * indicates that I was in charge for at least part of the season.

Darlington F.C.:

Decent enough season for Darlo - Adorjan is gone now so they struggled for goals a bit to begin with, but eventually survived with room to spare.

Season    League                  Position  Notes                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013/14*  Blue Square Premier     14th      I joined in October
2014/15*  Blue Square Premier     2nd       Playoff Winners
2015/16*  League Two              18th      I left in January
2016/17   League Two              17th      JPT North Quarter Final
2017/18   League Two              15th      FA Cup 3rd Round

[SnakeXe]

Well I thought I was leaving but then this was finally accepted:



Bring it on.

[deltablue]

There's still a tough task ahead.

[SnakeXe]

2018 FIFA World Cup
Hosts: Russia
Holders: England

Group Stage:
Group A

| Pos   | Inf   | Team    |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Brazil  |       | 3     | 3     | 0     | 0     | 6     | 1     | +5    | 9     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Croatia |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 5     | 3     | +2    | 4     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Russia  |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 6     | 6     | 0     | 4     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Zambia  |       | 3     | 0     | 0     | 3     | 2     | 9     | -7    | 0     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group B

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Paraguay      |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 5     | 0     | +5    | 7     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Italy         |       | 3     | 0     | 3     | 0     | 1     | 1     | 0     | 3     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | United States |       | 3     | 0     | 2     | 1     | 2     | 4     | -2    | 2     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Scotland      |       | 3     | 0     | 2     | 1     | 1     | 4     | -3    | 2     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group C

| Pos   | Inf   | Team                 |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | France               |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 9     | 2     | +7    | 7     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Japan                |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 7     | 7     | 0     | 4     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Bosnia & Herzegovina |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 4     | 7     | -3    | 4     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Nigeria              |       | 3     | 0     | 1     | 2     | 2     | 6     | -4    | 1     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group D

| Pos   | Inf   | Team           |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Argentina      |       | 3     | 3     | 0     | 0     | 5     | 0     | +5    | 9     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Canada         |       | 3     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 3     | 5     | -2    | 4     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | South Korea    |       | 3     | 0     | 2     | 1     | 2     | 3     | -1    | 2     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Czech Republic |       | 3     | 0     | 1     | 2     | 0     | 2     | -2    | 1     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group E

| Pos   | Inf   | Team     |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Germany  |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 8     | 2     | +6    | 7     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Cameroon |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 5     | 0     | +5    | 7     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Chile    |       | 3     | 1     | 0     | 2     | 5     | 7     | -2    | 3     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | UAE      |       | 3     | 0     | 0     | 3     | 3     | 12    | -9    | 0     | 
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group F

| Pos   | Inf   | Team      |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Australia |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 2     | 0     | +2    | 7     | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Spain     |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 3     | 1     | +2    | 6     | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Mexico    |       | 3     | 1     | 0     | 2     | 3     | 4     | -1    | 3     | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Austria   |       | 3     | 0     | 1     | 2     | 2     | 5     | -3    | 1     | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group G

| Pos   | Inf   | Team        |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | Netherlands |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 5     | 2     | +3    | 6     | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Senegal     |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 4     | 1     | +3    | 6     | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Costa Rica  |       | 3     | 1     | 0     | 2     | 1     | 3     | -2    | 3     | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Cyprus      |       | 3     | 1     | 0     | 2     | 3     | 7     | -4    | 3     | 
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Group H

| Pos   | Inf   | Team         |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Q     | England      |       | 3     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 4     | 1     | +3    | 7     | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Q     | Ghana        |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 5     | 3     | +2    | 6     | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Serbia       |       | 3     | 0     | 2     | 1     | 0     | 1     | -1    | 2     | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Saudi Arabia |       | 3     | 0     | 1     | 2     | 1     | 5     | -4    | 1     | 
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Knockout Stage:
Second Round:
Brazil 3 v 2 Italy
Croatia 0 v 0p Paraguay
France 1 v 0 Canada
Japan 0 v 3 Argentina
Germany 1 v 4 Spain
Cameroon 2 v 0 Australia
Ghana 1 v 0 Netherlands
England 2 v 0 Senegal

Quarter Final:
Brazil 0 v 1 Argentina
Paraguay 0 v 2e France
Spain p2 v 2 England
Cameroon 0 v 1 Ghana

Semi Final:
Argentina 0 v 1 Ghana
France 2 v 1 Spain

Third Place Playoff:
Argentina 3 v 1 Spain

Final:
Ghana p1 v 1 France

[SRL88]

Very realistic World Cup there!!!!

Congratulations on the promotion & the new contract to .

[SnakeXe]

SnakeXe's Career - Season 7 Preview - Southend United

Board Expectations:
Championship - Mid-table (minimum of Avoid Relegation, Predicted 23rd out of 24)
FA Cup - Third Round
League Cup - Second Round

My Expectations:
Championship - Survival
FA Cup - Third Round
League Cup - Ditch it asap

Budgets:
Transfer: £0
Wages: £65,292/week (£68,454/week currently)
Balance: £359,120 (+£725,522 compared to last year)

Squad:
If we can score goals we should do well enough to keep them out at the other end. There's a huge onus on Ngakoutou, Nunn and Rooney to step it up as I haven't managed to strengthen in those areas. Central midfield looks strong now, with big names like Manuel Fernandes and John Bostock coming in.

Key Men:
Goalkeeper/Defence
Jak Alnwick - GK - Goalkeeper wasn't exactly a weak spot but when the chance came up to sign this guy I didn't hesitate. A phenomenal shot stopper.

Midfield
John Bostock - AMC - Big things were expected of this guy when he was younger. He's never reached that level but could be a big help to us.
Charlie Nunn - AML - If he's anything like as good as he was last year we'll do fine.

Strikers
Quentin Ngakoutou - ST - Fingers crossed he'll find the net at a decent rate still.

[deltablue]

Good WC for Canada

[MattSpurs94]

Bostock link goes to Danny Guthrie

and Alnwick goes to Rozic...

[SnakeXe]

We all did,except maybe you.

Championship better watch out!

Okay, in light of this, what does everyone predict for me at Southend this season?

[SnakeXe]

Bostock link goes to Danny Guthrie

and Alnwick goes to Rozic...

Fixed, good spot(s) thanks

[karax268]

Okay, in light of this, what does everyone predict for me at Southend this season?

promotion, of course

seriously though, I think mid-table obscurity