[FM11]Slavojkia must be a hell of a place!

[emgergo]

My twenty-something season LLM save is put to rest for some time (dead bored by Scandinavia now), so I started a European challenge anew. Playing by the LLM rules, though this can't be classified as a game of that subforum - using some Central European league expansions. Barring Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Iberian peninsula all continental countries are loaded.

I had a look around the leagues and found one with a good name and nice colours (matching my real-life favourite club) in the Slovakian third tier. So we start from here.

FK SLAVOJ TREBISOV


You tell me what to make of that club coat of arms. Looks like some wicked little device and a butcher's knife is good for harvesting both stars and wheat.

We'll start with wheat, get to stars later. I hope it's wheat, not broken arrows.

Club information and facilities.

Trebisov itself is a small town quite near to the Hungarian-Slovakian-Ukrainian triple border, it goes by the nice Hungarian name of Tőketerebes. The town's medieval fort was besieged by about a dozen times by warlords, robbers, Turkish, Habsburg, Hungarians and whoever happened to go there. It was finally destroyed in the late 17th century. Since then there was a cholera uprising, some modest improvements and economical depression since the 1990s, highlighted by the local Roma rioting.

Nice place, innit?

The team's not better, either.

Slavoj Trebisov have no real history to boast of, but the club celebrates its centenary in 2012. The local stadium looks a nice little place.

Main stand • With bicycle parking • Club shop • We have a scoreboard! \o/ • He's the local hero

SEASON 2010–2011

I'm appointed and over wage budget. Even when my highest earner gets the astronomical sum of 50 euros! Finances are somewhat sorted when an offer comes in for my right-back. 8K is taken without a thought. Right-backs are easy to come by, unlike money.

At least while I field a full team, there'll be a right-back in it.

5 free transfers are in, said right-back and an MC with expiring contract left. I have no idea how strong the other teams are, we're tipped 8th in a league of 16. Only one goes up, only one goes down.

NOTABLE PLAYERS

Don't make me laugh. But I have a starting lineup.

GK - Sudimak
DR - Zembera
DC - Csolle
DC - Sovab
DL - Hoffman
MR - Tomovcik (c)He's MR, MC, AMR, AMC, AML, ST, assistant manager and most probably the local bartender, too.
He can play in so many positions he's bound to be useless in all of 'em.
DMC - Capko
MC - Zrubec
ML - Baran
ST - Rusnák
ST - Alusik
+++
SUB1 (ST) - Goga (on loan from Kosice)
SUB2 (MC) - Hanicak (on loan from Presov)
The rest is not worthy a mention. They make up the numbers.

Transfer strategy: No parent team as of yet, will look into a regional one maybe later. Realistically we can might draw players from Northeastern Hungary and Carpathian Ruthenia, so I'll scout those parts apart from Slovakia.

Pre-season went well, but I've long learnt it means absolutely nothing.

Comedy hour: my coach seems to be undermining the ass. man, wanting to remove him from corner kick and penalty kick duties.

He's having none of it

Corner 1 • Corner 2 • Penalty taking

[Jpr]

I am playing a Slovak save on FM12 (SMF Senec from the 2cnd tier), it's difficult but fun. Good luck!

Also with your linked photobucket images, could you link to the full size images so it's a bit easier to see?

[emgergo]

Oh sure, will edit those . Done.

Starting the season with really good morale thanks to a 4-0-1 pre-season record, 4 wins against better opposition.

[Jpr]

Oh sure, will edit those . Done.

Starting the season with really good morale thanks to a 4-0-1 pre-season record, 4 wins against better opposition.

A tip for when you're climbing the leagues, the Slovak cup gives Euro qualification so it can be worth going for the cup for the extra income, especially as I found the gap between 1st and 2cnd tier not too large, bar 2 or 3 teams (Bratislava, Trnvara and Ruzmeberok, excuse the terrible spellings but I'm not on FM at the moment haha!)

[emgergo]

So onto the autumn season then. I signed a left winger and a centre-back to help out out miserably thin squad.

OK it's not that thin but I have about 15 players who might not even recognise football if they see it.

We were off to a good start - as morale can wildly change, it was important - and played very solid football throughout the autumn. After a five-match unbeaten run we lost our first to Lipany, must to the dismay of our travelling fans. All four of them.

The loss was followed by a very good unbeaten run and after a slight loss of form - 2 losses in the league, 1 in the cup - we finished off the half season with three wins in a row, and look like we might even go up. Humenne leads the pack with 41 points, us and Bardejov - who started the season with a seven-game winning streak - are following them on 39 apiece, Ruzina and Spisska Nova Ves are on 34. Luckily Ruzina's start was absolutely awful (0 points in 4 games), otherwise they'd be further up.

LEAGUE TABLE

PLAYERS (at least, the ones who count)

As you can see, Alusik is a key attacking outlet, sitting 3rd on the top scorer list with 12 goals (he scored 4 against Stara Lubovna in a 4-2 win!), half of which were headers. He missed 6 weeks with an ankle injury, which was far from ideal, but we had a fairly good fixture list during that period - and a 15 year old youth striker, Alexander Hlavac scored 5 times during that! (it was a brace and a hat-trick). Defense is quite solid, attacking play could be even better with some more creativity - and my main worry is the short bench, I can rarely sub in players who can make a difference. One or two loans (a winger and an MC/AMC, maybe an AMC/FC) could sort this out.

Home form is brilliant, only one draw in the opening round against Poprad - they got away with it very luckily -, the rest is all wins. Away form is, well, not bad, but any mediocre team can beat us on their day. And we're playing both direct title rivals away in the spring...

The Cup provided the best match of the autumn, as we managed to smash a Corgon Liga (first tier) team, we steamrolled Banská Bystrica 4-2 Then we went out easily to second-tier Puchov.

Comedy Moment: We managed to lost the Battle of Lipany. The second one after 1434 (I know, I know, it's another Lipany)

Finances: OK. Very modest profit.

Spring to-do list:
- convince my ass. man to continue playing (5 goals, 9 assists from him so far!)
- get at least one player who can bring some more attacking punch
- relegate about 5 players to groundsmen, they are not of any use on the pitch...

[Dejay]

Going well, it's tight up there though.

[jackripper]

FM11 is the future lol..

[emgergo]

New winter signing 1: Gavala (ST)
New winter signing 2: Ciz (everything on the left, including carrying water bottles)

Off-season went well, four wins, one draw. We won the first spring match away at Stara Lubovna and went top. That's the good news.

This is the bad news:

Gavala out.

S***.

Alusik out.

Oh, s***. So that's my first-choice striker duo gone. When the crap comes-a-rollin', boy, it rolls good

[emgergo]

So we lost our striker duo in the very first match of the spring, and two matches - two draws - later my starting goalie followed suit and got himself to hospital. Youth keepers were hopeless and even more alarmingly we lost the edge in front of goal, so it was time to sign two free agents my scouts hyped up, just in time to face then league-leaders Humenne for a big clash.

Fedor (GK)
Helcz (ST)

Fedor conceded on a guy called Drogba (Didier's cousin, IRL he's been on trial in Hungary ), but we turned around the crucial away tie thanks to set piece goals from my centre-backs and a debut goal from Helcz. That pretty much gave the boost that we needed, next five matches were four wins and a draw, no goals conceded and both new signings having stellar matches.

Back to the top, as the rivals messed up.

In the 28th round we faced 5th placed Spisska Nova Ves as our direct rivals, Bardejov and Humenne faced each other. It proved to be the crucial round as we routed our opposition, while they drew. Thanks, guys.

There were two rounds left and we had a four point advantage, but faced Bardejov away, who needed a win to keep their championship and promotion hopes alive. They did just that with a long-distance screamer, breaking our 13-game unbeaten streak. Too tight.

Although our advantage was cut, a win in the last round would have secured the title. You never know with B teams - sometimes it's half the first squad, sometimes it's deadwood and youth -, fortunately Zilina B was bad enough this time and looked disinterested, too. Three goals in the first 30 minutes sorted it out, as all our club-record 535 supporters started celebrating the promotion.

The two travelling Zilina-fans had a bad day, though. One up! \o/

Spring fixtures with scorers
League table
Our position chart
The position chart of Humenne and Bardejov

Comedy hour: the dumbest question of all time, as we won't have a league game in the next 3 months. Finally my answer made it to the press, too

The season was far above my expectations, but probably it had to do more with high morale than quality. The closest we get to quality is when we drink quality local beer.

Or when we watch Champions' League on the telly with the squad.

SQUAD

Name	Nat	Position	Apps	Gls	Ast	Av Rat	Cur A	Pot A
Roman Zembera	SVK	D (R)	31	1	0	7.17	***	***
Rastislav Tomovcik	SVK	M/AM (RC), ST	31	6	14	7.22	***	***
Jaroslav Capko	SVK	D (LC), DM, M (LC)	29 (2)	1	6	7.03	*** ½	*** ½
Peter Kovac	SVK	M (L)	29	7	6	7.19	***	***
Peter Kitas	SVK	D (C), DM, M (C)	25 (1)	3	3	7.29	*** ½	*** ½
Jozef Csolle	SVK	D (C)	25	2	0	7.12	***	***
Emil Sudimak	SVK	GK	23	0	0	6.76	* ½	** ½
Ivan Zrubec	SVK	M (C)	22	2	8	7.18	****	****
Jan Goga	SVK	ST	21 (7)	10	10	7.11	** ½	** ½
Martin Hoffman	SVK	D (RL)	21 (7)	0	1	6.95	**	**
Martin Alusik	SVK	ST	19 (1)	15	5	7.52	*** ½	*** ½
Zoltan Sovab	SVK	D (C), DM, M (C)	15 (11)	1	2	6.90	** ½	** ½
Lubomir Rusnak	SVK	ST	12 (12)	5	2	6.85	** ½	** ½
Ondrej Ciz	SVK	D/WB/M (L)	12	1	1	7.42	*** ½	*** ½
Dominik Hanicak	SVK	M (C)	11 (10)	0	4	6.97	***	***
Marian Fedor	SVK	GK	9	0	1	7.14	*** ½	*** ½
Marek Helcz	SVK	ST	8 (1)	12	1	8.06	***	***
Alexander Hlavac	SVK	ST	4 (11)	5	1	7.09	** (youth)	***
Ivan Baran	SVK	M/AM (L)	1 (6)	0	0	6.47	½ (youth)	½
Milos Kiss	SVK	M (R)	1 (5)	0	1	7.00	½	** ½
Martin Fedor	SVK	D (LC)	1 (1)	0	0	6.50	½	½
Milan Jurco	SVK	M (R)	0 (8)	0	0	6.44	½	½
Peter Simko	SVK	D (RC)	0 (3)	0	0	6.60	½	½
Marcel Gavala	SVK	ST	0 (1)	1	0	7.30	****	****
Peter Sedlak	SVK	GK	-	-	-	-	½	½

[Jpr]

Good season, well done on the promotion!

good luck next season, hopefully SMF Senec beat you home and away haha.

Nice to see all those classic Slovak regen surnames, I think every other player is a Kovac on mine.

[emgergo]

Dedicated to Jpr

By the way, roll of honour for last season in Slovakia and surroundings.

Slovakia: Champions - Nitra, Cup winners - Moldava (no first tier team in the semis!)
Hungary: Champions - Videoton, Cup winners - Vasas
Ukraine: Champions - Dnipro, Cup winners - Chernomorets, Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar won f*** all
Czech Rep: Champions - Teplice, Cup winners - Mlada Boleslav
Romania: Champions - Timisoara, Cup winners - Otelul Galati
Poland: Champions - Lech Poznan, Cup winners - Zaglebie Lubin
Austria: Champions - Rapid Wien, Cup winners - Rapid Wien
Champions' League: Arsenal, Europa League: Man. City

[emgergo]

I wanted to fire Simko and Jurco who are useless.But they are tied to the club until 2015, who was the muppet who offered them a multi-year contract? Argh!

Plans: nothing much, survival. I'm very well below wage budget, but my ass. man and coaches say we can cope with the current squad. Max. 3-4 arrivals for quality, I need a left and a right winger, maybe a centre-back with more routine and a backup right-back.

[Jpr]

Moldava will enjoy the European adventure. SFM Senec will rise again! Just make sure your squad has enough depth, fixtures can sometimes stack up

good luck for the season

[emgergo]

FK Slavoj Trebisov, 2011-12

Slovakian 2nd tier

My ass. man/can-play-in-every-position-man said our league-winning squad could be enough for survival, so I rather strengthened the staff and the youth over the summer (or so I think now). Much better scouts (now 6 of them!), new coaches and a number of acquisitions for the U19 team. Only three (young) players arrived for directly the first team.

Bajan (ML) has a lot of flair and good dribbling, but he can't cross for his life, not the best thing from a winger. He can prove himself as starting left-winger Kovac is out 2-3 months with the only pre-season injury hitting the squad.

Jakubco (MC) is the only loanee, as Hanicak refused to get his loan extended. He has pace and agility, and I'll plan to use him mostly as a sub.

Bartos (DR) will start on the bench behind Zembera, but he looks to be good enough to actually challenge him - which is nice, especially that Zembera has had top division clubs sniffing around.

Full squad

YOUTH

U19 Team

Some good prospects there for our current level, mostly new signings, but we have our own, too.

Baran (ST) doesn't look special but he's well-balanced with high professionalism and teamwork.

Bubenko (ST) is a promising angry youth.

Pavlik (MLC) has an agressivity which suggests me he's a natural. In pub brawls.

Babic (DL) might already be a decent DL - he'd surely be one in the third tier -, nice physical stats but worryingly crap in some other departments.

Majoros (DLC) can be big. Very high bravery, high determination and work rate, he can tackle, he can head the ball and he's not that slow.

Guba (AMC/ST) is the bomb, probably the Yeti of the Beskids came alive. Despite being only 16 he's had a season in Zilina B (8 matches/1 goal). 200 cms/93 kgs and growing Jumping is great (he'll learn heading hopefully, too), determined, brave, has flair, finishing and OK set pieces. I'll be hugely disappointed if he doesn't turn out to be a first-team player.

ALL TRANSFERS
+++

Board expectations: fight bravely. Mine: fight bravely and stay up. Media: 11th Finances: OK, very modest profit. Starting XI: same as last year, and it's a 4-4-2 with a midfielder (Capko) dropped to DM. Fedor – Zembera, Kitas, Csolle, Ciz – Capko – Tomovcik, Zrubec, Kovac (inj.) – Helcz, Alusik (c). The weak link is the right wing, because Tomovcik is 38 and his back-up, Kiss is 16, but Kosice poached the winger I really wanted to sign.

Friendlies went very well, one of the better pre-seasons I've had.

By the way, friendlies: the best offer I've ever had. Pocketed all six euros that were offered, they might buy you some hideous beer from Lidl or Aldi.

[emgergo]

AUGUST

Rd 1: Moldava 0-3 (H). What an absolutely sh*t way to get things going against the Slovakian Cup holders, who were off a back-to-back beating by Anorthosis in the Europa League. I blame myself partly, as Ivan Zrubec took my speech (For the fans!) too literally and showed up the quickest red card of the league for the fans after a horrible tackle on 5 minutes. Even with 10 men we controlled the first half but as Moldava got their break in the second we collapsed. BTW first goal was scored by the guy whom Zrubec tried to annihilate.

Rd 2: Lucenec 1-1 (A). That's better, we were looking to come away with a win after Alusik's goal, but five minutes from time a free-kick was booted up, Kitas lost a key aerial battle, Fedor spilled the ball, their forward sent a trickling shot, and finally Zembera wanted to clear but hoofed it up into his own net. That hurt.

Rd 3: Nove Mesto 0-0 (H). They were the other relegation-tipped team (reminder: we are the other...) and they came with a safety tactic, including five defenders, one striker and some equipment for trench warfare probably, too. They did not have a shot on goal and I doubt they've been to our penalty area, but our attacking play was devoid of any ideas. Our creativity amounts to a concrete block. Rubbish and we should really win these matches.

Rd 4: Rimavska Sobota 1-4 (A). They are promotion contenders and showed why, as they easily rolled over us. Two soft goals from set pieces, two from counters, Alusik got the consolation.

Rd 5: Dubnica 2-4 (H). Not better at all. Another two soft goals from headers, but Tomovcik got one back just before half time. We started the second half brightly but missed two chances and they punished us with counters, after 1-4 Alusik got one back. Worrying defensive errors and very wasteful attacking are not good things. Morale down the drain for some players.

SEPTEMBER

Rd 6: Duslo Sala 0-1 (A). I tried a counter-attacking 4-3-3, with the only result being our usual 45-50% possession dropping to 40. Conceded from a set piece yet again and set up the proud winless record of the league. Also lost defensive midfielder Capko for four weeks.

Rd 7: Dolny Kubin 2-1 (A). Yeah, baby! Reverted to our usual setup, and somehow we had a good day out. We were playing better in the first half and made the most of the chances in the second, as Goga and Alusik got themselves a goal apiece from counters - with a temporary equaliser in the sandwich. First win! \o/

Rd 8: Puchov 3-0 (H). Now that was wow. They are a good team yet we had the steamroller working, outplayed, outshot and outscored them. Goals by Goga, Tomovcik and Kitas. Still dead last as since we started winning every other winless team started winning, too!

Rd 9: Ruzomberok B 3-0 (H). Confidence is high now and the team plays accordingly, I'm really happy with the clean sheets, too. Goga, an own goal and Helcz's first of the year helped us to an easy win. Lost left back/left winger Ciz for 4-5 weeks and central midfielder Jakubco for 4.

Cup 1st rd: Vrbove 3-0 (H). It seems like the team can't get enough of 3-0s, not that I'm complaining about that! Vrbove is dead last in its group at the third league, no away fans showed up and they were right. A very easy win and I played mostly substitutes and reserves.

+++

U19 watch: I felt they can be good, as three of them (giant Guba, left back Babic and MLC Pavlik) got in the national U19s squad, and so far they are performing: 8 wins out of 8, 24-1 goal difference! That's very encouraging. Majoros (DLC), Guba, Pavlik already debuted in the A-team as well.

+++

Rubbish August, great September and we're on a roll now. I find it the lower the league (and its quality) the more important the morale, teams are terribly streaky. The league is incredibly tight, there's only 10 points between leaders Morava and league last Duslo Sala! A lot of draws all over the scoreboard. I'm not holding too much hope for our winning streak, as we'll have three away fixtures, against Senec (5th but were 11th 4 rounds ago), Trencin (2nd) and Moldava (1st). Two or three points would keep me happy.

[emgergo]

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

Rd. 10: Senec 1-1 (A). First match of a three-game away streak. Left-winger Bajan gave us the lead and we held it until 91 minutes, when they scored with a screamer. Gutted.

Rd. 11: Trencin 1-1 (A). This time Goga put us in front, and we only managed to hold the lead until... well, the 89th minute. ******* points away valiantly in the last minutes.

Rd. 12: Moldava 0-0 (A). Zrubec made the Double, meaning he recieved his second red card in the first half against Moldava this season. He really hates (playing) them! This time we dug the trenches and defended, gaining a thoroughly undeserved point. The closest we got to their goal was probably at the kick-off! Shots: 19 v. 1 to them.

Rd. 13: Lucenec 3-1 (H). A dream start, Tomovcik, Alusik and Gavala scored in the first 14 minutes of the game, which was decided there and then.

Rd. 14: Nove Mesto 1-0 (A). The other newcomer to the division was doing very well, too, sitting on 4th place (we were 5th). Winning the match meant a swap in places, centre-back Kitas headed home the winner from a set piece in an ugly tie on a marsh instead of a pitch.

Rd. 15: Rimavska Sobota 3-0 (H). Wow. We simply smashed the league leaders with a Helcz brace and an Alusik goal in what probably was the finest performance of the season so far.

Rd. 16: Dubnica 5-0 (A). Them being mid-table is one thing, but they have one of the strongest squads in the league. To be honest, for 40 minutes we were on the back foot, but they gave away a penalty and a red card. Zrubec scored the penalty, centre-back Zoltán Sovab added another and in the second half they fell apart and we ran riot, Kitas, Helcz and Capko scoring.

It's halfway through the season and we're up on fourth.

[emgergo]

NOVEMBER

Rd. 17: Ruzomberok (A) 2-1. Keeping it up well. Helcz put us in front, they equalised but captain Capko popped up and buried a brave diving header 3 minutes from time.

Cup 2nd Rd: Topolcany (H) 3-1. Hereby I present you my ass. man, Sir Tomovcik the Brave. We rolled out and buried them in half an hour, two goals by rarely used striker Rusnak (who later missed a penalty and got injured, too) and one by Bajan after a Rusnak-assist. Easy.

Rd. 18: Duslo Sala (H) 2-2. More than 1000 fans turned out (largest ever attendance) against the table-bottom team. We conceded very early on after a dreadful mistake by backup goalie Sudimak, serves me right for playing him. We turned the scoreline around with goals from Alusik and Kitas but they equalised 10 minutes from time and all in all, they deserved the point.

Rd. 19: Dolny Kubin (H) 1-3. We were ravaged by injuries, it seemed like everyone falling out gets injured for at least a month... Rubbish performance, their Serbian striker put us to the sword with a hat-trick. We were competitive for about seven minutes after Kovac scored a goal in the 80th to make it 1-2, but missed our chances and they finished off a counter. Next.

Rd. 20: Puchov (A) 2-0. Marek Helcz decided this single-handidly (no pun intended), after drawing a foul resulting in a straight red card and scoring twice. Nice win, especially as Puchov's coach likes to talk rubbish of us.

Rd. 21: Trencin (H) 1-3. Almost 1000 people, us in 4th spot, them in 2nd. And they showed why they are the promotion contenders, as we were easily dealt with. They were clinical and we were very tired, bright point of the game is that the Guba, the Yeti of the Beskids scored his first ever senior goal with a brilliant chip.

Cup, last 16: Moldava (H) 0-1. Snow buried the ground, 561 people made it to the stadium, the rest did not dare to get in the open. Oh, and Moldava are simply better than us, especially when we are plagued with injuries. Cup run over.

Two months of a rest comes, much needed because of all the injured. Scouts are abroad, but unless they find the second coming of Pelé I only want to sign a right winger.

Autumn summary: after a nightmare start we had a brilliant run, the true playing strength is somewhere in-between: we are not as rubbish as the early rounds showed and nowhere near that strong as the next string of matches. We are 5th as the winter break sets in and probably in safety - 16 points from the drop zone and only 12 matches left from the season. The more spaced-out spring fixtures might help us. Moldava and Trencin will probably battle it out for the promotion, they are a step above anyone else. I'd be happy with a 3rd-5th finish.

TABLE

Things to solve:
- get a right winger, as Tomovcik is old and oft injured
- go to a seer, maybe she could help me in which striker to put in the starting lineup. I have five seniors, near the same level, but can't settle on a starting duo.
- do something with our not too brilliant, 4-2-4 home record (6-2-5 counting cup matches). The root of the problem is probably the lack of creative midfielders.
- when we are in safety (mathematically, too) start to build in U19 players. Majoros, Guba, Babic, Pavlik, Kiss and Bubenko all saw some action during the autumn, but they'll need more. The U19 is great, leading their group with 15-3-1 and a 10-point advantage. Majoros, Guba and Pavlik are already U19 internationals.

[emgergo]

We've found him! We've found HIM!



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[deltablue]

He's not the Messias, he's a very naughty boy.

[emgergo]

Influence of 5? Not havin' this Messiah

[emgergo]

SPRING SEASON

2/3 of the season was gone, so the fixtures were less crowded - and I was thankful for that, as during the spring we lost starting striker Helcz (5-6 months), left winger Kovac (2 months and he got a yellow for simulation ), sub striker Rusnak (3 months), young forward Guba (2 months) and playmaker Zrubec had some small injuries.

The local hospital is having a field day, for sure.

Senec 4-2 (H): Senec, who? The striker duo of Alusik and Helcz made mincemeat of them, both got a rating over 9 and two goals. Great performance.

Lucenec 2-2 (A): Only five shots on target, four goals, so the goalkeepers were kind of...meh. Mine saved one though! Goals from Sovab and Alusik.

Nove Mesto 3-0 (H): Quarter of an hour mark was a sign of doom for them: Bajan scored in the first, Helcz the fifteenth and Majoros the thirtieth minute - first senior goal for the latter, the very talented centre back. Helcz and Rusnak got injured in this match.

Moldava 3-0 (H): a surprisingly easy win against a team gunning for promotion. Zrubec forgot to get himself sent off this time, Bajan, Kitas and Alusik helped with the goals.

Rimavska Sobota 3-4 (A): After the high a major low. The defense and the midfield were shockingly bad, and we only started playing football (sort of...) when being 1-4 behind. Goga, Kovac and Capko scored. Rubbish match.

Dubnica 1-1 (H): This was better, a good draw against a strong team. Goga scored the equaliser in the 89th minute.

Duslo Sala 2-0 (A): The first half was as ugly as you can imagine in your worst football nightmares. Not even traces of football. Alusik stepped up with a brace and carried the points to us.

Ruzomberok B 1-0 (H): 969 people turned up and they wanted to forget this match afterwards. 90 minutes of boredom, broken by a Majoros header, which gave us the win. With four rounds to go we were only 4 points behind Trencin and Moldava, who battled for the championship (and the promotion spot).

Dolny Kubin 0-1 (A): Yet another insufferable match. Only one shot on target. That flew right in, too due to a goalkeeping error. This match more or less dented or faint promotion hopes.

Puchov 1-2 (H): Fan day at the last home tie of the season, attendance was 1000+ \o/. Puchov hit us twice on the counter and Guba only got one back very late in the game.

Trencin 2-1 (A): We might be out of the promotion race, but we can f*** up other teams' bids. It was 1-1 after two own goals as we hit them on the break, Bajan crossed and Alusik tapped it in for the win in the 87th minute. Trencin was buried promotion-wise.

Senec 0-1 (A): We could have ended up 3rd, 4th and 5th, we needed a win for 3rd and a draw for 4th. Senec won with a screamer, despite us getting the better of play. Missed a load of chances.

That summed up the season, which was much better as I originally thought - especially after the rubbish start. 5th place is nice, but we need time to build on this. It's probably 2 years until my young players really come through.

The board offered me (quite late in the season) a one-year contract, I refused and asked for two years. They granted the wish and were delighted.

TABLE
SQUAD STATS
SEASON PROGRESS CHART
TRENCIN F***IN' UP THEIR SEASON

Next season I'd like to step forward and start playing some less Neanderthal tactics. Fool me, the players probably won't understand...

U19 team won the league with ease, which is nice.

Top performers:
Martin Alusik - the captain led the troops from the front, 14 goals, 4 assists.
Marek Helcz - 10 goals, 4 assists and a very serious injury. He'll only be back in September.
Marian Bajan - the young left winger pushed Kovac to the bench and had a great season, 4 goals, 14 assists.
Peter Kitas - rock in the defense, best average (7.15), 5 goals. Played 35 matches, which is the most in the team.

The best of the U19s – Guba (AM C/ST), Majoros (DLC), Pavlik (MLC), Bubenko (ST), Baran (ST), Babic (DL) will be promoted to regular first squad members next year.

Ass. man Tomovcik is retiring, Sudimak (backup goalie), Rusnak (backup striker), Kovac (left winger) and Csolle (backup centre-back) won't be offered new contracts. A goalkeeper and a right/left winger is already coming, we should get by with this squad if we add a creative midfielder.

[emgergo]

SEASON 2012-13

Good news: our new sponsorship deal is the triple sum of the previous. The board was pleased to announce the new sponsor and cut my wage budget from 2.5K to 1.5K. Of course I was already 0.5K over the budget without signings.

Listen boss. We make profit. We did well on the field. I was well below the wage budget last season. I was a good boy and everything. I've even promised you a nice mid-table place.



Nnnnnnggh.

Or maybe just please relay the pitch, as it looks like a battleground after a heavy cavalry charge.



Nnnnnnngh. It's nice to see the ambition of the board.

TRANSFERS

New guy no. 1:Lolita. Ergh, no. Loliga. (AM/M C) He's never gonna play in Lo Liga...

New guy no. 2: Maciaszek (M RL/AM R) Polish drinking buddy for the lads.

New guy no. 3: Vaculciak (WB/M RL) He's loyal and confrontational. Nice combination, this one.

Team report time:


By emgergo at 2012-02-24

[emgergo]

Rd. 1: Ruzomberok B (A) 1-1: We looked like losing an even match, but Guba's header bounced in from a defender in the 89th minute, so we got what we deserved.

Rd. 2: Rimavska Sobota (H) 1-1: Two goals late in the first half, newcomer Vaculciak getting his first for the club. Hit the woodwork late and had a major chance in the 92nd minute which Helcz missed.

Rd. 3: Zilina B (A) 0-2: Majoros had a torrid time, the 17 year old defender conceded a penalty and scored an own goal, while we were impotent on the attack.

Rd. 4: Petrzalka (H) 1-1: Once-champions Petrzalka are making their way back from the hell of the third tier. We were a man up for 60 minutes, but fell behind thanks to a counter. Sovab equalised after a corner and we missed a hist of chances, Guba hitting the bar with a header in the 94th minute summed up our luck. Or rather the lack of it.

Rd. 5: Senec (H) 1-2: Fan day, with a disappointing result. Alusik scored his first of the year but in the last 20 minutes they turned it around with a free kick and a counter. Needless to say before their winning goal we hit the post...

Rd. 6: Lucenec (A) 0-1: We battled bravely against the league leaders and right-back Zembera had an excellent game - but we lost. This was the first match in which we didn't hit the post or the bar - the hammering the woodwork vs. goal ratio was 7:4 at that point

Rd. 7: Puchov (H) 2-0: Finally! We absolutely deserved this win, young midfielder Pavlik scored his first senior goal, another teen, Majoros made it 2-0 and it could have been four or five.

I'd really appreciate if next season we didn't start the league with a 6+ winless run...

[deltablue]

Hope thats the start of a turnaround.

[emgergo]

Yup, it was, fortunately.

Rd. 8: Trencin (A) 2-0: An important game, as they were tied on points with us. Two set pieces, two goals for us from Vaculciak and Kitas, and we defended bravely afterwards.

Rd. 9: Presov (H) 4-2: Tatran Presov has by far the best squad in the league, but they had a post-relegation gloom syndrome, morale being rock bottom and losing matches they should have won. Including this one: Krzysztof Maciaszek put us in the lead early, but it was cancelled out within two minutes. Vaculciak scored the second, but we conceded the equaliser right before half time. At this point we were already a man up and used the man advantage in the second half, as Alusik scored the third before Guba sealing the match with a brilliant free-kick. Great win!

Cup 1st rd: Presov (H) 1-1 aet, 2-4 on penalties. One of the often-seen things in FM11 when you face a club in the cup right after you played them in the league (is it a confirmed bug, or just weird fixture-making?) Tatran got their revenge, but only with some help as Marcel Gavala got two yellow cards in the 15th-16th minute. Despite being a man down we took the game to them and took the lead by an Alusik-goal in extra time, but they came back in the 118th minute. Two youngsters, Pavlik and Guba missed in the shootout.

Rd. 10: Dubnica (A) 1-1: We were dead tired, so I'll take this draw, Vaculciak equalised two minutes after they took the lead in the 37th minute.

Rd. 11: Dolny Kubin (H) 3-2: The team ran wild in the first half, Maciaszek scored a brace, Alusik added a third and we could have been six up easily. The opposition turned up in the next 45 minutes but couldn't equalise.

Rd. 12: Ruzomberok B (H) 2-2: Not content with this draw, we were terribly defending their set pieces - they scored from two but could have scored from four or five. Maciaszek and Gavala scored our goals.

Rd. 13: Rimavska Sobota (A) 0-0: Despite the scoreline one of the best and most enjoyable matches: well-balanced teams, good and tough match and two excellent goalies. And a just draw.

Rd. 14: Zilina B 4-0 (H): A blowout, Maciaszek, Loliga, Guba and Alusik scored. Zilina B forgot to turn up for this.

Rd. 15: Petrzalka 1-3 (A): Our 7-game unbeaten streak comes to an end thanks to some blood-boiling refereeing. After one-one (our goal scored by Guba) the ref gifted them a penalty and they hit us on the counter once. Ref got a 3, I mouthed off to the press, FA was silent but it didn't really help us.

Rd. 16: Senec 1-0 (A): Bouncing back nicely: our defense played out of their skins and Guba scored from distance to give us a somewhat lucky win.

Rd. 17: Lucenec 3-2 (H): After the 3rd (Petrzalka) and the 2nd (Senec), time to face runaway league leaders Lucenec. They seemed to run away with the win as well, scoring in the first and thirteenth minute, but in the second half we threw everything at them. Guba scored two minutes into the second half, centre-back Sovab equalised on 57 minutes after a corner, and young centre-back Majoros headed home the winner seventeen minutes from time, when we were already a man up. Fans were ecstatic afterwards, and for a good reason.

Rd. 18: Puchov 0-1 (A): A nothing match was heading for a goalless draw but they scored from a corner in the stoppage time. Gutted.

Rd. 19: Trencin 4-0 (H): It took only an hour to go four up, with goals from Zrubec, Alusik and Maciaszek plus an own goal. Nice to see once some good shooting ratio: we were outshot 9:12 but won easily.

Rd. 20: Presov 1-2 (A): We seem to play really well against Presov, but they play a quite stupid 4-2-4, to be honest. Playing well was not enough for a point this time though, as we conceded from a corner and a counter, Alusik gave us hope but we wasted a ton of chances afterwards.

Rd. 21: Dubnica 1-1 (H): Guba scored the opener with a magnificient chip from distance, but he wasted two good openings and we were punished in the 93th minute, which hurt.

WINTER TABLE

We're sitting fourth, 16 points afar from danger and 17 off league leaders Lucenec, so the spring is dead rubber as a whole. The mid-table is absolutely crowded, we're on 31 points and 9th Dubnica have 28! The board offered me to change expectations, so I told them a mid-table finish and to my relief I'm within wage budget yet again. This will be eased further when at the end of season Loliga will leave us: the Burkinabe midfielder earns the triple as the next best earner and does f*** nothing for it. Oh, and demands the double of the current wage for a contract extension.

Hell freezes over sooner than he'll get one.

First-tier teams are sniffing around Pavlik, offering about 26K + 50% to take him. Looking at the financial situation, he's most welcome to go, but he's fiercely loyal. And I'm skint

[emgergo]

You can't win anything with kids, but no-one says you should not sign them. Now our first squad has seven U20 kids, not mentioning four players in the U19s who have already seen senior action.

Senior action...?

Well, anyway, we might have a good team in five seasons

Meet the newcomers:

Cernak (M RLC)
Milan (D RLC)
Koleno (M R)

The fans are excited about Milan and Koleno. Probably they're gearing up for a Milan (197 cms/95 kgs) v. Guba (200 cms/98 kgs and growing) heavyweight bout.

You'll see when midgets will win over 50% of the air duels against them, I bet.

[deltablue]

Thats my kind of policy

[emgergo]

We have a saying "unpredictable like April" - well, that's what we are. Probably that's just what you get for regularly fielding 4-5 U20 players.

Dolny Kubin (A) 1-0: Loliga's beautiful chip secured us three points in the spring opener.

Ruzomberok B (A) 1-3: They "back-played" three key members of their A team. So they ran us into the ground. Marian Bajan scored the consolation goal, but we were never contesting.

Rimavska Sobota (H) 2-3: We built up a 2-goal lead with a goal from Alusik and an own goal, just to throw it away spectacularly after the break.

Zilina B (A) 1-2: I can't stand these B teams. Maciaszek scored a temporary equaliser, but we found no answer to their second goal.

Petrzalka (H) 3-2: Time to stop the slump: we came back from 0-1 and 1-2 and turned it around in the last 12 minutes. Guba, Loliga and Maciaszek scored - these were the only three shots on target from us!

Senec (H) 0-0: strong team after strong team: Majoros was sent off in the 18th minute, so I'm content with the draw against one of the league's better teams.

Lucenec (A) 2-2: a very good draw against the league leaders. All goals came in the very good first half, Guba and Vaculciak scored for us. The second half was rubbish, the draw was good for us, and Lucenec secured the title with it, so they were not pressing forward.

Puchov (H) 2-1: our wingers came to the rescue as the strikers took their holiday: Maciaszek and Vaculciak secured our win.

Trencin (A) 0-2: It was very bad by any standard. Absolutely disgraceful performance, the team looked like they are not giving a f*** about the match. Or they bet on Trencin...

Presov (H) 2-1: The team got some kicking in the rear after that match, and answered with a much-improved performance. Kitas and Gavala scored against the league's strongest squad (not necessarily the strongest team, as Lucenec smashed the opposition)

Dubnica (A) 1-1: A nothing draw. We got our first penalty of the season, Zrubec scored it for an equaliser. The draw meant that if we win our last match, we'd either be 4th or 5th.

Dolny Kubin (H) 1-0: My back line was really up for this, they could even chalked up the winning goal (courtesy of Kitas). Petrzalka lost, so we took them over for the 4th place. That's quite good after the awful start - we have to try and not make it three in a row with some dreadful early season form...





Club's finances are OK. Here's hoping the board won't cut the wage budget yet again... Some teams are sniffing around my U21 national team members (Guba, Majoros, Pavlik), but so far I only recieved offers for Pavlik, who didn't want to go.

[emgergo]

SLAVOJ TREBISOV, 2013-14, Slovakian 2. Liga

The first major event of the summer was that 6 of my first squad members got (hopefully) through their high school graduation.

This time the board did not cut my wage budget and Loliga also left (350 euros/week, another relief). Sovab and Ciz were on the decline, so they followed and I purged the U19 of most of the useless hangers-on. Backup full-back Hoffmann left on a Bosman (it rhymes quite well, doesn't it?), while Mihalovce offered 24K+50% for my keeper, Vladimir Kostolansky.

For 24K they can have anything.

Kosice offered 18K+40% for my backup right-winger Koleno. No brainer, that, he's off to the regional centre.

Kostolansky's departure left us with a huge hole in the goal, so after some border scouting one of my men reported on a Hungarian guy named Gazsi. He looked borderline first-tier material, so I coughed up the 7K compensations to Tata. He left one of the nicest small Hungarian towns for a run-down Slovakian small town.

Things must be going badly in Hungary, I guess...

The rest of the incomers were Bosmans, and I was looking for players who already had some first league experience thus can improve the squad. No young prospects signed this transfer window - I still have about 10 of them waiting to be built in the team!



THE SQUAD

Name	Position	Nat	Height	Weight	Age	Value	Description
Marian Fedor	GK	SVK	184 cm	86 kg	33	€1K	Decent backup, no more
Ferenc Gazsi	GK	HUN	188 cm	85 kg	22	€7K	Can be a long-term solution, first he should learn the language, though
Roman Zembera	D (R)	SVK	176 cm	69 kg	25	€2.5K	Has to fight for his place with the returning Bartos
Richard Bartos	D (R)	SVK	191 cm	89 kg	21	€2.5K	Probably just a shade better than Zembera, Czech 1st league football improved him
Marek Babic	D (RL)	SVK	179 cm	74 kg	18	€10K	Most probably our left back for a long time, 18 and has a starting spot
Ivan Milan	D (RLC)	SVK	197 cm	95 kg	18	€26K	Young, strong, can play across the back line, but his potential is better so far than his performance
Ladislav Majoros	D (LC)	SVK	182 cm	79 kg	18	€18K	The U19 international centre-back is seduced by Presov and Ruzomberok – I want to keep him, though
Jaroslav Capko	D (LC), DM, M (LC)	SVK	179 cm	78 kg	32	€1K	He's on the decline, so he's relegated from the starting 11 – and fights for a new contract
Jozef Lukac	D (C)	SVK	184 cm	84 kg	25	€4K	Latecomer, as I was less than impressed by our defending in pre-season. Has 1st league experience.
Peter Kitas	D (C), DM, M (C)	SVK	188 cm	84 kg	27	€18K	One of the cornerstones of the team, he has a good chance for breaking the club's appearance record
Jan Vaculciak	WB/M (RL)	SVK	181 cm	79 kg	30	€2.5K	No signs of decline, one of the leading (defensive) wingers of the league
Ivan Cernak	M (RLC)	SVK	172 cm	70 kg	19	€12K	Still waiting for him to show anything more than average...
Krzysztof Maciaszek	M (RL), AM (R)	POL	179 cm	70 kg	25	€1K	Last season he was my personal POY, I hope he can continue. Quick and very dangerous.
Jozef Pavlik	M (LC)	SVK	180 cm	81 kg	18	€12K	Another U19 international, whose performance is wildly swinging – he's awful in every fourth match...
Ivan Zrubec	M (C)	SVK	169 cm	69 kg	29	€5K	The engine of the midfield, who would be a very good midfielder with a touch of creativity and intelligence. Has neither, balances it with his quickness.
Tomas Lenarth	M (C)	SVK	175 cm	65 kg	23	€4K	Another newcomer, he's in for a rotation spot.
Miroslav Poliacek	M/AM (LC), ST	SVK	183 cm	79 kg	30	€1.5K	Of course his natural position is one that we don't play with (AMC), but at least he has flair and creativity – both of which we lacked.
Marian Bajan	M/AM (L)	SVK	187 cm	84 kg	21	€2K	He's had one great season and one awful, destroyed by injuries. If he has a bad season again, he'll be offloaded
Vladimir Guba	AM (C), ST	SVK	200 cm	98 kg	18	€18K	Our monster is steadily improving and playing for the Slovakian U21s. I rejected 4-5 offers as I want to keep him at the club by all costs.
Marek Helcz	ST	SVK	179 cm	76 kg	30	€2K	The only reason he's staying is that I don't want to pay compensation. Since his serious injury he lost his confidence and scoring touch.
Karol Pavelka	ST	SVK	195 cm	93 kg	28	€4.5K	Pairing up with Guba our strikeforce averages 197.5 cms and 95.5 kgs now Pavelka's almost 50 top tier appearances is surely an asset
Martin Alusik	ST	SVK	189 cm	88 kg	32	€1K	Our captain is on the decline, but he's content with a substitute role
Marcel Gavala	ST	SVK	178 cm	76 kg	26	€2.5K	He's been with us for 2.5 years and was never convincing, despite his good stats – he'll cut it this year or I'll cut him
Robert Nagy	ST	SVK	177 cm	75 kg	20	-	Best of the newgens of the year – he's not that great but too old to be played in the U19s

[emgergo]

SEASON EXPECTATIONS
Board, fans: mid-table
Me: mid-table, preferrably 6th or better
Special expectation: no 5+ matches winless run at the start of the season, unlike the last two years...

[deltablue]

Good squad breakdown.

[emgergo]

Pre-season: mixed bag of results. Mixed up in defense, which was more worrying, so I was not too upset when our first league game was postponed due to international call-ups.

Rd. 2: Senec (H) 3-0: Not only we don't start with a loss, but winning the first game easily? Alusik put us on our way in the fifth minute, Zrubec doubled it from a penalty near the halfway point of the second half, and Pavelka got his first for the club with a nice header.

Rd. 1: Dubnica (A) 3-2: The postponed match brought some great entertainment, like our goalkeeper was entertained by two silly own goals... We did everything to self-destruct, but Vaculciak equalised to 2-2 9 minutes from time, and Guba got the winner in the 90th when Dubnica were pouring forward. Our first goal was scored by Gavala with a looping header back to the goal!

Rd. 3: Duslo Sala (A) 1-5: WTF, really We were up in the 2nd minute by a Maciaszek goal, but they turned it around and then Kitas got sent off for a vicious foul. Then they tore us into small bits and pieces.

Rd. 4: Rimavska Sobota (H) 0-1: Our play was a whole lot better but that amounted to 0 points, as they got the winner with a stunning 38-metre drive.

Rd. 5: Nove Mesto (A) 1-0: We battled hard against the newly promoted team, and Pavelka got the winner from a counter. We were somewhat lucky to escape with a win.

Rd. 6: Petrzalka (H) 2-0: Our air dominance paid dividents, as Pavelka and Lukac headed home the goals. Zrubec missed a penalty in the sixth minute but it didn't come back to haunt us.

Rd. 7: Presov (H) 2-1: I love playing against their 4-2-4, as it's a bit brainless and leaves a lot of space to clever attacking. Our midfield got the goals this time, Zrubec and Vaculciak scored, while Drogba's cousin temporarily equalised. Presov are on the decline, as they failed to instantly get back in the Corgon Liga, and their squad was picked apart.

Rd. 8: Zlate Moravce (A) 1-0: Guba scored an early goal, then we held on till half-time and sealed the game afterwards, as one of their defenders was sent off in the 47th.

Rd. 9: Dolny Kubin (H) 0-0: They're becoming something like a bogey team, I hate to play against their gritty counter-attacking tactic. Could have snatched the win but Zrubec's long distance effort came back off the post in the 93rd minute.

Slovakian Cup, Rd. 1: Kremnicka (H) 6-1: No contest, even with a B team. Alusik scored a brace, Milan, Cernak, Maciaszek and an own goal completed the rout.

Rd. 10: Puchov (A) 1-0: I still don't know how we won this one, as the look of play was dreadful. They missed about 4-5 golden chances while Alusik scored a poacher's effort. Damn lucky. This win put us top on goal difference!

Rd. 11: Trencin (H) 4-4: This put us down to second... We really, really should have won this as we led 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3 but threw it away. Defending was all over the place... The positives: Guba had a brilliant match (a brace, an assist), Pavelka (a fine header) and Zrubec (a penalty) rounded out the score.

Rd. 12: Dubnica (H) 2-0: The defenders seemed to get the message after the last match and reacted with a much-improved performance, while Vaculciak dished out two assists to Poliacek (first goal for the club) and Guba. By the way the giant striker partnership of Guba and Pavelka is working very well, they are destroying defences in the air - 9 goals and 3 assists so far combined.

The table looks interesting - maybe this is the chance we waited for? 7 points in front of the followers - leaders Rimavska Sobota were only tipped midtable before the season, just like us. The first 4 were tipped 7th, 9th, 11th and 12th before the season started.

So much for pundits.

[emgergo]

It's developing into a quite interesting race...

Rd. 13.: Senec (A) 0-1: One thing is going a goal down in the 8th minute, another is spending 82 minutes scratching our heads (and balls) devoid of any goalscoring ideas. Rubbish.

Rd. 14: Duslo Sala (H) 2-1: Veteran captain Alusik came to the rescue, as we were clueless up front again: I subbed him in in the 78th minute and he scored twice in seven minutes to seal the win!

Rd. 15: Rimavska Sobota (A) 2-1: 900 fans turned up in a might-be crucial tie: we shocked the home crowd with an early Alusik goal, and though they equalised after the break, Vaculciak scored the second with a sharp shot off the post.

Rd. 16: Petrzalka (A) 0-1: Backlash time: they scored from their only shot on target, and we were never really threatening to cancel the lead.

Rd. 17: Nove Mesto (H) 2-0: Young left-back Babic got himself sent off with a handball + arguing combination in the 25th minute (how stupid that kid is, really ). We controlled the match, however, but it took 73 minutes to get the lead when Kitas headed in a corner, Guba added the second.

Cup Rd. 3 (our first match was in the second round, I just realised): Vranov (H) 4-1: An easy draw was followed by an easy win, Gavala scored a brace, Bajan and Nagy (first goal for the club) completed the rout.

Rd. 18: Presov (A) 1-1: Kitas was the centre figure of the match, as he scored on both ends of the pitch, following his own goal with a nice header. Pavelka received a red in the 64th, so later all we could do was hanging on to the draw.

Rd. 19: Zlate Moravce (H) 2-4: In 30 minutes we scored twice (Gavala, Guba), missed 3-4 clear opportunities and were cruising. Or so I thought. They got one back before half time, equalised in the second half in minutes, then my keeper gifted them a goal and we finished self-destruction with the defensive line messing up the offside trap. I was furious - I rarely say "angry" post-match, but we spectacularly committed suicide in this match.

Rd. 20: Dolny Kubin (A) 2-2: Every noteworthy thing happened in the last 17 minutes: Gavala showed his poaching skills to get us one up but they turned around, so Pavelka could only rescue a point (and got rid of his 10 hour goalless streak)

Rd. 21: Puchov (H) 4-0: A three-match winless streak is not ideal if you're going for the title, so we had to do something: thrashing Puchov was a good solution to the problem. Pavelka opened the scoring from a penalty, Gavala, Guba and Pavlik added three others, the last one being our nicest goal of the season - the sophisticated passing, which led to it was surely a mistake. That win put us top, so the top of the winter table looked like:

1. Trebisov 40 pts, 2. Rimavska Sobota 39, 3. Trencin 39, 4. Duslo Sala 35, 5. Senec 35

Cup, Rd. 4: Kosice (A) 0-2: I fielded a full side, which had an OK performance, but to be honest they killed us off with two early goals.

+++

WINTER BREAK

The board offered me a modest wage budget increase and 4K transfer budget. One goner (Helcz was released, he clearly couldn't cut it), while an agent knocked on my door and offered a young lad from Ivory Coast. After trialling it was clear that he can single-handedly destroy any midfield in this division Meet Bakari:



His clearly top tier material and for 5 K (+50%) was a steal (I hope!). We cruised through the off-season with six wins.

+++

SPRING SEASON: only 11 matches left, so every one could be crucial.

Trencin (A) 0-0: A very important clash for a spring starter. We came away with a draw thanks to an inspired performance by goalkeeper Gazsi, who pulled off a string of amazing saves in the last 10 minutes, as Trencin were blazing from all guns. Gazsi was more average than good in the autumn, but I'm not complaining if he steps up to big games like this! Rimavska Sobota reclaimed the top spot.

Dubnica (A) 1-0: A must-win match against the dead last. We were much better throughout the match but we needed a set piece (and a Pavelka header) to break through. Gazsi saved us the win with a huge save in stoppage time, he's averaging 7.6 in the two spring matches so far!

[Jpr]

Good progress, good luck on promotion to the top tier!!

[deltablue]

Bakari rules.

[emgergo]

Bakari rules.

He does and he has dead ball skills, which we miss (especially at corners). I'm sure I can't hold onto him for longer than 1.5 years, but he looks like a money generator.

[deltablue]

He does and he has dead ball skills, which we miss (especially at corners). I'm sure I can't hold onto him for longer than 1.5 years, but he looks like a money generator.

That's so often the case in smaller Eastern (and Central) European leagues, you can get a great supply of excellent Africans, often will lose them after a bit but for good money.

[emgergo]

That's so often the case in smaller Eastern (and Central) European leagues, you can get a great supply of excellent Africans, often will lose them after a bit but for good money.

IRL it's not different either, from the Hungarian league there were 5-6 examples when cheaply bought foreigners (mostly Africans, but Serbs and Baltic guys, too) basically kept clubs above water. I've spoken to a club director lately (I'm a sports news editor) and asked about a new African forward, he was like "we have no clue about him but he's coming on a free"

[emgergo]

Rd. 24: Senec (H) 2-0: Not a pretty win, but I'll always take these. Guba scored just before half time, then in the second half Vaculciak headed home a cross from something like 30 cms.
Rival watch: Rimavska Sobota and Trencin both drew 2-2, so we're in the lead again.

Rd. 25: Duslo Sala (A) 1-0: We had complete control over the match but it took a good long shot by Pavelka to get us the lead, which was never threatened later.
Rival watch: Rimavska Sobota and Trencin both messed up at home, losing to Petrzalka and Puchov. This means we go to the top match against Rim. Sobota with a 4-point advantage

Rd. 26: Rimavska Sobota (H) 3-0: The big one. We were in a comfortable position with the 4-point lead, and added 3 more to this with a surprising ease. Six yellow cards in the first half indicated that both teams knew the high stakes as challenges were flying from everywhere. We had the better openings but they hit the bar with a long shot. After the break they forgot to turn up: after some intelligent play by Guba left Alusik (who has just come in) with an open net tap-in in the 58th minute. Ten minutes later Bakari surprised everyone at a free kick, instead of rifling it in he passed to the left to Poliacek who scored from a tight angle. Cards were served in all colours (Bartos saw red after two yellows, leaving us a man down), but it was us adding to the lead as after a corner Kitas scored a rebound. To be honest, Rimavska Sobota were absolutely rubbish in the second half. MOM went to Bakari (8.7) who's averaging more than 6 interceptions in his last games - he's terrorising the midfield.

7 point lead and we're not playing rivals in the remaining seven rounds!

Top of the table: 1. Trebisov 53 pts, 2. Rimavska Sobota 45, 3. Trencin 42, 4. Senec 41, 5. Presov 40. Rimavska Sobota are on a three-game winless streak, Trencin on a six-match winless streak (no wins in the spring) and they play each other.

It's in our hands now.

[deltablue]

Great stuff this month.

[emgergo]

There's nothing more satisfying when the rivals find that big red button and self-destruct

Rd. 27: Nove Mesto (A) 2-1: This one wasn't pretty by any stretch of imagination. Wild tackling all over the place, both teams ended the match with some players at 30-40% fitness... There was not much football to be played, but somehow we won the match: Vaculciak carried us with a brace (a header and a long shot) for the win. We only had 4 shots in total! Gazsi conceded in a league match after 596 minutes.

Rival watch: Trencin won and overtook Rim. Sobota, who lost yet again.

Rd. 28: Petrzalka (H) 2-1: I don't know why our matches look lately like mass fights, this one included 7 yellows and 2 injuries. After knocking on the door all match long we scored the opener in bizarre circumstances: Zrubec's powerful shot was saved by the keeper, it hit the post, come back rebounding to the keeper and rolled into the net. Our relief was so strong that they immediately equalised from a penalty, so it took super-sub Alusik to score his 7th of the year late in the game.

Rival watch: Trencin won, Rim. Sobota drew and are out of it. The lead is 11 points.

Rd. 29: Presov (H) 1-0: A poor match, in which neither of the teams found openings. Jozef Pavlik came up with the bright idea of shooting from long distance, he was rewarded with a goal as his sneaky shot found the bottom left corner in the 42th minute.

Rival watch: Trencin won, Rim. Sobota lost. The lead is 11 points. The title and promotion is mathematically ours if we win the next game.

Rd. 30: Zlate Moravce (A) 4-1: That wasn't looking like a walk in the park, as Zlate Moravce were 4th and on a 3-match winning roll. They couldn't cope with our air force, though: Poliacek, Kitas and Lukac all scored with headers in the first half, while we conceded after a free kick. Zrubec added a fourth with a vicious shot, and we spent the last 25 minutes celebrating. \o/

Rival watch: Trencin and Rim. Sobota drew with each other. After leading the league for nearly all the autumn, Rimavska Sobota fell to pieces with a seven-game winless run.

So that means...

We're up! \o/



But our away support is still rather pathetic:




Kitas runs off to celebrate with our fans but he finds none

[Jpr]

Great work on the promotion! Good luck in the top tier

[emgergo]

Great work on the promotion! Good luck in the top tier

Luck will be needed. I just looked at Lucenec, who walked our league last season - they are already relegated with 5 rounds to go...

[deltablue]

Might get an away fan now.

[emgergo]

Might get an away fan now.

I'm supporting a small (and now half-defunct - there's no senior team ) club, and once we were away at another small club, the attendance was pathetic. It was very funny to watch it in the TV highlights when our players came out and greeted the travelling support - all those six fans who made it there!

[emgergo]

Rd. 31: Dolny Kubin (H) 1-0: Pavelka scored early, breaking his duck, and all we were bothered to do was keeping them away from our goal. Three points is three points, but I'm not sure our play persuaded any fans to travel to away matches!

Rd. 32: Puchov (A) 2-2: ...well, six fans did, and saw a great game. We went up by two with goals from Guba and Kitas, but for 30 minutes in the second half we looked disinterested and paid the price for it.

Rd. 33 (last): Trencin (H) 6-0: Finishing it with a bang, is it called? Pavelka scored a hat-trick within 35 minutes, Guba, Lukac and an own goal added to it - we were tearing bronze medalists Trencin to little pieces.

And what's better, we had a record crowd for the party!



Post-match madness:


Yeah, we're the favourites... oh, we have already won promotion some rounds before? Never mind!

FINAL TABLE

[emgergo]

SUMMARY 2013-2014:

In short: we kicked butt. After the autumn season it looked like we're in a three-horse race with Rimavska Sobota and Trencin, but they started losing points and we went unbeaten through the spring. A very easy promotion in the end, now we'll be up against it!



Reasons we'll stay up:
+ We have a bunch of U21 and U19 international kids who improve from year to year
+ We have the smallest possible pitch with terrible playing surface. That tames every team
+ We already have a player in Bakari who'd be a star in the top tier.
+ Team is gelled and I'm not looking to sign many players to upset this.

Reasons we'll go down:
– Lucenec walked the second league last year, like us. They were no-hopers in the top tier.
– Everyone is bigger, better and has much better facilities
– Our attractiveness is still f*** all - last time a wing back from Dubnica (who were dead last in our division) laughed me off, that hurt a bit...

[emgergo]

Name	Nat	Position	Height	Weight	Apps	Gls	Ast	Av Rat	Comments
Marian Fedor	SVK	GK	184 cm	86 kg	3	0	0	6.73	No future at the club, will leave on a Bosman
Ferenc Gazsi	HUN	GK	188 cm	85 kg	33	0	0	6.81	First half of the season was average, second excellent and he's improving!
Roman Zembera	SVK	D (R)	176 cm	69 kg	12	0	0	6.95	Will leave on a Bosman, decent rotation player, but I'll need better in the Corgon Liga
Richard Bartos	SVK	D (R)	191 cm	89 kg	24	0	0	6.96	Bartos will probably keep his position as a starting right-back one tier up as well
Marek Babic	SVK	D (RL)	179 cm	76 kg	19 (2)	0	1	6.91	The U19 international played OK, improves steadily. He'll see less action next year in the top league
Ivan Milan	SVK	D (RLC)	197 cm	95 kg	8 (5)	1	0	6.85	U21 internatonal, a bit error-prone and not always convincing. I'm thinking about a loan for him.
Ladislav Majoros	SVK	D (LC)	182 cm	81 kg	21 (1)	0	0	6.88	His ratings suffered a bit because he had to cover in left-back, too, otherwise he's top league material. U21 international.
Jaroslav Capko	SVK	D (LC), DM, M (LC)	179 cm	79 kg	11 (13)	0	2	6.87	The vice-captain has not aged well and became a backup – he'll leave on a Bosman after more than 120 games for the club
Jozef Lukac	SVK	D (C)	184 cm	84 kg	25 (1)	3	1	7.05	A good buy, he was solid, scored from corners and will be pushing Majoros for his starting place yet again
Peter Kitas	SVK	D (C), DM, M (C)	188 cm	84 kg	28 (1)	5	2	7.36	The 3rd captain is excellent: 4th season in a row with an average over 7.00, 116 matches, 15 goals so far for the club. Future captain, for me he was the POY this season.
Jan Vaculciak	SVK	WB/M (RL)	181 cm	79 kg	30 (2)	6	12	7.14	Another excellent man, he won the goals+assists race in the team. He's aging but not much, so I hope for 1-2 good seasons (maybe 3) from him.
Kevin Bakari	CIV	DM, M (C)	182 cm	81 kg	12	0	9	7.43	Wow. He'll be snatched sooner or later, but he transformed a team which is yet to lose a match in which he was involved! Filters everything in midfield, only bacteria may pass him. Gives shitloads of assists, too.
Ivan Cernak	SVK	M (RLC)	172 cm	70 kg	9 (11)	1	5	6.93	Another U21 international, so far no more than a rotation player. Needs to up his game.
Krzysztof Maciaszek	POL	M (RL), AM (R)	179 cm	70 kg	23 (6)	2	3	6.93	The Polish winger was not as dangerous as last year, but he had more competition for his spot. Good rotation player for both wings.
Marian Bajan	SVK	M (RL), AM (L)	187 cm	85 kg	4 (6)	1	2	7.13	Don't be fooled by the ratings, he's at the most second tier material, with an awful injury record. He's off after the season
Jozef Pavlik	SVK	M (LC)	181 cm	82 kg	8 (8)	2	2	6.85	The U21 international midfielder has seen his season cut short by a torn muscle (3-4 months and counting). I hope he'll recover well, as he's a big asset. The positive aspect of the injury: the teams sniffing around him are finally gone.
Ivan Zrubec	SVK	M (C)	169 cm	69 kg	26 (5)	4	3	6.90	Solid as ever, but I'm not sure he's a good enough starting midfielder for the top league.
Tomas Lenarth	SVK	M (C)	175 cm	65 kg	6 (6)	0	3	7.14	He came as a backup and did well, but he's not improving. A candidate for loan/transfer.
Miroslav Poliacek	SVK	M/AM (LC)	183 cm	79 kg	23 (3)	3	2	6.95	He has top tier experience and had good matches, but overall was a little underwhelming. Anyway, his natural position is AMC and we don't play with one – but that might change as we'll face stronger teams.
Vladimir Guba	SVK	AM (C), ST	200 cm	99 kg	20 (10)	11	3	7.15	2 metres, nearly 100 kgs, growing and improving: he's a starter in the U21 national team and will be a fine player for us for a (hopefully) long time. At the age of 19 he's already scored 21 times for the club.
Karol Pavelka	SVK	ST	195 cm	94 kg	30 (1)	12	5	6.91	Attribute-wise he's by far my best striker but he's prone to wander around the pitch being generally disinterested. Also prone to scoring ducks. Top goalscorer though, he snatched the title in the last match with a hat-trick from Guba.
Martin Alusik	SVK	ST	189 cm	88 kg	8 (14)	9	4	7.19	The captain saw less action than ever as he's over 32, but has been instrumental in quite a lot of matches with his goals from the bench. I'd love to keep him, but to be frank, he can be useful for a mid-table team in the second tier – and no use in the top tier. So he's off on a Bosman
Marcel Gavala	SVK	ST	178 cm	76 kg	12 (7)	6	3	7.08	I'm still not convinced, but he gave enough for a contract extension. Will be 3rd or 4th choice though.
Robert Nagy	SVK	ST	177 cm	75 kg	0 (2)	1	0	7.20	Useless for us, might be useful in the third division, so he's off on a free.

[deltablue]

I wouldn't worry too much about your chances.

[emgergo]

SEASON 2014-15

Slovakian 1. Corgon Liga

So we're up in the big guys' league...

...and we have BLING!



That sorts our finances for something like the next century. Especially if we stay up!

Not that anyone gives us any chance to do that.

MONEY TO BURN!



We use this to give full-time contracts as all the guys are sick and tired of going to the local power plant.

[emgergo]

There's only one relegation place, and my intention is to leave it to Mihalovce (who are tipped 12th, we're 11th) or any other (un-)willing team.

Last time I saw our reputation, it was somewhere down in the gutter. We almost managed to sign a D RL who we needed very much. From Dubnica.

They just got relegated to the third tier, it tells you something about how attractive my club is.

So we gathered money-hungry mercenaries. I'd rather have collected money-hungry Slovakian mercenaries, but a very good left-sided utility player asked for something of an outrageous sum. So cheaper alternatives were shipped in.

Vasilj (M/AM L): should be first-choice left winger



Urban (GK) can be good for the future, and a decent backup for now.



Sharpar (DM/MC) will be needed alongside Bakari, as I plan to use two defensive-minded central midfielders.



Mrevlje (M/AM RC) was a pre-arranged transfer, I don't know how he'll cope with the top league.

[emgergo]

The big signing is Maycon (AM L/ST), and he excelled in pre-season, too. Not that high attributes, but he seems to thrive in the deep-lying attacking duty forward position.



Chuchman (DC) is clearly Corgon Liga level, he'll compete with captain Kitas and Lukac for the starting spot.



Chech teen Böhm (AM/FC) is for the future. He has talent for sure (great flair, good long shots, work rate, off the ball)

[emgergo]

AUGUST

After an immaculate pre-season (8/8 wins) things looked like too rosy, so we lost Maycon with an injury for the first three matches.

Trnava (A) 1-1: For our first ever top flight game we were up against it, as they had much more quality and they showed it with a dominating midfield display. Trnava went one up late in the first half and we never looked getting back into it, until Croatian winger Vasilj came in in the 76th minute and scored with his second touch a minute later. We almost snatched it in the end from a counter, but I won't complain as we were outshot 16 to 4!

Mihalovce (H) 4-1: A crucial home tie against the only supposedly weaker team. Our stadium was near full and Mihalovce's players enjoyed our hospitality as well as the truly tiny and terrible pitch... The team was rampant: Guba scored in the 4th minute, Lukac added a second after a corner and Pavelka scored a brace, the second coming after a brilliant counter. They clawed one back just before half-time but they were dead, buried and gone by then. We could have added to the four (especially as they got a defender sent off) but were content with a very easy win.

Zilina (A) 1-0: Our win meant 11x money for those who bet on us Title holders Zilina poured forward all game and all we could do was hanging on to the goalless draw, but luckily they were not patient enough to make clear chances and we took our only chance late in the game: after a corner Guba sent a sharp header right in front of the goal and Pavelka headed it home from short distance. The pros of having two giant strikers Amazing win...

...especially that we were outshot 17 to 4!

Flop side: Bakari got injured and is out for 3 weeks.

Senica (H) 0-1: Well, it was time our luck turned, as we lost a very even game. Both teams were shooting like the spaghetti western movie heroes (17 to 16), there won't be any tales told about the quality of finishing. Their goal was beautiful, however.

Kosice (H) 2-1: An almost packed stadium waited for our geographically closest top league rivals. They missed golden opportunities in the opening minutes of both halves and we punished them for it. In the middle of the second half centre-back Sharpar sent in a sharp ball from the near post and their defender deflected it in for an own goal, ten minutes later our captain Kitas headed the second in after a free-kick. They got one back something like ten minutes from time.

The conclusion of the month is that we can't play anything like quality football but it doesn't matter as we have the tallest squad and it shows 6 of our 8 goals were headers and/or set-pieces!

Standings: 1. Senica 13 pts, 2. Nitra 12, 3. Trebisov 10, 4. Slovan Bratislava 10... 12. (relegation) Moldava 1.

[deltablue]

Was about to say, should do well with those players.

[emgergo]

Was about to say, should do well with those players.

You should tell that to my players as well

OCTOBER

Ruzomberok (A) 0-1: I dread playing teams with both strikers on a barren run - they always seem to break their scoring duck. One of them did from a rebound, and we lacked the power to equalise.

Dunajska Streda (H) 0-0: A very unremarkable match, though we hit the post twice and them once, it amounted to two big zeros. Guba stroke the post in the 92nd minute, which was quite unfortunate.

Moldava (A) 0-1: They were struggling at the bottom of the table, so we kindly helped them up... Moldava scored after a nice counter and we missed the few chances coming our way.

Banska Bystrica (H) 0-0: I really hope my strikers score more off the field than on it. They can't hit a cow's arse with a banjo. Pavelka was one on one on the keeper in the 94th minute just to screw it wide.

Slovan Bratislava (A) 0-0: Still no goals, but I take an away draw at historically the strongest Slovakian team any time.

Cup: Bardejov (H) 4-3: Goal galore! Maycon scored his first ever for the club and followed it up by another three. After 4-1 up the team looked disinterested and we almost paid for it.

Nitra (H) 1-0: After 546 minutes (!) finally a league goal and it caused a shock to league leaders Nitra, too! We were outshot (6 to 17), outplayed and outperformed yet Pavelka smashed home a shot late in the game after some fine play by Maycon.

Trnava (H) 1-1: They went one up early and hung onto it despite us dominating. Maycon showed some skill and a precise shot in the 92nd minute to even things up, which was no less what we deserved.

Zilina (H) 1-0: Sold-out game against the title holders and we made it 2 out of 2 against them! They were the more dangerous team, but Maycon scored a superb goal at the death of the first half and we held firm afterwards.

Mihalovce (A) 1-3: We had a chance to keep Mihalovce at the bottom of the table, four points adrift from the 11th. So it was really infuriating how the team threw the game away, allowing Mihalovce to score thrice in 25 minutes. Maycon equalised their first but we couldn't find a way back.

Senica (A) 0-3: That was just crap. Next.

NOVEMBER

Ruzomberok (H) 0-1: We were heading for a 0-0 - which was what the look of the play suggested anyway - but conceded from a long shot, 12 minutes from time.

Cup Stara Lubovna (H) 2-1 aet: A non-league opposition seemed to be ideal for a confidence boost, but they played out of their skins. We went ahead by a wonderful goal from Pavelka, they equalised with a looping header in the 93rd minute. We punished ourselves with extra time - the last thing we needed as we had a host of injured players - and young centre-back Milan scored the winner after a corner. Phew!

By that point we lost our first three choices for central midfielders with injury and the strikers were also decimated.

Kosice (A) 1-1: Kosice are fighting for survival and we are in nowhere near safety, so I was satisfied with the draw, especially that we came back from behind by Gavala's first ever top flight goal.

Dunajska Streda (A) 0-1: A performance I don't want to see again. Awful. We were battered throughout the match, it could have been 4 or 5.

Moldava (H) 1-1: Moldava "took" the last spot from Mihalovce and this was a must-win for us. Slovenian midfielder Ziga Mrevlje put us in the lead 5 minutes on, then we missed several chances and Majoros had the absolutely bright idea of a two-footed challenge 20 metres from Moldava's goal... He saw red, and we immediately conceded after the break because of a bad mistake by Maycon. We just should not throw away points like these.

Banska Bystrica (A) 0-2: Did I say I don't want to see again something like the performance against Dun. Streda? Well I saw it yet again. We lost by 2, should've lost by 4.

DECEMBER

Slovan Bratislava (H) 2-1: Given our dreadful form I was not too positive about this match and as Slovan went in the lead, I lost further confidence. Then Maycon scored from a counter and we fought hard for a point. We were rewarded with three, as Pavlik - who missed a similar chance just moments ago - beat the keeper with a subtle finish in the 92nd minute. We somehow held onto it in the next four minutes, celebrating a win and the end of our winless run in the last league match of the autumn.

Cup Trnava (A) 2-0: Away at one of the best teams of the country - to be honest I couldn't really care about this match and put out a bit of an experimental side, which was easily beaten.

So we're out of the cup (not really bothered) and 8th in the league, which is decent. Our total lack of creativity is alerting, probably that causes the problems of the strikers, too. There are only 12 rounds to go and we're 12 points clear in front of Moldava in the only relegation place. That should be safe enough. So far 35 points were always enough to stay up, so we probably need at least 10 more - which can be achieved as we host 3 of the 4 teams below us. We badly need a new creative midfielder, a healthy Bakari (a rare sight!), an in-form striker (pleeeeease, guys) and actually turning up for the away games, as our record there is awful.

[emgergo]

For Christmas I suggested the board that they should finally relay the pitch, as it is not far in quality from a first World War no man's land.

They told me basically to sod off.

I asked for improving youth & training facilities.

Same answer.

I have the feeling that the board wants to stockpile the money, as long as we're in the Corgon Liga

[emgergo]

WINTER TRANSFERS

I received an offer for 4th choice young centre-back, Ivan Milan from Zilina. 100 K . With a 50% sell-on tag they're free to take him at the end of the season.

On the arrivals' side, meet the new playmaker.

[deltablue]

Boards eh, can't live with them...

[emgergo]

BTW we have Zorba the Greek in the league

[deltablue]

I had Attila the Hun once. Well, Hungarian, but a headline writers dream he was.

[emgergo]

Funnily enough we, Hungarians do not have very direct ties with Huns, but probably the Western chronicle writers were unable to distinguish between horsemen who come from the east, rob and kill everything, then leave in a flash

Atilla's power centre and supposed grave was here, though.

[deltablue]

Yes, you're Magyars I believe.

[emgergo]

Yes, you're Magyars I believe.

Yup, and in the Turkish and southern Slavic languages the etymology is right (Macaristan, etc.).

But anyway, we kind of "take" the Huns, I've seen some weeks ago an "Attila - European Tour" T-shirt (battle dates on the back) which was well funny

[Tactic Master]

Looks like a difficult league right there, but I'm sure with a few more signings, you can push for a top half finish. The playmaker looks okay too.

[emgergo]

Looks like a difficult league right there, but I'm sure with a few more signings, you can push for a top half finish. The playmaker looks okay too.

First I'd like to progress slowly, as it gives more chance to develop my youth internationals (Majoros, Pavlik, Babic, Guba, Cernak). Most of them signed full-time contracts just this winter, so we'll see how they develop - I'd really like to build a strong team around them.

[Tactic Master]

Have you got some short term goals then? Over a 4 year course?

[emgergo]

Have you got some short term goals then? Over a 4 year course?

Sure. Survival for now, avoiding second-season slump next season, higher midtable afterwards. The main problem is that we're not yet a pro team (and I can't even request it), so over a championship season we're probably unable to keep up with the big clubs.

[emgergo]

New signing Balaban failed to settle (he switched a Romanian hellhole for a Slovakian one, looking at the towns he's played in) and asked for a leave of abscence. Given.

It won't help his starting eleven position, though...

[emgergo]

FEBRUARY-MARCH

We opened the spring fixtures with away games at Nitra (5th) and Trnava (2nd), so I expected 0 points. The team met my expectation

Nitra (A) 1-2: This was the better of the two matches - despite going 2 behind from two set pieces, we never really looked out of it. Maciaszek pulled one back with his first goal of the season, and our fate was in the hands (feet?) of Maycon, who missed two clear chances late in the game.

Trnava (A) 0-3: We conceded 3 in the first half, the rest was damage limitation. Next, please!

Mihalovce (H) 4-1: The attacking section turned up for a change, and we duly kicked Mihalovce's behinds yet again. Pavelka and Maycon scored in the first half, and after 2-1 Guba (who notched up his 6th post/bar earlier on) broke his scoring duck and hit a brace, the second coming from a wonderful free-kick.

Senica (H) 2-0: Senica are 6th but in miserable form, so I hoped for back-to-back wins. An unlikely player carried home the points: Poliacek, who is an AM LC but was the starting right winger due to everyone being injured. He was excellent on the right against Mihalovce (2 assists), this time he scored a brace.

[emgergo]

MARCH–MAY

Zilina (A) 0-1: We've beaten the league leaders twice already (while being outshot about 10:40), this time no luck. But we were heavily outshot yet again

Kosice (H) 6-2: Who let the goals out? (who, who?). Balaban returned from his one month homesickness leave and debuted with a goal and three assists. Pavelka grabbed a hat-trick, Maycon and Chuchman added to the rout. By far the best I've seen my team play.

Ruzomberok (A) 1-1: finally an away draw, and we earned it, Maycon getting our goal.

Dunajska Streda (H) 0-0: A stinker of a match, we really should have re-funded the fans for this.

Moldava (A) 2-0: Good God, an away win! OK, it was against the bottom dwellers, but still. Pavelka and Lukac hit the back of the net, and the three points ensured survival mathematically.

Slovan Bratislava (A) 2-2: I got lucky, selecting teen Malian striker Nambala Bakayoko as the lone forward – he scored a beautiful brace to earn us a very creditable point.

Nitra (H) 3-0: Stadium attendance record broke as we sold out each and every place of the 3000. After a dull first half we rolled over them. Goals by Bakayoko, and own goal and Zrubec.

Banska Bystrita (H) 2-0: This one decided about whether we end up 8th, 7th or 6th. In front of a sellout crowd we triumphed with goals by Maycon - maybe our best goal in the season - and Vasilj, who thus scored the very first and the last goal of the season. As Senica lost, we went to the dizzying height of 6th. Great first ever season in the top flight, I guess. Now we just need to avoid second-season slump syndrome!

[emgergo]

Insallah!



(they finally didn't buy Moldava, but they could really have a look at us )

[deltablue]

That would have been stupid as they were just relegated.

[emgergo]

Honours: we got overachievers of the season (not surprising), furthermore I was voted for best manager, that was nice.

SQUAD BREAKDOWN

Name	Position	Apps	Gls	Ast	MoM	Av Rat	Comment
Richard Bartos	D R	31 (1)	0	1	1	6.96	Very solid performance. He's not that good to step up to much better teams, so he can be a long time around.
Ferenc Gazsi	GK	29	0	0	1	6.80	Another good season from the Hungarian goalkeeper – he'll have competition from Urban in the coming year though. But for now he's first choice
Ladislav Majoros	D LC	28	0	1	0	6.97	Despite being played in a non-natural position – I've had no better left-backs – he was doing fine. Next year probably back in DC. He's not yet 20 and has 84 league appearances for the club!
Vyacheslav Sharpar	DC	27 (1)	0	0	0	6.79	Nothing spectacular, but he is a very defensive-minded DM and suitable in that role.
Peter Kitas	DC, DM, MC	26 (1)	1	1	1	7.01	I always seem to have overachieving players, and team captain Kitas is just one of those: he should be a backup judged by his attributes, but he's a leader on the pitch. 143 league games for the club and counting, he'll probably make 200 as he's 29.
Karol Pavelka	ST	24 (4)	9	0	3	6.98	Gave what's expected of him – he'll never be a goal machine, but is able to score in the 8-12 range per year. Lots of unnecessary yellow cards. Next season his contract runs out and he's 31 – we'll see if he gets an extension.
Igor Chuchman	DC	24 (3)	1	2	0	6.92	He debuted with an awful performance but picked up later. He's brutal and very strong, but has hard time dealing with tricky forwards.
Maycon	AM L, ST	23 (5)	8	6	3	6.97	He ran into some injury trouble but otherwise did why he was brought into the team, giving creativity and goals.
Kevin Bakari	DM, MC	19	0	4	0	7.02	Injuries cut his autumn short but he's excellent, one of the best DM-s of the league. And he'll improve! Fortunately, no offers yet for him.
Miroslav Poliacek	M/AM LC	18 (4)	2	5	1	6.87	One of the surprises of the season, somehow he found form on the right-wing despite being a playmaker.
Ivan Vasilj	M/AM L	17 (9)	2	1	1	6.67	One of the not so pleasant surprises: goal in the first and the last round and a series of subpar performances in between.
Jozef Lukac	DC	17 (2)	2	0	1	6.82	Did an OK job but hasn't convinced me that he should be in front of Kitas and Chuchman in the pecking order
Ziga Mrevlje	AM RC	16 (4)	1	2	1	6.70	Useful in right-wing and playmaker, but gave really average performances. He needs to step up a little.
Vladimir Guba	AM C/ST	12 (13)	3	2	1	6.71	He could only score against Mihalovce. Something is missing, or he meets better centre-backs, as his efficiency went downhill. Still, at the age of 20, 95 matches/27 goals for the club is not bad.
Marek Babic	D RL	8 (5)	0	0	0	6.76	Useful backup, will be nothing more.
Krzysztof Maciaszek	M RL, AM R	8 (5)	1	0	0	6.59	He could be on his way out after next season. His contract is running out and it looks like he can't cut it in the Corgon Liga
Ivan Zrubec	MC	7 (6)	1	2	0	6.87	The same applies: he's getting older, he's not really suitable for the top level and lately we play with no MC either.
Alexandru Balaban	M/AM C	7	1	5	1	7.37	The Romanian playmaker came, left homesick, came back, debuted with a goal + 3 assists match and has been a creative spark. A host of teams are bombarding me with offers – but they are all offering me 0K, so they can f*** right off!
Jozef Pavlik	M LC	5 (11)	1	1	0	6.71	I feel his development has stalled, so maybe he'll be leaving on a loan. Or I try to retrain him for AML
Jan Vaculciak	WB/M RL	5 (4)	0	0	0	6.71	He did a backup job, but he's past it and will be allowed out on a free.
Nambala Bagayoko	ST	4 (6)	3	0	1	6.91	The young Malian forward came during the autumn and is showing promise – he might be our future centre-forward competing with Guba (this would meen a farewell to Pavelka)
Matej Urban	GK	4	0	0	0	6.53	The U21 national goalkeeper was somewhat of a disappointment, I expected him to challenge Gazsi outright. Has serious problems in defending the short corner, it seems.
Marcel Gavala	ST	3 (3)	1	0	0	6.58	He's moaning about not getting a starting 11 place, but he was always underachieving. Will be sold in the summer.
Ivan Milan	D RLC	1 (4)	0	0	0	6.88	The young D RLC did not see much action but got a good deal: Zilina buys him for 100K + 50%. Good for him, good for us.
Ivan Cernak	M RLC	0 (6)	0	0	0	6.67	Another youngster who seems to be off from his potential. And he's an M RLC, now we don't play with a) ML, b) MC, c) MR.
David Böhm	AM/F C	0 (1)	0	0	0	6.90	He's only 17, and he played well in the U18s and was rewarded with an A-team debut. Can be very good.
Tomas Lenarth	MC	0 (1)	0	0	0	6.60	Not cut for this level, so he'll be cut.

[emgergo]

SEASON 2015–16

League: Corgon Liga (top tier)
Media prediction: 10th
Board aim: mid-table finish

We have funds in the kitty but are not really able to use them, as we are still semi-professional. I turned most of the team and backroom staff pro anyway. We have a new shirt sponsor deal, for about 10x much as before, that comes in handy!

TRANSFERS

Not many promising players on the market. I had pre-mediated deals for two young prospects, added one more and a DM. Still looking for a backup DR.

[emgergo]

Babic (M/AM LC): not sure how he'll develop, but he can fill in quite a few positions. Poliacek is aging anyway.



Urban (DL): a left-back was needed, as last year Majoros played there and he's more of a DC.



Masa (M/AM RC): right winger is not one of our strong positions, so despite his age he'll be in contention for a starting spot.



Smitran (DM/M C): I just needed a backup DM - last year luckily there was no time Bakari and Sharpar were both injured or suspended, but this can't go on forever. Comes from Slovenia.

[emgergo]

Pre-season: the team was clueless about the new tactic, probably it didn't help that some of the staff was changed. We said goodbye to the ass. man (legend at the club), in came another legend of the club.

Senec (A) 1-1: Newly-promoted Senec were on the back foot most of the time but they took the lead. Karol Pavelka missed two golden chances and misses out half of the season as he suffered a serious injury. We were maddeningly unable to put the ball into the back of the net until Ziga Mrevlje found it from virtually the goal line after a corner.

Dunajska Streda (H) 4-0: Without a doubt one of the ugliest matches I've ever had in FM with loads of brutal and malicious fouls. 30 fouls, 10 yellows, 1 red. They missed a penalty at 0-0, Maycon got us in front and in the second half Guba scored a brace and Bagayoko finished them off.

Zilina (A) 0-0: Mrevlje was sent off after half an hour, so a goalless draw counts as a great result away to the league's strongest team.

Ruzomberok (H) 2-1: Balaban scored on 3 minutes, Bakari sent in a great free-kick 3 minutes from time, all in all a deserved win.

Banska Bystrita (A) 0-3: They beat us with three headers, which is particularly annoying as we sport the tallest squad of the Corgon Liga. Starting DR Bartos got injured, his backup, Babic was already injured after a U21 international match.

Slovan Bratislava (H) 3-1: Vladimir Guba opened the scoring in the 26th second and was inspired to the best performance of his carreer as he scored a hat-trick. Slovan pulled one back in the 84th minute, but we walked a big team! BTW we lost Bakari before the match with a sport hernia (2 months, and a recurring injury)

Mihalovce (H) 3-0: We were on a roll and it was an easy win, goals by Balaban, Maycon and Bagayoko

Kosice (A) 4-1: An even match was 1-1 with a goal by Masa on our part and an own goal. Ivan Vasilj came in, scored on his first touch in the 76th minute and we run them into the ground, Balaban and Chuchman gave us a great win - which took us to the top of the table!

Nitra (H) 0-1: We ran out of gas, conceded after a corner just before half-time and never really threatened. Especially when we finished the match with 9 men due to injuries.

Senica (A) 0-1: My backs were getting injured, left, centre and especially right. Our makeshift defence was working OK but they found a net with a screamer late in the game. The scorer has a long shot rating of 2, yet he hammered it in from 35

Trnava (H) 0-1: They are somewhat of a bogey team, and I'd really like to see their Nigerian striker moving to a different league, as he always seems to put us to the sword. We had two sending offs (Bartos, Balaban) and couldn't push for an equaliser late in the game.

Senec (H) 3-1: The strikers still can't find form but the attacking midfielders gave us the win: Mrevlje, Masa and an own goal made it three, finishing our bad run.

Pos	Team	Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st	Slovan Bratislava	12	8	2	2	26	14	12	26
2nd	Trnava	12	8	2	2	26	17	9	26
3rd	Nitra	11	6	4	1	25	14	11	22
4th	Trebisov	12	6	2	4	20	11	9	20
5th	Zilina	10	5	4	1	17	9	8	19
6th	Kosice	12	5	2	5	24	23	1	17
7th	Senica	11	4	2	5	14	17	-3	14
8th	Dun. Streda	12	4	2	6	15	21	-6	14
9th	Banska Bystrica	12	3	4	5	17	25	-8	13
10th	Michalovce	12	3	2	7	12	22	-10	11
11th	SFM Senec	12	1	5	6	12	24	-12	8
12th	Ruzomberok	12	1	1	10	14	25	-11	4

[deltablue]

Senec must have been a relief after the 3 defeats in a row. Should challenge if you pick it up.

[emgergo]

Looks like the Senec match was the anomaly.

Zilina (H) 0-1: We put up the fight but were clueless in front of the goal. Deserved away win.

Dunajska Streda (A) 0-3: Unacceptable, rubbish performance. It could have been even a heavier defeat.

Out of the last six matches five lost without scoring. That looks bleak (so does our play!). No strikers in form and we're playing in a Wednesday-Saturday rhythm, which surely does not help.

[Niebiescy]

Was a good read checking this out. You are basically playing the Slovak version of what I'm doing. I started in the Czech second division and have similar aims to what you've worked through. Good luck reaching the top!

[emgergo]

I might need quality, not only luck

Ruzomberok (A) 1-0: Balaban scored from the spot in the added time of the first half, they went a man down, we held onto the lead.

CUP Trnava (A) 0-1: The squad was ravaged by injuries, so I couldn't give a rat's arse about this match. Played a B-side, almost snatched a draw. Maycon misses everything.

Banska Bystrica (H) 0-1: No goals, no party. My strikers are all useless, except for Maycon, who's even more useless and still misses every chance.

Mihalovce (A) 1-0: Centre-back Igor Chuchman headed home the (deserved) winner. Strikers still MIA.

Slovan Bratislava (A) 1-3: Actually we were up front in the break with a brilliant Balaban goal, but they came back hard on us.

Kosice (H) 1-0: I don't understand how it wasn't 3 or 4, but anyway, a win is a win and Maycon finally scored! Guba still waiting for a goal, he hit the bar, the post and a shot was cleared off the line - he's cursed.

(note: first goal from a striker in 2 months and 11 matches!)



Nitra (A) 2-1: A really nice win, helped by a late challenge and a resulting red for a Nitra player in the 12th minute. We took the lead with Bartos' first ever goal for the club but they equalised. We looked to be heading for a draw but we stroke on a quick counter in the 93rd minute, youngster David Böhm getting his first ever senior goal!

Senica (H) 0-1: Back to earth - conceded in the first half and we were unable to come back, despite knocking on the door. Home record is 6-0-5, with a lot of 0-1s. I think it's partly to do with our ground being very tiny and opposition actually going for counter this time, unlike last year.

We're sitting fourth as the winter break comes, no danger at all, probably no chance of getting any better. BTW having 23 matches from August to the first week of December is a killer!

[deltablue]

Perhaps your forwards need to be sent back to school.

[emgergo]

My forwards need to be sent back to reserves for 1-2 matches to build up confidence, but there are no reserves!

BTW all our home defeats were 0-1s. Catenaccio or what?

[emgergo]

Our only newcomer in the winter break. Pavelka plays for a contract extension, so if he doesn't perform well, this guy takes over.

[Niebiescy]

I feel your scoring pain. After three years in the Czech leagues I have experienced exactly the same situation, especially in those games against crap teams who fluke a goal but you just miss chance after chance. You can only dream of bringing in replacements with the budgets being so strict. Makes the game so much more fun though

[emgergo]

SPRING SEASON

Trnava (A) 2-2: We are usually whipping boys at Trnava, but not this time: we turned it around from 0-1 to 2-1 with goals by Pavelka and Maycon, they just only managed to equalise. A very good point.

Senec (A) 3-0: Surprisingly easy, Maycon, Pavlik and Bagayoko got the goals.

Dun. Streda (H) 2-2: A dull first half was followed by a livid second, Poliacek and Masa twice got us in front, but they equalised twice - both times capitalising on Bartos' errors, who duly got a 3.6 rating.

Zilina (A) 0-2: When you go down in the first minute to the best team in the league, you know it's uphill. We conceded a second soon, the rest was damage limitation.

Ruzomberok (H) 7-1: Holy s***! We threw everything at them and then some more: Masa, Majoros and Bagayoko gave us a 3-goal lead within 30 minutes, Bakari, Maycon and Pavelka (twice) added to it in the second half. Bakari's goal is in contention for goal of the year, he simply smashed it from 30 metres or so.

Banska Bystrica (A) 1-5: Back to Earth. We'll be fighting them for the fourth spot, so a draw would have been nice, but everything they shot somehow went in. To give a classic Wengerian post-match commentary: we had more of the possession, shot more, shot more on target, so it's plain to see we've been the better team. Oh, and we lost 1-5. Bugger.

Mihalovce (H) 2-0: Our geographically closest rivals are usually easy prey at home, this time as well: Bakari scored a penalty right after the break and Maycon finished them off.

Slovan Bratislava (H) 1-3: It was a decent effort, but we conceded twice early on. Chuchman got one back, then we missed our chances for equalising and got punished on the counter.

With four rounds to go the top of the table is: 1. Zilina 69 pts, 2. Slovan 58, 3. Trnava 51, 4. B. Bystrica 44, 5. Trebisov 43, 6. Nitra 42. The rest doesn't really matter. No. 4 spot might mean European football, depending the outcome of the cup and the top five are rewarded with cash, which would be most welcome.

By the way: when does a club turn pro? Does it depend on bank account? The board's willingness? So far in my saves the team always turned pro in the top tier, not this time.

[deltablue]

Boards willingness I think but bank account plays a big part. Hope you can keep Nitra off at least.

[emgergo]

Just to indicate Zilina's superiority: their B side is 21 points up front in the second tier...

[emgergo]

Boards willingness I think but bank account plays a big part. Hope you can keep Nitra off at least.

Well, I couldn't

Kosice (A) 3-1: For 75 minutes nothing was going on the pitch, then came a thrilling ending: we took the lead by a goal from Masa, they equalised it six minutes from time, just for Chuchman to head us into the lead in the 90th and Masa finishing them off in the 93rd minute.

Nitra (H) 1-2: That was an important one. Unfortunately we fell behind and though Guba equalised, they scored from an individual effort in the 89th minute. Somewhat of a deflating loss. Both Nitra and Banska Bystrica overtook us.

Senica (A) 1-3: Things were getting on track with an early Bagayoko goal. Then we found the self-destruct button and conceded thrice, two being own goals.

Trnava (H) 1-3: After 20 minutes we were two behind. Masa got one back but as we poured forward they hit on the counter. Ending the otherwise good season with three losses is... meh. So is the fact that we lost out on the prize money!

[emgergo]

Name	Apps	Gls	Ast	MoM	Yel	Red	Av Rat	Comment
Maycon	31 (2)	7	5	3	5	0	6.85	I'm expecting much more. Too few good matches, too many bad ones.
Vyacheslav Sharpar	29 (1)	0	1	0	2	0	6.86	Nothing fancy. Just tackling all over the place.
Zdenek Masa	27 (1)	7	6	5	3	0	7.11	Player of the season by far, he's been excellent. Czech clubs are sniffing around.
Ladislav Majoros	27 (1)	1	1	0	7	0	6.77	Another OK season, he can play better – but he was forced to play in DL a lot of times
Ferenc Gazsi	27	0	1	1	0	0	6.81	Solid as ever, no standout good or bad matches
Alexandru Balaban	26	5	3	1	2	1	7.05	I'm actually surprised of his season average, as he's been very average after the great early form. Rumour is Rapid Bucuresti are willing to fork out 600K on him
Peter Kitas	24 (2)	0	1	1	4	1	6.87	Solid season from the captain, no scoring this time, which is rather unusual
Igor Chuchman	23 (3)	4	1	1	2	0	6.77	Ups and downs – scoring 4 is great, but he's been a liability in quite some games.
Richard Bartos	23 (1)	1	3	1	6	1	6.82	With no challenger nearby, he's monopolising the DR position. Does quite well.
Pavol Urban	22 (4)	0	0	1	3	0	6.89	The young left back had a good debut season for us, but he's so far ineffective in attacking.
Kevin Bakari	16	4	6	2	1	0	7.18	Bakari is clearly our best player but with 3-4 injuries/year he won't make it very far. When healthy he's excellent
Vladimir Guba	14 (10)	6	2	3	0	0	6.82	Some good games, some bad, some improvement – he needs to be sharper in front of the goal
Dario Smitran	10 (8)	0	1	0	1	0	6.77	He came as a backup, will stay as a backup. Useful.
Marek Babic	10 (1)	0	0	0	2	0	6.69	Same as Smitran. Useful backup, no more.
Ziga Mrevlje	9 (11)	2	2	0	2	1	6.65	Somewhat of a disappointment, Masa easily took his place at right winger and Balaban is a much better playmaker, so he's in trouble.
Nambala Bagayoko	8 (10)	5	2	0	2	0	6.82	He's showing signs of good improvement and either I'll cash in on him or he'll be first choice next season.
Ivan Vasilj	8 (8)	1	3	0	1	0	6.78	He's OK but we'll need a better left winger. Useful backup though.
Karol Pavelka	8 (3)	3	1	0	0	0	6.70	He started brightly after he sat out all autumn with injury, but that was that, he seems to be past it, and will leave on a Bosman.
Jozef Lukac	8 (2)	0	1	0	2	0	6.70	OK backup, but he can't challenge Majoros, Chuchman or Kitas for a starting spot
Jozef Pavlik	7 (6)	1	0	0	0	0	6.68	He still needs more playing time to improve but I'm not sure I can give it to him. We'll see, he's a candidate for loan.
Matej Urban	7	0	0	0	0	0	6.47	I can't get this guy. He has better attributes than Gazsi but performs sub-par. Time to cash in?
Miroslav Poliacek	4 (6)	1	0	0	0	0	6.58	Out on a Bosman, as he's past it.
Peter Babic	3 (8)	0	1	0	1	0	6.69	If Pavlik won't leave on a loan, he might as he also needs more playing time.
Krzysztof Maciaszek	1 (4)	0	0	0	0	0	6.63	He whines about more playing time but he's not good enough – out on a Bosman
Zsolt Horvat	1 (3)	0	1	0	0	0	6.40	Let's see next season, he had very little time to prove himself.
Robert Stano	1 (1)	0	0	0	1	0	6.70	Only played out of necessity
David Böhm	0 (3)	1	0	0	0	0	7.00	Some flashes of talent and he'll be pushing for a first squad place next year.
Ivan Zrubec	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Poor guy never got a game. Out on a Bosman, he's old and not very good.

[emgergo]

We could have been easily 4th if not for our home record: last season's 10-5-2 went down to 8-1-8 which is quite horrible (35 vs 25 pts). Away form was up 10 pts, so we copied last season: 6th position and 46 points.

[deltablue]

Shame about the slump.

[emgergo]

SEASON 2016-17, Corgon Liga

Media prediction: 8th
Board expectations: midtable
My expectations: midtable, bettering our points total from last year

OFF-SEASON

A ton of useless players left from the U19s, the aging players (Pavelka, Zrubec, Poliacek) and those who didn't cut it (Cernak, Maciaszek) left on Bosmans. In came four.

We forked out 95K on Cameroonian youth international Patrick Simo, but boy, does he look good on this level!



Another 55K went for the best player of the third tier, Bohumil Ilko. He came from Bardejov. Attribute-wise he's nothing fancy, but last season he averaged 7.89, scored seven goals and gave four assists, while getting 15 MoM titles. He might be a flop but his averages are very good from earlier seasons, too - looks like the kind of player who's not rated very highly but constantly overachieves.



The Czech Republic is a breeding ground for good youngsters, and that's exactly what Patrik Kana looks like. A good box-to-box midfielder, especially for a Bosman transfer.



Another freebie, from Serbia: Dejan Milicevic came through the academy of Vojvodina but never made it to the first team. He adds more creativity to the side and will probably replace Balaban - the Romanian playmaker is scouted by some clubs and rumours are teams are willing to pay 750K for him. No offers as of yet, though.



We recieved a 600K + 40% offer for Majoros, whom I want to keep at the club at all costs. The chairman would have sold him over my head for Dunajska Streda, but he declined the contract. Right after that he signed an extension with us \o/

SEASON 2016-17

Senec (A) 3-0: Just as last season we started the league in Senec. But this time instead of a draw we recorded a very good win: they had a midfielder sent off in the 6th minute after a brutal challenge on Kana. We had the ball but not the edge, until the substitutions: Guba took the lead for us, while Milicevic offered a goal after his assist to make it 2-0. A starter, Maycon made it three from a counter just before the end.

[emgergo]

Rejected requests by the board:

- improve training facilities
- improve youth facilities
- get a parent club
- relay the pitch.

I love their ambition and willingness to help out.

[Niebiescy]

Welcome to the Slovak leagues. Even the big clubs like Slovan and Spartak have crappy facilities and crumbling stadiums

Think Zilina's pretty much the only club in that situation but their newer stadium is countered by their lack of fans and therefore income

What are you goals? You gonna stay at Trebisov 'til you win the title? Or are you looking to move abroad or to a bigger Slovak club?

[deltablue]

My Michelovce wouldn't be so easy prey Interesting to see Zilina just as dominant as on my game where they're on 21 titles in a row.

[emgergo]

My Michelovce wouldn't be so easy prey Interesting to see Zilina just as dominant as on my game where they're on 21 titles in a row.

Wow, for me it's only five in a row.

[emgergo]

Welcome to the Slovak leagues. Even the big clubs like Slovan and Spartak have crappy facilities and crumbling stadiums

Think Zilina's pretty much the only club in that situation but their newer stadium is countered by their lack of fans and therefore income

What are you goals? You gonna stay at Trebisov 'til you win the title? Or are you looking to move abroad or to a bigger Slovak club?

I don't think I'd move to a bigger Slovak club. Either I'll be staying (but board needs to turn the team pro in 2-3 years for that) or jumping ship to a different country, preferably Hungary, Austria or Czech Rep. If the managerial position empties at a Hungarian club I like or I see a good challenge in them, I'll be probably taking it.

[Niebiescy]

I don't think I'd move to a bigger Slovak club. Either I'll be staying (but board needs to turn the team pro in 2-3 years for that) or jumping ship to a different country, preferably Hungary, Austria or Czech Rep. If the managerial position empties at a Hungarian club I like or I see a good challenge in them, I'll be probably taking it.

You ever played in Hungary before? I considered starting a game as Ferencvaros and trying to take them back to the dominant position they belong in but haven't got round to it yet. It always seems as though Hungarian clubs seem to have the worst finances and budgets of any from that region on the game although I can't confirm it. Could be a decent challenge. You could always take over DAC who are basically the Hungarian nationalist club in Slovakia

[emgergo]

You ever played in Hungary before? I considered starting a game as Ferencvaros and trying to take them back to the dominant position they belong in but haven't got round to it yet. It always seems as though Hungarian clubs seem to have the worst finances and budgets of any from that region on the game although I can't confirm it. Could be a decent challenge. You could always take over DAC who are basically the Hungarian nationalist club in Slovakia

Yes, DAC would be the only place to leave - but then everyone will get fired from there who doesn't speak Hungarian

I only had test runs in Hungary when I was researching data - being a Hungarian I know too well the scene. But when the scene changes and most of the current players "run out", I'm willing to give it a go.

But I'd never manage Ferencváros

[emgergo]

There goes my best defender