PH71's Journey - featuring The Alphabet Challenge

**PaulHartman71** · 29-05-2012 22:10

Very impressed deltablue

**PaulHartman71** · 29-05-2012 22:14

I have to admit I wasn't really expecting to get the job when I applied for it, being in the Jupiler league and especially after third division German side Hannover had rejected me. But I'm not complaining and I certainly wasn't going to turn them down!

**deltablue** · 29-05-2012 22:16

Really!! Felt that Heerenveen were too high up so that was just what came into my mind.

**PaulHartman71** · 29-05-2012 22:20

yeah I am now officially manager of Haarlem that's not a paint/photoshop job like the April fools one

**PaulHartman71** · 30-05-2012 23:21

The table before I took over. The target of the season is to reach the play-off's, Haarlem haven't played in the Eredivisie since 2013 so it would be some achievement to get them promoted in my first season in charge. The Jupiler league has a relatively complex play-off system, but essentially you have to win three 2 legged knockout ties to go up once you make the play-off's, some of those games could be against sides from the Eredivisie that are looking to avoid relegation. It definitely makes winning the league a massive incentive compared to say the Championship in England, as with it you take the only automatic promotion spot to the top flight, and the play-off's in Holland appear to be a lot more challenging than in England for example.

**PaulHartman71** · 31-05-2012 11:11

A very pleasing result in my first game in charge of Haarlem!

**PaulHartman71** · 31-05-2012 18:41

The club seemed to need a striker, so with the cash that we had I have signed the league's current top scorer who will be arriving in January. I may have potentially paid slightly over the odds, but I haven't had this kind of cash at any club before and thought sod it might as well!

**deltablue** · 31-05-2012 18:46

If he keeps scoring he'll be worth it.

**cerud** · 31-05-2012 19:55

That was a quick move to H

**Nobby_McDonald** · 31-05-2012 22:47

Happy are you Paul?

**PaulHartman71** · 31-05-2012 23:07

Originally Posted by deltablue

If he keeps scoring he'll be worth it.

true, definitely hoping he will live up to the 180K price tag once he arrives at the club.

Originally Posted by cerud

That was a quick move to H

I did seem to get lucky with Haarlem offering me the job, didn't expect it but guess it was the FM gods being kind to me!

Originally Posted by Nobby_McDonald

Happy are you Paul?

very Happy at Haarlem at the moment. Happy and Hopeful. Happy and Hopeful.

**noikeee** · 31-05-2012 23:54

I'm not hugely surprised you managed to land that job, the 2nd tier in Holland has a pretty poor reputation and even 3 divisions down Hannover are a far larger club. Good luck, particularly at figuring out that league which has some weird promotion rules!

**corinthiano** · 01-06-2012 00:02

Well done on the double with Gallipoli, nice step up to Haarlem, especially with some cash to spend!

**PaulHartman71** · 01-06-2012 09:40

A decent first 8 games in charge has seen Haarlem rise to the play-off places as we're now 9th. It's obviously ridiculously open at the moment, a good run of 5 games could see us reach the top 3, whereas a bad run could see us drop back down to 13th/14th.

**deltablue** · 01-06-2012 09:52

Keep going and you'll be the angel of Haarlem.

**PaulHartman71** · 02-06-2012 03:37

**TheGreatTraveler** · 02-06-2012 14:17

Why have NEC and De Graafshap secured promotion Play-Off places, but not Utrecht?

**PaulHartman71** · 02-06-2012 14:31

Jupiler league has this weird system where you qualify for play-off's based on performance in each "period" of the season, with leftover spaces going to teams at the end of the season. It's kind of confusing to explain but does seem to make sense if you're playing in the division.

**SRL88** · 02-06-2012 15:09

All change here. Well done on the new job.

**PaulHartman71** · 02-06-2012 17:24

Fans not too happy with the new signing

**cerud** · 02-06-2012 21:02

Whip those fans into shape!

**TheGreatTraveler** · 03-06-2012 01:23

Originally Posted by PaulHartman71

Fans not too happy with the new signing

Better hope he performs....

**deltablue** · 03-06-2012 10:06

They'll soon see sense.

**PaulHartman71** · 03-06-2012 12:46

He scored the winner on his debut

Elsewhere in the league, 10 points from 6 games isn't great form for a side that wants to reach the play-off's, it's looking very tight at the moment but hopefully we can keep up a decent amount of form for the rest of the season.

**TheGreatTraveler** · 03-06-2012 14:19

Doing well, with the play-offs almost secured as long as you don't mess up.

**Nobby_McDonald** · 03-06-2012 17:30

That's a big playoff system.

**cerud** · 03-06-2012 21:57

A debut goal should quiet the critics

**PaulHartman71** · 03-06-2012 22:11

Bit awkward really as he hasn't scored a goal since his debut

Also a dreadful run of form of 7points in 8 games has left us hanging on for dear life with just 2 games left, definitely squeaky bum or whatever the Dutch equivalent is!!

**TheGreatTraveler** · 03-06-2012 22:19

8th through 12th is only 3 point difference

**PaulHartman71** · 03-06-2012 22:27

yeah the competition for play-off places is ridiculously competitive, then once you get into the play-off's it's even more competitive

Whoever goes up via the play-off's definitely deserves their place in the Eredivisie!

**PaulHartman71** · 04-06-2012 12:07

A play-off place has been narrowly secured!

**deltablue** · 04-06-2012 13:08

Now for the maze of playoffs.

**PaulHartman71** · 04-06-2012 18:14

First round 1st leg went pretty well, hopefully can use the away goals/win to our advantage in the home leg!

**Nobby_McDonald** · 04-06-2012 20:45

How many teams are in these playoffs?

**nie jem frytek** · 04-06-2012 21:15

Probably 10

**PaulHartman71** · 04-06-2012 22:52

yeah it is 10, 2 from Eredivisie and 8 from Jupiler.

**TheGreatTraveler** · 04-06-2012 23:40

Tough play-off!

**PaulHartman71** · 05-06-2012 00:05

Admittedly Woudsma hasn't actually scored since that debut goal, but who cares, he scored in the most important game of the season so far and we're through to the next round!

**cerud** · 05-06-2012 03:06

Congrats on the playoff qualification. Hopefully Woudsma chips in a few more, even though the ones he gets are quality.

**PaulHartman71** · 05-06-2012 13:07

We've got FC Volendam from the Eredivisie in the next round, not sure if to be worried about them, hopefully Woudsma can score again and get our money's worth for him!

**TheGreatTraveler** · 05-06-2012 20:43

How many more rounds till promotion?

**PaulHartman71** · 05-06-2012 20:56

Two including this one, so just one more team to beat if we get through against FC Volendam.

**PaulHartman71** · 05-06-2012 21:11

Not the best result in the home tie, but not the worst either. It's going to be a tough away game that's for sure!

**deltablue** · 05-06-2012 21:20

Not impossible though.

**SRL88** · 06-06-2012 09:48

You never know. I keep my fingers crossed for you.

**PaulHartman71** · 06-06-2012 13:47

Win the Eredivisie

Not even qualified to go up yet! Only two games away though, just VVV stopping us now!

**TheGreatTraveler** · 06-06-2012 15:25

Almost there!!

**deltablue** · 06-06-2012 17:06

Great work with the Volendam win.

**PaulHartman71** · 06-06-2012 21:05

A really poor away leg leaves us with everything to do in the home game, don't think we'll manage it

**deltablue** · 06-06-2012 21:49

1-0 doesn't seem too bad to make up at home.

**cerud** · 06-06-2012 22:04

It's only a one goal difference and you're playing at home

You can do it.

**PaulHartman71** · 06-06-2012 22:23

Threw everything at them but just couldn't score, ended 0-0 which ends our promotion hopes. Despite not really deserving promotion based on our league finish, still pretty gutted to be a goal away from putting it to ET/penalties!

**deltablue** · 07-06-2012 08:41

So close, but very good effort this year.

**SRL88** · 07-06-2012 09:00

Such a shame that you missed out.

**PaulHartman71** · 07-06-2012 13:42

H is for Haarlem

After a decent 8th place finish we of course qualified for the play-offs, unfortunately falling at the last hurdle in the 3rd round. The squad was relatively decent although could do with a few more quality players and a little more depth. Transfers - I only signed Woudsma and Roar Olstad, as the other players were brought in by the previous manager. Finances - They're not great, we wont be able to offer much in terms of wages to players but generally have a decent amount of money to spend for this division.

There were a few Norwegians in the side, one being versatile full back Andreas Helgesen who was one of the better players at the club, another being first choice goalkeeper Christoffer Larsen. I signed another Norwegian, left back Roar Olstad who is a very good left back for this division. Rolf Heeren was a key central defender as was Ron van de Kerkhof. Erwin Scheurwater did well on loan from Willem II. Gerard Dijkhuizen did decently on the left side of midfield, he could have done better though. Kevin de Man was a key part of central midfield with one of the best pass ratios in the league. Our captain, Robin van Veen was a key part of the season with a decent amount of goals and assists. Jeroen Steegs was our backup striker and did decent from the bench scoring 7 goals in total. Jordy Woudsma didn't score as many goals as he should have, I hope he will score more next season or I will sell him on for profit. Mark Poel was topscorer with 26 goals in 36 games, hopefully he can score as many next season.

History

Code:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season     Club                   League                  Position     Achievements
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009/10    Annagh United          N.Irish 2nd Div           9th        Joined in July   
2010/11    Annagh United          N.Irish 2nd Div           11th       Screwed over by the board and sacked in April
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011/12    Bradford Park Avenue   Blue Square North         19th       Joined in June 
2012/13    Bradford Park Avenue   Blue Square North         9th        None
2013/14    Bradford Park Avenue   Blue Square North         5th        Promoted via play-off
2014/15    Bradford Park Avenue   Blue Square Premier       1st        Promoted as Champions, resigned in June
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015/16    Casa Pia A.C           Portuguese 2nd Div S      8th        Joined in November
2016/17    Casa Pia A.C           Portuguese 2nd Div C      1st        Champions, Promoted via play-off, resigned in June
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017/18    Distillery             N.Irish 1st Div           10th       Joined in November
2018/19    Distillery             N.Irish 1st Div           10th       Sacked in January
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019/20    East Fife              Scottish 3rd Div          10th       Joined in May
2020/21    East Fife              Scottish 3rd Div          3rd        Lost in play-off semi final
2021/22    East Fife              Scottish 3rd Div          1st        Promoted as Champions
2022/23    East Fife              Scottish 2nd Div          1st        Promoted as Champions
2023/24    East Fife              Scottish 1st Div          5th        Resigned in June
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024       Fana Idrettslag        Norwegian 2nd Div 3       7th        Joined in July
2025       Fana Idrettslag        Norwegian 2nd Div 3       4th        None
2026       Fana Idrettslag        Norwegian 2nd Div 3       1st        Promoted as Champions, Resigned in October
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2026/27    Gallipoli Calcio       Italian Serie C2/C        8th        Joined in October
2027/28    Gallipoli Calcio       Italian Serie C2/C        1st        Promoted as Champions, Serie C2 Super Cup winner, Resigned in June
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2028/29    HFC Haarlem            Jupiler League            8th        Lost in 3rd round of play-off

Trophy Cabinet

Code:

Bradford Park Avenue 
- Blue Square Premier x1 - 2014/15

Casa Pia
- Portuguese 2nd Div C x1 - 2016/17

East Fife
- Scottish 3rd Div x1 - 2021/22
- Scottish 2nd Div x1 - 2022/23

Fana Idrettslag 
- Norwegian 2nd Div 3 x1 - 2026

Gallipoli Calcio
- Italian Serie C2/C x1 - 2027/28
- Italian Serie C2 Super Cup x1 - 2027/28

**cerud** · 07-06-2012 18:48

Tough beat in the end. A draw is a good score on any other day I guess

**Nobby_McDonald** · 07-06-2012 21:29

Good Old. Great nickname.

**TheGreatTraveler** · 08-06-2012 20:55

That must've been heart braking

**PaulHartman71** · 09-06-2012 03:45

there's always next year and I go into it optimistic rather than pessimistic!!!

**Scarman** · 10-06-2012 09:20

That was a pretty unlucky end to the season, but you'll be stronger next season

**SRL88** · 10-06-2012 11:56

Yeah very unlucky. Hopefully you can bounce back next season.

**PaulHartman71** · 10-06-2012 23:06

Already qualified for this season's play-off places

**cerud** · 10-06-2012 23:45

Congrats on playoffs! Very early

**TheGreatTraveler** · 11-06-2012 17:15

I'm never going to understand the play-off system in netherlands

**rancer890** · 11-06-2012 18:01

I agree. MLS Cup Playoffs are easier to understand.

**cswalk08** · 12-06-2012 01:06

I am completely lost as to what just happened in the playoffs but you'll get em next year!

**PaulHartman71** · 12-06-2012 01:30

yeah it is definitely a confusing play-off system

pretty irritating but the squad seem to have got complacent, potentially since a play-off place is already secured, but I'd rather win the league outright to avoid having to go through the bloody play-offs again!

**cerud** · 12-06-2012 02:21

Ugh...hate when teams think the holiday have started with matches still to play...

**deltablue** · 12-06-2012 09:33

In England we call it 'Doing a Charlton'. Actually we don't but we should as they were a very strong example in the Premier League not too long ago.

**PaulHartman71** · 13-06-2012 01:12

I applied to the vacant Ipswich job, annoyed the board a bit but after a quick apology they were happy enough to keep me. This was lucky as Ipswich hired Harry Kane instead of me.

Elsewhere, it really isn't looking like we're going to win the league and I am dreading the play-off's already.

**SRL88** · 13-06-2012 12:36

Haha. Definitely trying to step things up now

.

**PaulHartman71** · 13-06-2012 20:20

A list of all the possible 'I' jobs fwiw

**deltablue** · 13-06-2012 20:27

Second time's the charm.

**corinthiano** · 14-06-2012 03:39

I reckon it should be Ingolstadt, seeing that I lived there for a year

**SRL88** · 14-06-2012 09:24

I reckon you are in with a shout of the Inter job

.

**deltablue** · 14-06-2012 10:07

Ingolstadt or Inverness are my bet.

**PaulHartman71** · 14-06-2012 21:12

Whilst it's quite disappointing not to have won the league after the early success we had, we've comfortably reached the play-off's and avoid the first round, starting in the 2nd round.

**Scarman** · 15-06-2012 02:58

Good luck in the playoffs!

**JackJCFC** · 15-06-2012 10:56

Done well to qualify for the playoff's. I remember from my year in Holland how hard it is to get promoted, good luck!

**cerud** · 15-06-2012 17:41

Getting a bye in the 1st round is nice. Give your players a chance to recouperate before playoffs start.

**TP17** · 15-06-2012 22:15

I like the idea behind this challenge, I think I remember you mentioning while I was reading through that it was a challenge in the CSE part of the forums from a few iterations ago?

I enjoyed the read, good luck in the play-offs.

**PaulHartman71** · 16-06-2012 00:17

Originally Posted by TP17

I like the idea behind this challenge, I think I remember you mentioning while I was reading through that it was a challenge in the CSE part of the forums from a few iterations ago?

I enjoyed the read, good luck in the play-offs.

yeah it was, canvey!! started it on FM09 I believe. I don't think anybody got past 'C' though

**PaulHartman71** · 16-06-2012 16:49

Not the best result as Roda got two away goals, but hopefully we can win the return leg.

**alexcharliemann** · 16-06-2012 20:49

Great read!

What would happen if you qualified early for the playoffs, then lost every match for the rest of the season and finished in the relegation zone...

**deltablue** · 16-06-2012 21:52

Only one goes down so that would be near impossible, good question though. Maybe you'd go down unless you won.

**PaulHartman71** · 16-06-2012 22:03

Yeah I have to admit I'm not sure what would happen in such a scenario, I'm guessing that it would be pretty much what deltablue said, would put even more pressure on you in the play-off's though - win, you go up, lose, you go down

**alexcharliemann** · 16-06-2012 22:05

Definitely something I am going to try out in the future. I reckon the computer would just explode.

**PaulHartman71** · 17-06-2012 01:00

One of the worst games I've experienced as a manager, we were 1-0 up at one point but Roda JC scored twice in the last 10 minutes to put us out in just the 2nd round of the play-off's. Very frustrating stuff and makes it tempting to pack it in, but with the likelihood of getting an 'I' job relatively low at the moment, I will most likely stay and hope it can be third time lucky next season.

**deltablue** · 17-06-2012 10:34

It is a frustrating system.

**Nobby_McDonald** · 17-06-2012 19:52

I believe you will be with I soon rather than later.

**PaulHartman71** · 17-06-2012 21:18

H is for Haarlem

After sadly going out in the 2nd round of the play-off's it's time to evaluate our season. Not much was spent in transfers, our "big" purchase being the signing of winger/striker Artur Murawski. "Flop" signing Jordy Woudsma was sold for 200K (20K profit) to Coventry. The Dutch Cup was a bit crap, we went out to Feyenoord in the 3rd round, although we made some money from being on TV/big stadium etc so not all bad. 4th place in the league was a disappointment considering the fact we were running away with it at the start of the season.

Christoffer Larsen was our first choice goalkeeper, he was actually injured for the return leg in the play-off and I had to play a crap 17 year old which can't have done our chances any good. Our main right back Andreas Helgeson had a pretty decent season. Larsen and Helgesen's compatriot Roar Olstad had a good season at left back. Ron van de Kerkhof had a pretty poor season at center back. Rolf Heeren was slightly better. Luuk Versluis did pretty well on the right side of midfield, 4 goals and 7 assists for him. Gerard Dijkhuizen was okay at left midfield, with 3 goals and 7 assists. Club captain Robin van Veen did well in the middle, 8 goals and 2 assists for him and a decent pass ratio. Fabio Nicolao did decently, a great pass ratio and 3 goals and 5 assists for that man. Once he signed for us Artur Murawski was a great buy, 3 goals and 5 assists in just 9 games. Mark Poel was our star man once again with a fantastic 6 assists, 22 goals in 38 games.

History

Code:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season     Club                   League                  Position     Achievements
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009/10    Annagh United          N.Irish 2nd Div           9th        Joined in July   
2010/11    Annagh United          N.Irish 2nd Div           11th       Screwed over by the board and sacked in April
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011/12    Bradford Park Avenue   Blue Square North         19th       Joined in June 
2012/13    Bradford Park Avenue   Blue Square North         9th        None
2013/14    Bradford Park Avenue   Blue Square North         5th        Promoted via play-off
2014/15    Bradford Park Avenue   Blue Square Premier       1st        Promoted as Champions, resigned in June
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015/16    Casa Pia A.C           Portuguese 2nd Div S      8th        Joined in November
2016/17    Casa Pia A.C           Portuguese 2nd Div C      1st        Champions, Promoted via play-off, resigned in June
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017/18    Distillery             N.Irish 1st Div           10th       Joined in November
2018/19    Distillery             N.Irish 1st Div           10th       Sacked in January
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019/20    East Fife              Scottish 3rd Div          10th       Joined in May
2020/21    East Fife              Scottish 3rd Div          3rd        Lost in play-off semi final
2021/22    East Fife              Scottish 3rd Div          1st        Promoted as Champions
2022/23    East Fife              Scottish 2nd Div          1st        Promoted as Champions
2023/24    East Fife              Scottish 1st Div          5th        Resigned in June
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024       Fana Idrettslag        Norwegian 2nd Div 3       7th        Joined in July
2025       Fana Idrettslag        Norwegian 2nd Div 3       4th        None
2026       Fana Idrettslag        Norwegian 2nd Div 3       1st        Promoted as Champions, Resigned in October
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2026/27    Gallipoli Calcio       Italian Serie C2/C        8th        Joined in October
2027/28    Gallipoli Calcio       Italian Serie C2/C        1st        Promoted as Champions, Serie C2 Super Cup winner, Resigned in June
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2028/29    HFC Haarlem            Jupiler League            8th        Lost in 3rd round of play-off 
2029/30    HFC Haarlem            Jupiler League            4th        Lost in 2nd round of play-off

Trophy Cabinet

Code:

Bradford Park Avenue 
- Blue Square Premier x1 - 2014/15

Casa Pia
- Portuguese 2nd Div C x1 - 2016/17

East Fife
- Scottish 3rd Div x1 - 2021/22
- Scottish 2nd Div x1 - 2022/23

Fana Idrettslag 
- Norwegian 2nd Div 3 x1 - 2026

Gallipoli Calcio
- Italian Serie C2/C x1 - 2027/28
- Italian Serie C2 Super Cup x1 - 2027/28

**TheGreatTraveler** · 18-06-2012 02:31

Unlucky in Play-offs there.

**Scarman** · 18-06-2012 04:40

Tough way to lose

**PaulHartman71** · 18-06-2012 16:01

I tried doing the old "declare interest" trick in a couple of insecure 'I' jobs in the hope that the chairman would like me enough to sack their manager and hire me instead...

**cerud** · 18-06-2012 19:05

Leading candidate

Hopefully that leads to something.

**DodgeeD** · 18-06-2012 19:44

Istanbulspor! Take them back to the top flight

**PaulHartman71** · 18-06-2012 20:44

Neither seemed overly keen on me so I agreed to a contract extension at Haarlem. Third time lucky it will have to be!!

**Nobby_McDonald** · 18-06-2012 22:06

Inter it is then.

**TheGreatTraveler** · 19-06-2012 04:22

Nobby has the right idea. There is no other choice.

**Mikal** · 19-06-2012 12:29

Good read this!

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