[FM12] From Hopeless Case to Lost Cause

Thanks for the comments guys, hopefully the next update won't be too far away.

No spoilers.

The league has split and we face a race against relegation. Sitting six points clear we should hold on, hopefully with some time towards the end of the season to blood a few young players.

Diallo got injured before the first of the games, expected to be 4-5 weeks, meaning Bednar would start. He was liekly to start anyway, after whinging about a lack of first team football - because he was allwoed to take leave, and then the winter break. Its not like I had many chances to play him.

Clubul Sportiv Municipal Studentsec Iasi (8th) v CF Bohiril Beius (7th)

Skills were looking a little rusty, until a solo prformance from iasa's Barro. He moved a round Piron nimbly and then got away a cracker of a shot for us to fall behind after 20 minutes of pretty bad play all round. Two minutes later we were awarded a penalty after Bucar was pushed to the ground before he got get his head on a corner. I think fore the first time iny my career, not counting shoot-outs, Jelen scored from the spot. Its something like 1 from 4 now. Just on half time, Iasi scored a second but it was disallowed with a dubious offside call. Actualy, The replay showed it was correct.

We looked to have given up cheap possession deep in the attacking zone, but won it back straight away for a simple Creu tap in. We led 2-1, but against the run of play. I had told the players to bring the tempo vback a bit and pass shorter, to try and deny them the ballThat seemed to work a bit, but Barro popped up again in the 67th minute. This one not such a great goal, but a standard finish that is so often fluffed at this level. 2-2. A few minutes later were fell behind, a vlistering shot by Huma from range leaving Posteuca diving helplessly. A disappointing result, but more disappointing skills.

At this stage of the season I'm used to my name being with the sack. Instead its linked with FC Arges Pitesti. That is if their manager leaves, and I'm not considered favourite even then.

Jiri Bednar again asked for a transfer. I accepted, but am hoping he will reconsider when he gets more game time in coming weeks.

CF Bohiril Beius (7th) v CS Mioveni (12th)

An opening minute mad scramble saw us with three shots blocked and eventually offside called. From then on Mioveni had the better of a game that really deserved the billing of "yuck". Both sides looked like they would be better playing Gaelic Football, where putting the ball over the cross bar is at least worth something. It took until the 67th minute for anything to be on target and not just slow at the goalkeeper's chest. Bardin broke the drought, clearly offside when the ball was played, but full marks for being in the clear and keeping the ball below crossbar height. Bardin's second, on a very quick counter, came late in the piece and was a cleaner bit of play.

CF Bohiril Beius (7th) v Gaz Metan Severin (9th)

No real surprise when Andrei Stroe came back to haunt me in the 3rd minute. I had tight marking set on him, but to no avail. Gaz Metan Severin set about playing the dominant game I knew they could, but I could not get out of them. By half time we we re in dange of losing morale to the point where relegation would loom as a high probability. A bardin corner in the 80th minute found Pocuca's head and we undeservedly levelled. The ball had not seen that end of the pitch in the second half.

Sageata Navodari (8th) v CF Bohiril Beius (7th)

What had been a pretty good game, tight, with chances hard to come by but well worked was reuined just before half time when we conceded. One shot was blocked but fell at the feet of a striker. Garcia was brought down just after the break, Garcia's free and Pocuca's head drew us level. We were abs0olutelky powerless to stop their second of the game and Kis' 20th of the season. Some one-two in the middle until the angle opened up, a long ball and sublime finish. Sloppy defence and a failure to either clear or find a target from defence soon had it at 3-1.

After that effort, and frankly the whole of March, I'm on the edge of quitting the post. I can't see us turnign this around, and there is more than long enough to scure relegation. We've been truly dismal since the winter break and now morale is falling apart as well.

CF Bohiril Beius (7th) v Luceafarul Oradea (12th)

We really needed the three points here, not just for the safety margin but for morale. It started well enough with some early pushes forward rewarded by a Jelen goal. On the half hour mark Bardin doubled the lead, he misses a lot of gettable gopals but that was a good one. The second half began with their keeper fubling an easy take, and Cretu slamming home the dropped ball. A comprehensive win against the cellar dwellers at home is what we shoudl have expected, and thankfully for ocne we got it. The gap to the drop is still just five points though.

Five games played sionce the split, five to go, five points the margin for error. Well four, five could put us in the drop zone.

CF Bohiril Beius (7th) v Clubul Sportiv Municipal Studentsec Iasi (10th)

We looked the the better side, but cpnceded on half an hour through a corner. It was disappoitning as we had defended well when required until that lapse. Four minutes later we levelled throguh Cretu's 50th goal for the club. He even injured a defender in the process. Bonus. But right on the half time whistel Catarama got his second of the game, this time a regulation shot with no pressure.

After half time our game just fell apart. Every pass was sloppy, every challenge drew a whistle. Only woodwork and offside stopped Catarama having four, Barro probably should have scored twice as well.

CS Mioveni (11th) v CF Bohiril Beius (7th)

Collective amnesia. That's the only reason I can think of why for the first 20 minutes not one player in our shirts knew what that round thing the other guys were kicking aroiund was. Thankfully hthe Mioveni players seemed to have the same problem recognising what those sticks with the eel net behind them were all about. We knew how ti give up a good penalty though, Jelen with a shin hack three minutes into stoppage tme of the first half. And Mioveni finally got the deserved goal.

Speaking of filthy acts, Cretu got himself sent off early in the second half. Maybe a bit harsh but it was crude and from behind. We went two down late in the game, again a corner our undoing/ This time the header had some real power behind it - although it delflected off Nistoriou who was unlckily credited (debited?) with the own goal. It was all too late when Diallo found himself on the end of a Bardin cross (his first decent one from who knows how many attempts - he was woeful this match) to score. Diallo had a perfect opportunity to equalise in the 93rd minute, but put the header wide.

Cretu got a two match ban to go on top of his automatic game for the red card. That means we won't see him again this season.

The results over the two months have not been good.

And it is no surprise that the once safe looking position is now very shaky.

On the global scene, the champions league wound up in North America. New York fell a step short of back to back titles, and for the first time in this save a team from outside the MLS or Mexico made it to the quarter final stage.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |FC Dallas (USA)      2   |Colorado (USA)       0    |
|2013   |Xolos Tiajuana (Mexico) 3|Chivas (Mexico)      1    |
|2014   |America (Mexico)        5|Monterrey (Mexico)   0    |
|2015   |New York (USA)       3 a |Seattle (USA)        3    |
|============================================================|
|2016 North American Champions League (from Qtr Finals)      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   1     0      1         |
|D.C. United (USA)                    1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|New York (USA)                       1     2      3 e.t.    |
|Colorado (USA)                       1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Tigres (Mexico)                      3     0      3         |
|Saprissa (Costa Rica)                3     2      5         |
|                                                            |
|Vancouver (Canada)                   1     0      1         |
|America (Mexico)                     3     2      5         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                     5     1      6         |
|Saprissa (Costa Rica)                1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|D.C. United (USA)                    2     0      2         |
|New York (USA)                       1     3      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016 North American Champions League Final                  |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|America (Mexico)                     2     2      4         |
|New York (USA)                       0     0      0         |
==============================================================

Three games to play, survival to play for.

The board offered a one year extension.I asked for a delay until the end of the season. There's no point signing a deal if we end up relegated anyway. Next day, they agree to the delay.

Gaz Metan Severin (7th) v CF Bohiril Beius (8th)

Seventh v eighth, you would think the bookies would have reasonably close odds. We start at massive 10/1.

The bookies looked on the money after 10 minutes, Duigheru scoring hirst ever goal for the home side. After half an hour we drew level. All three of our shoits had been via the head from corners, Bucar's second attempt the target. That signalled a period where we probably had the better of play. Bednar had a good chance to put is in front from close range just before half time, but gave the goalkeeper too much time to cover.

Not long afte resumption Bardin timed his run from a free kick and knocked home his tenth of the season. After providing both assists from set pieces, Diallo was there to mop up a rebound and score our third himself, Garcia's shot having bounced off the upright. On 66 minutes Garcia was brought down as he attempted to wheel on to the ball, taking Jelen to the spot. It struck the woodwork, but went in for a 4-1 scoreline. Gaz Metan Severin pushed hard after that but there was no more scoring.

Sageata Navodari had a win, meaning had we lost we peobably would have been in the relegation zone.

Just putting out the feelers, I applied for a role at Chieti in italy. They finished mid-table in the Serie C2/A. I was not sure if I would take the job or not if the application was successful. They didn't laugh me out of town straight away, which is an improvement.

Luceafarul Oradea (12th) v CF Bohiril Beius (7th)

We were under the pumnp early. Unable to get the ball forward, we found ourselves stretched defensively on aregular basis. I slowed the tempo and went with shorter passes in the hope we could wrest some control. It worked to an extent, as we did get mnore of the ball and take it into the opposition's half more often. We were still outplayed, but at least in the game. On 70 minutes we came close, with Diallo's corner hitting Bucvar's head, the attempt hit the underside of the crossbar but stayed out. Right oj stoppage time Oradea produced some very good play which resulted in a shot from right next to the spot. Thankfully the shot was the only poor part, striking the right upright and ricocheting to safety.

I didn't get the Chieti job, and wasn't really expecting to.

It looks like we will have some player turnover this off season. I am reluctant to keep paying Garcia's wages as his form has fallen away and his physical attributes are beginning to decline. A few others want out as they haven't been getting first team football.

CF Bohiril Beius (7th) v Sageata Navodari (10th)

A draw would see us safe, and with 8th playing 9th, we could lose and be safe so long as that game was not a draw.

I have no idea what happened on the 30 minute mark. Posteuca was standing on his own to the right of goal as the Navodari players were toying with the ball on his left hand post. We went 1-0 down. From that point on neither side really looked like scoring, though both did take some shots they were largely speculative.

It all came down to what happened in other games. The other match of consequence was a 1-1 draw. Four teams were now on 42 points.

That means a four way playoff, with the fourth placed side relegated.

Three more games for the season. So, I lied, Cretu will be seen again.

Disturbingly, our form since the winter break and league split has been really poor - against the lower half of the league.

                 W  D  L   GF-GA
At the split      7 10  5   34-34
After the split   3  2  5   15-13

We get just one home game of the three playoff matches.

Against the three opponents, our record this season has been (in order that we play them)

v Sageata Navodari : 2 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses. For 6, Against 5.

This is our one home game, where it is a 3-2 win and more recently 1-0 loss.

v Culubul Sportiv Municipal Studentsec Iasi : 2 wins, 0 draws, 2 loses. For 8, against 8.

We had a 1-0 win away before the split and a 3-1 loss afterwards.

v Gaz Metan Severin : 1 win, 2 draws, 1 loss. For 9, Against 7.

At their ground we had a four all draw near the start of the season, and a 4-1 win away after the split - in a game we were given absolutely no chance in, and early on it looked like going that way.

Looking at that does not inspire a lot of confidence, but if we can manage one win that might be enough to avoid the one relegation spot still open. IF we get a win, and it MIGHT be enough.

Also, I signed a new one year deal - so we better not get the drop.

In part two, these games, any early off-season news (departures at this stage), and the normal May/June wrap of the big European leagues and various continental competitions that finish up.

CF Bohiril Beius v Sageata Navodari

This match up didn't work out too well in the last game, forcing us into a playoff.

An unusual sight greeted the players, our small home ground was almost full. They were kept quiet though as we did nothing but defend early on. That was until just short of half an hour when Buia, who was retained as a started at Cretu's epense, was played in by Diallo to open the scoring. Surprisingly, for all the time our opponents had the ball in and around area, they had still only taken the one shot and that was a wild effort from distance. That changed a minute later when another long rage effort came off the woodwork and they ahd a striker there to slam home the ricochet and level the scores. That was the way it stayed until the half.

It was pretty even on resumption, for 15 minutes. Then Kis got on the end of a Chiacu cross, using his head to put us 2-1 down. On the 70 minute mark Garcia and Cretu came on to the field, looking for more firepower with Bednar and Agic coming off. It was all over at 3-1 when Kis on an unchallenged solor run down the right squared up to Lemac, who headed truly. Lemac again in stoppage time and it had become a rout.

In the other game Iasi had a 2-1 over Severin.

RELEGATION PLAYOFF                          F  A   Pts
Sageata Navodari                            4  1     3
Clubul Sportiv Municipal Studentsec Iasi    2  1     3
Gaz Metan Severin                           1  2     0
------------------------------------------------------
CF Bohiril Beius                            1  4     0

Muresel Deva won the promotion playoff game.

Clubul Sportiv Municipal Studentsec Iasi v CF Bohiril Beius

We started at 10/1 odds again. Would we be able to prove the bookies spectacularly wrong? Not if form maintained itself.

A cou-ple of changes to the line up. Right back has been a problem, so Craciun gets another chance. Cretu comes back and starts this game, in what has been a surprisngly rare occurrence we start with two strikers. In the 15th minute with the keeper beaten, we were forced into a mad panic to keep the ball out. But five minutes later gave up a penalty. Matei made no mistake, and at this pointI conceded relegation was inevitable. Atangana got his first of the season to double our deficit. I'm surprised by that, he always seems to doiminate against us - but I guess Barro does all the scoring. 3-0, Atangana's free kick headed in by Catarama.

Late in the piece a few unlucky ricochets and Matei had his second. A 4-0 drubbing. How did the season come to this?

Sageata Navodari won the other game, essentially making it a win or relegate situation against Gaz Metan Severin.

RELEGATION PLAYOFF                          F  A   Pts
Clubul Sportiv Municipal Studentsec Iasi    6  1     6
Sageata Navodari                            6  2     6
Gaz Metan Severin                           2  4     0
------------------------------------------------------
CF Bohiril Beius                            1  8     0

With the players' morale getting as low as my own I held a team meeting to try and get something out of the last game of the season - almost certainly my last at this club as it gets relegated to the not-in-game third tier.

Gaz Metan Severin v CF Bohiril Beius

I should have just resigned at this point, but with one game to go decided to play it out to the inevitable end.

At least we weren't overwhelmed in the opening minutes. Neither side made any real inroads for the opening quarter of an hour. Then gaz Metan Severin put together on good opportunity, somehow that resulted in only a corner. But corners have been very dangerous in the latter half of the season. Thankfully, not this time. We were forced to make a substitution with Craciun injured in the 22nd minute. Piron came on, which is not good. As the game setteld into a pattern, that pattern was us clearing from defence only to see it pumped back at us. Just after the half hour mark Diallo ran on to a loose ball, beat the sprawling goalkeeper with the placed shot, and struck the upright - in our only realistic chance to that point. A couple of minutes later Diallo crossed to cretu, but his header from about two metres was weak and easily caught. We seemed on a yellow card spree at around 35 minutes. Diallo for handball, both Cretu and Garcia arguing with the ref after a non-penalty decision. That non-penalty resulted in a corner. Bucar got his head to it, beat the goalkeeper, but another man was there to clear it off the line. Things were not working at all, Cretu was doing much of the build-up work when he needs to be the finisher. At the half, it was nil all. We had probably been better for the last 20 minutes, but we need a win, a draw does no good - and if we don't score than Severin will at soime point (and they still have Stroe on the bench).

Stroe was on for the start of the second half, and Deaconescu came on not long after. Severin had two fresh striker to take on our incapable defence. And it was Deaconescu who broke the drought, again with the head. There's a real problem there. Thankfully it was deemed offside. The second half seemed less eventful than the first, we were under pressure a bit with neither side doing much of note. I was looking to bring more fresh legs on, but all the tired players were the key players. In the end, Diallo was brought off for Suleiman who had spent most of the season out of the main squad but was improving. While waiting for a break for the substitution to happen, Cretu ran up the middle, kcocked it right to Diallo, who centred again to Agic running past two defenders. Agic isn't a noted goal scorer, but on 88 minutes we had a lead. Four minutes of added time had to be negotiated - and I was waiting for that kick in the teeth only Football Manager can deliver so regularly. it almost arrived in the 92nd minute, but the shot was cleared to Cretu who sent Suleiman on a relieveing run, the fresh legs helping break away. Cretu was brought down following it up. Suleiman hit the free kick, it was on target but easily stopped by the goalkeeper. garcia almost played Creu on to seal it, but the goalkeeper came off his line and just beat Cretu to the ball, 92:50 played. Severin advanced once more but fouled when challenged, and that was it. 1-0.

The final league games and the playoffs do not make for good end of season reading.

RELEGATION PLAYOFF                          F  A   Pts
Clubul Sportiv Municipal Studentsec Iasi    9  2     9
Sageata Navodari                            7  5     6
CF Bohiril Beius                            2  8     3
------------------------------------------------------
Gaz Metan Severin                           2  5     0

Garcia and Cretu reached the yellow card limit, but that's a problem for next season.

That was not how I expected things would go when the league split. I thought we would be safe with a game or two to go, not waiting until the 88th minute of a third playoff game.

With the season over the awards started being announced.

For the club, 9th in this division is the highest ever finish.

Bardin had the most assists for the league with 16. Iasi's Atangana was next on 13.

Bardin and Diallo made the league's team of the year.

With Garcia probably leaving, there is a need to fill a gap there. However, Suleiman's improvement might make him a striking choice and Jelen can fill the role as attacking midfielder when needed so maybe there won't be a ned to recruit for that area.

The defending in the air is a big concern, yet both central defenders are supposedly good in that department. They can jump, head, and their position is good (for this level). Right back is still a concern, and Buican is slowing down so left may need to be field as well. I would like to improve our goalkeeping options, especially with the backup leaving and the third a joke of a player.

Really, we just need quality. Getting any in will not be an easy thing. We also need to be mindful of the age requirements of the league, and that our quota of non-EU players is pretty much used up.

A good defensive mid would be handy, I like to play that position with a deep defence but don't have anybody to do it.

Due to the massive losses every club makes in this league, the initial salary budget has been cut back to about what we are currently paying so any quality coming in has to be cheap.

Speaking of the losses, on £275k turnover we lost £625k. That's the sort of thing that seems to happen to all clubs. And its not like there are many high value players to sell in order to break even. £0.30 - £0.50 ticket prices around the league don't help, at our club £3 gets you a season ticket.

The fans voted Andrei Cretu as their player of the year. His attributes really are not that good, but 16 goals often a lone striker in 28 appearances is not a bad return.

As June ends, ten players leave including:

Matias Garcia - the 33 year old Argentinian had been a mainstay of the side, and was probably the most skilled, but he was slowing down and starting to deline. His wage demands were too high, and whether he could continue to fill one of the available non-EU spots was questionable. I would have preferred to keep him, with a wage drop.

2015/16 : 33 games, 3 goals. Mostly as attacking mid, but also as a striker.

At the club since 2013/14 : 90 games, 31 goals, presumably more as a striker in the other two seasons.

Eugen Cracioun - forced his way into the side in the back hlaf of the season, but at 30 years of age and playing only because there were no good options, I decided to let him go. Hopefully a nbew right back will do well.

2015/16 : 14 games, 0 goals.

The others were of no consequence, barely playing any first team games.

Career Update

============================================================================================================
|Season  |Club                          |Compeition                                        |Finish         |
|======= |==============================|==================================================|===============|
|2011/12 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in 11th place, 15 of 30 played        |               |
|        |                              |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  12th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 6 matches of 30                  |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |4th round (start 4th round)                       |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   6th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in  8th place, 19 of 30 played        |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 30 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |7th round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014/15 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   9th of 16   |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Season  |Club                          |Competition                           |  W|  D|  L|  GF|  GA|  GD |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12 |CF Brailia                    |Romanian Second League                |  4|  6|  5|  14|  17|  -3 |
|2012/13 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  0|  3|  3|   4|   7|  -3 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League                |  3|  2|  2|   6|   7|  -1 |
|2013/14 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  7| 13| 10|  36|  37|  -1 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  3|  0|  1|  11|   9|  +2 |
|2014/15 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League                | 11| 12| 12|  51|  55|  -4 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  1|  1|   7|   5|  +2 |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Totals  |CF Brailia                    |                                    22|  4|  9|  9|  18|  26|  -8 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |                                    41| 13| 15| 13|  53|  53|   0 |
|        |CF Bihoril Beius              |                                    38| 12| 13| 13|  58|  60|  -2 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Grand Total                                                                101| 29| 37| 35| 129| 139| -10 |
|Percentage                                                                    |29%|37%|35%|               |
============================================================================================================

Around the world, the Champions League finished up in Europe as did most leagues. The Oceania nations Cup was held, and the Copa Liberdatores wound up in South America.

In the three big European leagues, no surprise. order was restored after Tottenham caused a boilover in England last season. Manchester City came close, close and close again.

England 2015/16
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Manchester United           |Aston Villa            |
|2012/13|Manchester City             |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2013/14|Manchester City             |Watford                |
|2014/15|Tottenham Hotspur           |Wigan                  |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Manchester United      +39   85 |FA Cup                     |
|Manchester City        +46   83 |Fulham             2 pens  |
|Chelsea                +35   75 |Manchester City    2       |
|Tottenham Hotspur      +29   72 |                           |
|Liverpool              +20   71 |League Cup                 |
|Arsenal                +25   67 |Chelsea            2 pens  |
|Southampton            +10   65 |Manchester City    1       |
==============================================================

Italy 2015/16
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|FC Internazionale           |FC Internazionale      |
|2012/13|FC Internazionale           |Atalanta               |
|2013/14|FC Internazionale           |A.C. Milan             |
|2014/15|FC Internazionale           |Napoli                 |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Internazionale      +39   78 |Italian Cup                |
|A.C. Milan             +22   67 |Genoa              2       |
|Juventus               +11   63 |FC Internazionale  1       |
|Roma                   +16   63 |                           |
|Napoli                  +6   62 |                           |
|Udinese                 +8   58 |                           |
|Genoa                    0   55 |                           |
==============================================================

Spain 2015/16
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Real Madrid                 |Valencia               |
|2012/13|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2013/14|FC Barcelona                |Sevilla                |
|2014/15|FC Barcelona                |Osasuna                |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Barcelona           +57   85 |Spanish Cup                |
|Real Madrid            +32   78 |FC Barcelona       3       |
|Sevilla                +25   65 |Deprtivo La Coruna 1       |
|Villareal              +18   64 |                           |
|Atletico Madrid        +24   64 |                           |
|Malaga                  +6   59 |                           |
|Real Sociedad SAD      +12   58 |                           |
==============================================================

European Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12|FC Barcelona (Spain)        6                       |
|       |Arsenal (England)           0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13|Manchester United (England) 3                       |
|       |Manchester City (England)   0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14|FC Barcelona (Spain)        3                       |
|       |Olypique Lyonnais (France)  1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014/15|Manchester United (England) 2                       |
|       |FC Barcelona (Spain)        1                       |
|============================================================|
|2015/16 European Champions League                           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quater Finals                                               |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|FCP (Portugal)                       4     0      4         |
|Internazionale (Italy)               0     2      2         |
|                                                            |
|Totteham Hotspur (England)           3     0      3         |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 1     3      4         |
|                                                            |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          4     0      4         |
|Manchester City (England)            0     2      2         |
|                                                            |
|Manchester United (England)          3     1      4         |
|A.C. Milan (Italy)                   0     0      0         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Manchester United (England)          2     0      2         |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 0     3      3         |
|                                                            |
|FC Bayern (Germany)                  2     0      2         |
|FCP (Portugal)                       0     3      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016 European Champions League Final                        |
|                                    HT    FT     ET   Pen   |
|FCP (Portugal)                       0     1                |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 2     2                |
==============================================================

Copa Liberdatores
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         4                  |
|       |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Corinthians (Brazil)             4                  |
|       |Clube Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)  2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014   |Corinthians (Brazil)             2                  |
|       |Fluminense (Brazil)              4                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |San Lorenzo (Argentina)          1                  |
|============================================================|
|2016 Copa Liberdatores                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)            2     3      5         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 3     1      4         |
|                                                            |
|Independiente (Argentina)            1     1      2         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    2     1      3         |
|                                                            |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   2     2      4         |
|Santos (Brazil)                      0     0      0         |
|                                                            |
|Godoy Cruz (Argentina)               1     3      4         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   1     2      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)            1     1      2         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   2     1      3         |
|                                                            |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     1      2         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    1     2      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016 Copa Liberdatores Final                                |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   0     0      0         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    1     2      3         |
==============================================================

2016 Oceania Nations Cup

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |New Zealand          4    |Papua New Guinea    0    |
|============================================================|
|2016 Oceania Nations Cup                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|Papua New Guinea     0         |Fiji                2       |
|New Zealand          4         |Vanuatu             3 e.t.  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016 Oceania Nations Cup Final                              |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|New Zealand           2          5                          |
|Vanuatu               0          1                          |
==============================================================

Good luck, wherever you end up

At least you survived in the end.

I'll start with the player movements. Nobody special picked up, but I think it is a slightly better side than we took into last season.

More out than in, which was always the hope.

I had Dolha in goal in my ill-fated Baz Metan Severin stint. He is old, and signed on a one year deal but will start the season as the firct choice. There was little else around and I needed a back up. That i got a newfirst team will be a bonus, if he works otu that way.

Stan was brought in as cover for Bardin should he go down. Bardin duly obliged and misses the start of the season with a double hernia.

Builescu will hopefully provide an answer at the troublesome right back spot, while Szekeley is young and will give some depth in the central midfield. That could be particularly important before the split, as there are often mid-week fixtures and tired players.

Again, frriendlies were a mix of teams at our level and a level below. I don't think there is anything much to be read from those results. They flatter usn slightly and a couple of those wins could easily have been draws or losses.

Expectations.

The media has us set to finish 11th of 12 in the league, i.e. relegated. That is better than last season when 12th was expected.

The board expect tu to stay clear of relegation, and I doin't have sights any higher than that either.

In the cup the board is expecting us to reach the fourth round. It turns out that the fourth round is our entry point, so that is met before a game is played. Due to fixture congestion and finances, I won't be putting much into the cup. The gate and prize money does not close to the appearance fees, and clubs at this level lose over £500k a year. I think FM12 has got finances seriously screwed in Romania.

And so the season begins, and not with an easy game

CS Pandurii Lignitul Targu Jiu (media prediction 2nd) v CF Bohiril Beius (media prediction 11th)

Our opponents finished 16th in the top flight last season and rop to join the plebs. This will be the second time in three years they have been in Liga II, having been in the top flight from 2005/6 until 2013/14.

Along with Baridn's injury, Cretu is out with a suspension carried over from last season.

It only took three minutes for Diallo to start the scoring. Roger Diallo of Pandurii. Nothing much changed, still vulnerable to a corner it seems. Rotaru had been tearing us apart all game and it was no surprise that he was the one to extend out problems. What was a surprise was that he didn't go on a run leaving four or five of our players on the ground in his wake to score. He, and a few others, were way too skilled for us. We puled one back late in the half on one of the few forays into enemy territory. Suleiman, playing as a lone striker, scored with Stan runing the setup and Agic the assist. Suleiman soon had two. Diallo's long range free kick found Pocuca's head, but the header was parried Suleiman was at the fall of the ball and hit truly. And that closed out the first half action. Swamped, but on level terms.

On resumption Diallo hit another long free kick. This time going for goal, and getting it. It was very nearly 4-2 our way but Stan's header hit the cross bar and came back into play for their dfence to clear. As the second half progressed it became clear we were getting the ball into their territory, and good situations, more often. That's not to say we didn't have some scares ourselves. Another long range Diallo free kick did put us 4-2 up in the 67th minute. Pocuca's head again the target, and again doing the job. On resumption it was straight down to our goal and Roger Diallo made it 4-3. This game was giving the fans plenty, and now ould have been a good time for that to stop. On 81 minutes Roger Diallo's centering ball found Rotaru and it was 4-4. Both sides had come back from two goals down, but with ten minutes to play we had lost all momentum. In a break to that momentum in the 90th minute our Diallo, running down the right (both Diallos do that), crossed to Stan who headed for 5-4. There was one scare in stoppage time, but no change to the score.

Across six matches in the season's opening round there were 15 goals, the nine in our game set a new record for high scoring game involving the club. The previous highest was 4-4 in Cretu's hattrick game against my old team last season.

FC Hunedoara (Liga III) v CF Bohiril Beius - Romanian Cup 4th Round

It wasn't quite a second eleven that took to the field, but not that far off. Afterr some promise very early, we started feeling the pressure. I was just coinsidering switching to myore normal 4 man defence when we conceded on 25 minutes. Less than ten minutes later it was a two goal deficit. Things were just not working, but that was fine. I didn't really care aabout the cup. We pulled one back, with 38 played through a simple close range finish by Bednar. The cross to meet his run was first rate.

Midway through the second half I brought Diallo on. He is becomeing som,ething of a free kick specialit, this time the ball found the feet of Muscalu for the 2-2 equaliser. Hunedoara reclaimed the lead with the good old corner'header combination that hits us so badly for reasons I don't yet know. There were around ten to play at that point. Three minutes later Buia had an open goal, and just snuck it in for 3-3.

And so, extra time. We had already made all three subs.

We almost grabbed a lead on 99 minutes, with a deflection that narrowly failed to become an own goal. On 117 minutes, just when penalties looked ceratin, Agic took a shot from range. The foalkeeper got his left hand to it but could only knock it as far as the top right corner. 4-3 our way.

The start of the season has been pretty shaky defensively, but the fans can't say its been boring.

CF Bohiril Beius (media prediction 11th) v ACF 1992 Gloria Bistrita (media prediction1st)

Creu had givewn the fans early cause to get into the game, striking the upright from distance, but was forced off the fied with an injury 30 minutes in. His replacement, Buia, was jobbling just a few minutes later. Otherthan the one effort from Cretu, the first half was all about defending. We could not get the ball past the half way line and retain possession.

The second half was lot like the first. We got the ball up there a bit more often, but not to the point of getting shots away. We almost concded twice but held on for a draw. Now the fans can say we've played a boring game.

Bardin resumed training, but Cretu will be out for two months and Buia for a week. That would lave Suleiman playing as a sole striker, something I'm not oo uncomfoartable with.

CSM RamnIcu Valcea (media prediction 4th) v CF Bohiril Beius (media prediction 11th)

As the first half progressed it became clear we were again struggling to get the ball forward with any meaning. So when a penalty was paid on 33 minutes we needed to score. Agic struck the upright, the rebound was cleared.

At the start of the second half we started evening up the possession and shot counts, but nothing on target. We looked like gettign a scoreless draw until 88 minutes when from nowhere Dubei was on the end of a speculative ball and headed us into deficit. We didn;'t deserve a point, but I would have gladly taken it.

After a hectic first couple of games, things got more normalised. Hopefully not in terms of results.

The big thing in the off-season was Euro 2016.

==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012 |Portugal           2      |England            0       |
|============================================================|
|Euro 2016                                                   |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|GROUP A                                            GD  Pts  |
|Belgium                                            +4    9  |
|France                                             +1    4  |
|Scotland                                           -1    2  |
|Sweden                                             -4    1  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP B                                            GD  Pts  |
|Italy                                              +8    9  |
|Switzerland                                        -1    6  |
|Czech Republic                                     +2    3  |
|Iceland                                            -9    0  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP C                                            GD  Pts  |
|Russia                                             +4    9  |
|Holland                                            +4    6  |
|Ukraine                                            -2    3  |
|Greece                                             -6    0  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP D                                            GD  Pts  |
|England                                            +6    9  |
|Poland                                             -2    6  |
|Romania                                            -1    3  |
|Montonegro                                         -3    0  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP E                                            GD  Pts  |
|Germany                                            +4    7  |
|Portugal                                           -1    6  |
|Austria                                            -1    2  |
|Croatia                                            -2    1  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP F                                            GD  Pts  |
|Spain                                              +7    7  |
|Slovenia                                            0    6  |
|Denmark                                            -1    4  |
|Serbia                                             -6    0  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Second Round
|Belgium              2  e.t.   |Slovenia            0       |
|Switzerland          1         |Germany             3       |
|                                                            |
|Czech Republic       0         |Spain               2       |
|Italy                3         |Ukraine             0       |
|                                                            |
|Portugal             0         |Romania             2       |
|France               1         |Russia              3       |
|                                                            |
|England              1  pens   |Polang              2 e.t.  |
|Denmark              1         |Holland             1       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Belgium              4         |Spain               2       |
|Germany              0         |Italy               0       |
|                                                            |
|France               1         |England             3       |
|Russia               2         |Poland              0       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|Belgium               0          1       1                  |
|England               1          1       2                  |
|                                                            |
|Spain                 1          3                          |
|Russia                1          1                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|EURO 2016 FINAL                                             |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|England               1          1                          |
|Spain                 1          2                          |
==============================================================

CF Bohiril Beius (6th, media prediction 11th) v FC Arges Pitesti (7th, media prediction 7th)

On the half hour marked we looked set to clear the ball but failed to do so. An opposition striker found it between three indecisive defenders and knocked one home. Sort of bad luck, but if we were playing better and not on the defensive so much this sort of thing would have been less liekly to happen. Agic should have scored at the start of the second, Suleiman laid it back to him but he could only slam it into the left upright. I made a change to try and get something hapopening up forward, but almost immediately somthing happened down back. A bad thing, and Mensah put us 2-0 down. And that was the story done, nine shots for zero on target.

CS Flacara Faget (Liga III, Group 5) v CF Bohiril Beius - Romanian Cup Fifth Round

With things really not working I changed the line up a little, hoping we could play ourselves into form against the lower league club. In some ways I would still prefer to bow out of the cup for financial reasons and dixture congestion, but form and morale are a worry.

We had the better of the opneing five minutes but were clearly the worse team for the next 60. But neither side actually had any proper chances until the 64th minute, when Flacara Faget put together a string of passes and worked the angles. Posteuca was forced in to a good save to stop us going behind. We finally did fall behind in the 75th minute, after i had brought Bardin - returning from inujury but still not fully fit - and Diallo on to try and find something. Six minutes later and it was a 2-0 deficit, Posteuca wrong footed by a defelction was unable to get across to a dribbler.

I decided to hold a team meeting now, in the hope of heading off a serious morale problem. It is starting to drop, but not at crisis point yet. A few more games like this and it will be time to resign before my reputation gets tarnished again. The team meeting backfired. Its just about time to walk.

FC Seso Campia Turzii (12th) v CF Bohiril Beius (9th)

Some games you dominate around the ground, and the opposition does all the scoring. That was the opening 25 minutes of this match. We peppered their goal, only twice did they venture into our territory. We were 2-0 down. We did pull one back through luck of the deflections, Diallo putting it home, but defeat looked inevitable despite being the better team on 95% of the pitch. More luck after the break brought our second. Diallo's corner hit Bucar, who headed straight to the crossbar. That rebound came off the goalkeeper's back and in. Suleiman then almost immediately gave us the lead, Szekely's pass caught the defence napping and Suleiman slotted to the goalkeeper's right. Not long after Suleiman took a knock and I briought him off as a precautionry measure. Pop secured his hattrick on 65 minutes, just the fourth goal the team had scored all season - that's how bad our defence was functioning. Buia, the replacement for Suleiman was forced off through injury. Bardin came on to play the striker's role, not his best position. Bogdan Pop made it four with a long range effort that slipped straight through Dolha's hands. Disgusting from the central defenders.

CF Bohiril Beius (8th) v FC Unirea 2006 Alba Iulia (10th)

We opened the scoring about 30 minutes in against the run of play. Builescu intercepted a clearance, Szeleky was there after and managed to lay off to Bardin for a not so simple, not too difficult, chance. From that point on we were never in the hunt. Eventually the pressure paid off for them, and on 60 minutes another cross from the right was headed home. So familiar. Just after the 80 minute mark, a scintilating piece of Unirea play was finished off with a cross from the right headed home to put us 2-1 down. Unirea had a few more chances after that, and 17 shots to 3 showed we deserved the zero points.

CSU Vointa Subiu (8th) v CF Bohiril Beius (10th)

We had one early chance, whichw e squandered. And paid the price for, a floated ball from the right found the head of Vointa Sibiu's Popa for a simple goal to open the scoring. That was very quickly followed by Goian finding the ball at his feet six yards out and striking before the defence reacted. At 2-0 down in 15 minutes we were in danger of a blowout. It was very nearly three when Goian headed a corner from the left into the crossbar; but remained at two until the break.

The second half was less eventful. Sibiu had their chances and blew them, it was not defensive presure which caused that.

At this point my PC broke down - I had played the next match for 1-1 result but that did not save.

CF Bohiril Beius (11th) v FC Chindia Targoviste (10th)

Saved by the fal right on half time. A dubious offside call stopped us falling one behind. Our passing had been abysmal. We were winning the ball, and probably had the better of the game to that point. We were however missing the open target and making him work to win it again. Partly that's skill, a lot is morale.

In the second half we started turning the possession into shots, just not very good ones. On 75 minutes, Piron almost headed home a corner. Only the fingertips of the opposing goalie stopped us taking the lead.

Nil all the final score, and while we were the better side it was marginal and we only looked dangerousd twice. So its a fair reflection of the game.

FCM Avantul Regin (8th) v CF Bohiril Beius (11th)

There was no doubt Avantul started the game stronger, bvut we had the perfect opportunity with their goalkeeper off his line when Bardin hit the left upright. Bardin amde up for it half an hour later, in the 45th he evaded a tackler to get behind the lines and then slotted home to the goalkeeper's right.

The scond half opened witha floated free kick from Diallo, onto Piron's head. Straight to the goalkeeper who fumbled, but the wihistle had gone. In our favour, Agic's penalty in the top left corner for a 2-0 advantage. And from the kick off we won the ball back, Bardin fed Suleiman throiugh the defenders and 3-0. Followed immediately with Diallo centering to Bardin, who took a long range shot and beat the diving goalkeeper. 4-0 up. We had put on three goal in fifteen minutes to open the half. It got better with Octavian Stuparu sent off after 66 minutes. A fifth with a throw to Suleiman, who pass ricocheted to Benar on the edge of the area and a true strike.

An emphatic end to a winless run. The problem is one game evey two months isn't going to see us clear of relegation.

After that perfomance seven of our players made the team of the week.

CS Alro Slatina (7th) v CF Bohiril Beius (10th)

Biaz Jelen was unavailable due to Slvenian under 21 commitments. That meant I brought back in long sice forgotten Muscalu, to allow Bardin to stay up forward.

Alro had most of the possession early, but we made the best chance of the opening half hour. Almost on half time, an Alro forward rose above the pack near the far post but thankfully from our perspective managaed only to hit the woodwork. And they really shoudl have scored not long after, a close range shot was parried to an Alro striker who with the whole game to aim at from within the six yard box put it wide. No score in the half, few chances for either team but both squandered realistic chances.

After a few corners in succession, Diallo found the head of Pocuca and we had a lead after 62 minutes. Also rmade an immediate reply, Stoianof in the action with a few bits of really good play and Lazer finishing with a well struck shot. Stoinaof was looking really dangerous, after being unsighted for most of the game to that point. We went into defeicit in the 77th minute, a corner and two Alro headers doing the damage. Stanescu with the second of those to get his maiden Alro goal. Very poor marking on the far post the problem on that occasion.

Its always disapppointing to lose a game you had a lead in, but its hard to say we deserved any more than we got. We just didn't play well enough for long enough.

Suleiman picked up another yellow, and misses the next game. That might be for the best, he got very tirted towards the end against Alro mid-week.

CF Bohiril Beius (10th) v FC Bifor Oredea (3rd)

The bookies gave uo little hope coming into this one. I can see why.

back home, and boy did we stink up the place. In the end the first came when a simple clearance was turned into a toe poke at the opposition's Sorian. I was expecting a lot more. That proved to be one of only two well set up shots of the opening half, and it was the defender who set it up forthem. The other was a good ball to Butuc, who could have sealed the game but sent it wide with no pressure on him.

Butuc looked to have got the sealer after the break, but was deemed offside. Our first real chance all game when Bardin ran on to a loose ball and hot a searting cross to Buia. The defence had just enough time to block the shot. Bihor certainly did not bring their "A" game, but it was enough to make us look third rate. We were utterly putrid in every department. A 6-0 loss was more like what we deserved.

We picked a new midfielder during the week. Its one area we don't really lack, except he can play as a defensive mid and that might be a ploy.

CS Pandurii Lignitul Targu Jiu (9th) v CF Bohiril Beius (11th)

Tyhe scoring opened on 20 minutes with Bujor slising one past Posteuca. A simple shot to make, a simple save to make, but missed. The opposition's Diallo got the second after Bjuor evaded three tackjles in the centre of the pitch to set him up. And that was lmost half time, with nothing of note in the final minutes.

Our first real chance cvame on 60 minutes, Suleiman finding path forward but shooting a touch wide. We did score right on full time, a very neatly turned own goal by Pocuca to send us 3-0 down.

In proof that the shot count can be highly deceptive, it was ten shots a piece. Zero on target from us, as all bar two were under pressure or from ridiculous andles or from a long waoy out, or any combination of the three.

ACF Gloras Bistrita (1st) v CF Bohiril Beius (11th)

Calvin debuted, with a new formation being sued so he can play as a DM.

And the game started perfectly. Seven minutes in, the first chance was a long ball frr kick from Prion, to Suleiman who volleyed from the edge of the area and scored. Things weren't so good when Bardin went down injured two minutes later. And two minutes after that some real class from Mhoammed showed why we are at the foot of the table and Bistrita at the other end. On 20 minutes Suleiman was brought down in a thuggish manner, no whistle, but an unhealthy blow. I kept him on to see if he would recover. Four minutes later we had the lead back again, Biaz Jelen spun around one defender and puit the ball past the goalkeeper's left. Builescu had to be brought off after being injured in the 28th minute. And Suleiman couldn't make it past 33 minutes. Despite some physicality, we haled on for an unlikely half time lead.

Ten minutes into the seocnd and we really should have conceded. Posteuca's save was excellent and just allowed a scrambled clearance. Piron scored his ever goal for us, after a Bardin free from very wide on the left hound his head. 30 to play and two goals up. Bistrits pressured us hard for a long time, eventually a shot from angle delivered their second goal. The man had been left when his defender went to the ball carrier, some quick passing just oipened up the slim chance and a high quality shot was made. We still had 20 minutes to hold out at that point. And then Bardin got injured. Three injuries, including two of our best three players. 15 minutes remained and with no subs left we had a lot of tired, or sore, players.

Gutsy from the lads. All the stats say we were outplayed, but there is potency in the forward when things go right and a win away to the top pof the table is huge. Sadly, being at the bottom of the table is bigger.

Gloris Bistrita had only conceded twice the season (11 games) before that match.

Bardin will miss three weeks, Builescu 6-7.

CF Bohiril Beius (10th) v CSM Raminicu Valcea (2nd)

Suleiman again took an early knock. But it was Nistoriu who was forced from the field first, having regained aplace in Builescu's absence. Before half an hour was up, Buia was off as well and Suleiman was the lone limping striker. That, and the fact that we barely touched the ball, were not good signs. But somehow there was no damage on the scoreboard at the break.

Diallo was also limping not long into the secpond half, having copped one in a tackle while making a clearnace. Despite carrying injuries it was Diallo's long free kick which the goialkeeper dropped to Suleiman's feet that saw us with an undeserved lead. That was the cue to bring Suleiman off however. It was the 89th minute that saw Constantin level for Valcea. Just too much composure, and fitness.

Diallo (4-6 weeks) and Sulieman (4-7) add to a ahort injury list, but one now encompasssing arguably our top four players. Bednar might be in that four, and apart from free kicks is a ready made Diallo replacement.

FC Arges Pitesti (6th) v CF Bohiril Beius (10th)

The gam,e started slowly, and I was quite happy for nothing to happen for 90 minutes. Towards the enmd of the first half Arges started putting some pressure on. But an incisive break from Muscalu, and a cross to Puchiu's head, gave us a one goal advantage shortly before the break.

The second half started with a bit more action, mostly around our goal. However Arges failed to capitalise and Muscalu's break proved the decisice moment. Overall, we were outplayed, but the three points are ours.

November dawned with the news that Bardin had won October's goal of the month award. I have to celebrate the small things.

October was not good, but September was truly dismal.

With the split just seven games away, we probably need to win four or five to make top half and safety from the drop. With the financial ruin the club is facing, I may well resign before that point.

After a reasonable, though not impressive October, hopes were up that we might somehow make the top half and avoid the relegation battle comes the league's split.

CF Bihoril Beius (10th) v FC Seso Campia Turzii (12th)

Theoretically, November started with an easy game. But no game i easy for us and we have a better record against the top teams than amongst our peers at the bottom of the table.

It started well enough, a long ball going end to end for Stan to run onto and slip past the opposition goalkeeper in the opening minute. Stan nearly had a second six minutes later but after that the chances dried up. 1-0 at the break.

Calvin gave away unnecessary penalty early in the second, and scores were duly levelled. Thankfully we replied quickly, almost a training drill as Miscalu ran up the left unopposed right until the cross was made. Bednar ran in hard and got on the end of it. When Muscalu got injured I made two changes, reverting to a 4-5-1. And we gave up a second penalty, Buican sticking his leg out to bring down an opponent barely inside the area. This time it was missed, sent way over the target. We didn't play well, but for once got three points against a fellow struggler. Its also rare we get the three points when we are clearly the better team.

CSU Vointa Sibiu (8th) v CF Bihoril Beius (9th)

Wasteful. We had the run of play, yet only once looked dangerous. Instead we just sprayed the ball wildly from any angle and any distance. A nil all draw was hard to take from the general play, but more than what was deserved given the forward (lack of) effort.

FC Unirea 2006 Alba Iulia (4th) v CF Bihoril Beius (10th)

A lovely curving cornet by Avram and Agu's head put us behind in the 10th minute. It was soon two nil, some simple knocking the ball around unpressured and a tidy but not difficult finish. lay was reasonably even overall, but when we were down we were further down. After almost 80 minutes Buia pulled one back for us, striking from just inside the area. I the end we pressed once more, but to no avail and 2-1 was fairly reflective of the match.

FC Chindia Targgoviste (7th) v CF Bihoril Beius (10th)

Bardin made a return to the side, while Diallo was back in full training but not fully for and started on the bench.

The first half was notable for its lack of excitement. Even the opening goal was boring. Chindia's Tatar with a medicre effort from just outside the six yard box. Not long after Bednar dispossessed his opponent, wne unchallenegd ona run and got the ball into Stan. Stan slotted truly and it was 1-1. Suddenly it was a two goal half, yet still lacked everything. Our second goal was a bit better, some solid passing followed up with a well hit cross, and Bardin heading home. After 35 minutes of nothing, it was 2-1 our way by 40 minutes.

ten minutes into the second and Stan had a second. He has under-performed ever since I got him in to the club, but this one performance is going to make it hard to drop him again when a second striker is fit. After 70 minutes Posteuca came off his line, but was bneaten to the ball by Chindia's Tatar who walked it in to pull one back. It was 3-3 with over 89 minutes played when a floated cross was accidentally headed in by Bucar. And our two goal lead was gone, would Chindia get one more in the five minutes of stoppage time.

Yes, they would. Posteuca took the ball out wide, the played it up the middle. He found Guillermo who had no hesitation in going for the long shot at the open goal Posteuca wasn't ven back inside the area when the ball bounced in. 4-3 loss, after a 3-1 lead.

That result consigned us, mathematically, to the bottom half come the split. Given the finances of the Romanian second tier are such a ruin it also signalled my time to look at other jobs. I will probably make his an unplayable division from now on; as it really is. Any club would be losing about £50k a month even if fully amateur.

CF Bihoril Beius (10th) v CS Alro Slatina (9th)

Diallo returned for this match.

And after a wasteful 35 minute period he almost made his presence on the scoresheet. A curling free kick just tipped over. With 39 gone, Alro's Calin - already on a yellow card - brought down Buia about a metre from the goal line. there was no further card, but Jelen kicked truly for us to one up. We finally made sure of it in the 80 minutes, Jelen heading in a Bardin corner. So much possession, so much time up forward, so few good chances. We'll take 2-0, but it could have been so much more.

FCM Avantul Regin (11th) v CF Bihoril Beius (9th)

With Stan starting a solo striker, and he isn't a striker, we were goig to be relying on a lot of work from the midfield to penetrate. the winds, with Bardin and Dialllo, weren't going to be a problem but Buia's form had been poor. So poor that Calvin playing as a DM not only was more likely to impact the result but even more likely to ai d our attack.

The opneing goal then came courtesy of Stan. he did some of the work in the middle to win the ball, then was on the end of it when Bardin centred. Niether side made any other meaningful moves in the first half. Stan almost had a second early in the second half, just heading a little too high on Bardin's deep cross. A high quality volley from Avantul's Magallenes was the highlight of the match, though the lowlight for me, levelling scores on 80 minutes. The ball to find him was pretty good too, finding its way between three of our defenders.

Inthe end it was hard to argue a draw wasn't a fair result.

We picked up a young North Korean defender, and agreed to sell Bordeanu who is a higher wage back-up for the same position. Not that such small measures will make any difference.

FC Bihor Oradea (5th) v CF Bihoril Beius (9th)

The last game before the split, and the winter break, was expected to be very one sided against us.

With Diallo still not at full fitness he started opn the bench and Bednar on the right. It proved fruitful early, Stan's ball right to Bednarresulted in a centring cross to Bardin. And Bardin put us a goal up after 7 minutes. That move was shown to be very much against the flow of the game though. Oradea all over us. And on 33 minutes a through ball caught us napping, finished off well leaving our goalie with no hope. 1-1 at the half.

In the 59th a anothewr corner, another goal conceded. This time the head wasn't involved, the ball went in low and somehow their striker had time to place his shot. Followed by another goal from a corner a few minutes later, this time it wnt our way. Bardin's corner found an unmarked Pocuca on the far post who nodded it in. Stan was not having a good game, so Cretu came on to play the familiar lone striker role he did well last season. His first game after an eight month injury absence. The Bardin-Pocuca pairing almost worked again, this time however the well hit header was stopped.

On balance we were lucky to get a 2-2 result, the stats did show the real tale of the game. We had just 38% possession, 6 shots to 12, but 4 on target to 2. We weren't making many chances, but at least they were decent ones when they happened. And I did go in with defensive instructions.

The league now splits in two. Clearly we are playing against relegation, and start with a four point buffer. The final ten games do not begin until 4 March.

News came through a couple of days later that Bordeanu had refused the contract at FC Maramures Universitar Baia Mare, so the slight decrease in wages will not eventuate as planned.

Not surprisingly goalkeeper Dolha has announced he will retire at season's end.

A few days later Doru Buican also announced his retirement, set for the same date. The 34 year old still gets regular games and there is not really a replacement for him at this point.

I got a Christmas present with the board injecting ַ£350k to stem the haemorrhaging of funds a little. That's about 5 months worth of losses. Despite that when the six month warning for contract expiries comes up, the wages I can offer on extensions are way below most current deals.

Around the world Champions leagues wound up in Africa and Asia during November.

Only the away goals rule stopped Al-Ahly going back to back in Africa.

African Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |USM Alger (Algeria)    4 |Raja Casablanca (Morocco)1|
|2012   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        5 |ASEC Mimosas(Ivory Coast)1|
|2013   |ASEC Mimomas (Ivory C) 5 |Zamalek (Egypt)          4|
|2014   |ES Tunis (Tunisia)     3a|Enyimba (Nigeria)        3|
|2015   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Supersport Utd (S.Africa)3|
|============================================================|
|2016 African Champions League                               |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                      1     1      2         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      3     3      6         |
|                                                            |
|Club Africain (Tunisia)              0     0      2         |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)            1     1      0         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|African Champions League Final                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      2     1      3         |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)            2     1      3 away gls|
==============================================================

In Asia, the east Asian nations are not getting a look in. An All-Saudi final in 2015, Saudi and Qatari in 2016.

Al-Ittihad claiming consecutive title, with the final going down to penalties.

Asian Champions League

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2012   |Persepolia (Iran)      1  |Eseghal (Iran)         0 |
|2013   |Suwon (South Korea)    1  |Al-Wahda (UAE)         0 |
|2014   |Al Hilal (UAE)         2p |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2 |
|2015   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|============================================================|
|2016 Asian Champions League                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Jeonbuk (South Korea)                2     0      0         |
|Al-Gharrafa (Qatar)                  4     2      6         |
|                                                            |
|Okayama FC (Japan)                   2     0      2         |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                     1     4      5         |
|                                                            |
|Persepolis (Iran)                    0     0      0         |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Saitama UTD (Japan)                  3     2      5         |
|Sangu (South Korea)                  1     2      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                     1     1      2         |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            1     2      3 e.t.    |
|                                                            |
|Al-Gharrafa (Qatar)                  2     4      6         |
|Saitama UTD (Japan)                  1     1      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Asian Champions League Final                                |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Al-Gharrafa (Qatar)                  1     2      2    4    |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            2     2      2    5    |
==============================================================

In December, the Club World Cup was held in Morocco.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |Santos (Brazil)          0|
|2012   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 0|
|2013   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |ES Tunis (Tunisia)       1|
|2014   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |ES Tunis (Tuniaia)       0|
|2015   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |Corinthians (Brazil)     0|
|============================================================|
|2016 Club World Championship                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            1 e.t.           |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)                  0                |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                           2                |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)                  1                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Fifth Placed Playoff                                        |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)                  2                |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)                  3                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            0                |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                          3                |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                           1                |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                       2                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            3                |
|America (Mexico)                           1                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015 Club World Championship Final                          |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    0     0                |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 3     4                |
==============================================================

Even more predictable than that were the major player awards. The Golden Ball and Player of the Year again both going to Lionel Messi.

============================================================================================================
|    |Golden Ball                                       |World Player of the Year                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Mario Gotze                                       |
|    |Real Madrid(ESP) / Portugal                       |Borrusia Dortmund (GER) / Germany                 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
============================================================================================================

No competitive matches matches this update, and not just because we aren't cometitive.

By mid-January backup players Ionu Chirila and Dragos Puchiu have both agreed to join new clubs. But not until their contracts expire, so it doesn't help the immediate problems or clear up wage space to extend contracts.

The transfer window was open in February, it was then that I would have to start making tough choices.

We slowly got picked apart, but only with players comng out of contract who i can;t affird an extension to. But the club has to keep paying until June. Andraz Agic signing with FC Maramures Universitar Baia Mare, who are currently in the top flight - although seemingly entrenched in the relegatrion zone.

I tried offering a few players around at well under their values, even free. With a week to go before the window shut there were no takers for anyone whose contract doesn't expire this season. That is going to leave things in a bad way in terms of keeping any players for next season. (If there is one, as I said I may make this league unplayable.)

I let my assistant take charge of the friendlies, as they were really just about getting some match fitness back after the winter break. Al teams were about our level of reputation, which means they are a level below us in the Romanian pyramid. So, the results are better than we really are.

On the final day, one trade got organsied. Ivan Bucar is headed to oen of my old clubs, Gaz Metan Severin. He's not a high earner, and it leves a hole in the first team but there is little choice. I expect the fans won't be too happy about that one, and its not like we made a lot from the sale.

We manged to extend Bardin, but at a very high price. I suspect I'll be paying people out towards the end of their contracts to convince the board wages are freed up to keep some others.

On the global scene, with a second straight title from three straight finals Cameroon have taken a hold on Africa.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011   |Mali               2     |Ghana                1    |
|2013   |Ivory Coast        3     |Cameroon             0    |
|2015   |Cameroon           3     |Tunisia              0    |
|============================================================|
|2017 African Cup of Nations                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Group A              GD  Pts  |Group B              GD  Pts |
|Ivory Coast          +4    7  |South Africa         +2    6 |
|Senegal               0    6  |Tunisia              +2    6 |
|Algeria              -1    2  |Sudan                -1    4 |
|Ghana                -3    1  |Burkina Faso         -3    1 |
|                              |                             |
|Group C                       |Group D                      |
|Nigeria              +5    7  |Cameroon             +6    9 |
|Mali                 +4    7  |Gabon                +2    6 |
|Togo                 +1    3  |Egypt                -4    1 |
|Libya               -10    0  |Morocco              -4    1 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Camroon              2         |South Africa        3       |
|Tunisia              0         |Gabon               1       |
|                                                            |
|Ivory Coast          2 e.t.    |Nigeria             0       |
|Mali                 1         |Senegal             1       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|Cameroon             3         |South Africa        1       |
|Senegal              0         |Ivory Coast         2       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Place Playoff                                         |
|Senegal               1                                     |
|South Africa          2                                     |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017 African Cup of Nations Final                           |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|Tunisia               0          0       0         4        |
|Cameroon              0          0       0         5        |
==============================================================

CF Bihoril Beius (9th) v CS Alro Slatina (10th)

The relegation group phase began with us in a position where we could extend the safety margin to seven, or almost lose the gap entirely. Crunch time, as probably every game from this point on would be.

The ball was spending a lot of time at the wrong end of the pitch and it was no surprise when Alro opened their account. Also no surprise it came courtesy of a corner. What was a surprise was that we were one level terms a minute later. Bardin and Diallo combining. The second half started disastrously, a free kick slipping through Posteuca's hands and into the net. But ten minutes later Cretu had his first of the season, Buia with the assist which put Cretu one on one with the goalkeeper. Diallo wasn't quite on song with the free kicks, and we ended up 2-2. That keeps a small break on the drop zone, so I'll take it. it was looking much worse at times.

The board put in another £110k, the club is really on the brink financially.

FCM Avuntul Reghin (11th) v CF Bihoril Beius (9th)

A good save from Posteuca stopped us going behind after 12 minutes. Our opponents put together some got football to set up a near certain goal. And not so good when they actually scored on 28 minutes, but certainly good enough. Nothing we were doing was working. Passes were missing, tackles were being made anly to win the ball and immediately turn it over, just general shoddiness all over the park. We were lucky not to be 3-0 down at the break.

A blast in the sheds at half time had no effect, and not long after resumption Diallo came off through injury. Soon after that, 2-0. Suleiman pulled one back almost straight away, in all too rare forward move. Bardin provided the chance, though very nearly missed with the cross and Suleiman did well to recover the ball. An excellent free kick saw Posteuca beaten and it was 3-1 with twenty to play. Very quickly that was 4-1, as our defence refused to turn and Sanda sprinted in behind them for an unchallenged shot.

Disgusting game really. At least Alro only drew.

FC Seso Campia Turzii (12th) v CF Bihoril Beius (9th)

An absolute must-win game, others are not going to drop points against Turzii who had lost 16 games before their draw with Alro.

Turzii looked a lot better than when we last played them. Whilew e still controlled possession, the chances we were making were not particularly high percentage and Turzii's few were. To the point that when we fell behind it wasn't a huge shock. It was end to end stuff, their goalkeeper punched, a run up the wing, a simple cross, an open goal. Whereas all our moves had been speculative. Even when Suleiman put the ball in the back of the net it wad the result of a hit and hope; as well as marginally offside and called as such.

Another half time blast, this time some players looked like they responded. But out forward moves were still lacking penetration,. and we got brutally exposed on the counter again to go 2-0 down. To rub salt in Szeleky got sent off after 85 minutes.

Alro had a win, and the safety margin has evaporated.

The new batch of youth candidates came in, and everty one of them looks a dud.

CF Bihoril Beius (9th) v CSU Vointa Sibiu (8th)

This was an odd sort of game. Both teams came perilously close without actually scoring. Nil all at the halg could easily have been three all.

the second half was all Sibiu. We couldn't maintain possession, much less have control of the ball in dangerous positions. It took until the 90th minute for them to score though, a floated cross hitting Popa's head centimetres from the goal line.

Alro got a win, and we hit the drop zone.

FC Chindia Targoviste (8th) v CF Bihoril Beius (10th)

Three time in the first half the most clear channces were squandered by our opponents, while we created nothing.

The second half began with Diallo bringing down Delgado, and the latter being subbed off. Win. That stemmed the flow a little, but Chindia still should have scored again and again. After all the ones they missed it was a Tatar scorcher which put the first on the board after 81 minutes. And that was it. Half way through the second phase we sit three points behind safety, dropping seven points to Alro in five games.

CS Alro Slatina (9th) v CF Bihoril Beius (9th)

Five minutes in and Orban get his first goal for the club. That club is Alro. Half an hour later they really should have amde it 2-0, but we were looking a bit better going more direct and not trying to pass. Right on the break, Suleiman turned and shot to put us level. We were still being outplayed, but there was some hope.

The second half continued a lot like the first, we were outplayed but in the game. On 86 minutes, Diallo took a free from about 5 yards beyond the area. It was curling in, but was parried into the cross bar and then cleared. In the 89th I briefly thought we had scored, Diallo's short range header hitting the side netting. A minute later and a contender for "miss of the year" kept us in the game. And it finished 1-1, not good enough.

CF Bihoril Beius (9th) v FCM Avuntul Reghin (11th)

Dialo came off injured after eight minutes, dealing us a critical blow. A Bardin corner came very close to becoming a Pocuca goal, the keeper was beaten but they had another man to clear it off the line. We repaid the favour ten minutes later, Buican's clearance sending the ball across postcodes. That started a period where Avuntul used their dominance of possession to really press our defence hard. We held on for the half, but holding on isn't good enough. We've almost reached the point where a draw is as bad as a loss.

Biaz Jelen lmost put one up, but again a ball well wide of the goalie was cleared off the line. With the win needed I changed to a more attacking formation, and attacking instructions. Both sides had their chances, but nothing came for either. Nil all the final score.

Diallo's injury will see him miss the remaining matches, probably including any play-off (which are an unlikely scenario really).

Thankfully Alro also only drew.

A disastrous month, especially given the stakes.

And a four point buffer has gone to this

The NACL finished up in April, and it was all about Mexico.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |FC Dallas (USA)      2   |Colorado (USA)       0    |
|2013   |Xolos Tiajuana (Mexico) 3|Chivas (Mexico)      1    |
|2014   |America (Mexico)        5|Monterrey (Mexico)   0    |
|2015   |New York (USA)       3 a |Seattle (USA)        3    |
|2016   |America (Mexico)     4   |New York (USA)       0    |
|============================================================|
|2017 North American Champions League (from Qtr Finals)      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                     0     2      2         |
|Los Angeles (USA)                    0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Colombus (USA)                       2     2      4         |
|Pumas (Mexico)                       2     4      6         |
|                                                            |
|Philadelphia (USA)                   2     1      3         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   1     3      4         |
|                                                            |
|Saprissa (Coasta Rica)               0     1      1         |
|Pachuca (Mexico)                     3     3      6         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                     3     1      4         |
|Pumas (Mexico)                       0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Pachuca (Mexico)                     1     1      2         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   2     1      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017 North American Champions League Final                  |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|America (Mexico)                     2     0      2         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   2     1      3         |
==============================================================

And now the the end is near, and so I face my final curtain ....

Morale wasn't at rock bottom, but I held a team meeting as a last resort. Thankfully, everyone reacted well. Whether that translates intp performance on the park is another question entirely.

I was offered a one year extension, but depayed it untiol the end of the season. Even if we survive I'm not sure if I will stay, or even keep the league active.

CF Bihorul Beius (10th) v FC Seso Turzii (12th)

It looked as though the season had ended 10 minutes in to the match, when we went down through losing shape at the back. The bottom of the table side were all over us, for the third time in our four meetings we faiedlt o ebven look like we were on the field. That was untilo, very much against the run of play, Suleiman knocked the ball right to Diallo's replacemnet Bednar. He crossed and found Bardin near the penalty spot, and the Argentine hit the volley home to level. We very nearly had a second, Stan's cross froma Suleiman throw almost headed in by bednar. Bardin got the rebound off the cross bar and wa simmediately flattened. he spent considerable time in the hand of the trainers. He was in the aciot when he came back on, and we had a period as the better side. We didn't get a score from that time though, and momentum shifted again Turzii's way late in the half. And right on the whistle we went 2-1 down, a low, hard cross, Pop did well to get his down on it and control it past Dolha.

With 20 to play nothing had changed, except the enws that Alro were up 3-2 and we were boned. And we were 3-1 down when Bordeanu made a challenge after a corner and succeeded in winning the ball off his opponent only to knock into our own net. Aminute later, 4-1 Oana blasted one from long range and Dolha could not get enough on it to tip over. In the end Alro concded in the 89th minute, but its now a four point gap with two games remaining.

CSU Vointa Sibiu (7th) v CF Bihorul Beius (10th)

The first half hour was very open, and both sides sprayed getable chances. In the meantime Alro had fallen a goal behind. Stan, playing as the second striker, came very close with an effort from distance, clipping the woodwork on the wrong side. No score at the half, but I like the open play at the moment - we need chances if we are going to win. Having zero shots on target is a worry though and largely a result of the morale hit form the previous match.

In their match, Alro drew level early in the second half. menwhile Vointa Sibiu put the pressure on us for ten minutes to open the half. Alro had gone in front just minutes before we were awarded a penalty. An Oscar may have been a nore fitting award, but I wasn't complaining. Not until Jelen missed the target, and damned near missed the stands it was so far off. A couple of minutes later and we did have a lead, Pocuca diving onto a Bardin corner at the near post. That was almost canelled out by header pinball at the other end. 70 minues in the game had the goials it deserved, but things were not looking good for us. With 15 to play we made two subs, Agic coming on in an attcking midfield role replacing the better but tired and more defensive Calvin, and Buia replacing Stan. Suleiman looked to have their goalie beaten in the 89th, but oushed the shot wide. he does thata lot for a player with his ability.

And the 1-1 draw meant that the Alro result didn't matter. Alro won anyway, meaning our result didn't matter.

With relegation settled got sacked one game before season's end.

Bardin, Diallo and Buia were among those who put in transfer requests.

Of course, just to prove I am pathetic, Beius won their final match. I was in charge for nine games again the bottom half of the table for zero wins.

This was the final table, including the game where I was not in charge.

Some pretty dismal looking career numbers took a hammering into ineptitude normally reserved for politicians.

============================================================================================================
|Season  |Club                          |Compeition                                        |Finish         |
|======= |==============================|==================================================|===============|
|2011/12 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in 11th place, 15 of 30 played        |               |
|        |                              |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  12th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 6 matches of 30                  |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |4th round (start 4th round)                       |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   6th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in  8th place, 19 of 30 played        |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 30 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |7th round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   9th of 16   |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 31 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Season  |Club                          |Competition                           |  W|  D|  L|  GF|  GA|  GD |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12 |CF Brailia                    |Romanian Second League                |  4|  6|  5|  14|  17|  -3 |
|2012/13 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  0|  3|  3|   4|   7|  -3 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League                |  3|  2|  2|   6|   7|  -1 |
|2013/14 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  7| 13| 10|  36|  37|  -1 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  3|  0|  1|  11|   9|  +2 |
|2015/16 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League                | 11| 12| 12|  51|  55|  -4 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  1|  1|   7|   5|  +2 |
|2016/17 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  6| 10| 15|  37|  50| -13 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  0|  1|   4|   5|  -1 |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Totals  |CF Brailia                    |                                    22|  4|  9|  9|  18|  26|  -8 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |                                    41| 13| 15| 13|  53|  53|   0 |
|        |CF Bihoril Beius              |                                    72| 19| 23| 29|  99| 115| -16 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Grand Total                                                                101| 46| 47| 51| 170| 194| -24 |
|Percentage                                                                    |29%|37%|35%|               |
============================================================================================================

The European Champions League finished in May. PSG big surprise packets, and for the first time in the save neither Barcelona or Man U made it to the final.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12|FC Barcelona (Spain)        6                       |
|       |Arsenal (England)           0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13|Manchester United (England) 3                       |
|       |Manchester City (England)   0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14|FC Barcelona (Spain)        3                       |
|       |Olypique Lyonnais (France)  1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014/15|Manchester United (England) 2                       |
|       |FC Barcelona (Spain)        1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16|FC Barcelona (Spain)        2                       |
|       |FCP (Portugal)              1                       |
|============================================================|
|2016/17 European Champions League                           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quater Finals                                               |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|A.C. Milan (Italy)                   3     0      3         |
|Paris-St Germain (France)            2     3      5         |
|                                                            |
|FCP (Portugal)                       2     1      3         |
|Manchester City (England)            1     3      4         |
|                                                            |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 1     3      4         |
|FC Payern Munchen (Germany)          0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Real Madrid (Spain)                  3     2      5         |
|Tottenham Hotspur (England)          0     1      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Real Madrid (Spain)                  1     2      3         |
|Paris-St Germain (France)            2     2      4         |
|                                                            |
|Manchester City (England)            1     1      2         |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 1     0      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017 European Champions League Final                        |
|                                    HT    FT     ET   Pen   |
|Manchester City (England)            0     3                |
|Paris-St Germain (France)            1     1                |
==============================================================

I turned off the second tier in Romania, not just because I'm sick of the place but the finances are simply broken.

Hopefully a job will come up elsewhere. FM usually gives you a pity job eventually. I've applied for a few when the end of season sacking spree occurred, but not really got a look in (no surprise).

There is nothing to report. All job applications were unsuccessful. So just the end of season wrap, with the Liberdatores finishing up in South America and the big three European leagues.

It will probably be half-yearly updates until (unless?) I get a new job.

Copa Liberdatores
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         4                  |
|       |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Corinthians (Brazil)             4                  |
|       |Clube Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)  2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014   |Corinthians (Brazil)             2                  |
|       |Fluminense (Brazil)              4                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |San Lorenzo (Argentina)          1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016   |Flamengo (Brazil)                3                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               0                  |
|============================================================|
|2017 Copa Liberdatores                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Godoy Cruz (Argentina)               0     2      2         |
|Santos (Brazil)                      2     2      4 `       |
|                                                            |
|Guarani (Brazil)                     2     0      2         |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   3     4      7         |
|                                                            |
|Liga de Quito (Ecuador)              1     0      1         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 6     1      7         |
|                                                            |
|San Lorenzo (Argentina)              3     0      3         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    1     1      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|San Lorenzo (Argentina)              1     0      1         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 3     2      5         |
|                                                            |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     3      4         |
|Santos (Brazil)                      1     1      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016 Copa Liberdatores Final                                |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   3     2      5         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 1     0      1         |
==============================================================

A new champion in England.

England 2016/17
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Manchester United           |Aston Villa            |
|2012/13|Manchester City             |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2013/14|Manchester City             |Watford                |
|2014/15|Tottenham Hotspur           |Wigan                  |
|2015/16|Manchester United           |Fulham                 |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Chelsea                +39   87 |FA Cup                     |
|Manchester City        +35   81 |Liverpool          1 pens  |
|Manchester United      +31   75 |Manchester United  2       |
|Liverpool              +18   72 |                           |
|Arsenal                +24   68 |League Cup                 |
|Tottenham Hotspur      +19   66 |West Ham United    2       |
|Aston Villa            +18   61 |Everton            0       |
==============================================================

Boredom at the top in Italy. It really is a case of just seeing how far the Milan teams are ahead of everyone else.

Italy 2016/17
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|FC Internazionale           |FC Internazionale      |
|2012/13|FC Internazionale           |Atalanta               |
|2013/14|FC Internazionale           |A.C. Milan             |
|2014/15|FC Internazionale           |Napoli                 |
|2015/16|FC Internazionale           |Genoa                  |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Internazionale      +42   87 |Italian Cup                |
|A.C. Milan             +33   78 |Novara             4       |
|Juventus               +17   70 |FC Internazionale  1       |
|Udinese                +10   58 |                           |
|Napoli                  +5   56 |                           |
|Lazio                   +7   54 |                           |
|Roma                    -1   54 |                           |
==============================================================

Its not much different in Spain really, but at least second can change some years.

Spain 2016/17
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Real Madrid                 |Valencia               |
|2012/13|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2013/14|FC Barcelona                |Sevilla                |
|2014/15|FC Barcelona                |Osasuna                |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Barcelona           +51   87 |Spanish Cup                |
|Real Madrid            +38   74 |Atletico Madrid    1       |
|Atletico Madrid        +23   71 |Sevilla            0       |
|Sevilla                +15   68 |                           |
|Real Sociedad SAD      +21   66 |                           |
|Valencia               +11   61 |                           |
|Athletic Club           +8   57 |                           |
==============================================================

Good luck on getting a new position. It really stinks when you are sitting and watching the game go by.

I landed a job after not long at all. And what a job.

OK. Some South African club with the same name. I assume there has been significant Spanish investment in South Africa. The next friendly is against Barcelona (RSA).

This will be the first time the club has made it to the lofty heights of the South African National First Division (I believe South Africa has undergone a major restructure since FM12). Even before I arrived the bookies had us odds-on to be back down after one season, dead set last is the expectation. I suspect my landing the job would entrench that view.

The first thing I did was advertise for staff. At least an assistant and one coach will come in, I am allowed three coaches but money is tight. So tight that before I arrive the wage total is about £1.5k over budget.

Looking at the squad I can see why expectations are so low. And it looks I will have to rely on loan players due to budget constraints, unless we can offload dead wood.

As the first match grew close, I had not assembled all the staff, not managed to offload any players and not managed to get anybody in. A dismal looking squad was available for the opening game after friendlies showed up har short of second last we really looked to be. The Steenberg game was before I took over.

Key players heading in appear to be: (screenshots taken, not yet uploaded; include as links)

Lyle Peters - the 27 year old defender has most attributes, except positioning which I find is key

Wiliam Leshabane - the other first pick central defender, slow but that might not be a big problem as I tend to play the back four deep

Lulhe Makholwa - a striker without passing or stamina, finishing is OK for this level but not great

Sifisi Thomo - at 33 will only go backwards, no stamina and could be injury prone, but Makholwe's partner when fit

Alfred_Monareng - again getting on and likely to decline soon, but easily the closest thing to a central mid

Expectations

League: Board - avoid relegation. Mine - gaining a point will be a miracle.

SA Cup: Board - reach first round. Mine - I hope that means we start in the first round.

First Division Cup: Board - unimportant. Mine - Out in the opoening round.

Roses United (Last Season: 1st Division 14th, media prediction 14th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (Media prediction 16th) - First Division Cup, First Round

A slow paced, but close game was broken open by Roses' Luckyboy Mokoena on 60 minutes. Both sides had created a few half chances, but that was the only real break to that point. Both Monareng and Thomo had good chances to level scores immediately after, Monareng lifted his shirt range shot high and Thomo just didn't pull the trigger from near point blank. It was 2-0 after our defence was caught of position and a cross from almost on the goal line was easily tapped home. With ten to play, utterly dominated in the second half that was game over.

The worrying sign is that was our best side, and I think for much of the game we were as close to being in the match as will be the case all season.

Roses United (Last Season: 1st Division 14th, media prediction 14th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (Media prediction 16th)

So, to the league and the same opponent.

One minute into the league, and goal down. The goal came through a low-key, very predictable build uyp that the defence just refused to cover. And in stoppage time, a second was conceded - via a corner of course. In the intervening time, we had almost started to play our way into the game.

The third also came from a corner, directly to the head of a striker. Plenty around him, but he was left unchballenged anyway. And the fourt, about two minutes later, from a soft shot that the goalkeeper barely got a hand on.

Completely schooled twice by one of ther worst teams in the league, and with no nudget for better players. This is going to be a long part-season before I am sacked. Not only don't I see us getting a point, I don't see us scoring a goal.

With the transfer and registration windows shut, I only managed to get one player in on loan. And he isn't a first choice player, but will get game time.

2017 was not a big year for international tournaments in the European off-season. Only the Gold Cup in North America took place.

2017 Gold Cup
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Jamaica              1   |Mexico               0    |
|2015   |Mexico               2   |Costa Rica           1    |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Trinidad&Tobago      0       |U.S.A.                 4      |
|Mexico               2       |Costa Rica             0      |
|                             |                              |
|Canada               1       |El Salvador            0      |
|Jamaica              2       |Panama                 2      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|Panama                0          0                          |
|Mexico                1          2                          |
|                                                            |
|Jamaica               0          0                          |
|U.S.A                 0          1                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017 GOLD CUP FINAL                                         |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|U.S.A                 1          1                          |
|Mexico                0          0                          |
==============================================================

Real Barcelona FC, that's an epic name

Real Barcelona FC, that's an epic name

Yeah, its a good one.

Real Madrid (RSA) v FC Cape Town (Last season 13th, Media prediction 8th)

The club's first ever home game at this level, and it started out at least being competitive. We probably controlled the ball more and went forweard more, but looked less likely to do any damage.

We conceded early in the second half, with a well taken shot from the edge of the area gpoing into the top left corner of the net. The rest of the mnatch went largely without incident, or chance, either way. A loss where perhaps we could have had better, but the lapses off the ball and utter lack of quality with the ball mean any slight hiccup is a goal conceded and unrecoverable.

The Cape Town job opened up, after their manager took on the Burkina Faso nation role. I decided not to apply, despite being very tempted.

African Wanderers (Media prediction 15th) v Real Madrid (RSA)

Wanderers had conceded ten goals in their opening two games, to be the only team below us on the table. Now it was up to us to play them into form.

And right from the start theyw ere all over us. I was thankful for some very wayward shooting. Luck got us a lead, so mucn luck that at things stood we still did not have a goalscorer for the season. A cross rebounded off our striker, onto the opposition goalkeeper who knocked it down but it dribbled over the line. A second came when a Peters corner found an unmarked Gopane off the far post, who headed truly.

A third came after 74 minutes, the opposityion goalkeeper came off hios line to clear the ball. It went straight to Thomo, who put the ball back over the goalie's head. Thomo had provided plenty of forward run all game, but never had anyone to pass to when he got up there. So, he deserved one for himself.

A win I didn't see coming, and one that should keep morale high for a little whiole longer. Two teams of sixteen drop, which doesn't seem too bad until one considers this squad (and my lack of managerial ability).

Real Madrid (RSA) v Carara Kicks (Lest Season 3rd, Media prediction 7th)

We got an early lead when Mokholwa out Thomo through, and the latter put the ball into the top corner on the goalkeeper's right. That was quickly countered by the icks, Zwane had looked incredibly dangerous in the opening miniutes and after five had the visitors' first. Shutting him down would be vital. After the opening flurry, the game settled down. Joel Zwayen copped a knock which seemed to cut his effectiveness, and statistically we were looking salightlky better at the break. I'm not really sure that was true, as I felt Kicks had created better chances but it was 1-1.

More of the same in the second half, we controilled the game without looking dangerous. Then Thomo copped a late injury annd was subbed off. No further scoring, both teams have concerns after knocks to their most dangerous players.

Thankfully, Thomo's knock didn't keep him out for any games.

Dynamos (11th, Media prediction 10th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (13th)

Probably trhe biggest crowd the club has played in front of in its existence asw the home team utterly dominate the opening. And continue to dominate. It was two minutes into stoppage time in the first half before Dynamos took the lead though, and we were shotless for the half.

The second half was much the same, I amde one formartion change to try and see if we could at least get one shot away in the match. It didn't happen, 1-0 loss could have been much greater although Dynamos' own chances were not particularly high percentage.

Real Madrid (RSA) (13th) v Sivutsa Stars (2nd, Media prediction 9th)

Awakward for the fans as both teams lined up in all blue strips. It was easy to tell which team was which though, we were the ones defending the goal where the ball was. Then Thomo had to come after twelve minutes. 35 minutes in and we fell one behind, just not enough pressure around the ball was allowing to many simple passes. we got luck just before half time when a Sivutsa shot ricocheted off Peters and went in, but thankfully offside had been called. But we still went two down before the break, just a minute later Steyn failed to hold one and it bounced to a clear Sivasta striker.

We showed a lot more in the second half, but all the shotes were from outside the area and wayward. In the 90th minute we did get a consolation goal through left wing Mbatha.

Word from the physio aftrer the game that Thomo will miss just six to nine days. With seventeen days between matches that should not prve a problem. Zuma, who plays on the right, will miss 5 or 6 weeks.

Sivutsa temporarily moved to the top of the table with that win, and followed up in their next game winning the First Division Cup final 2-1. FC Cape Town reclaimed top spot on cup final day though.

Finances are terrible, and the board has tipped in £90k to keep things running.

Witbank Spurs (12th, Media prediction 12th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (13th)

Some well hit aerial passes from Witbank finished with an equally well strucj volley to see us fall behind after 14 minutes. With the first half having had few chances either way and us being behind, I decided to take the game on a bit more in the second.

Eleven minutes into the half Thomo hit home from the edge of the area to equalise, having got on the end of a Witbank clearing header. The more attacking, but not overly so, approach seemed to work but we could not find a second goal.

Real Madrid (RSA) (13th) v Blackburn (RSA) (15th, Media prediction 5th)

A pointless start for Blackburn, who were tipped for better things. And now a crucial game for the early season. A win and we could get an eight point gap on the relegation spots, a loss and the dogfight is on.

A long ball from Blackburn saw Peters get in the way of Steyn, who dropped the ball straight onto a srtiker's foot for the simplest of tap-ins. Not the start we wanted. At least there was time to recover with it happening in the 17th minute. And I thought we had, Thomo headed in a off the cross-bar but was deemed to have been offside.

the second half began with Thomo about to be run down, we were constantly being exposed for the lack of pace up forward. He saw the goalkeeper off his line and chipped just before the challenge, and equalised. Substitute Carelse put Blacburn back in front with a skimming shot from range that a diving Steyn could not block. With fifteen to play we looked sunk, but probably deserving of a point. Four minutes into stopp[age time Mbtaha was on the end of a cross and volleyed home from two metres out to level at 2-2.

With eight games gone from thirty, the table is taking shape. Its not great for us, but better than I expected. We have mostly played other teams lower on the table, meaning five of the next seven will be against top half teams. Points will be needed desparately, if for no other reason than to maintain morale. (Mine as well as the players'.) edit: I just realised I cropped that with August's competition games as well.

Real Madrid (RSA) (13th) v University of Pretoria (11th)

"Tuks" definitely looked the better side early, before the game evened out into a dull contest. After sending in long balls,w e finally had a decent build up, and Thomo found a way between defenders to open scoring in the 38th minute.

Tuks were agsin the better side in the second half, as we struggledf t put anything together. We did have one late chance to seal it when Thomo crossed from near the corner. We had three players able to run onto it but none did. Tuks just kept missing their shots, including a couple of very easy ones. And despite the run of play we hald on for the 1-0 win.

That turned out to be the end for their manager. Blackburn's was sacked as well, despite picking up their second point of the season.

Platinum Stars (5th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (13th)

After a pretty even start, Stars made their first shot count 19 minutes in, wioth a lucky ricochet taking it past Steyn's reach. After that we were under pressure a lot more, and fiften minutes later a second was scored.

Steyn came off his line and brilliantly stopped a certain one -on-one effort to start the second half. The third did come though, from a corner. I'm putting extra training focus on defending set pieces but it wasn't enough this time around. And soon it was four, another set piece onto the head and in.

I don't really think we did much wrong, we were just run over by a far superior team who were clinical when it mattered.

Maritzburg United (3rd) v Real Madrid (RSA) (13th)

Things didn't look to be getting any easier heading into the next game.

The first half was lacking in cvhances. Martizburg clearly the better, but we were at least cutting down their opportunities. The best chance of the half probably fell our way, when Thomo dispossessed the last defender on the edge of the area.

Maritzburg came very close early in the second, only for Steyn to save. In the 74th, however, the close range shot was too good and we fell behind. That was all there was, Martizburg pressed more but did not break through again. A respectable loss isn't good enough though, we need to still pick up the odd point in the rough part of the fixture.

The cup draw was held and we gor Sivutsa Stars at home in the preliminary round. Tough fixture, and we need to win to match the board's expectation.

Real Madrid (RSA) (14th) v Morola Swallows (9th)

A Monareng free kick found Gopane's head to put in front in just the 9th minute. I had considered dropping Gopane, he hasn't been assured in defence by any stretch and that is his job, but for the time being was glad I didn't. It was quickly two, when a cross from Ndluvo (who had come into the starting line up only the previous game) just missed Thomo and was defelcetd in off a Swallows defender. Three in twenty-three minutes after Thomo went on a solo run (I use the word run in the loosest possible term), evading three would be challengers as he went almost end to end, and the slotted under the goalkeeper's outstretched left arm. Swallows immediately struck back with a well taken free kick from the edge of the area that Steyn could not quite get a hand on. They very nearly did the same again a minute later, that free ick taker is a weapon. Not long afterwards Thomo again evaded a few, and put us up 4-1. This run was equally impressive though nowhere near as long. An unusual half, unlike the usual wastefulness we had four goals from only three shots.

The second half was a much more tame affair, Thomo narrowly missed his hattrick twice with around an hour played. 4-2 in the 77th minute, Steyn was caught out of poition after having punched the ball to apparent safety. Could Swallows be back in it? We had the next few attacks, but Monareng was back in spray mode and nothing eventuated. Swallows mounted only one more significant attack and the resulting shot was easily held by Steyn. Three points.

Real Madrid (RSA) (13th) v Thanda Royal Zulu (4th)

This was a very different game to the prior one, with both sides mostly sitting back. Zulus made the better of the few moves forward though. With Zulus not really pushing, I instructed the lads to be a little less cautious. This resulted in a few chances, with no more worries in defence. It did not result in a goal and a scoreless draw was the result. To be honest, I'll happily take that at this stage.

Mpumalanga Black Aces (14th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (13th)

With a three point buffer over Black Aces coming in, a win would be very handy. It would eman that, for a while at least, we would not be the team under pressure if Blackburn start picking up points. Even a draw would be adequate for the short term.

Black aces probablky should have gone a goal up after ten minutes, but an open header went wide. We had been outplayed early, and the game looked dangerously close to breaking open at certain stages. Makholwa broke a scoring drought that had seen him under media pressure, and dropped for some games recently, to get his first of the season and open scoring for the match almost on the half hour mark. That was the halfway score, but the game still looked as though it had more goals in it.

Despiote moves from bith sides, the goals didn't come. Thomo was injured late in the game and had to come off. With around ten to play, holding on to 1-0 was our best hope. Black Aces got desparate and gave away some fouls in the process, but they did go to a 3-4-3 that allowed for quick movement forward. Thankfully those moves didn't pay off and we held on.

One game shy of the halfway point of the league, safety is not assured but looks achievable now.

Real Madrid (RSA) (First Division, 12th) v Sivutsa Stars (First Division, 3rd) - South African FA Cup Preliminary Round

I decided to just sit back and not really take things on. I was just hoping to keep it tight and let something happen. As a result the game was not enthralling the few who turned up, and the clearly superior Sivutsa were able to dominate play without early chances. Except one superb save from Steyn. We almost got lucky after half an hour with a Peters corner hitting Gopane's head, but he put the ball into the woodwork.

The second half was played almost entirely in our defensive third, but despiote a couple of close calls we held out at least for a while. Thomo had two late shots, but not really chances and we went to extra time. Its sad we don't have a single penalty taker I can rely on to even make contact with the ball if it goes that far.

Extra time was much the same, although it looed as though Sivutsa had broken the deadlock in the 117th minute. Steyn's diving save was special. It went to spot kicks.

Both sides were bad from the spot. It took us until our third attempt top get one on target, levelling at 1-1. On their fifth, Jacobs had the chance to win it for Sivutsa but Steyn parried it over. Thomo came to the spot for our fifth, a score would keep it alive. And he did, it was 2-2 after five. To sudden death. Steyn saved again on the sixth. And Ryklief, who came on as an extra time sub just in case of this moment, put us into the first round of the cup. I can't see us going any further, but the board's expectation is met.

Champions Leagues finished in November in Africa and Asia

In Africa Al-Ahly claimed their second in three finals in three years

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |USM Alger (Algeria)    4 |Raja Casablanca (Morocco)1|
|2012   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        5 |ASEC Mimosas(Ivory Coast)1|
|2013   |ASEC Mimomas (Ivory C) 5 |Zamalek (Egypt)          4|
|2014   |ES Tunis (Tunisia)     3a|Enyimba (Nigeria)        3|
|2015   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Supersport Utd (S.Africa)3|
|2016   |Raja Casablanca (Mor.) 3 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|============================================================|
|2017 African Champions League                               |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      2     2      4         |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)            1     0      1         |
|                                                            |
|AS Forces Armees Royales (Morocco)   2     1      3         |
|Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)           2     4      6         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017 African Champions League Final                         |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      4     0      4         |
|Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)           0     1      1         |
==============================================================

In Asia, and east Asian side made the final for the first time in four years. But middle eastern dominance continued.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2012   |Persepolia (Iran)      1  |Eseghal (Iran)         0 |
|2013   |Suwon (South Korea)    1  |Al-Wahda (UAE)         0 |
|2014   |Al Hilal (UAE)         2p |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2 |
|2015   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2016   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|============================================================|
|2017 Asian Champions League                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)             1     2      3         |
|Okayama FC (Japan)                   2     0      2         |
|                                                            |
|Nagoya Stolz (Japan)                 0     1      1         |
|Al-Sadd (Qatar)                      3     1      4         |
|                                                            |
|Persepolis (Iran)                    2     1      3         |
|Osaka AC (Japan)                     2     1      3 away gls|
|                                                            |
|Shandong (China)                     1     2      3         |
|Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)               0     1      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Osaka AC (Japan)                     2     2      4 away gls|
|Al-Sadd (Qatar)                      0     4      4         |
|                                                            |
|Shandong (China)                     1     1      2         |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)             3     2      5         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Asian Champions League Final                                |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Osaka AC (Japan)                     0     1      1         |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)             1     1      3         |
==============================================================

The club world championship was held in December. Again the European side rimped in.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |Santos (Brazil)          0|
|2012   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 0|
|2013   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |ES Tunis (Tunisia)       1|
|2014   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |ES Tunis (Tuniaia)       0|
|2015   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |Corinthians (Brazil)     0|
|2016   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Flamengo (Brazil)        0|
|============================================================|
|2017 Club World Championship                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            0                |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)                  2                |
|                                                            |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)                   8                |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                         1                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Fifth Placed Playoff                                        |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                         1                |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            2                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)                   1                |
|Manchester City (England)                  2                |
|                                                            |
|Raja casablanca (Morocco)                  1                |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                         0                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)                   1                |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                         3                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017 Club World Championship Final                          |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)            0     0                |
|Manchester City (England)            2     5                |
==============================================================

And the end of year player awards were entirely predictable

============================================================================================================
|    |Golden Ball                                       |World Player of the Year                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Mario Gotze                                       |
|    |Real Madrid(ESP) / Portugal                       |Borrusia Dortmund (GER) / Germany                 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
============================================================================================================

Real Madrid (RSA) (12th) v Atlie FC (11th)

We managed to pick up a right back on loan, but he didn't start in this match and its not clear he will become a first-teamer. The game started well, with Thomo hitting home inside five minutes. Makhowla followed up ten minutes later, having done a (slow) one-two with Thomo. Both goals had been scored from similar positions. Makhowla missed nabbing a second by mere inches two minutes later, the ball just skimming wide on the right side. Towards the end of the opening half, Atlie started creating the better chances. Until that stage we had been well on top.

Around twenty minutes into the second half, Makhowla took a shot from the angle that hit the inside of the upright and went ... back into play. Just seconds later Thomo headed from point blank, yet somehow somebody managed to clear the ball off the line. It momentarily looked like we had a third, whena corner was sweetly met by Peters' head but the ball was turned over for another corner. Peters took that one, and this time David Gopane's header was not stopped. We had 3-0 with just over ten to play.

And so it remained. We turn at the halfway stage in 11th position, 11 points from the relegation zone.

FC Cape Town(4th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (11th)

Right from the first minute we were under the pump, and by 11 had fallen behind without taking the ball forward of the halfway line. A superb strike by Radebe just after the half hour mark saw us go two down, absolutely blasted from outside the area. We had no answers to cape Town's complete dominance. We hit back with our first shot of the match. A slow build up until Makholwa made a run, drew the goalkeeper out and crossed to Thomo who had an open net to aim for. Zuma's ball to Makholwa really made the play. Hope was short lived, Cape Town immediately back out to a two goal lead. Things only got worse, with Raded completing his hat-trick on the 40th minute. And then two minutes later Thomo got his second, sliding the ball across and to the left of their goalkeeper.

Somehow we got back to 4-3. An Arendse corner found Peters' head, but that was blocked. Gopane found the ball at his feet and tapped home. Radebe's fourth came on 78 minutes, he was on the end of a lobbed cross over Steyn's head for a simple tap in.

Left wing Sifiso Mbatha will miss two to three months, having strained ligaments during the game.

Real Madrid (RSA) (11th) v Roses United(9th)

A poor start, when a Roses cross is headed home from inches out just ten minutes in. Things never really improved much. While Roses didn't press too much after that, we were completely impotent for the whole match, without a decent chance created. Our worst game for a long time, against a very much out of form opposition.

Central midfielder Clifton Arendse was injured early in the game and will miss around two months.

Real Madrid (RSA) (11th) v African Wanderers (16th)

Sitting with just three points and having scored only five times, Wanderers should have been easy pickings.

It started out that way, with Thomo putting one home in the 4th minute. Just before the break peters hita long cross from a free kick, David Gopane rose unchallenged and headed home to double the lead. There was still for Monareng to put Thomo through. His shot was blocked, but Zuma knocked home the rebound to make it three.

The second half was all about injuries. Thomo came off having copped a knock, only for his replacement to last around a minute. The Peters was forced from the pitch not long after. Scoring resumed on the 80th minute with Zuma hitting a ckose range volley from a Monareng free kick. I wouldhave like less injuries, but at least we didn't drop easy points.

Peters will only miss around a week, Ndlovu 2-3 months but we did just get another striker in on loan so he is no loss.

Carara Kicks (14th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (11th)

A cracking goal right on half time sent us behind, after an even half of football. Until that shot we had perhaps been marginally better, but really there was not much in it. Motha's shot from distance was an absolute belter though.

In the 85th minute Mptha again shot from downtown. This time the ball took a deflection, to go past Steyn and into the net.

Real Madrid (RSA) (11th) v Dyanmos (8th)

After survivbing an early scare, we got the early score. A long clearance went to A dynamo defender who Makholwa dispossessed (lucky to get away with it) before beating the keeper one on one. Ten minutes later Dynaos threaded the ball to Kenneth Sithole who had an easy finish for the 1-1. We really struggled to get or retain possession, and Dynamos were dominant in every area for the opening half.

Not much changed in the second half despite some tactical tweaks. If anything we managed even less chances from our meagre possession share. We did steal a point though.

The Cup draw pits away to against Ajax Cape Town, who sit mid-table in the South African Premier League (a division above us). A tough fixture, maybe it will make money though.

Sivutsa Stars (6th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (12th)

We lost Lyle Peters just five minutes in, making the defence look even shakier. But he wasn't the one who scored the own goal, that honour went to Leshabane. Down by one after nine minutes. It was the sub for Peters, Nhlapo, who gave away a penalty just a few minutes later. Duly put home, and the game appeared over. It was three before the 40 minute mark, Tshabalala getting behind our defence and putting the ball to Steyn's left.

It became four with around an hour to play, we were getting as swamped as when we first played these guys back in the First Division Cup. And it was five ten minutes later. Five became six courtesy of a floated cross being headed in. And finally the whistle went.

Not surprisingly after that and other recent results, morale has taken a huge tumble. Almost requiring a team meeting type tumble.

Real Madrid (RSA) (13th) v Witbank Spurs (9th)

We opened the game strongly, and probably should have scored early. After that Witbank looked the better side, but missed the target through the opening half. Both sides were luck to go the break without conceding, we had been perhaps a little luckier.

We started the second half strongly as well, before Monareng was injured removing any drive or poise from the midfield. From that point on Witbank just took poorly taken shot after poorly taken shot. And thena well taken one in the 66th minute to surely sink us. That seemed to straighten the sights, as a few minutes later it was 2-0 from a free kick. And then three by the 76th minute.

With morale at desperation levels I held a team meeting, to no avail.

February was really a bad month for us, and relegation looms large again. Only the utter inability of the bottom two sides to gain any points is giving any measure of safety now.

Blackburn Rovers (RSA) (15th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (13th)

This was really a crunch game. If we lost, the margin to Blackburn and the drop zone would be signifcantly narrowed - not to mention possibly playing them into form and confidence. A win would probably mean safety, with seven games remaining after this one.

And the Blacburn crowd were delighted by a solo end to end goal from Mokoena in the 14th minute. Early onw e simply were not threatening in any way despite having possession, then that happened.

The second half began with a missed tackle and a resulting second goal. Nearing full time Mokoena secured a brace, and we were down three against one of the worst two teams in the league. A consolation goal to Leshabane, who had been banished to starting on the bench, in stoppage time was no consolation.

University of Pretoria (5th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (13th)

The gap in class and confidence was brutally exposed right from the opening minute. "Tuks" scored the opening goal, but scored it for us. Mkhize, starting for a dropped Thomo, went looking for Makholwa in the box, missed him. As Makholwa went to dispossess the defender, the Tuks played kicked it away but found the net instead of the goalkeeper. We had a goal from zero shots. Abut 90 seconds later Tuks had a goal from seven shots, levelling scores with a lot more authority.

It took until the third minute of stoppage time for Tuks' dominance to result in a second goal. Well deserved, but gut wrenching anyway.

At least Blackburn and Carara Kicks both lost, we still have a seven point break still with six games to go.

Ajax Cape Town (SA Premier League, 9th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (First Division, 13th) - South African FA Cup First Round

I can't say I was looking forward to this match. It loomed as a disaster in the making.

Gate receipts before match:£18611 after match:£36571 from match:£17960 percent of gate so far: 49.1%

We went in very defence minded, hoping just to limit the carnage. That wasn't helped when Ryklief gave up a penalty in the 25th minute, to open the scoring. A second came eight minutes later with the defence allowing too much time on the ball and striker Ramatjela turning and shooting. And it was three on 39 minutes, another shot from an open player on the edge of the area.

The second half was a lot like the first, except the shots Ajax took were not as clear and resulted in no goals. We drew a half. But lost 3-0.

Real Madrid (RSA) (13th) v Platinum Stars (1st)

A gloomy, rainy day to match my mood and team morale, and an equally gloomy start giving away a simple goal inside seven minutes. We did have a brief period around the one hour mark where the ball was at the right end of the oitch, but generally we were swamped and very lucky to only be one down at the break.

It didn't take long into the second half for the deficit to double. Stars kept sending the ball back out to the wing, then in again, until they got the angles right. It was defender David Gopane who appeared to get us on the board. His header following a corner beat the goalkeeper but was cleared off the line by a Stars defender. Straight back to him, and he made the tap in with the second chance. Almost 80 in and Stars' Shai ran away from goal, turned and fired. Truly, 3-1.

Blackburn had a draw, and Carara Kicks a win. We drop a spot and now are just six points clear of Blackburn with five to go.

Real Madrid (RSA) (14th) v Maritzburg United (3rd)

Completely against the run of play, Mathebula was on the end of a floated cross and out first move forward resulted in a goal after fifteen minutes. His perfectly placed header just insude the post and too far for the goalkeeper to get near. That was quickly nullified by a long ball, met by a diving Maritzburg striker's head on the edge of the box with enough power to beat Steyn and go in.

Thomo had started on the bench due to poor form but came on to replace the struggling Ndlovu after an hour. Hopefully with fresh legs he can find something again. Gamildien (which, to me seems more like the name of an elf of Rivendell) got his second 70 minutes in, to put us behind. The shot looked like it would be blocked, but it was not to be. And it then started to become another rout, Somma slamming one into the top right corner from about 20 yards.

Blackburn Rovers drew, and are now five points behind with four to play.

March was not our month. Including the cup game five losses from five starts, conceding 14 while scoring 4. We are a bad team playing down to our potential.

Youth candidates were announced, and there's a whole lot of nothing in there. I immediately put a defensive mid and a 15 year old winger on a youth contract, but don't expect the younger one to ever get a full contract.

There are two week breaks between the final matches of the season, so should be few fitness issues.

Moroka Swallows (12th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (14th)

Not much happened in the first half of the match, but everything that did was at the wrong end of the pitch. A perfectly placed corner onto the head Swallows' Zulu saw us first behind almost on the half, his first goal for the club.

Being a goal down and with Swallows not looking all that dangerous we went for a slightly more attacking tactic after the break. It resulted in a good chance to Ndlvu, who from the edge of the six yard box managed to put the ball onto the roof of the stand. Swallows were still the better side, but at least we were giving ourselves some sort of chance on occasion. But a simple tap in for McGlone in the 85th minute ensured any hope of snaring a point was gone.

At least Blackburn lost.

Thanda Royal Zulu (5th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (14th)

Steyn got both hands on a free kick, but it squeezed through just shy of 20 minutes and into the netting it went. Thnada controlled the game, we had flashes but not much. In the end, a 1-0 loss is an imprvement on recent times.

Blacburn had a 3-3 draw, against African Wanderers. Two games to go, four points the gap and our goal difference is now worse.

With his form running low, Thomo has announced his retirement at season's end.

On the last day of April central defender Ryklief joined Thomo in announcing retirement.

With the wage situation looking pretty rotten, none of the players I want to keep are within a shot of the allowed salary and others are not worth having. There is going to be a big turnover this off season.

Leshabane picked up an injury in training that saw him miss the final games. His replacement at right back, Nkozi, had a contract extension at Durban Stars, I wouldn't mind extending the loan if possible.

Real Madrid (RSA) (14th) v Mpumalanga Black Aces (11th)

We gave, by our standards, a decent account of ourselves in the first half. While outplayed we perhaps had the better chances, not that anything looked like going in.

A scorching shot on 60 minutes from Aces' Mhlongo would have beaten better goalkeepers than Andrew October (and there are few worse). Across the goal and in off the upright with a lot of power. It was two not long after, we really have developed a habit of conceding quickly after giving up one. This was just bad goalkeeping and a reminder when even an out of form Steyn is better than October. And as fullt time neared one slid past October's left to make it 3-0. To be fair, it was too wide and from too open a position for most goalkeepers to stop.

The few fans who turned up will be relieved they don't have another home game to sit through for a few months.

And Blackburn managed another draw, this time against Carara Kicks.

That makes 12 games without a win, and ten straight losses. When this run ends I'm back in the Hall of Shame, baby. Twice from this career. 15 without winning at CF Braila.

After the final match of the season, I may start paying players contracts out.

I don't like doing hat, it seems a bit too "gamey" but FM12 won't let me re-sign players to start their new contracts in the new season either, so the salary space isn't really properly managed in that respect.

Atlie FC (10th) v Real Madrid (RSA) (14th)

Dynamos FC (6th) v Blackburn Rovers (RSA) (15th)

We need a draw, or a Blackburn not-win.

Blackburn a manu up just 4 minutes in to their match thanks to a red card.

Six minutes in and we had conceded, the draw looked out of the question. Everything suggested finishing on the wrong end of a pummelling. And on red cards, our left back Nxedlada was sent to the sheds just ten minutes in. After around the twenty minuite mark we started to look more composed when we had the ball, but were still doing a lot of scrambling in defence. We went in at half time a goal down, still no score in the Blackburn game.

Dynamos took the lead early in the second half against Blackburn. As the second half wore on, the only hope was that Blackburn could not take advantage of being a man up. Our game was clearly goinmg to break badly at some stage. In the end it was only 1-0, and Blackburn lost 1-0 as well.

Undeserved survival.

That was a brutal finish. When the wheels fell off, all four went at once.

Survival ended up being a tight run thing due to that dive.

My players of the season are hard to choose. Thomo was clearly the pick for half the season but fgell away badly.

In the end I think William Leshabane takes the award, ahead of Sifisi Thomo and Lyle Peters. None of whom will be at the club next season.

The club has offered me a one year extension, with the year I still have to run that would keep me for two more years. I had to think about this but decided to sign on.

I have few players, my assistant scout walked at season's end. This is ground-up rebuild with virtually no salary. Fun times.

Our entire gate receipt income for the season was £41414. £17960, just over 43%, of that came in the cup match.

In mid-June my new assistant is signed. None other than Sifisi Thomo.

The initial wage budget was announced by the board, a huge drop on what was already an uncompetitive budget last season. This is not going to be good.

--------

For those who don't want the global updates ignore the below.

For those that do, if you want an update on a specific club, league (obviously only of those switched on) or nation, just say. They probably won't get a full wrap-up like below every year, but an occasional mention.

Champions Leagues in Europe and North America wound up, the Copa Libertadaores resumes after Worl Cup and will appear in the July update.

For the first time the European trophy went to a city other than Manchester or Barcelona

European Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12|FC Barcelona (Spain)        6                       |
|       |Arsenal (England)           0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13|Manchester United (England) 3                       |
|       |Manchester City (England)   0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14|FC Barcelona (Spain)        3                       |
|       |Olypique Lyonnais (France)  1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014/15|Manchester United (England) 2                       |
|       |FC Barcelona (Spain)        1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16|FC Barcelona (Spain)        2                       |
|       |FCP (Portugal)              1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17|Manchester City (England)   3                       |
|       |Paris-St Germain (France)   1                       |
|============================================================|
|2017/18 European Champions League                           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quater Finals                                               |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Liverpool (England)                  0     1      1         |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          3     2      5         |
|                                                            |
|Manchester City (England)            3     2      5         |
|Olympique Lyonnais (France)          2     4      6         |
|                                                            |
|A.C. Milan (Italy)                   3     1      4         |
|Paris-St Germain (France)            1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Chelsea (England)                    4     1      5         |
|Real Madrid (Spain)                  1     2      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Chelsea (England)                    3     0      3         |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|A.C. Milan (Italy)                   1     3      4         |
|Olympique Lyonnais (France)          1     0      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018 European Champions League Final                        |
|                                    HT    FT     ET   Pen   |
|A.C Milan (Italy)                    0     1      1         |
|Chelsea (England)                    1     1      3         |
==============================================================

In North America, America snared their second in three years

North American Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |FC Dallas (USA)      2   |Colorado (USA)       0    |
|2013   |Xolos Tiajuana (Mexico) 3|Chivas (Mexico)      1    |
|2014   |America (Mexico)        5|Monterrey (Mexico)   0    |
|2015   |New York (USA)       3 a |Seattle (USA)        3    |
|2016   |America (Mexico)     4   |New York (USA)       0    |
|2017   |Cruz Azul (Mexico)   3   |America (Mexico)     2    |
|============================================================|
|2018 North American Champions League (from Qtr Finals)      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                     3     1      4         |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   0     0      1         |
|                                                            |
|Portland (USA)                       2     1      3         |
|Chivas (Mexico)                      3     1      4         |
|                                                            |
|Seattle (USA)                        1     2      3 away gls|
|D.C. United (USA)                    1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Pumas (Mexico)                       1     2      3         |
|Colombus (USA)                       1     1      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                     4     1      5         |
|Chivas (Mexico)                      2     1      3         |
|                                                            |
|Seattle (USA)                        2     1      3         |
|Pumas (Mexico)                       2     2      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018 North American Champions League Final                  |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|America (Mexico)                     3     1      4         |
|Pumas (Mexico)                       0     3      3         |
==============================================================

And in the big leagues:

Chelsea went back-to-back in England.

England 2017/18
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Manchester United           |Aston Villa            |
|2012/13|Manchester City             |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2013/14|Manchester City             |Watford                |
|2014/15|Tottenham Hotspur           |Wigan                  |
|2015/16|Manchester United           |Fulham                 |
|2016/17|Chelsea                     |Liverpool              |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Chelsea                +46   82 |FA Cup                     |
|Manchester United      +46   81 |Arsenal            2       |
|Manchester City        +38   75 |Portsmouth         1       |
|Tottenham Hotspur      +23   69 |                           |
|Arsenal                +15   67 |League Cup                 |
|Liverpool              +15   64 |Manchester City    2       |
|Southampton            +10   61 |Reading            1       |
==============================================================

Finally, change in Italy

==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|FC Internazionale           |FC Internazionale      |
|2012/13|FC Internazionale           |Atalanta               |
|2013/14|FC Internazionale           |A.C. Milan             |
|2014/15|FC Internazionale           |Napoli                 |
|2015/16|FC Internazionale           |Genoa                  |
|2016/17|FC Internazionale           |Novara                 |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Juventus               +18   72 |Italian Cup                |
|A.C. Milan             +30   72 |FC Internazionale  2 e.t.  |
|FC Internazionale      +26   66 |Torino             1       |
|Roma                   +14   59 |                           |
|Sampdoria               +7   58 |                           |
|Fiorentina              -4   58 |                           |
|Parma                   +2   55 |                           |
|============================================================|

But not in Spain

Spain 2017/18
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Real Madrid                 |Valencia               |
|2012/13|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2013/14|FC Barcelona                |Sevilla                |
|2014/15|FC Barcelona                |Osasuna                |
|2015/16|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|2016/17|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Barcelona           +55   96 |Spanish Cup                |
|Real Madrid            +57   85 |FC Barcelona       3       |
|Sevilla                +21   76 |Sevilla            0       |
|Atletico Madrid        +31   70 |                           |
|Valencia               +19   65 |                           |
|Malaga                  +5   60 |                           |
|Sporting SAD            -3   58 |                           |
==============================================================

At the end of June the Word Cup in Russia has entered the knockout stages.

Qualifiers include Peru, Wales, Romania and Canada among perhaps the more surprising teams (it definitely helps to have a league turned on).

We lost every friendlly, sometimes by large margins. Occasionally there were signs of promise, but not often and the quality of opposition mixed. Two are in the top flight, Chippa expected to do OK in our division and Hanover are a division below.

The season began with the First Division Cup opening round. Our squad was not quite as bare as before the friendlies, but was prety dismal looking. And hugely over the wage budget. The media have us finishing where we did last season, third last. That would be a mini-triumph.

The men I expect to be our key players for the season are:

Jimmy Zakazaka

Goals will need to come from him. Nobody else showed any sense of where the opening was during friendlies.

Alfred Motha

Although I might not be able to afford to keep him. He is young, but hopefully will provide stability to a back line that looks as weak as any other part of the team.

Teddy Mathebula

Not really the best player ghoing around, Mathebula needs to step up and lead this season for us not to get pumped every time.

Real Madrid (RSA) v FC Cape Town – First Division National Cup, First Round

The head of Cape Town captain Nkozi put us behind on the half hour mark, after things had been reasonably even to that point. That was the first time either side really threatened the goalmouth though. The second half began abysmally, Smith being fed the ball from close range leaving us with no hope. From that point on it was all Cape Town. Gino Mokoseti put in front with a header from a Phehello free kick. Or so I thought, it was called offside.

The 2–0 loss was pretty much as expected.

Witbank Spurs (predicted 8th) v Real Madrid (RSA)

We were exposed for lack of pace In the opening minute, and exposed for lack of ability for the remainder of the game. Against everything, Pitso Phehello took a free kick from about 30 yeards out and put it in the top right corner. We held an undeserved lead nearing the break. It took quite a goal for Witrbank to equalise with around 20 minutes to play. A long range ffort over the keeper weighted to drop just into the opening, and threaded around two defenders close to the shot taker. Probably goal of the month material. Ten minutes later we just got carved up by clever quick strings of passes and went 2-1 behind. And Burton made that two for himself as stoppage time began. A disappointing finish to the game, conceding three inside 20 minutes after having a lead, but a two goal loss was a fair reflection of the play – we suck.

Real Madrid (RSA) v Maritzburg United (predicted 3rd, last season 2nd)

A shock start, with Ahdebe intercepting a throw deep in attack, crossing to Zakazaka dn he slid on to the ball knocking it over the line for a lead. Apart from that one moment Maritzburg were in complete control. But we held the lead until the break.

We had made at least sure Maritzburg took shots under some pressure, and held out until a long range effort by Nimmo went home for the leveller ten minutes into the second half. That was quicxkly followed by Maritzburg taking the lead, probably trhe first time in 15 shoits they had a chance without defender harrassing the shot taker. It became 3-1 with about 15 left to play, a simple shot straight through the goalkeeper Mhlangu's legs. A floated cross by substitute Fransch found the head of Zakazaka to bring it back to 3-2, with 96 played. And that was all, shot count of 22 to 5 cirrectly suggesting we were lucky to lose by just one.

Andile Permall, a handy player for the midfield as he can fill a role left, right or centre, will miss 3-4 months.

The losing streak has extended to 13 competition matches, 12 in the league; and 15 games withoutn a win. That win was on 27 January, 4-0 over African Wanderers.

The World Cup in Russia completed in July, as did the Copa Libertadores in South America.

============================================================================================================
|Previous World Cups                                                                                       |
|Winner                 Runners-Up               Third              Fourth           Best Player           |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014 in Brazil                                                                     |Marvin Martin         |
|ITALY            2    |Nigeria            0    |France            |Argentina       |France                |
============================================================================================================

============================================================================================================
|2018 WORLD CUP in Russia                                                                                  |
|==========================================================================================================|
|GROUP PHASE                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                          |
|Group A                                                |Group B                                           |
|Ukraine              1 – 2 Russia                      |Nigeria                1 – 1 Wales                |
|Uruguay              2 – 0 Ghana                       |Saudi Arabia           1 – 1 Belgium              |
|Russia               2 – 0 Uruguay                     |Wales                  1 – 0 Saudi Arabia         |
|Ghana                1 – 0 Ukraine                     |Belgium                3 - 0 Nigeria              |
|Ghana                1 – 1 Russia                      |Belgium                3 – 0 Wales                |
|Uruguay              1 – 1 Ukraine                     |Saudi Arabia           2 – 2 Nigeria              |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|                                           GD   PTS    |                                      GD   PTS    |
|RUSSIA                                     +3     7    |BELGIUM                               +6     7    |
|URUGUAY                                     0     4    |WALES                                 -2     4    |
|Ghana                                      -1     4    |Saudi Arabia                          -1     2    |
|Ukraine                                    -2     1    |Nigeria                               -3     2    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|Group C                                                |Group D                                           |
|England              2 – 1 Canada                      |Portugal             1 – 0 Peru                   |
|Romania              1 – 0 South Africa                |Spain                0 – 0 Australia              |
|Canada               0 – 3 Romania                     |Peru                 2 – 2 Spain                  |
|South Africa         2 – 2 England                     |Australia            0 – 3 Portugal               |
|Romania              0 – 1 England                     |Australia            0 – 3 Peru                   |
|South Africa         3 – 0 Canada                      |Spain                3 – 0 Portugal               |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|                                           GD   PTS    |                                      GD   PTS    |
|ENGLAND                                    +2     7    |PORTUGAL                              +1     6    |
|ROMANIA                                    +3     6    |SPAIN                                 +3     5    |
|South Africa                               +2     4    |Peru                                  +2     4    |
|Canada                                     -7     0    |Australia                             -6     1    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|Group E                                                |Group F                                           |
|Brazil               0 – 0 Cameroon                    |Iran                 0 – 3 Argentina              |
|Germany              5 – 0 U.S.A.                      |Mexico               4 – 0 Netherlands            |
|Cameroon             0 – 0 Germany                     |Netherlands          0 – 1 Iran                   |	
|U.S.A.               0 – 5 Brazil                      |Argentina            0 - 2 Mexico                 |
|Brazil               0 – 1 Germany                     |Netherlands          1 – 1 Argentina              |
|Cameroon             1 – 0 U.S.A.                      |Mexico               2 – 1 Iran                   |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|                                           GD   PTS    |                                      GD   PTS    |
|GERMANY                                    +6     7    |MEXICO                                +7     9    |
|CAMEROON                                   +1     5    |ARGENTINA                             +1     4    |
|Brazil                                     +4     4    |Iran                                  -3     3    |
|United States of America                  -11     0    |Netherlands                           -5     1    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|Group G                                                |Group H                                           |
|Chile                5 – 0 South Korea                 |Ivory Coast         1 – 3 Sweden                  |
|Ireland              1 – 2 France                      |Japan               1 – 3 Italy                   |
|South Korea          1 – 1 Ireland                     |Italy               0 – 1 Ivory Coast             |
|France               2 – 0 Chile                       |Sweden              2 – 4 Japan                   |
|Chile                1 – 1 Ireland                     |Italy               2 – 0 Sweden                  |
|South Korea          0 – 3 France                      |Japan               2 – 3 Japan                   |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|                                           GD   PTS    |                                      GD   PTS    |
|FRANCE                                     +6     9    |ITALY                                 +4     7    |
|CHILE                                      +3     4    |IVORY COAST                           -1     4    |
|Ireland                                    -1     2    |Japan                                 -1     3    |
|South Korea                                -8     1    |Sweden                                -2     3    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|ROUND OF 16                                                                                               |
|                             HT    FT    ET    Pen     |                        HT    FT    ET    Pen     |                                       
|Russia                        3     3                  |Uruguay                  1     1                  |
|Wales                         0     0                  |Belgium                  0     0                  |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|Romania                       0     0                  |England                  0     3                  |
|Portugal                      1     1                  |Spain                    2     5                  |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|Cameroon                      0     0    0       4     |Germany                  2     5                  |
|Mexico                        0     0    0       2     |Argentina                0     0                  |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|Italy                         1     2                  |Ivory Coast              0     1     3            |
|Chile                         0     1                  |France                   1     1     2            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|QUARTER FINALS                                                                                            |
|                             HT    FT   ET     Pen     |                        HT    FT    ET    Pen     |
|Uruguay                       0     1                  |Russia                   0     1     1      3     |
|Spain                         1     2                  |Portugal                 0     1     1      2     |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|Cameroon                      0     0                  |Germany                  0     1                  |
|Ivory Coast                   1     1                  |Italy                    3     4                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|SEMI FINALS                                                                                               |
|                             HT    FT   ET     Pen     |                        HT    FT    ET    Pen     |
|Russia                        0     1    2             |Spain                    1     1                  |
|Ivory Coast                   0     1    1             |Italy                    1     2                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|THIRD PLACED PLAYOFF                                                                                      |
|                             HT    FT   ET     Pen                                                        |
|Spain                         3     4                                                                     |
|Ivory Coast                   1     0                                                                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                             2018 WORLD CUP FINAL                                         |
|                                                                                                          |
|                                            1/2 Time     Full Time     Extra Time     Penalties           |  
|    RUSSIA                                         0             0                                        |
|    ITALY                                          1             2                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Player of the tournament :  Pedro (Spain)                                                                 |
|Golden boot              :  Alexis Sanchez (Chile)                                                        |
|==========================================================================================================|

Italy : kings of the world again.

In the Libertadores, Sao Paulo again won the final 5-1 after beating Santos in the semi-finals.

Copa Liberdatores
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         4                  |
|       |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Corinthians (Brazil)             4                  |
|       |Clube Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)  2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014   |Corinthians (Brazil)             2                  |
|       |Fluminense (Brazil)              4                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |San Lorenzo (Argentina)          1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016   |Flamengo (Brazil)                3                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               0                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Corinthians (Brazil)             1                  |
|============================================================|
|2018 Copa Liberdatores                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cruzerio (Brazil)                    0     2      2         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    1     3      4 `       |
|                                                            |
|Olimpia (Paraguay)                   0     1      1         |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Santos (Brazil)                      2     2      4         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Palmeiras (Brazil)                   1     1      2         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   1     3      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   4     3      7         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    3     3      6         |
|                                                            |
|Santos (Brazil)                      1     2      3         |
|Sao Paul (Brazil)                    1     3      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018 Copa Liberdatores Final                                |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   1     0      1         |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   3     2      5         |
==============================================================

Dynamos FC (predicted 7th, last season 6th) v Real Madrid(RSA)

Just five minutes in, Dyanmos took the lead through a fearsome strike by a debutant. Ten minutes later it took right-back Josephs to clear a dribbler off the line to stop us going two behind. Instead we went two behind in pn the half hour mark, no fight to be shown.

We had a slightly better second half. Our goal was rarely under threat, but only once did we make any sort of real move ourselves.

Moroka Swallows (5th, predicted 11th, last season 12th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (15th)

I changed thindgs around a little to see if we could get any more control. The signs were not good early, and that was quickly followed by the score not being good.

At half time we switched to start playing through the middle more and Zakazaka became a lone striker. We looked a bit better early in the half. But still prone to being cut apart on our right. The second actually came from a free kick, yet another shot from outside the box sinking us. A lot of long ahots have goine against us this season so far.

Real Madrid(RSA) (15th) v Maniini All Blacks FC (12th, predicted 16th)

At home against promotees from the regional leagues we needed to get something. A free kick put us behind early, after we had controlled the opening minutes of play. After twice failing to put away chances that were easier to score from than not, it took an own goal for us to draw level. We went to the break level, but had been the better team. That means nothing if we can't be better on the scoreboard.

Ten minutes into the second, a move started by a hobbling Hadebe ended up with Zakazaka scoring from close range and we had the lead. Hadebe again combined with Zakazaka, the latter lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper who had come off his line to make it 3-1. Zakazaka compledted a hattrick after Phehello tried to be the hero, and the ball bounced off the goalie to Zakazaka's feet.

Nobody saw it, it was a poor quality game, but it is three points.

The losing streak has ended at competitive 16 games, and 18 without a win. Off to the Hall of Shame I go.

Real Madrid(RSA) (14th) v FC Cape Town (9th, predicted 6th)

Cape Town always looked a side who would bring things crashing back to reality. But we matched it with them until they got away on the counter. Our defence hurried just in time, and no simple shot was offered. In the end a free kick that resulted in a clear header, but that was parried. A few minutes later after a bit of a scramble in the box Phehello put us in front from a couple of metres out. We did a lot of defending after that, saved by the woodwork once.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Cape Town put the dangerous Morfou through for a one on one with the goalkeeper, but Mhlangu proved up to the task. The equaliser did come though, four minutes later. A free kick and a free header. Hadebe was injured late and with other players tired I ended up making all three subs at around 80 minutes played. Cape Town started playing a very direct game and peppered our goal, but we held on for 1-1. It was a lucky point, but we need every point.

Chippa United (1st, predicted 9th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (13th)

Completely outclassed in every way. It was amazing that it took twenty minutes for the first goal. Six minutes later the second came, unlike the first this one was through some terrific play (by the standards of this league). Eight minutes later 3-0 and a rout was in the making. We hit back immediately, sort of, Zakazaka's run was honoured and he slotted home an easy one. An injury to Phehello just befpore half time left us having made two subs already at that stage, Josephs having come off earlier after a heavy knock.

With Phehello's injury Sesay moved from left back to the left wing, and looked OK with the extra freedom. But he also took a hard knock with about 15 to play. With around ten minutes left, Ramazuli secured his hattrick for Chippa. His long range shot was perfectly weighted to go flat over goalie and still drop to the target. 4-1 was better than it looked being at times, but its not pretty. Chippa remain undefeated after seven games.

Phehello's injury leaves him out for around 11 days. That should mean just one match missed, after the next game we have a two week break.

Carara Kicks (5th, predicted 5th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (14th)

We were trounced in every conceivable way except on the scoreboard. Eleven shots to two at the half, and the two were pretty low percentages taken badly. The defence had help up well, Sesay getting back from the wing a couple of times to help out.

Early in the second hald we almost broke through. A corner from a well stopped shot found a head, which found the woodwork, on to another head from point blank and somehow wide. But other than that it was all Carara. In the 65th they looked to have broken through, but it was called offside. A worrying sign was that were now starting to open our defence a bit more and getting clear shots under little pressure. Carara kept pressing but in the end the match was scoreless.

On replay, I am pretty sure the offside call was right too.

Real Madrid(RSA) (14th) v Sivutsa Stars (2nd, predicted 4th)

The last time we played the Stars, it was 6-0 their way to start that losing streak.

I was hoping to avoid a repeat.

Seventeen minutes in, a goal conceded via a header from a free kick. Had the rout started? That was answered ten minutes later when Mhlangu waved one past and watched it sail into the net. Not long after Zakazaka wrong-footed himself and could merely tap the ball straight at the goalkeeper. He was up-ended as he got onto the rebound, penalty. Zakazaka took the spot kick himself, and we got one back. That was a dubious decision though. And 3-1 just before the half, an own goal from Sibeko as he tried to clear a header.

90 seconds into the second had it became 4-1. At this point, I cried a little. Sesay was having a poor game and Phehello had provided nothing in his comeback, so Phephello came off and Sesay went back up to the wing. Another dodgy penalty was awarded almost 80 minutes in, this time going the Stars way. And that was 5-1.

Well, it wasn't 6-0 but it was still the sort of result that can kick-start a horror run.

Real Madrid(RSA) (14th) v Thanda Royal Zulu (10th, predicted 10th)

With a quarter of the match gone Zulus went ahead courtesy of a curling free kick. They have been the better team but until then weren't looking threatening. And then we fell apart. The second was just tragic, defenders refused to move back to defend. Somehow we clawed one back straight after, Zakazaka failing to pull the trigger, the defender slid in on him knocking it off the upright and Phehello tapped in from centimetres out. Just before the break both central defenders copped serious knocks. While in the hands of the physio Zulus took a corner, an unmarked header and went 3-1 up. Until this match Zulus games had been low scoring both offensively and defensively.

I gave the squad a bake at half time. It didn't help. Or maybe it did, as we didn't concede any more. 3-1 the final losing score.

Its not looking entirely like a successful season so far:

And the full winless run in all its anti-glory, stretching back to last season. It looks like I cropped it with the streak-ending match included. Oh, well, I can't be bothered fixing that now.

Atlie FC (13th, predicted 2nd) v Real Madrid(RSA) (14th)

Atlie had a new manager coming into this game, youcan see the gap between position and expection to see why that was the case. I was actually tempted to apply for this position.

Atlie were probably looking the slightly better side, but it we got the first score. Masango became our third goalscorer for the year, Zakazaka with the assist. Three minutes later Masango was involvrd again, not by scoring but by being held by Atlie's Gordinho. That was hos second card and we were a goal and a man up with under half an hour played. The man advantage did not help, we started playing Atlei's physical game and right on half time went down a goal partly as a result.

After the break we got the lead back courtesy of Monareng. I was about to yell at Masango for passing backwards instead of pulling the trigger, but the midfielder's effort went in off the upright to make it 2-1 and all was fogiven. A couple of minutyes later Atlie put us under sustained pressure after yet again our passing didn't take into account that the opposition might try to get the ball too. Thanks to woodwork and luck we saw off those minutes.

Phehello again picked up an injury, with a bit under 70 played and was forced off. That was follow3ed by Josephs giving up a penalty with the ball nowhere to be seen. No mistale, 2-2. Monreng also came off injured with 85 played.

Neither of the players forced off the field through injury look like missing games as a result.

Four of our next five games are at home, with the away game to Beauwest. Now would be a good time to string some performances together, maybe even a win somewhere. Unlikely, but if its going to happen it could be over tha period.

Real Madrid(RSA) (14th) v Roses United (11th, predicted 12th)

Roses were playing a solo striker, and Gumede was causing all sorts of problems in the role. We pit a man to specifically mark him and that seemed to lessen his impact a bit.

After the rbeak we went a goal down, courtesy of a screeching effort from downtown. Zakazaka looked to draw us level,m but was caeld offside. Probably correctly. I really need him to score, he's lost the radar in recent times.

The goal was perhaps a bit unlucky, but there can't be any complaints as Roses clearly looked the better side. Josephs' disciplibe is becoming a concern too.

In between games midfielder Andile Permall came back into full training after a hamstring injury in August. He won't start straight away, but may come off the bench.

Beauwest City FC (16th, predicted 16th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (14th)

Seven minutes in and Hendricks was left open to pick his spot to aim at, and he did it well enough to send us a goal down. Zakazaka showed how badly he las lost it, missing the simplest of shots by half the width of the pitch and sending two others straight at the goalkeeper with the full target to aim at and plenty of time. And againa hopeful long shoit sinks us, 2-0 down to the cellar dwellers after half an hour. 67% possession, 13 hots to 5, yet down 0-2 at half time.

Zakazaka did finally score on the hoiur mark, an easy shot but not as easy ones he had missed. But that was immediatelky followed by a floater that fell in for 3-1. Hendricks scored a second with about 15 to play, and what should have been a win was turning into a disastrous rout of epic proportions.

It didn't get any worse, but almost half Beauwest's goals for the season came in that match (4 of just 9).

With things as they are, I think I will be leaving this club one way or another soon. Consequently I applied for the vacant Maritzburg United job in this league and Namur in Belgium.

Needless to say, three days later the cup draw pits us against Maritzburg.

I didn't get the job at Maritzburg anyway.

Real Madrid(RSA) (15th) v Batoka FC (4th, predicted 13th)

Young goalkeeper Mnguni made his first start in a competitive match, due to our number 1's lack of actua stopping shots in the last two games. And he couldn't really be blamed for the first goal. The point blank shot ricocheted off a defender who almost blocked it, but it just dribbled over the line.

When things sren't running your way, they really don't run your way. We didn't have many shots, but they were all good ones and (except for Zakazaka's) all looked likely. Some superb saves denied us.

Real Madrid(RSA) (15th) v Mpumalanga Black Aces (7h, predicted 1st)

1 goal down, 38 seconds played. 2 goals down, 15:06 played. Oh dear. And this was the run where we needed to get some wins. Eight minutes later Monareng pulled one back, with the sort of blast that goes against us all too often. A bit outside the box, pull the trigger, and sl;am it into the top right corner. As always when we score, we coneded under a minute later to make it 3-1.

It became 4-1 ten minutes into the second half. Mnguni hgad made the save and got it to two of our defenders but they left it for an oppoistion striker to pounce on. The defence again refused to touch the ball moments later fropm a corner, allowing a simple gopal for 5-1. With 78 played Phehello put in a cross from deep, it floated to the far post and in off it to make the scoreline 5-2. That sort of luck would have been nice in a closer game. But not when it is 6-2 a couple of minutes later.

That made it the half way point of the league, and things were looking pretty grim. The loss to Beauwest probably means relegation.

Real Madrid(RSA) (15th) v Witbank Spurs (13th, 8th predicted)

Both sides struggled to make any forward m,oves count early on. It was Witbank who started first, but Zakazaka who made one count giving us a lead around a quarter of the way into the game. Ten minutes before the break he was forced off with injury though. Not long after the break a spearing free kick was well met by a Witbank player to put the game back on level terms – level that is except Witbank were playing a far superior at that point. Sesay was injured challenging for that ball just to add to the woes, but remained on the field. Our second goal came in similar fashion to the first, substitute Hadebe was outpaced to the ball stripped his man of possession inside the box and fired, just as Zakazaka had before. Again it was free kick, header, goal that did for us. This a more conventional aerial ball, that just snuck in off the woodwork in the 60th minute. And then there was a third, again off the head, this time via a cross and off one of our players heads. Sesay put Witbank in front with a classic own goal. Two minutes later Sesay was sent off for a brute of a tackle from behind. The run of games where we had to get points to stay up was 20 minutes from over with zero points added. A disaster of a game in the end, after holding a lead for a while, twice.

Zakazaka will miss three weeks with his inujury, and Sesay gets a three game suspension. All while throwing three points away.

Right now, resignation is about the only plan I have.

Real Madrid(RSA) (First Division 15th) v Maritzburg United (Firt Division 7th) – South African FA Cup Preliminary Round

I went into this game with low expectations. And they were probably just met in the opening stages. Thankfully Maritzburg weren't much better. Indeed just before the break we took a lead. Josephs kept getting fouled by the same player. This time it led to a through ball that thei goalie didn't come out to and Masango found a way through and slid it past him. After last game I warned against complacency at the break, maybe that would do the trick.

It came as no surprise when Prince Ntombela picked up a second yellow and we had a one man advantage. What was a surprise was it was a dive and not another tackle on Josephs (himself no stranger to discipline issues). We came very close to conceding after the hour, too much space wide, a good cross and the header that met it just floated into the top of the crossbar and over. In the 65th an already sore Monareng was brought down in the box, and a red card was given a long with the penalty. A nine man Maritzburg. How would we throw this match away? It was Mathebula who took the kick, and scored for 2-0. Mooki made it 2-1, rising way above everybody else from a corner and scoring form the far post. And the same man made it 2-2 just a couple of minutes later, finding room where there was none and hitting home.

That was how we would throw the game away. We then entered extra time with a bunch of players with no fitness left.

And sure enough we went behind not long after the restart.

Seriously, two goals and two men up and the best we could do was a 3-2 loss.

And, so the new year will begin with a 1-3-14 record since the season began.

On 31 December came the somewhat surprising news that Edgar Sesay was called up to play for Sierra Leone in the African Cup of Nations. They will be expected to finish last in their group.

African and Asian Champions Leagues wrapped up in November.

In Africa, it was the same finalists and the same result, down to the same aggregate scores.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |USM Alger (Algeria)    4 |Raja Casablanca (Morocco)1|
|2012   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        5 |ASEC Mimosas(Ivory Coast)1|
|2013   |ASEC Mimomas (Ivory C) 5 |Zamalek (Egypt)          4|
|2014   |ES Tunis (Tunisia)     3a|Enyimba (Nigeria)        3|
|2015   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Supersport Utd (S.Africa)3|
|2016   |Raja Casablanca (Mor.) 3 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|2017   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|============================================================|
|2018 African Champions League                               |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)           4     2      6         |
|Stade Malien (Mali)                  0     2      2         |
|                                                            |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      3     1      4         |
|Jomo Cosmos (South Africa)           0     1      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018 African Champions League Final                         |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      1     3      4         |
|Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)           1     0      1         |
==============================================================

In Asia, the Middle East dominance remained with no east Asian club making the final four.

Asian Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2012   |Persepolia (Iran)      1  |Eseghal (Iran)         0 |
|2013   |Suwon (South Korea)    1  |Al-Wahda (UAE)         0 |
|2014   |Al Hilal (UAE)         2p |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2 |
|2015   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2016   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2017   |Al-Shabab (Saudi Ar.)  3  |Osaka AC (Japan)       1 |
|============================================================|
|2018 Asian Champions League                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                     4     2      6         |
|Gyeonam (South Korea)                1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Osaka AC (Japan)                     0     1      1         |
|Persepolis (Iran)                    3     2      5         |
|                                                            |
|Shandong (China)                     0     1      1         |
|Sepahan (Iran)                       1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Tianjin (China)                      0     0      0         |
|Al-Fateh (Saudi Arabia)              4     3      7         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Fateh (Saudi Arabia)              1     1      2         |
|Sepahan (Iran)                       0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Persepolis (Iran)                    1     1      2         |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                     2     1      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018 Asian Champions League Final                           |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Al-Fateh (Saudi Arabia)              1     1                |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                     1     2                |
==============================================================

And the Club World Championship in December.

No surprise, the European team beat the South American team.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |Santos (Brazil)          0|
|2012   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 0|
|2013   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |ES Tunis (Tunisia)       1|
|2014   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |ES Tunis (Tuniaia)       0|
|2015   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |Corinthians (Brazil)     0|
|2016   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Flamengo (Brazil)        0|
|2017   |Manchester City (Eng)  5 |Raja Casablancs (Mor.)   0|
|============================================================|
|2018 Club World Championship                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)                  0                |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            3                |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                           3                |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                           0                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Fifth Placed Playoff                                        |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)                  2                |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                           3                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            1                |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                         2 e.t.           |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                           0                |
|Chelsea (England)                          2                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            0                |
|America (Mexico)                           3                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018 Club World Championship Final                          |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Chelsea (England)                    3     3                |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     1                |
==============================================================

A change in the annual player awards.

============================================================================================================
|    |Golden Ball                                       |World Player of the Year                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Mario Gotze                                       |
|    |Real Madrid(ESP) / Portugal                       |Borrusia Dortmund (GER) / Germany                 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |
|    |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |
============================================================================================================

Maritzburg United (7th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (15th)

After that cup game, it is Martitzburg again.

Zakazaka was fit enoguh to play, and we reverted back to a flat 4-4-2 that had served us so poorly for so long. We had a couple of early chances, and sustained pressure at the opposition's end for a while. But once that period was over, it was all Maritzburg. By the time Samma put them ahead, it was hard to believe there had been a time when we were in the game, much less arguably controlling it. When the second came just minutes later, it was truly woeful - but entirely expected - defending that brought it about.

Substitute Fortuin made it 3-0 with an hour played. It stayed that way, but could easily have been 5-0, which give we had periods where we were the better side is a worry.

Maniini had a draw and we slipped to last.

With the transfer window open, we put in three loan bids on day one. One agreed to join the club, Blackburn's Simphiwe Msomi will partner Zakazakla up forward.

Real Madrid(RSA) (16th) v Dynamos FC (4th)

At least in this game we just looked utterly outclassed. The first thing to go our way was a red card to make Dynamos a man down after 32 minutes. Being a man down didn't stop their dominance, but it was no score at the half.

The first came courtesy of the old foe, a headed corner almost 70 minutes in. And just after 70 Josephs again gave up a penalty, which was duly put away. At least this time the challenge was probably necessary.

With a month between matches I arranged a couple of friendlies for match fitness. After all, I don't want players losing this sort of form. We also secured three more loanees, a left back, a central defender and a midfielder.

We split the two friendlies, narrowly beating a regional league side and hammered 5-2 by the bottom of the SA Premier league. That doesn't bode well for the new loanees boosting things much.

Just as competition was about to resume, Alfred Motha strained a muscle in training and will miss three weeks. That is a problem in defence, but for the most part we have a clean bill of health.

FC Cape Town (9th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (16th)

After the season break, just like before the season break. Am early knock to new left-back Dladla and an early goal conceded through an unlucky ricochet. And half an hour later one of the worst own goals in history made it 2-0. Same team, same team. That became 3-0 after Peterson gave up a free right on the edge of the box during stoppage time.

4-0 with around 20 to play when a free came off the wall to beat the goalie. A couple of the goals could be considered unlucky, but if you are forced to defend your own area for the whole match these things will happen.

Real Madrid(RSA) (16th) v Moroka Swallows (7th)

Another game where we seemed to be doing little more than trying to kept he ball out of the net. The counter-attacking plan was not producing any counters, so I switched it. I figured we were going to concede anyway, so tried to go a little more attacking to see if we could create a scoring chance or two. It was 0-0 at the half.

The scoreline changed for the worse just minutes into the second half. Zakazaka put in a horrible cross, and while we did get men back it was easy end to end stuff for Swallows. With just over 20 minutes gone, Zakazaka appeared to have tapped one in but was called offside. Touch and go, but replay showed it was correct. A couple of minutes later a cross from the deep by Sibeko was headed in by Zakazaka. That one looked more offside but was not called, scores levelled despite play being all Swallows way. Swallows kept pressing and pressing and pressing, we survived a corener headed into the woodwoork, a free kick that was centimetres away from being a penalty and the ball never getting out of our defensive third for over ten minutes. Very late in the piece goalscorer and all-round bad guy Ruksie went off injured for Swallows. Could that provide the breathing space we needed? Maybe. A draw isn't a loss, but we really need a win.

17 shots to 4, 9 on target to 1. The draw was very lucky, and those stats don't show how much pressure Swallows applied.

Andile Permall came out of the game with a two week wrist injury. Not ideal but can be covered.

The losing streak was broken, but not the unwinning streak. I'm allowed to make up words.

It really is a race between three for that survival spot, a race we are doomed to lose.

As mentioned the break in the league was probably due to the African Cup of Nations. The big surprise was Ivory Coast's failure to qualify. The finalists from the last two outings were in the same group, neither made it past quarter-finals this time.

African Cup of Nations
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011   |Mali               2     |Ghana                1    |
|2013   |Ivory Coast        3     |Cameroon             0    |
|2015   |Cameroon           3     |Tunisia              0    |
|2017   |Cameroon           0 pen |Tunisia              0    |
|============================================================|
|2019 African Cup of Nations                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Group A              GD  Pts  |Group B              GD  Pts |
|South Africa         +8    9  |Cameroon             +1    5 |
|Mali                 +3    6  |Senegal               0    3 |
|Togo                 -3    3  |Tunisia               0    3 |
|Central African Rep. -8    0  |Sierra Leone         -1    2 |
|                              |                             |
|Group C                       |Group D                      |
|Nigeria              +5    9  |Ghana                +3    7 |
|Algeria               0    6  |Egypt                +4    6 |
|Guinea               -2    1  |Ivory Coast          -4    2 |
|Dem. Rep. Of Congo   -3    1  |Morocco              -3    1 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Mali                 0         |Ghana               3       |
|South Africa         3         |Algeria             4       |
|                                                            |
|Cameroon             0         |Egypt               3       |
|Senegal              1         |Nigeria             4       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|Algeria              1         |Nigeria             0       |
|Senegal              2         |South Africa        3       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Place Playoff                                         |
|Nigeria               1                                     |
|Algeria               0                                     |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 African Cup of Nations Final                           |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|South Africa          2          2                          |
|Senegal               0          1                          |
==============================================================

The Asian Cup was on at the same time. Back to back for the Saudis, their fifth win being a new record in Asia.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|============================================================|
|2015   |Saudi Arabia       2     |South Korea           0   |
|============================================================|
|2019 Asian Cup                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Group A            GD   Pts  |Group B           GD    Pts   |
|Saudi Arabia       +8     9  |Australia         +3      6   |
|Iran               -2     3  |Qatar             +2      5   |
|China              -2     3  |North Korea       -1      3   |
|Thailand           -4     3  |Jordan            -4      3   |
|                             |                              |
|Group C            GD   Pts  |Group D           GD    Pts   |
|Uzbekistan         +4     7  |South Korea      +12      9   |
|Japan              +2     6  |Syria             -2      2   |
|India              -1     2  |Kyrgystan         -5      2   |
|Singapore          -5     1  |Iraq              -5      2   |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                                            |
|Uzbekistan          0         |Saudi Arabia      3          |
|Iran                3         |Japan             1          |
|                              |                             |
|South Korea         0         |Syria             0          |
|Qatar               1         |Australia         3          |
|----------------------------------------------------------- |
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                                            |
|Iran                1         |Saudi Arabia      7          |
|Qatar               4         |Australia         0          |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|                                                            |
|Australia           1                                       |
|Iran                2 e.t.                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL                                        |
|                         HT       FT       ET      Pens     |
|Saudi Arabia              1        2                        |
|Qatar                     1        1                        |
==============================================================

Maniini All Blacks (16th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (15th)

Needless to say, this update begins with a crunch game.

And within three minutes we were crunched. Tshabalaba opening rthe scoring via the head. From then on neither side threatened. I mixed things up a bit trying to find a way to goal, but without anything looking likely. All Blacks outplayed us, and the 1-0 loss pretty much ensured relegation (which was looking highly likely anyway).

Real Madrid(RSA) (16th) v Chippa United (1st)

The openewr came a quarter of the way through the game, with a goal kick to Chippa's Peteresen who outran our Peterson all the way to the area and slotted home. A couple of minutes later Pewtersen had a brace, with a good run and well hit strike. Sesay almost pulled one back for us, playing as a defensive mid. His shot hitting the underneath of the crossbar but failing to go in. We were generally mixing it with the table leaders in general play, but its goals that determine the result. And there we weree wasteful, where Petersen had been clinical for a five minute period. Ten minutes into the second half we got a lucky break, with Chippa's goalkeeper picking the ball up just outside the area. Phehello took advantaghe of the free kick and dragged one back for us. With Chippa down to ten men I went for slightly more attacking tactics to see if we could pull somethuing from the match. No chance. 2-1 loss.

All Blacks got a draw, and it is a four point barrier.

Sivutsa Stars (7th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (16th)

As expected Sivutsa as always wiped the floor with us everywhere on the park. It took until early in the second half for the scoring to start though. In the 64th a corner followed by two headers left us two down. We had out first shot of the match five minutes later, Phehello sending the ball sailing over the corner flag. And that was it.

Maniini drew again, just to make things that little bit more impossible.

Real Madrid(RSA) (16th) v Carara Kicks (7th)

Another match, another early goal conceded from another corner. There is nothing to suggest there is any way this side can be saved. Masango did pull the goal back, via the head, just before the half hour mark. But really, it was never likely to mean anything. At haklf time we led mosat of the stats, the first time for a very long time. But actually scoring still looked far less likely than conceding.

We pressed their goial a bit early in the second, and ten minutes Phehello on the wrong side of the pitch crossed and found Zakazaka's head for a lead. A lead. After that shock Carara started getting on top around the ground. Late in the game we went into containment mode, Carara pressed, but the whistle sounded. A win. That was a shock to everyone.

A fortnight's break due to internationals. Sesay played for Sieraa Leone again.

Thanda Royal Zulu (12th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (15th)

With Sesay injured in training, Motha suspended and Peterson inelgible, the side that took to the field was considerably different. The defence was basically ripped apart by the omissions. Zulus were on top, but faioled to score in the opneing half. They really should have done once thjough with Mhlangu putting himself out of position by coming off his line and then just as he got to the ball deciding to back-pedal and allow the striker to run on. Just before the 80 minute mark we looked to have conceded, but the viewing angle proved false and the ball had just sailed over bar not under it. Another own goal after 83 minutes, a corner headed into the leg of Moeketsi and the unplanned touch edged it in. Actually, it wasn't classed as an own goal. Unlucky, but in reality we deserved the loss.

Real Madrid(RSA) (15th) v Atlie FC (13th)

The earlky signs were not good with Atlie pushing hard, and creating chances, while we did nothing. However, against the run of play masango scored from our first move forward. A little chip-cross from Permall just grazed Masango's head and went in. Masango had a second on 20 minutes, when Zakazaka held the ball up and (surprisingly) made a simple throguh ball. The shot was hit hard and true. The stats showed Atlie had been better in the first half, the scorebard shwed we had the advantage.

Atlie continued to look the better side after the break, and more dangerous with it. With abour 15-20 minutes to play I switched a containing instruction, hoping to just hold on as we were no longer showing any sign of moving the ball forward. Three times Atlie's Campbell had the whole target to shoot at and put it wide, once from about eight yards out. Despite the stats showing Atlie were the far better team, we lucked in three points.

It was also our first clean sheet since a draw with Carara Kicks on October 6.

Roses United (12th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (14th)

An early free kick, an early goal down. A well taken 20 yeard effort putting us in trouble. And the next one was from 25 yards, not afree kick but with nobody there to provide pressure. We had patches of copmeptitiveness, even leading possession, but never came close to breaking down Roses' set-up.

At lkeast Beauwest and Maniini both lost as well. Next up, Beauwest, who we didn't fare to well against last time around. Maybe being at home will help. Maybe.

Real Madrid(RSA) (14th) v Beauwest City (16th)

If we won this, we would almost secure that Beauwest could not catch us – they would need two big wins in the last two games. If Maniini lost as well, it would be tough for them too. If we won this. If we lost, it was all too likely we would drop. All to play for, nothing to play with.

Elton Petersen twisted his ankle and will likely miss the rest of the season. I could just cancel the loan now.

We were definitely on top early, but without that edge to make good chances. As the first half wore on Beauwest started to get into the game more though. And shortly before half time, almost from nowhere, they took the lead. There looked to be lot of offside in that. And a free kick with almost 80 gone sunk us.

That leaves us still sitting in real trouble with two games remaining.

Baroka FC (2nd) v Real Madrid(RSA) (14th)

Not many people would have expected this to be a competitive game, and so it was no shock when we fell behind early on. What was more disturbing was that Beauwest had a lead in their game. By the time we fell two behind, just short of the half hout mark, Beauwest had conceded and were 1-1.

We had a brief period in the second half with the ball at the right end of the pitch, but nothing of subsequence was created. Nothing was happening and goal difference was unlikely to count for anything, so I rolled the dice on a more attacking “plan”. We cane very close to pulling one back with a long ball finding Masango, who threaded the needle with the pass only for Msomi (who had come on for a disappointing Zakazaka) to put a simple shot wide. But Beauwest went 2-1 down at almost the same time, giving some relief. In the 84th minute Masango made no mistake with his own chance, and we were one down. We conceded a third with 93 played, which was disappointing but hardly a surprise. So we stayed with our heads above water. Maniini lost 4-1 and remain just one point behind.

For the final game, I'm trying something a bit different as a report; being a crucial game and all. I have no idea how well it will work.

Mpulunga Black Aces (8th) v Real Madrid(RSA) (14th)

In the other games Beauwest are away to sixth placed Maritrburg and Maniini host fifth placed Carara Kicks.

We lost Teddy Mathebula two days before the game. Despite misgivings I did start Zakazaka.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
|Minute |                                                         |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|    10 | Phehello crosses, and nearly gets lucky, knocked wide   |
|       | for a corner                                            |
|       |                                                         |
|    11 | That corner almost headed in by Alfred Motha            |
|       |                                                         |
|    12 | Maniini down 1-0                                        |
|       |                                                         |
|    14 | Maniini down 2-0                                        |
|       |                                                         |
|    24 | Maniini down 3-0 to Carara Kicks                        |
|       |                                                         |
|    34 | Black Aces get their first clear shot, a header which   |
|       |  is easily held                                         |
|       |                                                         |
|    34 | Black Aces get their first clear shot, a header which   |
|       |                                                         |
|       |                     HALF TIME                           |
|       | Black Aces 0 – Real Madrid 0                            |
|       | Shots 3-4, On Target 2-1, Possession 61-39              |
|       | Maritzburg United 0 – Beauwest City 0                   |
|       | Maniini All Blacks 0 – Carara Kicks 3                   |
|       | So Maniini look out of the picture, we need Beauwest to |
|       | lose and then our game doesn't count.                   |
|       |                                                         |
|    48 | Zwane gets on to a through ball and scores for Black    |
|       | Aces. Live table, we slip into relegation.              |
|       |                                                         |
|       |                                                         |
|    58 | Black Aces comewithin inches of a second, the ball sent |
|       | margionally wide with our goalkeeper not moving.        |
|       |                                                         |
|    67 | We make two substitutions, looking for an extra avenue  |
|       | to get the ball into dangerous spots more often. This   |
|       | looks like my last half hour in this job.               |
|       |                                                         |
|    82 | A spectacular save by Mhlangu keeps the deficit to only |
|       | one, but that is clearly one too many. We have managed  |
|       | one shot since the 20 minute mark.                      |
|       |                                                         |
|       |                                                         |
|    84 | Mhangu clears a short range shot off the line, but      |
|       | if the ball stays at that end we are relying on         |
|       | Maritzburg.                                             |
|       |                                                         |
|    90 | Three minutes of time added. No score in the Beauwest   |
|       | game                                                    |
|       |                                                         |
|       |                  FULL TIME                              |
|       | Black Aces 1 – Real Madrid 0                            |
|       | Maritzburg United 0 – Beauwest City 0                   |
|       | Maniini All Blacks 0 – Carara Kicks 3                   |
-------------------------------------------------------------------

And so, with relegation, my time at South African Real Madrid is over.

That is one horrible looking season.

My dismal career got dismaller. I have had some bad runs in FM before, but nothing like this whole career.

============================================================================================================
|Season  |Club                          |Compeition                                        |Finish         |
|======= |==============================|==================================================|===============|
|2011/12 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in 11th place, 15 of 30 played        |               |
|        |                              |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  12th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 6 matches of 30                  |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |4th round (start 4th round)                       |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   6th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in  8th place, 19 of 30 played        |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 30 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |7th round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   9th of 16   |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 31 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017/18 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African National First Division             |  14th of 16   |
|        |                              |South African Cup                                 |1st Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018/19 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African National First Division             |  15th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Relegated, sacked at season's end             |               |
|        |                              |South African Cup                                 |Prelim Round   |
|==========================================================================================================|

|==========================================================================================================|
|Season  |Club                          |Competition                           |  W|  D|  L|  GF|  GA|  GD |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12 |CF Brailia                    |Romanian Second League                |  4|  6|  5|  14|  17|  -3 |
|2012/13 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  0|  3|  3|   4|   7|  -3 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League                |  3|  2|  2|   6|   7|  -1 |
|2013/14 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  7| 13| 10|  36|  37|  -1 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  3|  0|  1|  11|   9|  +2 |
|2015/16 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League                | 11| 12| 12|  51|  55|  -4 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  1|  1|   7|   5|  +2 |
|2016/17 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  6| 10| 15|  37|  50| -13 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  0|  1|   4|   5|  -1 |
|2017/18 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African First Division          |  6|  5| 19|  29|  55| -26 |
|        |                              |South African Cup                     |  0|  1|  1|   0|   3|  -3 |
|        |                              |South African First Division Cup      |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|2018/19 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African First Division          |  3|  4| 23|  25|  66| -41 |
|        |                              |South African Cup                     |  0|  0|  1|   2|   3|  -1 |
|        |                              |South African First Division Cup      |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Totals  |CF Brailia                    |                                    22|  4|  9|  9|  18|  26|  -8 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |                                    41| 13| 15| 13|  53|  53|   0 |
|        |CF Bihoril Beius              |                                    71| 19| 23| 29|  99| 115| -16 |
|        |Real Madrid (RSA)             |                                    65|  9| 10| 46|  56| 131| -55 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Grand Total                                                                199| 45| 57| 97| 226| 325| -79 |
|Percentage                                                                    |23%|29%|49%|               |
============================================================================================================

And now, the end of season wrap around the places that end in mid-year.

Starting in the three big leagues.

England, Italy and Spain

England 2018/19
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Manchester United           |Aston Villa            |
|2012/13|Manchester City             |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2013/14|Manchester City             |Watford                |
|2014/15|Tottenham Hotspur           |Wigan                  |
|2015/16|Manchester United           |Fulham                 |
|2016/17|Chelsea                     |Liverpool              |
|2017/18|Chelsea                     |Arsenal                |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Manchester United      +50   86 |FA Cup                     |
|Liverpool              +42   86 |Tottenham Hotspur  2       |
|Manchester City        +47   77 |Fulham             1       |
|Tottenham Hotspur      +27   72 |                           |
|Everton                +28   71 |League Cup                 |
|Arsenal                +27   68 |Liverpool          2       |
|Chelsea                +19   63 |Burnley            1       |
==============================================================

Italy 2018/19
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|FC Internazionale           |FC Internazionale      |
|2012/13|FC Internazionale           |Atalanta               |
|2013/14|FC Internazionale           |A.C. Milan             |
|2014/15|FC Internazionale           |Napoli                 |
|2015/16|FC Internazionale           |Genoa                  |
|2016/17|FC Internazionale           |Novara                 |
|2017/18|Juventus                    |FC Internazionale      |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|A.C. Milan             +46   81 |Italian Cup                |
|FC Internazionale      +37   79 |Juventus           3       |
|Juventus               +14   66 |Roma               2       |
|Novara                 +10   62 |                           |
|Roma                    +6   60 |                           |
|Udinese                +12   60 |                           |
|Fiorentina              +3   54 |                           |
==============================================================

Spain 2018/19
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Real Madrid                 |Valencia               |
|2012/13|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2013/14|FC Barcelona                |Sevilla                |
|2014/15|FC Barcelona                |Osasuna                |
|2015/16|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|2016/17|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2017/18|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Real Madrid            +53   91 |Spanish Cup                |
|FC Barcelona           +47   91 |Sevilla            5       |
|Sevilla                +22   71 |Real Madrid        1       |
|Villareal              +16   69 |                           |
|Atletico Madrid        +25   66 |                           |
|Malaga                  +3   63 |                           |
|Athletic Club          +15   60 |                           |
==============================================================

Staying in Europe for the Champions League

European Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12|FC Barcelona (Spain)        6                       |
|       |Arsenal (England)           0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13|Manchester United (England) 3                       |
|       |Manchester City (England)   0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14|FC Barcelona (Spain)        3                       |
|       |Olypique Lyonnais (France)  1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014/15|Manchester United (England) 2                       |
|       |FC Barcelona (Spain)        1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16|FC Barcelona (Spain)        2                       |
|       |FCP (Portugal)              1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17|Manchester City (England)   3                       |
|       |Paris-St Germain (France)   1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017/18|Chelsea (England)           3                       |
|       |A.C. Milan                  1                       |
|============================================================|
|2018/19 European Champions League                           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quater Finals                                               |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Atletico Madrid (Spain)              1     3      4 away gls|
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          2     2      4         |
|                                                            |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 1     2      3         |
|Manchester City (England)            3     0      3 away gls|
|                                                            |
|A.C. Milan (Italy)                   2     1      3         |
|Internazionale (Italy)               0     2      2         |
|                                                            |
|Real Madrid (Spain)                  1     1      2         |
|Chelsea (England)                    1     2      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Chelsea (England)                    1     1      2         |
|A.C. Milan (Italy)                   0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Atletico Madrid (Spain)              0     1      1         |
|Manchester City (England)            1     2      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 European Champions League Final                        |
|                                    HT    FT     ET   Pen   |
|Chelsea (England)                    1     1      2     3   |
|Manchester City (England)            1     1      2     5   |
==============================================================

And the Copa Liberdatores in South America

Copa Liberdatores
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         4                  |
|       |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Corinthians (Brazil)             4                  |
|       |Clube Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)  2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014   |Corinthians (Brazil)             2                  |
|       |Fluminense (Brazil)              4                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |San Lorenzo (Argentina)          1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016   |Flamengo (Brazil)                3                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               0                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Corinthians (Brazil)             1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               1                  |
|============================================================|
|2019 Copa Liberdatores                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 4     1      5         |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     0      1 `       |
|                                                            |
|Gimniasia (Argentina)                0     1      1         |
|Internacional (Brazil)               1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Libertad (Paraguay)                  1     0      1         |
|Cerro Porteno (Paraguay)             1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Vitoria (Brazil)                     1     1      2         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             1     3      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cerroi Porteno (Paraguay)            3     0      3         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             0     2      2         |
|                                                            |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 1     2      1 pens    |
|Internacional (Brazil)               1     3      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 Copa Liberdatores Final                                |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cerro Porteno (Paraguay)             2     0      2         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 2     4      6         |
==============================================================

During July, the Copa America will be on while I again wait and hope for a job.

You have a mistake in code brackets. You've wrote that your Real Madrid ended in 16th out of 16, but it was a little higher finish according to screenshots.

Thank you, typos are a thing I do.

No surprise that I am still unemployed, if nothing happens I won't do another update until December. Maybe later in the year the culling season will open up a job.

In the meantime, if anyone wants to know how a specific player, club, etc has fared I'm pleased to do the occasional one-off request.

This update is pretty much just the internationals in the Americas. Starting with July's Copa America.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2015  | Uruguay           1   | Colombia                0  |
==============================================================
|2019 Copa America                                           |
|Group A                                  GD    Pts          |
|CHILE                                    +5      7          |
|PERU                                     +3      7          |
|Venezuala                                -3      3          |
|Bolivia                                  -5      0          |
|                                                            |
|Group B                                  GD    Pts          |
|ARGENTINA                                +4      7          |
|PARAGUAY                                 -2      4          |
|MEXICO                                    0      3          |
|Uruguay                                  -2      3          |
|                                                            |
|Group C                                  GD    Pts          |
|ECUADOR                                  +3      7          |
|BRAZIL                                   +3      4          |
|COLOMBIA                                 -1      4          |
|Costa Rica                               -5      1          |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                                            |
|Colombia            1         |Argentina      5             |
|Chile               2         |Brazil         1             |
|                              |                             |
|Mexico              5         |Peru           2 e.t.        |
|Ecuador             0         |Paraguay       1             |
|----------------------------------------------------------- |
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                                            |
|Peru                1         |Mexico         4             |
|Argentina           4         |Chile          3             |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|                                                            |
|Chile               3                                       |
|Peru                2                                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 COPA AMERICA FINAL                                     |
|                         HT       FT       ET      Pens     |
|Mexico                    0        0                        |
|Argentina                 0        1                        |
==============================================================

And I missed the Gold Cup in North America, which should have been in the June update.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Jamaica              1   |Mexico               0    |
|2015   |Mexico               2   |Costa Rica           1    |
|2017   |U.S.A.               1   |Mexico               0    |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Canada               0       |Curacao                1      |
|Mexico               3       |Costa Rica             4      |
|                             |                              |
|El Salvador          0       |Haiti                  0      |
|Jamaica              1       |Honduras               1      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                                            |
|Jamaica              0       |Honduras               0      |
|Mexico               3       |Costa Rica             3      |

|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 GOLD CUP FINAL                                         |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|Costa Rica            0          0       0                  |
|Mexico                0          0       1                  |
==============================================================

After a disappointing Pacific Games, the Samoan and Cook Islands jobs came up. I applied the job at Samoa, who don't seem to have qualified for the Oceanian Nations Cup or Oceania's World Cup qualifiers.

That will leave only friendlies, so I'm not planning to hang around too long with no competitions to look forward to. Internationals management can be hard to stay focused with at the best of times.

The squad is really bare in a lot of positions, necessitating an experiment with an unusual looking line-up. There aren't any players worthy of highlighting, with only central defender Faffetai Hunt anything above a total write-off. There is not a single professional player in the squad, with all playing in the Samoan league.

Ranked at 190 before my first game in charge.

I was in charge only for the final three friendlies after the Pacific Games.

And we finished the year ranked 199th as a result, some of that slide came as a result of the Pacific Games which had not been calculated into the rankings when I took over.

With no competitive games coming up for Samoa, I can't say I'm taking the job too seriously. But I'm struggling not to get laughed at for club jobs (not surprisingly, even by my standards this career has been terrible - at least its different from the normal path to glory stories in the forum I guess).

Lots of champions leagues, etc, around the world to catch up on.

It looks like I missed the North American Champions League in a previous update.

North American Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |FC Dallas (USA)      2   |Colorado (USA)       0    |
|2013   |Xolos Tiajuana (Mexico) 3|Chivas (Mexico)      1    |
|2014   |America (Mexico)        5|Monterrey (Mexico)   0    |
|2015   |New York (USA)       3 a |Seattle (USA)        3    |
|2016   |America (Mexico)     4   |New York (USA)       0    |
|2017   |Cruz Azul (Mexico)   3   |America (Mexico)     2    |
|2018   |America (Mexico)     4   |Pumas (Mexico)       3    |
|============================================================|
|2019 North American Champions League (from Qtr Finals)      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|Alajuelense (Costa Rica)             0     0      0         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   4     2      6         |
|                                                            |
|Chivas USA (USA)                     3     3      6         |
|D.C. United (USA)                    4     1      4         |
|                                                            |
|Colombus (USA)                       1     1      2         |
|Toronto FC (Canada)                  3     1      4         |
|                                                            |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   3     2      5         |
|America (Mexico)                     2     0      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   1     4      5         |
|Chivas USA (USA)                     0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Toronto FC (Canada)                  1     1      3         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   2     1      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 North American Champions League Final                  |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cruz Azul (Mexico)                   0     0      0         |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   2     4      6         |
==============================================================

In Africa, the same finalists met for the third year running. Wydad casablanca managed to turn the tables this time.

African Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |USM Alger (Algeria)    4 |Raja Casablanca (Morocco)1|
|2012   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        5 |ASEC Mimosas(Ivory Coast)1|
|2013   |ASEC Mimomas (Ivory C) 5 |Zamalek (Egypt)          4|
|2014   |ES Tunis (Tunisia)     3a|Enyimba (Nigeria)        3|
|2015   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Supersport Utd (S.Africa)3|
|2016   |Raja Casablanca (Mor.) 3 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|2017   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|2018   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|============================================================|
|2019 African Champions League                               |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)            4     1      5         |
|Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)           3     2      5 away gls|
|                                                            |
|FAR Rabat (Morocco)                  0     0      0         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      0     2      2         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 African Champions League Final                         |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      1     2      3         |
|Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)           2     2      4         |
==============================================================

And the Saudis got back to the top of Asian club football

Asian Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2012   |Persepolia (Iran)      1  |Eseghal (Iran)         0 |
|2013   |Suwon (South Korea)    1  |Al-Wahda (UAE)         0 |
|2014   |Al Hilal (UAE)         2p |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2 |
|2015   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2016   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2017   |Al-Shabab (Saudi Ar.)  3  |Osaka AC (Japan)       1 |
|2018   |Lekhwia (Qatar)        2  |Al-Father (Saudi Ar.)  1 |
|============================================================|
|2019 Asian Champions League                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia)            3     1      4         |
|Guangzhou (China)                    1     0      1         |
|                                                            |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            1     3      4         |
|FC Seoul (South Korea)               0     3      3         |
|                                                            |
|Suwon (South Korea)                  4     0      4         |
|Al-Jilal (Saudi Arabia)              1     0      1         |
|                                                            |
|Teraktor-Sazi (Iran)                 1     0      1         |
|Tianjin (China)                      1     2      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia)            4     4      8         |
|Tianjin (China)                      1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Suwon (South Korea)                  0     0      0         |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            4     3      7         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 Asian Champions League Final                           |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            0     0                |
|Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia)            1     2                |
==============================================================

The Club World Championship wrapped things up late in the year. A mad extra time saw the trophy return to one of its two main cities this save.

2019 Club World Championship
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |Santos (Brazil)          0|
|2012   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 0|
|2013   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |ES Tunis (Tunisia)       1|
|2014   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |ES Tunis (Tuniaia)       0|
|2015   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |Corinthians (Brazil)     0|
|2016   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Flamengo (Brazil)        0|
|2017   |Manchester City (Eng)  5 |Raja Casablancs (Mor.)   0|
|2018   |Chelsea (England)      3 |Sao Paulo (Brazil)       1|
|============================================================|
|2019 Club World Championship                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                         4                |
|Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia)                  1                |
|                                                            |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            2                |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)                  2 pens           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Fifth Placed Playoff                                        |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                            0                |
|Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia)                  2                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                         1                |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                       2 e.t.           |
|                                                            |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)                  0                |
|Manchester City (England)                  2                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                         1                |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)                  0                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 Club World Championship Final                          |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 1     2      3         |
|Manchester City (England)            1     2      4         |
==============================================================

And the end of year player awards went back to normal.

============================================================================================================
|    |Golden Ball                                       |World Player of the Year                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Mario Gotze                                       |
|    |Real Madrid(ESP) / Portugal                       |Borrusia Dortmund (GER) / Germany                 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |
|    |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
============================================================================================================

We conceded against Laos (ranked ) inside 40 seconds, and then took 77 minutes to get a shot away.

After another string of bad results, and no competitive games to look forward to, I decided to step down from the Samoan job. There really was nothing to work with, although it probably should have gone slightly better than that.

So, nothing in my career to report. To the world at large, and the three big leagues.

England 2019/20
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Manchester United           |Aston Villa            |
|2012/13|Manchester City             |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2013/14|Manchester City             |Watford                |
|2014/15|Tottenham Hotspur           |Wigan                  |
|2015/16|Manchester United           |Fulham                 |
|2016/17|Chelsea                     |Liverpool              |
|2017/18|Chelsea                     |Arsenal                |
|2018/19|Manchester United           |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Chelsea                +40   84 |FA Cup                     |
|Manchester United      +51   79 |Birmingham City    1       |
|Liverpool              +34   75 |Aston Villa        2       |
|Manchester City        +29   74 |                           |
|Arsenal                +25   73 |League Cup                 |
|Tottenham Hotspur      +23   65 |Wolverhampton      2       |
|Swansea                +10   59 |Manchester City    0       |
==============================================================

Italy 2019/20
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|FC Internazionale           |FC Internazionale      |
|2012/13|FC Internazionale           |Atalanta               |
|2013/14|FC Internazionale           |A.C. Milan             |
|2014/15|FC Internazionale           |Napoli                 |
|2015/16|FC Internazionale           |Genoa                  |
|2016/17|FC Internazionale           |Novara                 |
|2017/18|Juventus                    |FC Internazionale      |
|2018/19|A.C. Milan                  |Juentus                |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|A.C. Milan             +53   96 |Italian Cup                |
|Juventus               +43   90 |A.C. Milan         2       |
|FC Internazionale      +28   71 |Juventus           0       |
|Roma                   +16   66 |                           |
|Genoa                  +13   62 |                           |
|Atalanta                +7   58 |                           |
|Fiorentina              +2   57 |                           |
==============================================================

Spain 2019/20
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Real Madrid                 |Valencia               |
|2012/13|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2013/14|FC Barcelona                |Sevilla                |
|2014/15|FC Barcelona                |Osasuna                |
|2015/16|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|2016/17|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2017/18|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|2018/19|Real Madrid                 |Sevilla                |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Barcelona           +56   89 |Spanish Cup                |
|Real Madrid            +35   83 |Real Madrid        4       |
|Sevilla                +32   71 |FC Barcelona       0       |
|Atletico Madrid        +29   67 |                           |
|Malaga                 +13   63 |                           |
|Villareal              +12   62 |                           |
|Mallorca               +11   61 |                           |
==============================================================

Champions leagues across Europe and the Americas

English, and Manchester, teams dominated Europe.

European Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12|FC Barcelona (Spain)        6                       |
|       |Arsenal (England)           0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13|Manchester United (England) 3                       |
|       |Manchester City (England)   0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14|FC Barcelona (Spain)        3                       |
|       |Olypique Lyonnais (France)  1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014/15|Manchester United (England) 2                       |
|       |FC Barcelona (Spain)        1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16|FC Barcelona (Spain)        2                       |
|       |FCP (Portugal)              1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17|Manchester City (England)   3                       |
|       |Paris-St Germain (France)   1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017/18|Chelsea (England)           3                       |
|       |A.C. Milan (Italy)          1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018/19|Manchester City (England)   2 penalties             |
|       |Chelsea (England)           2                       |
|============================================================|
|2019/20 European Champions League                           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quater Finals                                               |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Manchester City (England)            2     1      3 away gls|
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 0     3      3         |
|                                                            |
|Tottenham Hotspur (England)          2     1      3         |
|Internazionale (Italy)               1     0      1         |
|                                                            |
|A.C. Milan (Italy)                   1     0      1         |
|Manchester United (England)          2     3      5         |
|                                                            |
|Liverpool (England)                  4     0      4         |
|Real Madrid (Spain)                  0     0      0         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Manchester United (England)          1     1      2         |
|Tottenham Hotspur (England)          1     0      1         |
|                                                            |
|Liverpool (England)                  2     1      3         |
|Manchester City (England)            3     3      6         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020 European Champions League Final                        |
|                                    HT    FT     ET   Pen   |
|Manchester City (England)            2     3                |
|Manchester United (England)          0     0                |
==============================================================

Again all Mexico in North America

North American Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |FC Dallas (USA)      2   |Colorado (USA)       0    |
|2013   |Xolos Tiajuana (Mexico) 3|Chivas (Mexico)      1    |
|2014   |America (Mexico)        5|Monterrey (Mexico)   0    |
|2015   |New York (USA)       3 a |Seattle (USA)        3    |
|2016   |America (Mexico)     4   |New York (USA)       0    |
|2017   |Cruz Azul (Mexico)   3   |America (Mexico)     2    |
|2018   |America (Mexico)     4   |Pumas (Mexico)       3    |
|2019   |Monterrey (Mexico)   5   |Cruz Azul (Mexico)   0    |
|============================================================|
|2020 North American Champions League (from Qtr Finals)      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|America (Mexico)                     2     2      4         |
|Estudientes Tecos (Mexico)           0     0      0         |
|                                                            |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   2     1      3         |
|Olimpia (Honduras)                   1     0      1         |
|                                                            |
|San Jose (USA)                       2     1      3         |
|Los Angeles (USA)                    0     0      0         |
|                                                            |
|Tigres (Mexico)                      2     2      4         |
|New York (USA)                       1     0      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   4     4      8         |
|San Jose (USA)                       0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Tigres (Mexico)                      2     1      3         |
|America (Mexico)                     2     5      7         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020 North American Champions League Final                  |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   2     3      5         |
|America (Mexico)                     2     1      3         |
==============================================================

In South America the Brazilian string ended

Copa Liberdatores
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         4                  |
|       |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Corinthians (Brazil)             4                  |
|       |Clube Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)  2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014   |Corinthians (Brazil)             2                  |
|       |Fluminense (Brazil)              4                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |San Lorenzo (Argentina)          1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016   |Flamengo (Brazil)                3                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               0                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Corinthians (Brazil)             1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |Cerro Porteno (Paraguay)         2                  |
|============================================================|
|2020 Copa Liberdatores                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cerro Porteno (Paraguay)             0     1      1         |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     1      2 `       |
|                                                            |
|Colon (Argentina)                    3     0      3         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    2     5      7         |
|                                                            |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 1     1      2         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             2     1      3         |
|                                                            |
|Liga de Quito (Ecuador)              1     0      1         |
|Santos (Brazil)                      1     5      6         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    1     1      2 pens    |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Santos (Brazil)                      1     1      2         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             2     1      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020 Copa Liberdatores Final                                |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    0     1      1         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             2     1      3         |
==============================================================

On the international front, Euro 2020 was in progress at the end of June. The Oceania championships had concluded with the predictable result.

Oceania Nations Cup
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |New Zealand          4    |Papua New Guinea    0    |
|2016   |New Zealand          5    |Vanuatu             1    |
|============================================================|
|2020 Oceania Nations Cup                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|New Zealand          3         |Fiji                1       |
|New Caledonia        0         |Papua New Guinea    3       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020 Oceania Nations Cup Final                              |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|New Zealand           2          3                          |
|Papua New Guinea      0          0                          |
==============================================================

July - December 2020

No team

While I did apply for a few low level jobs, it was pretty rare that I didn't get laughed at. Only one club showed any interest, but went elsewhere. I'll give it to the 2022 World Cup, then if I have no club job its career over.

The 2020 Euro threw up some odd results. Look at Spain and Portugal - and also the eventual winner.

==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012 |Portugal           2      |England            0       |
|2016 |Spain              2      |England            1       |
|============================================================|
|Euro 2020 in Belgium                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|GROUP A                                            GD  Pts  |
|Czech Republic                                     +3    7  |
|Wales                                               0    6  |
|Italy                                              -1    2  |
|Turkey                                             -2    1  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP B                                            GD  Pts  |
|France                                             +6    9  |
|Denmark                                            -1    4  |
|Georgia                                            -2    2  |
|Russia                                             -3    1  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP C                                            GD  Pts  |
|Serbia                                             +4    7  |
|Greece                                             -3    4  |
|Hungary                                            -1    3  |
|Spain                                               0    3  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP D                                            GD  Pts  |
|Scotland                                           +3    7  |
|Sweden                                             +4    6  |
|Belgium                                            -4    2  |
|Portugal                                           -3    1  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP E                                            GD  Pts  |
|England                                             0    6  |
|Croatia                                            +3    5  |
|Switzerland                                        +1    4  |
|Norway                                             -4    1  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP F                                            GD  Pts  |
|Holland                                            +5    7  |
|Poland                                             +2    5  |
|Germany                                            -1    2  |
|Ukraine                                            -6    1  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Second Round
|Czech Republic       2         |Wales               1       |
|Denmark              1         |Croatia             0       |
|                                                            |
|England              1         |Serbia              2       |
|Poland               3         |Switzerland         0       |
|                                                            |
|Italy                2         |Germany             2       |
|France               3         |Scotland            1       |
|                                                            |
|Holland              3         |Greece              1       |
|Hungary              1         |Sweden              1 pens  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Czech Republic       1         |Wales               1 e.t.  |
|Poland               2         |Serbia              0       |
|                                                            |
|Holland              1         |Germany             1       |
|France               3         |Sweden              2       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|Poland                1          3                          |
|Sweden                1          4                          |
|                                                            |
|France                0          0       0                  |
|Wales                 0          0       1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|EURO 2020 FINAL                                             |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|Sweden                0          1       1         3        |
|Wales                 0          1       1         4        |
==============================================================

 

Later in the year, African and Asian Champions leagues wound up.

In Africa, Casablanca is becoming a lot like Manchester - one team seems to be up there every year. This year in a losing final.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |USM Alger (Algeria)    4 |Raja Casablanca (Morocco)1|
|2012   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        5 |ASEC Mimosas(Ivory Coast)1|
|2013   |ASEC Mimomas (Ivory C) 5 |Zamalek (Egypt)          4|
|2014   |ES Tunis (Tunisia)     3a|Enyimba (Nigeria)        3|
|2015   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Supersport Utd (S.Africa)3|
|2016   |Raja Casablanca (Mor.) 3 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|2017   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|2018   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|2019   |Wydad Casablanca (Mor) 4 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|============================================================|
|2020 African Champions League                               |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      2     0      2         |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)            1     1      2 away gls|
|                                                            |
|Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)           2     0      2         |
|Enyimba (Nigeria)                    0     3      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020 African Champions League Final                         |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Raja Casablanca (Morocco)            0     0      0         |
|Enyimba (Nigeria)                    0     1      1         |
==============================================================

 

An all Qatari final in Asia, decided in a 15 minutes burst midway through the second half.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2012   |Persepolia (Iran)      1  |Eseghal (Iran)         0 |
|2013   |Suwon (South Korea)    1  |Al-Wahda (UAE)         0 |
|2014   |Al Hilal (UAE)         2p |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2 |
|2015   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2016   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2017   |Al-Shabab (Saudi Ar.)  3  |Osaka AC (Japan)       1 |
|2018   |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2  |Al-Father (Saudi Ar.)  1 |
|2019   |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 2  |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|============================================================|
|2020 Asian Champions League                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Jeju (South Korea)                   1     1      2         |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            1     3      4         |
|                                                            |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                     2     2      4         |
|Okayama FC (Japan)                   1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Osaka AC (Japan)                     1     2      3         |
|Al-Gharrafa (Qatar)                  3     2      5         |
|                                                            |
|Persepolis (Iran)                    3     0      3         |
|Seongnam (South Korea)               1     0      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                     1     3      4         |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            0     1      0         |
|                                                            |
|Persepolis (Iran)                    1     2      3         |
|Al-Gharrafa (Qatar)                  4     1      5         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 Asian Champions League Final                           |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Lekhwiya (Qatar)                     0     0                |
|Al-Gharrafa (Qatar)                  0     3                |
==============================================================

 

Lionel Messi is 33 years old, but there is no stopping him claiming everything in sight.

============================================================================================================
|    |Golden Ball                                       |World Player of the Year                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Mario Gotze                                       |
|    |Real Madrid(ESP) / Portugal                       |Borrusia Dortmund (GER) / Germany                 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |
|    |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
============================================================================================================

 

Update: On 11 Jan 2021, I became manager of Roses United in the South African national First Division; and in deep trouble.

Sitting in 15th position, one point behind avoiding relegation, things are precarious on that front. The season is a little over the halfway point. The wage situation is not pretty, spending £10.1k of the available £4.4k, so in the days before the transfer window shuts I won't be able to bring in any talent. The current playing group includes zero central midfielders, limiting my preferred line-ups somewhat unless i can get loans in.

My contract only runs until May of 2021, the end of the current South African season.

The current situation in the league. There are 30 games in the season.

 

And the squad basics

The matches so far. It makes for bad reading; almost like I had been in charge all along.

Within a few days of arriving at the club the job got alittle more difficult, The number one goalie, Johnny Mathole, was injured at training with 3-4 weeks likely to be missed. The good news was that it happened in a break in the league for the African Cup of Nations.

 

Just before my first game in charge, we agreed to sell the only decent striker, Philani Gumede, for £300k next off-season to Tuks. I get to keep him, then the club gets some money. Hopefully, if I am still here, I can find a cheap option to fill the gap (and a few others).

 

 

Maritzburg United (8th) v Roses United (15th)

The game started out quite even, with Maritzburg perhaps looking a bit more fluent in the attacking third. Both sides had chances though. As the game wore on, maritzburg got on top and forced Mathole, back early from injury, into numerous saves. There was no score however. Until the 88th minute anyway. And then again in the 93rd, so any doubts about the first being offside were made irrelevant. That loss hurts, a point was almost ours but instead we ended up with a bad defeat.

 

 

Mathole finushed the game injured again. Expected to be 6-7 weeks. Thankfully the second goalkeeper is still decent by the standards of this league but Mathole was possibly our best in the Maritzburg game.

 

While the clubs had agreed, Gumede himself could not get the deal he wanted at Tuks so his sale fell through.

 

 

Witbkank Spurs (11th) v Roses United (15th)

An awful start. Right back Makhanya copped a knock almost at the kick off, then in the second minute with him receiving treatment we were a goal behind. Temporariliy, an offside call (close but corre ct) saved us. After that we hads a spell where we were probably the better side, but were not creating chances. I decided to tell the guys to be a bit more attacking, taking advantage of beinmg on top in general play. I have no idea if that helped, but we won a corner and scored off Schalk, playing as a defensice mid, to take a lead. Gumede scored a couple of minutes later, but again offside was called. Again, correctly on replay. The stats showed we deserved the lead at half time. Maintaining it, opr extending it, would still be a challenge.

Right wing Damian Mitchell was injured early in the second, a blow to our ability to get the ball into dangerous spots. Some quick thinking by Phiri, coming off his line to cut off a simple pass and certain goal saved us early in the half. He wasn't so good when a speculative shot bounced off his chest, straight to Witbank's Hughes to knock home a simple tap. In the end, 1-1 for a game we probably could have won.

 

 

 

Roses United (15th) v Vasco da Gama (2nd)

In twelve meetings between these clubs, Roses had won a grand total of zero.

From the opening minutes it was obvious we were outclassed. Vasco, could run, pass and had a system. It was all we could do to ocassionally harass. The exceptionally named Madlala nodded home Vasco's first, of what looked certain to be many, unmarked near the spot just shy of half an hour in.

Early in the second half, we put together a move that ended with Mitchell alone just inside the boc on the right. He slotted home and scres were inexplicably level. Lakay with the assist. It wasn't long before one of Vasco's many corner counted. 2-1 down, the goal somehow considered an own goal as their striker walked it in. Schalk must have just got a touch trying to tackle on the line. It was 3-1 just befpre the close, a lobbed corner and Vasco's Payne putjumped all and sundry to get a clean head on it.

The stats suggested we weren't that far from them, but the scoreboard was a true reflection. Juventus picked up a point, negating the draw we had last game and making us a point away and goal difference from safety again.

 

 

Amajuba United (16th) v Roses United (15th)

We had all the possession, but Amajuba had the ball forward more often early on. A bad dispossession saw Amajuba's Mofokeng run to a one on one from which he made no mistake. Struggling against last place is not where I wanted to be. After that we started to get a few chances, and waste them. Almost all were very gettable, yet just one of the first eleven was on target. It took an own goal from a Mayekiso cross for us to draw level midway through the second half.

Turning wins into draws, and draws into losses does seem to be a specialty I have developed this career.

 

 

Juventus (15th) v Roses United (14th)

Classic six point game in the making. Lose and season gone, win and if morale improves maybe we can survive.

It took half an hour foir either side to get a shot away. When it cam it was a Gumede cross onto the head of attacking mid Lakay, who put the ball just inside the right post for the lead. Not long after we lost l;eft back Booysen to injury, he picked it up while making a possibly goal saving tackle. Juventus started to look better as the break neared, and I was thankful we held on until half time. A quick burst telling the lads to keep going seemed to make them a bit happier, but would it see us hold on to three points? Or blow it spectacularly again?

The latter, an extremely long ball out of their area was sent sailing over our defence, two strilkers ran onto it and the second of those tapped home. A poor start to the second half. With 82 played it looked as though Gumede had been sent through, but he shot just wide. Again, points dropped when we were the better side. That one lapse was a bad one, and again costly.

 

The news on Booysen was that he would be out for a bit over a week.

 

And during the week things got worse. Randy Phiri was injured at training, and could miss 4-5 weeks. That leaves us with just our thris choice goalkeeper, an aspiring yet inexpeienced 19 year old. Mathole may be back in around two weeks though.

 

The next day defensive mid Tshele Schalk was also ruled out for 4-5, not ideal.

 

Roses United (13th) v Baroka FC (3rd)

Baroka had survived their first round cup tie midweek. This was not the sort of game to dewbut a goalkeeper.

Surprisingly we had the better start, and things were evened up a little when Baroka had a player sent off for a crude double footed tackle ten minutes in. It took Baroka until stoppage time in the first to get their first shot, but we had no score either. We had come close twice, but close doesn't cut it.

The second half began with barok's second attempt. A free kick onto the head of Langerman who absolutely powered the ball home from the head. Seventy five in, Petersen almost headed home from a corner for us but their goalkeeper magically got a cross to lay a hand on it. Right on normal time, we conceded a second with the debut goalkeeper failing to come off his line and giving a clear header attempt.

Good teams take their chances, not just have possession. We are not a good team.

 

Johnny Mathole was back in training, and as tempting as it was to start him straight away I decided to let hime have an extra week to gain fitness.

 

Roses United (14th) v FC Buffalo (15th)

The bookies had us favourites at home against another struggler. We utterly dominated early, but again putting anything way proved beyond us. After twenty minutes and six attempts, a Gumede cross was floated off the head of Mayekiso to open scoring. The second half started much the same, and it was Nimmo's head from a corner that doubled the lead. The defender got his first goal for the club. Buffalo were proving very vulnerable to the aerial cross (just like my teams have), and Mitchell's head provided our third.

We really needed that win, leaving Buffalo shotless for the match was a bonus.

 

The results are nothing special, especially as we played the easy teams. The final games only get harder from here.

At least we go into the home stretch with a slight buffer. But I reckon we need six points or so to be safe, and that will mean at least one win.

 

As mentioned above, the African Cup of Natrions was held in Jan and Feb.

==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011   |Mali               2     |Ghana                1    |
|2013   |Ivory Coast        3     |Cameroon             0    |
|2015   |Cameroon           3     |Tunisia              0    |
|2017   |Cameroon           0 pen |Tunisia              0    |
|2019   |South Africa       2     |Senegal              1    |
|============================================================|
|2021 African Cup of Nations                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Group A              GD  Pts  |Group B              GD  Pts |
|Nigeria              +3    7  |Tunisia              +1    6 |
|Zambia                0    4  |Gabon                +1    6 |
|Mali                 -1    3  |Ghana                 0    3 |
|Burkina Faso         -2    3  |Ivory Coast          -2    3 |
|                              |                             |
|Group C                       |Group D                      |
|South Africa         +7    6  |Egypt                +5    7 |
|Morocco              +2    5  |Senegal              +1    4 |
|Algeria              -2    4  |Cameroon             -1    4 |
|Central African Rep. -7    1  |Uganda               -5    1 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Egypt                1 pens    |Zambia              0       |
|Tunisia              1         |Senegal             1       |
|                                                            |
|Morocco              2         |South Africa        4       |
|Gabon                1         |Nigeria             0       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|Egypt                1         |South Africa        2       |
|Senegal              0         |Morocco             1       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Place Playoff                                         |
|Morocco               1                                     |
|Senegal               1 pens                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021 African Cup of Nations Final                           |
|                     HT         FT      ET       Pen        |
|South Africa          0          0                          |
|Egypt                 0          1                          |
==============================================================

 

Edited August 9, 2016 by BadManager

At least you've climbed a little bit.

April - June 2021

Roses United

South African National First Division

 

April started with a new contract offer, a one year extension. I delayed until the end of the season, there was no point signing if we are going to drop or I can't see the wage budget getting any better.

Youth candidates came in on 1 April as well. It read like a bad Aprils Fool joke. I'm not sure we'll end up signing any of them.

 

Carara Kicks (12^th) v Roses United (13^th)

We sprayed, Carara didn't, though their opening goal was a little lucky; an almost accidental deflection putting it past our keeper (Mathole, back this game) and dribbling in. After a while we found ourselves constantly under siege. The earlier sprayed chances seemed like a thing of dreams, we didn't touch the ball in the attacking half for about 20 minutes before half time.

A second came after 67 minutes, with Mathole beaten to the ball coming off his line. Really, the other defenders should have made more of a contest.

After the early squandered half-chances we never got a look-in again. Completely outplayed, lucky to only lose 2-0 in the end.

 

Mpumalanga Black Aces (4^th) v Roses United (13^th)

Things started pretty evenly, Gudebe had a chance or two he fluffed and Mitchell was unlucky. Black Aces also had a share of chances. We were tacking well, but unfortunately gave up a penalty 36 minutes in. No mistake made there and we went behind. After Nimmo took a knock our defence was opened up a bit more and Black Aces managed to double the advantage with one of few clean runs they had made. After dominatin possession, and holdng our own for 35 minutes, 2-0 down at the break. A lack of finishing, and the tendency to have those 5-10 minute lapses in defence, really cost this team a lot.

In the second half, Black Aces were all over us. Yet they failed to produce any good chances, or another goal, during the time they were wiping the floor with us.

 

Josh Nimmo's knock turned out to be a 5-6 week injury, probably season-ending. I suspect that will lead to even more defensive lapses.

 

Roses United (13^th) v Chippa United (9^th)

This was probably our best chance at points in the final few games, and not much of a chance.

We got smacked a by a solo counter which finished with a run along the goal-line 25 minutes in. Chippa had been the better side to that point, but without much in it. Twice Mayekiso almost drew us level, one a hard hit shot from the left that was just stopped, and the other a lobbed cross that almost floated in by accident. But to no avail.

As the second half was going along with the same pattern, I changed formation to try and produce an avenue to goal. Petterson came off, weakening the defence, but he was having a poor game and we needed to score a goal more than stopping another one. It didn't really work, we got the ball forward more but not to any position where a realistic chance eventuated. The 1-0 loss could hurt at season's end.

 

Since I took over we have maged just one goal aghainst a side from outside the bottom three. That is a sad indictment on everything. Turning that round in the last three games will be vital. And impossible.

 

FC Cape Town (8^th) v Roses United (13^th)

A first minute yellow card for Schalk, at least maybe the lads were prepared to get stuck in. Except when it came to scoring, then nobody was prepared to take the shot. Cape Town had no such qualms, and were duly rewarded for less time forward when they managed to exploit a run down the middle and took the chance when it came. Mancoba had come in for the unper-performing Lakay but was off injured after 33 minutes.

The inability to score was highlighted late, Mitchell came in from the right and struck the goalkeeper, the ricochet saw Gumede almost behind the goalkeeper, with an open goal. He then shot at the goalie rather than the unprotected net. Truly awful stuff. At least they took their shots I guess, unlike even better positions early on.

If you fail to even look like taking chance, you can't say you deserved to win. But on everything execpt the continual forward failures, we deserved to win.

Juventus did win, and we dropped a spot. But as they beat 15^th placed Buffalo, that's probably a good result for us. We remain three points plus substantial goal difference ahead of Buffalo. So, if they lose one game of the final two, we stay up. (I've given up any hope of us getting as result.)

 

The board came back to me and refused any more delays. Signed for one more year. Unless we drop of course.

 

Not surprisingly, left back Booysen announced he would retire at the end of the current season. At 34 he has been one of our better players, but not worth trying to talk into another year.

 

Roses United (14^th) v Sivutsa Stars FC (10th)

The final home game of the season. Will more than a hundred fans turn up? Probably all Stars fans, they must love it when their team plays against me. I don't know what my record is against them, but it can't be good.

An early concession with oiur defence failing to properly clear the ball, and it falling to an open Sivutsa striker. Surprisingly, we responded. Mitchell starting the move on the right and left wing Mayekiso finishing it from just outside the area. And five minutes later we had the lead. Craig Solomons, playing in place of the disappointing Gumede, sending one across the goalie and into the top left corner of the net. The youngster was offered a new contract during the week. A lead at the half. At this stage, I was just wondering how it would be thrown away.

Mitchell/Mayekiso again to start the second as went 3-1 up. Mitchell ran on to the long ball down the right wing, came in-board and put in a short cross to Mayekiso coming in from the left. With 65 gone, we conceded a second. Booysen dispossessed as he ran back and the Stars had an open man to pass to. But we held on for a shock 3-2 win and maintained our place in the second tier.

 

Thanda Royal Zulu (4th) v Roses United (14th)

Thanda needed the points to ensure a playoff spot, we want the points because wins are apparently good.

It took just 31 seconds to conceded the first. Mogalia got there and covered but failed to make the tackle stick and it was slotted from close range. We had patches where we made the work, but over all it looked like a top side against a bottom side. A three minute burst shortly before half time made it 3-0 and everything gained last match looked lost again, but at least we could no longer drop. Just seconds before stoppage time Mayekiso returned the favour to Mitchell, the latter the socrer and the former with the assist thime - the reverse of last game.

The second half was a much more even affair, but that was probably Thanda holding back and protecting the lead. In the end, few chances and no score for either side and we finish the year with a 3-1 loss.

The media thought Thanda were lucky, I think they were just better for most of the game despite our possession advantage in the statistics.

 

After the final game Carara Kicks and Maritzburg United sacked their managers. The Maritzburg job is tempting to try for.

 

The squad went on break, with about three weeks to decide on any further contract extensions.

 

 

Mario Booysen retired at the end of May and looks like he might be a reasonable coach, at least for defence. His wage demand is above what we can offer though. Six others were released at the end of their contracts, but that doesn't mean I have any salary space.

 

Initial budgets for next season set with no change. So I will begin on almost double the salary budget without bringing anyone in. No transfer budget obviously. I need to look at who can be offloaded, whether I get a return or not.

 

At the other end of the South African spectrum Bloem Celtic won the SA Premier and the Cup.

 

Maybe one day my career will look better. Today is not that day.

============================================================================================================
|Season  |Club                          |Compeition                                        |Finish         |
|======= |==============================|==================================================|===============|
|2011/12 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in 11th place, 15 of 30 played        |               |
|        |                              |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  12th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 6 matches of 30                  |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |4th round (start 4th round)                       |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   6th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in  8th place, 19 of 30 played        |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 30 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |7th round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   9th of 16   |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 31 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017/18 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African National First Division             |  14th of 16   |
|        |                              |South African Cup                                 |1st Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018/19 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African National First Division             |  15th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Relegated, sacked at season's end             |               |
|        |                              |South African Cup                                 |Prelim Round   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019/20 |                              |                                                  |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020/21 |Roses United                  |South African National First Division             |  14th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in 15th place, 17 of 30 played        |               |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Season  |Club                          |Competition                           |  W|  D|  L|  GF|  GA|  GD |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12 |CF Brailia                    |Romanian Second League                |  4|  6|  5|  14|  17|  -3 |
|2012/13 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  0|  3|  3|   4|   7|  -3 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League                |  3|  2|  2|   6|   7|  -1 |
|2013/14 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  7| 13| 10|  36|  37|  -1 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  3|  0|  1|  11|   9|  +2 |
|2015/16 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League                | 11| 12| 12|  51|  55|  -4 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  1|  1|   7|   5|  +2 |
|2016/17 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  6| 10| 15|  37|  50| -13 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  0|  1|   4|   5|  -1 |
|2017/18 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African First Division          |  6|  5| 19|  29|  55| -26 |
|        |                              |South African Cup                     |  0|  1|  1|   0|   3|  -3 |
|        |                              |South African First Division Cup      |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|2018/19 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African First Division          |  3|  4| 23|  25|  66| -41 |
|        |                              |South African Cup                     |  0|  0|  1|   2|   3|  -1 |
|        |                              |South African First Division Cup      |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|2020/21 |Roses United                  |South African First Division          |  2|  3|  8|  11|  21| -10 |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Totals  |CF Brailia                    |Romania                             22|  4|  9|  9|  18|  26|  -8 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romania                             41| 13| 15| 13|  53|  53|   0 |
|        |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romania                             71| 19| 23| 29|  99| 115| -16 |
|        |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South Africa                        65|  9| 10| 46|  56| 131| -55 |
|        |Roses United                  |South Africa                        13|  2|  3|  8|  11|  21| -10 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Grand Total                                                                212| 47| 60|105| 237| 346| -89 |   
|Percentage                                                                    |22%|28%|50%|               |
============================================================================================================

 

 

Below is the end of season stuff from around the world, ignore the remainder of this post if you don't care.

Starting with the three big leagues.

 

England 2020/21
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Manchester United           |Aston Villa            |
|2012/13|Manchester City             |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2013/14|Manchester City             |Watford                |
|2014/15|Tottenham Hotspur           |Wigan                  |
|2015/16|Manchester United           |Fulham                 |
|2016/17|Chelsea                     |Liverpool              |
|2017/18|Chelsea                     |Arsenal                |
|2018/19|Manchester United           |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2019/20|Chelsea                     |Birmingham City        |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Manchester United      +40   83 |FA Cup                     |
|Liverpool              +32   75 |Fulham             2       |
|Manchester City        +23   72 |West Bromwich Alb  0       |
|Arsenal                +27   70 |                           |
|Chelsea                +37   68 |League Cup                 |
|Tottenham Hotspur      +16   67 |Leeds United       2       |
|Southampton            +17   66 |Tottenham Hotspur  1       |
==============================================================

Italy 2020/21
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|FC Internazionale           |FC Internazionale      |
|2012/13|FC Internazionale           |Atalanta               |
|2013/14|FC Internazionale           |A.C. Milan             |
|2014/15|FC Internazionale           |Napoli                 |
|2015/16|FC Internazionale           |Genoa                  |
|2016/17|FC Internazionale           |Novara                 |
|2017/18|Juventus                    |FC Internazionale      |
|2018/19|A.C. Milan                  |Juentus                |
|2019/20|A.C. Milan                  |A.C. Milan             |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Internazionale      +36   84 |Italian Cup                |
|Juventus               +39   82 |FC Internazionale  2       |
|A.C. Milan             +18   80 |Brescia            0       |
|Napoli                  +5   55 |                           |
|Roma                    +5   55 |                           |
|Genoa                   +7   54 |                           |
|Empoli                  -2   53 |                           |
==============================================================

Spain 2020/21
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Real Madrid                 |Valencia               |
|2012/13|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2013/14|FC Barcelona                |Sevilla                |
|2014/15|FC Barcelona                |Osasuna                |
|2015/16|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|2016/17|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2017/18|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|2018/19|Real Madrid                 |Sevilla                |
|2019/20|FC Barcelona                |Real Madrid            |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Barcelona           +51   82 |Spanish Cup                |
|Real Madrid            +26   74 |Deportivo la Coruna 2      |
|Sevilla                +17   66 |Almeria             0      |
|Mallorca               +20   65 |                           |
|Espanyol                +2   61 |                           |
|Tenerife                +6   60 |                           |
|Atheltic Club           +7   59 |                           |
==============================================================

 

European and North American Champions Leagues, and the Copa Libedatores all wrapped up in this period

European Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12|FC Barcelona (Spain)        6                       |
|       |Arsenal (England)           0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13|Manchester United (England) 3                       |
|       |Manchester City (England)   0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14|FC Barcelona (Spain)        3                       |
|       |Olypique Lyonnais (France)  1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014/15|Manchester United (England) 2                       |
|       |FC Barcelona (Spain)        1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16|FC Barcelona (Spain)        2                       |
|       |FCP (Portugal)              1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17|Manchester City (England)   3                       |
|       |Paris-St Germain (France)   1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017/18|Chelsea (England)           3                       |
|       |A.C. Milan (Italy)          1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018/19|Manchester City (England)   2 penalties             |
|       |Chelsea (England)           2                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019/20|Manchester City (England)   3                       |
|       |manchester United (England) 0                       |
|============================================================|
|2020/21 European Champions League                           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quater Finals                                               |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          2     2      4         |
|Chelsea (England)                    1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Paris Saint-Germain (France)         1     0      1         |
|Manchester City (England)            1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Atletico Madrid (Spain)              1     2      3         |
|Internazioanle (Italy)               2     2      4         |
|                                                            |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 4     2      6         |
|Real Madrid (Spain)                  2     2      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Internazionale (Italy)               2     1      3         |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          4     1      5         |
|                                                            |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 0     1      1         |
|Manchester City (England)            1     4      5         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021 European Champions League Final                        |
|                                    HT    FT     ET   Pen   |
|Manchester City (England)            0     1      1     1   |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          1     1      1     3   |
==============================================================

North American Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |FC Dallas (USA)      2   |Colorado (USA)       0    |
|2013   |Xolos Tiajuana (Mexico) 3|Chivas (Mexico)      1    |
|2014   |America (Mexico)        5|Monterrey (Mexico)   0    |
|2015   |New York (USA)       3 a |Seattle (USA)        3    |
|2016   |America (Mexico)     4   |New York (USA)       0    |
|2017   |Cruz Azul (Mexico)   3   |America (Mexico)     2    |
|2018   |America (Mexico)     4   |Pumas (Mexico)       3    |
|2019   |Monterrey (Mexico)   5   |Cruz Azul (Mexico)   0    |
|2020   |Monterrey (Mexico)   5   |America (Mexico)     3    |
|============================================================|
|2021 North American Champions League                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|Necaxa (Mexico)                      1     3      4         |
|America (Mexico)                     1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Chivas (Mexico)                      1     3      4         |
|Saprissa (Costa Rica)                0     0      0         |
|                                                            |
|San Jose (USA)                       3     0      3         |
|DC United (USA)                      2     2      4         |
|                                                            |
|Xolos Tiajuana (Mexico)              3     2      5         |
|Alajuelense (Costa Rica)             0     3      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|Necaxa (Mexico)                      0     2      2 away gls|
|Chivas (Mexico)                      1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|DC United (USA)                      1     2      3         |
|Xolox Tiajuana (Mexico)              0     1      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021 North American Champions League Final                  |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Necaxa (Mexico)                      2     5      7         |
|DC United (USA)                      1     0      1         |
==============================================================

Copa Liberdatores
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         4                  |
|       |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Corinthians (Brazil)             4                  |
|       |Clube Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)  2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014   |Corinthians (Brazil)             2                  |
|       |Fluminense (Brazil)              4                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |San Lorenzo (Argentina)          1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016   |Flamengo (Brazil)                3                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               0                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Corinthians (Brazil)             1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |Cerro Porteno (Paraguay)         2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         3                  |
|       |Flamengo (Brazil)                1                  |
|============================================================|
|2021 Copa Liberdatores                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Cerro Porteno (Paraguay)             0     0      0         |
|Lanus (Argentina)                    4     4      8 `       |
|                                                            |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    2     1      3         |
|Nautico (Brazil)                     2     1      3 away gls|
|                                                            |
|Morelia (Mexico)                     1     0      1         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             2     2      4         |
|                                                            |
|Santos (Brazil)                      0     2      2         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 2     2      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Lanus (Argentina)                    0     1      1         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             2     2      4         |
|                                                            |
|Nautico (Brazil)                     0     0      0         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 4     4      8         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021 Copa Liberdatores Final                                |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             2     1      3         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 0     1      2         |
==============================================================

 

On the international front the main action was the Confederations Cup

Confederations Cup
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2013   |Portugal            1 pen|Spain                   1 |
|2017   |Spain               3    |Mexico                  1 |
==============================================================
|2021 Confederations Cup in Qatar                            |
|GROUP A                                            GD  Pts  |
|Saudi Arabia                                       +6    9  |
|Mexico                                             +4    6  |
|South Africa                                       -1    3  |
|Qatar                                              -9    0  |
|                                                            |
|GROUP B                                                     |
|Italy                                              +3    7  |
|Wales                                              +2    4  |
|New Zealand                                        -1    3  |
|Argentina                                          -4    2  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                                            |
|Saudi Arabia                               1                |
|Wales                                      2 e.t.           |
|                                                            |
|Italy                                      3                |
|Mexico                                     0                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|                                                            |
|Saudi Arabia                               2                |
|Mexico                                     4                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021 Confederations Cup Final                               |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Italy                                1     1                |
|Wales                                2     2                |
==============================================================

 

Edited August 13, 2016 by BadManager

July – September 2021

 

Pre-season training is basically all aerobic, stamina and tactics for everyone. A little bit of technical work thrown in but not a lot.

EXPECTATIONS Board               Me                   Media
League       Avoid relegation    Avoid Relegation     13th
Cup          Reach 1st Round     Avoid Humiliation
1st Div Cup  Not important       Treat like friendly

 

The friendlies were mixed bag, Atlie came down from the top flight and Black Leopards are still there. It took until the final minute of ordinary time before we conceded to Leopards. We had our chances, as did they, before then. Failing to captialise looks like it might be the theme again. The other two games were against lesser teams, so draws were not great results.

 

18 year old Russell Nkosi on the right wing looks promising. He lacks stamina, and his skills are a little off the pace (not much) for this level, but may replace Mitchell in that position as often as not.

 

Roses United v Chippa United (predicted 11th) – First Division Cup, First Round

On face value the draw was fairly kind.

I know I said I was treating this competition like a friendly, but that doesn't mean the fans can treat it like a training drill. I did see one guy in the stands, closing up his hot dog stand.

The game was fairly even for half an hour. Then we conceded poorly, losing shape in the back four and allowing a Chippa player a free run at goal. The shot still should probably have been blocked too.

Two of our best two chances came midway through the second, from corners. Both clear headers that went just over from Chad Masuku. We did get a penalty not long after second, with Nimmo brought down in the box. Moloi took the spot kick, and equalised with it. Nkosi had done little all match, but provided Gumede with a chance for the lead. The cross stretched Gumede a little and was headed over.

At the end of regulation 1-1. The stats showed us being superior, 57% possession, 14 shots to 4, leading pass completion in all sectors, leading tackles, etc. It didn't feel like that though and extra time seemed a fair thing. We went in having used no subs to their two, the fresh leg advantage.

At the start of extra, loanee Khune gave away a foul just outside the box, thanjkfully well over to the side, near the corner of the area, and we got away with it. We made two subs not long after, and it almost paid immediate dividends. Mayekiso floating one from the left that sub Mitchell ran onto and headed into the crossbar.

The second half of extra time had the same players, swapping roles, with the same result. Header into crossbar, scramble, no follow up shot. Following a long header, Gumede was brought down on the edge of the area just as he was running onto the ball. Molofe, as the last defender, was sent off but the kick was to be marginally outside the box. Substitute Mxonywa took the shot, on target, but safely held. With 112 played we had another cross headed into the crossbat. I was starting to look at the final substitution with more than one eye to a shootout. And so it was, after 20 shots to 5.

Moloi went first, it was blocked. Chippa scored. 0-1.

Chad Masuku next up. Scored. Chippa scored again. 1-2.

Gumede straight at the goalkeeper, but the goalie moved. Score. Mathole got hands on Chippa's third but it went in 2-3.

Craig Solomons was brought on with shootout in mind. And his was blocked. Lebese had scored Chjippa's goal, and got the penalty to send them through to the second round.

Apparently there were twelve people at the ground. A new club record low.

 

Dynamos FC (predicted 6^th) v Roses United

The league opener. Now, it counts.

Ouch. Dynamos ran rampant from the start. It took 27 minutes befiore they scored, but it could easily have been 4-0 by then. Dynamos kept going throughout the first half, I'm not sure there would have been a consecutive minute when the ball was not in our box.

And it got worse, with Chad Masuku getting a second booking about 80 seconds into the second half. The second half was much the same as the first, Dynamos dynamic. Somehow they did not score again. We didn't do well to contain the damage, they did poorly not to maximise the damage.

 

Roses United v Chippa United (predicted 11th)

A different start, but similar start, to the cup game a week and a hal;f ago. Chippa actually got away stronger in the opening minutes. But then we took control, and wasted opportunities. We did score just short of half an hour in, Nimmo's throw floated across by Lakay, and Maekiso heading home.

Finally, Gumede scores. I think that was the first goal by a striker in my time at the club. Ran on to the long ball, got behind the keeper, and this time (unlike maybe 20 others) it was on target for the completely unprotected goal. Chippa hit back straight away for the 2-1. Corner, head, low and in the right. Anmd in the 86^th, a free kick from just outside the area saw Chippa draw level. Another certain win turned into a draw.

 

Baroka FC (1^st, predicted 12^th) v Roses United

We did nothing except soak pressure for half an hour. Then won a corner which their goalkeeper fumbled. Defender Jabu Masuku met the ball first and tapped it in for an unlikely lead. The second half was much the same, with us just soaking pressure and hoping their shots went wide. On one of of few moves Nkosi was brought down late in the game, and the Baroka player got his second card. Gumede's 50^th goal for the club came courtesy of a half-blocked Nkosi cross. The ball came off a defender to Gumede on the near post who hit it from inches out. The worst team was 2-0 up. And so it stayed.

 

Roses United (7^th) v Sasolburg Juventus (2^nd, predicted 14^th)

Half an hour in we got the first, Gumede crossing into Mayekiso who slid on to the ball and knock it home. Perhaps lucky to be in the lead, there really was nothing much in general play either way to that point. Seventy five in and Mayekiso wa sinvovled again. A low cross from the left, which Nkosi ran into and knocked home from close range. Both goals had come from crosses near the corner flag. We almost conceded five minutes later. Among the more pleasing things was that the ever-dangerous Steve Fortuin was barely sighted. Three points was the most pleasing though.

 

After the game Craig Solomons asked to be transfer listed due to a lack of first team football. I agreed to it, somewhat reluctantly as one way or another we will lose Gumede by next season. But Solomons is not irreplaceable, so no biggy if he goes.

 

Damien Mitchell was injured at training, and expected to miss two weeks. With Nkosi preferred in the right wing spot, that doesn't mean as much as it would last season. Mitchell can play central though, so it cuts options there.

 

Sivutsa Stars (6^th, predicted 5^th) v Roses United (4^th)

Some teams are simply better than us. Sivutsa seem destied to always be one of those teams. The inevitable happened 35 minutes in, we didn't do that much wrong but were taken apart by a far superior skilled side to fall behind.

The deficit doubled early in the second, as I could not find any response to anything. If we are beaten on the wings we have nothing.

19 shots to zero says a lot about the match. Never in it.

 

Roses United (9^th) v Moroka Swallows (4th, predicted 8th)

Swallows fans filled their section of the ground, so that was something positive. They were pretty happy 8 minutes in though, as a well placed shot from just outside the area evaded Mathole and snuck in near the right post. We couldn't hit a pass, so the instruction went out to go to the feet, slow the tempo, and stcik to shorter passes, in the hope of at least having possession occasionally. It helped, but not much.

When Mayekiso went down injured early in the second, things just looked awful. Almost an hour in, a very lucky goal. Nkosi ran around one on the wing, crossed from the right corner to no targets and a Swallows player nodded it home for us. 1-1 and we still had not taken a shot. Nkosi may have been looking for Chad Masuku, but missed him by a long way. Ten minutes later Nkosi picked up his second yellow card, just as I was about to sub him off to avoid him getting a second yellow card. We then spent ten minutes with no touches except lucky clearances off the line.

Luckiest. Point. Ever. In the last two games we have conceded 32 shots to zero.

 

Nkosi copped a three match ban. Mayesiko is thankfully only out for 9-12 days, and we have a 17 day gap between matches. Looking like we had lost our two most important players in terms of creating chances was not good. Last season's fans player of the year, right back Buti Makhanya and goalkeeper Johnny Mathole are probably the two other keys in this side. Gumede should be, but isn't.

 

A mixed bag in terms of results. Which is much better than last season, under either manager.

 

Taking a quick look through the league history, it seems 30 points is almost guaranteed safety. In the last couple of seasons around 18-20 has been safe most of the time. 30 would be a huge improvement on last season, but has to be a target for the time being.

 

Finally, a quick look at the players so far this season.

Edited August 16, 2016 by BadManager

Thankfully you didn't need much to stay up last year.

20 hours ago, deltablue said:

Thankfully you didn't need much to stay up last year.

That was part of the reason I went looking at the history. I suspected last season was a bit of an anomaly in that regard. A few of the recent seasons have been like it, but its not something to be banked on.

October - December 2021

Roses United

South African National First Division

Maritzburg United (3rd, predicted 3rd) v Roses United (7^th)

Almost an early goal. Gumede was beaten to a long ball by a Maritzburg defender, and took him out with a sliding tackle getting ball first to avoid the foul (and probable card). The got up and beat the goalkeeper to the ball, before then pushing it wide. No complaints, maritzburg mnissed an even easier chance almost half an hour in. Gumede did the same thing again, taking down the same player (from behind and very lucky the whistle wasn't blown), only this time the goalkkeeper didn't come to meet him and the shot was not only on target but successful. 1-0 to us. Only the head of Jabu Masuku on the line saved us a few minutes later after Mathole failed to properly glove a floated effort. Mitchell's head doubled our lead late in the half, after a slow cross from Mayesiko. No controversy this time. Immediate reply from martizburg, with a wonderfully placed effort from the edge of the area. Not many chances were being careated but it was turnign Into a cracking game.

Minutes after the break scores were level, a nice cross finding a head, and the ball nodded home truly to Mathole's right. Not much he could do, the problem was with the outfield defenders. Bith sides missed a good chance apiece after that, but it was Gumede again who broke the dealock after 82 minutes. A short clearnace by their goalkeeper was cut off by Ngobe's head, luckily falling to Gumede who rounded a defender and won the ensuing one on one. And with the points almost secured, a great strike from the angle by Maritzburg's Khena made it 3-3.

We were perhaps lucky, and perhaps not, certainly a win would have been a steal. I can't complain about the draw.

 

Hanover Park (13th, predicted 15th) v Roses United (10th)

We started favourites, but the game did not begin that way. Hanover had the better of the early exchanges. But we did get the early score, with our first move forward. Mitchell from the right, across the ground to Gumede. Three Hanover players should have intercepted but didn't, and Gumede tapped in. Despit the scoreline, Hanover Park were proving to be the better team by quite a margin.

Hanover hiot the woodword twice early in the second half, continuing their domination without scoring. Hanover Park had one of those games we had so often last season. They were the better team everywhere except the scoreboard. I think morale does that a lot in FM12.

 

Roses United (8^th) v FC Cape Town (6^th, predicted 7th)

Cape Tow came out playing a crisp passing game, and had us under pressure the whole time. By the time threy brok through at the 15 minute mark, the game was already over. I tried a few things but we could not control the ball, or stop them from varving through our defences. The one thing that was working for us was that the back four did get back to put pressure on, so while Cape Town were getting a lot of shots away they weren't clear, high percentage ones.

Surprisingly, after Gumede had come off injured, we scored to levbel early in the second half. A low cross from Mxonywa on the left found Mitchell on a run from the right and he put it past the goalie. One of very few moves forward we made for the match to that point. It took until stoppage time for Cape Town to secure the deserved win, the second half had actually veeb fairly even but snatching a point would have been a steal.

 

After the game, news from the physio that Gumede would be out for around two months, a minimum of seven weeks.

 

Roses United (11^th) v Atlie FC (12^th)

I think it was a worrying sign when I told the lads I expected a win and they looked confused.

An even more worrying sign was the one the referee made towards the penalty spot fiftenn minutes in. Atlie's Mahlangu made no mistake. My players were adamant the ref had. Solomons had replaced the injured Gumede and replied instantly, with a small run after getting onto a long ball in the clear and a well hit shot from the edge of the area to draw level. Solomons had a second when Mitchell crossed in, and the striker just beat two defenders to the ball with about ten to play in the first.

Jabu Masuku, who had goven away the penalty, got given a yellow early in the second. Was he playing with fire? Solomons was forced off about an hour into the game. One pattern that was clear was that we went forward more often, but when Atlie went forward the ball tended to stay in danger areas longer. Mathole made two horrendous mistakes in the space of a minute to lose the game for us. The first was a nod back from Makhanya, which Mathole followed and only tried to touch once it was over the line. The second was a shot straight at his chest that he failed to touch. 3-2 loss.

 

Rumours are circulating that a consortium may buy the club. If so, I doubt my standing is strong enough to survive.

 

University of Pretoria (10^th) v Roses United (12th)

Conceded early, there was not enough pace in the team to chase down Tuks' Djikoloum and he went almost end to end solo before finally making the simplest of assists for the simplest of goals. Majola had come in for Guymede and Solomons' injuries, and provided the assist for the equaliser. His curling free kick found Jabu Masuku's head. 1-1 after 24 minutes, fully underserved on the balance of play. Tuks kept the pressure piling up, and it was no surprise when they rettok the lead midway through the second with some decisive asnd incisive passing moves. Humiliated on the pitch, the scoreline doesn't do justice to the match.

 

Cup draw, and we are at home to Carara Kicks (currently 8^th in our league) in the preliminary round.

 

Roses United (12^th) v Durban Warriors (13^th)

Durban were looking slightly better than us, until a mix-up. We floated in a cross to nobody which their keeper fumbled. On to one of their defenders and ricochet in so we had an early lead. Durban proved very patient in our defensive third, knocking the ball aorund and only trying to pounce when things opened up. This gave us a chance to hold them up, but also made it scary when they did make a move. Late in the game we started testing the ref, the whistle was being blown incessantly. In the end we held on, but possibly only deserved a draw.

 

Chad Masuku had been injured early in the game, and was set moss about a week and a half. Which will mean Nkosi goes back to right wing as preferred at the start of the season, and Mitchell attacking mid.

 

The consortium looking at a takeover have named their preferred replacement manager Not looking good on that front.

 

Roses United (12^th) v Carara Kicks (7th)

Upcoming cup opponents, but this was the league game.

The takeover consortium are not hiding anything, their preferred manager is in the stands.

This was an unusual game. Neither side were all that defensively minded but few opportunities rose either way anyway. Until Moloi gave up a penalty 72 minutes in the few chances there had been had been half-chances. As it turned out Carara missed the spot kick. A flat match overall, Carara probably marginally the better side, hardly the sort of thing that will save my job if the club gets bought.

 

Witbbank Spurs (14^th) v Roses United (12^th)

Witbkank started stronger, and eventually capitalisded after not really looking to do much with their field play. In the end though, one move was all it took for them to find a path through the defence and slot one home. Thirty seven minutees in we were completely sunk, an injured Ndluvo turned and shot from the edge of the are doubling our deficit with superb placement. We had just 21% possession for the first half.

It became 3-0 after 72. We had been better after the break, but not good and this was no surprise. Chad Masuku puleld one back in the 82^nd, avoiding a couple of dfenders in the area and a cheeky finish. But, really, why. And it soon was 4-1 anyway, bad defence followed by a goalkeeper deciding that a ball on the ground wasn't his problem. Horrible match. That first half was the biggest demolition I can recall seeing, even if other halves have resulted in bigger scores.

 

The consortium takeover is complete. The new chairman has said I will stay on for now, but that the decision is not final.

 

Roses United (National First Division, 13^th) v Carara Kicks (National First Division, 8^th) - South African Cup Preliminary Round

With Gumede back fior his furst start since injury and Carara's lack of real attack when we last met, I went with slightly more attacking instructions this game. It almost paid off twice early, including Gumede getting in the play and creating a chance. We were proving fairlt adeot at keeping Carara in their own half, or rebounding quickly when they rached ours. It was on the vounter thatw e hgot the first score. Nkosi on the right, Mayekiso in from the left meeting the cross. Their goalkeeper got a hand on it but not enough to stop it. Six munites later, Carara's first move forward resulted in a goal. Some scrambling after a corner, back out wide, a cross back in and anothjer scramble where we failed to clear. A couiple of minutes later Cad masuku missed an easy shot after Gumede fed him through, that was followed by a header to the crossbar. We should have gone 2-1 down despite being by far the superior side, Carara missed an absolute dolly in just their second time into our third.

After the break we lost fluency, and Carara started to press. We didn't manage a shot in the second half, after going 10-2 in the first. Then, in the final minute of stoppage time, Nkosi was sent off for his second yellow.

We had a chance to start extra time, the only one for either side in the fifteen minutes. We had to make subs as players were getting incredibly tired by extra half. The most tired player, however, would probably be taking penalties if it go that far and so stayed on. The next fifteen was pretty uneventful, and so the spot kick lottery. We are not good from the spot.

Gumede first, goalkeeper puts hands on it. But it scores. Carara make no mistake. 1-1.

Ngobe was next up, no confidence but at least he wasn't tired. Pushes it wide.carara again score. 1-2.

Solomons surely. Again ther goalkeeper gets hands, but it scores. Carara's third is saved by mathole high and to his left. 2-2.

Moloi was almost too tired to walk to the spot. But he stayed on for this moment, and scored. Msomi scopreds for Carara 3-3 after 4, basically sudden death now.

Chad Masuku. Not an expert finisher for an attacking player. Low and to the right, score. Carara, high and to the right, score. 4-4.

Mayekiso was sixth up. And slotted it with his left. Zwane scores for Carara. 5-5 after 6.

Now the dregs from defence, Jabu Masuku next up. Low to the left, post, rebound. And Carara score to go through 5-6 after 7.

 

 

With the transfer window open in January, I will need to look at options. Especially out, the board are pretty agro over the wage situation.

 

Or maybe I won't. The day after Christmas Day, sacked.

 

 

 

No Job

Continued

 

An otherwise pathetic career has more pathetic added to it.

Competition History
============================================================================================================
|Season  |Club                          |Compeition                                        |Finish         |
|======= |==============================|==================================================|===============|
|2011/12 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in 11th place, 15 of 30 played        |               |
|        |                              |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |CF Braila                     |Romanian Second League Group 1                    |  12th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 6 matches of 30                  |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |4th round (start 4th round)                       |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   6th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in  8th place, 19 of 30 played        |               |
|        |Romanian Cup                  |Already out of cup, 4th round                     |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14 |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 30 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |7th round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |   9th of 16   |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League Group 2                    |  10th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Sacked after 31 matches of 32                 |               |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                                      |3rd Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017/18 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African National First Division             |  14th of 16   |
|        |                              |South African Cup                                 |1st Round      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018/19 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African National First Division             |  15th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Relegated, sacked at season's end             |               |
|        |                              |South African Cup                                 |Prelim Round   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019/20 |                              |                                                  |               |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020/21 |Roses United                  |South African National First Division             |  14th of 16   |
|        |                              |    Arrived in 15th place, 17 of 30 played        |               |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Season  |Club                          |Competition                           |  W|  D|  L|  GF|  GA|  GD |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12 |CF Brailia                    |Romanian Second League                |  4|  6|  5|  14|  17|  -3 |
|2012/13 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  0|  3|  3|   4|   7|  -3 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romanian Second League                |  3|  2|  2|   6|   7|  -1 |
|2013/14 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  7| 13| 10|  36|  37|  -1 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  3|  0|  1|  11|   9|  +2 |
|2015/16 |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romanian Second League                | 11| 12| 12|  51|  55|  -4 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  1|  1|   7|   5|  +2 |
|2016/17 |                              |Romanian Second League                |  6| 10| 15|  37|  50| -13 |
|        |                              |Romanian Cup                          |  1|  0|  1|   4|   5|  -1 |
|2017/18 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African First Division          |  6|  5| 19|  29|  55| -26 |
|        |                              |South African Cup                     |  0|  1|  1|   0|   3|  -3 |
|        |                              |South African First Division Cup      |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|2018/19 |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South African First Division          |  3|  4| 23|  25|  66| -41 |
|        |                              |South African Cup                     |  0|  0|  1|   2|   3|  -1 |
|        |                              |South African First Division Cup      |  0|  0|  1|   0|   2|  -2 |
|2020/21 |Roses United                  |South African First Division          |  2|  3|  8|  11|  21| -10 |
|2021/22 |Roses United                  |South African First Division          |  4|  4|  6|  17|  20|  -3 |
|        |                              |South African Cup                     |  0|  1|  0|   1|   1|   0 |
|        |                              |South African First Division Cup      |  0|  1|  0|   1|   1|   0 |
|==========================================================================================================|
|Totals  |CF Brailia                    |Romania                             22|  4|  9|  9|  18|  26|  -8 |
|        |Gaz Metan Severin             |Romania                             41| 13| 15| 13|  53|  53|   0 |
|        |CF Bihoril Beius              |Romania                             71| 19| 23| 29|  99| 115| -16 |
|        |Real Madrid (RSA)             |South Africa                        65|  9| 10| 46|  56| 131| -55 |
|        |Roses United                  |South Africa                        29|  6|  9| 14|  30|  43| -13 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Grand Total                                                                228| 51| 66|111| 256| 368|-102 |   
|Percentage                                                                    |22%|29%|49%|               |
============================================================================================================
Note: Cup matches which go to penalties are considered draws in the above.

 

But the world goes on around me.

African and Asian Champions Leagues completed, and the Club World Cup.

Club World Championship
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |Santos (Brazil)          0|
|2012   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 0|
|2013   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |ES Tunis (Tunisia)       1|
|2014   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |ES Tunis (Tuniaia)       0|
|2015   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |Corinthians (Brazil)     0|
|2016   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Flamengo (Brazil)        0|
|2017   |Manchester City (Eng)  5 |Raja Casablancs (Mor.)   0|
|2018   |Chelsea (England)      3 |Sao Paulo (Brazil)       1|
|2019   |Manchester City (Eng)  4 |Corinthians (Brazil)     3|
|2020   |Manchester City (Eng)  3 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 0|
|============================================================|
|2021 Club World Championship                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Wydad Casabalanca (Morocco)                1                |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                            3                |
|                                                            |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)                   3                |
|Necaxa (Mexico)                            0                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Fifth Placed Playoff                                        |
|Necaxa (Mexico)                            0                |
|Wydada Casablanca (Morocco)                1                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                            1                |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)                   3                |
|                                                            |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)                   0                |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)                2                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|Zamalek (Eqypt)                            1                |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)                   1 pens           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021 Club World Championship Final                          |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             0     1                |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          0     2                |
==============================================================

 

African Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |USM Alger (Algeria)    4 |Raja Casablanca (Morocco)1|
|2012   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        5 |ASEC Mimosas(Ivory Coast)1|
|2013   |ASEC Mimomas (Ivory C) 5 |Zamalek (Egypt)          4|
|2014   |ES Tunis (Tunisia)     3a|Enyimba (Nigeria)        3|
|2015   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Supersport Utd (S.Africa)3|
|2016   |Raja Casablanca (Mor.) 3 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|2017   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|2018   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|2019   |Wydad Casablanca (Mor) 4 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|2020   |Enyimba (Nigeria)      1 |Raja Casablanca (Mor.)   0|
|============================================================|
|2021 African Champions League                               |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Heartland (Nigeria)                  3     2      5         |
|Enugu Rangers (Nigeria)              1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                      4     1      5         |
|ES Tunis (Tunisia)                   1     2      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021 African Champions League Final                         |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                      2     1      3         |
|Heartland (Nigeria)                  0     1      1         |
==============================================================

 

Asian Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2012   |Persepolia (Iran)      1  |Eseghal (Iran)         0 |
|2013   |Suwon (South Korea)    1  |Al-Wahda (UAE)         0 |
|2014   |Al Hilal (UAE)         2p |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2 |
|2015   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2016   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2017   |Al-Shabab (Saudi Ar.)  3  |Osaka AC (Japan)       1 |
|2018   |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2  |Al-Father (Saudi Ar.)  1 |
|2019   |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 2  |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2020   |Al-Gharrafa (Qatar)    3  |Lekhwiya (qatar)       0 |
|============================================================|
|2021 Asian Champions League                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Mes Kerman (Iran)                    3     2      5         |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)             3     2      5 away gls|
|                                                            |
|Okayama FC (Japan)                   1     2      3 away gls|
|Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia)            1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|Osaka AC (Japan)                     1     3      4         |
|Ulsan (South Korea)                  1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Seongnam (South Korea)               1     2      3         |
|Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)            0     1      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Okayama (Japan)                      2     0      2         |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)             1     4      5         |
|                                                            |
|Osaka AC (Japan)                     2     0      2         |
|Seongnam (South Korea)               0     3      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021 Asian Champions League Final                           |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Seongnam (South Korea)               1     1      1         |
|Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)             1     1      2         |
==============================================================

 

And, of course, the end of year player awards. A new recipient if both awards.

============================================================================================================
|    |Golden Ball                                       |World Player of the Year                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Mario Gotze                                       |
|    |Real Madrid(ESP) / Portugal                       |Borrusia Dortmund (GER) / Germany                 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |
|    |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021|Lucas Makhoba                                     |Lucas Makhoba                                     |
|    |FC Bayern Munchen (GER) / South Africa            |FC Bayern Munchen (GER) / South Africa            |
============================================================================================================

 

As for my plans, if I don't get a job by the start of the 2022/23 season, I think its career over.

January - July 2022

Unemployed

I got laughed at with a few applications, taken seriously with none.

Around the world, the highlight was the start of the 2022 World Cup.

But there were champions leagues to wrap up before then. North America and Europe. The Copa Liberdatores is yet to finish, in July.

European Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011/12|FC Barcelona (Spain)        6                       |
|       |Arsenal (England)           0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012/13|Manchester United (England) 3                       |
|       |Manchester City (England)   0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013/14|FC Barcelona (Spain)        3                       |
|       |Olypique Lyonnais (France)  1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014/15|Manchester United (England) 2                       |
|       |FC Barcelona (Spain)        1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015/16|FC Barcelona (Spain)        2                       |
|       |FCP (Portugal)              1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016/17|Manchester City (England)   3                       |
|       |Paris-St Germain (France)   1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017/18|Chelsea (England)           3                       |
|       |A.C. Milan (Italy)          1                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018/19|Manchester City (England)   2 penalties             |
|       |Chelsea (England)           2                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019/20|Manchester City (England)   3                       |
|       |Manchester United (England) 0                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020/21|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany) 1 penalties             |
|       |Manchester City (England)   1                       |
|============================================================|
|2021/22 European Champions League                           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quater Finals                                               |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)           0     1      1 away gls|
|Arsenal (England)                    0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          3     2      5         |
|FC Barcelona (Spain)                 1     3      4         |
|                                                            |
|FC Porto (Portugal)                  1     0      1         |
|Manchester United (England)          1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Real Madrid (Spain)                  3     0      3         |
|Manchester City (England)            0     0      0         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          2     1      3         |
|Real Madrid (Spain)                  2     0      2         |
|                                                            |
|Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)           1     0      1         |
|Manchester United (England)          0     2      2 e.t.    |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2022 European Champions League Final                        |
|                                    HT    FT     ET   Pen   |
|Manchester United (England)          0     1                |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          1     2                |
==============================================================

 

North American Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |FC Dallas (USA)      2   |Colorado (USA)       0    |
|2013   |Xolos Tiajuana (Mexico) 3|Chivas (Mexico)      1    |
|2014   |America (Mexico)        5|Monterrey (Mexico)   0    |
|2015   |New York (USA)       3 a |Seattle (USA)        3    |
|2016   |America (Mexico)     4   |New York (USA)       0    |
|2017   |Cruz Azul (Mexico)   3   |America (Mexico)     2    |
|2018   |America (Mexico)     4   |Pumas (Mexico)       3    |
|2019   |Monterrey (Mexico)   5   |Cruz Azul (Mexico)   0    |
|2020   |Monterrey (Mexico)   5   |America (Mexico)     3    |
|2021   |Necaxa (Mexico)      7   |DC United (USA)      1    |
|============================================================|
|2022 North American Champions League                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|Alajuelense (Costa Rica)             1     2      3         |
|Chivas (Mexico)                      3     2      5         |
|                                                            |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   3     4      7         |
|Marathon (Honduras)                  1     2      3         |
|                                                            |
|New York (USA)                       3     3      6         |
|Chivas USA (USA)                     1     0      1         |
|                                                            |
|Pumas (Mexico)                       4     1      5         |
|Comunicaciones (Guatemala)           1     2      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|                                                            |
|Chivas USA (USA)                     1     0      1         |
|Monterrey (Mexico)                   3     1      4         |
|                                                            |
|New York (USA)                       3     0      3         |
|Pumas (Mexico)                       0     1      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2022 North American Champions League Final                  |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Montereey (Mexico)                   2     0      2         |
|New York (USA)                       1     3      4         |
==============================================================

 

In the big three leagues:

Arsenal pulled out the double, Inter ran rampant, and Barcelona's grip on Spain became tenuous.

England 2021/22
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Manchester United           |Aston Villa            |
|2012/13|Manchester City             |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2013/14|Manchester City             |Watford                |
|2014/15|Tottenham Hotspur           |Wigan                  |
|2015/16|Manchester United           |Fulham                 |
|2016/17|Chelsea                     |Liverpool              |
|2017/18|Chelsea                     |Arsenal                |
|2018/19|Manchester United           |Tottenham Hotspur      |
|2019/20|Chelsea                     |Birmingham City        |
|2020/21|Manchester United           |Fulham                 |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Arsenal                +36   75 |FA Cup                     |
|Chelsea                +32   75 |Arsenal            4       |
|Manchester United      +25   73 |Aston Villa        0       |
|Everton                +22   70 |                           |
|Manchester City        +20   68 |League Cup                 |
|Liverpool              +21   65 |Manchester United  2       |
|Birmingham             +20   64 |Southampton        0       |

Italy 2021/22
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|FC Internazionale           |FC Internazionale      |
|2012/13|FC Internazionale           |Atalanta               |
|2013/14|FC Internazionale           |A.C. Milan             |
|2014/15|FC Internazionale           |Napoli                 |
|2015/16|FC Internazionale           |Genoa                  |
|2016/17|FC Internazionale           |Novara                 |
|2017/18|Juventus                    |FC Internazionale      |
|2018/19|A.C. Milan                  |Juentus                |
|2019/20|A.C. Milan                  |A.C. Milan             |
|2020/21|FC Internazionale           |FC Internazionale      |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|FC Internazionale      +40   86 |Italian Cup                |
|Genoa                  +16   66 |FC Internazionale  2       |
|A.C. Milan             +22   66 |Genoa              1       |
|Udinese                +13   63 |                           |
|Juventus               +18   61 |                           |
|Sampdoria              +11   60 |                           |
|Fiorentina              +9   59 |                           |
==============================================================

Spain 2021/22
==============================================================
|Previous Winners                                            |
|        League                       Cup                    |
|2011/12|Real Madrid                 |Valencia               |
|2012/13|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2013/14|FC Barcelona                |Sevilla                |
|2014/15|FC Barcelona                |Osasuna                |
|2015/16|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|2016/17|FC Barcelona                |Atletico Madrid        |
|2017/18|FC Barcelona                |FC Barcelona           |
|2018/19|Real Madrid                 |Sevilla                |
|2019/20|FC Barcelona                |Real Madrid            |
|2020/21|FC Barcelona                |Deportivo la Coruna    |
|============================================================|
|League                          |Cup                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Real Madrid            +59   86 |Spanish Cup                |
|FC Barcelona           +47   81 |Mallorca            2      |
|Mallorca               +35   81 |Atletico Madrid     0      |
|Valencia               +23   73 |                           |
|Sevilla                +21   73 |                           |
|Atletico Madrid        +17   65 |                           |
|Atheltic Club           -4   56 |                           |
==============================================================

 

Edited February 21, 2017 by BadManager

July 2022 - Quick Update

As it turned out it took very little game time to get a job.

First of all, I applied for the San Marino Under 19s job. These boys are so bad thery don't even play qualifiers for youth chmpionships, but I took any job just so I had something to do.

Then, very surprisingly, I ended up with a job in Italy. SPAL (Societa Polisportica Ars et Labor) are in Serie B for the 2022/23 season; but start with just 12 players in their senior squad

 

The first job with SPAL will be to get in some staff and a couple of players. Finances dictate not too many can come in and there do appear to be a couple of reserves who could be called up to the senior squad.

Edited February 21, 2017 by BadManager

July - August 2022

S.P.A.L

Italian Serie B

San Marino Under 19

 

 

 

Currently SPAL 2013, originally SPAL 1907, after a rebadging as a result of bankrupcy, SPAL are based in the city of Ferrara (pop approx 132000 in 2012), between Bologna and Venice. The good news is its three hours by train to San Marino, so both jobs aren't that far apart. Fifty to sixty years ago the club was in and out of the Serie A, more recently Serie B and C have been its home. The last visit to the top flight was in 1967/68. The club's highest honours were winning Serie B in 1951 and runner-up in the Cup in 1962. The glory days are well over, having been promoted from Serie C1 last season. The 19000 capacity Paolo Mazza is situated just to the west of the city centre.

 

 

Serie B is a huge step up from my failure at much lower levels. Dealing with much higher budgets - though zero for transfers - and trying to determine what constitutes a decent player at this level proved to be a difficult change in mind-set.

 

Expectaions

           Board                       Media                 Me
League     Avoid relegation battle     20th (relegated)       Avoid relegation
Cup        Reach 3rd Qualifying Round                        Depends on draw, but 4th Qualifying round

 

Friendlies were a disaster. The defence looks especially poor, and I have not been able to get anyone ion to fix the holes. Most of those sides have been Series C or below as well. The only positives are that the new striker combination I got in seem to be slightly better than the former incumbents. Mendicino is the only player on the list I have not been deeply disappointed in every time I see them.

 

S.P.A.L. v Frosinone (Serie C1/B, expected 1st) - Italian Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

Due tio some players being on trial, the team that took the field for this game was weakened even in comparison to the friendly teams which had been performing so badly. A lack of wing options in the squad saw a very narropw formation take to the field.

We wated a couiple of chances early. It looked liekly to be costly as Frosinone started to get on top. Thankfully no score resulted. Until right on the half when new striker Mendicino put us one up. Midfielder Catalano's through ball looked OK, except perhaps a hint of offside from the striker.

A spot of luck early in the second half saw the lead double. The other striker I bought in, Francomocarro, was credoted with the goal but it was a deflection off a block from a Mendicino shot – and the Giacomelli cross from the left was lucky to begin with.

In the end, despite both sides having good chances, a 2-0 win to start my time I competitive game with the club. It also saw board expectations met for the cup.

 

The draw was not kind, away to Napoli who finished tenth in Serie A last year and so have no European distractions.

 

 

Napoli (Serie A, expected 11th) S.P.A.L. - Italian Cup 3rd Qualifying Round

The one good thing that might come out of this is a share of gate receipts.

We actually had the first few shots, including one that was gettable thoiugh not simple. Unfortunately wasted, and then seven minutes in gave up a needless penalty. Which Bonassi saved.

Napoli may have looked a bit rusty in the first five minutes but once they got themselves together it looked to be a big defeat in the making.

Somehow we went to the break level, but that lasted just three minutes on resumption. With seventy minutes played I went to a maore attacking set of instructions in the hope of a fluke equaliser. It was always more likely to lead to a 6-0 result. It alsmost worked, twice inside a minute Francomocarro had opportunities to equalise. The first was rushed, the second an easy put away that he instead skidded into the near upright.

Sudbstiutue defender Vinci took a corner which found the head of fellow defender Perez, and we were on level terms with 80 played. Just inches saved us a minute later. And one up and back rebound after that it was again the hands of Bonassi which kept us level. The assistant saved us in minute 89, the ball had gobe in but was judged offside. Ninety minutes gone and Napoli were down a midfielder, through a secoind yellow card. There were to be three minutes of stoppage time. In that time Mendicino got injured, we were also down to ten men as all subs had already been made. That advantage didn't last long. Just seconds later new defnder Kolaric was also carried off, and we went from 11 v 11, to being a man up, to being a man down inside five minutes. Whatever happens, this is going to make our physio a very busy man indeed.

 

Extra time. Nine men v ten.

I thought we had taklen the lead, attacking midfielder Jetjko;s free kick looked on target and to have beaten the goalie. It just went over so narrowly. By this stage I was playing for the shootout, not that penalty takers are all that good. Brutal match, Catalano was taken off injured just on half of extra time, and Francomocarro was hobbling as well. 115 minutes in, Oliveira put Napoli in front. A pretty grim looking lineup my game's end.

 

 

Both first choice strikers will miss a month or more, as will midfielder Catalano. Expect losses and poor morale to start the league season. With the pre-existing injuries added to that we aren't going to start the league in good shape at all.

 

 

S.P.A.L v Cagliari (media prediction 4th)

I started the league with no idea where a goal could come from. The solo striker in an untried formation (but one we have been training) is somebody who should never take a shot. It showed, we controlled the ball, had the shoits, but nothing looked close to a score.

We lost central defender Luis Bachetti early in the second half, somebody I think could be a lynchpin of our already fragile defence. 66 minutes in and Durand got one on target, not onbly that the keeper failed to reach it. We had a lead. But gave it up cheaply moments later, failing to even move to track an opponent's run inside. In the end, perhaps were lucky to hold on to a point depite looking the better team over most of the field.

 

Perugia (media prediction 22nd) v S.P.A.L

Ugly, skillfree game. But we did get one very good ball in, and Durand about ten metres in the clear just managed to keep the shot inside the target area early in the second half. Both sides had their defence caught napping, but both sides failed to make meaningful chances from it. Poor game, but hree points are three points.

 

 

 

San Marino U19 played one game in the two months, a 1-0 loss away to Iran with the goal not comung until the 79th minute. All in all that was a fairly credible performance for a small nation.

 

The World Cup and Liberdatores wound up in July. Brazilian clubs dominating South America, and while Saudi Arabia took advantage of a World Cup being played in their region it was France who took the chocolates.

 

============================================================================================================
|2022 WORLD CUP in Qatar                                                                                   |
|==========================================================================================================|
|GROUP PHASE                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                          |
|Group A                                                |Group B                                           |
|Ghana                0 – 1 Qatar                       |Canada                 0 – 4 Saudi Arabia         |
|Colombia             1 – 4 Czech Republic              |Sweden                 1 – 0 Argentina            |
|Qatar                1 – 3 Colombia                    |Argentina              3 – 0 Canada               |
|Czech Republic       1 – 1 Ghana                       |Saudi Arabia           1 - 0 Sweden               |
|Colobia              3 – 2 Ghana                       |Canada                 0 – 1 Sweden               |
|Czech Republic       3 – 0 Qatar                       |Saudi Arabia           0 – 1 Argentina            |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|                                           GD   PTS    |                                      GD   PTS    |
|CZECH REPUBLIC                             +6     7    |SAUDI ARABIA                          +4     6    |
|COLOMBIA                                    0     6    |ARGENTINA                             +3     6    |
|Qatar                                      -4     3    |Sweden                                +1     6    |
|Ghana                                      -2     1    |Canada                                -8     0    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|Group C                                                |Group D                                           |
|Portugal             2 – 2 Germany                     |U.S.A.               1 – 1 China                  |
|Nigeria              0 – 4 Iran                        |Croatia              0 – 1 Brazil                 |
|Germany              2 – 2 Nigeria                     |China                1 – 1 Croatia                |
|Iran                 1 – 0 Portugal                    |Brazil               1 – 0 U.S.A.                 |
|Germany              2 – 2 Iran                        |China                0 – 3 Brazil                 |
|Portugal             2 – 2 Nigeria                     |U.S.A.               2 – 0 Croatia                |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|                                           GD   PTS    |                                      GD   PTS    |
|IRAN                                       +5     7    |BRAZIL                                +5     9    |
|GERMANY                                     0     3    |UNITED STATES OF AMERICA              +1     4    |
|Portugal                                   -1     2    |China                                 -3     2    |
|Nigeria                                    -4     2    |Croatia                               -3     1    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|Group E                                                |Group F                                           |
|Ivory Coast          0 – 1 Costa Rica                  |France               3 – 0 Chile                  |
|Serbia               0 – 1 Spain                       |England              6 – 0 Mexico                 |
|Costa Rica           1 – 2 Serbia                      |Chile                1 – 3 England                |	
|Spain                5 – 1 Ivory Coast                 |Mexico               0 - 0 France                 |
|Serbia               1 – 1 Ivory Coast                 |England              2 – 2 France                 |
|Spain                3 – 0 Costa Rica                  |Mexico               2 – 0 Chile                  |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|                                           GD   PTS    |                                      GD   PTS    |
|SPAIN                                      +8     9    |ENGLAND                               +8     7    |
|SERBIA                                      0     4    |FRANCE                                +3     5    |
|Costa Rica                                 -3     3    |Mexico                                -4     4    |
|Ivory Coast                                -5     1    |Chile                                 -7     0    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|Group G                                                |Group H                                           |
|Poland               0 – 1 Italy                       |Ireland             3 – 2 Ecuador                 |
|South Africa         4 – 0 Japan                       |Netherlands         1 – 0 Algeria                 |
|Japan                2 – 2 Poland                      |Ecuador             2 – 2 Netherlands             |
|Italy                2 – 1 South Africa                |Algeria             2 – 0 Ireland                 |
|Italy                5 – 3 Japan                       |Algeria             2 – 3 Ecuador                 |
|Poland               1 – 4 South Africa                |Netherlands         2 – 1 Ireland                 |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|                                           GD   PTS    |                                      GD   PTS    |
|ITALY                                      +4     9    |NETHERLANDS                           +2     7    |
|SOUTH AFRICA                               +6     6    |ECUADOR                                0     4    |
|Poland                                     -4     1    |Algeria                                0     3    |
|Japan                                      -6     1    |Ireland                               -2     3    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|ROUND OF 16                                                                                               |
|                             HT    FT    ET    Pen     |                        HT    FT    ET    Pen     |                                       
|Czech Republic                1     3                  |Spain                    1     1                  |
|Argentina                     0     0                  |France                   1     4                  |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|Saudi Arabia                  0     2                  |England                  0     0                  |
|Colombia                      0     1                  |Serbia                   1     1                  |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|U.S.A.                        0     0                  |Ecuador                  0     0                  |
|Iran                          1     2                  |Italy                    2     3                  |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|Brazil                        0     0                  |South Africa             2     3                  |
|Germany                       1     4                  |Netherlands              0     0                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|QUARTER FINALS                                                                                            |
|                             HT    FT   ET     Pen     |                        HT    FT    ET    Pen     |
|Czech Republic                0     2                  |France                   1     1     2      3     |
|Germany                       1     1                  |South Africa             0     1     2      1     |
|                                                       |                                                  |
|Saudi Arabia                  2     3                  |Serbia                   0     0     0      3     |
|Iran                          1     2                  |Italy                    0     0     0      2     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|SEMI FINALS                                                                                               |
|                             HT    FT   ET     Pen     |                        HT    FT    ET    Pen     |
|Czech Republic                2     2                  |Saudi Arabia             0     1     1      1     |
|Serbia                        0     0                  |France                   0     1     1      2     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|THIRD PLACED PLAYOFF                                                                                      |
|                             HT    FT   ET     Pen                                                        |
|Saudi Arabia                  0     1                                                                     |
|Serbia                        2     2                                                                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                             2022 WORLD CUP FINAL                                         |
|                                                                                                          |
|                                            1/2 Time     Full Time     Extra Time     Penalties           |  
|    CZECH REPUBLIC                                 0             0                                        |
|    FRANCE                                         1             3                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Player of the tournament :  Alex Smith (England)                                                          |
|Golden boot              :  Alex Smith (England)                                                          |
============================================================================================================

 

 

Copa Liberdatores
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         4                  |
|       |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013   |Corinthians (Brazil)             4                  |
|       |Clube Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)  2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014   |Corinthians (Brazil)             2                  |
|       |Fluminense (Brazil)              4                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |San Lorenzo (Argentina)          1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016   |Flamengo (Brazil)                3                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               0                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Corinthians (Brazil)             1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018   |Sao Paulo (Brazil)               5                  |
|       |Cruz Azul (Mexico)               1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019   |Corinthians (Brazil)             6                  |
|       |Cerro Porteno (Paraguay)         2                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         3                  |
|       |Flamengo (Brazil)                1                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021   |Boca Juniors (Argentina)         3                  |
|       |Corinthians (Brazil)             1                  |
|============================================================|
|2022 Copa Liberdatores                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    2     2      4         |
|All Boys (Argentina)                 1     2      3 `       |
|                                                            |
|Santos (Brazil)                      3     1      4         |
|Boca Juniors (Argentina)             0     0      0         |
|                                                            |
|Vasco (Brazil)                       0     2      2         |
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 4     2      6         |
|                                                            |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     1      2         |
|America (Mexico)                     0     1      1         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Santos (Brazil)                      2     0      2         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    0     4      4         |
|                                                            |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   0     3      3 away gls|
|Corinthians (Brazil)                 2     1      3         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2022 Copa Liberdatores Final                                |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Flamengo (Brazil)                    1     1      2         |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   0     3      3         |
==============================================================

 

Edited February 22, 2017 by BadManager

September 2022

S.P.A.L.

Italian Serie B

The pools for the first round of European Under 19 qualifiers were annoiunced, as always San Marino are not in the qualifiers.

 

The month began with San Marino Under 19s going to 3-0 in Belarus. That was difficult to take after pushing Iran so hard.

 

S.P.A.L. v AlbinoLeffe (media prediction 12th)

Two further players were out for this match, midfielder Pavol Jetko and left back/left wing Damit Koralic on duty with under 21s for Slovakia and Slovenia respectively.

The line-up was lopsided, trying not to play too many out of position. The result. Smacked. Utterly smacked. Yet only 1-0 down at the break. The second half was more even, with neither side looking likely and in many ways the one goal loss was a lucky break. It could have been six by half time.

 

Another San Marino Under 19s match, this time away to Luxembourg. Sometimes a team looks to match an opponent, except in the key moments. Anoithger 1-0 loss. Probably the hardest to take so far.

 

Modena (media prediction 13th) v S.P.A.L. - televised

We welcomed back Kolaric and Jetko after their U21 endeavours, allowing 16 year old Quadrelli to rest on the bench.

A faiely uneventful first half, such chances as were made all fell Modena's way. Theye did score once but blatantly offside.

Fifty five minutes in we took the lead without having to pay a goal bonus. Cross, deflected off a Modena player and into the net. Four minutes later we were a man up, a filthy tackle saw us get afree kick just outside the area and a straight red to a Modena midfielder. After what happened in Naples, I was worried the game might turn into another injury festival. The free kick went high. In the end, an uninspiring 1-0 win. Most importantly, a win.

 

S.P.A.L. v Ascoli (media prediction 2^nd)

We stsrted to get some players back in training, but not ready to start for this game. Ascoli's velocci looked very dangerous, too quick and they target him with through balls a lot. We were not the better side, but the way we fall behind was uncluky. A speculative floater that somehow lobbed in on 71 minutes. The second was a little easier to take, but not much. A rebound off the crossbar was not the way I expected velocci to score against us. It was stoppage time before we clawed one back, I hadn't planned on bringing Francomacarro on this game, but he provided the assist for Durand to run on to.

I can't make out if were unlucky or not. Outplayed but both goals conceded had a touch of luck – then again other chances could easily have been scores against us.

 

Out of the blue I was offered the Indonesia Under 23 job. This means possible competition matches, Asian Games and Olympic Qualifiers. So I jumped at the chance. I'll probably leave Indonesia (if not sacked) after the Olympic Qualifers in 2023. I won't include these in my career stats as they are not full internationals.

Asian Games will see us up against China, Iran and U.A.E in the group stage. I am not expecting great results there. We will have twi friendlies against fellow low ranked qualifiers a week out from the games.

 

Wow. The Nottingham Forest manager just got sacked, because in the early season they fighting to keep from relegation spots in League Two.

 

Torino (media expectation 3rd) v S.P.A.L.

One of the guys I looked at but couldn't afford in the pre-season opened the scoring early against us with a well placed left foot shot. The amoiuntikf time and space he had was criminal. A second came on 75 minutes, when we couldn't mark a man a long free kick. He got a clear header away when there should at least have been a pretense of pressure. Sometimes you don't have the cattle, that showed up in this game but even so the lapses at the back were quite poor.

 

We may have a more reliable avenue to goal soon, Mendicino is on the mend and back at training.

 

That is not a great set of results for the month.

 

Its not yet a big trouble for the season, but we need a win soon.

 

And the squad is nearing full strength, so hopefully we'll pick some points again soon.

There are a couple of ineligibles and unregistered there, that was just to remind me they exist. They will drop back into the reserves squad.

Edited February 24, 2017 by BadManager

October 2022

S.P.A.L. / Indonesia Under 23

Italian Serie B / Asian Games

 

S.P.A.L. v Livorno (1st, media prediction 5^th) – Serie B

I assume this is the tough part of the draw. Although, looking at the table perhaps not.

An early lead, I kept Durand in the side as he had got a couple of goals and Mendicino was not fully fit. That worked, Durand scoring the opener with Francomacarro having his first start and providing the assist. Mendicino was forced to come off the bench just before half time, Francomacarro injured.

Apart from that one move that proved successful for us both sides were struggling to take shots, and all were from distance. Eighty minutes in nothing changed, except one of the distance shots went in, Mendicino blasting home from 30 yards.

A much needed win to avoid any morale problems surfacing, and a deserved one.

 

Foggia (2nd, media prediction 9th) v S.P.A.L. (10^th) – Serie B

Jetko was again away on international under 21 duty. For the first time in the league my two main strikers started together, Durand dropped back to Jetko's attacking midfield role. And while Foggia were clearly playing better, it was Mendicino and Francomacarro who combined to put us one up. A superb ball for Francomacarro to run on to and he slotted it nicely.

Fix minutes in Kolaric was caught out badly, our left side unmanned and Foggia took advantage. Kolaric got back to make a challenge, only to give up a penalty. At least he avoided a second card. Rossi made no mistake from the spot, 1-1.

 

S.P.A.L. (11th) v Salerno (14th) -Serie B

They were controlling the ball, but we were controlling the chances. And it was a twist, evade and shot from angle by Mendicino that put us one up early on. Even with Salerno leading possession the first half was possibly the most complete I have seen this team play, except some average finishing at times. Something went horribly wrong in the break though, mistakes galore to open the second half. Not being a very sporting team we continued to play while a Salerno player was down for the count in the centre of the pitch. Willy Urbani took advantage to get us a two goal lead with 15 to play. And as players from both sides were getting tired with a small gap between fixtures, a corner fell to Francomacarro's boot, he swung wildly and scored. Salerno pulled one back on 86 minutes, a well placed cross met by a well placed header. Stoppage time made it 4-1 with substitute defender Giacomelli in the right place at the right time and putting one away from the middle of the area. Fresh legs making a big difference.

 

Triestina (21st) v S.P.A.L. (9th) - Serie B

Mark the date on your calendar as “Spray Day”. Half an hour in, eight shots to nil. Shots on target, level. Finally, one on target, and it went in. Defender Bacchetti is my favoured target from corners, Jetko hit him, cleanly headed home. It only took ten shots and 58 minutes for one to be going goal-wards. Piccini got a second yellow not long after, making things a little tough to hold on with Triestina having upped their game. Treistina took advantage and dominated play after being a man up. Thankfully it didn't show on the scoreboard. 1-0 our way.

 

S.P.A.L. (9th) v Siena (16th) - Series B - televised

Siena got an early goal, which is always disappointing but they played well to get there. Its worse when an obvious mistake, they worked through our defence clinically. A second came a little short of the half, from a low, slow corner too easily tapped in. We had people there, just not good enough to stop him. The game was starting to get beyond us despite in some ways us having some control in certain areas.

A half time blast did no good. Immediately on resumption a not very well struck free kick was ignored by wall and keeper for the 3-0. 50 minutes in I decided the only thing left to gain from the match was getting some game time into players who had not been getting minutes to keep the ready. Before the substitutions could be made Salierno, who I was reluctant to start but got a game on an earlier promise to get some time, pulled one back from a scramble in their area. On replay it was evident he almost hacked it out of the goalkeeper's hands.. A fourth came all too simply, a good ball to an unkarked man who had too much speed and ran past the line for a simple slot. 4-1 showed the difference at both ends of the pitch. Not that midfield was any better by this point. I don't think we matched them in a single facet of the game after the first 20 minutes or so, and even in that time they were better in the more important aspects.

 

Indonesian Under 23 friendlies were played at the end of the month with the Asian Games at the start of November. I'm not sure what to take out of those games, especially the Palestine one. Palestine looked quite poor indeed for most of the game.

 

In between those matches a quick trip back to Italy – and for the first time I know of in this save I visit a town I've been to (well, changed trains at, I'm not sure 40 minutes at a tranms station counts) it is possible we've played a club based in Rome already

Grosseto (14th) v S.P.A.L. (9th)

Its official, both goalkeepers are in tragic form. Tonozzi came in and immediately let through one almost chipped straight to his chest. And we were not seeing the ball at the other end of the pitch very often at all. Just short of the minute mark I had no choice but to change everything, a more attacking attitude, a change in formation, and using up all the subs. The last was a risk but required with the formation change, and really going down to men would not change much. Oops, just after that was committed but before taking place we drew level. I still thought the changes are needed though, despite Mendicino's set up and Durand's goal. The fact that we got a very lucky one just after changes were made didn't prove or disprove anything. The goal was a result of a set uncontrolled ricochets landing at Catalano's feet. That was very quickly 2-2 thanks to shoddy defence all round finished by lazy goal keeping, just let the ball fly by. It became goal city, Francomacarro putting Jetko through for a one on one with their goalkeeper, and he got the angle right. Though it perhaps should have been stopped at least their goalkeeper moved towards the ball in flight. It was a good move from Francomacarro taking it on the chest, then turning and laying off the simple but brilliant pass. To win 3-2 after being utterly dominated for 60 minutes is a good three points, but I can't feel good about the way we played.

 

One bad loss at home to Siena, other than that a solid month for a team expected to be relegated.

GIven season expectations, I'm fairly happy with where we currently sit. But there is a very long way to go, and it seems 50 points are required to be sure of safety. Some years 48 gets relegated.

I can't see a way through the group in the Asian Games, snaring a win would be great, even a draw isn't likely. Not that there are any super teams in the group, so an upset could happen.

November 2022

S.P.A.L. / Indonesia Under 23s

Serie B / Asian Games

  

 

The monthly board update shows we are making a small profit each month. Kudos to the board for getting the wage budget damned near spot on, as we are running just slightly under that.

 

S.P.A.L. (7th) v Treviso (17th) - Serie B

Treviso are actually our parent club, which I'm sure says something about comparative resources and expectations of the teams but I'm not sure what.

The problem with dominating and not scoring is that you are left vulnerable to that minute or so the opposition gets on top. And that was how we went one down late in the first half. After having scored twice from (a long way) offside and missed numerous other open chances, we conceded in a tight scramble on the goal mouth following a corner.

Durand equalised shortly after the break with Jetko having gone on a run most of the length of the field. Apparently this time it was not offside, I'm not so sure. It was a good move from Jetkp, but even on replay I reckon Durand was a few metres too far advanced when the ball was played. There was not doubt about the second one though, Jetko with another assist. Again he ran the ball a bit, did the one-two with Durand and then sent Mendicino through in a well crafted move of sheer beauty. Salierno had been involved in both earlier offside goals, and perhaps scored a third. Jetko passing to his right, Salierno running through, and the goal was counted. It was the closest of the offsides though, and replay suggested maybe he started level – maybe.

 

China Under 23s v Indonesia Under 23s – Asian Games Group C

It took no time at all for China to get on the board. From that moment on they dominated. We basically had little choice but to stand by and let them do as they wished. A second came just after the half hour mark. There was nothing special about China's play, our ability is just that lacking. At 3-0 a rout looked likely, but we did mange to pull one back late through Faisol Wahyudi from a tight angle. F Wahyudi had been our best player this game and in the friendlies, particularly if had the chance to run the ball up the left wing.

3-1 left me in two minds, obvipusly we needed at least a point but the damage was not as great as it looked like being as the game progressed.

 

Sassuolo (2nd) v S.P.A.L. (6th)

I went defensive in instructions. If it looked like we were matching them, then the idea would be to try and take it to them a bit more.

We weren't matching them. It is to be expected that the highlights will all be in your own defensive end when going full containment, but giving up 65% possession and a swag of shots is not the plan. I had to switch to a five man flat back line to stem the shot flow. Surprisingly that even resulted in us going forward occasionally.

It was Salierno who somewhat surprisingly opened the scoring, getting a deflection on a Saasuolo shot and putting us one down early in the second half. A couple of minutes layer Piccini was out-jumped on a cross and 2-0 the result. And so it stayed, I'm not too disheartened by that scoreline but do feel we should have been better in retaining possession at times.

 

Indonesia Under 23s v United Arab Emirates Under 23s – Asian Games Group C

I went into this game as the one hope for points. It was not much of a hope, but the best I could see in the group.

As much as anything we were being done physically, the first goal came through a height advantage. The second was just a balls-up. A defender standing there while a cross hit his accidental back-heel and in it went. The third again came from the head, all our defenders were outsized by maybe a foot. What should have been the less difficult game of the group was becoming a nightmare. 3-0 loss and that's over. With just iran to come, and a slaughter expected there the Asian Games produced nothing.

 

Iran Under 23s v Indonesia Under 23s – Asian Games Group C

Iran started like huge favourites, moving the ball with fluidity not seen produced by other teams.

Half an hour in and we are the own goal kings. The opener came courtesy of an attempted intercept gone bad and just rolling over the line. In the end 16 shots to 1, and a disappointing Asian Games overall – but perhaps that match the least disappointing on the scoreboard.

Next up will be Olympic qualifiers beginning in March.

 

S.P.A.L. (8th) v Lecce (19th) – Serie B

We really, really struggled to advance the ball. And its not as though Lecce were just sitting back and waiting on us. I had to move to a counter mentality in order obtain some sort of control. That seemed to work until late in the half when Lecce inched their way forward then found a final burst for the opening score.

After the break Francomacarro went on a solo run up the left win, cut inside, and scored from the edge of the area. That was surprising as I changed Mednicino to the left wing during the break leaving Francomacarro as the sole striker. After that we were just under pressure the whole time, cracked again on 75 minutes. Making matters worse Mendicino received a second yellow for onr the cheatiest dives that ever did dive and cheat. Poor agme all round, missing a couple of players didn't help but was no excuse.

 

Bologna (10th) v S.P.A.L. (9th) - Series B – televised

Fierce rivals just as we hit a losing slump, this game could be vital in determining which way the season turns.

We started the stronger, putting pressure on their area. But they were clearly playing counter, and when the got the break looked dangerous. So it proved, their second real counter, almost half an hour in, resulting a great strike from about 25 yards. That seemed to give Bologna confidence and they came close again numerous times. But right on the half we got one back, Perez header blocked and after a scramble he managed to knock it in.

We conceded a second thanks to a well weighted ball that just cleared our defence and landed at the feet of a sprinting striker. While we did manage to stop him taking a clear shot, he did win the ball back and hammer home from close range. Confidence was clearly shot at this point, short passes missing by miles, no cohesion when moving forward, things started to look very bleak – and not just for this match.

 

Crotone (6th) v S.P.A.L. (11th)

A couple of changes from the Bologna game, Mendicino comes back in, Vinci to right back ahead of Piccini and central defender Bacchetti benched due to form. Plus Catalano starts in midfield with Salierno suspended.

While the game started with us pressing forward, they closed us down well and we never looked likely. On the other hand, when they came to our end they kept finding a way through despite applying good pressure. And that's how the opening goal came, we harassed them, cut down the angles, but they still managed to get a clear shot from point blank range. The second half followed much the same pattern as the first despite come tactical tweaks. We couldn't find a way to produce good chances, Crotone did and eventually scored.

 

A four game losing streak now and the way we are losing shows early signs that the rot is setting in.

A slide down the table, but not yet in desperation zone.

 

As expected nothing from the Asian Games.

 

African and Asian Champions Leagues wound up in November

African Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |USM Alger (Algeria)    4 |Raja Casablanca (Morocco)1|
|2012   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        5 |ASEC Mimosas(Ivory Coast)1|
|2013   |ASEC Mimomas (Ivory C) 5 |Zamalek (Egypt)          4|
|2014   |ES Tunis (Tunisia)     3a|Enyimba (Nigeria)        3|
|2015   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Supersport Utd (S.Africa)3|
|2016   |Raja Casablanca (Mor.) 3 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|2017   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|2018   |Al-Ahly (Egypt)        4 |Wydad Casablanca (Mor.)  1|
|2019   |Wydad Casablanca (Mor) 4 |Al-Ahly (Egypt)          3|
|2020   |Enyimba (Nigeria)      1 |Raja Casablanca (Mor.)   0|
|2021   |Zamalek (Egypt)        3 |Heartland (Nigeria)      1|
|============================================================|
|2022 African Champions League                               |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      2     2      4         |
|USM Alger (Algeria)                  0     1      1         |
|                                                            |
|Ismaily (Egypt)                      1     1      2         |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                      2     2      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2022 African Champions League Final                         |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                      2     2      4         |
|Al-Ahly (Egypt)                      2     1      3         |
==============================================================

 

Asian Champions League
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2012   |Persepolia (Iran)      1  |Eseghal (Iran)         0 |
|2013   |Suwon (South Korea)    1  |Al-Wahda (UAE)         0 |
|2014   |Al Hilal (UAE)         2p |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2 |
|2015   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2016   |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 4  |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2017   |Al-Shabab (Saudi Ar.)  3  |Osaka AC (Japan)       1 |
|2018   |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       2  |Al-Father (Saudi Ar.)  1 |
|2019   |Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Ar.) 2  |Al-Ittihad (Saudi Ar.) 0 |
|2020   |Al-Gharrafa (Qatar)    3  |Lekhwiya (Qatar)       0 |
|2021   |Al-Shabab (Saudi Ar.)  2  |Seongnam (Sth Korea)   1 |
|============================================================|
|2022 Asian Champions League                                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Al-Qadisiyah (Saudi Arabia)          2     1      3         |
|Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)               1     1      2         |
|                                                            |
|Ballena Shizuoka (Japan)             2     1      3         |
|Saba Qom (Iran)                      2     4      6         |
|                                                            |
|Esteghal (Iran)                      4     2      6         |
|Okayama FC (Japan)                   1     3      4         |
|                                                            |
|Seoul (South Korea)                  2     2      4         |
|Nagoya Stolz (Japan)                 4     0      4 away gls|
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|                                  Leg1  Leg2   Aggr         |
|Esteghal (Iran)                      0     4      4         |
|Al-Qadisiyah (Saudi Arabia)          3     2      5         |
|                                                            |
|Nagoya Stolz (Japan)                 1     2      3         |
|Saba Qom (Iran)                      2     2      4         |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2022 Asian Champions League Final                           |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Saba Qon (Iran)                      2     2      2         |
|Al-Qadidiyah (Saudi Arabia)          0     0      0         |
==============================================================

 

December spoiler and question - I've been offered the Fiji U23 role. Should I jump ship from Indonesia?

Fiji obviously is a tiny nation, however one nation from Oceania (almost certainly New Zealand) qualifies for the Olympics. New Zealand are in the other group, and liekly to be the group winner's opponents in the final of the qualifying series. It might be a step dopwn, but is probably a better (although still very small) chance of qualifying.

If anybody reads this, should i do it?

Group opponents : Solomon Islands (possible group winner), American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Samoa - a fairly strong rugby group, not so much in other sports

Edited March 12, 2017 by BadManager

December 2022

S.P.A.L. / Fiji Under 23s

Serie B / Oceania Olympics Qualifying

 

 

S.P.A.L. (12th) v Cesena (14th) – Serie B

We slowed the tempo for this game, which seemed to help a little. But scoring was not looking likely. The best chances came from long free kicks, one fumbled by their keeper and one off the head of Perez which came close. It took until the 56 minute mark before Mendicino took advantage of a long ball the defence failed to clear and beat the keeper one on one. Cesena reacted instantly, laying the ball out wide more often and going on runs rather than relying on direct play as they had done. I don't really have the ability to counter wide play but the defence held up anyway. And right on the end Francomacarro put us 2-0 up finding his way through three defenders in tight space.

 

Pescara (8th) v S.P.A.L. (11th)

An excellent start to a game where we started underdogs.

I had moved Jetko to central midfield and Durand into Jetko's normal attacking mid position in order to get all four of the best attackers on the pitch at once. Mendicino took the ball forward, passed to Francomacarro in the box who was dispossessed but Durand had ran through and got the knock in with less than three minutes played. We weren't getting much of the ball, but did get a 2-0 lead with Durand snaring a brace in the first half hour. He got on the end of a good ball from Urbani and just edged it past two defenders and the goalkeeper. For all Pescara's possession, 65%, they had only really threatened once to that point. Not long after Jetko beat a Pescara player to the ball, he should never have got near it, moved forward and found Mendicino for our third. It was dragged back to 3-1 in an almost instant reply, a long ground ball from the left saw us leave the angles open and the simplest of goals result.

A couple of players got angry after my half time talk that the game was not yet won and they needed to retain focus.

After a couple of close call both ways, Jetko made it 4-1 with a tidy finish after Mendicino's inside run. Very quickly 4-2, free kick, close range header, bam. Very poor marking to leave the man completely free on the far post. Very late in the piece an accidental goal after a corner drew it back to 4-3. The dribbling ball just hit the Pescara player before Bonassi could pick it up and it rolled in.

 

S.P.A.L. (9th) v Juve Subia (2nd)

I was somewhat concerned with the revised set-up that we might lack defensive pressure in the midfield. That was borne out last game, however I left it as is to begin with against superior opponents. The hope was to score. We made the early running, but despite Durand pulling out a great save from their goalkeeper to no avail. No score at the half with surprisingly little goalmouth action, just four shots to none and we had three in the opening 15 minutes.

Stabia finally got a shot 70 minutes into the game, a headed corner going over the top. And it stayed scoreless, I had dropped back to a containing mentality late as our players were clearly more tired than theirs.

 

That takes us to a brief Christmas break, one game short of halfway through the league. We lost Bachetti to injury in that match, but he won't miss much thanks to the break. He's out for around a month.

 

I'm fairly happy with where we sit at this stage. There are definitely issues, not the least of which is that with a reasonably settled line-up there are those wanting first team football and may depart in the winter trade period. In some ways that's not too bad, indeed some I want to get off the books, but it would mean we could struggle when injury strikes if I can't get decent replacements.

 

With the move to Fiji completed, there is no time to play friendlies before the qualifying tournament. I don't expect to qualify, or even win the group, but there should be some points.

 

The CWC was played during themonth and International player awards announced at year's end.

Club World Championship
==============================================================
|Previous Years                                              |
|2011   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |Santos (Brazil)          0|
|2012   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 0|
|2013   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |ES Tunis (Tunisia)       1|
|2014   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   2 |ES Tunis (Tuniaia)       0|
|2015   |Manchester United (Eng)3 |Corinthians (Brazil)     0|
|2016   |FC Barcelona (Spain)   4 |Flamengo (Brazil)        0|
|2017   |Manchester City (Eng)  5 |Raja Casablancs (Mor.)   0|
|2018   |Chelsea (England)      3 |Sao Paulo (Brazil)       1|
|2019   |Manchester City (Eng)  4 |Corinthians (Brazil)     3|
|2020   |Manchester City (Eng)  3 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 0|
|2021   |Bayern Munchen (Ger)   2 |Boca Juniors (Argentina) 1|
|============================================================|
|2022 Club World Championship                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Quarter Finals                                              |
|Saba Qom Iran)                             3                |
|New York (USA)                             0                |
|                                                            |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                            2                |
|Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)                 1                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Fifth Placed Playoff                                        |
|New York (USA)                             1                |
|Wydada Casablanca (Morocco)                1 pens           |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Semi-Finals                                                 |
|Saba Qom (Iran)                            1                |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                         1 pens           |
|                                                            |
|Zamalek (Egypt)                            0                |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)                1                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|Third Placed Playoff                                        |
|Zamalek (Eqypt)                            2                |
|Saba Qom (Iran)                            0                |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|2022 Club World Championship Final                          |
|                                    HT    FT     ET  Pen    |
|Sao Paulo (Brazil)                   1     2                |
|FC Bayern Munchen (Germany)          0     1                |
==============================================================

============================================================================================================
|    |Golden Ball                                       |World Player of the Year                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2011|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2012|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2013|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Mario Gotze                                       |
|    |Real Madrid(ESP) / Portugal                       |Borrusia Dortmund (GER) / Germany                 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2014|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2015|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2016|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2018|Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |Cristiano Ronaldo                                 |
|    |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |Real Madrid (ESP) / Portugal                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2019|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2020|Lionel Messi                                      |Lionel Messi                                      |
|    |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |FC Barcelona(ESP) / Argentina                     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2021|Lucas Makhoba                                     |Lucas Makhoba                                     |
|    |FC Bayern Munchen (GER) / South Africa            |FC Bayern Munchen (GER) / South Africa            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2022|Antoine Greizman                                  |Antoine Greizman                                  |
|    |Manchester United (ENG) / France                  |Manchester United (ENG) / France                  |
============================================================================================================

 

Edited March 16, 2017 by BadManager