FM09-Patch 9.0.3:FC Timisoara Thread-The new Poli!

The 2002/2003 season had double meaning for FC Timişoara (FC Politehnica AEK Timişoara at the time) as it was the first season in history, and also the first season in Liga I. The team finished 14th, and was able to play for the next season of Liga I only after a play-off against Gloria Buzău.

In the 2003/2004 season we see a more mature Poli, learning from last season`s mistakes, finishing an honorable 8th place.

The 2004/2005 campaign had been dramatic for the team, as they desperately struggled in the first half of the season and looked set for relegation at the winter break. However, the arrival of BKP was decisive, as the new sponsor did not shy away from investing in the team. After acquiring Romanian internationals as well as a few other players from FC Naţional Bucureşti, including their coach at that time, Cosmin Olăroiu, Poli gently slid upwards in the table. Far from being relegated, the club finished 6th after an excellent second half season.

The club's strong finish that season, the new players that arrived, and the good practice match results in the preseason campaign has ensured that Poli was expected to do very well in the 2005/2006 Divizia A season, perhaps even challenge the big Bucharest teams. However, the rather poor start of the season led to the sacking of Cosmin Olăroiu after the 12th match day. Romanian football legend Gheorghe Hagi took over, finally returning to Romanian football after 15 years. His stay too ended abruptly after only six months, when he resigned following a series of bad results. His place was taken by second in command, Iosif Rotariu, for the remaining of that season.

2006/2007 started off on the same mediocre note, but the team stayed around the first five places in the league for most of the season. As a consequence of the club board's dissatisfaction, the team had no less than four managers through the year. Sorin Cîrţu had been appointed just before the season began. Cîrţu only lasted a couple of weeks on the team's bench. He was subsequently replaced by Alin Artimon but despite some good results, the young manager folded under the pressure and resigned. Second team manager Iosif Rotariu was in charge of the team for a short while, before Artimon's and Hagi's assistant manager, Valentin Velcea was appointed manager until the end of the season. He achieved some good results in the league and qualified for the Romanian Cup final but the team's bad performances at the end of the season and the 0-2 loss against Rapid in the RC final, at the Dan Păltinişanu Stadium, left the fans dissatisfied by what had generally been another season of mediocrity.

It had been rumored for several months before Dušan Uhrin, Jr.. was officially announced as the next Poli manager, that he would be the one for whom expectations would be made for 2007/2008. He took over a weakened team but by the end of 2007 the team was lying third in the standings with 32 points and has an average of over two goals scored per match. However, Poli's defensive record was much worse than it had been in previous years and it seemed that this was the team's most significant weakness that had to be tended to.

Poli ended the season in sixth position, which ensured them qualification to the UEFA Cup, because the Romanian Cup final was played between CFR Cluj (league Champions and qualified for the UEFA Champions League) and Unirea Urziceni (who finished fifth in the standings). It is the first time in sixteen years that a team from Timişoara achieves European qualification. Moreover, for the first time in over three decades, a team outside of Bucharest managed not to lose in either encounter with Dinamo Bucharest, Rapid Bucharest or Steaua Bucharest.

On the March 17, 2007, ten thousand fans marched from the club stadium to the city center, protesting against the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which deemed that FC Timişoara was not allowed to use the club name, colours, emblem and insignias of FC Politehnica Timişoara any longer, as they belonged to the club owned by Claudio Zambon. His team currently plays in a small town next to Bucharest, in the Romanian fourth league.

The supporters wrote a manifest which they sent to several major newspapers around the world. The manifest was quickly translated in five languages: English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. Moreover, the fans spread out fliers through Timişoara, posting the manifest all over the city in just a few hours. Subsequently, over 20,000 people came to watch the match against Politehnica Iaşi which took place that Saturday. Despite the defeat (0-1), over half the number marched peacefully to the town center, where they stayed for several hours, chanting for their team and listening to speeches made by the local authorities, former players and the leaders of the supporter groups.

After the club was docked six points in early September 2008 for not fully complying with the CAS decision, the fans took to the streets in a spontaneous protest on the 4th of September. After blocking one of the main roads into Timisoara, from where they were dispersed by local police through the use of tear gas, the over one thousand supporters marched towards the city center. On the way their numbers increased to five thousand and after reaching their destination, they chanted in support for Poli and against the Romanian Football Federation, who they blamed not only for the lost points, but for the part they played in disowning FC Timișoara of their club records.

Key Player:

Costel Pantilimon

Costel Fane Pantilimon (born February 1, 1987 in Bacău) is a Romanian football player, currently under contract at FC Timişoara. The two meters tall goalkeeper started his career at Aerostar Bacău and got his share of limelight at the U19 National team.

After his debut in the Romanian Liga 1 against Dinamo Bucharest, in March 2007, rumors surfaced that he is being monitored by scouts of Manchester United[1]. Also, in November 2008, FC Timișoara owner Marian Iancu announced that there was a four million Euro offer for the goalkeeper and Romanian media sources reporter Inter Milan is the team to have take up an interest in the player.[2]

Pantilimon is a former U21 International. He made his debut for the Senior National side on the 19th of November, in a friendly against Georgia. He played for 47 minutes.

I would highly recommend holding onto this guy as he has a PA of

and is potentially a good player.

This is a great team to manage because of its short controversial history. Also the club have never won anything so it’s up to you to change that. Good luck

Please may a mod fix the images as I can't see a reason why they aren't working, thanks!

Fixed, nice OP.

Nice , OP ! its funny i struggled beat these in uefa cup qualifying

Thanks a lot HoPeY. It's nice to see you struggled to beat them Wilson7, indicates that they could be made into a great team!

Thanks a lot HoPeY. It's nice to see you struggled to beat them Wilson7, indicates that they could be made into a great team!

i drew 1-1 at there place and 1-0 at mine , playing as udinese to lol

Good OP mate, well done.

Thanks Purefun. Also some of the credit needs to go to Acid Burn because he was the one who gave me the idea to start this thread.

i drew 1-1 at there place and 1-0 at mine , playing as udinese to lol

Do you feel like having a go managing them?

A thumbs down next to a thumbs up, never seen that before

Good OP mate

Average Ticket Price: 2 pounds

Average Season Ticket Price:55 pounds

Blimey!

Wish I lived in Romania I have to pay £20 just to watch Hull play. I could watch 10 Poli matches for that price

I may actually start as these.

Yes! Thanks Teezy. I also have started as Poli. Beware though, you have to sell quite a lot of players because like other foreign leagues there 2nd team has around 40 players in

So I had a little test with them to see what players to buy and which players to sell. I reccomend selling all the players in the reserves and youth team but only 4 at a time or the harmony just dissapears from the first team. Some of the first team regulars can be sold for good prices so if you see any of them with wanted signs next to them offer them to clubs for double there value. As for buying the areas that need improvement are GK, DR, MR, ML. Don't buy a really good keeper as Costel Pantilimon has a potential of

and needs first team experience now and again. At right back try buying Cojoc as he is cheap, young and is very solid. Same with the ML slot. Try Constantin Gangioveanu for U Craivoa. He lacks some mental stats but they will devolop as he becomes older and I think you will be blown away by his technical stats.

Sorry for the triple post but I need to get this thread seen again Anyone want to try a game with Poli?