Northernpilgrim Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 As previously stated, if the trophies aren't won in the specified timeframes, the save continues, but the challenge is over. I would then be free (and probably looking, unless Derby looked like winning the league the next season for example), to move wherever I wanted. I hope to succeed, of course, but I have enjoyed the experience of doing this challenge. This will be my last save before FM13. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 18, 2012 Author Share Posted August 18, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 Results for 2017 for my England U21 team Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 And the table so far in qualifying for Euro 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 The U21s are doing well! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 Euro 2019 qualification is shaping up nicely. Only the group winners go through, and with 3 games to play including a home tie with Serbia, it's very definitely ours to throw away. The squad is getting stronger and better with every game, and I'm optimistic that we can do well again. Qualification will be assured with victory at home to Serbia, then we can concentrate on preparing for the tournament. Not sure how long I plan on staying, as it's not looking likely that the club side of the challenge will continue beyond the Derby years, I just can't get them high enough up the league to mount a challenge. If I don't, I'd like to take on either the nation of my birth (England), or my ancestors home nation (Rep of Ireland). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 A tough start And it's starting to look like a long, hard season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 Why oh why can't I reproduce the form of my U21s with Derby? The U21 squad is good, but not THAT good. Balotelli is starting to look like a waste of time and money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRL88 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Very slow start to the season with Derby. Hopefully things pick up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron6632 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Looks like you are starting to pick up form. Tough result against Norwich. Huge game next against Huddersfield. KUTGW Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashton321 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Just reading through this good idea. How great would have been though if Clough actually did go to manage in Brazil, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 Agreed, SRL, it's a very slow, disappointing start to the season. I'd hoped that the overhaul would have produced some results, but even with the increased wage budget, it's still well below what the teams challenging for the European spots are spending, and we're no longer over-achieving as we did in my first season or so. Life with the U21s is working nicely, and I'm surely making a case to be considered for the senior role. It's looking very unlikely, with 2 seasons to go after this one, that I'll achieve what Cloughie did at Derby, but that in a way was the point, to find out just how difficult that was. How he never got either the England job, or one of the top jobs in England or abroad, is beyond me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Terrible Norwich result. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 Yeah, the Norwich result was disappointing to say the least. The Sunderland result was just as disappointing as we lost an equaliser fairly late on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iHeadHunta x Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Don't worry, football can change at any time! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 A majorly disappointing run between Dec 2017 and Mar 2018 leaves us on the edge of the relegation zone. Going down would spell the end of the challenge. And the table to prove it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 You're still alive in the league. Only a few matches left to go! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 The final league table 2017/18. Survival achieved, but only just And the results that achieved it:- Aston Villa (a) L0-2 Huddersfield (h) W1-0 Swansea (a) D1-1 Wolves (h) W2-0 West Ham (h) W2-1 Man City (a) L1-2 Arsenal (h) D2-2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRL88 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Well done on turning it around after a horrible run of form. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 Cheers cerud, but as I now have only 78 games left, that means I HAVE to win the League this season, so that I can achieve the European Cup Semi Final too. That looks very unlikely, but I'm going to scour Europe for expiring contracts to replace the current squad. Expect a major upheaval again this time, in one last desperate attempt to pull off the impossible. If I don't succeeed I will be off in the summer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 That would be some ask. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 If I put my current squad up, as it stands in early July, you'd realise just HOW big! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Congrats on staying up! At least your career as you want it will continue Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 The challenge as it originally stood is over. I received the following offer, which given the severe restrictions at Derby, was just too good to turn down. I realise there will be some who are disappointed, and feel that I have betrayed the career thread, but I was finding it increasingly difficult to continue, and felt that now was the right time to give it up and move on. I am remaining as manager of England U21s. I genuinely don't know what's going to happen in the thread next, but I'm looking forward to my new challenge in Spain Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 And hot on the heels of my appointment in Spain, a top level national job, and one that Brian Clough himself was linked to:- [video=youtube;gtCOprRDUm8] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 You kept up the challenge for quite a while. Your career, your decision Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 Thanks Cerud. The Welsh job is very interesting, as they're currently ranked in the top 16 in the world, and should therefore expect to qualify for tournaments. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 Simply amazing start at Malaga. Win in Europe (3-1) away at Stade Malherbe Caen, followed by THIS in the League Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Barcelona who? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 They've won 5 of the last 6 La Liga titles, 8 of the last 10, but last season was one they didn't. They came second. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 A decent enough start to my career in Spain Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 And things have gone nicely with Wales, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 An ok but not spectacular Nov-Jan period Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 And an annoying inconsistency that saw the title slip away between February and May Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 The league table on 6th May, which shows Champions League football has been secured. I'm relieved, given that my predecessor was sacked for 'only' making the Europa League. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 I'm looking to close the season out with 2 more wins, as the recent upturn in form leads me to the conclusion that that is what should be achievable. I'm looking at minor surgery over the summer, with only one or two players in, and a similar number out. I desperately need to solve the problem of an over reliance on Joaquin Ibanez though, as he's bagged more than 60 goals in all competitions this season so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 And if he'd played anywhere near all season, he'd have had that many in the league alone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 What has the man got to do to get a Spain cap? Change his name to Fernando Torres? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenzar Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 That's a very odd Euros Qualifying group. Who the hell were the First and Second seeds? The whole group is full of second rate teams. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 My very own Wales are 1st seeds, as we were ranked 16th in the world when I took over, and I've taken them to the giddy heights of 10th. Not sure about the second seeds though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 4 points from the last 2 matches leaves us solidly in the 4th Champions League spot. But will I still be there to take them back into Europe's top competition? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 And a trophy in the cabinet after a fabulous final win Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 The move is confirmed, to Serie A Champions Fiorentina. One that fell into the category of 'too good to turn down'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Jumping ship everytime eh Good luck with Fiorentina! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 Not really jumping ship 'every time'. The point of the challenge was to try and replicate Cloughie's achievements at the same clubs, and to move when this had been done or no longer could be. I achieved way more than him at Hartlepool (and they're still a Championship side, so it wasn't built on sand), then moved on to Derby, where I would have had to win the league the season I left, which was never going to happen due to the finances. I then took England U21s to a European Final, before being offered a promotion to a top national job. The move to Malaga proved successful, but again their finances were shocking, so beating the big 2 was never on the cards. I've always fancied a crack at Italy, and when the Italian champions came calling, it was too good to say no. That said, their finances are bad too. What is it with me and clubs with no money? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 I've just checked out HOW BAD. I haven't made any signings in or out, and the bank balance is (£26,602,064). This despite being £170k below the wage budget. Some catastrophic decisions must have been made by my predecessor, and the squad is hardly full of household international names. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Horrid Champions League draw for us. Current Champions are Lyon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 How come we get 2 European heavyweights, whereas Man Utd and Athletico Madrid get groups they would have chosen themselves? Particularly galling as Fiorentina won Serie A, Man Utd came 3rd in the EPL. I'd be happy with their group. At least Atletico Madrid won La Liga. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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