DodgeeD Posted July 30, 2017 Author Share Posted July 30, 2017 On 11.07.2017 at 00:53, Nobby_McDonald said: Breezing it. Hopefully that will still be the case when I dust off the game for my first post-hols play session tonight! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raware Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Looks like you've had no problems settling into life at Monaco! I'm sure tax reasons have nothing to do with it... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted August 5, 2017 Author Share Posted August 5, 2017 On 31.07.2017 at 20:44, Raware said: Looks like you've had no problems settling into life at Monaco! I'm sure tax reasons have nothing to do with it... Indeed, the job is not very taxing so far... Though it will get tougher when the Champions League resumes in February: They say there are no easy games at this level... ...but we could have had Basel! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 Or West Ham, and they drew each other. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 For what seemed like forever he drifted. Shapes moved in the darkness, close but always out of reach. Murmurs and mumbles lapped at his ears like a dying tide. Faces blurred into focus, hanging before him, staring, and disappearing. Tsafi. Sally. Lee Ki-Wong. Joe Tomlinson. Rendon. Roxanne. Mbah. Roxanne. Mbah. He pulled away in the darkness, trying to run but not able to move. A blue light with a red, almost ginger, hue called to him. He moved closer and the light came into focus. A young man, impeccably ironed blue shirt, ginger croptop, and a gleaming iPad stood there. He looked up from the iPad and in a voice almost too enthusiastic to be real launched into talk of overview screens and 'clubs in real life...' Their gazes met. "There's a whole world of NEW features right here... but not for YOU. You need to go BACK to the South of FRANCE and finish YOUR conquest of EUROPE to COMplete the HEXaGON challenge." With those words, the bright colours faded once again and he began falling faster and faster, down and down. The faces, the shapes, the mumbles all whizzed by at breakneck speed. *** A sharp intake of breath filled his lungs. His eyes opened. Nothing but darkness. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 He tried to move. His head throbbed and pain coursed through his body. This was no hangover. He felt more like he had been trampled by an elephant. He lay there for a while as his eyes slowly adjusted. He was in a bedroom, a hotel room most likely but he had no idea where. The curtains flapped gently and a whiff of humid summer air entered the room. He slowly lifted up his left hand, his arm trembling with the effort. Then, something moved. A shadow rose from a chair and a huge hulking silhouette towered over him. A hand reached out and grabbed his arm, his bicep, tightly. "Boss?" said a voice. Mbah. Mbah. Mbah! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 He frantically tried to run, but the remembered he was lying down. He could not get up. His whole body ached. "Boss, boss!" called Mbah's voice. "It's me boss. I came to get you!" "Get and and kill me" he thought. He could not even speak. "Boss, calm down. We need to get this under control. You have the final tomorrow." The final? He stopped a moment as memories flickered into his mind. A final, yes. He had been there. Mbah had been there. But that final had already been played. "The final is over," he said hearing his own voice rasp like a veteran WWE star giving a promo on that one last run. "The final, you were there, Nigeria... Ivory... Coast... we... we..." "Boss?" said Mbah sounding genuinely puzzled. "What's the last thing you remember?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 2048 Africa Cup of Nations Holders: Ivory Coast Hosts: Ivory Coast One year on from Asian Cup glory with South Korea, here was a chance at finally getting my hands on the Cup of Nations. I had taken DR Congo to the final before of course and this was (probably) the last chance to win this one. A kind group draw had pitted us against the three Ms - Morocco, Mali, and Mozambique. The FA expected the table to read NMMM - could we deliver? We started with a tight tense match against Morocco and ground out a 1-0 win, doing just what was needed. Two easy wins over Mali and Mozambique followed as we topped the group with ease. Elsewhere, Egypt were the main big name to fall but they were mitigated by being in the same group as Ghana and Tunisia, two teams who would play a part in our knockout rounds: The Tunisia game may seem close from the scoreline but we dominated, only slipping up to let our opponents score a consolation in the final minute. I would inevitably meet one of my former African charges in the semis and it turned out to be hosts and holders Ivory Coast. We were in full stride by this point though and won with ease, scoring first anfter just two minutes and adding the second with two minutes to go. A final, but not the final Mbah was referring to, with Ghana awaited... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 2048 Africa Cup of Nations Final Nigeria v. Ghana Mbah that day was truly... The Man CIty striker, who had so brutally ground my South Korea side into the ground with his heel at the 2046 World Cup, now showed a new face as he did the business for Nigeria in a one-sided final. Everything clicked, Ghana didn't stand a chance and I got to add another international championship to the collection. The joy, the celebration, the glory... I had warmed to Mbah during that tournament. The Giant who bullied my South Korean defence had put in a Big Show when it counted and shown his lovable side. ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 A smile flickered over Mbah's face. "That was some match boss," he grinned... but the grin soon turned to a frown. "Boss, that was February 7th, 2049, Nigeria's New National Day... is that really the last thing you remember?" He struggled to reach into the recesses of his battered brain. The final, being bounced up and down by the team on the Abidjan Community Stadium field, the sparkling wine and Castel Beer in the dressing room, and then... nothing. "Mbah, what's the date?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 He could barely believe he had such a huge gap in his memory. He was about to ask Mbah which final he was talking about when the fearless forward asked "Why did you leave boss?" Leave? Oh, yes. he remembered now. "Bayern Munich," he stammered, his brain aching with the effort of answering. "I had to lead Monaco against Bayern in the Champions League on February.... February.. 9th!" Just two days later. Wow. He had flown straight from Abdijan to Munich to meet up with the Monaco squad, looking for a positive result in their toughest match to date: So close, so close... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 "No, boss, that's not what I mean," Mbah said despondently. "Of course, you had to leave for the match. We all knew that, but I wanted to ask why you had left..." More memories came back. The press back in Monaco had slaughtered him after that match. More interested in international glory, they had said. Swanning about in the Ivory Coast instead of getting his team ready for the big match, they had said. Club and country can't go on, they had said. He had been tempted by one more World Cup but that was two and a half years away, and so: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 "Still not what I meant boss," said Mbah. "Managers always leave after winning an international tournament. It's only when they get knocked out in the second round that they desperately try to cling on to their job. I thought as an Englishman you would know that." Mbah, as blunt as he was brutal. "I mean the call boss. We were all celebrating the Afcon win, getting ready to board the presedential plane back to Lagos. You got a phone call and suddenly left." Flickers of memory came back like shards. The sticky humidity of Abdijan Airport, a buzz in his pocket. That number. "Was it her, boss?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 Roxanne. She had resurfaced just prior to Afcon at the Monte Carlo casino. They hadn't spoken, he wasn't even sure she had seen him until he found all his old photos deleted. Those memories and assumptions of Thailand, the years in Lebanon all lost. The match reports from Asante Kotoko, Seattle, and Once Caldas all lost (America in Mexico too but that was a period of career history best forgotten). Then the anonymous calls, no sound but the rattling of dice in a cup... He next thought he saw in her Monaco once again, a glimpse in the crowd at one of the biggest games of his storied career: Sure, they had won that night but his mind had been elsewhere much as it was after the African Cup of Nations triumph. She was coming for him. But how and when? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 "Why are you bored, though?" "What are you talking about?" "Just now, boss," said Mbah. "You mumbled 'bored, though'" A smile came across his face as another memory returned: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 Still not sure why he was incapacitated in a hotel room and what Mbah was doing there, at least he had started to remember more after the African Cup of Nations triumph. April 2049 was set to be a defining month: Already guaranteed Champions League football next season, three more Ligue 1 wins would bring home the French title. PSG would stand between Monaco and further domestic silverware in the Coupe de France semis and the Coupe de la Ligue final respectively, and Bordeaux would complete the French flavour for the month with a Champions League match up. Was it the Coupe de la Ligue final Mbah was talking about? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 The laughter bellowed out of Mbah's body. "Coupe de la Ligue?" he guffawed. "I didn't even know that was a thing. Did you win this prestigious final?" "I don't appreciate your sarcasm, but yes, I believe.... yes, I did." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 The Coupe de la Ligue was just the start of an impressive month of April: Villanueva was in such great form, he even got a 99 year-old Arsene Wenger out of hibernation for a media comment: May 2049 would see us aim for the Coupe de France, but it would be the Champions League that would take my full attention: The other semi was Porto v. Real Madrid Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 46 minutes ago, DodgeeD said: Villanueva was in such great form, he even got a 99 year-old Arsene Wenger out of hibernation for a media comment: He left Arsenal three years ago when he needed a hip replacement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 Champions League semi-finals coming up, potential final 5 weeks away and... Wenger jinxed him! This is the injury is such a blow: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Oof. What a horrid blow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 5 minutes ago, Deisler26 said: Oof. What a horrid blow Indeed... This guy is my back-up striker mind, and he's been chomping at the bit for more game time: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 "Anyway boss, it will be daylight soon. We have to go." "Wait a minute," came the croaky reply. "You still haven't told me anything about what's going on here. Where are we? What are you doing here? What final are you talking about?" "You called me boss," Mbah replied. "Don't you remember? Of course, you don't..." *** "Actually, I called you first, at least I tried to. I called to congratulate you on winning Ligue 1, I called to congratulate you on that massive win over Atletico... ...I couldn't get through either time. You finally picked up after the second leg. You were the talk of Europe. They finally got to see what the rest of the world already knew. I thought you'd be delighted about being so close to the Hexagon... ...but you were preoccupied on the phone. You kept saying someone was watching you, appearing in the stands at games, following you to the off licence... And you said something about a package with a red die in it. I thought you were going crazy like you did when Nigeria beat your South Korea side at the World Cup... and yesterday, you called me again... said she had followed you here to the hotel." "Which hotel? Where are we?" "Barcelona boss. For the Madrid match." He was puzzled for a moment. Why would he have come to El Clasico? But then it dawned on him - Barcelona, the Madrid match... The Champions League Final! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 The thought of it sent a rush of adrenaline through his body. He urged his limbs to finally respond and staggered to his feet. Mbah grabbed him (biceps once again) to keep him on his feet. "Let's get going then," he declared, the creaks and cracks splintering out of his voice. "I've got a Hexagon to complete." "What about her boss?" Mbah said, glancing back towards the bed. A familiar shape lay silhouetted in the semi-darkness of the room. Roxanne. He reached out his hand. She was cold to the touch... No, this could not be happening. Not here. Not today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 2049 UEFA Champions League Final Monaco v. Real Madrid Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona There he was, on the touchline of the Camp Nou. The Monaco players were going through the warm-up in an electric atmosphere - some cheeky local fans had even unveiled a Barca flag to antagonise their rivals and former countrymen. But he could not relax and enjoy the experience. He nervously looked at his watch - 20.40 local time. The train would not reach its destination for another two hours. He just hoped that the match would not go to extra time... It had been a whirlwind of events since pulling a FIFA and leaving the hotel under a towel. They had carried Roxanne's limp body into the back of a car and only then did they have time to even start to think about what to do. Mbah could not provide much information. He said he had received strange calls from the boss' number and then a text message giving the hotel and room number. When he arrived, Roxanne was laid out on the bed and boss was on the floor, a shattered vase on the floor around him. "I thought you had been attacked by cannibals, boss," he had said as they sped away. "Cannibals? Why would you think something like that?" "When you were passed out, boss, you kept repeating something about a guy called Joe and how he f**'in ate n' beat her." F**'in ate n' beat her? Joe? Ah, in his journey through the darkness he had seen visions of the FM18 Beta - Mbah didn't get what he was talking about. He wasn't sure that he did either... A plan was hatched and executed. They had dressed Roxanne up with shades and a big hat and put her in a secluded seat on the train to Prague. What could go wrong? The only hairy moment came when he arrived at the stadium and was immediately surrounded by reporters. "Can you confirm that you were at the train station with an old acquaintance today?" He had been ready to run for the hills when the next question came - "so, are you in talks to sign Mbah from Man City?" Phew - a smile and a 'no comment' sufficed. It was clear from the player's reactions that whether he remembered it or not, he had been around the previous day. Only the recently returned Villanueva was glaring at him, unhappy about the Mbah rumours no doubt (made even worse by the fact that the big striker was sitting in the stands for the game, just behind the Monaco dugout. "I have to be there, boss" he had said "to watch your back." But that all had to be pushed away from his thoughts now. There was a match about to start, a Champions League final no less. As had been announced earlier in the day, a match featuring three of the Best Players in Europe: Perth Glory in Asia. Asante Kotoko in Africa. Team Wellington in Oceania. Seattle Sounders in North America. San Lorenzo in South America. Could the final piece of the puzzle be put in place with Monaco in Europe? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 2049 UEFA Champions League Final Monaco v. Real Madrid Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona Everything was tense. This was it - the culmination of a globe-trotting career in pursuit of the fabled Hexagon. He had quietly collected continental trophies but it wasn't until he took San Lorenzo to the Copa Libertadores that the world seemed to take notice. "But can he do it on a warm summer's evening in Barcelona?" had been the question. And here he was, 10 months after coming to Europe ready to answer 'yes.' But his mind was also on her.. on the train... What had happened? He still had no idea - every time he saw a murky memory form, a shout from the crowd, or a match steward approaching chased it away. Just as a vision of the two of them entering the hotel room came to him, a roar erupted around the stadium. He looked up, startled, to see the Madrid players celebrating... Oh, no! A goal down and he had missed it. Things got worse as he saw Villaneuva down clutching his leg. If one thing had always rung true during his career though, it was that his teams had fight in them (except for America in Mexico, but we won't mention them!) With their star striker on the sidelines getting treatment, the Monaco players rallied and within moments of the restart had won a free kick in a dangerous position. A low ball was drilled into the area and Fontana was there to toe poke it in. 1-1! That spurred the team to life and Italian winger de Vitis soon showed everyone why he had been named Best Player in Europe, as he picked up the ball on the left, played a one-two with the hobbled Villaneuva and broke into the box. His shot was drilled low and hard to the bottom corner. 2-1! And that was not that for the first half. Just as the clock ticked towards the 45 minute mark, Villaneuva got the ball about 40 yards out. He took one touch and... BOOM! Surely, there would be no comeback for Madrid now. 3-1 to Monaco! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 2049 UEFA Champions League Final Monaco v. Real Madrid Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona Just before half-time is a great time to score because it gives the opposition manager very little time to prepare their team talk, so the old press conference saying goes. It made the Monaco manager's team talk simple as well. With the players on a high, a simple "don't get complacent" did the trick and he was able to slip away. Mbah was waiting outside the dressing rooms. "Going somewhere, boss?" he asked. "Just checking for updates," came the reply. "I'm surprised boss, that you've been able to get such a performance out of your side under such... circumstances." He had a strange look in his eye that reminded the boss of squats and bicep squeezes in his early days as Nigeria manager. "My boys know what they're doing," he stated, feeling some reassurance for the first time all day. "Now, get out of here before someone sees you." Mbah made his way back to the stands just as the referee came out ready to call both teams for the second half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 2049 UEFA Champions League Final Monaco v. Real Madrid Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona Real came out all guns blazing of course. They dominated the opening 15 minutes of the second half and it eventually paid off as second best player in Europe Juan Manuel pulled a goal back on 58 minutes. The Spanish side felt the surge of momentum... but this Monaco side were a cool bunch, bouyed by their manager's glob-trotting record. It took just eight passes for the ball to be drilled into the Madrid box once more, and this time it was holding midfielder Rodolfo who caught the opposition out with a rare and perfectly-timed run. One touch, one swing of the left foot, 4-2. The whole place was buzzing from that point on. The local fans loved seeing Real getting it handed to them, the neutrals loved the quality of play on offer, and the Monaco supporters were on cloud nine. The boss was buzzing too, quite literally it turned out, until he realised it was his phone. He looked at the text with disbelief. "What the hell have you done?" it read. "I'm gonna kill you for this!" He turned and ran. He was vaguely aware of Mbah desperately trying to vault the wall at the edge of the stand as he felt a huge blow to the back of his head. As he fell down, he heard a high-pitched noise... Ringing in his ears? His own shrill screams? No, as he rolled onto his back and saw the confetti streaming down, and the flashes popping, he realised it was the final whistle. He had done it. And back to the darkness. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 Finally! Only took me two and half years I will write up end of season and end of career reports over the next couple of days as well as the ending to my little dramatisation of events. For now though, FM18 is installed and waiting for me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Excellent end Dodgee. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 14, 2017 Author Share Posted November 14, 2017 7 hours ago, Nobby_McDonald said: Excellent end Dodgee. Cheers Nobby - round up to come when I can pull away from FM18 for long enough Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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