[FM18] Dragan my feet through the Balkans: A Kosovan Youth Challenge

[shaunvamos]

3 hours ago, RioImmagina said:

I had the same issue with my Far Oer save.

If you want to keep up your league ranking, you have to put money in your league: select 2/3 teams that are capable to go on in EL, and buy their worst youngster at a very very big price (1M each). They will have a lot of money and maybe they will compete.

See the problem with that is it kinda goes against the rules of my save, which is to buy no players. I don't mind carrying the majority of the coefficient, and it's not like these clubs have no money, they get nearly a million in tv money which is a fair amount at our level. I just don't like how the coefficient points work, like I got more points for finishing 3rd in a Europa group than I did coming last in a Champions League group. I understand that it's based in wins and losses, but theoretically you should get more points for qualifying for a better competition. For example in tennis you can finish runner up in a small tournament and get 125 points, yet if you make the last 16 at a grand slam you get 180. Didn't progress as far, but you were against stronger competition. I feel that that doesn't really get taken into account in football.

[Timetxu]

3 minutes ago, shaunvamos said:

See the problem with that is it kinda goes against the rules of my save, which is to buy no players. I don't mind carrying the majority of the coefficient, and it's not like these clubs have no money, they get nearly a million in tv money which is a fair amount at our level. I just don't like how the coefficient points work, like I got more points for finishing 3rd in a Europa group than I did coming last in a Champions League group. I understand that it's based in wins and losses, but theoretically you should get more points for qualifying for a better competition. For example in tennis you can finish runner up in a small tournament and get 125 points, yet if you make the last 16 at a grand slam you get 180. Didn't progress as far, but you were against stronger competition. I feel that that doesn't really get taken into account in football.

Actually, to level that out, all clubs who reach the CL group phase gain an additional 4 coefficient points on top of their group results. In the EL group stage you get 0, unless you didn't win any games, then they'll give you a minimum of 2 points. So it is in some way levelled out.

[shaunvamos]

13 minutes ago, Timetxu said:

Actually, to level that out, all clubs who reach the CL group phase gain an additional 4 coefficient points on top of their group results. In the EL group stage you get 0, unless you didn't win any games, then they'll give you a minimum of 2 points. So it is in some way levelled out.

Oh right that's cool didn't know that, I guess ours were a bit lopsided because we had some success in the Europa compared to the CL.

[shaunvamos]

2026/27 Season Review

More of the same this season from us. Undefeated domestically for 87 games now, hopefully we can crack the century.

 

Key Players

Very consistent season from Nadj which sees him appear on our honour roll for the first time. He's a pretty solid left back and is our first choice for Montenegro.

 

Solid season of goalscoring, he now has a club record 115 goals.

 

Missed a bit of the season out injured but still managed to score and assist.

 

Other News

Grbalj: lost 4-0 to Olympiakos (GRE) in the CL Best Placed QR 2. Then beat Midtjylland (DEN) 3-2, before losing to Genk (BLG) 3-0 in the EL 4th QR.

Petrovac: lost 5-1 to Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS) in the EL 3rd QR.

Decic: lost 4-1 to APOEL (CYP) in the EL 2nd QR.

Rudar Pljevlja: lost 3-1 to Lech Poznan (POL) in the EL 2nd QR.

No wonder we lose coefficient points when everyone else doesn't win games.

 

 

Despite this we are still trending upward in everything. 

 

 

[shaunvamos]

Should be an easy task.

[shaunvamos]

Routine performances.

 

An interesting opponent from the Serbian league, they are the first team in 29 years not named Red Star or Partizan to become Serbian Champions. 

[shaunvamos]

This was much more comprehensive than I thought it would be, into European competition once more.

 

I honestly don't see how we can lose this one.

[shaunvamos]

Three easy rounds see us into the CL groups for the 3rd year in a row. Watch us get a ridiculous group again though. 

 

 

 

Now hold on. 

That is probably the easiest group of the 8! Was freaking out a little bit during the last 3 draws, because drawing Madrid and Juventus or Bayern, City and Inter pretty much spells doom. But Besiktas and Zenit are definitely beatable, and Chelsea we could push.

[shaunvamos]

A pretty poor start, but we followed it up with some solid results. Was it enough?

 

 

 

Yes!

We secured qualification for a major tournament for the second time in a row, I think this is definitely a golden period for the national team.

[shaunvamos]

 

We got our first wins in Champions League football, but we narrowly missed out on progressing. That being said, we are into the Europa League knockouts again which is a great opportunity to increase our coefficient.

[shaunvamos]

The streak is over, but at least we cracked the ton.

[shaunvamos]

 

WHY??!!??!!??

Seriously out of all the teams we could've gotten.

[shaunvamos]

Should be 2nd comfortably here.

[andychar]

Impressive work with Montenegro back to back major tournaments.

I was going to comment on how you were gonna crack the 100% league season...but never mind.

It must be hard work when the rest of the league is constantly letting you down.

[shaunvamos]

3 hours ago, andychar said:

Impressive work with Montenegro back to back major tournaments.

I was going to comment on how you were gonna crack the 100% league season...but never mind.

It must be hard work when the rest of the league is constantly letting you down.

Thanks, was a long time coming that's for sure.

yeah we managed to do it twice, but not 3 in a row. But unbeaten seasons aren't a priority as long as we are top of the pile come seasons end.

Its definitely frustrating for sure as it puts more pressure on our team to do well and pick up the slack and when we don't do well in Europe our coefficient suffers as a result.

[shaunvamos]

Well, at least we won the away leg, and with 9 men at that.

[shaunvamos]

2028 Youth Intake

On paper, this is an amazing intake. Off paper, this is even better than I could've imagined. 3 prospects rated with 4.5* PA or above, although half the tagged ones are strikers, but that isn't really an issue.

 

This kid is amazing, and I already know he has a bright future. Why? I'll show you.

This is the first ever generational talent I've gotten in any edition of the game. The one negative I would say is his personality, but luckily i have someone in that position who has a fairly determined personality. Just looking at him makes me want to sign a 20 year contract on the spot.

 

Another exciting prospect, and with a great personality to boot.

 

With that trait he'll make a good box to box midfielder. 

[shaunvamos]

Not a great group. Could get something from Ukraine, but that's about it.

[shaunvamos]

2027/28 Season Review

 

Pretty standard again, I do like the look of Grbalj though, some of their regens are in the national team so clearly they're doing something right.

 

Key Players

Broke all sorts of records this year, including most PoM awards and highest league rating. Also picked up league PotY, Golden Boot and Young PotY. 80 league goals in 141 league appearances. At only 21!

 

Filip dropped out of the first team a couple seasons ago but came back in a big way this season, scoring 26 goals across all competitions. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to warrant selection for EURO 2028, but if he keeps this up I'll have no choice but to pick him.

 

Missed most of last season through injury but it obviously didn't change the way he played, and was again one of our biggest contributors. He's got another season or 2 on top before our RW prospects begin to overtake him I think.

 

Other News

14 of our players were selected in the 23 man squad for the upcoming EURO tournament.

Mornar Bar: lost 3-0 to Newcastle (ENG) in the EL 3rd QR.

Petrovac: lost 3-1 to Craiova (ROM) in the EL 2nd QR.

Rudar: beat NSI (FAR) 6-0 and Lechia (POL) 3-1 before losing to Partizan (SRB) 3-1 in the EL 3rd QR. But they won the home leg. Also came 7th in the league so no repeat for them.

The aim for next season is either lose in the CL qualifying rounds but get into the Europa groups and do well there and boost the coefficient, or make the CL groups and hope we get a nice draw.

 

 

[shaunvamos]

Demoted to the 1st qualifying round, so we will take out our anger on Gibraltar.

[shaunvamos]

 

Not too disappointed, as there was no way we'd get much from this group. I forgot to do a squad report but I'll make sure to do that for the next one.

Couple interesting results too, as well as absences. Macedonia reached the last 16, beating Germany (!) to get there, who didn't even progress, even though 3 in their group qualified. Portugal also missed out coming last. Macedonia then went to push winners Spain to extra time despite having no good players whatsoever. There's always one of those stories I guess. In this case there were 3 as Greece and Romania reached the last 8, with Greece recording an impressive win over Belgium.

[shaunvamos]

Whoa, brutal. I mean I didn't manage to get Montenegro to qualify for back to back major tournaments, their first ever major tournaments, the highest ever ranking, and oversee a golden period in Montenegrin football. Oh wait. Yes I did. Let's see how the next one goes.

[shaunvamos]

Certainly angry enough at home, winning 15-0. Terzic scored 5 in the space of 15 minutes which is crazy. 

 

Played them at the beginning of the save 11 years ago, and lost 4-2 over 2 legs. Will be interesting to see the difference this time.

[shaunvamos]

Easy.

 

Played 4, won 2, drawn 1. Played them in the Europa League groups 5 years ago and beat them 5-0.

[andychar]

That's a really harsh sacking!

Would you go back if the chance came about?

[shaunvamos]

European group stages secured once again.

 

Doesn't bother me if we win or lose this one.

[shaunvamos]

1 minute ago, andychar said:

That's a really harsh sacking!

Would you go back if the chance came about?

Oh yeah, completely unexpected, but I absolutely would go back and finish what I helped create.

[shaunvamos]

Meh. We held them to 3-2 being down 10 men for 75 minutes. As I said previously, not too bothered we lost as coefficient points will be gained easier from Europa.

 

Can definitely qualify from this one!

[shaunvamos]

 

Didn't top the group, but easily through nevertheless.

 

This is an okay draw, we haven't lost to them in two games.

[shaunvamos]

We did it! and my god was it nervy. Mrdja managed to save an 85th minute penalty that would've seen Sevilla through.

 

Reasonable draw, better than Sevilla I think.

[shaunvamos]

2029 Intake Day

Another decent intake, with a 5* prospect and a driven 4.5*!

 

He looks good. Real good. I'll retrain him at CM, but those amazing attributes! Wow.

 

Nothing really jumps out at me here, but that personality should sort him out.

 

Will need tutoring. 

[shaunvamos]

So I've decided to give a bit of a 'Where Are They Now' segment for the top 3 players from my youth intake after 10 years in the game. Because I'm 12 years in I'll be doing the class of 2018 and 2019 in this post, and considering I haven't really been following their careers I'm interested to see where they ended up!

 

Class of 2018

Milorad Martinovic 1A

 

The top prospect from 2018 is still with us, and has become something of a staple for us over the last 5 or so seasons. He's become our captain too!

 

 

Nenad Svitic 1B

 

It may have been a mistake on my part to release this guy, as he turned out to have a moderately successful career in the Montenegrin leagues and developed nicely. I even remember him in some of my national squads, although he never got a game. He's wanted by Petrovac, another top division team.

 

 

Aleksa Starcevic 1C

 

Well, we all know who this is. It's incredible to see the difference in attributes over the 10 years, and for a while was at 4* so he exceeded his PA. Been great in the midfield since he's been here.

 

[shaunvamos]

Class of 2019

Srecko Subert 2A

 

He was amazing when we first got him. Unfortunately he didn't develop as much as I'd hoped, but he was still far and away the best player at the club for a long time! Injury probably resulted in a decline of some of those attributes, especially a broken leg 3 seasons ago, but he's still one of the best players we've ever had. A true club legend. With half a century of international appearances too. 

 

Dejan Blagojevic 2B

 

 

Another amazing story of development within our club. His attributes improved put of sight, and has been a regular for us over the last 5/6 seasons, and a decent international career too.

 

Milutin Boskovic 2C

 

 

Can't find him so he's obviously retired. Didn't play a senior game for us and was released upon his youth contract expiry.

[Sheriff7]

What the fu@@k why they sack you,they are stupid???Your results were amazing both for club and national team

[funkybike1]

Things like this are why I hate international management. I've been sacked right after losing the World Cup final on penalties.

[BoxToBox]

Terrible sacking, daft.

[shaunvamos]

10 hours ago, Sheriff7 said:

What the fu@@k why they sack you,they are stupid???Your results were amazing both for club and national team

That's exactly my reaction! Wish the board saw that though!

 

8 hours ago, funkybike1 said:

Things like this are why I hate international management. I've been sacked right after losing the World Cup final on penalties.

Really? That's ridiculous! I've never heard of that before, who were you managing?

 

 

4 hours ago, BoxToBox said:

Terrible sacking, daft.

 

Still can't believe it to be honest.

[shaunvamos]

So, so close again at this stage, but not too disappointed.

[funkybike1]

22 hours ago, shaunvamos said:

Really? That's ridiculous! I've never heard of that before, who were you managing?

Spain, albeit a Spain that had been knocked out in groups four and eight years prior so expectations shouldn't have been that high.

[shaunvamos]

2028/29 Season Review

Cracked 100 points for the first time, and doubled almost everyone's scoring tally. 

 

Key Players

 

 

Came off the bench a fair bit, but still scored 15 and a team high 28 assists.

 

Gudovic appears here for the first time in his career, and deserves it with a breakout season.

 

Ferocious goal scoring from Nenad. He's cracked 100 league goals too.

 

Other News

Grbalj: beat IF (ISL) 7-1 and Omonia (CYP) 4-1 before losing 6-1 to Wolfsburg (GER) in the EL 3rd QR.

Zeta: beat Laci (ALB) 6-0 and Lech Poznan (POL) 2-0 before losing 2-0 to Aberdeen (SCO) in the EL 3rd QR.

Decic: Lost 3-0 to Maccabi Haifa (ISR) in the EL 2nd QR.

 

To rub salt in my wounds, the national team has not lost a game since I was sacked. topping their Div C group in the Euro League and defeating Slovakia 4-0 in the WCQ.

 

Still on the decline.

 

 

[shaunvamos]

Easy.

[shaunvamos]

 

Standard.

 

 

We've only played them in friendlies, and the last one was 10 years ago where we won 5-2.

[shaunvamos]

 

Comfortable once more.

 

Only played them once, in 2018 and lost 2-1. 

[shaunvamos]

 

A bit easier than I expected, smashed them at home, and through to the group stage once more.

 

I can't see us losing this one.

[shaunvamos]

Through to the groups again! Bottled the away leg though, losing the 3-0 lead despite going up within 20 minutes.

 

 

Hmm. Not the greatest of draws here, but we could push Shakhtar.

[shaunvamos]

 

We did everything right to progress, but then Shakhtar spoiled our party. They beat Dortmund 3-2 to jump us and all we needed was a draw in Germany but not to be. We did take the lead in our first two games so there is positivity there, we just need to work on closing out those games.

[shaunvamos]

2030 Youth Intake Day

 

Pretty international intake, with 4 different nationalities and a few different second nationalities. I think the Italian comes from the fact that most of my scouting team is Italian and the Chinaman comes from our affiliate in China. I've been a bit more aggressive when it comes to tagging players too, only players above 3.5* now.

 

Got a good base stats wise, if he can grow into his potential he'll be great.

 

A good personality but we have far too many strikers.

 

Tall and good technical stats.

[shaunvamos]

Class of 2020: Where are they now?

 

This wasn't a great intake from memory, and here's why.

 

Goran Milovanovic 3A

The top pick from our 3rd intake didn't do much for us, and has become a bit of a journeyman.

 

Ugljesa Milosavljevic 3B

 

 

Was nothing for us, but Decic saw something in him, buying him twice. 

 

 

Anes Mehanovic 3C

 

 

Had a bit of a career as a fringe player for us before moving on.

[shaunvamos]

 

 

I guess you could say we have great youths. We DOMINATED teams and the games weren't short of entertainment. We beat the Champions of the last 6 Youth Leagues, Dortmund, 12-6 on aggregate before going on to have a knockout aggregate of 23-2. 

 

Our pick of the players, scored 22 goals in the competition, with an average rating of 9.18!

[shaunvamos]

2029/30 Season Review

Another year, another dominant domestic display. Our U19s scored a whopping 166 goals at an average of 4.61 a game. 

 

Key Players

Was once more our best player this season, this was his best effort yet!

 

More of the same.

 

Pretty sure this is his first appearance on this list, but Goran had a career making season on the wing.

 

Other News

Grbalj: beat Kukesi (ALB) 6-0 and Slavia Praha on penalties before losing to Olympiakos 5-0 in the last EL QR. Impressive run.

Mornar Bar: beat Sioni (GEO) 6-1 before losing 3-2 to AIK (SWE) in the EL 2nd QR.

Decic: beat Kauno (LTU) 4-0 before losing 2-1 to Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) in the EL 2nd QR.

 

Montenegro didn't qualify for the World Cup. But did the board fire him? Noooooooooo.

 

 

Yay!