The Circle of Fitness Activists

[oriole01]

Stoke beating PSG and Everton beating Juve . Mental.

Great work in the EL so far, and I like your chances heading into the semis and final.

2 hours ago, noikeee said:

Uhhh... who exactly has he been hanging out with lately? This is ****. He's become "jovial".

That's definitely a girlfriend responsible for that.

[noikeee]

5 hours ago, oriole01 said:

That's definitely a girlfriend responsible for that.

I was thinking more along the lines of stoner slacker friends.

[noikeee]

UEFA Europa League semi-final - 1st leg

 

As we approached the club's first European semi-final since 1964, we started on the right foot. A cross was flicked by Szilvási's head, feeding Krastev YP18A for the first goal of the night, and then 5 minutes later a glorious first time throughball by Gladyshev released Szilvási free for the 2nd goal. We were 2-0 up after 16 minutes. We had a few more chances in this 1st half in which we were superior, but after the break I decided we needed to focus on maintaining this advantage and not conceding the away goal, and I made the unusual switch of taking the usual Control 4-3-3 wide and taming it down to Standard. It made for a boring 2nd half but it worked, we ran 2-0 winners and restricted Braga to mere long shots.

The final is so close now...

[noikeee]

UEFA Europa League semi-final - 2nd leg

 

The 2nd leg started much like the 1st: 2 MTK goals within the first few minutes. First Szilvási finished a Sáfar cross, then he flicked a cross with his head to a team-mate to finish just like he had done in the 1st leg, this time Viktor Babic passing it into the back of the net. We were well in control and as good as in the final already, but gradually Braga got back into the match - they reduced in a nice combination play after a set piece, and much later in the 2nd half, equalized in a counter. They deserved the 2-2 draw as they played much better than in Budapest, but it's MTK who are in the final!!

 

We're off to Birmingham to play Everton, who beat Stoke on penalties in the other semi-final. We'll effectively be the away side against a powerful Premiership team, but we certainly have a chance. Can we avenge the 1964 Cup Winners Cup final loss to Sporting, and win MTK's first European trophy?

[noikeee]

Meanwhile, our calendar for the remainder of the month of May:

I'm glad we currently have 33 players in the first team (I use 2 different 11s for Europe and for the league, plus a lot of youngsters who usually play permanently for MTK II and who I occasionally field in the cup).

[noikeee]

UEFA Euro 2024 - preliminary 30-man squad

 

Here's effectively all my trusted players, as there's no major injuries as of now... *knocks on wood*

7 more will have to be slashed off this list.

[Timetxu]

7 hours ago, noikeee said:

Meanwhile, our calendar for the remainder of the month of May:

I'm glad we currently have 33 players in the first team (I use 2 different 11s for Europe and for the league, plus a lot of youngsters who usually play permanently for MTK II and who I occasionally field in the cup).

One day off before a European cup final... I'm sure that, in real life, the Hungarian FA would be fined by UEFA or the players' union for not scheduling right. 

[Fer Fuchs Ake]

23 hours ago, noikeee said:

I was thinking more along the lines of stoner slacker friends.

[noikeee]

2023/2024 UEFA Europa League final - Villa Park, Birmingham - Everton v MTK - 1st half
 

Hello and welcome to MTK's 2nd ever Europa League final - facing Didier Deschamps' Everton, a team currently 8th place in the Premier League and built around 54M€-rated Dutch playmaker Frenkie de Jong. By contrast, apart from 22M€ signing Konstantin Gladyshev, the next highest valued player we have available for this game is worth just 1.4M€... but might just have as much of a punch. Let's look at the sides here:

 

Everton fields Diogo Jota despite the Portuguese forward being in severe need of a rest after a long season - he shall be in support of English U21 international Jason Beere, known to be lightning quick and a bit of a dribbling wizard. MTK start on full strenght, on the defensive 4-1-4-1 shape we sometimes favour in Europe, but can switch immediately to a much more adventurous Control 4-3-3 wide if necessary. The graphic above is incorrect because I will immediately swap Dimov and Babic on the wings.

Minute 6: It's a patient build-up for MTK... ball out wide for Babic on the left.... crosses it to the far post for Ivaylo Dimov.....














 

GOAL FOR MTK!! 0-1!!! The Bulgarian international, on splendorous form in Europe this season, had it put on a plate and does not miss!! The 20th goal of the season for the winger!

 

Minute 11: Danilo's cross from the right for Everton... big mess on the MTK area.... cleared!

Minute 23: Todorovic's clearance doesn't go very far.... out to Danilo on the wing... another dangerous cross from the Brazilian FB finds Beere!!!! High!!!

Minute 33: Quick play down the half-space on the right for Everton... it's played for the run of Demarai Gray.... tackled by Todorovic.... PENALTY GIVEN FOR EVERTON!!

Icelandic veteran Gylfi Sigurdsson prepares to hit it....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOAL FOR EVERTON! 1-1! Denkovic dives right but Sigurdsson fools him shooting to his left!

Minute 42: Quick direct counter for MTK... Krastev YP18A lays it for a Szilvási that has dropped deeper.... TRIES TO CHIP JORDAN PICKFORD FROM FAR!!!!

Hits the woodwork!! And mercifully for Pickford rebounds just a meter or two back into play!!












 

Minute 44: Quick combination for Everton down the right.... Demarai Gray is free... crosses for Beere....

GOAL FOR EVERTON! 2-1! Jason Beere heads it to complete the turnaround for the Toffees just before the break!!

 

Minute 46: Corner for Sigurdsson....



 

 

GOAL FOR EVERTON! 3-1! It's gone in through Beere's head again!!!

Half-time: We're in trouble. This final started great and it looked like the defensive 4-1-4-1 was very much working, but Everton's right flank is tearing us apart and putting our dream in danger. We will be forced to switch to a more attacking setup and hope for something special in the 2nd half.

 

[noikeee]

2023/2024 UEFA Europa League final - Villa Park, Birmingham - Everton v MTK - 2nd half

Half-time: Vladimir Screciu out, 17 year old Croatian DM Senad Corovic in. The Romanian midfielder has had a bad game and has been booked. We switch to the Control wide 4-3-3.





 

Minute 50: Diogo Jota's shot from way out!!!! Saved by Denkovic.



 

Minute 60: 15 minutes of 2nd half have gone and we've not had a single shot. This is not working. I drop short passing, perhaps going a little more direct can break Everton's defence.

 

Minute 62: Ben Fox and Ross Barkley in for Jota and de Jong for Everton.

 

Minute 69: Szilvási out, Fedor YP20A in. I switch to a IF/A-IF/A-F9 setup just to change things up. We've yet to attempt a single shot this 2nd half.

Minute 70: A run from full-back Ryan Sessegnon all the way into our area and he's free!!! Shoots wide!!

Minute 71: Fedor YP20A immediately shoots. From far and way wide. Final sub for Everton, Ben Sheaf comes in for Demarai Gray.

Minute 75: Final sub for us - Krastev YP18A out, Dan Diaconu in. The minutes are passing and the 2nd half is passing by without anything of note, our European trophy dream slipping away...

Minute 86: I up our risk from Control to Attacking... it's unlikely to make a difference now...

Minute 89: Sessegnon finds Beere in the area... almost their 4th...

Minute 92: Dangerous freekick for us, milimeters from the area.. too late to make a difference but Dimov will shoot...

.... high.


 

Full time: Everton are the Europa League champions.

 

 

 

 

[noikeee]

And the award for most cheerful fan goes to...

[noikeee]

And speaking of awards, Dimov has been utterly magnificent, well deserved:

[noikeee]

UEFA Euro 2024 - final 23-men squad

After the disappointment of the Europa League it's time to switch attentions to the international stage, the Hungarian national team and to the announcement of the final 23 players that I'll be taking to Germany.

 

No surprises whatsoever, this is the core that I've been trusting for a while now. Let's see them by each area:
 

Goalkeepers

 

Whilst there's not much to choose between my 3 keepers, the 11 years younger Gergely Hutvágner has won the position over Gulácsi over the last year or so. I trust him well enough without him being a star player.

Fullbacks

 

A real problem area, with only MTK's star Laczkó being a trustable player here. He'll be playing RB so I'll say LB is the most questionable position in the whole squad - with Tamás possibly a little ahead of Forgács in the pecking order. Katona is in for his pace and can play DM if necessary.

Centerbacks

 

An all-MTK duo of the young Komáromi-Köveshazi is possible but I'm slightly leaning towards the experienced Lang in place of Köveshazi. Kecskés is the 4th option but it's worth noting both Lang and Kecskés can play DM.

Defensive midfielders

 

I'm considering Horgosi a DM here though in truth he's a center-back, with him Lang, Kacskés and Katona all decent-but-hardly-ideal options for DM, whereas Ádam Nagy is the clear 1st choice for the position. He's possibly a little too well rounded/too attacking-minded for DM, I'd play him higher up or even as right-back, but I really do need someone to hold station in front of midfield and there's no-one better.

Midfielders

 

Moving on to the positions in which we have an abundance of talent, and in here there's 5 players that all effectively double up as wingers or even forwards if necessary. I even fielded two mezzalas for a while but have settled now for just 1 in our narrow 4-1-2-3 formation I'm using for Hungary now - there shall be fierce competition between these 5 players for those "2" positions, with Szoboszlai and Sallai marginally in the pole position, but it's worth noting Sallai can very much be counted as a striker as well, as I also intend to use him there.
 

Attackers

 

And in here our strongest area, justifying my recent switch to a narrow 4-3-3 ditching the wingers - although pretty much all of these players can play wing anyway, just not the ML/MR positions I use in the defensive 4-1-4-1 tactic when I opt for that (over the wide 4-3-3). Balogh's a clear step below the rest but it will be tricky to bench one out of Kitl, Csoboth and the MTK duo Fedor YP20A-Szilvási. Fedor possibly loses out in this battle for now - all others have been reliable goalscorers for Hungary whilst the kid's still proving himself. Szilvási's record in particular is fearsome, with 14 goals in 17 starts - but the team's main star surely has to be former MTK striker, now Hoffenheim 56M€ superstar, Gábor Kitl.

Tactics

 

Our 3 possible setups, I largely favour the narrow 4-3-3 now but will almost certainly use both other options as well. The 4-1-4-1 forces a switch of players as none of the front 3 can play ML/MR (except for backup option Fedor YP20A who I'm training at ML at club level), whereas I can switch to 4-3-3 wide much more easily as 2 of the strikers are shoved to AML/AMR.

[noikeee]

UEFA Nations League Division C draw

Shouldn't be much between us, Ireland and Slovenia.

[dllu]

Gutting to reach the final and then lose like that.  

But still a great run.

[noikeee]

End of season update 2023/2024

 

Our spending spree in January was a little bonkers, and beyond all the players I had already shown off such as 22M€ signing Konstantin Gladyshev, we hired yet another 2 players, both Czech prospects, taking the total number of January signings up to 13:

 

18yo ML that I'm adapting to MR/AMR, needs more dribbling to be a real star in our system but would be a pretty big prospect apart from that.

 

17yo star CB in the making except for a jumping of just 9.

 

This season will obviously be remembered by our run to the Europa League final, the club's 2nd ever European final, 60 years after the 1964 Cup Winners Cup. Domestically it was a slightly less convincing season as this time we got defeated in 3 different occasions, ending that extraordinarily long unbeaten run in the league. But nevertheless, we win a 5th consecutive domestic double - and as the Hungarian league rankings rise, this now means we go straight to the CL playoff instead of having to start from the very beginning of the qualifiers. Had we won the Europa League we'd have been off straight to the groups, but the coefficient points we gained from the Europa run means that next year that will happen, as the Hungarian champion will qualify for the groups.

 

 

[noikeee]

On 14/08/2018 at 07:56, dllu said:

Gutting to reach the final and then lose like that.  

But still a great run.

Yeah it was pretty disappointing to go a goal up then see everything crumble, but I've got to be pretty happy with a European final presence for now.

[noikeee]

Squad review 2023/2024

Best 11

 

 

 
 

GK - Vladimir Denkovic
 
No wonder he's been complaining he wants to move to a bigger club for ages, he's essentially a near world class keeper now, crazy that he hasn't been capped by Serbia yet. Positive (7+) ratings when he's been playing almost exclusively in Europe for a Hungarian club, is pretty crazy good.

DR - Antal Sáfár
 
Stalled, became "jovial" due to "events off the pitch", only got 3 assists this season, and is now fiercely challenged for the position by Hungarian international Sándor Laczkó. Yet he's still a pretty tidy fullback although his game is mostly based on pace only.

DL - Veselin Todorovic
 
The other FB position is also under some threat as there's little to separate 1st choice Todorovic and 2nd choice Tomas Hofmann. For now I've been trusting the Serbian but the position might not be his for much longer.

DC - Branislav Mirkovic
 
Average skills at tackling hold back a player that could be great otherwise, I feel he's just okay and not a long term solution, again another player under threat as Hungarian international Máté Komáromi is still surprisingly developing at age 23 and my staff now rate him higher.

DC - Dragoljub Vukajlovic
 
Whilst his 3 Serbian colleagues in the backline have their place in the starting 11 under some doubts, that is not the case for this center-back who is a step ahead of them and the best defender in the squad. Could be quicker, though.
 

DM - Vladimir Screciu
 
Having the now 2nd highest wages in the squad - by a large margin - is a bit questionable as this is a good-but-not-great player. Did great in the CL though. Kids such as Senad Corovic and Pavel Stavaru are starting to have a look at this position, Screciu is more complete but the kids better specialists at winning back the ball.

MC - Konstantin Gladyshev
 
The club's crazy January record signing at 22M€ is actually not necessarily amazing at anything, but is a remarkably complete player and has performed superbly since arriving. I've been playing him as box-to-box but quite frankly he can do anything in our tactics from CB to DM to BBM to Mezzala. To the point I'm actually thinking whatever I do with him is a waste (play him as CB and waste his finishing? etc), hence settled with him as BBM, as BBMs do a little of everything!

MC - Georgi Krastev YP18A
 
Our most famous youth product (well, now actually that's a little debatable with the emergence of striker Fedor YP20A) has been an unquestionable part of our midfield for years now, but this is seriously under question as other midfielders are emerging in a fierce battle for the position, and most worryingly, his contract runs out in a year and he doesn't want to renew - I will be forced to sell him this Summer. Despite the competition for the position and players like Ilic looking better in theory now, Krastev did amazing this year specially in the Champions League - 4 goals, 9 assists and 7.97 ratings in the competition!!!

AMR - Ivaylo Dimov
 
Holy ****, what a season! He hasn't even adapted fully to both MR and AMR yet (where I use him depending on the tactic), but the Bulgarian winger was absolutely lethal this season with 9 goals and 6 assists in the CL, 6 goals and 3 assists in the EL, and a scarcely believable 7.83 ratings average, which is extraordinary for a player that spent most of the year playing in Europe. On paper he isn't a super outstanding player, but with us having difficulties finding great wingers in the market, and with him playing like this, he should remain a starter for the foreseeable future.

AML - Viktor Babic
 
It's slightly weird that I can't get the same level of performance from Babic in the other wing despite him being perhaps a better player. Now, I do use the LW on support whilst the RW is on attack in the main tactic... but they've been playing mostly in the secondary 4-1-4-1 tactic in which the roles are similar. I don't know what's up but nevertheless a decent season with 16 goals (8 of them in the CL!) and 9 assists, just not as good as Dimov.

ST - Roland Szilvási 

Born to score goals. For the first time in this career a player of mine reaches 30 goals in a season, and whilst a very satisfactory 17 of them came in Europe, the most remarkable fact for me is that he managed to get 11 goals in the league, whilst only playing 2 games as a starter and 14 of the bench there!!! He's also been utterly lethal for the national team with 14 goals in 17 caps. However he's likely to soon lose this place as a starter for MTK with the emergence of Sutulovic.

Rest of the squad and 3 hottest prospects

ST - Branimir Sutulovic
 
The Serbian striker arrived in January and was cup-tied in the Europa League (there's a bug in the screenies, his Europa stats shown are for Crvena Zvezda), so for now only featured in the league and cup - and even there he had to stop due to an injury. Nevertheless he was super impressive with 11 goals from just 6(4) apps, scoring a brace in the cup final, and should very very soon be our top striker, indeed some of my staff already say he's the best player in the whole squad outright! My only question mark about him is he's considerably slower than Szilvási (but better at everything else).
 

MC - Tomislav Ilic
 
The Serbian midfielder, having his first season for the club, was extraordinarily impressive in the league, has developed a lot, and his potential is estimated at the very max. On paper he's already good enough to be a starter in the midfield and indeed that's where he should be next season, as Krastev YP18A should be sold.
 

CB - Georgi Marinov
 
A more long term prospect, but together with Gladyshev, Ilic and Sutolovic, he's one of the only 4 of this squad to be estimated with max potential. The sky is the limit for the Bulgarian center-back, well that and any aerial balls, his lack of jumping is making me wonder wtf to do with him, a big possibility is turning him into a left-back. DM is also an option.

Career progress table

 

[noikeee]

Even the B team is dominant, 6th consecutive title for them... it's a shame they can't get promoted from the 3rd to the 2nd tier.

[noikeee]

I'm confused, I thought we were already expanding the stadium. That we built last year.

Great news though, and the next are even better:

Hooray! 

[noikeee]

International friendlies

 

Two rather disappointing pre-Euro friendlies to be honest, and now I'm seriously questioning my narrow 4-3-3 as I'm not really getting it to work.

[noikeee]

 

Nice, we overtake the likes of the Bulgarian, Israeli, Serbian, Danish leagues, plus the Italian and Spanish second tiers.

And it's confirmed, from next season the Hungarian champion will go straight into the CL group stages. A big breakthrough:

 

[noikeee]

UEFA Euro 2024 group stage - round 1

 

We kick off the Euros with a great result, but I can't help but feel a little guilty - I was finding no way to get the narrow 4-3-3 to work as it started resembling more and more one of @knap's tactics that I looked up, and midway through the match I said **** it and gave all 3 strikers an attack duty, something I find a little exploit-ish but well, works. You'd think this would be daft with the 3 strikers on the brink of offside not contributing anything beyond waiting to burst behind the defence, but that's not quite the case, specially on Fluid they still contribute a fair bit.

Anyway, back to what happened in the game, the breakthrough was a red card for the Czechs, the match was quite divided until then, but afterwards we started getting more chances and eventually broke them with 2 goals, a deserved win.

 

We are now in an excellent position to go through, given that the best 4 3rd placed qualify - any non-losing result against either Portugal or Belarus, most likely the later, will almost certainly qualify us.

[noikeee]

The tactic I ended up with against the Czechs, again like the wide 4-3-3 I'm using at club level it's essentially 95% knap's work/settings:

[noikeee]

UEFA Euro 2024 group stage - round 2

 

A much harder match, against Portugal's world class 11 in an extremely tricky to handle wide 3-4-3 formation, we struggled to impact the game at all with our attacking narrow 4-3-3, were fortunate to reach half-time only losing by 1, and in the 2nd half as I switched to more conservative settings and ultimately to the wide 4-3-3, it was of no use as Portugal scored one more and two more (and by the end we only had 10 players anyway - RB Máté Katona was injured, and might not feature again these Euros). It's a harsh 3-goal defeat and it does represent what happened on the pitch.

 

I think we should still be good if we get at least one point from Belarus.

[noikeee]

A little interruption from the Euros to report back on MTK... ****ing hell, if I had any doubts about which left-back I'm gonna use the next few months...

[noikeee]

UEFA Euro 2024 group stage - round 3

 

This was tense. Chaotic. We had lots and lots of chances the whole match, but struggled to convert them, whilst Belarus was also very dangerous the few times they went upfront. After 55 minutes of trying we finally got the goal, got another just a few mins later, but then Belarus immediately had a penalty and reduced. We just about held on to this 2-1 win, but despite another zillion chances that we had, this was far from comfortable or controlled.

 

We repeat Euro 2016's feat of making it to the last 16...

 

... and that's probably when our run will finish, having to face Mbappé's-Griezmann's-Lemar's-Pogba's France. If we somehow go through, the winner of Croatia-Sweden awaits.

[noikeee]

UEFA Euro 2024 second round

 

Fearing France's superb attacking talent, I felt the only way we could compete was to be at our most conservative. We lined up on the defensive 4-1-4-1.

It didn't start well. We were a goal down by minute 11 and being broken down consistently by France, specially through the middle. I further reinforced the center by switching to a deep 4-2-3-1 (dropped Szanto from MC to DM) and immediately, we scored! Kitl running beyond the French defense after being released by a very long ball. That was just a flash in the pan though. France goal, France goal, and we arrived at half-time losing 3-1 and looking dismal.

With nothing to lose, I switched to the narrow 4-3-3 at half-time, hoping to exploit all the space that France were leaving behind their backs. Surprisingly, it worked. It turned the game into a bit of a basketball match but eventually we scored our 2nd and 3rd in minutes 68 and 69, Fedor YP20A in splendorous form, with a superb first time goal then an assist. France were every bit as dangerous as ever and took the lead again, 4-3.

Time was running out... we were in the very last seconds, France were having even more chances and 5-3 looking definitely more likely than the 4-4... but that man Fedor YP20A was having his greatest day for the national team yet and a late run into the area gave us the equaliser. On minute 94!!! Onto extra time.

Extra time was surprisingly quieter, for the standards of this chaotic match. France kept looking better, but were no longer having absolute clear chances every 5 minutes. In this context, it was somewhat of a surprise that things swung their way - Coman assisting Dembelé in minute 114. We were out of legs to come back from that once again. It's a 5-4 loss, we're out of the Euros, but bloody hell did we make France sweat for that.

 

 

I'm pretty happy with our performance in the competition, although we were never convincing at any stage (and had a poor performance in particular against Portugal), I can't complain against qualifying out of the group and taking France to extra time.
 

Competition stats

 

Fedor YP20A's brilliant performance against France will be remembered, and makes him the outstanding player of the competition for me, but the highest average rating was Sallai's, thanks to a 8.7 performance against Belarus. Like Fedor, our major star Gábor Kitl also scored 3 goals but he was perhaps performing a few notches below his best.

[noikeee]

Pre-season 2024/2025

 

Transfers

 

A more cautious transfer window after the crazy last January. This time so far we've only hired 3 players, although perhaps the biggest news have been the departures - we let go midfielder Dan Diaconu, on his last year of contract (and no longer a starter), to Saint-Etienne in a deal that could reach 5.75M€. I'm still waiting for a good bid for Georgi Krastev YP18A who's on a similar position. We also sold Hungarian international DM Zsolt Pintér YP19E, just not good enough for us despite being a squad player for Hungary; and Veljko Nikolic who had been part of our squad for ages - I've been trying to convince him to switch from Serbia to Hungary recently.
 

 

I like poaching the most promising Hungarian talents, so whilst I don't think this 16yo RB will ever make it for us, at least I can try to help him develop for the national side.
 

 

A very good 18 year old Ukranian CB, my staff now rate him at max potential (a pleasant surprise, my scouts said a little lower) and he's on the verge of a starting 11 spot, this is a great signing.
 

 

Midfielders is a position I've been stacked with for years but with the departures of Diaconu and Nikolic and possibly Krastev YP18A soon, I could do with more, so I splashed 3.4M€ in this kid, who is pretty good but should play only in the league for now.

 

I've got some great news - we don't have to play any qualifiers at all for the CL. I'm not entirely sure what happened. maybe the CL/EL winners slots went to us instead, but we qualified directly for the group stage, I thought we had to play 1 playoff and only next year would we qualify directly. I'm eagerly waiting the draw, I suspect we'll finally no longer be bottom seeds, which should help.

[deltablue]

Epic match against France.

[noikeee]

First update after MY LAPTOP GOT FINALLY UPGRADED WOOHOO .... is a sad one. We say goodbye to a very special player - the first great youth product of my MTK career, Bulgarian international Georgi Krastev YP18A:

 

To clarify, this certainly isn't a good enough deal for him (I've had much bigger offers for him in the past that I rejected without thinking), but his contract was running out next year, he's very unhappy, and as good as he was (he was magnificent in the CL last year!), there's better options in his position now. Sorry Georgi, it's time to say goodbye.

[noikeee]

And finally a Champions League group stage draw that isn't horrendous, as we at last got upgraded to 3rd not bottom seeds:

 

[noikeee]

International friendly and UEFA Nations League Division C

 

 

Against Latvia, it was a weird battle of 4-3-3 narrow v 4-3-3 narrow and our version just about kinda won. 10-0, our biggest ever win! Szilvási got 4!

Next was already the toughest match of the Nations League group, on the 1st round. We went off to Ireland and it looked as if the narrow 4-3-3 wasn't working this time, as we let them score first and were not having chances. However, that kid Fedor YP20A, who had shone so much in the Euros, equalized out of the blue, and this opened a lot of doors - Ireland got more and more attacking throughout the match, opening acres of space for our forwards to run into. At the end we came out clear 4-1 winners, both Fedor YP20A and Csoboth getting braces.

 

After winning in Ireland we've got every chance of winning this group. I'm not underestimating Slovenia though.

[noikeee]

UEFA Nations League Division C

 

Uh, turns out that was actually a triple header and we still had to play Estonia just days after playing Ireland. What do you think would happen if we played Estonia? Turned out rather predictable. Fedor hat-trick, 5-1 win.

 

Ireland are ****ed, it already looks like a 2-horse race after 2 matches.

[noikeee]

Tactics rambling

So I decided that from here onwards I'm gonna stop using the trio of strikers all on attack duty for Hungary. This is not necessarily related to uh, recent controversies - this save will still not be "proper" given I'm still using essentially Knap's base for all the tactics I'm picking; and I'm still keeping the option of a narrow 4-3-3 just not all on attack - but I think it just made things a bit too easy, it's crazy OP.  As you can see the last few matches with Hungary we're just obliterating everyone, and nearly caught out a much superior world class France side with it in the Euros.

So for the foreseeable future think it'll be back to the same tactics with Hungary that I'm using with MTK - the wide 4-3-3 based on Knap's settings, the defensive 4-1-4-1 that's a mix of that plus some ideas from Herne79's strikerless 4-1-4-1-0, and possibly something similar to the current narrow 4-3-3 just not with all 3 strikers on attack. The narrow 4-3-3 shape is unusual in real life but does fit our current crop of players with an abundance of strikers (Fedor YP20A, Szilvasi, Kitl, Csoboth....) - although I can easily shove most of them to AML/AMR positions and play the wide 4-3-3 anyway. Let's see what happens.

Another option could potentially be the 4-4-2 I used with Derby/Valencia in my previous career, which was more my own tactics, but I was never a fan of 4-4-2, it just largely exploits the half-space between CBs and FBs through the roaming of wide strikers much like the overpowered narrow 4-3-3s do; and I got unconvinced by the tactic's performances after it flopped completely in my brief flirting with Fraudulent France, plus with Derby/Valencia it always seemed to crash somewhat midseason anyway.

[noikeee]

UEFA Nations League Division C

 

For the Slovenia match I decided I was gonna continue narrow 4-3-3 just tweaking the roles. So started off with a lone F9 in the middle of two AFs, and it wasn't too bad, we were dominating, however rather annoyingly Slovenia got not just one but two goals against the run of play. Later adjustments turned the front trio into CF/S-AF/A-F9/S and this was what eventually allowed us to equalize, as we gradually got back into the game and got a much earned point, indeed we just had been plain better than Slovenia.

Against Ireland we looked on course for a very easy win with 3 early goals, but Ireland looked increasingly dangerous down the wings as the game went on and it was 3-2 by minute 76. We were starting to get a bit nervous when Kitl got our 4th and secured our win, although Ireland still got a 3rd in late injury time. An entertaining goalfest that went our way again.

 

Slovenia's shock defeat at home to Estonia puts us in a great position to win this group and get promoted to Division B, provided we don't lose in Slovenia in the final round.

International debuts

 

An injury to Krisztián Tamás paved the way for the debut of Honvéd's young LB, yet again this is not a position we're doing well in as we're really struggling for proper players.

Tactics

 

This is what our setup is looking like now (I'm using this for the national team only). It started looking like this in the 2nd half v Slovenia, and I stuck with it against Ireland.

[noikeee]

New highest ranking record for the national team, we reach the top 15. 

[noikeee]

UEFA Champions League group stage - rounds 1, 2 and 3

 

Wow, this could hardly have gone any better so far. I decided we now have the players to put a fight on more equal terms and have been sticking to the Wide 4-3-3 instead of switching to the defensive 4-1-4-1 like I usually did in the CL - although I'm trying to engineer a slightly more cautious version of the wide 4-3-3. This has just gone great - we utterly smashed PSV 5-0 away, almost repeated it at home against Arsenal(!) with a 5-1 scoreline, and in the 3rd match in Germany, although things were a lot more even, we managed to scrap through a win and were probably indeed by a hair the best team in the pitch.

 

Looking good for a return to the CL knockout stages after a 2 years absence.

[noikeee]

UEFA Champions League group stage - round 4

 

Faced with a slightly tricky opponent in RB Leipzig, who set out in a 4-4-2, I used the cagier version of the wide 4-3-3 I've been working on, and switched the Mezzala for a CM/A in order to exploit the space between their CBs and MCs rather than the wings in which the 4-4-2 is strong. This seemed to work beautifully well as we opened a 2 goal lead, both delightful through balls from either of our MCs to either of our IFs.

However, later on RBL would score one then another, a bit against the run of play. I feel like the final 2-2 result is a bit harsh on us.

 

It doesn't matter however because, ridiculously, we're already qualified and can relax for the final 2 group stage matches - the only things at stake now are coefficient points and whether we qualify 1st (top seeds) or 2nd (bottom seeds).

[kidthekid]

really good start to the UCL and great job with France

[noikeee]

UEFA Nations League Division C

 

Faced with Estonia away, I arrogantly fielded pretty much the 2nd XI resting players for the upcoming Slovenia fixture, but it went wrong. We had about a zillion chances, yet it wouldn't go in. Midway through the 2nd half I even pushed 2 of the forwards wide and turned it into the wide 4-3-3 but to no productive end. Estonia 0, Hungary 0.

... which, ridiculously, was good enough for us, given that Slovenia lost to Ireland the same day, so we went off to Slovenia knowing we already had won the group and clinched promotion. Regardless, the goals that we lacked against Estonia arrived in this match: very easy 4-0 win against a 4-4-2 diamond the Slovenians were fielding, a tactic the AI uses that I generally find very easy to beat in FM18.

 

We're up to division B. I think since this isn't an Euros year, there isn't any other bonus from winning this group, but we'll take it.

[noikeee]

13 minutes ago, kidthekid said:

really good start to the UCL and great job with France

cheers kiddo.

[noikeee]

This might need a little reviewing from SI:

Of course we'll win silverware, we've won the Hungarian league and cup for the last 5 seasons you geniuses. Glad that's good enough to convince you not to move to Juventus/Real Madrid/PSG/etc, too.

[noikeee]

UEFA Champions League group stage - round 5 and 6

 

Against PSV, in an expression of my typical, usually misplaced arrogance as a manager, I rotated the whole squad. Usually the kiss of death, right? Not this time... 7-0 win. With a poker from 3rd choice striker Dusan Kodes. Guess that went alright then. I think that's our biggest win in Europe yet? (not counting qualifiers)

Away to Arsenal in the final round, we really struggled in the 1st half as Arsenal's 4-2-4 seemingly just destroyed us, but we only conceded 1. With little to lose this was a great day to experiment, and I turned my 4-3-3 wide into a... 5-2-3-0 strikerless with a AMC trequartista (Fedor YP20A, adapted to yet another position) in the middle of two IF/As. I think it worked? We fluked a equaliser through a penalty, Arsenal kept having half-chances through crosses and the likes and then we were benefitted from a red card to their LB Lucas Digne, but we looked very, very dangerous on the counter and could've scored the winner.

 

Our best performance in the group stages yet, undefeated. The draw obviously helped, but I'm quite happy at this. We're finally becoming a pretty mature side at European level.

 

Despite being top seeds, pretty much every single option was terrible here - this is the Champions League knockout stages, you'd expect only top sides to remain, but even still it's a remarkably strong bunch with absolutely nobody from "weak" leagues... except us. Juve are, surprise surprise, utterly world class and we'll need to be at our best.

[turnip]

They probably need to set more specific goals, rather than 'Silverware'.

There is a small but noticeable difference between the Hungarian Cup and the Champions League, after all.

Or just be more honest about it - "I'm earning £7500 p/w at the moment and Juventus will turn that into £150k."

[noikeee]

1 minute ago, turnip said:

They probably need to set more specific goals, rather than 'Silverware'.

There is a small but noticeable difference between the Hungarian Cup and the Champions League, after all.

Or just be more honest about it - "I'm earning £7500 p/w at the moment and Juventus will turn that into £150k."

Yeah exactly. Sometimes players do come to me complaining "I want to win the Champions League" but most of the time they just want "silverware" and that's easy enough to promise.  One of those tricks that makes it a bit too easy to hold on to players, but hey, I'm not complaining.  

[noikeee]

Mid-season update 2024/2025

 

After the pre-season update, when the league had already started, we hired 2 more kids, and sold youth academy star graduate Georgi Krastev YP18A, as I reported earlier in a special announcement. Another interesting thing that happened is that I loaned out Hungarian international CB Márton Köveshazi, he'd be only 5th choice this season so off he goes.
 

 

This 17yo Bulgarian is yet another in the seemingly neverending queue of promising MCs we now have. Quite a few steps below first team level yet IMO.
 

 

A 16 year old Romanian striker, pretty far from the first team as well, he has a slightly odd profile as I usually always hire pacey strikers and he lacks it, but superb finishing and first touch indicates talent.

 

 

It's an unusual honour that we hadn't achieved yet, as we reach the winter break undefeated in all competitions! The relatively nice CL draw obviously helped. Currently leading the increasingly ever more unbalanced Hungarian league by 16 points.

 

 

2 Czech prospects are lined up to arrive in January, whilst we will also say goodbye to highly trusted winger Milan Senic, who will move to Genk for 425K€. He was our top scorer for a couple of seasons, and made my Hungarian national side as well, but by now we simply have depth in the wings that far exceed his level of talent, it's time to let him go.

The new Czech kids that are about to arrive:
 

 

This was an utterly unnecessary move, given how stacked I am at MC, and given that he'll cost a slightly steep 6.25M€. But come on, this is a gem in the making, can't pass him up. I see a wonderful mezzala here.
 

 

Much cheaper because he's, well, a much worse player. Much younger too. This 16yo Czech winger will arive for 275K€.

[turnip]

5 hours ago, noikeee said:

 

 

A 16 year old Romanian striker, pretty far from the first team as well, he has a slightly odd profile as I usually always hire pacey strikers and he lacks it, but superb finishing and first touch indicates talent.

I was going to say he's Dimitar Berbatov, but then I saw his Work Rate/Team Work.

Maybe more like Eric Cantona?

[noikeee]

For future reference this is the 5-2-3-0 I used against Arsenal in the CL, specifically designed to counter their 4-2-4, I'm gonna save it and keep training it because I feel I'm gonna come back to it in the CL knockout stages, it was pretty delightful to watch the counters it produced:

Against Arsenal I had the CM/D-CM/A mirrored but looking again I feel it makes more sense this way.

[noikeee]

6 hours ago, turnip said:

I was going to say he's Dimitar Berbatov, but then I saw his Work Rate/Team Work.

Maybe more like Eric Cantona?

High aggression, first touch, finishing, flair... checks out, great shout.