PaulHartman71 Posted April 16, 2021 Author Share Posted April 16, 2021 Quite extraordinary scenes, as with just 4 games to go we sit in 2nd place, with Poland, Latvia, Luxembourg and Belgium all to play again. It's hard to say what happens from here, I don't think we finish above Poland, but given we have two winnable games against Luxembourg and Latvia remaining, if we can avoid defeat against Belgium we could very well finish 2nd! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motlhen Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 Incredible progress with the NT! GL mate 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 17, 2021 Author Share Posted April 17, 2021 Arnauld, who holds a Swiss passport, is a bit old for a player I've spent that much money on, but he was much better than anyone else available in that price range so I bit the bullet even though he will have very minimal re-sale value unless a Chinese club comes in for him in a few years. The other lads, also Swiss-Franco players, probably won't see too many minutes, however they needed to be signed to fill gaps in the squad. Balland at left wing once Joshua Beck left for first team football, and Munier at CB to replace emergency back-up Riccardo Brambila who also requested to leave and went to 2nd tier side Winterthur. A fairly quiet summer, a few squad players left, with only one major signing to replace Cyril Darbellay, who's been a good midfielder over the years but wanted to leave for a new challenge after being only a back-up for a while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 17, 2021 Author Share Posted April 17, 2021 Another European trophy in the bag, as we beat Man City, the European champions, on penalties to win the European Super Cup. I knew we couldn't compete if we went toe to toe, but we are a good defensive side so if we sat back and frustrated them we had an outside chance of a smash and grab win or something like this. Very pleased with the win and gives us some more confidence going into the Champions League this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 17, 2021 Author Share Posted April 17, 2021 We were 1st seeds again and have got a much kinder group this time. Besiktas a good side, but even they were in Europa League last season after failing to get through their CL group. I think we've beaten St Mirren a few times in Europa and SKN St Polten haven't looked as good in recent years. I'm hopeful we can at least make the knockout stages for the first time in our history. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 No idea what's going on with this Super League nonsense, but at least I have this save/thread as a safe haven from all of that rubbish. One of the best parts of this save and what's kept me going through it is being able to take each nation/league to the top and seeing how that affects the entire pyramid/landscape of the European game and the greater long-term ramifications. For example, I managed St Mirren for a decade a long time ago and the ripple effect of that is that Celtic are now basically the best side in the game. I love that and I can't wait to see what else happens further down the line. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 No real injuries for a big set of games against Poland and Latvia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 We gave it a good go against Poland, with Joshua Wenzel especially putting in a performance in goal, but they were too good for us and won 2-0 in the end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 A good performance against Latvia, as we beat them 3-0 in a hugely important game. 2nd place with 2 games to go! Currently we're ahead of Belgium on the basis that we beat them. We still have them to play and Latvia, whilst Belgium have to play Holland. I think if we beat Latvia and lose to Belgium no worse than 2-0, then even if they beat us but lose to Holland then we would make it to the Euros without having to play a Playoff, which would be pretty crazy. Who knows, but what a ride we've been on and completely unexpected really. I would've taken just beating Latvia and Luxembourg home and away. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 No big misses as we face Luxembourg and Belgium 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 A big win against Luxembourg! Belgium drew with Holland, so we must avoid defeat to finish 2nd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 We went 1-0 up early on which was hugely exciting, but Belgium were relentless and had us on the ropes by half-time. So so close to a huge upset, but what a performance and a campaign, finishing above Holland is great achievement. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 Mid-Season Update We started off quite well, but as soon as the CL games came in our form started getting quite ropey as I rested and rotated for the more important European games. I'd like us to climb up a few places in the table, as really we should be finishing above Zurich and Lugano. Young Boys have had an absolute nightmare, no idea what's gone wrong there this season but they're closer to going down than getting into Europe again next season. A close run thing in the group. Very happy we stayed unbeaten, St Mirren came very close to making it through but our 2-0 win on the last game-day kept us top and put Besiktas through with us. On paper that's one of the worst possible draws we could have got, although Celtic in their group: They did almost go out, level with Zenit on points and finished below a Portimonense side who usually aren't all that great, so maybe Celtic aren't up to their usual standards this season. Either way it's a big ask to get through it, but we did beat City earlier in the season in a one off tie. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 Another decent year, with young keeper Joshua Wenzel and Ralph Schadler the highlights of a great Euros qualifying campaign. Bit annoying we only went up 1 world ranking place despite a pretty good display in the group stage with a lot of wins, but oh well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 We’ve got Armenia in the Semi Final of the Euros Playoff. Pretty sure we beat them relatively comfortably last time we faced them in the Playoffs. Finland or Northern Ireland in the final will be a much bigger test though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 Andreas Elkuch is a miss at right wing, but otherwise we have a fully fit squad for the Armenia playoff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 A resounding victory against Armenia, with Damian Schurte getting a hat-trick as we beat them 5-0. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 It took extra-time, but Sven-John Stricker's goal sees us knock out Northern Ireland and make the Euros for the second time in our history! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 January Transfers Joshua Wenzel has been getting a run for us in goal, so our original first choice keeper has asked for a move, sold to Turkey for a decent enough fee for a 32 year old. Picked up a new young right back from Lugano for just over £6M with the money I got from it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 The first leg at Celtic Park saw Celtic dominate for much of the game, we defended well but had gone 1-0 down and didn't look like getting back in it until a silly red card in the second half from their centre back gave us an in. With an extra man advantage we took control for ourselves and got a goal from Francisco Javier Canovas with a nice strike in the 82nd minute to give us an invaluable away goal. With an away goal in the bag I knew we could sit back and defend the lead with Celtic having to come at us, we held them back for a while and then get a goal on the counter to make it 1-0 early in the second half. Celtic still only needed 1 to take it to extra-time, but they couldn't manage it. We have Man City in the Quarter Finals, another extremely difficult tie. We managed to beat them in the Super Cup, but can we defeat them over two legs? I'm not sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 Superb win over Northern Ireland 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 The draw has been made for the Group Stage and we face hosts Sweden, as well as two other Nordic countries in Denmark and Norway. They're all ranked pretty high to be fair, although there's no standout massive side, so it should be a pretty even group I imagine. I don't really know if we can do anything serious, but I feel like we could probably at least get a result in one of the 3 games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 25, 2021 Author Share Posted April 25, 2021 Two more tough games against City where we had to defend well yet again. We got a crucial away goal in Manchester on the break in the second half, with Arian Maliqi scoring after coming off the bench with a header from a corner. We kept City out for the rest of the tie which saw us through. We've still only conceded 3 times in the Champions League this season Wolfsburg await in the Semi Final... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 25, 2021 Author Share Posted April 25, 2021 Eddy Pinto, who we actually signed on a bosman from Wolfsburg a few years ago, popped up with 2 late goals to sink his old side at the Edin Dzeko Arena, before we beat them again 1-0 at home to go through 3-0 winners. Still only 3 goals conceded all season in the Champions League and we're now in the final against another German side, RB Leipzig! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andychar Posted April 26, 2021 Share Posted April 26, 2021 (edited) Oh wow! I honestly thought you would be stuck here for a very very long time. All the best in the Final! If you win with Vaduz does that mean bye bye to the NT as well? Edited April 26, 2021 by andychar Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 26, 2021 Author Share Posted April 26, 2021 1 hour ago, andychar said: Oh wow! I honestly thought you would be stuck here for a very very long time. All the best in the Final! If you win with Vaduz does that mean bye bye to the NT as well? Yeah I didn’t expect to make the final this season as going forward we’re not much to shout about at CL level, but I’ve sort of Mourinho’d it to some extent and the defence we’ve got is probably up there with anything I’ve had in the save so far and I’ve had the benefit of resting them before every game as the league doesn’t really matter for us. I’m not sure about the NT if we win the final. I’ll wait to see how we get on first Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 28, 2021 A massive night at the Bernabeu which saw us set up defensively yet again, with our first half goal coming from a wonderfully hit 25 yard free-kick from Canovas. RB Leipzig had some good chances, but our defence kept them out to hold firm and give us the crown of champions of Europe. A fantastic defensive run, as we go undefeated all campaign, with just 3 goals conceded (1 in the knockouts) and never scoring more than 2 goals in a single game 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 End of Season Update A win in the Cup to secure European football next year, although with the Champions League win my successor will pf course play Champions League football instead of Europa. We ended the season in strong form, ultimately finishing 7 points and goal difference off the title in 3rd. Not sure why it's not showing ECC yet for next year, I'm assuming winning the CL means we'd get CL next season? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 The players who deserve the most credit are definitely the defence: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 Paul Hart's Career History This covers the first 40 seasons of the save, from 2018-2058 Spoiler --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Club League Position Achievements/Other --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2018/19 Arsenal Premier League 4th Europa League winners 2019/20 Arsenal Premier League 2nd Champions League winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2020/21 Paris SG Ligue 1 1st Ligue 1 & Coupe de la Ligue winners 2021/22 Paris SG Ligue 1 1st Ligue 1, Champions League & Trophee Des Champions winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2022/23 AS Roma Serie A 3rd Italian Cup runners-up 2023/24 AS Roma Serie A 2nd Italian Cup winners 2024/25 AS Roma Serie A 1st Serie A winners 2025/26 AS Roma Serie A 2nd Italian Super Cup winners & Champions League runners-up 2026/27 AS Roma Serie A 1st Serie A, Italian Cup & Champions League winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2027/28 Atletico Madrid La Liga 3rd N/A 2028/29 Atletico Madrid La Liga 2nd N/A 2029/30 Altetico Madrid La Liga 2nd Champions League winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2030/31 VFL Wolfsburg Bundesliga 6th N/A 2031/32 VFL Wolfsburg Bundesliga 5th Europa League winners 2032/33 VFL Wolfsburg Bundesliga 3rd European Super Cup winners 2033/34 VFL Wolfsburg Bundesliga 2nd N/A 2034/35 VFL Wolfsburg Bundesliga 1st Bundesliga winners 2035/36 VFL Wolfsburg Bundesliga 2nd German Super Cup & Champions League winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2036/37 Zenit St Petersburg Russian PL 1st Russian Premier League, Russian Cup & Super Cup winners 2037/38 Zenit St Petersburg Russian PL 1st Russian Premier League, Russian Cup & Super Cup winners 2038/39 Zenit St Petersburg Russian PL 1st Russian Premier League & Super Cup winners 2039/40 Zenit St Petersburg Russian PL 1st Russian Premier League, Russian Cup & Super Cup winners 2040/41 Zenit St Petersburg Russian PL 1st Champions League & Domestic Treble winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2041/42 Portimonense SC Primeira Liga 3rd N/A 2042/43 Portimonense SC Primeira Liga 4th Taca de Portugal runners-up 2043/44 Portimonense SC Primeira Liga 6th N/A 2044/45 Portimonense SC Primeira Liga 6th Europa League winners 2045/46 Portimonense SC Primeira Liga 3rd European Super Cup winners 2046/47 Portimonense SC Primeira Liga 4th N/A 2047/48 Portimonense SC Primeira Liga 4th Portuguese League Cup winners 2048/49 Portimonense SC Primeira Liga 1st Primiera Liga & Champions League winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2049/50 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 2nd N/A 2050/51 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 2nd N/A 2051/52 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 2nd Dutch Cup winners 2052/53 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 2nd Dutch Cup & Super Cup winners 2053/54 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 2nd Dutch Cup winners 2054/55 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 2nd Dutch Cup winners 2055/56 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 1st Eredivisie, Dutch Cup & Super Cup winners 2056/57 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 1st Eredivisie, Champions League & Super Cup winners 2057/58 Vitesse Arnhem Eredivisie 1st Eredivisie, Club World Cup, Euro Super Cup & Super Cup winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Hart's Trophy Cabinet Spoiler Champions League x8 - 2019/20 (Arsenal), 2021/22 (Paris SG), 2026/27 (AS Roma), 2029/30 (Atletico Madrid), 2035/36 (VFL Wolfsburg), 2040/41 (Zenit St Petersburg), 2048/49 (Portimonense SC), 2056/57 (Vitesse Arnhem) Europa League x3 - 2018/19 (Arsenal), 2031/32 (VFL Wolfsburg), 2044/45 (Portimonense SC) Club World Cup x1 - 2057/58 (Vitesse Arnhem) European Super Cup x3 - 2032/33 (VFL Wolfsburg), 2045/46 (Portimonense SC), 2057/58 (Vitesse Arnhem) Bundesliga x1 - 2034/35 (VFL Wolfsburg) German Super Cup x1 - 2035/36 (VFL Wolfsburg) Serie A x2 - 2024/25, 2026/27 (AS Roma) Italian Cup x2 - 2023/24, 2026/27 (AS Roma) Italian Super Cup x1 - 2025/26 (AS Roma) Ligue 1 x2 - 2020/21, 2021/22 (Paris SG) Coupe de la Ligue x1 - 2020/21 (Paris SG) Trophee Des Champions x1 - 2021/22 (Paris SG) Primeira Liga x1 - 2048/49 (Portimonense SC) Portuguese League Cup x1 - 2047/48 (Portimonense SC) Russian Premier League x5 - 2036/37, 2037/38, 2038/39, 2039/40, 2040/41 (Zenit St Petersburg) Russian Cup x4 - 2036/37, 2037/38, 2039/40, 2040/41 (Zenit St Petersburg) Russian Super Cup x5 - 2036/37, 2037/38, 2038/39, 2039/40, 2040/41 (Zenit St Petersburg) Eredivisie x3 - 2055/56, 2056/57, 2057/58 (Vitesse Arnhem) Dutch Cup x5 - 2051/52, 2052/53, 2053/54, 2054/55, 2055/56 (Vitesse Arnhem) Dutch Super Cup x4 - 2052/53, 2055/56, 2056/57, 2057/58 (Vitesse Arnhem) Thierry's Career History This covers the next 38 years of the save, from 2058-2096 Spoiler --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Club League Position Achievements/Other --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2058/59 Genclerbirligi SK Turkish Super Lig 5th Turkish Super Cup runners-up. Sacked. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2059/60 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 5th N/A 2060/61 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 3rd N/A 2061/62 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 3rd Scottish Cup winners 2062/63 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 2nd N/A 2063/64 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 3rd Scottish Cup runners-up 2064/65 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 3rd Scottish League Cup runners-up 2065/66 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 2nd Scottish League Cup runners-up 2066/67 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 2nd N/A 2067/68 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 1st Scottish Premiership, Cup & League Cup winners 2068/69 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 2nd N/A 2069/70 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 3rd Champions League runners-up & League Cup winners 2070/71 St. Mirren Scottish Premiership 2nd Champions League & Scottish Cup winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2071/72 Anderlecht Belgian Pro League 1st Belgian Pro League winners 2072/73 Anderlecht Belgian Pro League 1st Belgian Pro League & Super Cup winners 2073/74 Anderlecht Belgian Pro League 1st Belgian Pro League & Super Cup winners 2074/75 Anderlecht Belgian Pro League 1st Belgian Pro League & Belgian Cup & Super Cup winners 2075/76 Anderlecht Belgian Pro League 1st Belgian Pro League & Super Cup winners 2076/77 Anderlecht Belgian Pro League 1st Champions League runners-up & League & Super Cup winners 2077/78 Anderlecht Belgian Pro League 1st Belgian Pro League, Belgian Cup & Super Cup winners 2078/79 Anderlecht Belgian Pro League 1st Champions League, Pro League, Cup & Super Cup winners ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2079/80 Antalyaspor Turkish Super Lig 7th N/A. Resigned. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2080/81 Besiktas Turkish Super Lig 1st Turkish Super Lig & Super Cup winners. EL runners-up. 2081/82 Besiktas Turkish Super Lig 1st Turkish Super Lig, Cup & Super Cup winners 2082/83 Besiktas Turkish Super Lig 1st Turkish Super Lig & Super Cup winners 2083/84 Besiktas Turkish Super Lig 1st Turkish Super Lig & Super Cup winners 2084/85 Besiktas Turkish Super Lig 1st Turkish Super Lig & Super Cup winners. CL runners-up. 2085/86 Besiktas Turkish Super Lig 1st Champions League, Super Lig and Super Cup winners ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2086/87 Young Boys Swiss Super League 4th Swiss Cup runners-up 2087/88 Young Boys Swiss Super League 2nd Swiss Cup winners 2088/89 Young Boys Swiss Super League 3rd Swiss Cup winners 2089/90 Young Boys Swiss Super League 2nd N/A 2090/91 Young Boys Swiss Super League 1st Swiss Super League winners 2091/92 Young Boys Swiss Super League 1st Swiss Super League winners 2092/93 Young Boys Swiss Super League 1st Swiss Super League winners 2093/94 Young Boys Swiss Super League 2nd Europa League & Swiss Cup winners 2094/95 Young Boys Swiss Super League 2nd European Super Cup & Swiss Cup winners 2095/96 Young Boys Swiss Super League 2nd Champions League & Swiss Cup winners ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thierry's Trophy Cabinet Spoiler Champions League x4 - 2070/71 (St. Mirren), 2078/79 (Anderlecht), 2085/86 (Besiktas), 2095/96 (Young Boys) Europa League x1 - 2093/94 (Young Boys) European Super Cup x1 - 2094/95 (Young Boys) Scottish Premiership x1 - 2067/68 (St. Mirren) Scottish Cup x3 - 2061/62, 2067/68, 2070/71 (St. Mirren) Scottish League Cup x2 - 2067/67, 2069/70 (St. Mirren) Turkish Super Lig x6 - 2080/81, 2081/82, 2082/83, 2083/84, 2084/85, 2085/86 (Besiktas) Turkish Cup x1 - 2081/82 (Besiktas) Turkish Super Cup x6 - 2080/81, 2081/82, 2082/83, 2083/84, 2084/85, 2085/86 (Besiktas) Belgian Pro League x8 - 2071/72, 2072/73, 2073/74, 2074/75, 2075/76, 2076/77, 2077/78, 2078/79 (Anderlecht) Belgian Cup x3 - 2074/75, 2077/78, 2078/79 (Anderlecht) Belgian Super Cup x7 - 2072/73, 2073/74, 2074/75, 2075/76, 2076/77, 2077/78, 2078/79 (Anderlecht) Swiss Super League x3 - 2090/91, 2091/92, 2092/93 (Young Boys) Swiss Cup x5 - 2087/88, 2088/89, 2093/94, 2094/95, 2095/96 (Young Boys) Del Boy Winder's Career History --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Club League Position Achievements/Other --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2096/97 Vaduz Swiss Super League 4th Liechtenstein Cup winners 2097/98 Vaduz Swiss Super League 6th Liechtenstein Cup winners 2098/99 Vaduz Swiss Super League 5th Liechtenstein Cup winners 2099/00 Vaduz Swiss Super League 5th Liechtenstein Cup winners 2100/01 Vaduz Swiss Super League 6th Liechtenstein Cup winners 2101/02 Vaduz Swiss Super League 4th Liechtenstein Cup winners 2102/03 Vaduz Swiss Super League 3rd Liechtenstein Cup winners 2103/04 Vaduz Swiss Super League 5th Liechtenstein Cup winners 2104/05 Vaduz Swiss Super League 4th Liechtenstein Cup winners 2105/06 Vaduz Swiss Super League 2nd Europa League & Liechtenstein Cup winners 2106/07 Vaduz Swiss Super League 4th Europa League & Liechtenstein Cup winners 2106/07 Vaduz Swiss Super League 3rd Champions League, Euro Super Cup & Liech Cup winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Del Boy Winder's Trophy Cabinet Champions League x1 - 2107/08 (Vaduz) Europa League x2 - 2105/06, 2106/07 (Vaduz) European Super Cup x1 - 2107/08 (Vaduz) Liechtenstein Cup x12 - 2096/97, 2097/98, 2098/99, 2099/00, 2100/01, 2101/02, 2102/03, 2103/04, 2104/05, 2105/06, 2106/07, 2107/08 (Vaduz) Nations Completed Nations completed as Paul Hart: 1. England - Arsenal 2. France - Paris SG 3. Italy - AS Roma 4. Spain - Atletico Madrid 5. Germany - VFL Wolfsburg 6. Russia - Zenit St Petersburg 7. Portugal - Portimonense SC 8. Holland - Vitesse Arnhem Nations completed as Thierry: 9. Scotland - St. Mirren 10. Belgium - Anderlecht 11. Turkey - Besiktas 12. Switzerland - Young Boys Nations completed as Del Boy Winder: 13. Liechtenstein - Vaduz Nations completed by the AI: 1. England - Manchester City 2. Germany - RB Leipzig 3. Spain - Valencia CF 4. Portugal - Sporting Lisbon 5. Austria - RB Salzburg 6. Turkey - Galatasaray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 Nations Remaining (based on coefficient ranking) Austria Croatia Ukraine Czech Republic Denmark Serbia Romania Poland Sweden Bulgaria Norway Iceland Greece Slovakia Republic of Ireland Slovenia Israel Hungary Finland Belarus Northern Ireland Wales The Czech Republic has now been added to the game. They're definitely the best of the rest, with Sparta Prague, their strongest side, even occasionally making the last 16 of the Champions League in recent times. Current plan after Austria, Croatia, Ukraine and Czech Republic have been hit is to go for a Nordic Tour and cover Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 A great run for Rapid Vienna who pip PSG in the final to win the Europa League. Croatia having a good time with 3 sides in the Last 16. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 Champions League Hall of Fame Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 RB Salzburg are champions once more, with Rapid Vienna, St Polten and Sturm Graz all making it through to the CL as well given Austria's 4 club status. Lviv make it 4 in a row in Ukraine as a new dynasty appears to have been born. A strange season for Olimpik, who finish rock bottom and are relegated, but will play Europa League football next year courtesy of winning the Cup! Hajduk take the crown in Croatia, which makes it a 4th different winner of the league in 4 consecutive seasons. Sparta appear to be the dominant force in the Czech Republic, with Slavia the next best side. We'll see how having the full detail of the league being playable makes an impact in the coming years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 Meanwhile the National Team heads into their 2nd ever major tournament with a clean bill of health. I will add that just days after announcing the squad, as I'd perhaps naively removed the Swiss SL and added the Czech League, both back-up keepers (who are in the 2nd tier) were swiftly removed from the game having retired It means I go into the Euros with just 2 keepers, as whilst they let me add another keeper, there wasn't a 3rd one to be had in the game. I think unfortunately with a lot of the eligible players being wiped now that any idea of trying to qualify for the next World Cup will have to be put off the table as there likely just won't be enough players, especially if more drop off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 Well done for winning it with Vaduz, amazing achievement considering how hard it is to even get an opportunity to play in the CL with them! Do you think Austria will be relatively straightforward considering the strength of the league right now? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 28, 2021 Author Share Posted April 28, 2021 1 hour ago, corinthiano said: Well done for winning it with Vaduz, amazing achievement considering how hard it is to even get an opportunity to play in the CL with them! Do you think Austria will be relatively straightforward considering the strength of the league right now? The AI has already robbed me of RB Salzburg, but there’s 3 other pretty strong sides already in there, doesn’t look like any “big” jobs will be going this summer, but certainly Austria looks a good place to manage at the minute either way, yes. Hoping I can pick up a job there even at a smaller side, quite a few in very insecure so will have to see what happens during or after the Euros. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 A solid first result of our two warm-up friendlies, with a 1-0 victory over Iceland thanks to a late goal from Damian Schurte. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 Put out the second string against Switzerland, which didn't tell me too much I didn't know already, with a 4-0 loss against far superior opposition. If we're going to do anything in the tournament we need to avoid too many injuries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 A massive team performance from the lads saw us pick up our first ever competitive win at a major tournament. Schurte opened the scoring in the first half, with a Sven-John penalty making it 2-0 early in the second before we shut up shop - with Dario Ospelt especially having a great performance at the back. Maxi Kaiser picked up a late red for a second yellow in injury time, but what a result! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 The Norwegians were up next and we managed to hold them to a 0-0 draw, with a decent defensive performance albeit with not much happening ahead of them. With a lot of the other games being draws, this actually meant with 4 points we go into the final game of the group on 4 points but top of the group, with the caveat that if we can avoid defeat against the hosts, Sweden, we will somehow have made our way out of the group and into the knockout stages! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 A strong start and comprehensive performance sees the hosts bottle it! We were 2-0 up after just 12 minutes, with Schadler getting a 3rd for us just before the hour mark to put us 3-0 up and in dream-land. The hosts did get a goal back, but it wasn't enough! We sail through top of the group, with Norway, the only other side who even won a game, to join us, with the hosts and Denmark both dumped out. We face the Czech Republic in the Round of 16! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 The Liechtenstein fairly tale is over, but what a journey it has been. Dumped out fairly unceremoniously by the Czechs, somewhat ironic with them just being added to the game, but to get this fair in a major tournament is a real credit in itself. It would have been interesting to see if we could have taken them to the next World Cup, maybe they will still qualify without Rodney at the helm, but a fantastic journey that I've enjoyed and glad that I made the step into international management for the first time in a good long while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 Amazing group stage performance, there weren't any easy sides in that group. Incredible performance overall, you really took the national team to a much higher level! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 Del Boy: I'm telling you Rodney, I know you liked the gig at Liechtenstein, and you done a hell of a job there, but with me leaving Vaduz I think it's a good time to leave and join me again. Rodney: Yeah, I suppose you're right, Del. Can you tell me who you've got lined up next? You said it was a massive Champions League club the other day, but what one is it? Del Boy: It's Wolfsburg, Rodney! Wolfsburg. Massive club. Semi Finalists last year, we knocked them out, but I'm sure together we can get them winning the Champions League again. Budget of 80-90 the fella said on the blower, corrr £80-90M, we're living the dream, never get that at Vaduz I tell you. Rodney: Ah that's brilliant Del, you said they've booked us flights already? Del Boy: Yes Rodney, my son, I'll forward the email onto you now. Rodney: Erm. Del. Why is the flight going to Austria? Del Boy: Austria? No, no, Rodney, that can't be right. Rodney: Del! What have you done?! It says we're going to Wolfsberg in Austria, not Wolfsburg in Germany. Del Boy: What- No. No there must be some kind of mistake. The man on the blower was saying Wolfsberger, but I thought that was just the German way of saying Wolfsburg. Rodney: And from what Google is telling me Wolfsberger are in massive financial trouble. That £80-90M budget they said they have? Del Boy: Well the fella on the phone said 80-90, I thought he must mean million. You don't think, you don't think he meant £80-90K did he? Rodney: Oh, Del. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted April 30, 2021 Author Share Posted April 30, 2021 We end our time at Liechtenstein finally breaking the Top 100, in 91st place in the World. Pretty cool to see that Rodney's replacement is likely one of our ex players in Diego Buckhard or Martin Zurbuchen. Whoever it is that takes over will be without Sven-John, who despite being good enough that he could've played until he was in his mid to late 30's and destroy the all-time caps record, he's decided to retire now to preserve is club career at AC Milan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasdgfas Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 Just caught up to this absolute epic. I thought you'd be at Vaduz significantly longer than you were! Incredible performance, and I'm looking forward to seeing future countries hopefully take less time due to being more straightforward for qualification and coefficient improvement 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkouv Posted May 4, 2021 Share Posted May 4, 2021 Just caught up with this - what a thread, and what an achievement with Vaduz! Looking forward to the next chapter of the Fools and Horses saga ))) By the way, I hope you try out Croatia at some point - apparently Fools & Horses is absolutely massive over there (and in the Balkans more generally I think), so Rodney would get a proper hero's welcome! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted May 5, 2021 Author Share Posted May 5, 2021 Upon arrival at Wolfsberger I was reasonably content with the squad, it's not bad, not great, probably what I was expecting for a side 6th in the Austrian PL, albeit an Austrian PL that's the 4th best league in Europe. The two star players at the club were both Africa, with Spheshile Ndlela the club captain at right back and Victor Obi, a young Nigerian central midfielder who looked really good. As you may have seen, Obi left for Belgian outfit Oud-Huverlee (remember them). I didn't particularly want to sell him, but he had 1 year left on his deal and no interest in renewing, so cashing in on him was a pretty decent move as it meant we could at least have some kind of transfer budget - albeit still absolute pennies. A few other back-up players left who had requested moves. I can't take any credit for picking up young centre back Ahmet Hadzovic on a free from Leipzig as it was a deal already agreed when I joined, but I have to say it looks an absolute bargain to be interest. Fair play to whoever pulled that one off. I noticed that Obi had been signed from Nigerian side Enugu Rangers, who I was surprised to find out we actually have some kind of affiliate agreement with. I looked into them a bit and found Michael Friday in their ranks, who for a cut price deal given I was signing him from the Nigerian league, joins us to replace Obi. He looks a great pick-up for the price even at an age where we might not get much if any re-sell value later down the line. The African market is not something I've really explored much throughout this save, but it seems Wolfsberger might be onto something with it. We've also got affiliates with lower league sides in Romania, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Sweden, none of whom have any players that are any good, but still pretty random to see a middling Austrian side with so many abroad links. We needed another body in midfield and with limited funds a lot of the targets we wanted weren't attainable. We ended up with Josip Babic, a Croatian who we signed from 2nd tier Croatian side Junak for £1M which was his release clause. For what we paid I don't think we can complain too much. Nico Hummel was available on a free transfer having been released by St Polten. Despite only scoring 2 goals all season last year, given our budget we couldn't be too picky and since he was on a free I thought it was worth taking a chance on him to see if he could score some more goals for us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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