[FM20] - Authority is not given to you to deny the Return of the King!

[SRL88]

Santa Cruz FC - August & September 2020

Serie C - Group B

August Results

We did the necessary jobs, although the month rounded off in poor style.

We dominated our first game of the month and could have easily won by a number of goals. As it turned out, it took just the one from Kelvenny to give us a single goal victory. The same scoreline followed in our next game, a match where we were second best throughout. It was a pure smash and grab as a goal in the final minute gave us the three points. The month rounded off awfully, where despite taking the lead, our players just didn't turn up at all and we were swept aside by Brasil de Pelotas.

September Results

We finished the season with a win and a defeat, but ultimately took top spot.

We weren't good against Confianca, losing 1-0 to ensure we lost both games to the same two teams. We rounded out the first stage of the season with a fantastic performance at home to Ponte Preta, with three goals giving us a comprenshive victory.

We head into the Play-Offs to face the fourth place team in Group A, Campinense. To my knowledge, if we get through the Quarter-Final stage of the competition, we'll take one of the four promotion spots.

Edited November 28, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

We're at that part of the year again just before we head into the Play-Offs (although, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be here). Some solid prospects for the club:

AMC/AMR/ST - Jhonata Robert

GK - Romercio

DM/M(RC) - Gilberto

DM/WBL/MR - Salatiel Bartolomeu

DM/DC - Gilvan

AMC/ST - Natan Graminho

[SRL88]

Serie C Play-Offs - Quarter Final

A simple case of getting the job done over the two legs. Not great, but a goalless draw away from home was followed up with a narrow win at home to see us through.

With that win, not only did it take us into the Semi-Finals, but it saw us claim one of the four available promotion slots meaning the team will be in Serie B next season.

Yes, THE Rivaldo!!!

The board may be happy, but our relationship right now isn't the best.....

[SRL88]

Serie C Play-Offs - Semi-Final

Much like the previous round, it was a case of doing what had to be done. We drew away from home, and in an even second leg, we managed to score a last minute penalty to give us the win.

Final

Superb work from the boys to ensure we finish the season as Champions!

In an even first leg, again, away from home we managed to claim a 1-1 draw. In the second leg, despite falling behind we managed to come back and claim a comfortable win to give us the title.

[SRL88]

Again, they may be happy, but I feel it's too little, too late!

The man again!!

This was a random surprise to read as well

Edited November 28, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

On a personal level, it was very nice to receive this.

Congratulations to our 37yo captain on making the Team of the Year.

[ManUtd1]

2 hours ago, SRL88 said:

This was a random surprise to read as well

*mutters angrily in Bruce Arena*

[SRL88]

5 hours ago, ManUtd1 said:

*mutters angrily in Bruce Arena*

Oh he's still some way out in front. Plenty of catching up to do there.

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - Season Review - 2020 - Santa Cruz FC

Serie C

Results 1 - Results 2

Competition Performance: Promoted as Champions

What a fantastic season we had to defy the odds and get promoted as Champions. We were fancied to make the Play-Offs, but out-performed that to go all the way. A fantastic season where we lost four games (to the same two sides), winning the rest as we put up a really good points tally. In the Play-Offs, we weren't great, but we did the necessary job of navigating our way through, to seal promotion with our Quarter-Final win, then go on to comfortably beat Sampaio.

Pernambuco State Championship

Competition Performance: Runners-Up

We used the early stages of the competition as pre-season but did a fantastic job to make the latter stages. We got some fantastic results along the way to finish second in the group and comfortably make the Quarter-Final. We battled our way through from there, taking the scalp of Serie A side Sport Recife to make the Final. In a tough battle, we weren't able to come out on top.

Copa Perdigao do Brasil

Competition Performance: Knocked out in Fourth Round

I am very proud of the players to make it to this stage of the competition. We were only expected to make the second round, so to go two further was excellent. We beat two higher division teams along the way to make the fourth round before Vasco da Gama proved a hurdle too far for us, albeit, we only lost on penalties.

Squad

We operated with such a small squad due to financial restraints, which make our season even more impressive. Just one right back for example showing how thin we were. The players were absolutely fantastic all season long.

Finances - Transfers

The finances are shocking. There's just no other way to put it. There is no money at this level, plus having the stadium the club do with small attendances, there's no money to be made.

The finances reflected our transfer activity. We couldn't afford to bring anyone in because we had no money for wages.

My Top 3 Players

Kelvenny - Brilliant season. A huge step-up from last season, chipping in with a number of goals

Guilherme Queiroz - A diamond in the rough for us! He was out on loan when we arrived this season, but we gave him a year to show us what he could do and didn't let us down

Jailson - Probably better in the first half of the season than the second, but it felt like he was always among the goals

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Season  | Team           | Country    | Division      | League Position | Notes                                      |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2019    | Santa Cruz FC  | Brazil     | Serie C       | 5th             | Joined in June, Copa Do Nordeste Winners   | 
| 2020    | Santa Cruz FC  | Brazil     | Serie C       | 1st - Champions | Permanbuco State Runners-Up                |

Next Season

I think my time here is done. I don't get along with the board. They refuse to help the club out financially and I just can't see a way I can improve this team to be competitive in Serie B without money.

[B.W.G]

Excellent season  Shame about the board not being supportive,I hope you can find somewhere with people willing to back you.

[SRL88]

1 hour ago, B.W.G said:

Excellent season  Shame about the board not being supportive,I hope you can find somewhere with people willing to back you.

Thanks man

We had a great season, and like you say, a shame how things have panned out. 

[SRL88]

Confirmation of our departure....

There could be something in the pipeline already!

[SRL88]

It didn't take long, but following a successful interview with Chilean side, Club Deportivo Palestino, we're back into management, twelve days after leaving Santa Cruz.

Quote

Speaking to La Cuarta newspaper, Stevens spoke of his delight at accepting the position. "This is a fantastic opportunity for me to get back into management. The way I left Santa Cruz wasn't ideal, but this is a chance for me to move on quickly and continue my development as a manager. I am excited to get started, and with the season just over a month away I'm ready to get to work". 

Rich Stevens Career - New Club - Club Deportivo Palestino

So we aren't joining the biggest club in the world by any stretch, and Football Manager classes it as a step down, but I see this as a huge win. We're now going to be managing in the Chilean Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank, their Premier League, so we now have the opportunity to push for a continental competition. I'm really excited about working here.

Name: Club Deportivo Palestino

Nickname: -

Founded: 1920

Stadium: Municipal de La Cisterna (10,000 all-seater)

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - Season Preview - 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Board Expectations:

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank: Fight Bravely Against Relegation

Copa Chile MTS: Reach the Third Round

 

My Expectations:

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank: I haven't had chance to evaluate anything just yet, but we are favourites to go down. With just a month till the new season, we're going to have to work fast

Copa Chile MTS: As long as I achieve the board expectations, I never complain when it comes to cup competitions

 

Budgets:

Transfer: £715k - an actual budget!!

Wages: £27,070 p/w (currently spending £16,326 p/w)

Balance: £682,953

 

[john1]

Bloody hell you are back!!   Good luck with Palestino  

[SRL88]

1 hour ago, john1 said:

Bloody hell you are back!!   Good luck with Palestino  

Haha I am...true story  Good to see you fella

[deltablue]

I hope it goes well with the new club. 

[SRL88]

1 hour ago, deltablue said:

I hope it goes well with the new club. 

Thank you Sir

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - Pre-Season - 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Friendlies

It was a bit of an up and down pre-season as we tried to find the right fit for this team. Things started off really poorly as we failed to win our first four, but then we started to hit a groove with three wins before rounding things off with a draw. One thing I have discovered though, is that this team really lacks in concentration late on, so that could be an issue.

Transfers - In

Aaron Barquett - Loan - We only had one recognised right-back, so to pick him up on loan, and an improvement at the position was a no-brainer

Omar Carabali - Free - Following the sale of our number one (see departures) we had to bring someone in. Solid stop-gap

Sebastian Medina - Loan - Pretty much exactly the same as Barquett

Alvaro Delgado - £29k - A very cheap deal for a winger that gives us a bit of quality in an area lacking

Luis Pacheco - £8.75k - Gives us more depth in the middle of the park

Santiago Lizana - Loan - Gives us another solid option in the wide areas as we look for players who can unlock a defence

Transfers - Out

The deals below the red line are what we did. Three youngsters leaving, but most importantly we lost our number one goalkeeper who left for £200k. He said he wanted to leave for a bigger club so we had to left him go eventually.

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - February 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

What a fantastic start to life in Chile, and one which almost saw us take maximum points.

Our opening day game was literally, one of those games. One down, level, one up, level, two down at half-time. We dominated the game but couldn't handle the counter. The second half however saw us take more control, and although they came late, two goals gave us a fantastic win. That was followed up with an unfortunate draw away to Deportas. We were leading until the final moments, when, despite dominating, we couldn't see the game out. A stunning opening half hour in our final game of the month saw us three goals up. From there it was a professional job, and a fourth late on sealed the win.

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - March 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

After an excellent start to life in Chile, we were brought back down to earth this month.

Our first defeat was brought about on the road in a game where we weren't dreadful, but just couldn't take our chances and our opponents did. We bounced back with a hard-earned win over Universidad de Chile and Luis Pacheco, making his first start scored a rocket to give us victory by a single goal. The month rounded off in poor fashion though as we weren't at the races and comprehensively beaten by Santiago. 

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[withnail316]

Welcome back, man. 

[SRL88]

1 hour ago, withnail316 said:

Welcome back, man. 

Appreciate it fella  good to see you as well

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - April 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

The results continue to be mixed as we find out feet in this division.

It took a lot of work, but we deserved our win to open the month. The goal should have come earlier given our dominance, but we eventually found the winning goal with six minutes remaining. The next two games compound my biggest fear about this team. We aren't the best, but, we went into the final ten minutes of both games goalless, and our concentration failed late on. We conceded late in both games to deny us two valuable points. That same concentration problem bit us in our final game. Despite leading twice, we couldn't do the necessary job to see the game through and had to settle for a point.

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[B.W.G]

Solid start to the season.

[SRL88]

1 hour ago, B.W.G said:

Solid start to the season.

Despite my frustration, considering we were favourites for the drop, I can't complain too much.

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - May 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

A much better month to get some confidence back.

We started really well away to Catolica, taking the lead just after the 20 minute mark, and looked very good until the closing minutes of the first half. We conceded on the brink of half-time and from there our opponents took over. We were poor after the break and deserved our 3-1 defeat. After a poor run of form, we were fortunate to come up against struggling Concepcion. Despite them taking the lead, they soon went down to ten men and from there it was all us. We did what we had to do as we went on to win 5-1. A very hard-fought game against a good Everton side followed and a late goal gave us a huge win. The month rounded off with a very good draw against the biggest side in the league, Colo-Colo.

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - June & July 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

I continue to be frustrated by this teams inability to concentrate late in games. I'm not sure if that's down to my tactics, the players themselves, or a mix of both.

In a game which neither side deserved to win, we played our only June fixture with the game finishing goalless. Following a long break (which included cup fixtures), we then travelled to Iquique and in backs-to-the-wall affair, after scoring an early penalty we managed to battle our way through for a very valuable three points. The frustration then followed however, as in both games we were a single goal up going into the final ten minutes and couldn't hold on. As well as frustrations with the defence, I'm also annoyed with our attack who failed to finish the games off.

Copa Chile MTS Second & Third Rounds

Not the most ideal run in the cup, but at least we can focus on the league.

Despite being in a division higher than Nublense, we were made to work much harder than I would have liked and it ended up being a battle. Despite winning the first leg, we didn't turn up in the second and were quite lucky to escape with a slender victory. Two tight games followed in the third round, but we were edged out in the second leg as we exit the competition.

 

Transfers - In

Henry Sanhueza - £26.5k - We needed better depth in central defence and he gives us that. Also has the ability to challenge for a starting berth

Jose Luis Sierra - Loan - A solid option for us who can play in a few positions

Transfers - Out

For me it's been about trimming the club! The number of trash players in our U19 squad is shocking, so to be able to move them all on just makes life easier and frees up a little bit of wages.

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - August 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

I'll say it now that we aren't playing the best football, but we're getting results.

The month started off with narrow win over Huachipato. An excellent goal inside 25 minutes gave us the lead and we were looking really comfortable until the brink of half-time when we conceded an equaliser. The second half was fairly even, but both sides had excellent chances to take the lead. Eventually it was us who did so with a goal inside the final 15 minutes which turned out to be the winner. That was followed with a frustrating goalless draw in a game which we absolutely dominated, but our finishing let us down. We then travelled to Universidad de Chile and pulled off a fantastic victory. Despite falling behind we son levelled the game, and were looking the better team in the second half also until the 75th minute when we were reduced to ten men. From there we were hanging on, but a goal on the counter attack gave us possibly our best three points of the season. The month rounded off with a boring game, but one in which we won 1-0 away to Cobresal to leave us in a really good position in the league.

 

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

This could have some promise to it....

[SRL88]

Probably the quickest takeover I've ever been a part of on Football Manager. This happened 3 or 4 days after the initial message of interest.

[SRL88]

Not the greatest of intakes, but we'll definitely be bringing those in who at least stand a chance of making the grade:

Miguel Vasquez - DC

Carlos Molina - AM(C)/ST

Raul Cataldo - DM

Matias Canete - DC

[SRL88]

What a fantastic achievement for the club! We were favourites to be relegated, so to have qualified for a continental competition (Europa League equivalent) is an amazing achievement! With games still to play this season, things could get a lot better.

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - September & October 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

Despite this two month period ending in disappointing fashion, we put together a fantastic run of form to put ourselves into an excellent possession heading into the final two games of the season.

We had to battle our way to a draw with a much better Union Espanola team, but followed that up with a really good come from behind victory to grab three points at AC. Our best performance of the season followed with a brilliant 4-0 win, with our first half display being absolutely fantastic. We then had two hard-earned 1-0 wins, first at home to a Catolica side who are fighting with us for the Copa Libertadores, and a win which sealed guaranteed qualification for the Sudamericana. It seemed like we took our foot off the pedal away to bottom of the table Concepcion, but a second half penalty gave us the win. We were really poor against Colo-Colo and got dominated defensively. They were too good for us and defeat put us in a tougher position to seal a top four spot.

The final two games of the season see us play Curico Unido (6th) (h), and Everton (4th) (a).

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

This happened so randomly, but we've started playing our home games at Chile's national stadium without me being told. Either way, it seems to be working financially.

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - November & December 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

What a fantastic way to end the season! Relegation favourites, to second place and qualification to the Copa Libertadores!

We fell behind at home to Curico Unido, but two goals just before half-time changed the complexion of the game. We dominated the second half half and added a further two goals as we ran out comfortable winners. That took us down to a final day game with Everton. We needed a draw to finish in the top four but managed to go one better. A fantastic performance saw us out-perform our opponents who were clearly feeling the nerves, and a goal in the final ten minutes gave us the win to see us finish second in the league.

And with that win.

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[john1]

Fantastic 2nd place finish  Congrats on qualifying for Copa Libertadores  

[Rikulec]

Well done!

[SRL88]

17 minutes ago, john1 said:

Fantastic 2nd place finish  Congrats on qualifying for Copa Libertadores  

Cheers man. Our form in the second half of the season was absolutely fantastic, and the main reason we finished where we did.

2 minutes ago, Rikulec said:

Well done!

Cheers fella  

[deltablue]

Great 2nd place. 

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - Season Review - 2021 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

Results 1 - Results 2

Competition Performance: 2nd

Unbelievable! I've mentioned it before, but I have to say it. Favourites for relegation. 1000/1 for the title, and we finish second. Results in the first half of the season were a bit up and down, but once we hit July we were fantastic. Losing just once from there till the end of the season we did a brilliant job of finishing as runners-up in the league.

Copa Chile MTS

Competition Performance: Knocked out in Third Round

Nothing to really shout about. We weren't great in either round, and nor was it a priority of mine. We did what the board asked, and that's all that matters.

Squad

There's no denying that the squad out-performed their expectations. They were fantastic throughout. My only complaint is that it took us until we brought we brought Jose Sierra in on loan for a striker to find the back of the net.

Finances - Transfers

The finances are really healthy, especially in comparison to Santa Cruz anyway. We ended the final game with over £2m in the bank, but after a tax hit they took a little fall.

Transfers were purely about trimming the fat at the club. Too many players, too many youngsters too who were never going to make the grade. Just get rid!

My Top 3 Players

Oscar Hernandez - By far our most creative player. He set an assist record and chipped in with some important goals

Enzo Guerrero - The club captain! His performances may not have been brilliant, but his leadership was vital. When he wasn't playing the difference was noticeable

Luis Pacheco  - A very important piece to the puzzle. It took him a while to get going, and he was on the fringes of the squad following his arrival, but he became a very important player

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Season  | Team           | Country    | Division        | League Position | Notes                                      |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2019    | Santa Cruz FC  | Brazil     | Serie C         | 5th             | Joined in June, Copa Do Nordeste Winners   | 
| 2020    | Santa Cruz FC  | Brazil     | Serie C         | 1st - Champions | Permanbuco State Runners-Up                |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2021    | Palestino      | Chile      | Nac. Scotiabank | 2nd             | Copa Libertadores Qualification            |

Next Season

We've now got a continental competition to deal with, so we need to be sensible about how we improve this squad while trying to remain competitive. If we can qualify for the Scudamericana, I'll class that as an excellent season

Edited December 11, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

Former Club Watch

Santa Cruz FC

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Season  | Country    | Division      | League Position | Notes                            |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2021    | Brazil     | Serie B       | 19th            | Relegated, Pernambuco State RU   | 

Disappointing in the sense of relegation, but they weren't expected to survive and were at least competitive 

Edited December 11, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

6 minutes ago, deltablue said:

Great 2nd place. 

Thanks  much appreciated my friend

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - Season Preview - 2022 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Board Expectations:

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank: Not Important

Copa Libertadores: Attempt to be Competitive

Copa Chile MTS: Reach the Quarter-Final

 

My Expectations:

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank: I think after last season we have to be aiming in and around the top of the table. Top 8 and qualification for the Sudamericana would be excellent in my opinion

Copa Libertadores: We enter at the Group Stage. As long as we're competitive in our group, I'll be happy

Copa Chile MTS: This isn't really important for me. I might struggle to meet board expectations because I'll rotate

 

Budgets:

Transfer: £2,683,567

Wages: £30,202 p/w (currently spending £18,489 p/w)

Balance: £1,478,502 (+£795,549 since last season)

Edited December 4, 2019 by SRL88

[SRL88]

Copa Libertadores Group Stage Draw

I can't make too much of it just yet as we're still awaiting to find out who the final team in the group is, but it's nice to be here. The game against River Plate stands out for obvious reasons. We will also face the trip to Bolivia to THAT stadium.....one of the highest altitude stadiums in the world

 

[B.W.G]

Qualifying for the Copa Libertadores in your first season at Palestino,nicely done  

[SRL88]

16 hours ago, B.W.G said:

Qualifying for the Copa Libertadores in your first season at Palestino,nicely done  

Thanks  it was a fantastic achievement, and one I definitely didn't expect

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - Pre-Season - 2022 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Friendlies

A much different pre-season to last. I used these purely as fitness as I now know the capabilities of the squad so set up routine friendlies for the squad. Some good football was played, lots of goals, and the team heads into the season in good confidence.

Transfers - In

Tiago Ruiz Diaz - £6k - Brought in from former club Santa Cruz (I don't think I signed him), and an improvement at the full-back position from last season

Anderson - Free - A very familiar face. On loan with me in Brazil for 2-years, he spent a further season there after I left and now he makes the move to Chile to link up with me again

Kevin Lomanaco - £40.5k - A really good young prospect! An instant challenger for a starting berth

Ignacio Ibanez - £70k - I managed to find him in the lower leagues in Chile. I think he could be a very solid winger for us

Stefano Magnasco - Free - Added competition at right-back, and brings in experience to our back-line

Manoel - Free - We needed players at full-back, so we moved to the opposite side and brought in a really good option for us

David Llanos - Loan - Brought in to fill the numbers. We needed attacking options, and he gives us that

Jose Luis Sierra - Loan - On loan for the second half of last season and he scored some important goals. I felt it was a no-brainer to bring him back

Sebastian Medina - Loan - Another player we had last season. Did a good job for us, so simply extended his loan

Yerko Leiva - £375k - A huge money signing for us! We had to stump up his release clause fee, but this is a massive addition for the club

Transfers - Out

A continued trimming of the club overall. A lot of young players left on loan which are those I feel could contribute to the club at some point in the future. Those that left on permanent deals either weren't good enough or I couldn't get rid of them last season. Pleased to have those I didn't want out the club.

[SRL88]

Rich Stevens Career - February 2022 - Club Deportivo Palestino

Campeonato Nacional Scotiabank

After a rough opening day, we turned things round very well to be sitting nicely after the opening month of the season.

The game against Colo-Colo showed me one thing, and it's how far we away from them in terms of quality. They were so much better than us and 3-0 was a very fair reflection of the game. We managed to bounce back from that however in fine style. An explosive performance saw us get off the mark for the season with five goals from five different scorers. Another thumping win rounded off the month as we went on the road to Coquimbo Unido and did an excellent job to take away all three points.

[SRL88]

So we reach our first milestone in football, and what a game it is too! Our first Copa Libertadores game, away to River Plate