[FM20] United We Stand

[Constantine 834]

FM20: Jedinstvo Ub - United We Stand

Hello there. Been in this parts of forum few times. Lately with short lived Enfield Town FC save, which went down the drain after my HDD went bust on New Year's Day. Struggled to get into a save after that and it took Rikulec's excellent Unia Janikowo story to remind me that there's no place like home.

So back to home i went. Jedinstvo Ub. One of the two clubs from village town where i spent my childhood. Definitively a bigger one since another, Radnik, is relatively new. I lived 5 minutes away from their stadium. Went on runs there when i was younger, up and down the stairs on their stands. Heck, during their glory days (and i use term glory very loosely here), when Jedinstvo played in Serbia&Montenegro' Second Division, i was a bag boy for Bosko Jankovic and Dusan Basta, former Genoa and Lazio players who were here during their developing years.

Ub is where Dragan Dzajic, arguably the best Yugoslavian player was born. Jedinstvo Ub is where he made his first steps into football. If you haven't heard of him, i wouldn't blame you. One of the most underrated players in history. He was ridiculous back in the days. “Džajić is the Balkan miracle – a real wizard, I’m just sorry he’s not Brazilian because I’ve never seen such a natural footballer.” Words said by none other than Pelé, right after the two played against each other in 1968, if i'm not mistaken. Look him up on Youtube, even today he would be among the greatest, his technique, dribbling, crossing, devastating left foot... Out of this world.

But he wasn't the only one. Dusan (Dule) Savic, another one born in Ub, started his career at Jedinstvo before going to Crvena zvezda and becoming one of their legends and cult hero.

In recent times, we had Radisav Petrovic, current Almeria player, who went from Jedinstvo to Partizan to Blackburn, before starting his merry-go-round loan spree after signing for Sporting Lisbon.

And at last, but not least important. Maybe you've heard of him. Current Manchester United player. Nemanja Matic.

He isn't exactly that much connected to Jedinstvo as some of previously mentioned. At least during his earlier years. We'll get to that soon. Matic was born in tiny village near Ub called Vrelo. He played a bit for their side before going to trial in Partizan and Crvena zvezda. As neither found him talented enough to sign permanently, he went back to Ub, signed his youth contract with Jedinstvo where he spent year or two before turning pro at Kolubara, his stop-gap to Kosice and later Chelsea.

Now, how is he connected this story, how is Matic intertwined in all of this and how he got me to start this save?

Bear with me and this wall of text, we're getting there.

Jedinstvo went through hard times after their former player Dragan Dzajic, back then president of Crvena zvezda, resigned and Jedinstvo's link with Serbian biggest club was canceled. With no talent coming from Belgrade on loans, they dropped like a stone as far as current Serbian Fourth Division. They yo-yoed between 3rd and 4th rank, desperately trying to get back where they were and few business practices/couple wrong transfer decisions away, Jedinstvo were at the brink of extinction. Tale old as time...

In comes Nemanja Matic. Now Manchester United first teamer, he had means and will to help save the club where he spent his formative years. Basically, he took over Jedinstvo, paid their debts, restored our stadium, renamed it from Gradski Stadion to Stadium Dragan Dzajic and since he can't be here full time due to his career, Matic delegated pretty much everything to his brother Darko, now acting chairman of Jedinstvo Ub.

Their aims: Financial stability, giving local kids a chance to shine and eventually going after promotion to Serbian top flight.

So, long history lesson aside, that's where i come in.

We'll make it a Youth Only save, giving talented kids from Ub and surroundings the opportunity to prove themselves.

And maybe, just maybe, produce another such magician as Dragan Dzajic once was.

[Constantine 834]

Fun fact: Captain Dejan Mladenovic and I were childhood pals, we played together as toddlers in parks and stuff.

Vice Captain Rakic i know from school.

Facilities aren't exactly fitted for youth development but we'll get there. Our journey starts with healthy sum on our bank accounts but since Matic expect us to be self reliant (and since i played with Jedinstvo before), we won't be getting extra funds and will have to find money to fund our own endeavors.

Club vision will need tweaking as we won't be signing anyone. It's reflected pretty accurately actually, as official word is that Jedinstvo looks to sign kids and young players from surrounding areas.

But in FM terms, for what we're going for, board will be disappointed as we won't stick with club culture as it is.

Squad is large. And rather old. Some trimming will be done. More about that later one. First things first, we have to renew some contracts, see who'll stay with us in coming season.

Loans will be cancelled though. Both of them are really great players that could improve us massively but we'll stick to our own.

Edited Wednesday at 09:35 by Constantine

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

Preseason - 2020/21

Shamelessly stolen from Rikulec

 

Board Expectations:

Prva liga Srbije: Fight bravely against relegation
Kup Srbije: Don't be outclassed

Honestly, i don't care about Kup. At least, for now. Money's rubbish and in the beginning it's just an annoyance in schedule, fit between tightly packed league games.

And if i don't mess something up, we should be straight in the promotion fight. As i mentioned before, i've already played with this lot and jump between Srpska liga (3rd tier) and Prva liga isn't that big. Won the whole thing last time i've tried so... Tough act to follow.

 

Friendlies

Lovely. Played against lower league sides, in close proximity to Ub. Since there's no money to be made here, opponents are chosen to ramp up our fitness and give us necessary morale boost ahead of season.

 

Transfers

Per challenge rules, no incoming players. Quite few outgoings though. Oldies on huge wages and two players with no chance of getting even on the bench.

 

Decided to add our best XI to this post. Just to track progress as years go by. And to show you guys what level of players we're playing with here.

Mirko Curguz

Aleksandar Radovanovic - Nemanja Sajic - Aleksandar Gavrilovic - Nikola Radojicic

Aleksa Bozovic - Ademin Hadzic - Darko Pavlovic - Goran Potkozarac

Lamin Jobe - Nemanja Ratkovic

Pavlovic was a means to an end, brought in first team as league' rules forced my hand.

Per them, we need to have two u21 players in our first XI and two more on the bench during match day.

You've seen our squad. Bit on the older side. Pavlovic, Nikacevic (promoted on the bench) and Jobe are only u21 we have.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 14:10 by Constantine

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

August 2020

Prva liga Srbije

Great start to our Prva liga life... Though we have to be careful as we played mostly recently promoted sides.

 

Kup Srbije

Disappointing exit in 1st qualifying round but in our defense, Graficar is Crvena zvezda's B side. And they came out pretty strong, with four first teamers mixed in with backups and high potential kids.

I guess i did care about the cup. A little bit. We'll do better next year.

 

Unrelated note, Pavlovic became Jedinstvo's youngest player ever to feature in a match.

 

Edited Wednesday at 17:00 by Constantine

[Constantine 834]

Ahmm... Thanks!!

Honestly, this one caught me off guard. Our balance dropped significantly, currently around 70k in the black.

Asked them for improvements, expecting nothing (courtesy of my time in England) but with little persuasion, they approved.

Lovely.

Both Junior Coaching and Youth Recruitment are now on Average level.

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

September 2020

Prva liga Srbije

Bit of a mixed month for us. Showed out teeth to former Superliga side Radnik, took the lead twice but failed to make the kill. Mirko Andric run Trayal off the pitch, finishing that game with two goals and assist. #1 favorite for promotion, Rad, inflicted us with season's first defeat. Lady Luck was our friend against Zlatibor but showed us her back literally the next game as we missed everything we could on our away trip to Nis, only to concede an equalizer during final 10 minutes.

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

October 2020

Prva liga Srbije

Dropped in standings but we faced some serious teams this October. Metalac, Zemun and Macva all had some Superliga experience this or year before this and we sailed past them. One complaint though, we allowed Zeleznicar to come back into game all too easily. Had them on the ropes, 3-nill at half time and i honestly expected some 90th minute equalizer. As for Crvena zvezda  Graficar, we were never winning that.

 

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

November 2020

Prva liga Srbije

Aside from that game against Kabel when we allowed them to overturn our early lead, this was pretty much perfect period for us. Undefeated against two Superliga dropouts and huge victory at Krusevac against Trayal meant that we advanced one spot on Prva liga table, still at the tail of superior Macva and Graficar sides.

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

December 2020

Prva liga Srbije

Going on a two and a half months long break in style.

 

 

 

[Constantine 834]

Just one day after our final game of the year wrapped up, we've got intake preview.

I'll take. Would've liked more wide players but we do need central defenders as ones we currently have are getting older and surely won't be getting any better.

Stojanovic is a new hire. Great knowledge, favorable style of play and most importantly, fantastic personality. Hopefully it'll rub off on some incoming graduates.

Edited Thursday at 10:36 by Constantine

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

Mid-season break

Friendlies

Decent performances all across the board.

No new outgoings. Not like we have anyone left to sell.

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

February 2021

Prva liga Srbije

Great victory to open up second part of the season. More of this, please.

 

Edited Friday at 14:00 by Constantine

[Constantine 834]

Class of '21

Great first intake. Fantastic CD which will go straight into first team. Few decent backups too. Got a lot of central defenders. Nice fullback, lovely striker.

Love it.

 

Stefan isn't a lot worse than our best defender. Straight into first team he goes.

 

Igor is so... So... Uneven. Good attributes here and there but abysmal physicals.

 

Winger through and through.

 

Blazo Dragicevic - Lovely striker i mentioned. Few irks to iron out but i love the looks of him.

Dragan Calasan - More rounded fullback.

Miso Krstic - Another great CD. Love his personality.

Nikola Stankovic - And another.

Milovan Antonijevic - Natural striker but he looks a lot more like a playmaker to me. We have some retraining to do.

Milos Petrovic - All of our goalkeepers are in/near thirties so this lad had to be signed.

 

 

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

March 2021

Prva liga Srbije

Radnik Surdulica turned on God mode as our mixed form caused us to slip down the table. Still, there's a lot games left to play and gap between first four sides isn't that big...

 

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

April 2021

Prva liga Srbije

That's preliminary phase of Prva liga Srbije wrapped up. Gave it our all against Graficar but they're just so good with their Crvena zvezda wonderkids and first team rejects.

Anyhow, the league's split.

First two places secure direct promotion to Serbian top tier. 3rd and 4th go into Play Offs.

Graficar can't get promoted (Crvena zvezda's B team, i complained about this multiple times) so everything's still wide open.

For getting Jedinstvo into Top 8, board seemed fit to award me with a new contract.

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

April 2021

Prva liga Srbije

Dropped the ball against Macva as we conceded in 90th minute from a set piece. Somehow survived to claim a point away at Graficar. We've faced two of the toughest sides in the league already, so as of right now only Radnik Surdulica is standing between us and promotion to top tier.

[Constantine 834]

Jedinstvo Ub

May 2021

In a clash against our direct (and only) contender, we did it!! Surdulica has fallen. We're going into Super liga!!

Prva liga Srbije

Surely we made our life harder than it had to be but in the end, we got there!

And as a result, we're going full time.