[FM 24] Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Allow Me To Introduce Myself

Hungarian football has fascinated me over the years. Although the country is no longer the powerhouse it once was, its history as the first team to lose two World Cup finals and its current position as a footballing nation provide me with something I had been longing for.

A challenge.

Allow me to introduce the protagonist, István Barna. At 23 years old, he has been handed the managerial reigns of Budapest Honvéd and has great aspirations for the former Hungarian giants.

The 14-time OTP Bank Liga champions got relegated last season, just six years after winning their 14th crown, making them the perfect team to take over as Barna attempts to build up the nation of Hungary.

The board's specific demands are getting promoted to the OTP Bank Liga automatically in the first season and working towards developing the best youth system in the country. These demands sound reasonable enough. Producing the best youth system in the country would help Barna build up the next generation of Hungarian talent for his long-term goal.

Managing the Hungarian National Team.

Yes, we have some lofty goals for ourselves, but that's a long-term goal, and we won't need to worry about it for a very long time.

The supporters have some more aims to work towards. We need to develop players using the club's youth system, play entertaining football, and get automatic promotion to the OTP Bank Liga while being competitive against our main two rivals, Ferencvárosi and Újpest. Barna's football philosophy only allows him to get his teams to play entertaining football.

Now, what are the long-term goals for this journey?

Budapest Honvéd

Surpass Ferencvárosi's OTP Bank Liga title wins, and Magyar Kupa cup wins.

Become the Champions League winners and eventually surpass Real Madrid's record total.

Ensure that Hungary are number one in the club nation coefficients.

Hungarian National Team

Win the World Cup.

Win the Euros.

Win the Nations League.

Become number 1 in the world.

We have long-term ambitions for Hungarian football, and I have no idea if we can pull this off, but I am willing to try either way.

Let our journey with Budapest Honvéd begin.

Edited November 22, 2023 by JLAB

[fslashz]

Building a Nation save with Honved? Hungary is probably one of my favorite leagues in FM and Honved in particular has always been good. Surprised they got relegated, Will follow this!

Edited November 22, 2023 by fslashz

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Our First Game In Charge

I was looking forward to my first game in charge, but I didn't plan on making any new signings immediately.

So when I brought in Patrik Kovács on loan to help cover the left-back position, I knew I was covering two bases. I was bringing in more strength in depth and ensuring I met a match-day rule requiring me to have someone under 18 in my first-team squad. It does help that he's also a talented player.

My first game in charge was a dramatic one against a newly promoted side, BVSC. This told me that my new club was still finding its feet with my current tactic, which was attacking in nature and one that would provide the supporters with entertainment. Having to come from behind and bouncing back from conceding an equaliser to secure a late winner was an incredible feeling for my debut game.

The player who made that result possible was Bertalan Bocskay. He assisted the first two goals before scoring the winner. He is a star I plan to build the team around, and hopefully, I will be able to keep Bocskay at Budapest Honvéd as I plan to make the club the front for my plans to build the nation of Hungary.

Welcome to life under István Barna. Where entertainment and drama reign free.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - The Head of Youth Development Leaves To Become a Manager

Having robustly started the season, I was surprised when I was told that Győri ETO had approached my Head of Youth Development, Peter Fehér, to become their manager. I braced myself for his departure, which eventually came in November. His side were in the same league as us, so it would be interesting to see how they get on.

As for ourselves, having won the first game of the season, we kicked on and just kept on winning games. We've been potent in front of goals, and while there have been times when our defence has been shaky, we looked solid at the back as well. We've only lost three times in the first half of the season and unfortunately got knocked out of the cup, but that meant we could point our focus towards the league.

The league has been in our hands since day one. We've only dropped off the top spot twice in the first 20 games, and we don't look like we will give it up either. Having such a strong lead at the top has given us the confidence to believe that promotion and the Merkantil Bank Liga will come home soon.

Unfortunately, given Peter Fehér's departure, I can't tell you how good our youth intake will be this season, not that it's significant. Having someone from our academy look like a talent we can nurture and develop over time would be nice.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Our First Trophy

Getting told what to expect when signing up for your new team can sometimes be impossible. Yet, when trusted with the side that produced the "Golden Team" of Hungary many years ago, I couldn't help but rise to the challenge and want to match those glory days, even surpass them one day.

Having enjoyed a successful first half of the season before the winter break, I knew that my football style would entertain the fans while bringing the results needed to win the league. We continued our impressive form from before the winter break into the second half of the season, and it left me no doubt in my mind just how good my team could be if we genuinely continued to play in the style I desired.

In the end, the league belonged to me with three games to go, and I watched my players lift the Merkantil Bank Liga trophy as we bounced straight back from relegation as champions in our first season in the 2nd tier. We had the best defence, the fewest defeats, the most wins and the best goal difference. I would have been surprised if we hadn't won the league with everything going our way.

The first youth intake arrived, and we only had a single player that I could get excited about, but I also knew that it was unlikely to be something we focused on for a few years.

That being said, Tamás Mészáros was the best player of the bunch, and if given the proper treatment, could become a decent player for us in the future.

Going into next season, we have been given £877K to spend on transfers and a wage budget of £68K p/w. If I want to create the next generation of the Mighty Magyars, I must have the future in mind and be financially responsible with my spending.

Seeing the prices of the average ticket price and average season ticket price was a first for me, and it makes me wonder just how much it can change over time as we become more successful over the upcoming years.

I will always have the Hungarian National Team in mind as I prepare for the future, and seeing the team competing in the Euros in a group with Austria, Romania, and Sweden gives me hope that they can get out of the group. How far they will get remains to be seen.

Still, the future is bright for Budapest Honvéd, and I want to be the man who takes them to that bright future.

Edited November 25, 2023 by JLAB

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Previewing the Season

We headed into the new season as the favourite to finish bottom of the OTP Bank Liga, which was my fear as we entered the top flight of Hungary for the first time. I needed to figure out what I wanted to bring in.

I hired my first Football Director, Jimmy Adjovi-Boco, to help me with this. The former Benin international had worked for Diambers for over 20 years when we approached him. I wanted to use his knowledge of potentially untapped market areas to get the upper hand.

We've got £900K in the transfer budget to work with in the transfer market and close to £30K p/w in wages to work with. I have several areas of the team I want to improve.

The positions that I feel we need new bodies for are GK, RB, CB, and LB, as a must-have. If I can improve the DM, CM, LW, and ST positions, then that would be a bonus.

We've got a lot of work to do in the transfer window and just over a month to finish it.

Edited November 27, 2023 by JLAB

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - A Busy Summer Transfer Window

If I wanted to ensure that my side would survive in its first season in the OTP Bank Liga under my leadership, I needed to get busy in the transfer market and secure the signatures of many talented players who could elevate the level of the playing squad. Whether the talent I bring in can ensure that the team is suitably prepared for the new league remains to be seen.

The first person I brought in for £19K was Vinko Međimorec, a talented centre-back who I thought could help elevate the defensive side of the game. He might not be the quickest, but he does everything I want to a good standard.

Moataz Zemzemi was my subsequent signing for free. I wanted to use him on the left wing, but he can also slot into the attacking midfield and central midfield quickly enough. Again, he might lack some pace, but he is good everywhere else.

I had my eye on central defence again, and signing Péter Zachán on a free transfer felt like a good option. He lacks pace but makes up for it in other parts of his game.

Signing  Albin Ekdal was one for experience. The Swedish international was brought in to play the deep-lying playmaker on defence. He is slow, but I don't need him to be quick if he can create some fantastic chances. He has a lovely personality, is consistent, and likes big matches. What more could I want?

Karlo Igor Majić was not a player I planned on signing, but when I realised that I could get him for £26K and he wouldn't want a lot of money, it made sense to bring him into the fold. He might have been playing his trade in the Croatian 3rd tier last year, but I like what I see in him, even if he doesn't enjoy big matches.

Michael Brouwer is probably my best signing. He was brought in for £79K and is considered a leading player for the Hungarian top division. We might be paying him a lot of money weekly, but he's consistent and gives us strength in a position that was perhaps our weakest area last season.

Aly Abeid is what I was looking for in an LB. He's consistent, has lots of international experience, and is suitable for the division. The fact he's also got speed, whereas some of my other players do not, also helps his cause.

Our first loan-signing, Uroš Lazić, gives me some youthful talent in the RB position that we might have sometimes lacked. He can play in four different positions on the defensive wings, so he's my go-to talent if I ever need to change things up.

Damien Dussant is the last talent I've brought in so far, and like Uroš Lazić, he is a loan signing. He can also play on both wings in the defensive position, so I feel suitably prepared for any problems that we might face injury-wise.

Unfortunately, our debut match in the OTP Bank Liga didn't allow us to get off to the best start, having given up a lead against Kisvárda to lose 2-1 eventually. I felt we were unlucky to lose the game, and the performance gives me confidence that we can survive based on our performance.

Long may our performances improve.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Finishing The Summer Transfer Window

I needed to bring in more players, and Darwin Matheus fit what I wanted to bring in. He's good physically, and his technical skills provide what I want in an inverted winger. However, perhaps paying £130K might have been more than I should have paid for his services. It's a shame that he's inconsistent and doesn't like big matches.

I needed more reinforcements, and loaning in Iker Kortajarena from Huesca made sense. He fit what I wanted to bring in central midfield, with the only negative being that he doesn't like big matches.

The last player I brought in was Mariano Gómez, on loan from Tenerife. His 6'6" frame at centre-back was perfect, but I've brought in a player who doesn't like big matches. I need to stop doing that.

The last two signings were made after suffering a disappointing loss to Vasas and being held by Zalaegerszegi at home. I knew then that the squad wasn't ready for what I wanted to do. It was why I ended up bringing in the last three players in the transfer window.

 

Our 5-0 win Újpest is the only reason we've even got a positive goal difference. The run of form we're currently suffering before the transfer window's end is enough to make me concerned. Still, it is early in the season. I know that with my new signings, things can turn around, and we can avoid the drop.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - A Surprise Challenge for Europe?

Sometimes, you have to endure the most challenging times of the season to truly enjoy the best time, and it feels like that might have been the case this season with Budapest Honvéd.

After completing the summer transfer window, we got stuck in and tried to see what we could do in the league. I wasn't expecting to go on a run of seven wins in a row in all competitions or to suddenly be able to pick up eight wins in nine league matches. The momentum of these victories completely changed the complexion of our season from a relegation fight to something else entirely.

I didn't see us suddenly being in a battle for European football coming, either. My relegation fears have been erased, and now I know what we can do. I am excited for the season ahead of us.

I am less excited about the youth intake I am expecting, but at the moment, if we even get one good player, I'll call that a success.

[R7LHJ]

On 25/11/2023 at 10:03, JLAB said:

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Our First Trophy

Getting told what to expect when signing up for your new team can sometimes be impossible. Yet, when trusted with the side that produced the "Golden Team" of Hungary many years ago, I couldn't help but rise to the challenge and want to match those glory days, even surpass them one day.

Having enjoyed a successful first half of the season before the winter break, I knew that my football style would entertain the fans while bringing the results needed to win the league. We continued our impressive form from before the winter break into the second half of the season, and it left me no doubt in my mind just how good my team could be if we genuinely continued to play in the style I desired.

In the end, the league belonged to me with three games to go, and I watched my players lift the Merkantil Bank Liga trophy as we bounced straight back from relegation as champions in our first season in the 2nd tier. We had the best defence, the fewest defeats, the most wins and the best goal difference. I would have been surprised if we hadn't won the league with everything going our way.

The first youth intake arrived, and we only had a single player that I could get excited about, but I also knew that it was unlikely to be something we focused on for a few years.

That being said, Tamás Mészáros was the best player of the bunch, and if given the proper treatment, could become a decent player for us in the future.

Going into next season, we have been given £877K to spend on transfers and a wage budget of £68K p/w. If I want to create the next generation of the Mighty Magyars, I must have the future in mind and be financially responsible with my spending.

Seeing the prices of the average ticket price and average season ticket price was a first for me, and it makes me wonder just how much it can change over time as we become more successful over the upcoming years.

I will always have the Hungarian National Team in mind as I prepare for the future, and seeing the team competing in the Euros in a group with Austria, Romania, and Sweden gives me hope that they can get out of the group. How far they will get remains to be seen.

Still, the future is bright for Budapest Honvéd, and I want to be the man who takes them to that bright future.

Doing a similar save but with Pecsi, sad to see them relegated on your save  Well done on a nice league win!

[JLAB]

2 hours ago, R7LHJ said:

Doing a similar save but with Pecsi, sad to see them relegated on your save  Well done on a nice league win!

Thanks, I saw you were doing a similar save with Pésci and didn't think they'd get relegated. Hopefully, it won't take long for them to come back up.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Was Our Intake Good?

We had our second intake of my time at the club, and we only had two players to be excited about, and even then, that's being rather generous.

Nobert Balogh is the first of two players I can say have some promise about them, but his poor personality and inconsistency are holding him down.

Richárd Köpf is the other player that I think has good potential. He's also inconsistent, but his jovial personality isn't the worst in the world.

In the meantime, while we were waiting for the youth intake, I made two more loan signings.

Nolan Mbemba was brought in on loan from Coventry City. He might be 30 now, but he has plenty of good attributes that I felt fit our side, and given how many positions he could cover, he was the perfect squad player.

The last player I brought in on loan was Godfried Roemeratoe from RKC Waalwijk. He could cover three positions where I needed more in-depth strength, just like Mbemba could. It was the perfect signing for what I needed at the time.

We also only had seven games since the last post, winning five of them. Unfortunately, we were knocked out of the Magyar Kupa, but we continued our strong run in the league, with only Ferencvárosi beating us. They always beat us when we meet, sadly.

Our strong form in the league now means that we're firmly in the hunt for European football, something that I didn't think I would be able to say in my first season. It would be a massive overachievement if we pull this off.

Long may it continue.

Edited November 30, 2023 by JLAB

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - We Found A Hungarian Wonderkid Goalkeeper!

After our youth intake and March, we enjoyed our best run of form to date. We only dropped two points in nine games and won our last seven games. We only conceded three goals in the previous nine games, and keeping seven clean sheets tells you how much our defence secured our run of form.

To my surprise, we secured a 2nd place finish and Europa League football. My aim for the season was just survival, so to finish in the top two and qualify for the Europa League was a massive shock to me. Especially when we lost four of our first six games of the season, it wasn't something I had planned for.

As I got- some end-of-season awards, I came across Attila Nyári as one of the season's best rookies. So imagine my surprise when I saw just how good he was at just the age of 16. I aim to one day become the manager of the Hungarian National Team, so I know that one day, I will try to manage Nyári domestically or internationally.

How will we prepare for European football?

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Build A Nation - Preparing For Europe!

With a transfer budget of over £500K and a weekly wage budget of £75K, I had to prepare my side for the Europa League for the first time in my career. I had managed to guide the team to finish in 2nd place last season after spending just £300K, so this could be something I could pull off given the squad we already have at our disposal.

We are now considered the 5th biggest team in Hungary based on our reputation, which is vital for our rise in one day helping make Hungarian football the best in the world.

In a bit of news that I felt was important and I wanted to share, my former player who became my under-19s coach last season, Ivan Lovric, was given the job of the new MTK Budapest manager for this upcoming season. They finished bottom and got relegated to the 2nd tier, so he'll try to guide one of our local rivals back to the top flight of Hungarian football.

The first person I signed for Budapest Honvéd was Kane Wilson, a right-back who covered the position we desperately needed to strengthen. The right-backs for last season were either released or finished their loans, so he is a critical piece of the puzzle we're trying to fit in place.

Speaking of loans, Iker Kortajarena has returned to the club for a 2nd spell, and this time permanently. After his loan spell last season, I discovered I could get Kortajarena to sign for us on just £1.2K p/w, a chance I couldn't pass up on. 

However, Ante Palaversa will be our starting central midfielder, bumping Kortajarena down to a squad player role. Palaversa played the role I desired in midfield, and he made sure that I promised him that he would play as a box-to-box midfielder during his time at the club. Given that's what I signed him for, I could easily make that promise.

I've signed Michal Pinter to help our defensive depth. He's an experienced head I can trust to keep things organised. Even if he has some glaring weaknesses in his game, his decision-making makes up for some weaknesses. His consistency is also essential for what I want from him.

That said, I still signed another centre-back in the form of Dávid Bobál, who, if I was desperate enough, could also play as a left-back, so he's a useful squad player for the side. His consistency and enjoyment of big games make him someone I rely on for the big occasion.

Still, we've been given our first draw of the Europa League campaign and were drawn against Fotball Club FCSB in the first qualifying round. If we can get past them, we will be given a draw against either Derry City or FC Midtjylland in the 2nd qualifying round. It would be nice to win.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Our First European Games

Signing Uroš Lazić as my backup right-back was the first move I made after it was confirmed we'd be taking on FCSB in the first qualifying round of the Europa League. He's agreed to be a squad player and will be a backup for Kane Wilson this season. It gives us the strength in depth at right-back that we desperately needed.

Lenny Joseph is the last player that I've brought in. He feels like an upgrade on what we have up front, and I hope he will score some goals. He's just gone to the Gold Cup to pay for Haiti, so he missed our opening Europa League games against FCSB.

The first leg ended up being a 1-1 draw. We came from behind, and I felt this game was there for the taking.

Thankfully, we bounced back from that disappointment to secure a 2-1 win in the 2nd leg to win 3-2 on aggregate. We managed to secure a win in our first game in Europe as a manager, and I couldn't be more delighted.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Breaking Our Transfer Record on a Goalkeeper

After our triumph against FCSB in the Europa League, I was confident that things would continue to go smoothly for the team and me as we raced towards transfer deadline day in Hungary, but there was a turn that I didn't see coming.

We managed to stumble at the next hurdle against Derry City on penalties. It wasn't ideal, but it meant that we dropped down into the Europa Conference League, where we would beat Kilmarnock but eventually fall to Real Betis, which, to be fair, was expected. Still, despite our woes in Europe and not making it to the league phase of any competition, we were performing well in domestic competition.

We are doing so well that we're currently at the top after five matches. This time last year, we had four points to our name and looked over our shoulder at the relegation zone. To see us perform this well in the league so far is a continuation of last season's end-of-year performance, where we won 12 of the previous 14 league games. The fact we've continued that run of form to claim a further 4 wins from 5 means that for the calendar year of 2025, we've won 16 out of 19 league games, drawn twice, and lost just once.

Yet, despite our domestic performances, I still wanted to bring more strength to the side. I ended up signing Ibrahima Cissé on loan from Sheffield United. They just bought Cissé from Schalke for £550K and were willing to loan him to us in the same summer. With his 6'5" frame, 18 jumping reach, 16 strength, and 14 heading, he will be a handy weapon from set pieces to aim for.

Perhaps my most significant move was for Bravo's Gal Lubej Fink, the goalkeeper whom I brought the club's transfer record. We are paying £750K for his services but only £150K up front. Over the next 24 months, we will pay off £150K every six months to finish paying off his fee. I know it's a risk to make this move, especially with a release clause of £1.1M to other domestic clubs, but I felt like this was a risk I wanted to take.

Can we keep this up and challenge for the league title?

[Sizeman21]

Really been enjoying your thread following Budapest Honved, JLAB. Your progress is excellent to follow and the gems you bring to the club are sure to help your title challenge. Good luck!

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - My First Newgen Signing

Having gone into September at the top of the table, I wanted to ensure we continued our great start to the season. I didn't expect us to pick up a single point in September and to cause us issues suddenly. Thankfully, despite our poor start after the summer transfer window ended, we only dropped ten points in the next ten matches.

Unfortunately, our terrible September has caused us to drop down to 2nd place and to find ourselves four points behind Ferencvárosi. We take on the dominant side in our next league game, so I hope we can turn things around next time.

Our youth intake preview has arrived, and we might have reason to be excited. I will be delighted if we get the striker we are promised.

Still, we have moved into the transfer market, and Slavomir Kucera has been signed for £40K. He will go back out on loan to Spartak Myjava until the end of the season to get more first-team football, but I am excited by how well he could develop while we finish off the season.

István Barna also managed to reach 100 games in charge of Budapest Honvéd, and hopefully, this is a sign of things to come in the future.

Edited December 6, 2023 by JLAB

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - An Exciting Youth Intake?

We always benefit from returning from the winter break, and for the first time, we've beaten Ferencvárosi in the league. We felt unstoppable for February, but the only game of March before the youth intake arrived was the only points we dropped since the end of the winter break.

Thanks to our strong return, we're back at the summit of the OTP Bank Liga, and it looks like we might want to stay there for the rest of the season. The league has felt competitive this season, and it's nice to see teams starting to make things challenging.

We had our youth intake, and only two players had more than four stars of potential ability. I am excited about them.

Bence Kónya looks like a decent attacking midfielder, but I plan on making him a central midfielder because his tackling is wasted further forward. I can see him being a mezzala in the future.

The player that I am most excited about is Norbert Bognár, who is already a player that could be replacing the deadwood of my team if I decide to go down that route. It's exciting to have a talent of this quality coming through my academy just three seasons into the reign.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Winning the OTP Bank Liga?

In a twist of fate that I didn't see coming, we had a chance to take on one of our biggest rivals with a chance to win the OTP Bank Liga for the first time as the manager of Budapest Honvéd. After being knocked out of the Magyar Kupa by Ferencvárosi TC, we secured the win against Vasas that would bring us to our incredible journey's next step.

We lifted the OTP Bank Liga in Vasas' ground as I secured the club's 15th league title, but I was still somewhere off my target.

Just two years after securing promotion from the Hungarian 2nd tier, this has been my fastest rise to the top title and one that I can't believe that I've been able to achieve thus far.

However, we are still some way off from being the best in the country. Ferencvárosi TC, MTK Budapest and Újpest are still ahead of us regarding title wins, which I want to overhaul as I help Hungarian football become the best in the world.

It was also an emotional send-off for Albin Ekdal, who decided that he wanted to retire at the end of the season, so to be able to retire, having helped us win the title, is the best send-off I can give him.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Reviewing Our 3rd Season

We needed to finish off our season, and we did that with a 3-1 victory over Haladás to end our season on a high.

Not only did we win the league for the first time, but Ferencvárosi managed to drop down to 3rd place this season, with Fehérvár managing to pip them to 2nd spot. However, Ferencvárosi did end up winning the cup, so they are playing in the Europa League instead.

The supporters have started flocking to the team after their outstanding performance in the league. Increasing our social media followers by 50% is always a good time.

The board also seems to like what we have achieved and wants more of the same. Now that we've qualified for European competition, the board is demanding more of the same every season.

We don't have much money to spend if we want to improve the team next season.

We have impressed enough people that we're suddenly getting linked with Bundesliga side Freiburg of all teams, so that's a promising sign. I wonder what could be next in line for our future.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Our First Champions League Opponent Is...

The new season has arrived, and before our loans have returned, we are predicted to finish in 2nd place, having secured our first league title.

We were given a job interview offer from Freiburg after they sacked their manager of 14 years. I rejected the offer because of what I wanted to achieve here in Hungary.

As for who we have been drawn against in the Champions League, being given a tie against the Czechia champions Sparta Prague will be an exciting challenge. I hope that we can do well next month.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Our Champions League Debut

It was the first transfer window after winning the league for the first time, and I decided I wanted to get some good business done. So when I convinced Michael Okeke to sign for me, I was very excited. He helps make our midfield incredibly stacked and gives me more options.

I ended up selling my best goalkeeper to Lille for £1.3M, making him both my most expensive signing and sell. We still made a profit of £550K from this business, which gives me more flexibility to work in the transfer market.

Not that it stopped me going for free signings and bargains. I brought Serge Aurier on a free transfer, and he became the biggest name to sign for the club.

I also brought in a new left-back to join Serge Aurier on the list of new fullbacks. James Morris is a good player who can become a league star.

I brought Roman Egan-Riley on loan from Tottenham to help strengthen my defence and provide some youth to help with the board's desire to see us develop some young talent.

Jan Blaswich is Lubej Fink's replacement, and we only signed him for £95K. He might be on the older side, but he fits what I wanted as my goalkeeper, so I am content with this signing.

The last person I brought in was Martin Cigánek on a compensation deal of £53K. He was Sparta Prague's key player, so I decided to go in and poach him from his club before we took them on in the Champions League.

Not that it helped me beat them. We lost our Champions League debut match 1-0.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Our European Opponents Are...

I ended up making two more signings, and the first was Ivan Savić on loan from FK Partizan. He felt like a player that would help strengthen our defence and keep it youthful.

Bjarki Bjarkason was my last signing of the summer transfer window, and he was brought in to help with the lack of squad depth at left wing. We needed more cover there, and I wasn't afraid to spend £160K to provide that after cover.

In the end, despite our best attempts, we couldn't secure Champions League football, having been beaten 2-1 over two legs by Sparta Prague. Still, with victories over Flora Tallinn and Djurgårdens IF, we managed to get into the league phase of the Europa League. Our form in the league has been promising as well.

We're currently sitting in 2nd place in the league, only behind on games won. I expect us to stop dropping so many points with draws and remember how to win consistently in the league sooner rather than later, especially given our need to retain the OTP Bank Liga.

We also got given our Europa League draw, and we got given some very winnable games. The most challenging fixtures on paper are Juventus, Nice and Beşiktaş, but I truly believe that we have a great chance to secure a top-24 position at worst. 

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Exceeding Expectations In Europe?

We've been enjoying our time in the last two months and have only dropped two points in the league against Zalaegerszegi and in the Europa League against Beşiktaş. Being able to take points off Beşiktaş was a pleasant surprise.

We've now built a two-point gap at the top of the OTP Bank Liga over Ferencvárosi after only dropping two points in the league. We want to retain the league title after securing the crown last season.

After the first three games in the Europa League, we're currently in the top-eight, having overachieved. We still gave Nice and Juventus later down the line, but we're off to a good start.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Signing A Superstar Goalkeeper?

We started November with a defeat to Nice in the Europa League and ended December with our first league defeat. We won every other game, so we're finding our form at the right time.

While we were picking up points, Ferecvárosi were dropping them. We have an eight-point lead and are already eleven points clear of 3rd and 4th. Progress has been made.

The Europa League campaign has been going much better than expected. We've already secured a top-24 finish with two games to go, and with only Juventus and Bodø/Glimt being our last two opponents, we could manage to shock many people and get a top-eight finish.

Unfortunately, our youth intake preview doesn't look amazing, but that's not the end of the world.

What is happening, though, is securing the signature of Nikola Čavlina for just £220K with a contract where we are only paying him £4K p/w. An absolute steal as far as I am concerned.

Edited December 14, 2023 by JLAB

[MH00]

1 hour ago, JLAB said:

Unfortunately, our youth intake preview doesn't look amazing, but that's not the end of the world.

 

Do you realise that your DOF is doing the youth intake?

[JLAB]

11 hours ago, MH00 said:

Do you realise that your DOF is doing the youth intake?

After I took the screenshot, I did, yeah.

[JLAB]

Budapest Honvéd - Building A Nation - Our First Premier League Opponents!

Our campaign continues to go from strength to strength, and we only lost 1-0 to Juventus and beat Bodø/Glimt 1-0 despite being down to 10 men for the last 38 minutes of the game. Our league form looks solid, and we're progressing in the cup, too. We even beat Antwerp to get to the Europa League Round of 16.

Despite only dropping two points, we saw our lead cut to six points. We should still control the league, but it was something to note.

We finished in 10th place in the Europa League, and after beating Antwerp 1-0 over two legs, we can make some progress in the European competition.

Perhaps our biggest win of the season so far was the 2-0 over Newcastle United at home. We weren't amazing, but we took our chances towards the end of the game and made sure that we kept a clean sheet. It was a massive boost to our confidence.

Unfortunately, we couldn't defend a 2-0 lead in Newcastle, but we did manage to keep it competitive in England, making Newcastle work hard for this win. We lost 5-2 on the night, but we only lost 5-4 over two legs against one of the favourites for the Europa League.