Junkhead's Ladder

[Junkhead]

Another day, another absolutely insane concept that I probably won't finish.  After being at the stage where my laptop nearly visited the garden via the window following a third consecutive 11th placed finish in the National League South with St Albans, I decided that it was time to begin anew.  For inspiration, I spent a bit of time in the Careers & Challenges forum when @Rick87's post about a European "Jacob's Ladder" caught my eye.  This was one hell of a challenge, encompassing an entire continent with a very clear path to the top of the football world - this was the challenge for me!

However, being an absolute masochist - and no doubt a little bit insane - I decided to expand this challenge further: Not only would I conquer Europe - no - I would set out to conquer the entire world!  Global domination through football, working my way up from ridiculously humble beginnings.  

The Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A - a mere pipe dream - I mean, the rules of this challenge mean I've got to have won 10 different national leagues before I'm even allowed to apply for jobs in Kazakhstan!  What could possibly go wrong?  Except, probably, everything.

Now I feel it's important from the get-go to make clear that I have insane ideas like this very often, start a game, and don't follow said ideas through.  It's also important to make clear that every single time I start an insane challenge, I am absolutely determined to see it through. 

Well, this is an insane challenge which I am absolutely determined to see through. Again.

The Concept

I have loaded leagues, at various levels, from a nice, round 100 countries.  The additional nations I am using have been created by various different users who I thank for their hard work (I can't remember all of them - for which I apologise - but I downloaded some of these leagues months ago).  I am also using @Daveincid's Realism Pack - which frankly I cannot live without and which is an absolute game changer.  I am also using a file which allows Russia back into international & continental competition from the 24/25 season.

I have divided these countries up into 20 groups of 5 based on the reputation of their top division within the game (bearing in mind that the Realism Pack slightly alters some reputations).  The groups - or tiers of the ladder - are listed below.  The idea is that I start at the bottom of that ladder, gradually working my way up the leagues towards indisputable glory and an untouchable status as the greatest manager the world has ever seen.  The steps are as follows;

- Start Unemployed with no badges (but semi-pro footballer reputation - I needed to get my adaptability up)

- Apply for jobs ONLY in the 5 worst nations playable in the save - or tier 1 of the ladder.

- Win the league in one of these nations - I can move jobs within the tier, but cannot move up a tier until I've won the league in one of those 5 nations

- Move up to tier 2

- Repeat until I complete the challenge by winning the league in one of the top 5 nations in the world - tier 20.

I'm not setting myself any rules about having to resign straight after completing a tier (although sometimes I might) as I quite fancy having a bash at the continental cups too.  It's not part of the challenge, but I am known to get distracted with side quests and lose focus on the main mission.  

The tiers - or rungs of my ladder to the top - are below (note - where reputations between countries are equal, I have decided on which tier those countries go into by looking at continental coefficients or, if the nations are on different continents, by using the FIFA World Rankings as the decider);

Spoiler

Tier 20;
England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France

Tier 19;
Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, Belgium, Mexico

Tier 18;
Scotland, Austria, Argentina, Serbia, Turkiye

Tier 17;
Switzerland, Norway, Czechia, Ukraine, Denmark

Tier 16;
USA, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, Japan

Tier 15;
Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Colombia, South Korea

Tier 14;
Paraguary, Poland, Ecuador, Sweden, Hungray

Tier 13;
Romania, Qatar, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Iran

Tier 12;
Uruguay, Chile, UAE, Azerbaijan, Egypt

Tier 11;
Kazakhstan, Peru, Tunisia, Thailand, Morocco

Tier 10;
Costa Rica, Slovenia, Moldova, China, South Africa

Tier 9;
Venezuela, Finland, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus

Tier 8;
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bolivia, Honduras, Australia, Nigeria

Tier 7;
Iceland, Uzbekistan, Albania, North Macedonia, Canada

Tier 6;
Guatemala, Sudan, Montenegro, DR Congo, Tanzania

Tier 5;
Latvia, Ireland, Lithuania, Jamaica, New Zealand

Tier 4;
Northern Ireland, Cameroon, Haiti, Zambia, Panama

Tier 3;
Malaysia, Estonia, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Georgia

Tier 2;
Gibraltar, Guinea, Wales, India, Ivory Coast

Tier 1;
Ghana, Angola, Singapore, Indonesia, Senegal

My Manager is a gentleman by the name of Otto Kenteris, a 19 year old Greek born on the isle of Lesbos.  I've gone with this after reading a number of fascinating articles recently about Greece's 2004 European Championship victory which I am unfortunately old enough to remember as if it were yesterday.  Otto is of course named after the victorious German coach Otto Rehhagel, and he was born the day after the night before.  Kenteris is the surname of a former Olympic Athlete from Lesbos, so maybe this guy is his son.  Or maybe not.  I don't think that matters.

Anyway, lucky old Otto has packed his bags, knowing that it will be at absolute best 14 years until he returns to his homeland (the Greek League is a tier 15 league), although I think we all know it will be far more.  He's off to seek his "fortune", and will be applying for jobs in Ghana, Angola, Singapore, Indonesia & Senegal.  Lucky him.  And lucky them.

[Rick87]

Best of luck with this, I too have struggled to stay motivated during saves this year, leading to several unfinished challenges. Thankfully, I seem to have settled into my Cumbria build a nation now.

I like your idea of a using the top 100 countries rather than all 200+, I just can't be bothered with places like Antigua, Aruba and Kiribiti on some partially complete editor data with no badges, graphics or kits. 

Anyway, best of luck again. I will be following.

[Junkhead]

Tier 1 - One small step for man....

With a start date of 6th May 2024 (thank you Iceland!), and after a LOT of interviews, Otto has now taken his first step & accepted a job in Senegal!

Yeggo Foot are a small team based in Dakar who, in the late 90's, scaled the heights of Senegalese football & won the cup.  They then tumbled back down the leagues and, after a bit of yo-yo-ing, now find themselves in the second tier.  I interviewed for jobs in Ghana, mostly, but the wages offered for the two jobs I was offered there were £85-100 per week, whereas Yeggo offered me £500.

At first glance, the squad appears to be pretty average, with my better players being offensive ones rather than defensive.  Striker Alpha Faye along with wingers Ababacar Fall & Mbaye Dia are the stars, and 15 year old 'keeper Abdoulaye N'Doye appears to have a fair amount of potential.

As you can see, I am using the absolutely excellent Statman FM24 skin by @_Ben_ which is a game changer.  The focus of this save will be playing in many leagues that I don't know, and I want to base signings, tactical decisions & team selection on form rather than attributes & star ratings.  In my opinion, the Statman skin is absolutely what the default skin should be mirroring going forwards, and would let us all finally move on from 1-20 attributes.

I join Yeggo with 1 match of the season left - at home against already relegated Demba Diop FC.  I picked my team based on season performance (I currently have no Assistant to hand selection over to - I started the job on the morning of the game), and the performance was pleasing to say the least, although left me with a bit to think about defensively;

This result means that Yeggo finish the season in 6th, albeit with a real gap between there & 5th;

I now have 5 months until the season starts in October to sort out a decent backroom staff (there is currently just me & the chairman!), and build a shortlist of potential targets to have a go at promotion next season.  I wouldn't normally aim for that this early at a club, but this challenge is going to be long enough as it is - I haven't got time for a slow build.  Besides, assuming the signings I make improve things, finishing above 6th has to be my aim which would put me in the mix.

So with that, Otto's step towards legend status begins!

[sat0urn]

В 04.05.2024 в 15:23, Junkhead сказал:

I am also using a file which allows Russia back into international & continental competition from the 24/25 season.

hey man, may I ask which one are you using? personally wasn't able to find one that isn't behind a paywall (unless you're talking about the one that moves Russia to the Asian confederation)

[Junkhead]

3 hours ago, sat0urn said:

hey man, may I ask which one are you using? personally wasn't able to find one that isn't behind a paywall (unless you're talking about the one that moves Russia to the Asian confederation)

Think it's this one, puts Russian/Belarusian clubs back in continental competition and Russia/Belarus back into international competition from 24/25 season

https://sortitoutsi.net/content/65513/russia-and-belarus-back-to-life-before-war

[Junkhead]

Squad building & a fantastic start

Summer breaks in Senegal are loooong.  5 months long, in fact.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds as I had some serious work to do building a balanced squad, particularly in central midfield as there was no depth there at all.  A series of trials left me with a number of players signed, and things are a lot better now, with experience & depth added.  Pick of the bunch was attack minded midfield player Gora Mbaye who has absolutely hit the ground running;

 

Tactically, I am playing a patient, positive short passing game to appease the board's want for attacking & entertaining football, although this is not my usual style.  I tend to me more of a kick & rush manager, but the lack of strength within my squad - coupled with the fact that I'm one of the better sides in the division thanks to the signings I've made - mean that the shorter style is the way to go for the moment.

 

Our preseason didn't start particularly well with a 4-1 hammering by our own u21's - but at least the future seems bright.  Eventually we picked up though, and after slogging to a draw in our first game before a narrow defeat against a top division side in the League Cup, we have started absolutely battering some of the mid-table/poorer sides in the division;

 

Striker Alpha Faye has been an absolute star, with 5 goals in 5 games, but we have very little in the way of backup should he get injured.  Still, with goals flying in from all over the pitch, this should hopefully be a non-issue.

Overall, the squad has really started to take shape, with only really the central defensive positions needing an extra player in for depth.  With the transfer window open & decent youth options - as well as two consecutive clean sheets, I won't be rushed into this - particularly as I am over on my wage budget by £200.  Five players are currently transfer listed, with all but one attracting interest from elsewhere, so I will move some on before signing one of the three trialists who are currently playing for the u21's.

Sitting proudly top of the league, although it's early days, Otto will be hopeful of an early career promotion to the top level of Senegalese football to help him on his way up this impossible ladder - a climb that I am thoroughly enjoying so far!

 

[CameronFM]

An interesting take on a mental challenge! Wish you all the best for this journey and excited to follow Yeggo Foot for the time being