Jimbokav1971

In a normal league you would probably be correct, but when the likes of Benfica & Porto drop so few points each season it only takes a little blip to lose any ground we have gained. At the time of writing however we are 3 pts ahead of Benfica and with a game in hand and have only conceded 1 goal in our last 10 games, (which included games against Porto, Benfica, Sporting & Braga), so things are looking decent. I think winning the Champions League will become more likely after we have won Liga Bwin for the 1st time because at the moment my priority is still the league and while rotating the squad will do us ok in terms of progress and revenue, there is no way we will win with that 2nd group of players.

Yeah, we're doing well, but there is such little room for error in this league. No, I can't blame the Guimaraes loss on Europe because all 11 outfield players were rotated for every single European game. Despite the rotation we did well in Europe and now we're in the knockout stages I have to decide where my priorities lie. 7 games in December and another 7 in January is indeed a tough ask, but the harder part is that the start of Jan sees is play Porto and Benfica away and then Braga at home.

Dec 2051. Liga Bwin. 4 wins and 4 clean sheets is a hell of a month. The most pleasing result was surprisingly the PdF game where I went with a much weakened side because we have some tough away games coming up at the beginning of Jan in the form of Porto, Benfica & Braga. xG watch. Belenenses 3.62 - 0.13 Portimonense. Leixoes 0.36 - 2.03 Belenenses. Belenenses 2.25 - 0.24 Nacional. Pacos de Ferreira 0.86 - 1.79 Belenenses. UEFA Champions League. I persisted with a weakened squad and it eventually bit us on our behinds. How seriously we won't know until the draw for the 1st Knockout Round is made. Taça de Portugal Placard. A comfortable win. Allianz Cup. A comfortable win. New contract. Awards. World Golden Glove. FIFA Best Men's GK. You will see that (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" makes the FIFA FIFPro Team of the Year, but (35a) Paulo Júnior (POR) * also makes the team. African Footballer of the Year. African XI of the Year. Youth Intake preview. This could be good. We have 2 sections/positions that have been given "A" ratings and the interesting thing here is that there are 2 players in each sections. 2x Centre-backs and 2x wingers. We're at a stage of the save now where we have some good players, but 1 particular area where we are weak is on the wings, (especially the left), but we have 3 centre-backs in the 130's CA and actually have a MC who is also a natural DC with a CA of 170. The suggestion therefore is that these centre-backs are likely to be pretty decent. Goal-scoring GK's. Finances.

Oct & Nov 2051. Apologies, I forgot to update at the end of October so we have a double month update. Liga Bwin. Guimaraes deserved to beat us, (and did beat us), but the cost wasn't just the 3 points, (and our unbeaten record), but the 2 points dropped in the following game against Sporting, (that we would have won were we not just coming off the back of a loss). Despite losing our unbeaten record we're still top. xG Watch. Estrela da Amadora 0.89 - 2.29 Belenenses. Guimaraes 1.29 - 0.80 Belenenses. Belenenses 2.04 - 0.78 Sporting. Belenenses 2.89 - 0.17 Estoril. UEFA Champions League. You might be able to tell from the goal-scorers that I have been rotating all outfield players for all Champions League games and we're still unbeaten after 5 games and had qualified for the knockout stages after 4 games. Taça de Portugal Placard. This competition is still very much 3rd of 4 in terms of priority, but I still want to win it, (or at least make the Final). Goal-scoring GK's. Finances.

I've had a torrid time from the spot with (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" in recent seasons. Keeping him happy seems to be easy, but he misses when he struggles to connect with another member of the squad, (missing penalties as a result). Frustratingly they don't even have to be in the match squad never mind about actually on the pitch, and it's something I'm struggling to overcome. He's up to 133 goals but missed 3 of 6 penalties taken this season, (in 15 appearances).

It's been a long time since I managed in Scotland. Is there auto-promotion from the Highland Leagues now (irl) or do you have to edit it so that there is promotion?

@OlivierLBrilliant data but would you mind explaining a few bits to me please? 1. Do you need a custom database? Surely you don't need a custom database to manage FC Vaduz in Switzerland? 2. Playable for Youth Only save? Why are the white highlighted rows now suitable for playing a Youth Only save? What am I missing? 3. Caledonian Braves are new to me and really liking the look of them. Newgens from a Nation so much better than the host Nation almost seems like cheating though. I'm used to making things more difficult rather than easier.

Haha. What have I started! Brilliant stuff.

I had a GK in this save who just wasn't very good at pens. He was the Italian bloke with the poor personality, (Low Det + Unamb). I don't think that being Italian hindered him, but I do think that (L.Det + Unamb) did. When Lucio scored 176 goals for me in FM14 he was (Pro). I take it you're GK is Tobi? (Good name for a GK).

Sep 2051. Liga Bwin. After 8 games we're the only unbeaten side in the Portugese top tier, and that despite failing with 2 of the 4 penalties we have been awarded in the league this season. Benfica might have lost but they are just 1 point back and Braga would also be just 1 point behind if they won their 3 games in had, (although that's unlikely). xG watch. We dominated the xG in all games and even the Academica Coimbra game which we only 1 by a 1 goal margin was actually far more comfortable than the score-line suggests. Famalicao 0.69 - 2.58 Belenenses. Belenenses 3.08 - 0.09 Farense. Academica Coimbra 1.00 - 3.10 Belenenses. Belenenses 3.75 - 0.29 Chaves. UEFA Champions League. This was a real surprise. You can tell by the goal-scorers that I rotated the outfield players and we still romped it. Allianz Cup. Goal-scoring GK's. When he stuck the ball over the bar I didn't think to check his happiness, (will I ever learn?) (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) has a (Bal) personality but his (Pro) level is 11. He is usually a sub for the right hand central midfielder and has been a used sub in 2 of our 6 league games and then started the Champions League game against Bayern. (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" put a penalty over the bar against Famalicao in the 44th min. (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) was an unused sub in this game. (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" scored a penalty against Farense in the 42nd min. (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) was an unused sub in this game. (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" hit the bar with a penalty against Bayern in the 91st min. (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) started and finished this game. There are 3 more games this month and my plan is for (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) not to feature in them if I can help it. We are awarded a penalty for the 4th successive game and (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" sticks it over the bar. (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) was not even in the squad, (he was left out on purpose). It's still the same issue, but he's not even in the match squad. Maybe I have to move him to a different squad, (ie. B Team or U23's). I should add that I am of the opinion, (WITH ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER TO BACK IT UP), that when a player misses the target with a penalty, (and I include hitting the woodwork in these misses), it's a different miss to a penalty that is saved by the GK and is the result of a different result in the formulae. Put simply, I think that a penalty that is saved by a GK is a penalty that would have been scored with a happier GK. I think that a penalty that misses the target was always going to miss and there is nothing within my power that could have made it a successful penalty. I have never said that before but it's been an opinion, (very much opinion rather than fact), that I have held for some time. The only way to test this is to use the editor to falsely increase the happiness/relationship of the GK before each game and then see in what way the GK misses, (because there will still be misses), are shown in the 3d engine. (saves or misses). (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) wasn't in the match squad at all. Finances.

Aug 2051. Liga Bwin. It was a good start to the league campaign, keeping 4 clean sheets even if we didn't manage to beat Gil Vicente. It was also nice to get one over on Benfica when we probably didn't deserve it. xG watch. Belenenses 0.62 - 1.33 Benfica. Braga 1.01 - 2.75 Belenenses. Gil Vicente 0.43 - 1.21 Belenenses. Belenenses 3.63 - 0.71 Varzim. UEFA Champions League Group Stage. It's another tough group, (they all seem to be tough in recent seasons), and I wonder if it's time for another tilt at the Europa League? Goal-scoring GK's. Finances.

Squad Depth. Jul 2051. GK's. (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" will be 1st choice. (50c) Ako (FRA) (GPE) 5'11" will play for the B Team. DL's. We're weak in the left back area. (48c) Bronze (POR) 5'11" will be 1st choice despite actually being a righty. He will be supported by (36b) Sousa (POR) and 34 year old recent re-signing (33a) Ramos (STP) (POR). (48m) Ba (SEN) (FRA) and (50i) Faria (POR) will play for the B Team. They aren't ready for that but they will hopefully improve. DR's. (36c) Mussagi (POR) (MOZ) * and (42e) Crespo (POR) * will play for the 1st team. (47j) Fernandes (POR) and (45f) Basto (POR) will play for the B Team. DC's. (39c) Salgueiro (POR) 6'4" DC, (41d) Hussein (TAN) 6'5" * & (45e) The Gimp (ENG) 6'3" will play for the 1st Team. (49h) Ndlovu (POR) (RSA) 6'0", (46f) Mesquita (POR) 6'5" and (51n) Varela (CPV) (POR) 5'10" will play for the B Team. ML's & MR's. ML's. I have 4 left-sided wingers who have at least 100 CA and (40g) N'Da (CIV) ML has the lowest PA at 116, (he's almost maxed out at 115/116), so it's probably him that needs to go and maybe permanently rather than on loan. In addition to the 5 players listed below, we also have 4x 16 year olds with at least 120 PA in this position. (47a) Soares (POR), (43b) Antunes (POR) & (40g) N'Da (CIV) ML will compete for a 1st Team spot, but I probably only need 2 of them so 1 can go out on loan. (49e) Madruga (POR) & (46d) Osório (POR) will rotate in the B Team. MR's. (41a) Gil (POR) * & (42a) Salazar (POR) are both maxed out in terms of PA and will play in the 1st Team. (44b) Andrade (POR)(CPV) 4'11" & (51a) Marinho (POR) MR * will play for the B Team but it's (51a) Marinho (POR) MR * who is the real star in the making here. MC's. (36a) Cruz (POR) * is a Worldclass midfielder and at 30 years old only has 2 years left on his contract. As he is 3rd in line behind 22 year old (44c) Ogbu (ENG) (NGA) * and 26 year old (40a) Sérgio (POR) *, it would make sense to cash in on him at some point, especially as we have the young (CPV) International pairing of (47k) Tavares (CPV) and (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) almost maxing out their PA's of I would rather (45a) de Sousa (POR) was loaned out rather than play for the B Team in Liga 2. (49a) Odhiambo (POR) (KEN), (49f) Santos (POR) & (43l) Pedro (POR) will play for the B Team. SC's. (44a) Simões (POR) * & (41c) Abrantes (POR) * will be our 1st choice pairing with (45c) Rosa (POR) * providing support & (44a) Simões (POR) * moving to the right to accommodate him. I'm keen for the young strikers to go out on loan where possible so who plays for the B Team will depend on who doesn't go out on loan.

Job interviews/offers. Jun 2051. Until recently I haven't paid much if any attention to the Spanish leagues, but as more of our players start moving there on either permanent deals of via loans, I have started showing a little interest. Obviously the big story here is the demise of Barca. Before 2042/43 they hadn't finished outside the Top 3 in the previous 19 seasons, and had won the league in 12 of those 19 seasons.

Save is now on a speedy laptop and names have been fixed.

Wow! No, I hadn't hear this Have you got a link for me so that I can catch up?

Considering last season was our 1st without (32g) Ramos (POR) so I was a little unsure as to how we would get on without him. As it was (44a) Simões (POR) * scored 27 goals, (although only 15 of them were in the league). All in all I'm happy how we're going. Could next season be ours?

All that matters is that he was Capped and they can never take it away. He should absolkutely have been caopped before nnow.

And after conceding the only goal of the game. I don't care. He made his International debut! That's all I wanted.

International recognition. Jun 2051. 9 of the 23 players in the (POR) Senior squad are now products of our Academy. Current players with Senior International appearances. Current players with Youth International appearances.

Worth the wait? Jun 2051. I thought this would never happen. He has been involved in every Portugal squad for about 15 years, but has never played until now.

May 2051. Liga Bwin. 1 point was all that separated us and Benfica in the end, but they had a better head to head record so would still have been ahead even on level points. Goal-scoring GK's. No GK goals this month and (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" finished the season on 14 goals, (with 4 failures from the spot), and 130 career goals. Finances.

Apr 2051. Liga Bwin. Had we beaten Sporting we would have been just 1 point behind Benfica. As it is we're 3 pts behind with just 2 games remaining. xG watch. Belenenses 1.41 - 0.47 Sporting. Varzim 0.98 - 2.88 Belenenses. Belenenses 3.21 - 1.51 Porto. Gil Vicente 0.29 -1.69 Belenenses. UEFA Champions League. We were smashed in the 1st leg so I rotated the squad for the 2nd leg. Taça de Portugal Placard. I really wanted to win this, but they just edged it. Goal-scoring GK's. only 1x GK goal this month, but (31g) Simões (POR) 6'1" is up to 130 career goals now. Finances.

I actually knew that because I managed them a couple of years ago in my Scandi Journeyman save. Keep em coming though. This isn't just for me. This is to help anyone who is looking for unusual saves like this.

Just so I don't lose track of any ideas for #FM23 1. Bordeaux have been relegated to the 3rd Tier of French football due to financial irregularities. 2. Ukraine. Something just to educate myself on the geography and history if Ukrainian football due to current circumstances. 3. Hungary. The National Team have beaten ENG twice. How far can they be taken. 4. A.S.D. Sangiuliano City Nova Football Club, (from Milan), have been promoted to playable Serie C in Italy. 5. Recreativo finished as high as 8th in La Liga in 2006/07 but are now back in the 4th Tier in Spain after being promoted. 6. A team newly promoted into the National North/South League in England. (Worthing, Buxton, Banbury, Taunton, Peterborough Sports, Scarborough & Farnborough). 7. A non-playable team from the league below National North/South. (I'm specifically thinking about AFC Rushden & Diamonds). 8. SV TÜRKGÜCÜ MÜNCHEN in German 3rd Tier, (although they have just been relegated to the 4th Tier and I don't know if they are playable and if they get Turkish Newgens. 9. Regensburg in Germany. They are in the 2nd Tier though so is that too easy? 10. I wonder if there are any Ukrainian football clubs in Crimea that now have to play in the Russian league? Would love to stick it up the Russians with them. 11. Can I win the Serbian title with someone other than Partizan and Red Star? 12. South American Journeyman. How many trophies can you win? 13. SC Schiltigheim play in the French Tier. (FCSR HAGUENAU could also be used for the same reason). They have a German name because that area used to be German and was subsequently returned to France but the name stuck. They get French Newgens, (I think), but what if we only signed Germans, (other than the Youth Intake)? 14. Las Palmas is just West of the Sahara desert, but despite that play in the 2nd Tier in Spain. How far could you take them with just Academy products & African signings? 15. FC Vaduz. Liechtenstein in Switzerland. I've never done it. I've got to at some point haven't I? 16. Welsh clubs in England. Can only manage Welsh clubs. 17. SC Bastia have been demoted to the 5th tier in Italy (I of course mean France), because of financial skulduggery. They are a Corsican team, (like AC Ajaccio), and if you holiday long enough they should promote themselves to a playable league because of their high reputation. 18. Asian Journeyman. How many trophies can you win? Any other suggestions?

Mar 2051. Liga Bwin. These were some tough fixtures, 3 away games and the of the opposition in the top 6. xG watch. The Braga result was frustrating and the xG shows that we might have deserved more but that's just the way it goes somewhere. On the flip side we probably didn't deserve the point at Benfica. Nacional 1.27 - 2.04 Belenenses. Braga 0.72 - 1.65 Belenenses. Belenenses 2.81 - 0.48 Guimaraes. Benfica 1.53 - 0.71 Belenenses. UEFA Champions League. We play R.Madrid in the Quarters and if we progress past them then we play the winners of Arsenal and Liverpool in the Semi. Taça de Portugal Placard. It's going to be a tough ask in the 2nd leg without taking an advantage in from the 1st leg. Records. Goal-scoring GK's. Finances.