SixPointer

Yeah, I can’t have any complaints really. I was hoping it would have been kept from the board a little longer so that I would have had a more clean cut decision. But the minute I applied that was me sacked 🤣

Things started really well in Mérida, but the players weren’t going to be able to play the style I want to this year. The two best players were 35 and 38 and there wasn’t really much talent coming in. Would I have made it work most likely, as we were playing well counter attacking. Deportivo however a set up for much more long term success and have a decent bunch of youth players ready to grow into the style of play. The conveyer belt is something am very excited to get going. Vivas signed a new deal which is a real bonus but chacon will need to go this window as he’s not for signing.

I feel your pain my man

Deportivo Táchira Fútbol Club, is a Venezuelan club whose main sport is football. It is based in the city of San Cristóbal, capital of the State of Táchira. It is located in a mountainous region of Western Venezuela. The city is situated 818 metres (2,684 ft) above sea level in the northern Andes overlooking the Torbes River, 56 kilometres (35 mi) from the Colombian border. Deportivo Táchira is one of the great Venezuelan teams and since its foundation in 1974 has participated in the First Division of the Venezuelan Football Championship, making it the only Venezuelan team that has never fallen or participated in the lower category. Currently it holds the first position of the historical classification of the Venezuelan Primera División with 2229 points. At the international level, it is the Venezuelan club with the most appearances in the Copa Libertadores. Its best international participation was its advance to the quarter-finals unbeaten in the Copa Libertadores 2004. It is one of two Venezuelan clubs that have advanced past the first phase of the Copa Libertadores, or reached the quarter-finals. Games between Deportivo Táchira and Estudiantes de Mérida are known as the Clásico de Los Andes(meaning Andes' Derby). However, in recent years games between Deportivo Táchira and Caracashave been known as the modern derby, because of the successful performance of both teams. The team's supporters are known as aurinegros("gold-and-blacks"). The supporters are mainly divided into three groups; La Torcida Aurinegra , La Avalancha Sur, and Comando Sur. Several of the team's supporters have committed violent acts in the past towards the supporters of opposing teams. One of the most tragic events took place on December 17, 2000, when the club and Caracas drew 2–2, which gave the Copa República Bolivariana de Venezuela's title to Caracas, causing angry supporters of Deportivo Táchira to burn the Caracas team bus. While it was a tough decision whether to apply or not I think it's clear to see this is a huge upgrade in terms of club stature. So making the four hour journey down the road wasn't taken lightly, especially as my old club sat top of the pile. Whereas it's clear to see why the Deportivo manager was sacked, trailing the top of the league by 11 points and playing two more games. They remain in the Copa Venezuela and to make things even more interesting they have drawn Merida in the fourth round. The club has two of Venezuela’s biggest talents, in Yerson Chacón and Carlos Vivas. Both are attracting interest in Europe already and it will be a task to hold them but the money earned should allow us to re-invest in an already fledgling youth system. Players of the calibre will now allow me to get tactically innovative. I feel like this is home for a while now, this is the place to win the two major trophies up for grabs here and try to make an impression on the continental front.

Very controversial, Coloccini has crossed the Venezuelan Andean derby divide. He was sacked after applying for a rival managerial position. When I did my research on all the Andean clubs, this was one that really piqued my interest and was number one on the list for Venezuela. So when they started to struggle I thought I had to take my shot. I think it adds an interesting spin on things already so early in the save, it certainly will light up the Andean derby!

Inconsistency is one of the most frustrating things ever. I think if you’re playing really bad it’s easy to look at what’s wrong and fix it. When your inconsistent, tactically and visually your seeing a lot of good things that you like so it’s harder to change things as you don’t want to lose the good stuff.

Good luck in Naples. One of my favourite cities in the world!

Nice piece about third man runs, I think now more than ever we should be able to create these situations in game. Overloads and third man runs thanks to the work done on positional play.

Yeah it happened Something like that update is pending

Two options were on the table in the Andes, Cusco in Peru which was arguably a better job and here. Merida is the capital of the municipality of Libertador and the state of Mérida, and is one of the main cities of the Venezuelan Andes, and with Fabrico just leaving the Venezuelan under 20's this felt like a realistic first club in the same country. This city sits on a plateau nestled in the valley of the Chama River, which runs from end to end. The town of Mérida is located at an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,200 feet). As background on the horizon rises the country's highest summit: the Pico Bolívar with an altitude of 4,981 metres (16,342 feet). The fans wanted the Argentinian in, and they got their wish. The club is adequate across all fronts, with a new stadium in 2007 for Copa America. They won two league titles (1980 and 1985), two Copa Venezuela (1971 and 1975), has been sub-national champion five times and has participated in several Copa Libertadores and Copa Conmebol, Copa Merconorte. Games between Deportivo Táchira and Estudiantes de Mérida are known as the Clásico de Los Andes (meaning Andes' Derby). Deportivo are arguably the biggest team in Venezuela. Things had been going so well, perhaps too good, only beaten once competitively in 15 games. South American football is never far from controversy and drama, and in the short managerial stint in Merida that was just the case.

Is Paul Dickson still kicking around. I used to work with him. Was a great player when he was younger was at Dunfermline, he shoulda made it at that level!

Need to play it after big wins

Great first season at very good club choice mate. Second season off to a flyer as well!

Polish powerhouse now

Thanks bud! Things are already getting very controversial in the Andes.

It’s definitely something I need to utilise, it may have an effect on tactics. Could potentially sit in and hit teams on the break as they tire we could exploit them or vice versa dominate the ball and burn them out from side to side. Interesting you should mention Cusco, one of the first options on the table. I do have some time at the minute due to waiting on machine parts, am also off Sunday Monday for the new year but will most likely be out celebrating. Every Sunday off, so potentially I’m going to write up full seasons at a time. One big update. Would mean once a month a write up I think. Will see how we go. Tactically I have no clear plan at the minute, I think it will be another area that will grow as does Fabricio. I would expect him to be well versed in the dark arts though! I would love to see you back on the journeyman trail, although the stuff you pack into these short one team saves is really incredible bud!

The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The Andes extend from north to south through seven South American countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. The quest is to journey through these countries winning every top division along the way, the catch the clubs have to be from the Andes, not just the country. Now there is no plan to work a certain route, mainly because north to south or vice versa does not coincide with the footballing Hierarchy, nor do i want to restrict myself with rules, rather leave it to flow naturally unlike my previous challenges. The Andes are the location of several high plateaus, some of which host major cities such as Bogotá, with a metropolitan population of over ten million, and Santiago, Medellín, Cali, and Quito. In football terms these cities are of course powerhouses not only in the Andes but the continent itself. Atlético Nacional, of Medellín have two Copa Libertadores, Colo Colo of Santiago have one as does LDU Quito. Columbia, Chile and Ecuador all represented with the highest honour on the continent. Other cities in or near the Andes include Bariloche, Catamarca, Jujuy, Mendoza, Salta, San Juan, Tucumán, and Ushuaia in Argentina; Calama and Rancagua in Chile; Cochabamba, Oruro, Potosí, Sucre, Sacaba, Tarija, and Yacuiba in Bolivia; Arequipa, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huancayo, Huánuco, Huaraz, Juliaca, and Puno in Peru; Ambato, Cuenca, Ibarra, Latacunga, Loja, Riobamba and Tulcán in Ecuador; Armenia, Cúcuta, Bucaramanga, Duitama, Ibagué, Ipiales, Manizales, Palmira, Pasto, Pereira, Popayán, Sogamoso, Tunja, and Villavicencio in Colombia; and Barquisimeto, La Grita, Mérida, San Cristóbal, Tovar, Trujillo, and Valera in Venezuela. This gives me a plethora of options, I plan on starting unemployed but as always with a former player who is suited to such a quest. Fabricio Coloccini (born 22 January 1982) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Coloccini began his club career at Boca Juniors in his native Argentina attracting the attention of A.C. Milan. After making his reputation at Deportivo La Coruña he joined Newcastle United and was promoted to club captain. Coloccini returned to Argentina to join San Lorenzo, his boyhood club. At international level, Coloccini represented Argentina on 39 occasions between 2003 and 2014. On April 1, 2022, Coloccini was announced as the new Venezuela U20 manager. Now I usually have a tactical idea at this stage but this year I feel like just finding my way as I go. Coloccini left Venezuela 20's after a brief spell, so it ties in that he is still trying to find his way as manager, but has a nice profile for me to replicate as best as i can and get stuck into the Andes.

I think we are heading to the Andes!

Two big wins in the title race! Rosenborg is the one that certainly can come back to haunt you. But your in good form, although two tough games you can navigate then to hit the playoffs for sure

Some huge clubs looking for your services! Shame the arsenal thing didn’t play out but bide your time for the perfect club. From experience that is. I wish I never took the Real Madrid job and waited for the Man United one which is what I really wanted.

I think nowadays squad rotation is so important, the amount of games alone now outs so much demands on players especially if your in continental games and international starters. Im very much a man of a clear first 11 and prospect backups as cover. Usually all players are the same types for each position suited for the one role. When I get started this year i think it’s key to build a rounded squad with different options with rounded quality. Thus allowing freshness and ability for subtle tactical tweaks.

Thanks for your support the whole way bro! The nordics I done a couple of saves in Norway, with Odd being pretty recent. So don’t fancy that. I thought about Baltic’s, or trying to win the UCL with an Eastern European team something that’s not happened since the days of Red star and Steau Bucharest. South America has my attention at the minute because I read a book about football there on my summer holidays. i have also given thought to a potential national team save as that would allow me the speed of play and time to write up while working long hours with no time off.

https://youtu.be/n_ndyUlbsZg?feature=shared

Up the JAGS!

crazy to think this wonderkid has pace to burn looks the most complete player yet he’s never brother to keep himself fit. Maybe he like a casual cigar and beer after the match