corinthiano

May 2069 We did win all of our games and ASEC Mimosas did drop points, but it was only 2 as opposed to 3 which meant they still won the league as a result of their head to head results against us...disappointing to be so close but we have played some excellent football in the last two months which is very encouraging for next season.

April 2069 I did say we couldnt afford to drop points in the away games and as we did ASEC Mimosas did capitalize on it and now leads the lead with 3 games to go. On a positive note we did bounce back from the defeat against ES Bafing with the performance of the season against Africa Sports, which has ensured at least a 3rd place finish and therefore continental football for next season. Next Fixtures All we can do now is try to win the last 3 games and hope ASEC Mimosas drop points.

March 2069 We did get a couple of positive results somehow and are actually in the title race. Stade d'Abidjan game aside the performances have still not been convincing but we keep grinding out results. If we had avoided defeat against ASEC Mimosas it would have put us in pole position for the title, but as it stands we could still go top if we win our game in hand, which is not the position I would have expected us to be in with the football we are playing. Next Fixtures We have a couple of tough away games this month and we cant afford to drop points if we want to extend the title fight until the final month.

February 2069 A very decent draw at AS Tanda before FC San Pédro were dispatched easily. We then struggled to break the deadlock at Altantis de Yopougon and Sol FC, only scoring in the last 15 minutes after missing a bunch of chances. I am concerned at how many chances we are missing generally, but at least we got positive results this month. Next Fixtures This is a tough month as we face a resurgent AFAD Djékanou and title rivals Séwé FC and ASEC Mimosas. If we get positive results against all three we could be involved in a title fight, but I think that will be tough.

January 2069 The draw against Africa Sports was frustrating as the equalizer came in the 86th minute...interestingly ASEC Mimosas are not as ruthless this season and Séwé FC are currently setting the pace, but I dont feel like we have been good enough to keep up with either and instead need to focus on 3rd place. Transfers In Out Just youngsters being loaned out or let go on the outgoing front, but on the incoming we have two players who will challenge for the first team. He was a fringe player at AS Tanda and I was happy to snap him up cheaply. We break the club transfer record to sign this exciting youngster who is already a start for the Benin national squad. Next Fixtures Back from the break with a tough game against AS Tanda, avoiding defeat will be key in the race for 3rd place.

December 2068 A great month if you ignore the game against Séwé FC and ASEC Mimosas where we twice got punished for chasing the game with an extra man in the field. Draws here would have meant being level at the top, but at least we are not too far and have a bit of a gap to 4th too. Next Fixtures A couple of games against mid-table teams and we will hope to keep up the pressure on the top two.

November 2068 A frustrating game against Sol FC where we once again were wasteful in front of goal. But we made it up by pulling off an amazing comeback against AFAD Djékanou, going from 2 goals down to winning it on the 90th minute! Transfers Out With the signing of Ouattara in goal I felt that I should cash in on Jean Agbo, to the displeasure of some of our players. Next Fixtures Busy December is upon us, lets hope we can carry momentum from the AFAD Djékanou game.

2068/69 Season Preview We are predicted one place higher than last season, which makes sense considering we have not made massive changes to the squad in the off-season. I am looking to consolidate a top 3 finish so that we make continental football a regular thing. Transfers In Out With the financial situation of the club and tight wage budget we went back to loans for squad players, whilst only bringing in a few players for the first team. One the outgoing front we made the decision to cash in on Kondwani Banta as $275k was too much to miss out on a player that clearly didnt want to renew his contract. We also made over $200k on outgoing squad players which is excellent for us financially. Here are the players that will compete for a first team slot. Went back to my old club Flamme Olympique to repatriate this decent GK. My scouts thought he was better than he actually is, but he is a decent option on the left for us and has excellent physicals. This one was agreed a while ago as I couldnt miss out on this great prospect on a Bosman. Is the Banda replacement, not as good as him but has very decent potential. Assistant XI Almost in full agreement as Musa is out injured for the season and Macuacua will take over as left back. Initial Fixtures We already have a tough fixture in the second game of the season, would like to get a point there.

September 2068 Unfortunately our first African campaign with Cosmos ended shortly in the Preliminary Round of the Confederation Cup. We had a tough draw in Ebedei from Nigeria but had a chance to do a lot better. We started the first leg well but they pegged us back immediately leaving the game poised for the second leg. When we went 2-0 up in the first 30 minutes I thought we would go through, but they went on to score 6 goals in the next 30 mins to completely put us out of the tie. We pulled back 2 goals to end the game on a crazy 6-4 and left wondering what could have been.

2067/68 West African Review A very strong presence with 7 teams, with 4 of them making up Group B and 4 making it to the Quarter Final. With 3 out of the 4 Semi-Finalists being West African it was disappointing to see ES Tunis walking away with their 11th Champions League. CAF Confederation Cup A very poor showing as 4 teams make it to this stage and only Enyimba Aba progress to the Quarter Final. Enyimba Aba did well to beat North African opposition in the Quarter and Semi-Final, but lost on penalties in the Final to Kaizer Chiefs, who earned their 3rd title. West African League Rankings No movement between West African Nations this season, with the only big movers overall Guinea who jump from 26th to 23rd. League Champions Biggest highlight is Génération Foot equalling the record of titles with CNEPS Excellence. We also saw some of the "second sides" in countries winning titles, such as Hearts of Oak, Enyimba Aba, ASKO and Mindelense. Former Champions MC Breweries: Great on their time back from an unplayable league as the win the second tier for the first time and are promoted to the top flight again. Kamboi Eagles: Spent the season in an unplayable league and no confirmation if they will come back up. Nô Pintcha da Brava: Win the Liga Brava for the first time in 8 years and get to 2nd place in their Group in the Cape Verdean Competition. Knocked out in the Semi-Final of the Taça Brava. AFC Nhacra: Finish runners-up again in the league and are knocked out early in the cup. Ayéma FC: Hisotry repeats it self as they go to the Relegation Group but finish it comfortably away from danger. CNEPS Excellence: Miss out on Ligue 1 again as they finish runners-up and dont have any success in the cups. In the Champions League they are defeated by Hearts of Oak in the Quarter-Final. Banjul Utd: Challenged for the title but ultimately finished in 3rd. ASN NIGELEC: Terrible year as they finish bottom by a mile in the Superligue and are relegated into an unplayable division. Unisport: Disappointing in the Championship Group again as they finish bottom. CFFEB: Finish 3rd this season and are knocked out early in the Coupe du Faso. Flamme Olympique: Slight improvement again as they finish 4th in Ligue 1. Avenir AC: Not a great year as they finish 5th, are knocked out at the first time of asking in the Confederation Cup and go out in the Quarter Final of the Coupe du Mali.

2067/68 Season Review It was far from the smoothest campaign and we hit a really rough patch in the middle, but in the end finishing in 3rd and getting continental football was excellent. I think the inconsistency comes from so many new signings, including a lot of young ones and a squad that was gelling as the season went on. I dont expect as many ins and outs next season and hopefully we can be more consistent with an established squad. Squad by Appearances We had an established First XI, with only injuries, fatigue and suspension getting us to rotate, so we did not use that many players and can still trim the squad down. I think our struggles up front are evident by the fact only one player (just) hit the double figure mark on goals for us. Top Performers Really lived up to being our best player and we missed him when he was injured for a few weeks. Doesnt want to extend a contract that runs out at the end of next season so we will have to decided whether we want to make some cash on him or hold on for another season. Very effective as a BBM or Mezzala, have already tied him down for another 3 seasons. Mamadou's more versatile midfield partner also had a very consistent season. Finances This is really terrible and the board have already signalled a cut in wage budget which means we will have to sell to make any significant changes next season. Progress We made great progress this season and right now I am not even sure if I would leave for a higher reputation team. I think now it is similar to Mali and we will have to wait for ASEC Mimosas to have a bad season and make the most of it to be able to complete Ivory Coast.

Following this one with interest Banjul Hawks have been dominating Gambia in my save but have made no mark in África, I am sure you’ll do a lot better that that!

Forwarded a week and there it is, great news!

May 2068 A very encouraging end of season as we easily dispatch Sol FC before putting two excellent performances against Ivorian giants that secure 3rd place. This could also be significant as I think it means we will have Confederation Cup football next season. I say think as third place last season got that, but Ivory Coast are right on the edge of the coefficient table where 2 Champions League spots are given. I have also not received any news confirming the qualification so I guess we will have to wait and see.

April 2068 We are somewhat back, the football hasnt exactly been fluid but we have had positive results this month. I would have liked to win at least one of the games against AS Tanda or Séwé FC but realistically drawing away to them was a decent result. Next Fixtures We have a couple of tough fixtures to end the season and will have to play really well to secure continental football for next season.

March 2068 We are still not playing great but at least we broke our winless run and are still in the mix of teams chasing continental football. Next Fixtures We have some important games towards the middle and end of the month against AS Tanda and Séwé FC, hopefully our form has improved by then.

February 2068 Things are really frustrating right now, we are dominating games but so wasteful in front of goal. These 3 draws should have been 3 wins and we are slipping down the table. Next Fixtures We have a tough game against FC San Pédro, but then 3 fixtures in which we really need to make sure we get back to form.

January 2068 We do well to get results against Séwé FC and Sol FC, but ASEC Mimosas are miles ahead of us and seem to be strolling to another title. Still, we have a chance t compete for African places as 2nd place goes to Champions League and 3rd to Confederation Cup. Transfers In Out Light business in the mid-season transfer window as we let go of a fringe player and loan out a couple of youngsters. On the incoming front for the first time Kojo brings an European to West Africa as promising youngster Nodar Kutateladze is signed from Georgia, along with a loanee to (oddly) cover left back and AMC. Next Fixtures A couple of tough fixtures when we resume from the mid-season break.

December 2067 The month started well and included a club record win over Yopogoun FC, but after that we have really struggled in front of goal and have seen our campaign derail a bit. We were terrible against AS Tanda and were 2-0 against RC Abidjan at half-time. We played a lot better in the second half to rescue a draw and I hope this is the catalyst for us to get out of this mini slump. Next Fixtures We have a couple of very tough fixtures before the mid-season break and getting a result in them will go a long way in determining whether we can challenge at the top or not.

November 2067 Comfortably beating last years runners-up was a great start to the season and we followed that up with two solid wins to keep us at 100% and at pace with the countries two top teams. Next Fixtures It is a busy December but not that bad compared to what we have had in other countries, with only two mid-week games. The fixtures dont look to scary either so hopefully we can continue the good form until the end of the year.

In my excitement to squad build with money and no foreign restriction I completely forgot to do the West African Review , so here it goes... 2066/67 West African Review CAF Champions League Just 5 teams make this stage this year, but 4 make it to the Quarter-Finals with the only one missing out ASEC Mimosas. We also see the Ghanaian duo together at this stage for the first time in a while... Out of all the West Africans you wouldnt have fancied Génération Foot to win their maiden Champions League, but they did will to squeeze past two rounds on away goals before beating Enyimba Aba convincingly in the Final. CAF Confederation Cup A strong turn out for West Africa, including some unfamiliar faces in CFFEB and Académie SOAR, but ultimately only two sides made it to the Quarter Final. It was not to be for CNEPS Excellence and Stade Malien as they both are knocked out in the Semi-Final after thumping wins in the Quarter Final. In the end it is ES Tunis who grab their 3rd title by beating Sundowns on penalties in the Final. West African League Rankings Positive moves for Senegal who now have the 3rd most reputable league in the continent and Guinea who jump over Togo and Benin. League Champions No new champion this season, highlight being Génération Foot closing the gap on CNEPS Excellence in Senegal. Former Champions MC Breweries: Were in an unplayable league this season, but have been promoted back to the second tier for next. Kamboi Eagles: Spent the season in an unplayable league and will do the same next season. Nô Pintcha da Brava: Didi improve in the Liga Brava and finished 2nd, but exited at the Semi Final stage of the Taça Brava again. AFC Nhacra: Couldnt defend both titles as they finish runners-up in the league and exit early in the cup. Ayéma FC: Did not manage to make it into the Championship Group again, but comfortably avoided relegation in the Relegation Group. CNEPS Excellence: Disappointing season as they finish 2nd in Ligue 1 and are out in the Semi Final of the Confederation Cup, but do win the League Cup as consolation. Banjul Utd: Slightly better than last season as they finish 8th. ASN NIGELEC: Same as last year, 9th in the Superligue and out in the first round of the Coupe du Niger. Unisport: Bettered last years performance and finished 3rd, behind only the two dominating sides of ASC Kara and ASKO. CFFEB: Couldnt retain the title as they finished 9 points behind CF Rahimo in second, but did have a decnet Confederation Cup campaign by reaching the Group Stage. In the Coupe du Faso they were knocked out in the Quarter Final. Flamme Olympique: Slight improvement as they finish 6th in Ligue 1. Avenir AC: Disappointing in the Champions League and Coupe du Mali as they fall in the first hurdle on both, but did have a decent Ligue 1 campaign, finishing 3rd, 5 points off Stade Malien.

2067/68 Season Preview I am excited for this season for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the board have decided to ignore our debt and tripled our wage budget and secondly, Ivory Coast is the first country with no foreign player limits which means we have been able to pick out some great players from abroad. With the new signings the media sees us as 6th favorites and I have confidence we will be able to achieve that at a minimum, with the optimist in me thinking we could even challenge for the title. Transfers In Out I know I said that I needed to trim the squad at the end of last season, but with the increased budget we have only slightly trimmed the squad. However we have vastly improved the quality of the team and have practically a new starting XI. Here are the players that will likely be regular starters for us. The young Beninese international has bags of potential but is already first team material. Another young international, this time from Equatorial Guinea, Federico will be our starting right back. The best left back I could find, we paid a bit of money to get the experienced Nigerian. Another Nigerian, Salisu was picked up on a free. Van Wyk looks like a really solid addition to our defence and completes our new look back line. Went back to Unisport for him, our scouts did rate him higher but he is not an automatic starter. Could develop into it though as he has room to grow. Another one picked up on a free, Bashir looks like an exciting Mezzala. His centre midfield partner is Fofana, one of the few Ivorians we signed. He was released by ASEC Mimosas and looks very decent for us. The signing I am most excited for, the Malawi international more than fills the gap left by Yaya Camara. Aristide was playing in Burkina Faso and I am glad we convinced him to come back to Ivory Coast to lead our attack. Assistant XI Dont agree 100% as Van Wyk should be at the back and Banda at AP with Ouattara up front, but it highlights we also have pretty good depth at the club. Initial Fixtures Hosting AFAD Djékanou will be a great test to see if the side really has improved significantly.

2066/67 Season Review Seasons are going to be quick in the Ivory Coast as it is a 14 team division with no cups. We did really well here and Cosmos actually already had a decent squad, with only back-up signings we were able to shoot from 11th to 6th comfortably. Squad by Appearances This is an unnecessarily large squad for the number of games we have, I'll work on further trimming it down in the off-season. Awards Maxwel Konaté bags Top Goalscorer by some distance which sees him being the only player outside the top two to be included in the Team of the Season. Top Performers By far our best players this season, absolutely deadly in front of goal. I would not be surprised if he started attracting attention from bigger clubs. Richards experience was crucial for us. He wasnt happy at the club but I ultimately managed to convince him to extend his contract, I think we can get at least one more good season out of him. Great player, shame he looks like he will leave the club. Finances Not getting better, this is a real area of concern as finances could limit our progress. Progress A very good first season with Cosmos, who as I mentioned do have a decent first team. I do get concerned about their finances though so if an eligible team fires their manager and has a better wage budget on offer then I would consider a move.

May 2067 We beat AFAD Djékanou in what ultimately cost them their first title and a chance of ending 25 years of ASEC Mimosas dominance, before Maxwel Konaté fired us to another two victories and an excellent 6th place finish in Ligue 1.

April 2067 Some mixed results but we did have a couple of tough fixtures to navigate through. We did give ASEC Mimosas a good game too so it was an OK games despite the result. Next Fixtures We host the title contenders before a couple of games against sides lower in the table. The aim is to finish in the top half of the table.