Nottingham Forest

As there are a lot of posts what’s the crack with the warning and fine to try and increase determination? How likely is it to work?

England is the 29th? At least it was for me. Then holiday until the 25th.

I do try to offer as many contracts early doors. However, it can hamper you like it did with me if older players quality drop below what you’d expect. I had Gary Liddle on £1500 and Lewis Alessandra on £1200. Plus a few others. That meant I’ve lost Boney & Hooper at the end of each season. It’s getting the right balance so you’re not lumbered with players who fall away but also so you don’t lose quality.

Yeah, Boney going definitely helped. Really hope we can. Could be first choice for years.

It wouldn't let me post in the update post but just wanted to show you the below. Idrissa Dembélé YP1c is improving a fair bit already. Intake After 1 Season

Season 2 2024-25 Season Vanarama National League North Season Summary A very mixed back of a season that saw us fail to meet the top half expectations. Although a strong finish has managed to enable me to secure a new two year deal on slightly reduced terms. In the FA Trophy we didn't do much but the FA Cup we managed to get to the third round beating some decent clubs. Overall we made about £300k-£400k from the run. Youth Intake Whilst it doesn't mean alot. A group of all 'A's' is a good sign for us. The intake didn't disappoint as there were 8 elite talents who could all make the grade and I do believe some of the lesser talents could be retrained or have a chance. The best four for me right now are below but I do feel that if we can get them to improve then we're onto a winner. Personalities are bit hit and miss based on my limited knowledge but it's a work in progress. Other Bits JJ Hooper decided that he was going to leave on a free at the start of the season and we've not been able to persuade him to stay. Although he was 31 and not as prolific this season he'll be a big loss. Gary Liddle also left the club as he retired along with the released Blair Adams. That's cleared £3,300 from the wage bill. Rest of transfers below. Despite the FA Cup run that did net us some decent funds we're still operating at a heavy loss and the owner has put in £625k to take us out of the red. He took over from the previous owner at the start of the season. We've also had our training facilities downgraded and gone part-time.

It’s not probably going to be that great compared to others but as a whole I reckon there are 5/6 that could easily strengthen our ageing squad. Off the top of my head there was at least 4 two star CA players and that may have increased since.

Think I've just got the best overall intake I've ever had on this challenge. Just need to see whether they can actually improve.

I had wrote a really long post but my laptop has just crashed. So it's a shortened version. Season 1 2023-24 Season Vanarama National League North Season Summary One word! Heartbreak! Done in the play-off final. Cups we got to the FA Trophy Third Round(not bothered) and FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round where we lost to top of the National, Newport. Youth Intake Good intake. We got two improvements. Other Bits Due to my financial mismanagement Myles Boney(captain and keeper has left), Means that youth keeper gets a chance. Finances shot to pieces. £226k or so in the red although the chairperson has left and we've had a board takeover. Luckily the old chairperson put some money in beforehand.

I am back. After a 3 season dabble with Basford and the unfortunate relegation I've decided to start with South Shields. On paper it's still a tough challenge despite them having a better setup. Manager profile below.

Not going to post as what's the point. Season 3 and over for me. Form was shocking. Players were garbage. Somehow managed to claw it back and with 3 games to go we were 2 clear of Peterborough Sports. We were playing Stourbridge who were champions. We were 2 up away from home with 13 to go. They scored 3 late goals including a 92nd minute winner. Next game we played Nuneaton. Peterborough Sports played Stourbridge who had a record of P: 25, W: 20, D:2 and lost 3. Peterborough of course won. The last 16 games of Stourbridge they'd lost 1. Final game of the season we lost 3-1 and Peterborough Sports lost 3-1 but relegated on GD.

A £5m transfer fee is ridiculous. Good job on staying up.

Unlucky @libbyshuss. Is this your first sacking with this challenge? As you’ve completed it a few times.

He didn’t show up as interested which is weird but he is better than what I’ve had. Steve Chettle - Fairly Determined Then some fairly old bloke at 63 that was fairly professional. Neither had the greatest of stats. Hopefully I’ve got a winner. He’s already knocked a few players down across the squad. So I’ve probably got a better idea with how good we are.

He's not as good as a couple of your HoYD but considering he didn't show up as interested and it's not his preferred role I'm fairly happy with my new HoYD for now. Will be the third one I've had.

Season 2 2024-25 Season Vanarama National League North Season Summary The start of the season saw me change to something resembling a 3-5-2 except we had a DM instead. 5 games of that with 4 draws saw me revert to a 4-3-3 with a DM and wingers. Inconsistent form was the choice as we never really troubled the play-offs or the dropzone. After Christmas I started to get concerned. Tiredness was kicking in(only used 16 players or so all season) and aside from a reasonable spell in February we were slowly being sucked into the relegation fight. Despite losing to sides below and around us, somehow Southport and Lowestoft before them were garbage at the end as well. Although a 1-0 win through a Harvey Grice wonder strike secured our safety. In the cups we didn't get far in the FA Trophy(2nd Round). However, in the FA Cup we managed to take divisional rivals and promotion chasers Chorley to a replay at home despite being down to 10 men in the first leg. Only to have Chorley win the game with 8 minutes to go and stop us meeting Rochdale away in the 2nd round. We did get £35k for the replay being on TV. Although come the end of the season we're still over £255k in the red which has been helped by a few investments from the board. Tyreace Palmer and Harvey Grice were once again the standout players. Palmer actually is out of contract but no one as of yet has offered him a contract and his goals were crucial to us staying up. Youth Intake Lots of 'As' but in truth a poor intake. I do move to a fairly professional HoYD but so far it hasn't paid off. Possibly a few who may help pad the squad out. Youth Player Development Have to say I'm impressed with Rob Dale YP1a's progression even if there maybe some over inflation in areas.

Season 1 2023-24 Season Vanarama National League North Season Summary On the face of things finishing 12th is a good start to this challenge. However, up until match 33 or so we were comfortably inside the play-offs. Unfortunately the standard drop off in form happened. From February we won 3 league games. In the FA Cup and FA Trophy we didn't get any lucrative ties as we only reached the Fourth Qualifying Round and Fourth Round respectively. Youth Intake I was hopeful but only one player looked like he could push into the first team although the keeper got in by default. Finances are shot to pieces so no facilities improvements yet. Tyreace Palmer and Harvey Grice were the two standout players. Palmer a striker and Grice a left midfielder as we played a standard 4-4-2.

Going to give this a try again with Basford United. Manager Profile below.