dafuge's FM08 small club to big club challenge

[John Swarbrick]

New game as Hendon. Could somebody reply to my last post please about getting players?

Much appreciated.

[minisav]

Well for starters if it doesn't bother you filter everybody who is without a contract and get reports for them. If you don't have scouts at all then you're going to have to guess or hope a scout comes quickly. The 31st doesn't matter for non-league clubs so don't be worried by then. A parent club can help.

Also if you're looking for good strikers. Filter out everybody with pace less than 15. Get some good ones. I've got 2 from doing that and they both have 6 goals each after like 10 games

[John Swarbrick]

I'm going to go through 201 players who are unattached contracts and offer them a weeks trial. It will take a long time but don't know any other way.

[sirdez24]

You're better off filtering attributes - say all players with at least 12 for pace, or 10 for finishing, or 12 for tackling/heading, and going from there. You can usually find some decent dead-ball specialists this way too, which are invaluable at a level where most keepers are crap.

[TSmith1991]

Season 2 report

Season 1 08/09 BSS: 1st

Season 2 09/10 BSP: 2nd, lost in playoff final

Argh, so close yet so far. I really thought I was in with a chance of promotion after starting the season strongly, but we tailed off in the middle of the season and Dagenham ran away with it. However, to our credit we came back strongly and had we not made some criminal mistakes in the last few games, we may have overhauled them. As it was, they beat us fair and square, and Chester were too strong in the Playoff final, winning 2-0.

League table: 2nd

Star player: Zac

Thanks to my newfound scouting knowledge of Bulgaria (my feeder club had a Bulgarian coach, so I gained all their scouting knowledge), I managed to bring in some absolute gems for tiny sums. Just look at Marion, Peter and my personal favourite Vlad. None of these beasts cost me more than £5k. Sadly, they seem to have attracted a lot of unwanted attention, and Marion is soon to join Charlton for £250k, and Vlad is on his way too.

Still, hopefully next year will be our year.

[sirdez24]

Season review - 2012/13 - Billericay Town - League 2

Well, as you can see from the final table, it's back-to-back promotions for my Billericay Town side, although in fairness I have usually found the step up from the BSP quite easy on this version. It's L1 where I always get stuck, however.

Dean Price - This man is fast becoming a legend of the club. After having him on loan for my first season and a half at the club, he became available permanently and I snapped him up. As you can see, he didn't disappoint, and is now Billericay's all-time leading scorer in the league. Currently wanted by Colchester and Inverness.

Salvatore Zaugg - Swiss youth international released by Villa, I made up for his poor physical stats by surrounding him with stronger midfielders so that I could utilise his creativity and passing. Had a key hand in so many more goals than his assists tally would suggest.

David McKay - My classy vice-captain made the step up to league football with easy, playing mainly on the left and cutting inside.

Finances are finally in the black but not enough to get me a transfer budget I wouldn't think. I always knew I had a chance of promotion straight from L2 but from past experience, I'll be happy with mere survival next campaign.

[ChelseaDaft]

Chelseadaft

**New Game**

Blue Square North 2008/2009 Stamford

I have started this challenge for the final time before the new game comes out and i intend to complete this one!

Updates to follow!

Well the challenge is over before it has begun... finished bottom of the league so am starting again, I dont know about anybody else but i find it veryt difficult with tactics etc. I know in the lower leagues about K.I.S.S and have read numerous threads about tactics etc.. but to me i want to do it all my own way without using other peoples tactics etc and training.

As the new game is out in about a month or so i am gonna have another crack at this but not change a single thing on training (leave it on general) and also the standard tactic that comes with the team ( so no changing team or individual instructions) and see how long it takes me to get promoted.

Just adds another dimension i guess to keep my occupied for a month. I will start this today and tonight (once back from work) then am off on holiday for a week so gives me more than enough time to give it a whirl.

I am holidaying now as we speak so i will update with my team once sorted!

P.s Well done everyone for sticking with it for whatever successes you have had so far.. especially those using their own tactics and training, you alone would of had more reward from this challenge than anyone!

[minisav]

Well I'm doing pretty well with Margate. Got manager of the month and I'm on a 7 game unbeaten run I believe. I don't care about it being jynxed as it would happen anyway. Just firing it up.

In the cup against Eastleigh they had injured goalies and they played a striker in goal! I only beat them 3-1 but my striker got a hat-trick

[Rebs]

I've just began the 2012-13 season with Tonbridge Angels. I managed to get them promoted in my first season as champions.

Every season so far has been an improvement - finishing 18th, 12th, 10th respectively. I really thought this was the season to make a challenge - I've managed to bring in some quality free signings. But after the first few games my form has been erratic and although I'm scoring goals, I'm shipping them at the back.

I think it could be another inconsistent season for the Angels.

[ChelseaDaft]

Well the challenge is over before it has begun... finished bottom of the league so am starting again, I dont know about anybody else but i find it veryt difficult with tactics etc. I know in the lower leagues about K.I.S.S and have read numerous threads about tactics etc.. but to me i want to do it all my own way without using other peoples tactics etc and training.

As the new game is out in about a month or so i am gonna have another crack at this but not change a single thing on training (leave it on general) and also the standard tactic that comes with the team ( so no changing team or individual instructions) and see how long it takes me to get promoted.

Just adds another dimension i guess to keep my occupied for a month. I will start this today and tonight (once back from work) then am off on holiday for a week so gives me more than enough time to give it a whirl.

I am holidaying now as we speak so i will update with my team once sorted!

P.s Well done everyone for sticking with it for whatever successes you have had so far.. especially those using their own tactics and training, you alone would of had more reward from this challenge than anyone!

So here goes:

Chelseadaft 2008/2008 Blue Square North ****Ilkeston Town****

Here is my profile, updates to follow:

[ChelseaDaft]

Well i have been given a two year plan to establish myself in the league and avoid relegation! Game on!

[Jimbokav1971]

ChelseaDaft. Hi mate. Good to see you back in here.

I got sacked too in my first season with Hitchin. Since then I've progressed pretty well and in November 2013, my Borehamwood team are now top of Conference National.

I have been helped by inheriting a youth player who has scored 143 goals in 81(129) appearances.

Despite him now being 20 years old, he still seems to perform better when introduced from the bench.

Something that I find a little strange is the way that some of my fringe players are valued. Obviously as both wages and transfer fees are still more than a bit of an issue at this early stage I only sign players in frees and concentrate on young players, (usually teenagers), who will sign for lower wages. In addition to that, I only sign players who my scouts have found or whjo have been commented on in the media and who I then send my scouts to look at.

Despite that, I currently have players valued in the following amounts.

£140K 21 year old AM RL. (Squad player signed on a free after released by Boro. Only made 4 league appearances).

£80k 22 year old Irish MC. (Squad player signed on a free after released by Leigh).

£80k 20 year old MC. (Reserve player signed on a free after released by Barnsley. Not made a single start for me yet).

£70k 20 year old HG free-scoring SC. Now this valuation seems realistic and if anything a little low.

Looking at these players, (and the cout reports), I would expect them to be valued somewhere in the region of £10k-£20k. Anything more seems silly.

Then it also seems strange that Doch (the 20 year old SC) is only valued at £70k despite already having scored 143 goals and being chased by clubs such as Charlton, Hull, Leicester, Sheff Utd, & Wigan. Really just doesn't seem to add up for me.

[ChelseaDaft]

ChelseaDaft. Hi mate. Good to see you back in here.

I got sacked too in my first season with Hitchin. Since then I've progressed pretty well and in November 2013, my Borehamwood team are now top of Conference National.

I have been helped by inheriting a youth player who has scored 143 goals in 81(129) appearances.

Despite him now being 20 years old, he still seems to perform better when introduced from the bench.

Something that I find a little strange is the way that some of my fringe players are valued. Obviously as both wages and transfer fees are still more than a bit of an issue at this early stage I only sign players in frees and concentrate on young players, (usually teenagers), who will sign for lower wages. In addition to that, I only sign players who my scouts have found or whjo have been commented on in the media and who I then send my scouts to look at.

Despite that, I currently have players valued in the following amounts.

£140K 21 year old AM RL. (Squad player signed on a free after released by Boro. Only made 4 league appearances).

£80k 22 year old Irish MC. (Squad player signed on a free after released by Leigh).

£80k 20 year old MC. (Reserve player signed on a free after released by Barnsley. Not made a single start for me yet).

£70k 20 year old HG free-scoring SC. Now this valuation seems realistic and if anything a little low.

Looking at these players, (and the cout reports), I would expect them to be valued somewhere in the region of £10k-£20k. Anything more seems silly.

Then it also seems strange that Doch (the 20 year old SC) is only valued at £70k despite already having scored 143 goals and being chased by clubs such as Charlton, Hull, Leicester, Sheff Utd, & Wigan. Really just doesn't seem to add up for me.

Hello Jimbo! Its been a while!

I know what you mean, i have only been able to sign free transfers, for a start the Ilkeston squad is made up of 5 or 6 under 16 players to fill the gaps and the rest of the squad is greyed out.

So i use the recommended filter settings for each position and see who (half decent) i can get hold of on a free and then if not anyone that has a minimum of 6 for each attribute and go from there. I then send the scouts out and look to sign anyone they have recommended on a trial first and then sign them.. or if someone comes up described by my ass man as a "decent" player i look to sign asap.

In this new game we are affiliated with Derby so have managed to get hold of a GK, AML and a FC that are quite good and that has improved the quality of the side. Apart from that its just see what you can do with what you have and go from there! I think its gonna be a few seasons of "target 40 points" to avoid relegation before i can get in some good players for each position to make a challenge...

[adamc81]

Well its the 2020-21 season of my Bedford Town experience.

After 5 long seasons in the Championship with the chairman consistantly selling players over the top of my head i have made it to the promised land finishing 2nd behind Newcastle. I've consistantly struggled in midtable during the last 4 seasons but after a flying start, and a somewhat open and weaker league than it had been in previous seasons i was able to hang on to it for a change. The previous season had seen both 1st and 2nd places clocking up well over 100 points, it only took a modest 87 for me to guarantee promotion.

http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=historytw8.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=championshipgc0.jpg

My average squad age is just under 22 so im hopeful they can keep improving and lead me to safety in the prem. Fortunately i have £30 mil in the bank thanks to having to replace my star players over the last few years and hopefully i'll be able to pick up a couple of class players.

Chelsea have won the Prem for the last 7 seasons and are top with a game to go so i think its going to take a while to dislodge them.

Interestingly, Liverpool who are 2nd the league have 2 wingers that use to play for me now playing regularly in their side, if only my chairman respected my judgement!

[Top Gooner]

Hi nepenthez, just out of curiosity how did the name of your club change to Real London??

[sirdez24]

It's edited.

[Rebs]

Sorry to ask - but what is the quickest way to save and upload images for this forum - I want to do so for my Tonbridge Angels game - is it easy to use imageshack - or is there a lot of messing around? And how much do people look at all the links of different stuff (I do!) - I've not done this before but since starting this challenge I'm hooked and I want to add like everybody else. (Sorry for asking nooby questions!)

[Guest roberto922]

You press the Prt Scn button, save it on paint and upload to photobucket (my preference) or imageshack. then you post the direct link. All pretty easy tbh.

[sirdez24]

New signings for Billericay Town's first campaign in League One...

Bird - A quality left-back, a position of weakness for me. Amazingly, Sheffield United decided not to renew his contract and kept him on month-to-month, and I was happy to snap him up for no compensation on July 3rd.

Murat - Once signed he came up with the "make me the focal point of your team while I use you as a stepping stone kthxbai" crap which annoyed the fans, but I am not overly concerned as half my squad is happy with the signing and he finally gives me a genuinely classy option to play at AML/R, rather than using strikers there as I have been doing.

Kerr - Nothing more than a squad signing, but for no cost (only 30% sell-on) and reasonable wages he's pretty good value from Fulham. No better or worse than what I have at that position but I needed depth there.

Parrott - Ricay's new record signing at £220K from BSP side Rochdale. Probably a bit too much but it was the lowest I could get them down to, and he's far better than any other centre-half I could get. At 22 he has plenty of years ahead of him too.

Deakin - An unattached regen, this guy looks like he's going to be something very special.

I've set the expectation to avoiding relegation and I think this is possible. Would probably like to bring in another keeper as I only have too but that will likely just be a loan signing. Up front I only play one striker, and am happy with my options there. Price is attracting to interest from Championship clubs Preston and Colchester and still Scottish first division club Inverness CT, but unless they stump up my asking price of £250K + 50%, or have the chairman accept something lower, he is going nowhere. I also have teenager Andrew Ferguson who I plan to slowly introduce to the first team this season.

[sirdez24]

Forgot to add, I had my first job offer immediately after the L2 season had finished (after being linked to another dozen or so) from Carlisle, which I found surprising as they ran away with the L2 title.

[Khanu]

Hi guys !

I'm starting this challenge with Gloucester City ! Manager Profile

I would like to have some advice before I start the season. I have no staff and a lot of the player are gray. So I'll need to sign some players to my team. To stick to the rules, and to make it more real, I presume I need to hire scouts and send them out to get me some good players. Is that the right thing to do or are they other ways ? Will it not be too late before my scouts have a list of players ?

Advices are welcome, I don't want to make a bad start.

Thanks

[Guest roberto922]

one simple tip is to scour the free transfer list, also spend a bit of time sorting out your training and tactics.

[Ceus]

hi im going try this challenge with hitchin town of blue square north

[nerner]

i am going to try this now with Weston Super Mare.

wish me luck.

[Wayne\'o]

is any one still starting the challenge with the release of fm09 soon.

[Jimbokav1971]

Quite a few of us have started it quite recently.

[thezogsageordie]

I'm back, attempting this challenge, last try before 09...For those of you who remember me, I'm sorry about the Wallace v Roberts and just not turning up.

Hendon have a new icon:

http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=samfullerprofileol8.png

I would've made that into a url and headed it Profile but unfortunately I don't know how to, on this new format.

I'll post an update before the 1st game of the season.

[Wayne\'o]

Just so i get this correct. do i have to choose a team from any of the north/south conference league after promotion from the 2 new teams

[Wayne\'o]

Profile Pic

[thezogsageordie]

Sam Fuller - Hendon. Season 1

Media Prediction: 21st

After looking at all the 'real' players, the only survivor was Bontcho Guentchev, partially because of who he is! Tell a lie, my 15-year-old keeper, Peter Walsh, looks promising!

It's fair to say I had to sign some players, convincing 19 to join, so far, giving me a grand total of 21...cosy!

If pre-season is anything to go by then I might aswell restart now.

Results were 0-2, 0-3, 1-4, 1-1, 0-1. (Funnily enough the only half decent result was the 1-1 against Crawley)

I was quite optimistic considering the gems that I found that should've been signed "at any cost" . . Most of my squad were scouted like this, I'm not that optimistic and I think I'm gonna have to have words with my Ass Man!

I'll do a mid-season (probably January) update.

Thanks for reading.

[thezogsageordie]

Sam Fuller - Hendon. Season 1

Interim Update!

My first competitive match as gaffer saw Havant & Waterlooville heading north to Claremont Road. The ever reliable media have slapped a generous 9th placed prediction on the southerners, meaning they were favourites.

We won the match 2-1, we scored first early on, through a Greg Palmer penalty, only for Greg's namesake Marcus to gatecrash the party two minutes later.

Straight after kick-off, we pressured and it paid off after 40 seconds when Marek Szmid buried a difficult chance. The rest is history!

I've just linked up with QPR as our parent club and I'm very excited that they've sent us Liam Barratt (young forward) and Pat Kanyuka (centre half) both tower above 6 feet and I couldn't be happier with these two! Of course I will push my luck and try to lure some more talent to Claremont Road!

Thanks for reading.

[NepentheZ]

Real London Update - Season 5 (2012/2013)

To Begin : With getting promoted to Div 2, the board have decided to turn Real London Professional.! - This will mean massive things for the club, especially getting staff on full time contracts.

Blue Square Premier Prediction - 22nd

Blue Square Premier Position - 2nd

F.A Cup - 3rd Round

Setanta Shield - 4th Round

F.A. Trophy - 3rd Round

Blue Square South - Graph | Table

Blue Square Premier: 2nd place was absolutely brilliant. PROMOTED via the Play Offs too, and deservedly. I expected a relegation dog fight with the other candidates, but I was fighting it out tooth and nail with the leaders, and held top spot for much of the season, only to get pipped with a tough run in towards the end of the season.

F.A Cup : My best effort yet, and an away draw to Liverpewl in the 3rd round sorted my finances out in a heart beat. A great run, and I have high hopes that I can carry on this great form.

Setanta Shield : 4th round, and this was a better season for me in the cups. Would like to win one of these lower league cups before I move up in the divisions.

F.A Trophy : Managed to push through to the 3rd round here too, and should've gone further.

Best Elevens - Season | Overall

Other Info

Finances

Team Selection

Team Info

Manager Info

Manager Overview

Manager Profile

Player Records

Team Records

Transfers

Affiliated Clubs

Real London Staff

Awards

Real London Fans Player of the Year - Paul Hardy

BSP Manager of the Year, Runner-Up - NepentheZ

BSP Team of the Year - 2 Players

New Real London Records*

[/url]Record Attendance -

Record Gates -

Record Average Attendance -

Record League High -

Record League Apps -

*Records are only displayed when broken, and may not represent the final tally of the broken record

Players of the Season

- Another great season. Top scorer yet again. Seems like the top 2 players every season have been the same two every year..!! A fantastic player for Real London, but can he step it up in Div. 2?

- Yet again brilliant with 24 assists and a barrel full of goals. This guy is getting better and better, and I just hope I can keep hold of him.

Season Summary

A great season. My best so far. I really expected to be in the BSP for about 4 years, as thats normally how long it takes me to move up the division, but 2 successive promotions on the trot now, and consolidating my position in Div. 2 is vital. Some new players will have to be bought in, Defenders and a Goal Keeper essentially, but I also need a Div. 1 / Champ class striker for at least 1 season to help keep me up.

Manager history

Season 1 - Blue Square South - 8th place

Season 2 - Blue Square South - 12th place

Season 3 - Blue Square South - 2nd place

Season 4 - Blue Square South - 1st place | Promoted to Blue Square Premier

Season 5 - Blue Square Premier - 2nd place | Promoted to Division 2, via play-offs.

*Real London were formerly Hendon

[Guest roberto922]

Congratulations Nep, hopefully you can get somewhere close to where you were before.

[Wayne\'o]

I see this as a monster task, i lost both my freindlys 4-1 and 4-2, lost my 1st league game 4-1 but got a 1-1 draw at home. there are no decent players around to pick up on a free.. iv tried loaning a host of players i remember from my Ipswich Town days and they not having any of it lol..

whats the average league finish in 1st season?

[NepentheZ]

Some people get promoted first season. I usually take 3-4 seasons. I like to build a strong foundation, get the right staff, scouts, training and potential youth signings before getting promoted. Obviously, getting promoted first season would be nice, but I wouldn't be too worried if it takes you up to 5 seasons.

In the lower leagues, theres some vital info that I go by. Midfielders and Attackers need to be physically good. This will enhance your squad no end, and if you can try to find players with 1 specific quality, it will help wonders. For example, if you've got a plyer with 17+ in Free Kicks, but isn't too great anywhere else, Still sign him, because his free kicks could be the difference in a game. The same with Pens, Corners, Influecnce, etc etc. With defenders, I find mental attributes are key to keeping clean sheets. Positioning, Work Rate, Influence, Vision, all massive in the lower leagues.

Just build a team, and don't be scared to sign 50-80 players in a season to find the right line up.

[Wayne\'o]

don't be scared to sign 50-80 players in a season to find the right line up.

Well i have signed alot of players. some im now giving free transfers which is costing me like 10k in some cases. i have found 5 or 6 players who have like 5,6,7 stars. and boy dont i know it if they either have a bad game or get injured. i tried to loan players from as high as championship and as low as league 2. none would come. yet other teams manage to get players from championship that i previously wanted. not sure why cos it was the players who rejected and not the clubs..

any how im doing ok. find my selve in 5th place after 15 od games.

[NepentheZ]

Jimbo told me to scout the reserves. you'll get better chances of being able to loan them players.

[sirdez24]

You're generally signing players to single year deals in the lower leagues, so I would concur that signing as many players as possible is often the way to go, knowing they're not going to burden your books if you don't need them.

I have also found getting from the BSP to L2 the hardest step, so to do that at the first attempt is a fine effort.

[Jimbokav1971]

Wayne. Don't pay too much attention to stars.

If the current ability/potential of your best player in a certain position is "pish", anyone will look like a world beater.

What I do instead is try and get my scouts to find players who can play, (or more likely have the potential to play at), 2 levels up from where I currently am. The only problem with this is that you need to have a scout with JPP of at least 18i t do this. It's uinlikely that a scout with JPP that you can sign will have a decent JPA so you might need to only use him for looking at a players potential rather that hi current ability.

Also, running a sizeable squad as I do can be expensive, (although I tend to only sign teenagers so wages are kept pretty minimal). Also, rather than signing players on 1 year contracts, I actually sign then on 1 year part time deals to start off with and then immediately get them to sign full-time long-term deals to keep them as long as possible. This means that I will keep them long enough to benefit from their increased ability as they develop.

By signing them onto only 1 year contracts you have to worry about signing them again each year and will probably have to increase their wages each year too. By signing them on a longer term deal at the outset you avoid this, (I also don't like to offer a % increase to teenagers).

I play by pretty strict LLM rules so I only sign players that my scouts find, however as time progresses and the number of players that my scouts have found increases also.

As players on my shortlist develop and get too good for the level of our league, or get too old to be considered an investment, or simply don't develop as well as I might hope, then I remove them from my shortlist. I also then use this "shortlist" to search for players listed for loan. I try not to sign young superstars that are waaaaay to good for our level, but as my best player is currently being scouted by Premiership managers and is better than any of my loan signins then I don't see it as an issue currently.

I struggled in the early seasons and had to overperform to avoid relegation. Now though I should be challenging for the league title and am actually underperforming due to a shortage of GK's and my poor ability as a manager:(.

[Jimbokav1971]

You're generally signing players to single year deals in the lower leagues, so I would concur that signing as many players as possible is often the way to go, knowing they're not going to burden your books if you don't need them.

I have also found getting from the BSP to L2 the hardest step, so to do that at the first attempt is a fine effort.

Although I don't agree about signing players on 1 year deals, (reasons explained above), I completely agree that getting from Cnference National to League 2 is hard work. There is only 1 automatic promotion spot and usuallly some clubs in there with some future Premiership stars who hammer everyone.

[sirdez24]

Although I don't agree about signing players on 1 year deals, (reasons explained above), I completely agree that getting from Cnference National to League 2 is hard work. There is only 1 automatic promotion spot and usuallly some clubs in there with some future Premiership stars who hammer everyone.

I only mean signing players on single year deals when you're looking to build your squad depth and find the right combinations. I always make sure players I know are going to be valuable for me get signed up longer, but at the same time if I sign someone who doesn't perform or I find doesn't get into my rotation, then I don't have to worry about keeping him around past the end of the season.

[sirdez24]

Anyway, time for a January Update - it's January 2014 and I'm currently in my first season in League One, after consecutive promotions from BSP to L2 and then again to L1.

As you can see from the current league table, another promotion is well on the cards. I have no idea what is happening as I haven't really changed my tactics at all and haven't really added a huge amount to my squad from L2, but for some reason we hit the ground running and haven't looked back. I'm shocked as usually I find L1 is quite a tough league to consolidate in and my aim was merely to avoid relegation, but right now anything other than promotion would be disastrous.

The talismanic Dean Price has once again been the star, playing his way onto the club's favoured personnel list with 143 goals in 176 appearances. He's been attracting interest from a few Championship clubs, but as of yet no one has been prepared to meet my asking price of £350K + 50%, which he is well worth on performance.

If he does go I've been looking at potential replacements, and managed to sign Georgi Boychev after he came up on my player search screen for some reason, and with "back-up" squad status and an expiring contract, I was able to get him on trial and sign him for just £7K.

As far as sales go, I'm now light at the back after the sale of Danny Kinch for £200K + 50% to Wycombe. He has some outstanding defensive stats, but given his low jumping and lack of work ethic meant he never really got high ratings for me and low fitness/stamina meant he was prone to mistakes in the last 10 minutes when the opposition is really pressing, not to mention at a price that was nearly four times his value, I was prepared to sell. I now have two days to find a replacement, as right now if either of my remaining two centre-halves get injured then I only have an 18-year-old in the reserves as cover.

Finally, my star Australian GK, Brian Bates, has been unsettled by Premiership trio Stoke, Charlton and Wolves and is unhappy I turned down inquiries, but given he is contracted until 2016, hismorale is still 'superb' and his performances haven't dropped, I am prepared to reject all approaches for the time being. My line of thinking is if I get promotion to the Championship it may be easier to hold onto him, and he is the one player in my first XI who I can't replace adequately, hence there's no way he's going anywhere until at least the summer when I have time to find a replacement.

[Wayne\'o]

Quick update with 16 games gone, have qualified for the FA Cup 1st round proper, have an away game to Bath in my league who i beat 4-2 at home recently. iv only won 1 game so far away this season in the league so its gonna be an uphill battle, i wanna make 3rd rnd and get a huge team for the gate recipts..

http://static3.filefront.com/images/personal/w/WayneB73/145730/lrkvzeztdl.jpg

[seanefc]

Just starting this challenge now... currently in the Holiday Man stage

I assume the rules are still as stated in the first post? i.e. no retaining of english players?

on another note, i normaly start games with multiple countrys running, just because in earlier versions of CM & FM i found it gave the game a better balance in the far future. i found that with just english leagues running, english teams tended to become dominant... has anyone found this to be the case in FM08??

[seanefc]

After hours of reloading i finally got the team i wanted...

Mangotsfield United

(yes i know there is a save on the website, but i wasnt sure if it was for v8.0.2)

Heres my profile...

[Jimbokav1971]

Borehamwood. Conference National. End of season summary 2013/14.

I think that we have been guilty of underperforming this season. Part of this is down to us losing our only senior GK for 21 games, (I couldn't find another decent GK to bring in), and part down to us being unable to kee clean sheets even when Avery was available. I lost 11 games worth of play due to a crash mid-season and when I replayed these 11 games, performed significantly more poorly than when they were originally played.

Here are some of the players who made key contributions this season. I think after seeing some of the quality on show you will also agree that we have underperformed.

GK. Avery. (apologies it's the pic at the start of the next season). First choice GK. I loaned him in from Luton for 2 full seasons before signing him on a free. He hasn't developed as I would like though and I am looking to ecruit another young GK.

GK. Wilson***2013. The *** indicates that he was deemed to be the best player promoted from the acadamy that year and the 2013 indicates that he was promoted in 2013. He has a decent FK rating and bagged himslef a couple of goals in his first 11 games for the vclub and was playing pretty well, but after a crash and the games were replayed he performed at nowhere near the same level.

DL. Nobody worth mentioning. I have been unable to sign anyone to fill the boots of Chef, (who will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season but whom has been offered the Ass Mans role despite his apparrant lack of ability in that area).

DR. JJ. Hasn't developed as I would hope and while certainly not a liability, is certainly someone will have to improve if he is not t be replaced.

DC. Hardy. Club skipper and one of our best players, (in fact probably one of the best DC's in the league).

DC. Ken Flynn. Started off as a sub and I tended to play him in away games and a loanee was played at home, (Flynn was slower but better in the air).

MC. Chris. I like the look of him. I played him of the left of an inverted midfield triangle.

DM. Tom. I played him in the DM role in a midfield triangle, despite his best position being at DC. I think this will change next season as I look to shore things up at the back.

MC. David Simmons. The Bermudan International was signed after being spotted playing in Conference North. Frustratingly he misses regular games through International duty but it's still nice to have a regular International in the squad if I'm honest.

MC. Carl. I'm not really a fan if I'm honest, but every time I drop/rotate him out of the squad, he always seems to force his way back into the reckoning.

ML. Robbie Charlton. He looks good and started as my first choice on the left but never really produced the goods. Really disappointing season. Was so poor that he was dropped from the Cayaman Islands team after my scouts spotted him playing in Conference North.

ML. Ferdinand. Became 1st choice on the left as Charlton spurned chance after chance and with a little more improvement might have a big impact next season.

MR. Walsh. Started as 1st choice on the right but didn't produce the goods and was eventually dropped from the sqad in frustration.

MR. Bailey. Was brought in as my frustration with Walsh grew and he soon cemented his postion as 1st choice on the right flank.

SC. Doch. 39 goals in 12(35) appearances brings his total for the club 161 in 89(146) appearances. Premiership sides Charlton and Norwich are both sniffing around.

SC. Billy. Signed on loan from Watford. Was a regular starter, (with Doch coming on in the 2nd half), so a decent season when you consider that he was usually replaced at half-time. His Watford contract expires shortly so I will be looking to make him a permanent addition.

SC. Bird. Signed on loan from West Ham. Looked better than Billy but didn't prove as effective. I think he might prove better with 2 up front, (which I intent experimenting with next season), so I will be looking to sign him again next season if I can.

We seem to be weakest in goal and on the flanks, (both full back and the wing), so this is where I will be looking to sign players, but it is obviously down to players on my shortlist being released or my scouts finding new players. I don't intend paying money for players at this stage so we will just have to keep our fingers crossed.

League Table.

League Graph. I think it's pretty easy to see where Avery goy injured for the first time.

Squad Stats.

The board have offered me a new 2 year contract, (which I have accepted).

Confidence.

Finances. £898,000 in credit. Not bad. Certainly helped by the ridiculous prices that some of my carppy players have been going for. I could really do with a few decent 50% fees coming through though.

Information.

Hardy was named in Conference National Team of the Year. I was initially surprised that Doch wasn't included, but both the SC's selected scored more league goals than him.

The youngsters promoted from the acadamy.

Doch. Was promoted in Hune 2010, (1 week before I became manager).

Laws***2011.

Joe***2012.

Wilson***2013.

Ian***2014. It's more than a little sad when the best prospect promoted from your youth acadamy is a SC with finishing of 1:(.

With a squad like this I should at least have made the playoffs. Cetainly losing the only senior GK didn't help, but I suppose I need to take the blame for only having 1 in the squad in the first place.

Next season, (assuming I manage to sign/loan a couple of decent SC's), I will try experiment again with playing 2 SC's at home in the hope that we can take advantage of our dominance aghanst the weaker teams.

Seasonal Best XI.

Overall Best XI.

Transfers 2014.

[sirdez24]

Season Review - Billericay Town - League One - 2013/14

Amazing season. Despite some patchy form throughout March and April, we still managed to produce enough results to wrap up promotion with three games to play, and the title with one - final table. We also lost the Johnstones Paint final to Burnley, 1-3 in an even game.

Price was the star with 38 goals, despite missing the last ten games with broken ribs, but new signing Boychev was a more than adequate replacement, coming up with some crucial goals in the home stretch, and may even turn out to be the better player. Ferguson also bagged his first professional goals for the club.

Stoica was another who impressed after being signed on a free following a successful trial at the start of Feburary.

Despite his attitude angering supporters when I signed him, Murat was pure class down the right all season.

So now the Championship. I am worried as the club's reputation is still low, our stadium is still tiny and our training and youth facilities are still very poor, although two of these problems were at least recognised by the board with a small stadium upgrade being planned, along with an upgrade to training facilities.

In terms of playing staff, only Murat and Bates are I feel capable of excelling in the Championship straight away. Price has the pedigree and seems to perform above his stats while Boychev has real promise, so we'll see how I go. Bates is also listed after requesting a transfer, but is not going anywhere until a team gives me a worthwhile bid.

I got no transfer funds but a big wage budget for saying I'd avoid relegation, and despite using the adjustment to give myself half a million quid in funds, the only money signings I made were Postulka as one for the future, and compensation for several coaches, including Anderson from Middlesbrough, who looks class. Quite simply, no one wants to join still. Hopefully that will change if I can consolidate.

Otherwise I just looked at which veterans Premiership clubs had released, and picked up three bargains on very reasonable wages, ironically from the three teams promoted.

Brown - released by QPR.

Varyvonda - released by Norwich.

Fournier - released by Wigan, and will play down the left while Murat plays down the right, either side of the lone striker. Technically he is magnificent and I should get at least a good season out of him.

Mokoena - my prize signing, on a free from Aberdeen. The holding midfield role is very important to my tactic and this bloke looks absolute class. He should really shore up my midfield and defence.

Thomson - an unattached newgen, only his low jumping stat looks like it will prevent him from becoming a very good GK.

As far as sales go, the only player to go for cash was Thomas, who I sold to fellow promotee Crystal Palace for £75K + 30%. Handy but not a big loss.

[Guest roberto922]

Well done sirdez

[PFG]

NEW GAME

My 2nd attempt (and the last before FM2009). I did start a game as Ilkeston but that came to an abrupt end when my laptop was stolen... I am going for another local team WORKSOP - I'm hoping to get my team (forest) as a parent club. With laptop bolted to the table I am now raring to go....

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr351/GoodingPF/PGworksop.jpg

[stinger061]

Looking forward to joinging in again come the FM09 release (been there since the 1st challenge on 06). Only got as far as League 1 this year which was dissappointing. But this challenge will once again hopefully for most of the FM09 year