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A Story of a Thousand Miles Must Begin With a Single Step


DazRTaylor

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SEASON 2025-26 PREVIEW

Media Prediction - 4th

My expectation - 2nd

Transfer Budget - £2,800,000.

Wage Budget - £605,383 per week.

PLAYERS

Players In

Signings Made By Me

  • Tinguinha - 23 year old Brazilian defensive midfielder arrives from Santos.
  • Jacob Piekutowski - Polish right winger who should slot straight into the side.
  • Majid Al-Khaybari - Teenage Iranian central midfielder signed as a squad player in the first season but has the potential to go right to the top.
  • Daniel Gahwagi - Hungarian who can play up front and on the right wing. A good addition.
  • Mamadou Traore - Ivorian central midfielder arrives from Tunisian outfit CS Sfaxien.
  • Logan Jacquet - French defensive midfielder signed from Paris Saint Germain. I am surprised they agreed to his sale, especially for only £2.1m.
  • Luuk van Dijk - 20 year old Dutch centre half signed as a back up.
  • Neo Mothobi - South African who can play up front or on either wing, this 18 year old cost a bargain £800,000.
  • Kobi Shirazi - Israeli goalkeeper signed on a Bosman free transfer.

Signings Made By My Predecessor

The following were already signed to pre contract deals so they were arriving whether I wanted them to or not! Not sure how much playing time they will get. All four have been signed on Bosman free transfers.

  • Ibrahim Quaye - Central midfielder arrives from the Cypriot league.
  • Miguel Oliveira - Portuguese defensive midfielder signed from Benfica.
  • Richard Ofori - Experienced African left back, signed from Deportivo la Coruna in Spain.
  • Jean-Marc Hatchl - 33 year old left winger, signed from second division Troyes.

Players Out

I shifted a fair few to relieve the wage budget somewhat!

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Wednesday 12 November 2025 and Monaco sack me!!!

Unbelieveable decision. We are close to the top of the league but our performance in the Champions League has been woeful. We will finish bottom of the group.

But sacking me? :(

WTF???

That's very harsh.

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Wow, tough Board. That sucks.
WTF???

That's very harsh.

I thought something was wrong with the board early on as, despite lots of cash in the bank, I was declined for everything, yet they expected the earth. Still can't believe it though. I waited years to manage in France, then they dump me. :(

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FORMER CLUB WATCH

As I am still unemployed at the end of the season, here is how my former clubs got on. Great to see Perugia reach Serie A at last, Hartlepool continue yo-yoing by reaching the Championship again and Wigan have a poor finish to the season. It is particularly galling to see Monaco win their final three Champions League games after I got fired and reach the first knockout round. Although they finished second, they were 18 points behind league winners Paris Saint Germain.

Perugia

[u][b]Season       Champions League   Europa League         Final League Position            Coppa Italia                Serie C Cup[/b][/u]
2011-12             N/a              N/a              3rd Italian Serie C2/B (P)            N/a                    Group stage
2012-13             N/a              N/a              5th Italian Serie C1/B           1st qualifying round        1st round
2013-14             N/a              N/a             18th Italian Serie C1/B (R)       1st qualifying round        Group stage
2014-15             N/a              N/a              4th Italian Serie C2/A (P)            N/a                    2nd round
2015-16             N/a              N/a             12th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round        1st round
2016-17             N/a              N/a              8th Italian Serie C1/B                N/a                    1st round
2017-18             N/a              N/a              6th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round        1st round
2018-19             N/a              N/a             14th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round        1st round
2019-20             N/a              N/a              4th Italian Serie C1/B                N/a                    3rd round
2020-21             N/a              N/a             10th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round        2nd round
2021-22             N/a              N/a              1st Italian Serie C1/B (P)            N/a                    3rd round
2022-23             N/a              N/a             17th Italian Serie B              2nd qualifying round           N/a
2023-24             N/a              N/a             21st Italian Serie B    (R)       1st round                      N/a
2024-25             N/a              N/a              1st Italian Serie C1/B (P)       1st qualifying round        2nd round
2025-26             N/a              N/a              1st Italian Serie B (P)          3rd qualifying round           N/a

Hartlepool United

[u][b]Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup           Johnstone's Paint Trophy[/b][/u]
2012-13             N/a               N/a              1st English League Two   (P)     1st round                  1st round                     2nd round
2013-14             N/a               N/a              1st English League One   (P)     Quarter final              1st round                     2nd round
2014-15             N/a               N/a             15th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                        N/a
2015-16             N/a               N/a             15th English Championship         3rd round                  1st round                        N/a
2016-17             N/a               N/a              9th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                        N/a
2017-18             N/a               N/a             22nd English Championship (R)     5th round                  2nd round                        N/a
2018-19             N/a               N/a              3rd English League One   (P)     5th round                  3rd round                     2nd round
2019-20             N/a               N/a             11th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                        N/a
2020-21             N/a               N/a             22nd English Championship (R)     3rd round                  3rd round                        N/a
2021-22             N/a               N/a              9th English League One           4th round                  2nd round                     2nd round
2022-23             N/a               N/a              2nd English League One   (P)     3rd round                  2nd round                     2nd round
2023-24             N/a               N/a             21st English Championship         4th round                  2nd round                        N/a
2024-25             N/a               N/a             22nd English Championship (R)     3rd round                  3rd round                        N/a
2025-26             N/a               N/a              6th English League One (P)       2nd round                  2nd round                     2nd round

Wigan Athletic

[u][b]Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup[/b][/u]
2014-15             N/a               N/a              6th English Premier League       4th round                  Runners Up
2015-16             N/a          Quarter finals        4th English Premier League       5th round                  Winners
2016-17      Quarter final            N/a              5th English Premier League       4th round                  3rd round
2017-18             N/a          Winners               3rd English Premier League       5th round                  Semi final
2018-19      Quarter final            N/a              7th English Premier League       Semi final                 Quarter final
2019-20             N/a               N/a              7th English Premier League       Winners                    3rd round
2020-21             N/a          2nd knockout round    5th English Premier League       Quarter final              3rd round
2021-22             N/a          Winners               9th English Premier League       3rd round                  4th round
2022-23             N/a          1st knockout round    2nd English Premier League       Quarter final              3rd round
2023-24      Group stage         2nd knockout round    7th English Premier League       Quarter final              3rd round
2024-25             N/a               N/a              4th English Premier League       4th round                  2nd round
2025-26      Quarter final            N/a              8th English Premier League       5th round                  3rd round

Arsenal

[u][b]Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup[/b][/u]
2016-17      Runners up               N/a              2nd English Premier League       Runners up                 3rd round
2017-18      Winners                  N/a              1st English Premier League       Winners                    3rd round
2018-19      Runners up               N/a              1st English Premier League       Runners up                 Semi final
2019-20      Quarter final            N/a              1st English Premier League       5th round                  3rd round
2020-21      Runners up               N/a              3rd English Premier League       5th round                  Semi final
2021-22      Runners up               N/a              2nd English Premier League       Quarter final              3rd round
2022-23      Winners                  N/a              1st English Premier League       5th round                  Runners up
2023-24      Winners                  N/a              1st English Premier League       4th round                  Winners
2024-25      Group stage         Winners               5th English Premier League       Quarter final              4th round
2025-26             N/a          Semi final            1st English Premier League       3rd round                  Semi final

Valencia

[u][b]Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            Copa del Rey[/b][/u]
2018-19      Winners                  N/a              3rd Spanish LIGA BBVA            Winners
2019-20      Semi final               N/a              1st Spanish LIGA BBVA            Winners
2020-21      Winners                  N/a              1st Spanish LIGA BBVA            Winners
2021-22      Quarter final            N/a              2nd Spanish LIGA BBVA            Winners
2022-23      Runners up               N/a              1st Spanish LIGA BBVA            Quarter final
2023-24      1st knockout round       N/a              2nd Spanish LIGA BBVA            Winners
2024-25      Runners up               N/a              1st Spanish LIGA BBVA            Quarter final
2025-26      Winners                  N/a              2nd Spanish LIGA BBVA            Runners up

Borussia Dortmund

[u][b]Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            DFB-Pokal[/b][/u]
2020-21      Semi final               N/a              2nd German Bundesliga            Semi final
2021-22      Winners                  N/a              1st German Bundesliga            Winners
2022-23      Quarter final            N/a              1st German Bundesliga            1st round
2023-24      1st knockout round       N/a              2nd German Bundesliga            1st round
2024-25      Semi final               N/a              2nd German Bundesliga            1st round
2025-26      1st knockout round       N/a              1st German Bundesliga            Quarter final

Barcelona

[u][b]Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            Copa del Rey[/b][/u]
2023-24             N/a          Winners               1st Spanish LIGA BBVA            Runners up
2024-25      Winners                  N/a              3rd Spanish LIGA BBVA            Runners up
2025-26      Quarter final            N/a              3rd Spanish LIGA BBVA            Semi final

AS Monaco

[u][b]Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            Coupe de France            Coupe de la Ligue[/b][/u]
2024-25             N/a               N/a              3rd French Ligue 1               11th round                 3rd round
2025-26      1st knockout round       N/a              2nd French Ligue 1               Winners                    Runners up

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What!!!!! You were doing well enough in the league, which is usually what matters (doing well in cups tend to help when doing badly but not the otherway around), thats just crazy. I was laughed off by French National clubs after leaving Milan so it must be a case of French boards being stupid in general.

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Wow!!! I cant believe you have been sacked, I honestly cant.

Any idea on whats next?

Neither can I.

Ideally another French club but I have been turned down by two clubs already :(

I want to stay at a club for at least five years. So a second tier club would be good.

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What!!!!! You were doing well enough in the league, which is usually what matters (doing well in cups tend to help when doing badly but not the otherway around), thats just crazy. I was laughed off by French National clubs after leaving Milan so it must be a case of French boards being stupid in general.

Agree entirely. Until Moncao, I was laughed off by all French clubs - now Monaco got rid of me early, I am laughed off again.

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IPSWICH TOWN

Ipswich_Town_Logo.gif

Ipswich-Ground.jpg

Club - Ipswich Town

Nation - England

League - Championship (Second tier)

Stadium - Portman Road

Capacity - 30,311 (all seater)

Corporate Facilities - Average

Training Facilities - Good

Youth Facilities - Average

Junior Coaching - Adequate

Youth Recruitment - Average

Media Prediction - 2nd.

My expectation - 4th - If I miss the playoffs, I will be very disappointed.

Transfer Budget - £11,750,000. My first job is to adjust the budget as I am currently spending more in wages than my budget allows.

Wage Budget - £

League Table

A bit of a struggle so far but not that much behind a play off place.

npowerchampionshipovervk.png

F. A. Cup

I enter at the third round stage and the draw has not happened yet.

Carling Cup

The club are already elminated before I arrived, having lost 2-0 at home to Hull City in the fourth round.

Squad

Some quality here, but equally some dross.

ipswichtownsquadplayers.png

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This might be the first club with more scouts than players... :lol:

Do French clubs hate you that much? Guess Ajax isn't the only club you want revenge from, this time it's an entire country!

They do! I have won so many major titles now that I am ranked the greatest ever English manager, yet they laugh me off in France!

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Maybe it's a English-French thing...? ;) On another note, there's a few interesting clubs playing in teh CHampionship now. AFC Telford, Aston Villa, Fleetwood to name a few...

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Maybe it's a English-French thing...? ;) On another note, there's a few interesting clubs playing in teh CHampionship now. AFC Telford, Aston Villa, Fleetwood to name a few...

Not to mention Chesterfield in the Premier League and Ebbsfleet, who were relegated from the Championship last season.

Aston Villa have spent 13 of the last 14 seasons in the second tier - their stock has fallen considerably. They were promoted two seasons ago, but came straight back down.

Everton have suffered two relegations from the Premier League and are now in their sixth successive season in the Championship.

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FREE TRANSFER SIGNINGS

With the deadline fast approaching, I have managed to sign these two players on free transfers, on free transfer deadline day. I am especially pleased with Ingo Schroter, whom I signed as a teenager for Arsenal many years ago. He was still on my shortlist and a quick scout later, his stats are marvellous. Not surprised to see him rated at 5*.

ingoschrteroverviewprof.png

williamferrarioverviewp.png

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MID SEASON REVIEW

League

A reasonable start at Ipswich, we find ourselves in sixth but quite a bit behind the league leaders.

npowerchampionshipovervo.png

F. A. Cup

We have drawn non league MK Dons in the third round.

Carling Cup

As discussed when I took over at Ipswich, We were already eliminated.

PLAYERS

Players In

Jovica Djordjevic - Classy looking Macedonian international centre half.

Edson - Teenage Brazilian central midfielder arrives from Sao Paulo. Also holds a Portuguese passport.

Hugo Aversano - Italian left winger arrives on a free transfer. Without a club since being released by Villarreal in the summer.

Carlos Garcia - Peruvian international defensive midfielder signed on a free transfer following his release by Elche. Holds a Spanish passport following many years playing in Spain.

Players Out

I have allowed eight fringe and reserve players to leave, raising £2.34m in fees and reducing the wage bill by over £115,000 per week.

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That's a great goalkeeper! And non-league MK Dons? :) Quick question...in this crazy upside down league/club compination you have there, where is Braintree?

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That's a great goalkeeper! And non-league MK Dons? :) Quick question...in this crazy upside down league/club compination you have there, where is Braintree?

Nothing spectacular and are currently 8th in the Blue Square Premier. Here is their league history during this save:

braintreehistorycompeti.png

They have failed pretty much every year in the F. A. Trophy but have reached the fourth round of the F. A. Cup in 2019-20, before losing to Burnley.

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The biggest heartbreak of this save is my beloved Yeovil Town. They got relegated to League Two in the first season, but made an immediate return. They challenged for promotion to the Championship several times before dropping like a stone, going part time, then bankrupt before a fourth relegation in seven years saw them demoted to the regional leagues. They came back up at the first attempt but two years later they went down again.

Gutted :( :( :( :(

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Thats a promising core to stay up, let alone go up. Never had such quality in the Championship, and I've done 'Ipswich to the Premiler League' quite a few times.

We are on fire right now, having just knocked Manchester City out of the F. A. Cup, though they played a weakened side.

I will also add the squad I inherited wasn't bad at all, a bit unbalanced, but not bad. Despite my signings, my best player at the minute is a right winger from Macedonia called Danijel Milic - someone I inherited.

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Bad luck with a very harsh sacking at Monaco. Ipswich will be a good challenge though :)

I had a ridiculous amount of scouts when I joined FC Köln in my FM11 save- it took a good couple of seasons to clear most of them out!!

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Some excellent signings there, that should fire you to the top of the league :D

I expect the top two are too far in front...

Bad luck with a very harsh sacking at Monaco. Ipswich will be a good challenge though :)

I had a ridiculous amount of scouts when I joined FC Köln in my FM11 save- it took a good couple of seasons to clear most of them out!!

I dumped them, en masse, on my first day. They had some scouts who had less than 5 in JPA & JPP. Ridiculous.

It has created a bug in the game though. I released all bar two and the club allow me six. So I went to recruit four but I was denied as four of my released scouts are still with us. Despite having no club. Weird.

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