Northernpilgrim Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 I'm back, and this time I'm doing something I've never done before, an unemployed journeyman thread. There are going to be no rules (well, almost none). My only objective is going to be to win as many trophies as possible. I will stay with a club until I win something, either a cup or promotion/league title, but will then move on at the end of that season. I'm open to international management too. Above all, I want to have fun, as (and I know I've said it before, but due to losing previous saves to corrupt files I've had to come back) this will be my last FM16 career. My manager The starting point I applied for a couple of roles, getting an interview (which went well but they chose another candidate) at Oxford United, before I was appointed manager of Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 At first glance the squad doesn't look too bad, but when you consider that Dean Winnard is the best player in two positions (right and left back), and he's the second best centre back at the club, the defence is clearly an area to focus on first. That and the backroom staff which is thin on the ground to say the least, with an urgent need to fill the Ass Man position Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 After a quick search, I managed to find a couple of suitable candidates for the role of Ass Man, one of which accepted my offer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 I knew Accrington was going to be a tough place to begin my career, but I wasn't expecting this in August, especially after the first game and it's clear the target is initially going to be survival and we managed to add just one player in the transfer window, on loan from Liverpool Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 6, 2016 Author Share Posted June 6, 2016 Things improved a bit in September and we're slowly climbing the table Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenzar Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Looks like you're off to a steady start. What leagues do you have loaded? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 A tough start Jamie. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 7, 2016 Author Share Posted June 7, 2016 Looks like you're off to a steady start.What leagues do you have loaded? Thanks Lenzar. These are my current leagues, though if I move abroad I'll drop England so that I can open up more possibilities. That's for the future though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 October wasn't too bad given we're a team expecting to be battling relegation as you can see, we're well clear of trouble, but not likely to threaten the playoffs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 It should have been even better, as we battered Wimbledon but got sucker-punched, and blew a 2-0 lead in the last 10 minutes against Dagenham. Those 5 dropped points would have seen us pushing for the playoffs at this early stage, but we're not ready for that (yet). I'll have work to do in the summer though with the departures of Josh Windass and Matt Crooks to Rangers on free transfers already agreed before my arrival. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenzar Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 This needs posting... [video=youtube;pieK7b4KLL4] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 This needs posting...[video=youtube;pieK7b4KLL4] Now you've done that I'm thinking a title change might be needed..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 November was a decent month as we went unbeaten for the first time but we're still in mid table Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 December wasn't a good month and it kept the frustrating gap to the playoffs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 As the month drew to a close, I received a very tempting offer from a higher division club I'm genuinely torn in two over this decision. One part of me thinks that given the rules laid out in the opening post, namely that I'd stay until I won something, I should turn it down. The other part of me picks out the 'above all I want to have fun' line, and I'm not sure how much fun the summer is going to be, given I'm losing my two best players FOR FREE in the summer, there's no transfer budget, we're at the top of the wage budget, and tipped to struggle. I'm going to save it now, think about it overnight, and make a decision after work tomorrow night. Feel free to post your own thoughts, I will read any that are here tomorrow night before making (and announcing) my decision. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Justify it by saying you have won the respect and endearment of the fans Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 Having thought about it overnight, and read the comment above, I have reached a decision Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 It's not a bad squad that I've inherited, though there are holes that'll require filling in the summer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 I don't like to use the expression 'too good to go down', but I certainly expect us to get out of the position I've inherited, although we need some quick results if we're going to avoid a season of struggle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Ian Rush isn't happy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 Ian Rush isn't happy. He's also not 27 any more Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 It took longer than I wanted but we did get a couple of wins in January and so we're still deep in trouble, but I'm hopeful we've turned a corner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 Despite making several offers, I wasn't able to convince anyone to join a League 1 relegation battle, though I did let Ritchie Humphreys leave to get the wage bill down (even so it's still above the limit as I've renewed a few contracts that were due to expire in the summer). The plan now is to survive this season, reshape the squad in the summer, and try to get promoted next season. If we do go down, I'll stay as long as the board don't sack me and we'll be looking to bounce straight back. Either way it's going to be 'squeaky bum time' in Derbyshire for the next few months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torres.Goal Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Good luck with your relegation battle. Will enjoy watching your progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 Good luck with your relegation battle. Will enjoy watching your progress. Thanks If February is anything to go by, I'll need it and even Blackpool have gone above us Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Now you're in trouble. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 That's not gone well! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 That's not gone well! It got worse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 This year's youth intake (not that it would end up mattering) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 As the run of defeats continued in March culminating in me being summoned to a board meeting where I was asked to resign or be sacked and Chesterfield looking certain to be relegated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 In early June I received and accepted an offer from a club that was relegated from League 2. It's a one year deal so I'm looking for an instant promotion to get my reputation back on track. The lucky club is.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 Despite arranging a whole load of tough games in preseason to generate revenue, we only took a couple of hammerings and gave a decent account of ourselves in the rest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 We were quite busy in the transfer market ahead of the new season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 Leaving our squad looking like this, with goalkeeper my only real concern Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 And tactically Crawley will have a familiar look this season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 I don't think we need to replace either keeper permanently, but I'm certainly looking at loaning in someone. I hope to have something sorted by the end of August, and will then look to loan out one or both of our current keepers, though that will be with recall clauses inserted. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 We had a steady but unspectacular August and are amongst the early playoff contenders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 I didn't manage to sign a goalkeeper on loan, but did pick up one on a free transfer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 Elliot Parish is a goalkeeper I rate very highly IRL, and his CA is higher than either of our existing keepers, although their PA is much higher. I felt that signing him would enable me to blood both of the other two keepers by bringing them on in games that were already won (or lost), using them in cups, and accepting any loan offers for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 September was a decent month too, apart from humiliation against Halifax and we continue to be in the chasing pack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 October was OK, but certainly could have been better We gave away 3 goals in the opening 20 minutes against Tranmere, conceded a 92nd minute equaliser at Chester, and failed to see off Telford despite them playing 70 minutes with 10 men. All of which means we're third, when we could have ended the month top Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumber Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 Looks like a good place to get your career back on track. Good luck mate Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 20, 2016 Author Share Posted June 20, 2016 Looks like a good place to get your career back on track. Good luck mate Thanks Plumber. November hasn't gone to plan so far so I've plenty to do to secure the playoff spot that was demanded of me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 20, 2016 Author Share Posted June 20, 2016 As previously indicated, we had a tough start to November (which even included the squad telling me they had lost faith in my management). We ended the month well though and we're in the playoffs, just three points off the top Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 20, 2016 Author Share Posted June 20, 2016 Once again though, blowing leads has proven costly. We threw away a lead against Morecambe, and were 2 up after just 5 minutes at Boreham Wood, yet ended up clinging on for a point. We need to learn to see games out, although the biggest problem seems to be fitness as we've several players out injured, and almost everybody finishes a match with their condition below 50pc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenzar Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Try getting in better fitness coaches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KUMB Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Following this - currently making my way with Grimsby Town so encountering similar struggles Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Bobson Bawling is one of the best names ever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 21, 2016 Author Share Posted June 21, 2016 Try getting in better fitness coaches. We're ranked third in the league for fitness coaching, but I will try to get another good one in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted June 21, 2016 Author Share Posted June 21, 2016 Following this - currently making my way with Grimsby Town so encountering similar struggles The National Leagues sure are tough!! It's fun though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.