R.W.S Bruxelles

[argento]

The youngsters crashed out in the semi finals to Didier Deschamps Club Brugge so thats one trophy I can't get my hands on as I look to overtake Nuno in the hall of fame.

 

We continue to dominant and Yano has been in sensational form since coming back from the Asian Nations Cup, we lost just once in the regular season against our old rivals Genk.  The usual suspects in the top 6 and Genk who have had a remarkable season and are very much still in the hunt.

 

 

Speaking earlier of Yano after a glittering International career he has decided to concentrate on club football, 133 International goals not too shabby at all

 

Cruised into the quarter finals as Shakhtar were no match for us, we were drawn alon have played them 16 times in the Champions League in my tenure where we have won 11 times, so hopefully we can keep up this form.  An all French quarter final and Barcelona v Chelsea is probably the pick of the round.

[argento]

We continued our great form against Real Madrid and we cruise into the quarter finals

So we move into the semi finals against Chelsea.  Can we make it 4 in a row?

[argento]

We edged past Chelsea as we make the final looking to make it 4 in a row.  The team we meet in the final? PSG the only other team in the current format to win it 3 times in a row, and the team that beat us 4-0 in our first ever Champions League final.  Could be a very fitting end to a glittering career in Brussels.

 

 

[argento]

Champions!  

Even better news is Arsenal under Nuno conspired to lose the title on the last day with them only managing a draw at Old Trafford which in turn allowed United to let their noisy neighbours win the title.

 

So what does this mean?

Top of the world!!!!!!!!!

Now time to seal the legacy

[argento]

 

Great start as Yano knocks the ball down and Captain Farrell hammers it homre

 

PSG had a few more chances but couldn't equalise so we expelled the demons of that first final way back when and make it 4 in a row.

 

And on that bombshell

 

[argento]

I always thought Fletcher would replace me, I will definitely try and bring him in wherever I go he has been a top assistant

 

When I arrived this mob was a third tier side with a small stadium, not much history and I am proud to leave the club a "legend"

 

[argento]

My successor at PSG?

Look at that compensation package they paid for him!!

Had a very strange rise through the ranks a few caretaker spells and then he got the Switzerland U'21 gig which later netted him the Inter job.  And after tasting defeat against us in the Champions League he leaves them to take on my boys.  This could start a managerial merry go round to help net me a job

 

Antonio Conte stepped down as Chelsea manager and became Director of Football there.  I applied but then the job disappeared and they are advertising for a director of football.  So I guess that is a bug of sorts?

The Argentina and Brazil jobs have become available after the Copa America but with 3 years till Germany 2042 I don't think I am interested in either at the moment

 

The Argentina and Brazil jobs have become available and 

[argento]

 

The job hunt continues

 

[argento]

 

Employed again!  Managed to finally get on at the end of the manager merry go round 

 

 

Southampton have become a decent side winning the Europa League a few times and picked up a few FA Cups. 

Looks like a top 6 position and European final are the aims for the season!

 

 

Being as it is already August the league has already started

 

[Keano16]

Should be a good challenge. Can't believe PSG or Liverpool didn't think you were suitable though! 

[argento]

20 hours ago, Keano16 said:

Should be a good challenge. Can't believe PSG or Liverpool didn't think you were suitable though! 

Certainly been a tough start!

 

 

August

Still awaiting my first win as gaffer here as I wasn't here for the first two games, need to get a win sharpish so I don't lose too much ground on the front runners

I am quite happy with the Europa League draw, should qualify easily

 

 

With the transfer window over I let a few players go and brought in the following 3 players

Signed him from my old club, he spent last season on loan at Roma, think he will be a class act for us

Bagged this talented teenager from Montpellier hopefully he and Miguel will form a long lasting partnership in the middle.

 

Had this guy in Belgium at the start of the career but couldn't give him regular football he moved onto Atletico but was on the transfer list so cost just £8M

 

Here are some of the key players already at the club, MacDonald is one of the besy players at the club, definitely a talented squad here but the premier league is a big step up from the Jupiler League so competition is rife,

 

 

As for my old team it didn't take long for Buchanan to dismantle the side and has brought in a few players including bringing back Opoku-Mensah who I sold years ago.  It is going to be dissapointing to watch them fade so quickly.  I am definitely going to tey and sign Gargano if I can afford him.

[dolph11]

I read this thread with envy! Great work!

[argento]

2 hours ago, dolph11 said:

I read this thread with envy! Great work!

Cheers it's been one of the more interesting saves I have had on FM in a long while

 

It took me to my 5th game to get that first victory but we haven't looked back since winning 5 on the bounce MacDonald has been in amazing form with 9 goals.  We are now back in contention sitting 4th.  I am enjoying the fact that this league is a lot tougher.  Chelsea also finally appointed a manager 2.5 months after Conte moved upstairs to his Director of Football role.

Zinedine Zidane was the man they chose to succeed as he quits his post at Bayern Munich and his 4th job in England having had spells at both Manchester clubs and Tottenham.

2 wins out of 2 sees us top of the group and we should be fine to qualify, also after beating Wigan in the EFL Cup and we have been drawn home to Hull in the next round

[argento]

October 2039

3 wins out of 4 in the league as we keep pace at the top but we were completely outclassed by Zidane's boys losing 5-0 and never once looking like we would even get a shot on target let alone a goal.  Thankfully we bounced back with a win.

With victory over Hull we reach the quarter final of the EFL where we get another home draw this time against league leaders Arsenal and my hall of fame rival Nuno!

Just one game in the Europa League as we easily overcome Chievo one more win should see us through mathematically.

 

[argento]

We won the one premier league game I didn't expect to this month as we stunned Man City away, we only picked up one more point in the league a disappointing draw at Hull.  We drop to 5th but we are still in the mix.

Man City have had a rough start and enough was enough for them as they sacked Klopp. I've only just started with Southampton so I decided against applying for the vacancy.

We robbed Arsenal in the League Cup and now face Derby in the semis, I fancy our chances there and a final would pit us against Man United or Tottenham.  Its also one less trophy Nuno can win to catch me

Europa League group already done and dusted and into the knockout stages

 

[argento]

We continue to perform well in the league picking up 16/21 points and Nuno exacting revenge for me booting his boys out of the league cup.  We are way off the top 2 now but have put a decent gap between us and 4th and below.  My aim at the start was top 6 and if can we qualify for the Champions League then that would be even better 

 

 

We picked up another win to keep our good form in Europe going and the 1st Knockout round sees me return to Belgium sooner than I anticipated as I face off my old league rivals Genk!

 

With the January window upon us 2 new faces join

This deal was lined up before my arrival but he still looks decent

Returned to Brussels again to raid my former club picking this guy up for just under 7mill, I actually arranged it in the summer but he couldn't join till he was 18.

I'm currently negotiating the sales of 2 defenders I tried to shift in the summer to no avail hopefully i'll get them off the wage bill.  There's 4 other players whose contracts expire this summer and they're all decent but not worth the combined £700,000 a week of the wage bill they are currently occupying.

 

 

[argento]

January was a very busy month as it also saw our introduction to the the FA Cup. Coventry are somewhat on the comeback trail and are now a mid table Championship side and then we edged past the Cherries who top the 2nd tier. We are away to Wycombe in the next round so the last 8 seems plausible.

United and Arsenal continue to pull away from us in the league and it is tightening up a bit below us.

My first final as manager of the Saints as we take on Tottenham at Wembley who overcame a first leg deficit to beat United in the other semi final.

 

Quite a few players left in the window. Dietsch and Aubry were both surplus to requirements.  Sousa was only back up and Lang has been unhappy since i got here and was 3rd choice keeper.  Adeniyi was one of my best CB's but I have good depth there so I figured I would cash in.  Mark Smith was the one I didn't really want to lose he has 17 assists in the league so far but he is 32 and unhappy so it seemed an obscene amount of money.

Replacement winger from Brazil  brought for just under £15M, not as talented as Smith but has plenty of scope to improve

Talented midfielder signed for £4.6M, will be one for the future

 

[argento]

February 2040

Another solid month as we progressed in the FA Cup to the quarter finals where we will have our toughest date in the competition as we take on Manchester United but thankfully we have home advantage.

I had a happy return to Belgium as we edged Genk in the first leg to give us the advantage and then finished them off at St Marys. Bilbao in the next round not the worst draw to get and I fancy our chances. Some of the bigger sides will fall in this round with French sides Montpellier and Monaco both more than capable of upsetting the English sides.  Would love another trip to Belgium but both those sides have tough draws.

 

 

7/12 points in the league as we continue to consolidate 3rd place although Chelsea and Man City aren't far behind. Nuno's boys looking good for the title.

 

Now time for the EFL Cup final. It was a close game and neither side managed to score after 120 minutes, thankfully we held our nerve in the shoot out!

[noikeee]

I've not been here in a while so it's a bit strange to see you now suddenly managing Southampton. 

But it looks like this first season is going pretty well. Great results in the league, still in the hunt in Europe, a trophy won already... what's there not to like.

[argento]

Due to the International break at the end of this month we only had 5 matches.  We played Man Utd in the FA Cup quarter final with only 15 players available from the first team due to injuries, our first 11 was still strong but we conceded in the 116th minute as we crashed to defeat.

Was happy with the Chelsea result in the league but we then struggled away to Reading, still the teams below us can't seem to mount any decent form so we look set for a top 4 position unless something goes drastically wrong in the final few months

 

Bilbao were tougher than I expected but we still cruised through with wins in both legs, Porto in the quarters will be a tougher test.  Would love to meet the old Brussels rivals Anderlecht in the final!

 

In other news after a bad few months Zidane got the boot from Chelses with me installed as the favourite.  I actually applied for this job last June but they didn't get back to me and eventually appointed Zidane months later after I had joined Southampton. Conte after stepping down just 8 months ago to become director of football finds himself back in the hot seat albeit temporarily, don't think he expected himself to be back in the role so soon

 

[argento]

Just a quick update as I head back to Belgium for the 2nd time this season and this time to Brussels.  Would of loved Anderlecht in the final.  

[Benjoe]

On 29/6/2017 at 22:48, argento said:

Argento's eyes could indicate that some substances have been either smoked or snorted.. maybe both?

But great move to Southampton. Some nice players there.

[noikeee]

I can just imagine the Anderlecht fans in desperation... so many years putting up with this guy, and now that he's out of Belgium, we still have to deal with this guy again! 

[argento]

6 hours ago, noikeee said:

I can just imagine the Anderlecht fans in desperation... so many years putting up with this guy, and now that he's out of Belgium, we still have to deal with this guy again! 

I know!  That is why it would of been a dream final for me!!!!

Onto April, I already told you guys we got past Porto but here is the full months results

We had 5 league games and our form was a bit indifferent as we only picked up 7 points, Everton was a tough game but losing home to West Brom was quite disappointing as it has made the race for the top 4 a bit more interesting, we still have the advantage but with our next 2 games being away to Arsenal and home to Man City.  Arsenal have already been crowned Champions.  It is not my old pal Nuno in charge though he left to join Bayern in October after Zidane joined Chelsea.

[argento]

 

Anderlecht nearly got one over me but hero of the hour Chris MacDonald slotted a late penalty to see us through, just

They knocked us out of the FA Cup and have wrapped up 2nd in the league but in a one off game anything is possible

[argento]

We lost to Arsenal so we made the race for the last few Champions League spots quite open but then we managed to beat Man City at home and with Newcastle losing we wrapped up 3rd with a game to spare.  I rested a few players for the last game against Huddersfield as I wanted all the lads fit for our trip to Portugal.  This is how the league finished.

 

The line ups for the final

 

 

 

[argento]

 

Dream start for the Red Devils as they take the lead inside the first ten minutes as Wilson finds Monteil in space

1-0 to United

[argento]

The Saints restore parity after Aduato bends one round the wall from 20 yards leaving Souza clutching at thin air.  1-1, game on!

[argento]

 

United took back the lead back just a few minutes with Monteil scoring again cutting in off the left and lashing in a powerful shot across goal.  2-1 United

[argento]

 

With half time nearly upon us we manage to draw level again after United fail to clear a corner and when its headed back across goal, MacDonald slots it home from close range.

HT 2-2

[argento]

We had a couple of knocks and so on the hour mark I bring on Paul Clark to replace Gustavo Felipe and then I bring on Ortega for the ineffectual Cunha and dropping the AMC and playing Ortega as a DMC to be a bit more conservative and match them.

 

Not long after there is a goal......

Paul Clark has come on to become the hero of the day playing a clever one two with MacDonald and after finding himself 12 yards out kept his cool and slotted it past the keeper.

 

We just need to hang on....  Keep Calm

Amazing turnaround!  And a cheeky cup double in my first season in England and we have Champions League football at St Marys next season.

 

WS Bruxelles had a mixed bag they crashed out of the Champions League in the 1st knockout round, lost in the Croky Cup final but they did pick up the Euro Super Cup, Belgian Super Cup and the World Club Cup.  Buchanan also went unbeaten in his first season in the league something they took me 20 seasons!

 

 

 

 

[kidthekid]

6 shots, 3 goals. Talk about efficiency. Good stuff!!!

[deltablue]

Great final! 

[noikeee]

Bet you didn't expect an European trophy in your first year at Southampton... well done.

[argento]

18 hours ago, kidthekid said:

6 shots, 3 goals. Talk about efficiency. Good stuff!!!

 

9 hours ago, deltablue said:

Great final! 

 

9 hours ago, noikeee said:

Bet you didn't expect an European trophy in your first year at Southampton... well done.

Cheers for the support guys!  I wasn't expecting to win the Europa League but it was what the board expected.  I am now trying to boost the side for the Champions League and I have raided my old club!  Deals to be announced soon

[argento]

Germany were in sensational form and destroyed everyone in their path only Italy took them past 90 minutes and they scored 17 goals in their last three games, coincidentally the last time they won the Euros was 46 years ago which was also held in England

So my old club came in for a bid for my striker so I thought it was only right I go after some of their players, firstly I tried to sign my old player Gargano who was easily one of the best AMC's I have ever had, to my surprise they turned down my bid and he joined PSG for £15M less...

Doubt I would of been able to match those wages anyway.  I turned down a bid of £106m for him when I was there, shocked they took so little for him

 

 

I have managed to bring in a few players from my old club 

Came through the academy at Bruxelles and I snapped him up for £40M can play at CB or DMC and is pure class, delighted to have him with us

Eckl also comes from Bruxelles and signed for £41.5M and the box to box midfielder can also play as a holding midfielder.

CB that won goal of the tournament at the Euros with his only goal for his Country.  Signed for £33.5M and a touch of class.

This striker comes on loan with a view to a permanent move, he was the last top prospect to come through the academy in my tenure.  With Clark my main striker 32 and wanting £200,000 a week to re-sign I am looking to the future and that looks to be this kid.

I've spent a lot with more deals in the works, here is how I have financed the moves.  First of all releasing 5 players from the first team squad freeing up £700,000 a week off the wage bill.  Bruxelles took Gustavo Felipe off my hand for £65M which is what prompted my raid. Shaun Howard was a class right back but refused a new deal so off he went to Liverpool. The rest were players who were on loan at various clubs last season there was about 3 players this club signed from Braga I let go so they netted a big windfall in sell on percentages so it will be interesting to see if they mount a challenge in the next few years.

[argento]

Was on my shortlist since I was monitoring him when I was at Bruxelles and his contract was running out and I snapped him up on a free, I am well stocked in the CB department for now so if a decent club with good facilities offer to loan him for the season I will probably let him leave

Probably the real bargain of the window, picked up Delgado for his minimum release of £9.75M, he already looks world class.  Felt we needed a quality keeper for the Champions League and I now have my man

 

As I was prepping for life after Belgium I added other leagues to have the option to manage in other Countries and as such these players appeared out of nowhere already in mid 20's.

Pacey Senegalese full back to replace Howard, big fan of this guy, he got relegated with Lorient so bagged him for his relegation clause of £19.75M

My new striker £40M from St Etienne, he will score goals.

 

A few more players are heading for the exit as I look to make it my squad, due to a soft brexit the rules regarding foreign players are very lax, eyeing upa LB and potentially a few loan moves to bulk out the squad as I got a bit trigger happy with the sales.

 

[argento]

Carreira was a good left back but that kind of money for a guy of his ability was too much to refuse, Danton and Sicilia were decent but they barely played last season so I cashed in on them.  Cunha is not needed as we are switching to a 4-5-1 with a DMC rather than an AMC.  Paul Clark was a big player for us last season but was about to turn 32 and had one year left on his deal and wanted over £180,000 a week to renew so I let Spurs have him.

Back up for Chris MacDonald and potentially a quality player.  Signed for £14.25M from Monterrey

Talented young striker on loan for back up

Not sure if MacDonald will stay around forever so I returned to the Jupiler League to spend £7.5M on this kid from Oostende he will return there for the following season

Free transfer after his contract expired at Chelsea, not sure if he will make the grade but will be an option in the league cup and off the bench when needed

With Carreira joining Liverpool I had no recognised left back at the club thankfully Man City let me loan Paladini whilst I still searched for a permanent fixture

I returned to Bruxelles again, had to pay £40M for this guy but he was a great prospect when I signed him 4 years ago and he looks the real deal now he's been developed.  Spent the last season on loan at Genk.

 

That is the window done now, hopefully

 

[argento]

August 2040

The new season didn't start off well as we got destroyed by Man Utd but we bounced back with a solid win over Derby and then Cardiff held us to a draw.  Not the ideal start but I expected there to be a little adjustment period as there was a big upheaval.  

 

We picked up our first trophy this season as we overcame Juventus who rolled the clock back and became the first Italian side to lift the trophy in 30 years since Mourinho's Inter.  Juventus made the final 19 years ago but ultimately lost to PSG. Currently ranked 6th in co-efficients this resurgence could see Belgium fall down if Bruxelles fail in Europe again

 

The groups were drawn and thankfully we avoided my old team. It is a tougher group than I would of liked as although we beat Juve in the Euro Super Cup they are the current holders and likely to mount a challenge again and then there's Monaco who have gone close quite a few times making quarter and semi finals on numerous occasions.

[argento]

September/October 2040

We have had a busy few months and we have struggled to recapture our league form from last year losing to Tottenham was quite the blow but we have had credible draws at Chelsea and Liverpool.  We aren't too far off the pace for a top four spot so I am not too worried just yet.

 

We have performed well in Champions League so far and have picked up three wins on the spin we still have to go to Juventus so we haven't had our toughest test yet, still with 9 points on the board I am confident we will progress to the knockouts.

 

[argento]

We will not be defending our crown this year as we crashed out of the league cup in a rather sad display against Derby.  We didn't do any better in the Champions League as we lost both our games but thankfully because we won our first three games and Juventus who won the trophy but 6 months ago crashed out in the group stage. We play Salzburg last so Juventus could still do us a favour enabling us to top the group

 

Three wins out of four in the league sees us move back into contention as we lurk just outside the top four.  Its very tight at the top.  Bad news is our new star striker got injured at the end of October and the others are struggling for goals thankfully we have top wingers in Adauto and MacDonald who have eased the burden.

[noikeee]

I like Alexandre Delgado's style of haircut and facial hair. Very 80s/90s uber-psycho sort of look.

Steady season so far, bit wobbly at the beginning but picking up the pace now.

[argento]

On 14/07/2017 at 11:26, noikeee said:

I like Alexandre Delgado's style of haircut and facial hair. Very 80s/90s uber-psycho sort of look.

Steady season so far, bit wobbly at the beginning but picking up the pace now.

Delgaldo does have a good look makes a change from my squad of bald warriors!

 

December Update

Was a long month and despite a hiccup at home to Sunderland it was a very positive month. We were unlucky not to take all 3 points against Arsenal who are struggling to recapture their form of last season when they romped to the title. Back up to 3rd now and we face Man United at home next in a huge game.  My aim was to finish in the top 4 again anything else would be a bonus

 

We picked up all three points against Salzburg and with Juventus winning against Monaco we ended up topping the road. Disappointing to see my old team finishing as runner ups.  I don't know how I would feel playing against them after spending over two decades there. Now it is time to see who we are up against

Schalke is one of the easier draws we could of received in my opinion and I was happy to avoid my old boys, PSG and Barcelona at this stage.  We were only predicted to get this far but I feel we can definitely reach the quarter finals

 

One Southampton player in the world 11 and one of my old boys from Bruxelles also making it.  4 ex-Bruxelles players also made the cut in Engler, Fathi, Clodaldo and Gobbi.

 

[argento]

It was a long month that was made needlessly longer with us struggling against Palace, even the replay took 120 minutes and then penalties but at least we made it through.  We have been struggling to score goals and pick up some decent results with 3 wins and picking up draws against Man Utd and Spurs but league leaders did a number on us.  We drop out the top 4 but it is still very tight.

 

We didn't sign anyone in January with just a few youn players departing on loan with Serrano joining Udinese and Segovic to Inter.  With Delgado taking the reigns as no1  Canaj was unhappy and surplus to requirements and asked for a transfer we had no offers except a loan bid from Roma but it includes a mandatory fee of £8.5M to buy him permanently, first time i've seen a mandatory transfer fee but it'll do me fine.

[argento]

February 2041

Just 5 games this month, we also made the last 8 of the FA Cup after a huge win away to Chelsea.  We have been given another tough draw as we take on Arsenal but at least this one is a home tie.  We also made a good start in the knockout stage of the Champions League and I am confident of making it through now.

Just two games in the league and we picked up four points, we bombarded the Wolves goal but just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net.

[argento]

March 2041

A Solid enough month as we advanced in both the Champions League and the FA Cup but we were held twice to a draw in the league and we have lost ground on the front runners. Getting past Arsenal sees us book a Wembley appearance and a semi final v Man City.  If we are going to win the FA Cup we will certainly be doing it the hard way.

 

Onto the quarter finals of the Champions League and I was hoping for either Benfica or Marseille and I got my wish, still going to be hard to qualify but it puts us in a good position. Man Utd eliminated My old boys Bruxelles who fall at the same stage as they did last year.

 

[kidthekid]

The race for fourth place is pretty intense. Like real life actually

[argento]

1 hour ago, kidthekid said:

The race for fourth place is pretty intense. Like real life actually

Yeah it's been tight all season although it seems no one wants to win it though as only United seem to be able to string any consistent form

April 2041

Three wins out of three in the league as we look to get that top 4 spot on lock.  Sahinovic my £40M striker has finally hit some form after injuries have curtailed his first season and if he can keep this up till the end of the season we will be fine. We've crept up to 2nd and have a game in hand but United will still take some catching especially with their superior goal difference,7

 

 

Huge win in the FA Cup at Wembley as we destroyed City to book a return trip on the 1st of June!  Having won the League Cup last season would love to pick up this trophy now as well.

 

We held Marseille to a draw as we hit the last 4 where we meet the team to beat, PSG!  With a potential final against Barcelona or Arsenal

[argento]

After a 1-1 draw at home to PSG I feared the worst, a late away goal swung the tie in their favour.  Things could get worse when we went 2-0 down in Paris, but we never gave up. Sehovic scored after the re-start and then Rui bundled in at the end to send us into the final on away goals.. Scenes

 

Just a short trip north as we head to Hampden to take on Barcelona!  Up against it

 

[argento]

We have been on a role in the league and have now won 8 on the bounce, and to my delight in the penultimate game Liverpool stunned United 2-1.  With just one game to play we are level on points but we still need them to mess up as they have the better goal difference and have scored more goals.

 

If Newcastle beat Sunderland in their game in hand they will be on course for a top 4 spot and could potentially cause a banana skin and we actually lost at home to Sunderland in the previous fixture between us.  It is going to the wire!