[FM17] If you think you're too small to make a difference you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito

[Benjoe]

2 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said:

If you're not enjoying it, it is hard for a save to last. Glad you've gotten there, man!

That is really a thread-killer, yeah. But I'm glad too, I was really ambivalent and considered pursuing one of the other thread/story ideas I have, but I am ultimately glad I didn't just turn the key. This save and story has got a lot more in store!

[Benjoe]

Loneliness and a wedding

There he sat. Alone, succesful and in tears. Memories had got the better of him once again. 

Looking at pictures of her from past and present didn't make it better.

Her smile. Her eyes. Her hair. 

He remembered her voice. Her scent. 

He remembered it all. All too well. 

 

That one time he talked to her for the first time. Sitting in the same classroom. Already back then he knew. He knew.

Little did it all matter. He knew she was perfect, he didn't know how to get her to realize, that so was he - for her at least. 

He talked to her, and the whole world stopped.

Nothing else mattered when he did. 

He just didn't do it enough. 

 

Soon enough they were done with school, and off to the next school. 

Nature has it's ways, and they both got into the next school too, mind, not same class.

He saw her often, but never said a thing. 

Only, and I mean, only, at parties.

The liquor helped ease the nerves.

Didn't help him convince her, that he was the one, though.

 

Still.

You could see it in her eyes.

Hear it in her voice when she called out for him.

Tell it from her body language. 

The way she let her fingers through her hair.

She wanted him too.

 

Years passed this way and out of school once again. 

He finally grew strength.

Called her up, drunk, mind, wanting to let her know the truth. 

She didn't answer.

 

The next morning she wrote to him,

"Hey, Nellie, what's up? Didn't see you last night, where were you?"

He didn't know what to answer.

He just stared at the phone for an hour.

Then he texted her back,

"Oh, lol, just a pocket call, no worries."

Such an idiot.

 

Now he'd received a wedding invitation for her coming wedding. 

"**** me." he thought to himself.

- - -

[Benjoe]

Loneliness and a wedding pt.2

He was still fazed by the pain caused by the situation Nelson tied his last button on the shirt and tucked in into his trousers.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

The same beige suit as always.

The same red headband

The same orange shirt.

The same red tie.

 

"How do I look?"

"Great! As always, boss!"

"Thanks, Mumbu." Nelson sighed, "I'm gonna need some support today."

"You got it, boss!"

"Maybe.. maybe don't call me boss, just today. Okay? Just, Nelson."

"Okay. You got it Just Nelson!"

Nelson sighed.

 

What was he doing? 

Preparing to go to a wedding of his childhood crush.

Who had become the crush of his youth.

Who had become the crush of his entire life.

Now she was getting married. 

To some *****.

They looked happy.

Yuck.

 

"You ready, Mumbu?"

"Sure thing, Just Nelson!"

"You're going to have to stop doing that. Seriously."

- - - 

[Benjoe]

Loneliness and a wedding pt.3 - Umtsimba

By the time Nelson and Mumbu arrived in Swaziland the bride had already been through the first two stages of Umtsimba.

Umtsimba the, easy to pronounce, Swazi word for their wedding traditions.

Some parts of the traditions had been taken out in modern times, but the wedding would still take them three days.

"Three ****ing days," Nelson spat.

He wasn't ready for this. 

 

His assistant manager had been asked to take care of the last league match while he was away.

He remembered what happened last time.

He didn't trust this decision, but he had to be there.

He'd hate himself otherwise.

He had to see her.

But oh, the pain.

 

What a time to be alive for Nelson.

- - -

[ManUtd1]

It's going to get a lot worse for Nelson when he realizes that the groom looks exactly like him...but is 3 inches shorter.  

[Benjoe]

Umtsimba - the first two stages

The first two stages had been finished of the wedding.

During these she'd been with her family at first.

Here she would receive gifts for her future family.

A cow had been killed, the meat cooked, and a dinner prepared by the Lisokancanti, the first born son.

The gall bladder was saved for the bride.

 

The Lisokancanti would then perform a ritual where he squeezed the gall on to the bride’s mouth, forehead, down the centre of her face, down the right arm and the right leg.

This is done to strengthen her and give her good luck, apparently. The bladder is then inflated and tied with a string above her forehead.

This is her lusiba (feather), which is the sign that she leaves her parental home with her father's consent or something.

 

Then it would all get very serious, very quickly.

She'd be schooled by the older women of the village about the hardships in marriage.

She is forewarned against accusations of jealous co-wives of witchcraft and laziness, and possible beatings from her husband.

After these fun talks with old, crazed women, she leaves with two men and two women, picked out by her father. 

As they leave they sing and dance songs about the bride and how desired she is.

Naye lodzabula bantfu timvalo,
Bambizile izwe lonkhe, Nangok' etile,
Siyamsunduzela

Udaba ludabula abantu izimvalo,
hyye mbize izwe lonke,
siya msunduzela

- - - 

[Benjoe]

6 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said:

It's going to get a lot worse for Nelson when he realizes that the groom looks exactly like him...but is 3 inches shorter.  

What's that from btw? 

[ManUtd1]

1 minute ago, Benjoe said:

What's that from btw? 

Master of None, Season 2 (Netflix).  The tall guy loses his sh*t, because when his ex dumped him, she told him that she wasn't physically attracted to him...only for him to arrive at the wedding to find the groom is his mini-doppleganger.

[Benjoe]

Just now, ManUtd1 said:

Master of None, Season 2 (Netflix).  The tall guy loses his sh*t, because when his ex dumped him, she told him that she wasn't physically attracted to him...only for him to arrive at the wedding to find the groom is his mini-doppleganger.

That sounds like a ****ing nightmare.

I can promise, that what happens to Nelson is both better and worse. 

[Benjoe]

Umtsimba - day 1

From here it gets less traditional, and less... gall is squished on to the bride’s mouth etc.

Nelson and Mumbu came directly from the plane.

Ready to greet the brides arrival party.

Standing there in his sweaty suit.

 

Straight away he recognized her as she jumped out of the horse wagon.

 

He was so happy to see her for a moment.

He started smiling. 

He felt the heat in his cheeks.

Blood was pumping at full speed throughout his corpus enormus. 

"Why you so happy to see her, boss?"

"I.. just am.. shut up, Mumbu."

"But you not the one marrying her?"

Nelson pushed Mumbu away and went to greet his old time crush.

 

She lit up when she saw him. 

"Nellie!"

She hugged him. 

With so much warmth.

"Aww, I'm so glad you came, didn't think you'd come!"

Nelson was quiet. As always. 

He just looked at her.

"I'm.. happy for you."

 

That's all. 

Bloody all he said.

Big lump of ****.

- - -

[ManUtd1]

This is going to end with Nelson, drunk on cheap rum trying to pirate ships off the coast of Somalia.  Mark my words.

[Benjoe]

Umtsimba - day 2

The rest of the first day passed. 

The bride had left again and went to sleep a full night prior to the wedding ceremony the following day.

Nelson and Mumbu had gone to a local pub.

They'd been offered to join the grooms feast.

Nelson would rather die.

 

That same feeling engrossed his mind the morning of day 2.

Severe hangovers.

As he came wandering, Mumbu on a drag, he saw it happen.

All the men with their spears and shields.

Pouncing their shields.

Over.

And over.

While Shouting.

 

A lot of animals were skinned, and eaten in creative ways.

Blood would spatter.

Nelson's stomach was not strong enough. 

Vomit would spatter.

 

The men, still holding spears and shields laughed at him. 

He whipped it off from the edge of his mouth and looked at her.

She'd seen it all, but she didn't laugh.

She remembered.

 

Once when they were young.

She'd been partying and was drunk and feeling bad.

Vultures - other drunk men - had been approaching her.

She tried to push them away but there was always a new nearing her.

Nelson stepped in and pushed them away with his big belly. 

He'd taken care of her  and made sure she was okay.

She remembered it still.

 

Nelson couldn't stand it anymore. 

"Do you have the pills we got at the pub?"

"Yeah, boss, but don't you think we should-"

"Come on."

...

"WOoooooOOOhoooOOOO!"

"I CAN FLYYYYYYYYYYYUYUYYUUYYU!"

- - -

[Benjoe]

Umtsimba - day 3

Nelson and Mumbu had wandered off from the ceremony.

They'd gone to the inn they slept at the night before and taken some pills they'd bought at the pub.

They had no idea what pills they were.

But the effect was strong.

Very. Strong.

 

The world began spinning and colors changed.

Shapes changed too and there was great sensation whenever they touched something.

"Let's go to the beach!" Nelson yelled.

"I wanna feel the sand on my face, boss." Mumbu...

"I wanna capture ships! We should go to the coast of Somalia! AAAARRRRJJJJ!"

"Are you okay, boss?"

"Yeah. I'm a pirate.. I said Arrrrjjj? Nevermind. Let's go!"

...

Hours later they'd wandered through the streets and a forest to get to the beach.

The 'beach' was really just a pond next to the inn they'd spent the night at.

Just a short five minute walk away.

...

"WOoooooOOOhoooOOOO!"

"I CAN FLYYYYYYYYYYYUYUYYUUYYU!"

Mumbu jumped into the pond and landed flat on his face. 

It was not a pond. It was a picture of a beach from a magazine spread out on the floor in the room in the inn.

...

The next morning the pills had almost worn out.

They got up and got dressed and left the inn. 

Nelson's head was hanging.

He  was hungover and still had hallucinations.

Either that, or a man was wearing a shirt made of leopard skin and had a helmet made of bush pig skin with the tusks like ears.

That might not have been a hallucination actually.

...

He arrived at the wedding finally.

He was brave.

That was what he'd told himself about forty times on the way to the wedding's last day.

The mekeza.

 

Instead of old traditions the bride and groom had chosen to have a banquette with lavish food and drinks.

People would celebrate and music was played.

Western classics had been remade to Swazi editions.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, This is Shiselweni numba 5!"

Was the first.

Then came, "Born in the eSwatini-ay!

But especially Elvis Presley songs were remade:

"You aint nothin but a Hound dog" became "You aint nothing but a Hhohho-bush pig".

Jailhouse rock = Siyinqaba rock.

Viva Las Vegas = Viva Mba-bane

And the playlist carried on for hours all performed by the Swati Elvis Presley, Elvis Dlaminisley.

 

When one specific song came on he rose to his feet from the seat he'd occupied for the past many hours.

He'd been sitting there constantly saying to himself, that now was the time.

No, nooow was the time.

Okay now!

Ah. Nevermind.

But finally, he did it.

 

Can't Help Falling In Love was being played on the jukebox.

Nelson slowly waltzed to the bride.

Elegantly, "May I have this dance," he said.

She nodded and blushed.

He hugged her as they danced slowly, and closely.

 

"You know.. I've always wanted to tell you something..

Always wanted to let you know how I've felt.

For all these years.

It's just been tearing me apart.

I sometimes look at pictures of you,

and wonder what it could have been.

How our kids would have looked.

How it would be to come home to you after a long day at training with the little boys.

Seeing them grow up and get great footballing careers. 

We could name them Linus and Gustav for all I care!"

 

She looked at Nelson deeply.

"What, what is it you want to say?"

 

"I.. I love you, and I want to be with you.

I want you for the rest of my life. 

Take my hand.

We can still run away.

I live in Lesotho at the moment.

It's nice, close, I got a great career going.

We'd be happy.

What do you say?"

 

"Nellie... I love you too"

Nelson smiled and sighed of relief.

"- As a friend."

Nelson stayed there.

Standing still.

Minutes past.

While his heart beat harder and faster.

Then it stopped completely.

 

Mumbu came to his rescue.

He pushed the bride away and yelled.

"Step away blue faced witch!

He is mine!

You don't deserve him.

You wouldn't know how to treasure boss like I do!"

 

Needless to say people were not amused when Mumbu pushed the bride.

Mumbu tried lifting Nelson, but no man could accomplish such task.

Instead he tripped Nelson and rolled him down the hill right next to the outdoor banquette.

 

"I think we escaped them boss."

"What happened Mumbu?"

"Nothing, boss. We're safe now.

I got you, boss. Under my skin."

- - -

 

"Thanks, Mumbu. But now we really need to get to the coast of Somalia!"

[Benjoe]

To break the wall of pure text I've created after 2 hours of random blabber.

Oh, what's that, @ManUtd1. Quite the reputation after all!

 

[Benjoe]

Never any doubt!

[Benjoe]

Top 5 most important players during my six games with Lioli.

5. Mafa Moremoholo, one of our three CB's and the most consistent of them. Many clearances and good tackles, but truth be told it was tough to pick one of our three CBs as they all did really fine. 7.40 in our last 5. 

4. Liteboho Mokhehle, our keeper for our 5 first games. Kept a clean sheet in the first 4. Didn't always have an easy job, but got it done relentlessly. I was happy with him, but I got a keeper on the bench with great potential and some stats I feel are better as a whole, so Mokhehle might not start for us next season. Still a really important part of our strong defence.

3. Masoabi Nkoto, our striker for all 6 games - but also the only striker in our first team squad. No worries. He was dangerous and despite a few silent games he scored 5 goals, assisted 3 times, and avg. 7.70 in the last 5 games. Monsterous. And he is 3rd...

2. Mohau 'Ramses' Rammoneng, was immense. He proved that his technique is in the upper class of Lesotho and was a key part of our quick, incisive passing. Really a treat. If you look at the previous page and look at the gifs I posted, often he is a key part passing back and forth. He wasn't used as a playmaker in the last 3 games but was as integral as one would be. 7.90 avg. 2 goals, 3 assists in last 5.

1. Teboho Nkabane, what a man. He was here, there and everywhere. And he scored when we desperately needed it. Perfect in the Shadow striker role. 8.22 avg. 6 goals, 3 assists in last 5. Do I need to say more? 

Special mentions:

Jeremiah Kamela, a player who would have been a real asset in midfield was pushed to an unusual left wing back position and did it with great assertion. I'm looking for a new left wing back so I can get Kamela to be part of our midfield next season. Avg. of 7.24 in his last 5 games, 1 assist as well.

Thapelo Phatsoane, should arguably have gotten the 3rd place rather than Nkoto. He really proved himself, and with an age of 18 and seemingly great potential he'll be important for years to come I imagine, if Nelson stays long enough. 7.70 avg. 3 goals, 3 assists in last 5. 

[Benjoe]

Transfer budget?! What is that?!

[Benjoe]

It is best to bind up the finger before it is cut

Following the end of last season Nelson had secured Lioli a place in the African Champions League. Much like he had done with Wawi Star the year before. Last time he'd gotten screwed over my his assistant and board, but this time he was not as unlucky. This time he'd gone ahead and signed a new contract and the Lioli board were happy to keep him tied on to it. 

New sponsorship deals were put in place, and the board decided that Mumbu were the guy to be put in charge of this. Nelson was not glad when he got the memo.

Looking at the negotiating results it wasn't too impressive either, taking into consideration it was right after a fantastic season.

...

Of other promising off-season events, Nelson managed to convince the board he should be allowed to study for his Continental B-license and that the club should invest in Training- and Youth Facilities as well as spending more money on Junior Coaching. 

[Benjoe]

We got new company for the new season in the Prem!

It's the Mounted Police Services of Lesotho!

Also, I love their logo - it looks like a red smiley on that football and the text being some weird sunglasses. Almost Joker like smile, that red one. 

Looking at their results lately they have a loss against Majant, you have a fantastic logo as well!

Sadly they did not get promoted to the Prem.

[BoxToBox]

African Mounties!

[Benjoe]

10 minutes ago, BoxToBox said:

African Mounties!

[Benjoe]

Khotso le Nala v.2 - Peace and Prosperity

 

I've decided to draw a little bit on a little situation that shows very well how I think this system works.

Our first league game this season, against Mphatlalatsane, and we're 13 and a half minute in.

1: The ball has been passed from D. Tale for our striker Makara (spoiler: he's a new one, and very talented).

2: Makara receives the ball, but the Mphat full back is aggressive and surprises our young striker and wins the ball.

3: Seeing as we were about to launch an attack, and that our attacks are lightning quick we were pushing men forward, but not enough to really get dangerously threatened. Their fullback runs with the ball forward (white, dotted line).

4. As the full back reaches the middle of the pitch he gets closed down by our CM(S) (6) as my three CBs and our CM(D) falls back to prevent through balls. Their full back passes the ball back and struggle to find a pass to a teammate in an advanced position and has to recycle play.

Half a minute later we strike back:

1: Our Shadow striker has tracked and tackled the opponent and our CM(D) has picked up the ball with a lot of space in front of him.

2: Makara (36) receives a pass from our CM(D) and turns but a good defensive run closes him down. Meanwhile we have three offensive runs that causes chaos for the defenders. 

Our players have found their new positions.

This looks complicated, it'll make sense soon - hopefully.

1: Makara passes to Rammoneng, our CM(S)

2: Rammoneng quickly passes it to Phatsoane AM(A),

3: Who passes it to Makara.

4: He initially runs with it but is closed down by a defender.

5: Were not giving up here, but Makara plays a cutback to our CM(D) behind him, Kamela who is unmarked.

6: Kamela is quick and passes it to an open Rammoneng who takes a great first touch and moves past an oncoming defender.

7: As he does this he draws three defenders close to him and spots that Phatsoane is free of his man (tbh all three of our offensive players where relatively open at this point) and passes it to the attacking midfielder who shoots at first touch, but straight at the keeper.

GIF to see the entire move in it's beautiful wholesome!

Oh, and @Jimbokav1971, my GK scored on a pen four minutes later! 

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, Benjoe said:

Oh, and @Jimbokav1971, my GK scored on a pen four minutes later! 

Brilliant stuff. 

Loving the GIF by the way. The only thing I would say, (looking just at that GIF in isolation), is that you seem to be focusing your attacks quite centrally when the space is obviously out wide in behind their wing-backs. (Just a suggestion). 

[Keano16]

The gif is gone. Can see what you're trying to do however.

[Benjoe]

4 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Brilliant stuff. 

Loving the GIF by the way. The only thing I would say, (looking just at that GIF in isolation), is that you seem to be focusing your attacks quite centrally when the space is obviously out wide in behind their wing-backs. (Just a suggestion). 

Thank you! 

Glad the gif is appreciated. Yeah, in isolation that gif would indicate we don't use our wing backs much, but I have no instructions that would tell them to do so. I would assume that it is a result of our aggressive, quick paced passing that often cuts out the play over the wings. If we have openings centrally, then why push it wide? Is sort of the mantra I imagine being used by the ME. But looking at the gif for a second and third time I do feel, that both wing backs are actually occupying a marker, so despite space being available it would be with a risk of either losing the ball out wide if our wing back loses the sprint for the ball, or losing tempo in our game if we play the safer pass to their feet and having to look to restart the attack from wide.

I get what you mean, though, but I actually like that we just almost force it inside - all teams at this level are so poor that we can find holes if we try, and that is what we are doing with this style. 

3 hours ago, Keano16 said:

The gif is gone. Can see what you're trying to do however.

I had no problems viewing it, but I replaced it anyways. Hope it works now! 

[Keano16]

17 minutes ago, Benjoe said:

I had no problems viewing it, but I replaced it anyways. Hope it works now! 

Perfect now! The defence couldn't cope with the movement. 

[Benjoe]

15 minutes ago, Keano16 said:

Perfect now! The defence couldn't cope with the movement. 

Nope! Kept pushing them from side to side until we found a hole - which didn't take long.

[Benjoe]

Finally got around to make one of these! 

Maybe I'll add in 'Manager wages' and when Nelson took his badges etc at some point, but not now.  

[noikeee]

Is this... is this still Nelson? It looks like this manager knows what he's doing. League titles. Exquisite tactical setups that work in perfection and can be turned into smooth pass-and-move gifs. Nah, that can't be Nelson.

[Benjoe]

4 hours ago, noikeee said:

Is this... is this still Nelson? It looks like this manager knows what he's doing. League titles. Exquisite tactical setups that work in perfection and can be turned into smooth pass-and-move gifs. Nah, that can't be Nelson.

It is very much Nelson. The coaching courses and badges are starting to come to fruition. He is, however, pondering what the next experiment will be, but for now he is sticking to the new system.

Cheers for the praise as well!

 

[ManUtd1]

Color-coded spreadsheet?

This thread is going hi-tech!  Woohoo!

[Benjoe]

6 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said:

Color-coded spreadsheet?

This thread is going hi-tech!  Woohoo!

Oh, I've been hi-tech since ever! My old thread had a spreadsheet with skyblue colors, to match Celta's colors. 

[Benjoe]

I just felt like sharing another nice combination. Sadly, no goal, but still really nice passing. 

Also, seeing this gif made me realize we were keeping too many men back. At the point of this post, it's 0-0 at half time away at Butha-Buthe. Formation change to see if we can be more succesful in using our numbers against them.

Edit: We win it 0-1 after a good through ball for Makara from Kamela. The switch didn't last long, however, as Butha-Buthe went to a 4-3-3 with 3 strikers right after our goal, so we changed back to counter their threat. Worked like a charm. 

[BoxToBox]

Nelson's all about that razzmatazz.

[Benjoe]

3 minutes ago, BoxToBox said:

Nelson's all about that razzmatazz.

Aye, Nelson loves some razzle dazzle!

Just look at the newest carpet he bought. 

I'd like one too!

[ManUtd1]

5 minutes ago, BoxToBox said:

Nelson's all about that razzmatazz.

1 minute ago, Benjoe said:

Aye, Nelson loves some razzle dazzle!

For some reason, I read that in Gilbert Gottfried's voice.

I need help.

[Benjoe]

2 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said:

For some reason, I read that in Gilbert Gottfried's voice.

I need help.

[ManUtd1]

6 minutes ago, Benjoe said:

[Benjoe]

I just tried something ridiculous, and it worked. I was struggling to score as it was 0-0 after 75 mins. I change formation to a completely flank-less formation, with more players on my opponents half than in mine, and we ended up winning 2-0.

I'll test it out before I show it and talk it up too much, though!  

[Benjoe]

Khotso le Nala v.3? - Peace and Prosperity

Dramatic music, should you wish for it while reading this!

With the same principles as with the two previous versions, no closing down and rapid tempo, we throw ourselves into a new version. Will it stick?

This heat map tells a tale or two. We are so extremely dominant on their half that you can't really say it was theirs anymore. I don't recall ever seeing this large a coherent red 'very active' area while looking at heat maps before. Sadly, it also reveals that we didn't get into their box much - they didn't get close to our box often either though. 

Also, look at the bottom and see our best performer. Mohau 'Ramses' Rammoneng. 100 passes in one game! Our opponent's entire team had 271 attempted with 171 completed, Ramses had 108 attempted with 100 completed passes. Mental. 

 

Here's all his attempted passes. A lot of those small combinations in the middle that I've shown you a couple of times already where he is ping-ponging the ball back and forth and he did just that once again and with an enormous precision at that. 

Also take a look at pass combinations here.

Number 6 is Ramses. Ramses were a part of a whooping 89 pass combinations. He didn't have a single 'Key' pass, but when you control the passing game like this from a central position then I can allow it, we had assigned other players for that, anyway.

Before I show the formation used I will show our shots taken during this game. 

They tell a story or two as well. We have 9 shots in the box. Not bad, really, but we had 28 shots from outside of the box. Looking at the 'Player Analysis' shows that a lot of those were from the edge of the box but probably even more were from even farther out. Some of these (6, actually) came from free kicks, mind - which I had forgotten to assign my keeper to take  - but still, that is not good enough. We need to get closer, and not just fire at will, because then it will be impossible to get our play flowing and penetrate at will. 

Now, here comes the formation.

Stop laughing!

Nelson is trying his hardest here. 

Anyway. The roles changed a bit during the game, but this was the shape used during the entire game. Three banks of three. I was banking on a win.

Rammoneng in the middle the was asked to 'Roam from position' as I felt he had the qualities to impact the game moving forward, and all 4 attackers had 'Roam from position' and 'Move into channels' ticked on, when their role allowed it. 

4-41 is the shot scoreline. 1-2 is the real scoreline. Phew. We scored the winner just three minutes prior to the last whistle.

We had a lot of chances as I showed earlier, but really we should be getting bigger and better looks at goal from the 62% possesion and 585 completed passes. 

The goal we conceded was a given. A cross to the back post and our RCB was not really watching his back. I anticipate this is one of our main problems with this formation - "no **** Sherlock, you have no flanks". 

I still do believe this formation have merit to deserve some more testing and tweaking - if nothing else, then just because we had a player hit 100 completed passes and dominated the match completely. 

Also, ignore the fact that I have a DM and two CBs instead of three CBs on the tactics screenshot. I had forgotten to move the man down to CB but did it few minutes into the game.

Also, I sort of have to deliver some sort of gif presenting beautiful passing, don't I?

Well here are two different ones, but I fear neither is truly amazing. They do, however, still show some good passing/combinations.

This one is ruined by atrocious finishing but leading up to the shot we had them unsettled and could have got a bigger chance if he had passed or dribbled rather than shoot.

The next one is a rather long one. All the way from our keeper to a finish.

Like the ending credit song in a movie I'll let the move speak for itself. 

[ManUtd1]

51 minutes ago, Benjoe said:

Now, here comes the formation.

Stop laughing!

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, Sigmund.

[ManUtd1]

GNev (in studio): Here come Nelson's lads, in their unique, Flying Weenis formation.  Let's see how they do, Jamie.

[Benjoe]

2 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said:

GNev (in studio): Here come Nelson's lads, in their unique, Flying Weenis formation.  Let's see how they do, Jamie.

  

JCar after the match standing on the field after a wet (STOP IT!) game: Clearly pretty well, you massive twat! And if you see a phallic symbol here I've got some news about your sexuality, wanker!

[ManUtd1]

Don't Google Khotso Le Nala, lads.  NSFW. 

That poor little lioness from the Lion King?  Nala?  Yeah, that was her name.  Pure filth.

[Benjoe]

1 minute ago, ManUtd1 said:

Don't Google Khotso Le Nala, lads.  NSFW. 

That poor little lioness from the Lion King?  Nala?  Yeah, that was her name.  Pure filth.

The fact I Google'd it thinking: "The tosser is joking. Right? Right...?"

You're a vile man.

This did, however, come up.

#WhatWouldBorisDo

[ManUtd1]

3 minutes ago, Benjoe said:

The fact I Google'd it thinking: "The tosser is joking. Right? Right...?"

You're a vile man.

[Benjoe]

3 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said:

[ManUtd1]

LLOYD!!!

[Benjoe]

7 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said:

LLOYD!!!

[Benjoe]

Lately I haven't had the motivation to really carry on with the thread. Just some off-FM stuff that's been making me lack the creativity in that depart - so instead I went for some tactical work, I guess. This means, that I might not really update the story for a while, but I'll continue to play, and maybe throw a little story in here and there. We'll see. But for now I'll do what I had postponed for way too long. 

Summer signings!

  

I felt the defence needed some more options, both some cover and some immediate improvement which I found with these three signings. David Tale has been the best so far, Khutlang has been solid, and Makepe has sadly been injured and only played one game so far. We are well covered when he is back too. 

 

Malefane is a great talent and would have been a terrific option for the wing back, but since I'm considering a flankless formation I might have to find a new role for him. Makobe was ment for cover, but has pushed himself into the starting lineup with consistent and solid play, but I'm not afraid to bench him if another prospect is performing better - at this time the only ones to do so are starters already. 

 

These guys were signed because of their Determination as I want to raise our overall determination by having some tutors who have some fight in them. It just so happens that Kholuoe is also a very decent footballer. I didn't know this when I signed him, though, as my scout could basically only tell me his determination at that time. Lekhooa is capable too. 

And then we get to the main event! The rumble in the jungle! The.. erhh.. whatever. Strikers, guys.

 

So, Themba did his cruciate ligaments just before the season start, so he is out for a year... He looked good, yes, but, WOULD YOU LOOK AT MOSES!? 16 years old and already looking like a killer poacher. He got pace, he got anticipation, composure, off the ball movement, he's agile and balanced (mentally too, that sucks), good with decisions, he got decent technique and he is a good finisher. Perhaps the best transfer I've made in this thread so far. Am I exaggerating? I'm not sure. But he is one of the most complete youngsters I've seen around in Africa, and tbh he'd be decent for a lot of European clubs too. Ooookay, that was too far. Still, I like him. A lot.