former yugoslavic nations [FM18] You Don't Know What You're Missing Until Yugoslavic!

[smp20]

You Don't Know What You're Missing Until Yugoslavic!

So after lots of deliberating over saves (it seems I just can't get into International management on FM18) I've decided to go somewhere I've never been to before - the region of the Former Yugoslavia. I've used claassen's updates to be able to add the unplayable leagues so that I have the following loaded:

My aim is to have a journeyman style save within these nations, starting unemployed, with the aim to make the region competitive with Europe's top leagues. I will also be youth orientated, with my only signings being players that are home-grown at the current club or have come through a youth intake at one of my former clubs.

Manager Profile

Here's me, all true to myself IRL. Let's do this!

[Makoto Nakamura]

Good luck with this! I look forward to seeing you win at least one Champions League with a club from each of these countries. 

[MagicHat]

This is worth a follow just for the pun alone lmao. 

[smp20]

56 minutes ago, Makoto Nakamura said:

Good luck with this! I look forward to seeing you win at least one Champions League with a club from each of these countries. 

Haha, I don't know about every country but at least one I hope 

34 minutes ago, MagicHat said:

This is worth a follow just for the pun alone lmao. 

[smp20]

First Job: Vëllaznimi of Kosovo

After 30+ interviews and 10+ job offers I whittled it down to two options. It was either a 3rd tier side in Bosnia who were professional, or Vëllaznimi from Gjakova close to the Albanian border.

They've got a reasonable setup for us to develop youngsters and we're expected to finish comfortable in midtable. Here's a look at my best player according to the club overview:

Looks pretty decent if you ask me, but I have no idea what sort of level the Kosovan SuperLeague is. Will need to get in some staff to help judge the side. 

 

[smp20]

Not a bad start 

[kidthekid]

business as usual

[HawkAussie]

Nah, it was a terrible start. It needed to be double digits 

[smp20]

2017/18 Mid-Season Update

We got off to an incredible start winning 4 of our first 5 including 8-0 on the opening day and 9-1 against the reigning champions . However, our form leveled out somewhat and we've been particularly patchy away from home. Our only points dropped at home were against Prishtina who are flying in the league. We're in a good position and we've got an outside chance of challenging for the title - we're in with the big boys Prishtina, Trepca 89 and Feronikeli who will make life difficult for us. There are only 2 European places available in Kosovo, one for the champions and one for the cup winners (or 2nd place if there's a double win). Overall I'm very happy with our first half of the season after being predicted to finish mid-table, while I've also managed to persuade the board into some upgrades taking us up to adequate JC and average YR .

Results

League Table

Player Stats

Top Performers

Upgrades

[smp20]

1 hour ago, kidthekid said:

business as usual

 

8 minutes ago, HawkAussie said:

Nah, it was a terrible start. It needed to be double digits 

You have such high expecations! 

[smp20]

2018 Youth Intake

Not great, not great at all. Elezi looks half decent and will be re-trained as a central midfielder, while interestingly we brought through an Englishman. All with 1 gold star or above will be signed to add to our u19s side.

Probably hasn't helped that I forgot to sign a HOYD

[smp20]

Hopefully this will help for next year! Maybe another upgrade before that as well. Now just got to find a HOYD who's not utter crap...

[BoxToBox]

Jesus, that intake.

[smp20]

Runners up in both the league and the cup to Prishtina who were the standout side of the season. A very good debut season as a manager and for the club back in the top flight after a two-season absence. We will be playing Europa League football next season, albeit in the lowest qualifiers. Fingers crossed for a winnable / lucrative draw.

Results

League Table

Player Stats

Facilities

Finances

 

 

[smp20]

2 hours ago, BoxToBox said:

Jesus, that intake.

Yes, utter crap....

[smp20]

College Europa of Gibraltar will not be pushovers - they have some good Spanish players. If we do manage to get through we will face Cracovia of Poland.

[smp20]

Good start, despite our players starting with 70% fitness!

[smp20]

Vokes with the Golden Boot, didn't see that one coming . It was a more predictable final, with Germany beating Brazil but Ghana grabbed 3rd place.

[smp20]

Well that's our European adventure over, Cracovia were just too strong.

[smp20]

Woohoo a trophy

[smp20]

Well, err, this happened

[ManUtd1]

[BoxToBox]

"I on the other hand, hope your stadium and club burns to the ground."

 

[Sheriff7]

Very good start mate.. 

[smp20]

18 hours ago, BoxToBox said:

"I on the other hand, hope your stadium and club burns to the ground."

 

Yes, pretty much this!!!

17 hours ago, Sheriff7 said:

Very good start mate.. 

Well, it was until the sacking 

[smp20]

Unfortunately I was turned down by several clubs after interviewing. I'm sticking to my youth development policy and if your club doesn't agree with that, you're not getting me. I did however get offered one job...

[smp20]

For those of you not familiar with the club, Gjilani are another Kosovan club. There's still another couple of ongoing interviews so I'm holding off for now. But I could be back in Kosovo to take down Vellaznimi!

[smp20]

Looks like I'm making a move across the Macedonian bordering side of Kosovo!

[smp20]

Here we go, Kosovo Take 2!!

[Rikulec]

Harsh to be sacked by Vëllaznimi, hopefully you'll show them how wrong they were!

[Sheriff7]

54 minutes ago, smp20 said:

Yes, pretty much this!!!

Well, it was until the sacking 

OOO Sorry didn't saw it.....Why they took it so serious?They were rivals maybe?

[smp20]

2 hours ago, Rikulec said:

Harsh to be sacked by Vëllaznimi, hopefully you'll show them how wrong they were!

I certainly will! I hope...

2 hours ago, Sheriff7 said:

OOO Sorry didn't saw it.....Why they took it so serious?They were rivals maybe?

I was declaring interest in bigger teams in foreign countries - maybe I was just a bit too disloyal for them....

[smp20]

Our first two signings - both HG at club in keeping with my philosophy. They're far from world beaters but will add depth to the first team.

[smp20]

[smp20]

Shame this lot are utter crap....not even gonna bother with any screenshots.

[smp20]

Revenge is sweet  

 

[smp20]

An excellent half season with Gjilani, climbing from 10th to 5th in the league ahead of my old club and winning the cup. Currently only players <2* ability are willing to negotiate new contracts so I feel as though I will have to leave unless this is cleared up. Seems a bit odd to be honest!

Results

League Table

Player Stats

Manager Profile

[smp20]

Damn

[smp20]

Decided to accept a new adventure in the Croatian top flight

 

[smp20]

Here I am in Croatia looking to prove myself on a bigger stage. Star man Lovre Grbic will be crucial for us. Rudes are historically a lower league side from the suburbs of Zagreb, but they spent the 00s/10s doing well in the 2nd tier and found their way to the top division in 2017. First season they survived the relegation playoff after finishing 9th in a 10 team league, but last season they finished in a comfortable 6th position and their manager retired.

[dllu]

Good work - finishing one point ahead of the team that sacked you must be particularly gratifying.  

Seems the right choice to move on, though.

[adamdfry]

Wow, Vinogradar start in the third tier this year! Didn't stop them from thumping me in the first round of the cup mind!

 

Good luck in Croatia. Hopefully, Rudes will be up there fighting their city rival Dinamo in years to come.

[smp20]

2 hours ago, dllu said:

Good work - finishing one point ahead of the team that sacked you must be particularly gratifying.  

Seems the right choice to move on, though.

It certainly was . Yeah definitely time to move away from Kosovo, couldn't see Gjilani developing to the level I want. I checked back and they lost a lot of players to the pro clubs in Kosovo and they're struggling in the league.

2 hours ago, adamdfry said:

Wow, Vinogradar start in the third tier this year! Didn't stop them from thumping me in the first round of the cup mind!

 

Good luck in Croatia. Hopefully, Rudes will be up there fighting their city rival Dinamo in years to come.

 

Yeah Vinogradar managed a double promotion, very impressive!

Cheers, I hope I can push Rudes onto the next level, but I think we're going to having money problems.

[smp20]

Can't really complain with how things have been going on the field, we're currently 3rd behind Dinamo and Rijeka. However....

Bratty players are not happy with my management - due to my low rep. FFS guys, we're 3rd in the league!!

Yeah....this does not look good either.

[kidthekid]

Makes no damn sense..the dynamics that is

[smp20]

This is just after we won an away game 1-0 and we're now joint 2nd....

[smp20]

1 minute ago, kidthekid said:

Makes no damn sense..the dynamics that is

It's frustrating, but an interesting challenge I guess.

[smp20]

This is the git that's causing the biggest fuss. He's one of our best players and vice-captain. Not sure whether to dump him in the U19s and get a new VC, or keep going with him and hope that it'll all blow over.

[smp20]

Pretty much every influential player opposes me and everyone else has no opinion. 

[BoxToBox]

1 hour ago, smp20 said:

Not sure whether to dump him in the U19s