ManUtd1 Posted December 30, 2018 Author Share Posted December 30, 2018 Fantastic draw for the Preliminary Round...and then we're likely facing defending Confederation Cup champions Kano Pillars in the 1st Round. Win some...lose some... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 30, 2018 Author Share Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) Edited December 30, 2018 by ManUtd1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 30, 2018 Author Share Posted December 30, 2018 It may not have been our finest hour, but we're through. We'll face Kano Pillars. We must be more clinical in front of goal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Share Posted December 31, 2018 180 minutes of confident, controlling football. And we're through to the Group Stage, Kano sent packing to the Confederation Cup. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Share Posted December 31, 2018 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Share Posted December 31, 2018 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Share Posted December 31, 2018 FM is savage. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkybike1 Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 At least the name's accurate. You should have no problem getting out of this group. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 19 hours ago, ManUtd1 said: LOL! This cracked me up. BTW, I'm from Ghana 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Share Posted December 31, 2018 3 hours ago, funkybike1 said: You should have no problem getting out of this group. I appreciate the optimism, and it has been smoother than I expected. I'll have an update posted soon. 2 hours ago, abulezz said: LOL! This cracked me up. BTW, I'm from Ghana With the "nuns" of St Benjamin supporting us... Anything is possible... Whereabouts in Ghana, if you don't mind me asking? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 31, 2018 Share Posted December 31, 2018 1 minute ago, ManUtd1 said: I appreciate the optimism, and it has been smoother than I expected. I'll have an update posted soon. With the "nuns" of St Benjamin supporting us... Anything is possible... Whereabouts in Ghana, if you don't mind me asking? Im in Accra - Hearts of Oak territory, lol. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Share Posted December 31, 2018 Even beauty diminishes with study. It is better to glance than gawk. Ashanti Gold - June 2021 We remain the team to beat domestically. No question about it. And we've had an easier run of things than I expected on the contintent...we gifted Cape Town City a point at the end of Matchday 1, trounced ASKO on the road, and then claimed all 3 points away to Wits having punished them on the counter. There's a confidence building here, as we march towards the knockout rounds. Can we keep this up?! As they say down at St. Benjamin's, don't count your cough syrup before the drink has been stirred... Granted, the travel is brutal...we just came back from Johannesburg and, in 2 weeks, have to travel to Cape Town. No rest for the wicked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 31, 2018 Author Share Posted December 31, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, abulezz said: Im in Accra - Hearts of Oak territory, lol. (Kidding aside -- very cool, man ) Edited December 31, 2018 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 European Review - 2020/21 Our annual look at Europe begins with Mourinho's Manchester United claiming their 2nd straight Champions League title, with a 3-1 win over Conte's Real Madrid. Madrid did see out an epic battle in La Liga, with 3 teams accumulating more than 90 points and Sevilla sitting a distant 4th on 64 points, 28 behind Barcelona. Mourinho's United managed to claim the Premier League title, much to the incredulous amusement of this United supporter... Wienzierl's Leverkusen did the most Leverkusen thing possible, and saw Unai Emery's Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga on goal difference. Gattuso's AC Milan claimed their 2nd straight Serie A title. Pep the Bald's PSG outdid even themselves, winning 35 matches with 3 draws, and a +86 goal difference...while falling short in the Champions League, going out to Madrid in the semifinals. Finally, Marko Rose and The Hoff claimed a Europa League title with a 2-nil win over Lyon. Up next -- Algeria 2021, the Cup of Nations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 (edited) Crystal Palace? I'd consider it...but only if Emilia Clarke was my assistant. They're playing silly buggers, they are. Edited January 1, 2019 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Algeria 2021; Africa Cup of Nations Review Cameroon take home the title in 2021, with Real Madrid's Vincent Aboubakar leading the charge. The biggest disappointments have to be Nigeria, who lost all 3 Group matches, and Ivory Coast, who conspired to romp through their Group and then go out on penalties to Gabon in the 2nd Round. On the other end of the spectrum, it was nice to see Burkina Faso have a solid tournament. And, of course...we have a few job openings. I don't know that my reputation is high enough to get one...but we're going to throw Brendan's hat into the ring. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 (edited) The fax machine started running early. The Senegalese, I could understand. I've said some unfortunate things about one of their current TV stars that caused a bit of stir in the media. I could shrug that one off. But when Mozambique dropped a three-sentence fax addressed to "Mrs. Rodgers," I knew it was going to be a long day. And it is never a good idea to day-drink in this heat...especially not with a league match in the evening. Nigeria and the Ivorians? They have reason to dislike me given our continental exploits, so I knew that was always a long shot. When the rejection from Zambia arrived less than an hour before kickoff, I decided **** it. Who needs these geezers anyways, yeah? We're going to win the Champions League, and then we'll see who's laughing. The lads gave Berekum Chelsea what-for, for the Boss. Drinks at St. Benny's are on me tonight, lads... Edited January 1, 2019 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 I am not the man I was this morning, nor the man of yesterday. Ashanti Gold - August 2021 All the drinking finally took its toll...a wake up call, away to Heart of Lions. The Giant Killers were true to their nickname...I'll grant them that. It's time to sober and wise up. We've drawn TP Mazembe in the Champions League. We must focus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 I am not the man I was this morning, nor the man of yesterday. Ashanti Gold - September 2021 180 minutes against the best the DRC has to offer has proven one thing -- we can play with anyone on the continent. We were far and away the better squad, in both legs. After the match, the Congolese even offered us $30k for Ashong, one of our reserve centerbacks who (at 26) will move on sooner rather than later. I still rejected the offer, out of principle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Three massive signings who will see tons of playing time next year...and then almost certainly move on to Europe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 TP Mazembe just keep negotiating against themselves and unilaterally increasing their offers for Ashong...and I'm not entirely sure why. I just keep rejecting them on principle...I don't want to help a continental rival "improve." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Ok, my principles gave way to pragmatism. This is a player I wanted to sell anyways, and if a rival is going to overpay for him...well...no harm to me. $110k, plus 50% of next sale... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 The 70,000-strong crowd in Cairo did not faze us the first time around. If we can hold firm the second time...the first leg of the Final against Zamalek...we will be Champions of Africa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 (edited) A massive night in Cairo, and we did our job. We smashed the bar in the 2nd minute, and Godwin stood tall to deny a penalty. 90 minutes back at the Len Clay. Edited January 1, 2019 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 A massive night in Obuasi. One for the ages. The result was never in doubt. We're off to the Club World Cup, to give Mourinho's United a taste of St. Benny's magic ****. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Sure...they're the hosts. But...really?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Third time pays for all, Zamalek. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 We'll face Gremio, with a spot in the final on the line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) In the end, we can be proud of our performance. We took the Brazilians to extra time and a star-studded Guangzhou to penalties. Nothing to be ashamed of, nothing at all. And the $2M in prize money will set the club up for years to come... Edited January 2, 2019 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity. Ashanti Gold - 2021 Season Review This was the year that Ashanti Gold could do no wrong. The year where we lived the dream. The year where I made good on my name...no disappointment, no. Not I. But the time has come to forge a new path. A new day. A fresh start. Perhaps even a decent paycheck... While I leave Obuasi with a heavy heart, I leave knowing that the club is in a position to capitalize on our success -- Champions of Europe, a talented young squad, with more than $8M in the bank. Goals for 2022: Wait for the right club job to open up. Get a national team position. Squad|League Overview|Finances Overview|Income Detail|Expenditures Detail|Transfers FCP League Fixtures|MTN FA Cup Fixtures|Champions League Fixtures CAF Champions League Review This is rather thoroughly documented above. A big year for Ashanti Gold. Challenge Overview Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) As our time in Ghana comes to a close, I want to share some thoughts about the state of the save. Bottom line -- this is not going to present the same challenge that the European "Nearly Men" save provided, for a couple of inter-related reasons: In Europe, there is a dual-track challenge for most teams -- becoming competitive domestically, and then stepping up in Europe. More often than not, your direct competition and other, established European powers are working to poach your best players and tempt them with higher wages, a more competitive league, etc. In Africa, success came far quicker than I expected. I really was anticipating a "step up" in the competition for the CAF Champions League. There wasn't much of one -- a strong (albeit really young) side in Ghana was a strong side on the continent, even when facing opponents from the "bigger," wealthier leagues (South Africa, Egypt, etc). I suspect this is due to a combination of factors: The best players will move to Europe, instead of a direct domestic or continental rival. Chinese clubs also seemed to be particularly interested in our players. As demonstrated by TP Mazembe's determined effort to sign one of my reserve centerbacks (Ashong, see screenshots above), even the "big" clubs are buying players that I have literally zero interest in. Al-Hilal Omdurman has also bought up some of my unwanted players. Provided that a European club isn't interested, African clubs are not tempting my players with wages. I repeatedly had players come to me, demanding a higher salary due to their prominent first-team status...but they only wanted $90/week, up from $60/week. Moussa Soumah, a 20 year-old Guinean international with 14 caps is on $95/week, for urCristiano's sake! He's annoyed because Belgian clubs have been sniffing around, but still hasn't downed tools. At the end of the day, I think this combines into a real lack of challenge on the continental side of the save -- there are no Real Madrids or Bayern Munichs out there, for an up-and-coming side to overcome once they've claimed domestic dominance. My players might leave, but if they do they either: (1) go to Europe for a decent/large transfer fee, that I can use to continue stockpiling talented youth; or (2) are nowhere near good enough to be in my squad, and won't be a threat elsewhere (Ashong being a great example of this). The real challenge is the World Club Cup. So, what does this mean for the save? I'm not stopping here or changing the rules...rather, I'm going to personally focus on the national team side of things -- building up African national sides and winning World Cups -- while traveling about the continent with eligible clubs. Just thought I'd share these thoughts before hitting continue. Edited January 2, 2019 by ManUtd1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) As you may have seen in the last screenshot, on my way out the door at Ashanti Gold, I declared an interest in the Sudan job, thanks to @Bedese's fantastic thread on youth development: In short, Sudan have a lot of untapped potential...we may have to test his theory...because my declaration resulted in the job opening up. Edited January 2, 2019 by ManUtd1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) The camel does not see the bend of its neck. Sudan, "The Falcons of Jediane" - December 2021 Back when I started this save *cough* I envisioned national team management as something of an aside, a fun sidecar to the battles on the club side of things. But, having romped around the continent with Ashanti Gold, I'm seeing international management in a different light... Which brings me to Sudan. As noted above, @Bedese has identified real potential here for growth...if you can get the facilities sorted. Sudan is a country with a history spanning millennia, with evidence of pharaonic kingship being established in that portion of the Nile River Valley that comprises present-day Sudan by 3300 BCE. (Of course, we are all familiar with the recent conflict and tragedy in Sudan, but seeing as how this is a site devoted to a football management sim, this thread will NOT touch on politics in any way -- let's not go that route, please. If this devolves, I will close/hide the entire thread.) Sudan does have a footballing history that it can be very proud of -- with the FA forming in 1936, while under British/Egyptian rule. The Sudanese FA was a founding member of the CAF, and hosted the first Africa Cup of Nations in 1957, in Khartoum. Sudan were runners-up in the 1959 and 1963 Cup of Nations (hosted by Egypt and Ghana, respectively), and won the 1970 Cup of Nations, as the hosts. However, Sudan have generally struggled ever since -- qualifying only 4 times for the Cup of Nations, going out at the Group Stage 3 times while reaching the quarterfinal in 2012. They have never qualified for the World Cup. It's time that changed, isn't it? That's my basic goal -- qualify for a World Cup. To accomplish that, I will need to wait for Al-Hilal Omdurman to become available, as they are the only eligible Sudanese club and I need to improve their facilities ASAP. Edited January 2, 2019 by ManUtd1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedese Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 Good luck in Sudan! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 3, 2019 Author Share Posted January 3, 2019 6 hours ago, Bedese said: Good luck in Sudan! Thanks, man! It's your fault I've gone there, after all... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 There's a leak at the FA. I talked about the genius of Hakan Telleus in our first meetings...no one knew who he was, and no one would believe me that some strange Swedish hipster with a God complex was a misunderstood tactical genius. And now we've got local musicians tweeting about my tactical plans?! Come on. I guess we'll have to show them what's what. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 7, 2019 Author Share Posted January 7, 2019 This is about as favorable a draw as we could have asked for. Qualifying in the 2nd spot is not out of the question. Tactically, we're going strikerless. But I'm wavering between two tactics I used in the '18 European Nearly Men save -- one with a libero, one with a more hipster vibe (screenshots below). I think we're probably more set up to play the PM Drakens Blod/Grapefrukt Diarre tactics, as we have wide, attacking midfielders in the side...but the quality is rather poor, all around. We could get exposed pretty badly, as compared to the slightly more conservative libero setup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 7, 2019 Author Share Posted January 7, 2019 An ideal start to life in Khartoum -- although I worry that we will set expectations higher than our talent can match. Time will tell. We don't play another match until August. We desperately need to work on re-training players to fit our tactics. Liberos are few and far between, this far upriver on the Nile. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Congrats in Ghana and good luck with Sudan! Your young boys have the potential to turn into physical beasts as from memory they're essentially guaranteed to be all over 6 foot. What skin is that that you can see your players faces on the tactics screen too? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 1 hour ago, shaunvamos said: Congrats in Ghana and good luck with Sudan! Your young boys have the potential to turn into physical beasts as from memory they're essentially guaranteed to be all over 6 foot. What skin is that that you can see your players faces on the tactics screen too? Thanks, man! I can see where Sudan have potential, but until I'm in charge on the club side it's going to be a tough road. The players are incredibly raw. I'm using the @wannachupbrew IR skin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 1 hour ago, ManUtd1 said: Thanks, man! I can see where Sudan have potential, but until I'm in charge on the club side it's going to be a tough road. The players are incredibly raw. I'm using the @wannachupbrew IR skin. How do you get your player faces up on your tactics screen? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 (edited) 38 minutes ago, shaunvamos said: How do you get your player faces up on your tactics screen? It has to be the default in the wannachupbrew IR skin -- that's the only thing I'm using! (Although, as I recall the only thing he changes/adds is the instant result button...) https://www.fmscout.com/a-wannachup-fm18-skin.html Edited January 8, 2019 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 European Review - 2021/22 On the eve of Australia 2022, we need to take a quick glance around Europe... Jose "Computer Says Yes" Mourinho continues to romp around the continent with Manchester United, claiming yet another Premier League title and finishing as runners-up in the Champions League (having won the two prior CLs), with Antonio Conte's Real Madrid claiming the title in a rematch of the 2021 final. Conte's lads won their 3rd straight La Liga title behind an aging (yet deliciously oiled) urCristiano and Sergio "WWE" Ramos. Bruno Genesio's Monaco ended PS-****ing-G's run at the top of Ligue 1. In Germany, Unai Emery's Bayern "All Your Bundesliga Are Belong to Us" Munich did their usual thing, while Gattuso's AC Milan made it three in a row in Italy. And, Sadio Demba's Club Brugge survived their attempt to "Tottenham it" on the final matchday, claiming their 3rd title in 4 years. Finally, Markus Wienzierl's Leverkusen brought the third straight Europa League title back to Germany, with a 3-1 win over Klippity-Klopp's Liverpool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 And this is always interesting...who are clubs spunking money on? (Live shot of Ed Woodward, after Bailly moved to Madrid for $176M, and Lindelhof to Monaco for $115M, while signing three attacking players...Evil Jose is just out of the frame. *cough*) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 (edited) Australia 2022; World Cup Review Quite the tournament "down unda, mate." A rabid koala bear stole Fernando Santos' toupe and bit urCristiano's **** in the melee that followed. Epic stuff. In the end, Marco Giampaolo's Italy won it all with a 4-1 annihilation of Arturo Reyes' Colombia in the final. Colombia had left it all on the field in the semifinals, where they eliminated England on penalties after a 4-4 draw that was nearly as epic as Neymar's neo-Flock-of-Seagulls haircut. Sadly, Africa had a terrible World Cup...with Egypt the only side to reach the Second Round. Sudan to rescue?! Edited January 8, 2019 by ManUtd1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidBeckham Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Colombia getting their revenge on England 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 11 hours ago, DavidBeckham said: Colombia getting their revenge on England Harry Kane and Phil Jones missed their penalties... Artist's interpretation of Phil Jones' penalty, metaphorically if not literally: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 Scottish-Sudani fusion crunk is all the rage in Khartoum. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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