FMCU Joint Save

[Jimbokav1971]

Jun 2026.

Lee Cattermole has taken over at Walsall.

Henning Berg has taken over at Blackpool.

This is brilliant. The Rijeka board have mentioned that they feel I/we would be a "good fit" for the clubs vision because we have a proven track record of not signing players over the age of 30. (Thanks lads). 

Well I haven't seen this one before.... 

When have we applied for jobs before? We've only had 1 job. Did we apply for jobs elsewhere while managing in Aus? 

I think I'm going to go for option 2. It's to work out what to say without knowing how many times we've done it. 

Simon Grayson has just taken over at Derby. That's quite an underwhelming signing. 

The Barnsley job has become available. 

I've still got all my eggs in the Rijeka basket. 

[Ronaldo Beckham]

I am looking forward to seeing where this save goes.

[Mandy42]

@Jimbokav1971 thanks for the kind words, glad you are excited about the save!

I did spot Rijeka in the list and think ooooooo! though that might have been because I recognised them from being drawn in the Europa League against them in my own save. 

Sure wherever you land us will be fine  

P:S as you can guess, the more updates the merrier as far as i'm concerned

Edited March 11, 2020 by Mandy42

[Mandy42]

*cough* I signed a player over the age of 30! *cough* 

BUT

it was on loan! 

[kevhamster]

On 09/03/2020 at 20:45, Nobby_McDonald said:

Definitely. I wouldn't swap my daughter for anything. She loves football too. She went to the Stoke game on Saturday (her third game this season at the age of 4). She loved it, she was very happy that Stoke won and that her favourite player, Sam Clucas, scored 2 goals.

Then after having a kickaround in our back garden yesterday with my wife, she ran up to me while I was working in the conservatory and said "Daddy, I love football."

I've got a great pic of my eldest at a Southampton game when he was 8.  We'd survived from relegation on the last day of the season thanks to a 3-2 win over Sheffield United. I remember Stern John scoring twice then getting red carded! 

There was a pitch invasion at the end, so he's holding up his arms in a victorious manner with thousands of people running on to the pitch behind him. 

[Jimbokav1971]

HNK Rijeka. Jun 2026. 

They've given us a 2 year contract.

Decent kits. 

Trophy cabinet. (We should have won more than this recently). 

Facilities. This is very impressive. 

Training Facilities = 15
Youth Facilities = 13
Junior Coaching = 14
Youth Recruitment = 16

The board are already in the process of upgrading both the Training and Youth Facilities. 

Finances.

Transfer and wage budget. I'm expecting £6.2M to be quite a considerable amount of money at this level. We're spending £88k of a £127k  wage budget so there is considerable scope for bringing in new players there too. 

Club vision.

Squad value. If we consider that we have £6.2M to spend on new players, it's interesting that we have only 3 players currently valued at £1M+.

Popovic (BIH) * looks a hell of a player. 

He's a 5.0 PA player and is contracted for 4 more years which is great news. He's going to be a big player for us. 

Murati (CRO) is a real player who came through the Academy at AC.Milan before returning "home" to Croatia. He looks better than decent, but is also 26 years old and only has 2 years on his contract. We don't want to be offering him a new contract, (it's hard to be sure without looking at other options in his position), so my thinking is that he needs to be sold at some point this season. 

Sadiq (NGA) is a bit of an unusual one. To start off with he's 29 which is older than I would like, but he also has 3 years left on his contract so there is no reason to sell him immediately. Although he is classed as FGN, (and we can only have 5 of those in each matchday squad), I don't know how many other FGN players we have in the squad so it's hard to make a decision on this at the moment. What I would say is that he's not your run of the mill finisher and I'm quite fond of a Target Man as an option in addition to double AF's up front. He's classed as a "Nomadic Striker", but has never been prolific anywhere throughout his career, never scoring more than 8 goals in a season.

Squad potential. We have 8 players at the club who have 5.0 PA. 

I think I'm right in saying that although you can include 3 year option clauses in contracts offered to 16 year olds, when you try and activate these clauses they won't work, (because the player was 16 when the contract was signed). You can sign them to full time contracts at 16, but you have to wait until 17 to offer them a 2nd full-time contract with the +3 year option clause. It means the player get a pay rise, but it's well worth paying in my opinion. (25) Molnar (CRO) *, (25) Hosman (CRO) * & Branimir Milic (CRO) * are all 17 years old so have been offered signed new 3 year contracts with +3 year options. (26) Zezelj (CRO) * is still only 16 so I will hold off offering him a new contract at this time. Lovro Peric (CRO) * & Dino Sesar (CRO) * are 18 so I managed to get them on a 4+3 contract. Fopossi (CMR) * is 18, but is also at the club on a non-contract basis for some reason so I have also secured him to a 4+3 year deal. Their wages are higher as a result, but they are effectively tied to the club until they are 25 years old. That's a price well worth paying as a result. 

(26) Zezelj (CRO) *. U don't plan on playing with a DM and see him more as a player who can play the B2B role in the middle of the pitch. he doesn't have the technical ability to be a playmaker of sufficient quality so I will just have to make the best of him in the other role. 

(25) Molnar (CRO) *. His physicals are really weak, but I still see him a having the potential to play a key role as a playmaker on the left hand side in the middle of the pitch.

(25) Hosman (CRO) *. Pacy forwards, (especially products of our Academy), are worth their weight in gold. I think he will score lots of goals for us. 

Branimir Milic (CRO) *. At 1st glance I don't really know what to do with him. I don't intend playing with an AMC, but he isn't really a winger either. I'm thinking wide midfielder or wide playmaker. He's either footed so he would be an ideal squad player to cover player unavailability or give us options on the bench. He looks great and I really like him. I'm just not completely sure how I'm going to use him at the moment. (He will probably be shoe-horned into wherever we are weakest across the middle if I'm honest). 

Lovro Peric (CRO) *. I like the look of him and while he is a lefty, I like that he can play in the right too, (no he won't be inverted on the right). His left foot is very strong and his right foot is reasonable. I will probably look to develop his weaker foot so that he is both footed. 

Dino Sesar (CRO) *. He looks a bit "basic" but is a lump and what more do you need. Looks like he could develop nicely. 

Fopossi (CMR) *. He featured 5 times last season for the senior side in league games. While I'm sure he has potential, I don't really plan on him starting at this time. 

Popovic (BIH) *. You've already seen him, so I won't post it again. He's already got 6 senior Caps for Bosnia and I think he's going to tear this league up. 

All in all I'm delighted by our punch of 5.0 PA's. I'm surprised that so many of them were given Senior playing time last season, and that's probably a significant reason why we finished where we did. I will be trying to give them playing time where I can, but not at the expense of qualifying for Europe. It could also mean that while we are not playing in Europe this season, (I plan on us being there next season), some of our youngsters might go out on loan to gain 1st team experience if I don't think they can get it here. 

Squad depth.

GK's. Yes of course our GK is going to score goals, (and you are going to see them all). 

1 player is already leaving at the end of his contract, 2 more have been listed for sale and I have released another, leaving me with just 1st choice (18) Pandur (CRO) and youngster (24) Patrik Knezevic (CRO), If I have to sign another GK then I will. I obviously quite like that both of our GK's are products of our Academy.

DL's and WBL's. This is quite an area of strength I think . We have already seen Lovro Peric (CRO) * who is one of our starlets, but then we also have Petar Mamic (CRO) and Michelotti (ITA) which seems like overkill. The Italian might be covering centre-half, (haven't checked yet), but my initial reaction is that where as I thought that young Lovro Peric (CRO) * looked a little defensive for my liking, Petar Mamic (CRO) looks more like what I'm after. I know he's 30, but we only need him for a couple of seasons anyway. If the Italian isn't needed at centre-half then I will look to sell him and re-invest the money. 

DR's and WBR's. I quite like the depth here too. Fopossi (CMR) * is obviously the future, but in the here and now we have João Escoval (POR) who looks marvelous and Raspopovic (MNE) who looks more than capable of doing a job despite his advancing years. A little like the Italian left back, I have a sneaking suspicion that João Escoval (POR) is here as a centre-half, (but will be delighted if I'm wrong), but I really see him as a full back rather than a centre-half. 

DC. We are weak at centre-half, but it's not as bad as I feared actually. If we assume that João Escoval (POR) is going to only play at right back and never at centre-half, and we assume that the Italian is either going to play at left back and never at centre-half, (or be sold), then we still have any 2 from Luka Capan (CRO), Dario Zuparic (CRO), Joseph (NGA) and Dino Sesar (CRO) *.  Dario Zuparic (CRO)'s legs have gone and Dino Sesar (CRO) * is still a kid, but the 4 of them have some sort of ability between them. I like to play with a high line so 34 year old Dario Zuparic (CRO) might not suit, so I am definitely in the market for at least 1 centre-half and possibly even 2. 

DM's. I don't plan on playing with a player sitting in front of the back 4, but I've been bitten in the past, missing a player who could only play at DM, so it's always good to check. All the DM's here can play in other positions so nobody sneaking under the radar, (and I think that got fixed as a bug anyway). 

MC's. I like to play with a DLP(s) and a B2B(s). The Playmaker is the key role in the team and they really need to be able to make us tick. The B2B is less important and less skilled and more workmanlike players can do a job there. This area looks like it has a lot of depth, but actually I think we are weak here. 

I see Popovic (BIH) * as a striker, but I think the reason that he only scored 4 goals in 16(12) appearances last season is because he was being asked to play in the middle of the pitch. Murati (CRO) is probably our best central midfielder, but he likes to "run with the ball often" and that's not what I want my DLP to do. Simply because of the PPM, I might stick him in as the B2B. Tibor Halilovic (CRO) is plenty capable of filling the DLP role, but again he has PPM's that I don't like. He likes to "run with ball through centre" and "get forward wherever possible", and that makes him a more suitable candidate for the B2B role than the DLP role that I had in mind. Domagoj Pavicic. (CRO) SELL has very little physical ability and I can't afford to carry him. He's valued at almost £500,000 so I'm trying to offload him quickly. Brescianini (ITA) is more of a B2B than a DLP and we have to go all the way down to Silvio Ilinkovic (BIH) to find someone capable of playing the DLP role without PPM's getting in the way. I could ask them to forget the PPM's, but what do I do while that is happening? Lewis Smith (ENG) was about to leave on a free so I have signed him up again and he will offer some depth in the DLP area allowing the others to play to their PPM strengths. In truth I probably need to go and buy a DLP. 

ML's and AML's. I play with my wingers in the ML line rather than the AML line, (and I flippin hate even the mention of the word inverted so stop right there!!!) 

Ok, We're struggling here. I have Sadiq (NGA) down as a TM playing up front, (but in case I forget, remind me that he is an option at WTM) on the left. Next up is Jesús Vargas (VEN) who is not what I wanted to see. He's FGN, inverted, tries tricks and cuts in from both wings. If he plays he is going to have to be inverted. It's just a waste not to. Especially when we have little else in this area. He's so bad, (relative to what I want), that he might actually be good! (24) Boris Cubelic. (CRO) is a perfect example of what I didn't want to see. A lefty, playing on the right. No no no no no. He's not good enough anyway, but that's not the point. (24) Neven Batelic. (CRO) is not good enough again, but at least he is a proper lefty playing on the left. So basically, all I've got here is  Jesús Vargas (VEN) and I don't like him even a little bit. 

MR's and AMR's. I will be completely honest here and admit that what I am looking for is an inverted lefty who can only play on the right. I will then simply not allow him to play on the right and will re-train him to play on the left providing that he doesn't have PPM's that are going to screw that plan over. Fingers crossed...... No such luck. 

I do have a cunning plan though.....  Branimir Milic (CRO) * is one of the starlets that I mentioned at the start and you might remember that I didn't know what to do with him. He;s both footed and more of a wide-midfielder than anything. I need someone to play on the left so until I can get someone else, he's it with Moha (MLI) a more typical option.

AMC's and SC's. I don't use someone in the hole, so an AMC will have to find somewhere else to play. 

Popovic (BIH) * has been earmarked as 1st in line for the left of double AF(s) roles up front. Sadiq (NGA) will also ideally play on the left and as a TM(s). 30 year old Ivan Prtajin (CRO) looks like he can score goals at this level before being sold with starlet (25) Hosman (CRO) *  supporting when needed from the bench. You have already seen 3 of those players before and as Jurica Torbarina (CRO) is a DLF that I don't like, I think the 2nd striker I'm going to show you is young Ante Matkovic (CRO) who I quite like. 

[Jimbokav1971]

12 subs in Croatia.   

Delegation. Jun 2026. 

While I'm here I suppose I should tell you that I like to delegate a lot. 

• I delegate everything staff related. 
• The DoF deals with most staff things, (although the Chairman gets rid of the DoF and brings in his replacement if needed). 
• The Chief Scout is in charge of Scouting. 
• I deal with individual training, but my Ass Man and the U19 Ass Man deal with General training for each squad. 
• I don't to press conferences. (Ass Man).
• I don't do tunnel interviews. (Ass Man)
• I don't do new signing interviews. (DoF). 
• My DoF is tasked with signing players to sign for both the Senior & U19 squads, but I negotiate and then confirm the deal. 
• I deal with all out-going transfers. 
• I deal with all player contract negotiations. 
• I think that's about it. I don't do a lot. I do take on the advice I'm given though, (and then generally ignore it). 

[Jimbokav1971]

Confusion. Jul 2026. 

I don't know why, but my GK hasn't been taking free-kicks during pre-season, despite the fact that I have 2 GK's set as the only free-kick takers. 

I have the same to GK's set for Direct, Direct (small chance of shot), and Indirect (Deep),
I have nobody set for Indirect (Wide), and I don't want my GK to take them. 

I also have them down to take penalties, but all the penalties in pre-season were part of a hat-trick and I kept forgetting to untick the box, (but it's unticked now), but I think this is still broken anyway.

[Jimbokav1971]

Pre-season. Jul 2026. 

I really don't care about results here. This is all about fitness. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Transfers. Jul 2026.

By the opening day of the League season, we have had 4 players in and 4 players out. Things have gone ok, but I am still missing the young DLP that I was after. I sneaked in and thought I had managed to sign him for £750k compensation rising to £2.1M later, but I think I missed the message where he signed a new contract with his old club and so I was waiting and waiting and waiting for him to arrive, and then when I went and looked there was no bid in for him and he was on a full time contract. I'm still chasing him, (I REALLY want him), but I'm starting to think it might not happen and we should move on to a new target. 

In. 

Bajram Dervishi (KVX) is a young Kosovan DL. The DoF thought he was decent and arranged for him to come in on a free. I don't trust the DoF yet but this seems pretty low risk. 

(19) Denis Busnja (CRO) was my signing and one that I was particularly happy with. He's actually a product of our Academy and I was able to sign him on a free. He's previously been playing as an inverted righty on the left hand side, but my plan for him is to revert to the right. He's not amazing, but he improves us and makes our starting XI when everyone is fit so can't complain. 

Ivan Brnic (BIH) * was another signing initiated by the DoF and what a belter it was too! We paid a few quid for him, but I am confidant that he will prove to be a very good investment. 

Ivan Salinovic (CRO) * was the 4th signing and one of my rather than the DoF. We're short of depth at centre-half and this bloke comes into contention straight away but more importantly is another 5.0 PA player. 

Out. 

Zabret. (SVN) SELL might have been a Senior International, but he wasn't going to be 1st choice and he wasn't going to be 2nd choice so basically what is the point in him being here? I have a 1st choice GK and I have a young back-up, if I'm going to have a 3rd GK, (and I admit that I might need one for International periods), then he needs to be another youngster. 

(20) Kristian Sculac (CRO) is a backup GK that left on a free. I would have rather he stayed as 3rd choice, but the deal was done before I arrived. 

Moha (MLI) was our 1st choice right winger, but I knew that he wasn't good enough and as soon as the bid came in I thought to myself, (it's a sign, he needs to go). 

Domagoj Pavicic. (CRO) SELL was the last to go and although it appears that we were a little short-changed on the deal, (we sold him for £250k and he's now worth £1.2M), I was happy to be rid of him and don't care how much he is worth. He didn't have the physicality required to play as part of a 2 in the middle. If he isn't good enough then we need him gone, his wages off the books and anything we can get for him is a bonus. 

[Jimbokav1971]

A decent start. Jul 2026.

It took only 3 mins of our 1st league game to open the scoring, but I'm afraid it wasn't exactly a thing of beauty and you should expect much more of the same. 

I wasn't really sure what to expect from the 1st game of the season. We are still lacking depth and I was desperately trying to get the players match fit, (just about managed it), but in terms of actual quality and effectiveness, I didn't have a scooby, so it was nice when we scored almost immediately from a long throw and then Nigerian Target Man Sadiq (NGA) helped himself to a brace. 

The 2nd game was a real tester though because there is absolutely no doubt that Champions Dinamo and Hadjuk should be the big guns in Croatia. I was fearing a battering and hoping for respectability, but to get not only a clean sheet and a win was outstanding. I was absolutely delighted. 

I know it's early doors yet, but what a start!

Transfers. 

We've had 1 more arrival and 2 more departures. 

In. 

Lukas Ivancic (CRO) comes in as our 3rd GK. The DoF kept trying to sign old duffers and I kept cancelling the deals. This bloke might not be great, but he's young and we can develop him at least. 

Luka Romic (CRO) is a young left winger with 5.0 PA signed to fix our long-term issue on the left flank. (The issue is that we currently have a righty playing out there!)

Out.

Jurica Torbarina (CRO) was on borrowed time from the day I arrived. I couldn't work out what his best position was and I hated his lack of athletic ability. He was just never going to play so better he left sooner rather than later and we saved on wages.

The one that got away.

He was still on a Youth contract and I almost had him. I think the deal was going to be £750k compensation up front possibly rising to £2.1M. It would have been a fantastic bargain. I've tried to basically give them all our money if they will just let us have him, but they just keep insisting he's not for sale. I've asked the board to get involved and they have told me I'm being unrealistic.  I can't tell you how gutted I am. I thought we had him. 

Manager of the Month.

Yeah I know it's only the 1st month and I know it was only 2 games, but it still counts right? 

Player of the Month. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Leading Croatian producers of players in top leagues. Aug 2026.

Although we are a big club in Croatia, this shows how far we have to go to topple the likes of Dinamo.

(20) Toni Horvat (CRO) * is the product of our Academy mentioned and he plays for Burnley in England. 

He looks great, but hasn't managed to be prolific yet. 

[andychar]

Love the club choice! Never managed in Croatia before. 

Great start as well! Europe ain’t ready for us! 

[Jimbokav1971]

PSG showing make bid for Fopossi (CMR) *. Aug 2026. 

PSG have come in with a bid of £425,000 rising to £1M for Fopossi (CMR) *.

You might remember that he was the player who was already here when I took over, but who was on non-contract terms and who I immediately tied down to a 4+3 contract. The fact that PSG are in for him tells me that he is going to be good. The fact that PSG are in for him after he has played just 3 games tells me he is going to be better than good. 

I've set an asking price of £10M and set instructions to reject anything below or equal to that. That should slow them down a little. 

[Edit]

He complained to me about rejecting the PSG deal but I told him straight. You are going nowhere son! 

Edited March 12, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Porto are now in for Fopossi (CMR) *. Aug 2026. 

It's transfer deadline day so thinks are about to go a little crazy I think. 

While £2.4M is great money for a teenager who joined the club on a free at the end of last season, time is on our side. This kid is on a £700 per week contract and the reason that I'm paying him so much is because that's what it took to tie him down to a 4+3 year deal. We are sitting pretty and he is going absolutely nowhere. He's already started 3 of 7 games for me this season and I've streamlined the squad in certain areas to ensure playing time for some of my brightest prospects. 

We still have a transfer budget of £4.3M that I haven't been able to spend, so do I really need more right now? No. I'm quite happy for the player to keep developing with us for the time being. 

[Minuy600]

Awesome job @Mandy42 and good luck at Rijeka @Jimbokav1971!

Wonder if we'd still be managing here when my turn is coming again...

[Mandy42]

Awesome squad breakdown and start to the campaign. Just say I'm slightly jealous at there actually being money in a transfer budget!

Don't peak too early though, we only won 1 manager of the month award in our 1st 6 years in the A-league 

[Jimbokav1971]

Deadline Day Madness. Aug 2026. 

It's like feeding time at the zoo here with all the bids coming in for Fopossi (CMR) *. 

Dinamo. £2.6M.

PSG. £2.7M. 

Porto. £3.4M.

Milan. £3.3M.

PSG. £3.9M.

Milan. £2.1M rising to £5.25M.

Napoli. £1.1M rising to £3.2M.

PSG. £5.25M.

Milan. £3.3M rising to £8M. (It's only 15:15 on deadline day. I think the way things are going I'm going to end up selling him today!). 

Napoli. £1.4M rising to £4.1M.

Porto. £4.4M.

PSG. £6.75M.

Milan. £5.25M rising to £12.5M.  (The board have stepped in and accepted this). There is no protest button available, but I wouldn't have used it even if there were. 

Fopossi (CMR) * has rejected the contract from Milan, (because they offered him the same as we were already paying him). We are back in business! 

PSG. £9M up front. (The board have jumped in and accepted the offer and again I wouldn't use the protest option even if it was there). 

Porto. £6M up front rising to £11.25M. (Again, the board have accepted this offer). 

Come on.... Where is the Napoli bid? he wanted to go to Napoli didn't he? 

He's gone to PSG.

If our Chairman was any good he would have secured a loan deal back to us for the rest of the season. 

[Jimbokav1971]

47 minutes ago, andychar said:

Love the club choice! Never managed in Croatia before. 

Great start as well! Europe ain’t ready for us! 

Me neither. It just seemed such a perfect choice I was terrified they were going to turn me down. 

[Mandy42]

1 minute ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Deadline Day Madness. Aug 2026. 

It's like feeding time at the zoo here with all the bids coming in for Fopossi (CMR) *. 

Dinamo. £2.6M.

PSG. £2.7M. 

Porto. £3.4M.

Milan. £3.3M.

PSG. £3.9M.

Milan. £2.1M rising to £5.25M.

Napoli. £1.1M rising to £3.2M.

PSG. £5.25M.

Milan. £3.3M rising to £8M. (It's only 15:15 on deadline day. I think the way things are going I'm going to end up selling him today!). 

Napoli. £1.4M rising to £4.1M.

Porto. £4.4M.

PSG. £6.75M.

Milan. £5.25M rising to £12.5M.  (The board have stepped in and accepted this). There is no protest button available, but I wouldn't have used it even if there were. 

Fopossi (CMR) * has rejected the contract from Milan, (because they offered him the same as we were already paying him). We are back in business! 

PSG. £9M up front. (The board have jumped in and accepted the offer and again I wouldn't use the protest option even if it was there). 

Porto. £6M up front rising to £11.25M. (Again, the board have accepted this offer). 

Come on.... Where is the Napoli bid? he wanted to go to Napoli didn't he? 

He's gone to PSG.

If our Chairman was any good he would have secured a loan deal back to us for the rest of the season. 

Like Steve Smith all over again! Just for more money and the guy didn't break your heart before leaving.

Ahem... not like I'm bitter

[Jimbokav1971]

7 minutes ago, Minuy600 said:

Awesome job @Mandy42 and good luck at Rijeka @Jimbokav1971!

Wonder if we'd still be managing here when my turn is coming again...

I think there is lots of depth to this phase of the save and even with the strength of some of the guys about to take over for a season, I think we could easily stay here for a good few years. 

[Jimbokav1971]

4 minutes ago, Mandy42 said:

Awesome squad breakdown and start to the campaign. Just say I'm slightly jealous at there actually being money in a transfer budget!

Don't peak too early though, we only won 1 manager of the month award in our 1st 6 years in the A-league 

We already had more money than I could spend. Now it feels like we've got gazillions. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Should GK's take penalties in joint saves like these? Aug 2026. 

Astonishingly, the only points we dropped was in the 0-0 draw away to Osijek. Unfortunately, we were awarded a penalty in that game and (18) Pandur (CRO) saw his shot saved. (Sorry, but I'm sticking with my #GoalScoringKeeperMantra I'm afraid). 

We've scored quite a few goals from long throws already this season and I'm going to show you a few of them if I can.

We are top of the table buy it's very early days yet. What is significant though is that we have faced Dinamo, (and won), (and kept a clean sheet), but we have also only conceded 2 goals in 7 games and 1 of those was an OG. Things are looking decent. 

Player of the Month. 

In case you can't remember who Dario Zuparic (CRO) is, he our 34 year old centre-half who I think I said didn't have the physical ability to play effectively for us. 

Manager of the Month award.

International call-ups.

 

There have been other goals scored off of #LongThrow ins. I will try and video them all from now on because I'm scoring quite a few.

Transfers. 

We've had 8 more arrive. 

I signed Luka Romic (CRO) * simply because he was cheap, had 5.0 PA and was a proper lefty. 

The DoF found Tin Kuzminski (CRO) and although he doesn't look amazing, he was free so how good does he have to be for us to turn a profit on him? 

The DoF also signed Deni Pedisic (CRO) on a free. He seems to have some sort of weird infatuation with GK's and no matter how many we have, he always seems to want to sign another one. We started off with 6 I think. I let 4 of them leave and now we are back up to 4 and I have just cancelled 2 more GK deals on deadline day. 

I finally got a playmaker worthy of the name in *** Zvonimir Dobric (CRO). The fee says £2M, but actually it was £1M + £1M in instalments over 3 years and £1M after 50 league games, so what I basically did was pay £1M up front. I paid extra by doing that, but I wanted to make sure we weren't short of cash. He's not as good at the previous 2 players I really wanted, but he's good enough to get excited about. 

Ivan Milic (CRO) was signed by the DoF, again on a free. 

Marijo Petrovic (CRO) was yet another freebie found by the DoF.

I know that Ilija Simunec (CRO) becomes, (I think), the 4th left winger I have signed in this window, but I really like the look of him and while he wasn't free, £350k seemed like a good investment. 

Yep. You guessed it. Sime Kalinic (CRO) is another freebie that the DoF magicked up from thin air somehow. 

2 have left on loan. 

Can;t be bothered showing you the 2 loans. Sorry. 

And the 1 big sale. (That you have already been told about). 

Another one got away. 

I had a deal done for this guy and was just waiting for him to arrive so that I could come on here and show off and the next thing I know Sassuolo have come in and gazzumped me! 

[Jimbokav1971]

There was 1 strange signing that fell at the final hurdle and deserves a post of it's own. 

My scouts found a bloke called Jordan Chapman (AUS) *. He stood out not just because he was Australian, but also because he was still based in Australia. Anyway, I assumed it was my/our knowledge of Australia that had him on the list so I scouted him anyway. What the hell!

We only managed to get him 39% scouted, but he looked decent and I was going to be able to sign him for less than £10,000 so again I thought... what the hell. 

He looked decent too, from what I could see). 

I wonder what his scoring record has been like so far in his career?

9 goals last season for Heidelberg and 8 goals the season before for Bulleen Lions, (both Aussie non-league clubs), and...... what....... he came through the Academy at Macarthur FC? 

Does anyone remember him and know why he was released in 2024/25? Was it a case of not being offered a contract on Youth Intake Day, or did he sign a contract and then get released because he wasn't registered or something? Either way, he's far from rubbish. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities. Sep 2026.

Edited March 12, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Ronaldo Beckham]

1 hour ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

There was 1 strange signing that fell at the final hurdle and deserves a post of it's own. 

My scouts found a bloke called Jordan Chapman (AUS) *. He stood out not just because he was Australian, but also because he was still based in Australia. Anyway, I assumed it was my/our knowledge of Australia that had him on the list so I scouted him anyway. What the hell!

We only managed to get him 39% scouted, but he looked decent and I was going to be able to sign him for less than £10,000 so again I thought... what the hell. 

He looked decent too, from what I could see). 

I wonder what his scoring record has been like so far in his career?

9 goals last season for Heidelberg and 8 goals the season before for Bulleen Lions, (both Aussie non-league clubs), and...... what....... he came through the Academy at Macarthur FC? 

Does anyone remember him and know why he was released in 2024/25? Was it a case of not being offered a contract on Youth Intake Day, or did he sign a contract and then get released because he wasn't registered or something? Either way, he's far from rubbish. 

Anyone know who was in charge of Macarthur FC during that youth intake, I hope it wasn't me. I don't think it was as I was one of the first couple of people to manage them.

[Jimbokav1971]

3 minutes ago, Ronaldo Beckham said:

Anyone know who was in charge of Macarthur FC during that youth intake, I hope it wasn't me. I don't think it was as I was one of the first couple of people to manage them.

I'm in charge now and it's 2026/27.
Before me was @Mandy42and he did 2025/26.
Before him was @Minuy600and he did 2024/25.

So it was @Minuy600The reason I'm raising this is because it's often enormously hard to make an informed opinion on Day 1 of the Intake.  

This is what I was looking for. Jordan Chapman came through ranked 2nd by PA and with 4.0 PA. Maybe it was oversight or maybe there was something wrong with him. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Sep 2026.

We are on fire at the moment and even rotating all outfield players for the Cup game still saw us progress, (albeit after extra time). 

What usually happens after I post about a winning or losing streak is an immediate loss or draw. (The FM Gods see everything). 

We are weak at right back, where I let 2 players leave in order to ensure that we gave Fopossi (CMR) * enough game-time, but his departure so late on deadline day has left a hole in the squad that is likely to hurt us at some point. 

Player of the Month. 

GK wins Goal of the Month.

Manager of the Month.

[Jimbokav1971]

Goal-scoring GK watch. Sep 2026.

After seeing his penalty saved last month, (18) Pandur (CRO) has opened his account via a direct free-kick, and then created an assist via an indirect free-kick against Zadar. 2 games later against Dugopolje, he again scored, (a penalty this time), and also grabbed an assist. 

 

Edited March 12, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

International Duty. Oct 2026. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Disaster.  Oct 2026.

[Jimbokav1971]

Leading Development clubs for Croatian First league. Oct 2026.

[Mandy42]

I had to be careful around youth intake time that anyone I didn't give a contract for got released on a trial. Plus anyone not in the 23 man squad but on a professional contract was released. Took a while to get my head around. Might be more how a prospect slipped through than someone looking at him and going nah he ain't for me 

[Jimbokav1971]

The run is over. Oct 2026.

It had been coming for a few weeks now. We sneaked past Gorica and drew after twice going behind at Hadjuk. The Osijek game was just a game too far.We suffered 3 different injuries in the Osijek game and next up we have Lokomotiva who are 3rd. Dinamo have already lost 3 games and drawn 3 more, but of course they are having to cope with playing Champions League Group stage games midweek at the moment.

Despite this ridiculous run we have been on, we're only 4 points ahead of Osijek, (who have only lost once). I feel like we are about to implode. After conceding 3 goals in the opening 10 games of the season, we have just conceded 5 goals in the last 2 games. Still, it's not all doom and gloom. If you had told me would would have started like this I would have been delighted. 

If we can get a win away at Lokomotiva, then I will rotate the squad against Inter Zapresic in the Cup. If we crash out then so be it. We're at home, against the bottom team in the league who have only won once in the league all season. Surely our back-up players can do the business?

Injuries. 

*** Zvonimir Dobric (CRO) is our 1st choice DLP and we lack a little without him. 

João Escoval (POR) is our 1st choice DR.

Murati (CRO) is our 1st choice B2B midfielder. 

Ivan Brnic (BIH) * is meant to be one of our starting strikers, but is yet to kick a ball for us this season. 

Add in the quite stringent disciplinary punishments and I think I have left the squad a little short. 

Silvio Ilinkovic (BIH) is out on loan but can't be recalled because he is playing abroad. 

(25) Hosman (CRO) * is being recalled because he wasn't featuring often enough anyway. 

Lewis Smith (ENG) is out on loan but can't be recalled because he is playing abroad. 

I should have built a bigger squad. 

Edited March 12, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

32 minutes ago, Mandy42 said:

I had to be careful around youth intake time that anyone I didn't give a contract for got released on a trial. Plus anyone not in the 23 man squad but on a professional contract was released. Took a while to get my head around. Might be more how a prospect slipped through than someone looking at him and going nah he ain't for me 

That's a very good point actually. Because I didn't manage in Australia, I don't think I fully appreciate how hard it was. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Injuries continued. Oct 2026.

I don't usually have to worry about injuries and the reason is I usually have about 4-5 players ready to slot into any position at a given time. Of course the 4th or 5th best might not be as good as the #1 ranked player, but he will still be more than capable of doing a job. I always have 100+ players and while it's a pain in terms of individual training, it at least means that I don't have to worry too much about injuries or suspensions. If a player is missing due to illness or suspension then I usually see it as an opportunity to play the next kid on the production line. 

I specifically did NOT do that here though because I don't want to clog up the squads with loads of bodies that the next couple of Managers would have to deal with. I was really proud of myself too. Yes it went a little haywire right at the end when I brought in 8 more players, but can you imagine if those players had not joined? 

So now I have lost my talismanic Target man Sadiq (NGA) and he is just about impossible to replace. I simply don't have another player capable of playing as a TM.

So back to double AF's it is then. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Oct 2026. continued.

You lot are probably laughing at me. 

"He's top of the table way ahead of expectations and he's lost 1 and drawn 1 and he's going on like the World is about to end! What's he on about?" 

I can see how it might seem like that, but I cal tell you it feels tough at the moment. We were flying and then with just 1 loss it feels like we are right up against it again. I suppose it wouldn't have been quite so bad had we lost 1-0 or something, but conceding 5 goals in 2 games was a blow after we had been so tight at the back. 

In reality we have steadied the ship a little and after returning to winning ways against Lokomotiva, we strolled through the 2nd Round of the Cup with a much weakened team. 

[Jimbokav1971]

International duty. Nov 2026.

[Jimbokav1971]

Now you see what I mean! Nov 2026.

We're still top by a couple of points, but we are running on fumes right now. We should be beating Istra and at least shouldn't be losing to Gorica at home. I have no complaints about losing to Dinamo. They are miles better than us and I have no idea how we beat them before. (I do, it was through long throws which seemed to have been turned off like a tap, but maybe that'd more about both full-backs being injured). 

Another serious injury. 

[Mandy42]

I get the only lost 1 but you feel the wheels are coming off vibe. I live most of my saves in constant fear. 

How come we are only winning by 1 goal now?

How come we are conceding more?

How come my strikers have stopped scoring 

Always thinking that one thing will lead to the next thing and suddenly your tactic doesn't work and your losing !! 

[Jimbokav1971]

11 minutes ago, Mandy42 said:

I get the only lost 1 but you feel the wheels are coming off vibe. I live most of my saves in constant fear. 

How come we are only winning by 1 goal now?

How come we are conceding more?

How come my strikers have stopped scoring 

Always thinking that one thing will lead to the next thing and suddenly your tactic doesn't work and your losing !! 

I'm trying to lower my expectations a little, while also trying to still win every game. 

We are only tasked with getting European football, (which is top 4 I think), but we are also expected to get to the Final of the domestic Cup. We're in the Semi's and Dinamo are already out so we have a reasonable chance at some silverware. 

I'm also trying to blood the youngsters when I can, but without weakening the team too much. 

Because I use an IR button, where as other Managers would start with the kids on the bench and bring them on when winning, I have to start them and then let the Ass Man sub them off or they never play. 

The real problem at the root of everything is the loss of our DLP *** Zvonimir Dobric (CRO). He's missed 10 out of our last 11 games and I'm only starting to ease him back in to playing now. We just haven't had anyone to fill the void he left. I think he was bossing things so much in the middle that it was having an impact everywhere. Now he is gone we don't look after the ball nearly as much and that invites pressure. 

Still, like I said earlier, if you said to me at the beginning of the save I would be top and still in the Cup in December, I would have bitten your hand off so.....

[Edit]

Because the Croatian's are not stupid, we only have 2 league games in December and then just 1 in January. The transfer window will be open then and I will be like a kid in a sweet-shop. 

Edited March 12, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

 

[Minuy600]

Huh, I could've sworn I had given Chapman a contract. Weird. Glad he got his revenge, more or less.

[Jimbokav1971]

Had a crash earlier. 

Trying to replicate similar results. 

[Jimbokav1971]

59 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Had a crash earlier. 

Trying to replicate similar results. 

It's really weird but what I'm finding hard is getting the results to be as poor as they were the 1st time. 

I think we have been much luckier with injuries this time and that's playing a big part. The results will all be the same when I have finished, even if the scorelines might have been different. I can't control other teams results, (Dinamo crashing out of the Cup early for example), and I'm not going to even look at that until I'm finished and just have to accept wherever we are. 

[Jimbokav1971]

4 hours ago, Minuy600 said:

Huh, I could've sworn I had given Chapman a contract. Weird. Glad he got his revenge, more or less.

It's possible that you did @Minuy600If you had offered him a pro contract and then not registered him for the league competition then I think others have said he gets auto-released. I think that's the more likely scenario. 

[Jimbokav1971]

This is what the league table looked like before the crash. 

We had played 18 games, winning 12, drawing 2 and losing 4. Goals for 35. Goals against 16. Goal difference +19. Points 38. 

This is what the table looks like now. 

We have played 18 games, winning 12, drawing 2 and losing 4. Goals for 37. Goals against 12. Goal difference +25. Points 38. 

So in short, we have the same number of points as the 1st time around, but we have a better goals difference to the tune of 6 goals. 

We were 2 points ahead of Osijek who were on 36 points the 1st time around, but we are now level on points but behind on the Results Between teams. 

I know this is annoying and might cost us at the end of the season, but I can only apologise and save more regularly in future. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Job Application. Dec 2026.

Not only have I not applied for this job, but I haven't applied for any jobs. Not only that, but I'm not even looking at jobs so didn't even know this was available. 

I'm going back now to see if I can find a message telling me that I have applied. 

I've just checked and have gone back as far as 16th November, (it's 6th December today), and there is no message about any application being made. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Intake preview. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Team of the week. Dec 2026.

It's very strange, but I have noticed that the Croatian First league Team of the Week is selected in a 343 formation ever single week.