BoxToBox Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 4 minutes ago, Fer Fuchs Ake said: I love how United sold Saul on at a profit 3 years later as well. Wheeler dealers. I'm surprised they didn't sell him for 200k and a packet of crisps. United usually sell cheap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 12 minutes ago, BoxToBox said: I'm surprised they didn't sell him for 200k and a packet of crisps. United usually sell cheap. 12 minutes ago, Fer Fuchs Ake said: #Woodward’s Red Army #WatchAndLearnJose Woodward and Auntie Maureen have formed a long-lasting, moderately-successful partnership at United. All in the shadow of Wenger's Arsenal: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Nice to see Fellaini's son in the academy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 2 minutes ago, BoxToBox said: Nice to see Fellaini's son in the academy. He definitely inherited his father's dribbling abilities and vision. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 16 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said: He definitely inherited his father's dribbling abilities and vision. That game! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 1 minute ago, BoxToBox said: That game! I still have PTSD from that match. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 5 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said: I still have PTSD from that match. I guess the only upside is that it helped Moyes on his way out the door. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 Atta boy, Jan. There's a good lad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 14 minutes ago, BoxToBox said: I guess the only upside is that it helped Moyes on his way out the door. Amen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 That's more like it, son. Don't go full David Beckham. Kidding aside, things are lining up so perfectly right now. I am way too overconfident at the moment. It won't happen this year, but with a little luck we'll be in the mix next year or the year after. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 Snatched the first off a goalmouth scramble...the second immediately after half, followed by a stupid foul called against Sergio Ramos for a penalty just a few short minutes later. What a 1st leg. Setting up a nervy return leg at the Swedbank. Can we hold off the English giants? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 We set up very defensively, aiming to hit them on the counter. But, they didn't really press until the 2nd half, when our counter-attacking began to look dangerous. A Khanye goal in the 81st, off a quick-counter from a corner (clearance to Lindstrom, held and distributed to the charging Khanye...), and that was that. Into the quarterfinals. The draw isn't until next week, but this isn't going to get any easier... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 I was kind of hoping for Ze Germans or Inter...but Unai Emery's Real Madrid it will be. Believe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 You'll certainly have earned, it, that's for sure! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 Err...what type of fruit basket or flower arrangement best says, "sorry we got you fired" ??? Is that a stone fruit kind of situation? Peonies? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 Ooh...I think we might be past fruit basket territory, now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 The atmosphere before kickoff is electric. Ludwig's tunes have got the Swedbank rocking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 I decided to play them straight-up at home. No overly-defensive tactics or playing too heavily on the counter. I tweaked and modified throughout the game, and was successfully nullifying their threat...until a stupid turnover late in the match gifted them an opportunity. Lots of positives to take from this, but we will need to score in Spain, to continue this fairy tale. That's a big ask given that they're almost certainly going to be more aggressive/assertive at home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 We're not in Malmo anymore, sweetheart. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 (edited) [Excerpt from The Boys of Malmo Documentary (2037 ed.)] FADE IN [Interior of a locker room at the Bernabeu. A deafening roar echoes from above, shaking the fixtures. Telleus stands before his men.] Listen to them, lads. That's the sound of disrespect. Of disdain. Of smug certainty that their precious club is somehow "better" than anyone else. F*** them, I say. Their hate only makes us stronger. That aging, shiny **** prances about on the wing? Kick him hard. That balding, Welsh **** on the other wing? Kick him even harder. Bask in their hate, boys. And then swallow it whole. Embrace it. And then show them who the f****** boss is. This is our night. They won't respect you unless you take it from their overly-moisterized hands. Our night. Our time. 90 minutes of fury. Leave it all on the field. This is our story. And it doesn't end here. [Incoherent screaming, as the playing staff leap up in a righteous fury, and pour out into the hallway. The Champions League theme begins in the distance.] FADE OUT Edited December 14, 2016 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 It's always better to go down swinging, if you have to go down. After all, every once in a blue moon, you might land a punch. STAND UP FOR DI BLAE!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Incredible result! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 Monaco in the semifinals. The first leg away. If we can win, we'll return to the Bernabeu for the final. Simeone's Manchester City faces Inter Milan in the other semifinal. I wouldn't mind playing them again, truth be told. Revenge for eliminating us last year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 2 minutes ago, BoxToBox said: Incredible result! I'm beside myself, brother. Ok, have to turn off the laptop for a few. More updates as the evening progresses (thank **** it's only 7pm here!). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 I don't think my heart can take this. Our first came after a period of sustained pressure, where we couldn't break through only for them to counter -- 3v2, we manage to intercept a pass and launch a counter of our own as they were pouring forward. 1-0 to di blae. I couldn't stop tinkering. Nervously. Obsessively. Trying to find that little edge. That tweak to keep us tight at the back. For the 1st 45, it was all Malmo. They began to push in the 2nd half, but we were holding, not giving them more than the tiniest glimpse of the goal. Around the 60th minute, I instructed the lads to ease off...be wary going forward. I didn't want to blow this 1-0 advantage away from home. Almost immediately, Valere Germain was sprung through cleanly...but he fired wide. Bullet dodged. Off the goal kick, a controlling header from Lundqvist to Zajicek, who sends Khanye through...only for the South African to hit it wide. The game is coming to life, all of a sudden. In the 72nd minute, a glorious chip from Salah springs Khayne free on the outside of the Monaco box...he cuts it back for the rampaging Lundqvist who buries it near post. 2-0. I'm so excited I literally forget to give the substitutes the final confirmation...they stood there, stretching at staring at me for more than 10 minutes before I regained my composure and sent them on. How embarrassing. The tie is all but over when Lundqvist pounces on a loose ball in the Monaco box in the 87th minute. 3-nil. What the actual **** is going on?! The final whistle blows. A triumphant, dominant display. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 90 minutes to glory. This is our time. In front of our supporters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 (edited) Hampus, Ludwig and the Souper Troupers are in rare form tonight, right at kickoff. Urging di blae to press forward and finish off the tie. Edited December 14, 2016 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 Our goal tonight was to slow the tempo to a crawl, maintain possession, be patient as a priest and strangle the game. Low risk. High reward. I'd have to say it worked, as Monaco had nothing to offer. Not a single thing. To be fair, we killed the tie in the 1st 10 minutes while attacking the flares in the Troupers' end of the pitch. The one that clipped the keepers' ear had something to do with it, I'm sure. It's over. 90 minutes. All to play for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 (edited) I have to call it a night. Tomorrow, the final against Simeone's Manchester City, who: (1) knocked us out of the Europa League last year, 2-1 on aggregate; (2) went on to win the Europa League; (3) just beat Inter 3-1 on aggregate; and (4) are on the verge of winning their second straight PL title. This is going to be fun. My brain is melting. Edited December 14, 2016 by ManUtd1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andychar Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Unbelievable effort so far. I have no worries you won't destroy the blue side of Manchester! Then it will be on ward to a new job! If I remember correctly the last time this was tried World Cup runners up were also considered. Will they be considered this time? Or is it just a domestic challenge? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe. Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 This is a fantastic and entertaining read, I'm very impressed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Holy jesus, what an effort! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 59 minutes ago, BoxToBox said: Holy jesus, what an effort! 90 minutes from possible glory...but I'll be at the office today...tough to get a game in! 2 hours ago, Joe. said: This is a fantastic and entertaining read, I'm very impressed Thanks, man - glad you're enjoying the ride! 3 hours ago, andychar said: Unbelievable effort so far. I have no worries you won't destroy the blue side of Manchester! Then it will be on ward to a new job! If I remember correctly the last time this was tried World Cup runners up were also considered. Will they be considered this time? Or is it just a domestic challenge? I appreciate the confidence! I have unfinished business with Diego, and cannot abide the thought of the bitters winning the CL while I'm sat on the other bench. Yea, equivalent national teams are available. I do not intend to leap into international management too quickly, though, and will likely avoid club/country dual management when I do reach that point of the save. We'll see...Probably depends on the nation, since I can't count on the AI to develop a Slovakian side, for example. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fer Fuchs Ake Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Great fun so far. Best of luck beating the Citizens. Keep up with the grapefruit... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 Malmö FF2022 Champions League Final The Bernabeu is ready. The Troupers are out in force, and in full voice. The Zlatan tifo has even made its way to Madrid, in honor of the great man who will watch history unfolding from a directors' box. The players are in the tunnel. The music begins. All or nothing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 That Zlatan Tifo is genius! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 Somebody pinch me. Slap me. Anything. Convince me that this is real. That I'm not dreaming. When Piedra's shot was deflected in...I thought we had a chance. When Jesus scored, I thought the deluge could come at any minute. We fought tooth and nail for every inch of that pitch. Every 50/50 ball. Every moment. They gave no quarter. When Otamendi saw red, I hoped we could find some gas left in the tank to snatch a winner without the lottery of penalties. I needn't have worried. Shootout GIFs Dybala - Salah [1-1] Dembele - Piedra [1-2] Isco - Lundqvist [1-2] De Bruyne - Perez [1-3] Depode, the Beast of Malmo, heroic in goal. Perez, the kid discarded by Barcelona and struggling to break into the XI, holds his nerve when it matters most. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 6 minutes ago, BoxToBox said: That Zlatan Tifo is genius! #DareToZlatan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 Note Lundqvist in the "I missed my penalty but am captain so I get to the lift trophy first" mode. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 Ok, I ran off down the street for "lunch" to play this. Heading back to the office. Still in shock at the 4 year journey. My next post will be in the "where things stand" mode, looking at the club and challenge without moving ahead in the save. Bloody hell, I have to resign or take another offer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Amazing! Especially to get revenge on City. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 3 hours ago, Fer Fuchs Ake said: Keep up with the grapefruit... Note the name of my baseline tactic... 17 minutes ago, BoxToBox said: Amazing! Especially to get revenge on City. Thanks, man. Putting City in their place always feels good! I have a feeling that they're going to continue to compete for trophies, though...whenever I've seen Simeone go to them or United, a spell of dominance always ensues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxToBox Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Grapefruit daiquiri's all round. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the--dud Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Congratulations! Colour me impressed! I don't think I'd ever be able to take a club like Malmö to Champions League glory in such a short time :o Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Well, then. Here we are. Before pushing continue, I want to briefly take stock of things. I feel like I'm leaving Malmo in tremendous shape. Obviously, there is a big boost to reputation, as they're 4-star/Continental now. They also have a 32k expanded stadium that is fully paid off. They'll be placed into the Group Stage of the Champions League this coming year, as a 1st seed. With a 2nd slot for Sweden coming on line, too, things are in tremendous shape. Financially, they've got $128M in the bank. They also have an extremely strong, young squad that has only lost one match in all competitions in calendar year 2022, top of the Allsvenskan and with the Svenska Cupen in hand. My strong suspicion is that a fair number of players will leave during the summer transfer window, as they've only stayed because of my sheer obstinance. That additional cash should allow them to remain dominant domestically and competitive in Europe. I hope. I was tempted (momentarily) to stay on board for a brief spell and make sure that the club gets value for money (that $112M from PSG, parceled out over time), but that's way too gamey. It would also violate my primary rule for the save -- resign once the CL/WC has been won. The final update from Sweden: So, where do we go from here? At my next club, wherever that may be, I will be employing a mix of a libero tactic and a flat-back 3-4-3. Call it Grapefruit 2.0. Or, as I've taken to calling it... Pampelmousse Libre, with nods to both Cuba Libre (the drink) and libero/libre. PM Libre for short. Will I poach any players from Malmo? I have absolutely no rule against it, and would love to bring a few players with me. That may not happen, though, due to budgetary restrictions and the challenge of getting transfers done given that: (1) I have to resign without moving immediately into a new position (see below); and (2) I have no idea what budgetary restrictions I'll be working under. Let's take a quick look around Europe at how other eligible clubs are doing... Fiorentina, Leverkusen, Valencia St-Etienne and Stade de Reims seem like, at this point, the most likely clubs to offer up an interview (in no particular order). Panathinaikos might also be added to the list. But, as of this moment, there are no vacancies. Only Fiorentina and Leverkusen are listed as "very insecure." All other eligible clubs are "stable," or better, no matter their current standing. Alright, then. Let's do this. LL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 2 hours ago, BoxToBox said: Grapefruit daiquiri's all round. Just ask for a Pampelmousse Libre at the bar. They'll know what it is. Don't take no for an answer. It's a test. Only persistence will see this elixir in your hands. 1 hour ago, the--dud said: Congratulations! Colour me impressed! I don't think I'd ever be able to take a club like Malmö to Champions League glory in such a short time :o Thanks, man. It was absolutely unreal, and far exceeded even my wild expectations. I began to get confident with the EL run...and things just kept on from there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Ok, Mancini? No. No, double-f*** no. Wenger?! **** off. Pep?!?!?! Why have you forsaken me, RNGeebus?!?!? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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