MarcxD Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 Idea and set-up Welcome to what I hope is going to be my main thread and save for Football Manager 2019. Unlike what I did in FM18 with a succession of mid-length saves I want this go on for a long while. This save is going to be focused on Kosovo. I have been wanting to do a save there for a while but just haven’t got to it yet, I feel now is the time! Kosovo appeals to me mostly because the country is the newest accepted member of UEFA, but has a different feeling than other countries at the bottom of the rankings. The nation has players of much higher caliber than say an Andorra; which is perhaps not too strange when we look at other former Yugoslav nations who also have a high number of talents even though their populations are relatively small. Even though this is so, Kosovar clubs have had a hard time of things in their first run last year, and are 53rd on the UEFA rankings at the start, only San Marino and Andorra are below them. For any of you that played FM18, you might have noticed that Kosovo did semi-regularly qualify for European Championships down the line, thanks to the Nations League. I want to do the same, and I want to take Kosovar club football to a new level as well. Thanks to the great work from @claassen I've been able to load the Kosovar, Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian leagues as playable as those are the most relevant from the leagues that have been released so far. All other European leagues (base game or so far created by Claassen) have been loaded as view only, and the database includes all international players from the world plus all continental reputation players from Europe and all players from clubs in continental competitions from Europe. Combined with a "large" db setting this means about 37.5K players at the start, which should mean it's viable for a long-term game but not too slow at the same time. The plan to make this save more lengthy is to resign when I feel that I have achieved what I can at a club and take charge of another club in Kosovo. I'll also be doing the national team at some point, but not from the start. Starting point I have decided to take a lower team in the highest tier, they got promoted last season. With regards to how I'm actually going to do this, I will be looking for a balance between developing own youth and signing some players in to get stronger at the same time. The Kosovar leagues have pretty strict foreign rules, 3 allowed in the second tier, 4 in the first tier, and you always have to play a u-19 player. These are harsh enough for me to not add any arbitrary rules of my own, although I will generally try not to poach too many players from other Kosovar clubs. This is the starting squad, and I've used the "add players to playable teams" so there are newgens in the u-19s as well. Note that Albanians don't count as foreign, so we can get three more foreigners in. Let's get it started... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timetxu Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 A MarcxD thread? Sign me up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITFC_Blue Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 Good luck. Will certainly be following this! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 57 minutes ago, Timetxu said: A MarcxD thread? Sign me up! 53 minutes ago, ITFC_Blue said: Good luck. Will certainly be following this! Thanks guys! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 Pre-Season 2018 Not so easy yet to get new players in, as I have only been able to sign players on non-contract deals or on loan. At least I do have two players for all positions now. I've been lucky with one of the generated youth players being good for the level in Leotrim Prekopuca. Surprised to be predicted to do better than get relegated. I wouldn't be too mad about finishing mid-table. The loss and the draw were against Albanian sides, not top tier sides mind you... the wins were against lower league Kosovar teams so that's not saying much either. Transfer market actually closed before the season started, which I generally like but if it turns out my squad isn't up to scratch it's going to be a rough time... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 August 2018 Well, that went better than expected! Drita is one of four fully professional teams in the country, playing in European qualifiers but dead last... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 September 2018 Still going strong. Afraid to change the team and the first complaints are coming in though! Three teams leading so far, only two can qualify for Europe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 October 2018 Fantastic victory against Feronikeli stand-out match this month. in first... Just realized I've not given any info yet how I'm playing tactically. I am varying between two tactics I've used on this FM - one with Ajax in the beta and one with Savoie in the Fraud thread. The Ajax 4-2-3-1 is my own adaptation of the gegenpressing setting changed to a more attacking approach with some other slight changes. The 4-1-4-1 as the game calls it is a slightly changed version of a downloaded tactic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 November 2018 I know we had to lose at some point but not like this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 Load of Balkans, this thread Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 December-February Didn't realize the league had this long a winter break, but it's okay. No new signings, but three departures. Won my first award after half a year of management.. Unless we have a big drop in form we are looking very good for a top 2 finish and a title challenge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 March 2019 + Youth Intake Worst month yet, by far. Still up there though, as Feronikeli had some poor results as well. I was not expecting much, but this is really bad. I did sign them all, though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 April 2019 Still not great, but grabbing points all the same. Just enough to get that first spot... 4 more games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 May 2019 Woo, huge! As I am still not allowed to give any of the players on paid contracts new deals next season might be a tough time though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 Season Review 2019 Did not expect to win the title at all beforehand, I guess I had expected the professional teams to be a step ahead but they weren't. Curious to see whether we can improve the squad or get weakened... much will depend on if I'm allowed to actually pay players I would think. A step ahead - but still only 1 EL spot so that might be hardcoded. Would be a shame, but just another challenge then! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 June 2019 This actually went better than expected, even if it only was Andorran and Gibraltarian opposition. Icelandic opposition up next. A few outgoings, even made some money. Manevski only had two weeks left on his deal so thank you very much. I have been able to give some of my players new deals, can't sign players on pre-contract deals in Kosovo so I'll be getting busy now the contracts have ended. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RioImmagina Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Wait, 254 supporters for game? Man, your finances will collapse soon if you not get money from UEFA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 1 minute ago, RioImmagina said: Wait, 254 supporters for game? Man, your finances will collapse soon if you not get money from UEFA We're fine so far as we are barely spending money on wages... But we'll definitely need European money to make a step forward. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 July 2019 Well, the Icelandic champions were too much for us to handle but the Latvians in the Europa League not so much! Also, about money... this was after we got out of the CL. That'll keep us going for a while... Wanted to ask to become pro but couldn't right now. Got in a load of players, not all of them much good but trying to at least build a full squad with senior players. Dautaj was on loan last year so I know he's worth his huge transfer sum. One outgoing, my topscorer from last year. Drita as a fully professional outfit can offer more than we... right now at least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andychar Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Great first season and a good effort in the Champions League. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheriff7 Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Good luck mate,i love your saves.Amazing and unexpected first year in Kosovan Superleague.Great result against Latvian's too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 11 minutes ago, andychar said: Great first season and a good effort in the Champions League. Thank you! 8 minutes ago, Sheriff7 said: Good luck mate,i love your saves.Amazing and unexpected first year in Kosovan Superleague.Great result against Latvian's too. Cheers man, appreciate it! Wait till you see the next month Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 August 2019 Silliness abound. Two more signings on loan. I realized too late I only have one left back, though. Oops. One departure... the risk of having players on non-contract deals. full squad post-transfer window Predicted to finish in sixth this year... of course the goal will be to win the title again. But we'll have to deal with playing Europa League football!!! Totally crazy. Beat the Estonian and Moldovan champions... oh and also won the Kosovar supercup after pens. Totally insane. And we get a trip to London... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 September 2019 Got our first loss in the league but otherwise a pretty great month and our first ever point in Europe. Trepça '89 having a much better start to the league than last year, just like Drita. But this year it's Prishtina all the way at the bottom... First improvements approved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Woohoo! A little late to the party, but I'm here! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlobaFMB Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Nice from you for now. Good luck in future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 18 hours ago, ManUtd1 said: Woohoo! A little late to the party, but I'm here! Only just got started! 17 hours ago, SlobaFMB said: Nice from you for now. Good luck in future. Thank you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 October 2019 As you would expect we lost both EL away games this month, but we scored twice on Stamford Bridge! Trepça '89 really having a good season so far, the most we can do is catch up with our games in hand. Some of the money we made is going to be used: and most importantly... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 November 2019 Much the same story, outplayed in Europe but going well at home. 3 games behind now but with Trepca '89 losing points we are looking good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 December 2019 and a Look at the Kosovar national team so far Got the important win against leaders Trepça '89 and another point in the EL! disappointed to lose the second straight league game against Prishtina though. Won this award for the second straight year. Kosovo National Team the Nations League went quite well last year... The qualifiers were a lot harder, of course, but they still did pretty okay - two wins against Latvia for instance. Thanks to their Nations League division win, they are competing in the Euro play-offs next year! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 January-February 2020 + Youth Intake Two non-contract players were signed by other teams.. while I signed two new players of my own. Poor return after the mid-season break... Lost first place, have to be more consistent. Unsurprisingly the intake is still ****, but at least we got a player with more than 1* CA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 March 2020 That's much better! In first again, but it's looking like it's going to be close for a while longer... Sadly Kosovo hasn't been able to qualify for Euro 2020. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 April 2020 In one month it's very good to see what our problem is - we are winning our home games but away we are just losing too many points. 4 games remaining and we'll just have to hope Trepça '89 will lose enough points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 May 2019 Annoyed to lose in the cup final, but we sure did what we needed to do in the league. Would it be enough...? Yes! Only just. Another title and another year of CL qualifying games. A nice bonus and we went professional after the league finished. Excited to see where we can take things now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 Surely finances is starting to build up nicely Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 58 minutes ago, john1 said: Surely finances is starting to build up nicely Quite! Most of it is planned for facility upgrades. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 Season Review 2020 Big fight to win the title agaisnt Trepça '93, but the story of the year has to be the run in Europe which will help out enormously to grow the club, starting with us becoming professional. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 July 2020 Got further than last year, up to the third qualification round. FCSB up next, though, so that should be asking a bit too much. A bunch new signings including a couple foreigners - actually most are. I now have 5, which should be fine as 4 can play at any point in the league and cup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 Hope you can beat FCSB! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oriole01 Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 Well, you're already well on your way to success. A very impressive first two seasons, especially in Europe. Good luck against Steaua. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 16 hours ago, john1 said: Hope you can beat FCSB! Cheers! Me too... 6 hours ago, oriole01 said: Well, you're already well on your way to success. A very impressive first two seasons, especially in Europe. Good luck against Steaua. Yeah, it's been going well so far. Thanks man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 August 2020 Got in one new player, needed another midfielder - signed an Albanian as they don't count as foreign. Predicted to finish third now, around the other pro teams. Well, the Romanians were just too much for us to handle. In the Europa League we then had to face the Serbian champions! Imagine that in real life. UEFA probably wouldn't even let that happen. But anyway, we lost on away goals... No more European football this season, sadly. Still made around 2M from CL and EL money, though, so still good for the future of the club. Can't say too much about this, really, apart from noticing that all pro teams have started relatively well this season compared with the two last years. Squad post-transfers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 September 2020 Not the most comfortable of results, but on the whole we have done well in getting points. Need to start playing better, though. Around the top - on the least amounts of lost points actually. But not running away with things, that's for sure. Getting improvements in when I can now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 October 2020 We are doing better, but were found out soon when resting some players. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 November 2020 This is what I'm talking about! Good to see big away wins especially. Big lead now, looking very comfortable halfway the season. Now up for a long winter break, next league game is on the 17th of February... Facilities upgraded and new improvements agreed immediately. First three job offers - Two Bosnian teams (one in the second and in the first tier) and one Serbian team (second tier). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 December 2020 One more job offer... The third! The national team has had a hard time this year and got relegated back to the Division D of the Nations League. Thought I'd take a look at the Euro's as well. Nothing too surprising here, or it has to be Norway. January-February 2021 + Youth Intake I bought one player, a Croatian defensive midfielder. Returned in-form. Still poor, but the best intake yet. Most disappointing really are the personalities. (I fixed the nicknames later) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 March 2021 Perfect! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 Decent run so far Shame you got knocked out on away goals to Partizan :( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 April 2021 Injuries and a busy month hurt us a bit but still doing well... And we've already secured the title. Now just to win the cup for the first time! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcxD Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 May 2021 And we did it - the first double! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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