Part 3: Stade Balmont: Homecoming (SC Lyon Youth-Only)

[smp20]

The Qatari's are happy, PSG finally won the Champions League!

[noikeee]

Jesus, the way you lost that cup. 

I think you're doing incredibly well and no matter how many times you do this, I have absolutely no idea how do you manage to be this competitive so quickly in youth only games. It's really impressive. 

[smp20]

4 minutes ago, noikeee said:

Jesus, the way you lost that cup. 

I think you're doing incredibly well and no matter how many times you do this, I have absolutely no idea how do you manage to be this competitive so quickly in youth only games. It's really impressive. 

Yeah not gonna lie at 3-2 up in the penalties I thought we were going to win it....the miss three penalties straight. So annoying. The club still only has amateur trophies to it's name!

Thanks, I think I got lucky with the fact that the original squad fitted the profile for the tactic.

[smp20]

A quick update as I've had a couple of beers 

Ligue 1

We finished in limboland in 2nd, well behind PSG who won the title with 4 games spare and miles ahead of 3rd place which went to a surprise entry of Brest.

Coupe de France

What else is there to say other than f*** PSG

Champions League

Great progress in Europe as we advanced to the CL quarter-finals, knocking out Real Madrid in the process.

Player Stats

Just as you begin to think he's past it, Assale scored 38 league goals in 34(3) appearances.

[smp20]

We kicked off the new season in style by deservedly beating PSG in the Trophee des champions and securing the clubs first ever non-amateur trophy .

 

[Jimbokav1971]

Not too far from the Swiss/German/Italian border. Hopefully this will offer up some nice 2nd Nationalities in the intake. Just seen this thread now so time for a catch-up. 

[smp20]

29 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Not too far from the Swiss/German/Italian border. Hopefully this will offer up some nice 2nd Nationalities in the intake. Just seen this thread now so time for a catch-up. 

Plenty of dual-nat Africans as per usual in France, but haven't noticed too many from the border countries  - nice to have you on board!

[smp20]

We're now 3rd seeds, but this is a tough group. I'd be happy to just not finish bottom.

[smp20]

 

This time it's completely undeserved but who cares, we've just beaten PSG for the first time in the league!!

Edited September 6, 2021 by smp20

[Jimbokav1971]

I loved my time at Stade Rennais in France doing Youth Only. 
3rd at the 1st time of asking, but a whopping 28 points behind Qatari Sports Investments. 
I think I have heard of exactly 2 of your players. (Konate & Chafik).
Loving the League of Nations thing you have going on. 
Azong looks to be developing really nicely. What's his 2nd Nationality?
Asaale is a beast! Hasn't anyone tried to buy him?
When I get weakened by International call-ups in a Youth Only save, I just see it as the opportunity to play someone else. 
De Jong didn't get time to unpack! 
I can't believe you missed the last 3 penalties to lose the cup Final against QSI. 
Only 10 points behind QSI in the league last season. 
Trophee des champions Champions!
And then you celebrate me catching up by turning them over in the league! 

[smp20]

5 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I loved my time at Stade Rennais in France doing Youth Only. 
3rd at the 1st time of asking, but a whopping 28 points behind Qatari Sports Investments. 
I think I have heard of exactly 2 of your players. (Konate & Chafik).
Loving the League of Nations thing you have going on. 
Azong looks to be developing really nicely. What's his 2nd Nationality?
Asaale is a beast! Hasn't anyone tried to buy him?
When I get weakened by International call-ups in a Youth Only save, I just see it as the opportunity to play someone else. 
De Jong didn't get time to unpack! 
I can't believe you missed the last 3 penalties to lose the cup Final against QSI. 
Only 10 points behind QSI in the league last season. 
Trophee des champions Champions!
And then you celebrate me catching up by turning them over in the league! 

Yes I think France is a great place to do youth only, getting one over PSG (or QSI as you call them ) without spending a penny is very rewarding. I can say that now that we've managed to do it 3 times 

Azong is currently upset I didn't let him leave for Liverpool, which shows the calibre of player he's turning into. He's Cameroonian, but born in Aix-les-Bains south of Geneva, east of Lyon.

Assale had some interest a couple of seasons in - Everton, Valencia but none of Europe's top sides - and I had a couple of silly money bids from China but we kept him and he remained happy. He's got 18 months left on his contract but sadly I think this season will be the last where he is useful.

[smp20]

2026/27 Mid-Season Update

Ligue 1 Results

A great start until a 4-0 thumping by Marseille which sticks out like a sore thumb among our results. Obviously the best moment was beating PSG on their own turf . 

Ligue 1 Table

Top of the table at the midway point, but we won't be getting carried away as we've been here before. We need to maintain consistency and hope that PSG keep on dropping points.

Champions League

I'm very happy to have qualified from a tough group but getting past Man Utd will be very difficult indeed.

Player Stats

Vega has emerged as our starlet while Assale declines. Benali has also broken into the side and has made the right back spot his own.

 

[smp20]

Vega becomes our first player to win the Golden Boy award

[KlaaZ]

Vega looks amazing. Have you considered turning Benali into a central defender? 

[smp20]

20 minutes ago, KlaaZ said:

Vega looks amazing. Have you considered turning Benali into a central defender? 

Yes I think Vega could be a very special player for us . Definitely, I think Benali is more likely to be a CB in the future, but he won't get in ahead of Azong at the moment and we're lacking talent at right back so he's doing a filling in job.

[smp20]

[smp20]

 

2027 Youth Intake

A really disappointing intake, worse than last seasons poor one. Here's the best of the bunch:

Results

Royally screwing it up on all three fronts. First we conceded 4 away goals vs Utd making getting through nearly impossible, then we lost to PSG in the cup and lastly we lost vs Amiens.

Ligue 1 Table

Too many points dropped, we're now 5 points behind PSG with 10 to go. We need to beat them at home.

[smp20]

This is a huge result! We still need PSG to slip up, but we're in with a great chance.

[smp20]

After two poor intakes, our HOYD was sacked and a new one brought in.

[KlaaZ]

If you ever consider getting a new one again, and if you have him in your game, Bernhard Peters is an amazing option. Had him at Kobenhavn for almost ten seasons and he did perfectly.

Not sure what triggers him to be in the game as he's not in my current Orléans game for some reason.

[smp20]

9 hours ago, KlaaZ said:

If you ever consider getting a new one again, and if you have him in your game, Bernhard Peters is an amazing option. Had him at Kobenhavn for almost ten seasons and he did perfectly.

Not sure what triggers him to be in the game as he's not in my current Orléans game for some reason.

Oh yes he's class. He was about at the start of the save but wanted too much money, had a quick search for him now and he must have retired

[smp20]

2026-27 Season Review

Results

After beating PSG at home and achieving the double over them we went the rest of the season unbeaten, but dropped points in games we should be winning.

Ligue 1 Table

We went into the final game of the season with a chance of winning the league, but that would have meant beating Reims (we didn't) and Paris FC beating their big brother (nope).

Player Stats

Our team is transitioning into a young regen filled team while our originals either deteriorate through age or just never fulfilled their potential.

Highlighted Players

Assale is now no more than a striker / left wing backup player which is sad to see. He goes into the last year of his contract which is unlikely to be renewed.

I've highlighted Mveumba because I really like the way that he has developed into a well rounded holding midfielder but also one capable of bursting forward and playing killer balls. The only downside is that his determination has gone from 20 to 17, but hopefully it won't go down any further now.

Finances

We are very rich, but have very little to spend the money on.

Seasons

We seem to have reached a bit of a plateau at the moment, hopefully next season will prove that wrong. I'd like to break 90 points. However, we did pick up our first trophy, so there is some progression.

[Deisler26]

10 hours ago, smp20 said:

After two poor intakes, our HOYD was sacked and a new one brought in.

[smp20]

5 hours ago, Deisler26 said:

Yes I hope he has this affect on the youth 

[smp20]

This year the Trophee des Champions toured to Cameroon and we retained it for our 2nd trophy

[smp20]

2027-28 Mid-Season Review

Ligue 1 Results

We had a slow start to season picking up 4 points from the first 9 of which we should have taken 100%, followed by a month of three draws albeit against good sides. The PSG game was annoying, 3-1 up to 3-3, score a 92nd min winner...only it wasn't as they scored in the 95th. However since the opening couple of months we've only dropped two points and we're on a tidy unbeaten run.

Ligue 1 Table

PSG are catchable, let's hope they like letting a lead slip like we do...I will be happy if we can break 90 points regardless.

Champions League

A really disappointing campaign - going into the last game we were in pole position to at least get to Europa but Brugge had other ideas. Just the domestic affairs to worry about come January.

Transfers Out

We see a few former regulars transferred out - Celina the biggest name - who we're no longer in our plans.

Player Stats

Breakthrough Players

[smp20]

We decided to accept an offer from Shanghai for Chouiar. He's been superb for us providing over 70 goals and over 100 assists in 235 league games, but it was time to let him move on to make way for young players coming through.

[smp20]

No birthday present for Florent

[karanhsingh]

This is awesome, some of those youngsters look fantastic. Its making me want to consider my first youth only save.

[smp20]

1 hour ago, karanhsingh said:

This is awesome, some of those youngsters look fantastic. Its making me want to consider my first youth only save.

Cheers! I've played the game in many ways with different transfer policies but I always find myself coming back to youth only 

[smp20]

2028 Youth Intake

Now that's more like it

Galmiche is already a talent worthy of game time. He will be trained as a ML with heavy focus on quickness and if he lives up to his potential he will be a key player for years to come.

Another decent holding midfield prospect.

Oohh a Brazilian! Probably no more than a squad player, but a reasonable prospect.

100% going to be a winger.

Results

Two away losses against decent sides, other than that a great couple of months and we're into our 3rd cup final .

Coupe de France

Of course it had to be them, didn't it? They thumped Lyon in the semis. We need to channel a bit of inner 'Trophee des champions' for this one!

Ligue 1 Table

We're 8 points adrift from PSG so a title is looking unlikely, but never say never. We need an 8-1-1 record to match the 90 points we're aiming for which will be tough. We also need to keep checking our shoulders as a revitalised Lyon are on our heels.

Fixtures

8-1-1, or better, is doable.

 

[deltablue]

I hope you finish the season strongly.

[smp20]

Will it be 3rd time lucky?

[smp20]

4 minutes ago, deltablue said:

I hope you finish the season strongly.

Thanks, fingers crossed!

[smp20]

We're being torn a new one but managed to scramble an equaliser against the run of play!

[smp20]

Into extra time we go!!!

[smp20]

We didn't deserve to win, but we took them to extra time and it would have been nice to pinch it.

[smp20]

2027-28 Season Review

Results

We managed to finish the season with three wins, but the good finish was soured by a lot of points dropped and the final loss.

Ligue 1 Table

At one point Lyon and Monaco were level with us....85 points isn't good enough and I'm ready to move on and forget all about this season.

Player Stats

Vega and Mvuemba were our best performers, both of whom had injury issues.

Bon Voyage, Roger!

Roger Assale had a fitting final game, smashing in a hattrick. His contract is up in the summer and even if we wanted to keep him, he's after a new challenge. 226 League Goals is a hell of a target to aim for, especially in just 236 games! He's a club icon, but a legend in my eyes.

[smp20]

Our 2nd team manager, whose five National 2 earnt him icon status at the club, has retired

[smp20]

The Originals

Starting from the oldest to the youngest, here are our original players:

[smp20]

We're currently in the process of re-training Vuillemin as a centre back, a position where he can make a real difference. Panzo is a good player, but a Vuillemin-Azong partnership should hopefully push us on.

[smp20]

We can't stop winning this trophy, which is ironic because we've a) never been champions and b) never won the cup 

[KlaaZ]

It's better than nothing  seems a closer game than the other ones too, no?

[smp20]

15 minutes ago, KlaaZ said:

It's better than nothing  seems a closer game than the other ones too, no?

One year we actually deserved to win  - but yes we're normally feeding off scraps...

[smp20]

So we will be getting a new adversary as PSG legend Poch moves to Man City. I'm keen to find out who it'll be.

[KlaaZ]

5 minutes ago, smp20 said:

One year we actually deserved to win  - but yes we're normally feeding off scraps...

I know the feeling. Been keeping the defeats 'respectable' so far in my first two seasons at the highest level with Orléans but their dominance is insane. This year, it took them until mid February to drop any points. I think they won 22 league games in a row.

[smp20]

9 minutes ago, KlaaZ said:

I know the feeling. Been keeping the defeats 'respectable' so far in my first two seasons at the highest level with Orléans but their dominance is insane. This year, it took them until mid February to drop any points. I think they won 22 league games in a row.

I've seen them go 37-1-0 before, luckily not in a save where I was competing against them 

[smp20]

Where was the 'absolutely effing not' option  

[smp20]

Here's our new nemesis. He played for PSG from 1991-1995 and even managed them from 96-98 in his first managerial role.

[smp20]

It's been only 16 months since our last HOYD came in, but when I came across Misidjan it was a no-brainer to get him in. HOYD's don't come any better than this.