[FM22] Overhauling SAD Franchise, (completed) and now Portugal. (Portugese edition). (Youth Only)............... Maybe!

[Sonic Youth]

10 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

UEFA Champions League. I thought the most likely result here was that we would lose or draw and go crashing out, but not only did we win, but we won by enough to finish 2nd in the Group and qualify for the Champions league knockout stages. 

Shows just how far you’ve come and the depth of the squad. Plus Abrantes hat trick!

10 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

BIG Transfer. Jan 2057. 

When a player leaves I immediately put them on a shortlist and as I can only sign players who have already been at the club and come through the Academy, it gives me a snapshot of who we are able to sign at any given sign. 

I noticed that a couple of Turkish clubs were in for (40b) Ramalho (POR) * and the wages he was asking didn't look ridiculous so I thought I would stick in a little £6M bid, (the same as them), just to see what would happen. They upped it to £8.5M, but when  you have a transfer budget of £210M, £6M or £8.5M is neither here nor there. 

Although he wasn't 1st choice at Juve, he is still classed as a World class midfielder, and while he won't be 1st choice here, he will certainly get regular game time. He's got 130 Caps for Portugal and we will be playing him as a DLP so even if his legs go a little, (or even a lot), he will still offer us something. At £500.000 per month he's on a big wage, but we're enormously limited as to the players we can sign so when a player like this becomes available we have to make sure we do everything we can to sign him. I also think he could be a big player for us. With that in mind I was a little cheeky when negotiating his contract. He's 32 years old and only wanted a 1 year deal, but I insisted on a 2 year deal and then stuck in a +1 and also a +1 during last years contract if he makes 15 appearances. 

His biography tells it all, but I'm not unhappy at all that I sold him. Back in 2044/45 £31.5M was a lot of money to us and we had a few good players playing in midfield. 

This is a good transfer, and gives you room for your younger players to develop or come through an intake.

[Sonic Youth]

22 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I've loaned him out to Shakhtar, but he will still have 1+3 years left on his contract after this season. 

I suppose what I should have done is give him individual instructions to change his role from BPD(d) to BPD(c) and this would hopefully cover up hid inadequacies, but his acceleration is also poor so I'm worried about that (and rule out the BPD(s) role as a result).

He's missed the 1st 2 months of the season at the Olympics with (POR) U23's, (where they lost in the Final to Germany), but it should also be said that they were only 1-0 down when they dragged him off at HT. He was only winning about 50-60% of headers playing for us, but then again maybe that's down to his role(duty). I should really look at this when he comes back.

Is it too late to train him as a DM/MC and get hi passing and First Touch up 3-4 points?

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

 

Very casual!

I think the reality is that I am just very much feeling the pressure from Benfica. I can't remember the last time I was as engrossed in a title challenge as this. 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

I feel this intake was built up massively, though your International ambitions for the Cape Verdean national team grows. If he chooses them.

Really? I think that's just because I have had some real enormous talents come through in recent seasons. In reality though, at least 1 of the recent intakes had just 1 big star and then very little else of substance lower down. This intake had 4 players at 130+ PA and 3 more at 120+ PA. This is what I call a really good intake in terms of PA because there are 7 players there who have the potential to either generate significant cash of make a significant impact on the pitch. The fact that 3 of them are left backs, 2 of them have low starting CA and another has poor mentals is just the way things go in an imperfect world. 

I would honestly prefer 7 players like this than 1 superstar, (at least most of the time). 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

Shows just how far you’ve come and the depth of the squad. Plus Abrantes hat trick!

Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised by the result/performance and although Abrantes has lost his way a little this season and is no longer 1st choice on the right up front, he was imperious in this game and dominated from start to finish. His contract expires at the end of next season though and I'm thinking about moving him on because his physicals have started to decline and while we have been phenomenal going forward this season, his performances have actually declined and the Barca performance was very much a one off. 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

This is a good transfer, and gives you room for your younger players to develop or come through an intake.

The only negatives at all were the wage, (and we are not short of cash so who cares), and the fact that it was a late January signing rather than in the Summer and as such I have players at the club who should really be on loan somewhere else rather than playing for our B Team. The B Team isn't about winning by the biggest margin, (or even about winning at all). It's simply about developing players, and playing players in the B Team in Liga 2 SABSEG when they have already developed to Liga Bwin levels is not what we need. In terms of his actual quality though I have absolutely no issues with it at all and I hope there will be more deals done like this. 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

Is it too late to train him as a DM/MC and get hi passing and First Touch up 3-4 points?

I don't think it's too late to retrain him, but as I don't use a dedicated DM I'm not sure about why I would want to do it. MC is a little different and while he certainly isn't a DLP(s), he also isn't much of a CM(a) either. He isn't technical enough for the 1st role, (or the 2nd for that matter), but also isn;t athletic enough for the 2nd role. He;s a decent player who could have been a great player, but I'm afraid I just have to accept that I dropped the ball here and move him on. 

[Jimbokav1971]

NxGn 2057. 

 

6th. I'm a little surprised that  (56a) Juromito (POR) *** has even made the list if I'm honest. He has played at DR, MR & SC for the B Team as I just look to give him experience as soon as possible. 

9th. I'm surprised that (53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) *** isn't ranked higher, but he seems to get quite regular little niggling injuries so maybe this has played a part. 

10th. I've been really impressed by  (55a) Mavioso (POR) *** and if anything I'm surprised that he's not ranked higher. He started off playing for the B Team this season, worked his way into the senior squad and is now right on the verge of already becoming a 1st choice player at the age of 17. 

27th. The playing time of (54a) Fati (GNB) (POR) 6'1" * has been impacted by his appearance at the AFCON, (where they finished 3rd). I've just given him a holiday and am easing him back into things. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Mar 2057.

Liga Bwin. Benfica might still be unbeaten, but they drew 1-1 away to PdF this month and the gap grows to 5 pts again with 6 games remaining. I know we have our (H) game against Benfica still to come and I have just checked and..... it's the last game of the season.  You just couldn't write it. 

Their next 2 league games are against Sporting and Guimaraes and although they should win these, nothing is set in stone. 

UEFA Champions League. We scored a 95th minute goal to level it up at 2-2 on the night and 3-3 overall and while I was wondering whether we would win on away goals or if that rule had been done away with they made it 3-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.  We gave it a right good go though.

Taça de Portugal Placard. We eased past them in the away leg and the home leg is surely just a formality with a 2 goal advantage. 

Goal-scoring GK's. (50c) Ako (FRA) (GPE) 6'0" has now blanked in his last 9 games, but (52j) Candé (GNB) (POR) 6'2" gives us a B Team goal after his return from the AFCON.

[Jimbokav1971]

Apr 2057. 

Liga Bwin. We're trying to bottle it. I can't believe it but we're trying to bottle it!

We're just 2 pts ahead of Benfica now and we play them on the last day of the season. If they win then they win the league. If we win then we win the league and we also take their unbeaten record. 

But but bit, if we draw then we win the title, while they remain unbeaten over the course of the league campaign, (but still don't win the league and my warped sense of humour absolutely loves that).     We do obviously have to beat S.U. 1º Dezembro in the next match to take it to the final day. 

Taça de Portugal Placard. With a 2 goal lead from the away leg, we eased into the final. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 

[Sonic Youth]

Game round 33: Benfica lose, Belenenses wins!

Real Madrid looked a tough encounter.

And your in a cup final.

[Sonic Youth]

10 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

NxGn 2057. 

 

6th. I'm a little surprised that  (56a) Juromito (POR) *** has even made the list if I'm honest. He has played at DR, MR & SC for the B Team as I just look to give him experience as soon as possible. 

9th. I'm surprised that (53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) *** isn't ranked higher, but he seems to get quite regular little niggling injuries so maybe this has played a part. 

10th. I've been really impressed by  (55a) Mavioso (POR) *** and if anything I'm surprised that he's not ranked higher. He started off playing for the B Team this season, worked his way into the senior squad and is now right on the verge of already becoming a 1st choice player at the age of 17. 

27th. The playing time of (54a) Fati (GNB) (POR) 6'1" * has been impacted by his appearance at the AFCON, (where they finished 3rd). I've just given him a holiday and am easing him back into things. 

Nice bunch of youngsters 

[Jimbokav1971]

7 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

Real Madrid looked a tough encounter.

I was happy that we were so competitive against R.Madrid, even if we ultimately fell short. I think we're on the verge of something special as our attacking numbers showed in the league this season. 

[Jimbokav1971]

7 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

Game round 33: Benfica lose, Belenenses wins!

Unfortunately not. 

It went all the way to the wire. 

[Jimbokav1971]

7 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

And your in a cup final.

Yeah, but we've had an appalling record in Finals recently. So much so that it's starting to play on my mind. 

We've lost each of our last 6 Finals now, (and 8 of the last 10). 

Add in that we have finished Runners Up in the league 4 out of the last 6 seasons and you will see how I might be developing a complex. 

[Jimbokav1971]

7 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

Nice bunch of youngsters 

I only signed 12 of the 16, (with personality being the only reason for not signing someone rather than ability). I don't mind signing rubbish players. I do mind signing rubbish players with negative personalities. 

[Edit]

Realised after posting that you had quoted the NxGn post rather than the Youth Intake. Sorry. 

Yeah, some of them look good and we have a few more on the way. 

If I sort the squad by Actual PA then this is what I get. 

Let's have a look at the teenagers. 

(55a) Mavioso (POR) *** is the jewel in the crown. he started the season being played in the B Team, (ahead of where is CA actually suggested), but has developed so fast that he is now already 1st choice right sided central midfielder. I've got him on a 2+3 deal at the moment, but I'm thinking of offering him a "regular starter"* contract now, (or whatever it takes to trigger the 5 year offer), and then lock him down to a 5+3 deal which will take him through to when he is 25 years old. He's going to be the best player I have ever had in FM, (barring injuries).

* It would only allow me to offer him a 3+3 deal on regular starter so I might have to push the boat out. I'm also worried that if I do this he will get too bog for hos boots and could cause problems than might have been the case otherwise. 

(53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) *** is a perfect example of how "partnerships" work in the game and I think it's something that a lot of people ignore. My "best" pairing up front is (44a) Simões (POR) * and (53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) ***, but they aren't used to playing together yet and the partnerships that are much more effective are (44a) Simões (POR) * - (41c) Abrantes (POR) * and (45c) Rosa (POR) * - (53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) ***. You wouldn't believe the impact that this can have on team performance and it's why I often prefer to go for bigger changes rather than a small number of changes. If I want to rest someone then I will often rest the player he's linked with too. Promoting an established partnership from the B Team rather than splitting up 2 partnerships. Rotating all 10 outfield players and keeping all partnerships intact is often a better strategy than resting 5-6 players and having no partnerhips, (imo). 

In any case, next season I'm going to have to start playing (44a) Simões (POR) * and  (53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) *** more because f we're going to win the Champions league, that's the partnership that's going to do it. 

I know I'm going off on a bit of a tangent now, (sorry), but I can't stress how important this little thing is. I should also mention that players can develop partnerships with multiple players at the same time. Like many features of the game however, it seems to stop short of being done fully and I often ask myself where are the partnerships between centre-half and full-back or GK and centre-half. What about a DLP playing balls over the top for an AF? Why can't that be a link? Why can a winger link with a full-back but not a midfielder inside him or a striker ahead of him? I think it's a really good little feature of the game, (and is important), but it just hasn't been finished in my opinion. 

This is the 1st choice partnership up front, but the truth is that (41c) Abrantes (POR) * is way behind (53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) *** now and it needs to be changed. 

Just to show you that you can have multiple partnerships at the same time, here is my 1st choice centre-half (48b) Teixeira (POR) 6'3" *. He has a "good" partnership with 2 other centre-backs, and a "F.Decent" partnership with a 3rd. What I should be doing is ensuring that when we have a tough game then I play players together who have an established partnership, but in easier games where I expect us to be more dominant I can improve developing partnerships and even create completely new ones. The problem with this obviously is that when you're playing a Youth Only save you want to blood new players quite quickly so it's not always that easy. 

(54a) Fati (GNB)(POR) 6'1" *** has struggled just a little this season because he was away on AFCON duty and his development suffered as a result. Actually, I'm not sure hos "development" suffered exactly. I think he developed quite well, (as you would expect a teenager starting regularly at a Senior International tournament), but his domestic performances certainly suffered. He was shattered when he came back and even after a little holiday was still struggling. I'm hoping that he really kicks on next season after a proper pre-season. 

(56a) Juromito (POR) *** is a player that confused the hell out of me initially. He's played at right back and left wing and right wing and even up front, but I think he's going to be a right back. I've blooded him in both the B Team and 1st Team before he's ready to fast-track his development, and he even scored on his Liga Bwin debut, (playing at ML I think). Competition for places is high, but I'm going to really try to continue forcing his development. I don't like that PPM though. 

(57a) Lima (CPV)(POR) 6'0" *** has only just come through and is weak physically so needs to develop a little 1st. I will probably start him in the B Team next season to boost his development, but he's currently a Liga 3 player and some way off being able to cope in Liga 2 SEBSAG.

(54b) Soares (CPV) (POR) *** is another where it's tough to work out where to play him. He's stronger on his right, but I actually think that ML might be his best position, (where we're relatively weak at the moment). I love his personality, (I mean I REALLY love his personality), so I just think I need to play him. I think I will probably start him at ML in the B Team next season and see how that goes. There is loads of competition on the right at the moment. 

(55b) Cunha (BRA) *** has been playing on the right hand side for the B Team, but with so many options available there, I wonder if his long-term future might be on the right hand side up front? With (53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) *** developing so quickly ahead of him and already ready to usurp (41c) Abrantes (POR) *, I do need to look for the next player to step up in this position. Yeah, I think I will start him at F9 up front on the right for the B Team next season. 

(54h) Tavares (POR) (CPV) ** is a player who had almost fallen through the cracks I think. We had so many players that I had missed him when ranking players by CA stars when selecting squads, and it was only half way through this season when I started ranking the squad by PA stars when selecting the B Team that he started to feature more in my thoughts. I've let him down a little so far but I think I've caught it in time and should be able to get him back on track. 

(57b) Trindade (POR) * DL is 1 of 3 decent DL's that came through the intake this season. Although he is a WB rather than a DL and you would expect him to be pushed forward into ML, (where we're weak), I actually think that he will make a better DL than a ML. 

(55c) Sousa (POR) * doesn't look amazing, but he can develop into a good player and this is just the sort of player that we need to have around before selling for a tidy profit. 

That's obviously just the teenagers on the 1st page and if I scroll down and only count players who have a PA of at least 130 then I have 3 more so let's show them too. 

(57d) Kravchuk (POR) (UKR) * is a decent player, but his Det is only 6 and his personality is (Unamb) and we all know that's a really poor mix. If he didn't have 4.0 PA I wouldn't have signed him. The fact that we have other decent options developing at DL makes things easier though because we will be less reliant on him and my plan is to sell him and let someone else deal with his issues. 

(54f) Sales (POR) * is a righty but he is more suited to playing on the left up front at this stage of his career. He's never going to be as good as some of the beasts we've got at the moment, but they won't be around forever and we might need him in a few years. 

(57o) Chana (POR) * is a full back who can play on both sides, but he's starting from a really low CA and that puts him behind so many players that even being able to play on 2 positions might not save his development. He's going to have to develop in the U19's first because the competition for players at both DL & DR is too much for him at the moment. 

We've got full backs and wide players galore on this list. We've got 1 centre-half and at least 2 centre-mids too and at least 2 and possibly 3 strkers but there is no GK on the list. 

(50c) Ako (FRA) (GPE) 6'0" is WAY better than all out other GK's and I really need one through the intake in the next few seasons. 

Edited July 24, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

May 2057. 

Liga Bwin. What a way to win the league! 

Benfica can shove their unbeaten season up their Ramalhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Who scored the goal? None other than 33 year old  (40b) Ramalho (POR) * who rejoined us in January after time spent at R.Madrid, Liverpool & Juve. 

Taça de Portugal Placard. Thank God for that. I thought we were never going to win another Final ever again. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 

 

 

[Rikulec]

Never in doubt.

[Sonic Youth]

Ramalho is your Aguero 

Nice goal to beat Benfica by, and to take their unbeaten run in the league too 

A 90’ goal to win the cup that was also the goal that completed a hattrick? Noice 

Though I think your fans would want you win the next league and cups a bit more comfortably  

Now if only Ako would sign a new contract.

[Jimbokav1971]

4 hours ago, Rikulec said:

Never in doubt.

I was sure we would lose. Absolutely positive. I actually wanted a draw because it got me wondering had a team ever gone unbeaten for an entire league season and not won the league? 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

Ramalho is your Aguero 

Nice goal to beat Benfica by, and to take their unbeaten run in the league too 

He started on the bench and only came on in the 73rd min and scored in the 85th min. Lovely bit of movement off the ball for the goal. 

I love re-signing players like this. 

I would have preferred to draw and still win the league but them to not win the league but remain unbeaten,. but only because it's unusual. Delighted to win at all. 

Edited July 24, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

A 90’ goal to win the cup that was also the goal that completed a hattrick? Noice 

Though I think your fans would want you win the next league and cups a bit more comfortably  

It was a centre-half hat-trick and we really don't score that many goals at all from that area. He's scored 12 this season, (which is more than I expected actually), but other centre-backs have scored 3, 4, 1 & 0.

The Allianz League Cup is going to be prioritised more highly next season 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

Now if only Ako would sign a new contract.

I'm actually not offering him a new contract at the moment because despite the fact that I'm adamant that morale impacts the results of penalty taking, I'm also very aware that he converted 12 of 13 penalties taken this season and had scored 20 in a row before the one he missed. 

He's got a 2+3 contract at the moment so I'm not in a rush offer a new deal in that respect. He has scored 24 of his last 25 penalties while being unhappy. 

He scored 17 goals in 52 appearances last season. 

He's scored 15 goals in 53 appearances this season. 

When you consider that Simões never managed to hit 15 in a season, (I don't think), Ako is certainly doing something right. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Pre-season destination. May 2057. 

I don't know how much impact, (if any), this has on Newgens coming through the Youth Intake, but I always try to go to Cape Verde when I can. 

If I didn't have an infatuation with all things Cape verde i would probably have chosen to go to Peru. 

I still don't have a feeder relationship in Brazil by the way. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Season Summary. Jun 2057.

Liga Bwin. 

Liga Portugal 2 SABSEG.

Portugese U23 Premier League. 

Portuguese U19 First Division. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2057. 

1st Team. (50c) Ako (FRA) (GPE) 6'0"
B Team. (52j) Candé (GNB) (POR) 6'2"
U23's. (51k) Diniz (POR) 6'4"
U19's. (57f) Vercleyen (POR) (FRA) & (56j) Peña (ESP) (BAS)
Loan. (50f) Loris (LUX) (FRA) 6'0"
Sell. (55p) Turé. (GNB) (POR) 6'1"

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2057. 

DL. 

1st Team. (52b) Martins (POR) * & (50g) Martins (POR) (FRA) DL *.
B Team. (57b) Trindade (POR) * DL & (57d) Kravchuk (POR) (UKR) *.
U23's. (54d) João. (POR)
U19's. (57o) Chana (POR) *
Loan. (55d) Trindade (POR), (50d) Fitas (POR) * 
Sell.

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2057.

DR.

1st Team. (48c) Bronze (POR) 6'0" & (50a) Amarante (POR)(CPV) 5'10.
B Team. (56a) Juromito (POR) ***
U23's. (52c) Pinto (POR)
U19's. (56o) Sá (POR) & (55h) Filipe (POR).
Loan. (50d) Fitas (POR) *
Sell.

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2057. 

DC.

1st Team. (48b) Teixeira (POR) 6'3" * & (45e) The Gimp (ENG) 6'3" **. (54a) Fati (GNB)(POR) 6'1" *** & (47f) Santos (POR) 6'5" *
B Team. (57a) Lima (CPV)(POR) 6'0" *** & (51n) Varela (CPV)(POR) 6'1" * & (53h) Alexandre (BRA) 5'11" * (53k) Charrier (FRA) 6'1".
U23's.
U19's.
Loan. (49h) Ndlovu (POR)(RSA) 6'0" *
Sell. (46f) Mesquita (POR) 6'5" SELL

[Johnny-Trotter]

On 24/07/2022 at 19:26, Jimbokav1971 said:

I was sure we would lose. Absolutely positive. I actually wanted a draw because it got me wondering had a team ever gone unbeaten for an entire league season and not won the league? 

Perugia finishing second unbeaten in Serie A in 1978-79 was probably the best example, but there were others: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jun/10/football-trivia-liverpool-undefeated-seasons

[Jimbokav1971]

24 minutes ago, Johnny-Trotter said:

Perugia finishing second unbeaten in Serie A in 1978-79 was probably the best example, but there were others: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jun/10/football-trivia-liverpool-undefeated-seasons

You Sir can some back in here and post again. 

This is exactly the sort of response that makes me love this forum. Thank you. 

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, Johnny-Trotter said:

Perugia finishing second unbeaten in Serie A in 1978-79 was probably the best example, but there were others: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jun/10/football-trivia-liverpool-undefeated-seasons

I can only like this post once unfortunately. If anyone else sees it please like it for me. I absolutely love stuff like this. 

[josel15]

Hi Jimbo.

 

I'll just let you know that in 1977/78 my beloved Benfica managed to get second...while going the season in the league invincible.
https://www.zerozero.pt/edition.php?id_edicao=115

[Jimbokav1971]

10 minutes ago, josel15 said:

Hi Jimbo.

I'll just let you know that in 1977/78 my beloved Benfica managed to get second...while going the season in the league invincible.
https://www.zerozero.pt/edition.php?id_edicao=115

Hi @josel15Yeah @Johnny-Trotterposted a link that contained that info above. There are a few teams who have done it. 

 

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2057. 

MC. 

1st Team. (44c) Ogbu (ENG) (NGA) * & (55a) Mavioso (POR) ***. (40b) Ramalho (POR) * & (49a) Odhiambo (POR) (KEN) *.
B Team. (51c) Alves (POR) * & (55c) Sousa (POR) *. (53f) Diogo (POR) & (51e) Clayton (BRA).
U23's. (51f) Matias (POR) *
U19's. 
Loan. (49f) Santos (POR), (47k) Tavares (CPV) *, (51j) Vicente (POR) *
Sell.

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2057. 

ML & MR.

MR. 

1st team. (51a) Marinho (POR) *** & (41a) Gil (POR) *, (although (41a) Gil (POR) * may also be used at DR). 
B Team. (55b) Cunha (BRA) *** MR
U23's. (52e) Oliveira (CPV) *
U19's.
Loan. (52i) Simões (POR) *, (50h) Mickaël (POR) (FRA).
Sell.

ML.

1st team. (49e) Madruga (POR) & (53b) Espínola (POR) *.
B Team. (54b) Soares (CPV)(POR) *** ML & (54b) Soares (CPV)(POR) *** ML
U23's. (52a) Brito (POR) *
U19's.
Loan.
Sell.

Edited July 26, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2057.

SC.

1st Team. (44a) Simões (POR) * &  (53a) Khwinana (ENG) (RSA) ***. (45c) Rosa (POR) * & (41c) Abrantes (POR) *.
B Team. (51b) Oliveira (POR) ** & (53g) Lopes (POR) & (54f) Sales (POR) *.
U23's. (53c) Brandão (POR)
U19's.
Loan. (50l) Bartlett (ENG) *
Sell. (41c) Abrantes (POR) *

[Thebaker]

Looks like a back up keeper is needed. Surprised there is not more to sell or have you already had a clear out?

[Jimbokav1971]

9 minutes ago, Thebaker said:

Looks like a back up keeper is needed. Surprised there is not more to sell or have you already had a clear out?

Yeah a GK is top of the list. 

We've not been going mad with the sales, but a few have gone out. 

Not counting this current season, we've sold players to the tune of £206M, (which astonishes me). 

We've got players who are worth a few quid though. 

From above list, only (50a) Amarante (POR)(CPV) 5'10, (who I'm playing at DR), and (41c) Abrantes (POR) *. (who's contract expires at the end of the season), are in my immediate plans to sell, but (41a) Gil (POR) *, (51j) Vicente (POR) *, (47k) Tavares (CPV) * & (50l) Bartlett (ENG) * could all go if the price was right. 

The reality is that because money isn't an option, I sometimes just choose to let players leave on a free at the end of their contract rather than selling them 12 months earlier or offering them a new contract. 31 year old (41c) Abrantes (POR) * is a perfect example of that right now. I could sell him for £10M, but I don't want a young player sitting on the bench all season. I would rather see them play elsewhere which will benefit their development. 

[Jimbokav1971]

53 minutes ago, Thebaker said:

Looks like a back up keeper is needed. 

I don't put a GK on the bench because at no point through this save has my GK suffered a red injury during a game and been unable to continue. Of course there is a chance of injury during training, but for the last few seasons we've not had to deal with that either. 

We do of course have a few option who have left the club but could potentially be re-signed, (although the better ones are getting on now). 

Not many goals here, but certainly lots of appearances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Aug 2057. 

Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. Nice to get the 1st trophy of the season in the bag early. 

Liga Bwin. We're a little bit rusty with regards to a mixture of me changing partnerships and players picking up niggles in pre-season. We had a man sent off in the 1st half against Benfica on opening day and still didn't lose, (but we should have won), but the PdF draw is frustrating, (but at least we didn't lose). 

UEFA Champions League Group. This appears to be an easier group than in recent seasons although Galatasaray have both (47a) Soares (POR) SELL and (44l) Teixeira (CPV) (POR) in their ranks so will be no pushover. 

Transfers. When @Thebakerasked about transfers I think I said something along the lines of "we're not going crazy with sales", but we've still managed to ship £30M worth. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 

 

[Jimbokav1971]

Sep 2057. 

Liga Bwin. The 3 Big Boys, (ourselves, Benfica & Porto), are still unbeaten, but what I want to draw your attention to is the 17 goals scored by Sporting which is only 2 short of our 19 goals. Of these 17 goals, Croat Danijel Puljić has scored 11 of them, (in only 7 appearances). 

UEFA Champions League. We were absolutely destroyed by Man City and 6 or 7 nil would have been a fairer reflection on the game. I know it was our reserves in this game, but if this is the level we need to be at to win the Champions League then we are a million miles off it. We were obliterated!

Goal-scoring GK's. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Oct 2057. 

Liga Bwin. 2 more wins keeps us at the top, but the most impressive thing was keeping Sporting and Puljić scoreless. Benfica & Porto remain unbeaten but Porto did at least drop 2 more points. 

UEFA Champions League. 2 wins and 2 clean sheets has somehow pulled us level on points with Man City who astonishingly lost 1-0 in Turkey. 

Taça de Portugal Placard. (45c) Rosa (POR) * & the Reserves were meant to play in this game, but he got injured so (44a) Simões (POR) * played and scored 5 goals in 34 mins. 

Allianz League Cup. The Reserves eased through against Sporting and it's the 1st time in as long as I can remember that neither (44a) Simões (POR) * nor (45c) Rosa (POR) * started for the 1st Team.

Goal-scoring GK's. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Nov 2057.

Liga Bwin. The goal we conceded against Porto was a counter from an attacking free-kick, (and no I'm not going to stop it). The good news is that Benfica lost their last league game to our local friend SAD  Franchise, (who were promoted again last season), so with a game in hand we're effectively neck and neck. 

UEFA Champions League. We've already qualified for the Knockout Rounds and our home game against Man City will decide whether we progress as Group Leaders or Runners Up. 

Taça de Portugal Placard.

Goal-scoring GK's.

Edited July 27, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

We had 5 games this month. 
We had 6 games last month. 
We had 4 games the previous month. 
Next month we have 9 games. 

[FiftyBeforeThirty]

Jeez, that's a tough run of fixture congestion - hopefully most of them should be "easier" fixtures besides the obvious - would be amazing to sneak that top spot in Europe with a win against City too!

[Thebaker]

11 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Nov 2057.

Liga Bwin. The goal we conceded against Porto was a counter from an attacking free-kick, (and no I'm not going to stop it). The good news is that Benfica lost their last league game to our local friend SAD  Belenenses, (who were promoted again last season), so with a game in hand we're effectively neck and neck. 

 

In spite of them being in the thread title i'd completely forgotten them

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, FiftyBeforeThirty said:

Jeez, that's a tough run of fixture congestion - hopefully most of them should be "easier" fixtures besides the obvious - would be amazing to sneak that top spot in Europe with a win against City too!

I'm in the middle of it, but it's coincided with loads of little niggling 2-3 day injuries and I can't seem to get players properly fit. It's really frustrating. 

Gil Vicente
Man City
Guimaraes
Benfica 

These are probably what I would class as the tough fixtures and at least it allows me to rotate the squad for the easier games between them. The problem is though that with such fitness issues I have had to dispense with rotating from Starting lineup #1 to Starting lineup #2 and instead I'm having to cobble together whoever is fit on the day and it even means that B Team players have started games for the 1st Team and even players who don't even start for the B Team have been called into service. It's been tough, frustrating and challenging, but also really enjoyable. 

Edited July 27, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

10 minutes ago, Thebaker said:

In spite of them being in the thread title i'd completely forgotten them

Yeah, when our B Team started beating them I knew that the SAD  Franchise derby feature in the update was well and truly dead. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Dec 2057. 

Liga Bwin. I was actually quite happy with our form up until the Benfica game, and even after that I'm finding it hard to find much to complain about. We were 2-0 down at Gil Vicente and came back to draw, and then the Guimaraes goal was scored because our GK was caught stranded upfield. This was also the case for the 2nd Benfica goal. As this is such a big part of the save for me I would be silly to enjoy #GoalScoringKeepers so much and then complain about the goals we cough up as a result. It's just the flip side of the coin. 

The problem however is that we're now 1 point behind Benfica AND they have 2 games in hand. I personally think it's unlikely that they are going to drop enough points between now and the rest of the season to let us back in. I must admit that I was secretly thinking that if we could avoid defeat in the Benfica game then we had a real chance of going unbeaten for the whole season. Alas it wasn't to be but there's always next season). 

UEFA Champions League. As much as they completely battered us in the 1st game, we properly gave them a good bludgeoning in this game and were well deserved winners and over the course of the 6 games deserve to finish top of the group. I honestly don't know City were so poor in this game. They didn't have mass injuries or suspensions. 

Taça de Portugal Placard. A cobbled together team was enough to progress in domestic Cups. (51b) Oliveira (POR) ** is meant to be playing for the B team, (and has 10 goals in 15 appearances for them so is doing ok), but I certainly didn't expect him to score 4 goals in the 4 starts I gave him for the 1st Team. 

Allianz league Cup.

Goal-scoring GK's. I'm pretty sure that this is the 1st time in the save that a GK has hit double figures before Jan. (50c) Ako (FRA) (GPE) 6'0" actually reached 11 before Jan.