[FM22] The Fourth Glass, Vol. III: Straight Outta Sagarejo

[ManUtd1]

September 2037 - World Cup Qualifying.

Fortunately, our slow start to the World Cup qualifying campaign proves to be a blip, with big wins over Togo and Zimbabwe.  We can't punch our tickets for South Africa just yet, but we're getting close.

Claiming the title on African soil would be a dream come true.  Only, we are likely 1-2 cycles too early to be thinking along those lines.

 

[ManUtd1]

September 2037 - Youth Intake.

Dreams of progressing to the knockout rounds take a mighty blow on matchday 1 in the Oil Stage, as we stumble to a 1-1 draw against the Ukrainians.  Frankly, we're lucky to pull out the draw late -- we were by far the better squad, but our finishing resembled our Dan Flashes' branded 3rd kits, utter and complete garbage.  

And, it proves to be a double-serving of disappointment as we promptly receive word that this year's Fabrika graduating class is utter and complete garbage -- see, here at Fabrika "good" is a euphemism for "crap."  Gelashvili, Ionanidze and Sigua are our most promising graduates, which speaks volumes.

We close out the month with a frustrating loss to Kompany's Manchester City -- an early goal and a hard-fought equalizer gave us hope, only for the tie to slip from our grasp like a well-oiled marmot.  As well-oiled marmots are wont to do.

  

 

 

[ManUtd1]

October 2037 - World Cup Qualifying.

At home to Guinea, we can secure qualification with a point.  Naturally, that means we concede 2 cheap goals early, pull ourselves back level, and then concede another cheap goal at the death.  As one does.

Which leaves us 2 points clear of Guinea, facing a must-win match in Togo on the final day of qualifying, as we only sit 2 points clear at the top.  It is anything but pretty.  Yet a 3-nil result behind a brace from Azong is all we need, especially since Guinea draw against Zimbabwe. 

Book those tickets, Mat. 

We're going to South Africa.

 

[ManUtd1]

October 2037.

The reserves clinch the Erovnuli Liga 2 title on the same evening we (inevitably) claim the Erovnuli Liga title.  Dominance reasserted after they **** the bed last year.

Speaking of ****ing the bed, we conspired to lose 3-nil to Roberto Martinez's PS-****ing-G in what was, for all intents and purposes, a relatively even match.  For the optimists among us, it is a demonstration of how close we are to cracking Fortress Europe like a raw egg.   

 

 

[ManUtd1]

November 2037.

After a frustrating night in Sagarejo, the return leg in Paris proves to be everything we wanted.  An unqualified moral victory.  The best kind of victory.

Ok, ok.  The French can claim a 5-nil win on the scoresheet.  And millions in prize money from UEFA.  And WAGs of a kind we can only dream of.  Perchance.

But we all know who the real winners are.  And it's the guys from Georgia with armadillos in their trousers that'll be playing on Thursday nights after New Year's.  That's who.

Speaking of moral victories, we have the diametric opposite of that with the Indomitable Lions, stumbling to a friendly loss in Ecuador before righting the ship by curb-stomping the Maldives.

 

 

 

[ManUtd1]

December 2037.

The campaign concludes with another narrow, 0-3 moral victory over Vincent Kompany's Manchester City, the snide ****s that they are.  

There's nothing quite like going out on a high note.

 

[ManUtd1]

Just Once I'd Like Someone To Call Me "Sir" Without Adding "You're Making A Scene"

December 2037 - Season Review

Another campaign defined by dominance at home and mediocrity in Europe.

Something has to give.

Something has to change.

The breakthrough feels close. 

The only problem being that the breakthrough has felt "close" for years.  Yet, we continue to stay the course.  We are not allowing key players to leave -- other than Mbarga.  But he doesn't count.  Moral victories don't put food on the table.  Metaphorically.  Or literally.

Goals for 2038:  Win the lot, domestically. Make a run in the 2037/38 Europa League knockout rounds and 2038 World Cup.  Qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds in 2038/39.

   

  

 

Edited July 1, 2022 by ManUtd1

[ManUtd1]

Achille Awoa, Danny Roberts Challenge - 2037 Overview

The first full campaign for Achille Awoa in Georgia, and it is a big year.  We're well on the road to 1,000 Appearances, even if 1,000 Goals is looking like an absolute pipe dream. 

Ngongang and Kameni are a few years ahead of Awoa, and well on their way to the Appearances mark.  

 

 

[ManUtd1]

South Africa 2038 - World Cup Draw.

Given that practically everyone is a 1st seed given the new (aka bull****) World Cup format, our joy at sitting in that "elite" pot is somewhat tempered.

All the more so when Lionel Messi dips his midget hand into the hopper and pulls out our ball for Group E, to face Romania and Ecuador.

It is not the worst draw we could have received.  But it isn't as straightforward as we had wanted.

 

[ManUtd1]

Mat is tasked with arranging our pre-World Cup friendlies.

The task is simple.  Assess the style of play utilized by Ecuador and Romania, and find a like-for-like friendly to help us get ready

Meaning I wake up the next day to find that we're scheduled to face Mongolia, Bhutan and the US Virgin Islands in Yaounde before flying to South Africa.

Something tells me Mat didn't take the assignment very seriously.

[ManUtd1]

We will face Olympiacos in the First Knockout Round of the Europa League -- a highly favorable draw given that we've scored goals for fun against them in recent years.

 

[ManUtd1]

Television rights in the Erovnuli Liga continue to rise incrementally.

[ManUtd1]

January 2038 - Transfer News.

Francis Mbarga departs for the greener pastures of FC Koln ($3.3M plus 50% next sale). 

Though Mbarga was not in the 1st XI, Tornike Khukhua is.  Accordingly, the declaration that he will not sign a new contract means that he is immediately put into the shop window, before he leaves on a free in 12 months' time.  No concern, however, as Anibal Rauhofer arrives to take up where Khukhua will leave off.  He is the 1st of 2 previously-announced South American signings, both of whom could make a significant difference.

Simon Enow will train as a ball-winning midfielder and play in the 2nd XI with Tadjong Dongou, a pacey, two-footed winger who needs minutes to develop.  Christian Moukoko will also arrive in late February to shore up our defensive line.

With no other notable, confirmed signings or departures, the open question for the rest of the transfer window is whether Giorgi Dvali will depart -- I'm loathe to let a Fabrika graduate leave, but he's in the 2nd XI now having fallen behind Kameni and Nolla.  If he pushes, he'll leave.  Otherwise, I am 110% happy to let him romp through the domestic calendar for years to come.

  

   

Edited July 2, 2022 by ManUtd1

[ManUtd1]

Ahead of the Olympiacos match, we debut our new kits -- branded with not just our primary sponsor, Dan Flashes, but our newest sponsor, the local soup company that has thrown its weight behind us (it's the least they could do, after killing my father).  The Brothel now features on our shoulders in the home and away kits, and on the front of our (rarely-used) 3rd kits.

Edited July 2, 2022 by ManUtd1

[ManUtd1]

February 2038 - Europa League, 1st Knockout Round.

Anibal opens his Gareji account within the 1st 5 minutes in Greece -- a thunderbastard from 8 yards out, straight through the floppy fish hands of the Greek keeper.  We make quick work of the Greeks, who have no answer to the complexity of our new threads.

We will face John Aloisi's Lyon in the next round.

 

[ManUtd1]

Hype train.

Get on it.

[karanhsingh]

Loving the new kits!

Did you give Moukoko number 0? Didn't know you can do that. 

[wynter]

5 hours ago, ManUtd1 said:

John Aloisi's Lyon

Spoiler

 

Domestic dominance looks to be on. Perchance. Hopefully the Danny Roberts challenge is possible, never thought about having a crack at it because I can never commit to a club that long 

[ManUtd1]

11 hours ago, karanhsingh said:

Loving the new kits!

Did you give Moukoko number 0? Didn't know you can do that. 

Thanks!

I wish you could give players 0 or 00, but this is just the default in my skin when they don't have one 

6 hours ago, wynter said:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Domestic dominance looks to be on. Perchance. Hopefully the Danny Roberts challenge is possible, never thought about having a crack at it because I can never commit to a club that long 

I think it's very, very possible. The big issue is that we need to raise the profile of the Erovnuli Liga to make sure we don't lose them... Perchance.

[ManUtd1]

March 2038 - Europa League, 2nd Knockout Round.

Proving the old saying about Australian-managed clubs, Aloisi's Lyon can't take the heat of the barbie.  We dominate in Sagarejo, but conspire to draw 1-1 after hitting the post three times.  In France, however, we take care of business -- claiming a 2-1 win (3-2 (agg/aet)).  

Maybe we aren't as far off the pace as we thought.

Maybe Lyon are just ****.

 

[ManUtd1]

March 2038 - Cup of Nations Qualifying.

A big win over Libya -- aka "the Australia of North Africa" -- kicks off the qualifying campaign in style, followed by a narrow 1-nil win over Guinea, a side that has proven to be a bogey for us in recent history.

Our perfect start to the campaign continues.  Ze Germans stand in our way.  Like they always do, with their aerodynamic haircuts and waxed legs.  The ****s.

 

 

[ManUtd1]

[ManUtd1]

April 2038 - Europa League, Quarterfinals.

No one will accuse us of playing well in Germany.  Least of all, Cosic, who has what might be his worst match in a Gareji kit -- some of our supporters were rather vocal at the final whistle, insisting that he had lost the right to wear the Dan Flashes-emblazoned kit.  To his credit, he promptly removed it in his shame.

90 minutes back at the Gorlami should give us the advantage.

Our opening goal is the sauciest salami that has ever been laid at the Gorlami.  We, again, are not playing well.  But we are doing just enough.  Ze Germans score late to force extra time, but Kameni finds some gas left in the tank to give us the lead in the 106th minute...an undeserved win, but we will take it.

Carlos Pintado's Lille await, like the bourgeois ****s they are.

  

[ManUtd1]

April/May 2038 - Europa League, Semifinals.

We concede first in France.  It was the polite thing to do -- like bringing a bottle of wine to a party, and not putting your **** in the mashed potatoes.  Anibal pulls us back level just before the half, capping a lightning-quick counterattack with a curling, physics-defying finish into the top corner.  Jakimovski claims our 2nd in the 56th, beating the offside trap with a run from deep -- and, to think, people laughed when I described him as a left-back/poacher.  Who's laughing now, Rachel?!

VAR chalks off a late equalizer for the French -- their late push insufficient by every measure.  We have the French right where we want them -- with no choice but to attack in Sagarejo.

Ahead of the 2nd leg, The Brothel commemorates the occasion with a new soup -- Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkey, with the tag-line "taste the monkey."  (Though truth-in-advertising laws and the local Health Department mandate one minor clarification -- the monkey in the soup's name is a reference to the cheese, not the meat.  So, don't worry about that.)

The 2nd XI play 2 matches in 72 hours ahead of the 2nd leg.  Savage fixture congestion -- congestion the GFF refuses to alleviate.  No rest for the wicked.

At kickoff, we know that chances will fall our way.  If we can take them, we will advance.  If not, anything can happen.  Former Gareji captain Luis Robledo opens the scoring with a free header in the 30th.  Not cool, Luis.

Jakimovski draws us level within short order -- a delightful chip over the keeper after Awoa hits him in the seam.  Additional chances fall our way, to no avail.  We need to be more ruthless.  On the hour, Lille find their 2nd, drawing level on aggregate.  Warning signs are flashing.  But we have nothing but heavy legs on the bench.

Undettered, Awoa again unlocks the French defense almost immediately -- hitting Kameni in the seam, this time.  2-2 on the night.  4-3 on aggregate.  A looping header from Kameni minutes later gives us a two-goal lead...perchance.

Lille have no response, like the Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys that they are.  Two years after reaching the Europa Conference League final, we reach the Europa League final.

Eddie Howe's Athletic await in the final.  Stupid, sexy Eddie.

 

  

  

[ManUtd1]

May 2038 - Europa League, Final.

Our primary goal ahead of the Final is to keep Eddie's men caged in a metaphorical basket for 90 minutes -- akin to the old Georgian children's song, a tisket, a tasket a Basque locked in a basket -- which I realize is in poor taste, given Georgia's long history of discrimination against the Basques.  

But, when in Tbilisi...

Actually, we'll face them in Hamburg.  But that's beside the point.

We're 90 minutes from a European title.  And an automatic, seeded berth into the Champions League Group Stage.  Immortality, one might even say.  

Our reserves celebrate the occasion by eliminating Dinamo Tbilisi from the Davit Kipiani Cup on penalties -- a most-welcome gesture.  Thoughtful to say the least.

We set out with our standard tactics in Europe -- PM Draugrson, tweaked.  Less patient in the final third; more aggressive.  As if reading my mind, Anibal opens the scoring with a 20-yard, first-time laser into the side netting.  The Basques undoubtedly expected him to look for a pass, but not today.

The Basques pull back level in 30th through a well-worked free kick.  A punch to the jaw.  We counterpunch minutes later, Toroshelidze finding Noah at the back post for an easy tap-in. 

Athletic are the better team in the first half, but no matter -- we are the more ruthless.  An hour gone, and the patterns seem set.  The Basques have no response to our kung fu...until a 93rd-minute, last-gasp equalizer from Moreno.  The cheeky ****.  The last kick of regulation.

Extra time it is. 

Celador finds the back of the net in the 108th, and it feels like we're dead in the water.  No gas left in the tank.  And that is where it ends.

Once mere seconds from glory, we have to watch the Basques claim the trophy and celebrate.  Even worse?  Kameni takes a knock and will be out for 3-5 weeks, missing the World Cup Group Stage.

Mark my words.  Many a basket will be burned in rural Georgia tonight.  Many a basket.

  

 

 

[ManUtd1]

June 2038 - European Review.

Julien Stephan's Real Madrid claimed their first Champions League since 2018, with a 2-1 (aet) win over Julian Nagelsmann's Bayern Munich.

As discussed above, Athletic defeated Gareji in the Europa League final (2-1, aet).

And, rounding out the extra-time wins, Brian Priske's Everton defeated Luuk de Jong's Levante, 2-1 (aet) to secure the Europa Conference League.

In the active leagues, there were few if any surprises.  Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool reclaimed the Premier League title; Nagelsmann's Bayern reclaimed the Bundesliga, thanks to a Hertha Berlin draw on Matchday 36; Diego Simeone's Inter secured their 4th straight Serie A title when Roma lost on Matchday 38 to Sassuolo at home; Stephan's Real Madrid won the La Liga title at a canter; and Roberto Martinez's PS-****ing-G did PS-****ing-G things.

  

  

  

    

[ManUtd1]

June 2038 - Coefficient Update.

Gareji rise to 21st in the coefficients table, with the Erovnuli Liga jumping to 25th in the competitions table.  And, we only sit 1 spot off automatic entry to the Champions League Group Stage.  

Big doings going on in Georgia.  Finally.

 

   

[ManUtd1]

South Africa 2038 - World Cup, Group Stage

We take a squad full of familiar faces to South Africa.  Young.  Hungry.  Battle-tested.

The pre-tournament friendlies are little more than a chance to build up fitness and refresh our players memories as to our unorthodox tactics.

Ecuador are first out of the chute -- a side we owe after losing to them in a friendly last year.  It is a cagey match, neither side giving an inch, until Awoa unlocks the Ecuadorian back line just after the break, setting Ndjitap free to slot home our opener.  Abega finds another just after the hour, and we can start to breathe easy.

A less than impressive outing against Romania follows -- requiring a late goal from Dieu to avoid a 3-way tie in the Group, the 1-1 draw enough to see us through as champions.

 

 

 

[ManUtd1]

South Africa 2038 - World Cup, Second Round

Kameni is available for El Salvador.  We decide to get him minutes from the bench, along with an overtired Awoa.

We are in desperate need of a spark.  Yet, we cannot leave it all on the table against the Central Americans.

We are in control early on, as expected -- albeit without anything to show for it, until Ndjitap finds the back of the net in the 54th.  A vital finish.  One which allows us to remain conservative with our substitutions.  We run out comfortable 2-1 winners, to face Bo Henriksen's Poland in the Third Round after they defeated Brede Moe's Norway, 2-nil.

 

[ManUtd1]

Ooh...

[ManUtd1]

Oooooh....

 

[ManUtd1]

South Africa 2038 - World Cup, Third Round

Against Poland, Kameni is finally on the pitch.  We are the better team.  Yet, we concede a late equalizer...and just when it looks like extra time is inevitable, Kameni unlocks the defense with a 40-yard, diagonal Hollywood ball to Meyong.  Poland are screaming for offsides, but VAR is not having it.

90th minute?  So what.

We will face ze Germans in the ze quarterfinals.  Marco Rose, you saucy devil.  Is that a schnitzel in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?!

 

 

 

[ManUtd1]

South Africa 2038 - World Cup, Quarterfinals

Surely, this is the end of the road.  We are not playing well.  On paper, we are the least impressive side remaining.   The youngest.  The least experienced. It has been -- for all the hype -- a tournament to forget, especially for Awoa.

Surely, the last thing we will see in South Africa will be Marco Rose's skin-tight lederhosen, cavorting around the pitch at the final whistle.

No surprise, then, as we fall behind early and are lucky to escape the first 20 minutes only down a goal.  In the 27th, Awoa hits a long-range bomb, which deflects and falls to Kameni, the keeper stranded.  All of a sudden, we're level.

It cannot last.

It does not.

Ze Germans are simply too good.  We fail to get another look at goal and crash out, 3-1.

 

[ManUtd1]

July/August 2038.

After the furor of the Spring European campaign and a World Cup, the last weeks of July and August feel luxuriously boring in comparison.  We make short work of Astana and Dynamo Kyiv to return to the Champions League Group Stage, only to be paired with Roberto Martinez's PS-****ing-G, Dejan Stankovic's Dortmund, and Molde.  This "third seed" nonsense needs to end, one way or another.

Mat has seen fit to hang my father's painting in the hallway outside our shared office.  It's odd.  If you squint, the scene and house are a spitting image of our new digs.  But that can't be.  It must be a coincidence.

   

 

[ManUtd1]

September 2038 - Cup of Nations Qualifying.

4 matches.

4 wins.

Qualification secured.

Like a boss.

 

[ManUtd1]

September 2038.

After what we did to Deborah's desk, we are trying to keep a low profile around the club offices these days.

Yet, it is hard not to celebrate the emergence of what may be the best players to graduate from Fabrika -- Khvicha "Gabby" Gabunia and Davit Mchedlishvili.  The hype machine is already kicking off.  I'm inclined to agree.

I wonder if they can be persuaded to take up Cameroonian citizenship...

  

   

 

[ManUtd1]

October 2038 - International Friendlies.

Two friendlies that are anything but, though Madagascar's utilization of @Benjoe's patented "ween" formation seems to have been, in hindsight, a poor choice.

 

[ManUtd1]

October/November 2038.

The illusion of parity in Sagarejo -- we come within moments of a monumental upset over the French ****s at the Gorlami, before conceding a late equalizer to the French.  Weeks later, they annihilate us.  

I realize that a more pragmatic tactical approach would change our fortunes.  

Still, we persist.

For a man is nothing if he has no principles.

  

 

 

[ManUtd1]

On 20/06/2022 at 22:54, karanhsingh said:

Man Utd still a step too far I guess. Can't believe Ole is still managing them!

November 2038.  That's how long it took -- after 3 PL titles, 6 FA Cup titles, and 4 CL titles.

[ManUtd1]

December 2038.

A strong close to the end of the campaign, heavy legs notwithstanding.  It is, in terms of points, one of our best Champions League campaigns to date -- with draws against both ze Germans and PS-****ing-G.  

The squad is far from developed.  But this is a mark of progress, provided we choose to see it as such.

 

[karanhsingh]

1 hour ago, ManUtd1 said:

November 2038.  That's how long it took -- after 3 PL titles, 6 FA Cup titles, and 4 CL titles.

If only real life were a bit more like FM when it comes to man United 

[ManUtd1]

The Means By Which We Achieve Victory Are As Important As The Victory Itself

December 2038 - Season Review

With each passing year, we get closer to realizing our dreams.  We could reach the Promised Land sooner, if we were willing to be more pragmatic in Europe.  Compromise our attacking principles.

But that would be a bridge too far.

We will get there.  I can feel it in my bones.

But that might just be the Swedish peyote Mat brought home from his last scouting trip.

A full-blown squad review is in order.  We need to run the rule over the squad.  Find out who is holding us back.  Find the holes.  Backfill them.

Goals for 2039:  Win the lot, domestically. Make a run in the 2038/39 Europa League knockout rounds.  Win the 2039 Cup of Nations.  Qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds in 2038/39.

   

  

[karanhsingh]

You have $462m in the bank 

What you gonna do with all that money!

[ManUtd1]

Achille Awoa, Danny Roberts Challenge - 2038 Overview

Another year is in the books.  Achille Awoa is on course for 1,000 appearances, thanks in no small part to the fact that he has 53 caps at the age of 20.  Frankly, he's a big part of the reason why we aren't adopting more pragmatic tactics -- it would be an utter waste of his talent to be more defensive.  We need to surround him with more talent.  Better talent.  Sexier talent. 

Ngongang and Kameni are included, again, for the sake of comparison.  Both are well on their way to the Appearances mark, but Kameni really needs to start scoring more.  We had an "off" year in terms of team goalscoring with Gareji -- numbers fell off as we replaced two of our leading goalscorers/creators, though Anibal and Bruno should pick up that slack once they learn our tactics and PPMs.

 

[ManUtd1]

1 minute ago, karanhsingh said:

You have $462m in the bank 

What you gonna do with all that money!

Recruit an army of preteen security interns while playing key-tar at local bar mitzvahs.  They will be called the "Changlourious Basterds," and given free reign at the Gorlami.

[ManUtd1]

Gareji Sagarejo - Squad Review, December 2038

In hindsight, it has been some time since we took a detailed look at the Gareji squad.  So, as we get closer and closer to my squad goal with each passing year, a full-blown squad review seems long overdue.

So let's dive in.

In 2038, we finished the campaign with a 26-man squad.  For the most part, I am extremely happy with it.  Yet, upon closer inspection, it seems like we're in need of some improvement in our backline -- an area that I've inadvertently neglected over the last few years, given my impression that we were largely "set" with the likes of Beridze and our loan army from 2036-37.  We also have a slew of promising young talents, due in part to my penchant for signing unattached youth internationals.

 

We are still playing PM Draugrson, the strikerless tactic detailed on FtCS -- The Night Is Dark & Full of Terrors, only with the inverted wingback on an attack duty.  (My in-game tweaks have also evolved over the course of the last 9 months, but that isn't worth detailing in here.)

Obviously, this will not be a review of each and every player at the club.  Rather, I intend to look at the current senior squad, talented youth within the ranks, and key future signings.

Goalkeepers.

In goal, we have an undisputed starter -- Franck Ngongang, who features for both Cameroon and Gareji.  His competition in the first team is from Aleksandre Sirbiladze -- a perfectly good keeper, but not good enough to dislodge Franck in goal.

Tymur Slotyuk features for our reserves in the Erovnuli Liga 2 -- a three-time Golden Glove winner in the 2nd tier, he's the kind of player who in editions past I would have assumed would make the transition to the senior team without missing a beat.  He simply hasn't developed in the way I expected. 

Arthur Asatryan anchors the backline for our U19s -- a member of the Armenian youth national team that my scouts and coaches think could be the business.  He'll promote to the reserves once he signs a professional contract.

   

Defenders.

At libero, we have the one player who needs no introduction to anyone following this thread -- Achille Awoa.  He is an absolute beast for both club and country -- a player around whom all of our tactical decisions are being made.  We would be far more pragmatic if it wouldn't be a waste of his attacking talents -- he fits the "deep-lying shadow striker" archetype that I prefer for the position, as opposed to the more traditional "ball-playing defender" or "playmaker who can tackle" archetypes. Yann Ayong is Awoa's capable backup for both club and country -- arguably good enough to start, he will forever live in Achille's shadow.  In the reserves, I'm retraining Finnish youth international Indrek Pihelgas to play as a libero.  Only time will tell if this kid has the chops to make it -- as a free transfer, he is worth it even if he doesn't turn out to be first-team quality.

At centerback, we've relied on the pairing of Giorgi Beridze and Beka Nikoleishvili this year, with Bruno Ntamack, Christian Moukoko and Nika Digmelashvili sharing time in the 2nd XI.  It is a strong group of players.  But I can't help but think I need to add quality here.  Ntamack and Moukoko could likely step into the 1st XI with a bit more development.  We also have Mario Miladinov in the reserves -- a player signed as a free agent who featured heavily for our U19s throughout his trial and has developed significantly, but was overlooked by my reserves manager for some reason -- a mistake that we will rectify by promoting Miladinov to the senior squad for 2039.  Bottom line -- if there is any single position in our XI that I think needs reinforcement, it is centerback.

Elvir Cosic is our preferred right wingback -- cut from the winger mold that I prefer, he is everything we could ask for.  (The oddity of our tactics being that his ratings suffer mightily if he doesn't get involved in the game.)  His backup is Benjamin Manga, a Cameroonian international who plays on both flanks but is limited in his abilities.  I have tremendously high hopes for Mohamed Komina, a two-footed Malian that will join us in the summer of 2039 -- I should probably play Komina on the left, but we are too stacked there for him to find a breakthrough.  We also have Davit Hovhannisyan in the U19s, waiting for his chance to shine...if he can develop.

At left inverted wingback, we have one of my favorite (non-libero) players, Iljo Jakimovski.  Ever since we tweaked the tactic to incorporate an attack duty, this position has been his -- a delightfully insane addition to our passing and movement, in possession.  Patrick Bell is his backup, with the once-promising Nikoloz Shengelia in our reserves.  The real gem is Mauricio Fernandez, however -- a Honduran U21 who my scouts think will be bigger than Jeebus, and is currently biding his time "on trial" with our U19s pending joining the squad on his 18th birthday.

                

Central Midfielders.

Our central midfield pairing sees Davit Toroshelidze at mezzala with Gabriel Abega at ball-winning midfielder.  Tons of creativity, even if we're missing some steel.  Marcelo Obama, Patrick Aboubakar and Simon Enow are their ostensible backups right now, with Mehrdad Hatami still lingering around the fringes of the squad.  Luca Giannattasio is a player I once thought could break through, but has never progressed beyond our reserves.

2038 Fabrika graduates Khvicha Gabunia and Davit Mchedlishvili will spend 2039 with the U19s and reserves, but look good value for the future -- they are arguably the best prospects we have generated in our years in rural Georgia.  The question being whether they can meet that potential.

Playing time will be at a premium with the U19s, though, as we have promising additional talent on trial -- Emeka Isaac and Vahang Babayan.  They look far less likely to break through than Khvicha and Davit, but you never know.  Jacques Kouakou will also join the club in February 2039.

            

Attacking Midfielders.

Up top, I am extremely pleased with our 1st XI -- Anibal Rauhofer, flanked by Thierry Kameni and Bruno Bernales.  Tons of speed and creativity.  Going forward, this group should be more than capable of taking us the distance in Europe, provided that Anibal and Bernales continue to develop and assimilate into our tactics.

Anto Brkic is our backup advanced playmaker -- a player with massive potential, he's only 20 but at times I feel like his chance has passed.  I thought he was going to be everything for us.  Don't get me wrong -- he has a role to play, I just don't expect him to ever be the player I thought he would be.  (In my head, he's the Paul Pogba of our side.)  Leonard Kola looks the business, but isn't quick enough to play in our front line.  If we weren't so deep at mezzala, I would retrain him to play deeper.

On the flanks, our depth largely consists of 3 Cameroonian players -- Alioum Noah, Duval Nolla and Tadjong Dongou.  Solid players, though I don't expect any of them to push their way into the 1st XI.  They were primarily bought for the purposes of development for the Indomitable Lions, anyways.

       

Final Thoughts.

Overall, I don't think there are many obvious holes in the squad.  We're largely purpose-built to play my tactics.  We are, however, extremely young.  We need time to develop.  And, arguably, some reinforcements or improvement at centerback.  Beyond that, however, there isn't much we can do to immediately improve our fortunes.

One sign that we're doing things right?  A whole host of European squads from "big" leagues are after our players.  To forestall their departure, we're using every trick in the book -- 3 year automatic extensions, new contracts handed out like candy, etc.  So long as our coefficient continues to improve, we should be able to keep the spine of this team together for the foreseeable future.

Edited July 4, 2022 by ManUtd1

[ManUtd1]

Doctor Congo 2039 -- African Cup of Nations, Group Stage

We head to Kinshasa with a virtually unchanged squad.  And, if I'm being honest, I can't be bothered to do another full-blown review.  We have a relatively straightforward group -- Burundi, Mozambique and Algeria, in that order.  

Mat also scheduled a pre-tournament friendly against Nepal - there's a logic there, even if I can't puzzle it out.

Buruni prove to be nothing more than cannon fodder, unable to deal with Kameni's pace and power.  We are equally dominant against Mozambique; the scoreline doesn't demonstrate it, but we take all 3 points.  Meaning we can (and do) rotate the squad against Algeria.

The 2nd XI do us proud -- claiming a 2-nil win to secure the Group title.  We've been runners-up the last 2 years, though, so no one thinks that the job is done.  Our reward?  A knockout round match against the hosts in Matadi.

 

  

 

[ManUtd1]

Doctor Congo 2039 -- African Cup of Nations, Second Round

It's the Ndjitap show against Doctor Congo.  We take the lead only to concede...I thought it was won in the 88th, only for Masoud to equalize at the death.

The lottery of penalties is kind, as our lads are clinical, with Ngongang saving the Good Doctors' 5th penalty to ensure passage to the quarterfinals.  Not that we deserved it, on balance.

To Mat's great confusion, we will face Congo in the quarterfinals, on 48 hours' rest.

  

 

[ManUtd1]

Doctor Congo 2039 -- African Cup of Nations, Quarterfinals

The match against Congo is about as glorious as one would expect, on 48 hours' rest.  We rotate the squad heavily just to survive, and still dominate entirely.  Yet, with heavy legs it is left for Meyong to win it late.

Glorious?  Hardly.  But it is enough.

 

 

[ManUtd1]

Doctor Congo 2039 -- African Cup of Nations, Semifinals

Cote d'Ivoire is about a tough a match as we could ask for.  We have time to rest, though, such that the 1st XI can take the pitch.  No excuses.

Azong claims first blood in the 9th.  The start we needed...only for Les Elephants to equalize 10 minutes later...yet Ndjitap restores our lead on the half-hour mark.  We are the better team on the day thus far, we simply need to continue executing our gameplan.

Minutes later, we concede again, against the run of play.  Unacceptable.

The halftime teamtalk is Mat screaming obscenities.  We need to light a fire under the lads.  We manage to hit the Ivorians on the counter in the 59th -- the referee playing the advantage when Ndjitap is cynically hacked down on the halfway line, with Azong running clear, centering to find Kameni breaking the offside trap.  3-2.  For now...only, instead of ceding a position of strength, it's Ndjitap extending our lead mere moments later.  Azong finds our fifth before the Ivorians can catch their breath, and our supporters begin to dream of another final.  Not even a 94th minute concession can dampen our spirits.

We're through.