[FM23] Out of Africa. (Spanish out of Morocco to be precise). We will start with Ceuta, but if things go badly I might end up at Melila.

[Jimbokav1971]

24 minutes ago, Thebaker said:

Looks like 3 great strikers there, David is probably better than he looks as he is 2 footed.

We've got a few decent PA strikers at the club right now, but not loads in terms of actual CA.

We're playing with a 3 up front right now and (29a) Gil plays on the right of the 3. He's starting to become more and more influential. He's being tracked by Brentford, Sheff Utd & Udinese. 

Ndlovu (RSA) was 1st choice through the middle at the start of the season, but due to injury he has been replaced by Shezi (RSA). I don't think he was a Perfectionist when he arrived so that's a nice addition, but his physicals need to be better I think. He's being tracked by FC Andorra

Mabasa (RSA) has been playing on the left of the 3 and is developing nicely. It's not his job to score despite playing up front. I see him more as a tucked in winger than a striker. He's been playing as a DLF but I think I might be tweaking him in the future because I think we can get more out of him. He's being tracked by Lyon. 

Benachour (ALG)(FRA) plays either wide left or right, (in a front 3), and his physicals twinned with his dribbling ability make him a real problem for opposition teams to deal with. He's a decent squads player for us despite his limitations. He's basically an Algerian rubbish Traore. 

Lebese (RSA) is another South African striker and he's more suited to a wider role than the central clinical finishing role through the middle. 

We've got more depth below these 5, but these are our most significant strikers right now. That's pretty good depth for this season, but most of them probably won;t be good enough for LaLiga if we get promoted. You never know what another seasons worth of development in the top flight will do to them though. 

[Jimbokav1971]

May 2032. 

LaLiga. What with drawing the last 2 games of last month, and then losing and drawing at the start of this month, it meant that we took 3 points from a possible 12 and that hurt our playoff push. Luckily though we regained our mojo and finished the month strongly with 3 wins and 2 clean sheets. With 1 game remaining, only Lugo, (who spanked 4 goals past us this month), can stop us from making the playoffs, and to make things more difficult, our final day opponent is none other than top of the table Málaga. The good news is that we are at least at home. Lugo are at home to Valladolid, (who have already secured a playoff spot), and they too are at home. 

We have a 1 point advantage and a 4 goal advantage, but I'm guessing that Spain uses the head to head rule before the goal difference rule, (I've just checked and it does), and if it comes to that we're in trouble as we lost both games 4-2 to them this season. Basically, if they win, then we need to win. If they draw then we need to draw or win. If they lose then it's party time. Got it? 

Goal-scoring GK's. 12 goals for a season is decent. For a 16/17 year old GK playing in his 1st full season and playing in a league like LaLiga 2 it's rather impressive if you ask me. 

 

Finances. 

 

[Jimbokav1971]

Last regular game of the season. Jun 2032. 

The league table looks like this with 1 game to play and Lugo beat us 4-2 in both our games against them this season, so if we finish level on points with them they will be above us in the table.

We're playing Malaga who have already been crowned Champions and who have nothing to play for. Although Malaga were crowned Champions with games to spare, that hasn't impacted their league form and they're unbeaten in 9 and have only suffered 1 loss in their last 15 games, (to Valladolid). 

Lugo are playing Valladolid who are assured of a playoff spot but who can't finish 2nd. 

Remember, we have to match the Lugo result. 

I was trying to build this up into a cagey affair that was really close, but in the end we absolutely battered Champions Malaga and were 3 up after 28 mins. It was properly never in doubt. 

What was the Lugo result you might be wondering? Who cares is my answer! (They won 2-1 so we actually did need to win to make the playoffs). 

We really are the form team in the league at the moment. Can we take that momentum into the playoffs and get back into the top tier? Part of me doesn't want to get promoted because I;m really interested to see if we get parachute payments for a 2nd and subsequent seasons. I also think our young squad might just develop more doing well in LaLiga 2 rather than getting smashed each week in LaLiga. I could actually throw the playoffs just by playing really young youngsters in key positions...... 

[Jimbokav1971]

LaLiga 2 Playoffs. Jun 2032. 

Because we jumped above Valladolid on the last day, we play 4th placed Getafe, (unbeaten in their last 5 games), rather than 3rd placed S. Gijón, (lost their last 2 games). 

I have been known to throw individual games before to improve our chances in the long run, but I can't remember ever throwing a Playoff game so that we didn't get promoted and I'm not going to stop now. If we win then we win and if we lose then we lose, and of course winning the Playoffs is an actual thing. 

Semi-Final 1st Leg. 2 goals down after 15 mins I thought we were going to be on the end of a hiding and I needn't have worried about "throwing" anything. We grabbed 1 back just before the break and then Shezi (RSA) simply destroyed them in the 2nd half with a virtuoso performance. 5-2 is a big lead and should comfortably see us into the Final because they're unlikely to keep us scoreless in the 2nd leg. 

20 year old Shezi (RSA) has now scored 17 goals in 16(5) appearances since joining us in January. 

Semi-FInal 2nd Leg. I rested 8 out of 10 outfield players for the 2nd leg and it almost cost us as we were absolutely hammered, but we somehow scored twice against the run of play and "ease"  into the Final 7-5 on aggregate. 

We play Valladolid in the Final, (who finished below us in the league). 

Final. We dominated the game from start to finish and in hindsight resting 8 of 10 outfield players for the 2nd leg of the Semi feels like cheating now. There was only 4 games between the Semi and the Final, but I had the bottle to do it, (albeit emboldened by a 3-goal lead), and it worked a treat. 

We're back in the big time! 

Hang on a minute...... It hasn't actually been announced that we've been promoted. What's going on? 

OMG  It's a 2-legged Playoff Final. We won the away leg 2-0 and now have to play the home leg. 

Final. (2nd Leg). Well this wasn't the stroll in the park I had been anticipating. They just kept coming, and coming and coming again and again! 

I must admit this doesn't seem such a surprise at all. We've been great in the 2nd half of the season. We're a much better team than the side that went up 2 years ago. The only reason we went up was because Crespo dragged us up almost on his own. I think we should have a decent chance of staying up next season, (and by that I mean I will have the right hump if we get relegated). 

Records. 

Finances. 

Facilities. 

The game obviously hasn't registered that we're due to move into a new 15,000 capacity stadium in July next season. 

They also don't realise that even if we weren't relocating to our new stadium, we would be able to play in our existing stadium for 2 years before this rule made us play somewhere else. 

This El Presidente is better than the last El Presidente. 

Twice I managed to get him to change his mind, but he just wouldn't budge on the Youth Facilities and the meeting was over after just 1 round of discussions because he's adamant that he wants me to sign 1st-Team ready players. That's interesting. He's never mentioned that in a "Vision" discussion. We've got some very good youngsters at the club now. I wonder how I get him to change his mind on this and see us as a Youth Development club. Is it by selling youngsters for big bucks? 

Favoured Personnel. There are still no Legends or ICONs at the club. Surely I can't be too far away from becoming an ICON myself after a 2nd promotion to the top tier!

Supporter Profile. This really isn't working as intended. In each of the last 2 seasons where we have been promoted, our core fan base has decreased. This is just wrong. 

[Thebaker]

7 hours ago, alexcmann said:

Nice work on the promotion again!

My read on the supporter profile is different. It’s not talking about absolute fans, but fans as a % of the total. It makes sense to me that the higher a club climbs, the more casual and glory hunting fans it attracts. I think about my club Leyton Orient - we’re having our best season in years IRL and attendances are way up, because people who only come when we’re doing well have showed up. But the core fans are the same (or have increased in number but not by the equivalent number of fair weather fans). That’s my read anyway!

That is my read as well re the fans, higher you go the more glory fans turn up with the core and hardcore remaining the same number but a smaller percentage. Longer term success may increase the core fans.

@Jimbokav1971 well done on another promotion. hopefully the new stadium will help the finances as well, should be able to fill it on promotion.

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2032. 

GK. We have (31a) Fernando for 2 more years and then we have a +1 after that. I'd love to get him to sign a new contract but I'm not sure how realistic that is. 

1st Team. (31a) Fernando
B Team. (30f) Sow. (ESP)(SEN) 6'2"
U19's. (32c) Lazić (ESP)(SRB)
Loan. Khelifa (FRA)(ALG) 6'4"
Sell. Diarra. (MLI)(ESP) 6'2"

DL. I'm happy with Nyamsi (FRA)(CMR), but Demissie (ETH)(ENG) & Aradj (ALG)(FRA) are 25 and 27 respectively and I would rather sell them and bring in younger players. I can't afford to pay the wages that experienced players would demand and I also want to keep bringing young players in on the basis that I will surely hit gold eventually. 

1st Team. Nyamsi (FRA)(CMR), Demissie (ETH)(ENG) & Aradj (ALG)(FRA).
B Team.
U19's.
Loan.
Sell.

DR. Ngiamba (COG)(FRA) is 25 and Dlamini (RSA) is 19 so I quite like the relationship between these 2 that will allow 1 to develop while the stronger player performs at a higher level until such time as the student becomes the master and the older player can be sold and a new protege brought on board. 

1st Team. Ngiamba (COG)(FRA) & Dlamini (RSA).
B Team.
U19's. (32k) Agudelo (COL)(ESP)
Loan.
Sell.

DC. This has been the weakest area of the squad for a while now and it's my priority to bring in at least 1 strong centre-half who will help us stay up next season. 

1st Team. 
B Team.
U19's. 
Loan.
Sell.

MC. I wasn't overly happy with the contribution of Aidir (MAR)(ESP) at DLP last season. He wasn't anywhere near creative enough for us as a DLP and his key pass stats were way down on what I would expect from a team in the playoffs. I've decided I'm going to stick with him for 1 more season. 

1st Team. Aidir (MAR)(ESP), Nchama (EQG)(ESP) 6'2" & Macalou (MLI). Abiodun (NGA)(ESP), (30a) Álex & Diallo (FRA)(MLI). 
B Team.
U19's. 
Loan.
Sell.

SC. We've got quite a few decent wide strikers, (the players that play on the left or the right of a 3 up front), but we've got very few clinical strikers who can play centrally and be tha main goal threat. 

1st Team. Mabasa (RSA), Shezi (RSA) & (29a) Gil. Lebese (RSA), Ndlovu (RSA) & Benachour (ALG)(FRA).
B Team.
U19's. 
Loan.
Sell.

Other positions. 

Vilakazi (RSA) * is a right winger but he could do a job in 1 of the wide striker positions up front. 

Mrabet (FRA)(MAR) is a left winger but he could do a job in 1 of the wide striker positions up front. 

Eshun (GHA)(ENG) is a left winger but he could do a job in 1 of the wide striker positions up front. 

[Jimbokav1971]

13 hours ago, alexcmann said:

Nice work on the promotion again!

My read on the supporter profile is different. It’s not talking about absolute fans, but fans as a % of the total. It makes sense to me that the higher a club climbs, the more casual and glory hunting fans it attracts. I think about my club Leyton Orient - we’re having our best season in years IRL and attendances are way up, because people who only come when we’re doing well have showed up. But the core fans are the same (or have increased in number but not by the equivalent number of fair weather fans). That’s my read anyway!

Yeah, when you explain it like that it does make sense. 

[Jimbokav1971]

5 hours ago, Thebaker said:

That is my read as well re the fans, higher you go the more glory fans turn up with the core and hardcore remaining the same number but a smaller percentage. Longer term success may increase the core fans.

@Jimbokav1971 well done on another promotion. hopefully the new stadium will help the finances as well, should be able to fill it on promotion.

Yeah, I think I had it wrong in my head. The way @alexcmanndescribes it sounds completely plausible and realistic. 

The stadium is ready. Can't wait to see what it looks like. (I love a new stadium). 

Edited December 24, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

New stadium. Jul 2032. 

The game must know what this stadium looks like. I would love it to show us now some basic version of the plans. It would be such a cool feature and surely must be doable. The info is already there. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Aug 2032.

LaLiga. Well this wasn't the ideal start to the season.  The loss to Elche even involved us losing against 10 men and it was 0-0 when they got their red card so...... that's rubbish. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

Facilities. I don't like it at all. It's the ugliest new stadium I have ever seen on FM. 

Job Offer. 

Records. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Summer Transfer window. Sep 2032. 

In. I decided that our centre-backs weren't strong enough and decided to bring 2 in, (breaking my rule about only signing youngsters in the process), and then got completely carried away and signed a 3rd one too. 

Out. I didn't really want to sell him, but we made a hefty profit on on him and there is a 25% sell on fee and a friendly too so with so many decent strikers at the club it seemed silly not to cash in on him. The fact that we get him back in loan for the rest of the season made it just about too good to turn down.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Clauses. Sep 2032. 

In checking what clauses we had for the departing Mabasa (RSA), I noticed that the DoF, (or someone at least), had arranged the following deals to sell the following clauses. 

There are also a number of clauses which we haven't done deals for. 

(27a) Crespo * was the superstar wonderkid striker who El Presidente sold to Liverpool. The fact that we sold him for just £1.5M now seems completely ridiculous, but the truth is was that it was a lot of money at the time. 

If we sell our 40% profit clause him him then we get £11.76M for him, but he's valued at £53M-£63M so if he were to be sold for £50M then we would receive £20M, so actually while £11.76M is a lot of money, it's not enough money to sell the clause. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Sep 2032. 

LaLiga. After 3 games not scoring we've finally remembered how to put the ball in the net, and we've also got our 1st points on the board. After beating Atletico Pamplona we should also have beaten Valencia, (leading 2-1 until late on), but we managed to throw it away again. 

I started the season with very clear ideas of who would be my 1st choice in every position, (and who would be 2nd choice), and with that in mind I created 2 "Saved Team Selections" so that I could pick my chosen/rotated squad easily and then swap in anyone who was unavailable for any reason. Well for the last 2 games I let the Ass Man select the squads and he seems to be doing a better job than me in that respect, (or at least it seems that way). The thing is that his squad selections have good links in many positions that I have developed over previous seasons, where as my squad has some new players and the new links haven't had time to develop yet. The problem with doing that in LaLiga is that you tend to not win many games while doing it. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

National Team production. Oct 2032. 

I'm really surprised that (28c) Bermúdez 5'10" is not only getting called up for thr (ESP) National Team, but is also playing actual games for them. The 1st of many I hope. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Oct 2032. 

LaLiga. Another tough month, but we did at least collect our 2nd win which keeps us in contention with those outside the relegation zone. We need to stay in touch and not let a gap develop. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 

Finances. 

 

[Jimbokav1971]

Nov 2032. 

LaLiga. These 2 wins came completely out of the blue and seem largely to be off the back of a Team Meeting to discuss the poor squad atmosphere where I basically begged them to give me another chance, and it seemed to work astonishingly well. Ndlovu (RSA) scored 6 goals in the 2 games, (5 of them in the opening 22 mins of the games), and he actually has 2 more goals ruled out in these games. He could have scored 8 goals! We have 3 decent games coming up, (although 2 of them are away), and it will be interesting to see if we can take this good form and continue it in the December games. 

Goal-scoring GK's. No goals this month but (31a) Fernando did grab his 2nd assist of the season. 

Job Offer. This is a job I would have loved to take under different circumstances. I love the restrictions on transfers and just look at how much they want to pay me. They REALLY want me. Considering I started with Sunday League reputation and no badges, this is decent so far after 10 seasons of the save. It gives me confidence that even though we're struggling with results, performances and squad happiness, other clubs think I'm doing a decent job. I should add that I was offered the A.Bilbao job before we got the 2 wins this month. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Dec 2032. 

LaLiga. I suppose I should be delighted with 4 points from 3 games, (2 of which were away), but the truth is I'm gutted that we didn't take anything from the Huesca game. We led 2-1 after an hour, but just couldn't hang on. We're up tp 15th though and there is a significant 5 point gap between ourselves and the relegation zone. 

Copa de Su Majestad el Rey. I rotated all 10 outfield players and it nearly cost us. Lucky we were saved by not 1 but 2 GK pens. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 2 goals this month bring Fernando to 14 career goals. 

AFCON 2033. This is going to get VERY messy later in the save. 

Facilities. 

Youth Intake preview. 

Awards. 

European Golden Boy. I'm astonished that he won this award. He did really well for us last season and scored 18 goals in 19(5) appearances after joining in January, but he was poor at the start of this season and has lost his starting spot after scoring only 2 goals in 6(6) appearances this season. 

Finances. 

[Sonic Youth]

Top work on getting promoted!

Your second La liga season is starting promisingly, with a much better beginning. I think you’re right about having a better team as aposed to having a star player.

1st in European Golden Boy is testament to the work you’ve but in. His stats are amazing really, even if he’s form has dropped off a bit. Probably needs a rest.

It’s also good to see all the infrastructure improvements 

Looking good for the rest of the season 

[Jimbokav1971]

31 minutes ago, Sonic Youth said:

Top work on getting promoted!

Your second La liga season is starting promisingly, with a much better beginning. I think you’re right about having a better team as aposed to having a star player.

1st in European Golden Boy is testament to the work you’ve but in. His stats are amazing really, even if he’s form has dropped off a bit. Probably needs a rest.

It’s also good to see all the infrastructure improvements 

Looking good for the rest of the season 

Yeah. Much better season than the 1st promotion. 

I feel like I've possibly treated Shezi (RSA) a little harshly after he was so instrumental in getting us promoted in the 1st place, but we weren't playing well and he wasn't playing well and since the change. Ndlovu (RSA), (who was probably a little unlucky to be replaced in the 1st place last season), has performed out of his skin and has scored 10 goals in his last 9(1) appearances. It's good having 2 players who can rotate and I think I will get the opportunity to do just that. 

Loads of infrastructure investment. Hope it boosts the intakes and the subsequent development. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Significant transfer. Jan 2033. 

This is probably the most significant transfer in the save so far. 

Although it's a free transfer, (to be completed at the end of the season), we have the option to sign him immediately and I think I'm going to pay the money to get the deal done now.

I think he has real quality and will improve us immediately and even at £3.4M, (which is a lot of money to us), he's a real bargain. He wants to play as an AP in the AMC slot, but I see him as a DLP in the MC slot on the left of a 3. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jan 2033. 

LaLiga. 4 losses in a row looks bad, but when you consider that 3 of them were against Atletico, Bilbao & Barca, it's perhaps not as bad as it looks. When you also consider that we scored in each game..... yeah, maybe not so bad at all. 

Copa de Su Majestad el Rey.

Goal-scoring GK's.

Records.

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Feb 2033. 

LaLiga. I commented recently about Ndlovu (RSA) winning the European Golden Boy away award and how it was harsh on Shezi (RSA) who did so much to get us promoted, but Ndlovu (RSA) got injured and Shezi (RSA) has stepped up and more than taken his chance, (scoring 8 goals in 5 games this month). Shezi (RSA) has now scored 15 goals in 14(7) appearances this season and fired ys up to 16th place in the league, a whopping 7 points clear of relegation. What on Earth I do when both player are fit I have now idea! 

Goal-scoring GK's.

 

Finances. 

Edited December 26, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

NxGn 2033.

Well this is a pleasant surprise. (31a) Fernando has come 2nd in the NxGn award for 2033. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Mar 2033. 

LaLiga. We might have been smashed by Real Madrid, but we at least managed to score in all 4 games this month and even grabbed 7 points from a possible 12 to astonishingly move us up to 14th and a mahoosive 12 points clear of relegation. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

 

New contract. A 3 year contract! Get in. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Intake day. Apr 2033.

Preview. 

Summary. 

Squad by PA. Wow. Has a good preview actually somehow turned into a good intake? 

[RoguPL]

Congrats on the progress so far ! 
With current form you should be able to easily survive the drop this season. 

 

Pascual looks like he will be a beast in few years. Already really good at 15. 

 

[Jimbokav1971]

10 hours ago, RoguPL said:

Congrats on the progress so far ! 
With current form you should be able to easily survive the drop this season. 

Pascual looks like he will be a beast in few years. Already really good at 15. 

He really does. For the 1st time in this save I wish I was checking CA/PA attributes on intake day now, (as I did last year in Portugal). 

We've got so many good players, (of different types), in forward positions and I really don't know what I'm going to do with each player. 

We have 14 players who can play at SC who have at least 4.5 PA and to put things in perspective, Ndlovu (RSA) and Shezi (RSA), (who separately score at a rate of almost a goal a game), are ranked 12th and 13th. 

The oldest player on the list is 21. 

I've already sold Mabasa (RSA), (for £6M plus add-ons), to Sevilla and have him back on loan for the season. I basically have so many decent prospects that it seemed madness not to sell someone for £6M, (who cost us just £500,000), when we have so many options in this area. Mabasa (RSA) plays on the left of a 3 up front and we have such strength in depth that the 2nd choice player in this position, Lebese (RSA), isn't even on the above list because he's ranked 19th by PA, (out of our strikers!!!) 

It's got to the stage that I no longer know who's 1st choice through the middle anymore. They have both performed out of their skin but I suppose that Ndlovu (RSA) probably just edges it by virtue of having a better playing relationship with the other 2 first choice attackers. 

I'm hoping that someone makes me an offer I can't refuse for Ndlovu (RSA), because I think I might just prefer Shezi (RSA) if push came to shove. It';s such a tight call though.

On the right of the 3 up front, (29a) Gil is very much 1st choice and he's one of my favourite players at the club at the moment. I've just signed him to a new long-term contract and am really surprised that there was no serious interest in him up to this point. 

Last years intake had (32a) David and (32b) Intxaurraga (FRA)(BAS) and although I liked both of them, I couldn't really decide who I liked more. They looked very similar. Now though, a year on and (32b) Intxaurraga (FRA)(BAS) looks the stronger player, (at least in terms of PA). 

I suppose the answer is that in a 3-man strike-force I can play both of them and (32a) David would be more suited to the central position while (32b) Intxaurraga (FRA)(BAS) could play on either side of a front 3. 

For any of the new crop to get a look-in they are really have to go some, but of course the exception to that is (33d) Pascual (ESP)(BAS) 6'4" who has come through the intake with such good CA that he is immediately one of the better players at the club and simply can't be ignored. He's 6'4" at 15 years old and is surely going to be a beast. He's not a clinical finisher but who knows what he might develop into. I think the sensible option is to play to his strengths and use him as a TM, but where in trio he fits is still in question.

Jumping 13
Heading 14
Strength 8 is a problem but remember he's 15 years old.  
Determination 18
Off the Ball 18
Technique 15

It's hard to ignore his CA even if others might have better PA....

That's by no means all the strikers at the club, but I think it shows just quite how much depth we have and how hard it is to plan going forward. 

This is really going to tax my ability to develop them. Remember, our B Team is non-playable there are only 2 domestic competitions in Spain and we're not playing in Europe yet. I've just nabbed our 1st feeder, (a 2nd tier French club), so I will try to make use of that from next season. I really need to qualify for Europe so we have more games to play. 

[Sonic Youth]

There’s some good results in the last few months. There is also a lot of goals conceded too. With 8 games left and 22 goals off of conceding 100, time to consider this part of the team?

That intake looks very decent, with a number of them giving your cause to wonder how to fit them in (especially Pascual!).

I forgot to mention during your last squad run-through that you’ve got a lot of players at Ceuta now. Is it costing you a lot in wages?

It’s good to be going into the last 8 games with a 12 point gap 

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, Sonic Youth said:

There’s some good results in the last few months. There is also a lot of goals conceded too. With 8 games left and 22 goals off of conceding 100, time to consider this part of the team?

Yeah. We're definitely shipping too many goals. I strengthened the defence with 3x centre-backs in the Summer, but we're obviously not strong there by any stretch. More recently I have switched the duty on the BWM in the middle of the pitch to (d) from (s). It's too soon to draw any conclusions, but we're doing ok. Part of the problem is that we're playing in LaLiga with players who just aren't of LaLiga quality, so I'm not sure we should be expecting anything other than conceding lots of goals. It's the goals we're scoring that's the surprise. 

From XI that started the last game. 

GK. LaLiga standard player. 
DL. Decent LaLiga2 player. 
DR. Decent LaLiga player. 
DLC. LaLiga2 standard player. 
DRC. Decent LaLiga player.
MLC. Good LaLiga player.
MC. Good LaLiga2 player. 
MRC. Decent LaLiga player.
SLC. LaLiga standard player. 
SC. LaLiga2 standard player. 
SRC. LaLiga standard player. 

That's better than I expected actually. Only 4 of the starting XI are LaLiga2 standard players, but it still shows you the problem. 4 of our 10 outfield players aren't good enough for the league we're in and elsewhere we only have 1 player in the whole squad who is a "good" player for LaLiga. Basically, we've got rubbish players. The only way I know to get better is to get better players, (whether than means improving the players we have or signing new ones). 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

That intake looks very decent, with a number of them giving your cause to wonder how to fit them in (especially Pascual!).

I forgot to mention during your last squad run-through that you’ve got a lot of players at Ceuta now. Is it costing you a lot in wages?

I've stopped taking much notice of the Youth Intakes if I'm honest. They could be amazing, but equally they could be pretty rubbish.  Time will tell. I'm not having much luck loaning players out. I think it's because I'm paying them more and still want 50% of their wages paid when they don't play for their loan club. I think it's putting teams off. 

We do have a lot of players. Currently we're at 112 players in total. 

56 players in the U19 Squad, (including 16 who have just come through the intake and 3 who are out on loan.
26 players in the B Team squad, (including 5 who are out on loan). 
30 players in the 1st Team squad, (including 1 who is in on loan and 3 who are out on loan). 

112 sounds loads, but it's obviously bulked out by 56 mainly Academy products in the U19's.
16 from 1 intake. 
32 from 2 intakes. 
48 from 3 intakes. 

So it all adds up pretty quickly. At the moment I'm signing everyone in the intake and then only making a decision on whether they stay later on when hopefully I have more info to go on. They get a pro contract if they ask for one initially. They get a Youth contract otherwise. On their 17th birthday I decide if they get a Pro contract if they're currently on a Youth contract. I bet I've already released players with decent PA because they didn't have good enough CA to make me want to keep them and because our Facilities were too poor initially to develop them quickly enough. We're improving in that respect now so hopefully that's less likely to happen from now on.

In terms of wages, we're currently spending £1,268,548 per month of a £2,093,706 budget, (about 61%). So there's significant scope for more spending already, and that's with just having extended the contracts of a few players, (but before the most recent Youth Intake sign their contracts). 

That means we're spending £12.98M per annum, (according to the game), which is a drop in the ocean. To put that in perspective, the next lowest club in LaLiga, (Huesca), is spending £19.95M per year), 35% more than we're spending.
Everyone else is spending at least double what we're spending.
10 clubs are spending triple what we're spending on wages. 
The Big 3 are spending 10x what we're spending on wages. 

The only other comparison I've got for you is that according to registration rules and the salary cap, (which I know nothing about), we're only spending £982,000 of a £2.13M budget). 

So we're actually being pretty frugal with money and that's by design rather than by accident. I've been really reluctant to splash much cash so far because I'm not positive that we can stay in LaLiga and I don't want to be playing players LaLiga money while playing in LaLiga2, (because I don't know if we continue to get the parachute money after Season 1 of being relegated). Financial issues, unreasonable expectation and player unhappiness are the only things that can kill the save so I'm trying to be careful. 

Edited December 27, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

It’s good to be going into the last 8 games with a 12 point gap 

I think we're just about safe already even if we don't get any more points in the remaining games. 

If we assume that Tenerife are gone, then either Pamplona or Malaga would have to earn 12 points from 8 games at 1.5 points per game when they have averaged just 0.67 points per game over the course of the season. Pamplona haven't won any of their last 8 games and have only won once in 14 games, although Malaga have hit a bit of form and won 3 of their last 6 games so..... now I'm worried. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Finances. Apr 2033. 

We might be the minnows in LaLiga, but we look after the pennies. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Apr 2033. 

LaLiga. You might notice that Shezi (RSA) scored in the opening 3 games of the month. The only reason he didn't score in the last game, (against Las Palmas), is because he was carrying a knock and was replaced by Ndlovu (RSA), (who obviously scored). We're still in 14th, but are now 14 points clear of the drop with 3 games remaining and safety is secured with 1 month to spare. 

Shezi (RSA) is in contention for the LaLiga Golden Boot, so fingers crossed he can regain fitness and feature in the remaining 4 games of the season. 

The Big 3 have scored loads of goals, but obviously with playing in Europe it means that their best strikers haven't been available for lots of league games, and as a result their goals have been spread around the squad. I don't like this, but it shows how much of a chasm there is between the big Spanish clubs and the likes of us. 

On the subject of stats, nice to dominate this one. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 3x GK goals this month. 

 

 

 

Finances. 

Edited December 27, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

May 2033. 

LaLiga. It was a tough month with games against Sevilla (5th), Bilbao (9th) and Atletico (3rd), so to beat Huesca and then somehow astonishingly go and beat Atletico away is mind-blowing. We finished in 14th, a whopping 16 points clear of relegation and I think I can hopefully stop looking down now and concentrate on looking upwards and looking towards Europe next season. I know it will be tough to get there, but that's the aim from now on as avoiding relegation should be a formality. We should just score too many goals to worry about anything like that. 

Goal-scoring GK's. After scoring 12 goals in his 1st season, (31a) Fernando followed that up with 7 more this time, (this time stepping up to LaLiga), and he's still 100% from the spot. 

Records. I often ask the Ass Man to select the match squad, (and then change what I don't like). In this game I noticed that he had picked (33d) Pascual (ESP)(BAS) 6'4" to start and was about to swap him to the bench but just stopped short and left him in. I'm glad I did. It shouldn't be a surprise that he scored with a header. he is a 6'4" 15 year old after all. I wonder how long it will be before Bilbao are in for him. I might go so far as to say that I would not be keen to sell him to anyone other than Bilbao, (but then again they might just flog him for a profit anyway so maybe I should just keep him). 

Awards. Considering the youngsters on show in LaLiga, this is a significant award. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Goal-scoring GK watch. May 2033. 

(31a) Fernando may have "only" scored 7 goals this season, but when you consider we were battling relegation in the top flight this season and he scored 7 goals, but only scored 12 goals last season in LaLiga2 as we got promoted, it perhaps suggests that in the grand scheme of things he might actually have done better this season. He's got 2 years left on his contract and a +3 clause on top of that with a hefty £20M min fee release clause. 

[Jimbokav1971]

 May 2033. 

Overall Best XI.

Supporter Profile. 

Favoured Personnel. 

Facilities. The capacity of our newly built stadium, (this was our 1st season in it), is 15,000 so the fact that we're almost filling it immediately suggests that we didn't build it big enough in the 1st place, but in their defence they were probably planning for us playing in LaLiga2 so maybe it's not such a poor decision. £9M seems a lot for just 7,500 seats though..... 

This seems a long way away. I was really hoping we might play somewhere else in Africa. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities & Finances continued. Jun 2033.

When the stadium expansion was announced there was no mention of a loan, (or at least if there was I missed it), but it makes sense that we would do this rather than paying cash. 

I worked out that £15M for the original stadium was a good deal in the long-term, but I'm just frustrated that it wasn't built bigger at the time, (but I suppose hindsight it a wonderful thing). I think that £9M for 7,500 extra seats, (especially considering we have to relocate while the work is being carried out), is a really poor deal, but what's done is done.

I'm not concerned about the finances. Even with 2 loans outstanding we've already paid off almost £5M of the stadium loan and I don't envisage having any problems paying off the 2nd loan either. To be honest my plan is to sell strikers when someone shows significant interest in them simply because we've got so much depth in that area. At the beginning of the season I sold Mabasa (RSA) for £5,5M profit, (and then got him back on on loan), and will happily sell Shezi (RSA)  or Ndlovu (RSA)  next, (or even both). I would like to think that I could get a minimum of £10M profit for the pair, (bought for about £250k each) and tbh I really want double that they way they scored in LaLiga this season. 

Edited December 27, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Aims for next season. Jun 2033. 

I just wanted to show you our form since the start of February. 

17 games. 
9 wins , 1 draw & 7 losses. 
6 home wins from 8 home games, (we lost to Espanyol and were really unlucky and were well beaten by Bilbao). 
3 away wins, (including Atletico). 

9 wins and 1 draw from 17 games is 1.65 points per game. 
1.65 points per game over the course of the season gives us..... 62.7 points. 
62 points would have got us qualified for Europe this season. 

Look, I'm not saying it's likely. I'm just saying it's ok to have a dream ok. 

[Sonic Youth]

I noticed El Presidente Jose Antonio Rico has become a fan favourite!

Stadiums expansions have usually been underwhelming. It’s not often that you get an upgrade that makes sense. It’s probably some statistical model imputed into the game dictating expected expansions.

That last six months forms is great. Getting more clean sheets and converting away losses to draws on top of the rest keeping the status quo would be excellent.

[Sonic Youth]

7 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Records. I often ask the Ass Man to select the match squad, (and then change what I don't like). In this game I noticed that he had picked (33d) Pascual (ESP)(BAS) 6'4" to start and was about to swap him to the bench but just stopped short and left him in. I'm glad I did. It shouldn't be a surprise that he scored with a header. he is a 6'4" 15 year old after all. I wonder how long it will be before Bilbao are in for him. I might go so far as to say that I would not be keen to sell him to anyone other than Bilbao, (but then again they might just flog him for a profit anyway so maybe I should just keep him). 

Off the mark already! Definitely got depth in the forward line if youth intake players come straight in and start delivering 

I see what y mean by the player numbers adding up quickly when you sign them all up for a few intakes. And yes, your carefully spending a pitance 

[Jimbokav1971]

5 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

I noticed El Presidente Jose Antonio Rico has become a fan favourite!

Stadiums expansions have usually been underwhelming. It’s not often that you get an upgrade that makes sense. It’s probably some statistical model imputed into the game dictating expected expansions.

I forgot to mention that because it surprised me. 

He didn't do anything! 

He's said yes to quite a few requests in terms of Facility improvements, and I thought he arrived after the decision was made to build a new stadium but actually maybe it was him. The thing is though, he didn't invest any money at all and I had to bring in the cash for all of this, (or pay the loans that he took out). He hasn't even managed to get a naming sponsor for the stadium! 

[Jimbokav1971]

5 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

That last six months forms is great. Getting more clean sheets and converting away losses to draws on top of the rest keeping the status quo would be excellent.

We only drew twice in the league last season so I don't think converting away losses into draws is a thing at all. 

I think instead we just went all-out and won games. Although both our losses were away from home, I think the significant improvement was that we won 5 away games, (including Atletico), and that there is worth 15 points alone. 9 wins and 0 draws at home is probably more significant. 

I thought about this during the season and forgot to mention it. While losing lots and winning occasionally is better for the league table than drawing games, the way that FM works with momentum and morale is that it's counter=productive and the morale in the dressing room has been appalling and my support from the players has suffered as a result. While I look at last season as a huge success in that we avoided relegation by such a significant margin, the players don't agree at all, (because they lost so many games). 

Team Cohesion is poor because we've been bringing in so many players, (and I need to cut that down if I can). 

Club atmosphere is poor because we lost regularly throughout the season, (losing exactly half our league games). To add to that, my tight control of wage expenditure makes me unpopular. I refuse to add clauses such as % of next sale, % pay rise per year and even a bonus for sitting on the bench, but I do pay slightly over the odds at the outset, (and often in terms of a larger cash signing on bonus). This costs more at the start but saves money over the longer term. 

Managerial Support is also poor, but this is down to not enough players going out on loan and not enough games to keep everyone happy. I've created a squad where I have the players to play 2 different teams that allow me to rotate and benefit from the fatigue hit that our opponents will suffer, (while we will be fresh), but we just don;t have the games to make this of benefit to us at the moment and so fringe players aren't getting enough game time to keep them happy. 

ps. Also only 2 clean sheets in 2033, to go with the 2 in the 1st half of the season. That's not good enough. 

Edited December 28, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

5 hours ago, Sonic Youth said:

Off the mark already! Definitely got depth in the forward line if youth intake players come straight in and start delivering 

I see what y mean by the player numbers adding up quickly when you sign them all up for a few intakes. And yes, your carefully spending a pitance 

I hadn't intended on playing him, but when your Ass Man picks a 15 year old in the starting XI I think you need to look at it. 

I've opened the purse-strings a little bit in terms of wages.

Only 15 players at the club are getting paid more than £20k per month. 
Only 13 players at the club are getting paid more than £30k per month. 
Only 6 players at the club are getting paid more than £50k per month.
Only 2 players at the club are getting paid more than £100k per month. 

I don't mind splashing the cash to bring in a big player like playmaker Wissa (BEL)(COD)(ENG), and I don't mind splashing the cash to keep our best Academy products at the club like (29a) Gil, but I', certainly not going to keep upping the wages of players who I intend to sell before too long, (the 2 strikers scoring all the goals for example), although you might notice that Ndlovu (RSA) is getting paid £50k pm now

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jun 2033. 

GK.

1st Team. (31a) Fernando
B Team. Khelifa (FRA(ALG) 6'4"
U19's. (32c)) Lazić (ESP)(SRB), (31d) Rojas., (33k) Castro 6'3", (33n) Jaime 6'0"
Loan. Khelifa (FRA(ALG) 6'4", (32c)) Lazić (ESP)(SRB), (31d) Rojas., (33k) Castro 6'3", (33n) Jaime 6'0"
Sell.
Release. Diarra. (MLI)(ESP) 6'2", (30f) Sow. (ESP)(SEN) 6'2", (29j) Sordo. 6'0"

DL.

1st Team. Nyamsi (FRA)(CMR) & Aradj (ALG)(FRA).
B Team. (30o) Jiménez. (31m) Palomares.
U19's. (33g) Santamaría., (32f) Pablo., 
Loan.
Sell. Demissie (ETH)(ENG), (30o) Jiménez.
Release. (29g) Aznar. 5'9", (30b) Romero. 5'10"

DR. I need to play Dlamini (RSA) more to increase his development. 

1st Team. Ngiamba (COG)(FRA) & Dlamini (RSA).
B Team. (30m) Marcos. 6'0"
U19's. (33f) Tejera *, (32k) Agudelo (COL)(ESP), (31p) Castellano., (33j) Muñoz. & (32p) Beceiro.
Loan. (33f) Tejera *, (32k) Agudelo (COL)(ESP), (31p) Castellano., (33j) Muñoz. & (32p) Beceiro.
Sell.
Release. (30i) Soriano., (31l) Buxton. (ENG), 

DC. We've got too many centre-backs, (I signed 3 last Summer), and because I want to sign more, (who are better and younger than what we've got), I also need to sell some of those already at the club. 

1st Team. Gumede (RSA) 6'3" & Nyakossi (SUI)(TOG) 6'4". Moloko (RSA) 6'4" & Gherbi (FRA)(ALG).
B Team. (30n) Romero 5'10"
U19's. (33c) Francisco 6'3" *
Loan.
Sell. Monzango. (COD)(FRA), Nogbou. (CIV)(FRA) 6'3", 
Release. (30b) Romero. 5'10",(30d) Manuel. 5'9"

ps. Having 2 different centre-backs who are both called Romero and who are both 5'10" is really confusing. 

MC. I'm using a flat 3 in the middle of the pitch at the moment. DLP(s), BWM(d) & CM(a)

1st Team. Wissa (BEL)(COD)(ENG), Nchama (EQG)(ESP) 6'2" & Macalou (MLI). Almeida (CPV)(POR), (30a) Álex & Abiodun (NGA)(ESP).
B Team.
U19's.
Loan.
Sell.
Release. Mendy. (SEN)(ESP), (23l) Soler, (30e) Raúl.,  (29l) Cabrero., (29i) Fabre., (30h) Hernando., (29p) Ros.

SC. This is such an area of strength, and I don't know where to start. The problem here is that I want to play the young players, (we have so many), but the only way this works is id I sell the experienced players first. 

1st Team. Benachour (ALG)(FRA), Shezi (RSA) & (29a) Gil. Lebese (RSA), Shezi (RSA) & Mokoena (RSA)
B Team.
U19's.
Loan.
Sell. Shezi (RSA), Benachour (ALG)(FRA), 
Release. 

Mabasa (RSA) was sold in the Summer and then loaned back. He will shortly be leaving for good and good luck to him. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Selling players. Jun 2033. 

Although I want to sell quite a few players, (to allow me to buy younger and better players), there are a few that are attracting very little interest and that surprises me. 

21 year old Shezi (RSA) scored 17 LaLiga goals last season in 21(6) appearances and until he missed a month of the season late on it looked like he would win the LaLiga Golden Boot. Indeed, when you consider that both he and Ndlovu (RSA) play in the same position, and he scored 12 more goals in 19(5) appearances, it perhaps suggests that our central clinical striker should be scoring 30+ league goals in a season if we can keep him fit. The problem is, that despite both of them being just 21, nobody is interested in signing either one of them. I've offered Ndlovu a pay rise and a longer-term contract because I don't want to sell them at the same time for continuity, but Shezi (RSA) is getting paid a pittance, (£11,750 per month), and only has 2 years left on his contract, (although I do have a +1 clause on him). Shouldn't this be a player that lots of clubs are looking at? 

I think he looks decent at the moment, but with some improvement he could look great. At the moment he just has 1 attribute over 15, but he has 7 more attributes on 15. If we were able to opo those 7 attributed to 16 from 15, this is what he would look like. 

He looks REALLY good now. Now that is just 7 attributes all popping once, something that doesn't seem completely unrealistic at all. The 2nd player looks WAY better than the 1st player, but it's just our eyes being drawn to the green.

Don't worry, I didn't save the changes and he has stayed how he was. 

My point is that this kid has just scored 18 goals in 19(5) appearances in half a season in LaLiga2, and then followed it up with 21 goals in 23(7) appearances in LaLiga and nobody is interested in signing him...... 

[Jimbokav1971]

Finances. Jun 2033. 

I'm not really sure why the board feel the need to inject cash into the club, but I'm not complaining. 

Maybe they're encouraging me to spend the £15M transfer budget. 

 

Edited December 28, 2022 by Jimbokav1971

[Thebaker]

Good season there. I found in Spain clubs are keen to loan players but not to pay much in wages to do so. You may have to acccept this to loan them out,

Also i kept youths on youth contracts until they expired or if there was a lot of interest in them, this also helped with loaning them out since the cost to other clubs was not much.

Edited December 28, 2022 by Thebaker

[Jimbokav1971]

2 hours ago, Thebaker said:

Good season there. I found in Spain clubs are keen to loan players but not to pay much in wages to do so. You may have to acccept this to loan them out,

Also i kept youths on youth contracts until they expired or if there was a lot of interest in them, this also helped with loaning them out since the cost to other clubs was not much.

That's a good point. I might have to bite the bullet and wear the full wage cost myself because it's more important they they go out and develop than it is we save on wages. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Reputation. Jul 2033. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Summer Transfer Window. 

 

In.

Zuma (RSA) was available on a free so it seemed a no-brainer to sign him. I am actually going to try and loan him out for this season because we already have more than enough strikers at the club. 

I was keen to bring in both a left back anda a right back, but so far haven't been able to sign a lefty. Eze (ENG)(NGA) is a little better than what we had already, and is younger with some development time still remaining. Again, he was available on a free so it was a no-brainer. 

What a signing this appears to be! Just look at the 17's for passing, vision and technique. Madidilani (RSA) looks the real deal and I'm delighted that he still has 5.0 PA after arriving, (while some of the others have been downgraded).

Van Vuuren (RSA) looks just a little raw, but he looks good when I compare him to the less technical Nchama (EQG)(ESP) 6'2" who plays in the BWM(d) role at the moment. Nchama (EQG)(ESP) 6'2" is 6 years older and stronger mentally, but Van Vuuren (RSA) is already better technically and has time to develop mentally. Physically there isn't much in it. 

We finally got our left back and Sefu (GER)(COD) will surely improve us both at the back and going forward. 

Out. I seem to have resolved the issues with getting players out on loan and we currently have 20 out at other clubs. We also sold players permanently to the tune of approx £2M.