KlaaZ Posted August 3, 2023 Author Share Posted August 3, 2023 That was fast! They cleared the red we had (about 2M) and put us 600k in the white. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Apparently, they cleared the red in part by taking out a bank loan, but oh well. January has passed and we survived a hectic transfer window where the big SA were after our young talents. We accepted a deadline day offer for Ngcobo, only to pull the plug out of the deal at the final moment to keep him at the club (hehe). On the flip side, we did lose an interesting young striker to Royal AM as the board intervened because the deal was 'too good to turn down' (45k with bonuses, too good my behind). In the league, we're still unbeaten and with eleven games to go, we're also eleven points clear of second placed AmaTuks, who haven't won any of the last three games after losing to us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 5, 2023 Author Share Posted August 5, 2023 Still unbeaten, and it's looking ever better. Only drew away at Uthongathi in the meantime, won everything else. With fourteen points ahead and seven games to play, it's pretty much in the bag. We already qualified for the playoffs but I'm confident we'll just win the league and direct promotion. We're also out of the cup after a 3-2 loss against Cape town Spurs, despite having the better of the game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 5, 2023 Author Share Posted August 5, 2023 Missed our first appointment with history thanks to a ridiculous game. Missed five one on ones, and they bagged all of their shots on target. Amatuks wons, so the gap is now eleven points with four games to go. Still comfortable, but we were really looking at an unbeaten season. Disappointed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 5, 2023 Author Share Posted August 5, 2023 Nailed it! Went down 0-1 to a 0.01 xG chance but responded in style. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 5, 2023 Author Share Posted August 5, 2023 Final table. Champions with 79 points, a record! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 5, 2023 Author Share Posted August 5, 2023 We have lots of work to do to build a competitive squad. The South African second division has a specific rule that doesn't allow contracts for longer than a year, so most of our players will leave at the end of the season. This is imo a good thing as most of them are not good enough to play at a higher level, and I've prolonged the deals for the players that are. Two exceptions are Mokoena and Philander, who both don't want to renegotiate a deal (yet). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 5, 2023 Author Share Posted August 5, 2023 New one year deal for Wuni! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 5, 2023 Author Share Posted August 5, 2023 A transfer saga develops, but not the one you might expect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
st.cronin Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 Following, kutgw 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 5 hours ago, st.cronin said: Following, kutgw Cheers, and welcome! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 I went to an interview at Orlando Pirates but despite them deeming me like a good fit, they decided to go with someone else. Meanwhile, going up has its advantages. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 Nine new signings, and we're also waiting for the work permit for what would be two absolutely great additions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 We start away at Kaiser Chiefs, with a debut goal for Pratt in the 17th minute! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 A close defeat in our opener. In all fairness, we were very weak going forward and didn't deserve anything from this game. Hopefully, we can do better next time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 We're once again in the boat of way too many goals conceded compared to our performances. 10 in the back of the net for 4.91 xG against.. Definitely not tactical but it's still annoying. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 They beat us in the league the game before in a match where we were actually the better team, so it's very satisfying to turn the tables on them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 Took me a lot of nagging but at least something got improved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 More good news! This also means that, once I get my C license, I'll probably leave Polokwane in search of greener pastures. I'll be aiming for either a South African top club, or maybe a decent club in South Korea or China. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 Found myself a job in international management, not sure if Nigeria has the best squad to challenge for the African Cup of Nations though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 7, 2023 Author Share Posted August 7, 2023 I'll be glad when this season is over and we're safe, because the amount of defensive errors we make is just disheartening. Case in point, this game. Went 2-0 up, had everything under control, then gave away an unnecessary (and a bit harsh) penalty), following by a long shot and on the third my goalkeeper completely missed the ball, resulting in an easy tap in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 I'm about to face my international baptism with Nigeria in a friendly against Qatar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 Not the debut I had in mind, we were quite average too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 A very manageable group for the African Nations qualifying stage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 Finished one course, but never stop improving. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 9, 2023 Author Share Posted August 9, 2023 We went to extra time in three out of four games, but we managed to somehow sneak into the cup final. Very excited! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 9, 2023 Author Share Posted August 9, 2023 Rulani Mukwena's job at Sundowns is under threat, so I felt the time was right to let the press know how interested I would be in taking his place. They've won the league three times in a row but are in a disappointing third place right now, with Orlando Pirates already crowned champions with three games to go. They've also won the African CL thrice in a row, so would be an excellent club to chalk off one of my objectives. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 9, 2023 Author Share Posted August 9, 2023 But first, we have a cup final to play! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 9, 2023 Author Share Posted August 9, 2023 (edited) Well, it took one very uneventful first half to wake us up, but then we picked ourselves up and it was Philander who finally broke the deadlock with an excellent header from Serfontein's cross. We never got into trouble in the final minutes and can lift our first cup. Winning the cup also nets us 739k in prize money, a very welcome influx of cash. Edited August 9, 2023 by KlaaZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 9, 2023 Author Share Posted August 9, 2023 Final table! We jumped over SuperSport and Golden Arrows on the last day of the season with a 2-6 banger over AmaTuks. Very happy with our goalscoring record, less impressed with our defensive record. Next up is the World Cup with Nigeria, after two friendlies against New Zealand (3-1 win) and Germany (0-1 loss in a very close game). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 Off to a good start, next up is Croatia. The bad news is that we lost our starting back, Sanusi, to a hip injury and that his backup Onyemaechi also picked up a knock that will sideline him for three weeks. This means we'll move Bassey, who was playing as a central defender, to the left. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 A bit of luck against Croatia, as we didn't get a single shot on target. An owngoal rescued a point though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 Finished second in our group because Croatia beat Panama 3-0, scoring one more goal than us. This means that we get Colombia while they meet Wales. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. The Welshmen lost to the Colombians, but judging by the match stats they were highly unlucky and should have won that game really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 Meanwhile, a big surprise result as Uruguay knocks Italy out of the tournament after both going behind and going a man down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 (edited) Through on penalties but honest to god, why is it so hard for us to score goals? It was the same against Panama, should have put six or seven behind them but in the end we needed a goal from a set piece and a counter in the final minutes to scrape the win there. Next up is Spain, probably our ending station. La Roja has yet to concede a goal this tournament and just demolished Chile 6-0. Edited August 10, 2023 by KlaaZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 Went ahead, pushed them to extra time but then still stumbled. Thought we had them when Rodri was sent off but then Osayi-Samuel did the same and Fati scored the winner. Honestly, I think we could have done better. We had a good run but our best players were downright atrocious. Oshimen didn't score a single goal and averaged 6.3, Lookman was in a similar situation, Chukwueze did well against Panama but was otherwise invisible.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 So I've resigned from both Polokwane and Nigeria in search of greener pastures. I quit the international job because I'm fairly sure that a lot of job openings will become available after the World Cup and I want to manage a better national team to increase my shot at silverware. Regarding Polokwane, two stable seasons is a record for me, but I felt I'd taken them as far as I could and I really need to start challenging for jobs with continental ambitions in either Africa or Asia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 After almost half a year of fruitlessly waiting for a top job in either South Korea or South Africa to become available, I took a gamble and applied for the position of manager at Cruz Azul in Mexico. And here we are! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 This will be on pause for a few weeks as the missus and myself will be hiking through Jotunheimen from tomorrow until the 26th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 Interesting club moves! Good luck with this! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 26, 2023 Author Share Posted August 26, 2023 I'm back! Cruz Azul will present an interesting challenge. I have two games to keep them up, as they're currently sitting in last place with nine points, equal with Atletico San Luis but doing worse on goal difference. The good news is that we have a game in hand and that we have a direct confrontation with San Luis, in their ground, on the last day of the season. Winning that one should be enough to survive. Survival is all I'm aiming for as then I can rebuild the squad. There's quite a bit of quality already but some wonky loans out and players unregistered who should have a place in the squad. More good news is that we have a transfer kitty of... 30 million, about 50.000 times as much as my budget in South Africa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 26, 2023 Author Share Posted August 26, 2023 Off to a good start! We just need a point in San Luis to secure safety. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 We were looking very good for a victory in San Luis, even with Alan Franco picking up a straight red after 70 minutes. But we couldn't hold on and they equalized in the 87th. Still, a point means we don't finish bottom so that's a good thing. I also had a closer look at the league rules and apparently, it's not the final league standing that decides if you go down, it's the average points over three seasons so we're still in a safe place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 Transfer news Now that we have secured the no bottom position, our first order of business is improving the squad. The Mexican league has two basic rules. There must be three Mexican born players in the starting line up, and ten in the match squad. The latter makes me feel that we'll try promoting youth players whenever possible. Our first order of business is improving the midfield and central defense though. For the first position, we bring in Agustin Almendra for 7M from Mazatlan. The Argentinian looks like a perfect fit to fill the regista slot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 Seven new players arrive at the training field on the 20th of December when the transfer window opens in Mexico. We've already mentioned Almendra, so that leaves six players to introduce, some of which were signed under previous management (but are still welcome). We mostly strengthen the back four, with Mac Allister (arranged by previous management), Cuperman (a left back but signed to play in central defense), Caceres and Martinez (both central defense). The latter is only 18 but looks very nice already. Jorge Labrador is a young Colombian with potential. We're still in the market for a winger and preferrably a striker, and will be looking to offload some deadwood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 Two more players and we're done. Antoine Colassin joins from Anderlecht for 4.6M and will be our new striker, Jordan Carillo joins from Santa Laguna for 4.4M. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 Meanwhile, I finally figured out how the Mexican league works. There are two regular tables, each going to a knockout system afterwards with ultimately one team winning every half. The winners of both finals go to the continental competitions next season, as do six other teams based on various requirements. The only thing I haven't figured out yet is how the champions are decided. It might be the highest total points from both stages though? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 An excellent month of January sees us take a flying start to the second stage with four wins in five games, the only blip being a (harsh) 3-0 loss in Tijuana after a horrendous first half. Colassin has had a very rough first two games but then completely opened up with five goals in the three other games. Beating Pumas and Chivas, who both did really well in the opening stage and are rivals, is very satisfying. It also turned out I can only register nine non Mexian born players, so I had to disappoint a few of the lads. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 Unbeaten in February, but not happy with the draw in Mazatlan as we went ahead twice and threw it away as many times. Apart from that, not complaints. Could even have been more against Tigres. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 Youth intake has arrived! Lots of buzz about Ricardo Ramos, and I think Eric Montoya could also be a very nice addition in due time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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