[FM23] Kosovo

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities. Jul 2027. 

[Deisler26]

As Meatloaf once said in an earlier draft, 1 out of 3 ain't bad

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, Deisler26 said:

As Meatloaf once said in an earlier draft, 1 out of 3 ain't bad

He'll do anything for love, but he won't upgrade our training facilities, (until we go Pro). 

[Jimbokav1971]

Senior Squad for 2027/28 season. 

1st Team. 

2nd Team. 

[Edit]

I should add that there will be much less rotation this season compared to last, quite simply because we're playing far fewer games, (playing each team 3x rather than 4x). 

 

Edited August 20, 2023 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Record offer received. Jul 2027. 

New record offer received. £12,750 (rising to £34,000) + 40% profit. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Aug 2027. 

First Division Group B. Unbeaten after the 1st month, but 2 points dropped. 

Records. What a way to start the new season! 

Facilities. 

Finances. 

[Jtomsett11]

I did think you'd survive the first season after the form in March, but looking at the bank balance,  the progress on youth recruitment and junior coaching and the better youngsters coming through, I can't imagine relegation being a bad thing in the long run (unless you can't get promoted again of course!)

[Jimbokav1971]

30 minutes ago, Jtomsett11 said:

I did think you'd survive the first season after the form in March, but looking at the bank balance,  the progress on youth recruitment and junior coaching and the better youngsters coming through, I can't imagine relegation being a bad thing in the long run (unless you can't get promoted again of course!)

Yeah, I think that's a good way of looking at it and it's probably where I am too. 

Initially I thought we had no chance of staying up. 
Then I thought it was a done deal that we would stay up. 
Then we stopped playing twice a week and the points dried up. 
I guess I will know better for next time. 

My strategy for right now isn't to build a squad to get promoted. 
It's to build a squad who won't get relegated when we get promoted. 
If that happens this season then great. 
If it happens next season then great. 
If it takes longer then so be it. 
I don't want to be fannying about yo-yo'ing up and down. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Sep 2027. 

First League Group B. I'm not too concerned about the start of this season, especially so when you consider that 2 of our 3 starting centre-backs aren't even centre-backs. (yet). I would also point out that the goal scored by midfielder/centre-half Libero (27a) Redzepi DC 5'10" wasn't a header from a corner or a free-kick but a direct free-kick that he spanked top-bins! 

We've also had some of our better players unavailable due to International call-ups. I think we had 1 player missing for 3 of the 4 games this month. (ps. I will never recall a player from any International duty). 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Job Offer #4. Oct 2027. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Oct 2027. 

First League Group B. We;re starting to tick over rather nicely, and if anything our performances are deserving of better scorelines as we've hit the woodwork 7 times in the last 3 games.

We're up to 2nd, (just 3 points behind Kika), and if I'm completely honest I would love to see them get promoted, (via the Playoffs behind us as we win the league), simply because of their Amateur status.  

International call-ups. We've had 2 players called up for International duty recently. 

(27b) Kapo * has represented (KOS) U19's 4 times, (which is great), but that also means that he has missed club matches for us. He's a big player for us despite being only 16 years old.

(26j) Ramadani 5'9" usually starts on the bench, (in fact all his 9 appearances this season have come from the bench), but he's been called up for the (KOS) U18's so has also been unavailable. 

 
Finances. 

We're losing a tiny bit of money each month, (about £10k per month), but I'm not concerned at all. The plan is to go up this season and be strong enough to survive next season in the SuperLeague. 

Edited August 20, 2023 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Nov 2027. 

First League Group B. What the hell is it with Amateur club Kika? They keep handing us our asses!  I like them but there is a limit to what I'm going to accept. 

Kosovan Cup. I will start caring about the Cup when we're comfortable in the SuperLeague. 

Facilities. 3 wins on the bounce and we were up to 2nd in the league at the end of last month so I decided to milk it for all it was worth. 

The next thing I'm thinking about, (well maybe not next thing but certainly in the pipeline for the future), is a foreign feeder club, (even a Parent club), from somewhere like Serbia or Croatia so we get some of those Nationalities, (which hopefully have better youth ratings for their Nation), through our intake. The only problem is I don't know does it use their rating because of their Nationality or our rating because we're the Nation that's producing them. I'm hoping the feeder relationship gets round that anyway. 

I tend to not focus too much on the Coaching staff requests and only do it to make up the 3rd request when I already have something in the pipeline so it's greyed out. I ask for the Senior Team the 1st time and then the U19's the 2nd time and then just keep rotating. 

I've already got it up to a reasonable level Average(6) but I will keep plugging away. 

Really happy to get the 1st Training Facilities upgrade agreed, but I must also admit that I was just a tiny bit nervous about how much it was going to cost. (It's fine, it only cost us £125k). 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Intake preview. Dec 2027. 

We really need a good striker and I think I'm going to have to look for a new HoYD who plays 3 up front, (or at the very least 2 up front), so we get more strikers through the intake.

He's (F.Pro) but has (L.Det) and his preferred formation is surprisingly 5212 DM AM which should see at least 2 SC's coming through each intake, (and more likely 3). 

Oh hang on..... I didn't have a HoYD to start with did I...... I bet whoever was doing it at the very start of the save is still doing it now. 

Damn! The Dof has been doing it and I never noticed. 

I don't know anything about the DoF. 

So before I do anything else, let's fix that. 

So now the HoYD who likes to play 2 up front is actually in charge of future intakes, (from the next one but not this one). 

I would like to look for a new HoYD, (after I give this guy a go), but I really need to find one who has a decent personality but also likes to play either a 343 or a 532 DM WB formation.

[Jimbokav1971]

Job Offer #5.

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities. Jan 2028. 

I just keep asking for upgrades without any real expectation of them being agreed to, but I hit the motherload this month. 

We're still waiting for upgrades to both the Youth Facilities and Training Facilities and also the last Junior Coaching upgrade won't be shown yet. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Feb 2028. 

First League Group B. This looks like a disaster of a month, and it is in terms of results, but actually we won the xG battle in the 1st 3 games and hit the woodwork 5 times in the last 3 games. The truth is that while the results were certainly disastrous, the performances were actually decent and we were just unlucky. 

Disaster or unlucky, we're still down in 7th. My job is still stable, (and thankfully there is a 7 point gap between ourselves at 8th), and you can see now why I'm so delighted that I got all those upgrades agreed earlier in the season. 

We've got 10 games left and 30 points to play for. We all know how important momentum is in FM. If we can just start winning again anything is possible. 

Finances. 

[_Ben_]

Money aside, how bad would another season at this level be? With all the upgrades (I know there is a time period before seeing the results but still) and the ‘easier’ level to give game time to those youngsters, surely staying at this level - whilst your job is safe - would be beneficial for stability when you do go back up?

[Jimbokav1971]

Just now, _Ben_ said:

Money aside, how bad would another season at this level be? With all the upgrades (I know there is a time period before seeing the results but still) and the ‘easier’ level to give game time to those youngsters, surely staying at this level - whilst your job is safe - would be beneficial for stability when you do go back up?

Absolutely. I mentioned earlier that the plan was to build a squad that was capable of staying in the SuperLeague once promoted, rather than get promoted and come straight back down. The last couple of months have been tough but we're so far off getting promoted that it's not even a question that I've had to consider. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Day. Mar 2028. 

I was expecting a good intake after all the upgrades, but I certainly wasn't expecting a 5.0 CA player. 

There are a few players who's personality I don't like & ideally I wouldn't sign any of the 3 of them, but how the hell am I meant not sign 2x 5.0 PA players who also have 2.0 CA? I mean come on? 

If this is what the DoF managed to do, and we have 1x Training Facility upgrade, 1x Youth Facility upgrade and a bug Junior Coaching upgrade that may or may not have kicked in in time to influence this intake and the suggestion is that I just might be able to create some absolutely MONSTER players here in Kosovo. 

We're desperate for a striker and I'm not going to show you all the players on this intake, (where would I stop?) so I will just show you the 5.0 CA player and the striker and if anyone wants to see a particular player then just ask. I will probably show you them as and when they make their debut's next season anyway. 

How can someone who's 6'6" have a heading attribute of 2?  That's just my luck.  On the other hand. At least he can jump. (Of course he can jump. Most people can't jump as high as he is when he's bloomin standing!!!) 

[Mr Jabay]

Man, Jimbo, how much I love your saves! What tactics are you using? Do you vary your tactics? Maybe you can beat Kika with a highly attacking starting 11, say a 433?

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, Mr Jabay said:

Man, Jimbo, how much I love your saves! What tactics are you using? Do you vary your tactics? Maybe you can beat Kika with a highly attacking starting 11, say a 433?

Thanks @Mr JabayI really appreciate the kind words.

I have used a variation on a 442 throughout about 10 issues of the game, but this year with Ceuta, (or maybe it was FM22 with Belenenses.....), I swapped to a 343 that isn't great defensively and works on the basis that we just have too many attackers for the opposition to cope with. 

It evolved a little bit over the many seasons with Ceuta, but this is what it looks like at the moment, (and this version was used in a dominant phase while managing Ceuta), but the truth is I can't be bothered fiddling with it for the moment. 

Looking at it right now in the cold light of day, would we benefit with removing 1 of the attackers and slotting them into either a DM, MC or AMC slot? Yeah of course we would. 
Would we benefit from at least 2 of the (a) duties being changed? Yeah of course we would.
Would we benefit from a change in role in the front 3? Yeah of course we would.  
Would we benefit from 1 of the WB's being more conservative? Yeah of course we would. 
The dotted lines between the centre-backs tell you all you need to know there. 

Although I haven't shown you the left hand column, you can see by the name of the tactic what we're doing and it's pretty simple really. (It's not at all suited to these players or this level of football though). It was created and adapted to generate penalty returns and outscore more powerful opposition really. 

Once we are stable in the top tier and I think I need the boost to fix things that obviously don't suit the players we have available I will look to adapt it then, but for the most part I'm really just pressing continue a lot. The only exception to that is that the season where we got loads of red and yellow cards I removed "dives into tackles", because our middle 4 just couldn't cope with it. The middle 2 had too much ground to cover on their own and with a lack of athletic ability often found themselves on the wrong side of the ball during transition and time and time again their option was a forceful tackle from behind.Both WB's on (a) duty is also ridiculous for this part of the save but I really just can't be bothered to change it. My thinking is that by the time I really delve into it and work out something that works well, we will have had another intake with better CA players than we have now and they will likely be far more capable and I have to do the whole thing over again.

The problem in part is although we know that their physical abilities are severely lacking, it's the decision-making that also plays a huge role. They didn't know that diving in from behind in the opening 10 mins of a match was not going to just screw us for that match, but also the next match too, (in terms of fatigue). 

I'll be honest with you, the only section of this tactic that I currently really like is the 3 at the back, (and that's the bit that's least effective!) 

2x WB's on (a) might be ok when you are Ceuta and you're tearing it up looking for an undefeated domestic season, but isn't so good when you have a squad of rubbish kids who are probably playing a level higher than they should be. 
3x (a) duties in the forward line also makes me uncomfortable when I look at it, (and anyone who paid attention in my Ceuta thread will know i had problems with my centra strikers scoring during our dominant phase there), but the central striker isn't a problem right now so I'm just going with the flow. 

At the moment I don't think any of the issues mentioned are significant enough barriers to stop us progressing to meet our short-term goals, so I'm really just going with the flow. This save is really meant to just be some fun after the Ceuta save which felt like hard graft at the end. 

No scouting really helps. 
Not messing about with tactics really helps too.  (with the exception of removing the "get stuck in" instruction).
No loaning players out really helps. 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Thoughts about recent intake. Mar 2028. 

It was late last night when I got to the intake and I usually stop at the beginning of every month if I'm not going to complete the next month. I was tired and obviously not paying attention to the date, (preoccupied with not winning in 6 games), so the Youth Intake sort of snuck up on me and then once it's here you can't ignore it and go to bed can you. (Especially not an intake like that). 

It's probably even better than I thought it was last night. Not in terms of PA, (because who knows how good any of them may be), but simply in terms of CA in the here and now, (which is obviously of huge short-term importance to the save, which is usually not the case in a Youth Only save. Let me show you what I mean. 

This is the all the players at the club sorted by CA. 

Even if we ignore (28a) who is obviously a freak, there are still 9 other members of this intake on the 1st page of the squad view, (LISTED BY CA!!!) 

I couldn't sign him to a PT pre-contract with +2 option like I did with quite a few players last season, (I think it's because we're not in the top tier), but just look at this boy! I love him so much I don't even care about his workrate! I DON'T CARE! 

You will also notice that quite a few of the players at the top of the list are unhappy, (they didn't like being relegated and wanted to move on), but so far we haven't lost anyone. 

Sejdiu * is our best player, (or was our best player), and he's leaving on a free transfer at the end of the season, (and I don't have a problem with that, especially because he's not a product of our Academy). He has low Det and his performances should have been better based on his CA. 

(21) Makolli 6'0" * is the only GK who has ever played for me in this save, (and this is my 5th season), and he's also leaving on a free at the end of the season. He will be a loss but to be honest his morale is shot from conceding so many goals so it might be good to get a fresh GK in the side. 

(27b) Kapo * contracted to 2031, but he's still on his Youth contract and he's signed a pre-contract PT contract after that so not sure how long I have tied him down for. I added quite a few +1 & +2's last season when we were in the SuperLeague. 

(27a) Redzepi DC 5'10" is my converted Libero and is contracted to 2030 with a +1.

(23) Hamra * is on a NC and I can't offer a PT contract while we're in the 2nd tier, (I think). 

(22) Gashi * is asking to leave but has 1 more year on his contract.

Kosumi * is 36 & retiring at the end of the season. 

(26n) Gjuzi * has 1 more year on his contract, but this is his 2nd full season with us now and although he's great and I really like him, the improvement in our facilities mean that it's likely that next season, (I really hope I don't regret saying this), I hope to be producing players who have the potential to far and away overhaul him anyway, so if we lose him next season then so be it, (although it would be good to get back to the Superleague and get him signed up again). 

Granit * 6'2" is 34 and leaving on a free transfer. I don't mind him leaving at all. 

After those we have 3 more players from this intake.

It will be interesting to see how much his (L.Det) hinders his development. 

(L.Det) again might be a problem, but he's already a really good player for us at 15. The thing with (L.Det) is that it can be a hindrance, but I wonder if I can circumvent that by just throwing him straight into the 1st Team and the early exposure to 1st team football might make up for the (L.Det) in terms of impact on development?

This bloke would immediately be our best centre-half, were it not for the fact that I'm converting a midfielder to play as a Libero. We've really struggled at the back and although pace is a problem, there is so much else wrong with our current defenders that it's just nice to have someone who looks like a centre-half rather than a midget who can't jump, can't run and can't head the ball.

(27j) Cakaj 6'1" * is up next and to be honest I haven't really looked at the other GK's in the squad yet. We had 2 through last year and I can't remember which one I liked more, but one of them will play next season. 

(25i) Ramadan * is contracted to next season and is doing ok. We just need to get more development into him between now and the end of the season. 

(24c) Sefa WBR * was our 2nd choice WBR this season, but with the arrival of a good looking DR he could be dropped back to 3rd, (which is brilliant as I might use him on the right up front!)

A proper centre-half! Again, if I was able to register him he would walk straight into the starting XI. 

Yeah I know he's weak physically, (he's 15 ffs!)  but he's actually a really good player for us.

His lack of pace is a problem, but the fact that (23) Hamra * is on a NC and could be poached at any moment elevates his importance to us. 

This is a really good player for us and I think the reason his CA is so low, (his attributes suggest that he should be better), is that he has some really low mentals and technicals. The dribbling is a problem but the passing opens up other possibilities. With the right PPM's and instructions I think he could be great up front on the right. 

Although (23) Kastrati. * has scored lots of goals for us, we haven't actually had a good striker in this save yet. This bloke could be the 1st. 

Obviously really raw, but his physicals are really impressive for this level/ 

All the above new players are likely to be starters next season. 

 

[Jimbokav1971]

Recent intake continued. Mar 2028. 

As good as that intake was, (and it was amazing), I actually don't particularly like this period of the save where the development in our facilities and their ability to produce an increasingly improved standard of players, is quicker than the pace at which we develop the existing players. Each season the intake automatically make significant impacts on the 1st Team and I just don't like it. I want there to be an improvement in PA certainly, but because there is an improvement in CA then you never actually get to fully develop any players. 

Part of this of course will simply be that we're a Semi-Pro club and combined with our Training Facilities, it's just not keeping pace with the improvements in our infrastructure. I'm setting individual training and looking at PPM's but it really doesn't matter because the chances are that even my 1st choice players will be replaced with someone at the next intake, (or at the latest the one after that). 

I really need to get us back in the SuperLeague, keep us there, turn Pro, offer FT contracts and then absolutely bludgeon the rest of Kosovo into submission for a few years. 

[Edit]

I forgot to say that I think the next intake is going to be even better, (because of the double Facility upgrade due between now and then even if I don't get any more lined up). 

We also have an actual HoYD doing the recruiting now rather than the DoF. (If the next intake is rubbish I'm going to have the right hump!) 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities. Mar 2028. 

I haven't checked yet, but I think there is a fair chance we have the best Youth Production facilities in Kosovo. The only real issue is that we're Semi-Pro and don't have the best Training Facilities, so although we produce really good players we will struggle to develop and/or keep them. 

When and if we get promoted back to the SuperLeague I will look at everyone's facilities and see what we're up against. 

We still have a Youth Facilities upgrade being worked on. 

If I can put together a good run of form between now and the end of the season I will see if we can squeeze in either another Youth Recruitment or a Junior Coaching, but I don't want to ask now because we've not been in great form recently. 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Jimbokav1971

[Mr Jabay]

Thanks for your detailed introduction to your tactical thoughts! I also love a WB system, albeit more a 5-3-2. But it is also not my most successful tactic:)

I wish I could comment some smart tactical advice, but I guess I am one of the worst FM players so I spare you that...

[Jimbokav1971]

New contract. Mar 2028. 

Another 1 year contract?  I'm starting to get the hump now!  

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad by PA. Mar 2028. 

No less than 38x 5.0 PA players. 

[DaneBramage]

5.0 star CA, very nice. Shame it's in a position you don't use, re-training him in midfield or in attack?

I think the L. Det/Unamb players are probably fine at this stage of the career. If they were starting with less CA and needed to progress then it's not so likely, or further up the pyramid when you actually have good players, but coming in with 2.0 CA already when the first-team players are still a bit rubbish they can definitely do a job. 

But as you're aware, it's the short-term/long-term effect of doing so. They strengthen the squad now, but then limit opportunities for others with better personalities, who may actually reach a 5.0 potential.

[Jimbokav1971]

Mar 2028. 

First League Group B. From only taking 1 point from a possible 12 last month we've taken 10 points from a possible 12 this month. Have we played any better? Yeah a bit, but you can't under-estimate the influence of that late pen against Malisheva at the start of the month. That stemmed the tide and then we played the bottom 2 clubs and the momentum from that carried us to a narrow win against Flamurtari. 

Suddenly we're 3rd, 3 points off the top and Kika, (who were 3rd and 3 points off the top at the end of last month), are now languishing down in 7th, 5 points behind us and 8 points off the top. 

Facilities. I didn't follow up on any of these requests. I was really just asking because I could, (and couldn't ask for anything better), and didn't want to waste the positivity of an unbeaten month. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

17 minutes ago, DaneBramage said:

5.0 star CA, very nice. Shame it's in a position you don't use, re-training him in midfield or in attack?

We're losing 1 of our decent midfielders at the end of the season, (35 year old Granit * 6'2" is leaving on a free). We still have (26n) Gjuzi *, (contracted until end of next season), and (27b) Kapo *, (still on a youth contract and then possibly a 2+2 PT contract after that but not 100% sure). 

It makes sense to stick (28a) Mema straight in there, but now you mention it I see what you mean about his ability to play through the middle up front. Still gonna stick with him in the middle of the pitch though I think.........  although you are making me think now....

[Jimbokav1971]

21 minutes ago, DaneBramage said:

I think the L. Det/Unamb players are probably fine at this stage of the career. If they were starting with less CA and needed to progress then it's not so likely, or further up the pyramid when you actually have good players, but coming in with 2.0 CA already when the first-team players are still a bit rubbish they can definitely do a job. 

But as you're aware, it's the short-term/long-term effect of doing so. They strengthen the squad now, but then limit opportunities for others with better personalities, who may actually reach a 5.0 potential.

Yeah, there were 2 in particular that I didn't want to sign, but with both of them showing as 2.0 CA players and me still playing players in the 1st Team with silver star CA it's madness not to keep them. My question to myself was really whether their early exposure to 1st Team football will in any way make up for their lack of... "focus". 

My thinking at this stage of the save is not what I would usually do in a save like this, (which is basically just select a squad based on PA, (and attribute balance), and stick with it until they get there. I can't do that here because basically everyone has the same PA so I don't have enough info to go on. As a result I'm looking more at CA and hoping that as we increase the PA of the best players, we will start to see some variance in the PA ratings. The problem with that of course is that the rate at which our facilities are expanding means that the players coming through all seem to have better PA than the last bunch, (and better CA), so what I'm being forced to do is re-pick the squad from scratch again in each pre-season. It would be easier in the SuperLeague where U19 players don't have to be registered, but down in the First League Group B everyone has to be registered. 

I'm sure it will sort itself out sooner or later. I just have to get through this "messy" period. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Apr 2028. 

First League Group B. Our good form has continues, but I can't for the life of me understand how Malisheva & Ulpiana aren't running away with the league. They're the only 2 Pro teams in the league and they should be absolutely smashing the rest of us. 

The Kika bubble seems to have well and truly burst and they've now gone 14 League games without a win  and yet are still comfortably clear of relegation. They lost 5 good players and 2 average players in the Summer though so no surprise that they're finding it tough. 

We're up to 2nd with 1 game left to play, but our last game is against Ulpiana who have already been crowned Champions.
3rd placed Arberia are away to 4th placed Malisheva, and the best chance we have of staying 2nd is for them to draw, but that would still require us needing a draw ourselves, (which is unlikely if I'm honest). 

Nobody else can catch us so a win secures a Playoff spot, but a draw still gives us a decent chance as Arberia and Malisheva have drawn 8 and 7 games themselves respectively. 

Must admit that I'm not overly hopeful against Ulpiana. They're a good side and we're a bit hit and miss. 

U19's. This was the 1st season we even had competitive fixtures so I was a tiny bit surprised at how well we did, but considering how our intakes have gone recently maybe I shouldn't be. They were doing pretty well earlier in the season, but since they had the latest batch of recruits, (who aren't allowed to play for the Senior Team), they've gone mental. 

Look at all the (28?) goal-scorers since the intake. 24 of the 34 goals scored. 

(28m) Laakonen (KOS)(FIN) 6'6" has scored 12 goals in 7 games for the U19's. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Last game of the regular season. May 2028. 

We need to beat Champions Ulpiana, (away), to secure 2nd place, or draw and hope that Arberia (3rd) and Malisheva (4th), (who are playing against eachother), also draw.

Got it? 

[Jimbokav1971]

Just now, Jimbokav1971 said:

Last game of the regular season. May 2028. 

We need to beat Champions Ulpiana, (away), to secure 2nd place, or draw and hope that Arberia (3rd) and Malisheva (4th), (who are playing against eachother), also draw.

Got it? 

19th min. We're 1-nil up away from home. I'm not even looking at the other game.  

[Jimbokav1971]

2 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Last game of the regular season. May 2028. 

We need to beat Champions Ulpiana, (away), to secure 2nd place, or draw and hope that Arberia (3rd) and Malisheva (4th), (who are playing against eachother), also draw.

Got it? 

 

Just now, Jimbokav1971 said:

19th min. We're 1-nil up away from home. I'm not even looking at the other game.  

46th min. We break down the right and (24c) Sefa WBR * cuts in but fires over the bar. Still winning 1-0.

[Jimbokav1971]

3 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Last game of the regular season. May 2028. 

We need to beat Champions Ulpiana, (away), to secure 2nd place, or draw and hope that Arberia (3rd) and Malisheva (4th), (who are playing against eachother), also draw.

Got it? 

 

2 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

19th min. We're 1-nil up away from home. I'm not even looking at the other game.  

 

Just now, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

46th min. We break down the right and (24c) Sefa WBR * cuts in but fires over the bar. Still winning 1-0.

55th min. We win the ball in the middle of the pitch and Sejdli * tries to pick the top corner from just inside the box but it goes narrowly wide. Still winning 1-0

[Jimbokav1971]

5 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Last game of the regular season. May 2028. 

We need to beat Champions Ulpiana, (away), to secure 2nd place, or draw and hope that Arberia (3rd) and Malisheva (4th), (who are playing against eachother), also draw.

Got it? 

 

4 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

19th min. We're 1-nil up away from home. I'm not even looking at the other game.  

 

2 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

46th min. We break down the right and (24c) Sefa WBR * cuts in but fires over the bar. Still winning 1-0.

 

Just now, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

55th min. We win the ball in the middle of the pitch and Sejdlu * tries to pick the top corner from just inside the box but it goes narrowly wide. Still winning 1-0

61st min. We take a short throw in near their left corner flag, (I think this is going to be an opportunity for our DLC at the back post), but the lads have other ideas and after a cross and some penalty area pinball, Sejdlu * makes up for his earlier miss and puts us 2-0 up, (but what is the keeper doing!). We're 2-0 up away from home against the Champions and I'm still not looking at the other score. 

It's not the prettiest goal, but at the same time it's a thing of absolute beauty. Can we blow it from here? Damn right we can. 

[Jimbokav1971]

13 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Last game of the regular season. May 2028. 

We need to beat Champions Ulpiana, (away), to secure 2nd place, or draw and hope that Arberia (3rd) and Malisheva (4th), (who are playing against eachother), also draw.

Got it? 

 

11 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

19th min. We're 1-nil up away from home. I'm not even looking at the other game.  

 

9 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

46th min. We break down the right and (24c) Sefa WBR * cuts in but fires over the bar. Still winning 1-0.

 

7 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

55th min. We win the ball in the middle of the pitch and Sejdli * tries to pick the top corner from just inside the box but it goes narrowly wide. Still winning 1-0

 

1 minute ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

 

61st min. We take a short throw in near their left corner flag, (I think this is going to be an opportunity for our DLC at the back post), but the lads have other ideas and after a cross and some penalty area pinball, Sejdlu * makes up for his earlier miss and puts us 2-0 up, (but what is the keeper doing!). We're 2-0 up away from home against the Champions and I'm still not looking at the other score. 

It's not the prettiest goal, but at the same time it's a thing of absolute beauty. Can we blow it from here? Damn right we can. 

(23) Hamra * plays in (23) Sallaku * down the left and he shoots across the GK like he was trained to do, but strikes the foot of the post and the ball is cleared to safety. Still winning 2-0 away. 

[Jimbokav1971]

15 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Last game of the regular season. May 2028. 

We need to beat Champions Ulpiana, (away), to secure 2nd place, or draw and hope that Arberia (3rd) and Malisheva (4th), (who are playing against eachother), also draw.

Got it? 

 

14 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

19th min. We're 1-nil up away from home. I'm not even looking at the other game.  

 

12 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

46th min. We break down the right and (24c) Sefa WBR * cuts in but fires over the bar. Still winning 1-0.

 

10 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

55th min. We win the ball in the middle of the pitch and Sejdli * tries to pick the top corner from just inside the box but it goes narrowly wide. Still winning 1-0

 

4 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

 

61st min. We take a short throw in near their left corner flag, (I think this is going to be an opportunity for our DLC at the back post), but the lads have other ideas and after a cross and some penalty area pinball, Sejdlu * makes up for his earlier miss and puts us 2-0 up, (but what is the keeper doing!). We're 2-0 up away from home against the Champions and I'm still not looking at the other score. 

It's not the prettiest goal, but at the same time it's a thing of absolute beauty. Can we blow it from here? Damn right we can. 

 

Just now, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

 

 

(23) Hamra * plays in (23) Sallaku * down the left and he shoots across the GK like he was trained to do, but strikes the foot of the post and the ball is cleared to safety. Still winning 2-0 away. 

70th min. Ulpiana pop the ball over the top from their own half, (surely we've got this covered), our defenders turn like a super-tanker and our GK opts not to come for the ball, allowing their striker to collect the ball inside the home and slot home easily against the afore-mentioned flapping GK who could have just come for the ball and saved me writing all this. 

We're still 2-1 up in the last game of the season. At the moment we're still qualifying for the Playoffs, I don't know what the score in the other game is and there's 20 mins left. 

[Jimbokav1971]

19 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Last game of the regular season. May 2028. 

We need to beat Champions Ulpiana, (away), to secure 2nd place, or draw and hope that Arberia (3rd) and Malisheva (4th), (who are playing against eachother), also draw.

Got it? 

 

18 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

19th min. We're 1-nil up away from home. I'm not even looking at the other game.  

 

16 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

46th min. We break down the right and (24c) Sefa WBR * cuts in but fires over the bar. Still winning 1-0.

 

14 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

55th min. We win the ball in the middle of the pitch and Sejdli * tries to pick the top corner from just inside the box but it goes narrowly wide. Still winning 1-0

 

8 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

 

61st min. We take a short throw in near their left corner flag, (I think this is going to be an opportunity for our DLC at the back post), but the lads have other ideas and after a cross and some penalty area pinball, Sejdlu * makes up for his earlier miss and puts us 2-0 up, (but what is the keeper doing!). We're 2-0 up away from home against the Champions and I'm still not looking at the other score. 

It's not the prettiest goal, but at the same time it's a thing of absolute beauty. Can we blow it from here? Damn right we can. 

 

5 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

 

 

(23) Hamra * plays in (23) Sallaku * down the left and he shoots across the GK like he was trained to do, but strikes the foot of the post and the ball is cleared to safety. Still winning 2-0 away. 

 

Just now, Jimbokav1971 said:

 

 

 

 

 

70th min. Ulpiana pop the ball over the top from their own half, (surely we've got this covered), our defenders turn like a super-tanker and our GK opts not to come for the ball, allowing their striker to collect the ball inside the home and slot home easily against the afore-mentioned flapping GK who could have just come for the ball and saved me writing all this. 

We're still 2-1 up in the last game of the season. At the moment we're still qualifying for the Playoffs, I don't know what the score in the other game is and there's 20 mins left. 

85th min. They've got a corner.  They deliver to the back post and their player heads in. 

It's 2-2 now with 5 mins to play and we still make the playoffs if the other game ends in a draw. If you had offered me a draw before the game I would have taken it. 5 mins plus injury time to hold on. 

[Jimbokav1971]

May 2028. 

First League Group B. A draw away to the Champion Ulpiana was enough to secure Runners Up position in the league and a Playoff spot as Arberia & Malisheva also drew. I suspect that the Ulpiana lads were all out on the razz after celebrating the title, because we're just not as good as them and we really dominated them away from home, winning the xG battle 0.45 to 1.83. This was a much better performance than i was expecting, (although we conceded 2 rubbish goals). 

We will play FC Besa Pejë in the Semi-Finals of the Playoff. They finished Runners Up in First League Group A, (but where as we had 2 fully Pro teams to compete against, they had only 1). 

I don't know how much of a gap there is between the last league game and the Semi, but I want to try and stick a friendly in against someone rubbish, (not your U19's which was my 1st thought). Knowing my luck, in an effort to boost morale, I would create a friendly against our U19's and lose to the beats that have just come through the intake. 

Malisheva were Runners Up last season and they played their last League game on 8th May, and then the Semi, (which they lost to Istogu), wasn't played until 26th May, and the Final was played just 3 days later on 29th May...... That's interesting. It gives the SuperLeague side a huge advantage in terms of fitness/fatigue, but at the same time I expect their morale to be absolutely rock bottom so maybe it's just a leveller. 

So I'm going to stick a couple of friendlies in to keep every fit and hopefully give the lads a morale boost. 

The 1st friendly went ok. 

And the 2nd friendly went ok in the end. 

Both the board and the supporters are expecting us to lose the Semi. 

Our 1st choice Libero (27a) Redzepi DC 5'10" is suspended, (he got a 4 match ban). 

We played 17 year old (26c) Iseni 6'0" there in the league game against Ulpiana, but he's recovering from a knock and not fully fit. It's a gamble but I'm considering sticking 34 year old MC  Granit * 6'2" in there for his 1st ever game at centre-half. We will miss him late on in midfield, (although the Ass Man will probably move him to midfield anyway), but I think it gives us the best chance of getting a result. We just don't have anyone who can play in there and this lad can pass like the midfielder he is. It's a risk but I'm going for it. 

Let's get back to the Superleague! 

2 mins. Short throw-in routine creates a chance at the near post for us but GK saves well from (25l) Ramadan *. Still 0-0.

8 mins. Sejdlu * is receives the ball on the edge of the box, turns nicely and fires powerfully over the bar. Still 0-0.

33 mins. They have a direct free-kick from absolutely miles out and their player takes a shot that heads right for the top corner. GK (21) Makolli 6'0" saves it somehow, but the ball runs free and is cleared before their striker can slot into an empty net. Still 0-0.

45 mins. It's right on HT and they have another long range free-kick. It's so far out the wall is on the D. High and wide. Still 0-0.

HT 0-0. 

47 mins. (25l) Ramadan * feeds WBL (23) Hamra * down the left hand side. After advancing he plays the ball back inside for (25l) Ramadan * who to be fair has made a fantastic run. he collects the ball just inside the left hand side of the area, (he's a lefty), he advances on the GK and absolutely smashes it home! Goal Goal GOAL!  We're 1-0 up. 

*I've got to be honest here. We've got a few players with similar sounding names. We've got 2x Ramadan's and a Ramadani and I'm not complete who is who at the moment.  I thought the goal-scorer was our left centre-half initially but when he made that run I realised he was our left-sided striker. get in! 

48 mins. They have a free-kick closer to the half-way line than the penalty area. Even he can't shoot from here. He 9-irons it in, they win the header and lay it back to one of their players who advances into the box and fires home. 1-1. 

55 mins and it's another free-kick to them. (yes we do give away a lot of free-kicks). The bloke's name is Hasanaj and he clips the bar with this one which is from a little further in. 

90+5 mins. (Yes really).  They attack down our right hand side. We clear it but not well enough and it comes straight back. They take a touch just outside the pen area to the left of centre, he draws a defender to him before laying off and...... game over. 2-1. It's just about the last kick of the game. 

We lose in the Semi's of the Playoffs. 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

4 hours ago, Mr Jabay said:

Thanks for your detailed introduction to your tactical thoughts! I also love a WB system, albeit more a 5-3-2. But it is also not my most successful tactic:)

I wish I could comment some smart tactical advice, but I guess I am one of the worst FM players so I spare you that...

Feel free to comment whatever you like about whatever you like in here. One opinion is no different than any other and I'm certainly no tactical wizard. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Losing players this Summer. May 2028. 

For this 1st time in this save, (since it happened at the very start when I was on holiday and not paying attention), we will lose quite a few significant player this summer. 

This is the 1st page of the squad sorted by CA and we will lose the following players. 

Sejdiu * wants to leave due to the club getting relegated, (from the SuperLeague last season). 
(21) Makolli 6'0" * leaving on a free transfer. 
(23) Hamra * is on NC terms so he could leave at any time and there is nothing I can do about it. 
Kosumi * wants to leave due to the club getting relegated, (last season), but is also retiring at the end of this season anyway. 
Granit * 6'2" wants to leave due to the club getting relegated, (last season), so is leaving no a free transfer. 
(24c) Sefa WBR * doesn't want to negotiate a new contract because he knows we can't offer him a PT contract, (which he has), and doesn't want to step back to a NC. 
(27l) Emmenegger (KOS)(SUI) is on NC terms so he could leave at any time and there is nothing I can do about it. 
(23) Sallaku * doesn't want to negotiate a new contract because he knows we can't offer him a PT contract, (which he has), and doesn't want to step back to a NC. 
(23) Buxhelaj * is a right royal pain in the rear end. He was a (Temp) personality but thankfully has popped to (Bal), but he trains poorly & always gives me attitude. Good riddance.

All these players leaving will affect us to 1 degree or another and I would like them all to stay, (with the exception of the last player). I'm completely relaxed about them leaving though because I'm fairly confident that not only have we got decent replacements for whoever leaves, but even if we don't I'm pretty sure that there will be 1 in the intake just round the corner. We've just had a fantastic intake, (on top of some good intakes), and I really expect future intakes to be even better, (famous last words). We're in no rush to get promoted, (although I did want to go up this season because we might have been able to re-sign some of the above players as a result). 

The biggest benefit to playing in the SuperLeague was that the Balkan El Presidente allowed me to offer PT contracts rather than NC contracts, and a key part of these is the + year option clauses. 

There are currently 4 players showing as having a + year option on their contracts, (all from the (27) intake when we were in the SuperLeague), but there are a few more from that intake who are still on Youth contracts and who's clauses I can't see until they swap from youth contract to PT contracts. It's the biggest and best thing about being in the SuperLeague, (maybe behind the TV money). 

[Jimbokav1971]

Finances. May 2028. 

If I got rid of the Transfer Budget, (which I'm not going to use), then I could boost the wage budget from £11,370 pm to £22,740 pm, (but there is absolutely no need to do that). We won't be signing anyone until the next Youth Intake and as i've just mentioned we could be losing up to 9 of our highest paid players. 

I'm completely relaxed about the financial situation. 

The only reason I want more money is to afford more Facility upgrades. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Scouting List. May 2028. 

This list is about to get a little bigger, and for the 1st time will include players who we may actually wish to re-sign, although have I possibly made a mistake with (24b) Pekka Pietilä (KOS)(FIN)?

It will be nice to have the opportunity to poach a player from another club for a change. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Board culture. May 2028. 

For the last 2 seasons I've tried to get Balkan El Presidente to remove the "Play defensively solid football" line, but he's just not having it. Thankfully it's not deemed very important, (because it aint happening!) 

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities. May 2028.

I thought I would have 1 last little go at a cheeky little upgrade, but Balkan El Presidente, (who it should be said has been really generous after a tough start), wasn't playing ball. 

We're still waiting for a Youth Facilities upgrade to be finished. 

 

[WhiteCat33]

57 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

90+5 mins. (Yes really).  They attack down our right hand side. We clear it but not well enough and it comes straight back. They take a touch just outside the pen area to the left of centre, he draws a defender to him before laying off and...... game over. 2-1. It's just about the last kick of the game. 

Brutal luck after that stellar end-of-season matchup to get into the playoff. Looks like you have a generational rebuild about to start with all the departures and the intakes. What is your HOYD personality/media handling? I'm sure you posted it earlier but I missed it. Also, worth remembering the U18 Head coach has an effect on intake personality Media handling & player archetype. Might help with your positive to negative personality ratio.

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

*I've got to be honest here. We've got a few players with similar sounding names. We've got 2x Ramadan's and a Ramadani and I'm not complete who is who at the moment.  I thought the goal-scorer was our left centre-half initially but when he made that run I realised he was our left-sided striker. get in! 

(25i) Ramadan * is the left-sided attacker who scored the goal in the Playoff Semi against Besa. 
(26j) Ramadani 5'9" is a 1st Team centre-half. 
(28e) Ramani is a 16 year old winger. 
(28l) Ramadani (KOS)(ALB) 6'1" is a 15 year old centre-half who will probably play in the 1st Team next season. 

[Jimbokav1971]

7 minutes ago, WhiteCat33 said:

Brutal luck after that stellar end-of-season matchup to get into the playoff. Looks like you have a generational rebuild about to start with all the departures and the intakes. What is your HOYD personality/media handling? I'm sure you posted it earlier but I missed it. Also, worth remembering the U18 Head coach has an effect on intake personality Media handling & player archetype. Might help with your positive to negative personality ratio.

Yeah it was tough luck but that's they way the cookie crumbles. 

It's not going to be such an enormous rebuild simply because that last intake is ridiculous in terms of CA. 

HoYD is (F.Pro) (Det only 4) (L.Headed). 

Pretty sure that the U18 Manager doesn't influence anything, (or at least not much of anything), at the Youth Intake stage, (unless I put him in charge of the intake recruitment). 

You might have missed it, but at the start of the save I didn't have any staff and so when I was able to delegate the recruitment for the Youth Intake, (have forgotten what it's called now), the only person I was able to delegate it to was the DoF. Then when I recruited the HoYD I never changed the delegation action so it was still the DoF doing it. Even this recent intake it was him that took us through the Youth Intake preview, so any impact from the actual HoYD would have been negligible. 

To the best of my knowledge, (other than the standard staff influences), the only way a U19's Manager influences the Youth Intake is if I put him in charge of it, (which I haven't). 

Feel free to correct me though if there is something that's been announced and I've missed it though.