[FM24] Stuniverse's FM24 Adventure - Norway adventure

Stuniverse · December 24, 2023

6 hours ago, phnompenhandy said:

It was all worth the wait then.

Yes. Definitely. As I said to @warlock I was expecting to end up back in Tier 4 or maybe in Tier 3. To end up managing a Tier 1 club for four matches who will be in Tier 2 next season is beyond my expectations.

I suspect the money ("limited resources") will be tight though. No idea on next season's budgets or finances yet.

6 hours ago, phnompenhandy said:

Those last 4 games gives you a chance to assess the squad so that you can ditch the deadwood over the summer.

Exactly that. I will be assessing the squad before I start playing those four matches and then using them to assess who might be worth keeping.

I expect some of the squad will be unhappy following relegation and demand to leave!

6 hours ago, phnompenhandy said:

And earning real (virtual) cash money too!

Woohoo! Living the (virtual) high life!

Stuniverse · December 24, 2023

What would you do?

The Hødd Board want me to:

Play defensively solid football
Play direct football
Make the most of set-pieces.

Given that brief, what tactic / formation / system would you go for?

Thank you.

—

Tagged: @Dean Gripton @I have nothing to say @JaytheGreat @phnompenhandy @Punch @samboing @XaW @Jogo Bonito @warlock

Edited December 24, 2023 by Stuniverse

phnompenhandy · December 24, 2023

10 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

What would you do?

The Hødd Board want me to:

Play defensively solid football

Play direct football

Make the most of set-pieces.

Given that brief, what tactic / formation / system would you go for?

Thank you.

—

Tagged: @Dean Gripton @I have nothing to say @JaytheGreat @phnompenhandy @Punch @samboing @XaW @Jogo Bonito @warlock

For me, something like a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with two DMs. Hit the flanks and have a pair of inside forwards. Having them dribble might draw more fouls, but that last preference is annoying if you have no one good at set pieces! If you have a big lummock in defence, aim for his head in corners and free kicks.

Punch · December 24, 2023

57 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

What would you do?

I'd suggest taking a good look at your squad first.

No good committing to a system with two DMs, if you have rubbish/no DMs.

Play your last four games with the formation that fits the players you have, then work out what you want to do...do you want a vanilla four at the back, keeping it simple, do you want 5 at the back with wing backs getting forward...how attacking do you want to be, trying to play defensively to keep the board happy? etc.

I was always a fan of the 424 that I played with IoM, and the beginning of the Guernsey save, but have been really enjoying since I switched up to the 523 formation that I am now using. It has taken some time to get the players used to it, but when it clicks, it's magical to watch.

warlock · December 24, 2023

1 hour ago, Stuniverse said:

What would you do?

Hard to say without knowing the players, but I'd certainly ignore the set-piece stuff (never been able to meet the requirement and never had any consequences for not meeting it).

For defensive football it's hard to beat a midfield three - either in a 1-2 or 2-1 shape. Don't counter-press.

Happy to offer more when we see the squad.

XaW · December 24, 2023

1 hour ago, Stuniverse said:

What would you do?

The Hødd Board want me to:

Play defensively solid football

Play direct football

Make the most of set-pieces.

Given that brief, what tactic / formation / system would you go for?

Thank you.

—

Tagged: @Dean Gripton @I have nothing to say @JaytheGreat @phnompenhandy @Punch @samboing @XaW @Jogo Bonito @warlock

Well done on getting a new club! Hødd has been both good and bad in recent memory, but the most recent highlight was their cup run in 2012 where they won it despite them almost being relegated from the 2nd tier! So they got to play in Europe as a lower rated 2nd tier team in Norway, and lost to a Kazakh side. A lot of the players they had signed then went on to play for much better siden. Pål Andre Helland at Rosenborg, Ørjan Nyland was a Aston Villa and are now at Sevilla, and Fredrik Aursnes is now at Benfica. All of these were more or less unknowns at the time. So they have a history of picking up young talented players and developing them for sale, so that's something to emulate!

As for tactics, I can't create a defensive tactic to save my life, so I'll go with the old "the best defense is a good attack"!

Stuniverse · December 24, 2023

2 hours ago, Stuniverse said:

What would you do?

The Hødd Board want me to:

Play defensively solid football

Play direct football

Make the most of set-pieces.

Given that brief, what tactic / formation / system would you go for?

Thank you.

Thanks @phnompenhandy, @Punch, @warlock and @XaW for the responses so far.

50 minutes ago, XaW said:

As for tactics, I can't create a defensive tactic to save my life, so I'll go with the old "the best defense is a good attack"!

That's kind of what prompted me to ask the question, @XaW. I don't know if I'm any good at defensive tactics, or not, because I've always gone for attacking tactics, not gung-ho as such but I'm happy for my teams to score more than the opposition rather than trying to stop the opposition scoring. I've shut-up-shop to manage out a narrow lead in the closing minutes, but I've never tried building a defensive tactic for a full 90 minutes that also allows scope to get forward, create chances, score goals and win matches.

2 hours ago, phnompenhandy said:

For me, something like a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with two DMs. Hit the flanks and have a pair of inside forwards. Having them dribble might draw more fouls, but that last preference is annoying if you have no one good at set pieces! If you have a big lummock in defence, aim for his head in corners and free kicks.

4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 (I think of it as 4-1-2-3) are both formations I'm familiar with @phnompenhandy and have played a lot on FM20, FM21, FM22 and FM23 so that's definitely an option.

I'm thinking I'll need to hire a Set-Pieces Coach (we don't currently have one) if the Board permit it... at least that'll give me someone to blame if it all goes pear-shaped :lol:

1 hour ago, Punch said:

I'd suggest taking a good look at your squad first.

No good committing to a system with two DMs, if you have rubbish/no DMs.

Play your last four games with the formation that fits the players you have, then work out what you want to do...do you want a vanilla four at the back, keeping it simple, do you want 5 at the back with wing backs getting forward...how attacking do you want to be, trying to play defensively to keep the board happy? etc.

I was always a fan of the 424 that I played with IoM, and the beginning of the Guernsey save, but have been really enjoying since I switched up to the 523 formation that I am now using. It has taken some time to get the players used to it, but when it clicks, it's magical to watch.

51 minutes ago, warlock said:

Hard to say without knowing the players, but I'd certainly ignore the set-piece stuff (never been able to meet the requirement and never had any consequences for not meeting it).

For defensive football it's hard to beat a midfield three - either in a 1-2 or 2-1 shape. Don't counter-press.

Happy to offer more when we see the squad.

When I'm back after Christmas I'll be providing a full update on the squad I've inherited so would welcome further comments then @Punch and @warlock. Of the 28 players in the first-team squad, 25 of them are contracted until the end of next season (2026 x4), or beyond (end 2027 x18 and end 2028 x3) so there's only two loan players and one non-contract player not contracted beyond the end of this season.

--

50 minutes ago, XaW said:

Well done on getting a new club! Hødd has been both good and bad in recent memory, but the most recent highlight was their cup run in 2012 where they won it despite them almost being relegated from the 2nd tier! So they got to play in Europe as a lower rated 2nd tier team in Norway, and lost to a Kazakh side. A lot of the players they had signed then went on to play for much better siden. Pål Andre Helland at Rosenborg, Ørjan Nyland was a Aston Villa and are now at Sevilla, and Fredrik Aursnes is now at Benfica. All of these were more or less unknowns at the time. So they have a history of picking up young talented players and developing them for sale, so that's something to emulate!

That's a very interesting history lesson, @XaW. Thank you. Definitely something to try and emulate.

Edited December 24, 2023 by Stuniverse

samboing · December 24, 2023

@Stuniverse like the other comments on here it’s a tricky one trying to play defensive football, I’m sure we all try for ‘the entertainers’ style. I have a tactic I go to once I’m winning and trying to see the last 5-10 minutes out but I certainly doesn’t work for the 90 that’s for sure.

I do agree though that until the squad has been revealed any formations etc can’t really be given. But I do think flooding the midfield is a strong option, or a back three!

Congratulations on the new job btw, looking forward to seeing where this goes

Stuniverse · December 24, 2023

2 hours ago, samboing said:

Congratulations on the new job btw, looking forward to seeing where this goes

Thanks, @samboing. I’m hoping 2026 will be a better season for Hødd than 2025 has been for Loddefjord.

2 hours ago, samboing said:

like the other comments on here it’s a tricky one trying to play defensive football, I’m sure we all try for ‘the entertainers’ style. I have a tactic I go to once I’m winning and trying to see the last 5-10 minutes out but I certainly doesn’t work for the 90 that’s for sure.

That’s exactly my dilemma. How do I strike the right balance between playing defensively solid football and creating enough chances to score goals and win football matches?

2 hours ago, samboing said:

I do agree though that until the squad has been revealed any formations etc can’t really be given. But I do think flooding the midfield is a strong option, or a back three!

Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.

JaytheGreat · December 24, 2023

Congrats on the new team! I'm not great with defense tactics and usually go with what XaW said about the best defense being a good attack. You might be able to play heavy possession in the 2nd league to keep a good defensive record.

Stuniverse · December 24, 2023

1 hour ago, JaytheGreat said:

Congrats on the new team!

Thank you, @JaytheGreat

1 hour ago, JaytheGreat said:

I'm not great with defense tactics and usually go with what XaW said about the best defense being a good attack.

Join the club :lol:

1 hour ago, JaytheGreat said:

You might be able to play heavy possession in the 2nd league to keep a good defensive record.

Cheers. I do like possession Football.

Blarney · December 24, 2023

13 hours ago, Stuniverse said:

What would you do?

The Hødd Board want me to:

Play defensively solid football

Play direct football

Make the most of set-pieces.

Given that brief, what tactic / formation / system would you go for?

Thank you.

—

Tagged: @Dean Gripton @I have nothing to say @JaytheGreat @phnompenhandy @Punch @samboing @XaW @Jogo Bonito @warlock

I'm rubbish on the defensive side of the game as I generally prefer counter-attacks and forward formations. However, when I have had to park the bus or play more defensively I generally go with 5 in the back with 2 wing-backs, 3 in the middle (or 2 center-mids and a def-mid) and then 2 up front... either a striker-shadow striker combo or you can go striker with a center-attacking midfielder so that at least you can continue some pressure up front. But as Punch said a LOT depends on your personnel. If you don't have the guys to play the positions, trying to play them doesn't work very well.

Edited December 24, 2023 by Blarney

Stuniverse · December 25, 2023

8 hours ago, Blarney said:

I'm rubbish on the defensive side of the game as I generally prefer counter-attacks and forward formations.

Sounds like you’re not the only one based on the previous comments 😂⚽️🤣

8 hours ago, Blarney said:

However, when I have had to park the bus or play more defensively I generally go with 5 in the back with 2 wing-backs, 3 in the middle (or 2 center-mids and a def-mid) and then 2 up front... either a striker-shadow striker combo or you can go striker with a center-attacking midfielder so that at least you can continue some pressure up front.

Thanks, @Blarney

8 hours ago, Blarney said:

But as Punch said a LOT depends on your personnel. If you don't have the guys to play the positions, trying to play them doesn't work very well.

I’ll provide details of the Hødd squad after Christmas.

—

Merry Christmas Everyone!

🎄🎅🏼⚽️

Edited December 25, 2023 by Stuniverse

phnompenhandy · December 25, 2023

7 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Sounds like you’re not the only one based on the previous comments 😂⚽️🤣

I've no experience playing with professional clubs, but at this lower league level I can say with some certainty that in FM24 defending well is nigh-on impossible. I've never seen a half-decent keeper who can properly save shots to any degree, and I keep very few clean sheets whatever tactic I resort to (although some are less defensively suicidal than others).

I frequently fight with the board to remove counter-productive new playing objectives - but always lose those battles. At the end of the day, whilst they hammer you in monthly reports if you lose games, at the end of the day, so long as you meet their objective in terms of final league position, they'll let it go if your style didn't meet their requirements. Consider yourself a part-time Viking David Moyes

Punch · December 25, 2023

So just keep the ball and go all out attack… your opponents can’t score if they don’t have the ball and are always picking it out of their own net :lol:

Stuniverse · December 25, 2023

54 minutes ago, Punch said:

So just keep the ball and go all out attack… your opponents can’t score if they don’t have the ball and are always picking it out of their own net

If only it was that easy, @Punch 😂⚽️🤣

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

Club #1 - Loddefjord - 26/03/2023-01/07/2025 (2 years, 97 days)
2025 - 14th (after 12 games) PostNord-ligaen Avdeling 2 (Tier 3) - Sacked
2024 - 1st Norsk Tipping-ligaen Avdeling 3 (Tier 4) - Promoted
2023 - 11th Norsk Tipping-ligaen Avdeling 3 (Tier 4)

--

"Welcome to Hødd"

phnompenhandy · December 26, 2023

Very attractive ground and environment. That compensates for the lack of wages for me!

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"About Hødd"

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Profile

General

Facilities

Hoddvoll Stadion

History

Affiliates

Edited December 26, 2023 by Stuniverse

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

20 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said:

Very attractive ground and environment. That compensates for the lack of wages for me!

Yes, it looks lovely.

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

On 24/12/2023 at 12:00, XaW said:

Hødd has been both good and bad in recent memory, but the most recent highlight was their cup run in 2012 where they won it despite them almost being relegated from the 2nd tier! So they got to play in Europe as a lower rated 2nd tier team in Norway, and lost to a Kazakh side. A lot of the players they had signed then went on to play for much better siden. Pål Andre Helland at Rosenborg, Ørjan Nyland was a Aston Villa and are now at Sevilla, and Fredrik Aursnes is now at Benfica. All of these were more or less unknowns at the time. So they have a history of picking up young talented players and developing them for sale, so that's something to emulate!

Snipped from full post above:

On 24/12/2023 at 12:00, XaW said:

the most recent highlight was their cup run in 2012 where they won it despite them almost being relegated from the 2nd tier!

That would be this presumably, @XaW

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"Finances"

--

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"Relegation as good as guaranteed"

--

With Hødd's relegation from Eliteserien to OBOS-ligaen as good as guaranteed:

--

I'm not sure I can read much into the Board and Supporter Expectations at this stage...

Board

Supporters

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"Meet My Backroom Staff"

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First Team

--

2nd Team

--

U19 Team

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Set-Piece Coach Required

As the Board want us to make the most of set pieces, I've placed an advert for a Set Piece coach.

I'll review the remaining Backroom Staff vacancies once the Board confirm the budgets and Backroom Staff numbers for next season.

Edited December 26, 2023 by Stuniverse

XaW · December 26, 2023

25 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Snipped from full post above:

That would be this presumably, @XaW

Indeed! Probably the most known moment in the clubs history. Can you top it?

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Just now, XaW said:

Indeed! Probably the most known moment in the clubs history. Can you top it?

Well that certainly is a challenge, @XaW... but I will do my best!

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"Player Stuff - Before we meet the players"

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Squad Registration

Hmmmmn, this may take some getting my head around as I understand it will be the same for OBOS-ligaen (Tier 2) as it is for Eliteserien (Tier 1).

Interestingly, Hødd appear to have only registered one goalkeeper. I hope he doesn't get injured.

--

Playing Stats for the 2025 season (so far)

--

Playing Time Expectations for Next Season

Edited December 26, 2023 by Stuniverse

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"Meet the Goalkeepers"

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Squad Planner

Players

For some bizarre reason, Hødd have only registered one goalkeeper.

Unregistered

Edited December 26, 2023 by Stuniverse

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"Meet the Defenders"

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Squad Planner

Players

Unregistered

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"Meet the Midfielders"

--

Squad Planner

Players

Unregistered

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Episode 37 - 27th October 2025 | Club #2 - Hødd

"Meet the Attackers"

--

Squad Planner

Players

Unregistered

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

On 24/12/2023 at 10:12, Stuniverse said:

What would you do?

The Hødd Board want me to:

Play defensively solid football

Play direct football

Make the most of set-pieces.

Given that brief, what tactic / formation / system would you go for?

Thank you.

—

Tagged: @Dean Gripton @I have nothing to say @JaytheGreat @phnompenhandy @Punch @samboing @XaW @Jogo Bonito @warlock

My grateful thanks to everyone who responded to my What would you do? question. @phnompenhandy @Punch @warlock @XaW @samboing @JaytheGreat @Blarney

For those of you who wanted to see the squad, the squad planner and player profiles have all been posted above.

Notes:

[1] Please let me know if I've messed up cross-referencing the Squad Player and the Player Profiles and missed any players off the Squad Planner or not included a Player Profile.

[2] At this stage, as I don't know the players myself yet, I've only included the position my Backroom Staff tell me is the player's best position in the squad planner.

Edited December 26, 2023 by Stuniverse

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Until Next Time

Remaining Fixtures

--

Any questions...

Thoughts, comments, general feedback appreciated.

Any questions, just ask and I'll answer them if I can.

Thank you for reading and following.

Until next time...

Stuni Stuniverse

I have nothing to say · December 26, 2023

Frøsya as a full back rather than a center back (but can cover CB if needed) 😊

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

18 minutes ago, I have nothing to say said:

Frøsya as a full back rather than a center back (but can cover CB if needed) 😊

Thanks @I have nothing to say. Froysa to battle it out with Forsberg for the RB shirt then.

I have nothing to say · December 26, 2023

Forsberg on the left 😉

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Just now, I have nothing to say said:

Forsberg on the left 😉

👍

Stuniverse · December 26, 2023

Question about Elections

On this save, towards the end of each season, there’s been Chairperson elections - 2023 and 2024 at Loddefjord (possibly 2025, but I was gone by then) and Hodd in 2025 just before I was appointed.

@XaW, or any body else who knows, what are these Chairperson elections about and who actually owns the football clubs?

Do all Norwegian football clubs hold elections or just some of them?

Thank you.

Edited December 26, 2023 by Stuniverse

XaW · December 26, 2023

3 hours ago, Stuniverse said:

Question about Elections

On this save, towards the end of each season, there’s been Chairperson elections - 2023 and 2024 at Loddefjord (possibly 2025, but I was gone by then) and Hodd in 2025 just before I was appointed.

@XaW, or any body else who knows, what are these Chairperson elections about and who actually owns the football clubs?

Do all Norwegian football clubs hold elections or just some of them?

Thank you.

All Norwegian clubs are owned by their members, no private ownership. So all clubs usually have elections every 2 or 4 years, I can't quite remember of the top of my head. In real life this is most of the time a formality, as very few are "voted out", but rather just leave whenever they feel they don't want the position anymore. I'm sure there has been fights to be elected, but they are few and far between. Most elected just say they will take another term, and unless there are some massive reason for change, they continue. But the senior side of things are usually just the top of the club, as all clubs are "part of the local environment" and have youth sides. Norwegian football is very egalitarian and the goal is not to be the best team, per se, but rather to be a part of kids and how they grow up. I actually think it's illegal to keep match scores until the kids are 12 or something now! And no league tables or anything either. Just playing for fun, and if a side scores 3 in row or something the other team can field an extra player. Needless to say, there are a lot of discussions around how serious football should be, and if it hurts player development or not, and how that should bet taken into consideration vs kids just having fun. It's probably too long a topic for this thread, but it's part of the bigger picture about who runs clubs. The people who run the clubs are not just in charge of the senior team, but the whole club including every kid side! Take Vålerenga as an example, these are all the teams the club has

Kids

Youth

Adult

I'm not going to translate everything, but it's a lot of teams! And the chairman is overall responsible for running it.

Stuniverse · December 27, 2023

14 hours ago, XaW said:

All Norwegian clubs are owned by their members, no private ownership. So all clubs usually have elections every 2 or 4 years, I can't quite remember of the top of my head. In real life this is most of the time a formality, as very few are "voted out", but rather just leave whenever they feel they don't want the position anymore. I'm sure there has been fights to be elected, but they are few and far between. Most elected just say they will take another term, and unless there are some massive reason for change, they continue. But the senior side of things are usually just the top of the club, as all clubs are "part of the local environment" and have youth sides. Norwegian football is very egalitarian and the goal is not to be the best team, per se, but rather to be a part of kids and how they grow up. I actually think it's illegal to keep match scores until the kids are 12 or something now! And no league tables or anything either. Just playing for fun, and if a side scores 3 in row or something the other team can field an extra player. Needless to say, there are a lot of discussions around how serious football should be, and if it hurts player development or not, and how that should bet taken into consideration vs kids just having fun.

That's very interesting, @XaW thank you very much for taking the time to share that.

14 hours ago, XaW said:

It's probably too long a topic for this thread, but it's part of the bigger picture about who runs clubs. The people who run the clubs are not just in charge of the senior team, but the whole club including every kid side! Take Vålerenga as an example, these are all the teams the club has

14 hours ago, XaW said:

I'm not going to translate everything, but it's a lot of teams! And the chairman is overall responsible for running it.

Wow! That is a lot of teams!

Stuniverse · December 27, 2023

Pre-match Stuff

Hødd (16th) v Tromsø (8th)

Eliteserien

--

Team Meeting

Dynamics

--

Captains

With only four matches remaining this season, I didn't see any reason to change the captain and vice-captain at this stage.

Spoiler

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Squad Registration

For some bizarre reason we only had one goalkeeper registered so I registered Ole-Monrad Alme.

Spoiler

Unfortunately, this meant I had to unregister someone and Fredrik Warrer was the player I chose but, to be fair, it could have been any of the young fringe players as I will take a better look at them in January when we get pre-season underway.

Spoiler

Edited December 27, 2023 by Stuniverse

Stuniverse · December 27, 2023

Press Conference - New Hødd Manager

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Stuniverse · December 27, 2023

Sunday 2nd November 2025

Hødd (16th) v Tromsø (8th)

Eliteserien

--

Edited December 27, 2023 by Stuniverse

Stuniverse · December 27, 2023

Sunday 9th November 2025

Hødd (16th) v Lillestrøm (10th)

Eliteserien

--

Stuniverse · December 27, 2023

Sunday 23rd November 2025

Odds Ballklubb (13th) v Hødd (16th)

Eliteserien

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Stuniverse · December 27, 2023

Saturday 29th November 2025

Hødd (16th) v Stabæk (12th)

Eliteserien

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Stuniverse · December 27, 2023

Episode 38 - 2nd December 2025 | End of Season

"Results and League Table"

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Relegation Release Clauses Activated

It turns out 11 players have relegation release clauses which have now been activated.

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First Player Out-the-Door

Spoiler

Thomas Lillo came to see me to complain about his lack of playing time. Thomas was already a fringe player and, as he was on a n on -contract, we agreed it was best all around if he left the football club.