shaunvamos Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 .... I have no words. If we won those two games, games we probably should've won, we go up. But we go again next season. Gerwyn Clarke - Mark Hill - Dafydd Jones Progress Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BML Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Instead of NC can you not offer P/T contracts? Might be slightly more costly in the long-term but it at least gives you some protection. For those on NC, whenever they get an offer from elsewhere I've had a good rate of retention by offering them a new deal at the same time, even if it's basically a copy of what they are on now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 2036 Summer Transfer Window I did the tried and tested "offer everyone who has just been released a trial and see who agrees" strategy, offering trials to everyone from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in every available division. After culling everyone who wasn't between the ages of 20 and 22, that left 180 odd players. 31 accepted trials with me, and 5 made the cut to join the first team. Ignore the last 3 players, they came in through the youth intake in my first season and I signed them ages ago because their trials expired. They were released immediately Fenlon (CB) came from the Welsh Premier League, after coming through the Wigan academy; Giverin (LB) came to us after National League Halifax released him; O'Hanlon (RW) came from the Northern Irish 2nd division; Milligan (CAM) came through the Derry City academy but we picked him up after top division Northern Irish side Ballymena United released him; and Russell (LW) came through Carlisle, but Kidderminster were the last club to release him. Despite our influx of star-studded talent (for this level anyway), we've gotten off to an awful start. But we've been incredibly unlucky. There's plenty of time to turn this around, we're playing well enough to do that. I'll just continue to gaslight myself Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 September 2036 Have we reached a turning point? I'm sceptical, but our form has definitely improved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 37 minutes ago, BML said: Instead of NC can you not offer P/T contracts? Might be slightly more costly in the long-term but it at least gives you some protection. For those on NC, whenever they get an offer from elsewhere I've had a good rate of retention by offering them a new deal at the same time, even if it's basically a copy of what they are on now. It doesn't look like I have the option to offer PT contracts But I do offer a competing contract most of the time, and you're right, they choose to stay. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 October 2036 We win 3 from 3, but against teams we should be beating. But it's helping the atmosphere so we'll see what happens when we start playing teams above us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 November 2036 A comeback win over the team in 1st, have we finally shaken off the cobwebs? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 December 2036 We lose our final game of 2036, and we're a result away from being in 7th or 2nd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 January 2037 We start the new year off excellently, and we go joint top! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 February 2037 Unceremoniously dumped out of the Welsh Cup, and the loss to Swansea hurts as the top of the table begins to consolidate. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 March 2037 There's two games to go, and we're fresh off a win over the team we replaced at the top of the table. Can we hold on? We have 11th and 13th as our final games, but we've bottled things from similar positions over the last two seasons, so I'm betting on a third bottle job 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 Spoiler alert, we did it... Turns out that first win likely would've been enough, there needed to be a 12 goal turnaround in that last game to lose top spot But we're back into the top tier of Wales, and with a wage budget increase of 6x our current one! Best XI Rae Giverin - Chris O'Hanlon - Oliver Milligan Progress 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 2037 Summer Transfer Window With the promotion, I was expecting we'd be attracting a higher calibre of players as we offered them trials. I was right (I think), as we now have 8 new first XI players. Will they be enough to help us survive? I sure hope so. Released by League One Oxford, the fact that we were able to sign Sawyer-Rogers already proves we're able to attract better players. Hill wasn't a product of the trial farm, but my scouts alerted me to the Guiseley, Brentford and eventual Dulwich Hamlet player and we promptly signed him for too much money, but we can afford him for now. We picked up Louis from Bath City in the National League South. Oikonomou came through Salford's academy but National League North side Redditch United had him last. Another find from the scouting department, Luiz Felipe left Norwich to play in the Cymru North, before making the jump to the top division with us. Our second Oxford United reject. Would you believe it, a third Oxford academy product Our final first team member, Bromley of League Two released him. We've gotten off to a great start, defying expectations, but there already seems to be a gap forming between the top 5 and the rest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 September 2037 A tough start to the month, but we've turned things around somewhat at the end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 October 2037 The struggles continue, with our only win coming in the cup. But I'm not too concerned with the way we're playing, we're certainly scoring enough, just need to keep the goals out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 November 2037 A rare unbeaten month for us, and we've jumped up to 7th! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 December 2037 A strong end to the month, and we're slowly pulling away from the relegation zone. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 January 2038 Transfers (In) A right back popped up in the scouted players that was better than who we have, so in he gets. We've somehow qualified for the Championship Group, meaning we'll have a guaranteed shot at European qualification this season as we'll enter the playoffs. Will we qualify? Absolutely not, but we're safe for another season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 February 2038 A pretty low scoring month, but the big highlight was an away draw against a hard to reach TNS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 March 2038 Not too much to report here, all that matters for our last two games is seeding for the playoffs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 April 2038 Ended up in 6th, and we play Flint Town in the Euro semis. If we win we face Gap Connah's Quay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 We unfortunately lost the playoff, but honestly I'm just happy with our showing in our first season in the Premier League with me as manager. We've received an increase in our wage budget, and with the rep increase we should attract slightly higher quality players as we open the trial farm up again. Best XI Glenn Hill - Matthew Sawyer-Rogers - Ian Williams Progress 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 2038 Summer Transfer Window Our starting keeper decided he was too good for us (he was) and didn't want to extend his time with us, and eventually settled at League One Portsmouth. Then our backup Ceri French also left, and the only keeper we could find was worse than him. But our outfield has been strengthened due to our trial farm, and one lucky guess. Hayes (GK), a Burton Albion academy reject, was picked up from Welsh second tier side Holywell; Stewart (RB) was a gamble, we couldn't offer him a trial for some reason, but given he was released from a Scottish League One side I guessed he would be good enough for us, and thankfully this time the gamble paid off. Bishop (CB) was a Man City product, but spent the last two seasons and 75 games at Banbury United of the National League North; Hao and Bown (DMs) also came from the NLN, and Oyegoke (AM) came from the NL South. It's been a tough start, but the season is still young. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 September 2038 An extraordinary turnaround, going undefeated to move up to 4th as the best of the rest. It should be noted that the only teams who have beaten us are the top 3, who are miles ahead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 October 2038 We again lose to the same three teams, but we still look pretty good. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 November 2038 We really should've beaten Colwyn Bay, but that only would've gained one position. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 December 2038/January 2039 Transfers Out Transfers In We finally released found players in Ireland that wanted to sign for us and were good enough We also found some others that were recommended by intermediaries that were good enough. Walsh is unlucky though, he was the starting RB for 6 days, until I realised he was ineligible because he's already played for 2 clubs this season But Simmons is a better player anyway. Cantwell (DM) is an Irishman from the Hampton & Richmond academy but was released by Bray Wanderers; Becket (GK) is a welcome addition, he's so much better than our current starter, and he was picked up by Sligo Rovers via the Brighton academy before we got him. We're a member of the bottom half playoff conference, a downgrade from last season, but it's not all bad news. If we finish 7th we enter the European playoffs, and with our positive morale from (hopefully) our better form, we should have a slight advantage over the team in the bottom of the top group as they presumably lose most of their matches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 February 2039 Weird loss to Newtown aside, we're in a nearly untouchable position at the top of the relegation group, meaning we should be in the continental playoffs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 March 2039 I was silly and forgot there are 32 games in a season, but we're pretty much guaranteed a spot into the playoffs now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 April 2039 We play Bangor in the playoff, a team we haven't beaten this season. Probably should've just done a season review now in all honesty 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick87 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Great first season in the Premiership, good luck in. The play off! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 Out with a whimper, but look, we're still finding our way in this division. Next season I might expand our trial horizons beyond the UK. It'll be exhaustive as I search through each league, but it is what it is. Best XI Freddy Simmons - Jamie-Luke Gardiner-Smith - Ben Beckett Progress 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 19 hours ago, Rick87 said: Great first season in the Premiership, good luck in. The play off! Thanks! It wasn't to be this year, but always next year! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BML Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 6 hours ago, shaunvamos said: Next season I might expand our trial horizons beyond the UK. It'll be exhaustive as I search through each league, but it is what it is. Good luck with this. I've tried something similar in my Wales save a couple of times and the international players that are both willing to come in on trial and sign a contract I can afford are rarely eligible for a work permit (thanks Boris). I've had the most luck offering trials to everyone released in the Scottish Prem (they release in May) and cast-offs from Prem, Champ and NornIre in June (much as you have). It's sometimes also worth looking into the countries that full under the Brexit agreement (there's a list in game) as you'll occasionally find suitable players there - I had two Gibraltarians in my squad for the early part of my tenure in Wales, for example, with a Turks & Caicos backup 'keeper still on my books. Of course, all of this screws you up for European competitions as you need Welsh trained players, but you're not there just quite yet! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 2039 Summer Transfer Window I brought in over 200 players on trial from around Europe, before realising that because I'm in the UL none of them would ever qualify for a work permit The result was the signing of 4 players. I won't count Curreli because he doesn't qualify for a WP. But we're still attracting better quality players. Hodgkiss (LB) came from Everton via Yeovil, Anderson (DM) initially came from Aston Villa, and Sweetser-Hawkes (LW) came from Blackburn. We also picked up Kerrigan (DM) from Dundee in Scotland. We're off to a great start in the league, smashing one of the teams who gave us some trouble last season. We get smashed by TNS, but they're off to a shocker, only going 50-50 in their first 5. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 September 2039 For some reason we've already played TNS twice, but that just means they're out of the way But we're doing quite well, 3rd at the near halfway stage. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick87 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Great start to the season, be good if you can qualify for Europe! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 October 2039 We falter a bit towards the end of the month, but now we have one less cup to worry about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 November 2039 Transfers (In) Hamilton went into November without a club, so we snapped up the Birmingham academy reject as our new starting AM. We go 1-1-1 this month as Hamilton has an excellent start to his career here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 December 2039 Middling form again, but we seem to have formed a gap to Bala and the rest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 January 2040 It looks like we'll be fighting it out for 3rd with Llandudno, so we'll see what happens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 February 2040 We're through to the last 4 of the Welsh Cup for the first time, and we close the gap to Llandudno. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 March/April 2040 We couldn't qualify for Europe through the league or the cup, so now we get a third chance as the top seed in the European Places playoff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 Cardiff Corinthians are going to Europe Best XI Ellis Hamilton - Jack Hodgkiss - Ben Beckett Progress 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 2040 Summer Transfer Window Curreli departs in sad circumstances, as he was good enough to play for us but couldn't get a work permit, a massive oversight for me. But apart from that nothing to report. Our recruitment drive, however, was massive. It turns out the promise of European football is a huge attraction to recently released players Obviously there are more than 11 players here, as more players became interested that were better than the ones previously signed. The unfortunate casualties of that are Donnelly, Owen and Peter Taylor, but we have a new look first team with 9 new faces. And just to hammer home the kind of quality we've brought in, here are their academy clubs: Hosni (RW, Watford, actually made 8 apps for them) Clarke (RB, Norwich) Nduka (ST, 1 app for Middlesbrough) Kingson (LB, West Ham) Davies (LW, Arsenal) Nyabinde (CB, Newcastle) Stewart (GK, Cliftonville in Northern Ireland, but he's the exception that proves the rule) Scott Taylor (CB, Crystal Palace) Wylde (DM, Hearts) Jokes on them, we didn't go far at all in Europe But that being said, I'm very happy with how we've started in the league. We got FM'd against Bala, but our team is set now and I'm expecting us to be top 3 based on the amount of quality we've brought in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 September 2040 The difference in our quality is really showing, except for the last game where the entire first team was rested due to congestion. But we beat TNS which is huge! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 October 2040 Every end of month game has been a weird loss this season. But anyway, we're absolutely banging in the goals and we sit in a strong position. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 November 2040 More big losses at the end of the month, but we're second with a game in hand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 December 2040 More end of month weirdness, and Haverfordwest are pretty much uncatchable now. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaunvamos Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 January 2041 We're still 2nd, but any slip up now can see us drop to 4th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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