[FM24] Moving to Foreign Climes

[RaySunshine]

February 2027

In the world of Football Manager, most news is bad news and it came to be the case at the start of February. A training injury has seen McDonald ruled out for the next two months and it's another hit to my already small squad.

The month began well when we took on Partick Thistle (Britez 39). Alan Britez got his first goal for the club when Dall played a ball into the box and Britez ran on to it to smash it home. The single goal was enough to secure all three points.

Once again, despite wanting youth players to come through, the board don't want a youth team. They're not easy people to please!

We then took on SPL side St Mirren in the cup. They dominated the match but weren't scoring. However, the eventually put one away in the 86th minute and that was our cup run over.

Clyde (Kirk 3, 4, Stretton 59, Wright 88) were up next and we took all the frustration of the last game out on them! Kirk made sure we were 2-0 up within five minutes and, from then on, the rest of the game was ours and we finished with a handsome win.

Having largely dropped out the running this season, 34yo Hamilton has decided that it's time to hang up his boots.

We then took on the team just below in the league in an absolute corker. Alloa Athletic (Kirk 22, Gunn 30, 48, 71, Aghatise 57) were a tough prospect but we began by blowing them away. We were 2-0 up at HT and 5-0 up by the 71st minute. They then had a real comeback event and scored three in the last twenty minutes! The couldn't conjure up the last two though and we came away with an important win.

Table-topping Hamilton (Mackinnon 90+3) came next. Much to my surprise, we dominated the game against them and comfortably outdid them on xG. It looked, however, like the game would finish 0-0 until Mackinnon burst through their defence and fired home! Was there going to be a title race after all?

Once we'd played Peterhead, I thought maybe not! We were second-best throughout the game and it was all capped off with Steele having the ball deflect off him into his own net - gah!

I took the chance here to send young CB Agbaire out on loan to get some regular minutes before the end of the season. It's a bit of a risk but I think we have enough in the squad to get us through the run-in.

We remain in second and Hamilton are four points ahead of us. We however have a game in hand in our eight remaining games so we can make a close-run thing of it yet. Alloa though have a game in hand on us so will be focussed on chasing us down. There's still all to play for!

Dall's four assists in five games saw him get League One player of the month and hattrick hero Kyan Gunn came in second!

Three games of the final run-in take place in March. We start off by playing Forfar Athletic in 7th, before taking on ninth-place East Fife. Finally, it's Montrose who are 8th. They're all must win games at this stage of the season that's for sure!

 

 

[RaySunshine]

March 2027

March started with some good news for my ambitions. The board wouldn't yet let me start studying for my continental licences but it certainly boosts my rep.

Colin Hamilton, though, didn't start the month with good news. Upon news of his retirement, he picked up a strain that will keep him out for half his remaining career.

Forfar Athletic (Stretton 18, 57) were the first team we faced this month. We managed to come past them courtesy of two far-post headers nodded home by Jack Stretton. It's particularly pleasing to see those go in as it's the role that I brought him in to do.

The opponents in game two were East Fife (Steele 69) who took a shock-lead, curling home a worldie from the edge of the box. We wasted a hatful of chances but Steele headed home a corner to level up the scores.

Finally, we took on Montrose (Ross 17, 28, 38, 43, Dall 27). The first half in particular was an absolute goalfest - 5-2 by HT. The star of the show was Ethan Ross who got four out of the five goals and scored some real long-range beauties in there too. Montrose managed to get one back in the second half but were never really in the game.

The board wanted us to get a place in the play-offs and, with the win over Montrose, that is secured. The question is, can we do more?!

This was the bad news with McGill ruled out for most of what remains in the season.

Ethan Ross's superb work in the last game helped him get player of the month and Aghatise's four assists got him into the reckoning too.

We've secured a play-off place now and second seems likely to be ours as we have an 11-point lead on Alloa. The challenge now is to keep chasing down Hamilton in that top-spot. They're only three points ahead of us but their goal difference far outranks ours. It's unlikely that we'll overcome the GD so we need to outdo them by four points in the last month!

Queen of the South come up first and they're in 5th place. They will be wanting to get into the playoffs so it certainly won't be a easy game. After that, we take on Partick Thistle who are a place lower in sixth. Clyde are 10th having lost 19 out of their 31 games so I'd certainly hope to win there before we take on Alloa Athletic again who remain just behind us in the third. Can we charge towards the title this April?

[RaySunshine]

April 2027

April was a month full of drama and it began with our game against Queen of the South (Stretton 58, Wright 90+3, Gunn 90+7). This was a hard-fought win. It started with them taking the lead in the 39th minute and we levelled it up via Jack Stretton in the 58th minute. Queen of the South took the lead again and it took until the 90+3rd minute for us to draw level. Finally, we snatched the lead when Gunn put the ball home in 90+7.

We couldn't follow this up with a win against Partick Thistle (Ross 3, Kirk 37). Ethan Ross fired a shot home in just the 3rd minute and then Kirk doubled it up in the 37th minute. I thought all was going well but they snatched one back in the first half and two in the second to leave us reeling from defeat.

Game three and the oppostion were Clyde (Ross 5, Parker 32). We got into a 2-0 lead comfortably but never really got into a gear to smash the goals home. They got one back to give us a scare but we managed to get out with all three points.

Finally, we took on Alloa Athletic (Kirk pen 30, 90+4, Neil o.g. 47). Kirk got the opener with a penalty before Dall fired a shot that went in off Neil for an o.g. Finally, Kirk finished off with one more goal to give us a three nil lead.

Alas, it wasn't enough though and, after the Alloa game, we found out that Hamilton had done enough to win the league.

We hadn't done badly though and managed to scoop a record for our credit.

We have one more game to play but we know that we're going to finish second!

The last league game of the season sees us take on Peterhead who are fourth. After that, the playoffs begin and we'll find out who our opponents are going to be!

[RaySunshine]

May 2027

Hopefully, that row of green dots gives you a good sense as to how our season ended!

We had one league game left. I wanted to keep up the good form so put out a first-choice XI and beat Peterhead (Bird 89). The goal came at the death when Britez chipped a ball over the top and Bird hit a spectacular volley to send it home!

That was the good news - the bad news was that Aghatise had picked up an injury that rule him out of the playoffs. How much would we miss him?

In the semi-finals, we were drawn against Alloa Athletic (Kirk 28, Stretton 35). The team did its best to rest my nerves when Kirk headed home a nearpost corner and Stretton doubled up when Smith chipped the ball to the back post and he headed it home.

It was then time to play Alloa Athletic (Kirk 36, 74) at home. Kirk doubled up in this one and, despite Alloa's late goal, I was never in any fear that we'd reach the final.

In that final, we faced Queen of the South (Britez 32, Wright 86). Britez opened the scoring here with a stunning curler from just outside the box and Wright got a second to give us control of the tie late on.

We finished the season taking on Queen of the South (Kirk 76) at home. Kirk got a goal late on to secure our position and, even though they levelled the tie, ...

We were up!

Colin Hamilton came on as a late sub in the last game and so, his last match saw the club that he'd spent almost all his career at promoted!

Captain Fantastic Bailey Dall had done enough to win League One player of the season - well done Bailey!

[RaySunshine]

Season Review

So the season's XI is in. I'm not that surprised by much of it except the placement of Gunn over Stretton. It's really the pretty consistent team that I was able to play this season. In terms of awards, two players clearly shone out - Kirk and Dall are clearly major assests to this team!

So here is my moneyball view. The two weakest postions are McGill at DMC and Ethan Ross at AML. McGill might be struggling to be an anchor which doesn't seem to be an easy postion to fill and Ethan Ross hasn't done badly but, at 25, he's not a star in the team so I can look for an upgrade there. The third could be any of Kyle Smith, Sam Fisher or Alan Britez. Britez is new to the side so I'm not swapping him out yet but I'm open to improvements at the back.

I might not have made any moneyball money with players yet but I did get nearly £20k for our set piece coach!

[RaySunshine]

U21 Euros

The U21 Euros began with a tough tie against Portugal. The team began well and had a shout for a penalty turned down by VAR early on. From then on though, Portugal came on to rule the game. Sadly, in the 80th minute, VAR confirmed their penalty and we found ourselves 1-0 losers.

Ireland was always going to be the most winnable game and Constantinescu set us on our way when he scored a beauty - curling it in from outside the box in just the 3rd minute. Late in the second half, Dobre headed home to secure the result. He also broke his toe and ruled himself out for the rest of the tournament.

On the domestic front, promotion got me another coaching badge out of the Arbroath board. Is it another step closer to South America?

We had to better Portugal's result in our final group game but we couldn't do it. We tried hard against France but they had the clinicality to see us off. Our tournament is over.

And so is my time in charge of the Romania U21s. I decided that I would focus on Arbroath or pastures new...

We had to better Portugal's

[RaySunshine]

Pre-season

Pre-season began with a selling - an offer came in for Jay Bird and, in true moneyball style, it hit his value so we couldn't say no! In honesty, he wasn't really playing and scoring last season so I'm not too worried here.

In player out terms, it was Jay Bird who brought us the money and Robbie Mahon left on a free.

The first player to join us is Johnly Yfeko from Hearts. He's spent time at Spurs and Rangers as well as Hearts without becoming a starter for any of them. I'm not quite sure he's going to be first-team yet but he certainly strengthens the bench.

The second player in does look like a real gem. Seb Quirk comes in from Port Vale where he's been playing well for the last couple of seasons. Just before that, he was at Accrington having started out as an Everton trainee. Unlike Yfeko, he's starting material.

Like last year, we had one Prem League pre-season game. Once again, we got thrashed but Gunn got a goal he'll always remember!

As ever, the league is the centre of the focus and the message is clear - don't get relegated! Do the bookies think my lightly strengthened squad can manage it...

... no they don't! We're pitted to be second-bottom but in the rest of the league which is unlike poor Cove Rangers. I hope that we prove we have enough about us to stay up by hook or by crook!

The League Cup begins proceedings. Dundee are a fellow Championship side and, having beaten them last season, it would be good to do so again! East Fife who have just dropped back into League Two follow up as do Peterhead who represent League One. The final cup game sees us play Ross County of the SPL so that's where the headlines are! Finally we also have our first Championship league game against Queen's Park who are expected to be one of the better teams in the league so it's certainly not an easy way in!

This though, could change everything! With the objective of this save being to get to South America, finally, an interview comes through! San Marcos de Arica are mid-table in the Chilean second tier and now with a vacancy as their manager has moved on. Is this my route into South America?

[RaySunshine]

July 2027

Our rather underwhelming League Cup campagin began with a game against Dundee. We were pretty evenly matched throughout most of the game but the curse of penalties got us at the death and they have the bonus point.

It also turned out that I hadn't booked my ticket to South America just yet. Hopefully, an interview is a sign that I'm getting closer though.

Game two saw us play East Fife who left League One going down as we left it going up. We had had enough chances to take the game but didn't score ours - cue their netbuster at the end of the game and all three points were their's.

I finally found some good young players to improve the side and Gideon Kodua was the first to come in. The RW had been at West Ham and Charlton without breaking through at either. I hope he can show his worth in Scotland instead!

In our next game, we played League One Peterhead. We dominated this match and how we didn't come away with three points amazes and frustrates me in equal measure!

In a bid to keep boosting my rep, I took on the job of Jamaica manager. They've not got any games for a while but I look forward to some senior international football!

Connor McAvoy was the second player to join the side this month and holds true to the moneyball approach of strengthening the defence first. He was a bit-part player for recently-relegated Airdrieonians last season as is eager to show his worth here.

Murray Aiken comes in from Hibs. He's not really broken through there but looks pretty comfortable in playing an anchor role and that's what we want!

We then had a game against SPL side Ross County (Kirk 39). They took an early lead and, just before half time, Kirk scored from close range to level things up. They went on to keep control though and we were well-beaten.

With the host of players incomming, I didn't see Gunn getting much game time so, to help his development, he leaves on loan.

23yo Lautaro Villegas comes in from Banfield. He was a talent simply too good to turn down and I hope that our Argentinian midfield pairing can do great things!

I had been chasing Olabarrieta all summer but he turned us down for Dundee so I hope that Alex Gilbert is a suitable second choice for the role instead!

Finally, we had a league game to play against Queen's Park (Britez 3, Gilbert pen 6, Kirk 50). With the team having struggled in the League Cup, I was nervous going into the season but it looks like I've got nothing to worry about! Britez opened the scoring early with a real rocket and, a few minutes later, Gilbert won and scored a penalty. Finally, Kirk headed home Kodua's cross and the result was ours - we look like Championship naturals!

Only one game has been played but at least we're in the title race for one week!

Relegation-threatened Cove Rangers is a game I really want to get points from before we take on Dunfirmline Athletic who are expected to be solidly mid-table. Hamilton, who we came up with, should be another source of points before take on Airdrieonians who have recently dropped out of the SPL. Oh and our prediction has now changed to make us 8th rather than relegation-playoff 9th - sorry Hamilton!

[RaySunshine]

August 2027

The first piece of news at the start of August was the departure of Harrison Sharp. He was out of contract and chose this moment to walk away.

It seemed less likely that Steele would play much this season with the players that had come in but now it means that we can't sell him this summer either!

This was followed up with a game against Cove Rangers (Villegas 19, Kirk 30, 44, Kodua 48, Stretton pen 87). Villegas opened the scoring when Britez clipped the ball to the edge of the box for Villegas to smash it home. Kirk followed up when a scrambled pass-back pinged back to him and then followed up when another poor pass-back sent him through and he made the most of it to finish. In the second half, Britez then made a low cross for Kodua to poke home and Stretton finished up with a penalty.

Tom Ritchie was brought in to be our bench GK. He has spent his career largely being a bench keeper for Aberdeen. He's now come to take on the same role for us!

Another squad-thinning injury was incurred at this point when Ethan Ross pulled up in training!

We then took on Dunfermline Athletic (Kirk 25). The scores had been level for most of the match but alas, a late, late corner gave them the three points.

The next tie saw us play our fellow promotees Hamilton (Gilbert 10). Gilbert poked the early goal home and we went on to control a fair chunk of the game without getting the second goal. Hamilton came back into it late on and managed to claw it back to level terms for the end of the game.

I was aware that Kirk was our only serious striker at the club so Errol Mundle-Smith comes in. He started his career at Norwich and had loans at Yeovil and Tampa Bay Rowdies. Is this his chance to make a name for himself?

This took us on the final game where we played Airdrieonians (McAvoy 36, Gilbert pen 40). Much to my shock, we made it away with a 2-0 win. CB McAvoy got the first with a great header from a corner and Gilbert followed up with a pen to secure a win against the ex-SPL side.

When I looked at the league wage bills, I was surprised to see that my recruiting had taken Arbroath to top spot so this team had better produce some good stuff! Much to my pleasure, we have and we stand second and three points and a good goal difference (thanks Cove) in the play-offs!

Fierce League One rivals Forfar Athletic give us the month's first game in the Challenge Cup. After that, we play Dundee who are way down in 7th and Falkirk who find themselves 6th. Raith Rovers round the month out and they're fifth so it's mid-table all month!

[RaySunshine]

September 2027

As far as months go, September was almost perfect - considering we're a promoted club, to not have any red in sight is pretty great! The first win of the month came in the cup when we played Forfar Athletic (Gilbert 10, Britez 27, Ross pen 75, Aghatise 83). Gilbert got the first when the keeper couldn't hold his long-range effort and the ball bounced in. Britez got the second when he let a shot go from just outside the box and a couple of deflections sent it in. Ross got a penalty for the third and Aghatise got his heading home a Dall cross.

Game two saw us go into league action - Dundee (Ledingham og 78). I'd expected them to be tough opponents and they were but didn't score till the 73rd minute. I thought that would be that but Yfeko sent in a low cross just five minutes later and Ledingham knocked the ball into the back of his own net.

Things got exciting after the Dundee game as I was offered two interviews for clubs in the Chilean second tier. Would my time in Scotland be coming to an end?

It wasn't going to end before the Falkirk (Kodua 23, Mundle-Smith 75) game though! Kodua got the opener when Dall sent a big looping cross over and Kodua headed it home. They levelled up by opening up space on our left-hand side and knocking a low cross in. Mundle-Smith, though, got his first goal and the winner when Kodua found him almost on the goal line to poke home.

Alas, the game was followed by the news that one of the interviews was not successful!

The month's final game saw us play Raith Rovers (Gilbert 12, McAvoy 19, Kirk 75, Villegas 85). I was stunned by the performance and the four goals we put away. Gilbert started the scoring with a fine finish after Britez sent him through on an eye-of-the-needle pass. McAvoy got the second when he headed home a Kodua corner. Kirk came on the second half and got his goal when Yfeko's low cross found him just outside the six-yard box and Villegas got his goal curling in an absolute beauty from the edge of the box!

None of this was enough to impress my other interviewing club and, for the moment, in Scotland I remain!

It's pinch yourself stuff - newly promoted and at the top of the table with a three-point gap and a great goal difference too. Surely, it must be impressing someone!

Second-place Livingston make for a fascinating start to the next month before we take on Aberdeen Reserves in the cup after that. Cove Rangers are now 8th and Queen's Park are 5th. Finally, Dunfirmline Athletic are 4th so there are some interesting games there for sure!

There is also the small matter of my first match managing Jamaica next month when we take on New Zealand in a friendly.

Edited May 16 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

October 2027

The month began with a 'well done' to me as I lift September's Manager of the Month - not a bad place to be for a promoted club.

October was an absolutely packed month and it didn't begin in the way that I wanted it to! We took on Livingston (Britez 66) who, by the 52nd minute, were leading by two goals. Britez managed to get one back against our title rivals but alas they win and step past us.

I then went into international football where Jamaica took on New Zealand in my first tie as international manager. It was all action - 3-2 by HT. And that's how it stayed with me tasting victory in my first game in the job.

The joy of that win was tempered by bad news for Arbroath - Mackinnon may have been knocked out the starting XI by Villegas but he's still one of my first options off the bench and now we're without him for three months.

It didn't seem to matter in the game against Aberdeen Reserves (Kirk 8) though. Kirk got an early goal - firing home from close range and that was enough to see us on and through in the cup.

A return to league action saw us take on a struggling Cove Rangers (Britez 18, Kirk 66, Gilbert 76, Ross 81). Cove might have had their troubles this season but they took a shock lead and we could only make it 1-1 by HT. Cove wilted in the second half though and three goals after six minutes secured all three points for us.

The first good news for me was that I secured my Continental C Licence and got permission to start studying for my B Licence - is life great when your team is overachieving?!

Even better news followed with two good job interviews - West Brom feels like it would be a huge job to take compared to Arbroath and Cortulua in Colombia would finally see me in South America.

Nicolson no longer looked to be of the required quality and, with me overspending the budget already, I let him go.

I wanted to impress my suitors and thought that a game against struggling Queen's Park (Britez 30) would do that. They took the lead and like the previous tie, Britez levelled things up. That's where the similarity ended though as Queen's Park took control of the game and ran out 3-1 winners!

Then another two job interviews came in - Watford in particular was interesting as they offered a transfer kitty of £89mil in the Championship. That should be fun!

The next game was against ex-SPL side Airdrieonians. It was a really dull game with both sides seeming to be struggling on their legs. Nothing really to report here except...

Callum Burton broke his wrist in the game and Tom Ritchie had to come on. He'll be out for the next two months - if not more!

The familiar news started then to roll in - interviews unsuccessful. Still, that huge Watford role remains for the moment!

The month's final game saw us take on Dunfirmline Athletic (Aghatise 80). We managed to get a 1-0 win when, happily from my perspective, substitute Ethan Ross found fellow substitute Aghatise who powered home the header and got us three points!

More bad news at the end of the month. Still interested Watford?

Despite it being a rockier month, Arbroath remain top-of-the-table. Livingston are there on the same points as us though and they have a game in hand. It's not going to be easy!

Hamilton are fifth and they start the next month. After that, it's two Cup games with ties against Raith Rovers and Annan Athletic. Finally, ninth-placed Dundee see out the month. The question is, will I?!

Jamaica also step into my first competitive games when we take on Honduras in the NA Nations League QFs.

 

Edited May 18 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

November 2027

November proved to be another busy month and it began with another interview!

And some more bad news - the squad suffers another injury which thins out the team even more.

Game one in the Championship saw us take on Hamilton. We created plenty of chances but finishing was not our side and the game ended goalless.

Alas another interview proved to be unsuccessful...

... but it's not so much of a worry when you have two more! My attention at this stage though turned to international matters...

The first game in the NA Nations' League QF saw us play Honduras away. We dominated the game and, when Thomas-Asante put his penalty away late on, I thought we'd got the win. They had other ideas though;  a massive punt downfield by their GK was nodded down to Acosta who struck it home.

Sadly, I didn't the job I was dreaming of. I thought that a season rampaging through the Championship with a super-charged Watford would be great fun but it was not to be!

We then had the return leg to play. Honduras snatched an early lead but Leon Bailey struck two minutes later to level things up. In the second half, he struck again and we move on into the semi-finals.

Our progress also saw the side qualfiy for the Copa America which is pretty neat!

At this stage, with one game played, the month stops. Arbroath are in second place - two points behind Livingston - but I'm moving on...

[RaySunshine]

Deportes Iquique

At last, step one of my journey is complete! I have arrived in South America! More precisely, I have arrived in the Chilean city of Iquique where I will be managing second-tier Deportes Iquique. Below, I have put the save objectives so you can see where we're now at:

Step one: get a job in South America.

Step two: win silverware

Step three: win either the Copa Libertadores or the Copa America.

As you can see, step one is now done.

Iquique

The city of Iquique is in the North of Chile - on the coast between the Atacama desert and the Pacific Ocean. It's a place famous for it's port where mining goods were shipped out all over the world and the beach life and surfing.

The club has spent a long time in the Chilean top-flight but, since 2020 has been fighting it out in the second tier. Last season, the team finished 15th and two points above relegation having been expected to be safely mid-table.

What was really eye-catching was the run of eleven games without a win from mid-July until the Ocotber end of the season. It seems like there's serious work to do!

Mid-table is the aim next season and we'll soon find out what the board are prepared to put in to make that happen. Next up will be my review of the squad as it stands...

[RaySunshine]

Initial Squad Review

Before any squad review could take place, I needed some staff to help me do the reviewing...

Argentinian Mauro Conocchiari joins me as assistant manager. He has been assistant at a range of clubs in Argentina and this is his first move abroad. He has some good stats for this level but I know that more is needed to improve my coaching department.

Another Argentinian, Leandro de Muner, comes in as Head of Youth Development. Unlike Arbroath, I have a youth team again and l certainly look forward to using it!

So here is the review of the squad we have. Despite its poor showing last season, it should be relatively good at this level with three stars representing a leading Segunda Liga player. What's worth noting is that William Gama will be off as he doesn't want to sign a new contract. After him, Vicente Bernedo and Claudio Navarrete are the two worst performing. Bernedo's star rating is so high that I'm inclined to give him another chance and it will remain to be seen if another CB better than Navarrete can be found.

Looking at midfield, I know that Benjamin Sanhueza only has one star as RPM but I find that's quite common and it didn't stop Mackinnon or Britez peforming well in the role. Another creative CM to go alongside him though wouldn't go amiss.

Up front, Diego Machado doesn't look like a strong option so a leading striker will also be sought.

Finally, none of the youth team are ready for promotion yet but several of them look like seriously strong candidates for the future.

Edited May 19 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

Staffing Updates

Before any players could come in, I decided that some serious work on the staffing needed doing.

First in was another Argentinian, Marcelo Frezzini. He comes in as fitness coach having had the role at a range of Argentinian clubs.

Osvaldo Cannobbio joins the club as a scout. He's had a variety of roles in the past including being the manager of several Uruguayan clubs. He's retired from hands-on roles but is quite happy to be a scout here.

In true modern style, a set pieces coach is needed. Santiago Rodriguez comes in to take the role. He's 35 years old and this is his first job in football. I feel pleased to have him join the team and I'll certainly see how he progresses.

We then got the draw in the NA Nations League which sees us play Mexico. I certainly don't think we're favourites there but we'll give it our best shot!

You can see where the improvements have hit and where they're yet to come. Coaching now looks pretty good. We'll need a new GK coach in time but we'll let the one we have finish his contract first. Scouts and physio are the departments that need sorting next.

 

 

[RaySunshine]

Pre-Season

The first of my players in is Igor Gabriel. The 24yo Brazillian played for GN in Brazil last season. The 0 return in 18 games doesn't sound too promising but I hope he has the quality to shine at this level. My only worry is a left-footer working as a right winger but we'll see.

The next player in was Sergio Godoy. The 23yo Chilean played well for the league below last season but I hope that his quality is enough to shine in our midfield too.

In true moneyball style, the money we spent this window was spent on the defence. £150k was spent bringing Benjamin Oyanedel in from Deportes La Serena. My hope is that he will really beef up our backline and help with a defence that clearly had it's struggles last season.

This was then the bad news that was waiting for us! Brand-new midfielder Sergio Godoy has dislocated his shoulder and he now will miss the first three months of the season and not start us off in the way that I wanted.

With the need to keep foreign players down to just five, I decided that a scout was needed who's area of expertise was Chile. In comes Camilo Pontoni who fits that bill perfectly.

Nicolas Valencia left the club at this stage. £22.5k was 0.75 or higher of his value and that, in my Moneyball approach, is enough to see him go.

The board expectations are clear. Keep out of trouble and try your best in the cup. Does everyone think that we can do it?

Just! We're expected to finish 13th out of 16. I hope that's high enough to count as mid-table or we overshoot!

The pre-season games were underwhelming and our failure to score is not perfect! Who will we start our league campaign against?

Deportes Concepcion are up first and they're expected to finish bottom so it seems like the perfect opportunity to end this winless run. After that, Deportes Melipilla and Santiago Wanderers are up and they're expected to be 4th and 10th so the first of those clubs certainly represents more of a challenge. Finally, we play San Antonio Unido and they expect to finish 15th so I hope that that is another three points we can get out the month...

 

 

Edited May 24 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

February 2028

It comes to February and my first competitive games in South America take place! I open against Deportes Concepcion (Sanhueza 48). Things did not begin well when they carved our defence apart with a fine passing move. In the second half though, we responded. They headed a cross out and Sanhueza picked it up outside the box and fired a stunning volley home!

I was worried about what seemed to be the team's lack of cutting edge and 25yo Luciano Pereyara has been brought in to provide it! He has all the attributes to be a leading striker and I hope that his goals will lift us up league!

That took us onto game two where we played Deportes Melipilla. The teams were evenly matched throughout the game but they got the breakthrough when a throw-in led to a cross that they headed home from. On top the winless run from last season, the pressure was already mounting on me. I needed that green dot and soon!

Finally, that green dot came when we played Santiago Wanderers (Igor Gabriel 22, Rojas 49) and how we got it! Igor Gabriel lit the ground up when he curled a beauty into the top corner from way outside the box. Rojas doubled our score when we got a cross from a throw-in and he was there to head home. They had a penalty in the 55th minute to rack up the tension but Bernedo pulled off a stunning save to play his part.

I took every opportunity to improve the coaching team and so performance analyst Sebastian Quezada comes in to crunch the numbers for me.

Everything comes with a cost though! Although mostly a bench player, its not good news to lose a member of the squad for the next three months.

The month finished with us playing San Antonio Unido (Pereyra 72, Mendez pen 88). Once we'd gone 2-0 down, I worried about the state of the team. Pereyra led the fightback though by heading home a near-post corner and Mendez kept his cool to level things up with a penalty in the 88th min. I've noticed in writing up this month, that lots of the goals come when we give a pass away. I'm hoping that, as the team become more familiar with my tactics, that will decrease!

This however, is a massive blow! Goal scorer and recent signing Pereyra joins the hitlist. I'm wondering if I need to find a Chilean deputy who can do the business for the next two months or if there's enough quality in the squad as it is.

The month sees us higher up the table but it's been a slog - we're leaky at the back and require some sort of heroics most games as a result. I hope that things tighten up but I don't think it's going to be straightforward!

Union San Felipe come up first and they're 15th with just three points so I hope to be able to get a win there! Then we play Rangers de Talca who find themselves 5th. Our final league game is against Santiago Morning who are top of the tree in these early days so the month doesn't look easy at all! After all that, we play Cobreloa in the cup and they're 12th so it's an all action month. Wish me luck!

 

[RaySunshine]

March 2028

You can see by the colour dots here that the full scale of the challenge at hand came to bear!

Despite Union San Felipe starting the season with their struggles, they dominated the game against us. The only goal came in the 64th minute when they headed home a corner but they could have been good for more.

It wasn't a huge sum but it felt like money I couldn't turn down for an older player.

This was a moneyball sell as we got 100% of his potential value for him. A loan back also eases the pain that we suffered here.

Once again, a new signing suffers a more literal type of pain and we'll miss him for the next hanful of games.

I was worried about our lack of goals and, with the injury to Pererya, I decided to bring in Miguel Ventos. The 23yo Argentinian is yet to make his professional debut but I hope that that comes here and goals come with it!

We played better against Rangers de Talca but didn't get a goal to show for it. They did though - nabbing the first through a slack pass on our part and putting together a superb passing move for their second.

Having got £800k for Sanhueza, I decided to spend £300k of it here to bring in Ignacio Moraga from top-flight Curico Unido. I hope that he can really bring his quality to bear and give us some of the assists that we really need!

He got his first minutes in the game against high-flying Santiago Morning. If you'd offered me a draw against them at the start of the month, I'd have bitten your hand off but the fact that we've continued to not score was a significant worry.

We've kept working to improve the quality of the squad and that brought in Juan Alvarado. The Peruvian cost us £80k but he had a good season last season with an average rating of 7.0 and he should add a bit more quality to the team.

At this point, it was time to play international football and Jamaica took on Mexico in the NA Nationas League semi-final. We expected to be absolutely steam-rollered but we managed to stay in the game and Pinnock even got a goal late on to finish down by just a single goal.

Then came the chaos in the third-place playoff against USA. Bailey made the most of a loose pass to steal in and put us into the lead. USA levelled up in the second half but, a minute after that, Spence made a wonderful weaving run and restored our lead. In extra-time, the USA got a two-goal lead before Thomas-Asante poked one home for a fightback and then Isaacs scored a beautiful volley to finish the game 4-4. Alas, we couldn't win on penalties but it was certainly a game for the ages!

From a Jamaican point-of-view, we then got our World Cup qualifying group - it's clear to see what two teams represent our main challenges!

Finally, we finished with cup action against Cobreloa. The game itself was a goalless bore-fest but penalties did for me again and we crashed out the cup.

We finish the month 12th. Bottom spot is only a point away though so this season looks like being a relentless, hard challenge. I didn't come for an easy ride that's for sure!

April begins with a game against Palestino. They're below us in the league but I'm rapidly learning not to treat any game as likely to get us points. We then follow on against Deportes La Serena who are two places above us in 11th. Puerto Montt are 9th and the month finishes with the Norte Derby against San Marcos de Arica. They also rejected me from a job interview so it will certainly be passionate. They are top-of-the-tree now though so we'll definitely be underdogs for that one!

[RaySunshine]

April 2028

What a difference a month makes - we go from a month without a win to a month full of them. This represents the club's best form since 2023!

It all began with us taking on Palestino (Moraga 15, 34, Igor Gabriel 70). Moraga got the first when he sent Igor Gabriel off and running with a great ball over the top for Igor Gabriel to slide rule it back for Moraga to score. Moraga played the same 1-2 trick with Sanhueza for his second. At the start of the second half, they headed home a cross to make it 2-1 and Igor Gabriel secured the result when he ran into the box and fired home. They got one more goal back but we'd already done enough.

From a Jamaican viewpoint, we then got our group for the Copa America. It's an interesting group. We're not the best team in it but there are games that we can win there.

This was only a brief interlude in league action before we took on Dportes La Serena (Mendez pen 18, Moraga 40, Igor Gabriel 62, Rojas 79). Mendez opened the scoring in this one when he put away a penalty. Moraga got his goal when Sanhueza burst into the box and cut the ball across to him. Igor Gabriel's goal was a tap-in on the line when Moraga found him and Rojas was there at the far post when the ball found him to head home.

More good news followed after the win when I found out that I had got my Continental B Licence and been given permission to study for my Continental A Licence.

The next win, against Puerto Montt (Igor Gabriel 42), was a much closer affair. Eventually, a ball broke loose to Igor Gabriel on the edge of the box and he fired an absolute rocket home to steal the win!

The month's final game was the derby match against San Marcos de Arica (Loyola 29, Ventos 42). Loyola got a shock first goal when he burst into the box and put it low into the opposite corner. Ventos then managed to double up when Igor Gabriel's shot bounced off the post to his feet and Ventos had an open goal to score into. The derby is not a bad occasion on which to score your first goal! In the second half, they pushed on and got one back to add some drama but we held on for the win!

A month full of wins has propelled us into uncharted territory and the play-off places - if only by two points! By comparison to what has gone before, if we get one more win, we're already halfway to what the team got last season in just our first 12 games!

May will be an interesting month for many reasons, one of which is that, after the first two games, I will have kept my promise of not appyling for jobs and I can start to see what bigger roles are on offer across the continent. In playing terms, the team starts off by facing Deportes Magallanes (14th) and Deportes Copiapo (16th) so there is the chance to start the month by building on our good form. After those games, we play Deportivo Nublense who are top (it feels like a new team every month!) before we face Cobreloa in league action. They're presently 13th. It could be a promising month!

[RaySunshine]

May 2028

It wasn't quite perfect in May but I still couldn't quite believe the great form that my team are in!

It all began when we took on Deportes Magallanes (Godoy 4, 60, Sanhueza 8, Ventos 66). Godoy took the roof off the place in just the fourth minute with a stunning volley from outside the box! Sanhueza then curled a real beauty home from outside the box just four minutes later. Mendez missed the chance to score a penalty after 30mins but it didn't matter as Godoy got his second from outside the box. Finally, Ventos headed home Igor Gabriel's cross. They got one back but they weren't in the match.

We followed up the good form in the game against Deportes Copiapo (Igor Gabriel 87, 90). For much of the game, it looked like our run was coming to an end but Igor Gabriel had other ideas and two late goals kept our records going!

 

The run that we were on got us a couple of quite incredible records and it got me...

a job interview! Universidad Catolica are a top-flight side and have just been knocked out the Copa Libertadores. The would be quite an exciting club to get hold of!

I had to keep focussed on my work at Iquique and that meant a game against Deportivo Nublense (Sanhueza 31, Rojas 63). Once again, it looked like our unbeaten run was at risk. This time, we were two goals down inside twenty minutes. Sanhueza got one back when he put away a low pass from Ventos who spent a moment playing like a winger. In the second half, Rojas levelled it up when Moraga found him just outside the box for him to fire home.

It wasn't good news from the top-flight as I didn't get the job with Universidad Catolica. However,...

... another top-flight side with Copa Libertadores aspirations did ask me to pay them a visit!

Cobreloa (Moraga 51) were our last opponents this month. Moraga opened the scoring with a goal off a mazy run. Alas, we couldn't turn our dominance into more goals and their late leveller was enough to drive us crazy!

I'd noticed that the side had no real options on the RW. It was Igor Gabriel or no-one really so Diego Rodriguez was brought in on a free transfer. The promising youngster began his career with top-flight Universidad de Chile without really making his mark so I hope that he can make his mark here. I can't register him untill the restricted window opens in June but I look forward to welcoming him then!

International affairs then took over with Jamaica playing Canada in World Cup qualification. Despite dominating possession and matching them in xG, Canda's shooting was ruthless and we came away well-beat.

The table still looks good - we're now a fixture in the play-off places and we have three points and a good goal difference on 9th place. No complaints here!

We only have one league game in June. The World Cup Quals window closes and then we have time to play 11th-placed Deportes Melipilla before all domestic football on the continent pauses for the Copa America...

 

[RaySunshine]

June 2028

The month began with the news that I wouldn't be making the instant hop to the Chilean top-flight as I wasn't the chosen man for Union La Calera - the search goes on!

We then had the second of Jamaica's World Cup Quals where we got a stunner against the USA! I thought we'd struggle here but Thomas-Asante broke through their backline before the break to put us a goal ahead and Richards was there to head home a second-half header. Thomas-Asante got himself sent off for a second yellow late on and Pepi got one back for the USA but we held on for a famous win!

Before we resumed domestic duties, our backline took a blow when Navarrete twisted his ankle and ruled himself out for the next 5 - 6 weeks!

We had one league game this month and it saw us play Deportes Melipilla (Mendez pen 27, Rojas 81). Mendez opened the scoring in the 27th when Moraga was brought down and won a penalty that needed converting. They got and converted a penalty of their own late on but Rojas then fired in a twenty-yard rocket to give us all three points!

We finish the month only four points behind top-of-the-table and firmly in the play-off places. The turnaround from where we were at the start of the season is unbelieveable! I just hope that some of the big clubs on the continent are now taking some notice!

All attention now turns to the Copa America. We open the group with the hardest game of the bunch against Paraguay who are firmly ranked above us. Venezuela are pretty equal to us so that should be a close but winnable game and, finally, I'd expect us to beat Panama without too much trouble but we shall see!

[RaySunshine]

Copa America 2028

The opening game against Paraguay was utterly mad! We got to 3-0 up by the 60th minute before they scored. Then we shifted it on to a 5-1 lead before they made it 5-2. We then scored another to make it 6-2 before they finished off at 6-3! I don't quite know what to make of it all but I'll take the win and good start on the GD for sure!

We knew that a win against Venezuela would take us through to the next round. We didn't get it though! Twice we trailled and twice we managed to level things up but we couldn't get the goal that would give us that win.

From a domestic point-of-view, I got this report in on our youth intake for next season. It doesn't look very good to me but we'll see what it produces!

In our final game, we took on Panama and it's fair to say that we did enough! Even with rotating out as much of the first team as fast as we possibly could, we still steamrollered our oppostion and this is what the table looked like afterwards...

We topped the group and marched onto the knock-out stages of the tournament!

Platense in the Argentinian top-flight offered me an interview so that was rather exciting!

That led to a dramatic game against Uruguay. Leon Bailey opened the scoring with a penalty before they equallised straightaway. In the second half, Bailey put a second away with a far-post header before Nunez levelled up for them. This led to penalties and we held firm to win and take Jamaica to the semi-finals!

GOI are in the Brazillian second tier having just been relegated. They seem to have a pretty serious budget so I wonder if they're a serious promotion candidate.

The semi-final and the team that we will play awaits but it will now interweave around domestic duties. Deportes Concepcion are up first and they're presently 11th. Game two is against Santiago Wanderers who are in 4th just below us. San Antonio Unido are top so they won't be an easy game either. There are then two more games - Union San Felipe, 5th, and Rangers de Talca who are 6th.

 

[RaySunshine]

July 2028

The Copa America began by delivering us our semi-final opponents. We knew that, after one league game, we would taking on Ecuador!

Without the Copa America finishing, domestic football returned - and with a bang!

Result one was a shock - a defeat to Deportes Concepcion. The game itself was a non-event. No real shots of note or chances for either side. They managed to nab all three points though when a long ball over the top was nodded down and then smashed past our keeper.

It was then a tale of two interviews - I found out that I wouldn't be going to Platense but there was the chance of going to Alianza Lima who wanted to be challenging for the Peruvian title.

We then had another no-show but this time in the Copa America semi-final against Ecuador. It was so frustrating that, at this point in the tournament, we had our worst game by far and meekly dropped out into the third-place playoff...

More bad news followed the bad game!

... where we played out an absolute goal-fest! Sadly, we couldn't hold in extra-time to get the bronze medal but I'm still hugely proud of what the team achieved compared to what was expected of us at the start of the season.

The poor form continued in domestic football when we took on Santiago Wanderers. This time the game wasn't a non-event but we certianly weren't in it! Santiago got a quickfire brace round the 30 min mark and, from there, the game was all theirs. They took us apart and I was really worried with two defeats and two bad bad performances.

It seemed that my potential employers were watching and they were none-too-impressed either. This wasn't the showing that I was after!

Finally, we managed to put things on an upwards track in the game against San Antonio Unido (Pereyra 76, Igor Gabriel 83). Sub Pereyra finally broke his duck by heading home a far-post cross sent in by Arancabia. They pegged us back straightaway and I was growing more and more frustrated until Igor Gabriel turned his man inside out and then hit a blistering shot to give us the win!

We carried on the winning when we played Union San Felipe (Pereyra 11, 29). Now that his duck was broken, Pereyra was in fine goal-scoring mood! He got the first by knocking home a shot when Moraga had run the length of the pitch before putting the ball across. The second came in almost the same way but this time Moraga only began his run on the halfway line!

Following the game, two more job interviews came in as I sought to raise my game in South America!

The final game of the month came against Rangers de Talca (Ventos 21). Pereyra's two-game run came to a short end as injury ruled him out of this one. Ventos then regained the leading striker spot by running on to Moraga's throughball, standing up the keeper and smashing it home. Sadly, it was our only serious shot of the game and, in the control we let them have, Rangers went on to score two and nab all three points!

We drop down a place but, with large chunks of the season now behind us, we remain in the title race and should certainly finish as a playoff team!

Top-spot Santiago Morning come up first and we know that they're never an easy game! Palestino are 11th though so that's much more hopeful. We then have Deportes La Serena who are 7th and Puerto Montt who are 9th. It doesn't sound easy but I think that there are points to be gained there...

Edited June 18 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

August 2028

Before a ball was even kicked, interview action dominated my mind. I found out that wasn't going to Universidad San Martin but Centro Altetico Fenix of the of Uruguayan top-flight offered me an interview.

The month start also had the usual injury information in it too. Arancibia hasn't been starting games but he's been a consistently useful option and the squad is thinner without him.

Then came more bad interview news. Finally, it was time to play some football!

It wasn't easy footabll to play though as the results show! Top-spot Santiago Morning came up first. It's fair to say that we were under the cosh for most of the game but we did manage to hold on a grab a point under pressure.

Once again, it was contrasting interview news that was the follow-up to the game. This time, the carrot of hope came from Nacional of the Uruguayan top-flight...

And then FBC Melgar of Peru offered me an interview too. Would this finally be the moment that I managed to get into a top-flight job?

Before worrying about that though, there was more football to be played when we took on Palestino (Moraga 79). For most of the match, it looked like bad news when they got a cross from a throw-in headed home. My angry words at HT woke my team up though and we dominated the second-half. We could only get one goal though when young RB Ureta's shot cannoned off the bar to Moraga who poked it home.

My hopes of top-flight football in South America weren't coming true quite yet!

We then took on Deportes La Serena (Mendez pen 19, Ventos 57, Rojas 90+1) who were top by this point - it feels like every team we face are top! Things didn't start well when we dropped a goal behind due to a cutting through-ball. Mendez stepped up to put a pen home though and make it 1-1. However, goals in the 27th and 30th mins for them made it look like another defeat was on the cards. Ventos managed to give us a glimmer of hope though when he ran round the keeper to score and Rojas scored the dramatic late leveller running through late on to post the ball through the keeper's legs!

All this drama wasn't enough to get me a job though!

The final game of the month against Puerto Montt (Ventos 45, Rojas 69, Alvardo 80) finally got us our first three points of the month. Once again we started the game off by going behind but Ventos was on hand to level things up just before HT. Rojas then put us in front when he put Rodriguez's super cross home and Alvarado smashed home a rebound to make a 3-1 lead. They got one back to add some tension but we held on for all three points.

I failed to get another job - but only because the potential employers couldn't afford me this time. Perhaps, I'm edging closer...

With one month left to go, I remain in a crazily-tight title race. There's a real chance that I could get Iquique into the top-flight but the chance is secure enough that I'd turn down a top-flight job via interviews!

September begins with the big derby against San Marcos de Arica and guess what - they're top! Deportes Magallanes follow and they're 11th so I'd hope to get points there. Deportes Copiapo are 16th and doing pretty badly so I'd certainly hope to beat them before we play 12th-placed Deportes Nublense in our penultimate game of the season.

[RaySunshine]

September 2028

As you know from when I took this job on, the club had really struggled towards the end of last season and it's fair to say that they're not finding the end of this one much easier!

It all began with the derby against San Marcos de Arica. Despite being a derby, this match was a real snooze. Neither side could really produce a chance even after they had a player sent off for persistant fouling around the 60th minute.

At this point, we got the first of red x's for this month. Mendez, out starting DM, pulled a hamstring and would miss a vital part of the run-in.

Game two saw us play Deportes Magallanes. They nabbed their first goal in the 30th minute. We fought to try and level things up but, with the game closing, we opened up too far and they got through to secure all three points.

Another two injuries then hit the squad. Montano has not really started games this season so is not too much of a loss but Loyola is our starting RB so that really is a big blow.

And then there was another one with MC Alvarado ruling himself out for a few games too.

With almost no-one left, we took on bottom side Deportes Copiapo. This was another poor game which they managed to nab via a penalty. We were certainly giving away our title race and I was now beginning to worry that we wouldn't even get into the play-offs!

The final game of the month saw us play Deportivo Nublense (Sanhueza 48). Sanhueza got the only goal of this game with a fierce effort from just outside the box and that was enough to get all three points and...

... to get ourselves a playoff place too!

We know that we're in the top 8 but a win could take us up to 2nd which would be pretty remarkable!

We have one league game left against Cobreloa who are 15th before we find out what the playoffs have in store for us...

 

[RaySunshine]

October 2028

The first bit of news in October was the draw for the NA Nations League. Honduras came out the pot and it's a game for us to look forward to.

I also had another top-flight interview. This time with La Equidad of Colombia.

We then played our only game against Cobreloa (Rojas pen 83). The took the lead again, much to our frustration and then we were up against it. We did manage to level things up though when Rojas put away a penalty late on.

At this point though all updates pause...

 

[RaySunshine]

La Equidad

... and that's because I'm moving on to top-flight football!

I've joined La Equidad in Colombia's top-flight. I'm now in a top-flight and at a three star club so it's the biggest side I've managed on this save so far. It's going to be far from easy though I think.

It's a spiky profile to say the least! The club have managed to remain in the top tier since their promotion in 2006 but they're running it pretty close at the moment!

Colombia run an interesting relegation system. It measures your average points per game over three seasons and, as you can see, we're' running it pretty close! I hope that, with the small number of games we have left, it doesn't all go wrong!

The club's finances aren't great and doing better in the Colombian league is the priority alongside sorting out the finances. Can I do it?!

[RaySunshine]

Starting XI

So, who is the XI that will start the end-of-season run-in and, hopefully, keep the team up?!

On paper, the team's quality is not high - three stars represents a good player for the second tier so, even if we stay up, there's going to be a lot of work needed on this squad with not much budget. working back to front, Melo in goal, on loan from Sporting Cristal, doesn't look like a great option but there are some good players in front of him in the form of Nadalin and Bueno so hopefully they can keep Melo safe!

Correa looks like a good option in DMC and Antonio looks good in CM too. Then we have some hope that Vega will be the creator going forward even though he's only managed four assists so far this season. I hope that my tactial approach will bring the best out of this team!

In terms of average performance, Moreno, Bueno and Vega are the best of a bad bunch - can they lead us to survival?!

So we're on to the final three games of the season - Junior FC are presently 15th and their run hasn't been that superb recently while Expreso Rojo are 7th but also haven't won in their last five. Finally, we play Cucuta Deportivo who are 5th so we don't really want to leave things to the last game if we can help it!

[RaySunshine]

There were three games left in the season and it's fair to say that it gave me a sense of the challenge I have at La Equidad!

Game one saw us take on Junior FC and it was a bore-draw. It at least reassured me that the team could be vaguely solid and, Moneyball-style, defence is what you build on so I took that as a promising start.

Given the state of La Equidad's finances, youth is going to be vital so a positive intake is very pleasing to see.

This was bad news though as the squad was thinned out through injury.

All my hopes were blown apart in the game against Expreso Rojo (Rodriguez 31, Moreno 62). We opened the scoring against Expreso when Sanchez drilled low ball in for Rodriguez to smash home. In the second half, they turned it around with two quick goals before Vega pulled a ball across for Moreno to smash in off the bar. Things were level again but it wasn't to stay that way. They scored another two goals and we went home with our tail between our legs.

Bad news then came though - Solohaga went out the match injured and Hinestroza was injured in training. Not good news!

This all took us on to our final game against Cucuta Deportivo (Palacio 15). Sanchez got hold of a loose ball and drilled another low cross in for Palacio to smash home. We couldn't hold on though and they got one back for the game to finish 1-1.

So the season ends and we're bottom of the table - only the three year average saves us from relegation.

The summary stats are pretty brutal too. There's a lot of work to be done...

... but no money to do it with! The club are nearly £3 million in the red and so I don't how much good I can do! I think the aim here will be to enjoy a few months in the top-flight before I get my A licence and move on!

[RaySunshine]

November 2028

November began with the NA Nations League QFs against Honduras. As you can see, there was nothing of note in the scores. My achievement was capping a young player at Spurs called Alton Brackenridge in order to secure his playing future for Jamaica.

In the resulting draw, we get Mexico again who knocked us out at the same stage last year!

Normally, at this point, I'd review the squad position by position but - with most of the club's best players and highest earners loaned out to get them off the wage bill and no idea who I'll be able to afford to have from the present squad, I'm not sure any planning is worth doing at all!

 

Edited June 29 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

Pre-Season

I'm sorry for the long, long wait but life has been busy and this pre-season has been crazy!

The pre-season foci were complex - save lots of money but also make sure that the club is good enough to stay up! And, with this in mind, the process began...

... here. We were spending £32k a week on wages with a budget 5k below that. Savings had to be made!

Luis Soto was the first played out and he joined Benfica for £23k on a deal arranged before I joined the club.

Fernando Garces is a promising LB but the chance to get him out on loan was too good to turn down and it helped on the wages too!

Davier Vega was an older player and went out to Sport Huancayo in Peru. At 32 years old, Moneyball says you take the cash and run!

Two more players were then out. Striker Cristian Renteria and winger Marino Hinestroza both departed.

For the first time, the budget dipped under out limit but players were still on their way out...

Defenders Manrique and Lanza then departed the club. After all that, it was time for some players to come in...

Noticing that we have no players in goal, Jorge Palacios was the first in. The on-loan keeper wasn't the best or first choice that I had but I was able to bring him and he'll line up between the sticks for me!

With all the players heading out, the backline needed strengthening. Santiago Jimenez was brought in to do just that. He spent last season playing for Real Santander in the second tier but they released him and we snapped him up on a free!

The state of the club's objectives was clear - I'm still struggling on the money front and the objective is clear - don't get relegated. That doesn't look like an easy task though...

Relegation, you'll remember is done over average points from the last three seasons and we hover just over the drop zone. Things are not in our favour!

Pre-season saw us play MLS side Atlanta United and we gave them a decent game before we actually won against Boca Juniors de Cali.

We open the season with a game against America de Cali who are expected to finish 4th and are in the Copa Libatadores and then Alianza Petrolera who expect to be 19th and are just promoted. We need to beat them to get ourselves going!

 

[RaySunshine]

January 2029

This looked like a tough job to do and everything that took place in January confirmed that certainly was!

The ray of hope in the month had to be the youth intake. While I don't intend to be here long enough to see these players come good, there's certainly some hope here.

But it feels like there's less hope when the president is happy to sell your team for you! We're thin enough as it is and so this really doesn't help!

In our two games, the results weren't great either. We started by taking on America de Cali (Chaverra 45+3, 60). Initially, the cruised into a 2-0 lead within 20mins and I thought all was going to be bad. However, either side of HT, Chaverra scored to get us back level again. Then the drama really started - we got through and thought we'd scored a late winner to see it chalked off for offside before they beat our backline to score a late winner themselves - gut-wrenching but at least there's hope!

Frustration then grew when we took on Alianza Petrolera. They had a pop with an early free-kick that pinged in off our backline and then we fought back into the game but couldn't get a goal to leave us with two defeats to open the season.

Here is the league table and the average points table - the one that really matters! These two defeats see us drop into the red for the first time since I took the job. Not good news!

So the next month starts off with Aguilas Doradas who are 8th with one win before we take on Envigado who are 13th and have drawn both their games. Then a mid-week game sees us play Deportes Quindio who are 14th with two ponts and the final two games are Independiente Santa Fe (6th) and Junior FC (4th). I really don't know what to expect but I don't think it will be anything good!

[RaySunshine]

February 2029

To combat the wave of departures and the poor form that the club was in, I snapped up Julian Clavijo on a free transfer. The 25yo spent last season at Expreso Rojo making 25 appearances and averaging 6.79 so I hope that he bring that sort of form to La Equidad.

The results suggest that we need anyone who can bring any sort of form rapidly! We began the month against Aguilas Doradas (Parra 90+4). We found ourselves 2-0 and struggling again within an hour. Late, late on, Parra managed to break through and finish but, by that stage, it was only ever going to be consolation.

The board got their way at Pablo Rodriguez leaves to join Atletico Nacional.

My response was to bring in Carlos Quitlan on a free. The LB spent last season at Forteleza in the second tier but he played well for them there so I hope he can do the same for us in the top-flight!

He was joined by potentially my star signing - Joan Cajares. The 25yo, again on a free, comes in from Sport Huancayo of the Peruvian top-flight. He excelled last season so I hope his top-flight form comes with him and lights up our patch of Bogota!

Game two saw us take on - and lose to - Envigado. They got a throw-in down the right-hand side, threw it close, their man wriggled away from his marker, got the cross in and it was one-nil.

We then picked up another blow to the squad to go with our bad results!

Our only point of the month came in the game against Deportes Quindio (Caicedo 89). We were poor at a corner to go one goal down but scored one of our own to nab a point!

I'd made a promise to Echeverria and had to stick to it when they hit his value.

Defeats came again in the games against Indpendiente Santa Fe (Clavijo 8) and Junior FC. Things are staring to look pretty grim!

Given last season's poor form and this season's too, we're already down baring a major miracle - minor miracles won't do it here! I've got to get out before I get a big red 'R' next to my name. 42 days before my promise to hang around runs out.

Here are the games for the next month. As an indicator of how bad we are, I look forwad to taking on a mid-table second-tier side to see if we can even compete against them!

[RaySunshine]

March 2029

My time in Bogata has been challenging so far and that didn't change in March! Independiente Medellin (Chaverra 71) and, like many of the games we've played in the league, we weren't really in it. We got one goal but it's fair to say that worse things were coming up!

Not straightaway though as we did manage to beat Patriotas FC (Cossio 56, Clavijo 68) of the second tier! We got a two-goal lead up and going in the second half and, while they did pinch one back, I got my first competitive win as La Equidad manager.

Back to the league and back to normal was the case against Once Caidas (Mosquera 67). This time, Mosquera got our only goal but we didn't have anything else to shout about!

We then got our first (note I say first) thrashing of the month when we took on Expreso Rojo (Cossio 60, Mosquera 73). It was great to score two second-half goals but we'd already conceded three in the first half and still let in two more after that!

We then returned to cup action and our second game against Patriotas FC (Garcia 14, Cossio 86). It looked, for one scary moment, like we were going to lose to these guys too and risk our place in the cup! thankfully, Cossio scored late on to save our blushes. A draw means we progress on into the next round.

Jamaica then had a dramatic game against Mexico in the NA Nations League semi-final. We took a a shock lead in the first half and held it until almost HT. They then pinched one back straight away. I thought we'd unravel when Rankine got a silly yellow for a push. They did eventually get two more but Jahmari Clarke got one to make it close!

Then thrashing two came against Cucuta Deportivo and this time we didn't even have a single goal to celebrate.

It was back to international action and a dramatic game against Canada for the bronze medal! Despite utterly dominating the game, it looked like Canada's early goal, courtesy of a defensive mix-up, was going to nick it for them before we poked home a corner at the death. It went on to penalties and we managed to win a dramatic shoot-out 7-6!

We then got only our second point of the season against Deportes Tolima (Jimenez 19, Celemin 90+6). Jimenez headed home a corner early on and I began to dream that we might even win a league game! However, once they'd turned it round, I feared that the chance to get anything at all had passed us by. Celemin had other ideas though - smashing home a long-range volley to double our points score!

All I can really say is that La Equidad are going down! I only need to manage for eleven more days before I can start casting round for a new job. The challenge will be persuading other clubs that this mess is not my fault!

April is another crazy month - we begin against Atletico Nacional who are 2nd and Expreso Rojo who are 17th. Milionarios find themsevles in 6th and Llaneros FC  are in 19th - maybe we can nab points against them!

We then have the cup games against Barranquilla FC who are 7th in the second tier so I hope we can beat them like we did Patriotas this month.

In between the cup games, we take on Real Certagena (15th) and the month finishes with a game against Union Magdalena (9th).

[RaySunshine]

April 2029

My time as La Equidad boss has not been easy but it's been pleasing to see the upturn in results over the month of April. Whether it will continue or not remains to be seen but there is some hope!

The normal form carried on in game one when we took on table-topping Atletico Nacional (Palacio 12). In this game, I took a park-the-bus approach and hoped it would pay off. The hope grew whean Palacio got us ahead but, over the course of the game, the stronger team came to dominate and win.

Whilst he's not a regular starter, he's a certain bench option and, with the squad being so thin, every player counts!

In game two, take a deep breath, we got a league win! In the game against Expreso Rojo (Chaverra 45+1). Chaverra finished off a fine move with an equally great finish and, combined with our first clean sheet of the season, we got all three points!

I dreamed of two wins in two when we took on Millionarios (Jimenez 10, Chaverra pen 90+6). The dream lived large when Jimenez headed us into the lead early on in the game but, later on, they turned it around. It looked for all the world like we'd actually lose but, right at the death, we got a penalty and Chaverra put it home to get us all three points!

Before the next game, our CONCACAF Gold Cup group came in. We're clear favourites against this group so I look forward to some wins!

In the game against Llaneros FC (Palacio 27), we took the lead through Palacio, who's having a good month. They however fought back and the game finished level at 1-1.

The week's training brought with it a big blow in injury terms with Clavijo being ruled out for nearly two months! He's one of the first names on my team sheet so I hope we can work without him!

The cup brought us a game against second-tier Barranquilla FC (Jimenez 10, Pedrozo pen79, Piedrahita 90+3). Jimenez opened the scoring with a great header from another corner which is always pleasing to see. RW Pedrozo made the result look more secure when he a penalty home and then Piedrahita curled home a long-range beauty to put the final gloss on the result!

Between the two cup games, we took on Real Cartagena. In this one, we couldn't score any goals and they managed to nab one in order to secure all three points for them rather frustratingly!

The squad is thin and so the young players were being blooded regularly as the needs were required.

We then took on Barranquilla FC (Celemin 44, Mendoza 67) in the cup second leg. Barranquilla gave us a scare by taking the lead on the day but we held on and two goals - from Celemin and Mendoza - left us with all three points.

It's not been a easy season and I had promised to Mosquera that I would cheer the team up. He feels like I've failed in that regard which isn't much of a surprise!

The month's final game saw us take on Union Magdalena and it's fair to say that we didn't do well. We weren't in the game at all and were sent home with our tail between our legs!

We're still bottom of the league table but we're closing in on the average points - maybe relegation isn't the certainty that I thought it was. I don't really want to hang around to find out though!

We have four games in the month of March before the break comes in June. We start against Deportivo Pereira who are 11th. We then have a three-header against Jaguares de Cordoba. They're presently 16th and we take them on in the both the cup and league. What can we get off them?

[RaySunshine]

May 2029

May began with good news for me and my aim of getting out of here before the club get relegated!

It got me noticed too and dangled the carrot of getting into Brazil!

May wasn't an easy month in terms of results but I can't really complain overall!

It began with us playing Dportivo Pereria (K Moreno 81). They cruised into a two-goal lead but Kilver Moreno scored a thunderbolt free-kick late on to give us some hope!

That goal wasn't enough to impress GOI though so I won't be going to Brazil just yet!

He then had a fall in training that saw him out for a long spell so there won't be any more free-kicks for a little while yet!

The next game was the first of our triple-header against Jaguares de Cordoba (Celemin 30, 44) Celemin fired a rocket home for his first and then headed home a close effort to give us a two-goal lead. It wasn't enough though and, in the second half, they fought back and the first round of the cup finished all-square.

Jaguares de Cordoba (Mosquera 5, Palacio 56) were up again and this time it was the league. We took an early lead when Mosquera headed home from the right-wing position. They then turned it round with a close finish and a penalty-box pinball smashed home - and this was all by the ten-minute mark! The scoring wasn't over though as, in the second half, Palacio put home a close finish and it was all square again.

Then the offer of an interview came in from Peru and the chance to dodge that relegation mark against my name!

It was then time to play Jaguares de Cordoba (Chara pen77, Mosquera 90+6). There was plenty of excitement in this cup tie but success wasn't to be. They began by getting a two-goal lead. Late on, we got a penalty and the young Chara stepped up to knock it home. They then got a third to make it 3-1 but Mosquera finished with a goal just to add a final hope!

Not a bad way to finish the month!

And this was good news too - with the club running out of money, a takeover would be very welcome!

If I'm not going to Brazil, maybe I could go to Argentina. I've been delaying on the Peruvian job since this possibility came up. It would be a dream to get into one of the two big South American leagues!

With the money running out, the president makes it clear that he's happy for someone else to sort it all out!

An upgrade to one of Colombia's top clubs is also on the table. I'm hoping that I can avoid that relegation!

The Apertura stage of the league finishes and we're bottom of the table.

We're still in the red zone on average points but, with the Finalizacion stage of the league to play, there's only 0.01 of a point in it!

 

 

Edited July 28 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

June 2024

June began with the bad news that my dream of getting into the Argentinian top-flight wasn't happening any time soon.

There was some much better news though in the form of Jamaica's results against Honduras and St Kitts and Nevis.

These two results put us above the USA in our group and meant that we'd qualified for the third round on the road to the World Cup. Could I be taking part in the world's biggest tournament for the first time in FM24?!

That wasn't all the news that this month held though...

[RaySunshine]

Millonarios

I might not have got the dream move to Brazil or Argentina but I have moved to a club with a real possibility of success. Millonarios are one of the most successful clubs in Colombia. I'm staying in the capital, Bogota, but this time at a club that plans on sticking around and winning things!

What was even better was them giving me what might be the magic ticket to that big-time job in the not-so-distant!

The double-league nature of football in Colombia produces quite a spiky graph but it's clear that they hit the top more often than not!

Joining the club means I get my first taste of continental football in the Copa Sudamericana - the second-tier international cup for the continent. Challenging for the domestic cup and getting a top-half finish are on the agenda too.

We're still on the mid-season break though so we won't be diving too far into this yet as we have a CONCACAF Gold Cup to play!

[RaySunshine]

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Before the games begin, I found out who I'll be facing in the final charge for World Cup qualification. It doesn't seem like too threatening a group so maybe the chance to lead Jamaica to a World Cup is really coming into view!

It was then time to get on with the CONCACAF Gold Cup itself. It's fair to say that the group stage was something of a procession! In game one, we face Curacao (Oxford 12, Capleton 45, Gray 76, Thomas-Asante 82). Whilst we scored the goals that we needed - they got the most the memorable one with a real thunderbolt past second-choice keeper Noah Cooper who's playing the first few games while the first-choice keeper, Boyce-Clarke, is out injured.

The same thing happened in the second game against Suriname (Graves og 6, Oxford 39, Thomas-Asante 61). We got the three goals that secured the win but, once again, they smashed home the worldie - Cooper must be developing some worries!

Boyce-Clarke returned for the game against Guyana (Spence 21, Thomas-Asante 51, Bailey pen 60, Grant 79). I needed a point from this game so a full-strength side was put out. That secured our result and progress on to the quarter-finals...

Here we took on Honduras and all the action happened early! Russell opened the scoring by heading home a corner after just one-and-a-half minutes. Thomas-Asante then followed up by bringing down a beautiful ball over the top from Russell and smashing it home. Then, on the 15 minute mark, Yoha got sent off for a shocking tackle on Leon Bailey. They weren't going to give up though and, just before the break, Elis fired home the first long-range worldie that Boyce-Clarke had conceded in the tournament! Our scoring was finished though and Clarke scored after Dion Rankine put in a low cross.

Then, we were on to the semi-finals...

... and it was a game full of drama! We weren't favourites but Leon Bailey opened the scoring early by heading home Spence's great cross. Canada, then took a hold on the game and Jonathan David put away a penalty and then a neat one-touch finish to take the lead. We weren't giving up though and Bailey slipped Clarke through one-on-one to put the ball home. Then Canada battered us - David had a penalty saved and two goals ruled out for offside which took the game into extra-time. There, Gray sent in a vicious low cross which Millar sent into the back of his own net and we're into the final! Will I win my first trophy on FM24?!

[RaySunshine]

CONCACAF Gold Cup Final

And the answer is no! We executed a clinical counter-attack in the first half from which Leon Bailey fired home. For much of the game, it looked like that would be enough but, in the 76th minute, Grant passed the ball back to the keeper - except he didn't! It rolled past Boyce-Clarke, hit one post, rolled along the line hit the other post and then rolled in to level things up! The USA pounced on this and Ferrerira got two late goals to take the trophy home.

[RaySunshine]

Mid-Season Break

The first thing that took place was a bidding war for youngster Jorge Correa. Man City opened the bidding at £2.6mil, Newcastle then came in at £8mil but Arsenal got their man with a finishing bid of £12 million! This is a new record for a club in the Colombian top-flight and we get to loan him back for the rest of the season - bonus!

We had a single mid-season friendly against second-tier Deportivo Pasto. In term's of a result, we took them apart with a series of wonder goals but...

... everything comes at a cost and this time it's a strain for Joal Contreras which will rule him out at the start of the season's next stage.

We then suffered a transfer blow - we'd put in a bid for Garces and he fitted the profile of what I wanted perfectly. I didn't get him though and our key competitors at the top of the table did. It remains to be seen what role he takes in the season's second stage.

 

And here, at the last, is the team that will take the field in our first game. In goal, 33yo Facundo Altamirano is an Argentinian who started out at Barfield but never really broke through but has been here and between the sticks since 2025.

The star of the backline is Emerson Saraz. Only 21 and a Millionarios youth product, I wonder how long it will be before bids come in for him.

In the midfield section, Nelson Deossa, 29, has been producing the goods so far - he has a rating of 7.42, three goals and three assists. I hope that that good form continues.

Young Jorge Correa is the wonderkid that we've just sold to Arsenal but he remains with us for the rest of the season.

Upfront we have Jader Valencia at the moment. He's 29 and 6'4". He has only managed five goals in his 25 starts though this season so I'm certainly looking for better there!

So here's who we face first! Aguilas Doradas finished 6th in the Apertura compared to our 10th. Then we have Expreso Rojo who ended up 18th and Llaneros FC who were 19th - giving us two games in a row that I'd really expect to get points in. The month's final two games see us play Once Caldas who finished 5th and Independiente Medellin who ended up 8th in the Apertura. Everything gets reset through for the Finalizacion stage of the season so we really do go again!

Edited July 31 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

July 2029

Having settled in after the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the mid-season, it was time for the action to begin. The second stage of the league threw up Aguilas Doradas (Correa 25, 53) as our first game and the Arsenal-bound Correa got us all three points! He scored the first cutting from Vega's through-ball and firing home and the second was a close-range header. After that, they got one back and then, much to our concern, Correa limped off...

... and it is going to be a concern! Correa twisted his ankle and got ruled out for nearly two months!

The games keep coming though and, mid-week, we were playing Expreso Rojo (Valencia 18, Saraz 43, Vidal 61). Valencia got the first after Suarez made a mazy run from the centre of the park and then squared for him. Saraz got the second heading home a bullet from a corner before Vidal got our third heading home at the far post when Forero crossed to him. However...

... once the scoring had been done, Valencia limped off the pitch with a torn hamstring and limped out the action for the next three months!!!

In the week, we found out who our opponents would be in the Copa Sudamericana. Just like the way top teams can be found in the Europa League, they can be found in South America's second-tier tournament too. And we have one of the biggest in Newell's Old Boys - the team of Bielsa, after who the stadium is named, and Poch to name but just two legends from the club! It's my dream to manage them but to even play them is a serious start!

 

The injury news kept coming - one of our potential replacments for Correa then suffered a training ground blow that ruled him out and gave us the highest number of players injured in the league.

All the players that I could find took on Llaneros FC (Vega 19). Vega cut into the box from the left-hand side and fired the ball in at the near post to give us the lead. Llaneros came back into the game in the second half though and put away a last-minute goal to leave the points shared.

My options were also reduced further when Forero limped off. Thankfully, his injury is as long as some of the others but it's still a blow that I could well do without!

This was the month's first piece of good news - young Victor Hugo Cobo, 21 and from second-tier Cortulua, has agreed to join us on a free transfer at the end of the season. He's a player with real potential and fits the moneyball profile perfectly.

Then came the even better news - we splashed £1.5mil of the Correa money on Ecuadorian Allen Obando from Orense. He's reputed to be one of the best young talents in the world and to have the opportunity to get him was simply too good to miss. I'm seriously excited about what he can produce here and what his sell-on potential might be one day. Surely, Europe will come knocking for this lad before too long!

Obando made his debut in the game against Once Caldas (Obando 28, 90+3, Gonzalez 29, Belacazar 90). Once Caldas dominated the game throughout and took an early lead. We turned it round with two goals in two minutes courtesy of newboy Obando and young Gonzalez. In the second half, they turned it round again and took a 3-2 lead but, at the death, Obando set up Belacazar for the equaliser before scoring the winner himself - what a debut!

There's always a cost though and this time it's Rodas - our starting DM.

The month's final game saw us play Indipendiente Medellin (Obando 60, Belacazar 77) and after a flat first-half, two familiar names popped up with goals in the second. I've made a slight tactial tweak and am playing Obando as a complete forward - hence my post in the tactics section and it seems to be suiting him perfectly!

We're top of the tree! What a different experience managing this side is to poor La Equidad who languish at the bottom of the table with just a single point so far!

August is a monster of a month - there are nine games to get through with the Copa Sudamericana games against Newell's Old Boys and the Copa BetPlay ties against Independiente Santa Fe filling up the month. When my squad is so full of injuries, it's a real worry as to how we'll get through all the games on a skeleton side. I just hope that some of my injured players come back into action soon!

[RaySunshine]

August 2029

August was a monster month and it was certainly a struggle for the remains of my injured team. Game one was against legendary Newell's Old Boys. They'd had the better of the game but we'd kept it at 0-0 until 90+2 when a corner broke to their player on the edge of the box who fired it home. We had work to do in the second leg.

It's not always the most exciting thing in the world but the backroom staff was in need of an upgrade.

Signing a famous player on a free is always exciting though! I broke my normal 20-25 rule to bring in Luis Sinisterra as he was free and a four-star player and it seemed too good to turn down. In save, he moved on from Leeds to West Ham and spent five seasons there before being released.

Our transfers had won us the highlights of the transfer window in Colombia!

More backroom upgrades!

This was distracting us from the action though and we had football to play. This time against Junior FC (Obando 12). We began well when superstar Obando had the ball passed to him on the goal line for him to tap home. We couldn't hold on though and Junior FC turned it around.

On top of all our previous injuries, our attacking department then took a serious blow that we could really do without - including a knock for the brand-new Sinisterra!

Next up was the return leg against Newell's Old Boys (Contreras 8, Vega 46, 57). Contreras levelled things up early on when he put away a far-post header. Vega then sent us into dreamland - he burst into the box and put a low shot past the keeper for his first and then headed home a spilled save for his second. We were progressing!

What a draw! We get Palmeiras in the next round - we go from the club of Bielsa to the club of Pele himself!

We then suffered a blow to our backline with Saraz having his release clause triggered and choosing to join Belgrano. There was nothing we could do.

Or perhaps there was - we could bring in a young star in Yordan Licknovsky to replace him. Sadly though, he can't join us until the window opens.

In between all the action, we had another game to play - Alianza Petrolera (Obando 9). They took a quick lead in the fourth minute when a big, deep ball found their player free at the far post. Our star Obando then levelled it up when Vega played the ball through for him. We couldn't hold on though and they got the winner in the 80th minute.

It was then time to take on Palmeiras (Cetre 70). When they scored two early goals, I feared the worst but, in terms of the score Cetre did smash a loose ball home to give us hope.

Another one! Now the substitutes are getting injured!

It was then time for domestic cup action against derby rivals Independiente Santa Fe (Moya 39, Correa 59). Moya gave us the lead when he headed home a corner and Correa doubled it by running onto and slotting home his namesake's great pass.

On the Wednesday was the return leg aginst Independiente Santa Fe (Lobo 90+6). We were shocked when, by the 81st minute, we were two down and the aggregate score was level. But in the 96th minute, Lobo ran in from the right-hand side and curled home a beauty to secure our onward progress!

League action then returned and it was time to play America de Cali (Gonzalez 84). We got the three points when Gonzalez burst into the box late on to score but that wasn't the headline...

The headline was the injury to Obando - nine months! Nine whole months! He's got five goals in eight games so far so I can't emphasise what a huge blow I think this is going to be!

We then had one more game to play against Palmeiras (Vega 83). In the 83rd minute, Vega levelled things up when he finished off a neat passing move. They weren't done though and a corner bundled home at the death saw us drop out the competition!

So, the month finally ends and we're in 7th. We need to be in the top eight to get into the league's knockout stage.

We then have another monster month to go through in September - there are nine games for us to play - the QF of the cup catches my eye as does the game against La Equidad at the end of the month!

 

       

[RaySunshine]

September 2029

August had been a challenging month and squad had recieved a load of quite literal knocks! It soon worked out that September wasn't going to be much better!

It all began with the game against Deportivo Pereira. We had the better of the xG but they worked a far-post cross from a throw-in and that was enough for them to nab all three points.

I had a bit of wonder about what to do with my stuttering team and decided to push a bit of Ange-ball into the system to see how it worked! It came up trumps in the cup against America de Cali (Moya 2, Cetre 21, Deossa 39). Moya got the first when he headed home a near-post corner. Cetre was set up perfectly by a low cross from Contreras and made it two before Deossa smashed home from outside the box to secure the result.

In case you're interested, here's the strategy that I used as my take on Angeball.

However, the good news of a win couldn't come without the bad news of injuries to two of our wide men.

The new strategy brought excitement galore in the game against Jaguares de Cordoba (Cetre 9, 14, Vega 42, Deossa 55, A Correa 76). Rosales made a great move from RB to CM in order to poke the ball forward for Cetre to finish. Then, there was the drama of a penalty save by our keeper before Cetre got his second - Deossa this time with the throughball that Cetre ran onto and finished. However they then got things level with two goals from two far-post crosses. LB Forero took his turn to become a CM and his throughball sent Vega through. He hit the far post first time but knocked the rebound home - 3-2! In the second half, Belacazar picked out Deossa to head home and our lead was 4-2. Lucero then sent a cross in for A. Correa to knock home giving us a 5-2 lead. They managed to drive one more shot home but we held on to win 5-3 - phew!

A heavily-rotated side took on America de Cali (Vidal pen 62). It looked like we were going to lose our first game since the tactical switch but Vidal put a penalty home to keep the scores level. We progress on to the next round!

The good form carried on in the league when we played Deportes Tolima (A Correa 83). Vidal sent in a mid-height cross this time which A Correa ducked down to head home - enough to get us all three points.

Our form then began to stutter in the game against Union Magdalena (Cetre 51). Poor defending on our part and individual mistakes especially, gave away two goals and we had an uphill climb. Rosales - who really seems to be enjoying the IWB role - played a beaut of a throughball for Cetre to send home but we couldn't get the second.

Then came the game against Independiente Santa Fe. We had an xG of 1.61 to their 1.03 and 2 clear-cut chances to their one but stats don't win you games and they got the goal that did.

It was now on to the cup semi-final first leg and the game against Junior FC (Cetre 7). We made a good start when our press led to Cetre robbing their centre-half and knocking the ball home. We couldn't hold on though and two late goals gives them the advantage. We're at home in the second leg though!

There was, as ever, the regular bad news. Pineda is only a substitute but we're keeping up as the most-injured team in the league!

Then it was time for Jamaica to play Guatemala. How we lost this I'll never know as we missed an absolute hatful of chances! We must do better in the rest of our group games that's for sure!

Having lost four international and club games in a row, I took on my former team La Equidad (Orbes 10, Cetre 25, Vega 38, A Correa 70). They're still struggling at the bottom of the league and we didn't make their life any easier - young promising CB Orbes got the first by heading home a great free-kick to the far post. Cetre then doubled up when he got the ball just inside the box and fired home. The third goal was Vega's who finished a great passing move neatly before Correa carried on his goal-scoring by putting home a neat finish after our high press had won us the ball back. They did fire home a great effort at the death but it was only consolation.

A nice little note to finish the month on!

We move up to seventh and remain the top eight. We've also got four points and a game in hand on 9th and I hope that we can keep working on making that gap bigger.

October starts with the huge semi-final second leg against Junior FC before we play Envigado on the Sunday who are 17th. Deportes Quindio are 10th and Real Cartegena are 19th so there's really the chance to stack up some points here. Cucuta Deportivo are only 15th while rivals Independiente Santa Fe are 8th and close to us in the league!

Then it's the season's final month...

[RaySunshine]

October 2029

Having finished last month with a shock defeat, it was much more pleasing to see Jamaica's result against Haiti here and the progress that this helps us make towards the World Cup.

My results at Millionarios have been a pretty mixed bag so far but it was really pleasing to see it come together in an unbeaten month here. First up was the cup tie against Junior FC (Bertel 17, Vidal 26). It began badly with Junior adding to their lead within three minutes. It got better though with Bertel firing a fierce shot home and then Vidal curling in an absolute beauty to level the scores. Sadly though, Junior FC then made the most of a corner and we exited the cup.

Jamaica carried on their good form against Trinidad and Tobago with Bailey and Thomas-Asante firing home and taking the team another step closer to the World Cup.

I wondered what could be worse than giving a lead away and I found out against Envigado (Rodas 16, Bertel 28, J Correa 79) - it's giving it away twice! We took a two-goal lead against them and thought all was comfortable only for them to bring it back and level things up. Arsenal-bound Correa then fired a shot home and I thought at last that we had all three points. A last-minute leveller meant otherwise though.

We then produced a super show against Haiti where goals galore went in and the World Cup started to look a little more secure!

Mid-table Deportes Quindio (Cetre 44, Vidal 45, 67, Vega 46) were up next. Things were tricky to begin with but three goals scored around half-time gave us a secure lead and then Vidal put home a second in order to give us a pretty good result overall.

I have to say that I'm getting confused by these ratings. Excellent on the right-hand side with one promising player on the left. Let's see who rocks up at the end of the season!

The good form carried on in the game against Real Cartegena (Cetre 15, Deossa 20). The goal-scoring began when Vega played a neat throughball and Cetre absolutely fired it home. Sinisterra then got his first assist by curling a free-kick to the back post for Deossa to volley home. They then pulled off a great passing move and shot of their own to make it 2-1 by 30 minutes. The goal-scoring stopped at that point though and we won 2-1.

We made it three wins in a row when we played Cucuta Deportivo (Deossa 11, 45+2, Cetre pen 40, Quinones 83). It was another thrashing which we handed out and the goal of the game this time as a superb effort by Quinones who confidently chipped over the keeper for his goal.

As ever, all things come at a cost though and Vega added himself to the medical room list.

The month's last game was against Independiente Santa Fe (Quinones 28, Sinisterra 30). Quinones stepped up again this time and fired home an absolute rocket this time. Sinisterra then got his first goal for the club by curling a beauty home and that was enough to secure all three points.

Across the course of the month, we move up four places and we're now third. It feels like a pretty great place to be considering the team had finished tenth after the first half of the season.

There is only one game left before the league goes into its finishing stage. That game is against first-place Atletico Nacional. Beat them, have Junior draw or worse and we'll finish top of the league - but we do have to remember that that doesn't get you the trophy...

[RaySunshine]

November 2029

As you can see, getting into the league's Finalizacion Semi Final group, added a whopping six games to be played at the rate of two a week. Things began though with the last game of the regular season where we played Atletico Nacional (Cetre 19, 39). Cetre came up with the goods and two first-half goals got us all three points and meant that we finished top of the table for the finalizacion. That doesn't get us a trophy though and we now enter the Semi-Final group...

Here are the three teams who finished 5th, 3rd and 7th respectively. Another group made up of 2nd, 4th and 6th will contest the other semi-final.

One player who won't be competing in the semi's is Caio Vidal. This is a real blow as he's been on really good form and it thins our squad even further.

There was no time for moping around though and we took on Junior FC (Cetre pen 11, Rodas 32). Twice we took the lead but twice Junior FC were able to level up and the points finished up shared between us.

We shared the points again in our game against Union Magdalena (Cetre 50, Deossa 65) but this time we had to fight back from 2-0 down! Cetre got the first when he poked home Deossa's squared ball and Deossa got the second himself when he turned with the ball outside the box and fired a low effort home!

 

As well as all the semi-final action, there was also the small matter of qualifying Jamaica for the World Cup which we did courtesy of a 2-0 win over Guatemala!

We got our first win of the semi's against Independiente Medellin (Correa 36, Sinisterra 82). For the first of our goals, Cetre pulled out to the left and put over a big looping cross for Correa to head home and Sinisterra got his by squaring a defender up one-on-one in the box and sliding the ball past both him and the keeper into the bottom left-hand corner.

We then rounded off the qualifiers with a thumping win over rivals Trinidad and Tobago to send us on our way!

Our second win of the semi's came courtesy of a mad game against Union Magdalena (J Correa 26, Sinisterra 39, Gonzalez 43). My team were dead on their feet by this point and this side was heavily rotated. They took the lead within ten minutes and I was seriously worried that my rotation gamble wasn't going to pay off. J Correa, playing as the striker, levelled up though by heading home Gonzalez's great cross after the latter had run down the right-hand channel. They then got their lead back and the game was truly on. Gonzalez played a clever free-kick to Sinisterra, who was stood just by their wall, and he struck it home before Gonzalez then clinched the winner making a mazy run to the edge of the box and firing it home!

The game against Junior FC might say 0-0 but it certainly wasn't actionless! Junior had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half and, in the second, J Correa then threw himself into a challenge and got sent off. 15 minutes later, a Junior FC player did the same and both sides were playing with ten men. There were a flurry of chances at both ends which neither team could take but there was also...

... an injury which will see Sinisterra miss the rest of the competition.

We knew we needed a win against Independiente Medellin (Orbes 27, Deossa 67) and Orbes got us off to a good start by heading home a corner. They levelled up and wondered which way it would go but, in the second half, Deossa poked home a loose ball and we topped the group!

We qualify for a final! Can I get my first silverware of FM24???

Another injury came out of the game though and they're all in the same postions!

Next month sees us play just two games - but they are the finals home and away against Club Atletico Nacional! Wish me luck!

 

 

[RaySunshine]

December 2029

The first tie against Atletico Nacional took place at their ground and it was a tough 0-0. Both sides had chances, we might have had the better but we had to take it on to the second leg and try and get the win at home.

And we did! We had chances galore in the first half and could have been three up at the break with some better shooting! Quinones made the difference though by playing a great throughball which Vidal then fired home.

We're Torneo Finalizacion champions!

[RaySunshine]

Season Review

So here is our season review!

The XI is hard for me to comment on as I wasn't here for the Apertura so I don't know how players like Saraz performed in that competition. In terms of awards, it's clear to see how important both Cetre and Deossa are to the team and I'm pleased that both of them have signed contracts for the new season.

This is a pretty wonderful set of records to have broken too!

And here is my planning screen. The first important thing to state is that Altamirano, Moya and Forero have all signed deals to move elsewhere so I won't have any of those players next season. That makes sorting out the backline a real priority going into the next season. Rodas on 6.71 is the next player to have a low average rating and so I wonder what I might be able to do there.

The last thing I've noticed is that six of this squad are 30+ so it will be good to bring in some younger names!

[RaySunshine]

Pre-season

Before we get into the substance of pre-season, I felt like it was a good time to review the save's objectives...

Step one: Get a job in South America

Step two: Win silverware

Step three: Win either the Copa Libertadores or the Copa America.

So, as the save goes, I've achieved two out of the three objectives - the first with my job at Iquique and the second with the Finalzicion win with Millionarios. Now one step remains - the Copa Libertadores or the Copa America. It's going to require me to get new jobs but I've done my six-month promise period so I'm available for jobs!

Step one sees my trio of youngsters coming into the club. Pretel and Lichnovsky both have the ability to step into the first XI whereas Cobo is going to be one for the future.

Next in was my brand-new keeper! Brazillian Leandro Bray comes in from ATM for a pricey £6.5m but Moneyball says put defence first - I hope Soccernomics works for me!

The first of our pre-season games is a testimonial for Viga and is something of a goalfest!

As is the second but at least this one is a win!

Next in are our youngsters and I'm pleased that our apparent gaps in reserve keeping look like they might just have been filled. It's an excellent intake for the club!

The action keeps coming - here is our draw for the Copa Libertadores - there's one more team to add from the play-off round to complete our group.

This is a future transfer in but Victor Martinez represents an improvement on Bertel at LB in both age and quality I hope!

Here is a reminder of what the board is after as the new season looms - I'm pleased to say that there's nothing there that's going to cause me any trouble!

And here are their competition expectations - unsurprisingly, it's all about the league and that's a good thing as...

... we're favourites to win it! The question is can we make good on it?

There are three games in January which will allow my team to kick off a new season! Here we go...

[RaySunshine]

January 2030

Three games - three wins and that's a pretty pleasing way to start the season!

Real Cartagena (Vidal 3, Deossa 13, Montano og 32, Lichnovsky 67) were up first and it's fair to say that we blew them away. Pretel played well on his debut - setting up the first goal with a great cross and Brey kept a clean sheet on his debut.

We followed up the first win with another against Fortaleza (Lichnovsky 34, Vega 77, Valencia 90+4). New CB Lichnovsky scored in two games running before they levelled up. We had to leave it till late on but Vega put us back in front and Valencia finished the scoring!

With Forero having gone to PSG and Bertel being 33, I felt more was needed at LB and, for an intial £2m, Geisson Jama comes in from Independiente Medellin. He's 21, a domestic player and has a seriously high ceiling - what's not to like?

His perfomance in the game against Llaneros FC (Lichnovsky 45+2, Valencia 85, Vega 88) was something to dislike! He missed his man for their first goal and it took until just before HT for Lichnovsky to head home his third corner in three games! They then took the lead again in the second half and it looked like were going to lose until Valencia and Vega got two late goals allowing us to snatch the win!

Three wins out of three means that we finish the month top the table. It's still early days of course but we can't ask for better than that!

Some key games come up in the next month - we face title rivals Junior FC and Atletico Nacional in the league. We also play the latter in the Superliga which gives us another chance to win a trophy. It also means three two-game weeks in a row so I'm going to have to work the squad well early on!