Hootieleece Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 It is time for one last save before FM25 comes out. I have decided to play another "Journeyman" save this time in Asia focusing on Japan. The Loaded countries are as follows: The Big Five European Nations are represented by their Top two leagues, Argentina and Brazil top league is viewable and all Asian Leagues are playable. MLS in USA is also playable. The new Coach is Yoshi Toranaga. A down on his luck 30-year-old with no experience or badges. He applied to all lower-level Japanese clubs and was interviewed by two of them. This was the bigger of the two clubs and I was surprised by their offer. $38k/year isn't great, but it is a start for nobody, who believes he is destined for greatness! It was accepted. Now that he has become a manager let's look at the team. The old manager used a 4-4-2, but Toranaga favors a 4-3-3 gegenpress like Liverpool his favorite club. The club vision aligns well with what Toranaga has in mind a young team that wins with physicality. Fukushima United's fans are a bit too optimistic at the moment........considering the changes coming. With that let the adventure begin! 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 Manager's Thoughts The team is in a good place but will need to rebuild in the offseason to challenge for promotion again. Toranaga's tenure started well with two wins and a draw and then a loss in the last match of September. The 4-3-3 DM Wide is working well but I think that the DC's are too slow to play the high line. Schedule Highlights The team has settled into a lineup as shown below. We are a little shallow in central midfield depth but won't be able to rectify that until the off season. The team dynamics show that the team is playing well and willing to give the new manager a chance. The first match of my tenure came about a week after taking the reins of the team. Not a lot of time too instill the gegenpress 4-3-3 on a team that played a 4-4-2. The first match was a Derby against rivals Iwate. On paper it was a match we should win because of league position. We dominated the match but only had one goal to show for our efforts. I was happy nonetheless to get off to a winning start. The next match was another favorable match for the team and my home debut. Our defense was susceptible to long balls over the top of our press and that is how Nagano took the lead. We settled down and took the game to them in an effort to tie and possibly win. Unfortunately, the Nagano Goalkeeper was on top of his game and denied us until late. The next match would see us travel to bottom dwelling Tottori and that was a match which saw us dominate. With the win we overtook Nara for second place in the League and a chance at promotion the league leaders are out of reach on 70 points already! I was a little bullish on our chances after the match...... Especially because this was the best season in Fukushima United History! The last match of the month would see us favored against team that was struggling...... We played complacently and were beaten twice early with balls over the top......we fought back but it wasn't enough as we suffered our first loss of my tenure. I was not very happy with how we played at all and let the players know. to be continued: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 26 Author Share Posted July 26 October 2023 Manager's Thoughts This month, the team faced the league's top contenders, which impacted our performance significantly. The loss against FC Imabari was particularly detrimental, resulting in the forfeiture of our promotion spot to Nara Club. Despite outperforming expectations throughout the season, it seems we're approaching a final hurrah before a potential rebuild. Nevertheless, Toranaga remains fully committed to securing promotion. Schedule Highlights We started off the month with a trip to play a good team in FC Gifu. Gifu was favored but we had a chance...... The match was an equal battle between two good teams marred by some bad refereeing, but the press missed it. We missed defending two deep crosses and gave up a penalty that wasn't a penalty which allowed them to draw the match. Our next match saw us play the runaway and hide leaders of the league. Even though we were the home team we were the outsiders in this battle because FC Imabari was playing much better than anyone else in the league as shown by their 20-point lead in the league table! The prognosticators were proven right as we failed to put up much of a fight against the unstoppable force.......after an early goal.....we started playing terribly and had a sending off that didn't help. As one can see the Title race is over after that loss, but we have everything to play for as the promotion race heats up between us and Nara. and who would we play next.....NARA our promotion rivals! Neither side could put away their chances and we had more of them so should have escaped with a win.....but in all it was a bore of a match between two teams afraid to lose! The next match would see us get a chance to bounce back and return to our winning ways against a struggling team...... Fukushima Stadium was ready! We dominated the underdogs from the first whistle.....and deserved our victory! The competition for promotion is intensifying between us and Nara Club. I aimed to alleviate tension within the team that was overachieving through my comments to the press. The team is showing a relentlessness that was not expected since we were expected to be midtable mediocrities. The change to the Gegen press 4-3-3 from the traditional 4-4-2 has been almost seamless. The next match proved our worth as we went down early but fought hard to win the game! The Kagoshima GK was out of his mind....and was almost player of the match! It was a good win and solidifies our position in the promotion race! We also completed a club objective early......before the rebuild that is coming.....this is probably a "Last Dance"! League Table Financials to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted July 27 Share Posted July 27 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 28 Author Share Posted July 28 November/Early December 2023 Manager's Thoughts It is an exciting and crucial time for Fukushima! Securing promotion to the J2 League is a significant achievement. As I plan for the rebuild, finding midfielders and defenders who can thrive in a gegen press system and adapt to the 4-3-3 formation will be essential. Considering the pace of your current center-backs, perhaps scouting for faster options would indeed strengthen your high line. Best of luck with the upcoming matches and the rebuilding process! Schedule Highlights The first thing to hit my desk in the Monday morning at the beginning of the month was the contracts that were in doubt for next season: As one can see there are alot of players leaving the team at the end of the season due to either not wanting to be here or retirement. This will make rebuilding the team tough. Better news came from the Board and supporters afterwards. The Board was ecstatic with our ability to keep the team on track for promotion.....the fans were still lukewarm. The team was coming together nicely, thanks to the outstanding season they were experiencing. It was in their hands to maintain this momentum for five more matches and secure promotion! The first match was against a tough FC Osaka team, but we were favored even though we were the visitors. Toranaga's Gegen Press approach won the day! We are keeping up the momentum...... In reality it was a stupendous effort by our 38-year-old GK and Captain that won the day! After the big win I was able to bring some of the players in for contract Negotiations and was able to extend our Striker Tsutsumi! The next match was at home against Matsumoto We were favored but needed to do a professional job. Tsutsumi celebrated his contract extension with two goals sealing the victory! The next match was against struggling Ehime FC. It was a bit of a more open match than Toranaga liked, but we got the needed win. Nobe the Star man of this match and much of the season doesn't want to stay and he will be missed. Kitakyushu was next on the schedule would we be able to keep the streak going and secure promotion? Vice-Captain and Starman Nobe rallied the boys for maximum effort in the next match....... The Promotion race would come down to the last day between Fukushima and Nara. I wanted to instill confidence that we would win automatic promotion. A tough last match for the boys with Automatic Promotion on the line..... We did everything within our power to win promotion without help......but it didn't happen, and we had to have help in that Nara lost as well. Before the match Tsutsumi won the MVP of the Month of November Award. WE Made it......Automatic Promotion! But the Assman got the praise for the promotion.....not me! Double the budget and a handy transfer kitty will make the rebuild easier.....but will we attract quality players..... LEAGUE TABLE to be continued: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Late December 2023 Manager's Thoughts As the excitement over the unexpected promotion subsided, the Board and the manager sprang into action. Yoshie Toranaga started scouting for players to enhance the team's capabilities and depth in preparation for the higher level of competition. The Board and the New League introduced additional changes; the club was to establish a data analysis department and relocate to a new stadium 30 miles from the old one. The team also placed a heavier financial burden on the fans by increasing ticket prices to offset the costs of the new facility. Denied a Coaching License, Toranaga will fulfill his current contract but might consider moving on, depending on the team's performance in the upcoming season. Highlights The Offseason started with a Board Meeting in which the Club Vision was laid out. The team's supporters were counted, and the team dynamics discussed. Our Attractive Assertive style is bringing in more supporters. The team is in a good place it will be up to Toranaga to keep the Atmosphere and Leadership support at high levels going into the new season. And last but not least we have to rent a new stadium to be up to the requirements of the new league! Koriyama is a small city about 31 miles south of Fukushima. I can't believe a brand-new stadium is already in disrepair! But then it was built for no one in particular and the owners will be pleased with our tenancy. After the Board Meeting Yoshi Toranaga got to work negotiating with agents and players to return as many players to the team as possible and adding others that would help the team stay in the J2 League. First up was Backup GK Akira Fantini While he may not be outstanding, he aligns with the club's vision and could serve as a solid first choice once the team captain and legend, Yamamoto, departs after the upcoming season. Ichimura was the team's first foray into the Free Agent market and would improve the Central Midfield. Kengo Ichimura The holding Midfielder signed up for the future....... After a few days of negotiations a few days of congratulatory emails came in...... The Team played in the Japan Cup before Yoshi's arrival but acquitted themselves well. Celebrating the team's best ever finish! Three of our players made the J3 best XI. We want to keep Miyazaki and Tanaka, but Kobayashi is retiring.... Important news came for the Staff from the Board: Toranaga would be allowed to have Data Analysis Department! After that Toranaga forged on negotiating with a replacement for the retiring Koyabashi. Daisuke Ikeda -LB and he found his man to lead the line on the left......the Sadio Mane position! Ren Nagamatsu- AML-IF-A While all the negotiations were going on and the staff was being added Yoshi went to the Board asking about his Coaching License: Yoshi decided that the board didn't believe in him, and he would leave at the end of his contract unless something changed.... But on a happier note, one of last season's stars that was contemplating leaving decided to stay.... Our Commercial numbers aren't bad all things considered. Mostly due to our Sponsorship deal. Even so the team is passing on the costs of renting the stadium in Koriyama onto the fans......Toranaga doesn't support this! Management Report Financial Report to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 January 2024 Manager's Thoughts The team was formed and faced a challenging series of friendly matches, emerging stronger than anticipated given the predictions about our prospects in the J2 League. Toranaga continues to advocate for the 4-3-3 gegenpress strategy. He believes the influx of foreign players in the J2 League is due to the deficiency in local talent, particularly in terms of speed and athleticism. He is also anticipating a new youth intake to bolster the team. With preparations complete, the team is ready for the season to commence. Highlights The club signed Kide as another wingback and decided to let go of another club mainstay who wasn't ready for the new level. Yuta Kide RD-WB-S Miyazaki wasn't bad but he wasn't up to the pace Toranaga wanted to play...... Shun Obu was extended because Toranaga couldn't find a suitable replacement and he was fairly cheap but expected a lot of playing time. The new sponsorship deal won't even pay one players salary! We shipped some of the deadwood out of the reserves for a small profit. Management Report The management and supporters aren't against us.......yet! The team is gelling over the preseason and the future looks bright even with all the turnover. Preseason Schedule The early matches were against J2 opponents and a J1 opponent so Toranaga could see if we were overmatched. The Final two matches were against J3 opponents and gave the team a taste of winning! The final match of the preseason was a win that was played like a real match with only Five Subs! J2 Preseason Review The team has a lot of work to do if we are to stay in the league. Lots of foreigners and not so many Japanese players in the Preseason Favorites in J2 League. Team Preview Toranaga enjoys an "Old School" numbering System. Kaito Yamamoto SK-A Daisuke Ikeda RB-WB-S Shun Obu DCR-BPD-D Issa Hakizmana DCL-BPD-D Hayate Sugii LD-WB-S Kento Awano DM-DLP-D Kengo Ichimura MCR-CAR-S Kosuke Tanaka MCL-CM-S Yuta Nobe AML-IF-A Ren Nagamatsu AML-IF-A Seiji Tsutsumi AF-A to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 31 Author Share Posted July 31 February 2024: Regular Season Manager's Thoughts The season kicked off positively with two victories. However, the home opener served as a reality check. Subsequently, the team managed to regain composure, securing a hard-earned draw in the month's final game. Analysis suggests that maintaining our playing style should enable us to remain competitive. This provides some relief and indicates that high-press tactics are highly effective in the match engine, but as we aim for the pinnacle of Football, all strategies are fair in Love and War! Schedule Highlights The prep for the first match was interrupted when a backup player.....decided he wasn't getting enough playing time....BEFORE the Season even started! The first match was away versus Gunma....we were considered the underdogs, but Toranaga thought we had a chance...... Victory was had after a dominant performance over a casual Gunma team that thought it would be a walkover! Our Goalkeeper saved a penalty that changed the game and ensured our victory! The next match was only a few days away and Toranaga believed in rotation to keep his players fit since he employed a gegen press system that required high levels of physicality. So, the "Backups" would get a chance to shine. We came from behind after a shaky penalty was scored on the back of our new signing Hirose! Even the national media got into the act! and I was pleased with the determination and fight shown by my "Samurai"! The next match was the home opener in a new stadium We would be underdogs against a Hot Fujieda Team! I was confident heading into the big match since I was using the "Starters" Other than it being the largest crowd in Fukushima History.....the match was a disaster! Our Captain had his worst day in a Fukushima shirt as he let in Five goals and it was suggested that we sub him for the emergency goalie halfway through the second half. (Fantini the backup had sprained his wrists in the Yamaguchi win) After the match, I had to apologize to the fans. and Highlights of our demolition made National TV! The largest crowd ever witnessed our most devastating defeat in history! Following the disappointing performance against Fujieda, the next match will once again feature the backup players, despite Toranaga considering fielding the starters as a form of "punishment." Ultimately, Toranaga chose to stick with the regular rotation and hope for the best. Stand by backups! The fact that it was a Derby match did not alter Toranaga's strategy or approach to the game. and his belief in his team was rewarded with a hard-earned draw. Toranaga felt justified in his decision following the draw. League Table Player of the Month Analysis Report Our performance demonstrates that we could maintain our position in the J2 League. The Conceded Goals statistic is distorted due to the match against Fujieda. However, if goalkeeping remains an issue, changes will be implemented. Management Report The team's cohesion is encouraging and indicates that we are heading in the right direction. The moderate support from the Board and the fans is typical for the early part of the season. Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 March 2024 Manager's Thoughts March was a busy month for the team with Eight Matches and a Transfer Window Deadline. The Team performed well for a team that was expected to be in the relegation battle. The team is comfortably midtable, and it has taken a tremendous effort from every player at the club. Toranaga was also able to help the defense by making a last-minute deal for another CB. If the current starting XI play as well as they have, the team has a chance at remaining in J2 League. Schedule Highlights The month was a busy one seeing the team play EIGHT times in 28 Days! It wasn't the best of months with more defeats than victories, but we remained midtable in the J2 League! The month began with our playing League Leader Iwata. A win was never in the cards, but Toranaga was happy to escape with a draw! The Draw came from an inspired last second shot from Yuta Nobe! After that match we had to take on struggling Tochigi. Since Toranaga had been instituting a rotation plan for the team the "backups" would play against Tochigi. It was a hard-fought game, and the backups played hard but lost....... After the match Toranaga thought about bringing in another defender........ Toranaga had revamped the team for the J2 League, but the question remained: would it suffice? As the Transfer Window remained open Toranaga sent a Reserve player out on loan. Hayate Mukai He is a possibility in the future but definitely not ready for first team play as of yet. The next match was against a Struggling Oita Team Toranaga felt confident in his "Starters" and was looking forward to a victory. Were the bookmakers aware of something that Toranaga was not? The team primarily lost due to being outplayed by Oita in terms of possession. Aside from that, it was a solid performance in an otherwise disappointing match. Next up was a match against injury plagued Kofu. Kofu was favored and keeping with the rotation this would be a "Backup" match. and said so to the media assembled before the match. The team secured victory even after being reduced to 10 men! Quite the performance by the "Backups"! After the unexpected victory Toranaga was asked about the Relegation Battle. Next up was league leading Sapporo! It would be a real test for the "Starters" We played well and it was a last-minute lack of concentration that led to the Sapporo goal. Feisty in the Press Conference afterwards! More points that games played after 8 matches isn't bad for a newly promoted team! The Backups were scheduled to compete against another top-rated team. An unbelievable victory with Starters subbed in to finish the match! We dominated the match in a way that bodes well for the future! Our Star player was getting recognition. Since Toranaga wished to shed the "Talkative" label, he delegated his spokesperson to address the media following the game. The second leg of the League's Cup Clash was set to be a "Starter" match, and Toranaga was hopeful for a victory. Disaster strikes as our star player, who was in top form, has been injured during training and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Missing our star player didn't stop a rotated side from making short work of Tochigi! The opposing manager was displeased with how his team performed against us. Our next opponent in the Cup run will be a team from the J1 League. In a move to hopefully help the defense, Toranaga decided to bring in another player before the transfer deadline. Kengo Kuroki DC With that acquisition this is what the Starting XI look like. This could result in increased competitiveness during tight matches. The last match of the month would see us take on last season's rivals Imabari in a rematch of last season's J3 League Top two finishers. They are a formidable team, and their adjustment to the J2 League does not preclude the possibility of them defeating us decisively. And it proved true as our former manager won against us. Another injury has impacted the depth of Defensive Midfield. League Table Player of the Month Monthly Analysis Report Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 April-June 2024 Manager's Thoughts The three month stretch of playing saw the team start slowly as team's came to grips with the gegen press 4-3-3. Toranaga made some simple tweaks to his system by having his players for the most part play their natural roles and that helped the team wins games needed to stay up in the J2 League. Schedule to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 July 2024 Manager's Thoughts The team reversed its fortunes on the field, proving they were more than a mere flash in the pan. Following a commendable draw against Sapporo and three dominant victories this month, much of their success was inspired by Kengo Ichimura's performance in central midfield. They have now established themselves as a J2 League team, defying preseason predictions of relegation. Schedule Highlights Hanya was a player that Toranaga had been pursuing for the next season; however, my assistant manager decided to withdraw the offer due to medical concerns. Toranaga personally restarted the talks and got the player to sign for next season...... The opening match of the month featured the former J1 team, League leaders Sapporo, who had been relegated. Toranaga was aiming for a hard-fought draw. And he received just that, as the team delivered one of its best defensive performances of the season thus far. The youth intake includes two players who will be promoted to the first team due to registration requirements, and another three to four who will join the reserves, likely without ever making a first team appearance. The upcoming match will pit us against another mid-table team, offering a chance to secure a playoff spot and affirm our status as a bona fide J2 League team. Pure domination in front of the home fans! Our position in the match was certified after Chiba went down to ten men. Spectacular Highlights and National Attention! Toranaga was as pleased as the Cheshire Cat following the significant victory! With the better play against Sapporo and Chiba, Toranaga was looking for it to continue against Kofu. Heading into the match, we were down our starting striker due to a sports hernia, but his backup stepped up and led us to an epic victory with a hat-trick! Player of the Week! Following the match, the press showered our performance and the entire season with superlatives, discussing our rise from relegation favorites to playoff contenders. Toranaga attempted to quash the rumors. The month's final match will have us facing former J2 rivals FC Imabari and former manager Kobayashi. Another match well played and dominated by us. League Table Player of the Month Kengo Ichimura CM-A Monthly Analysis Report In general our good play is shown by our general performance numbers. More Goals that conceded is a great stat. It shows we belong in J2 League. Management Report The Board the supporters, and the team are 100% behind Toranaga as manager as he brings "Heavy Metal Football" to Japan. Monthly Financial Report The team's success has largely stabilized the financial situation. to be continued: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 Just caught up, @Hootieleece Congratulations on Fukushima United's promotion in your first season. And you've made a good start to your second season as well. On 29/07/2024 at 23:23, Hootieleece said: Yoshi decided that the board didn't believe in him, and he would leave at the end of his contract unless something changed.... Is this still what Yoshi Toranaga is thinking? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 38 minutes ago, Stuniverse said: Just caught up, @Hootieleece Congratulations on Fukushima United's promotion in your first season. And you've made a good start to your second season as well. Is this still what Yoshi Toranaga is thinking? After the good start to this season and an opportunity to extend his stay. Toranaga had a change of heart, and the board did pay for coaching course. It was during one of the months I glossed over. Glad to have you along. What I enjoy most about career updates is commenting and trading tips for better play and tactics with readers. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 (edited) August 2024 Manager's Thoughts The team continued its unbelievable season even though there were some setbacks in the month of August. Toranaga thinks he has created a Japanese version of Heavy Metal Football like Liverpool under Klopp. It seems to work because many of the teams in the J2 League and Japan in general are wedded to the 4-4-2 Wing Play with unsuitable players. Whereas Toranaga tries to bring that physicality out in a different way by showing a "Warrior Spirit". Schedule Highlights The team came into the month trying to keep up the unbelievable Promotion Playoff Run. The next match was against Tokushima. Though we were the underdogs, Toranaga had confidence in the team. The performance was commendable, though it was somewhat overshadowed by an excess of fouls, which seemed to surprise the referee with our level of physical play. We lost our midfield dynamo, a full back repurposed in the mold of Trent Alexander-Arnold. During the post-game press conference with the media, Toranaga downplayed the numerous fouls committed by Fukushima. Toranaga then praised the players' "Warrior Spirit," likening their approach to what he termed "Banzai or Bushido Ball." This email means the team has survived the Relegation Battle. In other developments, our skilled Center Back has resolved to execute long-range passes from the back. Toranaga envisions VVD-esque diagonal passes over the defense to a sprinting attacker. As we geared up for the upcoming match, we were considered the favorites despite not being at full strength. Uehata excelled in taking over Tanaka's role as our midfield dynamo, delivering FOURTEEN progressive passes! Unfortunately, our AML Ren Nagamatsu was sidelined due to a hard tackle. He fulfills a role similar to that of Sadio Mane in the team. The team had another match against relegation threatened Kunamoto and Toranaga decided to play the backups and allow new GK Yuya Oki Start...... It was a disaster.......losing the match 6-2! After the terrible outing against Kunamoto, the team were underdogs against a struggling Nagasaki team. It was a match that would show if we were actually promotion playoff contenders and Toranaga was looking for a better more competitive outing from the team. The team suffered a tough loss despite playing well, as they were thwarted by an exceptional performance from the goalkeeper who made eight saves! Toranaga thought the team performed well and was disheartened by their elimination from a Playoff Spot in such a manner. The Analysis department demonstrated just how narrowly contested that match was. A young reserve player agreed to a team-friendly contract that would not alter his amount of playing time. League Table Player of the Month Yuta Nobe AMR IF-A Monthly Analysis Report Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: Edited August 6 by Hootieleece added words I forgot 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 September 2024 Manager's Thoughts League play commenced in September and concluded with a match against Omiya, which we won. Subsequently, the league took a six-week hiatus. During this break, the team and Toranaga endeavored to develop a new tactic to complement the 4-3-3 formation. However, the new strategy did not meet expectations, despite being based on similar principles. It's possible that it did not align well with our personnel. Schedule Highlights The month began with an important match in the playoff place race with Omiya. Securing a victory in the 7th versus 10th match was crucial to preserve our standing. The match was another well played match in which Fukushima showed the "Warrior Spirit" and fought back to claim victory. Toranaga was happy with the victory but wasn't going to let the media give the fans and players alike false hope of Promotion to J1 League. After that match the League was set to go on Hiatus until Mid-October. So for a couple of weeks, Toranaga tried to lower the training intensity until it was time to get match fit. Unfortunately during this time our #1 Goal Keeper was hurt..... During the Hiatus, Toranaga decided to take a look at his tactical System and see if it needed tweaking. He also decided that he needed a plan B if the 4-3-3 didn't work. The 4-3-3 formation embodies the Tactical Editor's interpretation of Klopp's Gegenpressing strategy. Toranaga has adapted it to align with his vision and the talent available to him. The pivotal roles are assigned to the Central Midfielders. The CM-A, in particular, is the primary scoring option. This is due to the fact that the AF doesn't emulate Firmino's style of play. While Nagamatsu and Nobe offer respectable imitations of Mane and Salah, their performance is ultimately constrained by the players' skills and the team's budget. Toranaga decide that the team would use a variant of the gegenpressing using the 4-2-3-1 Wide Formation as its plan B. Toranaga was uncertain if the new strategy would be as effective as the 4-3-3 formation, but after two weeks of practice, he decided to test it in a friendly match. The event was lackluster, and it seemed that considerable effort would be required to make the 4-2-3-1 Wide formation embody the Joie de Vivre characteristic of the 4-3-3. Yuya Oki, the new signing and the upcoming season's number one, appears to be a favorite among the physiotherapists! League Table Player of the Month Kengo Ichimura CM-A Monthly Analysis Report Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 12 hours ago, Hootieleece said: The team had another match against relegation threatened Kunamoto and Toranaga decided to play the backups and allow new GK Yuya Oki Start...... It was a disaster.......losing the match 6-2! Ouch! What happened? Back-ups not as good as you thought they were? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 7 Author Share Posted August 7 9 hours ago, Stuniverse said: Ouch! What happened? Back-ups not as good as you thought they were? The backups are slightly worse than our starters, but the real problem is our new goalie. He is supposed to be next season's First Choice, and he trains badly and is always hanging out with the Physios. Relegation threatened teams fight harder against us than top teams it seems, but I wanted to give the starters a bit of a break and the backups some game time. Live and learn. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 7 Author Share Posted August 7 October-Early November 2024 Manager's Thoughts The month was favorable for the team, marked by a series of friendly and league matches that ended in victories. Pursuing a playoff position in their debut season in the J2 League is a remarkable feat for a team once considered a candidate for relegation. Toranaga has begun preparations for the upcoming season, focusing on the Youth Intake and a promising young Italian player to enhance our central midfield. In the meantime, Toranaga will savor the affirmation of his leadership and foresight. Schedule Highlights The month began with a Friendly that showed the team was well prepared to make a playoff run. Toranaga earned his initial badge and promptly sought another sponsorship from the team, given that the offseason was approaching. Once more, the team chose to halt Toranaga's pursuit of becoming the ultimate manager... This event would be etched in Toranaga's memory as the Second Strike against the Fukushima Board. It was the last act of the Managing Director of the Board.... Another exciting friendly match was played, showcasing the team's impressive firepower! Captain and club legend Yamamoto has decided to retire at the end of the season. His presence between the sticks will be greatly missed. Following the friendly matches and additional training, the time had come for the Playoff Race! The captain continues to set records! It was a dominant performance by the team, and they won 1-0. After the Victory, Toranaga then turned his attention to the Youth Academy hoping to find some young players to make backups for the first team to ensure the team followed registration rules next season. Naoki Takase Sora Tsuruta The scouts introduced an intriguing player to Toranaga, prompting him to initiate negotiations. Christian Aucelli Kento Awano, the Deep-Lying Playmaker, masterfully orchestrated the midfield throughout the game! After the match Toranaga was asked about Yamamoto's decision to retire. We have concluded the negotiations with Aucelli. Yuya Oki, projected as next season's top goalkeeper, persists in his malingering behavior. Heading into the match with Tochigi we have a chance match a record! Tochigi, fighting against relegation, secured a victory in their last match. Naturally, Toranaga anticipates a challenging encounter with a resolute opposing team. Encouraging news from the Youth Team promises a bright future! The battle was as challenging as anticipated, yet the team rose to the occasion, handling the pressure admirably and securing a win! Ichimura once again led the team from the CM-A position! Toranaga is always pleased with victory! Man of the Match and Man of the Month awards are accolades recognizing outstanding performance in sports and other fields. The Man of the Match is typically awarded to the standout player in a particular game, while Man of the Month acknowledges consistent excellence over a period of time. The League Cup Tournament concluded with a J1 team emerging victorious, while Fukushima's participation did not garner much attention. League Table Player of the Month Kengo Ichimura CM-A Monthly Analysis Report Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 6 hours ago, Hootieleece said: he backups are slightly worse than our starters, but the real problem is our new goalie. He is supposed to be next season's First Choice, and he trains badly and is always hanging out with the Physios. So will you persevere with the goalkeeper or look for a new #1 for next season? 6 hours ago, Hootieleece said: Relegation threatened teams fight harder against us than top teams it seems, but I wanted to give the starters a bit of a break and the backups some game time. Live and learn. Is that why you seem to be second-guessing your formation / tactics / system and looking at alternatives in the recent friendlies? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 7 Author Share Posted August 7 2 hours ago, Stuniverse said: So will you persevere with the goalkeeper or look for a new #1 for next season? Is that why you seem to be second-guessing your formation / tactics / system and looking at alternatives in the recent friendlies? I will keep the GK for now.... but if his performance is less than satisfactory, he will be replaced. As for second guessing my tactics it is more about getting ready for the "Sophomore Slump". When your team starts losing and you can't seem to figure out a way to fix it. It happens to me often with teams that are promoted and use one system. Especially if they were dominant or expected to win the lower league. Mostly because I am usually too sentimental about players to replace everyone. Luckily for me with Fukushima we had a very old squad with expiring contracts, so I was able to replace many players without becoming too sentimental. I am looking to bring in about Four New players for next season and I think I already have 3 under contract! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 November 2024 Manager's Thoughts The team looked forward to the final match of the season and the playoffs. They performed well in the league's final match, which concluded in a draw. However, a two-week hiatus before the playoff semifinal resulted in a loss of momentum, exacerbated by minor injuries within the squad. Despite all players being match-ready, it became clear after the first half that they were outplayed on the day. Nevertheless, it was a highly successful season for Fukushima United, with a fifth-place finish in the J2 League marking a significant accomplishment. This success has raised the board's expectations, as they now aim to bring the team back to Fukushima with a new stadium in the City Center. Schedule Highlights Midfield maestro Ichimura is a contender for the League's Most Valuable Player award. With one match remaining in the regular season, the team was ready to provide Mito with a warm welcome and delight the fans. The "Warrior Spirit" fostered by Toranaga at Fukushima is the cornerstone of our success. Both teams performed admirably, and settling for a draw in front of the home crowd was challenging. Our fifth placed finish meant we would travel to Tokushima for the Playoff Semifinal. As the team had two weeks to get ready Toranaga slowed the practice schedule abit and was rewarded with injuries to key players. Fortunately, neither injury will prevent the players from participating in the Playoff Semifinal. Finally, the semifinal arrived, and the team readied themselves to play the most significant game in their history! The team had another opportunity to establish a new team record. During the press conference, Toranaga expressed the belief that the seeding system is crucial for the playoffs. The match turned out to be one-sided, but we managed to score a consolation goal. The captain and club legend played his final match as goalkeeper, but unfortunately, he and the team fell slightly short of victory. Toranaga expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance in the Playoff Semifinal and communicated the expected standards via the media. Analysis showed that we were playing flat after the First 30 minutes. End of Season Board Meeting After the Playoff Semifinal, Toranaga was brought to a board meeting that would set the team's future. The budget was reasonable and larger than this season's; however, Toranaga would maintain a frugal approach, which is advantageous in light of subsequent developments. The team's successful journey to the Playoff Semifinals expanded their fanbase. The projected Starting XI and Team report for next season indicate that Toranaga must put in significant effort to duplicate the success of this season. The revelation came at the end: the team would need to maintain their success to fund a new stadium! Toranaga believed that the Team's Board was excessively liberal with bonuses, considering they aimed to construct a new stadium on a very limited budget. League Table Player of the Month Kengo Ichimura CM-A Monthly Analysis These are impressive statistics for a team that was expected to be relegated, yet they surged to the top of the league. We must strive to replicate and surpass these results next season. Management Report Toranaga enjoys strong support from all stakeholders, which is a promising sign for the future. Monthly Financial Report Toranaga is uncertain about the source of future funds, especially for the new stadium, as the team has significantly impacted its bank balance with this year's successful bonuses. to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 December 2024 Manager's Thoughts Toranaga was thrilled with the success of the team, but after the celebrations were over, he went to work to build on the foundation he had built with his excellent recruiting. Since He was the De Facto GM, he initiated contract talks with important players of the team and concluded contracts to have them stay more than next season to create a sense of stability to the team as it tried to replicate it success. Toranaga was unable to afford Japanese Talent that was of the quality required so he was forced yet again to find foreign players to meet his needs. Luckily the J2 league allows for Four Foreign Players and the team will have three for the upcoming season. The future is so bright Toranaga bought sunglasses! Highlights With the season's celebrations concluded, Toranaga determined that the only necessary slide from the Sales and Marketing presentation was the one featuring the players brought in, as nearly all of them played and contributed significantly to the success of the past season. There are a few that are on this list that are players for next season like Christian Aucelli. The offseason began with the Yamamoto retirement party. With the new players coming in Aucelli some players were going to have to leave and one of the first would be backup leftback Shibata. This player became available and was too good to pass up, fitting perfectly as the new Left Back and relegating the former Central Midfielder Tanaka to a backup role. Moritz Romling DL-WB-S Moritz brings the size and athleticism that is lacking in many Japanese Players. This goes against Toranaga's thinking of creating an all-Japanese Team, but similar local talent is out of the team's budget. The J2 League permits a maximum of four foreign players on a team roster of 25. Additionally, the team must include at least two homegrown players and at least one player under the age of 21. Last season, the team just managed to fulfill these requirements, and the outlook for the upcoming season seems similar unless the team begins to cultivate homegrown talent. The team has recently received its first group of youth players, and a few of them will train with the first team to satisfy the league's requirements. During the press conference to announce the signing, Toranaga expressed his expectation for Romling to become a star. After that signing Toranaga started tying down the Key Players to longer Contracts to provide stability for the team going forward. Defensive playmaker Awano was the first to be signed. Toranaga was very pleased with his progress despite his smaller stature. Toranaga believed rewarding the new captain for a successful season was also important. Kide secured the starting Right Back position through his consistent performances and durability. Kuroki was extended to provide stability at the back and continue to ping passes all over the pitch. Last but not least, Club MVP Ichimura was rewarded with a contract that would see him spend the remainder of his prime with the team. Toranaga proceeded with the coaching staff's reorganization, recognizing that improvements were necessary for Fukushima to retain its position in the J2 League. The team didn't reinvest it profits fast enough into a new stadium. Overall, it was a successful year for the team, as they managed to nearly double their revenue! Since Toranaga wants to build a primarily Japanese team it seems that the team should scour the Nation for players! Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 January 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team showed that it needed work during the preseason if it was to replicate last season's success. Wins against smaller teams were great for morale but being beaten by our senior affiliate show the team that it had work to do. The team is better than last season but will need to get off to a fast start. Schedule Highlights The team may not have performed exceptionally in the All-Japan Cup, yet our Senior Affiliate reached the final. As the season approached, Toranaga continued to reorganize the coaching staff, bringing in a superior Goalkeeping Coach. Mishima GK Coach The team opened the Preseason Friendlies with a big win against an inferior foe. Last season's success has improved the team's reputation. We earned the title of 'Overachievers' last season! Players with larger reputations from major teams make the list. However, Toranaga wouldn't exchange Ichimura's 16 goals and 6 assists for any of them. We found out our opponent in the League Cup Tournament. The managing director reminded Toranaga of this season's expectations. All of which are doable. The TV Money pays the wage bill. A decent HOYD, Toranaga is looking forward to the intakes now..... The team played another friendly match which they dominated, allowing the new signings to acclimate to the tactical system. Toranaga was basically done spending and had brought in a limited number of players to help with depth. One of the team's backup players has become a target of another team but Toranaga will only allow him to leave for an emperor's ransom. After the friendlies against inferior opposition, we will now play our senior affiliate. We began at a slow pace, but despite an improved performance in the second half, it was insufficient as the opposition possessed superior quality. Ishii Fitness Coach Toranaga after the Shonan game saw that the team needed to improve its fitness levels. Uehata had had his head turned but Toranaga ended the idea of him leaving by having the captain, Nobe talk to him. Season Preview The team is expected to be in the relegation battle again and none of its players are expected to top the charts of goal scorers. This is in keeping with the team ethos that Toranaga is building. He would rather have three players score 15 or more goals like last season than rely on one 20 goal scorer. Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Good to see the captain doing his job! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 February 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team is coming together well and the improvement from the transfers is obvious as the team has stormed up the league rankings winning 3 out of four matches this month. The Oita match at the end of the month has come as a reality check and how the team responds will tell us if the team is ready to replicate last season's success or if it was a flash in the pan. Toranaga thinks that his methods and recruitment have created a real challenger as shown by the analytics. Schedule Highlights The team started the month with another friendly versus a J1 Team. It was a loss, but their goalie had a day during a match we dominated analytically. The media released their review of the team but made a mistake with the lineup. The team concluded its preseason schedule with two away victories against lesser opponents, yet Toranaga believed the morale boost was necessary to prepare for the season. As the preseason concluded, the injury bug struck, but fortunately, it was only the backup right winger who was affected for now. The team was prepared for their inaugural league match. It was a big win for the team. The ex-MLS striker had an immediate impact on the team. The captain guided the team to victory! The game was featured in the TV highlights that evening! The fanbase of the team has expanded, yet it must become larger for the team to ascend to the pinnacle of Japanese football. The team made its way back to the leased home stadium to kick off the season. The team delivered a dominant performance, much to the delight of the fans! The backups were called into action for this match, providing an opportunity for a sixteen-year-old academy graduate to step in for the injured Seita. Following the victory, MVP Ichimura was struck down by the flu bug and sent home to prevent the virus from spreading to the team. The starting lineup was prepared for the game against Fujieda. Another victory to kick off the season! The score might have been higher if Striker Hanya hadn't missed those shots or had them saved. The game against Oita marked the month's end, and the team was on a winning streak. Tanaka, who was last season's Carrileo and this season's utility player, was anticipated to make an impression as the backups entered the game. Complacency had set in, and the team started to buy into the media hype, resulting in a poorly played match. It's best to say as little as possible about this match. League Table Player of the Month Yuta Nobe AMR-IF-A The captain is taking his leadership role seriously leading from the front on the pitch. Monthly Analysis Report We're scoring more than we're conceding, yet we might be somewhat wasteful in front of the goal, averaging 20 attempts per match. Management Report Toranaga maintains robust support from all stakeholders, attributed to his success on the field. Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 March 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team has continued playing well through a hectic schedule in March that saw the team play Eight Matches. Rotation allowed the team to play at its best in all of the matches and it took a superlative performance by a goalie to stop the team from winning all its matches this month. We are scoring more than we are conceding and doing so because we take alot of shots (20/ per match). Defensively we are playing well but we often get complacent and make mistakes that lead to opponent's scoring. Analytics show this but we should be better. Schedule Highlights The first match of the month was on the first of the month. The match was against the familiar rivals from the J3 League, Imabari, who were managed by Koyabashi, the former manager of Fukushima. Koyabashi didn't have much to say after the comprehensive defeat. The player who was named Player of the Match also received the Player of the Week honors in the J2 League. Quite an achievement for Ichimura's substitute, especially considering the starter was out sick. The board is endeavoring to increase revenue; however, the agreements with local convenience stores provide limited assistance. The Backups were assigned to play in this match. The league cup and the reserve team enabled Toranaga to debut another player from the academy. Following the Cup match, the Starters were keen to demonstrate their prowess in the upcoming game against Kofu. and they did in a thrilling match...... (I had played the match and won it in a 6-1 laugher but forgot to save it) The young Italian star demonstrated his potential. The Hectic schedule meant that the backups would play yet again, but Toranaga was sure they would put in a good shift. In a fiercely contested match, it was the newly signed Hanya, coming off the bench, who clinched the victory for Fukushima. Following their exhilarating win over Gunma, the team began to send out their starting players against a struggling Mito. It was a game where the opposing goalkeeper was unbeatable, making seven saves! The Backups triumphed over a fatigued Tokushima team. Even though there was rotation, this Cup match felt like a starter match. These measures were crucial to secure a win against the spirited Iwate. We would get fellow J2 League side in the next round, but Toranaga would continue the rotation and not worry about the Cup as much as the league. During training, the Star Left Back sustained an injury and will be sidelined for the next month. His contributions, particularly his assists and free-kick expertise, will be greatly missed. While we have many players ready to step in, none match Romling's caliber. Toranaga was not leaving anything to chance against Ehime and decided to play the starting lineup. Naturally, the media sought to create a narrative around the injured player. In reality, Romling was not required; Fukushima merely needed ten men to take control of Ehime. The opposing coach was justifiably disappointed with his team's performance. Awano earned the Man of the Match title but was dismissed early from the game. League Table Monthly Analysis Report We are performing well in all areas which supports our topping the Table. Team Defending numbers are worse than expected but are offset by our surprising Attacking Numbers. That are best in the league so far! Player of the Month Christian Aucelli MCR-Carrileo Management Report Monthly Financial Report To be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 11 Author Share Posted August 11 April 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team sustained its impressive streak across the league, tackling eight matches in the span of 28 days. Toranaga maintained a strategic rotation, substituting players as injuries demanded, yet the team persevered with a daring style that earned admiration from both fans and critics. The only hurdles in their remarkable journey were goalkeepers delivering peak performances and teams adopting a similar style and formation. This extraordinary beginning to the season led the board to renew Toranaga's contract and support his pursuit of a National B License. Schedule Highlights The team's excellent performance persisted, prompting the board to offer a contract and permit Toranaga to pursue his initiated endeavors. The team is securing a bargain, despite Toranaga's hard negotiations for every penny in his contract. since most J2 managers make double Toranaga's salary. The team permitted him to prepare for his National B License. On the team front the team played well and got recognition for its efforts. A six-match unbeaten streak that was ended by a terrible display in the next game. We were denied victory by a Goalie standing on his head and a team set up much like ours that pressed and harried us when we were in possession and used a 4-3-3 DM Wide Formation. League Table Monthly Analysis Report The team is four points better than expected based on the numbers. We have scored 2 more goals and let in two more goals thus they balance each other out. Player of the Month Yoshiyuki Kawashima AML-IF-S The new signing and backup player has flourished and is making Toranaga take notice. Management Report The team's exceptional beginning has garnered substantial support, resulting in the extension of Toranaga's contract and the acquisition of an additional coaching badge. Monthly Financial Report The team is in a stable financial position, but attracting investment is crucial for building a new stadium or eventually achieving and maintaining dominance in the J1 League. to be continued: PS: I am changing the format a little bit and going for a more minimalist vibe since all of the edited screenshots are attachments and I was finding myself hitting up against the per post limits. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 May 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team is leading the league and playing well. The team received a reality check in the match versus title challengers Okayama where they took advantage of our short stature and dominated us in the air with two goals on corners. Several other matches became draws as we were unable to shoot accurately enough to win those games. Overall, the rotation policy that Toranaga has implemented has allowed the team to play at near maximum efficiency. With an unexpected win by the backups versus J1 Sapporo in the Leagues Cup. The future is bright if the team can keep this up over the long season. Schedule Highlights The month started out with a big match against title contenders Okayama. We were dominated in the air by Okayama Target Forward Suzuki. The Okayama manager gloated over his team's win after the match. Toranaga's composed reaction to the loss instilled confidence in his team regarding his leadership abilities for the future. Later in the month the team was held to a draw by a "Hot" Team on a 10-match unbeaten streak even though they were midtable. In the Cup match against Last Season's J2 Champions Sapporo the Backups played well in an upset win 3-1. Toranaga's response was to not get too excited about the victory and play every match the same because its working! League Table Player of the Month Christian Aucelli MCR-Carrileo Monthly Analysis Report The only place that Toranaga can criticize is the accuracy of the team's shots. Management Report Support among all stakeholders is still high because of the teams remarkable run in the league. Monthly Financial Report The team is overspending but it's savings should cover any expenses. to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 June 2025 Manager's Thoughts June was a challenging month for the team. We faced stronger opponents, and the impact of injuries, along with the loss of our MVP, became evident as we accumulated losses. Despite securing only one win in the month, we have managed to remain at the top of the standings. Schedule Highlights The month kicked off with a high-stakes match between Fukushima and Machida at the top of the table. The team's performance was subpar, and Toranaga was displeased with the team's absence of "Warrior Spirit" in their defeat. Shortly after, our team faced a derby due to the All-Japan Cup Tournament against Sendai. Toranaga decided to play the reserves against the J1 team, and as expected, we were defeated. The competition was closely contested, yet the disparity in quality was evident. Toranaga wasn't too disappointed because victory was never in the cards in that competition. The loss of our midfield powerhouse, Aucelli, during the match was particularly concerning. In the lead-up to the match against Oita, Toranaga, frustrated by the losing streak, made the following statement: It was yet another crucial match at the top of the standings, and the team needed to elevate their performance. It was a close fought match; Fukushima didn't win but Toranaga couldn't fault the "Warrior Spirit" shown by the team. The month ended with another big match this one against Kofu. The hype and press conference focused solely on Aucelli, who ultimately did not participate in the match. Our inability to dominate the game and the frustration from our imprecise shooting contributed to the tension of the match. The substitute, who struck the post from within the box, pledged to make amends in future matches. We're currently leading the league after the match, yet numerous games remain. Unfortunately, our recent performance has not been promising. League Table Player of the Month Yuta Nobe AMR-IF-A Monthly Analysis Report Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 Top of the League and A+ from both Board and Supporters @Hootieleece You gotta be happy with that. ⚽️ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 1 minute ago, Stuniverse said: Top of the League and A+ from both Board and Supporters @Hootieleece You gotta be happy with that. ⚽️ Yes, I am. the club is the best it has ever been but there will be a lot of transfers at the end of the season whether we get promoted or not. I just wish the board wasn't so penny pinching and short-sighted, but they do have a new stadium to build in our home city. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 Blimey, you're doing much better than me, congrats!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 13 Author Share Posted August 13 50 minutes ago, Deisler26 said: Blimey, you're doing much better than me, congrats!!! Thanks, but it has been all luck and the fact the Match Engine favors the Gegen press even though the media are calling what I do "Wing Play". I have only made it to the J2 League so far and we are showing the signs of overachievement in our Top of the table position. This offseason will see a retooling of the team as many players will be out of contract, so I have to rebuild better than current team and there is a lack of quality in the domestic free agents. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 13 Author Share Posted August 13 July 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team has maintained its top position in the league, largely due to an upturn in form during July. This improvement coincides with Aucelli's return, allowing the team to deploy its preferred starting eleven for the first time in several months. A series of matches against lower-ranked teams also contributed to their success. Looking ahead to next season, the team is strategically signing players nearing the end of their contracts and has made a significant acquisition to bolster the strike force with a promising young talent from Tottori. Despite Toranaga's reservations about the team's readiness for higher-level competition, the push for promotion continues. Schedule Highlights The month started out with a winnable match against midtable Mito. Securing two backup players from this intake would be a great outcome for the team. Our poor performance continued, and the absence of Aucelli has clearly exacerbated our midfield problems. Toranaga was displeased with the outcome of the match. The rage was palpable, leading Assman to conduct a postgame press conference where he commended the Mito Goalkeeper's performance. Aucelli made a comeback to the starting lineup, and for the first time in over a month, Fukushima fielded its preferred starting eleven. and it led to a perfect match where everything went our way leading to a 6-0 demolition of Tokushima. The coach of Tokushima was rendered speechless following the game. Fans could catch the Highlights of Late-Night Television and Streaming! It had been the Hanya show that day! The Transfer window opened up and Tochigi made it clear they wanted our Central Defender...... We were planning on letting him go at the end of the season because of age but since we were in promotion contention we had no intention of breaking up a good Center back pairing. We played well in Guma Next but just couldn't score the goals. We have signed several players for the upcoming season. In a notable maneuver, Toranaga instructed the Assistant Manager to inquire about a highly-rated striker identified by our scouts, and the transfer was subsequently approved. He will begin as an impact substitute striker and vie for playing time with Hanya in the upcoming season. In the prelude to playing table propping Ehime, Toranaga took time out to congratulate the new hire. The new signing had a chance to participate in some mop-up duty after a dominant team performance. League Table Player of the Month Yosuke Hanya AF-A Monthly Analysis Report Management Report Monthly Financial Report Acquiring the new Striker for the upcoming season incurred a substantial expense this month. to be continued: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 14 Author Share Posted August 14 August 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team's performance improved significantly with the return of most starting players to the lineup. Despite losing Hanya, our striker, earlier this month, nearly every player has contributed to an impressive offensive display, culminating in an extraordinary winning streak. This streak has propelled us to the top of the league as we head into the last four matches. Toranaga is determined to maintain momentum and not rest on his achievements, even though this season is already the most successful in the history of Fukushima United. Schedule Highlights The first match of the month against Shimizu promised to be a tough one. For the first time in months, Toranaga was able to field his preferred starting eleven. A historic victory was secured over the side that had recently been relegated. Next, the Fukushima Derby took place, and Toranaga fielded the same Starting XI to secure victory. Victory came from an unexpected source: set pieces, with Hakizimana scoring twice from corners! On the Personal Front: And he immediately applied for the next badge. The board granted it due to the team's success and the remaining time on Toranaga's contract with the team. The streak of victories persisted with the domination over a lackluster Tosu team. The team was then set to face Tochigi, a team fighting relegation and keen on acquiring Hakizama, our center back who had been prolific in scoring from corners. Tochigi put up a valiant fight, yet it was our superior firepower that ultimately secured our victory. Toranaga agrees with this, provided his team reigns supreme. The final match of the month featured Chiba, a preseason favorite in the league, narrowly missing a playoff spot last season. The battle was challenging, yet victory was achieved once more due to superior firepower. League Table Player of the Month Yuta Nobe AMR-IF-A Monthly Analysis Report Management Report Toranaga's support continues to be strong, bolstered by the series of victories achieved this month. Monthly Financial Report to be continued: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 14 Author Share Posted August 14 September 2025 Manager's Thoughts September 2025 was a quiet month in the J2 Season, yet the team faced a Cup Tie before the break, which would be followed by friendlies. The Cup Tie, a Quarterfinals match in the Leagues Cup, pitted us against a formidable J1 League team: Fukuoka. It offered a glimpse into how the team might fare against potential opponents next season. The first leg of the tie was a debacle, ending in a 4-0 defeat, but the second leg, with less at stake, saw a more defensive strategy from both sides, resulting in a narrow 1-0 victory for Fukushima. Following this, the team engaged in several friendlies to maintain match fitness, although signs of complacency were emerging with only four matches left in the season. Toranaga believes that if the team performs at its peak, we could ascend as Champions, but he acknowledges that next season will present a significantly higher level of competition. Schedule Highlights The first leg of a Cup match will be a true challenge, as they are a leading team in the J1 League, providing us with a glimpse of the quality we can expect next season. We were outperformed and struggled to gain momentum, primarily due to our inability to win the possession battle or even keep it competitive. After the setback Toranaga wanted a better performance in front of the Home fans....... The team performed significantly better in front of the home crowd, despite having little at stake. Had the first half been similar, we might have clinched it! Kudos to our goalkeeper for an unforgettable performance, appearing as if there was a force field around the goal. Exiting in the Quarterfinals surpasses the expectations many had for us, especially considering we're currently experiencing our best season to date. The team finished the month with several Friendlies to keep up match fitness. There was a growing sense of complacency within the team, which became apparent during the match against Machida, a team contending in the playoffs. League Table Monthly Analysis Report Victories often result from superior firepower. The XG Table indicates that we are outscoring the nearest competitors with ease, despite not having scored as much as we potentially could have! Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 October 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team concluded this remarkable season as champions, ending on a high note. Our fortune shone through as the aggressive shooting strategy yielded the necessary goals to clinch the league title. Toranaga harbors no illusions about the significant challenge that ascending to the J1 League represents, a reality made evident in the Cup competitions. The budgets are now bigger, but he will have to be even more careful to keep the team on the right track. Schedule Highlights The month of October started with additional friendly matches, but Toranaga's main concern was the injuries. The Captain has left with injury and may miss the crucial match against Okayama. Nobe's apparent replacement also sustained an injury during the Friendly matches. After the friendlies the end of the season was in sight and with one or two victories, we would finish our remarkable season as champions as we had a comfortable lead in the table. The media reports that the title decider will be a home match between Fukushima and Okayama. First the team had to go on the road and take on Omiya. Given the injuries, the starting lineup for the match was as follows. The team secured a victory after establishing a substantial lead, although a degree of complacency seeped into our performance, allowing Omiya to turn it into a close contest towards the end. Victory in the match means claiming the title! Victory is ours! We awaited results from other matches before being declared champions. The budgets are the largest to date, yet it will require some inventive accounting to assemble a competitive J1 League team. The supporters and board are both ecstatic about the team's promotion to the J1 League. Youth Intake Day Here are the top five candidates, but only the first three will spend time with the first team. Rikiya Ikegami ST-AF Excited about this prospect expect him to get some game time next season. Yasushi Sekizuka DM-DLP-DE Keitaro Yamaguchi CM-A After the other matches in the league, we were confirmed as Champions before heading to our penultimate match of the season. The Press Officer is an idiot...... We were lucky and cashing in on a lottery ticket by taking so many shots! Changes are coming as we have now become a big league team! League Table Monthly Analysis Report We scored because we took shots......we cashed in the lottery ticket with our approach. We got surprisingly good goaltending and a "clean approach" that meant less Set Pieces which were a problem for us. Management Report Monthly Financial Report The board is allocating additional funds for wages and transfers, yet Toranaga remains uncertain about the team's financial capacity to sustain these expenses. to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 16 Author Share Posted August 16 November 2025 Manager's Thoughts The team concluded the season triumphantly, securing the League Title by winning their last two matches. It was a season of dominance, with the team leading in numerous statistical categories. Following the celebrations, the focus shifted to sustaining their success, which included financing a new stadium and managing significant debt. Schedule Highlights The first match after the promotion left us with one point to assure the title and it was a trip to Nara. The team secured a narrow victory by finally breaking down Nara's defenses. Our midfield "Engine" has made the shortlist for MVP! We are set to have our largest crowd of the season, and it will be the second-largest gathering at our leased stadium in another city! We were the favored champions, and Toranaga wished to stage a spectacle as a gesture of gratitude towards the fans! Tanaka transitioned from a starting player to a backup before being permitted to sign with another team upon the conclusion of his contract. Whether this will prove to be the correct decision remains to be seen. A modest amount for a league victory! We set a new record with our offense! End of Season Board Meeting As noted earlier, the budgets for the next season will be the largest to date, with $3.6 million allocated for salaries and nearly eight million ($7.93 million) for transfers. However, despite this financial support, the team cannot sustain it due to the $25 million debt incurred from the new stadium, which will not open for another two years. The team's successful season has attracted new followers to the fanbase! The seasonal analysis was impressive yet replicating it in the J1 League will be challenging. The team's vision is something Toranaga disagrees with, particularly due to the Set Pieces aspect. This was our weakest area, largely because we lack height. The biggest news was the completion of the Stadium Deal..... with a $25.5 Million Dollar Loan! after the Board Meeting, Toranaga started work on the next season bringing in staff and adding a player to the team: This is the replacement for Tanaka, a Fullback that can play almost anywhere on the pitch! Hiroya Matsumato The board has once again overpaid in bonuses. Toranaga's achievement of winning the Manager of the Year award is a testament to the remarkable feat of leading a team, which was predicted to finish 15th, to a league victory. It came as no surprise that half of the team was selected for the J2 Best Eleven! The team's season was indeed dominant, as evidenced by the statistics. Management Report Monthly Financial Report The team secured a $20 million loan to fund the stadium, yet the majority of this month's losses stemmed from bonuses awarded for a successful season. to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 16 Author Share Posted August 16 December 2025 Highlights Things were sort of slow, but Toranaga did find time to get his National A License: He promptly requested an additional course to match the level of his colleagues but was denied due to the team's financial constraints stemming from the new stadium loan. Aucelli, the team's MVP, received a satisfying new contract after approaching Toranaga for improved terms. Additionally, the team has a financial safeguard in place to recoup its investment should they face relegation. Six players were honored as scholars and became part of the team. Ikegami was included in the First Team. Toranaga added another player looking to upgrade the CM-A Spot for the upcoming season. Mitsuki Hidaka CM-A Rumors suggested that other clubs were pursuing our captain, but Toranaga swiftly addressed and dispelled these rumors with a decisive statement. Additionally, there have been rumors of teams seeking to recruit Toranaga as a manager. The latest financial news reveals the constraints faced by the team with an annual budget of approximately six million dollars. To address the financial challenges, the team has announced an increase in ticket prices—a move that is invariably popular with the fans! Toranaga chose not to attend the Nagasaki interview, perceiving it as merely a sideways step to another team struggling against relegation. Although Daegu was a larger club, Toranaga had no plans to move to Korea as long as he had responsibilities to fulfill in his home country of Japan. Management Report Monthly Financial Report Finances are insecure because the team owes $268k/month with only $3.5 Million in the bank before the start of the season. to be continued: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 On 16/08/2024 at 11:58, Hootieleece said: The team concluded the season triumphantly, securing the League Title by winning their last two matches. It was a season of dominance, with the team leading in numerous statistical categories. Congratulations on a great season, @Hootieleece I'm caught up after a short break away from FM... looking at how successful Fukushima United have been... maybe I should stay away more often... On 16/08/2024 at 21:06, Hootieleece said: Things were sort of slow, but Toranaga did find time to get his National A License And well done on your coaching badge. Bet you're glad you stayed now after the Board rejected your very first coaching badge request. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 1 hour ago, Stuniverse said: Congratulations on a great season, @Hootieleece I'm caught up after a short break away from FM... looking at how successful Fukushima United have been... maybe I should stay away more often... And well done on your coaching badge. Bet you're glad you stayed now after the Board rejected your very first coaching badge request. I am happy but not sure it will be a successful season in J1 League due to roster restrictions and general quality of the squad. I am still thinking of leaving because of suitors, including a team known as the Reds! and I am a Liverpool fan. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 January 2026 Manager's Thoughts January marked the start of the preseason, but the offseason buzz, rumors, and interview offers were overwhelming. I was convinced that Fukushima's lack of Homegrown players would make injury management challenging, necessitating their best players for every match to stand a chance. After declining offers from some lower-tier J1 league teams in December, the more prominent teams showed interest. While I wished the best for Fukushima, who had given me an opportunity, an offer from a team that no Japanese Liverpool fan could refuse came knocking... Highlights The Kashima Antlers are consistently favored in the All-Japan Cup and have secured another victory. The team's most J1 ready player didn't want to stay because he feared relegation. Since Toranaga believed no positive outcome would result from a meeting, he merely confirmed the existing rumors. Toranaga was thrilled that Urawa had noticed him, yet he decided to wait for an interview before expressing his excitement. Several days later, he reconsidered and declared his interest. The Urawa Red Diamonds, one of the major teams in the J1 League, claimed the Asian Football Championship in 2018 and are owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It would be unwise to pass up the chance to join them. It's an ideal setting to implement Gegenpress, compete for trophies, and ultimately reign over Japanese football. Toranaga will only leave for Urawa. Toranaga still needed to take care of Fukushima, and securing a 20-goal scorer seemed like a wise decision! The Urawa Supporters are interested in Toranaga, and if the board extends an interview invitation, it is likely that Toranaga would accept it. As a newly promoted team with no prior experience in the J1 League, Toronaga acknowledged the possibility of relegation, which could jeopardize the board's plans for funding a new stadium. Tokyo Verdy has its appeal, but it doesn't quite match the allure of Urawa. Exciting developments for Fukushima United's ascent. J2 Season Review and we were the biggest overachievers! Hanya, the leading figure for Fukushima, was one of the standout signings of the season! The team received a favorable League Cup draw, facing an opponent they had defeated in their last six encounters. The rise in television revenue for the J1 League is expected to aid Fukushima in managing its financial obligations. The Board expressed concern over the possibility of Toranaga's departure, as negotiations did not result in his acceptance of a contract. Toranaga examined the staff and decided to make no alterations. Another last-ditch attempt by the Fukushima board was rejected because Toranaga had a simultaneous meeting with the URAWA Board. Doubling the compensation and tripling the budget is an obvious decision. to be continued: 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 33 minutes ago, Hootieleece said: Doubling the compensation and tripling the budget is an obvious decision. How do Urawa Reds compare to Fukushima United? Good luck 🍀⚽️🤞 in your new job, @Hootieleece Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 25 minutes ago, Stuniverse said: How do Urawa Reds compare to Fukushima United? Good luck 🍀⚽️🤞 in your new job, @Hootieleece A much bigger and better team and one with history. I would go a so far as calling them the Liverpool of Japan! (from what I read about them online) And if they aren't in this computer world they will be! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 7 minutes ago, Hootieleece said: A much bigger and better team and one with history. I would go a so far as calling them the Liverpool of Japan! (from what I read about them online) And if they aren't in this computer world they will be! A no-brainer then, @Hootieleece 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 Nice change of club. They should be perfect for your ideas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 56 minutes ago, Deisler26 said: Nice change of club. They should be perfect for your ideas. It will take some time to really challenge for titles and Asia. The AI didn't really follow the Squad Rules, and I have only 3 out of Four Homegrown players and my reserves and U-18's are all too young and no where near ready. The Board only wants a Top Half-Finish, we are projected 7th and if we aren't hit with an injury crisis, we should be able to do that or even make Asia. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 19 Author Share Posted August 19 (edited) January 2026-Early February 2026 Manager's Thoughts After the move Toranaga was astonished at the state of the team infrastructure. The facilities were great and financial backing was there. No reason why this team can't get back to the top having won the Asian Champions League in just 2023. Somehow the manager and Director of Football had let things run down on the staff side of the equation. The players left were good enough but would be stretched thin over the season even without Asian Champions League Football. The team doesn't even have the FOUR HGC's needed for J1 League registration let alone champion's league. Rebuilding the Youth System is something that will be a priority over the next few years. The team will also try to supplement it by purchasing the transfer of talented youngsters from other teams. Toranaga isn't going to bid for the first shiny object but is going to wait until he gets reports from his new scouting staff from all over Asia. Schedule Highlights The transition to Urawa presented a significant challenge, as the team was in disarray. To achieve the board's objectives, both coaching and playing staff were essential. Despite these challenges, the club secured the Asian Champions League title in 2023. The current squad is projected to finish 7th in the J1 League. It's a project akin to rebuilding a giant, and this giant is very much awake and active. The facilities are outstanding, with everything in place for a rapid turnaround in that area. They boasted a sizable and dedicated fanbase. The Stadium of Toranaga's Dreams! The manager of the previous season's championship team considers me a challenger to his title! The first thing that Toranaga did was create his tactics: He created three, but only the 4-3-3 DM Wide will be used this season since it worked so well at Fukushima. Needing several players, Toranaga sought to enlist a number of "Ronin" to complete his team of "Samurai." At the introductory press conference Toranaga made it clear he was the man for the rebuilding job. Toranaga's initial "Recruit" was a youthful player who bore a resemblance to Kosuke Tanaka, who had played under him at Fukushima and had been utilized in various positions and roles. The staff recommended interviewing Watanabe for the new Assistant Manager position. He is a model citizen, having represented Japan 122 times. He also brought a wealth of experience having been a manager of J1 League teams before. Toranaga also brought in the suggested Set-Piece Coach. The team played its first friendly match under Toranaga's leadership and he was impressed with their performance after only a few days of training. There were rumors about a previously transfer-listed player leaving, but Toranaga couldn't let him leave because he was a rare Homegrown Club Player. A few days later the player signed an extension quashing the rumors. The Nishikubo transfer was finalized. What would have been our biggest splash for a squad player was dashed when he joined another team. Our second choice CB was also chased by other teams. but the player wanted to join if we would modify our offer! and he signed giving us a fourth CB! and another Homegrown Player was given an extension even though he was a backup. and the team then played its final Friendly! The team is as ready as ever for the forthcoming campaign! Season Preview Our Young Player candidate is the third goalkeeper training with the team, and Toranaga hopes he won't be needed this season. Assman's Watanabe's report on our Roster: Management Report Nothing to report......Toranaga hadn't been there long enough. Monthly Financial Report Financial security and room for growth as needed. to be continued: Edited August 19 by Hootieleece added words I forgot 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted August 19 Author Share Posted August 19 February 2026 Manager's Thoughts The team has made impressive progress, swiftly picking up from where they left off last season. With four wins out of five this season and a twelve-match unbeaten streak, it's clear we're doing many things right. Toranaga's strategic team rotation has been beneficial, and the team's quality positions us as favorites in most matches, especially now that we've topped the table. There's a strong sense of camaraderie within the team, although one player stands out. Nevertheless, he remains an essential component for our title run this season. The future looks promising. UP THE REDS! Schedule Highlights Immediately following the last friendly match, the first-choice goalkeeper approached Toranaga with a desire to leave, feeling that the team wasn't "big" enough for him. Toranaga attempted to convince him that the club was one of the largest in Japan and that there was no interest from other teams, but to no avail. Nevertheless, he will remain with the team for the rest of the season. As the season was set to commence, the board reminded Toranaga of its expectations. We controlled the game, and our opponents were mostly on the defensive, yet we were unable to score a goal. The analysis supported our claim that Tokyo Verdy was fortunate to secure a point. The sales department reported that Season Ticket sales have remained consistent, and the Waiting List is at capacity. The Transfer Window remained open but Toranaga wasn't looking at any additions for the team this year...... This player did good work for me several saves ago in France with Clermont Foot 63. The Home Opener with a rotated squad, but important players on the bench as impact subs. The rotated squad was outmatched, yet the impactful substitutes, led by the Captain, came on late to secure a comeback victory! Up next was another Home match this time with the Starters. Urawa were favorites. The Starters dominated the game and it led to a 3-0 victory. A few days later it was back to the pitch with a rotated squad. Another dominant performance has propelled us to the top of the table. The question remains: can this momentum be maintained? Following the match, Toranaga attempted to alleviate the pressure generated by the media by disregarding the League Table. The team's final match of the month is set to take place against the hapless Sendai team. Initially, we struggled to get our shots on target, but persistence paid off as we eventually dominated the team facing relegation. The Team is picking up where it left off last season......why would a manager leave? The Press won't provoke Toranaga into praising his goalie for "Doing his Job"! League Table Player of the Month Marius Hoibraten DCL-BPD-ST Monthly Analysis Report Scoring and defending effectively, the two issues are the inability to win tackles and a low shots-on-target ratio. Management Report Monthly Financial Report to be continued: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 Great start to Urawa life! With J1 being the pinnacle, you're surely set up for an assault on the Asian Champions League! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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