Jon1982

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Yes that was a killer. Win those and we would have been Champions..

Thanks Neil. Yes the Olympic Stadium is a strange one as they have never hosted an Olympics. Apparently there is an Olympic stadium in Turkey as well but they have never hosted it either.. We'll see what next season brings, but as ever with EDC you know it won't be straightforward...

Part 55 - Clutching At Straws There are just three games to go in the 2024 Cambodian C-League season and mathematically we still have a very slim chance of winning. We must win our three remaining games against bottom of the table Wat Phnom, Boeung Ket and hope that Angkor Tiger and Nagaworld lose both their games and that's just to take it down to a last game showdown with the Tiger at The Electricity Stadium. We trail by seven points and Nagaworld have somehow got in the way.. Anyway all we can do is do our bit and win the next two games and hope... Match 25 – Wat Phnom v EDC Mathmatically we can still win the C-League title, but we must win the final three games, starting with bottom of the table Wat Phnom and hope other results go our way. The final game of the season is of course against Tiger, so I must get within three points of them for a final day showdown. I make a few changes, forced by international call ups. Up front Soun Bath makes a rare but not undeserved start, Kakada comes back into midfield, while Ratana also returns at left back. Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Bath, Noron, Taboula We start brightly and in the third minute, Pidor smacks the post with a free kick. Frustratingly the clock keeps ticking. They have shot well saved by Som.. We look good in the build up but the final ball is lacking. It’s starting to get a little frustrating. Bath has a shot blocked, as does Noron.. Then.. Pidor floats in a free kick and young Soun Bath ghosts in to sidefoot home from six yards. 1-0 at the break. Into the second half and Wat Phnom start brightly The ball is worked to Ouch Rithy who is met by Gbayoro on the edge of the box. He wins the ball.... Penalty.. ehh what? Touch Sinoun steps up.. and strikes the outside of the post.. justice done. We re-assert dominance, Taboula looks lively, but it is Pidor who once again provides the ammunition. His pinpoint free kick is met by the head of Anderson Gbayoro at the far post for a 2-0 lead. Sok Oeun Pidor is running the show in attacking midfield. He wanders across the field before flighting a lovely ball for Taboula who uses his strength and skill to barge past his defender before slotting cooly into the corner for number three and his 20th goal of the season. Number four came when Chea Samnang put in a beautiful cross for Suon Bath to nod home his second of the game. A good solid win which keeps the pressure on the top two. Final Score: Wat Phnom 0-4 EDC Bath 39,70 Gbayoro 56 Taboula 62 Angkor Tiger win The C-League Title However as the final whistle was blown at the Electricity Stadium, news from across the city of Phnom Penh was bad as Tiger had stuffed the National Defence 4-0, meaning that yhey had won the 2024 C-League Title. The Tiger finally got away from us, although it was fun trying to keep up with them. Those four straight defeats proved to be the undoing of our title challenge, but Angkor Tiger remained consistent and have been the best team all season. Congratulations to them from all at The Electricity Stadium and I’m sure as they are a beer company they will sucessfully organise a booze up in a brewery to celebrate... International Round Up Young Samnang Nhem was on the scoresheet as Cambodia U19s stunned Australia U19s 3-2. My other players didn’t fair so well, although Ajoub Joly got an assist in the same game. Ratana still my sole representative in the senior squad played in a 2-1 defeat to The Phillipines. Min Rattanak kicks a football Midfielder Min Rattanak, who you may remember ended up flat on his back with a damaged spine during a Hun Sen Cup tie against Tor Kraham is back doing some light training and kicking a football, which is great news for all at EDC. While it is unlikely he will feature for us this season, hopefully he will be raring to go for the next campaign. Match 26: EDC v Boeung Ket We are bedevilled by suspensions and international call ups at the moment, so we are not quite at full strength for this dead rubber against Boeung Ket. It’s really a battle for third place, as Angkor Tiger and Nagaworld are now too far ahead. I’ll just name the team.. Som, Pisa, Ratana, Sokha, In Sambath, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Noron, Bath Match Action We start well, but its Ket who have the first chance, when Omakafe flashes a header which is tipped over the bar by Som. We have been pretty useless so far and Boeung Ket have been all over us. The dangerous Omakafe has had a few chances, while his partner, Perrot missed a sitter to open the scoring How it is still 0-0 god only knows. We are better in the second half and have stemmed the flow of attacks and come back into the game. Chea Samanag skips past two defenders on the right flank and his peach of a cross finds Noron whose header smacks against the crossbar. This seems to stir Boeung Ket into life, who have numerous chances themselves, but face an immovable object in Sokumdara Som, He pulls off a couple of worldies to stop Chhim Pheara scoring and then the same player hit the post. We manage to win a corner after good work from young Ung Samanag who released Taboula down the left channel, but was slide tackled out from a corner. Taboula floats in the corner, which is glanced in off the upright by young Sok Panha for the ultimate smash and grab in the 92nd minute. We were dreadfulfor the most part, but still managed to win, somehow.. Final Score: EDC 1-0 Boeung Ket Panha 92 Khemera win the Hun Sen Cup There was another new name on the trophy as Khemera Keila enjoyed their day in sun at the Olympic Stadium, beating the National Police 2-1 in the final. A popular victory for many I’m sure! Nobody wanted the police to win in it... Great Dynamics Screen I had a rare foray into the Dynamics and Squad Hierachy screens and it’s nice to see it all in green. The team have great cohesion and will do anything for eachother, while every one of the 53 players at the club (even Abdi), who is still at the club are happy. Annual Youth Intake This once again caught me by surprise on 18th October. My head of youth development, Chan Vannak had been even more like a cat on a hot tin roof in the last couple of days than usual, so I should have guessed. This is (whisper it quietly) apparently a ‘golden generation’ and well worth having look at apparently..... New Youth Players Lamine Santos (MC) 15 Our first new recruit is a young midfielder with some promise, with an excellent first touch and decision making at just 15 years old. Savy Theara (ST) 15 A young striker with a finishing that matches his age! Sambath Mom (ML/AML) A pacy left winger with decent potential. Sob Udom (DC) A tough tackling defender who I hope will reach his potential. Udom Sann (ST) Another striker with great potential to join the lengthening queue to the first team.. His finishing is older than his age a whopping 18! Sok Vandeth (DL) A young left back with some potential and a tackling of 10 which is good for his tender age. Taing You (GK) A talented young goalkeeper who will look to make an impression. Sann Dara (MC) A talented young creative midfielder, already with a passing of 13. Could even make it to the first team. Sok Makara (DRLC) A versatile defender who has some potential. Kouch Mol (DR) A young full back who may get an opportunity if I don’t find a new right back soon! Match 27: EDC v Angkor Tiger 02/11/24 The 2024 C-League season was supposed to hinge on today. A showdown to end all showdowns, a title decider, which was set to grip the whole of Cambodia. Little EDC vying for their first ever league title against the big Cambodian brewery.. Instead this is a dead rubber. With Tiger crowned as champions and us guaranteed at least 3rd place, we are merely playing for pride. I am determined to field as strong a team as possible and lay down a marker for next season. A win here and we gain the physiological advantage over the Champions. Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Nhem, Noron, Taboula Match Action We start brightly. Nhem is making a nuisance of himself on the right flank and he waltzes past his defender before fizzing a shot just wide. Good signs. Then Pidor and Noron combine to set up Taboula whose placed shot is just inches wide. Chatanranda at the other end has a fierce shot tipped over by Som. On 25 minutes, Pisa, Samnang and Nhem combine. The latter lays it inside for Pidor on the corner of the area. He drills a low cross into the box where Mat Noron sweeps home the opening goal. Brilliant! Tiger though show why they are champions. The ball is played up to the Brazilian Marques who beautifully spins Daravon and gallops into the box, where he squares for Timothy Okerke to tap in a simple equaliser. One each at the break. Tiger have the bit between their teeth in the second half. Sub Jalalov gallops down the right before putting in a teasing near post cross for Okereke to stab towards goal, but the ball is met by the hand of Som who deflect it wide for a corner. We re-assert dominance but create few clear cut chances. Noron has a shot which whizzes over the bar, while Okereke has a chance which he skied over the bar. The game petered out into a draw, but we won on points and means we fear nobody going into next season..... Final Score: EDC 1-1 Angkor Tiger Noron 26 Okereke 27 Final League Table Angkor Tiger 61 (c) Nagaworld 59 EDC 54 Boeung Ket 51 National Defence 46 Phnom Penh Crown 45 National Police 36 Khemera 32 Prek Pra 26 Chhlam Samuth 25 Build Bright United 23 --------------------------------------------------- Svay Rieng 20 (R) Chmao Khmao 15 (R) Wat Phnom 14 (R) Well, that’s the end of another season folks I finish in 3rd place with 54 points.... Let's see what next season brings... EDC were once again the bridesmaids in the Cambdian C-League. As they enter yet another Christmas transfer window, can they hold on to their best players and further strengthen the squad to mount a title challenge once again in 2025? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

Sorry its been a while.. New update coming soon. Thanks all for reading wherever you are in the world...

54. Trying to Bridge The Gap Four straight defeats have derailed our title bid and I am livid! We lost to lowly Prek Pra for god's sake, Nagaworld and Khemera I can understand more and National Defence have been this season's surprise packages, but still we should have beaten them. We have done nothing different from all the games in our long unbeaten run, yet somehow their goalkeepers turned into Peter Shilton, Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Cassilas rolled into one.. Maybe throw a bit of Rene Higuita in there as well, that's how stupid it got.. The FM Gods have been in a bad mood with me for some reason of late and like a husband who suddenly finds himself in the doghouse, is really not sure why? Our performances have been good, but we have not taken our chances and come across some goalkeepers in suspiciously great form.. The good news is the next team we face are Chhlam Samuth who we have beaten pretty much every time we have played them. Time to get back to winning way and fast, before the Tiger escapes for good. Match 22 – Chhlam Samuth v EDC 31/08/24 Chhlam Samuth are in 9th a few points above the relegation zone. We are now down in 4th, tied on 37 points with 3 other clubs, Nagaworld, Boeung Ket and Phnom Penh Crown, while Angkor Tiger have now opened up an eleven point lead. We are playing for second place now. I will go in with our usual 4-3-3. Gbayoro and Daravon are reunited in central defence, while Joly is preferred to In Sambath at left back, with Ratana switching to right back! Let’s go! Match Action We dominate the opening ten, but Taboula keeps getting caught offside and the goalie has yet to make a save. As ever they look dangerous from set plays, but we clear and look good on the break. On 20 minutes Gbayoro plays a direct ball to Matty Noron who chests the ball down, turns and plays in Samnang Nhem all in one swift movement. The youngster doesn’t miss, sliding confidently home to break the deadlock. 1-0. Then our old friend, Keo Udom who is playing as a right winger these days, shows Joly a clean pair of heels and is brought down in the box. Penalty! Sos Sambo finds the corner one each. Then the game becomes a slugfest with not much happening. One breakaway leads to Nhem sprinting down the right flank before crossing to volley against a defender and then Pidor following in forcing a fine save from the keeper. Samuth respond and force a fine save from Som after good work from their left winger Matnornin. A free header from the resulting corner also lands gratefully in the arms of Som. On the stroke of half time a great interception from Joly results in him floating the ball up to Noron who once more intelligently flicks the ball on for the galloping Taboula. The Nigerian has the ball, two on one with Nhem screaming for the ball to his right. Pelap has other ideas though and blasts the ball goalwards from the edge of the area, straight into the top corner. Pick that one out! Great goal. Nhem would never have spoken to his friend again had that missed. 2-1. Into the second half and we create our own Miroslav Klose style goal ourselves. Som plays the perfect 80 yard goal kick straight to the impressive Taboula who spreads the ball right to Nhem who sprints into the box and fires low past Chainuth in goal. 3-1. We assert control of the game and add a beautifully crafted fourth goal. Samnang finds Ratana up from right back and he curls in a lovely near post cross for Mat Noron to head home into the top corner. Ratana turned provider again as another near post cross was this time flicked on by the impressive Noron for Taboula to volley confidently home for out fifth. Back to winning ways again. Sary Chainuth, who has been one of their better players, fires home a consolation after slack marking form us. 5-2. There was still time for one more though. Nhem on the break who has frightened the life out of Samuth all afternoon crosses to the far post where Taboula controls, sprints past his defender and blasts the ball home for a brilliant hat trick. 6-2 the final score. Our front three of Taboula, Noron and Nhem were simply outstanding. Great to get back to winning ways in style! Final Score: Chllam Samuth 2-6 EDC Sambo 25 (pen) Nhem 21,48 Chainuth 73 Taboula . 45,72,88 Noron 67 Match 23 EDC v Phnom Penh Crown 14/09/24 There is only six games left and we are eleven points behind Angkor Tiger with eighteen to play for. Therefore there is no margin for error. I make one change and that is Abdi for Noron. Abdi has trained very well and is also ‘on his promise’ for more starts. This has given me a huge headache because Noron played so well against Chllam Samuth and I can’t drop Taboula or Nhem.. The Champions are in 5th on goal difference and are one of four teams including us on 40 points in the chasing pack. Sin Kakada also returns to DMC to replace Makara who is suspended. Som, Ratana, Daravon, Gbayoro, Joly, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Nhem, Abdi, Taboula Match Action We can’t get the ball off Crown in the opening exchanges. Then we are lifted by Pelap Taboula picking up the ball and running and running with it to force a corner. Daravon heads just over. Young Nhem falls awkwardly and has to be taken off the field to be replaced by Noron. We win a free kick, which Pidor lofts straight into the keeper’s arms. He hoofs the ball out for Khek Tola to run onto in acres of space. He makes no mistake 1-0 against the run of play. Miroslav rears his ugly head once more. We should have equalised moments later. Brilliant interplay between Abdi, Taboula and Pidor ends up with Noron one on one with the keeper, but he miraculously puts it wide. What a chance! Noron then has another effort tipped wide after good closing down by Abdi to dispossess the defender. Then from the corner, the ball is cleared, only as far as Noron, He lays the ball right to Sim Kakada who crosses low for Taboula to steer home his 15th goal of the season. We look the most likely to score but don’t carve out a clear chance. Abdi keeps getting caught offside and what’s this.? Kakada has suddenly turned into Bruce Lee and scythed down his opponent. A straight red card for the midfielder. Inevitably Crown dominate and we are clinging on a little. I’ll take the point but it is just now a battle for second place with just five games left. Final Score: EDC 1-1 Phnom Penh Crown Taboula 44 Tola 34 Match 23 EDC v Build Bright United It’s near the end of another season and it’s going to take a miracle to win the title now. Angkor Tiger are going to have to slip up big style and we have to win every single game, just to take it down to a last match showdown. We therefore must beat Build Bright United who are struggling down in 12th place. A few changes, Nhem is still injured so in comes Pheara, Makara fills in for the suspended Daravon, In Sambath comes in at right back and Pom Vannak starts in defensive midfield. Team: Som, In Sambath, Makara, Gbayoro, Ratana, Vannak, Samnang, Pidor, Pheara, Noron, Taboula Match Action Build Bright have the first attack which nearly results in a goal. Som beats away an angled shot from Keo Sokpheng after a well worked free kick. We look sloppy they look up for it. Then, Vannak is allowed to sprint almost unchallenged across the pitch leading him to the bye line where he is finally tackled. From the resulting corner Moun Nara arrives from nowhere to powerfully head home. 1-0 and fully deserved to be honest. I demand more and we assert some dominance. We win a random free kick. Pidor drifts the ball in and Taboula heads into the corner at the far post. One each. We exchange random free kicks but they come to nothing. Then a long clearance finds Pidor who flicks the ball on and causes panic in the Build Bright defence. Their midfielder, Chan Udom tries to play the ball back to the last man, Yaty who miscontrols the ball. Taboula is onto it like a greyhound and sprints clear with the ball with only the keeper to beat... He makes no mistake, confidently lashing the ball home for his second goal. The Nigerian then turned provider when his deep cross was headed into the corner by Chhim Pheara. 3-1. In the second half we look like scoring with every attack. Taboula has a hat trick goal ruled out for offside, while a fierce shot from Pheara was clawed away by the keeper. A long ball over the top though saw Pheara scamper after the ball and score the fourth goal with a fizzing shot under the keeper. Magnificent! 4-1 I give a debut to young attacking midfielder Ung Samnang as he replaces Pidor. A Noron free kick results in a penalty for pushing in the box. Taboula slotted home for a richly deserved hat trick. Sun Vandeth scrambles home a late consolation from a corner. 5-2. Somehow they get another goal back from another corner. We hang on for a 5-3 win, but I am not happy with conceding two late goals... EDC 5-3 Build Bright United Taboula 18,27, 73 (pen) Nara 11 Pheara 40,59 Vandeth 84 Soksana 87 A few days after the win against Build Bright United I recieved a knock at the door. It was Ahmed Abdi, the self-styled Somalian Pele. Unfortunately of late, he has not really played like the Brazilian legend and was abject through our four game losing streak. This had, despite my promises led to me dropping him to the bench again and starting with the more reliable Mat Noron. This had insensed him and was soon in my office demanding to know why. "Boss.. I am the best striker at the club, but you still play Nhem." "Ahmed.. how many goals have you scored this season?" "Err 6" "How many goals has Nhem scored?" "Err dunno," "14" "Yes but I could get as many if not more than him, of I was on the pitch!" "But Ahmed, your performances have been too inconsistent. If we are to catch Angkor Tiger and win the title, I need consistency from all my players and you are just not providing that at the moment. I'm sorry, but you must stay on the bench and come on as an impact sub." "I want to be transfer listed." "Ahmed, come on don't be silly." "I want to leave the club." "Ahmed your being stupid, you are still very much part of my plans. I think you are a good player, but there are just three better at the moment. Taboula is banging in goals for fun, Noron is providing not only goals but excellent link up play with the other two and Nhem is frightening the life out of defenders in the right hand channel." "Nah I want to leave. Find me another club." and he stormed out. So that was that, the end of the Somalian Pele... At training the next day, Nen Borey came to see me. "Boss, we need to hold a team meeting." "Why?" "The players are unhappy boss." "What about training, that's nothing new, there's always one or two of them whingeing about training and "voicing concerns" over the quality of the sessions." "No boss, its not training, its Ahmed, they don't like how you have treated him." "Oh for god's sake. I've been more than fair to him and explained why he isn't starting every game." "Yes I know, but he sees it differently." "I know he does, but whats that got to do with the other players? "They think he should play more too." "What? Instead of Nhem?" I instructed Nen Borey to gather the players together for a meeting. "Now lads, I know there's been some s*** going of about Ahmed, but I stand by my decision to keep him on the bench. Pelap, Mat, Samnang, you guys have been brilliant for us this season and are one of the biggest reasons we are near the top of the table. I don't want to interfere with that. Ahmed you are a good player too, but you are going completely the wrong way about cementing a place in the team. One player is not bigger than the team Ok? You are all valued members of EDC and have all been superb this season. Now don't let this spoil things OK. Ahmed. I'll see you after." The players trudged away and was not really sure whether I had got through to them or not. I sat down with Ahmed. "Ahmed I've sent some messages out to other clubs and I've received an offer from Mogadishu City to play for them." "Your sending me back to Somalia?" "Well, yes." "Were there any Cambodian clubs interested?" "Well, Boeung Ket had scouted you, but no official bid was made from them, while Mogadishu did, so I accepted it, you will leave at the end of the season." "Bbut" "Ahmed, that's what you wanted, a transfer and I have got you one, at the biggest club in Somalia. Perhaps it will be good for you to go back home for a while. i am sure if you do well, other clubs may become interested. Maybe one day you will get to play with Mo Salah again.." The Somalian Pele trudged out the room, never to be seen in an EDC shirt again. Naturally we paid for his flight back to his homeland, not before he had seen out his days in my reserve team. So, there ends the tale of the Somalian Pele, who went as quickly as he came.... Board Pleased I Have Achieved Objective A bit of an odd piece of news emerged that the board are delighted that we have achieved the objective of being “the best of the rest,” one year ahead of schedule. In my book though we currently lie in third on goal difference with Nagaworld and could, if we end the season badly, finish as low as 6th. Anyway pleased board are happy, but think it is a little premature. International Call Ups Samnang Nhem, Ajoub Joly and Chhim Pheara have been called up to the U19s squad for the Asian U19s Championships. Match 24: Chmao Khmao v EDC Lowly Chmao Khmao should hopefully prove not to be too much of an obstacle as we seek to finish as high as we possibly can in the table. We are currently 3rd and with Angkor Tiger so far ahead it will become mathematically impossible for us to catch them. All we can do is keep winning. I go in with the trusted 4-3-3. Ratana is suspended so in comes Sambath at left back. Makara is preferred to Sin Kakada in DMC. Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Sambath, Makara, Samnang, PIdor, Pheara, Noron, Taboula Match Action It’s surprisingly even in the opening exchanges, but we probably look the most likely but without creating much. That changes though when Taboula latches onto a ball in the left channel. His cross is met by the head of Pheara which is saved by the keeper, but only into the path of Noron who buries the rebound. Chmao are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table and are not going to give this up very easily. Chan Piseth burst down the right and delivered the perfect low cross for Mao Piseth to sweep home. 1-1.The hosts are now the better team and dominate proceedings. Our defence just about holds firm and manages to break away in clinical fashion. Pisa clears the ball up to Matt Noron. He intelligently turns and plays a perfectly weighted through ball for Chhim Pheara to latch onto. The youngster makes no mistake, dribbling the ball into the area, before slotting the ball cooly under the keeper into the bottom corner. Perfection! We take control and look a class above our opponents, knocking the ball around at will to create an opening. Pisa, Samnang, to Pidor, up to Matty Noron, who turns it round the corner for Pheara!!! He lashes the ball into the top corner and the back of the net nearly breaks. 3-1! We are looking irresistible now. Pheara this time turns provider and plays in Noron, whose fierce shot is brilliantly saved, only for Pelap Taboula to follow up the loose ball and tap home an easy fourth goal. Our opponents have still not given up though.. In the opening moments of the second half they hit the post and have a goal disallowed. No matter. We go up the other end and score again when In Sambath crosses and Mat Noron rises highest to power home a 5th. They then go up the other end and score again though when Piseth is unmarked on the left and he squares it for the equally lonely Touch Dara who lashes petulantly home for 5-2. Chmao have a never say die attitude though and they manage to scramble home a third goal. We have become a sloppy complacent mess and I tell them so. We end up having to timewaste and go to a defensive mentality and even then, Som was called into action twice to deny the hosts a sensational comeback. Another three points though just about.. Final Score: Chmao Khmao 3-5 EDC M Piseth 18 Noron 14, 49 Touch Dara 58 Pheara 30,37 C. Piseth 78 Taboula 42 League Table with 3 games left 1st Angkor Tiger 54 2nd Nagaworld 50 3rd EDC 47 4th Phnom Penh Crown 45 5th Boeung Ket 43 6th National Defence 43 7th National Police 29 8th Khemera 26 9th Chhlam Samuth 25 10th Prek Pra 23 11th Build Bright United 17 ----------------------------------------- 12th Svay Rieng 16 13th Chmao Khmao 12 14th Wat Phnom 11 Graca re-joins Mindelese Aderito Graca’s short stay in Cambodia is at an end as he boarded the plane back to his homeland, The Cape Verde Islands. I wish him well, he was a good kid, a promising footballer, but unfortunately was cursed with a huge bout of homesickness. A player’s happiness though is paramount and so we allowed the thousand pound man to go back home. All the best son! Boeung Ket do us a favour Boeung Ket beat Angkor Tiger 3-1 meaning they are just for points clear of Nagaworld and seven ahead of us with three games left. Remember we also host the league leaders on the final day of the season. Mathmatically we can still do this and the pressure is all on the beer company.. Find out whether EDC can do the impossible and win their next two games, hope Angkor Tiger drops more points and take it down to the last game of the season to decide who will win the 2024 C-League Title!

Probably more like Keegan's Newcastle c1996..

Part 53. Chasing The Tiger's Tail When we left off last time, EDC were riding high at the top of the C-League, going toe to toe with everybody's favourite Cambodian beer company, Angkor Tiger. At just past halfway in the season, it has been neck and neck, tit for tat, neck and crop, or whatever other depictions of closeness you wish to use. It seems that the season is heading for a final day showdown, when the two sides meet at the Electricity Stadium in the final game of the season on 2nd November 2024.. Until then there are ten more games to play. Who will blink first? Board Confidence Now you would think, given our position in the table, the board would be very happy, encouraging and supportive in our quest for the league title.. However my chairman, Hem Vutha and his cronies in the boardroom are indeed hard taskmasters. Despite only two defeats all season and a sustained challenge for the title, the board, while very pleased with my performance as manager are disappointed with the results we are getting on the pitch Eh? Club Vision C+ Matches C- (strangely) Transfer Market Performance B- Tactics B- Squad backing B+ Thanks for your support boardroom.... Match 18: EDC v Prek Pra 04/08/24 A should-win game against lowly second bottom side, Prek Pra at home. Our opponents though can put a spanner in the works against the bigger sides having recently held Boeung Ket 2-2. Daravon and Gbayoro return, while Kakada is suspended so Um Makara steps forward into the ball winning midfielder role. News just in: Angkor Tiger were held at home by Chhlam Samuth 1-1.. We could go top with a win here after the same amount of matches. Come on EDC! Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Makara, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Abdi, Nhem Match Action We inevitably dominate with our opponents who are parking the team bus in front of their goal. We create a few half chances but our bark is worse than our bite in the opening fifteen. I tell my full backs to get forward to create more width. The front three combine well, but can’t beat their offside trap let alone the keeper. Time ticks on. Prek Pra venture out of their half and create... 0-0 still as we tick towards the break.. Then, out of nowehere, Pidor swings in an up and under of a corner kick which causes a bit of panic in the box. An EDC player goes down, not sure who, my players appeal for a penalty. Given! Up steps young Ratana who smashes it straight into the bottom corner. Get in! I don’t care how they come. 1-0 to the EDC. Then, the busy Makara releases Taboula down the left channel who crosses for Abdi who leaps like a salmon and fires his header just wide! Big chance missed to make it two by the Somalian Pele. Pisa then gets down the right and the keeper makes a fine save from an instant Nhem shot. Still just the one goal as we troop into the dressing room at half time. Into the second half and Prek look a bit more ambitious. Panha has the ball on the left. Good sliding challenge from Pisa, but he has injured himself in the process. I sub him for In Sambath. Panha has the ball again. Good sliding challenge from Sambath.. but he’s injured himself in the process. I have nobody else who can play right back or left back if I switched Ratana. I send on Pom Vannak to play there and hope for the best. Prek smell blood and start to knock the ball around with confidence. With a makeshift right back, this aint gonna end well..and it doesn’t. Chan Dara hits a screamer from 25 yards into the bottom corner to make it 1-1. I go to a 4-2-4, with Nhem and Pidor as wingers with sub Noron and Taboula up front. We press forward but everything is blocked. We can’t create a chance. I go all out attacking but this leaves more gaps for the visitors to exploit. Chhin Meang Sang picks up the ball and runs forward before releasing another thunderbolt past Som How are we 2-1 down? What is going on? Mat Noron is angry. He bombs down the right before providing a peach of a cross for Taboula but his effort is clawed away by the keeper. This was not in the script! They then re-park the bus in front of our goal and are equal to everything we throw at them. We’ve been had here. Firstly our two right backs getting injured one after the other, forcing me to use all three subs which prevented me from throwing on an attacking option when we needed it near the end. Secondly we have lost from two long range efforts from a team who barely ventured into our half. Well and truly FMed here and what an opportunity wasted to take top spot. The Almighty Buddha was not smiling on us today! Final Score EDC 1-2 Prek Pra Ratana 38 (pen) Chea Dara 64 Chhin Meang Sang 84 Match 19: Khemera v EDC 11/08/24 We need to get back to winning ways in order to keep the pressure on Angkor Tiger at the top of the table. This won’t be easy because despite our rather comfortable win over Khemera earlier in the season, this is still a team that can cause us problems. They are well organised, adopting a 3-5-2 formation and have former EDC man, Leap Bo in the fulcrum of their midfield. Therefore I go in with a 4-3-3 to both match their numbers in midfield and also occupy their three central defenders. Sin Kakada comes back in after suspension, otherwise I keep the same team which lost to Prek Pra. Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Abdi, Nhem Match Action We start positively a long range free kick into the area results in a powerful header tipped over the bar from Gbayoro. Khemera attack us though with numbers and all three midfielders charge forward. The ball is spread to wing back Hong Makara who fires it past Som at his near post. Oh fiddlesticks! We respond well, creating several chances, but not converting. Abdi finds the side netting when he should have done better. They look dangerous on the counter attack. Som has to tip over a stunning long range effort. Pidor curls a wonderful shot just over, We are doing anything but score. Then an old foe rears his big, ugly head. Miroslav Klose. No we haven’t heard from this for a while but Khemera somehow find a way to re-activate this annoyance. You know the score, big hoof downfield striker runs clear. This time he even had the temerity to square it to his mate, Ung Dara who tapped into an empty goal. I hate this stupid game!!!! We respond well again and a flowing move results in Abdi heading just over. We deserve better than to be 2-0 down. This is a farce of a game. I revert to 4-4-2 and bring on Graca and take off the hapless Abdi. I also introduce Matty Noron for the out of sorts Taboula. We start to assert dominance again. From a free-kick Daravon has a header brilliantly saved. The resulting corner is cleared but is picked up by Pidor who runs forward and lays off to Kakada, who passes back to Ratana in the left wing back position. He floats a perfect cross in to the sub Noron who beats the onrushing keeper to the ball to squeeze it past him and halve the deficit. Come ON! After a couple of Khemera attacks we attack again. Gbayoro has another header well saved from another pinpoint Pidor free kick. Then Graca messes up a diving header at the far post, Noron then messes up a header from 4 yards after a lucky rickashay and then Pidor has another free kick saved. We deserve something out of the this flipping game FM Gods can you hear me??? We’ve been well and truly FM-ed again here. 18 shots to 6.. Unbelievable! I cannot fault the players here.. Unfortuately with Angkor Tiger’s 1-0 win over the National Police they go five points clear at the top. It’s not over yet, but you have to now make the beer company favourites to win their second title in three years. Final Score Khemera 2-1 EDC Makara 2 Noron 59 Dara 42 League Table Angkor Tiger 42 EDC 37 Phnom Penh Crown 34 Nagaworld 33 Boeung Ket 29 National Defence 28 Khemera 26 National Police 20 Chhlam Samuth 20 Prek Pra 17 Build Bright United 12 ----------------------------------------------- Svay Rieng 11 Chmao Khmao 11 Wat Phnom 5 While there was much frustration around the club at their two recent defeats, the pressure seemed to have got too much for my £1000 man, Aderito Graca. The seventeen year old from the Cape Verde Islands has been used sparingly by me as an impact sub in order to help him settle into the club, a brand new country and to relieve a bit of the expectation placed on him by the £1000 price tag. It was Nen Borey who first alerted me to the situation with Aderito Graca. The boy never seemed to smile, he could only speak Portugese and very basic English, which meant that nobody really understood him, nor could he join in with the team banter. He cut a lonely figure at the club and barely said a word to anyone. I tried to get some of my senior pros, Daravon and captain, Chea Samnang to try and integrate him, take him out to dinner and try to get to know him, but it was no use. His performances, mainly from the bench had been OK and had showed one or two flashes of his undoubted ability. Graca was a good trainer and had even adapted his game to play in a central AMC role so he could fit into my new 4-3-3 formation. However, one day at training he had failed to grasp one of the tasks set out by my coaches and the boy broke down in tears. In broken English he managed to tell us how unhappy he was, how he missed his homeland, especially his family, friends and the beaches back home. He was desperate to go back to the Cape Verde Islands as soon as possible and play football for his home club, Mindelese. I had to feel sorry for the lad. He was thousands of miles away from home, in a strange country where he did not speak the language, or praise Buddha, or be able to go to the beach of which he had grown up with. From a footballing perspective we were still in the hunt for our first league title and I did not want this situation to cause a distraction in the camp. After discussion with Nen Borey, my coaching team and the boy himself it was concluded that the best thing for all parties was for him to re-join his former club, Mindelese in the Cape Verde Islands at the earliest possible opportunity. The contact between the two clubs was swift and the sale was agreed. I did not charge them a fee, much to the annoyance of my chairman, but a player's welfare to me is of paramount importance. In this case, money did not matter. Unfortunately for Graca he could only go at the end of the Cambodian season at the start of the transfer window and so the thousand pound man spent the rest of his days in my reserves, counting the days until he could return home... Match 20: EDC v Nagaworld Just when I wanted a nice easy home game to get us back to winning ways, we have a visit from our fierce rivals. The casino are lurking in 4th place, just four points behind us. Angkor Tiger are five points ahead of us, so it is important we win to keep chasing the tiger’s tail and effectively end Nagaworld’s faint title hopes. I ring a few changes and go to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Injuries, suspensions and loan rules mean a makeshift back four will be in operation, while Taboula ploughs a lone furrow up front with Pidor and Nhem snaking in off the flanks to join him. Pheara makes a start in the AMC role. Team: Som, In Sambath, Makara, Gbayoro, Joly, Kakada, Samnang, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor Match Action Nagaworld have the better of things and nearly take the lead when Sokhamrin is sent clear after a hoofed clearance and smacks the post. The same player also forces a good save from Som. I don;t know who this guy is but he is causing all sorts of trouble in our defence. We have a couple of decent attacks but little to show for it. Then the inevitable happens. We have a free kick which is cleared and Soka whathisface, who sprints through an empty half of the pitch and slots past Som at his near post. I change to a 4-3-3 in response with Pheara, Taboula and Nhem forming a three pronged attack with Pidor just behind in the number 10 role. We look more of a threat and one move results in a Pheara effort brilliantly tipped over the bar. We are starting to tick again and it is now us who look the most dangerous team. Taboula sends Nhem clear with a brilliant slide rule pass, but once again their keeper is equal to his attempt on goal. Nagaworld though are cunning. A long goal kick and the danger man Sovakharmain flicks the ball round the corner for my old friend Math Fasal into the box. Makara lunges at him.. Penalty. Sun Dara fires it confidently into the corner, sending Som the wrong way... We just can’t do anything right at the moment.. 2-0 at the break. It’s rare that I shout at my team, but this was one occasion I just could not hold it in. I am so annoyed with them right now They go out for the second half with a flea in their ear. I hope it motivates them. Unfortunately by the way we have started the half, it seems not as Nagaworld sweep forward with confidence. Sovakhamrin has an effort just wide, while Man Ratana waltzes his way into the box and forces a fingertip save from Som. I demand more. Captain, Chea Samnang listens and puts in a fierce tackle much to the delight of the home fans. He then plays a perfectly weighted ball to the onrushing Taboula who rounds the keeper and slots home into the empty net for 2-1. Then Nhem flicks on to substitute Noron who fires menacingly just over the bar. Game on! We push for an equaliser. Graca comes on for the ineffective Pidor, but Nagaworld are equal to everything we throw at them. Then, the sucker punch. Yamin and Ratana who have tormented us all afternoon combine to send Cheng Meng clear in the box and he squeezes a shot through Som at the near post to secure victory. A disappointing defeat and our third in a row. Whatsmore, Angkor Tiger overcame a plucky Build Bright United 3-2 to go eight points clear at the top.. . Our title ambitions are fading fast.... Final Score EDC 1-3 Nagaworld Taboula 66 Sovunkharmin 17 Sun Dara 45 (pen) Som o.g 90 Match 21 National Defence v EDC Simply put, we need to get back to winning ways and fast, starting with this trip the National Defence, who are in a comfortable 6th place. I am making changes to the XI and reverting back to a 4-4-2 with old favourite Tuy Oudom returning to the side on the right wing. Makara steps in at the back for the suspended Gbayoro, while Pisa and Ratana return in the full back positions. The Cambodian army boast Lim Chanroeurn up front who has scored 14 goals already this season and will need to be watched. Team: 4-4-2 Som, Pisa, Daravon, Makara, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Oudom, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor Match Action We start the game well, look after the ball and pass from side to side where Pidor and Oudom already look a threat. The former goes on a lung bursting run through the middle of the park, skipping past two defenders, before sliding a delicious ball through to Nhem, whose rasping shot is clawed away by the keeper. The Defence start to knock the ball around with confidence and dangerman Lim Chamroeurn heads over from former EDC loanee, Ivonaldo’s cross. Then from nowhere, a corner and Makara fouls in the box, Penalty. Just how our luck is going at the moment. Chanroeurn fires it home. 1-0 to National Defence. We respond well. Taboula has a fierce shot tipped over after the ball fell to him in the penalty area and Samnang has a low shot well saved. Ratana plays a ball into the box but their goalkeeper, former EDC man, Um Channou (remember him) makes a ridiculous point blank save. 1-0 to them at the break. We revert to a 4-3-3 with Noron coming on for Oudom. I demand more and they respond. A wonderful move, one that Barcelona under Pep Guardiola would have been proud of results in our old friend Channou making another ridiculous point blank save from Pidor with the goal at his mercy. Yet again it is not our day. Then Nhem shoots from the right edge of the penalty box and Channou once again finds his inner Gordon Banks and tips it over. This is getting stupid now. It’s going to take something special to win now. Sim Kakada has the ball in the centre of midfield and lays it off to Um Makara who plays a hopeful ball towards sub Mat Noron. Both he and the defender miss the ball which allows young Nhem to run onto it and lash home a much deserved equaliser. 1-1. Then we just cannot get the ball as the Defence respond. The ball is swept wide left to Nen Soreath who is unmarked and has all the time in the world to pick out Lim Chamroeurn who beats Som with a bullet header. It really is not our day, week, month or year at the moment. Ivonaldo rubs our noses in it by rising highest to nod home a third from a corner. Title hopes gone. We have completely forgotten how to win football matches.. It's all gone Pete Tong again for our friends Electric. This time there will be no Keegan-style rants, but just sheer frustration at the way we have capitulated to four straight defeats against opponents, except for Nagaworld which they really should be beating if they are serious about winning the C-League. Can EDC turn things around in the last seven games of the season, or is it too late to catch the tiger? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

It's funny you should say that Ben but I am in somewhat of a dilemna. I would dearly love to start a new story with my local team who play at Level 12 on the English football pyramid because I could put in much more local references and places that I am familiar with. On the other hand I have built up a following with this story across various platforms, here, Reddit and Facebook, that it would be a huge wrench to give it up just like that after 18 months of doing this story....

52. Keeping up with The Tiger After two damaging defeats in our title bid, to Boeung Ket and our title rivals, Angkor Tiger we still find ourselves in with a shout as we approach the halfway point in the season. The team are playing well and have found something that has been lacking in recent seasons - consistency. Now as we take on some of the lesser sides in the C-League we must not slip up in our bid to keep up with the Tiger. New Leagues Added It seems a strange time to do this I know, but here’s an update on the playable leagues on the Ultimate World Football Manager Game. Cambodia Viet Nam Malaysia Thailand Indonesia Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan Singapore Greenland (just because I can!) Match 15 – EDC v Wat Phnom After two narrow defeats to stronger teams in the league we now face the bottom side, Wat Phnom, who have only three points with only one win all season. This is a chance to get back on track and keep pace with Angkor Tiger who are three points ahead of us. I revert to my 4-3-3, with Pisa and Makara suspended, in come Joly at left back with Ratana switching sides to right back. Team: Som, Ratana, Daravon, Gbayoro, Joly, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Nhem, Noron, Taboula Match Action We should be starting brightly here and dominating, but the FM gods see it otherwise and award the visitors a series of free kicks and a yellow card to Daravon. What gives? Then our old foe, Miroslav almost gives them the lead when a hoof ball from their keeper sends Sinoun away, but luckily Daravon got back to make a last ditch tackle.. We create a couple of half chances but nothing much. Then our old right back Sam Chanroeurn gallops down the right and sticks the ball perfectly on Sinoun’s forehead for a shock 1-0 lead. We just have not got going here.. I revert to a 4-4-2 with Nhem in the AMR role. Pidor has not given up and he goes on a barnstorming run through the middle from the left hand side. He finds Chea Samnang, whose lovely slide rule pass finds the onrushing Taboula to slot home. Pheeww! We begin to assert our authority and using the full width of the pitch which is stretching Wat Phnom. Kakada has acres of space in which to pick out the onrushing Taboula for him to slide home his second of the game. 2-1 at half time. They start brightly and Sinoun has an early chance to equalise but he skews it over the bar. Then we find our inner Barcelona c2010. Kakada, Pidor, Samnang and Nhem all combine to send Matty Noron through to finish high into the top corner for 3-1. Samnang who has run the show in midfield strides forward once again. He slides in Noron who unselfishly checks inside and lays off to the onrushing Nhem to fire home his 7th goal of the season. Ung Rottanak scored a late consolation after good work from another familiar face, Sos Suhana for the visitors, but it mattered little. 4-2 the final score. We close the gap at the top to one point after Tiger could only draw 2-2 with the National Defence. The title race is hotting up! Final Score EDC 4 – 2 Wat Phnom Taboula 23.38 Sinoun 13 Noron 60 Rotanak 90 Nhem 68 Ukraine beat Russia 2-1 to win The Euros 2024 The world rejoiced when Ukraine sent Russia packing in the European Championship Finals after a 2-1 win... I’ll say no more...... Halfway Point in the Season We are the exact halfway point in the season and our title challenge, despite two recent defeats is still on track. We lie in 2nd, just one point behind Angkor Tiger, so it is all to play for as we enter the second half of the season and the return fixtures. 1st Angkor Tiger 32pts 2nd EDC 31 3rd Nagaworld 29 4th Boeung Ket 27 5th Phnom Penh Crown 27 6th National Defence 21 7th National Police 16 8th Khemera 16 9th Chhlam Samuth 15 10th Svay Rieng 11 11th Chmao Khmao 11 12th Prek Pra 10 13th Build Bright United 8 14th Wat Phnom 3 Things were going well and there was a buzz around the club, the players had an extra zip in training and even though energy prices were going up, all seemed well in Team Electric. There was one problem though.... The Somalian Pele did not seem to be embracing the good times. He was not training well and when he did get on the pitch, apart from the odd flash of brilliance was not putting in the effort that I would expect from one of my players. Was he and his family OK? Was he settling into his adopted country? Gone was that enthusiastic kid who had shown up randomly on our training field after watching The Hun Sen Cup Final barefoot on a television in a shop window in the middle of downtown Phnom Penh. I decided after discussion with Nen Borey to pull him into my office one day after training. Me: "Ahmed. I don't know what it is, but you haven't been yourself lately? "Boss, I want to start more games. I'm not getting enough playing time. I am the best striker at this club, yet you don't play me." "Ahmed, I'm bringing you off the bench I'm making sure you get your appearance money. I've even started you in the odd game. "It's not enough! I want to play every game!." "Look Ahmed it's not as simple as that. Look you'll get your opportunity if Taboula, Nhem or Noron become injured or lose form. At the moment I cannot drop any of them, they are bang in form and winning us games." "Why you play Nhem, huh? he's just a kid. He should be in Reserves." "Ahmed, Nhem is our top goalscorer and a fantastic prospect. He and Taboula are forming a great understanding. As for Noron he's my senior striker, with a great record at this level. I can't just drop him out the team for no reason, other than give you more starts/" "I see, you don't want me here? I go join Nagaworld.." I wondered whether the casino had been in his ear. It wouldn't be the first time. Every transfer window they practically stalk Ouk Ratana... "Ahmed. You'll get your opportunity, but you just have to be patient. I see you more as an impact player at the moment, someone who can come off the bench and change the game if it is not happening for one of the other three. You are very much part of my plans." "Well prove it then! Give me more starts I won't let you down." "Look Ahmed I'll see what I can do and try and give you more starts OK, but I'm not promising anything." "Boss I need you to promise. I need to feed my family." "Ahmed you get £100 each time you step on the pitch." "Boss, if I am sat on the bench I cannot score goals, or assist goals so I earn even more money!" I go to Nagaworld where they will pay me every week!" "Look Ahmed I promise I will give you more starts." "Thankyou boss. I won't let you down." Match 16: EDC v Svay Rieng 20/07/24 We are at the exact halfway point in the season and so are now playing the reverse of each game so far, starting with Svay Rieng who we drew with on the opening day. They play with wing backs, so I will trouble them with the 4-3-3. In Sambath is suspended, but otherwise (minus Rattanak) it is a full strength squad to choose from. After our little chat, Abdi is given another opportunity up front, in place of Mat Noron. Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Abdi, Nhem Match Action We dominate possession but create little and keep being caught offside. Nhem looks dangerous on the right side of the three pronged attack and on the break from their set pieces. A poor goal kick is hit straight at Pidor, who passes forward to Abdi, who cleverly helps the ball on to Nhem who outpaces his defender and fires confidently home to open the scoring. Svay Rieng though have a habit of scoring goals from nowhere and their equaliser is a random free-kick fired home by Men Samnang. 1-1 with only ten minutes on the clock, Rieng seem to be winning quite a lot of free-kicks, but are piling men forward and not leaving enough defenders back to snuff out any breakaway. From one such free-kick, we clear our lines and it is 3 on 2. Taboula, Abdi and Nhem all bearing down on goal. The ball is transferred to the latter who runs into the box, but is tripped. Penalty! Up steps Ouk Ratana to fire the ball into the top corner from the spot to restore our lead. The visitors cannot cope with the pace in my forward line. Pidor picks up the ball and runs at their defence and slips in Abdi who rounds the keeper and easily slots home number three. We are cutting through them at will now. Abdi is given far too much time and space once again and the Somalian this time releases Pelap Taboula to get his name on the scoresheet by firing in a powerful shot into the corner. 4-1 after just 33 minutes, this could be anything now. Not so.The rest of the game was a non-event and to be fair to Svay Rieng they were sharper in the tackle and made life far more difficult for us, but the damage was done and the game won. A good solid win as we keep pace with Angkor Tiger at the top of the table. Final Score: EDC 4-1 Svay Rieng Nhem 8 Samnang 11 Ratana 13 (pen) Abdi 18 Taboula 33 Match 17 – National Police v EDC 28/07/24 We visit the boys in blue just one point off the top of the table behind Angkor Tiger. We just have to keep winning each game and hope they slip up. I also hope to have enough points in the bag so that the final game of the season against our rivals does not become a title decider.. but that’s then this is now, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Due to the annoying disciplinary rules in Cambodia (Cheers @Timo) both my centre backs are suspended for this one, so the baton is passed to Ouk Ratana, who moves to centre back and replaced by Joly at left back and Um Makara. Otherwise it’s as you were with hopefully Abdi continuing his impressive form from the last game. The Police are down in 8th and have improved from last season when they nearly got relegated. They have the dangerous Chey Chitra in their ranks and ex-EDC man, Sung Rot, who can really cause us problems. Team: 4-3-3: Som, Pisa, Ratana, Makara, Joly, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Abdi, Nhem Match Action Opening 15 minutes.. nowt.. 16th minute we get a corner whoppey doo. Cleared.. They annoyingly have the ball. We get a free-kick which Pidor floats in and Ratana heads into the keeper’s arms, a half chance.. Makara flights a lovely ball to Taboula who finds Abdi in the area... Oh saved. Should have scored.. Suddenly Pisa bursts down the right flank with a much needed bit of urgency. His cross is cleared but only as far as Samanag who finds Pidor who plays it on to NHEMMM!!!! Ooh what a goal he fires it into the top corner God I love this guy! 1-0 to the EDC! We’ve grown in confidence and enjoy a good spell of possession. Pisa plays a well weighted ball down the right channel for Nhem who gets the byeline and Taboula!! The Nigerian nods home his tenth goal of the season. Superb play EDC! But... Just when things were going swimmingly Kakada sticks out a leg and sends Sung Rot flying.. He’s already on a yellow.. it’s an early bath for him.. Pom Vannak replaces Abdi to sit in front of the back four. The Police are knocking it about and Chitra goes close with a header over the bar when he should have done btter. It’s not over yet. Half Time. We are a different animal though this season. We aint gonna let a silly sending off ruin our day. The Police’s attack breaks down thanks to Pisa’s challenge and the full back finds Taboula on the left wing with a flighted ball. The Nigerian runs menacingly at his fullback before crossing an improbable ball for young Nhem at the far post who nips in and sidefoots home from the tightest of angles. God we are good.. 3-0.. Hold on! Ros Pheara fires a goal back with a stunning effort into the top corner. 3-1.. Is there late drama? No.. We see it through to the end with a bit of short slow passing and time wasting. For the time being we are two points clear at the top of the table. Over to you Angkor Tiger! Final Score: National Police 1-3 EDC Pheara 77 Nhem 38,50 Taboula 44 As EDC keep up the pace at the top of the C-League table, can they maintain their form, or will complcency and an unhappy Somalian Pele scupper their title dreams? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Footbll Manager Game!

The Ultimate World Football Manager Save– The Set Up Part 1 Saturday 26th December 2020 (in real life) Boxing Day is arguably the most important day in the world sporting calendar. Traditionally and in a normal year it was the day when men would ‘escape’ after spending the previous day with family and loved ones. This year was different and one where we were advised to be ‘jolly careful’ by our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and I only had one day to see my parents on Christmas Day. My original plans for Boxing Day 2020 had been kyboshed by the tightening of restrictions just days before. My Dad though has a saying, ‘Preparation meeting opportunity’ Sat in my living room with just my laptop, a can of coke and some background Christmas telly, Boxing Day 2020 was the perfect day to start my epic footballing journey. The one I had been planning for the past three months… Back in October and with a second lockdown in the UK looming I had an idea. Having relegated my Football manager fix from FM18 to Football Manager Mobile 2019 and 2020 over the past couple of years due to family reasons I was ready to make a comeback to the full fat FM. As a trial I downloaded a free version of FM20 from Epic in September 2020 and started messing around on it, starting random saves, but not really settling on one. Then the beta version of FM21 came out on 14th November 2020 and so I downloaded this from Steam, loaded England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and started Unemployed with not many badges or reputation. I ended up at Brechin City and then probably wished I hadn’t. (Their club vision was to qualify for the Relegation Play Off in Scottish League 2). While I could not help but admire the pragmatism of the Brechin board, nor could I ever accuse them of being overambitious, which was in line with the pretty weak squad that I had inherited, the seeds of an idea started forming in my head. What if I could download or create on the editor every league in the World and find a way of choosing any team at random and take them on, regardless of the country and their standing in the football world. In other words, the ULTIMATE world journeyman save which could take me to any country in the world, manage any club, in any situation and in any league. Collecting Every League In The World – November/December 2020 (in real life) So where do you start in collecting the leagues from all the countries in the world on FM? The rule was that I must have a representation of every country in the FIFA World Rankings, plus any others which were available, such as Greenland, The North Mariana Islands and Kiribati for example. I would really have to find my inner Richard Osman here! Football Manager already gives you 52 default nations, including all the major European and South American countries, you know the ones. However, there’s only one African nation, South Africa, only Australia in Oceania and Mexico is the only default representation in Central America and The Carribbean. I did have a few things in my favour though, one I have had previous experience and a working knowledge of the Pre Game Editor in creating new leagues, which I have used on previous versions. Secondly, despite having never travelled beyond Italy, my world geography is pretty good, although I did have to look up where on earth Mayotte was? Turns out it’s a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean in case you didn’t know... From the 24th November, the official release date for FM21 onwards I was on the Steam Workshop every night hastily subscribing to any created league that appeared. I don’t know who you are but @Timo, you are the man! This guy must sit in his bedroom morning, noon and night churning out these extra league files and uploading them to Steam, from Kiribati and Angola to The Cape Verde Islands and French Guiana @Timo (and a few others) cover the lot and in a matter of just weeks. By mid-December my collection of editor files was getting close to my target of every league in the FIFA World Rankings. I was determined to get the lot. I also expanded some of the larger nations, for example the ubiquitous ‘England leagues down to Level 10’ file was included and Holland down to Level 8 (every square inch of this small country must have a football team) and other major nations. Just one week before Christmas I had downloaded most of them, except for a few outstanding countries dotted around the globe. Jamaica was an obvious missing country, El Salvador was another, while I nearly left out Kyrgyzstan because I almost forgot this country even existed, let alone spell it! The missing countries were filled by my own basic FM editor skills which can just about join a few leagues together with promotion and relegation, along with a cup competition if available to a reasonable standard of realism. By around the 21st Dec I was ready with all leagues sat squashed like sardines in my editor data folder on my laptop. After a couple of test runs, to make sure by loading every league in the world at the start of the game didn’t result in steam coming out of the side of my laptop and that I wasn’t waiting two hours for the game to load I was ready to go. Boris’ last minute change of rules meant I was game on for Boxing Day night to start the ultimate footballing journey. The Aim Of The World Football Manager Challenge The aim of this was to manage a team picked at random from any of the 200+ nations and leagues in the world. How was I to determine the country and the club that I would take over and become my first team on the save? Boxing Day night and I switch on my laptop and load Football Manager 2021, select start new career game and load up all the leagues. I then made a cup of tea because this may take a while. In fact it took around 10-15 minutes to get to the 'Choose Nations To Manage In' screen, which listed each country by Continent and a nice little flag next to them. Which country, league and club will I end up in? In Part 2 I will explain how I chose completely at random the club which would become my first team to manage on The Ultimate World Football Manager Save!