Motlhen

Apr 2028 After one round of fixtures we are where I expected us to be. We came so close to turning the last 3 results in our favour but whenever Vargas is out of form, we just can't score! The board agreed on another improvement

Yep, I saw that

Mar 2028 It was lucky we did get Avramides back on loan as we can swap him in to the registration places for Vargas whilst the transfer window is open, until Vargas is back from injury. Vargas isn't our only big injury problem though. We've started well, but back to the usual result against Albirex. We definitely feel closer to them, but it's clear they will be the team to topple for the title. The board aren't accepting any facility upgrades, but to be fair to them they are keeping the finances in order with cash injections every now and again so I can't complain too much.

We played brilliantly, but the game ended in heartbreak. We led the game 3 times, but twice threw the lead away immediately and also gave away a penalty. We lost Vargas to an injury and went down to 10-men for the last 5 minutes and they managed to capitalise on the man advantage to win the game.

Pre-Season 2028 Last season we were involved in all 5 top transfers. Hopefully we can make similar progress with our signings this season too. Transfers In I am pretty happy with the quality and cover we've managed to pick up, especially in defence. Including a very decent new centre-back from China who will take up the foreign-but-Asian registration slot. Transfers Out We unwillingly lost a few youngsters who had only featured from the bench but also sold a few of the foreign players that hadn't made the registration places. Avramides has come back on loan for the season. After picking up our first piece of silverware in the last game of last season, we have the opportunity to win our second in this season's first match. And this is how the squad is looking going into that match.

From what I understand, we will enter the Asian Confederation Cup at the group stage in September 2028, which is a long way off! We have to finish top or be the best 2nd place to progress. It looks like a tough ask. Although I could be wrong.. the competition has a very complex set up

Nov 2027 What a way to put an end to our unwanted record against Albirex!!! To get into the club's first final. Our star man will be slightly suffering as I've asked him to take painkillers so that he can feature in the final. What a start and what a game. So many chances for both teams but we have come out on top!!! At the end of the season I've been offered a contract extension. & would like to salute, again, to Vargas.

Oct 2027 We had our youth intake and got two decent looking AMC's, but not much else to write home about. We had a rough start, but reacted well to top our group and make the Singapore Cup semi-finals! We'll play Albirex in the semi, who beat us in the group stage and who I have never won against as a manager. Gulp.

Aug - Sep 2027 Consistently inconsistent and we end the season a point behind 4th, although we finished with 5 points more than last campaign. Despite finishing in the same position, one stark change from last season is that we scored the most goals in the league, whereas last season we were the least! 2026: GF 17, GA 23 2027: GF 41, GA 39 So we were definitely more entertaining to watch! & the main reason for us being more entertaining was Vargas, who we must keep hold of.

Jun - Jul 2027 We brought in one player during the transfer window to play LWB and cover for LW when necessary. We battled for each of the draws to go unbeaten in 5 before losing to Tampines. Winning against Tanjong Pagar means that 4th is still possible! & we really need continental football as our finances are starting to look pretty ropey. We do need some more AMC's. We've had a pretty tough draw again in the Singapore Cup.

Apr - May 2027 We've been pretty inconsistent. But we've picked up some very decent wins and find ourselves inside the top 4!

Pre-Season Mar 2027 We've started well. The results don't reflect how far we've come in terms of performances from the end of last season. A narrow loss to the Sailors was followed a strong win and a great comeback, both courtesy of Vargas hattricks. Then we did lose against one of the sides I said should be a must-win, but the stats show how unlucky we were to not win, let alone lose the game. Unsurprisingly.. Another youth recruitment improvement caps off a positive start to the season.

Feb 2027 We're ready for the start of the first game of another season. We're predicted 5th, where we finished last season, but I have higher hopes. Interestingly Balestier are rated lower than Young Lions now. All of the 6 games against the bottom two have to be considered must-wins. Assessing the squad before matchday 1, I think we still need a couple of Singaporean centre-backs for cover. The other position of contention is goalkeeper. I rate Taib higher than Kahlert (who was terrible when he featured last season). But we still could make a massive improvement in goal if the right player comes up.

Transfers In I've brought in every Singaporean player that I thought could improve the squad. Plus any standout foreign players too. There's definitely going to be a huge selection headache when it comes to the foreign player rules. The above were all pre-transfer window opening, but we did have an agent approach us about Vargas during the window. I prefer him over Avramides which will mean a hard conversation on registration day. One of the other hard decisions would be between our two foreign centre-backs. I think Koroma is better than Rogerio, but Rogerio had a better average rating last season, was the league's signing of the season and is also closer to the option to take up nationality. Looking at Rogerio's eligibility, I am not sure whether he will need 537 days left or 1175 days. I'm assuming the latter. Either way I'm playing the long game. Transfers Out That meant I offered out Koroma. Losing one of our best players for so little is not great, but I'm really disappointed we only got offers from teams in our league. I also managed to sell the last player who was earning more than me from the squad I inherited. There are still a few more foreign players I need to figure out what to do with. Ngan, Rogerio, Vargas & Susa are part of the squad. Koroma has been sold. I'd like to loan out Avramides & Ratisu and probably sell Green.

Sep - Oct 2026 My first appearance in the competition and the less said about it, the better. Much work to do in the off-season!

Youth Intake We need new strikers! Shame about Yong Ching Yang's personality. Our youth intake also included quite possibly the worst player I've ever seen in FM.

Aug - Oct 2026 We ended up drawing 4 in a row before finally getting a deserved win against Balestier. We had to wait over a month for the final game of the league and by that time we had lost our form & Albirex were out to win the title and it was clear they wanted it more. We also had to deal with a lot of injuries, including a very serious setback for our key player Rogerio. The board are very happy with a 5th place finish. I'll be aiming for the top 4, or at least to close the gap to 4th, for next season. Our facility upgrades have been completed and we are now 1-star in everything! We have the Singapore Cup to play before the end of the season and preparations for next season.

Young Lions were omitted from the league cup, so now with Hougang I'm approaching my first time in the competition. I don't have big expectations, especially with our current form, but if we can make it out of our group, anything can happen in knockout football! The best the club have ever done is 3rd place last year.

Jun - Jul 2026 We signed some new players including two new foreign players (meaning we are looking to sell or loan out one of the others to meet the registration rules). We also signed a decent Singaporean too. We've had our youth intake preview too. It doesn't look amazing and I'm not getting my hopes up as they'll be no where near as good as they were at Young Lions due to the difference in the state of the facilities. On the pitch we have slightly improved with the new signings but we are still chasing that elusive win. 5 losses in a row, followed by two draws, including what should have been a definite win against my old club. We have to improve! The only thing we're good at at the moment in picking up cards!

We brought in Ammar at the beginning of the season. Only a couple of days ago (in-game) I check his eligibility for Singaporean nationality and he had completed way over the number of required days and was "awaiting paperwork" Well, the paperwork has come through! & we now have a foreign slot back to add to the squad in the next transfer window. As for our other slots. We haven't filled the foreign-but-Asian slot and the other two foreign slots have quite a way to go before they can take up the nationality.

Apr - May 2026 We started well, but the past 3 games haven't been good. After conceding only 2 goals in 6 games, we've not been able to keep them out recently! The losses to Balestier and Geylang were games we really should have been winning.. and if we had we would be level on points in 3rd place, 3 points behind 1st! But as it stands we are battling to not be 2nd bottom. At the beginning of the season I promised a couple of the signings that we would improve our training facilities. Luckily, the board have been very generous!

Ah cool your part of the Hools! Yeah, I've noticed that before. Young Lions are still producing some pretty good players but it's very hard competing for them with the other clubs. Other than that, I am aiming to bring in some decent, young foreign players to make the difference or to stick around until the take up Singaporean as their 2nd nationality.

Jan - Mar 2026 We made two big signings before the first game of the season. We also had quite a few trialists at the club whilst I was trying to figure out which players to sign. ..and as I had been told the below, I thought what better way to figure out which players to sign than after some competitive matches. But this was misleading! We still had to obey the registration rules and we are not allowed to register any trialists. What that meant was we started with a very bit-part squad and after the first game I decided to sign quite a few more players in a short space of time. We've started pretty well, all things considered. Beating Young Lions felt sweet! Our finances will have been helped by shipping 2 of the 4 players on a higher wage than me (the other 2 won't play) plus one other player who was on way too high of a wage for his ability.

Hougang United I've been given a contract of £400pw. To make sure I am the highest paid person at the club, our four best players (by quite a way!) will need to be sold. We're allowed 4 foreign players (one of which must be Asian) & there are some restrictions on age but no where near as strict as at Young Lions.

Dec 2025 At the end of the season, Albirex were crowned Champions. Balestier fired their manager & Hougang's manager decided to leave of his own accord, so both of the jobs I was hoping for have become available. I've applied for both!