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Basingstoke Town 2040/41: KELLEHER! THE IRISH MAN AMONG GREEK GODS! Premier League: 2nd UEFA Champions League: WINNERS! WE DID IT! FA Cup: Quarter Final - Lost to Liverpool EFL Cup: Final - Lost to Man City Community Shield: Winners I write this part before the Champions League final. I'm honestly, pretty nervous. As I look back on this season, I'm proud of what we did. In the Champions League, we destroyed PSG after they had a red card in each game. Leipzig was tricky and they even equalised in the first few minutes of the second leg at their stadium but we found another gear. Atletico Madrid was two 2-0 wins. It was comfortable and I know we're better than Napoli. In 2038/39, we smashed them 5-1 at home but that's completely irrelevant. You might as well bring up an FA Trophy Final. The Premier League was within touching distance. A loss at home to Newcastle gave them the advantage and we needed them to lose against Arsenal or Villa in the final two games. They didn't. We were tied on points before our game in hand vs Fulham but we lost. It's frustrating. We had an edgy start to the season. A two-game stretch where we dropped points to relegated teams. Losing to Derby and failing to beat West Brom at home. Those two should have been wins and they were in the reverse fixtures. In the EFL Cup, we didn't have an easy run but we kept beating teams ending up against Man City in the Final. We were clearly the better team and went into half-time at 1-0 up. Fairly shortly after half-time, a VAR decision didn't go our way and Man City took advantage. We had the only chance of Extra Time but didn't take it until the 112th minute where we foolishly gave away a penalty. WE DID IT! A second minute corner from Hillman was met by Alan Kelleher. Beyond that, it was a Champions League Final to forget. Neither team went beyond 1.0xG. It had two highlights. Our goal. And us missing a chance sometime in the second half. That was it. It went by quickly. I've not actually got any idea on what to do after this. I might continue with this team. I might manage somewhere else or another save. I don't know. But this has been fun. Challenge done. Trophy Cabinet & Season History

Basingstoke Town 2039/40: We're Good. But There's Always Something. Premier League: 2nd UEFA Champions League: Quarter Final - Lost to Barcelona FA Cup: Third Round - Lost to Ipswich EFL Cup: Fourth Round - Lost to Man City Community Shield: Lost to Newcastle There's always something. In the Premier League, Newcastle ran away with it. As I write this, they won the league after our pathetic loss against Saints and them beating Chelsea mid-week after 34 games. In the EFL Cup, we had to play a game during the International Break so we had a massively depleted squad. Our only keeper at the club was a kid who then got injured so we lost on penalties after a late Leeds equaliser. We were atrocious against Championship Ipswich. Looking at their run beyond that, it's atrociously easy. Like last season but without even Chelsea...except for us for them. They lost in the final. Season's already over. Just a case of making sure we're actually second. We scored 100 goals and finished 2nd. In the Champions League, we were great until Barcelona. A 1-0 loss (again) at the Nou Camp before they then scored 2 early goals in the Second Leg. We went 3-2 up to equalise the tie on aggregate. It went to Extra Time. We had a great chance to lead for the first time. So penalties. Penalties, penalties, penalties. Pfft. We scored our first and fourth. But, obviously, not our second and third. Barcelona won the tie 4-2 on penalties. This is starting to feel like the Championship again. Yes, I'm sulking. Trophy Cabinet & Season History

Basingstoke Town 2038/39: We Won The Premier League? Premier League: 1st UEFA Champions League: Round of 16 - Lost to Barcelona FA Cup: Winners EFL Cup: Fourth Round - Lost to Man City Wow. We did it. We won the league. That's incredible. My signings were focused on kids knowing we had potential FFP issues looming over our heads. That's not gone but a £113m sale of Lipovac to Napoli definitely helped. I thought that would weaken the team but the signing of Niccolo Leoporatti from Empoli was a quiet masterstroke. I thought he'd be a backup, loaned out and allowed to develop. Instead, he was pushed into the first team around December knowing Lipovac was going to be sold and he was unsettled. I was worried that would weaken our team but I didn't feel it. When we played Napoli in the Champions League in January, we won 5-1 with a penalty in the 50th minute at 2-1 being a mere consolation. That's not what you're here for. You've seen the title. You've seen the Winners tag. You know what's happened. Basingstoke. Premier League Champions. At the end of November, we lost 4-0 to Everton and I was scared. Not because I was scared the team wasn't good. But because I thought we'd never get an opportunity. Then came wins throughout December. A 39th minute goal followed by a 95th minute winner from Chelsea being the only blip in the league until Arsenal in February who needed a 92nd minute equaliser. Having looked at it now, we only failed to win two games after Chelsea. The other, a game at home to Everton where we needed a 90th minute goal. We were on the back foot that game. I felt vulnerable and terrified this incredible run was going to lead to nothing. Bournemouth was a similar story. An 81st minute goal when 1-0 down sparking a 3-1 win with a penalty and a free kick in the 93rd then 96th minutes. Looking back, I didn't realise that Everton and Arsenal were the only blips on the perfect run from a 4-1 win at home to Man City to close off 2038. Then the Chelsea game happened and I knew a win would seal it. At home. We went 2-0 up through Hillmann and a fantastic den Haan free kick. We went into half-time cruising then Chelsea clawed one back in the 49th minute. Fear set in and it felt like an unstoppable barrage for the rest of the game. Chelsea deserved a 3-2 win more than anything and they got the equaliser through a 34 year-old Evan Ferguson in the 69th minute. The barrage never stopped. My fear about throwing away a four point lead with two to go was starting to set in. Then the 97th minute comes in. A short corner placed to the edge of the box to Kienast. Diatre open on the opposite edge. Open goal. Scores. All the fears of throwing it away stopped. We're Premier League Champions. Everybody enjoys an FA Cup and we definitely had a fortunate run. Home draws against Reading and Watford were comfortable 3-0 wins. Then we kept getting lucky on the draw. Newport of the National League (now promoted via the playoffs) was a cruel 9-1 win. Then we got the fortune of playing some awful team nobody's ever heard of. 4-1 win. Easy. Then Chelsea. Old foe, Chelsea. It was one of those cagey FA Cup Semi Finals where two teams were matched on paper and in-game. It was more phases of the game either team were second-best than throughout the game. An equaliser on the stroke of half-time was a relief. We didn't go in 1-0 down. Then 53rd by Chelsea and a 57th minute goal by us through Kienast meant it went to Extra Time. An injury to our starting left back was frustrating but we got through Extra Time and I expected penalties. Then a review for Billy being brought down on the edge of the box. Penalty. O'Neil steps up and scores. 3-2 lead. Fortunately, Liverpool put up no fight in the final. It was a comfortable 3-0 win. Now for the final hurdle. The Champions League. A cagey draw against Porto was the only blip on an unbeaten, top of the table League Phase. But Barcelona didn't have that. They needed to go through the Playoff and won 4-2 over the two legs. Not losing either to progress to the Round of 16. It was definitely one of the tougher opponents. But it was more a 0-0 game than a 1-0 game at the Nou Camp. We had shots but none on-target and limited Barcelona's. What I can only class as individual brilliance from Lamine Yamal gave them a crucial 1-0 win at home for them. I'd argue they were lucky but honestly, I couldn't help but appreciate the individual brilliance we didn't have at that level. We were a collective pushing for the same goals. Then at home, we scored in the 5th minute. Dominating then Victor Roque equalises on the night. Frustrating. But we were better. Den Haan took the lead in the 48th minute and the same story happened. However, we held onto the lead at home. Unfortunately, Den Haan had to complete a stupid tackle in the 88th minute to send us down to 10. We were better and heading into Extra Time, I felt there was potential. But there wasn't. Gavi scored in the 100th minute and there wasn't even a highlight to speak of. 2-2 draw at home. Out of the Champions League. Barcelona went on to lose the Final to Dortmund on penalties. We were the closest team to prevent them from getting that far. Trophy Cabinet & Season History

Basingstoke Town 2037/38: High Risk, High Reward Premier League: 4th FA Cup: Fifth Round - Lost to Tottenham EFL Cup: Third Round - Lost to Newcastle Well. In short, short-term good. Long-term, potentially suicidal. I don't think I've ever been this insanely aggressive in the transfer market in any save I've done. As I'd done, the plan is to sign the right players when they become available. But after last season's mediocrity, I needed a refresh. In terms of on the pitch results, it's been successful with our highest points in the Premier League. As you'll see on the Finances page from the end of the season, we've made a lot of questionable decisions in that area. The result of that, however, is we're unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season. That was impressive. Some impressive results coming there with a 7-0 against Leicester followed by a 5-0 at the King Power to replace Saints as the most goals we've scored in a Premier League season against a single team with 12. If you're wondering, the record for that is Harrogate when we scored 14 goals with a 7-0 and a 7-1 in League Two. That was pure insanity. Speaking of League Two, Blackburn barely avoided relegated by three points on the final day. Which is wild when they had to beat Wycombe to stay up. A loss and they'd be a non-league side. The Cups were annoying. We were leading. Newcastle away that early in the competition was difficult and at that stage of the season, we weren't as good. I knew that the longer the season went on, the more chance we'd have. Then the FA Cup came along. We turned it around from 2-1 down to lead 3-2. They equalised in the 93rd minute to take it to Extra Time and won in the 113th. Annoying more than anything. Anyway. My team is fantastic on the attack and we're a young team so there's definitely a bit of development to come. I'm just a little worried about the defence. We can go forward in such a stellar way but when we're on the back foot, I feel like we're too leaky. Though we have definitely made progress in that area. I'm more confident in our starting options and Samardzic has the ability to make a difference on set pieces. It's just his partner I've got some questions about. Ideally, I'd like a physical monster like he is but we're going to have to make some decisions this off-season. There are definitely options available and if Lipovac (Liposuction for his nickname) goes for big money, I've got my mind on a replacement. His backup is a good player. Rhys Hinds (Yes. His actual name. Resigned for the joke) is a solid backup and has done a good job. Helps being a wonderkid. My aims for next season includes a Domestic Cup and having money to do something. If a league title or a Champions League is on the table, that's something I'd like to take but I'm not quite sure we're ready for that level yet. Unless the options I sign are exactly what I want and a step above. Having completed the season, I'm amazed the board have agreed to this wage and transfer budget considering this. Fortunately, our work from previous seasons have been a positive in FFP so we're not a concern for that. It's just immediate cashflow. Edit: Or not. Last season took more of a toll than I expected. Hopefully, Champions League money and some sales since the writing of this post help. Trophy Cabinet & Season History

Basingstoke Town 203/37: Fairly Dull Premier League: 12th Champions League: Round of 16 - Lost to Real Madrid FA Cup: Quarter Final - Lost to Tottenham EFL Cup: Second Round - Lost to West Brom European/South American Club Challenge: Winners UEFA Super Cup: Winners Thought I'd mention the Champions League. However, we just weren't good enough to win it. Our first loss in European competition ever (including Europa and Europa Conference) came against Dortmund then Bayern. We needed to go through the Playoff Round but beat last year's Europa League Semi Final Rivals Villarreal 1-0 and 2-1. Their goal coming in the 2nd minute of injury time at the end of the second leg. Then we got Real Madrid in the Round of 16. Losing 2-1 at Home and 4-1 away. They're just World Class and we're not. Not a particularly exciting season and I'd taken a break around December/January from the game and came back with a fresh idea to reset the team. I know it's been a few months since the last update but here I am now. Though fortunately, it's not our worst Premier League season in terms of points or position. One in both. 13th with 48 when we won the Europa Conference League. When I came back, I identified a few week areas I wanted to freshen up. Took advantage of selling high-value players who were of no use and trying to find some diamonds in the rough when the best diamonds don't want to come here. We sold Riascos to Stuttgart and he's regularly playing for £33m rising another £10m. This is probably the most interesting part of the season. Goalscoring proved to be the issue this season and although Hernan Alvarez scored a first-half hattrick in a 6-1 demolition of Ipswich, he never really got going either. Though it was done months ago in real time, I still want to mention them. As much as I thought it would be the start of something good, this was really the highlight of our season. After beating Lanus in the European/South American thing, we won the UEFA Super Cup. I wish I could remember why but based on the scoreline, it looked as if we'd turned up and Atleti just didn't. Any hopes of a European trophy next season don't exist as we didn't go far in the FA or Carabao Cup and didn't win the Champions League. Trophy Cabinet

Basingstoke Town 2035/36: Europa League Winners Premier League: 10th Europa League: WINNERS FA Cup: Quarter Final - Lost to Tottenham EFL Cup: Second Round - Lost to West Brom I'd say there were positives in all competitions but not really much to discuss. We didn't get as far in a domestic cup but we did a solid job. Getting to the Quarter Final and needing to beat Everton and Arsenal isn't bad going. We were just poor against Tottenham to do anything against them and they dominated. In the league, we got 10 more points on 58 from 48. The Europa League is where things get interesting however. I realised most of the way through the knockouts that we were unbeaten in Europe in our two seasons whilst winning all 8 games in the Europa League League Phase. We made more difficulty of Ludogorets in the First Leg of the Round of 16 than anybody. Two injury time goals from them got them a fortunate draw against us heading back to Roman Road. We then won 4-0. Shakhtar Donetsk were next. They weren't difficult. A comfortable 3-1 win away meant a tight, nervy 1-0 win was fine when we knew we'd play either Saints or Villarreal in the Semi Final. Villarreal won that and we were headed to a comfortable 2-0 win away before a late penalty gave them a lifeline. We went 2-0 up inside 11 minutes at home so we were in the final fairly comfortably. It was really a game of two parts. In the first 65 minutes, it was a nervy affair until we brought on Slavko Milojic. He made it 2-0 in the 69th and eased the nerves. Frustratingly, we had an injury in the 70th to bring us to 10 men. I went more conservative and Newcastle became desperate. A fresh Slavko Milojic took advantage with a hattrick despite Newcastle causing slight concerns with a goal in the 78th minute. Onto the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the other thing I've never been involved in with the COMNEBOL team. Trophy Cabinet

Basingstoke Town 2034/35: Solidity? Cups? What mattered this season? Premier League: 12th Europa Conference League: WINNERS FA Cup: Third Round - Lost to Chelsea EFL Cup: Final - Lost to Chelsea What an odd season. Although I feel like the league was more returning to the norm. Us getting Europa Conference League was and felt like a fluke. Do I care? Of course not. Though who really cares about a team who came 13th when they won a European title and lost in a Cup Final? The Premier League was the least interesting part. I did have small fears of Second Season Syndrome but honestly, I don't think much of it. Derby were initially atrocious with them surpassing their 2008 total on our second game in March where we lost. Then they reminded us that it was possible for Derby to be competent at this level despite all evidence. I also expected Bristol City to not surpass their own qualities. I didn't think much about relegation in all honesty. I'll leave Europe for last as I'll give one line on the FA Cup. Played Chelsea. They were better and won 3-1. Boring. The EFL Cup. Well. What a run that was. It wasn't starting out that way, though. Although we were better than Everton, it took until a 90th minute corner from a defender to win that tie. Then Leeds. Two goals in the 60-something minutes meant them scoring didn't matter. Then Wolves. They were relegated last season so you'd think a nice easy game, right? Ha. No. Have you met me? Misery and near-calamity at every turn but somehow I avoid it. We were 2-0 down and it wasn't deserved. A goal in the 47th minute gave us a lifeline. Then a red card for them in the 69th minute made me think we should win. But we had to score. When did we? 96th minute penalty of six injury time minutes. Then we scored all of our penalties in the shootout to win 5-4 on penalties. The draw couldn't go much better. Chelsea drew (and beat) Man City. We drew (and beat) Man United. Somehow, we won 3-0 at home with the third being in the 93rd minute. Take notes. This will be important later. If you had seen my Championship updates, you'll know about Second Leg Basingstoke. In the first half, it was fine. We scored first and they equalised but we made it 2-1. Easy, right? No. First half injury time, they level the scores into halftime. In the 61st minute, they score again. And again in the 67th. I'm in panic mode by this point. I knew what had come before me. Watford, West Brom. Not today. No more goals and that goal from earlier prevents Extra Time. The final itself was exciting despite the scoreline. Both teams had the chances to sneak a win in Normal Time. But it was somehow still 0-0. We gave away a penalty in the 104th minute and my heart sunk. But new keeper Riascos ended the match with an 8.3 and it was partially the penalty save. Then almost immediately after, the ball is in our net. Chelsea score. But it's offside. The second half of injury time had seen a fairly split quantity of chances and neither seemed interested in penalties. We had a throw-in near their box in the 120th minute. It wasn't long before what came after. Another highlight. Chelsea throw-in near our box. The last kick of the game. We're 1-0 down. Deflated. I took comfort in the fact we fought for that result. It wasn't without our desire that we lost. They're just better. Now. Europe. What a fun time this was. We dispatched of AIK fairly easily in the Fourth Qualifying Round. The League Stage was simple. Win games. We were unbeaten but we drew against Koln (note that for later) and Hearts. Both 2-2 draws at home. Sometime in that League Phase, I looked at our rivals and they were Genoa, Villarreal and Koln. Maybe a run from an underdog team but that didn't even eventually materialise. It was a boring Europa Conference League for the neutral. In the Round of 16, we beat Midtjylland 7-3. As a real life Saints fan, some revenge on this team is nice. In the Quarter, we got Charleroi. Fairly comfortable again where we won 4-1 on aggregate. So the Semis were us/Koln and Villarreal/Genoa. Boring, I know but it's not entirely my fault. A 1-1 draw in Cologne gave us a great opportunity. When we went 2-0 up inside 14 minutes, I felt comfortable. Though they scored to pull one back in the 38th, it didn't matter. We were European Finalists. We played Genoa who needed Extra Time to beat Villarreal. I wanted an early goal to settle my nerves and it arrived through a Fabricio header from a defended cross from Cabrera. Great cross and exactly what I needed. Outside of the goals, it was fairly dull. Calabrese continued his Poacher antics from last season to make it 2-0 and Fabricio did it again. As the clock wound down, I saw no opportunities for Genoa. It was a boring European Final but I don't care. Trophy Cabinet

Basingstoke Town 2033/34: We Survived Premier League: 8th FA Cup: Third Round - Lost to Norwich City EFL Cup: Third Round - Lost to Chelsea What can I say? We survived and survived comfortably. So comfortably, we've got a Basingstoke in Europa Conference song coming up. Not really but inspired by this obviously. We're the biggest club on the South Coast. With great wins including both home and away against Man United, a great goal from the Faroese Right Winger Soren Smith to show we're here to be serious to take the lead in our first game at home to Chelsea. We didn't struggle in the Premier League as I feared. Though that might be helped by us making 15 signings, some people did remain. Key players from Championship promotion were relegated to the bench and only Soren Smith retained his starting place through to the end of the season. In the cups, we showed promise against West Brom with a comfortable 4-1 win in the Second Round of the EFL Cup but that was quickly diminished by eventual winners Chelsea. In the FA Cup, we were awful against a Norwich side who lost to eventual finalists Ipswich in the Quarter Final. With the run they had, maybe a missed opportunity. After beating us, they played Wrexham, Crystal Palace and then Ipswich who then played West Ham. Very much a potential missed opportunity at a final there. It wouldn't have been a difficult run and that's how I feel about it. Otherwise, a fantastic season. Although there were small runs where I feared eventual relegation form, it never became a prolonged issue. Fortunately for us, we have a higher quality increase compared to clubs around us. Before 2040 for Champions League and FA Cup doesn't sound too unreasonable. But it's all about next season when clubs won't treat us like the happy go-lucky rag tag bunch of friends turning up the Premier League anymore. We're the sole representative of the Premier League in the Europa Conference League. With that, I wouldn't mind a repeat of 8th. The Europa Conference League might be winnable for us. There's also some stadium news. When I noticed we had £36m in the bank, I knew upgrades would be plentiful then this came in. Expansion by around 9k seats. As annoying as it would be having to use Reading's stadium for an entire season, the benefits will be longer-term. Just regularly upgrading the Youth and Training facilities to properly come. Trophy Cabinet

Thanks

Does anybody know which file I use to change the appearance of the "Waiting for Next Highlight"? I've gone through them and just can't find where I can change it.

Basingstoke Town 2032/33: WAR IS OVER Sky Bet Championship: 2nd FA Cup: Third Round - Lost to Man City in a replay EFL Cup: Quarter Final - Lost to Newcastle War is over. It was one of the more miserable seasons. At one point, we had about 6/7 teams covered by about 3 points. It was just ridiculous. Then around January/February time, teams fell off and the running order slowly became us, Palace if they won two games in hand, Wolves and Sheffield United. Fortunately, Palace didn't win those games and slowly fell away. That on top of more injury struggles than normal. It was just one of those ridiculous Championship seasons. I can't quite put it into words, really. It was one of those horrible seasons where teams just couldn't get a stranglehold on the league. Even Wolves needed Sheffield United to fail to win their penultimate game to win the title. That 86th minute Burnley equaliser is what did it. I didn't want to go through the playoffs. Would it have been third time lucky? Probably not. But I don't care. We did it. We're finally in the Premier League. In terms of the cups, it was a reasonably successful season. We got a bad luck draw to Man City in the FA Cup but took them to a replay. In the EFL Cup, we won against Plymouth, Palace and Bristol City to set up a Fourth Round tie against Arsenal. We won on penalties. It set up a Quarter Final show against Newcastle which was a step too far. Whatever. It feels so long ago that I genuinely forgot what happened. This season took a toll out of me in a way I could probably equate it all the way back in the National League South with the final day equaliser for our promotion. That's all I can say on it right now. My board did give me a scare in January, however. My stellar Finnish goalkeeper was wanted by Alaves and offered about £12m for him at some point. Fortunately, I protested the transfer and they accepted it. Their gamble in me paid off as WE'RE PREMIER LEAGUE! Him being wanted by clubs like that is a good sign. I just need to find about 10-15 players of that calibre. Erm. I don't really know how to manage money like this now. Wish me luck. Over double my current wage bill of about £117k. £30m is about £29m more than I've spent. My best deals have been XDR for £99k. I haven't managed this much money since my Early Access save with Saints. Trophy Cabinet

Basingstoke Town 2031/32: xG Champions Sky Bet Championship: 3rd - Lost to Watford because a guy who barely scores got a hattrick FA Cup: Third Round - Lost to Watford in a replay EFL Cup: First Round - Lost to Exeter after just pure awfulness Cups weren't really that exciting. We were dreadful against Exeter and they deserved to win. After a 3-0 season opening loss to Burnley, it did make me panic a little but then we did what we did all season where we got 20 clean sheets in the league and the fewest goals conceded. It's not normal for me to do this but it wasn't bad. In the FA Cup, we got Watford. Took the lead in the 12th minute before they equalised in the 92nd minute of injury time so we needed a replay. They went 3-0 up inside 20 minutes and we came back to draw 3-3 in the 58th. I thought we'd take the lead but we didn't and needed Extra Time then penalties. They were a misery losing 4-1. Now. The league. Good form but losing the wrong games really hurt us. If there were a few games I'd like to point out where we should have reversed the positions between us and Leicester, it's probably Wrexham away. We had come into that game with 6 wins and a draw before that game to close out December. We went 2-0 up inside 10 minutes. Then, somehow, they came back and made it 2-2 in the 31st and 37th minutes. I thought we'd still be able to win the game but no. Nothing for the rest and it's 2 points dropped. Around the end of November, we had Middlesbrough away. In the home fixture near the end of the season, they were incompetent and we dominated them to win 3-0. We were a lot like that in the away game and were cruising to a 2-0 win. Then out of seemingly nowhere, they get a goal back in the 87th minute but it's fine. We're better than them. No. 97th minute. They get the equaliser they truly don't deserve. 2-2. Two points dropped. You're wondering why I say xG Champions? Well. Leicester and Sunderland. They both outscore their xPts by 18 and 19 points respectively. It's an insult how much they overperformed. Fluke. I hope they fail in the Premier League whether we get promoted or not. I'm annoyed. So we head into the playoffs again. Horrible. Against Watford who we've already had a home and away cup tie and it was miserable. I'm hoping for revenge but who knows? It's the playoffs. The most miserable experience in football unless you're a neutral or win. If there's one mistake I've realised from that experience, it's not playing this song. I would say the song worked as we took the lead through Luca Fletcher in the 21st minute then they equalised within 5 minutes. It wasn't great and we made some changes at half-time bringing on players including Nicolas Wunsch. He got sent off in the 57th and I thought life was a misery. But no. Fletcher scores again within 3 minutes and the retiring Lewis Cook made it 3-1 in the 73rd minute. I hate this so much. At least we've got a 2 goal cushion this time. Just hope we don't do what we did last season. Well. That was horrible. THIS MAN SCORED 3 GOALS AGAINST ME! Trophy Cabinet

Basingstoke Town 2030/31: How did we get playoffs? Sky Bet Championship: 4th - Lost to West Brom in one half at home. FA Cup: Third Round - Lost to Reading EFL Cup: First Round - Lost to Oxford United I'll cut to the chase on the cups. In the EFL Cup, we bottled a 2-0 lead then lost 3-0 on penalties. Against Reading, it was a tight game but I didn't want a replay so I made sure we lost 2-1. We were in good form in the league and didn't want to throw that away. As much as I thought we'd be safe, the first half of the season is what I expected from the whole of it. It was a struggle and bigger teams showed why. We were inconsistent and relegation was never a story so I pretty much put that problem to bed. As much as I made signings, I didn't think they'd take us to the Top 4. The thing is, I was right. After losing to Colchester in December, we were on a losing run and 13th. By all accounts, this was to be a consolidation season but then we hit form. I was so sure we'd still be here that I made kits for the next Championship season. After beating some awful South Coast team who eventually finished 23rd, we had 16 out of 24 wins. However, I can't attribute that all to being a turnaround in form. In late January, I made a few signings which gave us a better chance. Wunsch on a free from Uruguay on an ESC Permit got us 8 goals. He was stellar. Then we signed two wingers who gave us more options. Unfortunately, the 18 year old Scottish kid was injured so we have to run our usual Asymmetric 4-3-3 which had given us success in the past. Mainly because we didn't have a Left Winger. Heading into West Brom, I've got no expectations. I didn't expect to be here and a Playoff Final would be great. West Brom are a difficult team and in the league, we'd won 2-0 at home for our only win in November and lost 1-0 at The Hawthorns for our only loss in March. In terms of the other teams, we shocked a weird tactically set-up Sunderland to a 4-0 home win after losing 2-1 at the Stadium of Light. With Watford, we lost 2-0 at Home early in the season before winning 4-2 at Vicarage Road. Welcome to the Championship. As a Saints fan, I find it unpredictable in real life and that's going to take another step-up. Though it was Pure and Simple in my Early Access save with them. With it being significant, I thought i'd write this bit live-ish. Just finished the first leg and it was a nervy affair. Del Rio scored in the 4th minute of a 1-0 away win. I'll take it. Our APs have started to elevate themselves and introduce themselves in the goalscoring game which is what Wunsch is also a part of. Sometimes, it's difficult to choose between the two and Del Rio is a £99k release clause signing. Definitely worth it. The home game will probably be about as nervy and I'm glad we've got the advantage as well as home advantage itself. Sunderland/Watford play on the Sunday so we won't find out who we play until then. After we find out the 19 teams either team would join. That first leg gave me so much hope. We scored in the 10th minute of this to make it 2-0. West Brom had 0 shots in the first half. We give them a goal from their first shot and that revived them. They were pretty much dead and buried. Then the throw in. Far post, 2-2. A great save from our keeper in the 90th. A big chance for Fletcher which barely went wide. I thought that shot was in and sat there stunned. Then it happened. A good ball in behind our defence. It wasn't immediately given and I had, of course, forgotten VAR exists with how we hadn't had it all season. Then it was. We had 2 minutes to score. But that's it. I'm proud of this season but it's deflating how it ended. I felt like we had a chance. You can probably sense the difference in tone between the last paragraph and this. Since I had just gotten the email, I thought I'd mention this new stadium. It's been in the works since last season but now we've actually got something. Trophy Cabinet

Having a PC crash just now made me think a little. Although my PC crash was in the middle of a game, I thought that it was right after the game, I'd lose my game because of how I have weekly saves and I prefer that. However, I'd also like the option to save after games in the eventuality I get a crash for whatever reason. How I was thinking this would work is it essentially works on a priority basis with a separate checkbox for saving after matches. If selected, have the save at the earliest of the next game or the next week. Since I'm managing in the Championship, this is probably a decent example. There are a mix of mid-week games and International breaks. If there's a mid-week game, it would save after both the mid-week game and the Saturday game. During the International break, it would save after the week had passed. Because it was relevant to me and how I had lost a transfer deadline day, automatic saves after that would also be useful. Sure, I could do it myself but when you're focused on the next game and everything else, you just don't think of anticipating a crash that doesn't usually happen. This would also be useful in pre-season where instead of having to manually change it, the auto save would save every week because I've not got any games to trigger the after match auto save. Spoiler includes current options.