[[FM19] Winning Every State League]

2020 Serie D - Group Stage

Serie D having a regionalized draw means we faced two teams from the Gauchao. Since we were much better than them, I was expecting to run through the group. But we got even worse offensively. Every single draw had good enough chances to be a win. At least our defense was solid enough to shore us up. We could only score on Aimore, who may be the worst team we've faced all season.

The game against Tubarao at home was the most frustrated I've been by FM in a while. There was a wrongly disallowed offside goal (previous FMs didn't have any blatantly wrong calls in my experience, but this seemed like one) which would've put us up 2-0, and that was followed by an off-the-ball penalty at 90+2 which made them equalise. A win would've secured qualifying to the knockout stage as first in out group, but with the draw we needed a win against Avenida to be entirely sure. There is 17 groups and so, the worst two 2nd placed teams don't qualify, so getting first was important. But our offensive woes continued and we were unable to score on Avenida yet again, and Tubarao won their last game to finish with 11 points. Nevertheless, we did better than a handful of other teams who finished 2nd in their group, and got to move on to the knockout stage.

We got Joinville from Santa Catarina in the first round. They impressively made it to the Copa do Brasil 5th round this season, but were also beaten by Ypiranga at home in the last Serie D group game. Since we outclassed Ypiranga every time we faced them, I am confident we can beat Joinville, or at least drag it out to penalties.

[[FM19] Winning Every State League]

2020 Gauchao

The league stage went by really quickly, we are really hard to score against thanks to a strong 5-man line and our best signing, giant goalkeeper Rodrigo Josviaki, who made it to the Best XI for this competition. On the other hand, we have trouble scoring, we created chances fairly well but weren't able to finish consistently. Our forwards all missed at least one clear one-on-one during the league stage.

We got a draw in Juventude's building which means we are not able to avenge last year's losses. We also almost took a point from Inter at home, but Paolo Guerrero scored a (dubious, if you ask me) penalty. We also play Gremio at home, and manage to keep a clean sheet and take a point from them. After four consecutive wins, we drop a draw to EC Cruzeiro from Porto Alegre, which I wasn't happy about but it didn't matter in the end. With our position all but locked in, I rest several players against Avenida, and surprisingly a bunch of our youngsters take a point from last year's Gauchao runner-ups.

We get a second place, which is a great achievement considering the gap between us and Gremio. Our league position means we play Ypiranga in the quarter-finals but would still have to play Gremio in the semi-finals if they get past Brasil de Pelotas.

Midfield playmaker Rafael Gava scored a great long shot 45 seconds into the match and Ypiranga never came close to closing the gap, forward Gustavo Santos doubled the lead at their building. Right wingback Yan finished it off with a powerful shot after great run at home. This meant we had to face Gremio in the semi-finals.

We weren't prepared to play Gremio in their building, they put us under huge pressure, and Gava got himself sent off. Koomson scored off a corner rebound. Josviaki put on a great performance which meant we had a chance to reverse it home. The second leg was much closer, and we saw our highest attendance so far, but we weren't able to create decent chances and Gremio went through.

Juventude upset Inter again in the semi-final but they lost to Gremio, who won their 38th Gauchao title.

Copa do Brasil

We drew Serie B side Nautico in the Copa do Brasil. This was before we hit our best form, and so they dominated us early on and scored on a long shot, we had two decent chances in the second half but couldn't tie it up.

I had three strong centre-backs and several good wing-backs so I wanted to play a line of 5. I took one of the default tactics and after tweaking it through January, this is what I arrived at. It's not too complex but it worked really well. If we could get a striker who can finish one-on-ones, we would be set, but the targets I've identified so far are too pricey. Guto (who played himself into the starting 11 during our February winning streak) and Denner were stand outs and took part in most of our goals, but the starting centre-backs, Jean, Learcio and Thiago Sales, formed a great partnership and were by far the best outfield players in our team.

Our best player was clearly the keeper, Rodrigo Josviaki. He stands at 195 cm tall, which was key as he kept 9 clean sheets in 13 games in the state league. He arrived on a free after getting released from his Lithuanian team and is paid less than average for our team, but he kept us in games against bigger teams and helped shut out the smaller ones.

Next up, we'll play the Serie D, I think we can challenge for promotion, based on how well we did on the state league.

[[FM19] Winning Every State League]

On November 20th, 2019 I got hired by SER Caxias do Sul, from Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul. They play in the Campeonato Gaucho (also known as Gauchao), which has been historically dominated by two huge teams from Porto Alegre, Inter and Gremio. The Gauchao consists of one league stage, where the 12 teams play each other once, followed by a knockout stage. In 2019, Inter and Gremio were respectively knocked out in the semifinals by Serie C side Juventude and Serie D side Avenida. This gives me hope that we can win the Gauchao. Juventude crowned themselves champions, they play in Caxias do Sul and are our biggest rivals. Caxias came in 4th in the league stage but were knocked out in the quarter finals by Juventude. We'll try to avenge this in 2020.

Caxias, also played in the 68-team Serie D during 2019. Serie D consists of a group phase, followed by a 32-team knockout phase. Caxias were knocked out on the first phase, coming in 3rd with 7 points in their group. However, they qualified to the 2020 Serie D, so we can challenge for promotion to Serie C.

Additionally, we play in the Copa do Brasil, and the Copa FGF, a cup for lower league Rio Grande do Sul teams. Neither are priorities.

At the moment I took over the wage bill was R$4.15M per year, way over the R$3.47M budget. The club is in the red but there's not much I can do about that other than reduce the wage bill. Luckily, Caxias has a talented squad for a Serie D team.

Campeonato Gaucho winners

1. Internacional: 45 titles
2. Gremio: 37 titles
3. Guarany de Bage: 2 titles
4. Juventude: 2 titles
5. Brasil de Pelotas: 1 title
6. Bage: 1 title
7. Cruzeiro (RS): 1 title
8. Pelotas: 1 title
9. Sao Paulo (RS): 1 title
10. Rio Grande: 1 title
11. Caxias: 1 title
12. Novo Hamburgo: 1 title

[[FM19] Winning Every State League]

2019 season

I simmed the first season, so that manager vacancies were occupied. These are the results.

Brasileirao

Santos become national champions for the 9th time. Corinthians and Gremio round out the top 3. On the other end, Avai and Chapecoense from Santa Catarina are relegated, leaving that state with no first division teams. Fortaleza and CSA are also relegated.

Serie B

 

Vitoria dominated the second division, winning by 13 points. Other promoted teams are America FC, Sport Recife, and Coritiba. Botafogo (SP), Cuiaba, Bragantino, and Operario (PR) are relegated to Serie C.

Serie C

Remo, Ferroviario (CE), Santa Cruz, and Sampaio Correa were promoted, with Sampaio Correa beating Santa Cruz in the final to win the title. On the other end, Treze, Imperatriz, Ypiranga (RS), and Atletico Acreano are relegated to Serie D.

Serie D

Fluminense de Feira, Cianorte, Tupi and Salgueiro (PE) are promoted to the third tier, with Tupi claiming the title.

Copa do Brasil

Brasileirao 5th place Cruzeiro win the cup, beating Gremio in the final. League champions Santos lost to Serie B side America in the fourth round.

State leagues

1. Campeonato Acriano: Atletico Acreano (9th title)
2. Campeonato Alagoano: CRB (31st title)
3. Campeonato Amapaense: Santos (AP) (7th title)
4. Campeonato Amazonense: Manaus (3rd title)
5. Campeonato Bahiano: Vitoria (30th title)
6. Campeonato Cearense: Ceara (41st title)
7. Campeonato Brasiliense: Brasiliense (11th title)
8. Campeonato Capixaba: Espirito Santo (1st title)
9. Campeonato Goiano: Goias (29th title)
10. Campeonato Maranhense: Sampaio Correa (34th title)
11. Campeonato Mato-Grossense: Cuiaba (9th title)
12. Campeonato Sul-Mato-Grossense: Operario (MS) (12th title)
13. Campeonato Mineiro: Cruzeiro (39th title)
14. Campeonato Paraense: Paysandu (48th title)
15. Campeonato Paraibano: Botafogo (PB) (30th title)
16. Campeonato Paranaense: Parana (8th title)
17. Campeonato Pernambucano: Nautico (23rd title)
18. Campeonato Piauiense: Altos (PI) (3rd title)
19. Campeonato Carioca: Flamengo (35th title)
20. Campeonato Potiguar: Santa Cruz de Natal (RN) (2nd title)
21. Campeonato Gaucho: Juventude (2nd title)
22. Campeonato Rondoniense: Rondoniense (2nd title)
23. Campeonato Roraimense: Bare (10th title)
24. Campeonato Catarinense: Avai (17th title)
25. Campeonato Paulista: Palmeiras (23rd title)
26. Campeonato Sergipano: Confianca (21st title)
27. Campeonato Tocantinense: Interporto (5th title)

Copa Libertadores

Boca win the Libertadores with a Dario Benedetto goal. Gremio had a good year but lost two finals and came in 3rd in the league.

Copa Sudamericana

Another Argentinian team win the Sudamericana in extra-time, Racing beating Brasileirao champions Santos in the final.

Copa America

Argentina win their first trophy in a long time, beating arch-rivals Brazil in their own turf in the final. Messi got injured against Uruguay, but the Albiceleste still managed to win the last two games on penalties. Thiago Silva missed the deciding penalty for Brazil.

[[FM19] Winning Every State League]

After years of playing (even?) older versions, I've finally started playing FM19 this month. It took me a while to settle on something but after fiddling about with MRT90's great Brazil file, I've decided to do my first real Brazil FM save.

I'm setting a challenge for myself of winning every single state league in the country. For those that don't know, every team in Brazil takes part in a league with other teams in their state before the start of the national leagues. The quality in the leagues varies from those that feature multiple Copa Libertadores winners (Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio, Rio Grande do Sul) to those that have no teams in the first three Brazilian tiers (Roraima, Amazonas, Tocantins). There are 27 state leagues. It's likely gonna take forever to win them all, and I'm not sure if it can even be done, but I'll try.

I started with only the brazilian leagues loaded, but added the Argentinian league in 2022.