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Geminilightning

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Posts posted by Geminilightning

  1. oQgm6zY.png

    Alta de Lisboa - 2022/2023 Season

    Overview | Fixtures 1 | Fixtures 2 | Competitions | Tables | Squad | Team of the Season

    Transfers | Finances | Profile 1 | Profile 2 | U19 Squad | U19 Matches 1 | U19 Matches 2

    Overview

    We made a push for it, and it happened! Alta de Lisboa is headed to the Premier League! We spent our record amount during the offseason, and it paid off in spades. Losing only twice during the league season, the team overperformed in the Portuguese League Cup by reaching the Semifinals, and even hit the Round of 16 in the Cup before losing to Sporting. 

    Portuguese Second League

    It was pretty comfortable most of the way through - a lot of infighting among the teams below me. I didn't see a ten-point win coming, but with depth in most crucial positions and an affinity of scoring more goals in the second half once conceding, one, it was an exciting run to the title. 

    Portuguese Cup

    Losing to Sporting in the fifth round is nothing to be ashamed of. Sporting made their way to the Final before losing. As the board only wanted a third round appearance, no problems there.

    Portuguese League Cup

    Made it to the Third Phase (Group Phase) again, and rattled off some impressive results - victories over Boavista, Sporting, and Tondela. We did lose 0-3 to Braga in the Semifinals when the luck ran out, but that was a lot of fun.

    Transfers/Key Players

    ST João Nobre - The homegrown striker. I tend to sub him in after halftime (unless Tarcisio is injured). Excited for his potential upside.

    M Tiago Jogo - Signed for 8K. Wasn't happy for a while because I didn't spend any more money, but came around. Solid midfielder for the team, didn't score but did contribute 8 assists.

    D Gui Ferreira - Continues to be the assist machine, now the record holder for most assists in a season in the Second League with thirteen. Convinced him to stick around, too, and a very influential player. A bit worried about his age and the lack of potential ability, and it'll be interesting to see how he gets phased out.

    AM Alexandre Pimenta - The biggest signing at 55K, had 9 goals and 5 assists, mostly playing from the left side. Very good in stretches, but I'm not sure about his future.

    AM Paulo Marcelino - 6 Goals, 4 Assists, mostly playing from the AMC position. Decent shooter from range.

    AM Tarcisio - Sometimes Deep Lying Forward, Sometimes Right Winger, he had 13 goals and 2 assists in the league. He is nearing thirty, though...

    AM Paul Ayongo - Right Winger, team leader in goals with 16 across all competitions. 

    G Thiago Rodrigues - Old (34) and injury-prone at times, he did only concede 27 - more importantly, 19 in 29 league matches. 

    U-19

    They somehow won the Second Division and also got promoted?  

    Next Season

    Stadium expansion, renting elsewhere until it gets completed. A little more of a payroll/transfer budget. Facing all the big guns. Hopefully more television/sponsor revenue coming soon? My hope is to not be relegated and finish above fourteenth, but it should be a challenge. One this is for certain - AdL is on the map, now.

    Seasons

    2020/2021 | Portugal Championship - Champions | Portugal Cup - Second Round
    2021/2022 | Portuguese Second League - Fourth Place (57 pts) | Portugal Cup - Third Round | Portugal League Cup - Third Phase 
    2022/2023 | Portuguese Second League - Champions (76 pts) | Portugal Cup - Fifth Round | Portugal League Cup - Semifinals

  2. oQgm6zY.png

    Alta de Lisboa - 2021/2022 Season

    Overview | Fixtures 1 | Fixtures 2 | Competitions | Table | Squad | Team of the Season

    Transfers | Finances | Profile

    Overview

    An important stepping-stone season. Went professional, stayed within budget, managed to not be relegated.

    Portuguese Second League

    We were near the top of the table for most of the season, but Academica and Portimonense were too good to keep up. Still, fourth place isn't bad, I can't complain. 53 goals socred was good for join-third in the league, but conceding forty-one wasn't best. Still, there were some very entertaining games.

    Portuguese Cup

    We lost in the third round to Chaves. Actually, we tied them in regulation 3-3 and then completely fell apart in overtime to lose 3-6. Still, making it to the Third Round is okay. It's all about the draw, though, and I'm hoping I'll get to like the fifth round soon.

    Portuguese League Cup

    We actually finished second in the Group Phase after a 4-1 victory over Gil Vicente. Unfortunately, only the Group winners make it to the Semifinal rounds, but it was a result that nobody expected.

    Transfers/Key Players

    I brought in five players - two on frees - and they were all very important. 

    Diogo Martins was the keeper for the year. Conceding fifty goals in a total of forty appearances, he was decent. The one thing that he was very good at was stopping penalties. 

    Paul Ayongo was the leading scorer of the year with twelve, with three assists. He did get injured a few times, but was a steal, especially at 16,500 Euros.

    Tarcisio was the big signing of the year at 38K, and he chimed in with nine goals and seven assists. Notably, he is very flexible.

    Paulo Marcelino was the AMC signed to replace Carlos Alberto Nogueira. He had three goals and nine assists.

    Dudu was signed to shore up the back line, and will be needed now that a few of the players I've had will be let go.

    Gui Ferreira was an assist wizard from the back line, though he will be let go the next season, as we couldn't agree on a reasonable contract.

    Vladislav Zhikov is probably my best player, though - and I'll probably not be able to sign him past the next season. He is already valued at 180K!

    João Nobre is a homegrown product who contributed nine goals last season. I am excited to see him continue to develop.

    Next Season

    The budget is set around 2M, and there are some players whom I will need to offloard/sell I hope for another Top half of the table finish while getting the finances in better order. 

    Seasons

    2020/2021 | Portugal Championship - Champions | Portugal Cup - Second Round
    2021/2022 | Portuguese Second League - Fourth Place (57 pts) | Portugal Cup - Third Round | Portugal League Cup - Third Phase 

  3. oQgm6zY.png

    Alta de Lisboa - 2020/2021 Season

    Overview | Fixtures 1 | Fixtures 2Table | Playoffs QFs | Playoffs Semis | Playoffs Final | Squad | Team of the Season | 

    Transfers Finances | Profile

    U19 Table | U19 Squad

    Alta de Lisboa
    Having tried the challenge once before, I tried to select a squad that was coming in with a story, so that I can play along with the team's history. Alta de Lisboa is a team founded in 2005, representing a community on the northern edge of Lisbon. I will be trying to lift them up as the Capital's premier club.

    The Season

    The logo and color scheme were what drew me to the club, and then I realized while scouting that the Group that I was placed in - Portugal Championship D - didn't have any of the major big names like FCP B and the like. Also, I came to realize that this team likes to play fast and score lots. I led most of the way through the season while contending with the likes of Louletano, Oriental, and Praiense - I had to win the last match against Amora to get one of the berths to the Playoffs. Portugal's Third Tier makes the top two from each Group play in a Playoff - Double legged in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals - with the two finalists being promoted. Alta de Lisboa was drawn first with Professional side Real, and I admit I used extremely conservative tactics to get the away goal victory after Real somehow tied me in the first game even while playing a man down. Then, in the Semifinals against Arouca, I was nervous after the first game at home that ended in a draw, but then this gem happened in the return leg, sending us to the Second League and the title game against FC Porto B:

    RStF3Dp.png

    Yeah. We somehow won the entire thing. Scored the most goals in the Group while we were at it, too.

    In the Portuguese Cup, made it to the Third Round by defeating Pedras Rubras and Baragança before losing to Premier side Vit. Guimarães. At least I got one past them.

    Transfers/Key Players
    Didn't spend a single cent on anyone, just signed people on frees. Finances will show that I ran a little in the red, but that was to hire staff and acquire new contracts for a squad that was mostly not signed in the beginning. 

    Having to sell Carlos Alberto Nogueira midway through the season was rough, but I did get Vit. Setúbal on a 30% sell on clause for his future.

    Ricky led the scoring with sixteen goals, and actually had a goal of the month, too. Not bad for a player who's only projected at two stars. I hope to get the most out of him in the next season before upgrading, hopefully.

    Didi was the second highest scorer with eleven, and shows a bit more upside - that Determination 17 and potential ability is nice. He's only 22, too.

    Gonçalves Scarpa scored ten goals, too. Such a wonderkid... And already signed to go to Farense. I don't look forward to facing him twice a year for the next few years... I tried to get him to stick around but failed.

    Léo Teixeira had ten goals and four assists, and has some room to grow still. I love that high Determination stat.

    Gui Ferreira was a Free Transfer signing who had the most assists with eleven. The veteran voice, too.

    A Note on Youth
    I am very happy with the U-19 club that Alta de Lisboa has. They went 29-1-0 and scored 105 goals! It was nice that a lot of my starters were young so I could keep their match fitness high, too. 

    Really hope I'll be able to keep them around and start building from Cristiano Pereira, Bruno Rodrigues, and the like.

    Next Season
    The Board added three Club Culture expectations: Play defensively solid football, Make the most of set pieces, and Play high-tempo pressing soccer. As I like the 4-2-3-1 Wide Geigenpress, the tempo shouldn't be a problem; how I'll maintain defensively solid football while staving off relegation will be the challenge. The club is also becoming professional, and there is $821,291 in total budget. It'll be a challenge to see how much I can do without going in the red, but my personal goal is to be above fourteenth (out of eighteen) next season and be financially sound.

    The second season seems to be the trickiest, but I'm excited to see what'll happen.

    Season
    2020/2021 Portugal Championship - Champions Portugal Cup - Second Round

  4. USK Anif - Austrian First Division - 2021/2022 Season Review

    Club OverviewTable/Cup Review | Midseason Table | Final Table | Fixtures 1 | Fixtures 2Transfers | End of Season Awards | Manager Profile

    What a season! Little USK Anif is headed to the Austrian Bundesliga! 

    Transfers

    Looking back at it now, I spent a little too much money, and didn't try to negotiate hard enough. I'll be paying for that, but enough of that later. Bringing in the likes of Thomas Bleyer, Pedro Costa, Alexander Prass, Alex Pastor, Simone Tascone, and Benjamin Bockle proved to be the difference. I also loaned out a lot of my youngsters to try to give them experience/make them worth a bit more before I sell the majority of them.

    The Season

    As you can see via the Fixtures 1 and Midseason Table, after going 2-1-2 in the first five games, the team started to rattle off some wins. However, a string of three draws and a loss in the five games heading into the finale made it so that USK Anif was tied with SV Reid with SV Reid leading in GD going into the final Matchday.

    USK Anif was able to defeat USV St. Anna/Aigen in MD 30 and SV Reid lost their match, leaving USK Anif the champions! We did lose in the second round of the Cup, but I'm not even mad about that.

    Key Players

    Pedro Costa excelled from his AMR position, leading all scorers with 14 goals and 6 assists. He is thirty, but I will start him as long as he produces. Excellent pickup.

    Thomas Bleyer the 1.5M big signing - I know he's not likely to stay after this contract, and I'm trying to get the most out of him. He got 12 goals, 2 assists.

    Marvin Aumayr conceded 21 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions, a much better season for him. 

    Alexander Prass scored 6 goals and 3 assists from the AML position.

    Looking Ahead

    Finances look dire. We're undergoing minor stadium renovations to install heating, too. With some staff contracts and player contracts coming due, it's going to be a rough season. Thankfully, all I need to do is not place twelfth, which can be done by either 1) finishing in the top six through the first round-robin or 2) not finishing twelfth overall.

    It should definitely be a challenge.

    Onward!

    2020/2021 - Austrian First Division - 9th Place - Austrian FA Cup 2nd Round

    2021/2022 - Austrian First Division - Champions - Austrian FA Cup 2nd Round

  5. USK Anif - Austrian First Division - 2020/2021 Season Review

    Table/Cup Review | Table | Transfers | Injury Summary | End of Season Awards | Manager Profile

    Finished a respectable 11-7-12, with 40 points, losing out on eighth place due to GD (won a lot of close games, as evidenced by that -10 GD). In the Austrian FA Cup, lost in the second round in overtime to SV Ried.

    Kubilay Ozturk was the top scorer for the season with 10 across all competitions, but that was because I got Jasper Uwa on a free midway through the season and Uwa is a bit better with still some room to grow.

    Behind the duo of Kubilay/Jasper were my shooters from long range: Kerim MehanovicChristoph Bann, and Michael Protsch. Mehanovic turned out to be one-year wonder as he's already asked to be listed for transfer. Five goals and seven assists will be missed, but I do have Pedro Costa coming in next season. Costa is 29, but should be okay for a season or two while I hunt for the next right winger. Bann and Protsch combined for eight goals, mostly from range, playing the same position. They'll do for now, but I'm looking for a better left winger. Josip Krznaric and Alp Demir were also free transfers midway through the season, and their Potential has me a bit excited. 

    As the Transfers can tell, I grabbed almost anyone I could to try to make this roster work. Some worked out, some didn't. Krznaric, Demir, and Danilo Gaeta seem to be some of the better ones.

    In goal was Marvin Aumayr, who beat out Christian Schlosser by a slim amount. Unfortunately, the backfield was horrible in the counter, but since I couldn't replace the likes of Florian Madlmayr, it was mostly not the keeper's fault.

    The craziest thing about the season ahead? My transfer budget/payroll is a total of 8,325,012 euros. Pretty crazy for a small-town club. I don't think my reputation is high enough to sign any big names yet, but I do think it'll be an interesting initial Transfer Window and January Transfer Window. I do like that there's a midseason break that lasts more than two months in Austria, which makes it so that you can really try to reverse your fortune.

    As mentioned in my previous post, only the Champions of the Austrian First Division make it to the Austrian Premier Division. The good news? Once you crack that, only the 12th placed team gets relegated. 

    Goal next season is the Third Round of the Austrian FA Cup, and above eighth in the league, preferably around fifth or so. 

    Onward and beyond! 

    2020/2021 - Austrian First Division - 9th Place - Austrian FA Cup 2nd Round

  6. USK Anif - Austrian First Division

    Table after Nine Matches Starting XI Tactic

    All the board wants is to stay clear of relegation and maybe finish midtable. Given only the Champion of Austria's sixteen-club Second Tier promotes, seems like I'll be getting used to seeing these faces for a bit. Being in charge of a group of Semi-Pro ragtags as a Sunday League Footballer, this should be a journey.

    Nine games in, sitting in third at 5-2-2. Actually managed to go five games without a loss in the middle there. Had to play second placed SV Reid - who's a Professional team by the way - twice in a row, once for the League and once for the Austrian FA Cup. Drew 0-0 in the league, lost 2-1 in extra time for the Cup. Given either SV Reid or WSG Tirol will probably promote, not bad. If only my defense had held for one more minute... (SV Reid scored the equalizer in the ninety-second minute. Truly.)

    It's kind of a lightning-strike kind of offense with long passes either hitting Bann/Mehanovic for good tries at goal (Ozturk being the classic poacher) or Zia shooting from range. The biggest issue so far defensively has been on the counter, but I have high hopes given Zschock is a 21 year old with 4.5 star potential, Hausberger is a 22 year old with 4.5 star potential, and Florian Wiedl - at 20 - is a 4 star potential player, though he does have an 18 in aggression that's come into play a few times already, The defense should become better in time for this level of football.

    Most annoying thing? My home pitch has a light fixture on the right side of the pitch that makes it so that I can't watch the game very well when the action is to the right side. Can't wait to remove that.

    Onward!

     

  7. Hello!

    New around these parts, but this sounded fun. I am thinking of Austria to give RB Slazburg a run for their money and prove to the Germans who has the better Bundesliga. Also, the split league system for the final 10 Matches after cutting the first double round robin points in half is fun.

    Running through that initial year now. Stay tuned for which team and whatnot.

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