[a_n_d_o]

G_Man1985, on 20 January 2012 - 21:47, said:

What tactics do you normally play?

Well the most used one is a narrow 4-3-1-2 (flat 3 central midfield, one defensive, one box to box the other get forward whenever possible. 1 attacking midfielder, stays deep). I have 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 tactics saved that i've used when I had wingers or teams not up to controlling games. With the abundance of striking options I have i'll be using the 4-3-3 as much as possible, it seems everyone wants to play 3 at the back when I put 3 up tops so they are asking for it really. Strangely when I briefly tried the 4-3-3 with Racing Club I was getting hit on the break too often, only really Man Utd have done that to Brechin wihle i've been using it so i'll continure it for now. If teams wise up to it I can always switch back to my tried and tested formation.

[a_n_d_o]

So the board decided to intervene and accept a bid for Rahim, don't get me wrong 20M would have made me think for a bit before rejecting and would mark a fantastic profit on a player who cost less than 800k.
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I was browsing my shortlist for possible replacements and getting them rescouted etc as he is only on like 2700 a week so surely hes leaving for them money alone?
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Turns out no, so I get to keep him (...absolutely no idea how i'll get him to extend his contract though)
Operation blitz worked a treat, title wrapped up well before the split
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Number of downloads: 47  2012-01-25_00002.jpg (131.64K)
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Back to the real challenge though, and despite having 19 shots on target to their 2 I lost the first leg at home to an injury time goal for Bayern. 2nd leg was a similar story but...
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Alexandre found his shooting boots, and even after the sending off it was all Brechin.
Atletico Madrid next, and after the Bayern result we fear nobody.
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The dream is on and a semi final revenge against Man Utd is on the cards...
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Or maybe not... Brave effort though, going to be tough to top that next season.
A new 23k all seater stadium is to be built, creatively named Brechin Stadium. Suppose its a lot to ask for two stadiums to be named after you... (Racing Club built the Anderson Arena)

[McKee]

McKee, on 12 January 2012 - 18:58, said:

I have started.

July 2023. Serie C1/A. Pro Vercelli.



The aim is to take ailing Pro Vercelli back to the glory days of the early 20th century, where they were one of Italy's most famous clubs, winning 7 Italian Championships between 1908 and 1922(it would have been 8 were it not for the dirty, cheating Italian Football Federation). Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the Leoni was capturing 3 league titles in a row between 1910 and 1913 without suffering a single defeat.

The club were eventually relegated to the second tier in 1935, and haven't returned since.

88 years of pain are about to end.

Managed to win the play-off in season one. 5-1 on aggregate against Reggiana. Deserved promotion, tbh. (even though Reggiana finished 11 points clear of me ) The front two were way out ahead of everyone else in the league, but I was comfortably better than everyone else.

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The squad I inherited at Pro Vercelli was quite shit tbh. Well over 50 players at the club, most of them in their 30's and on contracts lating for a further 2 years. I had to get rid of them, so in the summer I terminated the contracts of about 30 players, costing me about £335K.

It was also ridiculously hard to attract good enough players to club, I wasn't able to make any signings until the start of September, and even then they weren't much of an improvement on what I already have. So it's going to be a fucking task keeping this lot in the division, as I have comfortably the worst squad.

Going OK at the minute. 16 points after 16 games, 1 point clear of the relegation zone.

I've also recently recruited a young Polish striker who looks the business. He's also called Norris, a strange name for a Pole!

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Number of downloads: 36

[a_n_d_o]

Whats better than winning the League Cup?
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I've had a strange time in the Scottish Cup, usually lucky to be in the quarter finals. The kids are coming good now though and they set up a final against Rangers who were out for revenge...
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Number of downloads: 37
Kinda cruel to stick my first team out there but the young ones got a few more league appearances instead.
The league was another stroll in the park, feel sorry for Alexandre though as he just missed out on the top goalscorer to Ranger's Holden. He has served us well but he will be moving on due to his agents unwillingness to accept anything under 64k a week.
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The European Champions Cup:
Drawn in Group B alongside AC Milan, Lyon and Wolfsburg
First up AC Milan at the Glebe, a shaky start not helped by the sending off of Rahim on the stroke of half time. A point in the bag but at the cost of a 3 match ban for my star midfielder.
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Wolfsburg away next, had a feeling they'd be the cannon fodder and a routine victory
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Lyon away, surprisingly negative formation from them and they were punished for it
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Lyon at home and they are back with 3 up front
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AC Milan away, very scrappy game and happily take the point
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Wolfsburg at the Glebe, no surprises...
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[a_n_d_o]

1st knockout round brought more italian opposition in the form of Roma
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Robertinho and Alexandre may have stolen the show in the group stage but this was the time for the defence to prove they are just as useful.
Quarter Finals and Chelsea are the next obstacle
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Defences very much on top in both legs, we'll stick this is in the fortunate to get through bag
More english opposition in the semis, this time Liverpool
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A few flying teacups at half time got them into gear, thought that last minute goal might cost me but we did just enough to warrant a place in the final

The other semi final was between Manchester United and Bayern Munich with united holding a 3-2 lead after the first leg. I really didn't want to face Man Utd in the final as they tend to have my number, so I was delighted when Bayern managed to escape with a 2-0 victory.

One tiny step away, with Gardiner and Batata suspended and Ortiz on the treatment table I thought I might be in a bit of trouble at the back. A miraculous recovery from Ortiz a day before the final and condition in the mid 80s was enough to throw my captain back in the mix. I also too kthe controversial step of dropping top scorer Alexandre, his focus already seemed elsewhere.

1-1 ft and 2-2 after extra time. The game goes to the dreaded penalty shootout. The hero of the game Mohammed steps up and misses the first penalty... was sure things were about to fall apart.
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Number of downloads: 39
They did. For them

[Sooky]

You've won them all? Congratulations!

[a_n_d_o]

Sooky, on 05 February 2012 - 00:43, said:

You've won them all? Congratulations!

Cheers, suppose I can install FM2012 now...

[Smurph]

Well in mate.

[forameus]

Is that the first person to complete the challenge? Brilliant job mate - have thoroughly enjoyed reading through the story, and it looks an epic one.

[Widge]

That's encouraged me to pick up te challenge again, fairly sure in a couple of months I'll have don it. Only taken me the 9 months so far.

The problem was the new one came out and I think we all started that one, unlike ANDO, so well done make for having will power.

[a_n_d_o]

First on this forum, loads of folk have done it on other forums. I still think the 'Tom Cruise' failed attempt is the best inspiration, I may try and make more of a story of any attempt on the new one. I may actually continue a wee bit on this one, still a few potential trophies to be won with Brechin and i'd like to see how a few players develop, definately seems I caught the golden few of a generation in Robertinho, Mohammed and Rahim (lesser extent Maringa)

[a_n_d_o]

Rattled off half a season, picking up the prestigious European Super Cup and Club World Championship
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Qualified from the group stage of champions league, never in doubt but not happy with the Real Madrid result
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I'll put up my squad, only significant absentee is Alexandre who just wouldn't lower his demands at all (renewed most of the squads contracts, as you'll see a few are a bit high but still 180k under my wage budget)
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Signed on a free transfer, been reliable enough and improved loads over the years
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Batata signed for 350k on precontract, Cisse I missed out on precontract to Racing Club but strangely his contract ran out a year after arriving there so got him for free.
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Lucas is one of my most senior players and been with the club for ages, nothing special but fulfilled his role at full back sufficiently. Di Iorio wasn't highly rated by my scouts but I saw the potential as back up. Both signed on free transfers.
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Baranov was signed on a free transfer during an injury crisis, no idea why I gave him a long contract though. Ortiz, snapped up from Barcelona at the age of 18. The next Hierro for less than 700k, now my captain.

[a_n_d_o]

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Gardiner, a rare scottish signing cost 30k and was only supposed to be cover but somehow hes become a fixture in the side, gets his fiar share of the goals. Nwankpa was signed as an 18 year old for a tiny fee, never really reached his potential but he never complains about not playing contracts etc so he gets to stay.
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Bedin was signed on a 2 year loan from AC Milan, labelled the next Rossi and played his part in the successful campaign. Has a future transfer clause but don't think i'll bother activating it. Why not you ask? For the same money I snapped up Burdisso from my former club Racing Club, the next Mascherano and half a star better potential.
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Rahim, I splashed 800k on him as an 18 year old. I knew he was going to be good and thought he may rival Velasco as my best find (if you remember him from my Racing Club days, co-incidently he has just been voted best player in the world for a 2nd time). Rubio is another long serving player, signed on a free after being released by Real Madrid, very consistent performer.
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Nabli was signed as an 18 year old for 100k, originally had high hopes and my assistant thinks he should be in my starting midfield? He does a job when needed. Mohammed, any words needed? I wasn't even going to sign him, I had earmarked the money for a Chilean midfielder who looked like he was signing for me till Marseille hijacked my bid at the last moment. He has turned into a quality player as well and if I lost Mohammed or Rahim for the big bucks then he'd be my main target (would cost a mere 15M and ask for wages of 25k, almost tempting without losing anyone).
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Guzman, Not played much in recent seasons but he played a big part in getting us into the SPL. Never complains so was happy to have him sit as back up. Becker was signed in the summer from Bayern Munich for 900k, obviously hes no Alexandre but I thought he could do a job. If I continue to play 3 up front I do need a decent number of capable strikers.

[a_n_d_o]

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Salguero was signed last january to provide cover up front. Maringa was snapped up as an 18 year old and I thought he may turn out to be the best of the brazilain trio (Robertinho, Alexandre) but hes not quite matched them scoring wise. Still been a good signing though.
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Robertinho has undoubtedly been the best, consistently scoring and record breaking assists. Definately the Bustos equivalent signing thoguh at quarter the price. Onto the youth players now, Hamann was signed from Rostock as a 16 year old for 30k and has the potential to develop into a great player (my coaches say he is only half a star current ability with potential of 4.5 stars)
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Hart, the next Ledley King apparently... signed from Hearts at age 17 for 200k, looks nothing special but then Gardiner does a good job so wait and see. Koc arrived in the summer, may or may not reach his potential but all my staff rate him highly so thats good enough for me.
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These 2 I picked out as having bright futures, Aarab just arrived in the summer and Oliveira arrived last year.
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Onuh arrived in the summer for abotu 500k and i've now started the long winded process of loaning him for 3 years to get a work permit. I could have taken the risk of leaving him for another club and get him later at an inflated price, but if it saves me 10 Million its got to be worth it right? Amrani has been out on loan for almost 3 years now so will be back with the squad soon. He signed for 100k.

[a_n_d_o]

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Ahmed is very much in the Rahim mould, if I could have got a work permit for him i'm sure his stats would be shooting up. Bargain at 250k even if I do have send him away for 3 years. Celik is another one who has almost served his time away, signed for 200k just cause Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Racing Club, Lyon and Bayern Munich bid for him I thought I could probably always flog him if things didn't work out.

[Gers1stCity2nd]

Has anyone actually done this yet ? , very interested in doing it , but what leagues are most people using ?

[a_n_d_o]

Gers1stCity2nd, on 16 February 2012 - 23:05, said:

Has anyone actually done this yet ? , very interested in doing it , but what leagues are most people using ?

On the 2011 version yes, South African, Mexican, South Korean, Argentinian, Scottish and Turkish leagues I loaded. Computer would have struggled to take any more leagues, had to use a small database as well. Others I think I recall people using are Australian, Brazilian, USA, Potruguese, Dutch, German, Ukranian. Its purely up to you.