djchapsticks Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 So in future jobs, I will be adding a wee bit at the start about the place that I'm going and the club/country where I'm working - this one is a bit belated but here we go. St. Vincent and the Grenadines are a chain of islands in the Southern Caribbean. The nation has a population of 110,000 people, most of whom are based on the main Island of St. Vincent but there are 32 tiny islands that make up the Grenadines and are a stones throw from the north coast of Venezuela. A country that is part of the West Indies, in sporting terms, cricket is their religion and they are more or less a completely unknown force in world football which is the second most popular sport. The national team reached a rankings high of a VERY respectable 73rd in 2007, for perspective, this is only a year or two after Scotland hit their own low of 88th. Their biggest achievement though was the run to the 1995 Caribbean Cup Final where they lost 5-0 to a Trinidad and Tobago team that involved former East Fife stalwart Arnold Dwarika. This allowed them to qualify for the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup which they exited at the group stage having lost both of their games. I can honestly say though, through extensive research of about 8 or 9 minutes, I don't think there has ever been a Vincentian footballer of note to Scottish or probably even most English football fans which is mental as the Caribbean nations love throwing up a mad random internationalist. In terms of the club, Awesome FC were founded in 2016 in the village of Stubbs in the south of the island of St. Vincent. They play their home games at Stubbs Playing Field and there is no photographic evidence of this, so please see a Google Earth view and a photo of the England Cricket team training there and no doubt shouting some choice slurs at the locals for having the wrong colour of skin. The ground is the big patch of square ground surrounded by trees on the right by the coast. Awesome themselves are club so insignificantly small, I can't even reference anything on Wikipedia as they simply don't have a page. The badge is eh....basic though. They do have a Facebook page that was last updated nearly three years ago, so there's always that... And here's them apparently in action? https://fb.watch/9nYCnRgEhT/ #THEFUCKINLADS 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 February/March 2022 A tight 2-1 home win against pastures leaves me 4 clear with 3 to play. My next game is against Avenues and a win coupled with a System 3 loss will leave Awesome with their first ever championship win. Spoiler We'll, we've done our bit. Despite a late rally from Avenues, we've hung on. Over in the other game Spoiler System 3 have shat the bed with half an hour to go and left us with a maiden title win! What a season for this bunch of geriatrics! Spoiler 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 (edited) So lets see where this puts me on the list of all time FM greats in the hall of fame. I need 1,935 points to break into the top 20 GOAT list. Ah, shit. Ah well at least the game likes me. Plus on the upside, I AM the greatest manager in St. Vincent football history, beating the fucking nerds that run my youth teams into 2nd and 3rd. Pair of jobbers. Edited November 20, 2021 by djchapsticks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 (edited) And now, the champions have 42 days between the game where they won the league and the second last league game of the season. Seven weeks between league games. When they've just been crowned champions. For the first time ever. If I don't lose at least 3 of them to liver failure and 2 to the effects of age/dementia in that time, I'll no be a happy camper. Edited November 20, 2021 by djchapsticks 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 The class of 2021 youth candidates have arrived and of course with my scouts being so shite at talent spotting and the fact that I'll be chucking it for pastures new once the season is over, this is a bit inconsequential but here's the pick of the bunch. Hoyte I can't see 5 Star in at this level whatsoever Spoiler Aldridge, more so. There's definitely a wee bit of potential there: Spoiler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneteaminglasgow Posted November 20, 2021 Share Posted November 20, 2021 10 hours ago, djchapsticks said: I can honestly say though, through extensive research of about 8 or 9 minutes, I don't think there has ever been a Vincentian footballer of note to Scottish or probably even most English football fans which is mental as the Caribbean nations love throwing up a mad random internationalist. Had a wee look, and best I can do is that Ivan Toney’s gran is from there, so assuming he gets overlooked by both England and Jamaica, we might have a Vincentian superstar… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Wee Villa Posted November 20, 2021 Share Posted November 20, 2021 (edited) As I recall, former Villa/Leicester player Julian Joachim flew over to play for them. By the time he arrived, officials had noticed that he'd already played for England under-21s so was, under the rules at the time, ineligible to play for them. So he flew straight back again. He is eligible under the current rules though, at 47, may have missed his chance. Was still playing in 2019 and signed for for Bourne Town in the United Counties League, but I can't find confirmation of whether he is still actually playing anywhere. Edited November 20, 2021 by Small Bovine Maisonette 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 12 minutes ago, Small Bovine Maisonette said: As I recall, former Villa/Leicester player Julian Joachim flew over to play for them. By the time he arrived, officials had noticed that he'd already played for England under-21s so was, under the rules at the time, ineligible to play for them. So he flew straight back again. He is eligible under the current rules though, at 47, may have missed his chance. Was still playing in 2019 and signed for for Bourne Town in the United Counties League, but I can't find confirmation of whether he is still actually playing anywhere. Not if my save is anything to go by, he hasn't. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 End of season 2021/22 We wrap the season up with a couple of very routine wins and Awesome offered another year's contract which was swiftly rejected. As predicted, Velasquez stoated the season - far far too good for this level. The time has come for me to move onto pastures new - waving goodbye to St. Vincent and Awesome. Time to see where the winds take me next. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 Season 2022/23 Sound the new Job klaxon as Chapsticks' tour of the islands means his next stop is Paradise. Quite literally. Paradise of Barbados. Just a slight 110 mile plane hop over from my previous home in St. Vincent, Barbados boasts a much higher population of just under 300,000 people but a similarly shallow footballing pedigree. No major tournament appearances to call on and one Caribbean cup runners up medal in 1985. This is a country that doesn't have much to speak of in terms of footballing ability but does have at least some internationalists we've heard of, the three most famous I could dig up: Nick Blackman - formerly of Aberdeen and Motherwell Emerson Boyce - ex-Wigan regular Paul Ifill - Former Millwall winger The club itself, Paradise, play in the Southern Barbadian town of Dover in the St. Lawrence Gap and like the name of the club and the badge itself suggest, it's a pretty fucking sweet life. We have another 700 capacity 'stadium' and unlike Awesome, a lot less money to strengthen. The club finished 3rd in the Barbadian Premier league last season and although I've been given a one year contract, the goal is to win the club it's first title since 2003 within the next two or three seasons. At 33 games played though, at least it's something resembling a football season. My main rivals appear to be the rest of the top 4 with Weymouth Wales (not Whales) and the Defence Force as the biggest clubs in Barbados Next I'll be going through the side I've inherited but I do feel my only real dilemma for now is whether to drop speccy or blondie. HWFG! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 I walk in and am greeted by 4 x 4.5 star players and only one will even talk to me about a new deal. So I'm going to try and see if any of them want to speak to me at any point in next week then wait til 30th June and then do a squad depth rundown, see where I need to strengthen but my initial reaction is 'everywhere' 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 So up top I definitely look not too bad. I probably do need a first choice Striker, AMC and CM to play alongside Harris (as Akeem hill will be playing AML Defensively though.....yeesh. Everything needed apart from a first choice keeper. Lets see what I have to spend. The f**k?! How could I start the season with the board telling me I owe then £250 transfer budget?! So I have £7 wage budget left to find about 9 players - smashing. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 (edited) Have now padded the squad out with a very much 'meh' bag of signings. Roshon Gittens - Had already signed on a PCA when I joined but relatively happy with this addition. Spoiler Paul Mottley - I mean he is only 16 but he's got some OK-ish stats for his age. He won't start but might find himself as 2nd or 3rd choice striker to be called on in a pinch. Spoiler Amal Meyers - Honestly, the best my budget of 0 could bring in really and with no centre halves in my squad, it had to be done. I'll take a full international on a non-contrct basis Spoiler Ricardo Field - Backup Goalie on no contract. Nothing more nothing less. Not sure that profile pic has married up to the correct ID though - he looks neither 17 nor Bajan Spoiler Shane Mottley - You may see a pattern emerging between players filling areas of the park where I have no-one to play, lack of money paid to these players and them being here only because they were available. Spoiler Samuel Ramses - Full Chadian cap, no money. Gies. Spoiler Jason Hope - My only follower from Awesome's dad's army so far. Love's me so much he's upped sticks and flew to Barbados to play for heehaw. Spoiler Spoiler Shane Harvey - Nothing really to add at this point. I don't have the budget there to expand scouting so I need to stay well in my lane for now and that's selecting from a pool of 174 interested players. I've scanned the usual Caribbean and Pacific national teams for any non-horrible youngsters but they all want contracts so for now, the likes of Shane will have to do. Spoiler Barry Howell - Nowhere near 1st team ready. Spoiler Theo Wharton - I mean, came from Barry in the Welsh Premier league. He's utterly mínge but hopefully I won't need to call on him too often. Spoiler I've also put a few cheeky loan offers in for players in the Jamaican premier league without contributions needed. Edited November 21, 2021 by djchapsticks 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 August 2022 A perfect start to my time in Barbados. Picking up six league wins from six. I don't have any standout star in the squad but it appears that 2.5-3 star players are going to be enough to make me one of the better sides in the league. Which is just as well as none of the players I tried to get from Jamaican sides were at all interested in coming to Paradise. Still looking for cover in the wide roles though and that will continue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsimButtHitsASix Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 Paradise (Be Right Back) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moonster Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 On 21/11/2021 at 16:07, djchapsticks said: Lets see what I have to spend. The f**k?! How could I start the season with the board telling me I owe then £250 transfer budget?! So I have £7 wage budget left to find about 9 players - smashing. Fair fucks to you for trying to see this through. Being served shit like that would see me closing the laptop down instantly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 23, 2021 Author Share Posted November 23, 2021 (edited) September & October 2022 A straightforward cup win over the wonderfully named Potential Ballers FC takes me through to the next round. I got out of jail with a late draw against Brittons Hill in a game we really should have lost on balance of play but it represents the first points we've dropped since my arrival. Bounced back admirably against Ellerton before falling to the first defeat of my tenure against the Defence Force. We really should have taken something here. Followed it up with another single goal defeat against Weymouth Wales so my fears that they are both both going to be out biggest threats are well founded. And then rounded the month out with UWI Blackbirds which ended in a rough 1-1 draw and all of a sudden, a shite October means that perfect start is now a distant memory and we're playing serious catchup. Edited November 23, 2021 by djchapsticks 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 23, 2021 Author Share Posted November 23, 2021 November & December 2022 Back on track somewhat with 3 league wins from 4 and advancement in the cup. Weymouth Wales are fucking strangling me though, it's relentless. They can't stop winning and I can't do a thing to counter it in terms of my squad. I've tried selling or giving away players to free up wages, doesn't work. I've asked for a bit of leeway with funds for wages/transfers, doesn't work. I tried releasing folk mutually, doesn't work as the board won't shell up 4 weeks wages (£100) to get guys off of a £25 per week contract and free me up over £200 in the wage budget. I'm literally allowed to offer players £15 per week. On a non-contract basis. So a £15 appearance fee. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 January 2023 Another perfect month in which Weymouth matched me pound for pound. I've managed to make a single signing in Hayden Howell and it was a triple header because he's only 16 and already my best striker, is on £25 a week (which is now my maximum) and him joining has significantly weakened UWI Blackbirds (who are only 6 points behind me), given he scored 16 in the first 15 league games. Spoiler The next two league games will sort the wheat from the chaff. With only 11 games to go following this we're either going to be contenders or also rans. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 Update Feb 2023 Welp - also rans we are. No doubt about it Weymouth Wales are just far, far too good. They are in the midst of a 30 game unbeaten run and we just need to stay as close as we can. Despite the woes in regards to budget and transfers, I probably want to give it another crack next season as I've quite enjoyed it in a fucking strange, masochistic way. I'll probably rifle through the rest of the season with only one or two more update posts unless there is an unlikely event of Weymouth Wales forgetting which end they are shooting in for 4 or 5 games. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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