FM Dynasty - Hungarian Nights, Balmazújvárosi Days - Now with U.S. Sassuolo

[Abe Sargent]

New FM Dynasty?

Hello happy people! I hope that you are having an awesome day today! I really enjoyed the soccer/football matches in the Olympics and I streamed a bunch on Peacock. And I was in a football and FM mode so much that I just spent 7 hours rereading my most recent dynasty at 7 years, which is my longest ever where I started with FC Nitra in Slovakia and played them for four years and moved to Bordeaux in Ligue 1, and I won Slovakia twice and Ligue 1 once in 7 years, and I’ve only had one dynasty around last even six years, so that was pretty cool. I started the last dynasty in August of last year in 2021 and I played 7 years from 8.20.20 to 9.24.20 so a little more than a month. (You can find my last dynasty here - FM - Rise of Slovakia - Nitra's Power - COMPLETE? - Front Office Football Central (https://forums.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=96928)) That’s been almost a year now, so am I in the head space to play another FM dynasty?

And if I am…what would I be and what would I do?

Here is what I like to do

1. Eastern Europe – One of my favorite things to do is to take a minor team in a top Eastern European flight and then get them to the top and become a major EE power. I did this first with Ukraine, and since then I’ve done the Czech Republic, Greece, Romania, and Slovakia. Am I in the mood to do that again?
2. England Riser - Another challenge I love to do is to take on a lower level English club and then get them promoted over and over again. I’ve done this with Crewe Alexandria, Poole Town, Wrexham, Carlisle, and Yeovil Town. This gives you a recursive problem that you have to overcome over and over again.
3. Smaller Name Big League – A few times I have taken a lesser talent in a big league and then play them. Examples include Nacional da Madeira in Portugal and Cercle Brugge in Belgium.
4. Random – I do like random challenges. I played Mellia a lower level Spanish team in Africa that I promoted to the top flight and won it all. I liked the idea of a winner of a major European league by an African side. I also took on the Basque only challenge of Athletic Bilbao.

What am I feeling this time? Another EE flight? Another promotion? A big league I haven’t played yet like Italy or Holland?

I’m leaning to a new EE team. But which one?

Or I could push myself with something like the byzantine rules of MLS a league I’ve never followed. Asia? South Africa? Argentina? Brazil? Australia? Mexico?


Let’s look at nations that are out there…

[Abe Sargent]

Serbia – Joins the EU much later in the life span. (I am playing FM 18 as I haven’t liked the UIs of the more recent versions). It would be fun to be playing Serbia when that happens in a few years. 16 teams, 30 games, no more than 4 foreign players, divides into two halves at the end like Romania and Slovakia and plays each other. No thanks.

Austria – In the EU, 10 teams, 36 games, 7 non EU, it does not divide up. You face the heavies four times each so you need to really bring your game. You have a lot of slots for non EU players, Slovakia just had 5. Bigger league with 1 Champions and 3 EURO quals out of 10 teams.

Slovenia – In the EU, 10 teams, 36 games, 3 non-EU players, 1 Champion, 2 EURO, this would be a big challenge with not that many non-EUs allowed.

Croatia – In the EU, 10 teams, 8 Non-EU, 36 games, 2 EURO quals, less of a challenge with that many Non EUs.

Poland – In the EU, 16 teams, 30 games, byzantine rules

Hungary – In the EU, 12 teams, 33 games, 5 Non EU, about the same challenge level as Slovakia. 3 EURO spots.


Let’s do Hungary!

Now…

Which team of these 12?

Hungarian Division 1 named the Nemzeti Bajnokság I which is nicknamed the NB1 by the locals.

We are in the 2017-2018 year. Let’s take one of the worst teams in the Nemzeti, I check out Wikipedia (2017–18 Nemzeti Bajnokság I - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017%E2%80%9318_Nemzeti_Bajnoks%C3%A1g_I)) and we have…

Vasas hitting #12. We’ll take Vasas.

[Abe Sargent]

My goals for Balmazújvárosi


Year One
1. Steer clear of relegation. Ideally, finish in the top half of the NB1.
2. Build up the youth team.
3. Turn my squad into a winning squad
Year Two and On –
4. Finish in the EURO top 3 spots.
5. Do some damage in the EURO
6. Win a Cup
7. Win the NB1
8. Get to the Champion’s League.
9. Turn Balmazújvárosi into a powerhouse of Eastern Europe like Red Star, Sparta Prague or Dinamo Kiev.
10. Secure Balmazújvárosi fiscally
11. Get Balmazújvárosi to the point that it will continue it’s dominance after I leave.

[Abe Sargent]

Balmazújvárosi

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Balmaz_Stadion_.png

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Balmaz%C3%BAjv%C3%A1rosi_FC_logo.png?1629146130242

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Balmaz%C3%BAjv%C3%A1ros_-_Temples.jpg/1024px-Balmaz%C3%BAjv%C3%A1ros_-_Temples.jpg

https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/79086052_497772024172594_9134182883424993280_n.png?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=e3f864&_nc_ohc=PwjoaKa4BoQAX9VUPga&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=18d5363746f6cfc2262ed3f66c926d46&oe=61415A08

[Abe Sargent]

Who am I?

Meet Gergely Orban. Hungarian and Serbian, born in Budapest. Favorite formation 3-1-3-1-2, favorite team Vasas. Speaks Romanian. Born Feb 20, 1978.

Born of Serbian in Budapest, Gergely Orban, named after a popular mayor of the city, grew up a big fan of a local team, Vasas. His father worked in the factory of the city and his mother stayed at home and raised 5 children. Gergely was the first born of his parents, and is a double citizen of Hungary and Serbia. He was born to a very competitive family that loved to play games and turn anything into sports and completions such as who did their chores the best. Their father created a sport they would play in the backyard.

Gergely was drawn to sports and loved playing football more than anything else. He wasn’t born than any other kid, but his learned fire was enough to see him take on training and wins in equal measure. He was in several football camps of Vasas and worked his way through their training academy as the 3rd ranked child. He was super happy the day he was given his first official kit on the youth team!

After finishing his youth contract, his lack of natural ability in the sport wasn’t enough to keep him at the top level of Hungarian football, so he signed his first professional deal with a club in the second level of football over at Romania, where he was a backup for three years, and then his contract finished and no one else was kicking in his doors at the age of 21. Realizing that the dream wasn’t there for him, Gergely moved back home to Hungary in Budapest and took up at a local university – the world’s oldest institute of technology: Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE). He graduated from BUTE with a degree in Engineering after four years. He was the first of anyone in his family to go to higher ed. He worked in the field for around 17 months until he was 27. It was a few years after the fall of communism and he could choose his career path, and it wasn’t in Engineering, and he left to pursue his passion, football. While still working he took his coaching license and applied for some local jobs.

He left after being hired as a youth coach as Vasas which liked that he came through their youth system and just passed his first coach exam on the first try. After a few years and more tests he was promoted to the assistant coach of the youth team. And then after another couple of years and some months ebbed away the youth coach left and he was promoted again. They did very well in their youth matches under Orban, and played well against heavies. Then the Assistant Manager of the senior team left at the end of the season and retired. A major player retired and they gave the major player the youth team and promoted Orban to Asst. Coach of the main squad where competitive nature inspired the senior squad. That was 2015. When the manager of Vasas left for another job in Hungary the board decided to promote Orban again from within and he took over the Manager role for the first time.


Continental Pro Level of License

Good at training mental, youngsters, tactical, technical, defending

Great at motivating, good at man management and discipline

[Abe Sargent]

Actually, do I want Vasas? They finished 3rd last year! Maybe I should do Balmazújvárosi FC instead? They were just promoted from NB2. I am switching over to Balmazújvárosi FC. Same coach, same background, different place of birth. I'll call them Balmaz for short.

[Abe Sargent]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Balmaz%C3%BAjv%C3%A1rosi_FC_logo.png

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Balmaz_Stadion_.png

[Abe Sargent]

Hungary NB1

https://i.ibb.co/pnWK0fV/Balmaz-1.png


Get used to these team names!


 

[Abe Sargent]

We are a recent team founded in 2011. No trophies in the case. They didn’t even with the NB2 last year they came in 2nd. Our report

https://i.ibb.co/6tVYkxc/Balmaz-2.png

This is a big task!

[Abe Sargent]

Let’s start with our players

I have a huge 32 member senior squad. I have three key players and 7 first team and 3 rotation and 14 backups (wow!) and 4 hot prospects and 1 youngster. We have one FB DR loaner from Debrecen.

I’ll be running a 3-1-3-1-2 setup.

GK


https://i.ibb.co/ZM23WGW/Balmaz-3.png

Our GK is first team, 31 years old, and cheap, but not where I want, despite the three stars, low one on ones, just a 12 reflexes, not great aeriel reach I really will be looking to upgrade Pogacsics. I have two backups.

DC

I have four DCs only, and László Tamas, Bence Jagodics and Krisztián Póti are backups with 2.5 star ratings, which is fine for now. I also have Adrian Rus, a Romanian Hot prospect. I have another Romanian hot prospect named Norbert Bodis who is DC/DMC with a 2 rating. We have no first team or squad rotation DCs

I have a transfer kitty of 160k, and I add it to my salary and raise my salary by 2.2k per week.

I transfer list my one FB and 1 backup DC that I am paying the most too. That’s Tamas. I cancel my loanee as we are paying him 140/week. We were already a 3 DC team it looks like.

[Abe Sargent]

ST

We have two starting in my team. I have 4 pure ST, and 5 middles that I can play it as well.

https://i.ibb.co/ZfBzrZX/Balmaz-4.png

Here is my key player at St. Dude is 35 but is a 4 star player so I don’t want to transfer list him, but he’s just an 11 finishing. Note that he is a target man with a support role so if I give him next to an attacking forward we should be good. He’s physically gifted, French, and fine mentally although weak technically. I don’t like his 12 heading and jump. He’s also, by far, my most expensive player by almost double. Do I want to transfer list him

https://i.ibb.co/3r97SWy/Balmaz-5.png

Here’s another key player on my team, and the 23 year old Georgian is a 4 star rating and an advanced forward. He’s also a cheap key player with just a 475/week deal. I like him a lot save for his lack of pace. Having two key players as a ST team with 4 stars shows nicely.

https://i.ibb.co/pKzVKvq/Balmaz-6.png


Here is my first team ST Rudolf, with another cheap contract and a 3.5 star rating. He can be a trequarista. I probably inherited a 3/4/3 team with three pure STs with first team or key player roles. Rudolf is 32 and not long for the team either. Do I want to transfer list one of these? Or do I want to move Rudolf to rotation?

I have a 3 star backup, Ádám Fekete, who is transfer listed already.

[Abe Sargent]

DMC

I have 5 players on my squad with a DM/M C role only.

https://i.ibb.co/LSGyyM0/Balmaz-7.png

Here is my first team Batarelo, who is a ball winning DMC that is also 4 stars, but with 10 passing and just 10 marking, I’m not seeing a lot of technical ability. 32 years old means he won’t be my all star. I’l start him at DMC.

DM/MC Dávid Siger is a 3.5 star rotation who prefers DMC, backups, Mark Konya is 2.5, and we have another rotation who prefers DMC that I might like more than Batarelo

https://i.ibb.co/k49LJ6C/Balmaz-8.png

This is the recently signed 20 year old Haris, and as you can see, he’s a better player technically and a better passing, and better heading, jump, and worse but fine mentally and looks like he has room to grow. Haris or Batarelo?

I move Siger to backup and transfer list Konya.

[Abe Sargent]

MC

https://i.ibb.co/gr9Qtqv/Balmaz-9.png

This 28 year old MC counts as one of my foreign players, and is another Georgian. 3.5 stars low passing and technical. Not what I want right now. I transfer list him since he’s a valuable nonEU spot and not dominant like his fellow Georgian at ST. I start him for now

[Abe Sargent]

AMC

I have two players who play MC/AMC, one is a youngster and the other a 2 star hot prospect. I start the hot prospect – Romanian Carlo Erdei, but we need another AMC badly.


Mr

https://i.ibb.co/LhcnXgk/Balmaz-10.png

He counts as a valuable foreign player slot. This 28 year old Ukrainian is a four star player and I really want a high cross and pass and we don’t have that, and his dribb is just a 4, but hey, I’ll start him right now.


ML

Sandor Vaida is another Ukraine, 3 star, rotation, who is fine for now. 25 years old, and 200/week, he’s my ML for now.


I transfer list some backups.

I have a key player who can only play AML, and I transfer list him.

[Abe Sargent]

My current starters:

GK Pogacsics – Fine, not special
DC Poti, Rus, Jagodics – all need replaced
DMC Batarelo or Haris, deep
MC Maisuradze – transfer listed needs replaced
ML Vaida – Fine, on my short list
MR Gabovda – Good, not looking for a replacement
AMC Erdei – Needs replaced now
ST Coulibaly, Arabuli – 4 stars, deep STs,

I really need 3 DCs, MC, AMC, maybe a stud GK or ML.

I go shopping

[Abe Sargent]

My first target is a great AMC. I approach 30 year old Slovakian unsigned Tomas Dubek and he wants a key player role.

How about a bunch of DCs?

I make an offer to Hungarian DC Gábor Kovács.

I am rejected by 20 year old Dutch youth Joep van de Rande.

I offer a 700/week key player offer to French 33 year old DC Rémi Fournier.

I make an 850/week rotation to Czech DC Stepan Kucera.

Now how about MC?

How about German Mario Pokar? He’s not interested. Neither is Austrian youther Rick Holubec. Bernard Stjepanovic? Okay, that works

I offer some hot prospect deals.

The big ones are:

15 year old Czech AMR David Cerny
15 year old Portuguese DM Tiago Leal
15 year old German/Polish DM/AMC Jakub Baranowski
16 year old Spanish MC José Vicente Parra
18 year old Romanian ST Gabriel Dodoi


I hit the continue button

[Abe Sargent]

I accept two offers.

I check out my staff

I have two open coaching roles and 3 scouts. I make offers to…

I place an advert for my Head of Youth Development


I need an attacking/shooting coach. I make an offer to Bojan Brajkovic, a Serbian coach for 210/week.

Bojan Brajkovic signs.

Any Stud GKs I want to chase?

Vukasin Poleksic is a starter for the Montenegrin team. Let’s hold off until my offers have happened.


Dubek signs

I sign a bunch of hot prospects.

I have my first press conference

Fournier accepts our offer

Kucera signs

I transfer three players

[Abe Sargent]

June

June 17 – Friendly vs Jászberény
June 24 - MFK Zemplin Michalovce


Bernard Stjepanovic signs with us

Vincente joins us on the 5th

https://i.ibb.co/x5spsqp/Balmaz-11.png

He looks like he might be a Wonderkid with that work rate and 15 years old. I like his potential a lot.

[Abe Sargent]

Preseason Begins on the 12th.

I introduce myself to the squad. I link up three partners.

Mihály Szűcs is my offer for the Head of Youth Development

On June 15th the domestic transfer window lifts

I sign some youthers and these players


DC Kovacs

https://i.ibb.co/McFxc7c/Balmaz-12.png

Here is my new starter at the DC spot! 3.5 stars is a big improvement over my 2.5 ones.

AMC Dubek

https://i.ibb.co/7WkkP4m/Balmaz-13.png

Here’s my stud 4 star AMC to go along with my other players of value in the attack. I have him for just 2 years and he’s a temporary patch.

MC Stjepanovic

https://i.ibb.co/WP3TKnj/Balmaz-14.png

Here’s my new Slovenian MC with a 3.5 star rating and an EU nationality, and a solid entrant with a 14 pass, and a solid set of stats. Just two years for the 28 year old patch.

Cerny signed but he’s just an AMR so I’ll skip him for now.


DM/AM C Baranowski

https://i.ibb.co/9V3kBvh/Balmaz-15.png

[Abe Sargent]

We sign our new staffer

Friendly #1 – We…tie 1:1

Friendly #2 – We lose 0:1

I confirm my ground size.

I hire scout Raffaele Rubino from Italy and Gee Evans from Scotland.

The end of June arrives

[Abe Sargent]

Expiring deals next year.

https://i.ibb.co/hYmdb2k/balmaz-16.png

I won’t sign any

[Abe Sargent]

July

July 1 – Friendly vs Ludogorets
July 5 – Friendly vs CS Concordia Chiajna
July 10- Friendly vs Dioni
July 15 – Away vs Mezőkövesdi SE
July 22 – Home vs Puskás Ferenc Labdarúgó Akadémia
July 29 – Away vs Diosd

Ready for beginning our Hungarian Journey?

The 2022 World Cup is moved to Australia

Joining us are Dodoi, Kucera, Fournier and a hot prospect

DC Fournier

https://i.ibb.co/QQqRnCs/Balmaz-17.png



As you can see, Fournier is here for two years and is French, and 33 years old and brings a 3.5 star rating to the table. Welcome Fournier!

DC Kucera

https://i.ibb.co/yNQyB0M/Balmaz-18.png

Kucera is a stopgap measure for a year and just 2.5 stars, and will start for me over my current team. He’s pretty good technically but slow.

I offer some backup DCs for sale.

[Abe Sargent]

I reoffer my players that were rejected for 0 cash. I accept an offer for one.

Friendly #3 – We win 1-0

I accept a loan offer for Dodoi.

Our expectations this year are to avoid relegation and make the 4th round of the cup.

Friendly #4 – We lose 1-2

[Chas in Cinti]

Sweet... I'll be following along!

[Abe Sargent]

I offer a Trial to a ST Caribbean international named Dexter Blackstock he rejects it

I sell three players for nothing. I just want to cut salary.

I choose my Captain and Vice Captain they are – Gabor Kovacs vice captain and Siger captain stays with his 16 leadership.

I loan Dodoi within Hungary.

Friendly #5 – We win 6-2

I massage my tactics and set pieces.

Fornier is my stopper, the other DCs have defend roles.

I am starting DMC Batarelo and giving him a Ball Winning role.

MC - Bernard Stjepanovic is getting a Deep lying playmaker role

AMC Dubek is a trequartisa

MR Gabovda is a winger,support as is Vaida on the ML spot

ST Couilibaly, target man support; ST Arabuli is an advanced forward.

Dubek is best set piece for corners and ifks and dfks

Ready?

I sell another player for free. I still am over budget.

I reject a loan offer for my captain

[Abe Sargent]

Sweet... I'll be following along!

Welcome!

[Abe Sargent]

NB Game #1 – Away vs Mezőkövesdi SE – Ready for our first game with the team? Let’s do it! I begin countering since we are on the road. It’s a quick and quiet early 10 minutes.In the 16th minute off a counter Arabuli scores! Want to see our first goal and in the NB1?

https://i.ibb.co/qy7zzDm/Balmaz-20.png

Here you go! He jumped on a rebound from an on target long shot by Dubek. Normally I bring in a stud young youth, but here I may have inherited it with Arabuli, we’ll see. Arabuli to his ST Partner in the 26th minute. Here they come. I don’t like the ugly all white unis. Arabuli to Kovacs, in a corner kick that bounced around the box, extra time. Half. Don’t get complacent! I pull Gabovda for Centeno. I pull my MC for my Spanish stud youth. Rudolf for Arabuli after he is banged around. They score a goal in the 78th. Four minutes of added time and we hold and win 3-1. Want to see my first game and win?

https://i.ibb.co/0Kj4BJq/Balmaz-19.png


Here you go! Nice win! MOM is Arabuli. Jose Vincente whom we gave a late game too is the youngest player in the history of the NB1 to play! Arabuli had a great debut! Coulibaly scored in his debut as well.

[Abe Sargent]

We have sold a mighty 300 season tickets! Our city is around 20k strong… so that’s 1.5% of the population!

Kovacs and Arabuli are in the team of the week.

My primary backup GK is out for a few weeks.

I loan Siger

NB1 Game #2 – Home vs Akademia - I begin standarding. I like their pretty blue and greens. Dubek I is banged around and I pull him for youther Baranowski. Quiet half. We have just 3 shots to their 5, none on target. Win this match! Centeno for Vaida. Poti for Kovacs. Baranowski to Arabuli in the 76th for goal! An assist in his debut! Baretalo a late card. Can we hold? Three minutes and… they score in the 92:59 spot and we finish tied 1-1.

[Abe Sargent]

I loan Siger and they’ll cover his salary.

I name Dubek vice captains and move Kovacs to captain

Another player leaves – another 240/week saved

I need a better winger backup than Centeno. I search to see who is available. I scout up Alex Pérez from Toledo and Ossama Zamouri from Telstar, both backups on the B Squad. Both are young enough to be hot prospects.


NB Game #3 – Away vs Honved – I begin countering – I like these striped black and red kits that Honved is wearing. In the 5th minute Arabuli gets a nice pass from Gabovda and drives the flank and crosses to Coulibaly for a goal. Nice assist by my stud. Love their tag team results thus far, although it’s early days. Dubek finds Arabuli on a nasty counter in the 6th minute! These are going poorly for our foes. We have a goal in the 11th waived offsides. They score us back in the 16th. They score off a corner in the 27th. 2-2. Dubek to Coulibaly, 34th. Well this game ain’t boring! They score in the 42nd and it; 3-3. Half. Win this game! They have 8 shots on target to our 3. Poti for Kovacs. I pull Batarello for Haris after he gets a card. We injure one of their players. Centano for Vaida. They score a long shot in the 85th. Can I pull a late equalizer like Akademia did last week? Five minutes. Nope. Not a good loss.

[Abe Sargent]

August

August 5 – Home vs Debracen
August 12 – Away vs Ujpest
August 19 – Home vs Paksi
August 26 – Away vs Paladas

Good training - Baranowski

Dubek and Coulibaly in Team of Week

Coulibaly in 2nd Place Goal of the Month

I move Haris to start at DMC.

I sell two more – I save 180 and 140

NB1 Game #4 – Home vs Debrecen - They are a powerhouse but aren’t starting well. I start standarding. They score in the 11th minute. They score again two minutes later. Uh oh. They score again at the 16th minute. Uh oh. Well we woke up the beast. Half. Show me something else! Poti for Kucera. In the 64th they foul Coulibaly in the box and Dubek steps up and…sinks it. We won’t get shut out! Rudolf for Coulibaly. Centeno for Vaida. In the 80th, Arabuli intercepts the ball and sinks it and we are just down by 1! Can we net a score to get a point? Three minutes and…they score in extra time. We lose 4-2. We had 19 shots and 7 on target to their 17 and 4.

[Abe Sargent]

Do I need a new GK? We’ve allowed 10 goals in 4 games. Debrecen is a heavy and Honved won the NB1 last year so let’s hold off for now.

We draw Putnok in what they call the Magyar Kupa.

Kucera is injured for two weeks and Poti will start for him

I post an advert for Chief Scout

I lose another player and there goes 525/week

NB Game #5 – Away vs Ujpest – I begin countering. We need to come back and get some points. We’re in these fun orange and white kits! Hopefully they’ll be a good luck charm. They score in the 12th but it’s offsides. Half. Quiet, each one shot on target. Dig down a win this one! In the 48th, Arabuli feeds Coulibaly for a header that rebounded off the crossbar and he put away the rebound. We are up 1-0. We have a lot of dominance. No goals though. I send in Cerny the youth for Gabovda. Tomas for Poti. They score in the 78th. Rudolf for Arabuli. Can we get a win? They injure Cerny in the box in eh 88th minute and up steps Dubek and…he scores! Can we hold? We’ve allowed extra time scores 2x in four game. They get a late card. We win 2-1! MOM is on their team.

Good win! Well it was sloppy and needed a PK but I’ll still take it right now!

[Abe Sargent]

I swap Haris out of DMC for Baratelo.

NB1 Game #6 – Home vs Paksi – I begin standard. Our early attack in the 5th is turned aside, and we turn aside a counter in the 14th. Then nothing. Half. Rudolf for Coulibaly. Centeno for Vaida. A card for Baratelo and I send in Baranowski for him. Dubek to DC Fournier on an IFK in the 89th minute! Can we hold on for our first shut out? 5 minutes. Here they come. We hold and win! MOM is Fournier!

Kucera is back from his injury

[Abe Sargent]

Wanna see the league table after 6?

https://i.ibb.co/m5mgS4K/Balmaz-21.png

After back to back wins due to set piece goals we are in 6th.

[Abe Sargent]

I make an offer to Tim Davies, England and Wales, to be my Chief Scout.

5 players are called up for international play

Davies signs.

NB1 Game #7 – Away vs Haladas – I begin countering against the relegation favorite. They score in the 4th minute. They score in the 10th. We injure one of their players. Back and forth no scores. Half. Show me something else! They don’t 48th minute they score again. Quiet 10 minutes. At the 60th minute we have 8 shots on target to their 4. Poti for Kovacs, Rudolf for Coulibaly, Rudolf crosses to Arabuli for score in the 77th. We still haven’t been shut out. Baranowski for Dubek. They score in the 87th. We lose 4-1. Yuck. Were we unlucky? We finished with 18 shots, 10 on target to their 14 and 6. We chose to play the wrong relegation favorite!

[Abe Sargent]

Is it time to hunt down a new GK? The open signing season ends in a few days.

I offer hot prospect deals to the two middies that I am scouting.

They both sign in two days from now. Which one is going to be my new sub for ML and MR?

Perez – 3 star, better on the ML than the MR, Spanish, 19, potential 4 star. Has just 12 cross and 11 pass.

Zamouri – 20 years old Dutch and Moroccan, 2.5 star rating, can play RLC M and AM, and best role is MR and winger, 11 cross, 12 pass, 4 star potential.

I swap Perez and Zamouri for Centeno and Racz. I offer Racz for sale.

I sell Racz the next day – that frees 200

Am I chasing a GK?

I sell ST Fekete and free up 650

I look for a better GK. Anyone interested in coming over?

French GK Anthony Scribe? 29 years old

Montenegrin GK Vukasin Poleksic? 34 years old

I make an offer to Scribe as I have fellow French starters Coulibaly and Fournier. He’s buried deep in the French leagues.

I swap Poti and Kucera.


Anthony Scribe signs!

I offer my starter for sale. I sell him for nothing.

Here’s my new starter!



https://i.ibb.co/bR12z2q/Balmaz-22.png

As you can see I have Scribe for two years and he is much better with a four star rating and a solid body! I like him a lot for this level, and my hope is that with him leading my team we won’t have any major issues at the back anymore. I have Scribe for two year and just 850/week.

[Abe Sargent]

Transfer Day is here. I get a loan offer for Rus and I take it.

I sell another player and free up 210.

Rus heads out for his loan back to Romania.

I sign unsigned Czech 15 year old DC to a hot prospect deal - Ondrej Novak – He’s raw with a 1 star but 15 work rate and 4 star potential.

The transfer deadline passes.

September

Sept 9 – Away vs Ferencvaros
Sept 16 – Home vs Videoton
Sept 20 – Magyar 1st Round – Away vs Putnok
Sept 23 – Home vs Diósgyőri Vasgyárak Testgyakorló Köre (DVTK)
Sept 30 – Away vs…VASAS!

Good training – Vicente, Baranowski, Cerny



NB1 Game #8 – Away vs Ferencvaros – I begin countering. They are the #1 team on the table right now. Scribe blocks an on target shot in the 0:43 moment. Nice! They score in the 15th. They score again 4 minutes later. They score again in the 30th. They get a card. Half. They get another card. Vaida crosses t to Arabuli in the 59th minute and we have scored. We still haven’t been shut out. I send in Vicente at MC. Kucera for Kovacs. They score again in the 78th. I send in Haris. They score in extra time. We lose 5-1.

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #9 – Home vs Videoton – I begin our home game standard. We are ranked 7th after a few losses safely mid table. Nothing to lose today!!!!!! They push aside our early advance. At the 20th minute they have 5 shots to our 2. Half. Keep it up! Kovacs a card and Kucera heads in. Batarello a card and Haris heads in. Vaida feeds Coulibaly on a counter and scores in the 75th minute! Can we hold onto the win? I pull back to counter. They score two minutes later. Ah well. Can we win? Bodis for Poti. Kucera with a card. 4 minutes. We stole that tie. They finished with 23 shots and 9 on target. That’s more of what I was expecting when I signed Scribe. Well done lads!

[Abe Sargent]

That tie dropped us to 8th.

Magyar Kupa Round 1 – Away vs Putnok – I begin countering. Dubek sinks a DFK in the 2nd minute. They score in the 5th off a counter. They score in the 9th minute. Vaida to Arabuli on an attacking run I the 24th. Arabuli drives the corner and crosses to Coulibaly for a score in the 43rd. Half. Don’t get complacent! Kucera for Poti. Zamouri at the MR spot. Vicente at the MC spot. Fournier a card. Zamouri to Vicente a goal in the 91st minute. That’s an assist on his debut and Vicente’s first goal! We win 4-2 MOM is Arabuli!


 

[Abe Sargent]

I hand out rests.

We draw Kazincbarcikai in the 2nd round


NB1 Game #10 – Home vs DVTK – I begin this match with a standard sensation. It’s driving rain. A quiet 13 minutes elapses before any shots are taken and then it’s 1 each by the 17th minute. They score in the 39th off the crossbar. Half. Show me something else! They score again in the 55th. I send in Rudolf and Zamouri. They score in the 76th. Perez for a banged up Vaida. They score in the 82nd, and hopefully we will score one so we won’t get shut out. We are shut out. They had 5 shots on target and we let through 4 of them.

[Abe Sargent]

I start Haris.

NB1 Game #11 – Away vs Vasas – The battle of the team I was playing and the one that I am playing! I am moving from countering when I am away too defensive. We are giving up too many shots. On a counter Coulibaly feeds Bernard for goal! That’s his first for us. In the 19th minute Vaida is booked and I send in Perez for him. Here they come. We injure one of their players. A goal by me waived offsides in the 28th, They score in the 43rd. Haris is booked and I send in Batarello. Half, 1-1. Dig in! They come hard again. We hold. Kucera for Poti. Arabuli is found on a counter from Ducek and he crosses to Coulibaly for goal in the 79th. Can we hold? We give many late goals. Another attack comes. They score in the 87th minute to retie it. They score off a counter in the 90th. 5 minutes. Can we steal it back? Nope. We haven’t scored in extra time yet. We lose 3-2.

Here’s the league after 11 games and the 1/3rd mark:

https://i.ibb.co/dK917Yz/Balmaz-23.png


We have 11 points in 11 games and have dropped to 9th. We are pretty far back from Vasas after they defeated us.

[Abe Sargent]

October

Oct 14 – Home vs Mezőkövesdi SE
Oct 21 – Home vs Honved
Oct 25 – Magyar Round 2 – Away vs Kazincbarcikai Sport Club
Oct 28 – Away vs Akademia

Good training – Cerny, Leal, Baranowski

I move Batarelo to start and Kucera for Poti. Kucera’s rating is 6.55 and Poti’s is 6.24.

My board have dropped our transfer amount from 50% of the sale to 25%

Bence Marki is too old for U19 and I move him up to my senior squad and offer him for loan. No offers.

I transfer list my youngster.

NB1 Game #12 – Home vs Mezőkövesdi – I begin standard. This is the 12th team in the NB1. For the fans! Get ready!

Goals

13th Minute – Coulibaly, cross from Vaida to his head – 1-0 us
24th Minute – Drive down the middle, Dubek from Gabovda, 2-0 us.
HALF
54th Minute – Dubek intercepts the ball, feeds Vaida on a counter who hits Coulibaly for goal. 3-0 us
Our foe has us right where they want us, right?
64th Minute – Dubek feeds Gabovda for goal, his first – 4-0 us
74th Minute – Dubek on a corner hits Coulibaly for goal – 5-0 us

We won a game in a real fashion! Now why can’t we win all of our games like that?

[Abe Sargent]

Oh, and MOM was obviously Coulibaly. That’s our first win in 5 games. And the first shutout of my new GK.

One of my backup GK wants to leave as they want to chase first team ball. I offer them for sale. No sale offers but we get around 5 loan offers and I accept them.

NB1 Game #13 – Home vs Honved – They are a heavy, I begin countering. After our last few big losses I respect them too much. They are starting three injured players. Early pressure by them. They score in the 11th. By the 30th we each have 4 shots on target. They score in the 33rd. Half. Show me something else! They do! Vaida is fed an attack run by Bernard and slides the ball to Coulibaly in the 49th to bring us one down 1-2. Poti for Kucera. Zamouri for Gabovda. Bodis for Kovacs. Can we steal a goal? 82nd minute, Dubek finds Arabuli on an attack run for goal and we have tied it 2-2. Can we get a result against the league winner last year? 4 minutes. They score in the 92nd. We just can’t find a way to hold on! We finished with 9 shots on target to their 6. We have to stop giving up games late.

[Abe Sargent]

Rudolf has dropped to a 2.5 star ST.

I extend Coulibaly until the end of the year from this December. I am paying him an extra 100/week

Magyar Kupa Round #2 – Away vs Kazincbarcikai Sport Club – I begin countering. Have fun! I came back to win the first Kupa Round. Vaida scores off a corner kick that fell into the box in the 27th minute. Quiet- Half. Don’t get complacent! Vicente heads in for Bernard. Baranowski for Baratelo. Kovacs a card, and then Poti heads in. Can we hold on? 5 minutes of added time and… we hold and win 1-0. MOM is Vaida.

[Abe Sargent]

I hand out rests

We draw…Honved. Uh oh.

NB1 Game #14 – Away vs Akademia – I begin defensively rather than countering as again, I am moving my strategy one more defensive than normal given our tendency to sieve goals. I think Akademia have the best name in the NB1. For the Fans! We’ve got to get professional and stop giving up games later. They get a yellow card in the 3rd minute. They score in the 14th. They have 8 shots and 6 on target so just one is fine. They score in the 33rd. At the half they have 17 shots to our 0. Show me something else! They get another card. Rudolf for Coulibaly, Poti for Kovacs, Perez for Vaida, Can we at least get a score to keep from the shutout? 4 minutes. They shut us out 0-2. That’s our blank of the season. Unlike other games were we look good statically, this one we were just outplayed.

[Abe Sargent]

November

Nov 4 – Away vs Debrecen
Nov 18 – Away vs Paksi
Nov 25 – Home vs Ujpest
Nov 28 – Magyar Kupa 3rd Round Away vs Honved

Good training- Vicente, Cerny, Baranowski

4 called up

NB1 Game #15 – Away vs Debrecen - We begin defending. We haven’t played up to good foes in a single game. Can this be it? Can we steal a point from the heavy? Prove the point!! They turn aside our early momentum. They get a yellow I the 6th minute. We have 3 shots on target by the 15th. In the 20th they get a red card! I do my 11-10 tactics. By the 35th we have 10 shots and 6 on target. Half. Get that result!!! Poti for Kovacs. Cerny at MR. Rudolf for Coulibaly. Three minutes. Game. They stopped 12 on target shots! We tied 0-0

[Abe Sargent]

We have 15 points in 15 games. Rough.

NB1 Game #16 – Away vs Paksi – I begin defending here as well. They are 11th in the league. Good luck!! No shots in the first 16:53. We give away a PK in the 27th and they sink it. They score in the 43rd. Half. Show me something else! Kovacs to Kucera on a corner kick score in the 47th. We crawl one back. Rudolf for Coulibaly, Baranowski for Baratelo, Perez for Vaida, they score in the 80th, the whole point of going defensive is to stop the pain and we just got hammered by the 11th team in the league, ion a 19 shot 9 on target day for them.

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #17 – Home vs Ujpest – They are 11th in the league. I begin countering.Can we get the result we lacked last game? I was called away for duty but we won 3-1, goals by Bernard, Arabuli and Arabuli. Good game!

[Abe Sargent]

Dodoi scored a hat trick. Batarelo hits his card count and I start Haris.


Magyar Kupa – 3rd Round – Away vs heavy Honved- I begin defensively. Good luck! Can we pull the upset away? Arabuli leaps on a loose ball in the box, feeds Coulibaly for goal in the 5:37 moment. This score won’t stand. They are playing two injured players. They score in the 12th. Ah well, that is happening again. They score in the 20th. They block our PK in the 33rd. They have a sub. Half. Show me something else! They don’t, our foe scores in the 47th. They score in the 56th. I send in Rudolf. Zamouri. Perez. They score in the 87th. We lose 5-1. Wow. Well that cup is time for night night.

[Abe Sargent]

I head to the board and get permission to raise our coach count by one. I make an offer to a nice attacker. I make an offer to Portuguese and Mozambique coach Fernando Brassard. He’s not interested. What about Nigerian Englander Dele Adebola? He joins us a few days later. He has a 4 star attacking training and is the best on our roster.

Can I get permission to increase our scouting staff. We don’t have a data analyst. They approve. Who do I like? I make an offer to Romanian Dele Adebola.

Can I get them to improve our training facilities? They agree! They will upgrade the training facilites and finish in October of 2018.

https://i.ibb.co/6DTCjFy/Balmaz-24.png

How about youth?

https://i.ibb.co/nsCcGYN/Balmaz-25.png

Thanks board!

[Abe Sargent]

December

Dec 2 – Home vs Haladas
Dec 9 – Away vs Videoton

Good training - Cerny, Baranowski, Vicente

Scribe has dropped to a 3.5 rating.

We sign our data analyst!

NB1 #18 – Home vs 6th place Haladas – I begin countering. Can I win two in a row in league play? Busy early ten minutes. Then things die down and are quiet. Half. All even! Keep playing and the result will come! They score in the 47th. They grab a yellow. Poti for Kucera. Haris pounces on a loose ball in a corner kick in the 66th minute to tie it back up. That’s his first goal of the season. We won’t be shut out. Baranowski for Dubek. Coulibaly feeds Arabuli on a break away and we go one up in the 75th minute. They have us right where they want us. We don’t close often from a winning place.s Vicente for Bernard. Here they come. They get a late card. 5 minutes. Haris a late card. We win!

Want to see our 2nd NB1 win in a row? Against the 6th placed team rather than 11th or 12th?

https://i.ibb.co/ZB1HnwF/Balmaz-26.png

Sure thing! Haris is MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

Great turn around! I keep Haris starting.

I offer some of my youth for loan.

NB1 #19 – Away vs #2 Videoton – Uh oh. I begin defensively. They start with three injured players. Quiet game, 1 shot between us by the 20th. They score off a rebounded shot in the 36th. They score again 3 minutes later. Half, we are done, 2-0 with no shots on target. Show me something else. They score in the 48th. Poti for Fournier, Zamouri for Gabovda, Coulibaly to Arabuli on a counter in the 69th.Bodis for Kucera. Bernard Stjepanovic a late card. Vaida a card as well. We lose 3-1.

Time for Winter Break!

Here is the NB1

https://i.ibb.co/vdkHGy4/Balmaz-28.png

We are sitting in 8th, but we are one point from 9th but 5 points from 7th and 6th.

[Abe Sargent]

Our squad heads on break and comes back next month on the 19th.

I have 650 in cash under my budget. I need to bring in a new defender during break and, frankly, I may need to bring in another under a loan. I hate loans as you are developing another’s players, but we really need the help and I don’t have the cash to do more than one new player! We need to improve my defense.

Haris got on well with Baratelo. Vincete loved the linkup with Dubek.

I offer my 5th DC for sale

I get a 20k offer for Baratelo who’s deal expires in a few months. Do I take it? I could start Haris and save 800/week! I do so. I extend Haris by two years.


Here are my players coming free

https://i.ibb.co/3mzKhcS/Balmaz-29.png


I offer extensions to these players – Horvath, what about my MR? I make an offer to Gabovda for one year. I hold off on Vaida.

Coulibaly dropped to 3.5 stars. But he’s 36 that’s allowed. I won’t reup him or Rudolf or Kucera for sure. Nor Bodis.

Horvath signs. I extend Kamaras.

I extend some staff as well.

[Abe Sargent]

I arrange some friendlies.

Batarelo signs!

Hazard wins Player of the Year

January

Jan 15th – Transfer window opens
Jan 27th – Home vs MFK Dukla Banska Bystrica, Friendky

Good training – None they are on break

I look for replacements for Kucera first. I move Kucera to backup. I don’t care about their being EU I just need anyone to stop this sieve.

I look to 23 year old Nikola Kovacevic from Serbia. I scout him and offer him a trial.

Next up? How about 34 year old stud Jérémy Toulalan Jérémy Toulalan Not interested.

Austria’s 26 year old Lukas Rotpuller? I scout him.

I make an offer to Nikola Kovacevic. I like him a lot. Serbia is outside of the EU, but beggars can’t be choosers.

We sign him!

Want to see him?

https://i.ibb.co/0Z2JNND/Balmaz-30.png

I am paying him 50 more than Baratelo. He’ 4.5 stars and arguably my best player. He’s young at 23 and I have the young hopeful for a while. Not one of those temp deals. Check out his speed, physical, great jumper and heading. His major weakness? Passing. But I cannot get everything. He replaces Kucera in my lineup. In my first year with Slovakian my first best DC I brought in in that opening year was a non-EU Serbian stud named Milan Milonovic. Can he be my studly Milanovic?

I had 650 under the budget, but I couldn’t keep him down, so I have 600 to shop for another improvement. My other starters at DC are Kovacs at 3.5 stars and Fournier who has been dropping and is at 3 stars. Can I find an improvement for Fornier?

[Abe Sargent]

Hmm…what about a youther? That would hit under my budget. If I am going to start a 3 star DC I’d rather they be one that could grow rather than a 34 year old. What can I unearth?

Welsh and Canadian James Graham? He;s EU now (Wales is leaving). He doesn’t want come to Hungary.

Peru’s Paulo Acosta? No EU here. He’s not interested.

Spain’s Antonio Mesa? I scout him.

Holland and Suriname’s Shaquill Sno? I scout him

Albania and Italy’s Marash Kumbulla? I scout him

I also scout Holland’s Bo de Bruijn

I think I figured it out. I make an offer to Slovenian and Serbian 19 year old Dominik Dinga.

He signs the next day!

https://i.ibb.co/9H3V3cL/Balmaz-31.png

I move Fornier to rotation. He signs for a pricey 375 for a hot prospect but he’s worth it as a four star guy with potential. I assign him to Fornier’s role.

Key question, can upgrading my DCs to 4 and 4.5 star players stop my goaling problems?

I offer Kucera for sale as he is now my 6th DC

[Abe Sargent]

I accept two offers for him. I sell him for 0 and free up another 850.

Any other youth I want to bring in?

Just one, French ST Tony Santiago. I make the 19 year old an offer.

My Serbian scout is hired by Debrecen and I hire another - Blazo Raosavljevic.

The window opens! Goodbye Batarelo!

Our backup GK for sale leaves. Santiago signs. I look for a youth to be my 3rd GK and I offer a hot prospect deal to French GK Andrea Gambetta.

I sign Gambetta. He comes in as a 2 star backup. Santiago disappoints as 2 star, I though he’d be better.

[Abe Sargent]

I reject loan offers for Haris. Vicente has risen to a 3.5 star player. Ideally, if he keeps growing, he’ll be my starter at MC next year. That’s the same rating as Bernard. Let’s compare them:

https://i.ibb.co/MfmFdSR/Balmaz-32.png

As you can see, Bernard is better at aerial, defending, and attacking and vision and a bit of physical, and Jose is better at technical and speed. I’ll keep Bernard in for the 2nd half.

Baranowski is the same rating as Haris at DMC. Who so I run there?

https://i.ibb.co/VqVYf96/Balmaz-33.png

They are tied in a few. Baranowski is better at speed and aeriel and Haris better at mental, def, and vision. I’ll leave Haris in.

[Abe Sargent]

Friendly #1 – We win 4-3. MOM is Rudolf

February

Feb 3 – Friendly – Home vs Szakoly
Feb 10 – Friendly – Home vs Veres
Feb 17 – Friendly – Home vs Lokomoto
Feb 24 – Home vs Torna

Good training – Arabuli, Cerny, Baranowski

A contract is offered for Siger for next year.

Friendly #2 – We win 4-1.

Friendly #3 – We lose 3-1

The Transfer deadline is here. It arrives.

Friendly #4 – We win 2-0

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #20 – Home vs #1 Torna. I begin countering. Woodshed time! They have early initiative. They score off a counter in the 34th minute. They have 10 shots and 6 on target so that’s fair. They score in extra time. Get better!!! We only have 3 shots 1 on target, Dubek intercepts the ball and feeds an attack by Arabuli for goal in the 55th. I send in Fornier for Kovacs. They score in the 63rd. Rudolf for Coulibaly. Haris out for Baranowski. They score in the 83rd. We lose 4-1 against the league winning team. No shock here.

[Abe Sargent]

March

March 3 – Home vs Vasas
March 10 – Away vs DVTK
March 17 - Away vs Mezőkövesdi SE
March 31 – Home vs Akademia

Good training – Cerny, Kovacs, Dinga

Our trainees arrive!

https://i.ibb.co/fM6mYn6/Balmaz-34.png

I review them and Molnar especially. They aren’t…good.

Any good Hungarian youth elsewhere that were brought in?

There are a few that would make our senior squad like János Dobos for Ferencvaros and Gergő Sáfár for Vasas seems like he has great potential. I scout some youth and add some to short lists for future growth.

[Abe Sargent]

I go to the board and ask for a new deal and they agree to extend me.

NB1 Game #21 – Home vs Vasas – I begin countering against our #7 foe. This is the battle of the Team I am and the Team I was. They get a card in the 4th minute. They push aside our attack. In the 15th minute, Coulibaly finds Gabovda on an attack run and crosses to him for goal. They have us right where they want us! We injure one of their players. Half, we have 8 shots to their 4, we each have 2 on target. Don’t get complacent! They don’t! In the 55th off a Dubek corner kick feeds Arabuli who heads to Fournier for goal! They score off a cross in the 62nd. I send in Baranowski and Vicente. Then Poti heads in. 4 minutes. We…hold and win 2-1! Weird! MOM is Coulibaly

[Abe Sargent]

We extend my deal by a year.

NB1 Game #22 – Away vs DVTK – 3rd in the league, and we are playing defensively. Vengeance!!!!!! Quiet early momentum. They push forward and then score in the 23rd. They sink a PK a few minutes later. Half. Get Better! They do! In the 49th, Bernard grabs a loose ball on a IFK and sinks it. Fouriner for Dinga. They score in the 61st. Poti for Kovacs. Baranowski for Haris. 4 minutes. We lose 3-1. They finish to 17 shots to our 15.

Coulibaly is out for a few days.

Wanna see the NB1 after 2/3rd?

https://i.ibb.co/NVcJnzq/Balmaz-35.png

We are still sitting at 8th and you can see that the distance between us and moving up the chart is still around 5 points for both places above us. We are 2 points up over Paski.

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #23 – Away vs Mezokovesd – We have two wins against them. Can we go 3 for 3? I am starting Vicente today and Fournier and Rudolph for an injured Coulibaly. I begin defensively. We have the early initiative. In the 22nd minute Arabuli drives the corner and crosses to Rudolf for a score. They score in the 37th. Half. Keep it up! Baranowski for Vicente. Dinga for kovacs. Perez for Vaida. Can we get a late score? We haven’t. 3 minutes. We tie them 1-1 which favors us, they have 19 shots to our 9. MOM is theirs. We took 7 points from them.

[Abe Sargent]

My 5 international callups, in case you care:

Vincente – U19 Spain
Cerny – U19 Czech Republic
Arabuli – Georgia Senior Squad
Tiago Leal - Portugal U19
Milan Kovacs – Hungary U19

I move Dinga and Coulibaly back to start. I leave Vincente in at MC.

NB1 Game #24 – Home vs Akademia – They just fired their Manager and hired a new one and this home game is his debut. I begin countering. They have lost their last 5 games. We give up a PK in the 22nd but Scribe stops it. We injure one of their players and they have to sub off. Minutes fade. Half. Keep it up! They only have 1 shot on target and that’s the PK. Gabovda feeds a cross to Coulibaly for goal in the 58th. Alex Perez for Vaida. Fournier for Nikola my new DC. Can we hold and win? Bernard for Vicente. Dubek sinks a Pk in the 77th. 6 minutes. Wow. They score in the 91st minute. Full time. We win 2-1. MOM is Dubek. We handed the new manager a loss in their first game.

Paksi lost so we put space between us at 9th. But we are still far away from getting to 7th.

[Abe Sargent]

April

April 7 – Home vs Debreceni Vasutas Sport Club
April 14 – Away vs Honved
April 21 – Away vs Ujpest
April 28 – Home vs Paksi

Good training – Leal, Coulibaly, Baranowski

I move Bernard back to MC.

NB1 Game #25 – Home vs Debrecen – They are 10th and we need a result to keep our 4 points in 2 games momentum. I begin countering. I start Baranowski for Haris. Here we go! Baranowski an early card. Dinga feeds Coulibaly on a deep attack on a counter for goal in the 11th minute. No surprise they score in the 16th. Minutes ebb away. They push aside our offense in the early 40s. We give away another PK and this time they miss. Half, 1-1. I am not pleased with that sloppy half! Vincete for a carded Baranowski. They score in the 59th. Fourier for Kovacs. Dinga a card and Poti heads in. I move to control to get a goal. In the 88th, Gobovda hits Dubek for a driving goal. Can we hold? 2 minutes later, Couliably feeds Arabuli for a goal! I slide to defensive. 5 minutes. Can we hold? Nice late comeback win!

Wanna see?

https://i.ibb.co/FmK7RFT/Balmaz-36.png

Here you go! 7 points in 3 games, nice.

[Abe Sargent]

The league after 25 games

https://i.ibb.co/YRGT95x/Balmaz-37.png

As you can see our big 3 game points has brought us into shouting distance of 7th. We have 9 points between us and Paksi at 9 and are looking good.

[Abe Sargent]

But now our form is about to drop as we head to Honved, last year’s champion and this year’s 3rd placed team. I haven’t played up in a single game this year.

NB1 Game #26 – Away vs Honved – Haris is starting at DMC. We are defensive. Here is where our good form ends. I would be fine with a light loss. Here we go! They score in the 28th. Then again in the 31st. Arabuli intercepts the ball and scores in the 37th. Gavbovda a deep pass to Coulibaly for goal in injury time. Half, we scored a late equalizer. Don’t get complacent. Can we steal a win from Honved? Probably not but we’ll see. They score off a counter in the 48th. Ah well, there went that dream. They only have three shots on target. Hey get a card. Fournier for Kovacs. Perez for Vaida. They score in the 72nd. Poti for Dinga. Haris with a late card. 4 minutes. We lose 4-2. Unlucky!

[Abe Sargent]

I move Cerny to start at MR which I am training him at. I hire some staff for my U19 squad. Romanian Attila Salamon at U19 Gk, and Antonio Ghomsi from Cameroon and Marlon Pedulu English U19 fitness coach.

NB1 Game #27 – Away vs Ujpest – the 12th team in the league I begin defensive. Can we steal away points against the worst team in the league? They have early momentum and then it dies around the 15 minute. They have all of the early advantage, by the 30th they have 10 shots to our 2. In the 39th, they foul us in the box and up steps Dubek and he…sinks it! That’s not going to stand for long. Half. Don’t get complacent! In the 51st we give up a PK and block it but the rebound goes in. Perez for Vaida. Coulibaly to Arabuli on a break away in the 65th minute. They score in the 71st. Fornier for Kovacs. Vicente heads in. 5 minutes for us to steal a win or stop them from doing so. In the 91st Coulibaly feed Arabuli on a counter and we are up 3-2. I think that’s our first extra time goal scored. Can we hold on?

https://i.ibb.co/Q9NCzgK/Balmaz-38.png

We do! Arabuli is the MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

That win moved us up to 7th

NB1 Game #28 – Home vs Paksi – This is the 10th team in the league – I begin countering. Can we get more points from the bottom of the league? I leave Cerny at MR since he got a 7.1 last game in his first start. Vaida feeds Dubek for goal in the 9th minute. A few minutes later they foul Arabuli in the box and…it’s a PK by Dubek and…he sinks it and we are up 2-0. Back and forth ensues. Half. Don’t get complacent! Gabovda for a tired Cerny, who was at 7.5. Rudolf for Coulibaly. Fournier for Kovacs. 3 minutes. Can we hold and get a rare shut out?


https://i.ibb.co/YL6qTF4/Balmaz-39.png

We do! Shutout! Nice!

[Abe Sargent]

Back to back wins baby!

5 games left! Can we continue our roll and finish in the top half at #6?

May

May 5 – Away vs Haladas
May 12 – Home vs Videoton
May 19 – Away vs Torna
May 26 – Home vs Vasas

Good training – Leal, Vicente, Marki

I leave the 7.5 and 7.1 starting Cerny in for another game.

Coulibaly won Goal of the Month!

I link up Baranowski and Gabovda

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #29 – Away vs Haladas – This is a big match, as they are one point behind us in 8th If they win they’ll flip around us. If we win we should avoid relegation! I begin defensively. That’s a fast 20 minutes. They have all of the next 13 minutes momentum. By the 30th they have 6 shots, 5 on target. They score in the 39th. My stud 4.5 DC misses a header and the shot sinks in the 42nd. Cerny feeds Dubek on a counter, and he scores. That’s Cerny’s first assist and Dubek’s 10th goal. They score in extra time. Half 3-1 them. Show me something else! They have TEN shots on target! Rudolf for Coulibaly. They score in the 57th. Fornier for Kovacs. Perez for Vaida. We injure one of their players. They get a late card. They score in the 89th. We lose 5-1!

Nasty. Every time you think we have a good run we return to form. That was just the 8th ranked team!

Cerny finished with a 6.3 rating in that awful match and I move my Ukrainian starter back.

[Abe Sargent]

I move Vincente to start.

We dropped to 8th again.

Alex Perez is out for a couple of weeks.

NB1 Game #30 - Home vs #2 Videoton – I begin countering. Woodshed time! Shoot, this is the game that should be 5-1. I’ll take a quiet 2-1 loss. We still haven’t played up to any of the heavies in 3 games a year against them. Will today’s home game be different where we get points against a major team in the division? Probably not. Vengeance! We shut down their early attack. They score in the 18th minute. Sigh. By now they have 6 shots and 4 on target. We injure one of their players and they head off. By the 33rd we have 6 shots to their 7 but just two on target, but that’s good. Show me something else! I send in Zamouri for a wounded Vaida. Here they come. We survive. They score in the 62nd. Fornier for Nikola. Gabovda feeds Arabuli on an attacking run for a score in the 66th. Poti for Dinga. Can we steal a tie? Haris a late card. We lose 1-2

Well, that was not a surprise

Here is the league with 3 games to go

https://i.ibb.co/SXFrWqM/Balmaz-40.png


As you can see we have dropped back hard to 8th after two losses. We have 10 pints over 9th so we cannot fall past 8th, but we are 4 points down from Haladas and are unlikely to cross in three games.

[Abe Sargent]

As you can see we have dropped back hard to 8th after two losses. We have 10 pints over 9th so we cannot fall past 8th, but we are 4 points down from Haladas and are unlikely to cross in three games.

15 matches lost in a season is a new record for us. But to be fair we’ve never been in the NB1 either.

I link up Bernard and Zamouri.

NB Game #31 – Away vs Farencvaros – The Top team in the league. I begin defensively. More woodshedding happens. I am starting Bernard at MC rather than Jose Vincente. Here we go! Quiet. By the 25th minute they have 3 shots and none on target to our 1 and 1. Half, they have 8 shots 0 on target. Vengeance! They score in the 48th. They sank their first shot on target. They score in the 53rd. Baranowski for Dubek. Rudolf for Coulibaly. Fournier for Nikola. Can we get a score to prevent the shutout? 4 Minutes. No late theatrics, we lose 0-2.

Two games left

Rudolf announces his retirement at the end of the season.

[Abe Sargent]

Siger’s loan ends and he returns.

Coulibaly announces his retirement.

Perez is back from his injury

NB1 Game – Away vs #5 Vasas – We are not likely winning this one. I begin with a defensive mind set. Vengeance! This is the penultimate match of the season for us. Arabuli is injured and I send in Rudolph for him. On a counter in the 37th, Dubek feeds Coulibaly for a goal! Nice! Half. Don’t get complacent! I doubt this result stands, but I’ll take a loss that began with a 1-0 us at the half. Minutes melt rapidly. Coulibaly feeds Rudolf on an attacking run in the 55th and we are up 2-0! Wow. That’s won’t last long. Cerny for Gabovda. They score in the 73rd. I knew there was no way that was holding. Fornier for Kovacs. They tie in the 76th. Are we giving this away late? Can we steal a tie? 4 minutes. We hold and tie 2-2. MOM is Coulibaly in his 2nd to last game of his career. They had 16 shots 9 on target to our 7 and 4.

Arabuli is out for 2-3 days with a twisted ankle and will start the finale.

One game left

[Abe Sargent]

Honved, who knocked us out of the Magyar Kupa early won it all.

June

June 2 – Home vs DVTK (Diosgyori on the table) –

Good Training – Cerny, Dinga

NB1 #33 – Home vs DVTK- I am starting my three major young youth today, and we are countering. I’d love a win to send off our season but our position is locked in. Have fun!!! They have an injury in the 1st minute at the 0:43 mark. A quiet first 12 minutes. They score in the 21st off a corner kick. Half. We have 8 shots but none on target. I send in Rudolf for Coulibaly so they’ll both play. Perez for Vaida. Fornier for Dinga. Come on Rudolf! Perez gives up a PK in the 88th and they sink it. We lose 0-2.

The end of the season!

We finished in 8th. Not the season I was aiming for.

[Abe Sargent]

We have a lot of work to do!

My goals for Balmazujvaros

Year One
1. Steer clear of relegation. DONE, Year 1 - Ideally, finish in the top half of the NB1. NOPE
2. Build up the youth team. DONE, Year 1 – My best win.
3. Turn my squad into a winning squad, NOPE
Year Two and On –
4. Finish in the EURO top 3 spots.
5. Do some damage in the EURO
6. Build V Balmazujvaros into the biggest club in the NB1
7. Win the NB1
8. Get to the Champion’s League.
9. Turn Balmazujvaros into a powerhouse of Eastern Europe like Red Star, Sparta Prague or Dinamo Kiev.
10. Secure Balmazujvaros fiscally
11. Get Balmazujvaros to the point that it will continue it’s dominance after I leave.

[Abe Sargent]

My Team starter assessment and what I expect to do with them moving forward from 1-3.

GK Scribe – 1 - I thought I had my solution, but he hasn’t played as well as I need at this level. I am likely to look elsewhere for replacement

DC Kovacevic – 3 – Locked it at a 4 star rating.

DC Kovacs – 1 – Looking to replace the 3 star DC and captain

DC Dinga – 2 - Now just a 3.5 rating, could turn into my top sub.

DMC Haris – 3 – 3.5 stars is not where I want to be but Baranowski is 4 stars and growing.

MC Bernard 3 – Fine at 3.5 star, but no major impact on the game. However Vicente is 4.5 stars and growing and will likely start here next year. I move Bernard to rotation.

AMC Dubek – 3 – 4 stars, 7.05 rating, played very well at attacking. Good year from him, not looking to replace him.

MR Gabovda – 3 – 4 star rating, 6.97 rating, extended for one year until Cerny steps in. Cerny is 4 star and growing.

ML Vaida – 0 - 3 star, contract ending next month, counts as my valuable foreign slot, moving on from him.

ST Arabuli – 3 – 4 stars, young, plays great, 7.06 rating, not looking to replace him

ST Coulibaly – 0 – retiring, must replace, 7.05 rating.

My goal is to use Dodoi as my primary backup ST next year unless I come across a good one.

I finished with four starters I inherited – Vaida, Gabovda, Arabuli and Coulibaly.

We need:

Starting – DC, ST, ML, - for sure
Maybe GK, DC

Backup – a better winger than Zamouri or Alex,
4th ST to run behind Dodoi.

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Stats

MOM - Coulibaly led our team with 4 tied for 6th in the league.

Distance Covered – Dubek 2nd, Gabovda 6th, Bernard 7th

Distance covered per 90 minutes – Gabovda 2nd

Form – Arabuli 16th with 7.06

Headers Won – Fournier - 216 for 8th place

Goals – Arabuli 3rd with 17, Coulibaly 5th with 14.

Avg Min/Goal- Arabuli 8th, Coulibaly 9th

Shots – Arabuli 2nd, Coulibaly 4th, Dubek 6th

Shots on Target – Arabuli led with 56! Coulibaly was 6th. Dubek was 10th

Shots on Target % - Arabuli 5th with 52% – pretty good

We scored 52 goals 3rd most in the league, 58 was the most so we weren’t far off.

Assists – Vaida 6th with 8, as is Dubek and Coulibaly. Gabovda and Arabuli were with 6

Key Passes – Dubek First with 68, 15 more than 2nd! Vaida 10th

Chances Created Dubek in 1st with 27, Coulibaly 4th with 23

Pass Complete % - Bernard 2nd

Dribbles/Game – Arabuli 7th

Offside – Coulibaly – 101, 1st – that’s not good

None of my players have more than 1 mistake that led to goal. How did we have so many goals?

None are in the top for mistakes either

Key headers- Kovacs is 8th

Interceptions Made – Fournier 11th

Headers Won % - Kovacevic - 7th. Good for the guy!

Shots Blocked – Kovacs 4th; Fournier 11th

Shut outs – Scribe had 3 and his replacement 1

Scribe allowed 57 goals.

Saves held - Scribe 7th

Saves Parried – Scribe 1st with 50, more than 12 by others.


Scribe was top ten in both saves held and top of parries. My d wasn’t causing massive errors.


Arabuli and Coulibaly and Dubek were a trio of 4 star players and they dominated on offense. Why couldn’t my new D play the same? When you look at the stats, Scribe was stopping a ton of shots. Who is to blame? Scribe? My D?

[Abe Sargent]

Here, let’s play a game. Let’s compare Scribe to a player with 15 shut outs – 3rd best in the league over at heavy Videoton. Statistically, he is supposed to be the 3rd best GK in the league. Let’s compare him with Scribe

https://i.ibb.co/YTBkGKs/Balmaz-42.png


As you can see, Scribe is better at shot stopping, physical, aerial, mental, and speed. Tujvel is better at distribution and communication. How do they have radically different stat sheets?

Let’s make that comparison with the top GK in the league for the top team.

https://i.ibb.co/YTBkGKs/Balmaz-42.png


As you can see, they are tied for shot stopping, dist, physical and mental, and Scribe is worse for aerial and speed. He’s he worse player, sure, but he’s not that much worse right?

What is going on here?

No idea!

[Abe Sargent]

MC Bernard’s Nov 24th goal vs Ujpest was the Goal of the Season! I congratulate him!

https://i.ibb.co/tmpzCS0/Balmaz-44.png

Our end of the year stuff. As you can see, Arbuli was the young player and fan’s player of the year. Dubek was the signing of the season. I really liked our triumvirate in attack and they were all our fans’ top players as well! Dubek is a good choice as he was probably the best performing of the ones I brought in.





 

[Abe Sargent]

I hold my end of the year meeting and tell them a want a mid table finish next year and they all agree with me.

My board give me a big financial bonus – 50k/week budget and 150k transfer. Nice!

The upgrades to training and youth facilities has begun

Anyone coming free I want to bid on?

Let’s look at ST first. Can I find a tag partner for Arabuli and Dubek? I scout some options, and I do the same at ML, DC and GK.

I am looking at a target man coming free at ST. How about Columbian Duván Zapata? He was made an offer by Napoli. What about Jón Daði Böðvarsson? I scout him out. Scotland’s Matt Smith?

I add to my shortlist free GK Victor Rîmniceanu of Romania and Xabi Irureta a Basque SpainishGK.


Over at ML/Winger I look at no one yet, none of the will sign for me. I push back that decision until later.

DC? I hold off for now as well. Sometimes someone who doesn’t want to play for you will change their mind once they come free.

Dodoi started in this division and had an 7.03 rating.

[Abe Sargent]

Pre-season is over!

I welcome my team back and hold my meeting.

The board agree to increase our scouting network by one.

I offer Rudolf a role to be my new scout. He signs

The domestic transfer window rises

The Hungarian Division fell 5 spots from 39th to 44th.

I get an offer for Poti. Accept? Yes. Dude is 30 and my 5th DC.

Videoton earned a sweet 6.75 mill in sponsor money last year.


We have the option to create a B Squad for next year. I do so!

We get improved payroll for scouts

I arrange friendlies.

GK Victor Rimniceanu agrees to join us! I offer Scribe for sale.

Friendly #1 – Home vs Dabas – We win 3-0

Poti signs

Haladas has made an offer for Scribe for 50k. I accept.

I offer Coulibaly the head coach role for my B team as he wants to go into management and he looks quite good.

[Abe Sargent]

We sell Scribe.


June 30th is here


Leaving the club – Vaida, Siger, and Erdei

I sign Mirko Teodorovic as the AssMan of the 2 squad

We lose our General Manager and I don’t intend to bring in one

Contracts leaving in a year

https://i.ibb.co/vZ7w8hp/Balmaz-45.png


I hold off on Dubek or Arabuli until I have more time to see what they can bring to the table. I offer a few youthers to extend like Kovacs.



Friendly #2 – Home vs Dunaharaszti – We win 2-0.

[Abe Sargent]

July

July 7 – Friendly, Home vs Ujpest
July 14 – Friendly, Homs vs Paksi
July 21 – Away vs Budaorsi
July 28 – Home vs Kisvarda

Good training – Cerny and Leal

I confirm our pitch dimensions

We sign our new GK!

https://i.ibb.co/P4H191v/Balmaz-46.png

Here is Rimniceanu! He is a studly GK and is coming in at 4.5 stars. Now…I am paying the stud a real 1.8k/week amount as well as just a two year deal in case he sucks.

Here is his comparison to Scribe

https://i.ibb.co/swRbf11/Balmaz-47.png

As you can see, Victor is better at everything save for pure shot stopping where he is only one behind Scribe. And they are tied physcially. I need this to work!

[Abe Sargent]

Alright, next, how about a DC to repalce Kovacs?

My 2nd option is pricey, but young. I make him an offer Marc-Oliver Kempf. 23 years old German.

I scout other DCs and ML.

Hmm

I get an offer for Gabovda for 110k from Debrecen. Do I do it? I have coverage with Cerny and I could sign a replacement backup.

Let’s see what would happen if I did

https://i.ibb.co/gvqFn9g/Balmaz-48.png

Gabovda is better at aerial a lot, a bit better attacking, better vision and Cerny is better with speed, physical, technical and mental. About the same really. I take the offer.

[Abe Sargent]

Now I look for an ML that can play Winger. My top 4 aren’t interested or are too expensive. 5? Okay, let’s make an offer for 21 year old English Brandon Barker.

He joins us the next day

https://i.ibb.co/M2zt62d/Balmaz-49.png

Barker is my most expensive hot prospect deal I have. He’s a 4.5 star player, and I have him for just two years as his technicals aren’t amazing with just 13 cross and 14 pass. My other choices were also better defensively since we only have one player on the wing and that’s my preference. But he’s a hot prospect I can loan out if he underplays. Barker is also going to be foreign in a bit after the UK leaves the EU, so I swap one foreign player for another, which I don’t like. Let’s see how he plays!

[Abe Sargent]

Next is a tag team partner for Dubek and Arabuli. This time my 1st choice, Joseph Mendes, is free, and I make him an offer. He joins shortly thereafter.

https://i.imgur.com/OypZW3d.png

Here is Mendes! He’s not my typical young guy, but he is a great ST with 16 fin, 15 head, and 14 jump so I love him as a target man next to Arabuli. I also have him for just two years in case he busts and he’s older. 4.5 star rating. Mendes you are filling big shoes!

[Abe Sargent]

Our expectations are a mid table finish.


Are there any youth I want to pursue?

I make these offers

Aus 18 year old ST Kevin O'Dwyer

15 year old Pol DM Rafal Posmyk

We sell Gabovda

Friendly #3 – Home vs Ujpest – I want to close my preseason with the two relegated teams from last year. We draw 1-1.

My youth sign. I see O’Dwyer as my backup to ST.

Do I want to bring in another DC to start? Hmmm…I don’t see any good enough that are interested.

I also don’t see a good sub to bring in for Perez and Zamouri.

Could I transfer one?

I don’t see any affordable MRs that can play MR in a sub role.

DC? None that are interested in me.

Cheap youth for sale? How about Hungarian future studs? I make some offers.

I purchase 18 year old ST AML Hungarian Kevin Csoboth for 30k. He’s on the U19 Hungarian squad, and is a hot prospect for me with 3 stars.

I purchase 16 year old DC Gergő Sáfár from Vasas for 25k. 1 star current but 4 star future.

Do I accept a loan offer for Haris? I can start Baranowski. I hold off.

Friendly #4 – Home vs Paksi – We win 3-1

I massage my set pieces.

I promote Dubek to captain and Kovacevic our vice


I give a leave of absence to one of my Portugal youthers.

[Abe Sargent]

I am using these first few games as a barometer to see where my team is after our acquistions before things go crazy.

NB1 Game #1 – Home vs Budaors – I begin standard against last year’s promotion. We are domianting the early game but no goal comes of it. We have the momentum in the first half. Half, we have 15 shots, but just 4 on target. Ten minutes roll off the clock. They get a card. Kovacs for a tired Kempf. I move to control. Fournier for Kovacevic. They get another card. Bernard for Vincent. Can we get win? 5 minutes. No we can’t. We had 22 shots, on target, none sunk. We were blanked by their GK, and Cerny is MOM with an 8.3 rating.

This was a loss by our offense not our defense. We shut them out!

Just for funsies, here is their GK

https://i.ibb.co/3v71HR9/Balmaz-51.png

Here he is! That’s the guy who shut us out.

If we can’t finish a game like this with 22 shots and a win this is going to be a long season.

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #2 – Home vs Kisvarda – Another promotion team – I stay standarding. Here we go! They score in the 16th. Here we go again. Their scorer gets a card. They score a PK given by Dinga. They score an OG in the 34th. Half. They have all of the shots. 11 shots for us, 10 for them. Kovacs for Dinga. In the 66th, Dubek feeds Vincente for goal on a corner kick. That ties it! I move to control. They get another card. A few minutes later Dubek feds Kempf for goal on an IFk. Baranowski for Haris. Dodoi for a banged up Arabuli. In the 87th, they foul Mendes and up steps Dubek and..we sink it. We win 4-2, MOM is Dubek!

That was a CRAZY game!

[Abe Sargent]

We have 4 points and a shut out in 2 games, but those were against the promoted teams. How will my team respond to pressure from better clubs?
We had FOUR players in the Team of the Week.

August

Aug 4 – Away vs Debrecen
Aug 11 – Home vs Mesokovezdi
Aug 18 – Away vs Videoton
Aug 25 – Home vs Haladas

Two more easy games to start the month before the heavy that finished 2nd last year.

Good training – Dodoi, Cerny, Baranowski

[Abe Sargent]

I get a loan offer for Csoboth. Do I want to loan him out? Let’s look. 2.5 star current rating, ST, AMRL, 18.hot prospect, high potential future. I see him as my 4th ST behind Dodoi and my starters. But a key player loan out in this division is likely to help his development more. I accept. I can recall him if needed.

Haris has fallen to 2.5 stars and I move in Baranowski to start for him. I list Haris for loan.

NB1 #3 – Away vs Debrecen – We begin defensively against one of the worst teams in the league last year that wasn’t relegated. Can we get some points? Let’s find out! I am starting all three of my good youth from last year and the future of our team – Vicente, Cerny and Baranowski. Pick up where you left off! The early match is rather exciting with a lot of back and forth before things settle down. Then they take control of the game. They score in the 26th on their 8th shot of the game. They turn aside a nasty DFK from Dubek. Half. Show me something else! We’re just down by one, this is doable. We wo the last match by 2 after being down at the half. They score an unmarked goal in the 56th. I send in Zamouri for Cerny. Perez for Barker. Kovacs for Dinga. Kempf a card. We just didn’t show up. They had 21 shots and 2 goals, fair for that amount, and we had 11 and 6 on target. Again, we are shut out and don’t show up in three games against winnable teams.

[Abe Sargent]

Haris doesn’t like that he was loan listed but I tell him it’s good for his development and he accepts it. I get 5 loan offers and I accept every one with a first team or key player role.

Csoboth heads out on his loan.

I reject an offer to loan Dinga.

Haris heads out.

The board gives me permission to hire another coach, I place an advert

NB1 #4 – Home vs Meskovezdi – I begin standarding against them. We got 7 points against them last year, can we win a home game? I put Laslo Lazi on bench to maybe give the youth a sub if we are dominating. Have fun! Arabuli is opened by Dubek, and then slides the ball to Mendes for a score and that is Mendes’s first goal for us, and that was in the 3rd minute. They hit us on a counter 1 minute later. This is going to be one of THOSE games… They score in the 6th. They get a card. Mendes slides the ball to Barker in the 9th and he score his first goal for us as well. Wow. 5 minutes passes and we aren’t a 3-3 score. Arabuli drives the corner, crosses to Mendes for a goal in he 25th. We are up 3-2. That won’t last long. I pull Kempf for Kovacs after he collects a card. Arabuli intercepts the ball and hits Mendes for a hattrick in the first half. 4-2 us. They score off a corner in the 39th. 4-3 them. Half, get this, they have 3 shots on target and we have 4, so al 7 goals in the game were the only shots on target. Don’t let your performance levels drop! Another card for them. I pull Dinga for Fournier after he gets a card. And another card for them. Zamouri for Cerny. They level in the 75th. I move to control. They score off a corner kick a few minutes later. In the 81st they get another yellow and that person already had one, so that’s 11-10. I push forward. Can we win this late? Baranowski a card. We lose 5-4, MOM is Mendes.

We cannot do well in this league as long as we cannot stop shots. They had SIX shots on target and scored 5 goals.

That was the highest scoring match in the NB1

[Abe Sargent]

So far we are getting a game where my offense shows up, (Games 2 and 4), but not my defense, or my D has a shut out or 2 goals in 22 shots and shutting out my O.

I loan out Milan Kovacs

NB1 Game #5 – Away vs Videoton – I begin defensively. This will be a good barometer as we play against a real threat away. Woodshed time? They score in the 5th. We injure one of their STs and they head out. They score in the 27th. They score in the 33rd. Half. That was absolutely terrible! We each have 10 shots. Dubek to Mendes, goal, 52nd minute. Well we won’t be shut out this time. Kovacs for Kempf. Fournier for Nikola. In the 69th, Vicente feeds Barker for goal and that brings us to 3-2, can we steal a point? Bernard for Baranowski. 5 minutes is a lot of time. Barker steals the ball, feeds Mendes who drives the corner and crosses to Arabuli for goal in the 92nd minute! Can we hold on and tie 3-3 after being down 0-3 at the half? Against Videoton


https://i.ibb.co/nDWhZBF/Balmaz-52.png

We hold on for the tie! I’ll take it, that’s a very strong tie.

[Abe Sargent]

Okay, let’s look at my starters after 5 games.

Here are their rankings:

GK Rimniceanu 6.74
DC Nikola 6.58
DC Kempf 6.84
DC Dinga 6.62
DMC Baranowski 6.82
MC Vicente 7.20
AMC Dubek 7.22
ML Barker 7.38
MR Cerny 7.32
ST Arabuli 7.28
ST Mendes 7.56

As you can see, all of my ST and non-DMC middies have a rating above 7.20 and that’s with two times my O was shut out in five games. But my defense just isn’t cutting it. Kempf is not bad and he was 6.2 in the last match so he’s doing well. What else could be happening? Nikola Kovacevic has dropped to 3 stars, Dinga the same. Is it them? I just can’t keep throwing new DCs at the mix, at some point we have to realize it’s something else.

What else could it be? My tactics? I’ve run this tactic to great success in Fm18 before. I used the 3-1-3-1-2 to win in Slovakia and Romania and France.

Last year Kovacevic was 6.51 in rating, worse than the small sample size thus far.

What could I do that would keep my good offensive and midfield in their place?

I could move my DMC over to fullback and a DC to fullback and then slide into a 4-3-1-2. I’d need to pick up two strong FBs. I begin practicing that in my #2 spot.


Let’s try that out I’ll also work on a replacement for Nikola. I move him to rotation.

[Abe Sargent]

Arabuli is dropping to a 3.5 by the by.


I make an offer for another fitness coach, Alfonso Azurza a Spanish fitness coach. He joins us with a 4 star aerobic rating.

I make an offer for DC Ross McCrorie from Scotland.

Any FBs for free?

I scout 34 year old DL Benoît Assou-Ekotto

I make an offer to German DR Dennis Diekmeier who is 28. He’s really good and would be one of my best players.

Unsigned D RCL Fankaty Dabo is scouted as my primary backup. I also look at DRL Pietro Beruatto.

I make an offer to Benoît Assou-Ekotto, Dabo, and Beruatto, that’s two starters and two backups.

Benoît Assou-Ekotto rejects me. He accepted an offer elsewhere. My next choice is Spain’s Toni Dovale. I make him an offer.

Dabo and Beruatto both join me on the same day

Dabo – 21, hot prospect, 650/week, 2 year deal, D CRL, WB RL, 3.5 star rating, English

Beruatto – Italian, 19, hot prospect, 750/week, 1 year deal, D LR, 3.5 star rating


Dovale rejects my offer as well. My next offer is for Thomas Salamon?

We purchase McCrorie for 55k.


https://i.ibb.co/7t59Ryv/Balmaz-53.png

Here’s the 19 year old hot prospect Ross. He’s a four star rated player, with solid stats all over. I move him to replace Kovacevic in my lineup.


 

[Abe Sargent]

Dennis Diekmeier joins us the day before my next match


https://i.ibb.co/yqnfky8/Balmaz-54.png


Here’s my best FB. He’s a nasty stud. I am only signing my pure FBs for one year in case this experiment doesn’t work, he’s best at FB R. 16 cross? Just 11 pass though, and not amazing def. abilities. 4.5 star player!

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #6 - Home vs Haladas – I begin standard. We are facing Scribe today. We’ll run our old tactic this game as I don’t have a DL starting quality yet. I start Ross today alongside Kempf. Vicente feeds Dubek on an attack run goal in the 12th minute. By the 15th minute we have 6 shots, 5 on target to their 1 and 0. A quiet moment ensues. Half. Don’t get complacent! We have the early offense in the 2nd half. Their goalie, Scribe, fouls Mendes in the box, gets a card, and we have a PK. Dubek sinks it. Kovacs for Dinga. I send in Aus ST O’Dwyer for Mendes who isn’t playing well to give him 25 minutes. They score in the 74th. They get a card. Nikola for Ross. Can we hold and win? 4 minutes of injury time. We hold and win 2-1. MOM is Dubek.

Good win!

[Abe Sargent]

None of the other FA DRs are good enough so I make an offer to one. Spanish Riki Mangana. We sign Riki Mangana for 50k.

 
https://i.ibb.co/wBz31j7/Balmaz-55.png

Here he is! As you can see, he can play a bunch of spots, and is coming in at 18 years old and with a 2 year deal at hot prospect for 800/week.

I move Mangana to start at DL and my German star at DR, and then I slide to my new tactics. Let’s see if this is what is happening.

[Abe Sargent]

9 players called up for international duty

Deadline day is here

I accept offers to loan Dinga for first team play.

I accept a loan offer for Bernard. He heads out. Dinga does as well.

The deadline passes.

September

Sept 1 – Away vs DVTK
Sept 15 – Home vs Honved
Sept 22 – Away vs Vasas
Sept 26 – Magyar Kupa, 1st Round – Away vs Létavértes SC '97
Sept 29 – Home vs Torna

Good training – Baranowski, Safar, Posmyk

NB1 Game #7 – Away vs DVTK – I begin defensively as we try out my new tactic. Quiet match until Dubek hits Kempf on an IFK in the 17th. They score in the 33rd. They hit paydirt again in the 44th. Half. They have 15 shots to our 5 so the 2-1 line feels correct. Cerny intercepts the ball and scores in the 50th and we’re tied. Dubek misses a PK in the 55th. It’s one of those games. Another PK and this time Dubek scores, weird. Dabo for Mangana. Kovacevic for Ross. Cerny feeds Arabuli on an attack run in the 71st. Arabuli to Vincente for goal in the 73rd. I send Dodoi for Arabuli. They score back in the 76th. Mendes feeds Dodoi in the 88th for a goal in his debut. Cerny feeds Mendes in extra time for goal! We win our first match in our new tactics but we still allowed 3 shots.

Here’s the score board!

https://i.ibb.co/FW0T0dq/Balmaz-56.png

My offense showed UP in this game. We both had 20+ shots and their 25 shots and 3 goals is about what you would expect.

[Abe Sargent]

That game also set a record for the highest scoring game.

We sign a new deal with Vincente with a 1.5 mill release clause.

NB1 Game #8 – Home vs Honved – This is a heavy. We’ll need to show up. I begin countering. Vengeance!!!! Barker to Arabuli on a counter for goal in the 4th minute! The early game is all us. They hit us on a counter in the 17th. Half. We have 12 shots to their 5 and 7 on target to their 3. The first half was all us, we just need more goals. The next half begins. Zamouri for Cerny. Nikola for Ross. I move to control. Dabo for Mangana. Can we earn this win late? 4 minutes. Dubek feeds Mendes on an attack run in the 91st and we are up 2-1. I slide back to counter. We hold and win 2-1 and that’s our first win against a heavy!

https://i.ibb.co/Fskb56x/Balmaz-57.png

Nice right! We are now 2-0 since switching tactics and we only allowed one score to a big hitter! We have won 3 in a row.


Want to see the table? Okay!


https://i.ibb.co/7nvpkPY/Balmaz-58.png


We are in a big tie with Debrecen, Akademia and Ferencvaros with 14 points each, and one of the worst teams in the league last year is top with 16. Our tie again Videoton was a key point. We have just two losses in 8 games. Good stuff!

[Abe Sargent]

Dubek has dropped to 3.5 stars as well but he’s playing very well.

NB1 Game #9 – Away vs Vasas – Can we steal points from Vasas? I have put DC Gergő Sáfár on my list to give him some time as a backup sub in case we are doing well. I begin defending. Alons-y! Lots of back and forth early and then quiet. I pull Barker after he gets a card, Zamouri heads in. They get a card as well. We injure one of their players and they head off. Half, 0-0 tie. That won’t last. We have 6 shots to their 12. The result will come! They score first – off a corner in the 51st. I send in Baranowski for an underperforming Dubek. They score in the 65th. Dabo heads in. In the 76th, Baranowski feeds Mednes on a counter. Can we steal a tie? 4 minutes. We lose 2-1. That’s our first loss in a while, and they had 22 shots to our 11 so that score reflected it.

[Abe Sargent]

Magyar Kupa Round 1 – Away vs Létavértes SC '97 – I begin countering. I start Baranowski for Vincente.

Goals

6th minute - Barker crosses to Mendes
13th minute – Arabuli to Ross, corner kick
19th minute – Arabuli feeds it to Dennis Diekmeier for a goal
I pull Arabuli for Dodoi after he gets a card
45+2 minute – Baranowski to Dodoi,
HALF – We have 21 shots to their 0 – Keep it up!
Safar for Kempf
64th – They score on a counter
Beruatto for Mangana
Game

We win 4-1 – MOM is Cerny

[Abe Sargent]

Centeno wants to be loaned out and I agree. I mark him for loan.

Kempf has risen his rating and he’s at 7.01 now in the division after 7 games.


NB1 Game #10 – Home vs Ferencvárosi Torna Club - The team that won the league last year. Can we steal points at home against them like we did Honved? I begin countering and moved Vicente back to MC. I start Dabo since he has a better rating as a sub over Magana who has been starting. Vengeance!

Notes:

14th Minute – Dubek slides the ball to Arabuli who drives the corner and crosses to Mendes for goal. We score first!
24th Minute – Cerny feeds Debek on a attacking run – goal; 2-0 us – that ties our score vs Honved
28th Minute – On a counter Mendes heads the ball over to Arabuli for goal – 3-0 us, and now we’ll lose
HALF – We are up 3-0 and have been more clinical with 6 shots to their 5 - this score won’t last – Don’t get complacent!
Zamouri for Barker
70th Minute – Dubek feeds Mendes for goal.
Fournier for Ross
Youther 16 year old Tiago Leal for Vicente – that’s his first game for us
84th Minute - They score off a corner to stop a shut out
90+3 Minute - Cerny to Mendes, cross, goal
We win 5-1 against a heavy

https://i.ibb.co/V92ffSV/Balmaz-59.png

We each had 13 shots but we only allowed a single goal against five for my offense. Nasty! 5-1 against a heavy is a signature win!

[Abe Sargent]

Was all of this just down to tactics?

That win moves us into a three way tie for 1st with Debrecen and Mezőkövesdi.

My scouts find another hot prospect from Australia and I make him an offer

October

Oct 6 – Away vs Akademia
Oct 20 – Home vs Budaorsi
Oct 27 – Away vs Kisvarda
Oct 31 – Magyar Kupa, 2nd Round – Away vs Szeged 2011 – Grosics Akadémia

Good training – Rimniceanu, Vicente, Cerny

SEVEN of my players are named in the team of the week.

We sign our Aussie player, Adrian McCarthy, and he’ll join us in January. Actually we’ll bring him in on a trial now.





NB1 Game #11 – Away vs Akademia – If we get a result here we could really do some damage. I am shocked that we have done so well after massaging my tactics. I begin defensively. Pick up where you left off!

Notes

30th Minute – They gift us an OG. I’ll take it
45+1 Minute – They tackle the ball as Mendes attacks in the box, Arabuli springs on it and puts it away
45+2 Minute – On a goal kick, Rimniceanu feeds Arabuli on an attack counter who slides the ball to Mendes for goal
HALF – We are up 3-0. We have just 5 shots to their 9. This too won’t last. Don’t get complacent!
Beruatto for Dabo; Baranowski for an underperforming Dubek; Dodoi for Arabuli
End of the game - MOM is Mendes.

https://i.ibb.co/s2VXkyM/Balmaz-60.png

We just had a 3-0 shut out on the road! Against the #5 team. With 16 shots. As you can see, we didn’t need the OG at all. I’ll take it!

[Abe Sargent]

Here’s the table after 1/3 of the season

https://i.ibb.co/q5NvHtq/Balmaz-61.png


Surprise surprise, we are in front! Crazy I know. We started slow and we have 3 losses to get things started, but we are two points in front of Debrecen and 3 for Honved and Mezőkövesdi SE.

[Abe Sargent]

I hookup Mendes and Dodoi.

Arabuli gets his first goal for Georgia and I congratulate him!

Everyone else has noticed our changes after our technical overhaul and we are getting complemented on it. That’s a cool feature.

Nikola Kovacevic has fallen more to 2.5 stars. I set him to not needed and transfer list him.

NB1 Game #12 – Home vs Budaors – I begin standard against the 12th team in the league. Let’s do it to it! Pick up where you left off!

Notes

19th Minute – They foul Barker in the box and that’s a PK and… Dubek sinks it.
41st Minute – Another penalty in the box, another PK for Dubek
HALF – We are sorta up 2-0. Don’t get complacent
Beruatto for Dabo; Zamouri for Cerny; Dodoi for Arabuli
Game. We “win” 2-0. MOM is Dubek. I’ll take it!

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #13 – Away vs Kisvarda – I begin countering for today’s matchup. Ready? Let’s do it!

Notes

12th Minute – Barker slides the ball to Cerny for a score
24th Minute – Dubek feed Ross’s head for goal in a corner kick
Kovacs for Ross after he gets a card
Half – 2-0 us.
Baranowski for Vicente
63rd Minute – Dubek feeds Baranowski for goal
67th Minute – Arabuli drives the corner, crosses to Mendes for a score
Dodoi for Arabuli
Game. We win 4-0! MOM is Barker. Back to back shut outs

[Abe Sargent]

Honved lost to Videoton and we are now 5 points in 1st.

An Agent offers me another unsigned Australian youth and I make him an offer - Jordan Duncan.

I search others. There aren’t any I see.


Magyar Kupa Round 2 – Away vs Szeged – it’s Halloween! I am countering. I start Baranowski and Zamouri.

Notes

19th Minute – They score on a counter
HALF – Show me something else
Beruatto for Dabo
69th Minute -Baranowski to Mendes
Kovacs for Ross; Vicente for Dubek
84th Minute- Mendes to Arabuli goal
Game – We win 2-1

[Abe Sargent]

Our six games won in a row is a new record!

November

Nov 3 – Home vs Debreceni Vasutas Sport Club
Nov 10 – Away vs Mezőkövesdi SE
Nov 24 – Home vs Videoton

Good training – Safar, Posmyk and O’Dwyer

I transfer list Fournier. I offer him to clubs for nothing. I get an offer and accept it.

I sign Jordan Duncan

NB1 Game #14 – Home vs Debrecen – They beat us earlier this year. Vengeance!

Notes

28th Minute – Dubek feeds Arabuli for goal
Half – 1-0. Don’t get complacent!
Kovacs for Kempf; Beruatto for Dabo
68th Minute – Arabuli hits Dubek on an attack run for goal
73rd Minute – Mendes crosses to Arabuli for goal
O’Dwyer for Mendes
87th minute – They score a consolation goal on a long shot
We hold and win 3-1. MOM is Dubek

Kempf is injured and will miss next game .

[Abe Sargent]

Kempf is injured and will miss next game . I’ll start Kovacevic.

Fournier is sold.

We have 9 callups

NB1 Game #15 – Away vs Mezőkövesdi SE. I begin defensively. This is the team that we got 7 points from last year but we lost this year in a disappointing game with my old tactical plan. Will our new tactics also have a new result against them? Let’s find out!

Notes

16th Minute – Dubek puts the ball in the box and Mendes scores!
27th Minute – They tie it on a long shot
Half – 1-1. We each have 5 shots. Quiet half. I’m not happy!
60th Minute – Mendes, happy for his assist earlier in the match, returns the favor for a score! That’s his 10th goal.
They get a red card
Kovacs for Nikola; Beruatto for Dabo
72nd Minute – Dubek feeds Arabuli for a score. All of my trinity have scored!
Dodoi for Arabuli
They get another red card – Dubek sinks the PK
We hold and win 4-1. The new tactic worked!

[Abe Sargent]

Kempf is back from his injury – I thought Nikola might be better in our new tactic, but nope, he stunk

Want to see the table after 15? Sure!


https://i.ibb.co/CnywBRb/Balmaz-62.png

Here you go! As you can see we are in 1st by 7 points over last years’ winner. You can also see that Mendes is first in goals at 13 and Dubek 3rd with 11, Dubek, Mendes and Arabuli are in the top three spots for rating, assists, two of them are in the top two for most MOM, good stuff! My offense is clicking!

[Abe Sargent]

Safar is now homegrown

NB1 Game #16 – Home vs Videoton – This is a big match up. They are 4th in the NB1. Let’s get started! I begin today countering.

Notes

I pull Barker for Zamouri in the 9th minute after he gets an early card
16th Minute – Zamouri crosses to Mendes for a score.
HALF – 1-0 us. We have 9 shots to their 8, it’s been close. Don’t get complacent!
51st Minute - They equalize on a 30 yard long shot. I slide to control.
68th Minute – They foul Dubek in the box, they block the PK.
70th Minute – Mendes feeds Arabuli for goal
Mangana for Dabo; Kovacs for Ross
We hold and win 2-1 over the #4 team in the league!

[Abe Sargent]

Ross is jaded and in need of a rest. I’ll start Kovacs

I sign Cerny to a new deal with a 1.5 mill release fee.

The board approach me for a new deal.

December

Dec 1 – Home vs DVTK
Dec 5 – Magyar Kupa Round 3, Away vs Gyor
Dec 8 – Away vs Haladas
Dec 15 – Away vs Honved
Winter Break

Good training – Novak, O‘Dwyer, Ross

NB1 Game #17 – Home vs DVTK – I begin standard. Keep our run going!

Timeline

12th Minute – I pull Kempf for Fournier after he gets a card.
HALF – That was boring
Mendes is banged up and I send in O’Dwyer for him
58th Minute – They score – I slide to control
Zamouri for Barker
Game. We lose 1-0. They shut out my O.

That's my first loss in a while!

[Abe Sargent]

That's my first loss in a while!

Mendes is injured for a week and will miss the Kupa game but should be fine for the Haladas one

Magyar Kupa Round #3 – Away vs Gyor – I begin countering. I start O’Dwyer for Mendes.

Timeline

31st Minute – Arabuli drives, and feeds O’Dwyer for his first goal for us
37th Minute – They score on a DFK
HALF – Show me something else!
47th Minute – My German FB misses an interception and they score
Mangana for Diekmeier; Fornier for Kempf
71st – Vincente hits O’Dwyer for goal! That ties it
Baranowski for a banged up Dubek
88th Minute – They score on a counter
We lose 3-2 to a team in the NB2

Mendes and Ross are back.

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #18 - Away vs Hondas, we begin countering. Vincente is tired down and I start Baranowski in his spot.

Timeline

15th Minute – Arabuli hits Dubek’s head for goal
HALF – Quiet. Don’t get complacent
Zamouri for Cerny; Kovacs for Kempf; Mangana for Dabo
86th minute - Zamouri feeds Mendes on a counter for goal
90+5th Minute – Dubek to Mendes, goal, on a corner kick
We shut them out 3-0. Back to our winning ways

Vicente is back

[Abe Sargent]

I set up friendlies for Jan/Feb, I don’t have any matches in either month.

I hook up Kovacs and Novak.

NB1 Game #19 – Away vs Honved – We have another match against the heavy, can we win? I begin defensively. This is the final match before the winter break!

Timeline

2nd Minute – They score
Mangana for Dabo after he is carded
40th Minute – Dubek feed Arabuli on an attacking run for goal
HALF – 1-1
60th Minute – Dubek to Mendes on a counter
Kovacs for Ross
62nd Minute – Dubek feeds Arabuli for another goal.
Baranowski for Vicente
Can we hold? We do!

https://i.ibb.co/47FN9zP/Balmaz-63.png

3-1 on the road against a heavy weight in the divisions. MOM is Arabuli’s 2 goals over Dubek’s 3 assists.

Want to see the table heading into the Winter Break? Okay!

https://i.ibb.co/G9t0CDn/Balmaz-64.png

Here you go! We have a big lead over Videoton and Diosgyor.

[Abe Sargent]

Arabuli wants to talk. I talk with him. He wants to leave and head out if an offer is made for him by a team that is mentioned in the media. I agree that if a reasonable offer comes his way I’ll sell him. I owe him. He’s been a rock for me. And I think O’Dwyer could be fine as my starter.

I have these players coming free in 6 months

https://i.ibb.co/2sWNZN3/Balmaz-65.png



The 4-3-1-2 has really worked, so I make an offer for Diekmeier. I also make offers for Dubek for a year (he’s 31), and I offer a ton of hot prospects. We’ll let go backup GK Horvath as he’s dropped to 2.0 from 2.5. I’ll let Bernard head out.

[Abe Sargent]

Do I want to sign another player in the window? Here are my league ratings for my 5 defending players –

GK Rimniceanu – 6.96 – much better
DC Ross McCrorie – 6.92 – That’s a huge improvement
DC Kempf – 7.13 – Better here as well
DR Diekmeier – 7.12 – Nice here as well
DL Dabo – 6.82 – Not that bad, not that good

As you can see, they are all better than previously.

Now, here is a long term issue

My squad’s foreign nationals

ST Arabuli – Georgia
ST O’Dwyer – Australia

That’s it for now after I let go of many of my non-EU players and Gabovda and Vaida this past Summer.

Here are some people you should be aware of:

DL Dabo – English/Sierra Leone
ML Barker – English
MC Ross McCrorie – Scottish

When the UK leaves the EU, which is soon, then all three of these will be foreign and that will rise my foreign count to it’s max. That’s not good, so I figure that some, cough Dabo, aren’t long for the team. Here are their current ratings – Dabo – 3 stars; Barker – 4 stars; McCrorie - 4 stars, so you can see which direction we’ll hit. If we sell Arabuli this conversation will change.

For now, I don’t need any new talent and we may bring in youth or replacement for Winter Term leavings but otherwise, we are good to go.

[Abe Sargent]

Ronaldo wins Player of the Year.

January

Jan 21 – The Transfer Calendar Rises
Jan 26 – Friendly, Home vs Békéscsaba 1912 Előre SE


Dubek signs his new deal and a raise of 300/week.

Fournier heads out!

Beruatto signs as does Mesquita and Alex Perez.

I extend a fitness coach

I reject an enquiry for Kempf. No push back.

Zamouri signs his new deal.

I could use a better backup that Perez and Zamouri. They are 2 stars. Is there a hot prospect I could offer that’s better? Not for a hot prospect. Maybe an older one I could sign for a rotation deal?

I scout 21 year old Ugur Tezel. Maybe him? I also scout 26 year old Julián Luque. Both are EU.

I get an offer for Kempf that is 950k. No thanks. His min release clause is 1.8 mil. You want him? Make that offer happen. He’s worth 1 mill so that was under his value

Julián Luque is willing to sign as a backup, so I make him that offer and I hope to hear back from hi soon, I also check in with Ugur Tezel. What would he want? Actually, he doesn’t want to play for us, so nevermind. We’ll go with Luque. I make the 26 year old Spaniard an offer.

I sign Luque for 450/week backup, and he can play MR, ML, AMR, AML, AMC, and ST although that latter one not that well. We have him signed for a year and a half. 3 stars. I replace Zamouri with him in my lineup.

Diekmeier signs!

I approach my board about finding a feeder club and they don’t agree. I argue them into it by talking about the benefits of loaning our players to the same club.

I get an offer for Kovacevic and I accept.

I reject another offer for Kempf.

I’m shocked that Kempf is the guy these bigger clubs are knocking down the door. I thought Vicente, Cerny, Baranowski would be the major options.

Kovacevic rejected the offer.

The transfer window rises.

[Abe Sargent]

I am not changing my board expectations.

MC Adrian McCarthy from Australia joins us on a hot prospect deal.

I accept another offer for Kovacevic

I loan Centeno.

I reject more offers for Kempf.

Our facility upgrades are finished

I get them to commit to increase training and youth facilities again. They are spending 675k and 650k respectively.

The team I agreed to sell Arabuli to makes an offer. I accept the offer.

Friendly #1 – Home vs Békéscsaba 1912 Előre SE – We win 2-0

We sell Arabuli. I move O’Dwyer up to his spot.

The board come back with three possible feeder clubs. Which one would I like?
Debreceni EAC – Lower Level Hungarian Club
Tiszalöki VSE – Ditto
Tiszafüred Városi Sportegyesület – Ditto but with a 1 star rep

I recommend the latter.

They accept

We sell Kovacevic

He was my vice captain, so I chose another. Dabo is the best with 15 leadership and 14 teamwork. Okay, let’s do it.

More Kempf offers refused

February

Feb 2 – Friendly, Home vs Paksi
Feb 9 – Friendly, Home vs Lokomotiv Moscow B Team
Feb 16 – Friendly, Home vs Karpaty
Feb 23 – Friendly, Home vs Dabas

Good training – Safar, Leal

David Cerny was 2nd best Czech Young Player of the Year

Friendly #2 – Home vs Paksi – We tie 2-2

[Abe Sargent]

I get a first team loan offer for Beruatto. Do I take it? I do.

Friendly #3 – Home vs the B Squad of the powerhouse Lokomotiv Moscow – We thump them 5-0

I accept a loan offer for Alex Perez.

Beruatto heads out to Debrecen

I talk with GK Horvath and tell him I’ll let him go at the end of the season

Perez heads out.

Friendly #4 – Home vs Karpaty – We win 2-0

Feb 20 – Transfer Deadline Day – it passes

Friendly #5 – Home v Dabas – We win 3-0

We accept a loan for Zamouri

March

March 2 – Away vs Ferencvárosi Torna Club
March 7 – Home vs Vasas
March 16 – Home vs Akademia
March 23 – Away vs Budaors

Good training – Safar, Dodoi, O‘Dwyer

NB1 Game #20 – Away vs Ferencvárosi – This is a big matchup. Can we get points from them away? How will we play without Arabuli? Let’s find out! I begin defensively

Timeline

HALF – Okay
48th Minute – They score
Mangana for Dabo; Luque for Barker
77th Minute – Cerny drives the corner and crosses to Mendes for goal
Kovacs for Ross
We hold and tie the big threat 1-1. I’ll take it! MOM is Cerny

[Abe Sargent]

https://i.ibb.co/4Y41Zw9/Balmaz-66.png


Our new youth arrive. I check them out and am pretty impressed with Balla


https://i.ibb.co/HnCyfFB/Balmaz-67.png

Take a look. DC, starts at two stars, with a big potential, has a 14 work rate to help grow, 14 jump, and fine starts. He looks pretty solid for Hungary, right?

[Abe Sargent]

I offer Balla a full time hot prospect deal right now.

NB1 Game #21 – Home vs Vasas – I put Balla on my team as I want to give him some playing time if we are doing well. I begin standard.

Timeline

36th Minute – Barker gets a lovely pass from Mendes head for goal
44th Minute - Dubek to Mendes on a counter, goal
HALF – 2-0 us
57th Minute – Cerny a great pass to Dubek for goal
61st Minute – They score off a corner
Baranowski for Vicente
65th Minute – They score again. Uh oh
Dodoi for O’Dwyer
73rd Minute – Mendes feeds Dubek for another goal
Balla for Ross
90+4th Minute – They score.
We win 4-3. They had 19 shots to our…19 shots.

[Abe Sargent]

Barker’s agent wants an improved deal. I agree. We make him a new offer.

O’Dywer hasn’t been doing well. He was 6.1 in the last match. I move Dodoi to start.

Barker signs a first team deal with 750k min release fee (the most I could get) until 2021 for 1.3k/week

NB1 Game #22 – Home vs Akademia – I begin the match standard. Let’s do it to it!

Timeline

13th Minute – Dodoi to Mendes, goal, nice pass
43rd Minute – Cerny a great pass that opens Dubek on an attack run for goal
HALF –
47th Minute – Vicente feeds Dodoi for goal
Leal for Vicente; Mangana for Dabo; Luque for Barker
We hold and win 3-0. MOM is Dodoi who I’ll leave in


Want to see the NB1 after 2/3rds of the season have passed?

https://i.ibb.co/sFpVZ02/Balmaz-68.png


Sure thing, here you go! As you can see we are 8 points in lead over Videoton.

[Abe Sargent]

Mendes gets a big goal bonus for bagging 20 league goals

9 players are called up for international duties

NB1 Game #23 Away vs Budaors - I begin defensively. Here we go!

Timeline

HALF
58th Minute – A long shot by Dubek sinks, assisted by Barker
60th Minute – On a corner, Dubek hits Mendes who slides to Ross for goal
Mangana for Dabo; Luque for Cerny; Kovacs for Kempf
We hold and win 2-0, MOM is Dubek

[Abe Sargent]

Videoton lost

April

April 6 – Home vs Kisvarda
April 13 – Home vs Mezőkövesdi SE
April 20 – Away vs DVSC
April 27 – Away vs Videoton

Good training -Barker, Baranowski, O’Dywer

Dubek won Goal of the Month and I congrat him

NB1 game #24 - Home vs Kisvarda – The promotee is sitting in 5th. Nice! I begin standard

Timeline

Mangana in for Dabo after a card
HALF
59th Minute – Mendes hits Dodoi on a breakaway for goal
67th Minute – Dubek feeds Dodoi for goal
Baranowski for Vicente; Kovacs for Kempf
90+2 Minute – Barker hits Dodoi on a breakway, hattrick!
We win 3-0, MOM is Dodoi obviously

[Abe Sargent]

Csoboth is now home-grown

NB1 Game #25 – Home vs Mezőkövesdi SE – Can we get points here as well? I begin standard as well

Timeline

8th Minute – Dodoi feeds Mendes for goal
HALF
48th Minute – They foul Mendes in the box and Dubek steps up and scores
Luque for Barker
65th Minute – Cerny crosses to Dodoi for goal and that’s a score by all of my attackers
Baranowski for Vicente; Safar for Ross
We hold and win 3-0. MOM is Dodoi

[Abe Sargent]

The agent of Ross wants an upgraded deal…hmm…I do and this will extend him by a year and raise his min release fee to 1.5 mill.

The Dodoi and Mendes link up came back pretty good.

Baranowski has been capped by Poland at the U19 level – his flag has changed from Germany

NB1 Game #26 – Away vs Debrecen. Uh oh. I begin with a defensive mindset. If we win today’s matchup we’ll secure EURO quals at least. Can we get another shutout today?

Timeline

Kovacs for Ross after he gets a card.
36th Minutes – Dubek feeds Dodoi on a counter for goal
44th Minute – Dubek now feeds Mendes for goal
HALF – We are up 2-0 and with have 16 shots in the first half alone to their 7.
57th Minute – They score a long shot and that’s the first goal we’ve allowed in a while
Baranowski for Vicente
68th Minute – They get a red card, I make my red card changes.
Dabo gets a yellow and I pull him for Mangana
They pull Gabovda.
84th Minute – On a corner kick Cerny hit Mendes for goal
Kovacs a late card
We win 3-1. Good stuff against a heavy! MOM is 2x goaling Mendes

[Abe Sargent]

Videoton lost again. They are back to 6th. Want to see the table? After 26?

https://i.ibb.co/BtCPYD5/Balmaz-69.png

Here you go! As you can see, the teams that were relegated in the 2017-18 season are 1-2 this year. There is a big logjam at 2-7 as just 3 points separate them, and only 1 point to 8 and 1 point to 9.

[Abe Sargent]

If we win our next game and results go our way we can win the NB1 so I hold a team meeting. We qualified for the EURO at least.

Mendes’s 7 MOM ties the NB1 record. 1 more breaks it.

NB1 Game #27 – Away vs Videoton – With their recent losses this game isn’t as important as it might otherwise be. We have 4 points against the heavy this season. I begin defensively

Timeline

6th Minute – Cerny to Dodoi, a nasty cross
32nd Minute – Dodoi feeds an umarked Mendes outside the box for goal
HALF – 2-0 us. We have 9 shots, 6 on target, to their 3 and 0 – don’t get complacent! 45 minutes left!
59th Minute – Ross has a bad clearance and they score
Kovacs for Ross
60th Minute – Mendes hits Vicente for goal
Baranowski for a banged up Dubek; Mangana for Deikmeier
86th Minute – Kovacs scores an OG for our foe. 3-2 us
SIX Minutes of extra time…
We hold and win 3-2. MOM is Dodoi

We win the NB1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s the first trophy in our history!

Vicente is injured for a few days but can make the next game

Dodoi has 9 goals and 3 assists in 6 starts and 6 subs. Let’s let him start out and see if he can continue his form. He’s just a 3 star rating, but he’s been playing lights out.

[Abe Sargent]

We have 10 games in a row unbeaten and that’s a new record for the club.

The board set our budget next year to chase the title and they are offering 250k transfer and 65k/week salary. They know we are going to get that Champion’s Cup Cash.

May

May 4 – Home vs Haladas
May 11 – Away vs DVTK
May 18 – Home vs Honved
May 25 – Away vs Vasas
June 1 - Home vs Ferencvárosi Torna Club

Good training – Safar, Gambetta, Posmyk

Vicente’s goal against Videoton is Goal of the Month and I congratulate him

I move a bunch of youthers to be my subs. I’ll keep my main starters but subs like Kovacs and such will be replaced. Only my backup ML/MR I signed is in my squad


NB1 Game #28 – Home vs Haladas – Currently 11th place. I start Standard. We are playing against Scribe today.

Timeline -

33rd Minute – Dabo crosses to Mendes for goal
HALF – We have 11 shots to their 6
Baranowski for Vicente; O’Dwyer for Dodoi; Safar for Kempf
84th Minute – They tackle O’Dwyer in the box and Mendes leaps on the free ball for goal
90th Minute – Cerny sinks a DFK
We win 3-0 MOM is Cerny

[Abe Sargent]

O’Dwyer is called up to the U20 World Cup – he’ll miss the rest of the season

We have tied the record for most wins in a row in the NB1 with 8.

NB1 Game #29 – Away vs Diosgyr who are 2nd in the league – I begin defending.

Timeline

40th Minute – Mendes hits Dodoi for goal. That;s our first shot on target
HALF – We each have 11 shots
52nd Minute – On an IFK by Dubek, they tackle the ball and Dodoi springs on it and scores
Tiago Leal for Vicente; Safar for Ross; Mangana for Dabo
Game _ We win 2-0; we finished with 16 shots to their 19, but shut them down. MOM is Dodoi’s 2 goal game

9 wins in a row!

[Abe Sargent]

I’ve used a staggering THIRTY players this year!

Dodoi is called up for the French Youth Invitational

NB1 Game #30 – Home vs Honved – I begin standard against this heavy

Timeline

3rd Minute – They foul us in the box, up steps Dubek and…he’s blocked!
HALF
52nd Minute – Dubek feeds Barker for goal!
Lazi for Dodoi; Baranowski for Dubek; Posmyk for Vicente
Dabo a late card
We hold and win 1-0. MOM is Barker

301 minutes since we allowed a goal!

[Abe Sargent]

Dodoi is out for the rest of the season with his international play. I shift to a 4-1-4-1 and am starting Baranowski at DMC for Dodoi. I move Dubek to AMC so it’s more of a 4-1-3-1-1.

We are at 72 points, and the record is 73.


NB1 Game #31 – Away vs Vasas – I begin defending.

Timeline

14th Minute – Cerny to Mendes, goal, counter attack
Diekmeier an early card and Mangana heads him for him
40th Minute – They score
HALF – 1-1 – Show me something else!
Luque for Barker; Safar for Ross
80th Minute – On an IFK Dubek feeds Vicente for goal! Can we hold?
We do and win 2-1. MOM is Mendes

We set the league record for most league points, and we have two games to go

[Abe Sargent]

I get an offer for GK Horvath which I accept

I link up Safar and Kempf

DC Ross is called up to the EURO U21 Championships for Scotland

June

June 1 – Home vs Ferencvárosi Torna Club
June 8 – Away vs Akademia

Good training – Cerny, Vicente, and O’Dwyer

NB1 Game #32 – Home vs Ferencvárosi Torna Club – I begin standard. Let’s get this thing started!

Timeline

12th Minute – Dubek crosses to Cerny for goal
15th Minute – Cerny crosses to an attacking Barker for goal
19th Minute – Cerny feeds Ross for goal on an IFK. Wow
HALF
52nd Minute – Cerny crosses to Mendes for goal. WOW!
Mangana for Dabo; Leal for Baranowski; Luque for Barker


We hold and win 4-0, MOM is Cerny, obviously. Want to see the Cerny game where we stomp a league heavy?

https://i.ibb.co/fXPnyCd/Balmaz-70.png

Sure thing there you go! Cerny was dominant this game. He’s also really short and I love seeing him silk his way around the field.

[Abe Sargent]

Ross is called up and we’ll start Safar.

I get FIVE players in our Team of the Week – Scribe was the GK.

I resign some staff

8 more of my players are called up.

Ferencvárosi Torna Club won the Magyar Kupa

NB1 Game #33 – Away vs Akademia – 5th in the league. I begin defending

Timeline

HALF – We each have 5 shots and 2 on target
56th Minute – Mendes shoots, the shot rebounds off their GK, and shoots the rebound to break the tie
Luque for Cerny; Mangana for Dabo; Balla for Safar
We hold and win 1-0. MOM is Vicente

We hand out our bonus for winning.

Here’s the table


https://i.ibb.co/TP0q0VC/Balmaz-71.png

As you can see, we finished with a whole lot of wins, points and GD.

[Abe Sargent]

Awards:

Rimniceanu won GK of the Year

Mendes won Top Goalscorer of the Year with 28 goals and 13 assists and Dubek was 3rd with 17 goals and 22 assists.

Dubek won the Hungarian NB1 Player of the Year; Mendes was 2nd, Cerny 3rd

Csoboth won Young Player of the Year

I won Manager of the Year

EIGHT of our players were named in the Team of the Season:

GK Rimniceanu
DC Ross
DC Kempf
DR Diekmeier
MR Cerny
MC Valente
ML Barker
ST Mendes

[Abe Sargent]

Team Assessment:

This ranks players 1-3 on how well they did, and how locked in they are.

GK Rimniceanu – 6.93 rating; 3.5 stars; 29, signed for another year, Romanian – 3; I’m not looking for another GK
DC Kempf – 7.15 rating, 4 stars, 24, Signed for another year, German, 4 -locked in.
DC McCrorie – 7.09 rating, 4 stars and growing, 20, signed for two more years, Scottish, 3, not looking for another DC unless I need to free up a foreign spot post Brexit.
DR Diekmeier – 7.12 rating, 4 stars, 29, signed for two more years German – 3 locked in.
DL Dabo – 6.90 rating, 2.5 stars, 22, signed for one more year, 1 – actively looking for a better DL.
MC Vicente – 7.22 rating, 4 stars and growing, 18 years old, signed two more years, Spanish, 3 locked in.
AMC Dubek – 7.74 rating, 3 stars, 32, signed for one more year, Slovakian – 2. Locked in for a year but I might look for a younger replacement for him this year to grow into my future AMC spot.
MR Cerny – 7.63 rating, 4 star and growing, 17, signed for two more years, Czech, 4. You could not be more locked in.
ML Barker – 7.24 rating, 4 stars, 22, signed for two more years, English – 3. Comfortable, but again, Brexit.
ST Mendes – 7.85 rating, 4.5 stars, 28, French, signed for one more year – 3, the only issue here is age, but the dude is playing lights out football
ST Dodoi – 7.66 rating, 3 stars and growing, 20 years old, signed for one more year, Romanian – 2. I could see myself bringing in another ST.

So therefore, I might chase a future Dubek at AMC, competition at ST, but only DL is on the queue. After that we’ll just play defense so we’ll grab players to replace those of my starters that are poached.

[Abe Sargent]

Stats, NB1

Our team scoring an amazing 87 goals, next was 55.

Our team allowed just 33 goals, the fewest in the league, the next one was 36.

We had no red cards on the season and no one got double yellow for a booking

MOM – Mendes with 8 set the record, Cerny was 3rd with 6

Dist. Covered – Cerny 1st, Dubek 3rd , Barker 4th,Vicente 7th

Dist. Cover/90 minutes – Cerny 2nd, Barker 4th

Rating – Mendes 1st, Dubek 2nd, Cerny 3rd, Barker 4th, Vicente 6th,Kempf 8th, DIekmeier 10th

Headers Won – Mendes 1st with 282; Kempf 2nd with 26; Ross 11th with 199

Goals – Mendes 28 for 1st;Dubek 17 for 3rd; Arabuli 7th with 12; Dodoi 10th with 11

Avg. Minute/Goal – Mendes 1st, Dubek 3rd, Arabuli 7th; Dodoi 10th

Shots – Mendes 1st, Dubek 6th, Arabuli 9

Shots on target – Mendes 1st, Dubek 6th

On target % - Mendes 6th

Dubek was 7 of 10 for PKs

Assists – Dubek 1st with 22 set a new record by 2; Cerny 2nd with 14, Mendes 3rd with 13; Arabuli 5th with 8

Key Passes – Dubek 1st, Cerny 2nd, Mendes 3rd, Barker 9th

Chances Created – Dubek 1st, Mendes 2nd, Cerny 3rd, Arabuli 7th

Pass Complete % - Vicente 3rd

Cross completion % - Arabuli 1st, Dabo 7th

Dribb/game – Cerny 5th

Mistakes – Vicente 6th

Key Headers – Mendes 3rd;Kempf 5th

Interceptions Made – Kempf 2nd

Head won Ratio – Kempf 6th; Ross 9th

Shots Blocked – Kempf 4th

Goals allowed – Rimniceanu – 33

Shutouts – Rimniceanu 2nd with 14

Saves Held – Rimniceanu 3rd

Saves Parried – Rimniceanu 7th






I am shocked by how much the change in tactic to a essentially a 4-4-2 got our house in order.

[Abe Sargent]

My goals for Balmazujvaros

Year One
1. Steer clear of relegation. DONE, Year 1 - Ideally, finish in the top half of the NB1. NOPE, Year 2 late by a year
2. Build up the youth team. DONE, Year 1 – My best win.
3. Turn my squad into a winning squad, NOPE. Year 2, late by a year
Year Two and On –
4. Finish in the EURO top 3 spots.
5. Do some damage in the EURO.
6. Build V Balmazujvaros into the biggest club in the NB1, YES, YEAR 2
7. Win the NB1, YES, YEAR 2
8. Win the Magyar Kupa
9. Get to the Champion’s League., YES YEAR 2
10. Turn Balmazujvaros into a powerhouse of Eastern Europe like Red Star, Sparta Prague or Dinamo Kiev.
11. Secure Balmazujvaros fiscally,
12. Get Balmazujvaros to the point that it will continue it’s dominance after I leave.

Some weird stuff happened. I figured that in Year 1 I’d finish in the Top Half and then in Year 2 in the 2 or 3 spot for the EURO and then in Year 3 win it all, but instead I underperformed in the first year and overperformed in the second. We skipped the EURO Qual spots altogether, and now we have made it to the Champion’s League! We also finished the goal for biggest club as we didn’t just win a squeaker but we dominated this year.

Champions League time!

[Abe Sargent]

End of the Season Club Stuff

https://i.ibb.co/y8DPTcF/Balmaz-72.png

As you can see, Mendes was the most loved player, and Dubek was 2nd and Cerny 3rd, and Dubek won Goal of the Season and Mendes was the signing of the season and Cerny the Young Player of the Season.

I hold a Team Meeting – lets repeat as champions!

Diekmeier made a 100k bonus for being named Team of the Year

Our work on the facilities has begun

I decline an offer for Kempf

The players have returned!

[Abe Sargent]

I link up Kovacs and young player Balla.

I have 7 players out on international duty right now

I reject an offer for Mendes – no pushback from the player

DC Balla has been playing for the Hungarian Youth Team already

I offer a new contract for Baranowski. This will extend him by 2 years and increase his min release fee from 500k to 1 mill and raise his pay to 400/month. He signs!

The domestic window for transfers raises

Hungary rose three places in the EURO rankings,

I begin to look for a new DL. I start by looking at players coming free in a couple of weeks. Youssouf Koné? Not interested. Fabio Eguelfi? Not enough cash. He’s only making 850 not sure why he’d think that. Maybe a youth? Nope. Transfer list? David Juncà from Spain? Luca Bittante from Italy? He is transfer listed for just 15k. He’s 25 and can play a lot of positions. I scout him. Diego Contentois is transfer listed for cheap but not willing to come here.

How about non-EU?

Ghana’s Patrick Asmah is transfer listed by request. Is he interested? I scout him. Brazil’s Lucas Pedro Alves de Lima? Nope not interested. Columbia’s Cristian Borja is transfer listed for 100k and is 26 years old. I scout him. Senegal’s Adama Mbengué has an asking price of 75k. I scout him.

I arrange three friendlies before our first Champion’s Leg in early July


Friendly #1 – Home vs Paski- We win 3-0

The fixture list is released. Our first NB1 game is away,7/20 at MTK Budapest FC a promotee.

[Abe Sargent]

I make some offers to staff.

25 June – The UK has left the EU

I make an offer for Adamo Coulibaly to be my new AssMan after his contract finishes.

Friendly #2 – Home vs Ujpest – We win 2-1

I make a new offer for Tiago Leal to extend his hot prospect deal.

I get an offer for Diekmeier for 1.1 mill, 400k fewer than his min release. No thanks!

We draw Moldova’s Sherriff for the Champion’s leg

June 30th is here

We lose some staff. I make some offers.

Adamo joins as my AssMan.

I make an offer to a new GK Coach from Uruguay - Celso Otero. He looks like he’ll be great a shot stopping. I also peruse GK Coach from Portugal Fernando Justino. I offer a new Physio as well.

[Abe Sargent]

July

July 2nd – Friendly, Away, at Tiszafüred Városi Sportegyesület
July 9th – Champion’s Leg Away at Sheriff
July 16th – Champion’s Leg Home vs Sheriff
July 20th – Away vs MTK Budapest FC
July 27th – Home vs Ujpest

Good training – Balla, Dodoi, Cerny

I still need a new DL. How about German Anthony Jung? It’s weird and would give me three Germans in my D, but they might get along. He’s not young like I’d like, and he’s 27 years old, but then Deikmeier wasn’t young either. I make the free DL an offer.


https://i.ibb.co/7QCqT3M/Balmaz-73.png

Here are just some of my players that are coming up in a year. I make an offer to Mendes, Kempf, and Rimniceanu. I finalize an offer for Mendes. And Kempf. And my GK. I also offer to hot prospects like Dinga and Mangana and Dodoi

[Abe Sargent]

Leal agrees to an extension.

Anthony Jung signs!

https://i.ibb.co/dtw4XsS/Balmaz-74.png

Here he is! As you can see I have him signed for two years and 3.5k/week on a key player deal. I move Dabo to rotation. Welcome to the team Anthony Jung!

 

[Abe Sargent]

I decline an offer for O’Dwyer.

Any youth I want to bring in? How about D RL Jeremie Frimpong? I make him a 3 year hot prospect offer. I don’t see any other for free that shake me.

I need a backup GK, anyone jump out at me? How about Hungary’s 33 year old Szabolcs Kemenes? I make him a backup GK offer.

Friendly #3 – Away -This is our match against our buddy. We win 5-1.

Szabolcs Kemenes signs.

Rimniceanu signs his deal. Mangana extends his deal.

We are expected to win this year

Csoboth signs. Mendes does as well. Safar re-ups. Luque does as well.

Sparta Prague have made an offer to Beruatto for 125k. Hmm… I might do that. Let me think. 3 star,20, hot prospect, 4 star future, hmm 125? No thanks, my team is set.

Dodoi reups; Dinga does as well

I get an offer for Kovacs, I accept it. It’s for 35k

Adrian Rus signs with us.

I register my Champion’s Squad.

The board let me hire another coach. I need a defensive specialist. I make an offer to Darko Tasevski from Macedonia.

I connect Mendes and Csoboth.

Kempf signs his new deal!

Frimpong signs for us. The 18 year old English/Dutch/Ghana player is 2 stars with a 3.5 star future.

[Abe Sargent]

Champion’s Cup, 2nd Leg, Game #1 – Away vs Sherriff – I begin defending. I am back to the 4-3-1-2. I am starting my new DL.

Timeline

6th Minute – Dubek feeds Dodoi on an attack move. Want to see my first Champion’s League Goal?

https://i.ibb.co/tJrCyX9/Balmaz-75.png

Sure thing! I got you!

HALF
Dinga for Ross
62nd Minute – Barker crosses to Mendes for goal
70th Minute – Mendes heads a Barker cross to Dodoi for goal
Baranowski for Vicente; Luque for Cerny
We hold and win 3-0.

Want to see my first win?

https://i.ibb.co/P6rpx2t/Balmaz-76.png

Here you go! MOM is Dodoi with a pair of goals. Jung debuted with a 7.5

[Abe Sargent]

I get an offer for Dabo for 200k from Sunderland…hmm…2.5 stars now, future of 3 stars. I accept.

Here let’s look at how I find out about players!

https://i.ibb.co/K9wCP94/Balmaz-77.png

Here’s a notice I just got about a Striker named Jose Rodriguez of Colombia. I begin scouting him. I do need another ST as Arabuli left and I didn’t replace him I just next man upped.

I sell Kovacs – good luck!

I make Ross my Vice Captain as he is starting.

I sell Dabo. I begin to look for a flexible backup like a youther or a backup that I could add to my list.


Champions Cup, 1st Leg, Game #2 – Home vs Sheriff – I begin standarding.

Timeline

2nd Minute – Barker feeds Mendes for goal
20th Minute – This time Barker feeds Cerny for goal
32nd Minute – Mendes to Dodoi for goal
Ross a card and I pull him for Dinga
HALF
60th Minute – They foul us in the box and Dubek sinks the PK
Baranowski for Vicente
70th Minute – Nasty cross from Cerny to Dodoi for goal
Mangana for Jung
Kempf a card
88th Minute – Mendes to Dodoi, and that’s hit hattrick
We hold and win 6-0. MOM is Dodoi with three goals. Jung was 8.2

Good stuff!


Next is Young Boys, the Swiss heavyweight

[Abe Sargent]

I look for a free player to bring in as a backup.

How about Austrian Thomas Schrammel? He’s 31. There’s already a bid by a heavy in Austria so I doubt he’d come. I can’t find any that are EU, or a young option. How about outside the EU? Well, no I don’t want that for a sub. How about transfer listed? I scout the Czech Republic’s Ondrej Vencl and Italy’s Antonio Balzano.

NB1 Game #1 – Away vs MTK Budapest FC – I begin defensively on the road.

Timeline

Mangana for Diekmeier after he gets an early card
HALF – Show me something else!
Baranowski for a banged up Dubek; Luque for Barker
79th Minute – They score
88th Minute – They score
We lose the opening match 0-2

[Abe Sargent]

Champions Leg, Game #1 – Away vs Young Boys - I begin defensively.

Timeline

12th Minute – IFK, Cerny to Ross, goal
34th Minute – They tie it
39th Minute – They score again
41st Minute – Barker finds Mendes for goal and we are tied again
HALF
48th Minute – Cerny crosses to Mendes for goal
Dinga for Kempf; Mangana for Jung; O’Dwyer for Dodoi
90+2 Minute - Barker feeds O’Dwyer for goal
We win 4-2. MOM is Mendes.

[Abe Sargent]

I accept an offer for Frimpong for loan.

NB2 Game #2 – Home vs Ujpest - Welcome back! I begin standarding

Timeline

3rd Minute – Mendes heads to Cerny on an attack run for a goal
8th Minute – Cerny crosses to Dodoi for goal
Baranowski for a carded Vicente
27th Minute – Corner kick, Cerny to Kempf for goal
36th Minute – Mendes to Dodoi for goal
45+1 Minute – IFK, Cerny to Mendes
HALF – Wow
Luque for Barker; Dinga for Ross
80th Minute – Baranowski to Luque for goal
We hold and win 6-0. MOM is Cerny

[Abe Sargent]

I finish scouting José Rodríguez and like him. Does he want to come here, and for how much? It’s too much, they are starting at 850k, and our transfer kitty after sales is 334k


Champions Leg Game #2 – Home vs Young Boys – I begin standard. We won 4-2 on the road so we’ll be professional here and make it through.

Timeline

4th Minute – Barker to Mendes, goal
10th Minute – Barker to Dodoi, goal
14th Minute - They hit goal off a counter
HALF – Don’t get complacent!
48th Minute -They score.
Mangana for Diekmeier; Dinga for Ross
66th Minute – They foul Dodoi in the box and up steps Dubek and…he scores
Baruatto for Jung
We hold and win 3-2, and 7-3 aggregate, MOM is Barker

Next is HSK Zrinjski Mostar from Bosnia

[Abe Sargent]

August

Aug 3 – Away vs Mezőkövesdi SE
Aug 7 – Champions Cup, 1st Leg. Home
Aug 10 – Home vs Honved
Aug 14 – 2nd Away
Aug 17 – Home vs Vardas
Aug 24 – Away vs Ferencvárosi Torna Club
Aug 31 – Away vs Videoton

Good training – Dodoi, Vicente, Posmyk

We loan Frimpong

NB1 Game #3 – Away vs Mezőkövesdi SE – I begin defending.

Timeline

HALF
49th Minute – Dodoi feeds Mendes for goal
Baranowski for Dubek; Luque for Barker; Csoboth for Dodoi
Kempf a card
89th Minute – Csoboth to Mendes for goal
We win 2-0, MOM is Mendes

[Abe Sargent]

I decline a 250k offer for Vicente

Cerny wants a new deal and I agree and offer him one.

Champions Cup Leg, 1st Game Home vs HSK Zrinjski Mostar – I begin standard

Timeline

I ease back to counter
HALF
56th Minute - Jung Crosses to Cerny for goal
Mangana for Diekmeier; O’Dwyer for Dodoi;
75th Minute – Barker crosses to Mendes for goal
Baranowski for Vicente
We win 2-0, MOM is Cerny

[Abe Sargent]

Vicente wants a new deal after I reject an offer from Man Utd. Done.

NB1 Game #4 – Home vs Honved – I start Baranowski for a tired Vicente.

Timeline

HALF
Luque for Barker;
61st Minute -Luque feeds Mendes for goal
O’Dwyer for Dodoi; Mangana for Jung
We win 1-0 – MOM is Jung

[Abe Sargent]

Cerny pens his new deal and he is now a first team player making 1.4k/week and here until June 2022 and a 1.7 min release fee

Champions Cup Leg, Game #2 Away at HSK Zrinjski Mostar – I begin defending. We just need to be professional!

Timeline

11th Minute – They score
20th Minute – Dodoi feeds Mendes and ties it
24th Minute – Dodoi drives the left corner and crosses to Barker for goal
44th Minute – Vicente feeds Cerny on an attack run for goal
HALF – We have 12 shots, 8 on target to their 7 and 4. We have more shots on target then they do shots. Nice! Dubek was hit and tired and I send in Baranowski for him at the half to save him for the next game
57th Minute – Cerny crosses to Dodoi for goal
Dinga for Kempf; Mangana for Jung

We hold and win 4-1, 6-1 aggregate. Wanna see?

https://i.ibb.co/RhwZhFn/Balmaz-78.png


Sure thing! MOM is Cerny

Next is Rapid Wien, a major from Austria – get past them? Group stage!

[Abe Sargent]

I am getting a lot of offers for Vicente for around 1.2 mill. No thanks! Barcelona made a 1.3 mill offer.

I reject an offer for Dubek.

NB1 Game #5 Home vs Kisvarna – I begin standard. Hello Kovacevic!

Timeline

12th Minute – They score off a DFK
41st Minute – Cerny also scores off a DFK, clearly challenged by them
Kempf with a card just before half
HALF – I sub Dinga for Kempf
O’Dwyer for Dodoi
66th Minute – Dinga hits Barker on a counter to break the tie
Luque for Cerny
Can we hold? We hold and win 2-1, MOM is Barker

Want to see the league table after 5 games?

https://i.ibb.co/z6vPp4n/Balmaz-79.png

Here you go! Our opening game loss has us with a 4-0-1 record and 12 points tied with Akademia and Ferencvaros. And promote MTK is a the top with 15 points.

[Abe Sargent]

Vicente signs his new deal! That increases his min release fee from 1.5 to 2

Champion’s Playoff, Away vs Rapid Wien – I begin defensively. We haven’t even tied one game yet, but I’ll take a narrow loss or a tie here.

Timeline –

9th Minute – They tackle Cerny in the box and Dubek grabs the loose ball and scores!
16th Minute – Yellow card by Cerny. Do I want to pull him out now? I’ll hold off I cannot imagine pulling him.
27th Minute - Cerny crosses to Barker on an attacking run for goal
HALF - Don’t get complacent!
Luque for Cerny
60th Minute – Card for Dubek, but I cannot pull my leader right now
66th Minute – They score
Dinga for Ross
75th Minute -They tie it
Mangana for Jung
Can we grab a win? Can we hold on for a tie? No more scores, we tie 2-2. MOM is Dubek

[Abe Sargent]

I agree to loan out my 3rd GK and offer him to clubs

I accept a first team loan offer for Haris

I accept a loan offer for GK Molnar who came through our youth ranks

NB1 Game #6 – Away vs Ferencvaros – We begin defensively against a heavy

Timeline

Ross an early card, I hold off.
3rd Minute – Dubek sinks a goal that was shot by Mendes and rebounded off the crossbar
29th Minute – Cerny a dangerous cross to Mendes is an OG by their GK – We have more goals than shots on target!
HALF – Don’t get complacent
Dinga for Ross; Baranowski for Vicente; Beruatto for Jung
Can we hold and win 2-0 against the heavy? They are coming hard.
86th Minute – They score and drive back 2-1. They have 17 shots so that was coming
We win 2-1, MOM is on their team

[Abe Sargent]

I accept a 1st team loan offer for Centeno

I have 14 callups

Champions Playoff, 2nd Game, Home vs Rapid Wien – I begin countering. We are through with a win or a 1-1 or 0-0 tie

Timeline

They are coming hard and I go to defensive
HALF – They have 16 shots to our 7. Not bad. Barker with a card and I send in Luque.
50th Minute – Luque crosses to Mendes for goal
53rd Minute - They have a break away score and even things. If we can keep this, we are through!
58th Minute – Crosses to Luque for goal. Nice! But if they score we’ll tie 2-2 and go to extra time
Baranowski for a banged up Vicente
Baranowski is carded but I don’t have any MCs on my bench to sub him off
Mangana for a tired Diekmeier
Can we hold on to2-1?
We do! We are through to the Group Stage! Luque is MOM

We make 14.7 mill in sweet sweet cash! That is an epic amount for an Eastern European Team!

[Abe Sargent]

Now that we’ve made that money, I go to my board and ask for some more transfer cash, and they agree and I have another 1 mill in transfer kitty. Now my potential wonderkid Colombian Striker Jose Rodriguez. We agree to 550 k and I make an offer to him and see if he bites.

I make him an offer of 1.9k/week and for two years and 1.4 mill release fee which is the highest I can get.

I reject a loan offer for Dubek.

Centeno heads out, as does Haris

The Champion’s League Draw happens. Here is our Group

Ajax
Balmaz
Dortmund
Real Madrid

Hey I’m just happy to be here and net that cash!

The Transfer Dead Arrives

We sign Rodriguez! He’ll join us in January. I accept a loan offer for Csoboth for first team play now that I know we’ll have a replacement.


NB1 Game #7 – Away vs Videoton – I begin defensively

Timeline

25th Minute – Mendes feed Dodoi for goal
44th Minute – Dodoi to Mendes, shot rebounded to Mendes and he feeds Dodoi for goal again
HALF
Luque for Barker; Mangana for Jung;
75t Minute - They score off a corner
Beruatto for Diekmeier
80th Minute - They tie
Beruatto a card
We tie them 2-2. We cannot drop points early

[Abe Sargent]

Goodbye August, that was a looong month

September

Sept 14 – Home vs Debrecen
Sept 17 – Away vs Real Madrid
Sept 21 - Away vs Vasas
Sept 25 – Away vs RTK, Magyar
Sept 28 – Home DVTK

Good training - Dodoi, Vicente, Baranowski

Andre Mesquita heads out on loan


NB1 Game #8 – Home vs Debrecen – Hello Gabovda! I begin standard

Timeline

13th Minute – Cerny crosses to Mendes for goal
16th Minute – Mendes intercepts the ball and scores
25th Minute – Gabovda hits their ST for goal to bring them within one
35th Minute – They tie it
HALF – Show me something else! – They only have 3 shots on target
Mangana for Jung; Luque for Barker;Beruatto for Diekmeier
78th Minute – Vicente feeds Dubek on an attack run for goal – I ease back to counter
88th Minute – Vicente feeds Dodoi on a counter for goal
We win 4-2, MOM is Vicente with two assists

[Abe Sargent]

That win moved us up to 2nd.

Group Game #1 - Away vs Real Madrid – I am, obviously beginning defensively. Away vs Real Madrid is the worst game of the match. Woodshed time!

Timeline

20th Minute – By now they have 13 shots, 7 on target. They are just too good
23rd Minute – Ronaldo scores
By the 30th minute they have 22 shots – I;m happy to be down 1
We injure Gareth Bale and he is subbed out
HALF - They have 32 shots, 12 on target. Good job Rimniceanu!
47th Minute – Another Ronaldo score
Mangana for Jung; Dinga for Ross;
70th Minute – We injure Renaldo and they sub him
Baranowski for Vicente
83rd Minute – They score
We finish 0-3 and they have 53 shots. I’ll take it.

Dortmund defeated Ajax 1-0.

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #9 – Away vs Vasas – I stay defending

Timeline

Kempf a card and I pull him for Dinga
HALF – Show me something else!
Luque for Barker, Mangana for Jung
82nd Minute - Off an IFK, Cerny to Ross, goal
We win 1-0. MOM is Ross

We are playing down to our NB1 foes

[Abe Sargent]

Magyar Kupa Round 1, Away vs RTK - I begin countering. My hope is that we dominate and get our mojo back.

Timeline

HALF – 15 shots, 8 on target – show me something else!
48th Minute _Dubek, PK
58th Minute – Dubek, PK
Dinga for Ross; O’Dwyer for Dodoi
70th Minute – Cerny to Dubek, goal
Luque for Barker
We win 3-0, see what I mean about playing down? That was a 1-0 without the PKs. Dodoi was 6.3 and Mendes 6.8

[Abe Sargent]

Nb1 Game #10 – Home vs Diosgyr – We begin standarding

Timeline

Ross a card
44th Minute – Jung to Dodoi goal
HALF
Dinga for Ross;
61st Minute – Cerny crosses to Dodoi for goal
Mangana for Jung; Luque for Barker
83rd – Dubek leaps on an intercepted ball and sinks it for goal!
We win 3-0, MOM is Dodoi

Here’s the table after ten

https://i.ibb.co/bmgFJwZ/Balmaz-80.png


We just moved into first. As you can see, we have 1 point over Akademia. We are one game away from being 1/3 of the way through the league.

[Abe Sargent]

October

Oct 2 – Home vs Dortmund
Oct 5 – Home Akademia
Oct 19 -Away vs Ujpest
Oct 23 – Away at Ajax
Oct 26 – Home vs MtK
Oct 30 – Away at Békéscsaba 1912 Előre SE, Magyar

Good training – Safar, Baranowski, Posmyk

Our U19 Club defeated Dortmund’s 3-2. An omen?

Group Stage Game #2, Home V Dortmund – I begin countering

Timeline

10:03 Mark – Mendes feeds Dodoi and we score first! Want to see?

https://i.ibb.co/VvcPGHb/Balmaz-81.png

I doubt that score holds!

25th Minute – On a corner kick, they foul us in the box. Up steps Dubek and…they block it.
HALF
55th Minute – They tie it
Baranowski for a struggling Dubek; Luque for Barker; Mangana for Diekmeier
Can we hold for a tie? Or steal a win?
89th Minute – They score off a Dodoi mistake
We lose 2-1

[Abe Sargent]

12 call ups

NB1 Game #11 – Home vs Akademia -this is a huge match! I remain countering to open it up

Timeline –

19th Minute – Vicente to an unmarked Gomes who sinks a very long shot
21st Minute – Mendes returns the favor and feeds Vicente for goal on a break away
HALF – We only have 2 shots on target on 3 attempts – Don’t get complacent
O’Dwyer for Dodoi
70th Minute – Barker feeds O’Dwyer for goal
Luque for Barker; Safar for Kempf
We blank the #2 team and win 3-0! MOM is Mendes

[Abe Sargent]

Ross made his debut on the Scotland Senior Squad and I offer him congrats!

NB1 Game #12 – Away at Ujpest – I begin defensively

Timeline

HALF
Mangana for Jung; O’Dwyer for Dodoi; DInga for Ross
Card for Cerny
We tie 0-0, MOM is Cerny

[Abe Sargent]

Group Stage, Game #3 - Away at Ajax – I begin defensively. Woodshed time!

Timeline

21st Minute – Cerny a nasty cross to Dodoi for goal

https://i.ibb.co/fkvN3h4/Balmaz-82.png

We’re up 1-0! It won’t last

HALF – They have 20 shots to our 4. Good stuff!

Baranowski for an 6.3 Dubek; Luque for Cerny; Mangana for Jung
Can we hold, or steal a tie?
89th Minute – They tie. 4 Minutes.
We hold and tie 1-1 and that’s a great job team! MOM is on their team

[Abe Sargent]

We win 500k

NB1 Game #3 – Home vs MTK – This is a big match. I start standard. I am starting Baranowski for Vicente since he’s tired. Vengeance!

Timeline

6th Minute – They score
Kempf a card; Dinga heads in
HALF – They have 12 shots to our 5
O’Dwyer for a banged up Mendes; Vicente for a 6.4 Dubek
80th Minute – Barker feeds Vicente for goal to tie it
Barker a late card. 5 Minutes.
90+3rd Minute – Baranowski to Dodoi for goal on a break away
We hold and win 2-1, MOM is Baranowski

[Abe Sargent]

Vicente is back starting. Oh, he’s grown to 4.5 stars.

Magyar Kupa, 2 Round – I begin countering. We played down in Round 1. Hopefully we’ll won’t this time,

Timeline

HALF – Show me something else!
Beruatto for Jung; Leal for Vicente
69th Minute – Dubek feeds Leal for goal, that’s his first senior goal
O’Dwyer for Dodoi
Beruatto is injured and has to leave the game
89th Minute – Mendes to O’dwyer, goal
We win 2-0, MOM is O’Dwyer

Beruatto is injured for 9 days

[Abe Sargent]

November

Nov 2 – Home vs Mezőkövesdi SE
Nov 5 – Home vs Ajax
Nov 9 – Away vs Honved
Nov 23 – Home vs Ferencvarosi
Nov 27 – Home vs Real Madrid
Nov 30 – Home vs Videoton

Good training – Vicente, Novak, Gergő Harsányi

Mendes won Goal of the Month, and I send my congrats

NB1 game #14 – Home vs Mezőkövesdi SE – I begin standard!

Timeline

14th Minute – Dodoi finds Mendes for goal
30th Minute - Dodoi feeds Cerny on an attack run for goal
HALF
Dinga for Ross;
69th Minute – Dubek t Dodoi
Mangana for Jung; Baranowski for Vicente
82nd Minute _ Cerny to Baranowski, goal
We hold and win 4-0, MOM is Cerny. Good win! Are we getting our mojo back?

[Abe Sargent]

SEVEN of my players in Team of the Week

Group Stage, Game #4 – Home vs Ajax – This is my 100th game! I begin countering.

Timeline

24th Minute – They score
42nd Minute – We give up a PK
HALF
Mangana for Jung; Dinga for Ross; Luque for Cerny
Kempf a late card
5 minutes. We lose 0-2, and we had 12 shots to their 28.

[Abe Sargent]

We are out of the Cup.

We have 11 call ups

Beruatto is back from his injury

NB1 Game #15 – Away vs Honved – I begin defensively against a heavy. Hello hard rain.

Timeline

9th Minute – On a corner kick, Mendes hits Ross for goal
28th Minute – Mendes a nasty assist to open Dodoi on a counter
HALF
62nd Minute – They foul Mendes in the box and Dubek sinks it
Zamouri for Cerny; Mangana for Jung; Baranowski for Dubek
88th Minute – Mendes to Dodoi, goal
We hold and win 4-0, against a heavy in their home, and MOM is Mendes’s 3 assists

Want to see the table after 15?

https://i.ibb.co/JxWFYHB/Balmaz-83.png


As you can see, we’re in 1st by a few points over Akademia who have kept up with us, but then it’s a big drop to #3.

[Abe Sargent]

The Hungary National Team HC retired at the age of 71. Do I apply for it?

I do!

NB1 Game #16 – Home vs Ferencvarosi – I begin standard.

Timeline

12th Minute – Dodoi to Mendes goal
HALF – We have 9 shots to their 7
Jung carded, Mangana heads in; Baranowski for Dubek; Luque for Barker
We hold and win 1-0. Maybe we aren’t back. Cerny MOM

[Abe Sargent]

I get the offer for the Hungary National Team…

Now…do I want it? It’s a lot of work. Usually I do both, but last dynasty in Slovakia and later France after I moved I skipped it and had my longest dynasty ever because all of the time doing both wasn’t needed. Do I want to do it again this time? Hungary would be a challenge.

Let’s think about it.

[Abe Sargent]

I look at the squad. Is this something I could do damage with? I had a great run with Romania but the game had gifted me a studly AMC on a massive level called Robert Lupu. What does Hungary look like? This would be a challenge. In the 8 game EURO Quals, they won just 1 game, by a score of 1-0. But they were close. 3 ties, 4 one goal loss.

Do I do this?

[Abe Sargent]

Here’s my main issue:

Championship Games from 1st Leg to Group Stage– 14
Cup – 5-8 games
NB1 – 33 games

Do I want to add 10-12 national games to that?

I’ll sleep on it

[Abe Sargent]

Alright let's do it to it! Get ready for a deep dive into all things Hungary.

[Chas in Cinti]

Awesome!

[Abe Sargent]

Hungary National Squad Breakdown

We have a young 19 future all star named Dominik Szoboszlai who I will be building my tactic around

https://i.ibb.co/g9HNHZS/Balmaz-84.png

Here he is! As you can see, he’s very good for his age, very expensive, and already 11 caps. I believe that he was mismanaged as an MC as I think he’s a better AMC, so I am creating an AMC spot for Dominik to lurk at.

I inherited a 4 def, 1 DMC, 2 MC, AMR, AML, and ST. I keep the same but move him to AMC from MC to give me another attacker. I massage some of my folks around.

Here is our starting 11

Gk Gulasci – 2nd best player on the team
DC Elek, Korcsmár
DR Varga
DL Kadar
DMC Nagy – 3rd best player on the team
MC Szanto
AMC Szoboszlai
AMR Balogh
AML Dzsudzsák
ST Rado

Our defense is really weak save for GK and DMC

Current Subs

GK Megyeri; Bogdan
DC Vinicius
DR/MR Bese
ST Futacs
DL Korhut
DRL Botka
A/M RL Stieber
A/M RLC ST Kleinheisler
DM/ M/A RL Nagy
DC/DM Lang
DRC/DM Fiola

[Abe Sargent]

I edited in a bunch of images for the club and city.

[Abe Sargent]

Group Game #5 – Home vs Real Madrid – I begin defensively.

Timeline

0:23 Mark – Dodoi to Mendes.

Wanna see us up on Real Madrid in the 1st minute?

https://i.ibb.co/TchgWmh/Balmaz-85.png

I got you! We’re not getting shut out this time!

3rd Minute = They score. Nevermind.
19th Minute – They score
HALF – We have 9 shots to their 16 so we aren’t getting sandblasted.
51st Minute –Mendes feeds Cerny and we tie it!

https://i.ibb.co/9pgY7th/Balmaz-86.png

We are not going away!

Dinga for Ross; Mangana for Diekmeier
72nd Minute -Cerny crosses to Mendes for goal!!!

https://i.ibb.co/qy8jMh5/Balmaz-87.png

Wow!

Baranowski for Vicente
Can we hold on? SIX minutes is a lot of minutes. I doubt it. This is a 1 million dollar 6 minutes, if we hold on an win.
93rd Minute – They score. Ah well. A tie is 500k
We tie them 3-3! Mendes is MOM

[Abe Sargent]

Our youth and training facilities have been upgraded. Now that we are flush with Champion’s Cash can we get more upgrades? Yes on the training facilities and…yes on the youth facilities. They are spending 1.7 mill

NB1 Game #17 – Home vs Videoton – Major Alert. I begin standard.

Timeline
 
24th Minute – IFK, Cerny feeds Kempf for goal – I slide to counter they are moving hard
Jung a card – Managa replaces him
HALF – Videoton has more shots, possession, shots on target, and we only have a set piece goal and my attack – Dubek 6.3, Dodoi 6.2 don’t satisfy. Don’t get complacent!
O’Sdwer for Dodoi
59th Minute – Diekmeier feeds Barker on a an attack run for goal. Well my offense has scores and assists and my wingers are involved so we’re fine I guess
Baranowski for a banged up Vicente
Ross gets a card
79th Minute – They score and are now one away.
Kempf a card, he’ll be suspended next match
87th Minute – They score, I move to control
We finish and tie 2-2. MOM is Cerny. We can score three on Real Madrid but just two against Videoton?

[Abe Sargent]

December

Dec 3 – Magyar, Away vs Rákosmente FC
Dec 7 – Away vs Vardas
Dec 10 – Away vs Dortmund
Dec 14 – Away vs Debrecen

Good training – Safar, Balla, Dodoi

Hungary draws Norway in the EURO PLAYOFFF SEMI FINAL in March 2020

Magyar Kupa, 3rd Round -I’ve never gotten past this round! I am countering

Timeline

5th Minute – On an IFK Cerny feeds Kempf who feeds Ross for goal
Diekmeier a card -Beruatto heads in
36th Minute – Ross feeds Dodoi for a goal in a corner
HALF
Luque for Barker
Kempf a card – Dinga heads in
66th Minute – Dubek sinks a PK. We have goals off IFK, corner, and PK
71st Minute -Dinga feeds Dodoi on a break – three DCs with assists and one with a goal
Late card for Vicente
We win 4-0, MOM is Ross with a goal and an assist

[Abe Sargent]

Hungary - I named 24 year old DMC as my new captain and the public agree with my choice.

We draw Honved again. They took us out our first year in the 3rd round. Vengeance!!

After our recent draw, Akademia are just two points behind us.

NB1 #18 – Away vs Vardas – Kempf is banned, Dinga starts. I begin defensing. Hello Kovacevic!

Timeline

19th Minute – Jung crosses to Dodoi for goal on a counter
HALF
Safar for Ross; Leal for Vicente;
77th Minute – Mendes to Dodoi
Baranowski for Dubek
We win 2-0, MOM is Dodoi

Akademia lost

[Abe Sargent]

Akademia lost


Group Stage Game E6, Away vs Dortmund – Woodshed time! Kempf is back. I begin defending. Can we steal an away tie like we did against Ajax? I wonder if my German led defense talks smack to them in German?

Timeline

26th minute – They foul Dodoi in the box. In the first match Dubek missed the Pk that would have tied it, can he sink this one? He scores!
We are up 1-0.

https://i.ibb.co/m9QJQYv/Balmaz-88.png

Does a PK count? Sure!

37th Minute – They score on a corner We stopped 8 shots on target.
38th Minute – They score again
46th Minute – Mendes feeds Dodoi for goal!

https://i.ibb.co/cL48c2R/Balmaz-89.png

We are not going away in this game either!
HALF – We have 9 shots, 8 on target, to their 19 and 7, so we have not packed up our Champions Campaign and gone home.
53rd Minute – Cerny to Dubek, goal!

https://i.ibb.co/SmzCrZb/Balmaz-90.png

Whoa!
57th Minute – They tie it back
Mangana for Diekmeier
68th Minute – They gravb the lead again
Luque for Barker; Dinga for Ross
92nd Minute – They score.
We lose 5-3.

[Abe Sargent]

How many EE teams made it to the Group Stage, and did any get out?

Dinamo Bucharesti – Nope
Shakhtar – Yes
Zenit -Nope
Us – Nope
CSKA Moscow – Nope
Dinamo Kyiv – Nope

So we got as far as 5 other clubs, all major powerhouses in Russia, Ukraine or a Romanian power. As you can see, we did good making it this far!

NB1 Game #19 – Away vs Debrecen – I begin defending. Hello Gabovda!!!!!!!!

Timeline

HALF – Show me something else
46th Minute – Cerny crosses for goal to Mendes
Baranowski for Vicente, O’Dwyer for Dodoi
Luque for Barker
We win 1-0. Big win for my D as we held them blank of 25 shots.

[Abe Sargent]

Cerny was MOM.

Winter Break!

Table


https://i.ibb.co/4RzjcYT/Balmaz-91.png

As you can see we’re really in a two team race with Akademia as we have a lot on Diosgyor.

Hungary – We are in this group for World Cup Quals:

Hungary
Georgia
Luxembourg
Norway
Portugal


Uh oh Portugal

[Abe Sargent]

I arrange friendlies

The Hungary National Team moved up from 58th to 43rd

I arrange friendlies with the USA and Turkey

I make a transfer offer to a young DC from Colombia named Edison Farfán that I want to bring in with my ST. Is he interested? Too pricey, their starting offer is 1.7 Mill. How about MC Fabián Correa? Also too pricey, their starting over is 1.5 Mill. AMC Jorge Carrascal? Too pricey. MC Jorge Humberto Uribe? I make an offer.

I talk Kempf down from wanting a transfer to Dortmund.

The offer for Uribe is upped to 500k before they accept. Do I want to spend that much on a guy who’s likely a backup MC? I don’t.

I make a 50k offer for Juan Leudo who is 17 and Spanish and Colombian.

We’ll see him in a month or so!

https://i.ibb.co/0tDtFGN/Balmaz-92.png


Here are my contracts about to expire. Dubek is playing down, and getting old, and I make some offers to some youth here. I also make offers to some staff.

[Abe Sargent]

Ronaldo is Player of the Year

Joseph Mendes won 2ND Place in African Striker of the Year!

Dodoi won Romanian Player of the Year!!

Dodoi – Champion- 13 games, 10 goals, 3 ass, 7.42 rating; NB1
18 games, 13 goals, 5 ass, 7.52 rating

He’s gotten a lot better, as he started cold, and we’ll see a problem with that in a month or so…

January

Jan 20 – Transfer Window Opens
Jan 25 – Fr, Home vs Sleven
Jan 29 – Fr, Away at FC LOKOMOTIVA KOSICE


I get two big offers for Vicente at 1.8 and 1.9 mill. I turn them down.

I reject a minor offer for Cerny

[Abe Sargent]

Just assume I keep saying no to offers for players like Ross, Kempf and others. Now if I got an offer for Dodoi, I might do that because I gave a first team offer to my new ST joining us here in a moment, because Dodoi was looking poor and we were beginning the season with 1-0 games and losses against MTK and 6.3 efforts, so I brought in his replacement, but he has played very well since then.

Wow a 1.3 Mill for Ross is close.

Anyone free I want to knock on their boots? I start with youth. Not really. No backups or anything either

The transfer window rises

Want to see our new ST?

https://i.ibb.co/QKztrcZ/Balmaz-93.png

Here is 18 year old Jose Rodriguez from South America. I offered him a first team role as he looked pretty good. What I’ll do is start him in the friendlies and give him an honest shot to prove himself in 5 games or so, and then after that, we’ll figure it out.

[Abe Sargent]

I accept some loan offers. I offer O’Dwyer for loan

Uh oh…SLB made Cerny’s Min Release Fee of 1.7 mill… I love Cerny he’s one of my people…

I reject an offer for Luque for 110k

I get two more offers for Cerny at 1.7 mill. Stupid agent wouldn’t go any higher! Cerny is just 4 months away from being homegrown at my club!

Friendly #1 – Home vs NK Slaven Belupo – We win 4-1

I start looking for a sigh…Cerny replacement…

I start scouting players like Mehdi Carcela and Roberto Bolz and Jaroslav Mihalik and Alisson Christhian Jerônimo dos Santos. The two Brazilians are my favorite choice right now, but let’s see how the scouting goes.

I loan my 3rd GK out, as well as Alex Perez. I loan O’Dwyer

Friendly #2 – Away at FC LOKOMOTIVA KOSICE – We tie 1-1

I loan Jordan Duncan

Cerny signs. Who do I want to bring in? I now have an almost 2 mill transfer kitty to bring in his replacement. Who do I like? Who will join me? The best choice after one round of scouting is probably 20 year old Brazilian Alisson Christhian Jerônimo dos Santos. But that would take up another non-EU spot. Is he interested? That would be my first question. How much do they want?

We negotiate 900k

Now, here would be the deal.

Non-EU – ML Barker, ST Rodriguez, DC Ross, and if he is a backup ST O’Dwyer

This would be my last spot, and would remove that flexibility moving forward.

Alright, let’s do it

We sign him!

https://i.ibb.co/Rjbjy40/Balmaz-94.png

Here he is! As you can see, he comes in with a 3.5 star rating and the ability to grow to 5 stars, and he can play the Winger role we need at MR, as well as solid stats. He is a key player with a 5.5k/week salary and for a few years.

I move him to start our next friendly.

[Abe Sargent]

I make an offer to free GK Alex Dos Santos to give him another young player on the squad.

I get an offer for Baranowski, my first. No thanks!

He wants an improved deal and I grant it!

February

Feb 1 – Fr, Home vs Trencin
Feb 8 – Fr, Home vs Karpaty
Feb 15 – Away at Honved
Feb 20 – Transfer Window
Feb 22 – Fr, Home vs Goverla
Feb 29 – Home vs Vasas

Three friendlies and 2 NB1 games

Good Training – Posmyk, Safar

I decline an offer to loan Luque

Friendly #3 – Home vs Trencin – We win 3-1

We sign Alex Dos Santos

Baranowski signs his new deal - 775/week, hot prospect, till June 2022, 1.5 mill release fee

Friendly #4 – Home vs Karpaty – We win 4-1

[Abe Sargent]

Magyar Kupa, Round 4 , First Leg– Away at Honved – I begin defensively with my two new South American players.

Timeline

21st Minute – Vicente gives away a PK and they sink it
Ross a card
44th Minute – Alisson crosses to Rodriguez for goal!
HALF – 1-1
Dinga for Ross; Baranowski for Vicente
Mendes a card
Mangana for Jung
We tie 1-1
This was Rodriguez’s first game at the senior level! Welcome to Hungary!

[Abe Sargent]

I still have a ton of transfer cash with 946k left. Could I bring in some more Hungarian youth like Csoboth and Safar? Let’s look to see what I can unearth. How about stud 19 year Gergely Hutvágner who is already better than Rimniceanu? I make an Enquiry.

That’s pretty much it.

How about my Dubek replacement now while I’ve transfer kitty?

How abut 16 year old Dominik Neumann from Germany? I scout him. I also scout Nicolò Buso. Do one of them want to come here and are they cheap enough? Neumann starts at 5 mill, what about Buso? 28 mill. Nope.

The transfer deadline passes

Friendly #5 – Home vs Goverla – We win 2-0

https://i.ibb.co/VxFzRWX/Balmaz-95.png


We get our new youth movement. Anyone here that I like? ST Lambert is 2.5 star potential.

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #20 – Home vs Vasas _ I begin standard.

Timeline

18th Minute – Dubek feeds Mendes for goal
HALF – Don’t get complacent
57th Minute - Mendes feeds Rodriguez for goal
Safar for Kempf; Baranowski for Dubek
71st Minute – Rodriguez assists Mendes for another goal
Luque for Barker
Ross a card
We win 3-0. MOM is Mendes

[Abe Sargent]

March

March 4, Home vs Honved, Magyar Kupa Leg 2
March 7 – Away at DVTK
March 21 – Away at MTK

Good Training – Safar, Baranowski, Posmyk

Home vs Honved, 4th Round 2nd Leg – I begin standarding. We tied 1-1 away so we need to be professional today.

Timeline

26th Minute – We injure their GK and they have to head out
Barker a card, Luque heads in
36th Minute – A nasty cross from Alisson to Rodriguez for goal. The South American connection lives
45th Minute – Dubek sinks a PK
HALF – 2-0 us
Leal for Vicente; Safar for Ross
86th Minute – Luque crosses to Mendes for goal
Leal with a card
We win 3-0 and 4-1 aggregate! MOM is Alisson

[Abe Sargent]

We face Ferencvaros in the next round

NB1 Game #21 – Away at Diosgyor – I begin defensively.

Timeline

1st Minute – Kempf to Ross, Corner kick
HALF – Quiet half
Baranowski for Dubek; Mangana for Diekmeier;Leal for Vicente
We hold and win 1-0. We shut out a team with 19 shots. MOM is Kempf

[Abe Sargent]

That’s 340 minutes since a score, including a big shut out of the #3 team in the league in their own home.

NB1 Game #22 – Away at Akademia -The 2nd team in the league

Timeline

4th Minute - Dubek feeds Mendes for goal
8th Minute – Barker crosses to Mendes
19th Minute – Alisson to Vicente, goal
23rd Minute- They get a PK
HALF
55h Minute – they score off a corner
Dinga for Ross; Mangana for Diekmeier; Dodoi for J Rod
86th Minute – They tie it
We tie 3-3. MOM is Mendes


League Table after 22

https://i.ibb.co/x3ZN5cQ/Balmaz-96.png

Here you go!

[Abe Sargent]

How has Jose Rodriguez done?

5 games, against Honved 2x, away at Akademia and Diosgyor so harder games, he has 3 goals, 1 assist, and 7.12 rating. Dodoi has a 7.50 rating, so I move back to Dodoi and move Jose to hot prospect.

I confirm my Hungary squad. Next time to I want to try 22 year old 7. Roland Sallai?

NB1 Game #23 - away vs MTK – I begin efensing

Timeline

25th Minute – Alisson to Mendes – goal
HALF – We each have 12 shots.
Jose for a 6.3 Dodoi; Mangana for Jung; Dinga for a carded Ross
We hold and win 1-0, MOM is Alisson. They had 22 shots

[Abe Sargent]

Ross is banned for the next match, I start Dinga

Hungary - Away at Norway, EURO QUAL SEMI – I begin defensively in my first game and away.

Timeline

5th Minute – AMR Balogh feeds the AMC I am building this team around for goal, and that’s his first goal for Hungary!

https://i.ibb.co/fC5cw4B/Balmaz-97.png

We get an early lead against Norway!

37th Minute – AML, 33 year old 107 caps Balázs Dzsudzsák sinks a DFK and we are up 2-0.
HALF – Don’t get complacent! We have a DFK and one goal and they have 2 more shots than we do
60th Minute – They score
Sub – out DL Kadar with a 6.5 rating, in Korhut
67th Minute – They score and tie it.
Sub 0 Out DC Zsolt Korcsmár with a 6.2 rating, in DC hmmm, they all suck. How about Vinicius?
Sub – Out DC Elek – in DC Lang
86th Minute – They score
We lose and are out.

[Abe Sargent]

O’Dwyer is capped for Australia!

April

April 1 – QF Home, 1st Leg, vs Ferencvarosi
April 4 – Away at Mezőkövesdi SE
April 8 – QF Away, 2nd leg
April 11 – Home vs Ujpest
April 18 – Home vs Honved
April 25 – Away at Ferencvárosi Torna Club

Good Training – Balla, Baranowski, Posmyk

Magyar Kupa – 1st Leg – I begin standard. Dinga is starting for Ross as he’s out on international duty.

Timeline

6th Minute – They score
38th Minute – Dodoi feeds Mendes on a break
HALF
Baranowski for a 6.3 Dubek; Luque for Alisson; Safar for Kempf
83rd Minute – Barker feeds Dinga for goal on a corner
We win 2-1, MOM Is Dinga

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #24 – Away at Mezőkövesdi SE – begin defensivley starting Dinga

Timeline

34th Minute – They score
HALF
59th Minute – They foul Dubek in the box and he steps up and....scores
Mangana for Diekmeier; Beruatto for Jung; Baranowski for a tired Vicente
They tie us 1-1. MOM is on their team

[Abe Sargent]

Akademia won.

Ross is back.

Magyar Kupa, QF,2ndLeg – away vs Ferencvárosi Torna Club – I begin defensively. We won 2-1 at home so any tie, a 3-2 loss, or win will get us through.

Timeline

HALF
Baranowski for Dubek; Rodriguez for Dodoi; Baruatto for Jung
We shut out a team with 24 shots. 0-0 tie, we are through!

[Abe Sargent]

We draw Videoton for the semis

NB1 Game #25 – Home vs Ujpest – I begin standardly.

Timeline

31st Minute - Dodoi intercepts a pass and scores
35th Minute – Alisson crosses to Dodoi for goal
38th Minute – Barker’s shot rebounds off the crossbar and Dodoi finishes
HALF
Baranowski for Dubek; Rodriguez for Mendes; Safar for Kempf
82nd Minute – Allison a nasty cross to Dodoi for goal
92nd Minute – They score.
We win 4-1, MOM is Dodoi


Barker’s agent wants a new deal. I make the deal and raise his min release fee from 675k to 2.5 mill.

[Abe Sargent]

Here’s the table after 25


https://i.ibb.co/ZLQcqzS/Balmaz-98.png

As you can see, we’ve been putting distance between us and Akademia.

[Abe Sargent]

Dodoi set the club record with 4 goals in a match.

Barker signs his deal and is now making 2.5k/week until 2023. He has a 7.52 rating in the Champions League and a 7.21 one in NB1

NB1 Game #26 – Home vs Honved – I begin in a standard format.

Timeline

20th Minute -Diekmeier crosses to Dodoi for goal
HALF
Luque for Barker; Dinga for Kempf; Baranowski for Vicente
77th Minute – Alisson feeds Dodoi on an attack run for goal
81st _ They score off a corner
We win 2-1, MOM is Dodoi

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #27 – Away vs Ferencvárosi Torna Club – I begin defending.

Timeline

Dinga for a carded Kempf
HALF – We have 3 shots, none on target
Rodriguez for a banged up Mendes;
66th Minute – Allison a nice cross to Rodriguez for goal
Mangana for DIekmeier
79th Minute – Barker feeds Dodoi on a break and Dodoi slides the ball to Rodriguez for goal
81st Minute – Barker crosses to Rodriguez for goal and he got a hattrick in 25 minutes!
93rd Minute – Barker to Dodoi, goal. It’s like Dodoi and Rod are fighting for the starter role.
We hold and win 4-0 against a heavy in their home! MOM is…Rod

[Abe Sargent]

Magyar Kupa, Semi-Final, 1st Leg, Home v Videoton – I begin standard.

Timeline

20th Minute – Mendes feeds Dodoi on the edge who crosses to Vicente for goal
HALF
Dinga for Ross, Luque for Alisson; Rodriguez for Mendes again
Dinga a late card
We win 1-0,MOM is Vicente

[Abe Sargent]

May

May 2 – Home vs Varda
May 9 – Home vs Debrecen
May 16 – Away vs Videoton
May 19 – Away vs Videoton, Magyar
May 23 – Home vs Diosgyor
May 30 – Away at Vasas

Good training – Safar, Dinga, Dodoi

NB1 Game #28 – Home vs Varda – I begin standarding

Timeline

Alisson an early card, Luque heads in
HALF
47th Minute – Dubek can’t sink a PK
48th Minute - Mendes to Dodoi, goal
Baranowski for Dubek;
63rd Minute – Barker grabs a loose interception and sinks it,.
Leal for Vicente
We win 2-0, MOM is Barker

[Abe Sargent]

279 minutes since we allowed a goal!

I talk down Diekmeier from wanting to leave in the offseason

Well, to be fair, dude is 30, how much longer can I run him here? He’s still a 4 star rating.

Nb1 Game #29 – Home vs Debrecen – If we win we could win the league! Hello Gabovda! We are starting standarding.

Timeline

5th Minute – Corner kick, Kempf to Barker
23rd Minute – Gabovda an assist
HALF
47th Minute – Corner kick, Vicente to Kempf
Rodriquez for Dodoi; Baranowski for Dubek; Mangana for Diekmeier
83rd Minute – Rodriguez feeds Mendes for goal
We win 3-1 and MOM is Barker

We WIN the NB1!!!

[Abe Sargent]

Wow! We are in the money now!

https://i.ibb.co/bLjxF2k/Balmaz-99.png

The agent of Dodoi wants to open up new talks, and we do so. He signs until 2024, 2k/week, first team, 750k min release fee

Nb1 Game #30 Away at Videoton – I begin defending.

Timeline

43rd Minute – They score
HALF - They have twice as many shots as we do
Baranowski for Dubek; Mangana for Diekmeier; Dinga for Ross
85th Minute – Barker crosses to Alisson for his first goal for us
We tie 1-1. MOM is Alisson.

[Abe Sargent]

Vincente and Baranowski are out on international duty – Leal will start.

Magyar Kupa Semi-Final, 2nd Leg – Away at Videoton – We won 1-0 so a tie like we just had or any win will get us through!

Timeline

21st Minute - Dodoi grabs an open ball and scores
HALF
57th Minute – Kempf gives up a PK and…they sink and tie it
Dinga for Kempf; Safar for Ross
Milan Kovacs for a tired Leal
90+4th Minute – Dubek sinks a PK
We win 2-1 and 3-1 aggro. MOM is Barker

[Abe Sargent]

NB1 Game #31 – Home vsDiosgyor – The 4th team in the league. I begin standard and Leal is starting again. They loaned O’Dwyer but he’s international as well.

Timeline

HALF
Rodriguez for Dodoi; Luque for Barker; Safar for Ross
0-0 Tie, MOM is on their team

[Abe Sargent]

Hungary – We draw Iceland and Sweden in the International Division

Leal is now home grown.

NB1 Game #32 – Away at Vasas – This is the penultimate game in the league. I begin def.

Timeline

23rd Minute – Alisson to Mendes for goal.
43rd Minute – Mendes to Dodoi for goal
Leal a card
HALF
Milan Kovacs for Leal;
50th Minute – Ross gives up a PK, and…Rimniceanu blocks it!
Safar for Ross; Luque for Dubek
77th Minute – They score
85th Minute – Dodoi to Luque for goal!
We win 3-1, MOM is Mendes

[Abe Sargent]

Man Utd defeated Chelsea 1-0 to win the Champion’s Cup

Cerny had the most assists with us at 8.

June

June 3 – Magyar Kupa Final – Neutral vs Vasas
June 6 – Home vs Akademia

Good training – Leal

Baranowski is now homegrown.

Ross is out on international duty and we’ll be starting Dinga

Magyar Kupa Final, Neutral, - I begin with a standard mindset. I am still starting Leal.

Timeline

38th Minute – Alisson to Mendes, goal
HALF – We have 2 shots on target out of 5 to their 1 out of 5. Don’t get complacent!
Rodriguez for Dodoi; Mangana for Diekmeier; Luque for Barker
88th Minute – Dubek shoots and hits the crossbar, Mendes sinks the rebound
95th Minute – Rodriguez to Mendes, goal, counter

https://i.ibb.co/R2tjk4x/Balmaz-100.png


We hold and win 3-0! MOM is Mendes

[Abe Sargent]

Hungary – I call up my squad. Roland Sallai for Botka is the only change I make.

I have 9 call ups

NB1 Game #33 – Home vs Akademia – I begin standard’ing! Leal and Dinga still starting for me.

Timeline

20th Minute – Dodoi feeds Mendes for goal
44th Minute – Corner Kick – Dubek to Kempf
HALF
Luque for an injured Dubek;Safar for Dinga; Zamouri for Alisson
Diekmeier a card
We win 2-0, MOM is Dodoi

Table

https://i.ibb.co/sqtv1Bj/Balmaz-101.png


We broke last season’s record of 81 points with 82, and just one loss this year but more ties than last. Akademia won 2nd and a EURO spot as did Debrecen over at 3rd. Good stuff!

[Abe Sargent]

So now what?

Here are my options:

1. Stay here for another year. Continue to push in the Champions League, see if we can get out of the Group Stage next year!

2. Retire! We did very well here!

3. Head somewhere else and redo it all over. Where?

[Abe Sargent]

I also haven't gotten any offers to apply for jobs, and I've won two league titles and one Cup.

I was a much hotter candidate in my last dynasty with Slovakia

[Abe Sargent]

Awards

Rimniceanu =- GK of the Year


EIGHT players in Team of the Year:

GK Rimniceanu
DC Ross
DC Kempf
DR Diekmeier
ML Barker
MC Vicente
ST Mendes
ST Dodoi

Cerny wins Young Player of the Year; Dodoi 2nd

Dodoi won Top Goalscorer with 22 goals and 7 assists

I won Head Coach of the year

[Abe Sargent]

Player Eval

GK Rimniceanu – 6.91 rating, 30, here until 2021, three stars. 2. He’s been solid, but three are better GKs out there we could bring in, and we probably need an upgrade if we are chasing EURO dreams.
DC Kempf – 7.18 rat, 25,2021, 4 stars, 3. No need to replace him
DC Ross McCrorie – 7.13 rating, 21, 2021, 4 stars and growing, 3. Locked in
DR Diekmeier – 7.07 rat, 30, 2021, 4 stars. 2 – only due to age
DL Jung – 6.97 rat, 28, 2021, 4 stars, 2 – worst rated starter that’s not my GK, but a four star DL isn’t n my short list.
MC Vicente – 7.23 rat, 19, 2022, 4 stars and growing, 3 – locked in
AMC Dubek – 7.02 rating, 33, 2020, 2.5 stars, 0 getting replaced.
MR Alisson Christhian – 7.43, 21, 2023, 4 stars and growing – 3 locked in
ML Barker – 7.28, 23, 4 stars, 2023 – 3 stars.
ST Mendes – 7.58, 29, 3.5 stars, 2021 – 2 only due to age
ST Dodoi – 7.58, 21, 3 stars, 2024, 3 I can replace him with O’Dwyer or Rodriguez

[Abe Sargent]

Stats

We scored 72 goals which led by 11 over Akademia and allowed just 20, fewer than #2 Diosgyor by 14.

MOMs – Cerny, 1st with 6, so was Dodoi and Mendes’ O’Dwyer had 5 for Diosgyor
Dist. Cover. – 4th Barker,
Dist. Cover/90 min – 1st Barker; 8th Vicente
Avg. Rat. – Dodoi and Mendes tied, Barker 7th; Vicente 9th
Headers Won – Kempf 1st; Ross 4th; Mendes 9th
Goals – Dodoi 1st with 22; Mendes 3rd with 18;
Avg. Min/Goal – Dodoi 1st, Mendes 7th
Shots – Dodoi 1st, Mendes 3rd
Shots on Target – Mendes 1st, Dodoi 2nd
On Target % - Mendes 4th
Assist – Mendes 1st with 13, Cerny 5th with 8; Alisson 9th with 7 as was Dodoi
Key Passes – Mendes 1st, Dubek 2nd, Barker 8th
Chances Created – Mendes 1st; Barker 3rd, Cerny 8th
Pass Com % - Vicente 3rd
Cross Com % - Cerny 1st, Mendes 6th
Mistakes – Dubek 6th
Interceptions Made – Kempf 1st; Ross 3rd;
Headers Won % - Ross 2nd; Diekmeier 5th;
Shots Blocked – Ross 1st; Vicente 4th
Shutouts – Rimniceanu 1st with 19
Saves Held – Rimniceanu 5th
Saves Parried - Rimniceanu 7th

And there we go!

[Abe Sargent]

Now let’s look at what jobs are open…

SV Ried in Austria
Partisan in Serbia
AZ in Netherlands
Sheff.Wed which was relegated from the Championship

And that’s it save for clubs here in Hungary like Paski and MTK. Or B Teams. Do I want one of the other teams? SV Ried are…8th in the Austrian Premier League. Hmm… Partisan is a heavy in Serbia and finished 2nd. AZ is, if I recall, a heavy in the Dutch league. I was hoping for a team in a big league , but none are available. I apply for the job at Ried and AZ.

[Abe Sargent]

Team Awards

https://i.ibb.co/nmyYRxn/Balmaz-102.png


As you can see, Mendes remained the top player, and Dodoi was 2nd and Vicente 3rd. Who’s your favorite? Jung was signing of the season, Mendes notched the goal, and Dodoi is the Young Player of the Season. Good stuff!

The board announce their plan to build a new stadium! The facility upgrades begin

[Abe Sargent]

I reject an offer for Vicente and he wants a new deal and this will increase his min release fee to 2.5 mill.

I interview with SV Ried.

I decline talks to stay at my current club.

HUNGARY –

Friendly at home vs USA – I begin standarding.

Timeline –

18th Minute – Bobby Wood scores
DR Varga a card
HALF – I sub out ST Rado who’s club just wants 45 minutes.. I swap over Balogh from AMR to ST and bring in AMR Sallai.
DR Base for Varga
ST Bulacs for Balogh
DL Korhut for Kadar
DC Lang for Korckmar
Klienhasser at AMC


We lose 0-1

SV Ried approach me to take over in Austria! Do I want to?


https://i.ibb.co/92p0Jnw/Balmaz-103.png


Let’s think about it.

[Abe Sargent]

I look at jobs that have just come available - AC Milan, they won't hire me.

U.S. Sassuolo? 11th in the Italian Division? That might be more my style.

I withdraw from Austria. I like going from EU to major flights, like Romania to UK, Slovokia to France and hopefully Hungary to Italy. I apply for U.S. Sassuolo.

A few days later they offer me an interview.

On June 23rd, they offer me the job!


https://i.ibb.co/JCdTH8d/Balmaz-104.png


I accept

[Abe Sargent]

I have never managed in Italy before.

Here are the rules:

https://i.ibb.co/CQZwKJK/Balmaz-105.png

As you can see, the squad cannot have more than 25 players, with 4 spots for trained at the club and 8 in the same nation of Italy from 15-21. The top 4 teams qual for Champions fun times, and 5-6 EURO for sure and maybe 7.

My goals for U.S. Sassuolo

Year One
1. Get to a place where I can threaten for a EURO spot in 5-7. Just getting 6th would increase our table ranking by 5.
Year Two
2. Earn qualification for the EURO
3. Do some serious damage in the EURO as a Italian squad
4. Get a Champion’s qual spot in 4-1
5. Do some damage in the Champion’s league
6. Win a cup
7. Win Serie A

[Abe Sargent]

This year is their 100th as a team!

I meet with the board.

https://i.ibb.co/z85Kmnv/Balmaz-107.png

Team report. We may need a new tactic if the 4-2-3-1 wasn’t working.

[Abe Sargent]

Squad – they are all on vacation

GK Andrea Consigli – 33, First team, 3 stars, 2022, backup 2.5 star Simone Cortinovis.

DC Francesco Acerbi – 32, first team, 3.5 stars, 2022
DC Ferrari – Rotation, 28, 3 stars, 2023
DC Marchizza _ Rotation , 2.5 stars, 22 years old, 2021
DC Erlic – Croatian, Backup, 22 years, 2 stars, 2020 in a week

DR Lirola – Spanish, First Team, 22 years old, 3.5 stars, 2023
DR/MR – Dickman, Rotation, 3 stars, 2022

DL All from loanees, no first team DL

DM/MC Duncan – First Team, 27, 3.5 stars, 2024
DM/MC Sensi – First Team, 24, 3 stars, 2023
MC Missrioli - 32, 2 stars, rotation, leaving in a week
MC Bessa – Rotation, 27 years old, 2.5 stars, 2022
DM/MC Mazzitelli – Backup, transfer listed, 2.5 stars, 24, 2023
MC Sbrissa – Backup, leaving in a week, 23, 2.5 Stars
MC Franchini – Backup, 1.5 stars, leaving in a week
MC/AMC Duda – Slovakian, 25, backup, 2.5 stars, 2022

AMC/ST Sarac -22 years old, 1.5 stars, backup, Austrian, 1 week
AML Ragusa – 30, backup, 2 stars, 1 week
AMRL Politano – 26, 4 stars, first team, 2021
AMRL -Ricci – Backup, 26, 2.5 stars, 2021
AML Pierini – Hot Prospect, 21, 2 stars, with 3.5 pot, 2022
AMR Berardi – Key player, 4 stars, 25, 2022


ST Babacar – First Team, 3.5 stars, 27, 2022
ST Iemmello – Backup, 2.5 stars, 28, 1 week left

And the team has…5 loanees.

Which ones are homegrown at this club?

Starting DR Lirola
Backup DC Erlic
Hot prospect AML Pierini
Backup MC Franchini
Starting AMR Berardi

I offer to extend Erlic and Franchini by a year each. That gives us 5 home grown players at the club in case one leaves.

[Abe Sargent]

Coming to our squad is:

DLC Garcia – First Team, 27, Spanish

What tactic do I want to do?

We could run a common 4-1-2-3 with starters everywhere save at DC and MC which I would need to add. My salary is 827k/week and we are spending 593k/week after the players that are scheduled to leave do so. We have 15.2 mill transfer kitty. I could sign Vicente as my MC to go along with my starters, a better DC, and then just go with the 4-1-2-3 and maybe look for better players at GK and elsewhere where I am starting a 3 star player. Ideally I’d like to have all 4 stars or wonderkids like Vicente that can grow as they start. Our team is pretty old, and a youth movement would be welcome.

As of right now, after our loanees and players that are scheduled to leave do so, and we add Garcia, that gives us a senior squad of 24. Let’s commit to the common tactic and see if we can make it work.

I make an offer to 16 year old Belgian fullback Mathias Laurent.

How many 3 star starters do I have that I might want to replace:

GK, either MC/DM, and then we need MC/DM and DC, so total GK, DC, 2 MC/DM

I scout some hot Italian youth

Laurent signs

[Abe Sargent]

The 29th is here

I hire Brazilian coach Fábio Mahseredjian

The 30th arrives

I get a 10.25 mill offer from the Wolves for MC/DM Duncan, a 3.5 star guy that I was probably going to play at DM this year. Do I accept? That’s a pretty big boost of cash. I accept.

https://i.ibb.co/2KFfRBJ/Balmaz-108.png

I hold off on my 4 star guy until we see how he plays.

I make a 2.5 mill offer for Jose Vicente

[Abe Sargent]

July

July 6 – Preseason Begins
July 18 – Fr, Away at NEC
July 22 – Fr, Away at NAC
July 25 – FR, Away at TEL

The transfer window rises

Garcia arrives and he is just rotation and 2.5 stars so add DL to the positions I am looking to upgrade

Vicente joins us! One MC role down. He is rotation, 5k/wk, 3 stars now 4.5 in the future, 2024

Now I need Gk, DC, DL, DM/MC

I offer to free players like Oliver Giraud, Thiago Emiliano da Silva, and Denis Suárez aren’t coming here.

What about 30 year old Italian DC/DM Lorenzo Tonelli? Yes, he is willing, but he doesn’t seem like an improvement.

We have 21 players on my senior squad

What about DL? There is an English free player, 29, named Nathaniel Clyne that looks to be better. Not an EU, but that would be my first non-EU player. I make Clyne an offer. He’s expensive.


Clyne signs!


https://i.ibb.co/GCG5rC9/Balmaz-109.png

He’s…pricey! But he’s coming in at key player, 75k/week, 4 stars, and that’s what I want. Good stuff Clyne!

[Abe Sargent]

We are expected to get an upper half finish.

I make an offer to unsigned DMC Blaise Matuidi for a year, he’s 33 and probably close to retirement.

I offer to some Italian youth. One started at 47 mill, so no thanks.

I make an offer to Cagliari for 1.5 mill for 20 year old MC/DMC Fabrizio Caligara.

On the 3rd Blaise Matuidi signs with us!

https://i.ibb.co/xFRHqnd/Balmaz-110.png

Here is Matuidi! As you can see, this MC/DMC can rock the block with 4 star rating. I’m looking to start him at the DMC spot.

[Abe Sargent]

I want to sign a future I can start and sub in. Any young players I can bring in like I did with Baranowski? I scout some folks

How about DC? None free are good enough. How about folks for sale?

Vicente is called up for the Olympics

2.9 Mill offer for a young DC from Colombia named Edison Farfán.

On the 5th, Farfan signs

https://i.ibb.co/6139P63/Balmaz-111.png

Here’s the 18 year old hot prospect. As you can see he’s a good sub and could grow into a better player over time.

[Abe Sargent]

Our players are back and I meet them!

Now…GK!

I scout the 20 year old Croatian GK Kristijan Mihelcic. I am also scouting the backup GK over at Liverpool - Loris Karius. He is transfer listed for 6 mill.

Duncan heads out to the Wolves.

The Board let’s me hire another coach. Hire Dutch coach Cedric van der Gun. He’s a 4 star shooting coach.

I make a 1 mill offer to Portuguese player MC Miguel Pires to replace my guy I lost. We make him an offer.

My young GK is too pricey, so I offer the 6 mill deal for Loris Karius.

He signs, he is looking to start.

https://i.ibb.co/F6LHFQt/Balmaz-112.png

Here he is! As you can see, he’s 50k/week, key player, and great stats, but just a 3 star rating. Why did I sign him? I’ll show you!

https://i.ibb.co/fHXD5Lt/Balmaz-113.png

Here he is compared with Andrea. As you can see Karius is better at ball distribution, aerial, speed and mental, an they are the same in the other categories. I move Andrea to not needed and transfer listed.

[Abe Sargent]

Pires signs!

https://i.ibb.co/XxVdgyQ/Balmaz-114.png

Here he is! As you can see we have him until 2023, on rotation, 3.5 star now and 5 star future, 18 years old, 7.5k/week. Good stuff right? Welcome to the team! The media said we “signed a wonderkid”

[Abe Sargent]

I move Sensi to rotation

Friendly #1 – Away at NEC – We lose 3-1

I decline a 10 mill offer for ST Babacar

Friendly #2 – Away vs NAC – We win 2-0

I accept a loan offer for backup player Luca Mazzitelli.

Friendly #3 – Away at Telstar – We win 1-0

August

August 2 – Fr, Home vs Caronnese
August 9 – Fr, Home vs AC Ajaccio
August 16 – Cup
August 23 - Home vs Sampdoria
August 30 – Away at Torino

Good training – Consigli

I confirm the ground size

Friendly #4 – Home vs Caronnese – We win 4-0

We loan Mazzatelli

Friendly #5 – Home vs AC Ajaccio – We win 2-0

We get Carpi in the 3rd Round

I accept some loan offers

[Abe Sargent]

The 3rd Round, Coppa Italia – Home vs Capri - I begin standards. I have all of my new players starting, save for my Columbian DC.

Timeline

13th Minute – Politano crosses to Babacar for goal. Want to see my first goal in Italy?

https://i.ibb.co/rcNtysm/Balmaz-115.png

You got it!

DR Lirola an early card
19th Minute – Politano another assist for Babacar
MC Pires a card
DC Acerbi a card
HALF
Sensi for Pires
Dickmann for Lirola; Marchezi for Acerbi
91st Minute – Berardi feeds Politano for goal
We win 3-0! MOM is Politano!

[Abe Sargent]

We loan Cassata

Berardi is my captain and Acerbi my vice

I get a 5 mill offer for Sensi, but I decline it.

I reject an offer for Politano

I loan Duda



Serie A – Home against Sampdoria – I begin standard. This is my first league game!!! Sampdoria were just promoted. For the fans! I like our black and green kits.

Timeline

11th Minute – They foul me in the box, up steps Berardi and…he sinks it easily
HALF – Don’t get complacent
Vicente a card – Sensi heads in.
Acerbi gives up a penalty in the box, they sink it. Tie game. I move to control
Marchizza for Acerbi; Garcia for Kline
We hold and tie 1-1. We finished with 2 shots on goal, 1 was the PK. We have to fix that.

I massage my tactics set pieces

[Abe Sargent]

Time to get caught up! I watched a few Premiership games and have really enjoyed the deep dive into fun sports for the Olympics, and I always wanted to do, at least, one full year in Italy for the first time. I also reread this and am fully caught up. That's my goal, but we'll see what happens in real life.

I have too much to do with a major club and the Hungarian National Squad so I resign and a few coaches join me.

[Abe Sargent]

I promote 27 year old Italian rotation 2.5 star DM/MC Lorenzo Crisetig to my senior squad. I do not have a B squad, so he was on my U20.

I link up Gasparro and Berardi

Want to see some potential studs that came through our youth ranks?

https://i.ibb.co/JvCC4vD/Balmaz-116.png

This is 16 year old Enrico Cardona, and as you can see, high work rate and potential of 4 stars, and looks nice.

Here’s the 17 year old

https://i.ibb.co/6mt4ScX/Balmaz-117.png


Leo termini. Also with a good work rate, solid stuff and potential 4 star dude.

[Abe Sargent]

I only have one GK coach and I’d like some more, but we are full. I ask my board for another coach. Nope.

I accept a 1.4 mill offer from Fiortina for my replaced GK.

I reject a 9.8 mill offer for Politano

7 players are called up

Serie A Match #2 – Away vs Torino – Okay, I began countering. Vengeance!

Notes

9th Minute – Acerbi scores on a DFK. We are up 1-0
33rd Minute – DR Lirola gets a yellow card and I send in Dickmann for him
HALF – A set piece separates things. Don’t get complacent!
52rd Minute – They grab a card
64th Minute – Ricci for Berardi at AMR
73rd Minute – They score an equalizer
DC Marchesi for Ferrari
Can we steal a win late?
Nope, we tie a bigger name 1-1 away. We had 12 shots to their 17 so that was around fair.

[Abe Sargent]

Transfer Window

I sell GK Andrea Consigli

I loan out a nice young ST prospect named Scamacca

Acerbi wants to know why I sold Consigli, I explain it

Matteo wants to improve his contract. He’s one of my 4 star guys at the AM position, I agree since his deal ends this year. I currently have 120k in my kitty. I make him a new deal.

Inter signed Driussi and that’s the biggest signing of the day.

September

13th – Home vs Atalanta
20th – Away vs Inter
23rd – Away vs Cremonse
27th – Home vs Cagliari

Good Training – Miguel Pires

I massage my subs.

[Abe Sargent]

Matteo Politano signs a 55k deal for 2 more years.

Serie Game #3 - Home vs Atalanta – I begin standardly. I’m wearing pretty black and green kits.

Notes

They get a card and then another
36th Minute – Wonderkid MC Pires feeds AMR Berardi for goal!
They get a card.
We injure their ST and they pull him
HALF – Don’t get complacent
54th Minute – AML Politano drives to the corner and crosses to ST Babacar for goal
Marchizza for Acerbi
70th Minute – Berardi to DMC Matuildi for goal
DL Garcia in
Sensi for Vicente, at MC
Matuidi a card


We win! Want to see my first win in Serie A?

https://i.ibb.co/R7CW0Q3/Balmaz-118.png

3-0 is a big win! Berardi a MOM nom.

[Abe Sargent]

Matuidi enters a coaching class since he’s a player/coach

Serie Game #4 – Away vs Inter – I begin countering, is this my first loss? Woodshed time!

Notes

They get a card
32nd Minute – Babacar drives and crosses to an attacking Berardi for goal
36th Minute – They get a double booking and I move to my 11 vs 10 stuff
42nd Minute – They tie off a counter
HALF –
52nd Minute - I pull Vicente after he gets a card for Sensi
Garcia for Clyne
67th Minute – They score off IFK
Bessa for Matuidi
Barardi a late card
Sensi too
5 Minutes of added time, can we score back?
Nope. We lose a disappointing 2-1

[Abe Sargent]

Away vs Cremonese – I begin countering

Notes

9th Minute – ST Striker feed Politano for goal on an attack run
Politano is injured and I send in Leadrhino
43rd Minute – Leandrahino feeds Babacar on a cross for goal
HALF
Pierini for Berardi
Marchezza for Acerbi
79th Minute – Clyne crosses to Babacar for goal
Matuidi a late card


We hold and win 3-0 MOM is Babacar

[Abe Sargent]

Serie Game #6 – Home vs Cagliari, I begin controlling. This is Acerbi’s 225th game for the club!

Notes

Their GK is lightly injured but they keep him in
Leandrohino for an injured Berardi
24th Minute – Clyne to Lirola on a IFK
They get two early cards and I pull back to light tackle
HALF – Don’t get complacent!
Marchizza for Ferrari
Sensi for Pires
85th Minute - Vicente to Politano
Clyne a late card

We hold and win 2-0, MOM is DR Lirola

[Abe Sargent]

October

4th – Away vs Roma
18th – Home vs Bari
25th- Away vs Fiorentina
28th – Home vs Genoa

Good training – Pires and Vicente

Serie Game #7 – Away vs Roma – I begin countering. Is this a woodshed moment?

Notes

44th Minute – Berardi drives the corner and crosses to Babacar for goal
I’ll be shocked if that result stands
HALF – Don’t get complacent, they have 12 shots to our 3
58th Minute – Babacar is fed an attack by Berardi for goal
Leandrihino for Politano
Garcia for Clyne
79th Minute – Beradi feeds Babacar for goal. Wow.
Sensi for Vicente

Want to see this dominant 3-0 win and MOM for Babacar?

https://i.ibb.co/7Cd7B34/Balmaz-119.png

That’s a shock. They had 18 shots to our 10, but 4 on target to our 4.