A CM4 (EP4 patched) Dynasty: San Marino 2002-2003

[SunDancer]

June 20, 2002

Three guys are having a cup of coffee on this chilly summer day in a small coffee shop in Serravalle, a city in the region of San Marino. Antonio, Fabio and Alfio are of the biggest fans of the young soccer club of the region, San Marino. San Marino has only been playing for the last five years, and got promoted to the Series C2/B league, the lowest level of Italy’s pro soccer structure. However, the three are the only handful of fans who care, or even know much, about the soccer club.

“Antonio, you see this?” Fabio says.
“No, what is it?” Antonio replies.
“San Marino fired it’s manager, and hired a 35-year-old manager from the states, named Michael Manning?”
“Who” Alfio butts in.
“He comes from the Oakland Athletics, a pro baseball team.”
“A baseball team? What the hell is Gluseppe Bruscoll thinking?” Alfio screams.

Bruscoll, the chairman of the team, along with Alfio Pellccioni, director of football, run the San Marino team.

“I guess they were blown away with him, and love the way the Athletics build the team. They seem to get the best out of the players, and manager finances very creativity.” Fabio tries to explain.
“Does he have any soccer manager, or soccer experience?” Alfio askes, looking for some comfort.
“He play junior college soccer in the early eighties. He was good enough to earn a ride from the University of North Carolina. He blew out his knees at UNC.” Fabio answers.

Antonio and Alfio are not happy. They wanted someone who has experience, and not some baseball-turning-soccer manager young punk from the States, where soccer is barely on the radar.

“He arrives on the twenty-fifth of this month to start his career, and will hold a press conference that day by the club to introduce him.” Fabio explains.

“This blows” Alfio says with disgusted.

[SunDancer]

San Marino Press Conference
June 25, 2002

The local newspapers and a sports radio station who carry the team’s games, along with some of the diehard fans of the team, gather on midfield of the San Marino’s soccer stadium, the 7,000-seated Olimpio Stadium. The crowd is small, as no one has yet taken to the club, or to really get to know there even was one . However, with the jump to the Serie C2-B league and passion of football of the citizens, the growth of the fan base has jumped slightly.

Chairman Gluseppo Bruscoll and director of football Alfio Pellccioni walk out of the dugout with a good-looking blonde all dress up in a suit. The guess is this is the new unknown manager, Michael Manning.

Bruscoll spoke first, stating that San Marino is entering a new era, with the jump to the new, higher league, and “the beginning of the road to our dream, a World-renowned championship football club”. He introduce Manning to a mild clapping from the the spectators on hand.

“Hello ladies and gentlemen. As you know, I will be the new manager of the San Marino football club, and will have every decision on my hands to make. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime, and I can’t tell you how excited I am. The responsibilities are a list-long, and I have my work cut out for me. The hard work it will take is worth it, to get San Marino winning. I am grateful that Mr. Bruscoll and Pellccioni have given me their trust and the ability to run the club, on and off the pitch, at near freewill. Whatever changes will be made, if any, will be made to better this club. I’ll open the floor up to questions” Manning said.

First Reporter: “I am a reporter from the San Marino Times. What makes you qualified to run a football club, and manager it?”

“I played college football, not American, back in the states, before blowing out my knees in my senior year at the University of North Carolina in the mid-to-late 1980’s, graduating in 1989 with a degree in Business Management. I was offered a job in 1990 by University of Tennessee as a part-time scout for the football team, and a part-time job for the athletic department. I did that for five years, while earning my MBA from the school. In 1996, the upstart Major League Soccer offer me a job a entry-level professional position, and I serve in several roles for the next four years in the MLS.

“In early of 2000, the Oakland Athletics, a professional baseball franchise, offered me a job, and I spent the last two and a half years with them. And here we are.” Manning said with a chuckle.

Manning: “That’s a lot to take in. You can go on our new team website to get my entire background if you want it. Next question.”

Second Reporter: “How does that all make you the best candidate?”

Manning: “You have to ask Mr. Bruscoll that one. But I have a passion and knowledge for the game from my playing days, and my part-time scouting position at the University of Tennessee. I learned about handling the books and making those hard decisions that must be made from my experiences with the University of Tennessee, MLS and Oakland Athletics. Lastly, I am excited about this job, and have the work ethic to do whatever we need to do to win.”

Third Reporter: Have you gotten a chance to look at the books or the players?

Manning: “While I can’t reveal any information about the books, I can say that we need to get the financial side in line into more what Mr. Bruscoll and Mr. Pellccioni have discuss with me. Changes are necessary, but I won’t put us in less of a position to win. After this, I will start to spend the next week or so reviewing tapes, scouting reports and discussions with everyone on the players and staff that I will work with.”

Forth Reporter: Have you talked to any of the players or staff?

Manning: “Not yet, but I intend to talk to everyone over the next few days.”

Fifth Reporter: “You mention the financial side needs to be put into more aligned with what Mr. Bruscoll and Mr. Pellccioni, what do you mean by that? Will a transfer budget be given to you?”

Manning: “While I can’t reveal the specifications, we need to lower our wage budget. However, they are committed to winning. They, however, want to be financially sound as well. So that means that a transfer budget is not in question right now, but I am glad. It gives me a chance to see the players here. Also, we can look at other avenues as well for players that we feel would be a great assest to this football squad, such as loans if needed.”

“Thank you all coming out today. I must get to work to building a football club that San Marino can be proud of.”

The three men walk back into the dugout, and the public starts to clear. They are curious as to the future of the squad, as they know changes will be forthcoming.

[GoldenEagle]

Looking forward to the read.

[SunDancer]

Thanks eagle.

I like to give Chief Rum credit for the format of the dynasty. If you have any questions as fans, or if you want to write an editorial or a "views" in our opinions page of the San Marino Times Sports page , feel free to. After all, you are the fans.

[Chief Rum]

Good looking stuff, Sun Dancer. Keep it up.

I'll answer your question from my thread here, although it seems you are already moving forward so it may be moot.

I haven't really planned for a span of what articles go where, how big, and so forth.

I am a journalist by training and education, so I have a sense of the newsworthiness of an item, how likely it would come to public knowledge, and what method (and what papers) it would use to get out to that public.

Figuring out the approach with Kettering was fairly simple, because I know football is just huge there, and that there are plenty of avid fans for even as low a division as the Conference. So it seemed natural to have the local papers covering Kettering's every move, with a radio show and radio broadcasts of matches and what not.

As I progress and get bigger (I hope), I will almost certainly expand it to the level of paper that I think would cover it (while the locals would still cover it as well--they wouldn't stop doing that short of the paper up and going bankrupt I would imagine).

Good luck with your dynasty. We all seem to do English football dynasties, so to see one for the Italian leagues would be something different. I have no idea what football is like there. :)

Chief Rum

[SunDancer]

Thanks Chief. Any ideas you find will make your dyansty better, go right ahead.

Italy is just as good as England in my mind. No work permits either. :) It will be interesting to read and compare our dynasties, and learn some tips.

[SunDancer]

La Voce

June 31, 2002

It’s been about a week since the local San Marino football club hired American Michael Manning as the new manager to lead the team into it’s first ever Serie-level of competition. Yesterday, Manning made some changes to his staff, as well as the first of many expected bold moves to his squad.
Manning spent E23,000 in cleaning house of his managing staff, which includes coach Carlo Belluci, physiotherapist Michele Giacco, and scout Massimilian Vecchio being let go. The only coach left is 43-year-old Gabriele Marganti, who is signed through 2004. No word on his future.
Michael Manning could not be reached, as he is reportly spending nearly twelve hours a day over the past week studying last year’s squad, reviewing financial information and talking with everyone from inside to outside the organization. His secretary did however give us a press statement.
“As hard as it was to let these three men go, I felt we needed to do what is in the best interest for this organization. In order to be a winner, you have to make the hard decisions you don’t really want to make. I wish them lots of luck and thank them for their time spent in San Marino.” Manning stated.
With only one coach now, who future is cloudy right now, it is expected that Manning is working to overhaul his manager staff.
In his first squad move since taking over, Manning has placed 31-year-old goalkeeper Vicenzo Esposito on the transfer list late last evening. His E550 a week wage and value pegged around the E60,000 mark brings benefits that are necessary. Cutting the wage budget and bringing in funds. He was a backup last year, making 15 appearances.
The players arrive in town today, to start preparing for the upcoming season. They will start the pre-season training program for the September kickoff of Serie C2-B league play.

[SunDancer]

By the way guys, I will be using the E sign in front of a figure as Euros.

[SunDancer]

La Voce

July 1, 2002


Morganti signs new deal with San Marino; rumos are flying around club

San Marino signed coach Gabriele Morganti to a new contract last night, making him the first piece to the managerial staff being overhaul by new manager Michael Manning.
Morganti, a fourty-three-year old Italian native, becomes a full-time employee with a slight wage raise. He is now signed through July 2006, extending his previous contract by two years. His future was unclear after Manning clean the trio of previous staff members. Manning, feels Morganti is a major assest to the club.
“I am very glad we worked out a new contract to keep Morganti in a long-term position. He’s a great teacher of technique skills that are needed , and a guys who is excited to come to work everyday and to win. I love his ability to work with the young guns that we will develop.” Manning said.
Morganti told the press “I am glad to sign a new contract. It shows a commitment to winning and to be apart of that makes coming to work everyday much more rewarding.”
Rumors have begin flying that Manning will start looking at making offers to fill out his staff, and soon start looking at players.

[SunDancer]

Ok guys, I had a bug. I restarted the career, with the date as starting on the 30th, so I re-edit the previous papers to reflect that change. We are all set to go.

[SunDancer]

La Voce
July 11,2002

Manning wastes no time; makes many moves in first few weeks

Michael Manning, the new manager who’s been on the job for about two weeks, has wasted no time in putting his stamp on his soccer club. After working to clear the house in the managing staff, while keeping the one man he wanted in Morganti by locking him up long-term, he dove into making his stamp on the squad with several moves.
His first moves were terminating the loans of Ascoli teammates Murizio Lauro; 19-year-old Andrea Bracaletti of Genoa and Ternana’s Riccardo Cossu, who all return to their respective clubs. That leave’s only 27-year old striker/forward Andrea Manieo, from Serie C1-A Padova. He will be keep for his loan, which expires next year.
“Those four a great players, but we needed to free up or wage budgets and really don’t fit into what we want to build here. I think that the experience, maturing and talents of Manieo are something I like to have for this year. So he’ll be staying with us.” Manning stated.
Then, he placed 30-year-old forward Alessandro Pagano and 31-year-old keeper Vicenzo Esposito on transfer list. They felt unpleased, but Manning feels that they are needed moves, as the wages and talents don’t mesh with what he wants to accomplish.
“I’m trying to put our financials in line, and by placing these two, considered the highest value players on the team with a good wage, we can bring in much more ability to make future moves. I don’t feel they fit in with what we are looking at trying to do.”
In the last roster moves, he placed five young talents, called the “Foundation of the Future”, on the loan market. San Marinese citizens Alex Gasperoni (D-L/C Age: 18) and Fabio Vitaioli (D-R/C Age: 18) join Italians Giuseppe De Fedis (M-C Age: 19); Paolo Rossi (S Age: 18) and 17-year-old Fabrizio Cupi (D-R).
“We feel they need some playing time where they can get it, and the developmental training here is not that good yet, so we think by sending them out, they will get a better chance to grow as players. When they return next summer, they will be a year older, a year better and contribute right away for us.” Manning said.
Manning has scheduled the team’s first friendlies. The team hosts Fostiras on the 28th of this month. Fostiras plays in the National B Division in Greece. On the fourth of August, the team travels to England to play English Conference member Kettering Town.

[BreizhManu]

btw the newspaper for San Marino is "La Voce" , just wanted to say you that for realism :)

[SunDancer]

Thanks .. I look for it, but had trouble finding it. I will update the papers to reflect that. You get two free tickets for that :).

[SunDancer]

London Times
July 18, 2002


Australian star heads to Manchester United

The Manchester United yesterday agree to buy Australian Craig Moore from Scotland’s Rangers FC.
The United move to improve the depth and squad rotation of it’s defenders, and purchased the 26-year-old Moore for a fee of E4,900,000 to fulfill that need. The Rangers, one of the more well-renowned clubs in Europe and always contends for the Scottish Premier League title, needed the financial windfall to help stabilize the books. Spanish club Athletico Madrid and Italian club Lazio were very interested in acquiring his talents.
Moore is a complete defender who is excited about playing for the world’s most renowned club. Moore, a native of Australia as well as nationalist of Scotland, has played in 22 games, scoring a pair of goals, for the Australian national team.
“He’s a very good young player who is hitting the prime of his career. Manchester is getting a top-tier player with Moore who fits in perfectly with the team,” said an English Premiership coach who wished to be unnamed.