Championship Manager 97/98 - Leading Parma A.C to Glory

[Greyfriars Bobby]

I'm definitely enjoying reading this one, too. I might have to track down that free download. I'm late to the Championship Manager/Football Manager party; I didn't start playing it until FM12. It might be fun to see what I missed.

Anyway, I'll be following along!

[djsatu]

Coppa Italia QF Leg 2:

Udinese - Parma



Attendence: 39,782

Gigi Buffon was a man possessed this match. Udinese had 22 shots, and 9 were on target. Chiesa got the goal at the stroke of HT. We play Serie B sleepers Lucchese in the Semi's, with the first leg having Lucchese at home. Next we travel to Piacenza in 2 days time for our Week 16 match.

MOM: Gianluigi Buffon

[djsatu]

Originally Posted by Greyfriars Bobby

I'm definitely enjoying reading this one, too. I might have to track down that free download. I'm late to the Championship Manager/Football Manager party; I didn't start playing it until FM12. It might be fun to see what I missed.

Anyway, I'll be following along!

Thanks Bobby! I will be following your FM16 dynasty also!

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 16:

Piacenza - Parma



Attendence: 21,380

Both teams ended the match with 1 shot on target each, but Trezeguet made his 5' strike count as our dream season continues with a huge win against a tough Piacenza team. We move up into second tied with Juve, and 4 points back from Milan! Next up we travel to play 12th place Vincenza.

MOM: Alessandro Mazzola

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

We reject a 4.4 M offer from Juventus for Cannavaro. Our board are still very pleased, and have told me to keep up the good work! We netted a profit last month of $258,003. Your's truly walks away with the Manager of the Month award for the month of December.

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 17:

Vicenza - Parma



Attendence: 20,283

Chiesa scored early with one of his ''It flew in like a rocket'' strikes, and Stanic added the insurance goal with a MOM performance. Juventus and Fiorentina suffered shock defeats, so this win gives us a little more room in 2nd. No rest for the wicked, as we travel to Bologna for our make up game in Serie A in 2 days time.

MOM: Mario Stanic

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

In a shock move, AC Milan secured the services of Alessandro Del Piero from Juventus for 10.5 M. This is gonna make it even tougher to catch them at the top now.

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 18:

Bologna - Parma



Attendence: 38,462

This result was bound to happen sooner or later, and I hope that we got it out of our system. Cannavaro was dearly missed in the back after injuring himself in training, but thank goodness its nothing long term. Roby Baggio and Co played very well, and fully deserve this outcome. The board think its a very poor result also, but are pleased with our current league position! We stay in second 3 up on Juve, and 4 back from Milan at the top. Next up we travel back to the Tardini with a game against Atalanta, who shocked Juve last week.

MOM: Kennet Andersson

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

Juventus upped its previous offer to 5.25 M for Cannavaro, but he is going nowhere.

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 19:

Parma - Atalanta



Attendence: 27,111

We left the goal scoring late in this one, and lose Cannavaro again who was stretchered off. Cannavaro is lost for 3 months with a torn groin muscle, so Fillipini will take over as captain. Stanic scored in the 81st, and Crespo followed up in the 87th. Huge blow for us, but we have capable players that can step in and do the job in D (I can only hope). Next up we travel to Sampdoria for Week 20.

MOM: Lilian Thuram

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 20:

Sampdoria - Parma



Attendence: 39,657

Oh the drama! We had a 3-1 lead up until the 89th minute and blew it! To make matters worse, Chiesa and Trezeguet were both stretchered off! Just when you think it couldn't get worse, it has. Trezeguet is out 6 week with fractured ribs, and Chiesa is lost for a month with an ankle injury! 2 weeks left in the transfer window, and we have made an offer for young CB Fabio Moro from Torino, and will dip in the market for a striker ASAP! Next up we host Brescia at home.

MOM: Fabrizio Ferron

[djsatu]

Stats & Standings after 20 games in Serie A:

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 21:

Parma - Brescia



Attendence: 27,394

We lose another nail biter in extra time, as Dario Hubner scores the winner in the 91st minute. The board call it an abysmal result and a shock defeat. As you can tell, im starting to get nervous with all our injuries! We slip down to third, with Inter behind us by 1 point. Of course Crespo injures himself the next day in training, and is out 6 weeks! Next up is a trip to Rome to play 18th place Roma.

MOM: Paolo Martelli

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

FW Jesper Blomqvist is out 10 months with a serious knee injury from training.

We sign Fabio Moro from Torino for 2.9 M. The board is pleased with how things are going, but we lost 4.2 M last month.

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 22:

Roma - Parma



Attendence: 80,132

We lose to last place Roma, and our hope now is to not fall out of the top 5, with Fiorentina only behind us by 5 points. A big mistake from our new signing Moro led to Roma's winning goal. The board thought it was a poor result of course. We start off our tough Coppa Italia Semi Final test against Lucchese in a few days time.

MOM: Francesco Statuto

[djsatu]

Coppa Italia SF Leg 1:

Lucchese - Parma



Attendence: 10,265

Finally got a much needed win, and hopefully a boost in morale for everyone. With out next match at home against Milan, we needed this one badly!

MOM: Marco Landucci

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 23:

Parma - AC Milan



Attendence: 27,618

Happy to sneak away with 1 point in this one. Knew it would have taken a miracle to win, but we played well, and Buffon got another big clean sheet. The board said it was a good result. We stay in 4th, 2 points behind Inter, and 4 behind Juve. Next we travel to Udine to face-off against 18th place Udinese.

MOM: Massimo Susic

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

Another forward hit with the training injury bug! Asprilla is out for 6 weeks, but Chiesa will be back soon.

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 24:

Udinese - Parma



Attendence: 40,293

Another poor effort and result. Board not happy with the poor result. Had a goal in the 74' called back, but for the most part we didn't come to play in this match. Next up is the second leg of the Coppa at home against Lucchese.

MOM: Fabio Moro

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

Mario Stanic injured in training and will miss a few months! I don't remember the injury bug being this bad haha dang.

[djsatu]

Coppa Italia SF Leg 2:

Parma - Lucchese



Attendence: 17,478

After conceding an early penalty, I thought for sure it was going downhill for good, but a second half from Chiesa helped us secure the win over both legs. The board is pleased with the win, and if they are happy, im happy. We will play Lazio in the 2 leg final. Next up is second place Juventus at the Tardini in 2 days time.

MOM: Fabrizio Baldini

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 25:

Parma - Juventus



Attendence: 27,120

After a first half Fonseca brace for the the visitors, I thought it was game set match. Trezeguet came back from injury at 70%, and I thrust him in at the start of the second. Chiesa and Trezeguet completed the comeback with second half strikes. AC Milan suffered a shock defeat away to Bologna, so the top of the table just got interesting with Inter and Juventus behind by 7 points. We trail third place Inter by 7 points, and have Lazio and Fiorentina nipping at our heels. Next up is a home match against 7th place Napoli.

MOM: Lilian Thuram

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

Our month review came in, and the board is only satisfied with my performance. Financials are ok, and we had a loss of $1,056,387 last month.

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 26:

Parma - Napoli



Attendence: 27,304

A first half strike from Trezeguet was all we needed this match. Could have been much worse if it wasn't for the MOM play from Taglialatela in net for Napoli. Inter suffer a shock defeat to Brescia, and the win keeps us in range of them, closing the gap to 4 points. Dino Baggio will be lost for a month with a damaged heel from today's match. Next up is the CL QF first leg at home against Newcastle!

MOM: Giuseppe Taglialatela

[djsatu]

European Champions League QF Leg 1:

Parma - Newcastle



Attendence: 24,681

Wow what an @$$ kicking this was. Shearer was just pure class, along with the rest of the boys from Newcastle. Nothing good to say about this one at all. Board said it was a very poor result, and I hate to say it, but im playing these last game to hang onto my job no doubt. We get key players back next game on the road against Lecce, but they are in 7th place, so you know it won't be easy!

MOM: Alan Shearer

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 27:

Lecce - Parma



Attendence: 49,858

A 5 goal thriller, and we almost blew a 3 goal lead! They cut it too close for comfort at the end, but we got the important win and that's all that matters. With only 7 games left in Serie A, all points are critical right now! Next up we travel back to the Tardini with payback on our mind as we host 15th place Bologna.

MOM: Gianluigi Buffon

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 28:

Parma - Bologna



Attendence: 26,079

A first half strike and solid keeping from Buffon secured the victory for us. Cannavaro came back from injury, and we hope to start him next match. The board let me know they are satisfied where we sit in the standings. We are 2 back from Inter in 3rd, and 5 points from Juventus in second. Next up we travel to England for our second leg of the CL SF.

MOM: Francesco Antonioli

[djsatu]

European Champions League QF Leg 2:

Newcastle - Parma



Attendence: 28,825

What a crazy crazy match. Chiesa leaves injured in the 6th minute, Ketsbaia gets red carded for handling the ball in the box, we miss the penalty, pepper 22 shots on goal, 11 on target, had another penalty given, than reversed after the ref talked to the linesman! It was a valiant effort by the boys, but it just wasn't meant to be. Chiesa will miss 3 months with a slipped disc, so Crespo will be asked to fill in for the remainder of the season (Knock on wood). We travel to Bari for Week 29 in 10 days time.

MOM: Hernan Crespo

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

David Trezeguet got his first call up to the French National Team for a friendly and started.

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 29:

Bari - Parma



Attendence: 55,353

A beautiful Trezeguet header off a Giunti corner secured the victory for us. All in all it was a drab match, but every win counts now. We move up into a tie for third with Inter. Hernan Crespo is out for 5 months with a broken ankle sustained in training the next day. Next up is a home match against 5th place Lazio.

MOM: Fabio Cannavaro

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

Our month review is exactly the same as last months, except we lost $200,000 more.

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 30:

Parma - Lazio



Attendence: 27,825

If it wasn't for the amazing play of Buffon in the match, we would have lost by way more. Luckily for us Inter lost away to Juventus, so we are still tied, but the Lazio victory has them only 4 points behind us. We travel to Lazio to face them in the first leg of the Coppa Italia Final next.

MOM: Gianluigi Buffon

MOM:

[djsatu]

Coppa Italia Final Leg 1:

Lazio - Parma



Attendence: 81,322

Mario Stanic returned from a long term injury, and it paid off immediately in the midfield. Buffon was hardly tested, and goals from Giunti and Asprilla were all we needed. The board thought it was a good result, and we are in excellent shape to hoist some silverware this season! Crucial away match against Inter next up.

MOM: Luca Marchegiani

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 31:

Inter - Parma



Attendence: 84,150

We hit a brick wall in Gianluca Pagliuca, and couldn't get the tying goal in the second half. Lazio move to within 1 point of us, and Fiorentina move within 4. With only 3 games left, we gotta win them all! Next up 17th place Empoli visit the Tardini.

MOM: Fabio Cannavaro

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 32:

Parma - Empoli



Attendence: 27,968

Empoli played defensively from the start, and we could only muster 2 shots on goal. Disappointing result, and the board thought it was poor. Lazio pass us by 1 point as we fall to 5th in the standings. Next up is Leg 2 at home against Lazio for the Coppa Italia!

MOM: Lilian Thuram

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

Month end comes in, and the board is satisfied with how things are going. We lost a million bucks last month, and the financials remain ok.

[djsatu]

Coppa Italia Final Leg 2:

Parma - Lazio



Attendence: 27,858

The boys showed up to play this match, as we cruised to a 5-0 agg win, and win the Coppa Italia! Wish we would have played like this over the last few months, but im still proud to win something in year 1! The board are delighted, and I win Serie A Manager of the month for April! No rest for the wicked because in 2 days time we are away to Fiorentina!

MOM: Lilian Thuram

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 33:

Fiorentina - Parma



Attendence: 46,477

A 75' minute header from Thuram gets us the big win in Florence. Buffon stoned Batistuta on a number of occasions, and nets another MOM award. We keep pace with Lazio in 4th with 1 game left! AC Milan officially win the title. We finish off at home against lowly Piacenza, and Lazio travel to Naples!

MOM: Gianluigi Buffon

[djsatu]

Serie A Week 34:

Parma - Piacenza



Attendence: 26,970

What a thrashing to end the year. Had a 6th goal called back. Napoli did us a favor and beat Lazio, so we finish 4th! We are also rewarded 5 M for doing so! Some tough decisions will be made, and hopefully some important players join us for another run next season.

MOM: Fabio Cannavaro

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

The board is delighted with my performance as manager. We netted a profit of $3,131,191 last month, and out financial state is good.

We sell Nestor Sensini to Cagliari for 1.8 M.

I have been named manager of the year for 1997/98.

[djsatu]

Serie A Year End Awards:

[djsatu]

Stadium Expansion:

[djsatu]

News and Notes:

We have been seeded in the Cup Winners Cup draw. We automatically receive a bye into the next round.

We will also play AC Milan for the Supercoppa Italiana.

[Ramzavail]

When I was younger, I used to call David Trezeguet, David Trezegoal.