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

[Abe Sargent]

June 30th is here

We received 38.7 mill in TV rights

Our youth team is promoted



Check out this fun thing. As you can see I cannot transfer more than one nonEU player this upcoming year and they are ineligible for play unless they are 5 international matches in their career or called up twice recently.

Loans end

Ricci’s deal ends



Contracts about to expire next year, obviously the big ones are Babacar.

Tons of raises happen.

I am able to register Farfan so hopefully he can start for me.

Goodbye June!

[Abe Sargent]

July 1st

I set up 5 friendlies with Swiss teams

Let’s look at Theo!





As you can see, Theo is a 3 star, rotation, 25 year old Belgian with 20k for three years. He’s well rounded and should be good coverage for Berardi or Politano. I bought him for 1.2 mill from Southampton. Good stuff! Welcome to the club! Bongonda is also Gabon.

[Abe Sargent]

Here is my new ST



As you can see, he is a 3 star, 26 year old, rotation, ST from France. He is at 19.5k/year for three years. Good stuff!



This is my new DC/L Mario Hermoso and as you can see, he’s very well rounded, here for three years, at 27.5k/week and looks fine as FB, he’s rated 2.5 stars, but I think his stats are better than that.

[Abe Sargent]

My new board agree to improve my youth facilities which the old one rejected



My new AssMa is good at attacking (4 star) so I fire my attacking coach and then hire another GK coach - René Stam from Holland

Willian Borges da Silva heads home to Brazil

No one has been knocking down Mesut Özil so he now is willing, but his starting range in salary is 200k which I cannot come close too, our starting salary is 115k.

I cut my transfer fee by 10 mill and add it to salary. We make him an offer at 175k.

Politano comes to me asking for a new deal so I accept. I make him an offer

Erlic wants to leave, but he’s one of my key homegrown at the club so I tell him no.

How about 32 year old José Paulo Bezerra Maciel Júnior? He’s Brazilian and Spanish so he’s EU. I am looking for another DC and he’s not good at it he’s a better MC, so nope.

Turkey and Germany’s Ömer Toprak? 31 years old, plays DC, he has bids from 12 clubs so we won’t persuade him. I make him an offer for 110k and we’ll see what happens

[Abe Sargent]

Ozil joins us!



We need more goals, we finished tied with Juve for 5th most goals, and had lots of shuts out, and my offensive players I inherited I cannot really l move they are too good, so I am trying to move an MC to an AMC. I slide Vicente to hot prospect and move to AMC in my tactics. I also register Ozil. This is also just a two year deal in case it fails.

[Abe Sargent]

Pires wants an improved deal and I Agree and offer it.

Politano’s new deal is 4 years for 90k which is a big increase than the 55k he was at.

I get an offer for over 10 mill for Lirola but I cannot accept it

I loan a player to one of my old teams, Sepsi OSK

I agree to a Testimonial with Villareal for a former player of ours named Mario

My DC is heading to Span for 25k less. Dumb.

Now I need to find a new DC on the transfer market

What about 18 year old DC Sascha Guerrina who plays for Genoa? He’s a first team with them so I doubt he’d want to come over. I reach out to them and see what we can negotiate, since it seems like he is an Italian wonderkid.

As a backup, how about Spain’s 18 year old Marcos Rubio? I make an offer to his team Real Madrid.

How about Austria’s Tom Novak? He’ll be another backup.

Pires’s new deal pays him 35k/week a big increase from his 5.5k/week.

Friendly #1 – Home vs Young Boys – We win 6-2. MOM is Babacar

We sign Rubio for 8 mill – he’s currently on duty over at Spain. He wanted a bigger salary by far and first team action.




Here you go. As you see it’s a first team deal for a big 35k/week, and that’s like 10x more than he was making, and he’s not on their youth squad anymore. He’s just 18, will start at DC, and will grew just like a Pires or Vicente. I also don’t need to register him since he’s U21.

[Abe Sargent]

The transfer window is now mostly done, we brought in three subs and two starters. Good stuff!

I sell a few youthers

Friendly #2 – Vs Luzern – We win 3-1, MOM is Berardi

Baranowski and Rubio return from their international gaming

I get a loan offer from AC Milan for first team for Vicente, do I do so to continue his growth? Since I replaced him in the first team with Ozil and moved his spot to an AMC, he would be my key replacement for just Pires, I accept it

Good bye July

August

8th – Friendly vs Basel
11th Friendly vs Villareal
15th – Fr vs Sion
22nd – Home vs Cagliari, Serie A Debut
29th – Away vs Empoli

Good training - Bessa, Christig, Acerbi

I confirm my pitch sizes

I loan a backup player to Roma

I promote 4 from my U20 squad

Vicente heads out

I loan ST Cappa who is my 3rd best ST and a homegrown player

I loan Marchizza

I give Ozil his requested 10, and hand out jerseys

I loan Garcia out to Empoli with the idea of them buying him for 1.7 mill after

I reject loan offers for my GK

I accept a first team loan offer for Baronowski

Friendly #3 – Vs Basel - we win 3-1, MOM was Theo Bongonda

We sold 7k season tickets

I link up Arena and Matuidi

Leandrinho was blocked from trying to come back to us on loan from his club Napoli and he had a major falling out with his coach.

Testimonial – Vs Villareal – 1-1 tie for helping out Mario, Ozil with our only goal.

Friendly #4 – Vs Sion – We win 4-0, MOM is Berardi

I name Berardi my captain again and Matuidi my vice since Acerbi isn’t starting anymore

[Abe Sargent]

My transfer kitty is down to 4 mill

I massage my set pieces with my new arrivals

Dickmann is suspended from last season

Serie Game #1 – Home vs Cagliari – I begin controlling Let’s kick this thang off right!

Notes

Rubio a card, I pull him for Acerbi
HALF – Hmpf
Bongonda for Berardi
Lirola a card and I send in Bigas
I move to attacking
86th Minute - Politano leaps on a blocked shot and score
Matuidi a late card
We win 1-0, MOM is Ozil with a 7.9 rating




My first win of season 2!

[Abe Sargent]

Dickmann returns to my sub list.

We make 12.75 mill for making the Group Stage of the Champions Cup

The Group Draw Happens – We are seeded 4th

Group D

Man Utd
AS Monaco
Ajax
Us

Wow, not easy that

Acerbi and his group have dropped their locker room concerns. That’s nice. Maybe Mesut Ozil cleared it up.

Farfan is called up

Serie A Game #2 – Away vs Empoli - I begin countering.

Notes

Berardi an early card, Bongonda heads in
Bongonda a card – uh oh
HALF – Quiet, we had lots of shots and a few nasty ones on target.
Arena for Matuidi
69th Minute – Politano feeds Babacar for goal
72nd Minute – Bongonda feeds Politano for another goal
Hermoso for Rubio
Pires a late card
5 Minutes – can we hold and get back to back shut outs? Yup! MOM is Politano

[Abe Sargent]

Transfer Deadline

Finishes with a few more loans of ours heading out

September

11th – Home vs Salerno
14th – Away at Ajax
18th – Away at Inter
22th – Home vs Roma
25th – Away at Ascoli
29th – Home vs Man Utd

Good training – Pires, Arena

Matuidi is now an Italian citizen

Champion’s Cup Reg

[Abe Sargent]

We are 33-1 odds of winning the Champions League which I’ve only done in one of my dynasties once, with Nacional da Madeira in Portugal.

Serie A Game #3 - Home vs Salernitana – Our foes are recently promoted fun times. I begin controlling. Hello Baranowski!

Notes

Lirola carded in the 41st – Dickmann heads in
HALF – We have 8 shots to their 1 but just 1 on target
47th Minute – Pires feeds Ozil for goal.
Acerbi for Farfan
65th Minute – They score off a counter
69th Minute – Clyne feeds Babacar for goal
Arena for Matsuidi
We hold and win 2-1, MOM is Clyne

[Abe Sargent]

Champions Group D Game #1 – Away vs Ajax – I begin countering

Notes

7th Minute – They score
13th Minute – They score again
21st Minute – Ozil feeds Politano for goal
25th Minute – Ozil feeds Babacar on a counter to tie it!





Wow this game has been crazy so far!

HALF – Can we steal points from Ajax on the road? We have 5 shots to their 10, but 4 on target to their 3
Politano a card – Bongonda heads in
Acerbi for Farfan
67th minute – They break the tie with a goal. Can we steal it back?
Hermoso for Clyne
4 Minutes – we lose 3-2. MOM is on their team

[Abe Sargent]

Only two teams, us and Juve, are 3-0-0.

Matuidi starts another coaching class

Serie A Game #4 – Away vs Inter – Could this be our first loss this year? I stay countering.

Notes

Lirola a card, I send in Dickmann
HALF – That was a rough half they have 12 shots to our 1 – I’ll be shocked if the 0-0 result stands.
Clyne a card and Hermoso replaces him
Arena for Matuidi
4 Minutes – Can we hold? We hold and tie 0-0. They had 26 shots to our 5. MOM is on their team.

[Abe Sargent]

Serie A Game #5 – Home vs Roma – I begin standard

Notes

HALF – Show me something else
Acerbi for Farfan
We injure their fullback
61st Minute – Politano feeds Barardi on a counter
Crivelli for Babacar
70th Minute – Politano targets Crivelli for goal and that’s his first goal for us.
Hermoso for a carded Clyne
4 Minutes…
94th Minute – Politano feeds Babacar for another goal!
We hold and thump Roma 3-0!

Wanna see?



You got it baby! Berardi is MOM. Good win, and this is 4 shuts out in five games.

[Abe Sargent]

Serie A Game #6 – Away at Ascoli – I begin countering – hello Marchizza!

Notes

We are in weird blue kits. Yuck. Give me back the black and green kits.

7th Minute – They score on a loop over our GK who came out to block it.
Farfan an early card I send in Acerbi
38th Minute – Pires feeds Ozil for goal to tie it.
HALF – Hmpf
Bigas for Rubio
66th Minute – They score off a corner
Crivelli for Babacar
4 Minutes – can we tie? Nope, we lose 1-2. That’s our first loss of the year

[Abe Sargent]

Champions Group D Game #2 – Home vs Man Utd - I begin standard

Notes

We are back in black and green
They an early card
32nd Minute – Politano hits wonderkid DC Rubio for goal on a long IFK. We are up 1-0



I doubt that lasts…
HALF – Okay. Don’t get complacent!
48th Minute – Ozil feeds Poltano for goal on a counter…



I still don’t think this result lasts…

Arena for Matuidi; Bongonda for Berardi; Crivelli for Babacar
4 Minutes…We shut out Man Utd! MOM is Rubio

We made 1.5 mill for the win

That puts us right back into this thing. Oh, our youth team thumped them 5-0. Monaco beat Ajax and now everyone has 3 points.

[Abe Sargent]

That was a record attendance and gate receipts at almost 350k. And we won!

October

Oct 3rd – Home vs Sampdoria
Oct 16 – Away vs Torino
Oct 20th - Away vs Monaco
Oct 24th – Home vs Atalanta
Oct 27th – Away vs Palermo
Oct 30th – Home vs Bologna

Good training – Politano, Carrichi, Arena

Arena has risen to 2.5 stars from 1.5 last year.

Series A Game #7 – Home vs Sampdoria – I begin controlling

Notes

HALF – Quiet, show me something else
Crivelli for Babacar, Bongonda for Berardi - I move to attacking
Sensi for Pires
Matuidi a card
5 Minutes – Can we score?
Farfan a card. Game, we tie 0-0. MOM is Matuidi with a 7.6 rating.

[Abe Sargent]

Rubio has risen to 3.5 stars

Serie A Game #8 – Away at Torino - I begin countering - this is Babacar’s 150th appearance for us

Notes

They get a card in the 1st
I pull Farfan for Acerbi after he is carded
22nd Minute – They score
Clyne for HErmoso after a card
Arena for a carded Matuidi
I tell my lads to stay on their feet
HALF – Show me something else!
62nd Minute – They get a double yellow. Can we get a result in 30 minutes?
Arena a card
82nd Minute – Off a corner, Politano feeds Rubio for goal to tie it
84th Minute – Babacar crosses to Berardi for goal, we have broken the tie!
85th Minute – Poltano feeds Berardi for goal!
4 Minutes…we win 3-1 = MOM is Berardi.

I know you want to see this crazy comeback!!!




I got ya! The guy who scored for them is our loanee to them so we scored all goals in this game.

[Abe Sargent]

Babacar’s rating is 6.48, he is not doing well right now

Champion’s Group D Game #3 – Away as AS Monaco I begin countering. If I can get points away from them when we all have 3 points, that would really help.

Notes

Pires a card, in heads Sensi
Berardi a card and I send in Bongonda
Clyne is injured but I leave him in
Lirola a card and Dickmann heads in
HALF – We have 7 shots to their 10
65th Minute - They score
Three Minute – Can we score and equalize? Nope, we lose a close one 1-0.

[Abe Sargent]

Babacar’s goal drought is now making the news and I’m getting asking questions in news conferences about it.

Serie A Game #9 – Home vs Atalanta – I begin controlling.

Notes – it’s driving rain, today is Fan Day!

9th Minute – Ozil feeds Clyne for goal
Farfan is carded and Acerbi heads in
41st Minute – They score
Pires a card Sensi heads in
HALF – Nope
51st Minute – Politano feeds Berardi for goal
I send in Dickmann for a carded Lirola
We hold and win 2-1, MOM is Politano

[Abe Sargent]

Babacar compared to Crivelli



As you can see, Crivelli in green is better at mental, def, aerial and they are tied for vision and worse at speed, physical, tech, and attacking. I did;t sign the Frenchman to be a starter, but a backup, but I a thinking about giving him some time in the sun here soon.

Serie Game A #10 – Away vs Palermo – Last year’s winner but 11th right now, so I am countering – vengeance!

Notes

They get an early card and then another
27th Minute – They score
Dickmann for a carded Lirola
HALf – Wow
Clyne pulled for Hermoso
64th Minute – They score again
Dickmann is injured and I send in Bigas
83rd Minute – They score again

We lose a harsh 3-0. That’s our first loss of more than 1 goal this year even in the Champions League.

Dickmann is out for a few weeks

[Abe Sargent]

Here is the Serie A after 10 games



That loss moved us into 3rd. Last year we were 5-3-2 this year 6-2-2. But we are still playing down to bit talent.

Serie Game #11 – Home vs Bologna – I begin standard – can we get back to our winning ways?

Notes

21st Minute – Berardi hits Rubio on a corner kick for goal!
W injure their DC and they replace him
HALF – Don’t get complacent, we only have a set piece goal
50th Minute – They get a double booking
Crivelli for Babacar who is 6.3
Acerbi for Farfan
We hold and win just 1-0, a bit sad in my attacking, we had 13 shots, but just one on target, but I’ll take any win and a shut out at that right now

I move Crivelli into starting.

[Abe Sargent]

November

2nd – Home vs Monaco
7th – Away at Napoli
20th – Away at AC Milan
24th – Home vs Ajax
28th – Home vs Lazio

Good training – Rubio, Arena, Pires


Champions Group D Game #4 – Home vs AS Monaco – I begin standardly = If I can win this match I’ll dial myself back into the race

Notes

17th Minute – They score off a DFK
We injure their MCL and they head out
34th Minute – They score again
39th Minute – They score again
HALF – We have one shot to their 9, but they only have 4 on target – this is the first time my D has not shown up
Hermoso for Clyne
57th – They score again
64th Minute _ Crivelli scores after intercepting the goal a great solo strike, so we won’t be shut out
Babacar for Ozil
76th Minute – A long shot by Lirola sinks to bring us to 2-4
Arena for Matsuidi
4 Minutes – Can we score again? Game, we lose by two.

[Abe Sargent]

11 players are called up

Serie A Game #12 – Away at Beater Napoli – I begin countering this was our biggest win last year a 6-1 thumping, but I’ll take any positive result. Vengeance!

Notes

Clyne is carded and I send in Hermoso
18th Minute – They score
44th Minute – Politano feds Rubio for goal in an IFK
HALF – Okay.
I pull Crivelli for Babacar
60th Minute – Berardi scores
Babacar a card
Arena after Matudi gets ccard
4 minutes, can we hold and win 2:1? Nope they score in the 9oth minute, we tie them 2-2

[Abe Sargent]

Farfan asks for a new deal and I agree and offer him one

Dickmann is back from his injury

Serie A Game #13 – Away at AC Milan – This is a big game as they are 3rd and us 2nd, and they are just 2 points behind us, so if we lose then they’ll cross into 2nd. I begin countering again. Hello Vincente!

Notes

We injure their MR
Lirola a card I send in Dickmann
HALF – Okay! I doubt this will stand they have 65% possession and 10 shots. A tie will keep us in 2nd
Bongonda for a 6.2 Berari; Hermoso for a carded Clyne
Theo a card
Politano a late card
4 Minutes – can we steal a win that we didn’t deserve? Can we hold them to a shutout?
92nd Minute – On a corner Crivelli’s header hits Farfan’s leg for goal!
Wow we stole that game:



Ozil is MOM, 12 shots 5 on target 43% possession, 4 yellow cards, 13 fouls, that was not the good stuff. But we stole it and I’ll take it.

[Abe Sargent]

Farfan signs his new deal paying him 28k/week and 4 years

Champions Group D Game #5 – Home vs Ajax – I begin standarding

Notes

HALF – Quiet, we had 5 shots to their 3
49th Minute – Berardi pounces on a rebound and shoot and score
Acerbi for Farfan; Arena for Matsuidi
Babacar for Crevelli at 6.5
3 minutes – can we hold and win?



We hold and win 1-0 over Ajax – good shut out and win! MOM is Berardi

We win 1.5 mill

Now you want to see something really crazy?



We are tied for 6 points with Ajax and Man Utd. That means we could, with one game left, qualify. But…it’s away at Man Utd. If I can tie Man Utd and ASM beats Ajax, we would play extra time tied I GD right? And then PKs if I recall correctly, I’ve never had that happen before. But a win against Man Utd and we are in if Monaco is professional.

[Abe Sargent]

Lirola is suspended

Serie A Game #14 – Home vs Lazio – I begin standarding – vengeance!

Notes

20th Minute – They score called offsides
22nd Minute – They score off a corner
HALF
Hermoso for Dickmann
65th – They foul Politano in the box – Berardi sinks the PK
Bongonda for Politano
Arena for Matuidi
Pires a card – I head to attacking
88th Minute – Berardi feeds Crivelli on a counter after they had a corner and scores. I ease back to counter.
5 Minutes- Can we hold? We they score?
93rd Minute – Berardi feeds Bongonda for goal!
We hold and win 3-1

Wanna see?



They did very well, but we would have won even without the PK.

Lazio fired their manager!

Return Lirola to my main starters

[Abe Sargent]

December

4th – Away at Udinese
7th – Away at Man Utd
12th – Home vs our Kryptonite Bari
15th – Atalanta, Cup
19th – Away at Genoa
26th – Home vs Juventus

Good training – Pires and Arena

Hermoso can now speak fluent Italian


Serie A Game #15 – Away at Udinese - I begin countering. This team bought Leandrinho, so he is starting.

Notes

Farfan is carded and Acerbi heads in
26th Minute – They score
HALF – Nope!
49th Minute – Berardi feeds Politano for goal to tie things up
We injure Leandrinho and he heads out, sorry!
Babacar for a 6.5 Crivelli; Bigas for Rubio
Pires a late card
5 Minutes - Will one of us break the tie?
94th Minute – Babacar feeds Berardi for goal!
We win 2-1, MOM is Berardi!

[Abe Sargent]

Farfan is banned

Here’s the table



This is the league with 15 games played save for Milan and Lazio. AS you can see, even if our chasers win there is 5 points between us. Good stuff! There’s also just 3 points between us and Juventus.

[Abe Sargent]

Champions League Group D Game #6 – Away at Man Utd. Rough rain This is likely woodshed time…

Notes

We injure one of their players early
25th Minute – On a counter, Politano drives the corner and crosses to Crivelli’s head for goal!



I doubt that lasts…they already have 11 shots by the 25th minute to our 2

33rd Minute – That didn’t last long. They tie it.
46th Minute – We give up a PK and they sink it. We cannot give up set piece scores against big bads. Although, to be fair, that’s my first Penalty this year
HALF – Nope!
Acerbi for Rubio
Hermoso for Clyne
69th – They score again and that’s probably out of reach to tie
Babacar for Ozil
78th – They score off a corner
Card for Lirola and Hermoso
Game. They dominated us in goals 4-1, shots 36 to 5, possession 57%, etc


We are out of the Champion's League. I think one of the issues here was that we had Napoli's #4 seed, but if we finish 2nd after Juve, I think we might have something to play around with next year since I think we'd be a #2 seed. This is why I had hoped we would have been in the EURO this year, we don't have talent for Champions League yet, we were spanked by Man Utd, couldn't get anything close to done against Monaco, and we are still the 2nd best team in Serie A, so we should be showing up more against teams like Monaco the 2nd best team from a league that is ranked lower than us in Serie A. Ah well...musings for next year.

[Abe Sargent]

One of my loaness hasn’t played at all given his first team status I talked to his manager and he will give him some first team starts.

Serie A Game #16 – Home vs Bari – I begin standard. Vengeance!

They swept me and knocked me out of the Cup last year. I’ll play gentle this year.

Notes

15th Minute – They score – Bari you suck!
36th Minute - They score off a corner kick. Bari you suckx2!
Babacar for a booked Crivelli
45th Minute – We on a counter Ozil drives the corner, feeds Babacar on an attacking run who slides to Berardi for goal and now we are down by one.
HALF – Nope, show me something else!
Bongonda for a 6.3 Politano;
Bongonda is injured I send in Pierini – I slide to control
Clyne a late card and he’ll miss next match
Lirola a late card
Berardi a late card
4 Minutes – can we salvage a tie?
That’s our third loss of the year. Bari you suckx3!

Replace Farfan and Clyne

[Abe Sargent]

We are now in the EURO – we draw Sporting from Portugal in the First Knockout Leg. Doable.

Italian Cup Round 1, Home vs Atalanta – I begin controlling

Notes

Dickmann an early card I send in Hermoso for him.
Clyne an early card I can’t swap another FB for him so I tell him to ease up
20th Minute- Berardi feeds Politano on an attacking run for goal
41st Minute – They get a double booking.
HALF – Don’t get complacent
Acerbi for a carded Rubio; Arena for Matuidi
Pires a card
82nd Minute – They score an equalizer off a counter
4 Minute s- Can we break the tie?
Farfan a card
Extra Time
HALF
One of their players is injured and we are now up 11-9
Pires a second yellow and it’s 11-10
Hermoso a card
PKs

We go first

Berardi steps up and…sinks it
They makes theirs and tie it

Politano steps up and….sinks it again
They hit us back

Arena is next and…the wonderkid sinks it!
They tie

Ozil steps up and…drills it!
They step up and…our GK guesses right and stops it!

If Crivelli can sink this we win! And….nope they block it
They sink and tie it 4-4

We are down to Farfan…he…makes it, good job kid!
They step up and…miss! We are through 5-4!



Wow!

[Abe Sargent]

Pires is banned for a match

Next is…Inter, uh oh; but at home, not as bad

Serie A Game #17 – Away vs Genoa - begin countering, Hermoso is starting for Clyne – it’s rough rain today.

Notes

Berardi a card and Bongonda heads in – that’s his 5th
HALF – Quiet
Babacar for a 6.3 Crivelli
71st Minute – We score, offsides
Sensi for Pires
76th Minute – Babacar feeds Bongonda for goal! Good job subs!
Here they come!
Politano late card
5 Minutes – an we hold a shut out one goal lead? Yup! MOM is Ozil

[Abe Sargent]

Clyne is back

Napoli offer a job interview, but no thanks!

Serie A Game #18 – Home vs Juventus – The big bad. I begin standardly – vengeance!

Notes

Bongonda for a carded Berardi
I ease to counter they have 6 shots in the first 15 minutes
HALF – I’d take a tie here.
Babacar for a 6.3 Crivelli
Acerbi for Farfan
80th Minute – They score – can we respond?
82nd Minute They score again
We lose 0-2, they had 22 shots to our 4

[Abe Sargent]

I make some offers to a few players like hot prospects but not Babacar, Acerbi or Matsuidi


Pires is suspended for this match

Italian Cup, QF – Home vs Inter – I begin standardly

Notes

21st Minute - They have a corner kick, Ozil drives down the counter and feeds Politnao who drives the corner and crosses to Berardi for goal.
HALF – Tight match, we each have 6 shots, 8 fouls, and 50% possession. Don’t get complacent.
Babacar for a 6.5 Crivelli
Acerbi for Farfan
Hermoso for a tired Clyne
4 Minutes can we hold?




Game, we win!

Return Pires

[Abe Sargent]

Bongonda will start for a banned Berardi

We get Udinese in the Semi Final

That was our first win against Inter.

I offer to extend my deal

January

2nd – Away vs Novara
3rd – Transfer Raise
9th – Away at Caglia
22nd – Home vs Empoli
30th – Away at Salernitana

Good training – Arena, Rubio

I sign a 4 year deal at 12.5k/week

Serie A Game #19 – Away at Novara – I begin countering – the halfway point!

Notes

Politano an early card..Dickmann for him
HALF – We have three more shots, 2 fewer fouls, 55% of possession but a blank game. Show me something else!
Babacar for a 6.4 Crivelli
Clyne booked I send in Hermoso
4 Minutes
94th Minute – Dickmann feeds Babacar for goal, that’s his first goal in 17 games. Good job subs!

Return Berardi and Pires, I left Sensi in.

We hold and win 1-0, Ozil is MOM.


The Table after 19





As you can see, we are in 2nd by a full three points over AC Milan and a big 7 points behind Juve. We are 12-3-4 in the first 19. Good stuff!

[Abe Sargent]

The next question I need to deal with…who is going to be my ST moving forward?

Babacar in 12 starts and 5 subs in Serie A, 6.74 rating, 3 goals, 6 assist

Crivellii in 7 starts and 5 subs, 6.72 rating, 2 goals, 1 assist

Neither are doing well. For a team in the 2nd spot, normally your ST would have a massive great rating.

Ozil – 7.19
Berardi – 7.21
Politano – 7.14

See?

Now, the transfer window has lifted and I have…5.3 mill in kitty. I could bring in someone now to start and grab the best one. Who is available for 5 or fewer mill? Note that many starters and future starters were more than 5 (Karius 6 mill, Arena 6 mill, Rubio - 8 mill) but if there is a cheaper option I’d be all over it.

I begin searching for EU national STs that are transfer listed.

Mariano Díaz Mejía over at OL? He is coming free at the end of the next 6 months so I could just sign the 28 year old now. He’s the best that is available on the TL list…

Check out the comparison



Mariano is green to Babacar’s blue. Babacar is better at defend physical, vision and tech, and Mariano is better at mental and aerial and they are tied at speed and attacking. Not someone that is that much better than Babacar. Babacar is probably the same quality of player.

The next best one is 27 year old English/Irish Nathan Redmond. I scout him out.

Alright, what about players that are wonderkids that I could bring in and develop that cost 5 mill or fewer. None that are listed obviously but any that we might want to bring over?

I found a great potential 17 year old Belgian St named Tristan Hamon inn Belgium but the starting offer is 74 mill.

Holland’s Robert Visser? Too pricey

Amadou Mamadou from Germany and Mali? Too expensive

Italy’s Axel Lascala? Nope Paolo Stefani? Nope

Hmmm…that’s not working. Bring in Mariano and see if he catches fire? Or do I look for a loaner? The best EU Loanee is nowhere near where I need to be.

[Abe Sargent]

There are no EU loaners that are good enough to play at this level. Mariano is probably just a 3 player.

How about if I open myself to non-EU players? Anyone that makes sense then? I haven’t brought in one yet, and if you’ll recall they need to be capped.

Nigerian/English 24 year old ST Tammy Abraham is for loan and is transfer listed for 4.7 mill and he is capped by England. I scout him. He’s a backup for Chelsea. He looks like he’d be three stars as well.

What about Norweigan and Morocccan 27 year old Mohammed Elyounoussi? He’s a transfer listed backup over at Man City. I scout him. He speaks a ton of languages not Italian though. His deal also ends at the end of the year.



Here he is compared to Babacar. As you can see, the 27 year old is better at mental, tech, vision but Babacar is better at aeriel, attacking physical and speed. Again, pretty close, likely another 3 star player.

Oh, looks like Crivelli has dropped to 2.5 stars

What about massively capped Cameroonian Vincent Aboubakar but he’s 29 so he’s be a patch



He is better attacking, menta, and Babacar is better aeriel, and then they are the same elsewhere, and they are pretty close in terms of value, likely another 3 star player, and he’s transfer listed for 6 mill so I need to bring them down.

Italy’s Andrea Petagna?



He’s transfer listed but I think he’d be more than 5.3 mill, but he’s better than Babacar in loads of areas – mental by one, aeriel by 4, tech by one, vision by one and physical by 1. Good stuff. But Babacar is faster and attackingier. Petagna is a great target man my current Babacar is a poacher and adv. Forward. But he does have a finishing of 13 compared to Babacar’s 15, and he has 11 long shots to Babacar’s 15. Babacar last year was good, that’s all I need Babacar from last year.

What about Italy/Arg - Rodrigo De Paul? I scout him I don’t know enough to start.

What I could do is sign a ST coming free in 6 months and then stick with Babacar for the year.

[Abe Sargent]

30 year old Cédric Bakambu is coming free and he’s very similar to Babacar…



They are better at key things like attacking, tech mental, and Cedric is better at speed, and Babacar better at phys, aeriel, and vision and Cedric can play ad. Forward and poacher. He’s probably three stars. Actually, let’s look for wonderkids that aren’t EU. Can I find one?

I scout Argentina’s 19 year old Sebastián Ponce. I scout Brazil’s Ivan Barbosa Viana. England’s Michael Johnson?

What about 19 year old wonderkid Pepe Méndez who is playing for Middlebrough and worth just 775k. Could we bring him in?

We agree to 4.5 mill for Pepe Méndez. Is this my guy? Let’s find out!


 

[Abe Sargent]

We also had to agree to 20% of next sale, let’s take a look see at my newest Iberian Penin Wonderkid (Pires is from Portugal, Rubio from Spain). We had to agree to first team to bring him in. We are paying the 19 year old 13.25k/week. As you can see, this guy doesn’t have the bigger potential of some of the others, which might be why we were able to afford him. He’s got a nice finishing of 16, long shots of 13, his work rate of 15 is nice, and the 19 year old has been nicely developed.



Our target man is better at everything from def to aerial to tech t vision, and Babacar is only faster a bit and attackier bit. I don’t need to register Mendez since he’s U21. We’ll start Mendez with his attacking TM role.

I move Babacar to rotation, Crivelli to backup

[Abe Sargent]

I also want to bring in another ST as rotation for next year after Babacar leaves, so I look over the ones ending in 6 months like Edison and I could bring in Edison or Cedric but they all want first team signings. Actually, Mariano from OL would do rotation.

I reject an offer for Farfan.

I finalize a deal for Mariano at rotation and he’ll be joining us from OL next year.

Our training facilities are being upgraded


Serie A Game #20 – Away at Cagliari – this is my 200th senior game – we begin countering, I am starting Mendez. I hand Mendez #11 jersey.

Notes

10th Minute – They gift us an OG. Berardi the assist
HALF – Don’t get complacent we have 58% of possession and 7 shots to their 6.
55th Minute – They get a double booking and we are up a man
56th Minute – Politano drives the corner and crosses to an attacking Berardi for goal
Babacar for Mendez
We injure one of their players and they head off
Acerbi for Farfan, Bessa for Pires
5 minutes – can we hold a shut-down?
Matudi a card
Clyne a card
We hold and win 2-0, MOM is Berardi

Good start for the next half of the season to kick off.

[Abe Sargent]

Cagliari just fired their manager.

278 minutes since Karius gave up a goal

Matudi is suspended and I’ll start Arena

I reject more offers for Farfan. I also reject an offer from Man City for my GK, no pushback from either

Acerbi has dropped to 2.5 star rating

Matuidi bags another coaching license

Serie A Game #21 – Home vs Empoli – I begin controlling. Bad weather today.

Notes

9th Minute – They foul us in the box and Berardi…sinks it!
12th Minute – On an IFK,Ozil feeds Rubio for goal
HALF – Don’t get complacent
Sensi for a banged up Pires
71st Minute – Berardi feeds Politano on a counter attack after their corner kick is turned aside.
Bongonda for a carded Politano; Acerbi for Farfan
We hold and win 3-0 – Rubio MOM

Return Matuidi

[Abe Sargent]

Another shut out!

I reject an offer for my backup GK, and I talk him down.

I go to the board for additional stuff:






I reject another offer for my backup GK this time from Genoa.

Serie A Game #22 – Away vs Salernitana – I begin countering. This is Berardi’s 300th app for the team! Nasty rain. Hello Baranowski!

Notes

HALF – That was a quiet half, 7 total shots between us, 3 them 4 us, few fouls, no cards, etc Just play your game and we can win this!
47th Minute – They get a red card – that means they have us right where they want us because we do not play up when a man advantage
Arena for Matuidi; Acerbi for a carded Farfan
74th Minute – Politano feeds Mendoz for his first goal for us
They send in Baranowski
Hermoso for Clyne
83rd Minute - Baranowski assists them for goal – I move to attacking
See we play down when up a man
5 minutes – Can we break the tie?
Game, tie, 1-1, we drop points.

[Abe Sargent]

Transfer Window…

I get a loan offer from Torino for Crivelli. I would take this next year, but we don’t know how Mendez will play around with stuff yet, so I reject it.

Matuidi embraces another coaching class!

I decline an offer for Lirola

I get a 5 mill off for Hermoso from Valencia – he’s 3 star, backup DC/DR and he would be my main backup after Acerbi leaves us. Is there someone I could bring in who is coming free? Nope all of the ones that would join me in 6 months after Acerbi leaves with a 3 star rating would require at least a first team, so I decline.

No push back, oddly, figured he would.

I loan two players

Now I have a 10 mill offer for Hermoso from Valencia…I could take it and sign a DC that’s’ transfer listed. Anyone free? Hmm…I still say no, there aren’t any free 10 mill DCs that are good enough to have at least a 3 star rating.

It passes

February 2022 (Fun Month, right?)

2nd – Away at Udinese
6th – Home vs Inter
13th- Away at Roma
17th – Away at Sporting, EURO
21st – Home vs Ascoli
24th – Home vs Sporting, EURO
27th- Away at Sampdoria

Good training – Pires, Arena, Rubio

That's a BUSY month...

Lirola and Rubio in Team of the Month

[Abe Sargent]

Roma defeated Juve in the Semis 2-1

Italian Cup Semifinal – Away vs Udinese – I begin countering. Hello Leandrinho

Notes

They get two cards in the first 4 minutes
Hermoso for a booked Clyne
23rd Minute – Ozil feeds Berardi for goal
HALF – They have 8 shots to our 6, 51% possession, don’t get complacent!
Bongonda for a 6.3 Politano
Acerbi for Farfan
4 Minutes – Can we hold and win by a goal?



We win! They have MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

Arena loved his matchup with Matuidi who is down to 3 stars and Arena is up to three stars.

Here is the comparison for them:



Arena is blue, Matuidi is green. As you can see, Matuidi is better at def by 3, mental by 2, and attacking by 3, and Arena is better at aeriel by 3, tech by 2, speed by four and phys by 2. I thought about extending Matuidi another year, but I don’t think that’s needed. We’ll start Arena next year.

Here’s Arena after a year of development



He’s been mentored by Sensi and Matuidi nicely.

[Abe Sargent]

Serie A Game #23 – Home vs Inter – We lost to them last year, and away, but we beat them for the first team at half 1-0 in the Cup. Can we follow that up today? I begin standard. This is the first match of the new Inter manager, so my hope is that we send him home losing.

Notes

0:22 Lirola Feed Politano for goal!



That might be our fasted ever scored goal, we’ll found out after the match.

They are starting two injured players.
Bongonda for a carded Berardi
HALF – Don’t get complacent! They make two subs
Acerbi for a carded Farfan; Sensi for Pires
Here they come hard, I ease back to counter
85th Minute – Driussi scores to tie it
3 Minutes – game, we tie 1-1. MOM is Lirola

[Abe Sargent]

Serie A Game #24 – Away at Roma – I begin countering – they are 4th in the Serie A, so this could be a bigger loss.

Notes

10th Minute – Berardi feeds Ozil for goal on a nicely built up attack
Lirola a card in the 46th
HALF – Don’t get complacent. I send in Hermoso
48th Minute – They tie it
Bongonda for an injured Berardi
Dickmann for Clyne
89th Minute – Farfan gets a yellow card giving up a penalty and…they sink it.
5 Minutes, can we tie it? Nope we lose 2-1.

[Abe Sargent]

EURO Leg #1, Away at Sporting – I begin countering, for the fans!

Notes

14th Minute – They score offsides
22nd Minute – Politano to Rubio, goal off corner!




Rubio has scored more than any of our Strikers.

27th Minute – Mendez’s header feeds Berardi for score!



Nice it’s twice!

We injure their ST
Berardi a yellow card
HALF – Don’t get complacent
49th Minute – Berardi sinks a DFK. Now I pull him since going down 10-11 is our likely only way for them to get back. That’s his 100th goal for us
Sensi for Pires
69th Minute – They score a long shot for goal
71st Minute – Clyne scores an OG..
Hermoso for Clyne
78th Minute – They tie it
6 Minutes – we hold and tie them 3-3.

[Abe Sargent]

Serie A Game #25 – Home vs Ascoli – I begin controlling

Notes

8th Minute – Berardi’s DFK is on line, blocked, and rebounded and scored on by Mendez
31st Minute -Politano crosses to Mendez’s head for goal
HALF – Don’t get complacent
47th Minute – They gift us an OG, Ozil assist
I pull a carded Matuidi for Arena
52nd Minute – Politano again crosses to Mendez for goal. Hattrick!
Acerbi for Rubio with a card; Sensi for a tired Pires

We hold and win 4-0, MOM is Mendez