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

[Abe Sargent]

That win and Juve’s tie moves us into 2nd

Champion’s Group F Game #5 – Home vs Real Madrid – We are four points in front of AS Monaco heading into this match. If we can get any result here from a tie to a shocking win we’ll make it with a game to go. I begin standardly.

Notes

Lirola a card I send in Adjapong
HALF – Okay! I had 7 shots to their 4.
Clyne a card, Hermoso heads in; Sensi for a carded Vincente.

We tie them 0-0! We are through to the Knockout Round!

[Abe Sargent]

Serie A Game #13 – Away at Udinese – I begin countering – this is Politano’s 250th app for the club!

Notes

Mendez a card, Mariano heads in
45th Minute – Clyne scores!
HALF – Don’t get complacent…
Sensi for a carded Arena
69th Minute – Clyne scores again! Dude is on fire.
Bongonda for a tired Politano
We hold and shut them out 2-0. Nice


Juve lost to Palermo 1-2

[Abe Sargent]

Serie A Game #14 – Home vs Torino – I begin standardly

Notes

Can my GK keep up his streak?
35th Minute – Politano drives the corner, crosses to Mendez, goal
43rd Minute – Politano is open after a pass by Ozil and feeds the attacking Berardi for goal
Arena a card, Sensi heads in
HALF – Don’t get complacent
Bongonda for a banged up Berardi
67th Minute – Bongonda misses and interception and they score
Hermoso for Farfan
We hold and win 2-1,MOM is Politano

[Abe Sargent]

December

3rd – Away at Atalanta
7th – Away at Monaco
11th – Home vs Lazio
18th – Away at Palermo
21st – Away at Salernitana

Good training- Rubio, Arena, Vicente

Clyne in Team of the Month

Serie A Game #15 – Away at Atalanta – I begin countering,

Notes

Burgzorg for a carded Clyne
Karius is injured and I send in Marrichi my emergency starter I pull back to defensive
Farfan a card but I won’t pull him
42nd Minute – They score…
HALF –
Burgzorg is booked
Bongonda for Berardi
They win 1-0, that was not on my d who held them to one goal with a backup GK, but on my Offensive who couldn’t score.

Roma lost to Palermo

Here is the table after 15:



Sorta 15, loads of teams still have games to play, but just one in the top 7, Roma.

[Abe Sargent]

Champion Group F – Game #6 Away at AS Monaco – We lost this game last year 1-0, and I’ll take a minor loss like that this time as well. I begin countering. Karius is light wounded but I’m starting him.

Notes

13th Minute – They score…uh oh. That’s not a good start.
Burgzorg for a carded Clyne
Adjapong for a carded Lirola
Burgzorg injured, in heads Hermoso, we are out of subs
38th Minute – They score off a corner
I don’t think we are going to win this meaningless match…
HALF
86th Minute – Berardi feeds Politano for goal to prevent the shut out.
Three Minutes of Added Time – We couldn’t possibly score again, right?
91st Minute - They score off a corner.

No we cannot! We finish the game 1-3.

With 9 points, Real Madrid is out of the Champion’s League

[Abe Sargent]

Gauthier and Serio finished their Italian classes

Serie A Game #16 – Home vs Lazio – I begin controlling

Notes

14th Minute – Ozil feeds Mendez for goal
HALF - We have been all over Lazio, 13 shots, NINE on target, but just one threw for goal, Don’t get complacent
Hermoso for a carded Farfan; Bongoda for a 6.3 Berardi; Adjapong for a carded Lirola
We hold and win 1-0 that should have been 3-0, MOM is Ozil


Juventus tied Genoa 0-0.

[Abe Sargent]

Roma lost

Well that was a fun Champion’s Campaign! We draw Man City…

Juve got out and have OL.

Serie A Game #17 0 Away at Palermo – I begin countering

Note

2nd Minute – Politano feeds Mendez for goal.
They have 10 shots by the 27th
36th Minute – On a deep IFK, Ozil feeds Rubio for goal! Nasty!
HALF – They have 15 shots to our 6, but 4 of ours on goal. Don’t get complacent! One of my five losses last year was away at Palermo, they play us nicely, and I would expect that this half.
48th Minute – Ozil drives the left flank, dribbles past a defender, and crosses to Berardi for goal. I don’t know how I am winning this game.
All four of my attackers have goals or assists
55th Minute – Vicente feeds Mendez on a counter. Wow.
Adjapong for a carded Lirola; Burgzorg for Clyne for experience; La Rosa for Farfan
Three minutes to try and stop a shut out
We hold and win 4-0, MOM is Mendez, this felt a lot like my away 6-1 match against Napoli where we were outplayed statistically but we just kept scoring.



They had 25 shots to our 10, but were less efficient, but we sunk 4 of 6 on target, they had possession, loads of stuff. Good win!

[Abe Sargent]

That win moves us to 1st

Arena is banned and I start Sensi.

Serie A Game #18 – Home vs Salernitana – I begin controlling

Notes

29th Minute – Ozil scores!
Hermoso for a carded Farfan
HALF – Don’t get complacent.
Clyne a card, Burgzorg in. Bongonda for a tired Berardi.
Sensi a card
87th Minute – Lirola is red carded
Here they come. I pull back to contain.
5 Minutes – And….we hold and win!MOM is Ozil


I return Arena.

I issue a warning to Lirola and he accepts it

[Abe Sargent]

Juve and Bologna have a game and Bologna won 1-0. That’s big for them on the road. They move into 2nd

Roma wins and moves into 2nd

December 31st is here

Goodbye 2022!

[Abe Sargent]

January

3rd – Transfer Window Opens
4th – Away at Inter – Uh oh
8th – Away at Genoa
18th – Home vs Verona, Cup 1st Round
22nd – Home vs Chievo
29th - Away at Bologna
31st – End of Transfer window

Good Training – Gautier, Burgzorg, Binsbergen

I will not be targeting any major additions offensively, just defensively.

Rubio named in Team of the Month

I get a loan offer for Crivelli for 1st team play and this time I accept

I do not change my expectations

The window rises

Juve heads away to Napoli and… they tie 0-0

Serie A Game #19 -Away at Inter – I begin countering…
Lirola and Clyne are suspended and I have Burgzorg and Adapong starting

Notes

I injure their ST and they head out
22nd Minute = On a counter, Politano feeds Mendez for goal
24th Minute – they score on a corner and tie us right back
HALF – I’ll take a tie but I’d prefer a win. We only have 1 shot on target in 4 attempts.
Crescenzi for a carded Ajapong; Bongonda for Berardi; Ferraresi for a 6.1 Burgzorg
Rubio a card
5 minutes – we hold and tie 1-1. MOM is on their team.

Roma lost 0-2 to Chievo


Table after 19



We are halfway through! As you can see, our tie has kept us in 1st by 4 points of Bologna and Roma. Juve just keep dropping points and are down to 4th. With a game in their hand, Milan are down in the relegation zone, but I doubt that lasts.

[Abe Sargent]

I return Lirola and Clyne

Serie A Game #20 -VS Genoa

Notes

27th Minute – They block a Berardi PK
HALF Nope!
55th Minute- Mendez feeds Berardi. Offsides
Bongonda for Berardi; Mariano for Mendez; Sensei for Vincente
83rd Minute – Mariano feeds Ozil on an attack run.
Six minutes – Can we hold? We do! MOM is Rubio

[Abe Sargent]

I loan Crivelli

Italian Cup First Round – Home vs Verona – I begin controlling

Notes

Adjapong for a banged up Lirola
HALF –
48th Minute – Politano to Ozil on an attack run
Bogonda for an injured Ozil
Mariano for Mendez
Five Minutes – Can we hold? We do and win a game that should have been more dominant.

[Abe Sargent]

We get Chievo next.

I offer a new deal to Lirola

Serie A Game #21 – Home vs Chievo – I begin controlling. I am starting Ozil even though he is lightly injured.

Notes

19th Minute - Mendez feeds Berardi for goal
HALF – Don’t get complacent
48th Minute – Mendez to Berardi again
Gautier for Politano
Berardi a card, I’ll leave him in on two goals
Sensi for Arena
75th Minute – They score on a corner kick
Hermoso for Farfan
92nd Minute – Gautier for Berardi – Hat trick baby!
We win 3-1 – MOM is Berardi

[Abe Sargent]

Lirola signs! First team, 4 years, 45k

Serie A Game #22 – Away at Bologna – I begin countering… Hello Babacar! They beat us 2-1 in our home earlier, so this could be rough…

Notes

1:08 – Babacar scores…
HALF – We are not in this game 1 shot to their 8, they have 60% possession.
Subs – Sensi for 6.4 Vicente; Adjapong for 6.2 Lirola; Mariano for Mendez
Adjapong injured we are down by one
88th Minute – They score
Arena a card. We lose 0-2

[Abe Sargent]

Transfer Window Begins…

I loan some players like the Dutch youth I brought in with Burgzorg

Transfer passes

February

1st – Home vs Chievo, Cup QF
5th – Home vs Juve
11th – Away at Ascoli
15th – Home vs Man City
19th - Home vs Roma
26th – Away at Cittadella
28th – Italian Cup SF, Game 1

Good training – Vicente, Rubio, Arena

Italian Cup QF – Home vs Chievo – Controlling - Can we win again?

Notes

Big rain
25th Minute – On a corner kick Politano feeds Ozil for goal.
35th Minute – Politano feeds Vincente for goal
38th Minute – They answer with a counter for goal
HALF – Don’t get complacent!
Mariano for a 6.3 Mendez.
Hermoso for Rubio
75th Minute – Vicente feeds Berardi for goal
Cristieg for Arena
We win 3-1, the same score as the individual game, Ozil is MOM.

We get Palermo up next.

[Abe Sargent]

AC Milan won! Against Roma

Serie A Game #23 – Home vs Juve – I begin standard. I have never beaten Juventus, can I today? Vengeance! They beat us earlier

Notes

Sensi for a carded Arena
HALF – Very quiet, each team has 4 shots
Bongonda for a 6.3 Berardi; Adjapong for a carded Lirola
89th Minute – Politano feeds Farfan for goal on a corner kick!
Can we hold and get my first win against the big bad?





We knocked them down, our first win!

[Abe Sargent]

Lirola is banned, I’ll start adjapong

Serie A Game #24 – Away at Ascoli – I begin countering – this is Karius 100th app for the club!

Notes

2nd Minute – They foul Berardi in the box and he steps up and…we score! That’s his 17th goal of the season
Rubio pulled in the 17th for a card for Hermoso
43rd Minute – On a counter Politano drovies the corner and crosses to Mendez for goal
We injure their MCR and he heads out
HALF – Don’t get complacent – we have 8 shot to their 3 and they have 5 cards
Burgzorg for Clyne
Gautier for a carded Berardi
80th Minute – Politano is fed by Burgzorg for goal
88th Minute – Mendez feeds Vincente for goal
Adjapong a late card
We hold and win 4-0. MOM is Politano. Wanna see?




Nasty!

Lirola is also banned for the Man City match next so Adjapong will stay there.

[Abe Sargent]

Juve beat AC Milan. Roma and Bologna won.

Champions Knockout Round 1st Leg – Home vs Man City – I begin standardly. Can we defeat them at home like we did AS Monaco? Juve? Man Utd?

Notes

3rd Minute – Berardi scores! Offsides!
I send in Sensi for an injured Vicente
40th Minute – They score
HALF – They have been lethal, 8 shots, 7 on target. 60% possession.
57th Minute – They score off the crossbar
I send in Bongonda for an injured Berardi
Hermoso for Farfan
Adjaponga card
85th Minute – On a counter, Politano’s cross finds Mendez’s head for goal.



We aren’t getting shut out! Can we steal a tie?
They have an injury and no sub so we are up a man…
SIX MINUTES – That’s a lot of added time…
They hold and win, Politano is MOM




Juve beat OL 1-0

I replace Lirola

[Abe Sargent]

Berardi is banned for the next match and Bongonda is starting

Bologna won.

Serie A Game #25 – Home vs Roma – I begin standarding

Notes

Sensi for a carded Arena
Mariano for a carded Mendez
Bongonda a card but I’ll leave him in for now
HALF – They have more shots, more on target, fewer fouls, and more possession
49th Minute – Mariano feeds Politano for goal!
Lirola a card
Sensi a card
Sensi a double booking, uh oh
I drop Ozil to MC, and Vicente to DMC.
Here they come
Gautier for bongonda
Three Minutes -Can we hold our lead?
Yes we can! We shut out Roma 1-0 and MOM is Politano

[Abe Sargent]

Bologna won their game in hand vs Sampdoria.

Serie A Game #26 – Away at Cittadella – I begin countering.

Notes

2nd Minute – Mendez feeds Arena for goal
HALF – We have 12 shots to their 2, but only 3 on target. Don’t get complacent!
Hermoso for a carded Farfan,
Bongonda for a 6.4 Berardi
Gautier for Ozil
Four Minutes – can we hold and win 1-0? We do.
We finished with 19 shots to their 5, 4 on target. MOM is Arena


I return Sensi

[Abe Sargent]

Bologna wins 2-0 vs Empoli, Juve beat Cremonense, Roma beat Milan

Italian Cup 1st Leg - Away at Palermo – I begin countering. We never play well against Palermo…

Notes

Mendez an early card I leave him in
9th Minute – They get a yellow card in the box, and Berardi steps up and is…blocked but he scores the rebound
19th Minute – They score and tie things back up – told you
We injure their AML
Farfan is injured and I send in Hermoso
HALF –
Bongonda for a 6.4 Politano
61st Minute – They score.
Burgzorg for a carded Clyne
79th Minute -Rubio gives up an OG… I don’t think we can come back from a 2 goal deficient at home…
Vicente a card
5 Minutes – Can we grab a goal to bring this thing reachable?
Nope, we lose 1-3.

[Abe Sargent]

March

4th – Home vs Napoli
7th – Away at Man City
12th – Home vs Milan
19th – Away at Sampdoria

Good Training – Mendez, Farfarn, La Rosa

Farfan in Team of the Month

Roma and Atalanta tied in the SF


Serie A Game #27 -Home vs Napoli = I begin controlling – this is Clyne’s 100th game for us

Notes

27th Minute – Berardi feeds Mendez for goal
Adjapong for a carded Lirola
HALF – Don’t get complacent
65th Minute – Ozil feeds Mendez for goal
Gautier for a banged up Ozil;
71st – They score a DFK
Rubio gives up a foul and they score the IFK Hermose replaces him
Five Minutes Can I break the tie?
We tie 2-2, MOM is Mendez


AC Milan and Juve both lost

[Abe Sargent]

The Champion Knockout Round 2nd Leg – Away at Man City- I begin countering. Revenge! Woodshed time!

Notes

10th Minute – They score on suspicions of offsides.
23rd Minute – On a corner, Politano’s leg hits Farfan’s head for goal and we tie it!



We also scored in the home match so no shut outs here baby.
Politano a card but I leave him in
HALF – We are in this. We have 7 shots, 5 on target to their 9 and 4, 2 fewer fouls and one fewer card.
Adjapong for an injured Lirola
51st Minute – They score. If I score two then I’ll get through on Away Goals.
Burgzorg for a 6.4 Clyne; Hermoso for a6.5 Rubio
Politano is injured in the 83rd and we are down a man – I swap Ozil over to AML
Five Minutes -they win 2-1 and 4-2 aggregate. I’ll take two narrow one goal losses.

We are out.

Lirola is out for a week and will miss the Milan match
Politano is just out for a few days and will play in it

[Abe Sargent]

Juve took out OL and advance

Serie A Game #28 – Home vs AC Milan – I begin controlling

Notes

Burgzorg for a carded Clyne
HALF – They have 8 shots to our 2 – NOPE!
48th Minute – Ozil feeds Berardi for goal
Mayingi for a carded Adjapong; Gautier for Politano
Five Minutes – Can we hold and win 1-0?
Arena booked. Wee win and shut them out, MOM is Rubio



Bologna defeats Torino, Juve ties Udinese, Roma beat Cremonense

Replace Lirola

[Abe Sargent]

I agree to sell Hermoso at the end of the year. I transfer list him.




Our new youth arrives. I check out Davide. He’s not that potent.

Arena is banned for this match and Sensi starts. La Rosa is away for Italy and not on my sub list.

Serie A Game #29 – Away at Sampdoria – I begin countering

Notes

23rd Minute – On a counter Politano drives the line past a defender, and crosses to Mendez for goal
We injure one of their players
HALF – Don’t get complacent out there!
Bongonda for a 6.1 Berardi
53rd Minute – They call a goal offsides
Crescenzi for Farfan; Gautier for Ozil
Three Minutes can they score and break the tie?
We give up a PK and…they sink it and tie. We tie them 1-1.MOM is Vicente


AC Milan lost to Napoli, Bologna beat Atalanta; and Juve tied Torino

Replace Arena and La Rosa

[Abe Sargent]

Our 13 call ups begin


With around 9 games left in the Serie A, let’s look and see where we were historically.

Year One – I made 5 starter changes (Karius, Clyne, Matuidi, Vicente, Pires). I inherited a team that had finished mid table at 11th. We were as high as 3rd for one week, 4th at the halfway and much of the year and through Jan and mid-Feb until a late season collapse with 6 games in a row without a win and we dropped deep into 5, and were one point from 6th in the final game, and we lost, but they did to. Then Napoli, who finished in Champions in 4th had financial diff. and we got their Champions slot. Palermo won and Juve, with early issues, finished second just a small distance behind.

Year Two - I made 3 starter changes one of which replaced a new player (Ozil, Farfan, Rubio) and then ST at the Winter team after Babacar sucked. (Mendez). We started strong at 3rd in the 10 spot and then moved into 2nd and then never gave it up, we finished just two points behind Juve, and well ahead of 3rd.

Year Three – This year - I have made one (Arena) starter change and brought back a starter that was replaced earlier (Vicente). We started a bit slowly with loads of away games against powers like Juve, Napoli, Milan and Roma early. Bologna was leading the league at the 10 game mark, but we moved in front Juve and Milan have dropped a bunch of points and are very far from where you might expect. Will we finish the last two months strong like last year or weak like two years ago?

Let’s find out!

[Abe Sargent]

April

1st – Home vs Cremonese
4th – Home vs Palermo, Cup
9th – Away at Empoli
16th Home vs Udinese
19th – Away at Torino
23rd – Home vs Atalanta
30th – Away vs Lazio

Good training – Politano, Burgzorg, Racero

Busy month



Serie A Game #30 – Home vs Cremonese – I begin controlling although my Assman wants me to be attacking. Can we get a thumping?

Notes

6th Minute – Politano feeds Mendez for his 20th goal of the season
HALF – They have more cards (4) than we have fouls (3). We have 10 shots, 3 on target, to their 1. Don’t get complacent!
Burgzorg for Clyne; Gautier for Ozil; Sensi for a carded Arena
Five Minute s- They have played well with 7 shots in the second half, can we shut them out and win?
We win! MOM is Politano.

Here’s the League Table After 30:




Here you can see that we are 7 points in front of Bologna and them and Roma are pretty close, Milan has dropped back to 20th. Nasty.

[Abe Sargent]

Italian Cup SemiFinal, 2nd Leg – Home vs Palermo – We lost to them 1-3 on the road and I doubt we’ll win by that many since we do not show up against Palermo, I begin controlling

Notes

22nd Minute – On a corner kick, Berardi feeds Ozil for goal! If we win 2-0, then we’d win with away goal rule.
HALF – Hmm...we have 7 shots to their 5
Adjapong for a carded Lirola;
64th Minute – They score
Mariano for Mendez; Hermoso for Farfan
We hold and tie 1-1, MOM is Ozil

We are out of the Cup, and I haven’t even made the final yet in three shots. Also taking me out of the Cup in Year one Bari our kryptonite, Udinese in Year Two who finished the season 16th but won the Cup, and now Palermo…

[Abe Sargent]

Roma beat Atalanta to make it to the final

Serie A Game #31 – Away at Empoli – I begin countering

Notes

27th Minute – Berardi feeds Mendez for goal
HALF - They have 9 shots to our 3, and 54% possession – don’t get complacent
We injure their DR and he heads out
Hermoso for Rubio: Sensi for a carded Arena; Burgzorg for Clyne
Farfan a late card
They have 6 minutes…We hold and win 1-0 MOM is Vicente

AC Milan beat Cremonese at 18 2-1
Juve tied #15 Lazio 0-0
Bologna thump Palermo 3-0
Roma beat Torino 1-0 on the road


We qualify for the EURO!

[Abe Sargent]

Rubio is now a 4.5 star player! I check my other starting wonderkids –

Mendez – 4 stars
Farfan – 3.5 stars still
Arena – 3.5 stars still
Vicente – 4 stars

Key Backups:

Gautier – 2.5 stars
Burgzorg – 3 stars

Good stuff!

Farfan is suspended and I start Hermoso

Serie A Game #32 – Home at Udinese – I begin controlling

Notes

4th Minute – On a counter, Ozil feeds Politano for goal
33rd Minute – Ozil feeds Berardi for goal and that’s his 20th.
HALF – Nice!
Bongonda for a carded Berardi
Mariano for a 6.3 Mendez
La Rosa for Hermoso
Arena a late card
Can they break out of the shutout?
We hold and win 2-0, MOM is Ozil’s double assist day


AC Milan went up against Empoli and they lose 1-0
Juve is fighting against Palermo and they…win 1-0
Bologna won 2-1 over Salertino
Roma beat Atalanta 2-1

[Abe Sargent]

I replace Farfan

Berardi gets a big 250k bonus for getting 15 Serie A goals

Juve lose to Man Utd 4-1 on the road and are out of the Champion’s League.
AC Milan lose to AS Monaco 1-3 and are also out

Serie A Game #33 – Away at Torino – I begin countering

Notes

6th Minute – Mendez feeds Vincente for goal!
HALF – We have 10 shots,3 on target to their 3 and 0. Don’t get complacent!
Gautier for a tired Ozil; Hermoso for Farfan; Burgzorg for Clyne
We hold and win 1-0, another shut down ,MOM is Mendez

Five games left!

We have 24 wins, one short of last year’s record 25

[Abe Sargent]

AC Milan host Torino and…they lose 0-1

Serie A Game #34 – Home vs Atalanta – They beat us this year, vengeance! Controlling

Notes

Burgzong for a carded Clyne
Burgzorg a card, Hermoso replaces him
HALF – 10 shots, 7 on target, we’re playing well. Shot me something else…
Lirola a card
Arena too
63rd – Lirola a 2nd card…this is why I pull my yellows
I pull AMC Ozil for Adjapong and move to defensive
Hermoso a card
73rd – Arena a 2nd card…
I drop Vicente to DMC
Can we hold?
89th Minute – They break the tie
Politano is MOM in our 1-0 loss, that’s our first loss in a while

I warn Lirola and Arena that are suspended for the next match

Roma Beat Palermo 1-0
Bologna beat Genoa 3-0, I was rooting for Genoa since they are 5th and could cross Juve.
Juve beat Inter 1-0
Chievo won and move into 5th


Here’s the Table with 4 games left:



With our loss we are just 6 in front of Bologna, 1 in front of Roma, 4 in front of Juve, and its not like that Juve will fall out of the Champion’s League to 5th. EURO is 5-7, and that’s Chievo, Udinese and Genoa tied with Atalanta. All of those would be surprises just like Bologna at #2 and Roma #3 and Juve waaay back in 4th and Milan in 19th just won. Could they get relegated?

[Abe Sargent]

AC Milan head to Atalanta and…they lose 3-1.
Juve head to Genoa and…they win 2-1.

Serie Game #35 - Away at Lazio – I begin countering

I am starting Sensi and Adjapong for Arena and Lirola

Notes

Sensi a card
14th Minute – Sensi sinks a DFK. I’m still pulling him for Crisetig
32nd Minute - Berardi sinks a shot that was rebound by the GK
Vicente a card, I move Crisetg to MC and Hermoso heads in at DMC
38th Minute – They claw one back
HALF -10 shots by us to 5 by them so 2-1 is fair, but sad. Don’t get complacent.
47th Minute – They get a second yellow which means they’ll tie or win
Critseg a card but I am out of MC/DMC subs
I tell him to lay off tackles
Hermoso a card
Mariano for Mendez
Three minutes, can we hold them 1-2? We do and MOM is Berardi

Replace Arena and Lirola

Bologna lost

[Abe Sargent]

May

7th Home vs Palermo – Uh oh
14th – Away at Salernitana
21st – Home vs Inter

Good training – Farfan, Arena, Burgzorg

Paris SG just thumped Man City 5-0 in the Champions Semi Final. Wow.


Bologna is fighting Napoli and…they tie 1-1 and we win!

AC Milan is facing Lazio and…Lazio wins 2-1. Uh oh…

Serie A Game #36 – Home vs Palermo - I begin standard. This Berardi’s 350th league app!

Notes

I ease back to counter
45th Minute – In our FIRST SHOT IN THE GAME, Clyne crosses to Mendez for goal
HALF- Don’t get complacent
Subs – Adjapong for a carded Lirola; Gautier for Berardi
77th Minute – They get a 2nd yellow
La Rosa for Farfan
Four minutes can we hold and win 1-0?
Adjapong a late card
We win! MOM is Mendez


Juve hosts Chievo and…they win
Roma vs Inter – Roma win 3-1

[Abe Sargent]

Five of my players are called up for the U20 World Cup –

Gautier - France
La Rosa – Italy
Cardona and Bordoni – Italy
Racero – Spain

They will miss the last two games of the year.

Paris SG lost 2-1 on the road to Man City and are through to the Champions Final.

Man Utd hosts Monaco who tied them 0-0 in Monaco, they tie 1-1 and Monaco is through due to the away goal rule, and there is an all France so France is sure of winning the Champions League for the first time.

I accept a transfer offer for Hermoso from Dynamo Kyiv for 6.25 mill

Our record number of goals which we set while I was here is 85 and we are at 83 this year with two games left.

Adjapong is banned for this match

Serie A Game #37- Away at Salernitana, I begin countering, we tied last year’s 25 wins, can we get more?

Notes

26th Minute – On a counter, Vicente feeds Politano for goal!
HALF – We have 5 shots to their 4, 49% possession, so the stats are close. Don’t get complacent!
Hermoso for a carded Rubio: he gets a card
68th Minute – Berardi feeds Mendez for goal – we tied last year’s goal total
Finessi for Ozil
75th Minute -On a goal kick, Karius feeds Mendez for goal – we beat last year’s goal
Erlic for a carded Hermoso
Four minutes – We hold and win 3-0 on the road dominantly. Wanna see?



You got it! MOM is Mendez, and we had 3 shots sunk on 6 on target. Great day!


Juve head to Bologna and Bologna won at Juve earlier this year…. Juve lose 0-1 again, wow they were swept by a team. Any team…
Chievo faces Ascoli and they win 1-0 staying in 5th.
Roma has Genoa on the road and they win 4-2.

One game left!

[Abe Sargent]

Ozil announces his retirement.

Six of my players were called up for the U21 EURO Championship

Laurent for Belgium
Arena and Valbonesi for Italy
Vicente, Rubio, Mendez for Spain



The Italian Cup Finals

Roma

Vs

Palermo

Roma won 1-0.


Serie A Game #38 – Home vs Inter – I begin standardly. I am starting Hermoso for Farfan since it’s likely his last game for us.

Notes

Adjapong for a carded Lirola
HALF – Nope!
Sensi for Vincente since this is his last game; Mariano for Mendez
83rd – Sensi feeds Mariano for goal -subs!
87th – They get a double booking
We hold and win 1-0 MOM is Mariano

Hermoso is heading to Dynamo Kyiv!


Here’s the Table at the Season of the 2022-2023 Season





As you can see, we won by a few games and we had 28 wins this year to last year’s 25.Bologna had the good form to finish 2nd, Roma 2 points behind in 3rd, Juve one point behind in 4th and those four are Champions league bound. Atalanta, Chievo and Udinese are heading to the EURO and that’s crazy for Chievo who were just promoted last year. No major names, other than Juve, finished. AC Milan is…RELEGATED! Inter finished 10th, Napoli 14th, etc.

[Abe Sargent]

Let’s look at my year in review:

My Goals:

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. DONE - I finished 5th.
Year Two
2. Earn qualification for the EURO. DONE YEAR ONE, but then we got to Champion’s instead
3. Do some serious damage in the EURO as a Italian squad – DONE YEAR TWO – after I lost done we went really far in the EURO
4. Get a Champion’s qual spot in 4-1. DONE YEAR TWO – Finished 2nd
5. Do some damage in the Champion’s league – DONE YEAR THREE – Got out of group stage dominantly knocking out Real Madrid, winning against Monaco, getting two wins from Galatasaray.
6. Win a cup – I haven’t made the Finals
7. Win Serie A – DONE YEAR THREE

[Abe Sargent]

Stats

Team Stuff:


Team Goals – Chievo finished with 65 goals in first, then Inter with 64, Udinese with 62 and then us with 58 un 4th

Fewest Goals Allowed – us with just 20, Bologna with 26 tied Juventus, Roma with 34 goals allowed at 4th

Shut Outs – We led with 23, three more than last year; Bologna with 19, Juve with 17, Roma with 16


Player Stuff:

MOM – Politano and Mendez tied for 2nd with 7;

Dist. Cove – Politano 1st; Ozil 3rd; Vicente 4th;

Dist. Cover/90 Minutes – Politano 1st, Vicente 7th

Avg Rating – Politano 7th; Mendez 9th;

Headers Won – Mendez 2nd, Rubio 4th

Goals - Mendez 4th; Berardi 8th

Avg. Minutes/Goal – Mendez 7th

Shots – Mendez 7th

Shots on Target – Mendez 3rd;

Shots on Target % - Mendez 7th

Assists – Politano tied for 1st; Berardi tied for 10th

Key Passes- Politano 4th; Mendez 10th

Chances Created – Politano 1st; Mendez 9th

Pass Completion % - Arena 5th

Cross Completion % - Ozil 1st;

Drib/Game – Politano 5th;

Tack/Game – Lirola 3rd;

Key Headers – Rubio 3rd; Mendez 6th

Interceptions Made -Rubio 6th; Farfan 10th

Headers Won Ratio – Rubio 9th

Shots Allowed – Karius 1st

Shut Outs – Karius 1st

Karius is not top ten is shots held or parried

Nice!

[Abe Sargent]

Starter Overview – Stats are only Serie A stats;

GK Karius – 28 years old, German, 24 shut outs, 19 shots allowed, 6.88 rating, one year left on his deal, 2 – Played very well for me but with just a 3.5 rating I probably want to move on for him to advance in Champions Play, although he shut out Monaco, Man Utd, Sporting; and only allowed one shot away at Monaco. However I would be fine bringing him back for another year as it may not be easy to find a replacement. Signed for 6 mill from Liverpool in year 1.

DC Farfan – 3.5 stars and mostly grown, Non-EU, Columbian with 16 apps, 21 years old, 6.88 rating, 2 – Has not played that well last year either but it wouldn’t be easy to find a replacement and I don’t see that much that keeps him here I could loan him and bring in a replacement. Signed for 2.9 mill in year 1 from Columbia’s Atletico, here for two more years, wonderkid

DC Rubio – 3.5 – 19 years old, 4 stars and growing, he’s probably my best player on my team after two years of starting, 7.05 rating, 8 mill from Real Madrid in year 2, wanted to start. Spanish, here for two more years. Wonderkid

DL Clyne – 1/3 English, 32 years old, contract ends this year, free addition in year 1, non-EU player just a 3 star player these days. I’m letting him go and starting Burgzorg here next year. 7.03 rating, 2 goals, 1 assist.

DR Lirola – 3 – Spanish, 3.5 stars, inherited him, homegrown at the club which I need 4 of on my squad, 6.90 rating but tons of cards probably stopped him from being more consistent, that was a huge change this year. 25 years old, here until 2027.


DMC Arena – 3 – Italian, 19 years old, 3.5 stars and growing, here until 2027, 7.04 rating, 1 goal, 1 assist, I purchased for 6 mill from Pescara in January of year 1, wonderkid

MC Vicente – 3 – Spanish, 22 years old, 4 stars, signed until 2027; purchased for 2.5 mill from my old team in Year 1, 4 goals, 2 assists, 7.05 rating, wonderkid


AMC Ozil – 1 – Retiring at the end, I am currently slating Gautier to start there, 2.5 stars, 7.01 rating, 4 goals, 8 assist, 4 MOM, signed him for free year 2, German, 34 years old

AMR Berardi – 3 -Also a homegrown player like Lirola, 7.04 rating, inherited him, 16 goals, 8 assits, here for two more years, 28 years old, 3.5 star rating, 4 MOM

AML Politano – 2 – One year left in deal and likely to start Gautier here when he leaves, 29 years old, 3.5 stars, 5 goals, 13 assit, 7.26 rating; 7 MOM

ST Mendez – 3.5 – Wonderkid, Spanish, here for two more years, 4 stars and growing, 21 years old, 4.5 mill from Middlesbrough in January of year 2, 7.24 rating, 21 goals, 7 assists, 7 MOM,

There we go!!!

Leaving this year of key note are:

Ozil – retirement, end of contract
Clyne – end of contract
Sensi – 3 stars MC/DMC – inherited him, end of contract
DC, DR, DMC Hermoso – 3 stars, sold to Dynamo Kyiv

[Abe Sargent]

Rubio, Clyne, and Mendez were named in Team of the Year,

Karius won 2nd Place GK of the Year

Rubio won Defender of the Year

Mendez won Striker of the Year

The Champion’s Final is being held and…they tie 1-1 and Monaco wins on pks and is the first French winner. And we beat them in our place 1-0.

We get 39.32 in Champion’s Cup revenue

Arena won the award for U19 best midfielder again!

I won Manager of the Year!

Good bye May

Good training – Vicente, Arena, Rubio

[Abe Sargent]

Now...what do I want to do? I just won Serie A, I got out of the Group Stage, I haven't won a Cup and I'd love to do some more damage in the Champion's League. Is that worth coming back for?

Here are my options:

1. Play another year - let's see what damage I can do!

2. Move to another team/league and take on another challenge, just like I did twice with this dynasty.

3. Retire...maybe start another dynasty elsewhere in Eastern Europe.

4. Actually here's another thought - take on AC Milan that was just relegated and get them back to the top spot...

[Abe Sargent]

Here's something that’s pretty pointed – we would have won last year and have more points this year than Juve had last, nice! But we weren’t…dominant. Despite our league leading defense, and us scoring a lot of points overall, we had few blow outs. If we were the elephant powerhouse in the room, we would have had more dominating performances, but how many 1-0 wins did we have? We had few 3-0 or 4-0 wins like a dominant force of nature would have…

But I don’t know who I’d replace.

Here are my 1-0s – FIFTEEN! That’s pretty close. How many 2-1s? just three, showing how rare my offense did.

How many solid but not dominant 2-0s? Just five. How many 3-1s with a two goal difference just two.

How many three goal wins at 3-0 and 4-1 – two.

We just never dominated the league, even in a multi-game win.

[Abe Sargent]

18 call ups happen

Juve fired their coach and my name is being floated around in the media

I reject a 10 mill offer for Lirola

Mendez wants a new deal and I agree to offer it to him

I make him a new offer for our Target Man

We moved up 20 spots to #39.




Uh oh.

Man City sign for 57 mill Roma’s Pellegrini



Our youth are awesome!

Here are our awards:



As you can see, Politano, Mendez and Berardi are our top players from fans Ozil won goal of the season and Gautier is the signing of the year and Mendez is, again, the young player of the year.

Best Training of the Year:

Vincente, La Rosa, Arena, Burgzorg and Gautier

I hold my end of season meeting – let’s win this thing again!

[Abe Sargent]

Mendez signs a new deal through 2028, 47500/week a big increase in his 14k/week, key player,

With Sensi leaving (who I inherited) and Hermoso being sold since he wanted first team play, I need new 3 star subs at Mc/DMC and DC.

I begin to scout up some folks. Also Gautier only sits at 2.5 stars now, so I might want to bring in an AMC for a year or two to develop him. Burgzorg is ready to start with 3 stars and growing, and if my new DC could cover DL that would be great.

Who is coming free that might want to swing by us?

Whoa…I search for players and have I found my new GK? He’s backup over at AC Milan – 24 year old 99. Gianluigi Donnarumma. He looks much better than GK Karius. But….he’s worth 12 mill, and my transfer kitty is 30 mill for next year, but Milan might be looking to unload the books in order to free up cash and a backup GK could be it. He is showing up on “my interested in coming here” list. He looks amazing…

Here take a look see:



As you can see, he’s better than Karius, by two, at aeriel, by one at ball distribution, by 3 physically, by 3 mentally, by 4 in communication and they are tied at shot stopping. Karius is better at speed and that’s it. That feels like a big upgrade, but will he want to come here for the pay cut required. He’s showing up in my search though and he cost a lot of salary for Milan to trim plus the amount they’d get. I make an offer of 12.5 mill for him and they accept. They are clearly in a fire sale mode.

He's interested after I promise him key player

Time for negotiation – can we agree to a term?

We agree, now let’s see what happens.

Mendez’s 24 goals last year are the best in our team’s history.

Politano set the record for 10 MOM.

Karius’s 28 shut outs set that record

Racero won the U20 World Cup Golden Glove award

Now let’s look for DC/DL and MC/DM backups.

[Abe Sargent]

DC - 19. Niklas Süle wants 150 mill and starting;
31 year old 32. Joël Matip won’t take rotation
33 year old AC Milan’s 22. Mateo Musacchio? He;s already on rotation, but I feel like I want a younger player, as he is likely to drop.
34 year old Sevilla’s Steven N’Zoni would likely be just 2.5 stars
Ditto 33 year old Dutch Daley Blind

Hmmm, transfer listed?

Jonny is rotation over at PSG, but has a value of 30 mill
Robin Koch is 21 mill,

I’m already growing up La Rosa, so a wonderkid wouldn’t make sense here.

Mateo is probably the best. I make him a 45k rotation offer for two years but he doesn’t play DL.

I need a DL, I make an offer to 32 year old Faouzi Ghoulam who is French and plays for the Algerian national team with more than 100 caps. He’s on a backup deal with Chelsea so going to rotation with us should work. He wants first team, and I don’t want to get him here and then drop him to rotation and he gets pissed off.

Next? Wow that’s a big drop off in talent, like down to 2 stars at best…hmmm…. I do like Faouzi Ghoulam as a temporary starter in case of injury.

Anyone on DL that would make sense on transfer list that’s feasible in cost? Nope the cheapest is24 year old German 23. Gian-Luca Itter over at Dortmund for 8.5mill. Again, we don’t want a young guy here to develop since that is Burgzorg.

I have 1.85 mill in salary since we are supposed to win again to win next year, and we have that sweet Champions Cash and we made record gate receipts and finished flushed with cash last year, and I have Ozil’s 175k/week salary leaving, so I can do the 77k that Faouzi wants no problem.

Actually, on the final offer, he agrees to rotation, so he’ll be coming in for years.

That’s DC and DL. Now DM/DMC – how about 32 year old Thiago? He wants 90 mill, rotation, can play MC, AMC, DMC a bit, but he’s not great at it, I make him a two year offer.

That’s our stuff for now!

[Abe Sargent]

No AMC is coming free that I want to sign, who wants to come here, so we’ll wait as things could heat up, like they did with Ozil.

Ghoulam will join us

Thiago joins us, the Spanish international with 50+ caps

Mateo Musacchio agrees and will join us

I reject a job interview for Spanish club Real San Sebastien.




The big one. Hopefully he’ll really show up in Champion’s League play,

I reject a job offer from Valencia.

Mathis Laurent now counts as homegrown in our nation as does Farfan.

Arena is now homegrown in my club! That gives me 4 players in my normal squad that are homegrown here – Adajpong, Arena, Lirola and Berardi


June 30:

Ozil retires!

Three youngsters leave

We receive 40 mill in TV cash

We play Roma in the Super Cup on August 20th

Leaving are:

Clyne
Ozil
Sensi
Crisiteg


Many backups and hot prospects like 2 star Finessi

Good bye June!

[Abe Sargent]

July 1st

I set up friendlies with Milan and 4 Dutch teams

I register my new arrivals and backups and I have 2 spot open on my team.

Our four new additions are here:


Let’s start with the big one:



This is my new GK and he is a 4.5 star player, 1 full star better than 3.5 star Karius. He’s better at everything save for speed, and his acceleration is 10 and pace 12, but that’s fine This guy is a house and I am paying him Ozil money. He came through the AC Milan youth program, and he’s homegrown at Italy, and he’s just 24 and my coaches think he has 5 star potential. Welcome to the club!

I transfer list Karius and move him to GK



Here’s Musachhio, and I thought he was 3 but just 2.5, but his stats are pretty good. He is making 45 k for two years. He is Italian and Argentinian, and plays for Argentina, but he is not homegrown



Here is the 32 year old Thiago, 90k, two years rotation deal 3 stars, Spanish International with 59 caps. He’ll be my main sub for Vicente and AMC and if DMC Arena needs a sub I can swap Vicente although Thiago is accomplished at DMC would be fine in an emergency. He’s pretty fancy.



Algerian international Ghoulam is currently away, but I thought for sure he’d be a 3 star with those stats like cross and passing. Like Dickmann he can play other L side in an emergency so if we needed an AML for Politano not named Bongonda then we could move him in. He’s in a two year 77k/week deal. I move him to DL and want to give him some early starts.

[Abe Sargent]

Now…who is free that might want to come here?

The best is 33 year old German Toni Kroos who plays MC and DM. Arena last year with defensive playmaker role had an okay 7.04 rating. I could pull AMC and move Kroos into Vincente’s old role and start him next to him, just like I did when I moved MC to AMC for Ozil. He isn’t interested in coming here, just like Ozil, but he came a few days later. I’ll hold out.

That’s the only massive one free, the next best is Spanish AMC Dani Ceballos…let’s compare him to Gautier…well I don’t know him that well since he plays in Mexico right now. He’s willing to come here with a key player role. Gautier is only 2.5 right now, and my guess is that Dani would be 3.5. I make an offer to Dani.

What about non-EU players?

No changes.

I accept a loan offer for Crivelli again, and with them paying his wages




These are coming through. I make offers for Adjapong, and some youth. Politano has dropped to 3 stars and Mariano 2.5, but I do like him, so I might extend him, and Bogonda has never played that hot, but he’s never embarrassed me.

[Abe Sargent]

The 12.5 mill for my new GK is a new record beating last years 11 mill for Burgzorg

I accept an offer for a Testimonial with Paris SG for Alphonse Areola

Rubio was named in the U21 World Cup Dream Team

I confirm my season expectations

I accept offers for Karius

I get an offer of 60 mill for Vicente from Real Madrid… that’s serious money. He has a min release fee of 80 mill, so that’s pretty close. Vincente has been with me ever since my first year in Balmaz, and I’d like to keep him. But 60 mill is a lot of cash….

What do I do?

He was just 7.05 last year at MC, do I think I can get a better rating than that?

Dang…60 mill. I say no, he has a min release fee, but that’s pretty tasty. He’s my guy though!

No push back, he’s my guy!

I reject an offer for Lirola, but if he is as yellow card friendly this year as he was last I’ll move on from him

ST Cappa my 3rd ST with Crivelli on loan at backup is homegrown here and he resigned.

Now a 66 mill offer for Vicente. Again, I tell them it’s not enough cash.

This time Vincente wants a new deal. Okay buddy!

AMC Ceballos signs with us!




Here he is for two years, and we can move into rotation next year if Gautier is ready. He’s a 3.5 star rating, which is fine for now. I add him to my AMC now. I give him the Advanced Playmaker role.

[Abe Sargent]

Everyone arrives back from the off season

I welcome them back, let’s win Serie A again!

Rubio want a new deal and I agree and I make him an offer.

Adjapong signs

Friendly #1 – Home vs AZ – We…win 1-0

We sell Karius to the Wolves for 5 mill. Mendez is sad to see his buddy leave.

Vicente signs his new deal! 70k/ which increases his salary by 30k, until 2028. No minrelease clause

Rubio signs! His new deal is 75k/week, until 2028 – no release clause either – he was still on the 50k he started with when he signed,.

Friendly #2 – Home vs Feyenoord – we win 2-0 and MOM is Politano

Friendly #3 – Home vs Ajax – Will we win 4-0 like earlier? Almost! How about 4-1, MOM is Mendez?

Friendly #4 – Home vs PSV – We win 1-0, MOM is Rubio



Good bye July