(FM13) Bringing the A-T-L to the APL? (Alt America)

[SirFozzie]

(Note: This is a test game of my American Premier League edit file for FM13, available in the FM13 thread. I've run a decade into the future, and the game sees stable, so I'm going to see how it plays as a manager. Just a heads up on the league format:

Divisions
American Premier League (20 teams, 19 MLS Teams + NASL Champion Tampa Bay)
American First Division (20 teams from USL Pro, NASL)
American Challenge Division (24 teams from PDL)
American Wonders Division (20 Academy teams and 4 PDL teams)

Cup:
US Open Cup: 88 Team knockout, the Challenge and Wonders divsion play in the first round, 24 winners join the first division and the APL in the second round)
US Super Cup: Preseason Super Cup between APL and USOC winners)

The Atlanta Silverbacks have had a bit of a yoyo decade.

They were invited into the American First Division of the newly revamped American Soccer Pyramid in 2012.

They spent three years from 2012-2014 in mid table anonymity (10th, 6th, 14th) before winning promotion to the American Premier League in 2015, by finishing second in the First Division. However, it wasn't happy times, as they barely avoided relegation the first year (15th), and suffered direct relegation back to the first division in 2017 by finishing 19th.

They had a decent first year back in the first division, missing out on immediate repromotion by finishing 6th, but in 2019 they won the first division, and made it back to the APL.

However, it was a re-run of their previous trip to the top division of American Football, as they finished 14th in 2020, and then dead last 20th in 2021, falling back through the trap door to the First division.

They looked to be running a familiar pattern in 2022, 4th place, which was good, but not good enough (only the top 3 get promoted), but in 2023, the year they were predicted to win the league and make it back to the top division, they stumbled badly, and with two games left in the regular season, it looks like they are goiing to be finishing in mid table obscurity at 10th.

At that point, the management of the Silverbacks had had enough. They managed to hire Alex Donovan, a former American international, and set the goal of restoring the Silverbacks to prosperity, and a permanent stay in the APL!

[SirFozzie]

Looking over the squad, a LOT of changes have to be made in the off season. Morale's in the dumpster.

We manage to split the two remaining games on the year, losing to the GPS Portland Phoenix 4-1, but beating already relegated FC Dallas Jrs 3-0 to finish the season in 10th.

Now its time to start headhunting players for next year...

[SirFozzie]

We make a few signings, and the board is happy that we're improving: The goal this year is promotion. They're willing to offer a budget of $5.5 Million for salary and $11.5 million in transfer funds.

[SirFozzie]

2024 Atlanta Silverbacks Team Report

Note: All players American unless otherwise noted

Goalies:

Miguel Shaffer (31 years old, 3.5 stars, Value $375K)
Jorge Santibaez (MEX) (23, 2 stars, 4.5 star Potential, Value $110K)
Mario Santacruz (27, 1.5 Stars, Value $4.5K)
Daniel Williams (31, 1 Star, Value $1K)

Not a bad group. Santibaez was a late season pickup for me after taking control. Shaffer still has 3 years left on his contract, but Santibaez could push him for future years. Santibaez will probably get 10-15 starts, plus any cup games. Santacruz and Williams will be battling for the third GK spot, which they're pretty decent for, but the loser of the battle will at least be in the reserves, and probably be shipped out on loan or transfer.

[SirFozzie]

Defenders

Fullbacks

D-R David Maccarone (ITA) (21, 2 stars, 3 star Potential, Value $130K)
D-R James Glazer (21, 2 stars, 4 star potentail, Value $150K)
D-L Ricardo Hernandez (MEX), (19, 1 star, 4 star potential, Value $5K)
D-R/L Chris Halam (20, 1 star, 3.5 Star Potential, Value $3.5K)
D-R Martin Laughlin (19, 1 Star, 4 Star Potential, Value $--)
D-L Jesus Guzman (24, 1 star, 2 Star Potential, Value $--)

Obviously, the Left side is a big concern. I'd like to buy some veterans to tutor these kids to fufilling their potential

Central Defenders
Todd Calderon (22, 2 Stars, 3.5 Potential, $450K Value)
Nicky Foy (31, 2.5 Stars, $240K Value)
Peter Medina (32, 2.5 stars, $190K Value)
Nick Morris (24, 2 Stars, 3 Star Potential, $140K value)
Lee Ji-Min (KOR) (25, 2 Stars, $110K Value)
Shea Clements (20, 1 Star, 3.5 Potential, $40K Value)

Pretty decent group, although the top three players are defense only, (listed as "Limited Defenders). Ji-Min is a new signing and hopefully will give us pretty good depth.

Midfielders

D-R/WB-R/M-R/AM-R Mario Panadic (CAN) (31, 4 Stars, 4.5 Star Potential, $1.1 Million Value)
M/AM R, M L Joaquin Gonzalez (31, 2 Stars, $650K Value)
M LC, AM C Juan Carlos (PUE) (24, 4 Stars, $525K Value)
M/DM C Narcisse Priso (CMR) (26, 2.5 Stars, $375K Value)
AM L/R ST Leon Phillips (TNT) (22, 3 Stars, 3.5 Potential, $300K)
AM L/R ST Vladimir Nikitenko (RUS) 21, 2 Stars, 2.5 Potential, $300K)
DM/M C Tanei Tenno (EST) (19, 2 Stars, 4.5 Potential, $180K)
M C/R Daniel Maciel (31, 3.5 Stars, $110K)
M/AM L Christian Beyan (LBR) (23, 1.5 Stars, 3 Star Potential $100K)
M C Jonathan Allen (24, 1 Star, 2 Star Potential, $60K)
M/AM R Mantas Galkauskas (LTH) (20, 1.5 Stars, 4.5 Star Potential, $50K Value)
DM/M C Kevin Brockman (22, 2 Stars, 2.5 Star Potential, $12K)
AM/ST C Rob Chabrand (30, 2 Stars, $9K)
M/AM R, AM L Mario Cook (24, 3.5 Stars, $4K)

Not a bad group, pretty heavy depth wise, (Galkuskas, Priso, Phillips, and Nikitenko were all brought in late last season or in the offseason). I'm likely going to be playing a 4-5-1 with two central midfielders and three AM, so I like this setup.

[SirFozzie]

Strikers

AM L/R ST Emanuel Frimpong (GHA) (26, 4 Stars, $575K value)
AM L/R ST Greg Civroski (CAN) (24, 4 Stars, $375K Value)

Combined with Chabrand, Phillips, and Nikitenko, we have a lot of offensive firepower up front. Nice to have tactical flexibility too.

[SirFozzie]

Well, in preseason, we go from little depth to no depth at the left side full back position, as Jesus Guzman goes down with shin splints, and requires six weeks out. So, we bring in two defenders on loan.

D L Andrew McDonald (From Columbus) (31, 1 star)
D L Luke Kramer (From Philadelphia) (20, 1.5 stars, 4 Star Potential)

[SirFozzie]

We win our two preseason friendlies, while continuing to scour the transfer market (considering the team just paid $6 million to re-lay the artificial turf, we're not confident we wouldn't bankrupt the team if we spent all our money, plus the team is spending to improve their youth facilities, so.. yeah...)

We'll open the season against the Rochester Rhinos, who are up from the Challenge League last year.

[SirFozzie]

Atlanta Silverbacks, American First Division, Game 1, vs Rochester Rhinos

We start off in our 4-5-1 (or a 4-2-3-1 to be more accurate). Talk about a quick start, Phillips scores for us in the fourth minute. Unfortunately, they tie it up three minutes later. Is it going to be that kind of year?

Phillips scores twice more in the first half, and we take a comfortable 3-1 lead into the break, despite being edged out on possession

A first half hat trick for Phillips, and we look very incisive on attack, just our defense looks worrying.

They cut the lead to 3-2 early in the second half, and I'm just hoping we can hold on, as Rochester has a slight majority in possession (55%), but we manage to pull things out, as Emanuel Frimpong scores two goals on crosses 4 minutes apart (74,77) to give us a 5-2 lead.


Goals: Phillips (9.5) 3, Frimpong (9.0) 2
Assists: Frimpong (9.0) 2, Villegas (8.4) 3

Att: 4,863 (of 5,000 capacity)

[SirFozzie]

We got torched repeatedly on the left side of defense, so it's obvious the loanees may be overmatched. We find a player on the market, and it takes some tough bargaining, but we manage to bring him in:

D RLC Matthew Knox (From Los Angeles Blues (Challenge Division/3rd Divsion for $325K)

23 years old, $190K value, 2 stars rated, 3.5 Star Potential

[SirFozzie]

We get our US Open Cup marching orders, we'll be traveling out to fellow first division side Orlando City

American First Division, Game 2, at Kitsap Pumas

Well, considering the two teams had a 5-2 game and 5-3 game previously, obviously, the game was going to be a goal fest. Except it wasn't. Boring, drab, dull as dishwater, you can use all three terms.

They apparently were happy to play a bore nil-nil draw, and so were we. Knox was barely above average for his debut, but that was enough to get him Man of the Match award.. a bit of nothing, as they say

Goals: None
Assists: None

Attendance: 1,681 (of 6,000 capacity)

[Young Drachma]

I'm on the fence about whether to buy now or wait. Your dynasty will help me decide. NO PRESSURE.

[SirFozzie]

Heh! More coming tonight, after the insanity that is 25 people at the thanksgiving dinner table

[SirFozzie]

Game 3, vs FC Edmonton

We go back to our game one setup as Phillips is up front and Frimpong on the wing.. but the good news is we didn't need either of them to go up 1-0 in the 8th minute, as Greg Cirovski gets the ball just outside the box, and puts a shot perfectly so it bounces off the underside of the bar and in. Simply a great shot. We take a 1-0 lead to halftime.

We double the lead in the first minute of the second half, as Phillips dispossesses a FC Edmonton defender, and crosses the ball where a sliding Villegas redirects it in to the goal for a 2-0 Silverback lead.

Our offense stutters the rest of the way (we are outshot 7-4 in the game), but we manage to keep a clean sheet, and win 2-0.

Goals: Cirovski (7.6), Villegas (7.7)
Assists: Phillips 2 (7.6)

Att:4,645

[SirFozzie]

Frimpong is injured before our next game. He'll miss three weeks or so.

Game 4, @ Orlando City

Cirovski comes off with a knock in the 11th minute, so with two of our starting attacking midfielders out, this will be a test of our depth. We take the lead in the 28th minute, as a shorter corner comes to Knox, with a defender on his back, but he turns and is able to squirt it under the Orlando keeper to give us a 1-0 lead.

With just seconds left in the half, a shot from Panadic thuds off the goalpost, the ball rebounds to Villegas, who is taken down by an Orlando defender, and it's a PK! Brockman easily beats the goalie with the PK, and it's 2-0 at halftime...

10 minutes into the second half, Phillips finishes oiff a counter attack and it's 3-0.

With a halfhour left, it becomes four, as a corner kick is only cleared out to Panadic and he puts it home from the 18 yard box.

Four becomes five as Panadic makes it two with twenty minutes to play, taking a beautiful chipped over the top pass in stride and slams one from twenty five yards away off the inside of the left post, and in. Five shots on goal for the Silverbacks, five goals for the Silverbacks.

They score with fifteen minutes to play when there's a breakway, and Shaffer makes the save, but the ball bounces off Medina and into our own goal. 5-1.

That's the final.

Goals: Knox (8.5), Brockman (8.4), Panadic 2 (9.5), Phillips (8.1)
Assists: Maciel (8.1), Brockman, Panadic, Villegas 2 (9.0)

Att:5,502.

A big win on the road.

[SirFozzie]

The win puts us top of the league, although it's early times, with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses, 12 goals for, 3 against, tied with three other teams with 10 points.

Game 5, vs Columbus Crew

The Crew come in just outside the promotion places. They've been a yoyo team, falling to the first division in 2016, making it back two seasons later, and then were relegated in 2020, Promoted in 2021, and relegated in 2022. Last year they were 8th.

Knox is injured fairly early on, but he'll be ok to continue at least until halftime. In the 24th minute we have a great chance, as Villegas steps in front of an attacking pass by the Crew, and launches an immediate counter, and Panadic launches just wide of net.

Panadic has two cracks at opening the scoring six minutes later, but the Crew keeper gets down well to block the first shot, and the second one blasts off a crew player and wide for a corner. The corner is hit short to Panadic, who chips it over a Crew defender to Knox, but his header bounces across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

No score at the half.

It's a game where we have a lot of the possession, but we're not doing anything with it. It seems that when Phillips is at Striker, we have a good time of it, but when he's out on the wing, we do a lot of pretty passing, but not much offensively.

Thge team is frustrated. I'm frustrated. We're throwing people forward for a game winner, and as things often go, that frustration turns to anger when Columbus launches an attack, and poor marking on a cross leads to a simple tap in by the Crew's Pierfrancesco Ferraresi with five minutes to play.

Just a frustrating loss.

Goals: none
Assists: None

Attendance:4,889

[SirFozzie]

MacDonald realizes he's not going to get much playing time here and requests to terminate his loan. I agree.

Also in frustrating news, Joaquin Gonzalez, upset about the lack of playing time, elects to miss a training session. I fine him two weeks wages, and he gets placed on the transfer list as well.

[SirFozzie]

Six teams make $150K bids for Gonzalez, so he'll be on the move soon. Knox has a bruised rib, and won't quite be at full fitness for our next game, so he'll have a game off. Cirovski's back for this one, however.

Game 6, At Harrisburg City Islanders

I swear, this offense is schizophrenic. Even with Phillips back up front, we're not doing anything of note really. Either we have an offenswive explosion or an fofensive implosion. Panadic has the best chance of the first half when he tries to squeeze one in from a tight angle near post with two minutes to go in the half, but the goalie knocks it past the post for a corner.

With twenty minutes to play, a long ball for Harrisburg is headed off the post, and I'm dreading what will probably be a scoreless draw at best, and a loss at worst. I'm making changes hoping someone, anyone can give this team an offensive spark.

Sadly, it's not to be, and it's our second nil-nil draw of the year.

Goals: None
Assists: None

Attendance: 3,623 (4,000 capacity)

[SirFozzie]

Frimpong may be available for us in the USOC match against Orlando City. We get asked about the rumors that Rochester Rhinos, who were relegated from the APL to the first division at the end of last season, are looking at firing manager Conor Shanosky, who has only managed one win and one draw in six games so far this year. Unfortunately, for a team that was supposed to be good, you come out slow, questions have to be asked.

Gonzalez accepts a contract from FC Edmonton, so he's gone.

US Open Cup 2nd Round, At Orlando City

Well, Orlando City was pretty conclusively embarrassed in our last game against them, and they're obviously hoping to end our US Open Cup run before it starts. Maciel takes a knock early on, and while he says he can continue, it's fairly obvious he has no fitness to continue.

They take the lead in the 16th minute, as Orlando's Jim O'Brien heads home a cross.

It's 1-0 at the half, and as the minutes tick away, I'm beginning to get very frustrated with our offense. Even with the semi-rotated squad, I'm finding it hard to believe that one game we can score five against this team, and the next time barely get any shots off at net.

We manage to tie it up with fifteen minutes to play, but it's not a thing of beauty, instead it's one of those crosses, that ends up with a lot of kicking legs and the ball bouncing wildly, where it eventually falls to Phillips, who puts it in the net. 1-1.

That's the score at the 90 minute mark, and we'll play extra time.

Ten minutes into the extra session, Cook has a great chance to give us the lead as a great through ball from Panadic springs him, but the alert Orlando keeper comes rushing out and knocks down the shot. That's the best chance of either team in extra time, and it's off to the lottery of a penalty shootout.

Priso.. misses for Atlanta right off the bat.They score, and Nikitenko's penalty is saved. We trade goals, and then Cook blazes our fourth PK over the bar.. Pitiful. One out of four PK's.

Orlando 1-1 Atlanta (Orlando wins 3-1 on penalties)

Goals: Phillips (7.3)
Assists: None

Attendance: 2,431

[SirFozzie]

Game 7, vs Carolina

The Railhawks come in with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. one point behind us. They're completely average, scoring 8, allowing 8. Hopefully our offense wakes up in this game, we've scored once in the last 270=plus minutes.

And we do score, after a bit of a fluke, as a deflected cross comes out to Rob Chabrand and his shot from just inside the 18 blasts into the net, and just three minutes in, the Silverbacks lead.


They nearly score two minutes later, but Shaffer gets down nearpost to block a shot that would have gone in..again two minutes later, Shaffer makes a reflex save that keeps us in the lead.


22 minuters in, our lead doubles, as Frimpong beats the Railhawk keeper from distance with a curling shot that was from 25 yards out.

We give one back six minutes before half as Medina screws up on defense, turning over the ball in our own box, and Carolina pounce on the freebie and score. (Really a match engine glitch, but it's the first one I've seen.)

Eleven minutes into the second half, poor marking allows a Carolina Railhawk player free reign to one time it, and Shaffer has no chance. 2-2.

Cook hits a wormburner from thirty yards out that gets parried wide by the keeper, but it's still 2-2 with less than a half hour to play.

With five minutes to play, our defense fails to mark on a pass again, and a Railhawk goal consigns us to defeat.

Losing a game when you're up two at home is unacceptable, and I tell my team exactly that.

Goals: Chabrand (7.3), Frimpong (7.2)
Assists: Panadic (6.8), Phillips (6.9)

Attendance: 3,900

[SirFozzie]

Game 8, @ Montreal Impact Academy

The Academy are in last place in the First Division. This is probably to be expected, as they are an academy side who can only play 15-23 year old players. Considering they've made it up to the First Division from the Wonders division, it's a great feat, but in all honesty, we should be murderboating this theam.

We take the lead early on 12 minutes, as Panadic puts home a cross to give the Silverbacks the lead. Phillips makes it two a few minutes before halftime with a nice shot. We go into the break up 2-0, but then again, we were up 2-0 last game, and that didn't turn out so well, did it?

ANd that spidey sense of possible incoming doom only increases, as poor marking on a long free kick leads to a goal for the Impact Academy side, and with fifteen minutes to play, it's 2-1.

We hopefully soothe things out, as a freak goal for us happens, Villegas tries to put in a long free kick from near halfway, and every one congregates around the six yard box, but a freak gust of wind hangs the ball up for an extra split second, and as the Goalkeeper jumps back despairingly it ticks the underside of the bar and in. The two goal cushion restored.

However, the Silverbacks don't do eay, as just entering stoppage time, we give up a second, and Shaffer is at least partially at fault as he was rooted to the spot and the shot went right by him.

But thankfully, we add a fourth with the last kick of the game (Phillips on a breakaway thanks to the Impact Academy throwing everyone forward), and we win 4-2

Goals: Phillips 2 (8.8), Panadic (8.2), Villegas (7.4)
Assists: Kramer (8.0), Panadic, Priso (8.5)

Attendance: 1000 (sellout)

[SirFozzie]

The win puts us back up to fourth, just one spot outside the promotion spots.. but our defense is still worrying, so much so that I'm continuing to scour the transfer market for better options as we get close to the May 1st transfer deadline.

We agree to a mutual contract termination with Jonathan Allen. He wasn't getting any playing time with our midfield setup and we save money on the contract termination.

We do sign a couple of youngsters for the future. Since they're youngsters from academy sides, we do not need to give a transfer fee:

D RC/DM Manuel Hernandez (Free Transfer from Dynamo Academy) 14 years old, but already grades out as 1.5 stars, and a five star potential

D C Carlo Thompson (CAN) (Free Transfer from Whitecaps Academy) 16 years old, 1.5 stars, 4.5 star potential

Hernandez is loaned out to the Minnesota Stars to get some training.

We also manage the following signings before the window closes:

D C Matt Bravo (On Loan from Portland) (31, 3 stars)
D C Albert Acevedo (Free Transfer from Irapuato in Mexico, will join on July first when his contract expires) (22, 3.5 stars)
D RL Keith Smith (50K from Seattle) (30, 3 stars)


Game 9 vs Dayton Dutch Lions (16th, 1-4-3)

Dayton may have only one win so far on the year, but four draws means they've gotten at least a point from a majority of their games so far.

We go down in the fifteenth minute, as we dispossess a Dutch Lions attacker with a slide tackle, but the ball squeezes free and Dayton's Honduran striker Carlos Gomez pounces on the ball and goes one on one with Shaffer and puts the ball past Shaffer.

Gomez scores again fifteen minutes after his first, so we're down 2-0 a half hour in.

It's 2-0 and unfortunately, one more goal is given up with five mintues to play in the game. 3-0 is the final, and I can't believe we played so flat.