The best football game on the planet doesn't have its own sub-forum or dedicated thread. It's time to change that.
To get the ball rolling, let's hear some managerial stories. Who are you with, how are you doing, what players have you signed, etc.?
I am managing Arsenal. I usually start with a top-tier team just so I will be able to fully explore all the new features, and then I switch to a lower-division team and try and bring them to top-flight glory.
This year that didn't happen, thanks to Manchester United.
Throughout my first season, I was battling Manchester United for everything. They first eliminated me in the Carling Cup Semis (then they lost to Portsmouth in the finals), but since I could care less about that tournament, it was no big deal. Until I lost to them in the Champions League Semis. Thanks to Barcelona, Man Utd. didn't win that competition either.
Then came the league. Heading into the last game, we were both tied in points, but I had a three goal lead in goal-differential. I won 1-0, and I felt really confident. Surely I had just won the league, as there was no way in hell United were going to- THEY WON 5-0???!!! That's right. Tied on points for the Premier League lead, but in second place by one goal in goal-differential.
To make matters worse, the board was lowballing me, offering terrible contract after terrible contract. My players were vouching for me, as new signing Ribery in particular told the press he believed Arsenal should pay up and sign me. But the board wanted trophies, and I had so far delivered none. The only thing standing between me and trophy glory was....you guessed it, Manchester United. On to the FA Cup.
Up 1-nil in stoppage time, with the five minutes given by the refs already up. Ronaldo, with the ball deep in my half, dribbles past Gallas easily, moves into the box, and nets one far post. Crap. Now it's deep into the second extra time's stoppage-time. Second-half sub Vela (replacing Van Persie who's match rating was a 5.2) beat out Ferdinand to a long-ball and was one-on-one with the keeper. Unfortunately a miracle save denied Vela the goal, but set up a corner, where new signing Pirlo swung it in far post to Adebayor who was waiting to head it in. GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!
After winning the FA Cup, the board paid-up, but I was only signed, once-again, to a one-year deal.
Flash forward to year two. New signings Arshavin, Sergio Asenjo (an incredibly high-potential GK), and Micah Richards had me breezing through the CL group stages, advancing easily in the FA Cup (it's fun watching your B team destroy championship sides), and eking out a two-point domestic league lead over...Manchester United.
So it should be no shock that in the Carling Cup Final (the last game I played), I was matched with the hated United. I hate them more than Tottenham now, because Tottenham just plain suck and got relegated. In fact, while last year I didn't care about the Carling Cup, now I do, because I want to kick United into the ground. Here is the lineup I've been trotting out:
Code:
Ade Van Persie
^
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Nasri ^
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^ Fabregas Ribery
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Pirlo
^ ^
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Clichy Toure Richards Sagna
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| |
\/ \/
Asenjo
EDIT: Those are supposed to be forward-arrows for Ribery and Sagna.
So Fabregas is injured, and that means normally Denilson would play CM. Problem is, he's injured too. So Nasri becomes my CM, with Arshavin subbing in at Nasri's usual spot.. Second problem is, United score three unanswered goals in the first half, are dominating possession, and I think it's over. I'm trying to justify the loss to myself, saying, "Well, Carling Cup isn't important anyway." But the board is going to be extremely upset at the loss, and the squad harmony that has helped the team a ton may go down the toilet. I switch a more direct approach, bringing in Walcott and Vela for Van Persie and Ade. My assistant says that both are playing with a total lack of confidence, both ratings at the end of the half 5.0. I also start counter-attacking to try capitalize off all the Man. Utd. Pressure.
And it doesn't work. The attacking has been better, I've been gaining more possession, but I'm still down 3-0 entering the 80th minute, when a direct pass from Sagna on the counter finds Walcott streaking unopposed in the box for an easy goal. At this point I'm on all-out attack, desperate, but without hope. Until Vela puts one in off a Pirlo corner in the 89th minute. Now I'm thinking, "there is no way this is happening. I won't score again. The players are just teasing me." But in the waning seconds of stoppage time, Vela scores from 35 yards on a goal that has to be goal of the year. TIE GAME!!!!!
Fast-forward to the first extra-time period, where Rooney scores on a bogus PK call. At least I think it's bogus, because Richards is absolutely furious. We head to the second extra-time period, down one. I can't believe the team is going to squander a miracle comeback. Arshavin is exhausted, so I move Vela back to LAM, and sub in Bendtner at striker. Bendtner is supposed to be good at headers, and just seconds after I put him in he heads a Nasri cross into the net. TIE GAME AGAIN!!!! One minute later, Vela nets the hat-trick on a beautiful counter attack that resulted in a two-on-one and Walcott drawing the defender, then passing to Vela for the easy shot. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It should be no surprise that from there on out I went into the bunker. The strategy paid off, I won the game and the Carling Cup with two miracle comebacks, and the board and fans were delighted. What a game!
I haven't gone past that point yet, but I'm still alive in every other competition, and I hope I do well enough that I'll get offered a gig with a high-profile national team. Because thus far it's been Paraguay and Chile.
So, what's going on your career?
05-06-2009, 04:32 PM
