Season 10b – Cibalia, 1.HNL, Croatia
Media Prediction: 14th from 16
Board Expectations: Avoid Relegation
League Position (taking over)14th (16)
P:21 | W:3 | D:9 | L:9 | F:21 | A:34 | Pts:18
With 9 matches remaining I had a tough task ahead of me, but there were some positive signs. My new AssMan thought we had a very strong defence, so that could be a platform for me to build on.
It wasn’t to be, sadly, and we were relegated. If I can hold on to my star players, we should be able to bounce straight back…
League Position – 14th (16)
P:30 | W:6 | D:12 | L:12 | F:32 | A:45 | Pts:30
Season 11 – Cibalia, 2.HNL, Croatia
Media Prediction: 2nd from 14
Board Expectations: Promotion
My scouts didn’t uncover any gems to improve the squad, but after I managed to keep hold of all of my squad except for one fringe defender I wasn’t too disappointed and went into the season with high hopes.
These hopes were not misplaced, and after we went through the first 6 league matches without conceding we shot to the top of the pile. A draw proved to be merely a blip as we entered the winter break 6 points clear at the top.
After the winter break we hit another gear, and successive wins of 5-0, 2-1, 7-0 and 5-0 put us a massive 13 points clear with 9 to play. We clinched promotion and the title with a 2-0 win against second placed Sesvete with 5 matches still remaining.
Our form did dip after the promotion was confirmed, which disappointed me as we had a 100% home record that we gave up tamely when the players relaxed. 1 star midfielder is confirmed as leaving in the summer, so I will need to try and replace him, but in general I think we have enough to stay up next season.
League Position – 1st (14)
P:26 | W:19 | D:5 | L:2 | F:61 | A:14 | Pts:62
Just been offered the managers job at Defensor Sport in Uruguay. They’ve offered me a £5.25m transfer budget and £79kpw wage budget, but asked me to take a £600pw pay cut.
They have just won the Uruguayan league, despite finishing 3rd in the closing stage and finished 4th in the mini tournament they have at the end of their season.
Decisions, decisions.
Season 12 – Defensor Sporting Club, Primera División, Uruguay.
Media Prediction: 2nd from 16
Board Expectations: Challenge for the title
The Defensor squad was pretty decent when I took over, but with a few players already set to leave when the transfer window and a few of the other players on the other side of 30, there looked to be a long term rebuilding project.
I left the squad as it was for the opening stage, and we won it by 2 points from Nacional. During this half of the season we also reached the semi final of the Copa Sudamericana, where we lost out to Gremio of Brazil.
January came and I bought in a few young players with big potential, and decided to chuck them straight into the starting lineup. The inexperience hindered us a little, and despite only losing once in the closing stage we finished second because we drew too many matches.
The end of season play-offs saw us beat Nacional in the regular play-off, but lose to them in the Champions Play-off. Hopefully the board will keep me on to regain the trophy next season.
In other news, we managed to qualify from our Copa Libertadores group, before being knocked out in the second round by Tigres of Mexico.
League Position – 2nd (16)
P:30 | W:21 | D:6 | L:3 | F:62 | A:21 | Pts:69
After the season finishes there is a little round robin competition between the top 6 teams of the Primera Division de Uruguay. From what I understand this tournament determines the continental competition qualifiers for the next season.
We had problems in this though, as the long, long season took it’s toll and we were missing at least 7 first teamers for most of it.
League Position – 5th (6)
P:5 | W:2 | D:1 | L:2 | F:8 | A:9 | Pts:7
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