retired_finney2007

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you now that I have not given up on ths challenge, just after my llast post on this challene my laptop broke and I still have not been able to fix it. It will take a while until it gets fixed so I wont be able to play for a while, although I dont think that I lost to much of my save and the prblem is with the screen so hopefully I can still carry on my Interporto game.

I probably wont be able to post on the forums until my laptop gets fixed either because I cant access them at work, but I will be back!!

Good luck to everyone doing this and see you soon!

aivanv

The Shaman - Luziania look like they might be a club with real potential - best of luck, and I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on!

corinthiano - Sorry to hear about your laptop! Hopefully it's not too expensive to fix - laptop screens can be pretty pricey, so I've heard. Looking forward to having you back in the challenge!


Zacatepec - Mexican First Division A Opening Stage - 2009/10 (Season 2)

Well, we'd been to the Champions Playoffs at both opportunities last season, so expectations were relatively high this season - at least, the fans and myself were hoping for at least the Champions Playoffs again this time round, although the board were offering me a little more leeway with the expectation of a respectable league position.

We'd strengthened the squad in pre-season, even signing people for actual money, with a 21 year old Costa Rican international midfielder unearthed by my scouts, Manfred Russell, arriving for £50k, and Argentinian U-21 defender Ezequiel Munoz signing from First Division side Pachuca for £80k.

We started the season in excellent form, and were unbeaten in our first eight games, which set us on course for a real challenge for the top spot in both our group and the league overall. Eventually, we had to make do with 2nd place in both the overall league and our group as Puebla, who we had beaten earlier in the season, came top in both.

But final league/group positions are not necessarily that important in Mexico, as the top four in each group play each other to decide who will be the champions. This season's Opening stage Champions Playoff saw us face Academicos, who had knocked us out of the Champions Playoff in the Opening Stage of last season, and had reached the Champions Playoff final in both the Opening and Closing Stage last season. This time, we overcame a 2-1 defeat in the home leg to snatch a convincing 3-0 win in the second leg and make it through to the semi-final for the first time since I took charge. In the semis, we faced Mexiquense, and we managed to snatch a one goal lead in both legs, 1-0 at home and 2-1 away, to ease into the final.

The first leg of the final saw us face Puebla, who came top of the league but who we had beaten earlier in the season, and we snatched a 2-1 win at home thanks to two goals from Oliver Calvo, who had continued his good form from last season. The second leg was a tense affair, as we took the lead twice in the first half, and twice attempted to sabotage ourselves, giving away a penalty and conceding an own goal to send us in level at the break and defending a narrow one goal lead on aggregate. But when we took the lead again by means of a penalty in the second half, their fight back was finally finished, and we scored two more as they strived to find yet another equaliser, meaning that we were champions by the rather flattering aggregate score of 7-3.

Champions of the Opening Stage is a fantastic result, but we've still got a lot of work on our plate to make it to the top division, as the winners of the Opening and Closing stages face off for the single promotion place.

aivanv

Zacatepec - Mexican First Division A Closing Stage - 2009/10 (Season 2)

Overview

Having secured a place in the Promotion Playoff by winning the Champions Playoff in the Opening Stage of the season, we aimed to make that promotion playoff unnecessary by winning the Closing Stage too (the Opening and Closing Stage champions playoff for a place in the top division - if the same team wins both, they are automatically promoted). Despite pretty much walking the league stage of the season, we crashed out in the Champions Playoff quarter-finals, but managed to defeat Lobos BUAP in the Promotion Playoff to earn ourselves a place in the Mexican First Division next season.

Signings

Just one player signed in the short winter break between the Opening and Closing Stages, as free transfer goalkeeper Pedro Hernandez signed up for a three year contract. Initially expected to be backup to my regular keeper Carlos Velazquez, Hernandez snatched a place in the first team when Velazquez was injured and refused to let it go.

Season Report

After the joys of the Opening Stage, we carried our great form into the Closing Stage - losing just one of our first fifteen games (ironically, to Lobos BUAP, who we would beat in the Promotion Playoff). Since there are only 17 games in each stage of the First Division A, with a record like that we were clearly guaranteed a place in the Champions Playoff, despite losing our last two games of the regular season. In fact, it was good enough to put us top of the overall league table, and easily top of our group .

Star Players
Guillermo Rojas - The former Mexican U-21 international left winger had a great season marauding down the flank, snatching 12 goals and a 7.21 average rating.
Carlos Casillas - The young defensive midfielder really came into his own anchoring my attacking 4-1-1-3-1 formation, with a maturity and confidence that showed how much he'd blossomed since an inconsistent first season at the club in 2008/09.
Antonio Sanchez - Yet to kick a ball for the club at senior level, this 17 year old striker is still one of the most exciting prospects at the club, thanks to my assistant's proclamation that he could be one of the best players of his generation. Looking to ease him into the side gradually this season in the hope of helping him to progress towards that potential (and also looking to ward of the circling sharks who want to take him away from us).

Next season...

Survival is obviously the priority. I've been a little disappointed with the lack of quality that my scouts have discovered during the close season, and while a £1.4m budget is quite generous, I've yet to find many players I feel are worth blowing the cash on. Given that the U-23 rules in Mexico mean you need a constant supply of fresh young players to bring into the team to make sure you have the requisite amount of youngsters, this is of some concern. Hopefully we can stay in the division this season, find some better scouts and some good young players to build for the future. :thup:

retired_jlynn

Who this sounds very very interesting for me. I´m big fan of southamerican football too, and will participate here. Now I have some other saves to continue, but very soon will start.. In Chile So we will have also news from the chilean unkonown clubs very very soon

retired_hraymond

Luziania - 2010

So, it's actually been quite awhile since my last update. The 2010 season was quite the disjointed one, not necessarily through any events in the game universe, only because of a long interruption due to a real life vacation.

As far as the (irrelevant, though interesting) Brasiliense State Championship goes, the results were pleasing. Granted, the competition wasn't the best with only one side as high as ND2 and a few that didn't play in the league at all. The third place finish was nice however, and apparently has secured us a spot in next season's Brazilian Cup which will provide another opportunity for competitive games.

Leaguewise, the first phase was a bit of a nailbiter, with five of the eight squads within a point of that coveted second spot. I did manage to grab it despite only managing a 1-1 draw with rival Americano on the last day. The second tiebreaker (goal differential, games won is the first) saw me through to the next phase.

The second phase was not nearly as nice, only managing one win out of six and finishing dead last in my group. One thing you'll learn about playing at the bottom levels in Brazil is that it's not just about being good. With only six games in this phase, you can't afford a cold streak or even an off night no matter how good you are. Of course, on the flip side, a mediocre side like my own could catch fire at the right time and make a run.

Only two signings during the season...

Marquinhos came in late on a free. An older player who I hoped would be influential in the midfield, with a wage bill that's a bit too high I'm not sure that he'll be back for another year....

and Carlos Eduardo who was a nice value on my back line after coming from second division America (RN) on a free.

All in all I can't be disappointed with the competitive level I played at for the season. The board and fans both seem pleased with the one exception being my money management. The board is "distraught and devastated" with the -$850K balance. I hope this doesn't lead to my demise here, I'll be looking to sell during the offseason, but can't imagine I have quite that much value to give up. We'll see what happens.