retired_pavallejo2000

Here I am in the midst of what I think is a mildly successful first year at the helm of Irony Rishon Lezion, http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/489/tablewa9.png]6th out of 12 with 9 matches to go and it looks like I might be in trouble.

This message suggests an impending board takeover, one that won't hesitate to install their own man to preside over the squad.

Sure, a takeover will probably give the club some money to play with, it's just a shame they won't let me stick around to use it.

retired_pavallejo2000

Oops... this should work for the league table.

Emm

You've been Burda'd .

retired_finney2007

Sorry guys

After a long and hard season I got relegated again!! This time it was closer, I was only one point off the drop:

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1...uetableaa2.jpg

I have decided to change countries again and will be heading to Austria. I hope you guys dont mind me changing countries so often, but every time I get relegated I just feel like trying something new.

I ll be posting in a bit to tell you who the next unfortunate team I will pick.

retired_pavallejo2000

Ok, I am now relieved to find that the takeover bid seems to have hit a snag.

I don't mind losing a job after I lead a team to relegation, but it can be frustrating to get the boot just because somebody new is running the show and wants to install his own people.

retired_elena70m

Unlucky again corinthiano!
Unlucky to you elfpower, hope it works out for you :thup:

Knockbreda

Very pleased with how things are going so far, the team is playing really well. Just played the one league game so far, but won it 3-0 against Donegal Celtic so I was delighted with that. Played 8 other games, in the Intermediate League Cup and the Antrim Trophy, and I'm still unbeaten so far this season. Topped my group in the ILC and have been drawn away to Banbridge (1st div) in the QF.
In the Antrim Trophy, we've only played non-league sides so far but have been drawn away to Chimney Corner (2nd div) in the QF.

Emm

corinthiano. Unlucky with another relegation.

It's become a bit hard to keep track of where you have visited on your round the World whistle-stop tour of relegation.

Any chance you could give us a bit of a recap as to who and where you have managed .

Emm

elfpower. I hope you are fully patched. It is less likely that you will be ousted with the 7.02 patch.

I think it's a decent 1st season :thup:.

How many times do you play the other teams in the Israeli Leagues? Are there any rules that you wish to share?

retired_elena70m

Knockbreda

Things couldn't be going better at the moment. Played 13 games in total now this season, still unbeaten and have won all 3 league games so far.

Results so far

Currently on a run of 7 straight wins, including a 5-4 victory away to Larne in the league, who are the media's favourite for promotion. Next game is against Ards in the IL cup, which will probably be our toughest match so far. They are top of the league (better GD than me) and have a very strong side.
My only concern at the moment is injuries, with my keeper, both my strikers, a MC and my new left back all out. My wingers have been banging in the goals so far though, with 11 between them so far. My new right winger, Jason Gillespie, has just made his Northern Irish U19 debut, whilst my left winger just played in the Cross Border U21 game.

Squad Stats

retired_pavallejo2000

The end of the 2007/08 found me in 5th/12 position, as I was predicted in the preseason to finish in 11th spot I'll certainly take a top half performance. Table

Squad

My star forward Yossi Yona, probably the best of a steady but unspectacular squad. Third in the league in goals scored, second most times named man of the match. Though he does have a bit of a big mouth causing half my squad to get nervous before a couple of late season matches with his comments.

Somewhat of a roller coaster ride as far as off the field was concerned. Rumors of a takeover, potential new board announcing that I would not be retained, takeover falling through only to regain momentum a few weeks later and fail again. (Jimbo, I am fully patched, just bad luck I guess)

A couple negatives...Can't find a scout. I get a few answering my adverts but they won't sign when they see the pittance my board allows me to pay them. I didn't bring in a single new player all season, but I'll be on the lookout for improvements over the offseason....and finances, I'm bleeding red which is certainly my biggest weakness as a lower league manager, I tend to bankrupt all my clubs.

As far as the Israeli league goes, we started the preseason (and into the first part of the league season) with something called the National League Toto Cup (looks like there's one for the premier league as well) where the teams are split into two groups of six where we played each other twice. Top two in each group went to the semi-finals (single leg) and finals. I finished last in my group here.

Then there was the Israeli State Cup. Counting back from the finals this thing goes for twelve rounds, National and Premier teams enter in the 8th round (where I lost to Hapoel Peace Jerusalem).

As far as the league goes, it's pretty standard, only playing each opponent three times instead of two. Which I HATE by the way, I think some teams probably enjoy a slight advantage/disadvantage depending on who they play twice at home as opposed to twice on the road, but those are the rules.

Now it's time to start the offseason. I'm conflicted whether to go out and try and make a promotion push or to try and get survive while getting the finances in order.

Israeli teams in Europe 07/08

Champions Cup (Inter winners)

Bnei Yehuda
2nd qualifying phase def. APOEL (CYP) 4-2
3rd qualifying phase def. Sevilla (ESP) 3-3(a)
group stage 4th in Group H 1w1d4l 5GF 11GA behind Man Utd, Hertha BSC, and Club Brugge.

EURO Cup (Arsenal winners)

Hapoel Tel Aviv
2nd qualifying round def. Dnipro (UKR) 2-1
1st round def. Athletic Bilbao (ESP) 3-2
group stage 5th in Group C 1w0d3l 4GF 5GA behind PSV, Fenerbahce, Dinamo Bucharest, and Rennes