Des Tiny

Following the collapse of the New Zealand Knights A-League franchise there were worrying signs that New Zealand would be left out in the cold once again with a team in the Australian professional league. Along came Terry Serepisos and he created Wellington Phoenix FC, the fans celebrated and Yellow Fever overcame Wellington as they celebrated a chance for football glory. The fans were screaming out for Ricky Herbert to be named as Manager of the newly created club, but after his frustrations with them and a slight media disagreement with Herbert, Terry Serepisos went against the fans and has hired complete unknown (insert your name here) as the Manager. All the fans are questioning this choice and whether the club will stand a chance following this appointment. Questions are flying around, Will he sign the right players? How long will he stay? He is too young and ambitious he is already looking for jobs in England...But Serepisos has kept faith in his new manager and has released a press statement to back it up.

This is just the beginning of the story, the rest is up to you.

Rising from the Ashes: A Kiwi Success Story

The Challenge: As a new manager take control of Wellington Phoenix FC, lead your club to A-League Glory and then make a decision, do you stay and aim for higher glory with your New Zealand franchise or do you pack your bags and take up the offer of that Conference South/North team and head to England for a new challenge? And what about that useless manager of the New Zealand Squad? He couldn't run a School Boy team let alone get New Zealand to the World Cup once more.

Game Set-up

Load a game with the A-League selected and English leagues down to Conference North/South. Also to make it easier to gain New Zealand players click Load all New Zealand Players. Attribute masking should be enabled.. Next create a manager with the lowest possible previous experience and New Zealand as his Nationality and make him Manager of Wellington Phoenix FC. Then go gain that glory.

In the Game

You must stay with Wellington Phoenix FC until you at least win the A-League, but then the next step is up to you (within choices). You can now sign as manager of a Conference North/South team and lead them towards glory or you can stay with the Phoenix and aim for a Dynasty or higher honours.

Goals

1. Win A-League with Wellington Phoenix FC
2a. Win Continental & World Club Cups and multiple A-League titles with The Phoenix
2b. Take a Conference North/South team to Premier League
3. Win Premier League & Champions League with promoted Conference team
4. Take New Zealand to the Last 16 of the World Cup

Notes on Goals

1. This must be completed first.
2a. If you stay with the Phoenix higher honours and a Dynasty is the aim
2b. If you head to England then work with a lowly team and get them to the top, use of New Zealand players using your Earlier knowledge is prefered
3. Can you win on two continents?
4. You can take the New Zealand job at anytime it becomes available or they offer the position to you but don't expect this to be easy, New Zealand are ranked low for a reason. New Zealand has only made the World Cup once and has never won a game so completing this section will be the hardest.

Rules (Well not really, more Guidelines)

I expect you to only sign players you can scout with one exception you can sign New Zealand players freely at anytime and any level.

When in the Conference North/South as part of the Kiwi storyline you should sign New Zealand players and have several in your squad at anytime, I suggest hiring younger players as you will then lead them to World Cup Glory in the future...hopefully.

But most of all have fun.

Updates I would like at the end of each season something like this:

Year -- Team ------------------ League - Pos - GP - Win - Draw - Loss - GF - GA - Pts

2007/08 Wellington Phoenix FC - A League - 3rd - 21 - 9 - 8 - 4 - 32 - 21 - 35
2008/09 Wellington Phoenix FC - A League - 1st - 21 - 13 - 6 - 2 - 51 - 12 - 45
2009/10 Barrow United - Conference North - 16th- 42 - 7 - 21 - 14 - 39 - 76 - 42

And Any remarkable players, and Screenshots - Minimum of End of Season Table & National Fixtures Table.

Player naming is allowed. (This is a warning for those of you who do not wish to see this)

Discussion on tactics is allowed. (This is another warning for those of you who do not wish to see this)


When you Join the Challenge please post a screenshot of your Managers profile and also of The Phoenix's starting line-up.

How to Post a Screenshot

1. While in FM, press the 'Prt Sc' button (usually next to F12 on your keyboard).

2. Open an image editing program such as Paint and paste the image

3. Save the file as a JPEG

4. Upload the image to an image hosting website such as Photobucket or Imageshack

5. Post the direct Url to the image here.


Good Luck everyone and lets get this started.

Scoham

Will be interesting to see if players from New Zealand are willing to come over to the Blue Square N/S, or if you'll have to get promoted a few times before they'll sign.

Des Tiny

I have tested this and a lot of them want to come, but you need to struggle through to try and get work permits...so I think it may need a few promotions...I tested it on 07, I am guessing it will be similar on 08.