Nae82

Congratulations on your survival poyplemonkeys.

I'm now enjoying European football in season 3.

Pics to follow...

Nae82

Well here are the details of my first European adventure with Reggina.

Ended up getting a reasonably tough group having to travel to Eastern Europe and London.

Uefa Cup Group

Arsenal won the Premier League and ended up winning the Uefa Cup beating Lyon in the final. I was chuffed as I beat them 2-1 at the Emirates!!!

I was overwhelming underdogs against Zaragoza in the 1st Knockout phase but was delighted with the outcome!

Overwhelming underdogs again against the Turkish Champions Fenerbahce and again took them back to Italy and taught them a lesson.

My Uefa Cup adventure finally came to an end in the Quarter Finals against Lyon, they totally outclassed my in the 1st half of the second leg, after some hairdrier treatment at half time the boys did me proud in the second hald only to be dealt a sucker punch late on.

In only my 3rd season in charge I was delighted at our European efforts.

There was however a downside. My league form suffered massively.

Final League Table 2009. I had so many injuries during the season due to the number of games that we played. The board have been unwilling to upgrade the training facilities and only gave me a couple of million to spend. Not impressed.

I got Ochoa in as my new keeper at the start of the season and he didn't even manage 10 games, he was injured from the get go.

2009 Serie A Young Player of the Year. After being touted as the next Patrick Vieira last season, Digard is beginning to live up to his promise.

2009 Serie A Player of the Year. Bianchi was immense in Europe but didn't do as well in Serie A, I think he is now getting special attention from the teams.

And here he is Bianchi.

My European ranking should have raised quite a bit after my Uefa Cup exploits but with no European football next season I have seriously dented my chances of completing the challenge in 5 years.

My biggest problem is the size of the other teams in the division. Juventus finished 2nd and Napoli finished 3rd, both clubs have been signing £10mil players all season!!!

As usual a busy summer awaits trying to hold onto my best players and work on a small budget to mount a challenge for the title next year.

BobbyK

Pre-season in the second season sees me have a complete tactical overhaul. For the first time in my Football Manager career I've created a separate tactic for home and away games. The away tactic focussing mainly on counter-attacking football and being difficult to score against, the home focussing more on a possession style of football and hopefully just dominating the game with the ball at my players feet. Unfortunately these tactics won't come into play until the next update as I made them after pre-season.

A quieter and most definitely less successful pre-season than last year:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Reggina 1 - 2 FenerbahceReggina 1 - 1 BetisReggina 0 - 3 Bayern MunichCisco Roma 1 - 2 RegginaJuventus 6 - 0 Reggina</pre>

The last two results being the Italian cup games. I was poor against Cisco and just awful against Juventus and that is what prompted my tactical overhaul. I feel I've made the signings to push on this season if I get the tactics right.

Players In

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Date | Person | From | Fee | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Jourdren, Geoffrey | Montpellier | Free | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Fiore, Stefano | Valencia | Free | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | English, Junior | Moor Green | Free | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Pegolo, Gianluca | Verona | Free | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Gabi | Atlético | Free | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2.7.2007 | Carobbio, Filippo | AlbinoLeffe | Free | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6.7.2007 | Semprevivo, Giuseppe Carmelo | Palermo | £30K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18.7.2007 | Caldwell, Stephen | Sunderland | £275K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19.7.2007 | Koller, Jan | Monaco | £425K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22.7.2007 | Costacurta, Alessandro | Free Transfer | Free | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | Total | | £725K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Although I had a budget of over £2.5mil I couldn't find anyone worth splashing serious cash on with the largest signing being less than £500k for Jan Koller which I personally think is a bargain.

Loans In

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Date | Person | From | Fee | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7.7.2007 | Giuly, Ludovic | Barcelona | Loan | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11.7.2007 | Assulin, Gay | Barcelona | Loan | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | Total | | £0 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

I took Ludovic Giuly in on loan to play on the opposite flank to Fiore and had Assulin forced upon me as Barcelona became my new parent club in pre-season.

Players Out

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Date | Person | To | Fee | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 30.6.2007 | Kras, Nikolas | Verona | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Tedesco, Giacomo | Málaga | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Esteves, Ricardo | Padova | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Vicari, Salvatore | Gela | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Dionigi, Davide | Free Transfer | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Morabito, Giovanni | Free Transfer | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Moschetto, Luca | Free Transfer | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Gallo, Vincenzo | Free Transfer | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1.7.2007 | Rallo, Giovanni | Free Transfer | Free | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | Total | | £0 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

So no money in from transfers but a sizeable chunk reduced from the wage bill and with the profit I made in every month last season it's not a problem.

Loans Out

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Date | Person | To | Fee | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3.7.2007 | Daniane, Jawad | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4.7.2007 | Bartels, Gerrit | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6.7.2007 | BarillÃ*, Antonino | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7.7.2007 | Nielsen, Nicki B. | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7.7.2007 | Giosa, Antonio | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8.7.2007 | Maccari, Murilo | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8.7.2007 | Semprevivo, Giuseppe Carmelo | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8.7.2007 | Marino, Pietro | Catanzaro | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10.7.2007 | Cutrupi, Demetrio | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10.7.2007 | Gambi, Nello | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16.7.2007 | Lavrendi, Giovanni | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16.7.2007 | Ceravolo, Fabio | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20.7.2007 | Bischoff, Amaury | Salernitana | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22.7.2007 | Cianni, José Francesco | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14.8.2007 | Castiglia, Ivan | Vibonese | Loan | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | Total | | £0 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

As you may have guessed, Vibonese became my feeder club in pre-season and as I had first option on all of their players I decided to embark upon a small challenge within the challenge and get Vibonese up to Serie B in order to increase the talent available on first option to me. Conventional? Not quite, and I have no idea how it will work out.

Out of the signings made I am most excited out the prospect of Fiore and Giuly on the wings providing some exciting attacking play and Jan Koller being a beast up front to take advantage of the crosses flying in. With Amoruso over the hill and nothing better than a backup this season is one for Doudin to take advantage of and press on into the first team.

retired_sportfanni

might give this a go when i've finished liverpoolsimplythebest's barca challenge

Nae82

You'll enjoy it mate.

Its got me hooked.

BobbyK

Onto the league season we go then. Quarter of it completed.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Udinese 0 - 0 RegginaReggina 2 - 1 LivornoCatania 2 - 4 RegginaReggina 6 - 3 ParmaLazio 3 - 1 RegginaReggina 2 - 0 RegginaAC Milan 2 - 1 RegginaReggina 0 - 0 FiorentinaReggina 4 - 1 NapoliSampdoria 0 - 1 Reggina</pre>

Oh my, what a season so far. The new tactics seemed to take a couple of games to get used to, the defence a couple more but they're really paying dividends now. The 6 - 3 thriller against Parma is one of the best matches I've had on football manager and the result against Sampdoria at the bottom is my most satisfactory ever. Sampdoria are 3rd in the table and so I went in with the afore-mentioned away tactic that counter attacks and nicked a goal just before half time. I then switched to just a defensive version of the same tactic and completely stifled them, first time I've really seen my tactical switches pay off and work exactly how I planned. It's tempting fate but I'm so delighted with my performance so far I'm posting the league table.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Lazio | | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 13 | +10 | 20 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Reggina | | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 12 | +9 | 20 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Sampdoria | | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 19 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Juventus | | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 18 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Fiorentina | | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 18 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Inter | | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 17 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Palermo | | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 16 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Milan | | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 16 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Bologna | | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 15 | -6 | 16 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Udinese | | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 15 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Livorno | | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 15 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Napoli | | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 16 | +3 | 13 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Roma | | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 13 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Torino | | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 12 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Catania | | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 11 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Chievo | | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 16 | -5 | 8 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Siena | | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 13 | -5 | 8 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Messina | | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 7 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Parma | | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 23 | -10 | 5 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Ascoli | | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 18 | -14 | 3 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Doudin has turned into God. A God wanted by Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Inter and Sevilla so I really need this league position to keep hold of him past his current 3 and a half year contract. Fiore was an inspirational signing too.

The two young English fullbacks are progressing brilliantly. Just threw them straight into the first team as the other options weren't much better and I thought it would help them develop and they've contributed 5 goals and 8 assists between them.

retired_melodylim

I am starting this tonight. Am looking forward too it, I will post once I have completed first season.

Nice work poyplemonkeys.

BobbyK

Halfway through the season now.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Palermo 2 - 3 RegginaReggina 2 - 3 MessinaReggina 3 - 2 ChievoRoma 2 - 1 RegginaReggina 0 - 1 JuventusInter 2 - 1 RegginaReggina 3 - 0 BolognaReggina 1 - 0 SienaAscoli 1 - 1 RegginaReggina 3 - 0 Udinese</pre>

So slightly struggling away from home of late and just in general too really. Still sitting pretty in 2nd place but that could turn out to be as low as 5th once the games in hand have played out as teams have 1, sometimes 2 games in hand over me.

I was quiet in the January transfer market, just bringing in a winger called Sherman Cardenas from Colombia for £850k. Which was irritating as he promptly left for the olympic qualifiers and has played just once so far. I released Campagnolo on a free transfer and got rid of Lanzaro for £100k to Cagliari.

John McCallister and Novica Matic, two freds that were scouted, are on the way to the club when their contracts run out in April and June respectively and I'm harbouring ridiculously ambitious ideas about signing Klose who is out of contract in June. Veron is leaving for Padova now that his contract is up and I've sent another 10 players to Vibonese. They're struggling in 13th though.

Nae82

End of season 2009/10

Well I had a strange start to my season, I had very little money to spend after finishing 11th or 12th in season 3. I signed a few up and coming players that my scouts had recommended on bosmans and also managed to get Vagner Love from CSKA! I was delighted with his capture but after only a couple of weeks at the club stated that he wasn't settling and requested a transfer. I agreed and made a £6.5 mil profit in a matter of days!

My biggest signing of the season was the capture of Vucinic from Deportivo, he was rated at £8mil and I got him for just over that as he was unhappy. What a forward line, him and Bianchi were awesome.

Transfers In
Transfers Out

My end of season profile. I had the wage budget way over for the first 6 months of the season, I couldn't get rid of about £45k per week in wages! I had players that just wouldn't move and the board kept blocking their release.

Final League Table. Inter are awesome. Their squad is formidable and they scooped their 4th consecutive title. Breaking their reign will be a challenge although I was delighted with 2nd! Breaking the Milan, Inter, Juve, Lazio domination is my biggest achievement yet!Champions League football beckons.

Serie A Manager of the Year
Serie A Top Goalscorer
Serie A Player of the Year
Serie A Foreign Player of the Year
Serie A Young Player of the Year
Serie A Defender of the Year

Got £500k for finishing 2nd. Wage budget has almost doubled but only £2mil to spend.

A lot of my players are wanted so some wheeling and dealing will be taking place again.

Roll on the big bucks of champions league football!

retired_elvia castellanos

Just found this challenge even though it was a long time ago ,looks intresting and just loading up the database for it just now