Emm

The squad numbers never get full up because I reasign them every season and only the 30 or so players who I think will be regular contributors are given a number, along with any Fred that has appeared in the senior team, (I work from 99 downwards on Freds).

Also, as soon as a player goes out on loan he allocated number is taken away from him.

99 players sounds a lot, but consider this.

15(ish) players in the youth team.
20(ish) players out on loan at any 1 time.
10(ish) players injured at any 1 time.
14 players required to play in Reserve league games.
30(ish) senior players who will alternate between senior league & cup games.

That takes us to 89 players and leaves 10 to form the nucleus of a squad that is I suppose half-way between the Reserve League team and the senior team. These players play in the 2nd tier of Cup games and fill in in the senior squad on occasion, as well as fleshing out the Reserve squad.

Emm

This is the sort of thing I have to put up with on a regular basis.

Wed 1st April. (H) Premiership game.
Thu
Fri 3rd April. (A). Reserve League.
Sat 4th April. (A). Premiership game.
Sat 4th April. (H). U18's League.
Sun
Mon 6th April. (A). Premiership game.
Tue
Wed 8th April. (H). Champions League Qtr Final Leg 1.
Thu
Fri 10th April. (H). Reserve League.
Sat 11th April. (H). Premiership game.
Sat 11th April. (A). U18's League.
Sun
Mon 13th April. (H). All Ireland Cup Semi-Final.
Tue 14th April. (A). Premiership.
Wed
Thu 16th April. (A). Champions League Qtr Final Leg 2.
Fri
Sat 18th April. (N). Intermediate Cup Final.
Sun
Mon 20th April. (A). Premiership.
Tue 21st April. (A). Premiership.
Wed 22nd April. (A). Premiership.
Thu
Fri 24th April. (H). Reserve League.
Sat 25th April. (N). All Ireland Cup Final.
Sat 25th April. (H). U18's League.
Sun.
Mon
Tue 28th April. (A). Premiership.
Wed.
Thur.
Fri.
Sun 1st May. (A). Reserve League.
Sat 2nd May. (N). N.Irish Cup Final.
Sat 2nd May. (A). U18's League.

retired_bj1fabre

With the ridiculous number of competitions in Norn Iron I suppose it does make sense to have a big squad, but still...

20 out on loan???

Emm

The idea was that I intended to take over as N.Ireland manager one day and I didn't want to harm the development of players coming through the best youth facilities in the Country.

My senior squad is about 50/50 N.Irish/others and I sometimes select a N.Irish player over a slightly better foreigner.

retired_g_stull

When you put it like that, it doesn't sound nearly as bad. Especially with all the cup games too.

Emm

2026 World Cup Final. Held in Brazil.

My Ireland team were drawn in Group D.

Brazil.
USA.
Ireland.
Japan.

Ireland 2 USA 1.
Mangueirao, Belem (PA). Attendance 59,975.

Ireland 1 Brazil 1.
Castelao, Fortaleza (CE). Attendance 59,979.

Ireland 4 Japan 0.
Arruda, Recife (PE). Attendance 60,898.

So surprisingly we finish top of the group after Brazil draw with both us and USA.

1. Ireland. 7 pst.
2. Brazil. 5 pts.
3. Japan. 3 pts.
4. USA. 1 pts.

We met a decent Spain side in the 2nd Round and they beat us convincingly 2-0.

The pre-tournament expectations were for us to at least make the 2nd Round, (which seems a little unrealistic), but at least we managed to get that far.

Imagine my surprise when I am sacked due to the teams awful performance in the World Cup :eek:.

The good news is that the N.Irish manager has also has been sacked and it was always my intention to use the Irish job as a stepping stone towards the N.Irish job.

2026 World Cup Final.
Italy 2 Brazil 1.
Maracana, Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Attendance 99,963.

retired_timdecha

Wow Jimbo what a great story (that hasn't finished yet).
Do you mind if i borrow/steal you early format of results for my Irish stroy??

Emm

N.Ireland turned me down :eek:!

They appointed some bloke who managed Ballinmallard to bottom of the Premiership and relegation last season!

God this game does my God damn swede in sometimes !

Emm

Mariner. Help yourself, but please don't call it a story. I have been given more than enough leeway with regards to the length of my updates, but that still doesn't stop them being anything but updates.

If you really wnt my adbice I would do it in the following format if I had my time again.

retired_g_stull

What is your nationality in the game, Jimbo?

Gutted about getting the sack, and especially for the Norn Iron job too. That would have been some switch if you'd have pulled it off!