retired_frogchickie

So, I finally put my TNS game down and moved onto FM06. After a few false starts (not registering any players in Mexico ), a random process sent me to Serbia-Montenegro and FK Sutjeska Niksic in the Montenegrin First League (Montenegro and Serbia have a First League below the SuperLeague). I loaded the other two ex-Yugoslav leagues, Croatia and Slovenia, and added players from Bosnia and Macedonia to give my game a totally Balkan feel.

2005-06

Players In: 14 (£55k)
Players Out: 4 (£40k)

Sutjeska had just been relegated from the SuperLeague, but still had a pretty pants squad and no money. I signed a few ex S&M internationals on frees, and my biggest signing was a winger from Zemun's reserves for £30k.

The Montenegrin 1st league is a 10 team league, top team gets promoted, bottom relegated and 9th place goes into a relegation play-off. The fans expected immediate promotion, although the board was happy with consolodation. As it turned out, it was relatively easy, barring a blip after christmas, and I won promotion by 7 points.

Final pos: 1st, p36 22-9-5, pts75

I was bizarrely not entered in the S&M cup, so that was that.

2006-07

Players In: 9 (£5k)
Players Out: 15 (£0k)

I had even less money for my 1st season in the SuperLeague, although I managed to pick up an ex Serbian international defender from Spurs. The board and fans expected a relgation struggle. I started off OK, but had a horrendous run after the winter break, when I managed to lose 8-0 at Partizan, 8-0 at home to OFK and 5-0 at Zeta in successive games. I managed to turn it round though and finished a respectable 8th out of 12, 7 points above the relegation zone (bottom three).

Final pos: 8th, p33 10-8-15 pts 38 (84 goals conceded )

Serbian Cup: I was allowed to enter this time, but needn't have bothered, losing 2-0 to OFK in Round 2.

I was offered the S&M national job at the end of the season, which was bizarre for two reasons - I hadn't really done much as a manager, and S&M were virtually qualified for the 2008 Euros so it seemed an odd time to get rid of their manager - unless he resigned or retired of course. I wasn't about to turn it down though.

2007-08

Players In: 7 (£50k)
Players Out: 30 (£120k)

The Players Out was mostly my batch of completely useless youngsters although my academy did produce two promising players. The board and fans were after a respectable league position and I did have a better squad. I won the first five games without conceding a goal, but after that the season decended into mediocrity. Fortunately, the top three (Red Star, Partizan, OFK) were so far ahead, it was a decent battle for 4th, which I nicked on the last day of the season, which I think is a UEFA cup place, or an Intertoto at worst.

Final pos: 4th, p33 14-5-14, pts47

Serbian Cup: Definitely sucking arse, lost 2-0 at Vojovdina in R1.

S&M

4 games left to play in the EURO 2008 qualifying, S&M and Italy were well ahead of the rest and it was a formality to qualify. Have been drawn alongside Holland, Portugal and Sweden in the finals, update to follow.

retired_stelutaivan

Eighty-four goals conceded?

You have to whip the defence into shape

/gets coat

retired_tye1234

Why does Fids's coat look like a flasher mac

KUTGS&M

retired_kswansonwoolf

Macedonia? I'm not aware of this country.

retired_fesanntanna

Its called the Former Yugosalv Republic of Macedonia...or FYR Macedonia.There is some dispute about the name of Macedonia that goes back to ancient times.

creative36

The Greek poof was being ironical.

I recall him being a bit tetchy about this before, but apathy rules out my looking for the thread in question.

retired_google

And don't get him started on what countries are in the Balkans.

shiloh23

Whipping into shape and S + M mentioned in the same thread. :eek:

retired_tinkfaeree

Anyway, at least Macedonia play in European competitions while Greece does not.

(Sorry, I could not resist this valid opportunity for some Greece-bashing.) :cool:

retired_babygirlgiggles

hehe