I have been playing CM/FM since its very first days on the Amiga!! and I have always played in a LLM style start low and work my way up but this is the first time I have attempted to ‘diary’ a career so here goes.
Ok the stats first – I am playing on FM06 with the 01 patch, normal database, English, French and Spanish leagues at normal detail and the Portugese league on full detail.
Somewhat surprisingly in the summer of 2005 I manage to blag my way into the management position of Portuguese 2nd Division side PAMPILHOSA (Who? Where? Why??) which raises a few eyebrows in the local media, that a 37 year old Englishman with no management experience and who cannot speak a word of Portuguese has been appointed.
So I arrive in the mountains of Central Portugal (having turned up at the wrong Pampilhosa (there are 2 in Portugal, I’m supposed to be at Pampilhosa de Serra) with a part time contract of 575 eu a month!! (Who is more desperate me or them??). The chairman informs me I need to avoid relegation, there is 100K eu in the bank of which 20K eu is available for transfers, so not too bad financially and the board won’t be on my back all season. On meeting the staff, 1 coach, 1 physio and 1 scout I find that none speak English but they seem competent enough.
The playing squad has 2 full timers and the remainder part timers being 1 on loan GK, 7 Defenders, 7 Attacking midfilders and 7 Forwards, reasonable ability levels but a lot of duplication of positions. They are all Portuguese except for 2 Angolans and 1 Brazilian (but they have dual nationality so no problems in playing them) There is only 1 English speaker in the squad, a Portuguese Canadian DC who I instantly decide to make Captain as he will be the only player on the pitch who will listen to me.
Now I discover the league set up of the Second Division, which is split into 4 groups of 14 teams (so only 26 league games (hooray quick seasons) which means every win is vital but every defeat is a killer). 4 teams from each group get relegated so nearly a 30% chance of relegation. Also because of the heat the season does not start until the middle of September and incorporates a mini winter break.
Right, I’ve got 7 weeks to get sorted before the 1st match. Job adverts are placed for all positions and I appoint a further scout and a Spanish physio who speaks English (so at least I know how long people will be out for and what is wrong with them). No suitable (Dual language) coaches or assistant managers apply. As I intend to play with only 1 out and out Striker I sell 3 ST for 3000 eu (Div 2), Free (Div 2) and 1000 eu + friendly (Div 1) and arrange the friendly for the following week which I draw 2-2 but only after they sub their whole team.
A young DC and experienced Angolan AMC attract a lot of bids but the ones I accept fall through as they involve player swaps and the players are not prepared to sign for me. My scouts find mainly players who have just signed for new clubs and 1 out of contract AML who wont come on trial for me to assess so a total of 0 signings before the transfer deadline.
The 2nd round Taca de Portugal draw sees me drawn at home to a non-league club. And my opening league game is away against my local rivals with my odds for victory 20-1.
Using an attack minded strategy (1 ST supported by lots of AM) as there are only a few games in the season I think I will have to gamble for wins, draws are no use, I take a first half lead then one of my midfielders bursts through and is pulled back just outside the area resulting in a red card which allows me to dominate the second half and record a 3-0 win. Cue one very pleased chairman wondering if it was a fluke or if he has uncovered a great managerial talent!!
Pampilhosa - Who are they!! 
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