emgergo

So, after 3rd Div an introduction to FM08 a brand new save in South America.

All SAm leagues loaded + Mexico & USA view-only. All SAm players retained in order to fill the squads in the Brazilian State Ch'ships (there are far too many grey teams if players are not retained).

I never tried out the hell of the Brazilian third division, so I felt it was hight time. Was it f***

2009, Grémio de Jaciara, 3rd Div Gr 16/Mato Grosso State

I don't know what drug did the guy use who invented the league system, but that must've been hell of a trip.

Season looks like this: first there are the state championships, with every format in virtually every state. As they finish, the national leagues start. In the 3rd Div. there are 16 groups of 8 teams. First two qualify for second plase, where there are 8 groups of 4. First two qualify from each group here, third round is 4 groups of 4. First two go through to the decisive round, where 8 teams play a mini league, with the first 4 winning promotion.

Simple, eh? Probably I'll never get out of here.
---
---

My first team has nice colours (as probably all Gremios, light blue-black stripes) and a decent squad, plus a crap staff. To my shock the best players are easily at least Serie B material, and the teams are very similar in strength. I pick up a few loanees from our parent club, and dive into the season.

Mato Grosso State

We played carp, flirted with relegation, then turned things around with a 4-1-0 run to finish in comfortable 6th place out of 14 teams. Record: 6-2-5

3rd Div

We play carped, flirted with relegation, then turned things around with a good second half to finish in a surprising 3rd place. Record: 5-4-5

---
POY: Solid experienced GK
---

2010, Grémio de Jaciara, 3rd Div Gr 16/Mato Grosso State

Club finances are somewhere between shocking and horroristic. I let quite a few players go, sold my MC for 100K and picked up veteran free agents to fill in the places plus several loanees.

Mato Grosso State

They more or less do their job as we overcame yet again an awful start in the season, to finish 7th in the state championships with a 5-3-5 record. In the small break before the national championsip started, I fired the old carp guys and shipped in younger carp lads.

3rd Div

Not surprisingly we're off to an awful start yet again, and when we are 6 points from safety after 7 rounds, things do not look promising.

My first-coice keeper returns from an ankle injury which sidelined him for the first 7 games, and we win 3 on the trot, and then climb back to fight with our relegation rivals in the last round. We are at home and 2 points behind, so we need a win.

My DC (who scored 11 goals during the season :eek showed a glimpse of genius with kicking out at a player after 9 minutes He's off, we fight, but we go down with a 2-1 loss /o\ I resigned after the match. Record: 4-2-8

---

POY: tall DC scoring 11 and getting himself sent off in the last game

---

Holidayed for half a year, and found a new job at the start of the new year, now in Amazonas State.


Fast Clube, Amazonas State/Brazilian 3rd Div Gr 4

I just had time to arrange a friendly and get thrashed against Fluminense Reserves. Loaned 3 players and signed a striker from my former club for free (he scored a whopping 2 goals for Jaciara in 27 matches, but at least his attributes looked good).

Amazonas State

We were tipped to struggle (6 out of 8), but my defence was really tight, and that gave a good basis to build on. To my surprise we went for 10 unbeaten games, and won the Opening Stage of the league. We came 2nd in the Closing Stage, and it set up a state final against Nacional (AM).

The final brought two highly enjoyable but goalless matches, as both side missed a ton of chances. It boiled down to a penalty shootout, which we won 4-3. State champions for the 7th time, and for the first time since 1971! \o/

Record: 7-6-1, only 7 goals scored against.

3rd Div

Bad start (0-0-2), great middle section (5-1-0), bad run-in (0-2-3), and we were sitting a point behind 2nd placed Baré before the last round. They lost their game, we won 1-0 away, and grabbed the 2nd place to qualify for the second stage.

My best ST went down for a month with a virus :eek:, and we couldn't hit a barn door. When he returned at least we scored in each game, but we had no chance to qualify for the third stage with a 0-3-3 record.
---

POY: Rock solid GK, who is scouted by quite a few clubs now (7.13 avg.)

Shopping list for next year: ST, AM R
---

Youth team has 3-4 promising lads, but they can't play in the senior squad until they reach 16

Finances are bad, but now more or less consolidated. There is a lot of interest for my players, so probably I have to sell 2 or 3 of them.

mkus

You've got to run pretty fast to avoid the newbie intro threads too.

Brazil is a bugger to get to grips with.

emgergo

Former team watch

Jaciara won Mato Grosso state with a 13-1-1 record.

emgergo

Especially with the killer weather conditions and playing in every 4 days. Players are half dead after the first stage of the 3rd Div.

The competitions are pretty enjoyable, though.

turnip

I seem to remember one of our Brazilian posters asying that the format in FM in no way resembles what actually happens, but is an attempt to make order from the true madness. Which seems to be like trying to watch 'Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas' while blind drunk.

Barside

Good luck with the Brazilian adventure.

I actually enjoyed my time at Vila Nova in my 07 save apart from the constant moaning of the players, the never ending seasons (never seemed to get an off-season) & constantly having your best talent tapped up by gready European clubs.

emgergo

Moaning of the players...CHECK

Never seemed to get an off-season...You only have to fail the first qualifying hurdle in the 3rd division and you have 5 months free time

Best talent tapped up...I only wish

Barside

I suffered that fate in my first season, spent the best part of half a year wondering if I would get sacked, thankfully they gave me another chance & I managed to get us promoted.