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Having been away from FM for a few years I just recently picked up my copy and, as u can imagine my work productivity has dropped. In 03/04 I took Shef Wed. to great heights in Europe and thought I was something of a master until I read some of these LLM threads and I realised that this Yank was nothing more than a hack. Only because I have good friends who live in the Altrincham area of Manchester did I pick the Robins. I must admit I never actually followed the North and South until now! So bear with me as I tell my tale of Altrincham. I hope I can do this justice.
Season 04/05
After picking up some free agent dregs I managed to find a striker gem who led us to a 2nd place finish to Southport. After a grueling Semi against Lancaster (2-0; 1-2) where we scored a 90th minute winner we easily dispatched of upset minded Nuneaton 2-0. On to the North/South final. Seems these are always likely to go to PK's and this was no different. We won promotion to the Conference with a 4-2 win in PK's and the board was pleased. Cup ties weren't bad but I wasn't disappointed to go out in the FA Cup 4th rd.q. to Welling away 0-1 and in the 2nd rd. of the FA Trophy away to Billercay 1-3. Promotion to bigger and better things was always the goal...and we accomplished that!
Season 05/06
The Board and our Fans were desperately hoping to just fight off relegation. 12K the board gave me...lucky me!! I'm finding this LLM thing to be a frustratingly exciting and rewarding venture. Bolstered my back line through one transfer and one castaway. At any rate, we fought hard and aside from a 1 draw and 3 loss beginning - where our manager (me) decided a formation change was in order that we never played in the pre-season - we managed a 10th place finish - 16 points clear of relegation but 11 points shy of a playoff berth. Clearly more work to do. My stud striker found Conference defenses not much tougher. I added another striker to make it easier on him and he finished with 27 goals...good for 2nd in the league. Not only did he achieve league top honors but my AMC and my right FB made the first team as well. My AMC might have to leave soon as his value is starting to rise and I fear he will want a bigger club. Cup ties were no better as we limped out in the 2nd round of FA Cup home to L1 Oldham 1-2 and in the 4th rd of the Trophy away to Hereford 0-2. All in all a succesful season. Secretly I hope to make the playoffs next season...but a mid-table finish would be fine. The board has agreed to upgrad our training facilities from Sh*te to 'just better than sh*te'. It's a start!
Season 06/07
A little more money to spend and a little higher expectations. Both the board and the Fans want a mid-table finish for our second foray in the Conference. Don't ask me how...but I lured away a transfer listed Championship AMC who was out of a contract and we are now strong through the middle. We'll start with cup ties first this time. Not sure how the LDV trophy participants are decided because we weren't in last season but we were this season....for 1 game. We lost away to D1 Bradford City 0-2. Not too disappointed since the roster isn't deep enough to play the full schedule of games that multiple cup ties would demand. Still can't manage to get past the 2nd round of the FA Cup...losing this time to Notts. Co. away 2-4. Those away games are a killer. Through serious draw fortune we managed to play every game of the FA Trophy against teams below the National Leagues. I'm proud to say that my first Cup as a LLM came in season 3 when we beat Harrow Boro in the semis on away goals (1-0, 1-2) and then scored an 85th minute winner against Hereford in the final (1-0)!!! They were dancing in the suburbs and drinking out of the FA Trophy!!! Our Conference experience was nail-biting. We were safely in the playoff zone for most of the season until my stud AMR suffered a 2-month groin injury and the backbone of my defense hurt his head in training and missed a month. We fell from a comfortable 2nd to outside-looking in 6th in 5 games. Fortunately we clawed back and my boys managed a 3rd place finish just 8 points from 1st and 6 points clear of 6th. With everyone healthy and the team looking strong I was optimistic but realistic. The playoffs are a bit of a lottery I've found. Drew 0-0 at Carlisle in the first game and was worried of a 1-1 draw at home which would see me back in the Conference on away goals...but alas, we spanked them 3-0 and were through to the final. The SI gods were a bit of a tease...up 3-1 with 10 minutes to go I reverted to a defensive tactic and gave up 2 in 5 minutes. 3-3 we went to PK's....and the Robins prevailed!!! 3-2 in PK's with their final shot over the bar! On to the League!!!
Season 07/08 - mid season update.
The TV revenues are padding the coffers like never before and with near capacity attendances last season we managed a sizable profit. I was rewarded (or so I thought) with a 209K transfer budget. As expected, my stud youngster at AMC was lured away by a bigger club and with a heavy heart (but a deeper wallet) I sold him for a record $750K!! Now with over 800k in transfer money available and a below budget wage tab I set my sights on huge signings. Um...here I officially received my initiation into LLM. NOONE WANTS TO PLAY HERE!!! So far through the middle of the season I must have had 8 transfers approved and I am 0 for 8 on signing them. First, my top wage is only 1,900..not nearly enough to attract a many top D1 players...and even the ones who have low salaries to begin with just snub me right off. I guess a little better than a local rep will be necessary. I have received enquiries on 3 more of my players...but will hesitate to sell them unless they get too unhappy. Nevertheless, we venture into the league just hoping to stay above 22nd.
I was rewarded in the League Cup with a draw away to Ipswich (who just happen to be 3rd in the Championship). We were outclassed 0-4. Ouch. Not too disappointed. We have enough other business to worry about. I have added a few struggling D2 players to the side that have seemed to help with fatigue at least and I must admit the lads are exceeding even my expectations so far. After 30 games we are surprising the pundits and have 12 wins against 5 defeats and 13 draws. We are currently 5th in the table but 3 points separate 5th and 9th. To be honest, we could use another year in D2 for I fear a promotion would only lead to big losses...so if we fall I won't be too disappointed. We've been lucky to avoid any serious injuries and the league leaders are later in the schedule. Again, if we stay up, I'll be happy.
There's the update for now. I sincerely hope I haven't done shame to the LLaMA name and I hope I have not completely bored you with my little tale. Unless I get a throng of objections to the contrary, I will continue to give you updates now and then. If you've read...thanks. I welcome any comments..and they threads from now on promise to be much shorter!
Frustrated with the fact that I couldn't sign my grandmother because she isn't prepared to play in a lower division (among the other multitude of excuses players use to avoid coming to Moss Lane) - I signed on another quality scout. I immediately dispatched him to the lower divisions to see if he could unearth some hidden talent. It paid immediate dividends. I was able to sign on a young starlet DMC/D who shored up my middle and a solid outside fullback who made an immediate impact.
I made some minor tactical adjustments and to improve our stamina increased fitness training and during December and January we made a run at the table that we've never seen before. The mighty Robins took 10 points out of 12 games during that 8 week stretch and vaulted us to 2nd in the table (we held 1st for 2 days). This magnificent form earned my AMR player of the month and my DC young player of the month.
We bowed out early in the Vans Trophy...a second round defeat away to Tranmere (0-3)...and in the 1st rd. of the FA Cup (1-3 away to Torquay). I really didn't mind...my roster is not deep enough to challenge for promotion and play a full cup schedule. But these lopsided losses to D1 squads make me worry that we are worlds away from competing in higher divisions.
It was touch and go for the rest of the season...we hit a bit of a bad spell where we lost three in a row and fell just out of automatic promotion by 2 points. We righted the ship and held 2nd place with 2 games left. Again, I was not necessarily that optimistic about promotion and would be happy with one more year in D2 but it is what it is. We dispatched Rushden 3-0 at home but both Oldham and Coventry won as well. So with one game left (away to 6th place Rochdale) we held our promotion destiny in our hands. 1pt clear of third and 2 pts. clear of 4th we need only draw to gain the automatic spot (due to goal differential). Wanting desperately to stay out of the playoff lottery my lads were up to the task and level at half-time. I must admit I scoreboard watched and saw Oldham and Coventry were level as well...second position secure (so far). We went down 2-1 in the 65th minute...but Coventry were down 2-0!!! My stud striker equalised in the 85th minut and pomotion was all but ours!! But the SI gods were fickle again and Rochdale -apparently fired up with their own playoff hopes - struck the winner in the 90th minute. Heartbreak. Oldham was a 2-1 winner and vaulted ahead of us to 2nd...but Coventry bombed!!! 3rd place in the table...and promotion to Division 1!!!!
Some other observations....My roster isn't very deep. I might need to improve my front line. After striking for 35 last season in the Conference my ace striker only hit for 23 this season. Seems tougher defenses proved a bit more daunting for the young man. Improving the training grounds a few seasons back is paying dividends as I'm seeing a few good prospects in the U18 squad. Ultimately, though, I need to convince the board to expand the stadium. I fear without the increased revenues that higher attendances will bring we wont be able to attract the talent to stay up the higher divisions. I asked...and apparently we aren't rich enough yet...the board scoffed.
As a yank in real life...and even in the game, I doubt I will get many job offers for a while...but I did get my first one this season. Div 1 Grimsby had an opening. I politley declined as I feel I have more to accomplish with my wee side.
Final stats and hardware:
23-12-11; 81 pts...3rd D2
Premiership - Chelsea
FA Cup - Newcastle
League Cup - Gunners
Vans Trophy - Oldham
Championship - Portsmouth
L1 - Sheff Wed
L2 - Doncaster
Champ. League - Man U.
Uefa Cup - Bayern
More to come....thanks for the votes of confidence!! :cool:
New to LLM....My stab at Altrincham 
, fella.
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