mmanuel

Frank left me with the unknown task of taking charge of FC Viikingit in the Finnish First Division...

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Season 2004 - Finnish First Division

I forgot to change the start date of the game so began the game a third of the way through the season - we were lying in tenth place (out of fourteen). A change of managerial strategy saw us lose only two of our final fifteen games. It was not quite enough, however, but we ended the season in a respectable fourth place - four points off of the playoff position (second).

League: 4th (W12 D8 L6 - GF48 GA29 Pts44)
Cup: 4th Round (Lost 1-2 Inter Turku)
Player of Season: Russian AMC (7.36)
Top Goalscorer: Finnish SC (10 goals)

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Season 2005 - Finnish First Division

Feeling that we had a pretty strong squad, I invested in only one new first team player - a DMC to replace my current 39 year-old Russian playing there. The fact that we are haemorraging money and very few players are willing to move to us kind of forced this lack of transfer activity upon me. In addition, I snapped up a few recently released youngsters on short-term contracts for the future.

The League season was much more productive, picking up where we left of last season, remaining unbeaten in our first twelve games, and being firmyl in first position. After that, injuries and suspensions hit my small squad (having a settled team really helps!) and our form became sporadic - no win in 3, unbeaten in next 5, no win in 4, before winning our final two games to secure second spot, and a playoff against second from bottom in Premier. A 5-2 aggregate win saw us promoted in the second season.

League: 2nd (W14 D8 L4 - GF41 GA18 Pts50)
Cup: 7th Round (Lost 0-1 FC Hameenlinna)
Player of Season: Same Russian AMC (7.76)
Top Goalscorer: Same Finnish SC (14 goals)

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Season 2006 - Finnish Premier Division

We are still losing money, and have no transfer funds available to strengthen the squad. I have promoted four players from the u-20s to the first team squad as they showed much promise last season. About seven new youngsters have been signed up to replace them in the youth team. A couple of younsters are sold as they do not have the necessary fitness for my liking. My 40year-old Russian MC retires to a coaching role at the club. The board and fans expect a hard struggle against relegation...

...The season starts extremely well, and eight games in we are lying in fifth place, keeping pace with the top teams. However, we soon go into decline struggling to string any kind of form together. We do however manage to remain somewhere in the 6th-8th position, until we lose our final five games and slump to a season low of ninth, where we finish. There is a huge gulf between the top five and the rest... I think I will need to develop my tactics for next season... However, in my starting XI there is still only one new addition, although two of the youngster signed at start of 2005 are really pushing for a starting place.

League: 9th (W8 D3 L15 - GF31 GA39 Pts27)
Cup: 6th Round (Lost 1-2 TPV)
Player of Season: Same Russian AMC (7.46)
Top Goalscorer: Same Finnish SC (13 goals)

England win the World Cup, beating Brazil 2-1 aet - even though England lost 1-0 to Canada, and 1-0 to Brazil in Group Stages. They also beat France, Argentina and Spain en route to Final - not easy!

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iajafer

Sounds like a struggle, fella.

KUTGW!!

Wizzle_O_Sizzle

Sounds like you're doing a sterling job in trying conditions. KUTGW! :thup:

Which leagues are you running, incidentally, to not start the game at the right time?

mmanuel

I have England (the start league), Italy, Spain and Germany. I wish I had added some more Scandinavian leagues now though!

The Finnish league runs from March-October

Fids

Scandinavian leagues are :cool: in more ways than one.

Currently in the second season of a new game, plying my trade in Iceland.

The pain in the arse i've had with it is the six-monmth break between seasons

Looks like you're doing better than me, KUTGW :thup:

mmanuel

I've found that I go on holiday for about two months over Nov-Dec-Jan... It helps to get some fresh air!

nokem

I was reprimanded for calling Finns Scandinavian. Nevertheless Nordic and Scandinavian leagues rock. KUTGW.

andyrik

I'm just approaching ths pre-season friendlies of season 7 in Sweden. I'm running England, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland Leagues.

It's great but you're right, the off-season does tend to drag a bit.

KUTGW

donald

And you'd better be in a decent position going into that break. I have more often than not been sacked at the end of the winter break.

I personally think that the Nordic leagues are some of the toughest in the game because of 2 things.

A. The winter break
B. When you get to the top flight(never done it myself) I hear it's pretty damned difficult to get far in Europe.

kovalenkov

I play in Finland atm with FC Honka. The winter break in Finland takes from end of September to end of April :eek:. Swedish winter brake is pish towards this.