retired_nick88

Season 3 - 04/05

Serie B
Board Expectations: Fight bravely against relegation
Fans Expectations: Fight bravely against relegation

Once again the board and fans didn’t have much faith although neither did I this time. Looking at the other teams this was going to be a long hard year. Other teams paid one player more than I paid my whole team; other teams had one player worth more than my whole team. The bookies also thought we were no chance rating us at 1000-1 for the title.

I got another lovely £12k budget but didn’t spend a cent. Instead brought in a young DC on a free who was for the future, a veteran GK on a free and a backup D RL on a free. This was all I could get, as not many players will come to Montichiari, not to mention I can only offer tiny wages and am already over my wage budget. Out were my 40-year-old GK, a backup SC and an unhappy (due to my fines) DC all on frees. Also sold an AM C for a club record £2k!! Another unhappy (same reason) DC was sold for £1k after both Chievo and myself bid £0k for him, as he was part owned. Finally a physio retired but was not replaced. In good new my academy promoted a massive six youngsters, which was quite amazing considering in previous CM’s I hardly ever got one promoted. It included one stand out 14-year-old SC who I think might just become a superstar. He is already has my highest wage.

This year we got to compete in the Italian Cup for a change and were in a group with Ternana (A), Bari (H) and Como (A). Got knocked out with one win but the gate receipts from the two away games were much appreciated, in fact one game netted more receipts than I got for the whole of the previous year!!

retired_nick88

The form in the league however wasn’t too bad. Despite numerous setbacks including red cards that hit double figures , resulting bans and many injuries we performed alright. At one stage, two long term injuries and one groin strain meant my 14-year-old SC got a fair run of games including two goals. At the New Year we sat mid-table. In Jan. we recruited our first international. A French AM R formally of Milan and Bolton with 8 French caps/2 Goals whose name looks like something a sheep might say , came on loan with the option to buy for £6k. He started on fire and his good play led us on a form run that took us to 9th position. His form then totally disappeared and so did ours and we slid down to finish in 15th position.

Serie B: 15th P42 W12 D14 L16 F50 A55 GD-5 Pts50
Italian Cup: Group Stage

End of the year saw our backup D RL retire again as well as the French AM R meaning we didn’t take up the option to buy him. Overall a successful year as we achieved our only aim, survival. Fans player of the year was our veteran SC this time thanks to 19 goals and 7 assists. I noticed after getting the award Montichiari is now one of his favoured clubs. A nice touch and something I’ve never has happen before. :thup:

retired_priyaa_00

Safe!!
good work for first season in B, nice touch with the SC i'll have to look out for that, top 10 next season, then promotion? KUTGW

retired_nick88

Bigpants, as you can see things didn't go quite like that!! But thanks for the encouragement.

Serie B
Board Expectations: Fight bravely against relegation
Fans Expectations: Fight bravely against relegation

Second season in Serie B and same expectations all around as well as the same transfer budget, £12k. This was despite making a profit of £125k last year and having a bit over £100k in the bank. Our sponsorship also went up to a staggering £43.45k per year . Despite this I decided it was time to make the club more professional and brought in second coach to specialise in the youth, a physio (an ex-Italian international who was a favourite at Stamford Bridge) to take my numbers back up to three and a second scout. I also got a young back up DL for £1k and an ex-Sydney Olympic and former Aus. U21 M/S C on a free from a Serie B club. He would fill in my attacking M C spot. Out went two young midfielders for a free and £0k respectively and a young GK for £1k to Fidelis Andria in the C1. A young MC also went out on loan to Nocerina in the C2. In addition another six youngsters were promoted from the academy. :eek:

Once again we were knocked out in the group stage of the cup however away ties to Napoli and Cosenza brought in a lot of dough. The Napoli game itself more than doubled our bank account. :p The league started poorly with our defense a shambles. By Christmas we had only 9 points and were 10 points adrift of safety.

The turnaround eventually came when an academy produced AM LC had a standout debut with two assists leading to a 2-2 draw. This started a good period of form, which saw us slowly climb the table, and eventually with five games to go we were only out the relegation spot on goal difference. To be continued…

retired_priyaa_00

Fingers and toes crossed for you. :eek:

retired_kswansonwoolf

*affects worried, strangled voice*

...well? :eek:

retired_nick88

With five games to go only one of the following three teams would survive: Pisa (39 points), Montichiari (39) or Ternana (37). Fifth to last game all three teams lost but we moved out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Fourth to last, us and Ternana both lost but Pisa got a hard-earned point. Third to last game, Pisa lost, Ternana won and we .... won, just.

So two games to go:
Montichiari (42), Ternana (40), Pisa (40)
Ternana's goal difference was well surperior to both us and Pisa whose g.d. was seperated by one goal in my favour.

Second last game,all three games sit at 0-0 at the 90th minute mark until watching the live update I see both the others concede late goals, I'm jumping around until Napoli do the exact same to us. D'oh. A 94th minute winner!!

Last game we go in two points ahead but still able to go out to either team on goal difference if we draw. Playing already promoted Fiorentina we are given the run around and turned over 3-0. Luckily the same happens in Ternana, however Pisa score two early goals against Bari. :eek: Bari begin to fight back needing a win to promote and score one back before half time. Thank god Bari pull on more from the bag sending Pisa down, waking up my neighbours and letting us survive by 1 point!!

Serie B: 18h P42 W11 L9 L22 F45 A69 GD-24 Pts42

Survival by one point. :thup: I just wish I could get a stadium upgrade from my 1000 no-seater. The damn board have turned me down every year. Apparently insufficient funds.

retired_priyaa_00

Whats your average gate? is it at max and what funds do you have, I think the Italian boears are very tight. also I got my stadium upgrade rejected by the council in my Italian save.

retired_priyaa_00

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bigpants:
Whats your average gate? is it at max and what funds do you have, I think the Italian boears are very tight. also I got my stadium upgrade rejected by the council in my Italian save. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Damb edit

Boears should read boards

retired_nick88

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bigpants:
Whats your average gate? is it at max and what funds do you have, I think the Italian boears are very tight. also I got my stadium upgrade rejected by the council in my Italian save. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My stadium is 1000 no seats and we have been averaging over 950 for the whole game and over 980 I think for the past two years. I think the problem is funds. The board says something along the lines of they would like to but we have insufficient funds. I only have a tad over half a million in the bank. Have to keep slowly collecting funds.