retired_blondielovespink

Quite possibly, seeing my predecessor got sacked for only making the Quarters at the Euro Championships. That said, he was the manager from the beginning of the game, won nothing, and lasted 6 years. So I think if I'm in the final reckoning of some tourneys, I'll last as long as I want to.

My Champion's League Group looks legitimately cake this time. I have a Danish side, a Finnish semi-pro side, and Rangers. Heh-heh, now I get to show them how stupid they were for passing me up. Heh-heh. Gotta love that 2.6 mil, that's 3-4 months of our negative balance made up right there. Second round would be fine, though if we get a favorable draw in Round 2, we could sneak through. But first thing's first.

retired_blondielovespink

Shock at Auxerre! Lacroix Walks!
October 10, 2008

Pierre Lacroix's talks with Auxerre turned for the worse today as the board refused to give him the pay raise he desired. The manager of the defending champions, who had the side contending for honors again this season, tendered his resignation due to, "A lack of respect by the board for my efforts on behalf of the club."

Supporters were seen weeping as Lacroix waved to the fans and his players stood shocked as he shook their hands while clearing out his office. The board could not be reached for comment. Lacroix said that his principle reason for stepping down, in addition to the wage issue, was interference by the board in his handling of French National Team matters. "In the end, it came down to loyalty to my country or loyalty to a side that has shown me none. I think that's an easy choice to make. I owe this much to my players however, I will not take another job in the French First Division. At least not until next season. I hope the best for our side, and I want to salute our ever-loyal fans. I'm glad I could be part of bringing Auxerre back to where it belongs."

In National Team matters, the French Side, headed by a Lacroix who now can devote all his attention to it, a fact that other international managers must rue considering his success with the club hand tied behind his back previously, defeated Germany 1-0 in Berlin in a friendly. The win runs Lacroix's record with France to 4/1/0, the only draw being a the qualifier in Oslo, 2-2 to Norway. France, of course, sits firmly atop it's qualification group, virtually assured of booking passage to the World Cup already.

Mr Lacroix also proved true to his word, as he flatly refused Racing Club Len's offer to take over their struggling side, despite the nearly 40mil transfer budget he was offered to revitalize the side. "I'm ready to go abroad," is what he said in reply. That said, surprisingly few clubs have taken interest in the accomplished 40 year old manager as of yet. But seeing as he still draws a hefty salary from the French FA, he isn't exactly living on the dole.

retired_blondielovespink

Lacroix takes a ride on the Reading!

Pierre Lacroix took his penchant for reclamation projects to the other side of the Chunnel when he was announced as Reading's new skipper today. Reading, which was in the Premiership on 04/05, had slumped to 7th in the 2nd Division after being relegated last season.

The despondant side seemed ready to flee before his arrival, however a 3-1 crushing home win of Oxford in the Van Trophy could convince the player's to stick around. The Board wishes to see the side make the playoffs, and Lacroix has said that is entirely possible.
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Yes, I'm in England. Even though I took a Div 2 side, my reputation is already #2 in England, even over my Arsenal compatriot. I haven't seen so many "unh" symbols since my first season in the National. The squad is 27 players, and not a true right sided midfielder in the whole bunch. The board gave me 12mil, but seeing as it was January 12th when I took over, I won't be spending much of it this season. My goal is to see the team into the playoffs this season, who knows what'll happen if we get in, then to add some depth in midfield.

We did crush Oxford 3-1 in my first match, a Van Trophy contest that sees us into the Quarterfinals. We're only a couple points out of the playoffs now, so I think the board's ambitions for the season are realistic. We seat 24,000, so the stadium is good sized for at least the 1st Division if we promoted. So my goal is to see them reestablished as a Div 1 side in 3 years (meaning promoted and saved from the drop).

retired_steffani

ha ha ha remember when i told you about Reading im glad you've taken over us, we're a good side, please tell me Roland Rat is still in the team!
Im a loyal Royals fan and now this already amazing story is gunna get better
Come on URZZZZZZZZ (get used to that chant u'll hear it alot at the Madjeski Stadium!

[This message was edited by iajafer on 16 January 2003 at 22:11.]

KingsbayYHPE

Get used to this chant. "Don't name f****n' players!!! Even crap ones like him. Not in LLM, not ever!!!"

retired_steffani

me is sorry Mod, hes a IRL fave of mine, lol me wonts do it agen tho and hey hes n ot poor IRL u cant argue with his scoring record

retired_steffani

Yes they are one of our closest Rivals and a win over Oxford is always great, but we are more rivals with Swindon (booooooo) still the Reading faithfull we take to a manager like Shawn cos he posses 10 times the talent of Alan Pardew

retired_blondielovespink

DD,

Actually we were well positioned to go to the 2nd round when I left Auxerre. We had 6 points from 3 matches, and the 3rd place team had 1. We lost at Ibrox, but won the other two matches easily. I don't know how my successor did when I left. I do know the club slumped to 7th in the League, a full 18 points off the leaders, by the time I took the Reading job.

retired_insjat

This ain't the greatest place to ask I know, but Shawn you seem quite a experienced guy to ask - who should I take over in my first game in France.

My options are PSG, aim to take an all French team (and the one Brazilian) to CL, similar to your first game with Auxerre...

...or Cannes, because they have a decent debt so it could be a fun challenge.

Really I'm looking for the bigger team having just spend 3 seasons in Sweden's division 2, but is LL France as much fun as the youth academies of the top teams...

Thanks for an reply you give!

retired_blondielovespink

I think the National is a lot of fun. You can only name 3 subs a match, so you have to decide if that #2 keeper for the rare sending off is really worth it compared to protecting your squad against injuries. You can only use 3 non-French players, and there's a real mix of talent. Plus the French League is simple, you advance or relegate on position. The first year 4 go up in the National, after that 3.

The AI usually does very well with Cannes. They almost always are a strong 1st Div team in 5 years. So they must have something going for them. As opposed to Metz, who's NEVER been able to stay in the 1st in my games, and never gets back to the 1st once they've dropped out. In fact, in this game they're fighting to stay in the National.

As for PSG, yuch. No challenge. Too much money. Yeah the Brazilian is awesome. But they have a much easier time of it in the game than they have IRL (in which they're actually struggling financially). If you want to play big club, take Auxerre. It's a good challenge. You have a high quality lineup of young guns, a board with low expectations, and the best youth set-up in France. In truth, Europe can be yours for the taking---if you can keep the team together. The problem with Auxerre is that the initial fan support of 14-15000 is all you ever get, so your wages will have to be carefully monitored, and if you don't win, well you'll be selling some of those stars to make payroll. It's as close to LLM as a big club gets.

Wimb, I don't know who the rat is, but there's absolutely no one left from the original Reading squad. When the side relegated from the Premiership in 06, they did a firesale.