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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by shawng1:
I had a discipline problem with one of my youth signings from last season, a German DC. He failed to return from leave, so I fined him and then listed him. I also had another of my youth players complain when I fined him the second time he failed to show up for training on time. So I Free Transferred the prat.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
That'll learn the youngsters [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG]
KUTGW in the second half of the season shawn! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]
12-05-2002, 10:10 AM
LLM position-1st Div wages, what more could you want? Post #12
Well, the winter break is upon us. And we rattled off a 10 game unbeaten streak that's carried us 4 points clear at the top of the table. I made my bid for the Greek Striker, but he decided he'd wait until season's end before making decisions on his future--prat. Guess he likes playing for a semi-pro team. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG] I had a pretty sucessful Bosman season, adding a good amount of depth to the defense and a striker who might develop into a quality poacher. My #2 striker has fallen off the face of the earth, he isn't even able to score against lower division opponents in Cup matches this season (2 goals in 10 appearances). But my #1 striker is close to a goal a game rate. My Swedish AMC (and I'm using .68, so if you think this is Superswede, he's a DMC now [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]) has progressed into a very solid attacker, the question is how much more does he have in him to progress? I'm not sure he can run the attack at Div 1 level yet.
My #2 keeper has been a problem position all season too. I sent the one who started the year in the 1st team down to the reserves and promoted another who split time as a starter last season. But they've dropped almost a half a point off last season's form, despite facing fewer shots. The Czech keeper is solid, but I'm not sure how much better he'll get either. Even better, my scouts can't seem to identify any Goalkeepers for me to buy! They're really good at turning up DMCs, even though that's the one position I think I'll be set at if we do go up. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="roll eyes[/IMG] They keep pointing out DMCs all over Europe. I don't even add them to my short list anymore.
So although promotion to the top-flight is looking plausible, it's also looking like a dicey prospect. We still need improvement in the midfield, depth at DC, and quality fullbacks, along with at least 1 more quality keeper, if we're going to stay up.
I also made my first request to the board, asking them to improve the training facilities. They accepted, but that means I'm probably going to have to confine myself to Bosmans and a couple cheap signings for next season to meet those needs (assuming, again, we go up). Of course, we could have a total crash the second half of the season and solve all these problems for me too. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] The good news is, that even if we did, I think the board would still be delighted in me, as I think even a crash would leave us well clear of relegation. It would be cause for weeping and gnashing of teeth on my part though.
12-07-2002, 11:22 PM
LLM position-1st Div wages, what more could you want? Post #13
End of Season 02/03. We were promoted with just over a month left. We won the Division with 3 games left. We went through a rocky spell where it was win a match, lose or draw a match we should've won the next. But no one overtook us, as the teams in 2-4 played many of their matches in that stretch against each other as well. Then we sprinted out a 5 game win streak including wins over the 2nd and 3rd placed teams and clinched promotion, at which time I started looking at my depth for next season, which threw 3 late season losses on me. Needless to say, I was displeased with the depth issue. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG] We got knocked out of both Cups sooner than I would've liked. Though we lost the League Cup to Bordeaux, which finished the season in the top 3 in the First Division, so I couldn't cry too much about that. Other than the fact I felt like we rolled over and played dead for them.
We've brought in a fair number of Bosman signings to fix the depth issue. A few of whom will be ready to play right out of the box. Most of which are depth players. Most of the signings are to aid our back line. But we also took a look at the right side of midfield as well. I'm still trying to land that elusive Greek striker, Aris is after him as well. But I think I'm offering more money for him, so we'll see.
The board upgraded the facilities to "top-flight+ youth academy," so I'm pleased about that. The board has, however, sounded an ominous note for next season, "Battle bravely against relegation," are their orders for this year. I'm shooting for mid-table right now. Our Czech Keeper won 2nd Division Keeper of the Year, and we had two players named to the 2nd Division Select Side. My reputation is #3 in France (Very Good) and #274 worldwide (average). All in all, a successful season, but I'm hoping not to see my team winning 2nd Division honors again any time soon. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG]
12-07-2002, 11:27 PM
LLM position-1st Div wages, what more could you want? Post #14
Not too likely. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG] Glad to see you're reading though. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]
12-09-2002, 09:58 AM
LLM position-1st Div wages, what more could you want? Post #17
I've started the 03/04 season. We're fighting well for the most part, but my disciplinary regime is once again not looked upon favorably by some of our players. Remember the D/DM (R/C) who was out 4 months our first season. Well he's also been one of those who doesn't like being warned/fined for skipping practice. Then he put up a 5 rating, and got warned for it, and he considered the warning "harsh," and requested a transfer. I wonder how surprised he is no one is biting. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG] He's rotting in the reserves.
More problematic is my star Czech keeper, last year's 2nd Div keeper of the year, remember him? Well he played several good matches, and then played an absolute clunker against Bordeaux. Virtually dropped the ball into our own goal twice and earned a 5 rating in our most disappointing result of the season so far a 0-3 drubbing. He too found the warning "harsh." So I sent him to the reserves. Fortunately last season's #2, whom I nearly gave up on, is putting on an inspired show.
Oh, and the Greek Striker? I landed him. 6 games, 6 goals. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] A constant threat up top. I shifted last season's striker to the forward spot and he's responded well also. He scored his 30th League Goal against fellow promotion spot winner Lorient in a revenge match for one of our late season losses last season. It was the second of a brace. It was also a Toulouse all-time record for League goals scored by a player.
Right now we're in 3rd place. I doubt we'll finish that high, but we've had some good results. A 2-2 battling draw vs Auxerre at l'Abbe Deschamps, the 3-1 win over Lorient, and a 2-0 win over Monaco. All balanced against only the one disappointing performance vs Bordeaux, who is admittedly a good side. I'd say our chances of staying up are excellent, barring a massive wave of injuries, and we have a better-than-average chance at sneaking into Europe. But it's much too early to look past the next match right now.
12-10-2002, 02:34 AM
LLM position-1st Div wages, what more could you want? Post #18
Question. My goal with Toulouse was to reestablish them as a top-flight club. Regardless of what happens this season, I think I can say they'll stay up, so I've done my job. I'll also be a top 3 manager in France and possibly into the top 200 world-wide.
This is not a brag. But to set the stage for the question. Having met my goal, and being sucessful enough rep-wise to move, should I, or do you think I should stay at Toulouse and see if I can take them to further heights? I have to admit a certain attachment to the team I've built, but my usual rule for the careerist game is a 5 year max at a club unless it's one of the titans. In fact, my usual rule for careerist games is at 5 years I leave, even if it means my rep takes a hit. (Think of it as "personal reasons," or my act as a coach wearing thin, and thus needing to be reprised someplace else.)
So what does the court say, stay or go?
12-10-2002, 10:52 AM
LLM position-1st Div wages, what more could you want? Post #19
I'd say it depends if you're still relishing the challenge. A medium-sized club can always be made bigger, but it gets harder to stick to the true LLM ethics by that point. Although not impossible.
On the other hand, I find starting at a new club renews your energy for the game, and you find yourself whizzing through the first couple of seasons at your new club. Since you're aiming for a careerist career, maybe it'd be good to move on. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]
12-11-2002, 10:51 PM
LLM position-1st Div wages, what more could you want? Post #20
It's always a little anti-climactic when you achieve your goals and try to play on. I always find that it gets too easy and non-LLM when you have money thrown at you and Cups and Leagues don't have to be fought for.
As a rule of thumb when I go into games against the Big Clubs expecting to win, it's time to move on [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif" alt="cool[/IMG]
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