retired_twins12

Well, I'm playing FM08 with the final 8.02 patch. All leagues from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland loaded.

I've taken note of comments from my previous update, and this will be a little less wordy than the previous one (although it won't be one-line updates!).

I decide to start unemployed, and apply for every job that becomes available (whilst holidaying) and take the first job that comes up.

The first club to take a chance on me is Oxford United Stars, who are in Northern Ireland's 2nd Division, in March 2008 with 4 games left in the season. All 4 games are lost heavily, with no goals scored. So I figure out the team's problem straight away – they can't score and can't defend. So I send the scouts out so hopefully I can start the first proper season with some players worth fielding!

2008/09 - OXFORD UNITED STARS – NORTHERN IRISH 2ND DIVISION

MEDIA PREDICTION: 8th (of 12)
BOARD EXPECTATION: Safe mid-table position

Well, I only managed to sign two players during the close season. A 17 year-old striker who is part of the Northern Ireland U19 squad and a ML. So defensively, I have to make do with the dross already at the club. The ML is decent enough, but the young striker is a revelation – scoring a hugely impressive 28 goals in 25 appearances. Thanks to his efforts, and those of a decent striker I find rotting in the reserves late on in the season (by accident – he only made the side due to virtually every other striker being injured) my side have the best scoring record in the division. Shame about the defence – we have the 2nd worst defensive record in the league!

Incidentally, the young striker was the divisions 'signing of the season', according to the end of season summary.

The high points for me are without a doubt these two strikers who I think will make a good partnership next season, and also discovering that my keeper is an expert penalty taker. The low point being the board accepting an offer for my best midfielder over my head which is 'simply too good to refuse'. The offer in question being £0. He wasn't even a high wage earner for flips sake! Grrrrrr......

Looking forward to the next season. I just need to shore up the defence!


P:22 W:9 D:5 L:8 F:45 A:39 GD:+6 PTS:32
Final position: 5th

CUPS:
Irish Cup: 3rd Round
Intermediate League Cup: quarter final
Intermediate Cup: 1st Round.

Players in: 2 (£0)
Players out: 8 (£10k)

retired_twins12

2009/10 - OXFORD UNITED STARS – NORTHERN IRISH 2ND DIVISION

MEDIA PREDICTION: 7th (of 12)
BOARD EXPECTATIONS: Safe mid-table postion

4 more players signed during the close season, 3 of which were defenders. The other was a young striker who looked to have potential, who I put into my U18s team to gain experience as I was happy with the strikers I already had in the first team.

After last season's above expectation finish, the board wanted more of the same and expected a mid-table finish. I agreed with them, as I didn't want to set my sights too high just yet.

I needn't have worried, despite a poor showing in the intermediate league cup, the team got off to a good start, and despite a couple of blips along the way, we were in excellent form in the league all season and won the division. My star striker played less of a part this season due to some injuries, but he was still in good form, as was my other main striker. Pleasingly, the defence was much better this season as well. Fat GK helped the cause with 6 goals (all from penalties) in the league and cup matches.

P:22 W:14 D:5 L:3 GS:51 GA:24 GD:+27 PTS:47
Final position 1st (Promoted!) \o/

Cups:
Irish Cup: 3rd round
Intermediate league cup: didn't get past the group phase
Intermediate cup: 4th round

Players in: 4 (£0)
Players out: 10 (£0)

retired_twins12

2010/11 – OXFORD UNITED STARS – NORTHERN IRISH FIRST DIVISION

MEDIA PREDICTION - 10th (of 12)
BOARD EXPECTATIONS – Avoid relegation

Thinking my team should be able to compete in the next division up, I bring in only one player in the summer - a DC.

The team does well in the league, and the striker I bought last season and stuck in the youth comes into the first team due to injuries to the other strikers, and does very well indeed, being the club's joint top scorer for the season with 20 goals.

To continue my good fortune, we actually manage to win one of Northern Ireland's many cup competitions. We beat Annagh United 2-1 in the Intermediate League Cup Final.

The team more than holds its own in the league as well, finishing 3rd.

P:22 W:10 D:5 L:7 F:39 A:28 GD:+11 PTS:35
Final position: 3rd

Cups:
Irish Cup: 4th round
Intermediate League Cup: Winners \o/
Intermediate Cup: 2nd round

Players in – 1(free)
Players out – 14 (£0)

After guiding the club to their all-time highest position, I am offered a new 2 year contract, which I accept. The chairman wants the club to be an established first division club at the end of the 'two year plan'.

Looking forward to seeing what the coming seasons bring!

retired_nahed

TG!KUTFGSGW!

(Fat Goalie Scoring Goals)

retired_scd1411

Sweet updates nice to see you progressing the club.. keep it up and hopefully you'll be in the N.Ireland elite soon..

retired_twins12

I meant to mention that he chipped in with 7 goals in the last season - 2 in one game as well.

It's strange really, but he seems to be my only player capable of scoring from the spot!

retired_angeliwuoma

Goal scoring keepers in N'Ireland , Jimbo's got a lot to answer for.

retired_twins12

It's not Jimbo's fault!

It happened by accident - my keeper has a very similar name to the player who had the best penalty taking stats in my team, and I put him as the penalty taker by mistake (not paying enough attention to what I was doing!).

When he scored, I just stuck with him.

retired_twins12

2011/12 – OXFORD UNITED STARS – NORTHERN IRISH FIRST DIVISION

MEDIA PREDICTION: 5th (of 12)
BOARD EXPECTATION: Respectable league position

The board want me to gain another respectable league position, which I agree with, but with the possibility of promotion to the premier league in the back of my mind. I strengthen the team during pre-season by signing two midfielders who my scout has highly recommended.

The season goes ok, certainly not as well as last season. We're inconsistent, and struggle away from home. We have good performances in the Intermediate League Cup, reaching the semi-final, and also in the Irish Cup, reaching the Quarter Final. But we didn't play as well in the league as I'd hoped we would, especially at the end of the season. And more worrying was that one of my two quality strikers refused a new contract, wanting more than I could pay and agreed a contract with Scottish 2nd Division side Brechin. He was my top scorer last season and I'll think the team will miss him a lot.

P:22 W:8 D:6 L:8 F:43 A:41 GD:+2 PTS:30
Final position: 5th

CUPS:
Northern Irish Cup: Quarter-final
Intermediate League Cup: Semi-final
Intermediate Cup: 1st Round

Players in – 2 (£0)
Players out – 7 (£0)

retired_ajwinner

Great to see someone take on Northern Ireland. i am from there but taken on a team in that low league i felt was impossible. i tried them all but the only one i was able to get anywere with was Dergview. this was mainly because i knew of them as they are only a couple of miles away from my home. I hope you the best in your next years of the game