☀️The Algarve Underdogs: Moncarapachense’s Journey⚽

[KW-FM]

Welcome to L.G.C Moncarapachense

We've arrived at Moncarapacho, where the team finds itself in Portugal's 4th division, fresh from a relegation and eager for a comeback! Though this small club is nestled away in the shadows of the Algarve, it’s facing an uphill battle as one of the few semi-professional teams in the region. With a stadium that holds just 1,000 fans and facilities that have seen better days, it's clear this Football Manager save is going to be a challenge both on and off the pitch. But isn't that what makes the game so exciting?

With FM25 just around the corner, there’s no better time to dive into a rags-to-riches journey in Portugal to keep us entertained over the next few months.

As it stands, Moncarapachense has a modest following, 1-star youth facilities, and a training ground that aren't much better. The task ahead is daunting, but hey, at least we have the Algarve sunshine, right?

Surprisingly, our staff is fairly average, giving us a solid foundation to work with. Semi-professional status means we're limited for now, but with the right moves, that could change in the coming years.

Expectations and the Current Team​

The board expects us to finish mid-table this season, which seems like a reasonable target given the number of changes needed. With little to no budget, we'll need to rely on some shrewd deals to get this squad into shape.

Sadly, Olhanense's fall means no local derbies in the near future, but with Farense in the 2nd division, a rivalry might not be too far off.

The squad currently boasts 9 or 10 strong players who can perform well at this level, but beyond that, depth is a major concern. The goal was to build a solid core and see where that could take us. Here’s how things have gone so far…

New Signings​

First, we moved on 4 players, freeing up around £350 in wages. This allowed us to bring in some free transfers and dip into the loan market, which proved to be a game-changer.

Free Transfers:

• Bruno Bernardo: A veteran at 37, he’s a backup center-back bringing a wealth of experience.
• Capela: Another experienced head to anchor our midfield. He won’t be doing much running, but his presence is invaluable.
• Nemanja Perovic: A young steal, offering a solid option at center-back.
• Paulo Agostinho: A much-needed striker, perhaps overpaid, but worth it for his talent at this level.
• Page: Our 21-year-old midfield maestro, who will be the engine room this season. He also has good resale value, which might be handy down the line.

Loans:

• Josh Brooking: Our new right-back, who comes in with no fee or salary. An international-level player, he's a no-brainer.
• Ronnie Stutter: A striker who is far above our current level. Though raw, he could be a game-changer alongside Agostinho.
• Anton Bauerle: Our new left-back, rounding off a refreshed backline that’s key to our success this season.
• Ebenezer Akinsanmiro: The youngest addition, brought in from Inter Milan to partner with Page in midfield. He’s full of potential—let’s hope we can unlock it!

With 9 new additions and minimal spending on fees and wages, we’ve made a strong start at the club. The focus now is on climbing the league table, and we’ll reassess our progress come the January window. Here's to an exciting season ahead!
#AlgarveUnderdogs

 

[KW-FM]

A Mid Season Update

So we’ve had a great start to the season, proven by the fact we’ve already been offered a new deal and have now been extended to the end of next year. That alone shows how well we have been doing… although off the pitch i still haven't started any qualifications so i really do need to work on that.

Also to finish off some of the admin, we’ve had a new president voted in! Although at this level it really doesn't make a difference, it’s always good to keep up with these things! Welcome to the club Mr Russo!

Results

We’ve had a strong start to the 2023-2024 season, with 10 wins, 1 draw, and just 1 loss so far across all competitions. In the Campeonato de Portugal Série D, we’ve enjoyed some standout performances, including a dominant 5-0 win against Juventude Évora and a 5-1 victory over Oriental. Our Taça de Portugal run has been solid too, as we’ve progressed to the fourth round after hard-fought wins over Florgrade (3-1), Rebordosa (3-2), and Peniche (2-1). The only setback came in a narrow 0-1 loss to Fabril do Barreiro in November.

Key players like Ronnie Stutter, Diogo Conceição, and Leonardo Costa have been instrumental, with Stutter consistently finding the back of the net. Our 4-3-3 DM Wide setup has worked wonders, helping us play some fantastic football, and definitely makes me feel confident heading into the rest of the season.

And with these fantastic results we’ve ended up at the top of the league as we enter 2024. We’re in with a great shout of making the (extremely and unnecessarily complicated) playoffs.

A couple of new faces…

With the season going well i’ve tried to ensure we always stay a step ahead of the drop so ive began to move on some of the dead wood we have around. Although some of these have played a few games its best to get the wages off the budget so that we can bring in some talent to help us push for that much needed promotion! And that’s exactly what we did…

I made the most of the slack loan rules in the league and brought in a huge amount of young talented players on loan. They may not have experience but they have the talent, and that should be more than enough to help us get over the line this year!

Daiber is a stand out player on the wing who walks straight into the first eleven, along with Doy who will now be leading us from the back. Rigo, Ghinelli and Ruiz all come in with great potential and will act as solid backups all across the pitch for us.

I also spent whatever we had left in the wage budget on bringing in Lewis Grabban to lead the line, especially after Stutter picked up a 6 month injury so wont be back until the playoffs now. I also brought in Venton Evans, a holding midfielder who may not get the regular minutes but i'm sure will chip in with some performances here and there!

Finances…

And finally this has left us in a reasonable position financially still, especially as a part time club we don't have a massive outgoings column to worry about. But we do still need to be mindful as the more loans we bring in has led to a lack of actual contracted players to us so if we don't get that promotion this year we may be left in a tricky position!

Let’s see how we get on for the rest of our promotion push now!

#AlgarveUnderdogs

 

[KW-FM]

Ole Ole Oleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

So here we are at the end of the season! Honestly, I’m not too sure how this has happened again, but I’ve just been handed a new contract. I guess some interest from a team in the league above might explain it, but either way, here we go!

A Thrilling Journey​

This season was a wild ride for the team. We played some truly fantastic football, consistently securing wins and performing strongly in the promotion stages. The highlights? Definitely our big victories, like the 5-0 and 5-1 thrashings in May. The squad really gelled, and I’m proud of how we came together when it mattered. Of course, the losses to Sporting CP and that tough playoff final defeat were bitter pills to swallow, but overall, the season was a success. Best of all, we managed to secure promotion at the first time of asking.

A Hard-Fought Grind​

This season was no walk in the park. The competition in the promotion stage group was fierce, but we dug deep and put in the hard work, which ultimately paid off. Winning the league itself didn’t guarantee promotion, but it sure was satisfying to see just how dominant we were throughout the year.

The Winning Squad​

Our squad, packed with youth, ended the season on a high. We relied heavily on loan players, which is something I’m hoping to change next season—loans aren’t a sustainable solution. But let’s talk about the stars: Perović, Costa, and Evans were absolute rocks for us throughout the campaign. Having a strong bench made life so much easier, especially in the second half of the season.

However, we’re facing some challenges. A lot of contracts are up, and players like Isako and Evans have already rejected new deals, which means we might lose some key players. It’s a bit frustrating, but we’ll figure it out.

Looking Ahead​

With this season’s success comes change, and we’re heading into a new era for the club—starting with turning professional! The board is making moves to upgrade our facilities, and the future looks bright.

We’ve also been moved out of our old stadium due to capacity issues. Now, we’re playing in the council-owned Estadio Francisco Xavier de Ataíde Oliveira. It’s got room to expand from 1,000 to 5,000 seats, so this could be home for a while.

Budgets & Rebuild​

Now for the not-so-exciting part—budgets. They aren’t anything to get too excited about, but they do give us the flexibility to bring in plenty of free transfers and trialists. A rebuild is on the horizon, and I’m eager to see what the next level brings for us.

Keep an eye out for the next update. I’m powering through this save, and the summer window is just around the corner!

#AlgarveUnderdogs

 

[KW-FM]

A New Era Begins…​

The professional status is set, and the new season is now upon us! A new era begins at Moncarapachense as we embark on the journey to climb the Portuguese football pyramid. There is so much work to do around the club to get us to the heights of challenging for top division titles, European competition, and more. So, I thought it was best to start small and work our way up!

Backroom Rebuild​

Our first priority is rebuilding the backroom team. With most of our staff on month-to-month deals, we'll need to put in the work to assemble a strong team that can support the players and help them improve. The goal is to give the squad the foundation it needs to develop and compete at a higher level.

Transfer Dealings​

With promotion came the need for a major squad overhaul. We lost several key loanees and lacked depth across the board, so we moved swiftly to strengthen nearly every position.

We reluctantly said goodbye to Isako while also letting Souza, Maciel, and Pereira leave on free transfers. We managed to get small fees for Jailson and Sadidi, though they don’t significantly impact our budget at this stage.

This season, we’re also tackling the homegrown challenge, with 14 of our 18-man squad required to be trained in Portugal. Moving on some players is a risk, but we've brought in plenty of new faces to meet the quota.

Key Signings​

We brought in a large group of 20 players, but each signing serves a purpose, especially with the homegrown quota in mind. While I won't go through every single one, here are some of the highlights:

• Xavi: Our new midfield maestro. He's a real quality player for this level, but he’s recovering from an injury, so we’ll slowly ease him into the squad.
• Tiago Maia: Returning to the club as our captain and leading man in goal.
• Fernando Fernandes: A promising left-back with 5-star potential, who will get plenty of minutes this season.
• Nani: (No, not that Nani!) A reliable winger, expected to be a key player—injury permitting.
• Andre Liberal: A forward who hasn’t scored many in his career yet, but fits our Advanced Forward role perfectly. I have high hopes for him.
• Miguel Menino: One for the future, tasked with controlling the midfield alongside Xavi.
• Piqueti: Our most experienced signing at 32, bringing valuable experience from higher levels.
• Djedje: Our anchorman, on loan from Norwich, and one of the highest-profile signings of the year.

Looking Ahead​

So, here’s how we look going into the season (a few games in at this point). We’re still relying on loanees more than we would like, but at this level, the talent you can get from young loanees can help push you up the leagues more quickly.

While staying within our budget, we’ve put together a squad that looks solid for the Portuguese third division. The critics agree, placing us as 4th favourites for the league title! It’s a massive upgrade for the club, and now it's up to us to prove them right.

Financial Stability​

And finally, here’s our balance at the club: we’re still in the green and seem to be following the right financial curve. No complaints here! Fingers crossed we can maintain this with our new club structure and keep building for the future.

The season ahead is full of challenges and opportunities, but with the squad and staff we've assembled, we're ready to smash Liga 3!

#AlgarveUnderdogs