All Aboard the Bulgarian Express...

  • Thread starter Thread starter AndySams10
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 84
  • Views Views 15K
A

AndySams10

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
2,320
Reaction score
0
Points
36
All Aboard the Bulgarian Express...

View attachment 361069


Introduction:

So after a few months of testing various teams, numerous chats with Safc-mad-scotty, coolmcool and JasonM, plus many saves where I thought I'd found the right combination of club and country, only to either lose interest or find some weird rule that put me off, I've finally found a save where I have got the FM buzz back that I had been missing for a while now.

Having read about the fantastic job done by safc-mad-scotty with his FC Inter Turku save in Finland and coolmcool's story about Limerick in Ireland, where they both are looking to develop not only the club, but the country too, I knew that would be the type of save I'd be keen on doing for my final FM'14 save/story, so I hope I can emulate the fantastic success they both have achieved.


History:

View attachment 361057

World Ranking (in game): 62nd

As you can see the Bulgarian national team haven't had any success with regards to the senior set up to date, though they have won the U21 European Championship on one occasion, back in 1967, and also the U19 European Championship three times in 1959, 1969 and 1974.
My aim with this save, is to manage a team in the Bulgarian 'A' Group and attempt to over come the top two teams in the league, CSKA Sofia (league winners 31 times) and Levski Sofia (league winners 26 times) and become a force domestically and in Europe, while in the process developing star players to help improve the national team's ranking and success on the pitch. Though I won't be starting off as manager of the national team, I will be looking to manage them at some point.


*** I really hope you will enjoy my journey and any comments and likes are always appreciated. ***
​
 
JUNE 2013:

View attachment 361056


Lokomotiv(Sofia):

I've decided to manage Lokomotiv(Sofia), purely because they are based in the countries capital city and they have a big rivalry with CSKA and Levski, the two teams I'm looking to topple and dominate.

Club Background:

View attachment 361055

We have won the 'A' Group on four occasions and the Bulgarian cup once, so we do have a little bit of history, but no where near our two main rivals.

View attachment 361053

With news that the Bulgarian league has slipped down the European coefficients table, it shows how disappointing the the domestic league has been doing of late, a challenge for me to improve and sooner rather than later, as I'd prefer teams to enter European competition a round later to give us any chance of improving the league standing and any possible success in Europe at a later stage.

The Squad:

View attachment 361052

Key Players:

View attachment 361050View attachment 361049

Hot Prospect:

View attachment 361048

Frustratingly Georg is on loan at Parma this season and has an agreed fee of 210k in place if he impresses. With Marquinhos currently not keen on renewing his contract, I'm hoping Parma won't follow up with a bid at the end of the season, as Georg could become a vital player, not only for us, but the national team too.

Finances:

View attachment 361045

These are the finances at the start of the season, after I released a couple of players and backroom staff. With not much money currently in the Bulgarian game, this is an area I'll have to improve on via player sales and success in the league and eventually Europe, to help achieve my ambitions for the club and nation.
​
 
JULY 2013:

View attachment 361040


Pre-Season:

View attachment 361039

I'm happy with our Pre-Season performances, as we played some good sides who play regularly in European competitions, which gives me a good feeling about my current bunch of players. We gave Gladbach a good run for their money, but maybe fatigue started to creep in, though we only lost by a single goal. The only negative was the disappointing loss to FC Bihor, who play in the Romanian second divison, but overall we can go into the season full of confidence.

Injury News:

View attachment 361038

Gael Nlundulu - Achilles Tendonitis - Out for 4 weeks

Season Ticket News:

View attachment 361037

Hmmm definately will need increasing, but hopefully not too hard to achieve.

Matches:

View attachment 361036

Injury News:

View attachment 361035

Dimitar Iliev - Torn Hamstring - Out for 3 months

This is a huge blow for us, as Iliev is the only recognised striker at the club.

Finances:

View attachment 361033

League Table:

View attachment 361029

Summary:

A very good month to start off the league campaign with three wins out of three, especially beating Ludogorets on the opening day, as they are the current champions.
It's a huge blow losing Dimitar Iliev, who has been in fine form, as he is our only forward, so hopefully I can look to bring in a decent replacement.
​
 
Last edited:
the beast in carnate said:
are you going a club and country or just the country ?
Click to expand...

I'm starting off with the club (Lokomotiv Sofia) and hope to turn them into the top club in Bulgaria and hopefully at some point I'll get the chance to manage the National Team too. :D
 
AUGUST 2013:

View attachment 361012


Transfer News:

View attachment 361010

Souleymane Coulibaly - Season long loan from Tottenham Hotspur

With Iliev injured I needed to bring in another forward and having never bought Souleymane Coulibaly before and hearing the potential he has in real life, I thought I'd bring him in and hopefully can fill the void left by Dimitar's injury.

Matches:

View attachment 361004

Finances:

View attachment 361002

League Table:

View attachment 360996

Summary:

What a terrible month with 5 draws and a loss for the month of August. We threw away leads against both CSKA and Levski when we were firmly in control of the game and the loss against a very poor side in Botev, shows that their is a lot of work ahead. The one positive was that Coulibaly opened his account for the club, so hopefully can go on a scoring run and help us get back to winning ways and close the big gap that's appearing at the top of the table.
​
 
SEPTEMBER 2013:

View attachment 360985


Transfer News:

View attachment 360983

Valentin Galev to Sampdoria - 100k

View attachment 360981

Petar Dimitrov to Rubin - 60k

View attachment 360978

Aleksander Branekov to Sampdoria - 500k

View attachment 360975

Kostadin Stoyanov joins on a Free Transfer

View attachment 360970

Sebastian Pardo joins on a Free Transfer

View attachment 360958

Ivelin Lazarov joins on a Free Transfer

Matches:

View attachment 360962

Finances:

View attachment 360960

League Table:

View attachment 360959

Summary:

A much better month as we got back to winning ways in the league and also progressed in the cup following a two legged win over Akademik. Souleymane Coulibaly also continued his fine scoring form and new signing Sebastian Pardo also got his first goal for the club in our win over Cherno More.
Our finances are looking in better shape, which is down to the sale of 3 players and most notably our captain Aleksandar Branekov, but I felt the bid from Sampdoria was one we couldn't turn down.
I also secured the signing of young talent Ivelin Lazarov, who I hope will turn into a potential star with help from being tutored by Marquinhos.
​
 
Safc-mad-scotty said:
Nice start mate, where are you predicted to finish in the league?
Click to expand...

Cheers buddy. Predicted to finish 7th, but should easily beat that. Done about 3/4 of the season, so will post up some more when I get back from Pre Season training. :)
 
Going well mate, Like the look of the team and layout, the only player i have ever heard of from your team i think is Gael Nlundulu was he a trainee at Liverpool or Arsenal?
 
coolmcool said:
Going well mate, Like the look of the team and layout, the only player i have ever heard of from your team i think is Gael Nlundulu was he a trainee at Liverpool or Arsenal?
Click to expand...

Cheers buddy, following a similar layout to yourself and Scotty, so hope you don't mind. Nlundulu was at PSG as a youngster then went to Portsmouth, not sure if he was at Liverpool or Arsenal. :)
 
TicTactition said:
Very interesting.. How are you finding managing in Bulgaria?
Click to expand...

Thanks mate. Yeah it's actually ok, standard isn't too great from majority of the teams and don't have decent wage budget yet, due to a wage cap of 60% of turnover!!! Guess European football will help that increase with more income.
 
Good start to the season, particularly when you're expected to finish 7th. I imagine it'll take a while before an improvement in the national team is visible, but good luck nonetheless:)
 
OCTOBER 2013:

View attachment 360719


Injury News:

View attachment 360717

Sebastian Pardo - Strained Knee Ligaments - Out for up to 2 months

Matches:

View attachment 360711

Finances:

View attachment 360708

League Table:

View attachment 360704

Summary:

Another pleasing start to month, which saw us beat reigning champions Ludogorets with ease, along with a couple of other victories. We ended the month with an absolute shocker, as we were thrashed by Beroe in front of our home support, but despite the loss we sit third in the table and have closed the gap on the leaders.
​
 
JasonM said:
Good start to the season, particularly when you're expected to finish 7th. I imagine it'll take a while before an improvement in the national team is visible, but good luck nonetheless:)
Click to expand...

Cheers mate, really appreciate the support, especially from a new member to Base! Yeah I'm not expecting fireworks from the NT at the moment, but would like domestic success early and hopefully a taste of European football to help the income and allow us to improve the facilities. (H)
 
Looking forward to a strong end to the season from you, interesting me alot.
 
NOVEMBER 2013:

View attachment 360693


Injury News:

View attachment 360688

Azrack Mahamat - Sports Hernia - Out for 5 to 7 weeks

View attachment 360686

Souleymane Coulibaly - Sprained Ankle - Out for 6 to 7 weeks

View attachment 360685

Daniel Gadzhev - Twisted Ankle - Out for 5 weeks

Contract News:

View attachment 360682

Very happy to have signed an extension to my contract until 2015, let's hope I can keep building on the positive start I've made, then hopefully I can take over the National Team as well.

Matches:

View attachment 360678

Finances:

View attachment 360677

League Table:

View attachment 360674

Summary:

An encouraging double over our closest rivals CSKA got the month underway, as we bounced back from our horrific defeat at the end of October, by beating them in the league and 1st leg of the 2nd round in the cup and we went on to knock them out following a draw in the 2nd leg. We were then beaten fortunately by Levski, as a single goal brought us back down to earth. We should've closed the gap at the top by a couple more points, but threw away a 2 goal lead against Blotev to end the month in second place in the league.
​
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

FMBase

Beta

Resources

Back
Top