Ascending From The Adelante - StuW's FC Cartagena Story

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How Will my First Season Go??

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StuW

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After seeing one of Spain's lower league success stories this year, I have decided to have a go at managing Liga adelante new boys FC Cartagena, which is also a relatively local club for me.

FC CARTAGENA - A BRIEF HISTORY
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home games at the Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 seaters.

In the first eight years, it was known as Cartagonova Fútbol Club, and first played in the third division in 1998–99. They have progressed steadily from the lower leagues to the Liga Adelante, Spain's second tier.
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130px-FC_Cartagena_escudo.png

WATSON TAKES CHARGE AT CARTAGNOVA

FC Cartagena today unveiled Englishman Stuart Watson as the clubs new manager. 30-year old Watson, who had a brief playing career in England and Spain with Bishop Auckland, FC Torrevieja and CF San Fulgencio said this was too good of an opportunityto turn down.

Previous manager Juan Martinez had left the club after national papers revealed his second, sordid life as a drug smuggler, distributing high quality goods from Colombia.

MY GOALS, AND 2 SEASON PLAN
Season 1 - Push for a high mid-table position, and freshen the squad.
Season 2 - Push for Promotion

STAR PLAYERS
Pascal Cygan(DC)
cygan+Cartagena.jpg

The French centre-back will undoubtedly be the main man in the centre of the back line. The ex-Arsenal player signed for the club in 2009 on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract.

Victor(AMRC, FC)
Victor_1.jpg

The former Spain international is the oldest member of the squad, and will bring much needed experience and quality to the attack. Another new player, signing a one-year deal.

Antonio Longas(AMC)
LONGAS%201.jpg

24 year old Longas will add some creativity and will be a important player in the squad. Just signed from Barcelona B, on a two year deal.

UPDATES SOON​
 
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Best of luck Stu. I like stories with low clubs in foreign countries :)
 
Definitely following
VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICTOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!!!!! VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICTOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!!!
He is a Valladolid idol, we should have never released him last year.This year, were practically relegated without him :'(
 
Right, so if Cygan is a key player, you have no chance :S.

Joke, good luck pal, will definitely check this out.
 
SQUAD
The squad is a good mixture of youth and also experience. I will need to remove some dead wood, and bring in some new faces to consolidate our place in the league.
View attachment 54580
View attachment 54581

Assistant Report
View attachment 54582

My assistant seems to think the squad is OK, but I still see some weaknesses that need addressing soon, otherwise we will have major problems.

GOALKEEPERS
Ruben
Juan Carlos Castilla
Oscar

My GKs are very good for this division. Ruben will be my no1, with Castilla and Oscar as backup, so no signings here.

CENTRAL DEFENCE
Xabier Etxeita(on Loan)
Pascal Cygan
Pablo Ruiz
Chus Herrero

Strong defence, and dont see any need to sign anyone here either, although a loan signing would re-enforce that area.

RIGHT BACK
Unai Exposito
Txiki

Unai will be good enough, but Txiki may not be good enough, so I will be looking to sell him, with interest in him from 4 clubs, and bring in a replacement

LEFT BACK
Franck Signorino(on Loan)
Rafael Clavero
Javier Casas

Another strong area, but interest in Casas and Clavero is high, and any extra money is helpful.

MIDFIELD RIGHT
Balboa(on Loan)
Ander Lafuente
Tonino

Balboa will be first choice, and the backup is strong, although Lafuente is injury prone according to my coaches, so may look to bring in a loanee, or a freebie here.

MIDFIELD LEFT
Juan Carlos Moreno
Ander Lafuente

Moreno is very good for this level, so he should be first choice. Lafuente is a two-sided player, so he will be useful, but may need to look for someone here.

MIDFIELD CENTRE
Mariano
Hector
Antonio Longas
Enrique de Lucas

Quite strong, but mainly attack-minded players here. I would like to bring in a defensive MF.

STRIKER
Alberto Quintero
Juan Diego Gonzales-Vigil
Toche
Tato

Good strikers, but Tato is not good enough for the squad. I cant sell, as he is a new signing.

SIGNINGS -
1 DC
1 DR
1 DL
1 MR
1 ML
1 DMC
1/2 ST​
 
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Frankie said:
Right, so if Cygan is a key player, you have no chance :S.

Joke, good luck pal, will definitely check this out.
Click to expand...

Very good player at this level, and also an ex-Chelski player playing for me(de Lucas)
 
Good luck. Predicted quite low but i'm sure you will do well :) There 1st on my Hayes & Yeading story atm.
 
Tom26 said:
Good luck. Predicted quite low but i'm sure you will do well :) There 1st on my Hayes & Yeading story atm.
Click to expand...

Yeah, predicted 18th, but are sitting 5th on my Newcastle save. Really good side, and some good signings, I may push for promotion this season.
 
Best of luck Stu. Should be a great story. ^^)
 
Last update before I enter the Bernabeu to watch el Gran Clasico :)

I have been handed a handsome, but small 675k transfer budget. I will use carefully, and will have to use clauses and loans to secure the players I want to sign.

SIGNINGS
I have signed -
Rafa - Loan to buy from Getafe.(4,100 p/w)
View attachment 54589

I needed a DM, and this guy is the exact type I needed. If he impresses, I can snap him up for 500k. His wage is realtively high, but if he performs as he should, it will be worth it.

Tomas Horava - 225k transfer from Sigma Olomouc(1,000 p/w)
View attachment 54590

A quality young player, will be easily pushing for first team place from the start. Very cheap, and I have had good experiences on previous games with him.

Florin Soava - Free Transfer(4,100 p/w)
View attachment 54591

Experienced Left back, who will give me some good cover in that area, and could push into the first team. Again, quite high wages, but you need to pay for this type of player.

OUT

I released most of my U-19 squad to reduce the wage bill. 16 players left, costing me 98k in the process.

Oscar - loan to Cartagena La Union. A player who will not see much of the first team, so was loaned to feeder club.

Tonino - loan to Cartagena La Union. Another who will not play for me.

Hector - loan to Murcia Imperial. 21 year old not ready for 1st team, so the loan is a good move for him.​
 
Nice signings mate. I know you'll do them proud. ^^)
 
Will update tomorrow. I have had a wonderful night in the Bernabeu, and now time to check out the Madrid nightlife, and women ;)
 
Please vot on the poll, and see if you can predict my final finish at the end of the season!

Updates soon!
 
FRIENDLY ROUNDUP
Quite a busy pre-season for me, with seven friendlies, against different levels of opposition.

Cartagena 6-0 KATI-Sport(Russia)
Balboa(2), Horava, Mariano(pen), de Lucas, Etxeita.
View attachment 54836

A pleasing result, dominant possession, so much to be please with. Balboa turned in a Man of the Match performance, with two goals, and 2 assists. De Lucas scored the pick of the goals, a drive from 25 yards.

Cartagena 4-0 Alicante
Balboa(2), Victor, Etxeita
View attachment 54837

Yet again, Balboa with a MoM performance, another 2 goals, and assist. Not as dominant as the previous outing, but the scoreline tells it all. Alicante have just been relegated, so it is a great result against resilient opposition.

Cartagena 7-0 Extremadura
Balboa(2), Victor(3), Cocis, Moreno
View attachment 54838

Another big win, and another unbelievable performance from Balboa. 2 goals here takes his pre-season tally to 6 goals, and 4 assists. Dominant display, with plenty of positives.

Roquetas 1-1 Cartagena
Rafa
View attachment 54839

A disappointing performance, we didnt get going, and let our early lead slip right at the death, after a solid game. On loan Rafa looked solid throughout in DM, and got a deserved goal.

Farense(Portugal) 1-1 Cartagena
Balboa
View attachment 54842

Again, we let a lead slip. Balboa is fast becoming a important player for us, with another outstanding performance on the wing. Dominant throughout, but we didn't have the cutting edge to kill the game off.

Cartagena 1-4 Sevilla
Cygan
View attachment 54844

I didn't expect to win this game, and we didn't. We were outplayed from beginning to end, and showed the gulf(which is more like an ocean) in class between us and Sevilla. We had a lot of possession, plenty of chances, but didnt have a real finisher to cap the chances.

Villajoyosa 1-2 Cartagena
De Lucas, Horava
View attachment 54845

Back to winning ways after three without a win. A solid performance, giving us a winning mentality as we head towards the opening game. Plenty of all-round performances to be pleased with.

PRE-SEASON STAR
View attachment 54846
Balboa was undoubtedly in a league of his own during pre-season, with 7 goals. He looked dangerous in all games, and looked decent against Sevilla too.

Predicted League Top 5(and my position)

1 - Betis
2 - Recreativo Huelva
3 - R. Sociedad
4 - Hercules
5 - Numancia
----------
19 - Cartagena

According to the game, we are looking at a swift return to Division 2b. Hopefully we will finish a lot higher than that.​
 
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JULY & AUGUST

The transfer window is closed, the squad registration is finalised, and the season is well underway!

TRANSFERS

View attachment 54865

Very pleased with my work in the window. 625k spent, and 550k brought in. I couldnt sell many players, as most were new arrivals at the club. I released Longas, who was worth 275k, as he didnt fit into my plans.

Gesse(GK) - Free Transfer - He will provide decent cover to Ruben.

Cristian Grabinski(DC) - 160k from Chacarita - Gives me some more quality in defence, and will be competing with Cygan and co.

Andriy Husin(DC) - Free Transfer - Experienced Defender will give me cover.

Campana(DM/MC) - Free Transfer - Young DM will be one to watch in the future.

Razvan Cocis(AMR/FC) - Free Transfer - Winger who will compete with Balboa on the right.

Romain Carbonnier(ST) - 150k from Ajax CT - Striker will give an extra option up front

Allisson(ST) - 30k from Corinthians - Good target man, who has physical presence in the box, which the squad lacked.​


View attachment 54866

I also sealed some future transfers for the club, with some good talent set to join in the next year or so, and also Branislav Krunic from Moscow who can play across the midfield.

TACTICS
I will be sticking to one formation most of the time, which has served me well with many clubs before.
View attachment 54867

The first game of the season was a real disappointment. We are without Balboa and Horava for two weeks, and Signorino may be fit for the Copa del Rey in midweek.

Cartagena 2-3 Huesca
View attachment 54871

After taking a early two-goal lead, we seemed to lie down conceding two goals before half-time, and a goal deep into second-half injury time. We could and probably should have won, but without some key players, we looked lacklustre in the final third.​
 
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