LowestLeague
Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2014
- Messages
- 24
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Background:
I started a save as N. Irish league 2 side Portadown, despite overachieving during my first season I felt unhappy that my best players were all being poached, and as they were non-contract there was nothing to do to stop them. Towards the end of the season I got offered a job at Dankse Bank Premiership team Crusaders! I hastily accepted.
There was only 5 games left to go of the season - the last 4 league games and the Northern Irish Cup final against Glenavon. I made a fantastic start to life at Crusaders, 5 straight wins saw the team to a 3rd place league finish and a great cup triumph in my first 5 games in charge!
Goals for this save:
- First and foremost is to dethrone Linfield as the best team in N. Ireland.
- Make Crusaders a top 50 club in Europe (currently 437th)
- Achieve group stages in either Champions League or Europa League
- Raise the profile of the N. Irish league (currently 86th)
2015/16 Season:
Transfers:
- The team looked very strong when I came in, I decided to not go big in the transfer market, instead I brought in a young midfielder - Oran Barton.
- The youth in the club was already very strong, a lot of potential stars waiting in the wings, so one of the priorities for this season will be to blood a lot of the youth players.
Europa League -
As this was my first proper season in charge I wasn't expecting much from the Europa League. Getting past the 1st Qual. Round was pretty much all I hoped for!
Round 1:
Our opponents were Hungarian team Gyor, they were firm favourites for the tie, but I felt we would be able to run them close.
View attachment 323984
1-1 was a great result. Didn't lose, got the away goal and played better than they did for most of the match! A last minute corner gave them the equaliser but I still had confidence for the next game!
View attachment 323983
A very solid 2-0 win. We rode our luck at times, but overall we were good value for the win. Bring on the 2nd round!
Round 2:
This time we were paired up against Croatian team Rijeka. They were strong favourites, boasting much better players including a player valued (£475k) over double our entire team this was a true David v Goliath battle.
View attachment 323970
Another 1-1 away draw. Another goal conceded with the last kick of the game! Very very bad luck, but I think overall it was the best we could hope for as they battered us all game long!
View attachment 323969
Gutted! We were 2-0 up at 50 minutes and looking really good value for the win and an elusive 3rd round! Their pressure paid off though and they got the 2 goals needed to put them through on away goals, very disappointing, but overall a fantastic 2 leg performance!
So the European dream ended fairly abruptly. Despite the exit, a lot of positives to be seen and the season ahead should be full of great performances. Aiming to challenge Linfield for the title straight away!
Next update will be at the halfway point of the season!
I started a save as N. Irish league 2 side Portadown, despite overachieving during my first season I felt unhappy that my best players were all being poached, and as they were non-contract there was nothing to do to stop them. Towards the end of the season I got offered a job at Dankse Bank Premiership team Crusaders! I hastily accepted.
There was only 5 games left to go of the season - the last 4 league games and the Northern Irish Cup final against Glenavon. I made a fantastic start to life at Crusaders, 5 straight wins saw the team to a 3rd place league finish and a great cup triumph in my first 5 games in charge!
Goals for this save:
- First and foremost is to dethrone Linfield as the best team in N. Ireland.
- Make Crusaders a top 50 club in Europe (currently 437th)
- Achieve group stages in either Champions League or Europa League
- Raise the profile of the N. Irish league (currently 86th)
2015/16 Season:
Transfers:
- The team looked very strong when I came in, I decided to not go big in the transfer market, instead I brought in a young midfielder - Oran Barton.
- The youth in the club was already very strong, a lot of potential stars waiting in the wings, so one of the priorities for this season will be to blood a lot of the youth players.
Europa League -
As this was my first proper season in charge I wasn't expecting much from the Europa League. Getting past the 1st Qual. Round was pretty much all I hoped for!
Round 1:
Our opponents were Hungarian team Gyor, they were firm favourites for the tie, but I felt we would be able to run them close.
View attachment 323984
1-1 was a great result. Didn't lose, got the away goal and played better than they did for most of the match! A last minute corner gave them the equaliser but I still had confidence for the next game!
View attachment 323983
A very solid 2-0 win. We rode our luck at times, but overall we were good value for the win. Bring on the 2nd round!
Round 2:
This time we were paired up against Croatian team Rijeka. They were strong favourites, boasting much better players including a player valued (£475k) over double our entire team this was a true David v Goliath battle.
View attachment 323970
Another 1-1 away draw. Another goal conceded with the last kick of the game! Very very bad luck, but I think overall it was the best we could hope for as they battered us all game long!
View attachment 323969
Gutted! We were 2-0 up at 50 minutes and looking really good value for the win and an elusive 3rd round! Their pressure paid off though and they got the 2 goals needed to put them through on away goals, very disappointing, but overall a fantastic 2 leg performance!
So the European dream ended fairly abruptly. Despite the exit, a lot of positives to be seen and the season ahead should be full of great performances. Aiming to challenge Linfield for the title straight away!
Next update will be at the halfway point of the season!