Katsumi Touko The Smith of Pretty Victories.

[Death Ball]

That injury is brutal! Hopefully Morozov can step up and help you push for promotion

Yeah. For four months Mullin will be the only striker that's solid first team choice. I have some hopes regarding Morozov; he was decent before I sent him away on loan and he did well in the other team and progressed quite a bit (current ability has gone up one star), so he may be ready. IIRC his attributes are not bad, I just miss a little better mentals. His dribbling, finishing and first touch, I don't remember about technique, are just above 10, his pace and acceleration are around 14, it's just his mentals and passing that let him down from being considered as starter. We'll see how he does; in the best case he'll prove a decent replacement for Shebanov and Aliev's injury turn into a non issue, in the worst the season just went down the drain before it began. I think it will be some intermediate case in which he'll help with a few goals and assist, not enough to be labeled as Shebanov's replacement.

There is also the fact the transfer window has not finished and I might still get lucky with some decent signing, but there I'm very pessimistic. DoF seems either to think the squad is done or is waiting for deadline to make himself look cool with last minute surprises.

 

[Death Ball]

Start of season 2020-2021 and Spain friendlies.

Tours FC come bidding for Bozhin, I negotiate it to something higher. No doubt he'll want to go and I have enough cover, I hope.

I offer him a new contract anyway, as I'd rather keep him.

Squad bonuses I decide to set to the maximum both in league and cups. While I don't care for cups, it will make the players happy and that's always a plus.

After the last loan offer for striker Razin is rejected, I make a big transfer offer that's accepted. Not very optimistic the player will enter talks.

An offer for Shavaev from Sokol is rejected straight away. They're in our same division.

Bozhin chooses to leave. No surprise here either.

And now Mullin is angry. Okay, here is a real complain: why can't I say "he didn't want to stay and I didn't want to keep him against his will" or "I offered him a contract to keep him but he rejected", it's either a promise I can't keep or justifications that aren't true. I manage to convince him I had to do it.

With him out, Kuleshov gets his hand on signings. So it's that he thinks the squad is complete.

Ural makes an offer for Kalenkovich. Rejected. His agent wants a better contratc, I'll try to offer just to keep him happy I didn't reject it. I get him to accept a small increase rather than the more than double current wages he started asking.

I consider only Morozov is worthy of a starting place, so I bring Belousov behind him.
First half is quite unlucky. We have several decent shots, but it's them who get the goal thanks to Mouling standing on the first post when he sees a cross to the second. I take Alex Pavlov in for Belousov.
Second half is not an improvement. They go more defensive and my players keep thinking shooting the ball at their marker's body is better idea than a side pass to a lone-ish team mate.

Sibir also starts with a 4-4-2, this time Alex Pavlov starts as striker instead of Belousov.
A good play gets Alex Pavloc to open the score in the first half. We keep dominance otherwise but no more goals.
The second half ir more settled down, though we still keep them from creating good chances so the match ends with the 1-0.

The time to choose Spain's squad has come before our next match. It's a 18 player squad. Starting eleven plus seven. So the selection must include versatile players who can play different positions to get a balanced squad safe from injuries.

This is how I think the team will look without injuries. Though perhaps Asensio will move up where Kuki is and a choice made between Kuki and Ibáñez up top, with Manu Morianes takin Asensio's position as box to box.

I rotate some, Mullin not making it because he's tired.Actually I wasn't feeling too well and I just forgot he's back from injury. ****.
First half has a good start, Burmistrov putting in a rebound from what he should have put in to begin with. We can't keep hold of the ball, but we keep them at bay from creating chances.
The second half begins nearly doubling the lead, but there's some pinball and it's not posible.
They get level ten minutes into the half because this damned custom of Moulin that instead of deflecting balls over or catching them he has to merely block to let the ball dead right in front of the line in a jump inside the goal.
There's another close chance, but the defence reaches the rebound before Morozov can get to it.
Again throwing points away to Khimki.

Pomazun picks a month injury. They say it can be left to the physios or given injection but they give me no choice. Grujic's not serious. I don't care it's what I'd have done.

We go into the friendly against Costa Rica with the team shown against their 3-5-2.
First half is of complete dominance that's reflected on the score. I want to kidnap these players and make them pass for my Krylja squad. This is talent.
For the second half I make subs to protect the O23 and more fit players from injury. I keep one sub in case of injuries or players getting more tired than expected. It's a calmer half. Unfortunately, we concede them two one on ones on counters, of which one they take the rebound. Ibáñez seals his hat trick later.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I've got a new boss in the Spain setup! Mourinho! I l- have always admired him!

Another month long injury is reported, Alexey Pavlov is the one.

Another 4-4-2 v 4-4-2 and we'll see if I return to the other formations in later matches. They are right behind us This time Mullin starts. Still a number of players in need of fitness and a match in three days. Same as Spain's friendly. One I'll have to direct by phone and TV.
First half we are better, but fail to make it count. The chances aren't the best and I feel we lack a little presence in midfield, so Belousov will come in for Morozov behind Mullin.
We get some more and better chances, but no shot is achieved in a real good position. The best is for Mullin, a shot that's just deflecting it, but with a defender on top Mullin fails the easiest part. Then Bagaev decides since 94:00 has passed he can rest and sleep on the spot and lets their striker get past to beat Mullin. Also, Burmistrov has been complacent all match long.

I told Vissier to start with this lineup and our old system. Since they're frustrating me, I've chosen to remain with the Spanish team hoping that'll lift their morale in that I show them more commitment.
This match is the same day as the second Spain U23 friendly. There's no way in reality Katsumi could be in both, so she'd have to manage one through TV and phone or let things to the assistant. I don't know how well the instant result works and I've already sent the squad, so this match instead I'll play in key highlights. Perhaps extended, to simulate Katsumi being limited in how much and what part of the pitch can see.[color="#000025]The first half serves to show me how dreadful are the football broadcasts. Too close shots, often missing the important pieces of the plays. One good chance for either side, better ours.
The second improves on the pitch, not on TV. Kalenkovich finds the net twice, the second goal being quite good; a curled shot from the edge of the area after dribbling past his defender. The end of the match is possibly disastrous: Mullin picks a possible knee injury. I took him out.
[img]http://fmshots.com/images/yT3NK.jpg[/img]

It's three weeks without first team strikers. Morozov is close to be one, but he's not yet.
[img]http://fmshots.com/images/yT46j.jpg[/img]

[/color]Other finding I don't quite like: Katsumi can't talk to her Spain U23 players.[color="#000025"]

A bit of rotation as some players are already match fit so they can be protected from injuries and others need more fitness than others.
In the start I see how in the last game we gave them two counter chances: we don't keep enough men at the back.
First half is good, save for Xiker picking a knock and being substituted. The kids play so good. Rodrigo opens the score with a rocket, then doubles from the penalty spot. I don't want him to play the full match, though.
Second half is similar, with Gárate getting the goals, one of them a very nice team movement. Finishing improved, but didn't get to the levels of the match against Costa Rica.

Xiker will be out ten days, he may still have a chance to play in the Olympics.

Marcos and Lemos are very poor with their tackling. Moulin, Moglan and Bagaev are dreadful passing the ball. There is some good shooting, but Mullin is nowhere close his past season, which is perhaps the most worrying thing.

[/color]

Her handling team discipline has improved. From 45% to 50%.

She's been studying Spanish and now she has a basic level.

 

[Death Ball]

August 1/2, Olympics group phase 2020

What's this? First we lose our second striker. Then our first striker. Now the player with more goals, for two weeks. He can play with protection, though, and I think that he'll do.

One of past season strong teams, also having a tough start. They're behind us so I hope we may be able to get a second win to get in better position.
They're given a good one on one they sent to the post right at the start, but Kalenkovich responds with two quick goals. We keep being the better team, but they get one back with a freak cross.
We open the second half with a Stezhko error in covering the right side of the goal letting too much open for Moulin to have an easy save and they take the chance. I don't make any change and things work out, though we fail the few chances to set the match to rest. They, however, don't get any other sniff at goal.

We start the Olympics! USA was expected to start a 3-5-2 but are coming with a 4-4-2 in which deep lying playmaker Stalteri is said to be their key man.
It is a very good first half, with Ibáñez taking advantage of two mistakes by centreback Brooks. Specially the second was quite horrendous, deflecting a ball that was going to their keeper. USA get a counter they can't make count, which makes me move to a V formation, and we miss two big chances.
In half time I sub Pepelu as he's on a yellow.
The second is more of a let down. First Amo is too fearful of a penalty and a second yellow so he doesn't tackle their striker and they get one back, then a free kick evades a defender and then the rebound goes through his leg for a second. To make things worse, in the last ten minutes the referee makes up two yellows in a row for Martín. We defend well since then, though, and barely win a match that should've been more comfortable.

We face the third team, the same day second Olympics game is played, so I have to plug on Skype.
In the first half the difference in the table is shown. To add to misery, Bagaev is too aggressive and concedes a penalty. Luckily Moulin saves it. Things go to much worse, though, when Burmistrov is taken away injured.
The second time is similar, but we have a better piece of luck: Alexey Fedorov hits a shot a bit weird and their keeper can't keep it, getting the ball to bounce inside goal. They have two close calls, but Moulin saves them like a world class keeper.
This serves to climb up and get into the promotion race where we must be.

The worst of the match is confirmed, though, as I get word Burmistrov is out for up to three months if sent to an specialist.

We face the other team to win their starting game. A win here will give us qualification in a silver plate. On the worrying side, I have to rotate because of tiredness, both fullbacks and Amo are tired.
First half shows Japan goalkeeper saving their skins twice. With time they settle in and the rest of the half is level.
The second fate says if Bagaev's penalty didn't go in, then Amo should make another stupid one so I'd lose a match. The one I wanted more to win. But we still can go through. We had the opportunities to win, including some 6 yard box craziness, so this may serve to make the players aware they need to give their all. The concerning part is many don't seem to listen to me.

Amo will be out for the last group game due to his yellow card.

WTH

Razin, the striker I targeted and failed to get, has been listed for loan. An offer has been promptly made.

In another match I can't direct personally, we'll play Sokol, third from the bottom. There is some rotation for fitness reasons and preventing unhappyiness.
If way TVs show matches wasn't enough, I'm furious with this first half. Why would Zhivglyadov run like headless chicken beside the ball without picking it when it goes towards him in a tackle?! And then Kalenkovich picks a thigh injury right before half time.
In the second half it's a few subs and a move to an offensive 4-4-2 that makes it level, but from then Sokol begin hacking our players and we drop two points. I hang on the assistant.

Kalenkovich will be three weeks out.

Montes also got injured which means right starting fullback is out for the next two matches.

If Japan and USA draw, we need a win, if USA wins, we need to win and our advantages sum at leat three, I think. If Japan wins we have enough with a draw. losing would work too as long we don't lose by more then two and USA loses by three more.
The first half is very good, though a touch frustrating. Ibáñez and Rallo give us the two goal advantage we need, we dominate the game, we restrict their chances; but we miss so many sitters it's infuriating, we really should be 5-0. Martín picked a yellow.
Second half increases the frustration. Time and again a player finds himself just at the rigth distance in front of goal and keeper they have a wide angle beyond the keeper's reach, easy, time and again they send it weakly at the keeper.
USA was winning 1-0 for a while, too, which had we scored once more would've sent us top of the group, but Japan managed to draw. We're through.

France stormed their group. On better news, Brazil didn't make it past the group stage, so that's one tough opponent out.

 

[Death Ball]

August 2/2, Olympics knock out phase 2020

Pepelu, who's our main defensive midfielder, is suspended for the quarter finals.

We get drawn against France, the one match I didn't want at least till the final.

Razin accepts the loan. Mullin is back from his injury but will likely be tired for the match in two days.

Varane and Pogba are their senior players. We'll tight mark and close down the later always.
0-15: We dominate the game, giving them just one low quality shot. We have a decent couple of chances that go skimming the post.
15-30: France has adjusted their defence and little happens. They're close to take a chance breaking the offside so I'll order to drop deeper.
30-45: Still calm. Montes almost gives them a chance by dropping deeper than the centrebacks but there's really nothing for either side.
HT: I will see if that hype with the prozone is all that good. I see they use mostly their right side men, so I close down their right winger too, move Rodrigo to the other side and bring Asensio for Rallo to the left as a playmaker in the side of their less defensive players.
45-60: The changes had effect! We get new chances, socring the very first one of them. They don't see our goal again so far.
60-75: They get a couple of low quality chances. Morienes picks a knock and is subbed out, Ramón coming in his place. Lots of knackered players, but I don't want to risk going down to ten men, so I don't make the third sub.
75-90: Referee robs us. Another hopeful shot is sent towards an offside player that does interfere, goalkeeper, worried of him, deflects it to the path of another striker. It should've been called offside. Also why so many time my centrebacks get the idea if they marks aren't the first direct target of a cross or path they can forget about them and stay off them up ahead giving them the on goal advantage?
90-105: Tiredness is clear in both sides, though a few near chances are created. Both teams get their nervy moments. Time to think on the change to both have fresh legs up front to avoid penalties and to have the better takers.
105-120: I brought Gárate for Martín. We get two good chances, but they're called offside even before the onside player can hit them off target.
Pens: First by Rodrigo is deflected by the keeper. To the inside of the net, phew. Kuki, knowing the first their keeper didn't move, sends it at the keeper. Idiot. Sivera, who was close to save the second, saves their third. And Asensio makes it level with our third. Sivera deflects the next to the roof of goal. Gárate equalizes. François doesn't deceive Sivera, who doesn't save it. But no need as the ball hits the outside of the post! Ibáñez is next with our fifth... and the gets it in! Penalties restored the justice stolen by the linier.

We don't face Denmark as I hoped next (they played extra time, too) but Italy, another of the big teams.

Morianes will miss the rest of the games and I can call up a replacement. I choose Adolfo Gómez, not a like for like but gives us a second specialized defensive midfielder.

And now it's off to the plane to the Krylja game and back to the plane for the game against Italy.

Razin will start right away, while Mullin is in the bench to come later at either striker position or right wing.
Quiet first half in which Taranov, who's one of the players who jumps more, though not much, fails to head the ball and lets them a clear shot at goal from a corner. Since at 40' nothing has been done I move things around. Razin's not living up to expectations and will be off at half time.
The half time changes work and we begin to control the game and create chances. Mullin converts the first of them, ending his long drought, but fails to do the same with a very simillar chance next. Approaching the end, there is some more changing to try get the win and from the 4-1-1-3-1 we go 4-1-1-2-2. It renews the creation of chances by upsetting their defensive answer to the previous change, but the two shots go off target.
Tyumen is starting strong, so thid draw is not that bad result.

Anzhi wants Morozov. Being the big club it is, Morozov would get unhappy if I rejected it, so I negotiated a bit better deal. Then I'm offering him a new contract.

Verrati and De Sciglio are their senior players. I rotate players for fitness reasons and wanting a little more defensive side. I reserve Rodrigo for a start from the bench or to have him fresh for the final should we make it.
0-15: Lively start in which we have a few more and better chances, but Adessa saves everything.
15-30: Del Amo says why clear an interception away when I can just hit Martínez? Martínez says why do I need to pick the loose ball if I've touched it already, lalalala? Del Amo, I touched it too lalalala. D'Alessio, thank you! Then two great chances go to the post and one skimmin out when Gárate had it easy-ish.
30-45: They are more defensive and creating chances is harder, we get a couple but aren't very good.
HT: I sub Del Amo and Gárate because they weren't doing anything.
45-60: Opens with Dani Olmo having the ball almost at his feet and twiddlign his thumbs because Kuki is farther away running in for him. Lots of corners but none goes in.
60-75: Pass to D'Alessio, what is a defender should do? If your answer is "move away so D'Alessio has all the space to shoot" you're a top Spanish player under 23. More good chances are made. It seems to score we need to start from being everybody marked so the oppsition will move away.
75-90: More decent chances down the drain.
Very, very angry. We should have won this match by 4-0.

We go to the match for the Bronze medal. Let's hope this team scoring goals is made by creating good chances, not by playing blindly the ball to the opposition area and hope their defenders decide to play a Marx Brothers act.
0-15: We have a good chance and a great chance. The first is a save, the second turns into a penalty the referee took their time to call. Rodrigo made it a goal.
15-30: Referee robs a corner: how can a ball that hits the post, bounces off the keeper and goes off a goalkick?!
30-45: Nothing new, no great chances.
45-60: They don't manage to create more pressure after half time, which makes me think the only issue to end like this will be tiredness.
60-75: Ramón had the second goal in his boot, but he sent it over the bar when just a shot on target would've done it. Things calm down after that, then they begin to get to the area, changes can't wait so I bring fresh legs at the back, but keep a change as I don't quite trust Martín on centreback position.
75-90: Martín proved me right not trusting him fully when he cleared a ball off Sivera's hand to the feet of Duelund. Luckily the Danish couldn't make it a goal. Nielsen throws himself two feet into the knees of Rodrigo and gets the red card. Later Ibáñez got the second to guarantee the win, after taking the rebound from his shot at the post.

After the good news of the Bronze medal, bad news follow as Morozov chooses to move to Anzhi.

The Olympics bronze has got my name in newspapers and I wonder if perhaps it would help me find better jobs. There are three top division vacancies I think I could get. My options, then are as follow:

1- Stay at Krylja. Our start hasn't been very good, but we're with a chance of promotion to further boost my reputation with something earned. Any other risks this job.
2- FC Dordrecht. Eredivisie, they're fourth but only two games have been played, expected to fight against relegation and insecure finances. This is practically ruled out. Would be a choice if I get sacked for applying for other jobs and none is taken. It also has poor defenders.
3- FC Groningen: Eredivisie, in fifteenth place, expected to be mid table. Secure finances. A more solid choice that would offer chances for better prizes overachieving. Has a balanced squad with a good deal of flexibility. They're in the worse current run of form.
4- Lokomotiva Zagreb. Croatian top flight, expected to qualify for Europe through league. Okay finances, probably the most attractive as European football is in the cards without need to overachieve. I have no idea about their players, ut the squad is bloated.

None of their managers were sacked, they left their position. Eredivisie is a little more prestigious than MaxTV Prva Liga.

On top of them, Nigeria NT is available and they're playing the qualifications so I will apply for that regardless.

I finally decide to apply for the Lokomotiva Zagreb.

Visser reminds me of a promise I never made this season.

Italy won the Olympics. It takes the sting a little off, then a little in. We lost against the champions means we could have beaten the champions, because the match went as to have won that.

We play at the bottom team's stadium, so I'm looking to a win. Other result would mean giving strength to the idea of moving away.
The match begins with Buchnev saving a not too strong shot by Fedorov from a good position. The first half goes a bit disappointing but encouraging: we give them a couple chances, one which goes to the post, but we have more and better, but when the shots are strong and on target their keeper does like he wasn't in the bottom team.
Second half follow the same lines, except for a goal for each side. Very disappointing. Their goal was a great off the ball movement from their player and I would be okay with it, if it weren't the way his defender lost him: he did to mark their striker, who had took a meter from the other defender, but he half assed it, doing the same ****** job already made by the first centreback. So he stopped his part of the job to do **** with another player. Unforgivable. Then they made up with a great goal from a corner, Moglan heading it for Stezhko to tap in.

I said a win or I'm out, but while I didn't get the win, it had a good deal of bad luck.

I give the team one more match. I made slight rotation and change of tactic from the assymetric. Zhyvoglyadov and Moglan were tired.
Alexey Pavlov almost opens the score very early on, but their keeper makes a superhuman save; then next he gets almost the same chance, shots at the keeper and it's a goal. What?! Later a corner there's another centreback assist for the other centreback and we're 2-0 up. Stezhko's coming out in halftime because we have another game in three days.
Second goal they tighten up and things are a little more calm. They have a time of wake up right after past the hour of match and get one goal back, but their resurgence doesn't last long and they fail to make any more danger. It may just have been, rather than resurgence, some of the subs taking a bit to warm up.
Not a win that makes me feel satisfied, as we conceded yet again and wasted some very good chances.

That match served, though, to point at some of the tactical issues we were experiencing, the main of which was the closing down level wasn't in line to what was required and we were giving our rivals too much time on the ball. That's why we're not higher and why we didn't get promotion past season.

Lokomotiva Zagreb offers the interview and I'll take it.

My next game will be my 200th game.

Bryansk are at the edge of relegation. Their target man is their key man.
We control the first half, though perhaps not as much as I would've liked. Mulling puts us ahead, Alexey Pavlov wastes a couple good chances but he made the assist for Mullin. He's coming out in half time, though, as I want more goals and Mullin is as likely to hand the assists.
Second half we waste several new chances. Then Razin makes a penalty in the stoppage time, defending a corner. WHY IS THE STRIKER I HAVE TOLD TO STAY FORWARD BACK IN THE AREA?! This is extremely annoying: he game has pulled if off its *** that my 30 min thought defending set piece instructions is to be ignored. So I didn't miss the win through fault of my own or bad luck but through bug of the game. I can't change it, even, because the striker is vanished in the screen, so I need to rebuild the whole tactic from scratch. Very annoying.
A chance to go up to third place and within a game of Tosno wasted because idiot Razin did whatever he wanted. This is feeling like my second season at Vasco CT: the players are playing generally well, with good ratings, but it's not reflected in the results.

The Olympics bronze raised her reputation from one star (15%) to two (35%).

And now she has this doubt gnawing in her head: will it be worth to let the chance to manage a top flight team in Netherlands with the hope to get up here when they're throwing points left and right despite their good ratings?


P.S. - I made a test, keeping the save before Italy game and holidaying until winning and see effect on reputation. A silver medal would've been a raise to 45% reputation. I got tired of reloading before getting the gold. I also tested what if past season the play off had gone good and promotion that way would've been a raise to 30% reputation.

 

[PatrickLFC]

Unlucky in the Olympics. Hoping to go to Zagreb?

 

[Death Ball]

Unlucky in the Olympics. Hoping to go to Zagreb?

Or applying to the Dutch teams, which may still be in time to apply for. Lokomotiva Zagreb I'm not too confident she'll get; but I'm more optimistic about her landing one of the other two, spacially Dordrectch, which has two and half reputation stars. The problem with that is that what I can tell of their defenders, they're **** with aerial balls, only two centrebacks with 10+ in jumping reach. And that they've played too few games to consider their position to be representative of what may come for the team, which is expected to fight against relegation. Staying at Krylja has potential to be better in the long run, as promotion should raise her reputation and make her close to land better jobs; but the way the team is throwing points away in the manner of the second season in Vasco doesn't make it look very likely, so I'm doubting between the keep the head cold and aim for the long term improvement and the short term jump forward. At the moment I think I won't apply to any other and stay at Krylja, but I'm taking thoughts on it.

 

[Death Ball]

September 2020

Dordrecht has won their next game and are now second, two points behind the current leader, though Ajax will jump ahead with five advantage as they have two games in hand. They've beaten low and middle table teams, lost against top one.

Lokomotiva Zagreb have offered me the job! Just as I had decided not to aply for Dordrecht, because the opportunity to have a boost earning promotion here was better in the long run. Now I'm not as sure to take this job, but potential qualification for Europe is very tempting. Too tempting.
It also serves for a little test: does move up to a more prestigious team and division improve reputation? Would've it been better to get a boost earning promotion at Krylja then seeking a move to an stablished top flight team or moving to one already is as good but better in being faster?
It is a two year contract they offer.

I get it to €2Kp/w

There is no increase to reputation, which remains at 35%, which means earning promotion and moving after is better.

Almost two weeks for the first game here, against Dinamo Zagreb, one of the strongest sides of the league. It is time for a review of the squad and thought on tactics. There may not be a squad review post as it's bloated, but looking it seems not as many players as it appears at first glance, still many and it can be more time than I feel willing to invest. I think there will be one at the end of the evening. It's 28 first team players and two U19 who look useful.

What I know is that they've been working with a 4-2-3-1, which I feel comfortable with after my experience with Spain U23, though I'm aware that wasn't as polished as it could.

According to the scout reports, the team is good for the level, if anything it may lack a little of quality in the wings.

 

[Death Ball]

Lokomotiva Squad Review and Tactics

SQUAD REVIEW 1
Goalkeepers

The main goalkeeper of the team until now. He's well rounded and though you wouldn't want him in a big team, he looks a solid choice. Perhaps he's too eccentric. He's unhappy about something I'll be dealing with as soon I'm done looking at the squad. His stats are good so far. He'll likely stay as first choice.

His lack of anticipation lets him down to expect him to present a real fight for fist spot, but I guessI can give him chances.

Young keeper who should be back in the youth team and probably is too old to be back there? Will be moved if possible, offered on loan regardless.

Youth team keeper. Solcic won't be moved so this guy is the first choice. Not yet ready for first team but looks very promising. May even have a few chances if we reach the end of the season with nothing to fight for or guaranteed position.

Conclusion: Nothing needs to be done regarding this position. Only if the two main keepers do a very poor season will I think on a replacement in winter. Tonti first choice, Filipovic will have chances to fight for his position, Krznar will see some first team if circumstances allow.

 

[Death Ball]

Lokomotiva Squad Review and Tactics

SQUAD REVIEW 2
Centrebacks

First choice centreback. Very good jumping which is my main ask to a centreback and good in the rest. A bit slow, reminding of Bagaev.

Usual partner for Peric. Very strong and jumps high, but the rest of his physical capabilities are poor. Doesn't seem very convincing mentally or technically.

Very young, has been rotating with Barbaric to pair up with Peric. He looks a little more capable and for me he'd come ahead.

Has been played as right fullback. He is my ideal fullback for defence, but I think he'd contribute much more as centreback.

Fullbacks

He tends to slip when trying too sharp turns, which is worrysome. Otherwise he looks very much like I want. The first choice in the left side.

His age shows in his shyness to assert his presence on the pitch.

Hasn't played this season. The only attacking fullback. May see oportunities to show his worth.

His haters call him tree trunk because he looks so stiff when moving.

Youth player. Not ready yet.

Conclusion: I can see why Prenga has played in the fight fullback position. The other two choices there are either not ready or look too easy to leave sitting. Peric + Barisi seems the best central pairing if Prenga is to remain in the right side. Perhaps a move to a three centrebacks. Jelavic seems a solid choice for the left. Fullbacks are to be upgraded in the future.

 

[Death Ball]

Lokomotiva Squad Review and Tactics

SQUAD REVIEW 3
Central midfield

Well rounded playmaker, looks like his first choice status is justified.

The second more used player. Fast and tough but otherwise average.

Youth player. Not really first choice material.

From the youth squad, a better choice than Vidovic.

Hasn't played yet. Not a player one can trust to make a defensive work.

Can pass with incredible accuracy, but he's more a circus sensation than a made football player.

A left winger who's actually been used only as central midfielder. Very creative, but doesn't seem one to ask for solid defensive contribution.

Forwards

Has played more as left winger. Though his passing lets him a little down, otherwise he looks like a solid choice to start behind the striker.

Hasn't played. He's more of a central midfielder choice, better than some of what I've looked at for now. I'll try to bring him into the team.

A rotation team, just decent but wull have his chances, though so far he's performed unsurprisingly poorly.

More or less like Puljic, he's been second choice in that position.

Very much the same again.

Conclusion: Begonja-Briek is the main pairing in centre midfield I'll seek to stablish. Ahead of them, Puljic, Obuobi and Adzic will probably battle for the position ahead, with Puljic favourite.

 

[Death Ball]

Lokomotiva Squad Review and Tactics

SQUAD REVIEW 4
Wingers

All around average, may be useful in various positions.

Let's say I hope this guy isn't taking up a foreigner position, because he's not worth that.

Speed and little more.

He's been trained in so many positions he seems like one of those the managers have asked them so many different things that they no longer know what's that they're supposed to be doing. He at least seems able not to do anything too stupid.

A project for the future.

Speed and nothing more.

Strikers

Well rounded player, looks like probably the very well justified first choice that he's been so far.

Hodzic's second, lacks a little first touch and technique.

The quick tupe, his poor balance and technique will be his main issues.

Also fast, doesn't have as glaring weaknesses as Glavina

One of the players to move away from the team.

Conclusion: Wings are weak with little more than speed, Sovsic will probably become first choice in the left side and Grezda in the right for lack of good competition. Hodzic seems clear first choice with Ripic as clear replacement and Tumminello looking to have some chances to break in the first team.

 

[Death Ball]

Lokomotiva Squad Review and Tactics

TACTIC
It seems the interim manager's choice of 4-2-3-1 is the best choice, perhaps a 4-3-3DM being a good alternative. There can't be much room for player creativity but there's little defensive ability in the centre of the pitch. In the wings, sheer pace seems the main asset outside the first choice and the forwards would work better along more creative strikers, but those we have aren't great with their passing.

The counter tactic that we'll probably use against Dinamo.

Will be refined as season progresses. Probably one central midfielder will become less defensive, or the left fullback if giving the chance to Pejic.

 

[Death Ball]

September 2020

Almost two weeks to the next match and a lot of unfit players means friendlies.

First day, first bad news: Tonti gets a two week injury. At least we're almost that far from our next match, but it's the one where we need our best goalkeeper.

I keep receiving offers for Kristijan Rak that I reject because he's said to be a key player in the future.

For the first friendly, I let the assistant pick the team with the rule of no match fit players and I adjust it. It is played against much weaker side Nedelisce. At the start they almost make me regret the move, as we concede three shots, albeit none dangerous, plus a dribble past Vidovic into a good position but he recovered in time for the tackle. Adjustments past the first 15mins and then past half hour improve things and serve to reach half time ahead. No more changes are done. What was shown is that we had indeed too much defensive players and the playmaker at the right side of midfield pair should be told to be a little less conservative, passing shall be short, front men (at least the back ups I fielded) are no good in the air and that's about it. Also, I observe seeing the average positions that the right back tends to be too deep and risk breaking offside traps when defending. I'll set him to move higher but not move higher.

More bad news: Prenga had done something in the last competitive match and he's suspended for the next two matches. I'm not appealing.

Friendly against Gusar is just made to test in the second half playing wider and more offensive. It goes more or less like the first half. We score one more goal than in the first friendly and end 4-0.

Tonti is back right before the Dinamo match, but I don't think he'll be playing.

Following the team report, we're going in aggressive at the start with the look at going ahead early, then drop to a defensive set up. They Luka Modric. That Luka Modric.
The first half didn't start bad, until Maxwell made a world class turn of his defender and then shot in the slim hole between keeper and post. They began to get the control of the match and we stopped doing anything, so I'll return to the starting system.
The change had immediate effect, Hodzic making it level. But then twice they were given easy shots by stupidity; first Mudrazija waits to try a pass to his defender to be right in the path, so ball at the feet of Evandro, who has an easy pass for Jesús, then Peric fights for a high ball with Jesús, gets him to miss it as he does but Peric then stops in place and lets Jesús get to the ball. They've been much better so the loss was to be expected, I'm just unhappy in how their second half goals originated.

Something I didn't say before: the chairman asked me to work with the director of football, so here he's going to take care of business. Let's see how it works out. I won't interfere in future offers as I did with those ofr Rak.

Mudrazija gets injured for ten days just the day before the next match.

We face the second placed team, so I am testing the counter attack system. Tonti is back in the side.
First half would be okay if Spehar hand't got a perfect long shot shaving the post.
The small changes at half time barely improve and they get the second goal. Greater changes as done and I order a quite offensive 4-2-3-1 that works almost immediately, with Hodzic getting two goals and missing a decent chance to get ahead. That scared Osijek and they began to be more careful so we couldn't get again past their defence.
I will have to wait some more matches; but I'm very unhappy to have made that move. The squad is too big and I know sooner rather than later unhappy players will turn this into a nightmare job. Also many useful players are low on fitness.

It's the cup match. While I want to fight for this competition, I want still to use it for chances to fringe and young players and to get match fitness, so the side is very rotated. I try another defensive pairing in midfield.
The first half is too quiet and I'm about to order to go attacking when Coric gets a goal from a Barisic assist at a corner, so I keep it as it is as they're been kept well at bay.
The second isn't different. We have a few more chances than in the first, and Crepulja scores a great goal near the end.
We only win by two goals, which is less than people was expecting, also creating very few chances; but I let the players enjoy a positive teamtalk since there are several young and rotation players and they can use some morale boost.

We lose the offensive fullback for three weeks.

We don't completely go to the 4-2-3-1 from before the cup, but close to it. I am somewhat bothered they are second to last yet considered favourites.
The first half made me want to bitchslap some players. You have your striker to the left, the defender to the rigth, then why send the ball to the right? Then hoof ball over the defence and we're 1-0 down. I made no changes because it was a matter of an individual error and the decision paid off. First Sovsic with a great individual play and then Prenga with a wonderful long shot turn the match around.
Second half started similarly, but as time passed they began to be more aggresive. As they hit the post and I was about to go defensive to close the game, they equalized. So it was going more offensive. Little done. Then, as their fullbacks were pushing up I told the players to clear the ball to the flanks and it worked as some minutes later the ball reached Gojkov and he crossed for Obuobi to head past the keeper. Then I closed the game with a counter 4-1-4-1.
We're in touch with the top four, which is encouraging, but I won't be happy until we're right there and making a distance.

 

[PatrickLFC]

Not a bad start to life in Croatia!

 

[Death Ball]

Not a bad start to life in Croatia!

It doesn't look bad, indeed. Despite the Dinamo result, we got a draw against one of the strong sides and for now there's no player revolt in sight. This may yet be a great move for Katsumi.

 

[Death Ball]

October 2020

Prenga's goal was chosen goal of the month for September.

The bottom team comes, they have only three draws. We only rotate Barisic in defence because his last games were good and he trained well past month.
After a fright in the first ten minutes, in which the defenders stood looking at a loose ball near the area while Mendes chased it, but luckily Tonti was not sleeping, we got in the game and didn't give any more chances. Hodzic fired home a cross from Krastev in the first good counterattack from any of my teams. Sovsic doubled it before half time.
Second half was similar, though they got a long shot that hit the post and they shot more than they did during the first half, none was good. We went more conservative and while we didn't score again and shot only a handful of times (3 when we had shot 10 in the first half) the shooting was more precise, if less effective, being the three on target.

International break has two weeks without matches, so friendlies for match fitness are to be played.

I organize two friendlies aginst much weaker sides to build up fitness, letting the assistant choose the team among players unfit. Lots of players out of position, but I don't really care.

The first is an easy game in which everybody plays quite well and control the game to win with a goal per shot on target in the first three. Winger Barisic, though, got an injury that forced him out of the pitch.

Barisic's out for a month.

Against Mladost Varazdin it's not very different, but we don't do as good in front of goal. Still we get the win and more players back to fitness.

Hanzek, a young back up striker picks a training injury and will be out two weeks, sent to the specialist.

We draw Istra for the next cup round, one of the worse rivals we could have get. It's last 16 though, so it's just three more rounds to the final, so we'll be fighting this competition.

I'm informed a young striker is not playing in his loan at Istra, so I've decided to recall him straight away, as he looks decent.

One of the teams in the lower half of the table. They play a 4-4-2 which isn't a formation against which I seem to do very well, or at least I tend to find it troublesome.
It is a very infuriating first half. They hammer us the first quarter hour and in the 22nd minute Josip Tadic makes the goal in even more outrageous way. It's enough to want to resign on the spot. There is being under pressure and don't have time to pick and aim a pass, there's a rival looking to anticipate passes, then there's picking the rivals to send them their passes. There is the rival intercepting a pass and there's running in a direction that never meets the ball. And then, there's a shot too hard to keep and close to plan the rebound and there is being a blasted idiot and block it while jumpin inside goal and then striker a more idiotic ballerina pose to watch the rival run for the rebound and score.

The second half is some improvement, turning to the V system, more offensive. We begin to make things happen, but the goal doesn't come. So I decide to take rists and go to a diamond, more chances are made but it's them who get the goal out of it with a good play down a flank, forcing Peric to cover for the attacker Pejic lost and leaving Barisic with two players to mark
I'm extremely unhappy. We lost a chance to get on the top four.

I put the 4-3-3 to the test. They're right ahead of us, a win will send us among the top four, though they have a game in hand.
The first half can't be better. We have complete control of the match. They get most of the possession but can't find any chance to shoot, even from distance, while we open with a great chance, which is missed; but later Hodzic and Briek make it 0-3 at half time.
The second was a disgrace. They got their first shot after almost an hour. Short after Jelavic let Acevedo alone to head easy. They were given more chances and then Markovic made a tame shot from and angle, but Tonti decided getting the easy pick was abusing so the just deflected it through his legs into goal. Later he made up with a superb save but I'd rather he didn't sit to sleep at goal. We still had two good chances to further the advantage but it ended like that.
We momentarily move into the top four, awaiting the games in hand of Istra, Hajduk and Dinamo.

Though I'd like to fight for the cup, the trouble to keep enough players match fit lead me to rotate the side heavily, also it's close to the previous and next games. Next in league is again against Istra. By the looks of it, they're also rotating their side.
The first half is poor, we don't do anything and they get the chances. Definitely changes are needed, more than done during the half. I will go for a diamond, I think.
The change improves things, but not enough, offsides and less than ideal last passes failing to get shots. For the last few minutes I order to seek a goal at any price but there's none so extra time is played.
Extra time seemed good when we got a penalty, after being denied one before, but then Filipovic, Obuobi and Barisic decided playign well 120 minutes was too much, first Obuobi refused to drop as instructed to avoid their fullback the chance to cross the ball, then Filipovic leaves the line in response to a pass back not even in the direction of the player receiving the ball, making it easier for him to draw level, then Barisic decides that being exhausted is the condition ideal to abandon his striker and try to head a high ball.

To make things worse, Pejic got a three weeks injury.

Top goalscorer and assisting player, not bad, I wish it also was reflected on the table.

 

[Death Ball]

November 2020

I got the October boss award.

Pezo is no longer unhappy about his lack of first team football. And he shouldn't return to that, since he's not proven me wrong giving him the chance.

We face Istra again, but with the first team this time. Since they tend to start strong, I'm starting with the defensive 4-3-3, but ready to move to the more offensive 4-2-3-1.
They do start strong indeed, but we take it well and there is no good shooting position for them. Past that start, they began to lose energy and we begin to impose ourselves on the match, so no changes are made and Krastev makes a good individual effort, dribbling, shooting and taking his own rebound to score.
Second half goes well, we keep up control over the match, with a few more chances. But it all goes down when a two on one is made on their winger and neither does any attempt to anticipate on the pass and Tonti stays in the middle even when the ball is to the right.

Briek is the next player to drop his concerns.

We visit RNK Split, 3-5-2 v 4-2-3-1.
It starts ridiculously, with a freak cross going to the upper corner. What the **** is with this? There's like three of them a decade and now I keep seeing one after another. A grat Sovsic cross is headed by Hodzic in, who hits the bar a few minutes later. Then Jelavic doesn't stop a cross despite being right on top of the ball and Barisic is more worried asking offside (which always concede when it's like that for my team) than preventing the goal.
The second half begins equally frustrating. The immediate defender playing the offside, though I don't ask them to, and somebody in the other side who is seeing it deciding he'll break the trap. It's all out attack then, Sovsic gets us within a goal with some luck. Then another case of infuriating defence, as the closest defender to their striker decides to stand looking and the other moves away. You imbeciles it's OUR strikers you have to make space to!
There's nothing I can do if the players are where I tell them but it's them who then refuse to do a thing right.

Obuobi also picked an injury that will keep him a week out, though there's an international break.

We don't have more matches until the end of the month, so it will be friendly time.

Mudrazija is the last to drop his concerns for lack of first team time.

Friendly against Orijent: Barbaric makes a foul and they get several shots. We wipe the floor with them, but not happy. The 4-2-3-1 is definitely worthless.

Next we play NK Vukovar'91. An attacking version of the 4-3-3. Disappointing. They manage to score and we only get two goals, though we keep the ball and create several chances. To consider it's heavily rotated side with unfit players.

We lose Begonja for almost a month in training, our best midfielder.

Against Maldegem things go as expected for the first quarter of an hour, showing our quality gap over them. After that, things calm down between them becoming more cautious and us not pushing too hard. Not too happy as this time I was using most of the first team. We lose Marcelo Barisic for more than a week, though.

The friendly against FK Liepaja is very disappointing. We create nothing, we don't keep the ball. We merely prevent them from having any decent chance. Some changes do little, just giving us two poor shots, then further changes get us the ball a little more and finally luck a half decent chance that Tumminello buries. Very poor, even for a rotated side. Ripic is out for ten days, though.

The final match against Una is not bad, we dominate possession as is the plan with this system we're using, we also make many shots not from distance, but not too good and only score twice. They manage a few shots, but none really threatening and it's not as bad as in the previous friendly.

Director of football has been active hiring new scouts. I told that since he'll be the main responsible for signings, he also gets to set where to scout.

We go into the first of two top two matches in which for the first time I asked the assistance his advice and I forgot to check the defence. Not very happy letting Barbaric in the starting line.
Hodzic didn't know to finish a very good counter early on. Barbaric validates my faith by commiting a penalty shortly after. Five later is unable to understand that either he's between the striker and the ball to head the ball or at least be on top to make the header hard. Six later he stays to a side allowing a long shot. Why is this one the one that gets the assistant to say "he made a mistake that lead to a goal"? No sense swapping a centreback so I'm changing to a three centreback to try the come back.
Six minutes into the second half, Tumminello scores a goal. Nine later Hodzic scores a second! There's no third, despite some chances.

She now speaks basic Croatian.

 

[Death Ball]

December 2020

Grezda comes asking more first team football. He's not been poor when used, so I've promised him he'll have it.

The day Begonja returns to training, Vrsic picks a two weeks injury. Then Prenga gets a cold just the day before the match against Osijek.

Slight rotation to give Grezda a start and some match fitness to Obuobi.
The first half is the kind of frustration I most hate. Their winger is perfectly marked but somehow kicks the ball with precission like he could move through the defender and then the ball reaches the striker despite Barisic being right on top, between him and the ball and the ball apparenly going through him and it's a goal. Later a lone player sends a ball to their lone striker in acres of space but that's not a goal. Instead a decent save by Tonti.
I change to the system that almost got the comeback against Rijeka. After some minutes it begins to show results, but the chances creater aren't that good or numerous. After the hour I change from defensive midfielder to advanced midfielder, things improve immediately, though there's no goals coming. Until the 86th minute, when Sovsic heads a side to side cross from Grezda.
We go a position up and still have a match in hand to some teams ahead, so things are not as bad as they appear, but we'll see if they're good or bad.

A team in relegation zone, we start more attacking than usual.
First half could've been bad but turns ok. Sovsic opens the scoreline, then Prenga breaks offside for Tadic to have an easy goal but shortly after Sovsic makes our second. We've dominated in terms of possession, though not in shot quality.
The second half is a little more quiet. We keep the ball and do little more, which is enough to close the game. Nearing the end, Sovsic completes his hat trick and then we close up shop for good.
With this, we break into the top four places, which is our objective for the end of the season.

Very similar side we use against Dinamo's 4-4-2. We're not changing system, this time we're going on the attack.
First half is very poor. Jelavic lets Pizzi past to score easy. We start to get in the match and when it seems we're stopping their chances, Tonti blocks an easy save into goal. By the end of the half we're keeping the ball, but still can't do anything with it.
The second half continues the progression and we get level with a little luck. But nearing the end Peric falls asleep and allows a point blank header Tonti can't save as he was in the opposite post. We have two good chances since then, but one goes narrowly off target and the other is saved. With us behind, the match ends very fast once the second minute of injury time ticks in.

With his cross for Grezda, Sovsic gets the record for assists in a season.

We have some forced rotation due to tiredness.
We edge the first half, limiting them to a few poor quality shots, while we get a few chances of decent quality. Crepulja takes a rebound from his own shot to score.
They get one quality chance in the second half, but strike it straight at the keeper. Before, when I was thinking to take Hodzic off to give Puljic some fitness, he scored our second goal. Puljic then went in for Crepulja and later Hodzic finished the scoring.
We get in fourth place, possibly to drop to fifth if a tie with Hajduk gives them the advantage.

I think we may have found the system to play as our main in this season. Now begins the winter breat until 12th January. As usual, friendlies will be arranged.

Hodzic chasing the top scorer, Sovsic with a long lead over the second in number of assists.

We're in debt. I will see to tell the director of football to sell several of the unused players.

 

[Death Ball]

Winter break, January - February 2021

I set a few players to be sold at any price and others loaned out. Babic got angry and I couldn't talk him out. Since he kept on the threats I've kicked him out.

Corio gets a two month injury, longer than the month and three weeks of break.

Hajduk drew their game in hand, which was against Dinamo, so we stay fourth with as many games as the rest.

Tumminello broke an arm and will be out for a part of the break.

Pezo comes asking again for more first team football. He's not featured as much lately, but he's still been around and if he's asking again so soon, I'm giving him a transfer out.

Injuries keep piling up. Some days ago it was Cvitanovic in the U19 team and today it's Gojkov out for a month.

I told the director to sell Pezo for value, but as his contract runs out this summer, he just signed a deal for when that happens.

Coric is the next injured.

On better news, the director has offered a new contract to Begonja and he's signed it.

First friendly against Dardanelspor is a bad one. Drjurdjek and youth Makarin let them get a good cross to shoot at an empty goal, keeper as usual standing asleep in the near post and refusing to move until the ball is already being shot. A few very good chances, sent either off target or to the woodwork make it a defeat.

The second friendly, at RNK Split, goes worse. After a quiet start, a few changes make the things turn well and we go 2-0 up. But in a minute they hack down Peric and Briek.

While the director of football is failing to bring new centrebacks and midfielders, he's going on loaning young players. And he includes Briek!

The friendly against Bozuyükspor goes very well, dominating in every aspect, though they get a counterattack they fail to hit on target.

The one against Istanbul Ö.i.S. is similar, though they get some chances of their own, they happen in the second half, when the match is already 4-0 for us and the players are slacking a little.

Meanwhile, director of football has been hiring backroom staff like crazy and failing to bring any of the players I've asked.

The first player signed successfuly is a rotational player, weaker defensively than I'd ike.

We also dominate the match against Kesanspor, with more shots than in previous matches, but less of them on target.

Tumminello also goes out on loan.

At the end of the training camp a significan improvement to squad harmony is reported.

The scout of the U19 leagues spoke about some interesting players. I asked to sign a couple of them. The one that's coming is Richard Abubakar at the end of his contract. A very promising goalkeeper.

The penultimate friendly is frustrating. Because fielding the first team we concede twice, but more because two of the goals we score are very hard, while in competitive matches much easier shots were missed.

The last friendly against Cazma is a poor result, due to an indirect free kick. We dominate possession and number of shots but fail to get a second goal. Not as frustrating as the previous match, as we rotated the team with several unfit players and Cazma is, I think, the stronger side by reputation, excluding Split, we've played in the friendlies. The worse is they hack Robert Hanzek and he'll be out for almost half a year.

She's improved her Croatian.

 

[PatrickLFC]

Those injuries are reminding me of my own saves! The keeper looks like a gem though