Not a frustration or a rage. More a minor annoyance.
<snip.
Anyway, its annoying to get less money than I had planned on but is it what it is. Not wrecking the save or anything. The squad was obviously good enough to be competitive in the RPL as it was, and its going to be getting better with the young players developing.
Follow up. Again, not an overt frustration but more a minor annoyance.
So the first half of the 2017-2018 season has been interesting. As I mentioned before, I got one of my main targets - the Russian RB at Sparta Prague. I also wanted Anton Mitryushkin, a Russian goalkeeper at FC Sion in Switzerland. Guilherme is fine and not that old, but Mitryushkin is at least as good with potential to get better. I did try in the summer, despite minimum funds, but Sion wanted a lot. So I decided to see if I could unsettle him. Declared interest in the media, and sent scouts. He started playing kinda **** and said he wanted to join, but Sion wasn't budging. Fine. Its a long process and my need is not immediate.
The Russian Premier League season has been a romp so far. But Zenit isn't far behind. I downed the something like 4-1 in the head-to-head, but I have an oddly good record against them. I use my same base tactic (a 4-1-4-1 Very Fluid Counter high press system) and just drop the D-line, killing them on the counter. My concern over whether Galadjan could carry the load was unfounded - he's still a bit inconsistent but scoring enough, and still developing well. Its amazing what the combination of competitive matches and ideal personality does for player development. He will be Russia's #1 striker soon. Miranchuk is almost maxed out on development - my only concern with him is that I wish he was a year older so he could tutor. The youngsters are getting matches and developing. Had Real Madrid making cursory, insulting offers for one of my Russian wingers. And Nikola Milenkovic (the big Serbian DC) has become my de facto #1 central defender - Pejcinovic and Corluka (who is losing all his pace) rotate beside him.
I was most concerned about the Champions League. I didn't have to play a qualifier. Group draw was Manchester United, Porto, and Celtic. I was figuring on targeting 3rd and the Europa League, but a home draw to United made things possible. Ended up drawing away to United as well, 2 wins over Celtic, and a win and a draw with Porto. Went thru in 2nd. Some not-so-strong teams made it through the group stage, but all in 2nd. So Round of 16, drew against Bayern Munich. ****.
One of the interesting dynamics about managing in Russia is the long winter break - its basically as long as the summer break. The Russian winter window doesn't actually start until February. I was waiting for the funds... and waiting. Started to assume I wouldn't get much again. Then boom, 25m comes through. Time to spend.
Sion still weren't letting me get Mitryushkin unless I was willing to spend most of my budget. Which I wasn't. So instead, I stumped up 15m (structured) for Elmir Nabiullin from Rubin Kazan, giving two of the best young Russian fullbacks. I scouted a bunch of other leftback options but while Nabiullin wasn't the best, he's Russian, has potential, and can be mentored. Now Manuel Fernandes is my midfield pivot, either as a DLP or Roaming Playmaker. But he's aging and slowing down. One of my long terms goals is to find an all around MC with great attacking skills for those positions (First Touch, Passing, Technique, Vision, Flair, Off the Ball) to make the tactical approach even better. Mateo Kovavic of Real Madrid would be almost perfect. since I can't and won't be able to attract a player of that caliber to Loko, I've been looking to develop one. Have a 19 year Nigerian who I snapped dup at the beginning - he's got potential but not ready to start. I spent a bit more of the money on an 18 year old Serbian MC with similar potential as the Nigerian, but he's a bit more developed all around. And to add a bit of versatile depth, I spent about 2m on John Hou Saeter.
I figured my spending was done at that point, but then New York City FC came through with a decent offer for Manuel Fernandes, so I negotiated it up to 5m total and now my creative pivot is gone. Miranchuk can take that role but while he's better overall, he's not quite as dynamic creatively. I also got an offer for Aleksandr Kolomeytsev and he went as well. I wasn't necessary going to replace Fernandes but I had about 15m left so I scouted some players on my shortlist. I got a new notice that Ante Coric was upset at not being able to leave Dinamo. Made an offer, negotiated it to about 20m structured and he accepted the contract. Didn't even demand massive money. So boom, I now have my create midfielder. Would prefer more rounded, but he should do amazing in the RPL.
Advanced thru the mid-season friendlies. Got my new youth intake. Junior coaching just got bumped and the result.... a high potential keeper and DM. The keeper is 18 years old and fairly developed. He's not that tall for a keeper, but he becomes my immediate backup and will get matches. The DM is 15 and not a position of need, but if he develops into a world class player.... Mitryushkin is longer needed, after I unsettled him. Ironically, I had agreed to personally watch a Sion match just before the youth intake, so I still observed it. He conceded two. Sorry kid.
First leg of the Bayern match, I surprisingly won 1-0 at home. Went to a the deep defensive line but that was it - they actually dominated possession, which is unusual against my side. I'm not hopeful of getting a result in Germany, though. I figure we are still going out. And played the quarter final of the Russian Cup against Ural, a weaker RPL side. Put out the kids - my entire midfield 5 was between 15 and 17 years old. Won 4-1. The kids are indeed alright. My new regen GK and DM also got their first tastes of what means it to be Loko.
I've made it thru 2 seasons with Loko about 4 times in the past 2 versions with FM. This will be the 5th time when I finish the season. I'd like to go further, hopefully develop some of those high potential young players I've snared and become more than just a powerhouse in Russia.