Not posting this as a true success, as it was definitely tainted on several levels. More of a "well, this was fun" thing. But won the Champions League in the second season. With Vitesse Arnhem. Not really, but sorta.
It was a "for fun" game since I knew it wouldn't last long, with FM17 coming out. Its with pr0's transfer update, which gives them a potential wonderkid player, plus I had to create the Japanese international leftback they signed in the winter which SI somehow missed (and he's likely a bit overpowered). Added a couple of players and walked the league in the first season - not so hard in the Eredivisie with a decent tactic. Did the same thing in the second season. Heavily reliant on young players - the primary right winger was just 15 at the start, turned 16 early in the first season, and has been a constant starter. The rightback is just a year older. Despite the success in Holland, I didn't have much for expectations in the Champions League. Like with Lokomotiv Moscow, I figured I would do well to finish third and get a reasonable run in the Europa League. But with the Loko saves, I also saw what a solid tactic and a settled side with high morale can do.
Group Stage was Arsenal, PSG, and Dynamo Kiev. Ended up topping it. Kiev wasn't that strong (active league, though). PSG was a home draw and an away win. Arsenal was the decider. Pretty sure I replayed the one match with Arsenal - part of why this is tainted, not legit. I think it only would have made the difference between finishing 1st or 2nd in the group, and I don't recall why I replayed it. Wasn't just cuz of a loss, because not really any shame in losing to Arsenal when you are a Dutch club, let alone a smaller one. Finishing first in the group theoretically made the first knockout round easier but I got one of the harder sides, considering a few of the clubs who made it through the Group Stages. I drew Wolfsburg. I replayed the first leg against them, but not intentionally - game was accidentally closed. And the first result was better - think it was 2-0 or 3-0 away, but the second time was 2-1. Home draw and through. Then Man City, defending champions. Same thing, away first leg with a narrow win, draw in the return leg. Through. War of words with Guardiola won, too. Juventus in the semi final. Basically the same thing - though I think it was 2-2 away, 1-1 at home, and through on away goals. Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the other semi final. So my little squad of kids is playing Barcelona. I use the same approach as I have been - which is just dropping the Mentality of the tactic from Standard to Counter. Instant Result... 3-0 loss. Could have been worse. For fun, I replay it.... and win on penalties after 0-0 through extra time. So like I said, tainted and not legit. But unlikely and amusing at the same time.
