Background
This is my first ever attempt at a manager story and have decided to go for a classic of mine which I have previously attempted on older versions (but never conquered).
I have always thought of myself as a bit of a wheeler-dealer manager (Like Harry Redknapp, without his panic transfer day signings). Picking up players on frees and expiring contracts and where better too utilise this than at the bottom of the bottom where finances are kept on a very short leash.
I contemplated doing an unemployed challenge and would likely end up with a team of equivalent stature or possibly even higher as I have seen throughout other managers stories. However, I have decided to choose Bath City. The reason being is that I live here so makes an obvious team to manage (am actually a Leicester fan).
Bath is a City, which was founded by the Romans and the football team is nicknamed “The Romans”.
Challenge
The ultimate aim of the challenge is therefore to basically build the team/club (Roman army) and eventually conquer Europe (i.e. champions league)!!!
This is obviously going to be a very long challenge, and to make it harder I will be starting the challenge with the lowest managerial experience possible.
Up to January
Before I decided to publish this story I had already started the challenge (1st save) and am halfway through my first season. So I will give you a quick catch up on my progress so far and various dealings before up until January 2015
View attachment 328559 View attachment 328558
On taking over the club
Team: Bath City
Nickname: The Romans
Media Prediction: 11th
My Target: Playoffs
Transfer Budget: 1k
Total Wage budget: 5.087 k
Tactic – looking at the squad I inherited it was hard to look past using a pretty basic 4-4-2 formation. Using a simple well-balanced tactic should favor a lower skilled side.
View attachment 328556 View attachment 328555
Transfers
View attachment 328554
Out
Andy Watkins (ST) - Was on 400p/w (highest earner) and had him down as my 4th/5th choice striker. Unfortunately nobody would take him off my hands (probably his high wage). I therefore had to terminate his contract, which was a shame as finances are so delicate at this level. However it was essential to increase my wage budget and strengthen the squad.
In
Simon Locke (GK)- Was essential to get a new keeper as only had one first team keeper and was probably one of the weakest in the league. Simon Locke is a young decent goalkeeper with very good potential so will continue to develop especially with first team experience.
Mark Preece and Alfred Bosch (CD) - A position I knew I had to try and strengthen and bring players in as goal scoring is very high in this league and I Identified this to be an area of weakness in ability across the squad
Firstly I signed Preece who is pretty solid at this level and used to play for the club and I remember him from previous saves.
I have recently signed Bosch towards the end of November as I was conceding more goals than I would like. Gave him a 2-week trial and scored twice in 2 reserve games so effectively earned his signing!
I also got Groves (ML) and Mccormack (CM) on loan, to act as back up to first team injuries. Neither are 1st team players but are only on 55 p/w between them and have performed solidly when needed.
Another great addition to the squad was Park Ji-Sung (ex Man United player), who I somehow managed to get as my under 18’s coach and has also increased scouting knowledge from 2% up to 8% and also has an attribute of 18 for working with youngsters.
Current Squad
View attachment 328541
Feel I currently have quite a good balance in the squad, although may look to get another wide midfielder in. Keats has been i terrific form and has scored 21 goals in 21 games currently and McCootie has 17 in 21. So that is a pretty deadly strike force!
The League
I am now about halfway through the season and am comfortably at the top of the table. Automatic promotion is now mine to lose and will be bitterly disappointed if we cant kick on and win the league!
View attachment 328538
FA Cup
Getting to the first round was a pretty good achievement, picking up a bit of extra cash along the way. Lost to a team in the division above but really thought we had a good chance of getting to the next round.
View attachment 328546
FA Cup Trophy
Comfortable victories so far, just the 2 rounds against opposition in the same league. Am hoping to get a bit of a cup run in this competition, based on my teams current good form. However, have just been drawn Grimsby away for the next round which will be a tough game.
View attachment 328537
Current form
The team has been in blistering formand am currently on an 8 game win streak, setting the record in the Vanarama South division which is 6.
View attachment 328536
Will try and do a quick update after every month on my progress. Currently have 7 games scheduled for January. As i said i have never done this before so hopefully people will like it and follow my European conquest.
(Also hope the formatting comes out alright)
This is my first ever attempt at a manager story and have decided to go for a classic of mine which I have previously attempted on older versions (but never conquered).
I have always thought of myself as a bit of a wheeler-dealer manager (Like Harry Redknapp, without his panic transfer day signings). Picking up players on frees and expiring contracts and where better too utilise this than at the bottom of the bottom where finances are kept on a very short leash.
I contemplated doing an unemployed challenge and would likely end up with a team of equivalent stature or possibly even higher as I have seen throughout other managers stories. However, I have decided to choose Bath City. The reason being is that I live here so makes an obvious team to manage (am actually a Leicester fan).
Bath is a City, which was founded by the Romans and the football team is nicknamed “The Romans”.
Challenge
The ultimate aim of the challenge is therefore to basically build the team/club (Roman army) and eventually conquer Europe (i.e. champions league)!!!
This is obviously going to be a very long challenge, and to make it harder I will be starting the challenge with the lowest managerial experience possible.
Up to January
Before I decided to publish this story I had already started the challenge (1st save) and am halfway through my first season. So I will give you a quick catch up on my progress so far and various dealings before up until January 2015
View attachment 328559 View attachment 328558
On taking over the club
Team: Bath City
Nickname: The Romans
Media Prediction: 11th
My Target: Playoffs
Transfer Budget: 1k
Total Wage budget: 5.087 k
Tactic – looking at the squad I inherited it was hard to look past using a pretty basic 4-4-2 formation. Using a simple well-balanced tactic should favor a lower skilled side.
View attachment 328556 View attachment 328555
Transfers
View attachment 328554
Out
Andy Watkins (ST) - Was on 400p/w (highest earner) and had him down as my 4th/5th choice striker. Unfortunately nobody would take him off my hands (probably his high wage). I therefore had to terminate his contract, which was a shame as finances are so delicate at this level. However it was essential to increase my wage budget and strengthen the squad.
In
Simon Locke (GK)- Was essential to get a new keeper as only had one first team keeper and was probably one of the weakest in the league. Simon Locke is a young decent goalkeeper with very good potential so will continue to develop especially with first team experience.
Mark Preece and Alfred Bosch (CD) - A position I knew I had to try and strengthen and bring players in as goal scoring is very high in this league and I Identified this to be an area of weakness in ability across the squad
Firstly I signed Preece who is pretty solid at this level and used to play for the club and I remember him from previous saves.
I have recently signed Bosch towards the end of November as I was conceding more goals than I would like. Gave him a 2-week trial and scored twice in 2 reserve games so effectively earned his signing!
I also got Groves (ML) and Mccormack (CM) on loan, to act as back up to first team injuries. Neither are 1st team players but are only on 55 p/w between them and have performed solidly when needed.
Another great addition to the squad was Park Ji-Sung (ex Man United player), who I somehow managed to get as my under 18’s coach and has also increased scouting knowledge from 2% up to 8% and also has an attribute of 18 for working with youngsters.
Current Squad
View attachment 328541
Feel I currently have quite a good balance in the squad, although may look to get another wide midfielder in. Keats has been i terrific form and has scored 21 goals in 21 games currently and McCootie has 17 in 21. So that is a pretty deadly strike force!
The League
I am now about halfway through the season and am comfortably at the top of the table. Automatic promotion is now mine to lose and will be bitterly disappointed if we cant kick on and win the league!
View attachment 328538
FA Cup
Getting to the first round was a pretty good achievement, picking up a bit of extra cash along the way. Lost to a team in the division above but really thought we had a good chance of getting to the next round.
View attachment 328546
FA Cup Trophy
Comfortable victories so far, just the 2 rounds against opposition in the same league. Am hoping to get a bit of a cup run in this competition, based on my teams current good form. However, have just been drawn Grimsby away for the next round which will be a tough game.
View attachment 328537
Current form
The team has been in blistering formand am currently on an 8 game win streak, setting the record in the Vanarama South division which is 6.
View attachment 328536
Will try and do a quick update after every month on my progress. Currently have 7 games scheduled for January. As i said i have never done this before so hopefully people will like it and follow my European conquest.
(Also hope the formatting comes out alright)
