I?ve found it very hard to get into a save on this years FM, however after a successful and trophy filled career with Atletico Madrid I think i?ve finally found my love for the game enough to take on a bigger challenge. The San Marino challenge has always appealed to me most due to the longevity of having to develop both the Club side and then the National Team, throwing in all the problems along the way.
I?ve decided to manage both teams from the start which is new for me, obviously i?m not expecting any instant results with the NT and the main goal will be not to get sacked!
So the main goal is of course to get the club team moving in the right direction, and i?d ideally like consecutive promotions as I need Serie A money as soon as possible to improve the facilities and infrastructure.
Nothing too spectacular here, there?s no chance of being relegated this season due to the impending league changes, so I?ve chosen mid table as looking at my squad i?m more than confident we can achieve it. I?m quietly confident of a promotion challenge as I?ve had a season with San Marino before and won the league without too much issue.
Only one signing here with tricky young winger Alexis Carra coming in on a free. He?s signed a 2 year deal, he?ll never be a long term star but he should have enough class to get me up the leagues at least. No-one left as the squad is new to me and I need to find out what everyone can and can?t do. Would have like a left back as it appears out weakest area, but nothing on the market would have improved upon what we already have.
On recent saves i?ve been rotating between 3 strong 4-3-3 tactics so i?ll be doing the same here. My main home tactic is a variation on the Shots Galore tactic, whilst I use the attacking tweak of Steaton?s 4-2-3-1 away. If form drops I tend to throw in Supremacy for a few games until there?s an upturn in form. All 3 tactics have similar positions for players so they can switch between all 3 easily without me having to load the squad with different footballers.
With the Serie C1A being a relatively short season (30 games) and there not being any youth development as such in the first season or two i have decided to start with bi-monthly updates to try and get the story moving. If I have a month where a lot happens I might do monthly instead but we will see how it goes.
Serie C Cup Santarcangelo - 0 San Marino - 1 (Graffeidi 82)
My tenure at the helm begins with a smash and grab win away at C2A side Sanatarcangelo. Not the prettiest but a wins a win.
Serie C Cup San Marino - 1 (Sensi 54) Rimini - 0
Another steady win and clean sheet sees us safely through the first group stage. Pacciardi picked up an injury and will be out for 4 weeks. We?ll play Ascoli away in the next round.
Venezia - 1 (Testardi 90+4) San Marino 1 - (Graffeidi 82)
Last minute equaliser was a killer, but a good result considering Cruz was sent off after only 20minutes
San Marino - 3 (Carra 8, Villanova 16, Gavilan 83) Pro Patria - 1 (Moscati 66)
A game of few chances, intact there were only a total of 10 shots in the game. Nice to see Carra get off the mark for the club.
A nice start sees us sat in third which is pleasing. 8 teams enter the playoffs this season and I dont know how its going to work but ill be disappointed not to be in there come the end of the season. Worryingly hot favourites Cremonese have gone out like a train and have a 100% start so far.
Serie C Cup - First Round Ascoli - 1 (Liberati 59) San Marino - 2 (Sensi 29, Cruz 53)
Our cup run continues with a solid 2-1 win away at Ascoli. 21 shots and 61% possession marks our best performance since I took charge. A trip to the Leaning Tower ahead as Pisa await us in the second round.
San Marino - 2 (Carra 42, OG 73) Alti Adige - 2 (Kiem 37, Corazza 90+1)
Undone by another late equaliser, would have overtaken them with a win.
Lumezzane - 2 (Belotti 69, de Paula 82) San Marino - 4 (Carra 16, Graffeidi 24, 72, OG 32)
The goals continue to flow with old war horse Graffeidi doing a fine job filling in for Sensi, who was off with the Italy U19s
Reggiana are no mugs and we put them to the sword with ease, winger Lolli getting his first for the club here.
Serie C Cup - Second Round Pisa - 1 (Mazzoli 13) San Marino - 5 (Villanova 15, Gavilan 48, 88, Sensi 79p, 89)
Pisa scored early then probably wished they didnt, we even managed to get Fogacci sent off. AlbinoLeffe and Benevento are our opponents in the next group stage.
An even game with few chances - fair result in the end.
Overall another pleasing month with 3 crushing wins sandwiched between a couple of steady draws. The cup wasn?t a priority at the start of the season, but Im not taking it lightly, fingers crossed it will be the only time we enter it!
Still sat nicely in third and we already have double the points of the teams outside the playoff zone. Cremonese finally lost a game this month, but they dont concede goals and I can see them running away with the title.
Ukraine - 8 (Konolplyanka 29, 84, 90+2, OG 30, Zozulya 33, Rakitskyi 47, 86, Yarmolenko 70) San Marino - 0
I thought we might nick something from Moldova but it wasnt to be. The Ukraine game was painful, I went off to make a coffee in the second half so I didnt have to watch it!
