Career Taff Attempts the UK Challenge V 3.0 (COMPLETE)

[BatiGoal]

3 minutes ago, Taff said:

Cheers Bati, honestly you don't find many greens this far down the football pecking order, but I'll see if I can find someone with a few more blues or just stick with Buckley for another season. Cheers for the tip about short passing, been a few tweeks here and there to get the best out of him, scores a hat trick then goes 2 games with nothing, getting annoying now all this tinkering every 5 minutes

Short passing would probably suit him best but I can imagine just the kind of players you're working with. The majority won't be able to handle that style and lose possession before Buckley gets a glimpse of the ball.. Oh man.. goodluck anyway lol

[Taff]

5 minutes ago, BatiGoal said:

Short passing would probably suit him best but I can imagine just the kind of players you're working with. The majority won't be able to handle that style and lose possession before Buckley gets a glimpse of the ball.. Oh man.. goodluck anyway lol

Cheers dude, get another season done soon

[Idol]

Good luck in Wales Taff, I've been a bit busy with work but I was stuck in wales after 5 seasons so I was just about ready to restart or try another challenge. It's a bloody stupidly formatted league. You have about 30 games in December then 10 in the 2nd half of the year, really difficult to keep fitness up in the first half, especially playing with old duffers, and then just not enough games later on.

I had a guy score in 20 consecutive games and he still didn't get the record. I was not a happy bunny. 

[Taff]

3 hours ago, Idol said:

Good luck in Wales Taff, I've been a bit busy with work but I was stuck in wales after 5 seasons so I was just about ready to restart or try another challenge. It's a bloody stupidly formatted league. You have about 30 games in December then 10 in the 2nd half of the year, really difficult to keep fitness up in the first half, especially playing with old duffers, and then just not enough games later on.

I had a guy score in 20 consecutive games and he still didn't get the record. I was not a happy bunny. 

Yeah must be the worst league for this kind of challenge, but that what makes them challenges, just caught up on your progress dude and you've been very unlucky with injuries so hopefully your luck will turn around soon

[Taff]

Season 8

Wales

So after a fairly disappointing first season back home, I went into this season with renewed hope that Buckley (had to stick with him as I had no budget for anyone new), could crack on and beat the 47 goal record.

We began by bringing in some fresh players (hence the no budget)

Spoiler

Sam Sargeant was the big buy this year as my new star GK (crazy good stats for a £40K keeper), then Browne and Wraight came in to help out on the flanks with Yao coming in to give my midfield a much needed youth boost

Just unused players going out to try and balance the books

Now the season started well with us progressing through the first knockout stages of the UCL, then getting slaughtered in the next round, I decided to alter my tactic, and after looking through some of my old posts I found this one and thought it might be a good idea to give Buckley a partner up front to provide some assists.

Spoiler

I set Buckley as the P (and primary attacker) and then used the following three sets of instructions, changing every now and again to keep the opposition guessing (sometimes it worked, others not so much)

So how did these changes work for the team?

Spoiler

A brace from Buckley either side of half time helps us win our first piece of silverware this season

We cake walk the league winning with a very good 15 point gap between us and Pen-y-Bont, and a very decent GD as well 

We also lift the JD Welsh Cup for the second season

So a good domestic treble this season, but that's not really important, how did Buckley do with this new formation?

Well lets see.

He played well all season, and with 10 games to go he only needed 4 goals to break the record, then he couldn't score for toffee in the next three games, then he scores a three over the next 3 games to tie the record

So 1 goal and three games to get it, not to worried, although his recent dip in form have me worried, but then the next game this happens

BUCKLEY SCORES and that right there is goal number 48 to clinch the record!!!! what a season and I think the reason for his drought is because Williams his striking partner had been key to his tally with his assists and he went down injured with 8 games left in the season, along with my young LW Johnson, but the important thing is that he did score 48, and that's where he left it, he went the next two game with nothing but I couldn't ask anymore of him

Those early UCL games really made a difference along with the extended run in the Nathanial MG Cup, to give him the extra games he needed.

So stage 3 complete and now onto the task of working my way up the English Football ladder 

Here's the other bits if you're interested

Spoiler

Fixtures

Player Stats

Williams had a good run helping out the team with 16 goals of his own

Harper (RW), Venables (AP) and Williams (TM) all chipping in with the assists to help the team and Buckley achieve this fantastic season

Season Awards

Buckley and Williams claim 1st and 2nd in the WPL POTY (and rightly so)

Nick Johnson (LW) comes 2nd in the YPOTY

And I grab another MOTY (along with like 8 MOTM)

  Here's how my manager profile looks after playing in Ireland (5 seasons), Scotland (1 season) and Wales (2 seasons)

Not too bad, but still only a regional rep, could make getting a decent English job difficult, might have to start lower down than I was hoping (if only Buckley had hit the target earlier)

Championship side West Brom came calling and I had to shoot them down (gutted), lets hope the same luck goes with my PSG save

Cheers for following guys and I'll see you all on the other side of the Severn 

 

 

[Ashez]

Congrats mate, you did well there! Hopefully a decent repped club come in for you

[BatiGoal]

Excellent stuff. Works motivating when you enter that final stage. Very close to completion but still a big number to hit. The world is watching!! You got this.

[Idol]

Congrats Taff! Good luck in England, I seemed to get pretty regular calls from Championship clubs after the first one came calling so I'm sure you'll get a decent one soon.

[Taff]

Cheers guys, I was just so relieved to see that free kick go in (especially after just reading @Idols post about missing out by 1 goal, so unlucky mate)

We'll see where we can land in England and do as @AndersJ did and just work our way up

[AndersJ]

2 hours ago, Taff said:

Cheers guys, I was just so relieved to see that free kick go in (especially after just reading @Idols post about missing out by 1 goal, so unlucky mate)

We'll see where we can land in England and do as @AndersJ did and just work our way up

That is the wisest thing i have heard for a long time ?????

[mcandrew003]

Brilliant stuff mate! Congrats on getting to stage 4, can see you smashing this now!

[Cockers2505]

Well done @Taff its heartbreaking when you have to turn away the big clubs because its to early, but if they have offered then you will get someone big again, good luck in England mate.

[Scratch]

Great stuff mate! Looks like you'll make it this time and get on that leader board and that will be **so** well deserved. Good luck getting a good gig!

[Taff]

Season 9

England

Sorry for the delay guys, one Weekend away and a newly started H2H have put me a bit behind.

So after securing the record in Wales (by 1 goal but still) it was time to start the long winding road to the EPL

I resigned my post at Llandudno and began looking for jobs in England, I applied for anything from League 1 and above but I had no takers and didn't want to waste time so League 2 clubs also started getting my Application (which consists of 5 Irish Premier Titles, 1 Scottish League Title and 2 WPL titles plus 2 ACON and various other cups)

Then I finally got an acceptance form a League 2 club who were looking for a manager to give the team a season of success.

Welcome to...

So I take over the reigns at Tranmere and promise the board at least a playoff place, well here's how the season went (a quick look, no need to go into details here)

A single goal from my RW (who joined me from Llandudno) clinches the Checkatrade Trophy

and the league?

We clinch the League 2 title after a great season from the team

Here's how my rep looks after all this

Still only National (was applying for higher placed teams throughout the season but I'm still not good enough, oh well let's see if we can make Tranmere a Championship side next season (unless I finally get a better job)

See you all on the other side 

[Idol]

Solid season and still got a few years left in the bank. You got this. 

[Taff]

1 minute ago, Idol said:

Solid season and still got a few years left in the bank. You got this. 

Cheers dude, just need that one dream move, but happy to stick with Tranmere for now see if we can get a second promotion to boost the rep

[mcandrew003]

Good work bud, you seem to have this cracked. Crazy seeing Wolves in league 2! KIU!

[Taff]

That's why i love these long careers, you get to see random teams further down or further up than you would expect 

[Mr.Manager]

Good work mate. It'd be lovely to see you break the record with a Tranmere player a few years down the line...

[Taff]

That's an idea, but I don't think any of them are capable or eligible (possible regens)

[AndersJ]

Just caught up mate, its looking great, you will surely cruise through league one ?

[Taff]

Season 10

England

So here we are, still at Tranmere looking to take the team up to the Championship (a big ask for a newly promoted side but I was confident)

Made some good acquisitions with my limited funds

Spoiler

McBride absolutely bossed the midfield this year, Nicholls did the same in Defence and Housham (the Cheapest buy) was fantastic in the IF role, Grolleau never really got any game time this year, but Vincenti and Mallet both showed some good form when coming off the bench

Nothing really to report going out, just older unwanted players going for free 

I Spent the whole season applying for various Premiership jobs to no avail and the season was going well enough that I didn't want to jump ship to the Championship to have to build a new squad.  So I stuck it out with Tranmere 

The team had another fantastic season

We won promotion to the Championship by late March and a few games later

We won the league with roughly 5 games to go and the team crushed it (in a league consisting of no fewer than 5 ex Premiership teams, including Hull, Crystal Palace and West Brom

We also retained the Checkatrade Trophy

Scott Hanford was immense once again this season, but the whole team chipped in

Spoiler

Hanford was clear and away the best striker in the league, but O'Connor also played a huge part in the AM role

4 of my players in the top 9 for league assists 

Here's the full team stats 

Hanford and O'Connor my main attacking threat, but McBride, Browne and Housham all chipped in and Stockton who was my back up striker also had a good season when called upon

Browne and McBride also bossed the assists this year as well

 Here's the full season fixtures

Spoiler

And the team also cleaned up at the end of season awards

Spoiler

My attacking duo claiming the top spots in the League 1 POTY

McBride clinches the YPOTY

And a treble as I claim the MOTY award too

So onto the Championship, and I know that I seem to be losing sight of the challenge but honestly I think if I can't get a Premiership Job then I'll make Tranmere a Premiership side and get the record that way

So let's get this done

[AndersJ]

Do it mate, take them ALL the bloody way :)!

[Mr.Manager]

Great work Taff, that's some season for a newly promoted side!

[Idol]

Another good season in the bag Taff, I bet a decent Prem club will come in for you this season. Depending on how you're doing with Tranmere though it might not actually be worth moving. 

[mcandrew003]

Another quality season, Premier League is next for sure!

[Taff]

Here's a little teaser of how my Championship season is going compared to the other team who joined me in automatic promotion from league 1 Shrewsbury

Spoiler

sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table

While Shrewsbury (and sorry to show this @Ashez

bottom of the pile without a point to their name (although to be fair @Ashez there in the Championship so that's something)

 

[Ashez]

Congrats on the promotion and for being able to storm the Championship as well . 

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen them that high from AI management 

[Taff]

2 hours ago, Ashez said:

Congrats on the promotion and for being able to storm the Championship as well . 

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen them that high from AI management 

I'm loving my little run up the ladder there's been so many surprises seeing which team is where, but if it makes you feel better they won their first game 5-1

[BatiGoal]

Oh man you're really going thru hell to get your name on that UK leaderboard  great determination mate!