Career 'GOAT' Manager Challenge - The 1st Attempt

[leedsunited87]

1 hour ago, DanEnglish said:

It’s literally non-stop. Once the ‘injury crisis’ narrative ends* then I switch it back on and half the squad (or more!) are injured again. I think we have had 6 rounds of it so far, with the last in mid-Feb.

*I think it ends when there’s only 3-5 players with ‘red injuries’ - not sure on the exact number yet.

Blimey fair play, I can understand just how hard this challenge is. Just stick at it, because your doing incredible 👏 🙌 👌 

[DanEnglish]

End-Season 1

End of Season Finale

 
Recap
This challenge has been ridiculously hard.

Spoiler

• 🔻 Taunton has the lowest wage budget of any promoted VNS/N club + has a rubbish starting squad.
• 🔻 The 4 narratives have (non-stop!) hurt us - especially six rounds of ⛔️ injury crisis ⛔️ 
• 🔻 No loans in - only free transfers.
• 🔻 No exceeding wages - I’ve stayed within our <£4k / week wage budget for every competitive fixture.
• 🔻 No manager badges / reputation hurt my ability to motivate / raise morale.

Yet we need to win the league. Urgh.

 
The Final Month
We sit in 1st - but only just. 

Our next game was against 2nd place. Watching the extended highlights - they absolutely dominated us. 

We scored a lucky late equalizer (a deflected free kick) - so we ‘parked the bus’ in my favorite ‘sterile possession’ 41410 backup to take a 1-1 draw.

We really struggled in the remaining matches. If we got the lead, we went straight into my ‘park the bus’ 41410.

That 3-1 at the end was the only game we deserved to win.

 
The Final Match
It all comes down to this. The final match. A draw gives us the title. 

2nd place Ebbsfleet race into a two goal lead in their match against an already relegated side. So we must draw.

At half-time, with our score at 0-0, I close down the game with our ‘park the bus’ 41410 again.  
 

 The Final Result 
Will it backfire? Have we gone defensive too soon? Will we bottle it?! 😬 

Spoiler

The final whistle …

A boring 0-0 draw gives us the title 🏆 

Am surprised we have done it! Wow!

The fans + Board are (understandably) delighted.

For anyone that cares - here’s my ‘challenge points’ total for this 1st season:

Am both delighted + exhausted. I need a lie-down.
 

 
Next
This challenge will continue - after a few days break.

Might post an end-season wrap-up with player stats etc, before starting season 2 … 

… but … huh … what? … there’s MORE?!

AAAARRRGGH!!!

Edited August 21, 2023 by DanEnglish

[DanEnglish]

End Season 1

🏆 Season 1 Awards 🏆

A short fun post of the best (+ worst) of this 1st season. 
 

Best GK
After using 5 (FIVE!) keepers this season due to injuries, only 1 can be the winner …

Spoiler

🏆 Wullie Muir 🏆 
The Scottish keeper was our undisputed #1 for the 1st half of the season …

… with our best goals conceded / games ratio …

… but the ⛔️ injury crisis ⛔️ meant he didn’t play the 2nd half of the season …

… and will be leaving, as doesn’t want to sign a new contract 😞 

🛡 Honorable mention 🛡 
Solid English keeper Mitchell Beeney’s is actually better - as his attributes really improved out on loan (to 17 aerial!) - before we recalled him in Feb/March to play our final ~15 games.

   
 

Best Defender 
String competition here - but our winner was the one who stayed fit + therefore whose attributes improved the most

Spoiler

🏆 Brandon Taylor 🏆 
Developed into our star DC with 14 aerial, 15 strength + decent mentals …

… crucially he stayed fit for most of the season - except for a 1-2 month injury over Christmas …

… so was consistently solid in the 40 league games (out of 46) in which he played.

 
 

 
Best Midfielder
In a position ravenged by injuries throughout the season - there is one FREE signing who I definitely recommend as a good defensive midfielder / B2B …

Spoiler

🏆 Khalid Haysmann 🏆 
While his decisions + attacking attributes are a bit low - the young midfielder is solid defensively + his 17 stamina (!) makes him a good B2B …

… he was a solid 1st team pick …

… after we recalled him from loan + before he got injured for the 2nd half of the season in our (5th?) ⛔️ injury crisis ⛔️ 

 
 

 
 Best Creator 
An unexpected choice. Played as a left-footed IF / IW - he performed much better than his attributes suggested …

Spoiler

🏆 Layton Ndukwu 🏆 
Our top assisted was a two footed, fast dribbler who can also cross …

… but surprised us by both scoring 11 + assisting 12 in his 30 games … even with low shooting + passing attributes …

… but again was out injured from mid-December onwards until the very end of the season.

⛔️ injury crisis ⛔️ hits again
 

 Best Goalscorer 
Another position massively hit by injuries - this guy was dependable + had our best goal-to-games ratio …

Spoiler

🏆 David Bremang 🏆 
While his attributes have deteriorated from injury - this free transfer signing was originally sent out on loan …

… before being recalled to fire in 14 goals in 18 games 🔥 

… before injuries hit him also …

… the ⛔️ injury crisis ⛔️ strikes again
 

 
 Best Youth 
This youngster saved our season. Though you won’t be able to sign him, as he was a regen / newgen / academy product …

Spoiler

🏆 Obolo ! 🏆 
Look at that 15 pace … !

With a fantastic personality, this academy graduate (surprisingly) quickly became our 3rd choice Captain …

… after scoring 16 goals from the winter onwards …

… including saving our season by scoring 12 goals in his last 18 games 

Thank you Obolo, thank you 🙏
 

  
⁉️ Ugliest Tactic ⁉️

Quote

“That tactic is more drier then a nun’s fanny”
 @KloppySeconds on Discord

In most games - if we manage to score first, then we immediately use this ‘park the bus’ / sterile possession 41410. Ugly.

 
⁉️ Worst Waste ⁉️
2 goals on his debut. A perfect 10 rating. Then didn’t play again all season. 

Spoiler

Gomis
The French striker showed such promise …

… but a broken leg kept him out until the spring …

… by which point he was loaned  out to ensure we didn’t exceed wages …

Such promise. Pity 😞
 

❌ Worst Player ❌
A defensive liability in every game …

Spoiler

🔻Tunnicliff 🔻
His attributes worried me - with only 6 to 7 for most key defensive attributes + just 2 technique …

… but it was his performances which sealed the deal …

… that <6.8 average rating doesn’t show just how poor his passing was aaaarrrggh! 
 

 
❌ Worst Staff ❌
Probably the biggest surprise.

Its NOT our useless Scout. It’s NOT our horribly overworked Physio. It’s NOT even our Chairperson who are asset stripping the Club …

The Worst Staff Member is … Me! 

Spoiler

Why? For a challenge requiring a league win …

• … WHY did I struggle on a <£4k / week wage budget with a ‘avoid relegation’ expectation …. 
   
• … when we could have had a larger wage budget if I picked a more ambitious expectation!

What an IDIOT decision I made 😞 

 
 Most Important Moment 
A fun one. This was our most important FOUL of the season - when our corner is cleared, it’s 2 on 1 against us …

… thankfully - a cynical FOUL prevents an equalizer + saves our season …

That’s a Paul Scholes tackle 😛 

—————————————————
Hope you enjoyed our
end-season awards!—————————————————

Edited October 17, 2023 by DanEnglish

[leedsunited87]

Really well put together there mate! Well done, really good end to the season there buddy. Will be ovs alot harder the division up. Keep up thr great work Dan!