Connor1874

You're right for Scotland, I've never had it happen. Had it quite a bit in the English lower leagues though.

Forgot he was playing Ice Hockey now. Least he looks less out of place with the headgear. Spot on about Wrestling too.

Rudi Skacel was a good Ice Hockey player in his day.

Cba trawling the thread and putting myself through the trauma of reading about Schalke games, but anyone else a Schalke fan here?

Best moment I had for that kind of reaction was at Easter Road and my mate jumping out his seat screaming for a handball. Everyone around us, myself included, looked at each other wondering where the **** the handball was.

My personal favourite was a guy I sat near years ago who couldn't tell the difference between David Obua and Christian Nade. Particularly bad when one wasn't even on the park and he's berating them for every move they make.

Connor1874's first Pentagon Challenge As promised, here's my tl;dr Pentagon Challenge summary. For those who don't know what it is, the aim is to start unemployed with the lowest reputation, and win all 5 continental competitions in one save. How you decide to do it is up to yourself. I opted to focus on Africa and Asia first as I felt Europe for example could take years to build up a reputation to get decent jobs. Of course more challenging, but I just wanted to get it done as it has been on my list for some time now. Also, I'm playing on the Touch version, so no coaching badges and the likes. Not sure if that makes it easier though or harder, as you're purely judged on your successes rather than able to build your rep with an abundance of badges. Africa Real Kings - I'd be lying if I said I'd heard of my first club. I was offered the job halfway through the South African 2nd tier season with Real Kings fighting for survival. Very little in way of financial leverage to do much with the squad so just had to get stuck in. Instant pick up in form led to us getting some breathing space, and we survived comfortably. My first full season saw me do some smart business, and we started the season strong. We even pulled off a couple of upsets in the FA Cup getting to the quarter finals. We ended up finishing 3rd in the South African First Division which was far more than expected of us. That entered us into the playoffs, a 3 team mini league between 2nd bottom in the Premier, and 2nd and 3rd from the First Division. You play each team home and away, and the team who tops the mini league goes up. That team was me. Ready to start preparing for life in South Africa's top tier, I was then given an offer I couldn't turn down... Mamelodi Sundowns - Perhaps the biggest club in South Africa outwith Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, I couldn't say no. A club that I knew I could achieve stuff with, and helped by the fact they had a Chinese billionaire owner who was offering me a sizeable transfer budget for South African football. I had no real idea how the CL qualification worked, but turns out I was in it for next season! All the more reason to come to Sundowns. We also participated in the African Confederations Cup, which I just assumed was a Europa League equivalent. In many ways it was, but the massive difference was I played in both at the same time. The early rounds of the African CL were some laugh. The most mental result was beating a team from South Sudan 26-0 on aggregate. The season was the longest I've ever played. On top of the league season, we played in 3 domestic cups, as well as 2 continental trophies. Of the 3 domestic trophies, I only won 1. I did however win the African Confederations Cup, and more importantly, the African CL. After that final, I still had 5 games to play in the league while everyone else was finished. I had plenty opportunities to win the title, but my squad were knackered and we faltered in the end. I didn't care though. My fairly brief, but fun and successful time in Africa was over, on to Asia I went. Asia Henan Jianye - I was offered a job in China with a Henan side midway through their campaign but trying to stay up, much like my time at Real Kings. As you know though, in China comes plenty money to play with. I already had a few talented foreign players too in Serge Aurier and Lucas Ocampos. I kept Henan up comfortably in my half season, and then ended my first full season winning the league title. A successful spell domestically with Henan, but 3 failed attempts at winning the CL. I resigned in a huff after 3rd attempt (stupidly) as most of my squad had ****ed off to the World Cup, leaving me a threadbare squad for my last 16 tie. Upon resigning I decided I wanted a go in Korea, so it was off too... Pohang Steelers - Not much to report here. My crack at Korea was uneventful. Domestic talent was far better, but a lot more limited in terms of finance. A good wee competitive league, I guided them to 3rd in my first half season, but was struggling to get back in the top 3 in my full season. In between that came another failed CL attempt. I then decided to pack in and wait for a top job. I was getting impatient at this point, so rash decisions were being made. DL Pro - Or Dalian Yifang as they're known in real life. I never intended on this job. I wanted a top job. But I went on holiday while unemployed, and when I came back, I was already manager. Struggling in the Chinese Super League, I was faced with another Henan task. Not really what I was looking for, but maybe I needed to start from scratch? Also, a huge transfer budget swung it a bit too. Like Henan, I turned DL from strugglers to champions in a season and a bit. A few more unsuccessful CL campaigns followed, but finally, in 2030, Asia was complete. Again, a load of players missed the last 16 through World Cup participation, but I got through it. Then the Asian Under 23 games came and depleted my squad more, but again I got through it. Thank ****. North America Toronto FC - I intended on going to Mexico as I'd never experienced their league before, but an ambitious Toronto was the first job I was offered, and I was seriously tempted. Canadian MLS clubs have a further way into the CL by winning the Canadian Championship, a 10 team knockout cup between the 3 MLS clubs and 7 Canadian League clubs. My time at Toronto was fairly brief but very successful. My first crack at the NACL didn't go to plan. I drew Atlanta United and lost on away goals. The following season, we drew them again and got revenge. I got all the way to the final and drew Mexican giants America. I led 1-0 for most of the first leg, but was suckerpunched twice in the last 5 minutes. It looked like another season was needed. In the 2nd leg at the Azteca, we were being battered, and needed to win by 2. Luck was finally on my side though, America were reduced to 10 men, and we pounced on that with a quickfire double, and leg 3 of my journey was done. South America Lanus - I was excited to be in Argentina, a league I've never really experienced but have massive respect for. Lanus was my first job offer, and they were sat 3rd so I decided to take it. I managed to get them upto 2nd pretty quickly, but I knew that Libertadores success was going to be tough. I was only at Lanus for about a dozen games. My departure came as I was offered another job, one I couldn't turn down... River Plate - I couldn't say no to the opportunity of managing this club, and I'm glad I didn't I had one of my favourite experiences at a club with River. My league record was unbelievable, going unbeaten 2 full seasons in a row and scoring 100+ goals in all 3 of my seasons. I only suffered 5 league defeats in the league in a total of 3 and a half seasons. It was a case of 3rd time lucky for the Libertadores. Flamengo were the dominant force when I arrived, spanking teams left, right and centre. They beat me in the semi's of my 2nd attempt, but I ended their dominance at the 3rd attempt, gubbing them 4-1 in the final. Was pretty sad that my time in Argentina was over, but only one more continent to crack... Europe Manchester City - within days of my resignation at River, City were after me, and had just qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League so it was as good a club as any other. They weren't in the best nick though, sat 10th when I took over, I was prepared for a couple of seasons job, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I insisted on playing my attacking, high press 4-3-3 in the league, as I had done with every other club, but I decided to park the bus in the CL away from home. I overcame Juve and Dortmund in the last 16 and QF first legs by beating them 1-0 at home, and defending those leads away. Then it was Liverpool in the semi's who were dominating the PL. A 2-1 defeat at Anfield meant I had no option but to attack them in the 2nd leg, and it was our performance of the season. We battered them for 90 minutes, but more importantly won 2-0 and off to the final we went. We had only finished 6th in the league, and the squad were all publicly slating me for underachieving (despite the fact I wasn't even in charge for the first 20 games and I took them 4 places up in the 18 I was in charge) so I was really hoping to win this. Failure to do so meant I was in the EL2 but given the ego's in the squad, I probably would've just resigned. Not that I needed to in the end, a scrappy 1-0 win meant I was European champions, and in 2038, my challenge was finally done. I really went through all the motions in this save, the excitement of completing my first leg, followed by the frustration in Asia of needing about 7 years! Winning the CL with City and completing the journey didn't feel particularly exciting, more just a sigh of relief that it was over. I've put so much time into this save over the last few weeks, and proud to say I've done it, but glad to put it behind me too. A great career though, my honours and managerial record are as follows: All time managerial record - P841 W599 D128 L114 F1989 A610 - Win Percentage 71% Honours - South African Super 8 African Confederations Cup African Champions League 5x Chinese Super League 5x Chinese FA Cup 5x Chinese Super Cup Asian Champions League MLS Cup MLS Supporters Shield 2x MLS Eastern Conference 2x Canadian Championships North American Champions League 3x Argentine Premier Division 3x Argentine Cup 2x Argentine Super Cup Copa Libertadores UEFA Champions League

I'm G. So there's more than one in the Wheatfield Stand then?

She's a TV addict and has got me to watch that much shite with her that I struggle to stay awake during a film unless playing FM on my laptop at the same time. That then prompts her to tell me to pick a film, and when I do, she either sits on her phone and doesn't pay attention and asks me questions throughout the film, or in some cases, just ****s off to bed cos I should know that she doesn't like this film. I picked Inglorious Basterds a while back (hadn't seen it surprisingly) and she lasted 5 minutes, before turning round to go to sleep, muttering something about 'foreign pish'.

Mine thinks we should cuddle up and watch a film sometime because we never spend much time together. I've been in lockdown for 2 months with the ****, I've not seen anyone else in the flesh bar her. Gimme ****ing peace woman.

I think a degree of patience is needed for sure. I last attempted a save like it on FM19 and got Fylde up to League 2 within 2 seasons. Once I got there though I binned most of my squad cos they weren't good enough for the step up and I really struggled to replace them all. Didn't even last my first full season before getting sacked.

Generally Hearts fans, but more specifically the ones around my seat who berate a player for hoofing it up the park, then when we're play a short, patient game, scream 'get it up the ****ing park Hearts'. Also there's a boy who sits near me who every game starts criticising everything we do if we aren't 1 up in the first 5 minutes. I haven't missed him.

Absolutely gutting end to this thread. Shows no job is safe at the end of the day, irrespective of your past achievements. OP (and anyone else in this thread), one thing I struggle with in FM is saves exactly like this. I've never took a club up the leagues in England as I can never really strike the right chord with my squad. I can usually assemble a squad no worries and get promotion from the league I start, but then when I go up, I realise my squad is nowhere near good enough to adapt, but then struggle to really strengthen without spending stupid amounts of money. I can do it in Scotland no problem. I think something which doesn't help in England is if you're mid table, the seasons are long and boring as you've got nothing to work towards. In the Scottish leagues, at least you're never more than a couple of places away from a playoff spot. Any tips for English promotion files? Would love to start one with Stockport or York, and try and get them back up the leagues.

Haven't posted in this thread for a few weeks as I've been mostly invested in a Pentagon Challenge, and didn't want to start posting from the start cos I didn't honestly think I'd see it out. I've completed 4 out of the 5, and just took the Man City job on in 2037/38 to hopefully get Europe ticked off and the challenge completed. If and when I finally complete it, I will post a tl;dr summary of my career.

Halfway through my first season (2025/26) with Saints and loving it. Going into the winter break sat 3rd, only 5 points off 2nd. A lot of very good youngsters at the club when I signed, including a 19 year old striker called Neil Grant. He scored 19 goals for them last season, and under me has 14 in 21 league games. 5 points clear of 4th placed Motherwell, but 14 points clear of 5th placed Hearts, so European football is surely all but guarenteed. Shite thing is though, as I posted earlier, Scotland were 6th in the co-efficient table and occupied 3 CL spots, but lost a place coming into this season. That would have been amazing, managing Saints in the CL.

2025 and Radamel Falcao is the Hearts gaffer.

Season 2024/25 (2nd season with Caley) didn't go to plan at all. Relegated on the last day, but got to the League Cup final, losing to Dundee. Highlight of the season was beating Dundee 5-0. Low point, bar the final, was losing 8-1 to Rangers. Scotland is 6th in the coefficient table, and Celtic and Rangers teams are just ridiculously strong. Rangers also beat Hearts 8-0 so it's not just me that gets pumped off them! Started to rebuild with Caley in the Championship, but before pre-season started, I was offered the St Johnstone gig. Another crack at the top flight for me. One major signing I've made, a 35 year old Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. Hoping this spell in the Premiership is better than my season with Caley. Mon the Perth Saints!

Won the league with Caley in my first season there. Form dropped off massively after pumping Hearts 4-0 at Tynecastle in the cup, but got the job done in the end. Drew Rangers in the semi's and I've just lost the tie 9-0. NINE. They just scored with every attack. They were awarded 3 penalties, and I got 2 men sent off. What a crock of ****ing shite.

7-0 win away at Queen of the South in my 2nd game in charge.

Lost the League 1 title in the penultimate game of the season, then lost in the play-offs to Airdrie. Caley Thistle job came up though, so a move up North it is, both geographically, and in the league tables. Caley have just finished bottom of the Premiership, so a rebuilding job on my hands, but should be fun.

I love it. One of the many quirks of FM. My favourites were both FM16, Cristiano Ronaldo in charge of Swansea and Paul Hartley manager of the Swiss national team. I absolutely love seeing screenshots of league tables in the future too. Albion Rovers in the Prem and Motherwell in League One. That sort of stuff.

Good luck mate, another FM09 story. I started one in Serie C with Catanzaro but haven't really got stuck in yet.

Just signed this lad on a free in 2023 with Stenny. Hoping he can be the catalyst for promotion. Made his debut at Queen's Park. We were 3-1 up just before the break and he missed a penalty to make it 4. Brought him off after an hour for Botti Biabi who picked up his 3rd straight red of the season within 5 minutes. Remained 3-1 up until 90+3 when we gifted Queen's a goal back, then they went straight up and scored a 30 yarder to scrape a point. *****. On the whole, a good season though. Into January and me and Dunfermline have pulled away from the pack to form a real title race. Got to the QF of the Tunnocks Cup losing to Chester. Just got pumped 6-0 away at Killie in the Scottish. The least 6-0 game you'll ever see. Dominated possession, same amount of chances, just couldn't stay tight at the back. Or score.

9 month ACL injury imminent.

Might have a bash with Saints myself.