craigkillie Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 (edited) One of the great joys as a supporter of a non-elite football club is taking on one of the big boys and giving them a bloody nose. In most cases, you won't be able to keep up with them over the whole season, but that doesn't mean that on any given Saturday (or any other day) you can't go out and smash them in a one-off game. One man has decided to take this to an extreme, by touring the world to knock the big boys down a peg or two. Meet Howard Headhunter: Howard was just an ordinary (but very small) man, but reading @oneteaminglasgow's thread on noted football forum "Pie & Bovril" inspired him to set out on his own quest. Howard's dream is not to win trophies or to have any sort of managerial success whatsoever, but is instead to become a form of footballing troll by travelling round every single playable league in Football Manager 22 and beating every club who has ever won a league title. It doesn't matter if you were champions of Ireland in 1924 or Spain in 2020, Howard Headhunter is coming for you, and he is going to beat you. Howard loves an underdog, so he is going to achieve all of this without managing any club which has ever won a league title themselves. Howard is a big fan of international football too, and is going to also beat every single team who has won a World Cup or continental championship. After committing to his quest, Howard realised the scale of the task which faced him. By his research, there were 540 different club sides who he would have to beat, as well as 66 international teams. This was going to take a long, long time, and he might never get there, but my goodness Howard was still going to give it a go. So he packed everything up, left behind his wife and kids, and set out on his adventure. Where would it take him? Edited January 8, 2022 by craigkillie 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 (edited) Howard's Rules Howard will start unemployed, and with no previous playing experience or coaching badges. The aim is to secure a competitive victory over every single team who has ever won a league title and every country who have ever won a major international trophy. The list of club champions is obtained directly from the competition history on Football Manager. The only exception is that I have also included any playable clubs in the game who won titles in now defunct countries (Czechoslovakia, East Germany, USSR, Yugoslavia). The list of club champions is limited to clubs who still exist (obviously), and who started the game in a playable league. If a team drops out of the playable leagues during the game, we will keep checking up on them, but if we beat every other team and they still haven't returned then we will consider the challenge complete. The list of international champions includes the winners of the World Cup plus the six continental championships. The Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia both won the European Championships, so that means we have to beat every single country which was part of those at the time. To avoid a "painting the Forth Bridge" scenario, the list of teams to beat will only include clubs who won league titles in real life - titles won in FM after the game starts will not count. Matches in every single competition will count, including continental competitions (so, for example, you could beat a Peruvian team in the Copa Libertadores whilst managing in Argentina). A victory on penalties in a knockout cup match would count as a win, but a bonus point group stage shootout (eg in the Scottish League Cup) would not. If a cup tie is played over two legs, it is sufficient to record a win in just one of the legs, even if you are eventually knocked out. Edited January 8, 2022 by craigkillie 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 (edited) Complete List of Champions Spoiler Team Nation Continent Argentinos Juniors Argentina South America Arsenal de Sarandi Argentina South America Banfield Argentina South America Boca Juniors Argentina South America Chacarita Juniors Argentina South America Estudiantes de la Plata Argentina South America Ferro Carril Oeste Argentina South America Gimnasia Argentina South America Huracan Argentina South America Independiente Argentina South America Lanus Argentina South America Newell’s Old Boys Argentina South America Quilmes Argentina South America Racing Club Argentina South America River Plate Argentina South America Rosario Central Argentina South America San Lorenzo Argentina South America Velez Sarsfield Argentina South America Adelaide United Australia Asia Brisbane Roar Australia Asia Central Coast Mariners Australia Asia Melbourne City Australia Asia Melbourne Victory Australia Asia Newcastle Jets Australia Asia Sydney FC Australia Asia Admira Wacker Modling Austria Europe Austria Vienna Austria Europe Blau-Weiss Linz Austria Europe Florisdorfer AC Austria Europe Grazer AK Austria Europe LASK Linz Austria Europe Rapid Vienna (& Germany) Austria Europe Red Bull Salzburg Austria Europe Sturm Graz Austria Europe Wacker Innsbruck Austria Europe WSG Tirol Austria Europe BATE Borisov Belarus Europe Belshina Bobruisk Belarus Europe Dinamo Brest Belarus Europe Dinamo Minsk Belarus Europe Dnepr Mogilev Belarus Europe Gomel Belarus Europe Shakhter Soligorsk Belarus Europe Slavia Mozyr Belarus Europe Anderlecht Belgium Europe Antwerp Belgium Europe Cercle Brugge Belgium Europe Club Brugge Belgium Europe Genk Belgium Europe Gent Belgium Europe Mechelen Belgium Europe RFC Liege Belgium Europe Standard Liege Belgium Europe Union Saint-Gilloise Belgium Europe Atletico Mineiro Brazil South America Atletico Paranaense Brazil South America Bahia Brazil South America Botafogo Brazil South America Corinthians Brazil South America Coritiba Brazil South America Cruzeiro Brazil South America Flamengo Brazil South America Fluminense Brazil South America Gremio Brazil South America Guarani Brazil South America Internacional Brazil South America Palmeiras Brazil South America Santos Brazil South America Sao Paulo Brazil South America Sport Recife Brazil South America Vasco da Gama Brazil South America Beroe Stara Zagora Bulgaria Europe Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Europe Cherno More Varna Bulgaria Europe CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Europe Etar Veliko Tarnovo Bulgaria Europe Levski Sofia Bulgaria Europe Litex Lovech Bulgaria Europe Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Europe Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Europe Ludogorets Bulgaria Europe Slavia Sofia Bulgaria Europe Spartak Varna Bulgaria Europe Forge FC Canada North America Audax Italiano Chile South America Cobreloa Chile South America Cobresal Chile South America Colo Colo Chile South America Deportes Magallanes Chile South America Deportes Temuco Chile South America Everton Chile South America Huachipato Chile South America O’Higgins Chile South America Palestino Chile South America Santiago Morning Chile South America Santiago Wanderers Chile South America Union Espanola Chile South America Union San Felipe Chile South America Universidad Catolica Chile South America Universidad de Chile Chile South America Beijing Guo’an China Asia Changchun Yatai China Asia Guangzhou FC China Asia Shandong Taishan China Asia Shanghai Port China Asia Shanghai Shenhua China Asia Shenzhen FC China Asia America de Cali Colombia South America Atletico Nacional Colombia South America Boyaca Chico Colombia South America Deportes Tolima Colombia South America Deportes Quindio Colombia South America Deportivo Cali Colombia South America Deportivo Pasto Colombia South America Independiente Medellin Colombia South America Independiente Santa Fe Colombia South America Junior Colombia South America Millionarios Colombia South America Once Caldas Colombia South America Union Magdalena Colombia South America Dinamo Zagreb Croatia Europe Hajduk Split Croatia Europe HNK Rijeka Croatia Europe Banik Ostrava Czech Republic Europe Bohemians 1905 (Czechoslovakia) Czech Republic Europe MFK Vitkovice (Czechoslovakia) Czech Republic Europe Slavia Prague Czech Republic Europe Slovan Liberec Czech Republic Europe Sparta Prague Czech Republic Europe Spartak Hradec Kralove (Czechoslovakia) Czech Republic Europe Viktoria Plzen Czech Republic Europe Viktoria Zizkov (Czechoslovakia) Czech Republic Europe Zbrojovka Brno (Czechoslovakia) Czech Republic Europe Aalborg Denmark Europe Akademisk Boldklub Denmark Europe AGF Aarhus Denmark Europe B.93 Denmark Europe Brondby Denmark Europe Esbjerg Denmark Europe FC Copenhagen Denmark Europe Frem Denmark Europe Hvidovre Denmark Europe Lyngby Denmark Europe Midtjylland Denmark Europe Odense Denmark Europe Silkeborg Denmark Europe Vejle Denmark Europe Arsenal England Europe Aston Villa England Europe Blackburn England Europe Burnley England Europe Chelsea England Europe Derby England Europe Everton England Europe Huddersfield England Europe Ipswich England Europe Leeds Utd England Europe Leicester England Europe Liverpool England Europe Man City England Europe Man Utd England Europe Newcastle England Europe Nottingham Forest England Europe Portsmouth England Europe Preston England Europe Sheffield Wednesday England Europe Sheffield Utd England Europe Sunderland England Europe Tottenham England Europe West Brom England Europe Wolves England Europe FC Haka Finland Europe FC Inter Finland Europe HJK Helsinki Finland Europe IFK Helsingfors Finland Europe IFK Mariehamn Finland Europe Ilves Finland Europe KuPS Finland Europe KPV Finland Europe KTP Finland Europe SJK Finland Europe Tampere United Finland Europe TPS Finland Europe VPS Finland Europe Auxerre France Europe Bordeaux France Europe Lens France Europe Lille France Europe Lyon France Europe Marseille France Europe Monaco France Europe Montpellier France Europe Nantes France Europe Nice France Europe PSG France Europe Reims France Europe Saint-Etienne France Europe Sete 34 France Europe Sochaux France Europe Strasbourg France Europe 1860 Munich Germany Europe Bayern Munich Germany Europe Borussia Dortmund Germany Europe Borussia Monchengladbach Germany Europe Dynamo Dresden (East Germany) Germany Europe Eintracht Braunschweig Germany Europe Eintracht Frankfurt Germany Europe Erzgebirge Aue (East Germany) Germany Europe Fortuna Dusseldorf Germany Europe FSV Zwickau (East Germany) Germany Europe Greuter Furth Germany Europe Hallescher FC (East Germany) Germany Europe Hamburg Germany Europe Hannover Germany Europe Hansa Rostock (East Germany) Germany Europe Hertha Berlin Germany Europe Holstein Kiel Germany Europe Kaiserslautern Germany Europe Karlsruher Germany Europe Koln Germany Europe Magdeburg (East Germany) Germany Europe Nurnberg Germany Europe Schalke Germany Europe Stuttgart Germany Europe Viktoria 1899 Berlin Germany Europe Werder Bremen Germany Europe Wolfsburg Germany Europe AEK Greece Europe Aris Salonika Greece Europe Larisa Greece Europe Olympiakos Greece Europe Panathinaikos Greece Europe PAOK Greece Europe ADO Den Haag Holland Europe Ajax Holland Europe AZ Alkmaar Holland Europe FC Eindhoven Holland Europe FC Twente Holland Europe Feyenoord Holland Europe Go Ahead Eagles Holland Europe Heracles Almelo Holland Europe NAC Breda Holland Europe PSV Holland Europe Sparta Rotterdam Holland Europe Willem II Holland Europe Eastern Hong Kong Asia Hong Kong FC Hong Kong Asia Hong Kong Rangers Hong Kong Asia Kitchee Hong Kong Asia Tai Po Hong Kong Asia Debrecen Hungary Europe Fehervar Hungary Europe Ferencvaros Hungary Europe Gyor Hungary Europe Honved Hungary Europe MTK Budapest Hungary Europe Ujpest FC Hungary Europe Vasas Hungary Europe Zalaegerszegi TE Hungary Europe Breidablik Iceland Europe FH Hafnafjordur Iceland Europe Fram Iceland Europe IA Akranes Iceland Europe IBV Vestmannaeyjar Iceland Europe KA Akureyeri Iceland Europe Keflavik Iceland Europe KR Reykjavik Iceland Europe Stjarnan Iceland Europe Valur Iceland Europe Vikingur Iceland Europe Aizawl FC India Asia Churchill Brothers India Asia Chennai City India Asia Kerala India Asia Punjab FC India Asia Arema Indonesia Asia Bali United Indonesia Asia Bhayangkara Solo Indonesia Asia Persib Bandung Indonesia Asia Persija Jakarta Indonesia Asia Persipura Jayapura Indonesia Asia Sriwijaya Indonesia Asia Athlone Town Ireland Europe Bohemians Ireland Europe Cork City Ireland Europe Derry City (& Northern Ireland) Ireland Europe Drogheda Utd Ireland Europe Dundalk Ireland Europe Shamrock Rovers Ireland Europe Shelbourne Ireland Europe Sligo Rovers Ireland Europe St Pat’s Athletic Ireland Europe Waterford Ireland Europe Beitar Jerusalem Israel Europe Bnei Yehuda Israel Europe Hapoel Be’er Sheva Israel Europe Hapoel Haifa Israel Europe Hapoel Kfar-Saba Israel Europe Hapoel Kiryat-Shmona Israel Europe Hapoel Petach-Tikva Israel Europe Hapoel Ramat-Gan Israel Europe Hapoel Tel-Aviv Israel Europe Maccabi Haifa Israel Europe Maccabi Netanya Israel Europe Maccabi Tel-Aviv Israel Europe AC Milan Italy Europe Bologna Italy Europe Cagliari Italy Europe Fiorentina Italy Europe Genoa Italy Europe Hellas Verona Italy Europe Inter Italy Europe Juventus Italy Europe Lazio Italy Europe Napoli Italy Europe Pro Vercelli Italy Europe Roma Italy Europe Sampdoria Italy Europe Torino Italy Europe FK Liepaja Latvia Europe Riga FC Latvia Europe Spartaks Jurmala Latvia Europe Johor DT Malaysia Asia Kedah Malaysia Asia Kelantan Malaysia Asia Kuala Lumpur City Malaysia Asia Melaka United Malaysia Asia Negeri Sembilan Malaysia Asia Penang Malaysia Asia Perak Malaysia Asia Sabah Malaysia Asia Selangor Malaysia Asia Sri Pahang Malaysia Asia Atlante Mexico North America Atlas Mexico North America CF America Mexico North America Chivas Mexico North America Cruz Azul Mexico North America Leon Mexico North America Monterrey Mexico North America Morelia Mexico North America Necaxa Mexico North America Pachuca Mexico North America Puebla Mexico North America Pumas Mexico North America Santos Laguna Mexico North America Tigres Mexico North America Tijuana Mexico North America Toluca Mexico North America Ards Northern Ireland Europe Cliftonville Northern Ireland Europe Coleraine Northern Ireland Europe Crusaders Northern Ireland Europe Distillery Northern Ireland Europe Glenavon Northern Ireland Europe Glentoran Northern Ireland Europe Linfield Northern Ireland Europe Portadown Northern Ireland Europe Bodo/Glimt Norway Europe Brann Norway Europe Fram Larvik Norway Europe Fredrikstad Norway Europe Lillestrom Norway Europe Lyn Oslo Norway Europe Molde Norway Europe Moss Norway Europe Rosenborg Norway Europe Skeid Norway Europe Stabaek Norway Europe Start Norway Europe Stromsgodset Norway Europe Valerenga Norway Europe Viking Norway Europe Alianza Lima Peru South America Cristal Peru South America Deportivo Binacional Peru South America Deportivo Municipal Peru South America Juan Aurich Peru South America Melgar Peru South America Sport Boys Peru South America Universidad San Martin Peru South America Universitario de Deportes Peru South America Cracovia Poland Europe Gornik Zabrze Poland Europe Lech Poznan Poland Europe Legia Warsaw Poland Europe LKS Lodz Poland Europe Piast Gliwice Poland Europe Slask Wroclaw Poland Europe Stal Mielec Poland Europe Warta Poznan Poland Europe Widzew Lodz Poland Europe Wisla Krakow Poland Europe Zaglebie Lubin Poland Europe Belenenses Portugal Europe Benfica Portugal Europe Boavista Portugal Europe Porto Portugal Europe Sporting Portugal Europe Arges Pitesti Romania Europe Astra Giurgiu Romania Europe CAO Oradea (& Hungary) Romania Europe CFR Cluj Romania Europe CSM Resita Romania Europe Dinamo Bucharest Romania Europe FCSB Romania Europe Farul Costanta Romania Europe Otelul Galati Romania Europe Petrolul Ploiesti Romania Europe Rapid Bucharest Romania Europe Ripensia Timisoara Romania Europe Steaua Bucharest Romania Europe Universitatea Craiova Romania Europe UTA Arad Romania Europe Alania Vladikavkaz Russia Europe CSKA Moscow Russia Europe Lokomotiv Moscow Russia Europe Rubin Kazan Russia Europe Spartak Moscow Russia Europe Torpedo Moscow (Soviet Union) Russia Europe Zenit St Petersburg Russia Europe Aberdeen Scotland Europe Celtic Scotland Europe Dumbarton Scotland Europe Dundee Scotland Europe Dundee Utd Scotland Europe Hearts Scotland Europe Hibs Scotland Europe Kilmarnock Scotland Europe Motherwell Scotland Europe Rangers Scotland Europe OFK Belgrade (Yugoslavia) Serbia Europe Partizan Belgrade Serbia Europe Red Star Belgrade Serbia Europe Vojvodina Novi Sad (Yugoslavia) Serbia Europe DPMM Singapore Asia Geylang International Singapore Asia Lion City Sailors Singapore Asia Niigata Unicorn Singapore Asia Tampines Singapore Asia AS Trencin Slovakia Europe FC Petrzalka Slovakia Europe MSK Zilina Slovakia Europe Ruzomberok Slovakia Europe Slovan Bratislava Slovakia Europe Spartak Trnava Slovakia Europe Celje Slovenia Europe Domzale Slovenia Europe Gorica Slovenia Europe Koper Slovenia Europe Maribor Slovenia Europe NS Mura Slovenia Europe Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenia Europe Amazulu South Africa Africa Jomo Cosmos South Africa Africa Kaizer Chiefs South Africa Africa Mamelodi Sundowns South Africa Africa Orlando Pirates South Africa Africa SuperSport United South Africa Africa Wits South Africa Africa Busan IPARK South Korea Asia FC Seoul South Korea Asia Jeju United South Korea Asia Jeonbuk Motors South Korea Asia Pohang Steelers South Korea Asia Seongnam FC South Korea Asia Suwon Bluewings South Korea Asia Ulsan Hyundai South Korea Asia Athletic Bilbao Spain Europe Atletico Madrid Spain Europe Barcelona Spain Europe Deportivo La Coruna Spain Europe Real Betis Spain Europe Real Madrid Spain Europe Real Sociedad Spain Europe Sevilla Spain Europe Valencia Spain Europe AIK Sweden Europe Atvidabergs Sweden Europe Djurgardens Sweden Europe Elfsborg Sweden Europe GAIS Sweden Europe Halmstads Sweden Europe Hammarby Sweden Europe Helsingborg Sweden Europe IFK Eskilstuna Sweden Europe IFK Gothenburg Sweden Europe IFK Norrkoping Sweden Europe Kalmar Sweden Europe Malmo Sweden Europe Orgryte Sweden Europe Osters Sweden Europe Aarau Switzerland Europe Basel Switzerland Europe FC Zurich Switzerland Europe Grasshoppers Switzerland Europe Lausanne-Sport Switzerland Europe Lugano Switzerland Europe Luzern Switzerland Europe Neuchatel Xamax Switzerland Europe Servette Switzerland Europe Sion Switzerland Europe St Gallen Switzerland Europe Winterthur Switzerland Europe Young Boys Switzerland Europe Basaksehir Turkey Europe Besiktas Turkey Europe Bursaspor Turkey Europe Fenerbahce Turkey Europe Galatasaray Turkey Europe Trabzonspor Turkey Europe Dynamo Kyiv Ukraine Europe Shakhtar Donetsk Ukraine Europe Zorya Luhansk (Soviet Union) Ukraine Europe Central Espanol Uruguay South America Danubio Uruguay South America Defensor Sporting Uruguay South America Montevideo Wanderers Uruguay South America Nacional Uruguay South America Penarol Uruguay South America Progreso Uruguay South America Rampla Juniors Uruguay South America Atlanta Utd USA North America Chicago Fire USA North America Colorado Rapids USA North America Columbus Crew USA North America DC Utd USA North America Houston Dynamo USA North America LA Galaxy USA North America Portland Timbers USA North America Real Salt Lake USA North America San Jose Earthquakes USA North America Seattle Sounders USA North America Sporting Kansas City USA North America Toronto FC USA North America Bangor City Wales Europe Barry Town United Wales Europe Connah’s Quay Nomads Wales Europe Llanelli Town Wales Europe TNS Wales Europe Algeria International Africa Cameroon International Africa Congo International Africa DR Congo International Africa Egypt International Africa Ethiopia International Africa Ghana International Africa Ivory Coast International Africa Morocco International Africa Nigeria International Africa South Africa International Africa Sudan International Africa Tunisia International Africa Zambia International Africa Australia (& Oceania) International Asia Iran International Asia Iraq International Asia Japan International Asia Kuwait International Asia Kyrgyzstan (Soviet Union) International Asia Qatar International Asia Saudi Arabia International Asia South Korea International Asia Tajikistan (Soviet Union) International Asia Turkmenistan (Soviet Union) International Asia Uzbekistan (Soviet Union) International Asia Armenia (Soviet Union) International Europe Azerbaijan (Soviet Union) International Europe Belarus (Soviet Union) International Europe Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia) International Europe Denmark International Europe England International Europe Estonia (Soviet Union) International Europe France International Europe Georgia (Soviet Union) International Europe Germany International Europe Greece International Europe Holland International Europe Israel (Asia) International Europe Italy International Europe Kazakhstan (Soviet Union) International Europe Latvia (Soviet Union) International Europe Lithuania (Soviet Union) International Europe Moldova (Soviet Union) International Europe Portugal International Europe Russia (Soviet Union) International Europe Slovakia (Czechoslovakia) International Europe Spain International Europe Ukraine (Soviet Union) International Europe Canada International North America Costa Rica International North America Guatemala International North America Haiti International North America Honduras International North America Mexico International North America USA International North America New Zealand International Oceania Tahiti International Oceania Argentina International South America Bolivia International South America Brazil International South America Chile International South America Colombia International South America Paraguay International South America Peru International South America Uruguay International South America Edited January 8, 2022 by craigkillie 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 I should share a few disclaimers before we get started. I have just bought FM22 after spending the last 8 years or so intermittently playing FM14, and this is literally the first game I've played on it. Even just at a brief look at it suggests there a lot of new features compared to what I'm used to, so it might be a bit of a steep learning curve for me. I'm also not promising to be playing regularly or rapidly, so it might take a long time to get done. Fortunately, as I've shown with my FM14 experience, I don't mind playing the same game for a while. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 (edited) Starting Out I kicked things off by picking eight of the lowest ranked leagues in the game in the hope of building my reputation and also hopefully getting a few teams ticked off at the same time. All the leagues start at different times so I kicked off the game on the earliest available date, 4th January 2021. My previous Football Manager experiences have not involved my manager having any sort of stats, but these do not look good. I kicked off the game by immediately applying for every single job vacancy, from the South African lower league to the German national team. Somehow I felt I had more chance of the former than the latter. Within a week, amazingly, I had an offer of an interview and managed to convince some absolute mugs to give me a job. Where was I off to? Spoiler All the countries of the world to choose from, and we end up in Wales. Cefn Druids are a proud club, founded way back in 1872, and won the Welsh Cup 8 times in the days before Wales had a league. They now find themselves as regular relegation battlers in the top flight - they finished bottom last season but were saved by there being no relegation due to the second tier season not taking place. Either the original FM database is wrong, or the updated names patch I downloaded is a bit overzealous, because I can't find anywhere else that includes "Ruabon" part in their name. Wales has five teams that we have to beat - Bangor City, Barry Town United, Connah's Quay Nomads, Llanelli and The New Saints - and there are no prizes for guessing which one I'm going to enjoy the most. Unfortunately, Bangor and Llanelli are both in the second tier (and in separate divisions at that), so I'll probably have to take another job to get them, unless they get promoted or I'm lucky with cup draws. Edited January 8, 2022 by craigkillie 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afc_blockhead Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Jesus christ.. this thread 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 5 hours ago, craigkillie said: Cefn Druids are a proud club Great choice, my local club when I lived in Wales, they actually made it into the Europa League a few years back by being losing Welsh Cup finalists to New Saints who had qualified for the Champions league. Cefn, pronounced Kevin, is next to Trevor, pronounced Trevor . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee-Bey Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Party Rock is in the house tonight. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsimButtHitsASix Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 I really hope this ends with you scrambling for a job in Scotland in order to beat Dumbarton and repeatedly failing after beating every other club on your list 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djchapsticks Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 This looks like some fucking laugh! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) My start date of January seemed like a good idea at the time, but the Welsh season didn't start until August so I had a bit of a wait which I guess gave me a chance to assess my squad. I ultimately ended up having a decent number of ins and outs, including some players ending up in both categories. The standout player was former Premier League player and Wales international David Cotterill, but even at the age of 33 it was fair to say his career had hit the skids a bit. The first month did not go particularly well, though I was putting that down to not quite having a grip of the game - prior to finding a better skin, I could barely work out how to make a sub or which of my players were playing well. It would have been good to stay in the cup to have an extra shot at the champions I'm trying to beat, but the rest of the games didn't really matter in that respect. However, coming up next was a run of three games in a row against the only three former champions in the top flight. Clearly I would be rank outsiders against the Nomads and TNS, but Barry are a bunch of midtable jobbers so I felt like I stood a chance there. Edited January 13, 2022 by craigkillie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiG Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Massive fan of the £120 loan fee you received for Brandon Lockett. Looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for Headhunter. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) Champion Match 1 - Connah's Quay Nomads (1st meeting) Fittingly, our first ever attempt at ticking a champion off our list came away to Connah's Quay Nomads, a name which never fails to send shivers down my spine. Nomads were reigning champions, but had made a poor start to the season, squeezing past lower league Colwyn Bay on penalties in the first round of the League Cup before losing at home to Haverfordwest. However, they had won every game since then. Spoiler What a start! Spoiler It didn't last long - they scored twice in the space of 4 minutes. Spoiler 2-2 at half-time, and we were good value for it. Could we? Spoiler It wasn't to be - convicted drug cheat Jamie Insall scored a double, and we weren't helped by a red card from Jose Ferreira as we were trying get back into it at 3-2. Spoiler Clubs beaten - 0/540 National teams beaten - 0/66 Results - P1 W0 D0 L1 Edited January 13, 2022 by craigkillie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 Champion Match 2 - The New Saints (1st meeting) Next up was a home match against TNS, for so long the dominant force in Welsh football. After being knocked out of Europe they had won each of their first seven domestic fixtures before taking us on. Spoiler We'd hung in there for a while, but let our guard down just before HT. Spoiler From bad to worse - another daft red card while trying to get back into a game. Spoiler HELLO! Cotterill showing the sort of quality I've brought him in for. Spoiler Yet again we conceded quickly after getting back into the game, and that was that. Spoiler Clubs beaten - 0/540 National teams beaten - 0/66 Results - P2 W0 D0 L2 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 Champion Match 3 - Barry Town (1st meeting) Barry Town won 7 titles out of 8 around the turn of the century and even beat Porto 3-1 in the Champions League (after losing the first leg 8-0). However, they soon went through financial trouble and spent a while in the lower leagues before bouncing back in 2017. They had two wins and four defeats from their opening six matches, so this was definitely an opportunity for success. Spoiler A goal for Cotterill, but sadly not my one, and then yet another fucking daft red card. A big second half ahead. Spoiler Shite. Spoiler HWFG lads. One more and we could tick our first team off the list. Spoiler If Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool were "fucking mentality giants", then my lads are whatever the opposite of that is. Daft red cards and an inability to hold on to anything good for any length of time. A lot of work needed here. Spoiler Clubs beaten - 0/540 National teams beaten - 0/66 Results - P3 W0 D0 L3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 Thanks Ella, just what I want to read after dinner. Surely the night couldn't get any worse? I had the next three matches to turn things around. Spoiler At least we got one win - would that be enough to buy me some time? Spoiler No. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsimButtHitsASix Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Peter Grant style start to this save. Loving it. Only way is up 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee-Bey Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 FM is a cruel mistress at times. Look on the bright side though, you might have been stuck in Wales for years trying to beat TNS. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 If at first you don't succeed, managing Cefn Druids is not for you. However, there are plenty more clubs out there who may well be interested in a failed Welsh top flight manager, so we decided to immediately head to the job centre and apply for anything that was up for grabs. Various Welsh second tier sides expressed an interest, and I eventually made a decision: The club is essentially an offshoot of a 1960s leisure centre by the seaside in Port Talbot, which is an ideal role for a Magnum Leisure centre stan like me. They are three-time League Cup winners and played in Europe in the 1990s, but have since found themselves spending most of their time outside the top flight. They sat in 10th place when I took over, and from the club's point of view my main goal was to help them into the top half, but my only real interest was in defeating Llanelli Town, the only former champions in the division. As is usually the case when I take over a club mid-season, I didn't do a lot of work in the transfer market, instead focusing on trying to get the best out of the existing players. Jones was the only senior player I brought in - a forward who could play anywhere in the frontline of my bog-standard 4-3-3. My start could not have been any more different to the one I endured at Cefn Druids. Five wins and four draws to kick off my reign in charge. However, those games were just the warm-up to the main event. I'd only get one shot at Llanelli this season - could I make it count? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 Champion Match 4 - Llanelli Town (1st meeting) Llanelli were champions of Wales in 2007/08, but suffered financial meltdown a few years later and ended up reforming in the fourth tier. They returned to the top flight in 2018/19, but finished bottom and remain in the second tier. We were ahead of them in the table by the time this game took place - both of us in a comfortable mid-table spot. My pre-match interview led to a fairly sensationalised headline from "The Welsh Football Informer" On to the match itself. Spoiler A perfect start, a lovely curled effort from outside the box. Spoiler Jones again! My only first team signing coming up trumps in the biggest game of them all. Spoiler 45 minutes away from our first scalp - just need to see the game out now. Our xG suggests we're perhaps a little bit fortunate, but this has been a bit of a trend through the unbeaten run - our defence and goalkeeper are really good. Hopefully they remain really good for another half of football. Spoiler They had 13 shots and 5 on target in the second half, but couldn't break down our brick wall. Job done! Spoiler Clubs beaten - 1/540 National teams beaten - 0/66 Results - P4 W1 D0 L3 Note that I'm keeping a spreadsheet of this which I'll share every now and then. Spoiler That's the only team in this division ticked off, so I wasn't entirely sure what to do. My run had given me an outside chance of promotion, but it's still a slim one with only the top side going up. I thought the best approach was to start applying for all availabel jobs again, but to stay in charge at Afan Lido rather than resigning, since a good run here would hopefully boost my reputation as a manager a bit. I extended the unbeaten run for two more matches, but conceding a late equaliser in the Pontypridd game and then a defeat against leaders Swansea Uni all but killed off my promotion chances. Two wins there would have put me just a point off the top, but instead I'm seven back with six games left. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.