Stranger in a Strange Land - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

Magus978 · 14-11-06, 07:32 PM

OOC: This story is inspired by the San Marino challenge thread over at the challenges.

July 2nd, 2006
San Marino Names American Delgado as Manager

In what is seen as a surprising move, San Marino of Serie C1/B has named American Tom Delgado as manager. The club has not released any specific reason as to why this unknown American was named the new manager. Pundits expect San Marino to get relegated. Before he flew into the region, Tom Delgado spoke to local media and gave this comment:

"We are going to get to Serie A sooner than everyone thinks. I think there's more talent here than meets the eye. All this team really needs is a manager who is really devoted to the cause, and will do anything to win. It's time for people to stand up and take notice"

Delgado has a lot of confidence in his ability to turn San Marino into a winner, but Italian pundits laugh in his face. Time will tell if manager Delgado can turn it around.

Can This Clown Get San Marino to Serie A?

EDIT: My game glitched while I was trying to play a 5th game, so I'm going to start from scratch, and get you the fixtures and other stuff later.

Magus978 · 15-11-06, 04:23 AM

I've Arrived

I landed in Rome about 18 hours after I had gotten the call to join San Marino. I was met up with the guy who would be my interpeter to the media, a gentleman by the name of Aldo. He looked in his mid-40's, and welcomed me to Europe. We then took the trip to the nation of San Marino. A small nation, but a beautiful one nonetheless. The beauty was not to be admired for long though, I had work to do.

I looked over the roster and wondered to myself, what the hell have I gotten myself into? After I glanced at the roster, I had a meeting with chairman Werther Cornieti. He welcomed me to the club, and insisted that I had the full support of the board, and told me what the goals for this season were.

Goals
Do NOT get relegated

Simple, huh? He was nice enough to tell me what budget I had to work with, in US dollars. I had been given a bigger than expected budget. I was given $275,000 to work with, and a wage budget of $2,200,000. Very reasonable. I thanked him for the opportunity, and went to my office to begin to piece together what I hoped would be a successful Serie C1/B season.

I then met with my staff. We have 3 goalkeeping coaches, and 5 physios, but only 1 coach. That has to change. I made it clear that I'm bringing in other coaches, and that some of these people would have to go. I agreed to mutual termination with two of the goalkeeping coaches, and 3 of the physios. Basically, they all have nothing to offer for me, so they must go. In the coming days, I will be hiring my own staff. I decided to retain the services of Antonio Gespi, if nothing else, for his knowledge of other countries. Plus, he seemed to be a good foil for my joke attempts.

So now I'm looking over the fixture list for this season. We have 6 friendlies as of this moment, including a match against Serie B side Cesena, which happens to be our feeder club at the moment. Thankfully, they might not field a full strength side, so we might actually have a chance to win one.

For our friendlies, I'm going to let Antonio coach the side. I want to take the extra time to get acclimated to life as a manager, and start trying to bring in players that will help us get to the Serie B, and then the Serie A.

Next post: Results of Friendlies.

**Fedorico Roma Fan** · 15-11-06, 07:56 AM

good start :D KUTGW

**Bozza** · 15-11-06, 11:26 AM

Good luck with this challenge mate. Also good luck with the story, make something nice of it, the begin is already sweet...

Magus978 · 15-11-06, 04:14 PM

Thanks for the kind words, Bozza and Domagnano Fan.

I have a few things to do today, but I will pick things up later today. I signed a few players, so I'll be able to explain what I see in them :P

EDIT: Hmm...I noticed my pictures were gone. I'll have to upload those elsewhere too.

**lady luck** · 15-11-06, 04:46 PM

good luck with this :D

**scholesy18** · 15-11-06, 06:10 PM

Good luck with this m8, lookin forward to readin this as ur season goes on, keep up the good work :D

Magus978 · 17-11-06, 07:24 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys, here we go with more of this story.

*This story is translated from one of the local newspapers. It was also in a small section of Italy's #1 sports newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport*

Quote:

8/13/06
Delgado Guarantees Promotion

Tom Delgado came to San Marino with big dreams, but it is this newspaper's opinion that he did not bring his brain with him!

He has already gone on record guaranteeing that he will have San Marino in the Serie A within 5 years. Now he's gone as far as to guarantee promotion THIS SEASON. "There's no doubt in my mind that we're bound for greatness. This is our year, we're going to get promoted. I'll go as far as to guarantee it. If we don't come through, I'll donate my salary for this season to charity. Put THAT in your paper!" Delgado is insane with power, and when San Marino fails to win promotion in Serie C1/B, we will not be surprised to see him get the sack.

Obviously, when Aldo, my interpeter, read that to me, I was incensed. I immediately came up with a statement, criticizing the media for not having any faith in me and my boys.

Written Statement
"You guys in the media really crack me up. Your faces are obviously plastered on the butts of Juventus and AC Milan. Maybe you guys don't know that I've built a pretty decent team here in the short time I've been in Italy. I think we have a helluva chance to win promotion to Serie B. To those who think my goal of getting San Marino to Serie A in 5 years is laughable, I laugh at YOU. Those who do not dream, do not succeed. I'll be more than glad to eat my humble pie if I fail, but if...no, WHEN I succeed, I want you guys to worship the ground I walk on."

Translated into Italian
"tipi nei mezzi realmente lo spezzate in su. Le vostre facce sono intonacate ovviamente sulle estremità di Juventus e di CA Milano. Forse tipi non sapete che ho costruito una squadra decent graziosa qui nel tempo che corto sono stato in Italia. Penso che abbiamo una probabilità di helluva vincere la promozione a Serie B. A coloro che che pensa il mio obiettivo di ottenere il San Marino a Serie A durante 5 anni è ridicolo, io li ridono. Coloro che non sogna, non riescono. Sarò più di felice di mangiare la mia torta humble se vengo a mancare, ma se... no, QUANDO riesco, io li desidera tipi adorare la terra io cammini sopra."
Credit: Babelfish

Anyway, our friendly results.

Friendlies Results
Gueugnon (FRA): 1-1
Homburg (GER): 1-0
Cesena (ITA): 1-1
@ Potenza (ITA): 2-2
@ Novara (ITA): 0-1

Record: 2-0-3

A nice start to our year, a couple of wins, and a few good draws. I think we're going to be very competitive.

We also got some new players. 5 to be exact, including a guy who I've designated as my team leader. Veteran international keeper Federico Gasparoni. Even better, he's San Marinese. He's in here as a backup to Emiliano Dei, who's still fighting injuries. He should be ready for the Serie C1/B season. Until then, it's Gasparoni's job. After that, it's Emilaino's job to lose.

Below: Visual proof of our friendlies and signings.

Next post: It's for real now. (Serie C Cup Group Matches)

**Lucianna** · 17-11-06, 08:51 PM

molto buono lo mantiene - very good keep it up glad to see it is about san marino aswell :)

**evertonfan** · 23-11-06, 11:56 AM

im Liking the story well done and KUTGW

Magus978 · 23-11-06, 11:41 PM

Thanks. I've been VERY swamped with stuff to do recently, that's why this has not gotten the attention it deserves. I hope to resume tomorrow after I'm done with some other stuff.

noxocube · 24-11-06, 12:33 AM

huzzah :D