Failure to Success? - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

BradHally · 29-03-08, 04:12 PM

I decided to attempt Trevas challenge, which was to take a team currently placed in the 7 – 10 placement in La Liga and try to win the Copa Del Ray and more recently reach the Champions League. I chose Racing Santander and miserably failed. My league form was poor and my cup form was worse and to cap it all off , I was sacked by the board and replaced by Vincente Van Bosque.

The signings that I made were:

The table after my departure was like this:

My best results were a 3-1 against Deportivo, my penultimate game, a 3-1 win vs Valencia and a 4-1 win against Sevilla.

I am really disapointed that I got the sack because I managed to sign some good players to replace the ageing ones and the loanees. I signed Nobby Solano and Bernand Mendy with negocaitions with a striker and a centre midfielder.
Whats the point of this thread I hear you say, well Im going to continue my career on the same save game as the manager of ...Nigeria!

I took the managers job at Nigeria in my last few weeks as manager at Racing, I applied due to my job being insecure and wanted to find another job so I was not completely out of management when the inevitable happened eventually it did happen and I was no longer a club manager, I was now just an International Manager.

My first game:

I used 2 tactics: Capitiano's Demolition Ultimate 4-4-1-1 and Game Killer by Capitiano again
The final score was embarassing but since it was a friendly and I wanted to find the right tactic for the team ,Im happyish with it. It was 1-1 against San Marino!

I've been linked to a far few club jobs but none of them seemed right, there was Stockport County, where I was the clear favourite and the same but at Crewe Alexnadra. There was an interesting news item on Southend United, flying high in League 1. It was about them not renewing Steve Tilsons contract and he's leading them to promotion so whether the club are in debt or what, I may be at Southend in the near future, I hope or a club of similar stature.

BradHally · 30-03-08, 06:45 PM

I 'll update every transfer window to keep u informed of my journey with Nigeria. My first competitive international was a World Cup Qualifier against Libya.. The final score was 1-1. Libya scored in the dying minutes of the second half. Yakubu scored the goal for me.

Next up was Uganda. I expected a win here and got it. Blessing Kaku the scorer in a 1-0 win after 10 minutes. Joseph Yobo, my captaid says that the team is happy after the match. For both of these matches, I used a 4-4-2 Attacking tactic with the right and left midfielders pushing up when they run with the ball.

The next match against Togo was on July 5th at Togo, so a win here would be vital to any chance of qualigication. I started with the attacking 4-4-2 but finished it with a 4-3-3. John Obi Mikel got injured in this match but it didn't matter as I cruised to a 4-2 victory. Yakubu (2) , Martins and John Utaka on the scoresheet here with Adebayor and Toure the Togo scorers.

My group standings are:

1st Senegal 7pts +6
2nd Nigeria 7pts +3
3rd Togo 6pts +1
4th Libya 2pts -2
5th Uganda 1pts -2
6th Mauritania 1pts -6

My next fixture is against Senegal.

I still have not got a new club management job, I applied for Exeter for a challenge to restore them to the Football League, but did not get the job. I could have applied to be the manager of Havant and Waterlooville but wanted to solely be the manager of Nigeria and get them to the World Cup
Finals.

Akenatwn · 31-03-08, 03:15 AM

Interesting game there m8.not the spanish part of course

Nigeria has quality players.could go far in the world cup (with a little luck of course).are there good nigerian youngsters?does it have future?

i agree on not taking a clup job before the world cup.a little success there could get you a decent club job.

GL mate

juono · 31-03-08, 08:20 AM

Yeah deffo. In fm07 I was handed the england job for the Euro Championships after managing lowly sheff wed to the top of their league. I got to the semis and although was sacked after a 3-1 loss to italy was immediatly approached after the tournament by Man Utd, Celtic, HSV and Roma. Im yet to manage in FM08 internationally, but seing as its more of an update it can only help your club career to do well in managing a country. GL feller!

BradHally · 31-03-08, 09:12 AM

I haven't spent much time looking at the youth teams at Nigeria, but I do know the U21's and the U19's don't have a keeper lol. Just searched though and there are 3 keepers eligible for Nigeria U21.:|. One of them is 16 and at Tottenham so hopefully, he'll turn out ok. He has good stats especially his reflexes (14) and aerial ability (14).

Currently near the end of August so no more matches have been played.

BradHally · 01-04-08, 04:26 PM

I made an error in my post where I mentioned my next fixture. I said that I would be playin Senegal but in fact i was playin Mauritania.

Nothin much to mention bout that apart from the fact that I won convincingly 3-1. Yakubu, Kanu and Emmanuel Ekwueme the scorers.

Next up for a killing was Senegal, who got just that. A 2-0 victory for Nigeria meant we went 3 points clear at the top and clawed back some goal difference if it comes to it at the end. Yakubu scored a brace.

Then, I played some friendlies against Botswana and Angola. No one from Europe was availible for these dates so they were the next best options. I experimented with my tactics and won both matches, not convincingly mind, but we did just enough.
Back to the Attacking 4-4-2 me thinks.

Next game is a friendly against the Czech Republic. My next competitive match is against Libya in March.

BirdyFC · 02-04-08, 12:52 PM

Good luck with this Brad, and good result over Senegal. KUTGW

BradHally · 02-04-08, 06:58 PM

Right time for my next update. I played Czech Republic in a friendly in Nigeria. We played extremely well and managed to win 2-1. The only time a victory was threatened was a five minute spell when the Czech's scored. Yakubu and Christian Odobo the scorers.

Next match was back to the qualifiers with a match versus Libya, an unconvincing victory but 3 points none the less. Yakubu and Obafemi Martins the goalscorers.

Togo were the visitors to Nigeria, and got a 4-2 drubbing. The game was as good as done after 20 minutes with Yakubu getting a hattrick after 16 and we in were in total control. Joesph Yobo scored the other goal before half time. Adebayor scored the 2 for Togo. Still 3 points clear.

Next up was Mauritania, where we got very lucky and still won 2-0. John Obi Mikel and u guessed it Yakubu scored the other goal.

BradHally · 04-04-08, 06:25 PM

Breaking News: I am the new manager of Shrewsbury in League 2 on a 2 year contract.

Akenatwn · 06-04-08, 01:16 AM

Nice results with Nigeria there mate!

Shrewsbury?Not bad...What's the state of the team so far?

GL with your further endeavours!

BradHally · 06-04-08, 09:57 AM

Last post was made in a bit of a rush as I wanted to get cracking in the transfer window. Shrewsbury offered me the job on a £625 a week contract. I never applied for it as I wanted the Everton job.

Anyway, the team is very poor for league 2. Lots of improvements were needed. Here are my transfers for Shrewsbury:

Currently using Wozza's tactic, results have not been good. It's not the tactic itself, I've used it for 2 matches and lost both narrowly, so hopefully it'll turn round.

Im bottom of the league somehow and out of the league cup and the Paint Trophy. :(
Seriously thinking about resigning.

BradHally · 11-04-08, 05:09 PM

Well, I carried out my threat...
I resigned with Shrewsbury bottom of the league.
They are an extremely difficult side to manage as at this stage as they have no goalkeeper but have some talented attackers.
I won 0 matches and drew 1 match.
I don't know how?
But anyway hopefully Nigeria will get to the world cup, with my next match against Senegal. Wish me luck.

BirdyFC · 11-04-08, 06:43 PM

Sad to hear about Shrewsbury but seems like they were a lost cause.

Best of luck with Nigeria Brad

KUTGW

BradHally · 12-04-08, 08:23 PM

First few losses as Nigeria manager have happened. My year and 3 quarters unbeaten run has come to an end! :(

First loss was against Senegal in a world cup qualifier. Lost 1-0. But I qualified for the World Cup!

Next loss was against England at Wembley. A 3-0 defeat with Gerrard, Wright-Phillips and Rooney scored against me.

I have the African Cup of Nations in January as well as the World Cup and another friendly with England.

**Hartynips** · 13-04-08, 02:50 AM

Good luck with the world cup mate, Id steer clear of the lower league clubs maybe wait for a fallen giant like leeds ect to come along.

BradHally · 19-04-08, 01:09 PM

Haven't updated for ages,but can't upload screenies for some reason, so my next couple of updates are a bit wordy.

Anyway I had the African Cup of Nations and had a poor first match against Cameroon, a 3-3 draw. The scoreline was the same in the next match against DR Congo. Final match was against Zimbabwe, and I won 3-0. Qualified to the next round.

Quarter Final vs Ivory Coast.
A tight match with Nigeria taking the upper hand then being pegged back but a superb goal by Yakubu made the final score 2-1 to Nigeria.

Semi Final vs Ghana.
Again a tight match with 2 similar teams playing each other. Ghana took the lead and then had someone sent off. We equalised after half time. Full time came and went with the scoreline level, as did the first half in extra time. 120th Minute up pops Solomon Okoronkwo to win the match and put us into the Final.

Final vs DR Congo
Second time in the tournament vs Congo and a dominant performance by Nigeria to win 3-0 with Obi Mikel, Yakubu and Martins, the scorers to win the African Cup of Nations and my first ever trophy on Football Manager ever!

Played a friendly after against Madagscar, won 5-0.

New job at a club in Spain, more details later.

Akenatwn · 19-04-08, 11:45 PM

nice!you've got the copa africa!it seems you're failure is really turning into a success ;)

kiu mate

BradHally · 22-04-08, 07:04 PM

My new club job is at U.D Vecindario.
They are in the Spainish B1 division. Narrowly avoided relagation by 2 points on last day of the season. Stayed up through the play offs.
Sigining a few players have already signed Hilario and Miguel Angulo. Few youngsters coming in summer.
Screenshots later.
Nigeria through to second round of world cup, after beating chile and poland, but losing to Italy.
Again screenies later

BradHally · 29-04-08, 06:25 PM

Second round vs Argentina
A 1-1 draw in normal time, with Messi having an onside goal ruled offside in the last minute. An even extra time period saw us score twice. Yes, Nigeria are through to the Quarter Finals against Ivory Coast with a 3-1 victory.

Quarter Final vs Ivory Coast
A match which we dominated from start to finish saw us through to the Semi Final with a 3-1 victory.

Semi Final vs Brazil
A very even match against Brazil saw penalties loom after full time finished 1-1. But an eventful extra time saw Brazil emerge victorious 4-2.

Third/Fourth Place Play Off vs Italy
Our final match in the world cup after semi final heartbreak against Italy who stuffed us 4-1 first time round. This time was different, with us triumphing 4-2 to be third in the world cup and to equal my personal best achievement in FM. I was third with England in 06.

Back to UD Vecindario. :(
Told board I could win league. I was a bit optimistic to say that. Got the sack in December but team still with a shout of winning, so hard luck there but next job is defo in England.

mufckingud7 · 01-05-08, 01:58 AM

Nice updates and doing well keep it up mate