From Etropole to Mordovia

No more Bulgarian Dream. I've been sacked by new management, although I've brought lot of success and trophies into the cabinet. From small and dusty wardrobe to new and shiny trophy room storage, winning games back to back, brought them from bottom of second tier of national league to the top of the world...

How could they do this to me. But life must go on. That night I wrote my CV, passed them to several close friends that have networks with football clubs worldwide. Waiting for months, suddenly got phone call on a fine evening.

One guy from Russia called me that evening. He's die-hard-fan of one small club from Russia, desperately begging me to save their club from being relegated. At first I thought just to decline the request, but when he keep begging....I said, "okay, but just for six month".

There you go, new journey to Russia motherland!

For Mother Russia! 
[courtesy: Overland Sphere]

After the touchdown, I've been brought to the club. Named Mordovia Saransk, first thing come onto my thought is.......Mordor. Yeah, I might not pronounced it well at first time. But that's my intention - "One does not simply walk into Mordovia". I'll turn this club fortune, bring them out from this mess and put them back on track! 

"One does not simply win against Mordovia" 
[Courtesy:  SportLogos.net]

To make it short, I've already with Mordovia Saransk for about 4 months. First few games not very impressive, especially first four games. Driving hard bargain to brought in talented players, kick out deadwood from club...there you go, the winning start kicking in.

Changing formation from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 also could be our main reason of stay winning. It gave me strength in midfield and defensive, rather than crappy 4-4-2. League position improved from 16th to 8th within 4 months, I should extend my contract here. Things started to fall in place, and this has become more interesting! 

The best thing is; I just knew in Russian league even youth players needed to be registered to play. And few young lads already expressed their disappointment for not being listed, which resulted them to loaned out to feeder club. They should provide league rules and regulation guide in English too, rather than fully Russian!

At the end of the note, I didn't wish to get promoted next season, just aiming to end up at better position.  Probably 3rd or 4th should be enough for the time being. Mordovia need to be prepared for another one or two season, before get promoted. I don't have enough strength to see my team being trampled over by large teams later on.

That's all folks, we will meet again next time!

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Of FM 13 and Bulgarian Dream

Sport Interactive comes again with their hit product entitled "Football Manager". This time they come out with FM 2013, with lots of new features and looks very promising. This and that, bla bla bla and et cetera. Sorry but I didn't pay attention much to the new features, probably I need to play it myself to get what are these new things looks like.

However, this time seems like FM 2013 are the most disappointing FM for many of it fans. In every single forums that I went to, almost everyone crying foul about crashes, voicing out their disappointment, some were even return to previous version of FM. Many were very frustrated, especially fans that forking out their pocket money to purchase original copy of FM. 

But one thing that I've noticed, even though all of this disappointment and frustration vented out by the fans, they still hoping things will go better, SI will provide patches and updates to fix the problem happened to the game. 

For me, I guess I'll be getting my copy of FM 2013 after receiving my graduating scroll, next year. If God will, by that time I've already secured my job and have my own money. Plus a copy of FM 2013 would be a perfect gift to celebrate my graduation day. Where is my next managerial destination? Not sure 'bout that. Currently still pursuing my Bulgarian dream save with FM 2011, to break the record of winning the most Bulgarian A League title with my Chavdar Etropole team.

The Golden Age team has start ageing, I need to bring my new players, change the system and tactical as the other team in the league has become stronger and tougher. As time goes by, I realized good teams that always sit on top have going down the hill. Middle table club has grown matured and stronger trying to wrestle the title from me. There even teams that winning promotion Bulgarian B league, only to see themselves get relegated, and then get promoted again by next season or two.

It's fun and challenging (especially when you're winning). However, until my Bulgarian Dream being achieved,  I'll most probably stick to FM 11. 

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Bitter Truth : Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas and Barcelona

Finally Barca won Copa del Rey Supercopa over Real Madrid, with Lionel Messi tucked in the winning goal 2 minutes before the final whistle. But that's not what hurt me the most, but these ;

As an Arsenal fan, Wenger better bring in some silverware this season. Buy an established and ready-to-play players, not 12 years old kid with potential for Arsenal!


But the funny side of this historical moment for Cesc is, this :

Anyway, good luck for Cesc, and all the best for Arsenal!

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Football Manager 2012 - To Be Released!

LONDON (August 11^th, 2011) – Sports Interactive Ltd. & SEGA® Europe Ltd. today unveiled the latest version of their successful football management simulation series, Football Manager™ 2012. Planned to be in stores before Christmas,Football Manager 2012 will once again allow you to take charge of your favourite football team and put your managerial skills to the test.

The award-winning Football Manager series has now sold in excess of 7 million copies worldwide and has topped the UK and many European PC charts for the last seven years, with over 108 weeks at no.1 in the UK to date.

“We’re delighted to finally be able to start talking about Football Manager 2012” said Miles Jacobson, Studio Director at Sports Interactive. “It’s another year of evolution, with some revolution thrown in for good measure so we’re pretty sure our dedicated communities, and hopefully lots of new people too, get to play and enjoy the game when it’s released later in the year.”

Counting over 800 new features, not including changes to the rules of the games 50+ leagues, Football Manager 2012 promises to be the most realistic, immersive and playable football management simulation ever for any fan who has ever dreamed of making the big decisions, both on and off the field.

As the boss you’ll also have full control of team affairs away from the pitch:

Will you spend big-money on expensive superstars or put a focus on scouting for wonderkids?

How will you approach training & match preparation?

Will you be the chairman’s best friend or always demand the best investment from the board?

How do you react when a young star has problems – a shoulder to cry on or a clip round the ear?

And how will you deal with tricky questions from the media? 

Now it’s time to put your opinions to the test.

New & improved key features for Football Manager 2012:

Manage Anywhere, Anytime – the ability to add or take away playable nations in your saved game as often as you want. Manage in that country at the start of the next season - meaning you don’t have to decide on which nations are playable at the start of your career.

Transfers & Contracts – significant changes to the transfer and contract systems, including loyalty bonuses, better implementation of amateur and youth contracts, an improved transfer centre and the ability to lock areas of the contract negotiation when you aren't prepared to budge. This helps you to manage your budgets and gives you flexibility in what you offer money hungry players, or agents, as incentives. 

Scouting improvements – using several real life scouting reports, a new in-game report was devised which includes squad analysis, tactics information and information about goals scored and conceded alongside lots of other scouting improvements, giving you all the information you need to prepare before kick-off and throughout the season.

3D Match Improvements – new animations, a whole new crowd system, improved weather system, more stadiums, plus two brand new cameras - "Behind Goal" and "Director Cam" as well as all other camera angles being reversible - meaning you can watch and analyse every aspect of every game.

Intelligent Interface – a new adaptive layout system, which means the higher your screen resolution, the more info is easily at your fingertips. The new interface also contains new filters, customisable columns, a new tactics screen, and lots of new overview screens.

Tone – a whole new level has been added to team talks and conversations, with the new tone system, which allows you to specify the way you want to say things – be as cool as a cucumber by saying things calmly or throw tea cups around by saying things with passion. There are 5 different tones to choose from with specific comments per tone.

Brand New Tutorial – standing separate from the main game, a mode to help new players find their way around the game easily, whilst also offering tips to experienced managers on how to get the most out of the game, as well as a new in-game “how to” system.

On top of these key innovations, there are lots of areas of the game that have had huge improvements, such as the media system, press conferences, the youth system, newgens, the social networking options, friendlies, international management and many more which will be detailed in a series of video blogs over the coming months, alongside more information about Football Manager 2012.










For screenshots : http://www.sega.com/fm2012/

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Some Words Before 2011 Ends

It's already almost a year, after my last post. In fact, I'm not enjoying much my FM 2010. Even though doing well in competitions, but does not have inspiration to update it here. However since FM 2012 will be coming with only few months to go..I'm planning to keep this blog for my next adventure with FM 2012.

There are lots of things happened in football world, after one year. Goal line technology finally being approved by FIFA, with Australian highest football body offering A-League to test the technology (if I'm not mistaken). Teams that fully occupied with superstars such as Argentina and Brazil crashes out from Copa America, Manchester City disrupts transfer market with its huge transfer budget and so on. Well, things like this do happen even in Football Manager. 

Brazilian player feels dejected after crashes out from Copa America 2011

Maybe for my next journey, I'll try myself to test my skills again in South America. Last time I went there, literally, in FM 2009 with Santos. It is merely luck because starting the game with nothing, yet Santos board still trust me to take their team to success. And I did! However people must not keep holding with past success, so do I. Maybe in 2012, I'll try myself to play in Uruguay, Peru or Chile. Sounds interesting, and for sure it is very challenging!

However for FM 2011, I'm currently playing with Chavdar(Etropole). It is small club from Etropole, Bulgaria. At first the stadium only able to accommodate around 3500 audiences. After 4 years I've been there, the stadium has been expanded to cater more than 7000 audiences, and today the expansion work still going on. Once again, lady luck smiling to me, one businessman taking over the club during my reign and splashes out cash for me to spend. Woohooo! \o/

Latest formation and player used

I think that's all so far. I'm not gonna update this blog with my journey yet, until FM 2012 is released. Maybe one or two articles about football, and that's it. Thanks for reading, and have a nice day! :D

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Sorry To Everyone.

 

Sorry, this blog will not be updated for few more weeks, as currently I'm struggling with my degree. But, I've already make some notes and some pictures to be posted here. Thanks for keep reading my managerial journey! ;)


p/s: Football Manager 2011 will be released this 5th November! Yippeee!

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Are We Prepared Enough, Boss? Yes, Just Bring it On!

Yes, Ramadhan is time to recharge

Ramadhan come again this year, thanks to Allah because giving me another chance to perform my obligatory once again – fasting in Ramadhan. Just brief information about Ramadhan, this month is the time all Muslims around the globe will perform their fasting. Fasting not only giving benefits in religious perspective, but also scientifically. As a reminder to all Muslims FM enthusiasts, don't forget your obligatory while enjoying your managerial career.

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