Howdy folks, and welcome back. I apologize for the longer-than-usual delay in posting an update, but I’ve become a bit preoccupied with finishing Mass Effect 3 (such a good game). I’m still getting some FM time in, but on every occasion I’ve sat down to write an update, I somehow find myself with an Xbox controller in my hands in under five minutes. Shh, don’t tell anyone.
So before we begin, I don’t know if I ever explicitly stated this one way or another, but this is a «journeyman» story. I’ll stick with Dezembro as long as it feels right/they keep extending my contract, but if a better and more tempting job offer comes in, don’t be shocked if I take it. That’s not to say that I have any intention or plan of leaving, but just that I won’t restrict the save to a single club.
Now moving on! Last time around we wrapped up some summer transfer business and were heading into the season with a sunny outlook, and hoping to not get relegated. Unfortunately, I neglected to mention one of the most important pieces of business I’d done. Desperate for a defender (seriously, I just needed a warm body) and running out of money, I dove into the loan market and managed to bring on:
Nevermind that he was literally the only person I found who was willing to come play for us on loan, but he’s actually not a half bad defender. He’s a little sluggish, but he slots nicely into my, ehrm, starting lineup.
So, with a new loanee onboard, and a basket of hope, we dove into our first month of football:
I’m willing to accept the draws as a consequence of the team needing time to gel, and I’m pleased with the win over Real, who had just been promoted up from the Third Division. I’m not looking for miracles at this juncture, just consistency. Delightfully, October saw an even bigger improvement:
Pfft, rookie stuff, rookie stuff. All three of those teams are solid, and Belenenses had just been relegated from the Liga Orangina, so I’m stoked we managed to secure a win over them. I’m smelling a dominate season coming on. 4-0-2 in the first six? If we keep that up, we’ll be unstoppable. Oh, and that 7-1 demolishing of AD?
Then November happened…
Well I guess it was inevitable, and I suppose I’m glad we got that first loss in relatively early. We are better than both of those teams, and while I could live with the away loss, the home loss was a bitter pill to swallow. I started looking for a cause, and I found it in my star man. Lelo just hasn’t been hitting home lately, and his attributes have been on a steady decline since last spring. It’s looking like I’ll be jumping into that January transfer market, but we had to survive December first.
A mixed bag of a month, but at least we survived the Mayan apocalypse, right? That 2-5 demolishing to close out the year was painful to endure, and hopefully it was just a one-off (it better). To my great frustration, we’re lacking the very thing I was seeking: consistency. The eleven players who took to the pitch in our 7-1 win earlier in the year was the exact same group that trotted out for that 2-5 smackdown. We’ll play lights out one game, and struggle to string three passes together in the next. That’s lower league football for ya I suppose.
So anyway. January. There were signings to be made. These are them:
I lost a midfielder for the season to injury (6-7 months), and needed a new backup. Damaso fits the bill, and he’ll actually be ending up with some first team reps. The injured player (who’s name escapes me) ended being let go on a free transfer to make some wage cap room.
His awesome name may have had a lot to do with this signing, but I also needed an attacking midfielder in a bad, bad way. My lone other AMC is only average, and after displaying a disturbing propensity to injury himself, I figured I needed an insurance policy. I expect Geovanni to replace him as my starter within weeks minutes.
My crown jewel. There was intense competition for his signature (seriously, something like six other clubs), and I had to reach in order to convince him to join us. His wage bill puts us well over my budget, and I’m way overpaying him, but it should be worth it. He’s very highly rated by both of my scouts, and at only 19, the future looks very bright for him. I’m hoping he’ll be a long-term fixture at the club.
So with the new signings in place, our first two games of January went fairly well:
We still have two more games to play this month, but I’m pleased with how we’ve looked. We’re playing solid attacking football, and all three of the January signings have integrated themselves quite well. Unfortunately, my loanee has put us in a bit of a spot:
Evidently we weren’t good enough for him to extend for another 6 months. The irony of it? He was sad to leave!
So anyway, despite my Benedict Defender doing his best to ruin our future, we’ve managed to establish ourselves nicely in the table:
I think we have what it takes to go up this year, but I expect to face some pretty stiff competition for that top spot. As per what would seem to be usual, the table is extremely tight. The gap between first and relegation is comparatively small compared to most leagues, and we’re in as much danger of falling down as we are from failing to go up. Not that I’m complaining of course, it all makes for an exciting ride.
Oh, and check out our cheeky little cup run (Board expectation: We hope you learn something from participating):
Yep, that’s right. Feast your eyes on 1 Dezembro, master of those weaker than ourselves, and wimps to our equals.
So that’s it for this round. I’ve actually already finished this season, so the update cycle may be pretty quick in an attempt to catch up with the current in game date. Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, it depends on how nefarious my Xbox controller is when I get home.
Thanks for reading!
saltwater
27 марта, 2012 at 20:48
Very impressive start to the season, and some of those winter signings may just have enough to push you over the edge and into the league above. I couldn’t help but laugh with incosistensy, Octer was fantastic but then November stuttered slightly. Also shame to see the cup run is over. (Eccentric board expectaion).
Seeing how the theme of this post was Mass Effect 2, you just reminded me that I owe you a thanks. One of your posts around November-ish was heavily Skyrim featured, and that actually pushed me over the edge to buy the game and its been fantastic.
Good Luck with your promotion charge.
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 15:26
Skyrim was (and still is) a phenomenal game! I can’t wait until some of the «official» DLC starts to come out, and I may have to buy it on the PC just for some of the user made content. The Mass Effect series is seriously worth checking out as well; there is some out-of-this-world storytelling.
I think the lack of form is the most frustrating aspect. I don’t mind the occasional loss (or win), but I’d like to be consistently good or bad one way or the other. >.>
nielsneutron
27 марта, 2012 at 20:55
Hmm there some rather unfortunate point losses and I am actually having the same issue with my Hvidovre IF save.
You seem to belong in the top 3 at least but I guess a season more in this league would not hurt.
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 15:35
Another season down here is likely. I think it’s just the general (lack) of quality among the various teams that leads to such wild differences in form and results.
Johnny Karp
27 марта, 2012 at 21:22
That’s a pretty good first half of the season Stromo, nicely done. By the way, what are you playing on that Xbox that’s so captivating? :P
nielsneutron
27 марта, 2012 at 21:24
He already said it Mass Effect 3.
Johnny Karp
27 марта, 2012 at 21:36
Oh, sorry. So Stromo is into galactic wars then :P
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 15:41
Maybe a little. ;-)
Kevin
27 марта, 2012 at 21:24
Hi Stromson
Challenging for the top of the table, that was unexpected but now you’ve got your mojo going in Portugal I can see some definitve improvements on the horizon.
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 15:46
We’ll see how it goes, since my mojo has a nasty tendency to leave at the worst possible moments. >. <
TheZiggy
27 марта, 2012 at 22:06
After all the changes you made to the squad, it’s been a very good first half of the season, sitting right in the fight at the top of the table. It looks like the players are better than last season so hopefully we won’t see a horrible slide down the table again.
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 16:28
I pray not, that slide was awful!
Ana Garcia
27 марта, 2012 at 23:07
Good going so far!
So only one team can win promotion? My knowledge of lower league Portugal isnt what it should be! ;)
Some better signings in and hopefully you can find one or two more in the future and you could push for top spot.
Best of luck! :)
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 16:41
It’s not even that generous. The champions from each of the 3 regional divisions are pitted against each other, and only two of them can earn promotion to the Liga Orangina. So we first have to win our league, and then beat the other two league winners, and THEN we’re promoted. Fun huh?
Ana Garcia
29 марта, 2012 at 18:21
I feel for you, its just like lower league Spain and I know how annoying that promotion system is so I wish you even more good luck!! :)
CsAtlantis
28 марта, 2012 at 11:43
Ah, I am also into Mass Effect 3 now, finished the game once already with an imported character for ME2, the ending is odd to say the least
You are doing quite well Jon, shame that loanee did not want to extend, it wasn’t like he was going to play much for his parent club Leiria anyway
3rd place is nice, but you need to finish at the top, hopefully the overpaid 19 year old can help :P, good luck
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 17:57
That overpaid 19 year old better make something of himself! I would probably be done with ME3 by now, but I’ve been kind of pacing myself until recently. After Udina’s shenanigans, I’ve really started to pick up the pace dramatically. Such a good game…
John
28 марта, 2012 at 11:53
Good start to the season and a few nice signings to go with it! How are your finances looking? Of youre gonna go up youre gonna need some cash!
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 18:05
I’ll be sure to post a screenshot of the finances in the next update, but suffice to say they’re not good. We’re hemorrhaging cash, and we’ve already taken out a loan AND had the board inject a bit of cash (and I’m staying under budget).
Darren Smith
28 марта, 2012 at 12:11
Well done mate, some fantastic form there and to see your boys so high up the league is exciting. The last time I offered words of optimism it all went wrong though so I’ll be making no predictions this year…good luck.
Stromson
28 марта, 2012 at 18:12
Hahaha, thanks Darren, I appreciate it. ;-) Somehow I think we’ll manage to mess this up all by ourselves though, it’s a bit of a talent.
Bence Répási
28 марта, 2012 at 21:39
Very good start of the season Stromson!Your team seems way better than a year ago. I hope the lads can promote this year.Good luck!
Stromson
29 марта, 2012 at 16:28
Thanks Bence, it definitely feels a lot better than last year. >.>
Mohammad Sadek
29 марта, 2012 at 09:25
Well Done mate , after your previous post and you hadn’t rated your transfers i was expecting a bad season But stunning results , can’t wait for next post !!!
Stromson
29 марта, 2012 at 16:30
Thanks Mohammad, I’m glad you’re enjoying it. :)
vaibhavc
29 марта, 2012 at 13:25
Great start to the season so far Stromoson, well done. Your team seems much better than they were before!
Stromson
29 марта, 2012 at 16:31
Thanks Vaibhav, I appreciate your consistent support. :)
Dan Striker
29 марта, 2012 at 15:22
Pretty impressive so far. Hope you can continue the fine form!
Stromson
29 марта, 2012 at 16:33
Thanks Dan, that makes the both of us!