Hello everyone!
Hope you are all well and welcome to season 24 in my challenge. If you remember last time I cowardly left my post at Sao Paulo to join Cruzeiro who have dominated Brazilian football for about the last decade.
This is halfway-ish through my season as I left mid-season so Cruzeiro have already won the Copa Libertadores! But I hope to try and compete for it next season to leave only Europe to complete.
So here we go, and I will start with my long and varied manager C.V :
Cheonan (July 2010 – January 2013)
Nothing won.
— South China (June 2013 – June 2016)
Hong Kong League Title : 2014, 2015, 2016
Senior Shield : 2013, 2016
League Cup : 2014, 2015, 2016
Asian Confederation Cup : 2014, 2016
— F.C.A.K (December 2016 – November 2019)
South African First Division : 2018, 2019
South African First Divison Cup : 2019
— Moroko Swallows (November 2019 – January 2023)
South African FA Cup : 2020, 2021
South African Premier League : 2021, 2022
South African Charity Cup : 2020
South African Knockout Cup : 2021
South African Super Eight : 2021
African Champions League : 2022
— FC Seoul (February 2023 – February 2026)
The K-League : 2023, 2024, 2025
The Korean League Cup : 2023, 2024
The Pan-Pacific Championship : 2024, 2025
The Korean FA Cup : 2024
Asian Champions League : 2025
— St Gallen (October 2026 – July 2027)
Nothing won.
— Veracruz (July 2027 – June 2031)
Mexican Opening Stage : 2029
Superliga : 2030
Champions Cup : 2030
North America Champions League : 2031
— Sao Paulo (June 2031 – July 2032)
Sao Paulo State Championship : 2032
— Cruzeiro (July 2032 — Present)
Nothing won as of yet.
International Teams :
— Morocco (Febraury 2015 – December 2016)
Nothing won.
— Senegal (November 2021 – February 2023)
African Cup Of Nations : 2023
— Egypt (October 2025 – February 2027)
Nothing Won.
— Mexico (September 2028 – September 2029)
The Gold Cup : 2029
——————————-
So a quick look back on the history of Cruzeiro show the dominace they have had, they have even won the Club World Championships twice beating European based opposition!
I have really landed on my feet here!
League Results Halfway Point
So despite my fantastic start, Cruzeiro got of to a very sluggish start and we find ourselves five points behind Palmeiras. Most of the teams I played were very winnable games but a great result as I beat my former side by four goals!
Shows the class divide between the two sides.
Transfers Out, Second Transfer Window
Transfer In, Second Transfer Window
So here we are my favourite time of the season! Transfer window time I made a few new signings all brought in from Europe but I also sold a few players. The values show the class we have as Kaka and Flavio were sold for a combined £14 million.
I sold Evandro and sold Rolon basically down to the work permit rules but both players raised another £9 million to our club.
Eduardo was a big sale going to France for almost £15 million so we raised a fair bit and the squad is still very strong as most were fringe players at best, yes fringe players!! I made three new signings so lets take a little look at them :
Quinho
Andre
Torres
So I was very happy with my players! Quinho was bought to start in my midfield as we have loads of attacking options but lack a little defensive minded players so he was bought for that reason.
Andre was a 5* talent! The first one I have seen I think! My scouts are amazing so I have really high hopes for him, but he wont play this season having played X amount of games for Palmerias means he cant play for another Braziliam team until next season.
Torres is a wide player but I really like him, so he will start as we lacked a little quality in that area.
Final League Results Of The Season
Just about did it! Sao Paulo had a brilliant season and had the advantage having beaten us three one but we hit a great spell right when we needed to claim our seventh title in a row!
In all honesty not much of a challenge to win the title with this side, we are so far away from the rest its quite frightening, and having not been for the previous manager and his shaky start we would have hit the hundred point mark I am sure of that.
We just score so many goals, infact we create so many chances at times almost three times as many as our opposition, this could be the best team I have ever managed on FM.
Final Player Ratings Of The Season
Star Man — Tony
So having be made to watch the England game yesterday I noticed Fabio Capello saying fatigue cost his team, well my players have played up to 67 games this season and still perform to the best of their ability!
Tony was the star but you are not surprised? His stats are amazing and he scores and creates and from a winger what more would you want!
Bill is also a fantastic player, I would say he is like Kaka (Real Madrid one) in his prime ,wierd that we have a Bill and a Tony!
Chicao is a good frontman and Marcelo is also fairly decent but no-where near the level of the Marcelo I had at Sao Paulo!
In all honesty my whole squad is amazing and the average ratings reflect that.
Thats It!
So yeah thats it! LoL!
Again a fairly shortish update but this was only half a season next post will include the state championship (which is even more of a joke!) and the main league once again.
But also that crucial Copa Libertadores that we are aiming for and having won it for the past two seasons I am fairly confident of making it three in a row!
So thanks for reading, and before I forget its my birthday on Friday (Will be 25, am feeling old!) so my boyfriend is taking me away somewhere romantic I hope! So I will be away from Friday until Tuesday the 14th he hasnt told me where we are going yet so I am a little worried!
But as long as I am with him I dont mind! :)
Erick Wolf
6 июня, 2011 at 02:08
I think that when in Europe, you should pick up a low division English team, just like Johnny!
That would be awesome.
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:15
Thanks Erick!
Well I dont have England selected I’m afraid I really wanted to not manage in the ‘power’ leagues if you will (England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy).
I am starting to regret that now but hopefully I can win the European champs league with a team from my selection!
Sibo
7 июня, 2011 at 21:36
Oooooh, that will be tough… not advising you on how to play your game but if you have Russia loaded they could be a good league, although that may have changed if you are 20+ years in the future… :)
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:44
LoL! No Russia either!
My best chance is either a club from Portugal or Holland. I wish I did pick one of those five leagues but more of a challenge I guess!
:)
Sears
6 июня, 2011 at 02:23
Tony is freakingly amazing… I always thought that players of his quality always left Brazil for some top European club! Do clubs make offers for him often?!
Congrats on winning the Championship, excellent achievement considering the position the club were in prior to your arrival.. You’ll easily win the SA CL next season…!!
A bit early, but happy birthday!! 25 isn’t old :-D I’ll be 17 in… 4 weeks :-D :-D I hope you have a great time, where ever he brings you, I’m sure it’ll be somewhere amazing.. Byeeee!
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:19
Thanks Sears!
So far I have had no offers from anyone for Tony, and the club has around £80-90 million in the bank so we dont need to really sell him either.
Am guessing because I havent selected the five big leagues in Europe that has a factor in why I can still keep him I guess!
Am fairly confident of winning it! Only an injury crisis will stop me i think.
LoL! I know, I just feel old! Hopefully somewhere nice as he still hasnt told me! Just hoping he hasnt forgotton! :)
CsAtlantis
6 июня, 2011 at 02:24
Funny having tony and bill as among your best players, good work on retaining the title :P, now for the Libertadores!
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:20
Thanks!
Yeah wierd names Bill and Tony sound more English or American than Brazilians!
Will do my best! :)
Johnny Karp
6 июня, 2011 at 08:31
Not much to say Ana rather than… Happy Birthday! I hope you’ll enjoy the surprise, I’m sure it will be a very nice one ;)
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:21
LoL!
Thanks Johnny! ;)
Kevin
6 июня, 2011 at 08:55
Hi Ana
1) Story: Great comeback in the second half of the season and those new players you found are truely amazing and you should be a top contender for the Copa Libertadores.
2) England: Same poor excuse about being tired. They used that last year in the World Cup. Fact is we are just not good enough and or the players just don’t care. In Brazil they play 2 leagues in one year and they never complain about being tired. Time for the B/S to end.
3) Birthday:Feeling old? Wait to you reach my age by which time I’l probably be in some assisted living homebut hopefully playing FM 2037:) Anyway hope you have a terrific birthday and enjoy the surprise whatever it is.
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:25
Hi Kevin
1) Thanks my squad just needed a bit of a morale boost and we re-found our confidence.
2) I tend to agree England seem to always find excuses but Switzerland are not a bad team. They beat Spain in the World Cup but the tired excuse is well, like you said!
3) LoL! Yeah I know that I am not that old just feels wierd I guess! Age doesnt really matter as long as your happy! :)
Laxeyman
6 июня, 2011 at 11:13
Fantastic Ana, your team are incredible, and I can’t believe that Tony hasn’t left for a European club, most Brazilian players do, and he is surely a great one. You should win the league again next year, and good luck in the Copa Libertadores!
P.S Happy Birthday :)
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:26
Thanks Laxeyman,
I am very surprised too I guess he is just very loyal! :)
Thanks! :)
Darren Smith
6 июня, 2011 at 12:08
Amazing form Ana, you really have landed on your feet and also brought in even more talent. Cruzeiro must be unstoppable and I’m looking forward to a quick completion of South America. Hope you have a good time on Friday and Happy Birthday for then if we don’t speak.
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:28
Thanks Darren,
Me too I just want to complete South America and get on to the last part of my challenge.
Thank you, I hope I have a good time too! :)
vaibhavc
6 июня, 2011 at 13:26
Hey Ana
Great season for you as you recovered from their bad form to guide them to champions. Now are you in the South American Champions League?
P.S. Happy birthday, I hope your boyfriend takes you somewhere good! Have a good time.
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:31
Thanks!
I am in the champions league, the league works a little like England or Spain top four qualify for the champs league but the lower sides must qualify first so we go straight into the group stage.
And thanks! Me too and I will! :)
Stromson
6 июня, 2011 at 17:59
Ack, Ana is getting all gushy on us! Seriously though, happy birthday and enjoy your vacation. :) As for your actual results, well done! That was a legendary comeback, and I’m glad you were able to hit the ground running!
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:33
Thanks! Vacation, I like that word! :)
Me too, the squad is good enough I just needed to recover from a poor start but with the quality of players I have I was always confident!
Martin
6 июня, 2011 at 20:43
Hey Ana!
Great half season, trust Sao Paulo to beat you thought lol. Your players have scored a hell of a lot of goals.
I’m sure next season will be trophy filled…and hopefully you can move on to Europe…where the fun will really start :)
Martin
6 июня, 2011 at 20:44
Oh yeah….Happy Birthday for Friday….it’s my 25th in August…least you turn 25 first :P hahhaa
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:36
Thanks Martin!
I knew they would! Former teams always beat me I was just surpised they didnt beat me twice!
I agree back to Europe where I will know how things work!
Thank you! 25 still seems wierd, am sure I will get used to it! :)
joelance
7 июня, 2011 at 09:52
Good start in Brazil, like almost everybody has said, it’s a surprise most of your players have not moved to Europe. Complete this fast so you can move to Europe.
BTW, Happy birthday in advance, still got 3 years before i’m 25, so can’t say i know how you feel. :-)
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:38
Thanks Joe!
I will do my best, I just really want to get back to Europe and try to complete this challenge.
Thank you, you will one day! :)
Sibo
7 июня, 2011 at 11:46
Great start, looks like the Copa Libertadores will be yours next season with some great players and a great squad. When you move to Europe, if you get a rich club, will you look at buying Tony or someone, they will be incredible in Europe! :D
P.S. Happy Birthday in advance! :D
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:40
Thanks Sibo!!
I agree we are definatly favourites so am fairly confident, if I do I will try my best to buy Tony!
Thank you! :)
George Dobson
7 июня, 2011 at 18:58
well done ana great story and I hope you can win all of the champions leagues you need to win :D
George Dobson
7 июня, 2011 at 19:00
happy birthday hope you have a great day mine is on monday as well just 3 days after yours
Ana Garcia
7 июня, 2011 at 21:42
Thanks George!
Ha! So I am three day older than you, June is when all the cool people are born! :D
But thanks also for the birthday wishes and happy birthday to you for Monday!
John
13 июня, 2011 at 20:07
Hello everyone…i have a problem….i can never stay on one game/ club for more than 5 seasons…i just want to swap clubs all the time and start again! What do i do???