Ana, FM 2012 : Season 1 Black Aces 2011-12

Hi everyone!!

So here is my first official post on my brand new pentagon challenge and for those who didnt read my first post I am currently in South Africa as the new manager of the Black Aces.

I will post a history and my managerial C.V as I go but seeing as this is my first job I wont need to do that for now!

So here we go with how my first season went.

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So it was a chance for me to jog my own memory and one thing that surprised me the most was the sheer amount of teams!

Now last year I managed a team called FCAK, and in the first division were there were only 8 other teams so we played each team other a staggering four times a season. However they must have changed that madness an extended the league to 15 teams so we play each other twice like most European leagues a total of 30 games.

The promotion and relegation system is a bit weird but the top team from the first division automatically wins promotion and the bottom team from the premier league is also automatically relegated.

Then from 2nd-4th in the first division and the team finishing 14th in the premier league all go into a playoff with only one winning promotion or the team finishing 14th in the premier league remaining there. Got it?

LoL, am really not the best at explaining stuff but thats how it works. :)

Results At The Halfway Point

So as you can see we have had a brilliant start to the season but this team was relegated from the premier league last season so you could say we have a bigger advantage of having some players too good for this league.

We only tasted defeat once to Royal Zulu a team I struggled to beat last year at FCAK and then at the Moroko Swallows so they could be my rival team once again.

We lead the way by six points but beat second placed Carara Kicks by five goals to one with the on loan Lucky Nguzan getting a hat-trick, all in all a very strong start.

January Transfer Activity

So I made a few new additions to my squad with only one permanent signing of Themba for £16k. The Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are the three biggest and richest clubs in South Africa so my goal ideally will be to get to one of those.

I sold two players for a combined fees of just over £100k both were mostly fringe players anyway.

Pienaar Themba

A snapshot of my new signing, nothing to special but is rated to be a 4 and a half star player in the future so maybe one to keep an eye on.

Results Second Half Of The Season

Champions! In all honesty I didnt really expect to cruise so easily to the title and a promotion but we just had goals in our team. I did change my formation from the one I started to to one like I played at Cruzeiro on my last pentagon which is basically a 4-2-2-2.

It seemed to have the desired affect as we racked up a 102 goals with only 35 against and a difference of +67.

We suffered only two defeats the second coming against second placed Bay Utd and we failed to avenge our defeat to Royal Zulu by only getting a draw but I cant complain really.

I know the premier league will provide a tougher challenge so am prepared to accept that I wont be as free scoring as we are now but its so important we survive other wise I will be facing a long battle with our finances.

Player Ratings 

So my successful squad and as you can see goals from everywhere, Shongwe lead the way and is an excellent striker with McCarthy doing pretty well for a 35 year old!

On loan Lucky Nguzan was fantastic but I wont be able to get him back next season and Lucky Baloyi was also impressive but another I wont be able to sign.

Mashishi was a brilliant signing scoring 15 times from wide on the left and Dlamini was also excellent from wide right scoring 20 times in our free scoring season.

Star Man Of The Season — Myron Shongwe

27 goals and about the same in assists his pace and power should stand him and our team well for next season. He will be critical for our survival bid, at 31 he will start to decline but he was so pivotal for us this season he had to be my player of the season!

Mini FA Cup Run

So the FA cup works the same as in England where all the teams play together and we made it to the semi finals! I had to highlight our amazing victory over the Orlando Pirates who cruised to the premier league title with ease yet were undone by our little team!

Did we make the final and maybe even win the tournament?

The Semi Final Vs Bloem Celtic

No! But what a game!

Considering we were away at a premier league club we did so well and even led 3-1 until a few moments of madness turned the game where we conceded three goals in four minutes but we pushed all the way but just couldnt find another goal.

But I was delighted with our effort.

Times Saved And End Of Season Finances

So someone emailed me last year asking if I would post how many times I saved the game, I thought this was an odd request but I have no problem with it.

Noticed how I saved it with Ana at the end to remind my boyfriend not to play it! I will continue to post my games saved at the end of every post and now I will show you my clubs end of season finances.

Club Finances

So not too bad I guess considering we had starting to slide into debt but were saved by our fantastic run in the FA cup.

We didnt get too much prize money for winning the league infact we actually lost it all in player bonus’s after I selected high at the start of the season!

I know we wont get any TV money next season so we are on our own and will have to do what we can to earn our money. Hopefully we can attract some extra fans to games and I may need to sell off a few players to help boost the finances abit but it will be a struggle.

And that’s that!

Am very pleased to have won a promotion but its paramount we survive next season otherwise we could spiral into an uncontrollable debt which I may never be able to get out of, I could leave of course but the main mistake I made last year was moving clubs too soon so I am here for a while.

That said I kind of like it, they have a pretty good squad and I have no real pressure on me to succeed so I can happily go about my business with no real fear of facing the sack, plus my reputation is so low I wont be able to get a job anywhere near as good as the Black Aces.

I must admit I really like South Africa!  Dont ask me why I just really enjoy it here so am not too concerned about having to stay here a few years, building my reputation but hopefully the chance will be available to manage the Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs or the Orlando Pirates so I can work on winning my first champions league.

So thanks for reading, and farewell until next time! :)