Hello everyone!
So as a special surprise I decided to cram another full season in before Christmas so I will be finally caught up with the date’s in my game.
Again a little sooner than expected but I would rather bring this post now I have some free time rather than after when I will probably be very busy again!
So you may have seen the title of my team and seeing as we have many USA football fans (or soccer if you like!) they may even recognise the badge as I am in the crazy world of the MLS as the new manager of the New York Red Bulls.
I wont lie I really have no idea what I am doing! So many new things like different contracts, drafts, conference’s, allocated transfer funds its all very bizarre and completely different to any thing I have done before.
So lots of learning to do but I do remember stories by Kevin (living in Canada) and Stromson (from the USA) managing in the MLS so am sure they can help me out when I get stuck! :)
So lets get on to the season.
Managerial C.V
— Black Aces (June 2011 – June 2018)
African Premier League : 2016
Super 8′s Winner : 2015, 2016
First Division : 2012
South African Knockout Cup : 2016
The African Champions League : 2017
— New York Red Bulls (January 2019 — Present)
Nothing yet.
———————————————
The World Cup — USA
So onto Russia we went in good spirits that we could upset a few teams along the way!
Our first match was against Croatia a match we led for almost 80 minutes until well you guessed it we conceded with three minutes of normal time remaining!
We were then well beaten by the Ivory Coast and I mean well beaten!! They had something like 30 shots to our 2 I have no idea what happened but the scoreline should have been so much more in their favour, which says everything about our performance!
Then we shocked the football world! Well a bit at least after we managed to beat Italy taking a surprising two zero lead with Charlie Davies the definition of a ‘one man team’!
But what is it enough to qualify?
Unfortunately not! That late goal against Croatia looks like it cost us any chance of progressing and our hopes were gone in the group stage.
Not too sure if I was happy or not but we had a pretty hard group so I was fairly content I guess. I decided to stay on as the USA manager and they were more than happy to allow me, so roll on the next world cup!
But lets see who won it :
So it was Argentina who claimed the glory beating France in extra time. Looked like a very exciting final with Argentina holding on to secure another world cup.
The Gold Cup — USA
So as expected we made it to the final against our major rivals Mexico.
Two opening wins gave us lots of confidence as we scored 11 times but against Curacao we were twice behind! Before grabbing the winner thanks to Cervantes.
Honduras were beaten in extra time after we couldnt defend set pieces properly but Devin Franks our center back and Michael Bent our wide forward sealed a passage into the semi finals.
El Salvador were easily beaten with goals from Neil Palma and our captain Jozy Altidore so Mexico waited in the finals.
Gold Cup Final vs Mexico
:(
So a defeat as Darren’s super striker Carlos Fierro had too much for my side in extra time. We pushed them all the way but we just couldnt score with a mixture of bad finishing and an inspired keeper.
They had chances as well, it was end to end but in the end we just didnt have enough so it was defeat in the final but the board were happy-ish so I decided to stay on again as the manager of the USA.
Now Onto My New Job! The New York Red Bulls
So the club is pretty new after being formed in 2006 but as you would expect from the USA they have great finances and excellent facilities.
You may have noticed that they claimed the NACL (North American Champions League) in 2014 and were also runners up so they are in a good position with a good history.
My goal will to be claim the NACL title and learn about the MLS as I go!
Best Player — Jimmy Watson
So I capped him for the USA so he already loves me! But he is a very decent player and is attracting interest from abroad with clubs as big as Valencia interested in him so my first task is to keep hold of him!
New York Finances and Club Information
So as you may expect the USA is pretty rich as we own are own stadium have some big sponsorship deals the days of struggling for money in South Africa seem to be long gone!
So as you can see we have quite a big following of over 8,000 season ticket holders and are clubs value is £71 million to put that into context when I joined the Black Aces theirs were £575k!!
Our icons may be familiar to some as they have all played in England at some point and Jozy Altidore is actually my captain for the national side.
Transfers In and Out — First Window
So I made a few new signings but some confusing things were thrown at me including a thing called the draft. I had no idea what to do! But I ended up getting a player which I didnt really need for free I think although we have to pay his wages.
I used my knowledge and scouting system from South Africa to sign some players then more confusion! When I had to select my squad for the season it wouldnt let me pick anyone! I had to holiday past that date in order for my players to register which was annoying but it worked I guess so at least I could play my season!
Chiake Diakite
Edison West
So I still dont understand the rules in the MLS so bare with me, and anyone who is a fan I would be grateful if you could explain them to me!
But I managed to sign these guys who I really wanted when at the Black Aces but due to a work permit I was denied West and Diakite wanted far too much money.
There is a thing called a salary cap and they also don’t get any bonus’s or anything its really weird! :)
Results Halfway Into the MLS
Confused?
Same as me! Its hard to explain but their are two conference divisions East and West but it seems you play every side in the MLS twice.
I believe the top three all qualify for my favourite thing, the playoffs!
Then we play against the top three teams from the Western conference to see who wins the MLS, I think. :)
Second Transfer Window
So I dont get the windows either!!
They seem to open at weird times but I managed to sign another player from my national side so here he is :
Gale Agbossoumonde
Final Games In the MLS
Ok, so this is the combined MLS table of both the East and West Conference’s.
As you can see we were top! This allowed us to qualify for the NACL again but also I got a trophy for having the best record known as the Supporters Shield!
However we didnt win the MLS (confusing I know) as we have to play some playoff games (cant wait….) but for some reason there are things called ‘wildcards’ where certain teams are picked to compete in the playoffs as well.
We met a wildcard team which was Seattle in the playoff semi finals.
Playoff Semi-Final vs Seattle Saunders
So we comfortably dispatched Seattle and I believe were are playing for our conference title and as we play in the Eastern one we compete for that.
We have our final against DC United (our fierce rivals) for the winner of the Eastern conference then the winner plays the winner of the Western conference playoff final to decide the MLS title.
I believe thats how it works anyways. :)
Eastern Conference Playoff Final vs DC United
And so my playoff misery begins!
I hate playoffs and I have a horrible feeling that they will once again annoy me on this game as well as last years!
Three zero was very harsh despite the scoreline we did play very well, just lacked that clinical edge and with Flores having three shots he managed three goals out of the four they managed to have.
We created 22 chances with SEVEN clear cut ones! Not our day I guess so we wont win the MLS this year.
Final Player Ratings of the Season
So as expected Diakite led the way this season but oddly he wasnt the out and out goalscorer I was hoping for, infact he was much better at creating chances for others. West was very solid at the heart of our defense alongside Gale Agbo and Jimmy Watson also had a great season as I manged to keep hold of him at least for now.
I still dont understand what SEL, AA, Dev, or GA are next to some of my players this league is way more confusing than I ever expected!
Star Man — Michael Jaramillo
So I chose Jaramillo as my star player mostly as he was my first signing as New York manger but also he was free and he may have just played himself into my national side too! :)
End of Season Finances
Finances have been steady infact we didnt really lose anything and we didnt really make anything!
We did sell a few players but the MLS takes 33% of any transfer fee it seems which is again quite annoying!
No save game status as I forget to take a picture. :)
Cup Competitons
North American Champions League
Would have been funny if we won it first time! :)
This was the quarter final stage but it came far too soon as I hadnt got to know any players or anything and I was still still trying to work out why I coulndt pick any players to register for the MLS!
Two pretty boring games and although we did play ok, but we didnt do enough and were out of the competition
US Cup
The Final
Yay!
So we finally won a cup final! But again I must say that this was weird also!
All the teams we played were non-league sides we were heavily injury ravaged for the final but I though it was sort of a nothing competition but we actually managed to qualify for the NACL by winning it.
America is indeed very complex! :)
End of Season Round-Up
So there it is! the MLS in all its super confusing glory. I must admit I really have no idea what I am doing!
My goal is the win the NACL but the rest of it I dont get, drafts, rules, contracts everythings different and I just cant understand at the moment. I dont know the rules on foreign players, I cant seem to select any players to register them and I have to holiday past as it wont let me progress further. I have no idea what I am doing wrong as the rules are hard to get your head around.
But in a weird way I am enjoying it! I guess a big part of football is learning how other nations do things so I guess thats what I will do, but if any MLS fans can help explain things a bit that would be fantastic.
We managed to win the US cup (the domestic trophy) and we did win the combined league so we did qualify for the NACL, which I will post in full next time.
Playoffs are back though and already they have cursed me! As we lost 3-0 to DC United but we have a lot to look forward too as we do have a pretty decent team.
So thats it for now! I am now back to where I should be so posts will take a little longer as now I have to play them!
So again thanks for reading and any help you can give would be very welcomed.
Once again I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, I may be away for new years so I hope you all have a brilliant time where ever you may be in the world! :)
Birdy
23 декабря, 2011 at 21:42
Very nice work Ana. Unlucky in the playoffs. Do you fully understand on how the conferences and the playoffs work in the MLS?. Anyway nice work and good luck for next season hopefully you can win the MLS Championship.
Merry Christmas
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 20:26
Thanks Birdy!!
I dont yet but I have been doing some reading so hopefully I understand them a little better now!
Had a brilliant x-mas thanks, just recovering from all the alcohol! ;)
rolando
23 декабря, 2011 at 21:53
Well done in the league, the team seems to be pretty much cruising. Unlucky in the playoffs but congrats on the US Cup win! In unrelated news, there is this first post that seems to explain MLS a bit: http://www.neoseeker.com/forums/55050/t1695462-team-discussion-challenge-mls-becoming-best/
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 20:29
Thanks Rolando!
I will defiantly read up on the rules a little more, I am starting to understand bits and pieces cup win was nice just those damn playoff’s are back!! :)
benevo146
23 декабря, 2011 at 23:38
Hey up Ana!,
have to say your’s and kevin’s stories are my favourite on the site right now and are the inspiration for my own pentagon story on the forum!,
i started with L.A Galaxy in mine, and lost both MLS and US cup finals despite winning the league thing like yourself, luckily i did win the NACL first time!
Great achievement though! and im sure you’ll progress through this 5th of the pentagon easily! i’m still fishing for a job in Asia or africa!!<
like i say well done and keep it up! x x
Kevin
24 декабря, 2011 at 09:55
Hi benevo146
Thanks for the mention!
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 20:32
Thanks! That means a lot. :)
I would love to have won the NACL first time! I fear it may take me a few seasons but I dont mind as it gives me a chance to better understand how the MLS works.
I enjoyed Africa! Asia is also annoying at least it was for me last year! :)
CsAtlantis
24 декабря, 2011 at 01:35
Don’t worry about the rules Ana, they’ll become clear as you go along a bit, do you mind giving a bit of coverage on the MLS Superdraft? Always a fun time of the year for MLS fans, and you can trade draft picks for money/draft picks
Congratulations on winning the league (okay, you lost the playoffs, but what matters is winning the overall league, North American leagues (like Mexico too) sure love their playoffs, and the US Cup
Good luck in the North American Champions League, there are so very tough Mexican teams competing in that
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 20:39
Thanks!
I will try! Am really trying to get used to all the new things they have in America.
Its so much different than I expected but I was very happy with how my first season went.
Mexican sides will be tricky but a few MLS sides have well so just hoping I can win the NACL as soon as I can!
DK1247
24 декабря, 2011 at 02:46
I’ll try to help clear some things up for you Ana, no idea if I’ll help or not though.
Draft: The US doesn’t really have academies yet so the younger players usually play for their universities. The draft is made up of the best players from the university level. You get them for free, but you do have to pay their wages.
GA= Generation Adidas. Supposedly the best of the best coming out of the university ranks. Dev might be a developmental contract. Not sure what the difference is really. Another one you might run into is DP (designated player). This is a player you can offer a higher salary to, but the whole salary doesn’t count against the salary cap.
The playoffs are set up a little strange. I believe its the top 3 teams from each conference are guaranteed a place in the playoffs, but then its the teams with the best record. Hence why you played Seattle in the Eastern Conference bracket.
The last bit of info I can give you is that the US Open Cup is open to all teams in the US, just like the FA Cup in England. Most of the teams you faced were probably in the USL which is technically the 2nd and 3rd tiers of US soccer, though there is no relegation between the USL and MLS.
Hope this helps and if you have more questions I’ll try to provide answers when I can.
Oh and good job on the season. Hopefully you can keep making progress in the Champions League.
Kevin
24 декабря, 2011 at 09:57
Yep, it’s somehting like that. I still find it wierd even though I’ve followed the league since it’s start and I live in Toronto
DK1247
24 декабря, 2011 at 14:06
I’m an American and have followed it for awhile too. It is weird and even knowing most of the rules it can still be difficult in FM. Also doesn’t help that they change the rules for the playoffs almost every year in real life.
DK1247
24 декабря, 2011 at 14:21
Ok I did some digging into the SEL and AA designations. The SEL is a Senior Entry Level Contract. It’s for free players that are coming into the league. They might have played in the MLS before or might not have. I also think its a set contract meaning you can’t change any of the terms on it. AA (Academy Apprenticeship contract) is for a player that has signed directly from your academy. Pretty sure its another set contract.
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 20:48
Wow, thank you so much!!
I think I understood most of it so thanks for keeping it as easy as that to follow.
I was really curious about SEL and AA etc as I had no idea what they meant!! With Diakite I could only offer a set wage of £4,800 so he must be on a SEL contract and with Edison West I could offer a higher amount probably because of his age.
The game doesn’t explain these contracts very well but in the draft I get to pick any player I want from the best youth players available?
Is it worth keeping my draft picks or trading them for players in the MLS?
Thank you again for all you help. :)
DK1247
27 декабря, 2011 at 21:08
Where you can pick in the draft is determined by where you finished the prior season, worst record picks first kind of thing. Using them or trading them is really up to you. Every once in awhile you can find a really good young player. The other thing is to remember that the MLS is set up for parity. It is difficult to be the top team every single year.
Ana Garcia
30 декабря, 2011 at 23:22
So if I finish first I choose last so by that time all the good players will be taken?
So I may be better of trading them for player I want, I have another problem I guess. Teams in the MLS keep trying to buy my players but they only offer £95k for any player.
I have players valued at a few million and yet they seem only to offer £95k and when I negotiate they come back with the same offer is my game broke or is there a rule that means they wont bid any higher?
I cant see that but its quite annoying! :)
Nik
24 декабря, 2011 at 03:31
Thank you Ana for unveiling your new club! And congratulations on a great year. Imagine what would happen if you already knew the rules.
Feliz Navidad to everybody!
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 20:50
Thanks Nik!!
The rules are just so different but I think I am starting to get my head around them now, hopefully next time I can secure the NACL and move on. :)
vaibhavc
24 декабря, 2011 at 08:59
Playoff curse again? You just do not have luck in playoffs. Nothing you can do now, just hope next season you can win it. For the rules, you can ask Stromson or Kevin, they have managed there before, so they might know quite a lot.
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 20:53
Thanks!
Yeah playoff curse again…..
I thought maybe this year may be different so fingers crossed! Good idea but I have been doing some reading on the MLS and with some brilliant info provided by DK 1247 I feel a lot more confident on how things work now.
Darren Smith
24 декабря, 2011 at 10:12
Unlucky seems to sum this all up Ana. While you did brilliantly to win the combined league and domestic cup, your poor luck in the play-offs and World Cup continues to be a curse. Still that’s what I believe makes your stories soooo entertaining and gripping. Every time you click to read it could be any number of different scenarios from major success to heartbreak. Anyway, lets hope for further success in the next one. Keep up the good work.
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 20:57
Thanks Darren!
Sums my life up too! From success to heartbreak! :)
I had a feeling that the playoff curse would return seeing as we managed to win the combined table something had to give.
World cup was very frustrating mostly from the group, and I wasnt that confident but we maybe should have went through.
Still we can try again! Next season with my better understanding I feel I can maybe do even better.
Kevin
24 декабря, 2011 at 10:19
Hola Ana
I had a feeling you were going State-side and you did a great job in your very first season especially as the whole leage is so complex — he says stating the obvious. Some of the replies above have provided good answers so I’m glad they responded befroe I did :)
The MLS is designed in theory just like all the other American sports to provide fairness throughout the league so you don’t end up with what goes on in Spain or example with Barcelona and Real Madrid being the champions most of the time. In typical american fashion (no offence Stromson) this leads to a complex situation for us Europeans to understand.
Although I don’t think I can give you a decent insight into the workings of the MLS I have provided links to my MLS story and the offical MLS website which can be read in Espanol. At the bottom of the MLS home page is league rules and roster information that might help. Also you can Wikipidea the MLS as well. These are the things I did before setting out on my Toronto FC story.
https://www.footballmanagerstory.com/2011/03/major-league-soccer/
http://www.mlssoccer.com/
Hope this helps somewhat amiga!
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 21:05
Hola! :)
I agree some of the responses have been brilliant, but helpful members are what I have becoming to expect here its such a nice website filled with fantastic people.
I quite like the idea of it though keeps the league interesting with many sides being able to compete just all the contracts, drafts and things was very difficult for me to understand what I was doing!!
Thanks for the links also, I will defiantly read them and am feeling like I already understand a lot more now. :)
Laxeyman
24 декабря, 2011 at 10:59
Pretty good season Ana, the MLS system is ridiculous, you don’t seem to get any reward for winning the league, which I can’t understand. Well done on the cup win, and hopefully now you’ve got your head around the confusing rules, you can do even better next season :)
Merry Christmas!
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 21:07
Thanks Laxeyman!!
Always the same! Thats why I hate playoff games!
I am getting my head around them and I do fell like I understand them a lot more now.
Had a great Christmas thanks, now am looking forward to the new year. :)
TheZiggy
24 декабря, 2011 at 13:15
The MLS system is pretty mind boggling, but then it fits in with the way they run American Football. Having to holiday to get past the registration sounds like a really stupid bug, and one you can’t think how it’s got through their testing.
Anyhow, you’ve done quite well, although the first attempt at the NACL ended in failure. Shame about the play-off curse which has denied you what you really deserved. At least you’ve gained entry into the NACL again, and hopefully you can win that fairly soon, before your brain explodes due to the insanity of the MLS structure. I can kind of understand why it was set up this way, but it seems so very alien and is restrictive. I think it’s largely because of how recent it was set-up, and the model we’re used to would have probably become chaos and might have even died, or on the way to it.
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 21:13
Thanks Ziggy!
I agree, its very annoying I select my team and press confirm nothing happens then when I try and continue it takes me back to the registration screen where I select again then it happens all over again.
It was driving me mad until my boyfriend said I should try and holiday past to see if it works and thankfully it did but was/is very annoying.
True, the NACL is my main goal so was very pleased to have qualified again but my brain was defiantly hurting after trying to understand the MLS!
I agree again! I quite like the idea of it to keep it as fair as possible and not to let money become the deciding factor, juts lots of new terms and things to understand but I feel like I know the rules a bit better now.
Bhargav
25 декабря, 2011 at 06:07
Welcome to my neck of the woods! Great start, I’m sure once you get the rules down, the Big Apple will treat you just right (although to be fair, the Red Bull Arena is in New Jersey, not New York :P)
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 21:16
Thanks!
Hopefully my partner and I may be visiting the real New York next year on holiday but I think I may favour Australia. :)
Am getting used to the rules or at least getting to know them a bit better so if anything I am learning!!
Johnny Karp
26 декабря, 2011 at 19:02
It’s great to see you managing across the big pond Ana, and in New York of all places! You know how the song says: «If I can make it there I’ll make it anywhere»! :) You already won a trophy, congrats on that, but I’m sure there’s a lot more silverware to follow ;)
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 21:19
Thanks Johnny!
I always wanted to try the MLS but was put off by the rules etc and I can see why a lot of people dont enjoy it!
Cup win was nice as it got us into the NACL so hopefully I can win that as soon as I can!! :)
Sears
27 декабря, 2011 at 00:20
A good start to life in the Big Apple! Those rules are really complicating, which is why I’d never manager in America. You did a good job though, so best of luck next season!
Ana Garcia
27 декабря, 2011 at 21:20
Thanks Sears!
I was like that too but I thought why not!
The rules are different and complicated but am starting to get my head around them now! :)
Brian Borg
27 декабря, 2011 at 23:08
Great story Ana! I have been reading this for the past 2 hours! Good luck for your future games! :)
Ana Garcia
29 декабря, 2011 at 00:12
Thanks Brian! :)
Am really glad you enjoyed reading them!
Havent had any time to play due to x-mas so my next post may take a little while longer!
Travis
28 декабря, 2011 at 16:48
Awesome job so far! I’ve just bought an FM game for the first time so having some fun with it and hoping to learn something from your stories. I’m from America so it’s rather funny to see someone try to understand rules that are so common in leagues over here. Looking forward to more adventures in New York!
Ana Garcia
29 декабря, 2011 at 00:15
Thanks Travis!
Well I plan to win every champions league in each region (North America, South America, Europe, Asia and South Africa) so I have had to learn many different leagues and rules but the USA is by far the most complex!!
Its more contracts and drafts I am struggling with I guess I just dont get them yet! But hopefully in time I will! :)