Hi there! :)
So after getting over my rather horrible illness I have been working very hard (well not too hard!) to try and get an update out as quickly as I could. Am back as a solo player again as my boyfriend returns back to his own game as my pentagon challenge starts to take some shape.
We (as in the readers! We are a community after all! :)) have managed to win two champions leagues in North America and South Africa and our journey now continues in South Korea.
Last time out we lost the Asian champions league final, then lost the K-league playoff final and lost the Korean league cup final!
Am a bad manager I guess! Or just hopeless in finals and playoff games but lets think positive as I bring you yet another long season so get ready. :)
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 –December 2021)
U.S. Cup : 2019
MLS : 2020, 2021
North American Champions League : 2020
— FC Seoul ( January 2022 — Present)
Korean FA Cup : 2022
International Career
— U.S.A (May 2017 – July 2021)
Nothing.
———————————
So first off lets take a look at our club information, and we did drop a few million from our estimated value on last year.
So far none of our players have managed to break into the favoured personnel lists but it has only been one season.
So something really annoying happened last season, remember our board upgraded our training facilities to five star’s? Well after one season they became obsolete and we are back down down to three stars so that was £5.5 million pounds wasted.
Then to further my annoyance my board then decided to upgrade them again! Costing around £4 million this time so our money is almost gone due to incompetence above my head. :)
Transfers In and Out — First Window
So it was quite a quiet window in truth, I just released some players I didnt want and sold another foreign player I had in my ranks.
I added three new faces so lets take a look at them.
Hae-Young Kim
Kwang-Jin Kim
Cabelo
So the first player was bought to help provide some cover and potentially become our starting central midfield player. The second was just a young keeper I found after having no real cover in my squad.
Cabelo was brought in for fellow Korean side Pohang and already has Korean citizenship he will provide cover upfront or out wide when needed.
Results and League Table First 15 Games
So again we were very strong through are opening fifteen games without losing once again.
We have scored more goals than this point last season but we have conceded a few more also, our rivals Ulsan are hot on our heels though.
Transfers In and Out — Second Window
So quite annoying that my chairman sold Hong Chul our star left back from last season so I had to bring in another one but ran out of time!
Instead I brought in another holding midfielder player with good potential.
How the Mighty Have Fallen!
Sack me then want me back, I dont think so. :)
Results Final League Games of the Season
So our long unbeaten league run final came to an end against Pohang as we lost that game by two goals to zero.
Ulsan finished on exactly what they got last season of 64 points but scored a lot more goals, we did score alot more goals but conceded far more also.
Onto my favourites now, the playoffs…………..
The K-League Playoff Final — First Leg vs Ulsan
Mane! 90+3 dont you just love that. :)
It was such a great game but I felt we deserved to win even the sending of didnt change that much and infact we did find it a bit tougher as they defended for most of the game using their fast counter attacks to cause us problems.
But for the first time I have an advantage I cant waste it……
……. can I?
The K-League Playoff Final — Second Leg vs Ulsan
Yay!
Finally a playoff victory and we have finally won the K-league!
Ulsan didnt really play that well this time and we took full advantage a goal after 27 seconds really settled my team down. The own goal compounded the massive amount of pressure we put them under as at times they couldnt cope with our attacks.
Donald missed a penalty even though he is a centre back and was behind about seven other players that were on the pitch so I have no idea why he stepped up to take it, he then got injured to cap an eventful day for him.
All in all we deserved our victory, and yes you are reading correctly I did win a playoff final. :)
Cup Competitions
The Asian Champions League
So defeat in the first knockout stage, we ended up losing despite scoring four away goals but they didnt count as it was only one leg!
We ended up losing on penalties so for another season our champions league dream was over before it really got going, Guangzhou did go on and win the competition.
The Korean FA Cup
So we failed to defend our FA cup after my rivals Ulsan beat us by three goals to two.
The Korean League Cup
De ja vu?
They also knocked us out of the league cup as well! Same scoreline same disappointing performance they are starting to provide a good test for my team.
Final Player Ratings of the Season
So I was very happy with my squad Edison continues to shine in South Korea topping our player ratings once again. Jae Hyung Kim was second again but he did score more goals than he did last season as well as creating lots of chances for everybody else.
Toure really shone so credit for my boyfriend for taking that gamble for me and Mane really has been improving but all my players were fantastic.
Star Man of the Season — Edison West (Who else!)
End of Season Finances and Game Save Status
Ok so my board are officially crazy!
They have had to cancel the work on our training facilities due to not having enough money so now we have nothing, or facilities are the same and it cost us around £10 million, so very frustrating.
Thankfully I am not a big spender so the lack of money wont hurt me too much but this has annoyed me quite a lot, spending all that money to get back to where we are when I took over.
End of Season Round-up Plus Extra Things!
So I didnt really have that much to round up my board are incompetent and seem to love wasting all their money and we won the K-league but failed to win any cup competitions.
So here a few things that made me smile/get annoyed this season. :)
So smile first! As you can see we had nine players in the team of the year! Our entire back four and keeper along with our two wide men in Toure and Mane and our attacking midfielder with our top scorer upfront.
Thats the best I have ever done! :)
So this really annoyed me! This is the history of Spanish managers who have managed the national side. As you can after Del Bosque was sacked Guardiola took over then Luis Enrique then Guardiola then Luis Enrique etc…
For over ten years the same two have took turns in managing the national side then leaving/getting sacked then joining Barcelona the Barcelona run was finally ended when Quique Flores took over but surely this cant ever happen! :)
So finally a look at the Spanish hall of fame, I havent won enough to be on the main hall of fame but look at the names around me! I am ahead of the European cup winning Luis Aragones and only three points behind La Liga winning and champions league winning Rafa Benitez!
Not bad considering I have yet to mange in Europe!
So thats that! Again thanks for reading this post and I will try and get the next one up as soon as I find time to play it!! :)
Alex
3 февраля, 2012 at 23:23
A great season in general, just a shame about the Champions League. I have one small request; I would quite like it if the player profile screenshots of your new signings also showed their positions.
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:03
Thanks Alex! :)
Am sorry, I just assumed that when I took my pictures that their positions were on them. I really should have checked but thanks for pointing it out!
I will definatly make sure from now on that I get their positions on my profiles.
bigbaz
3 февраля, 2012 at 23:28
love this story, doing really well and i bet your fed up of Ulsan!!
keep going (which we all no u will) and im sure you’ll get that champions league
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:09
Thank you. :)
Am really glad you like my story, yeah Ulsan are trying my patience at the moment!
But in a way its nice to have a rival team, I mean my last major rivals were Atletico Madrid when at Real Union so in a way it makes it exciting as well as we cant just sit back and coast the league and cup wins knowing that they are good enough to beat me.
We seem to really struggle against sides from China, infact I think I have lost every game against sides from their, but I will keep going until I win it! :)
Steven
3 февраля, 2012 at 23:47
That could have been a very frustrating season for you, but you managed to hold on for the K-League at least! I hope fortune smiles upon you next season :)
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:12
Thanks Steven. :)
It was quite frustrating just like last season! Seems I have a frustrating time at the moment we just seem to struggle in the bigger games.
Winning the K-league was a great feeling, I sometimes go into the playoff’s knowing I will lose so its nice to win at last!
Thanks for the luck! At the moment I need it. :)
Kevin
4 февраля, 2012 at 00:14
Hi Ana
Well done on wining the K League but those boys over at Ulsan are a real peasky nuisance in the cups. Good for you in turning down the US job — you should go get the Mexico one then exact your revenge on them :) Great update as always!
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:15
Thanks Kevin!
They are! They have a great squad as well, probably as good as ours so this rivalry will continue for a while yet I think.
I should! But I am really bad at international management they probably wont want me. :(
LoL! :)
CsAtlantis
4 февраля, 2012 at 00:41
Finally you broke your playoff jinx (you seem to end up in a lot of playoff based leagues Ana :P) and won the K-League, shame about the Guangzhou result in the Champions League, and congratulations on reaching 9th in the Spain Hall of Fame
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:18
Thanks!! :)
I do! I just pick the wrong leagues I guess. :)
I even tried my best to avoid them like Mexico for example and I still end up in playoff games, they follow me around I think!
Yeah Chinese sides seem to beat me all the time, not sure why just yet but hopefully we can correct that as I try to climb up that hall of fame!
Rod
4 февраля, 2012 at 03:57
Well, it was a calm season i believe, congratulations for letting behind last playoffs and being champion this year, the team has to keep on the hard working if you want to be a challenge in all the competitions. I would be very dissapointed with my board if i were you, but you seem to be a pacient manager. The USA’s national side job offer was like a recognition of your job there, well done. Saludos Ana, que sigan los éxitos!
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:23
Thanks Rod!! :)
I agree, since we got knocked out of everything quite early we only really had the K-league to play for. I am quite patient I guess! Even when my board decide to do some outrageous things.
Yeah! Maybe they realised the mistake they made!! ;)
Johnny Karp
4 февраля, 2012 at 10:09
Congrats on the title Ana, you deserved to get it last season too and I’m glad you have finally broken the play-off jinx! :) The Champions League is next, I’m quite sure that you’ll be reaching the final next season despite having a rather wacky board from what I can see. Good luck!
P.S.: I think that Ana Garcia will be coming next after Guardiola and Luis Enrique ;)
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:27
Thanks Johnny! :)
Me too! It was along time coming but at least we did win a playoff final, champions league is annoying me at the moment we seem to just get no luck in it.
My board are indeed crazy! Wasting so much money for nothing to show for it was quite annoying also!
I hope your right! But I am so bad in international management I will probably fail to qualify or something! :)
Darren Smith
4 февраля, 2012 at 10:27
Well you’re making steps in the right direction Ana, it was a shame to see you miss the Champions League and cup comps but winning the league play-off is good and providing you can find a few more great players I think the CL is very close. Good luck.
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:31
Thanks Darren!
Yeah, another up and down season with again only one trophy to show for it.
Finding players is quite tricky as I have used my foreign allocation so am just hoping for a bunch of excellent South Korean players.
My youth facilities are terrible and my board wont improve them so its up to what I can find and scout for.
Woody
4 февраля, 2012 at 11:15
a good season and great to win the k league
really unlucky in those finals
and also unlucky in the champions league
and your board must be really crazy to keep spending that kind of money
and finally i’m glad you rejected the U.S.A job they don’t deserve to have you back
anyway well done and good luck
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:34
Thanks Woody! :)
I was very happy to win the K-league and getting a bit of revenge on Ulsan after last year. Champions league was frustrating but they did go on and the tournament so I guess that’s a small consolation.
My board are indeed crazy! Plus I was never going to go back to the U.S.A job not after being sacked. :)
Bhargav
4 февраля, 2012 at 11:48
That’s so frustrating! I mean, overall your season is great, but the team just hates to perform in the big games! Don’t worry too much Ana, you have all of us backing you! It’s just a matter of time before you pull off the quadruple :D
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:36
Thanks Bhargav! :)
I agree, its quite annoying as well!
At least they turned up for the playoff finals unlike last season so I was delighted to have won the K=league domestic cups are just a bonus for me.
I hope your right! I would quite happily settle for just the champions league next season. :)
Laxeyman
4 февраля, 2012 at 12:53
Good season Ana, absoultely walked the K — League, and finally you get the title you deserve :) Shame about the CL, but there’s always next year!
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:37
Thanks Laxeyman! :)
I agree, hopefully we can do better this time around!
Martin - F.M.J.S
4 февраля, 2012 at 13:03
Hi Ana
It was another very successful season in the League, Unlucky with the Champions League. I’m glad you turned down USA and like Kevin said lets hope you can get a chance to get the Mexico job :). Good luck next season and will be interesting to see how crazy your board will be next season lol.
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:38
Thanks Martin! :)
If they offer me the Mexico job then I will definatly take it! :)
LoL! I agree, I wonder where they will waste money next season its so annoying!
TheZiggy
4 февраля, 2012 at 13:38
A terrible manager? You’re having a laugh, just immensely unlucky in the big games. I’m not sure why you’ve had so much trouble in the cup competitions this season, having gone so close to winning everything the previous one. I’m sure you’ll get it right soon, as long as the board don’t waste yet more money and start selling off even more players.
It seems that selling Hong Chul was pivotal moment, because after that, you started to concede a lot more goals, so I’d blame your board to destroying what should have been a really good season.
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:47
Thanks Ziggy!
Ha! Sorry it was a sort of a joke between my boyfriend and I, you see he is a Chelsea fan and keeps blaming the manager for his team losing.
I said its more down to the team and he said its simple ‘a good manager wins finals/trophies a bad one loses them’.
So seeing as I lost three out of four it was a little dig at him! ;)
Am not sure also as I felt my team were better this time around yet we did poorer in all competitions except the league. I guess I just need to find the balance but we didnt deserve to win either cup game against Ulsan.
Hong Chul was our only left back at the club, I had to re-train a center back to cover the loss of him. He had a mixed season so I will definalty looking to sign a new left back to replace the departed Chul.
My board are really poor, they wont upgrade our youth facilities due to the lack of funds which they wasted. They are annoying me at the moment! :)
vaibhavc
4 февраля, 2012 at 18:24
Ana being a terrible manager? You might be bad in playoffs, but you are certainly not a bad manager. Next season you can do better on the cups, and you qualified again for the Champions League, so you can have a shot at that next season, and hopefully it ends successful.
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:50
Thanks Vaibhavc! :)
Yeah it was a sort of joke between my boyfriend and I, I really should have explained it but I just forget when posting! :)
I hope so too, we just need a bit of luck I feel as my squad is pretty strong with good depth.
Ivo
5 февраля, 2012 at 14:03
Hey Ana , I’m really enjoying your stories. I am looking forward to do the pentagon challenge myself ;). You’re the best on this site , that’s for sure! Just wanted to ask what tactic would you suggest me for the pentagon challenge .. Thank you very much :) :)
Peace , Ivo
Ana Garcia
5 февраля, 2012 at 19:56
Thanks Ivo! :)
Am really glad your are enjoying my story, makes we want to continue it when I read comments like that.
Thanks for your kind words also! Not sure about the best I tend to struggle more than I find success but I do try my best! :)
I would suggest a standard 4-4-2, I played that way for about 18 season last year and got a good amount of success before changing to the formation I have now which is sort of a 4-2-2-2 with two wide forwards.
I hope you do decide to try a pentagon challenge and I wish you the best of luck with it as well! Dont forget to let me know how you are getting on. :)
Ivo
5 февраля, 2012 at 22:14
Actually i started it already 2 weeks ago (your ultimate challenge inspired me) so i started with a sunday league reputation and guess who approached me ?
FCAK (yes your ex club) i was so enjoyed by the game because of the free agents in africa which have 5 star ability .. So i went unbeaten for 12 games (11 wins) but my game crashed :( .. But I’ll probably start tomorrow again XD
Peace , Ivo (from the snowy Croatia)
Ps. Sry for my bad english
Ana Garcia
7 февраля, 2012 at 20:13
Thanks! :)
FCAK are a pretty decent side. I too was offered to manage them in this game as my first job, but declined to try and managed a different side.
Your English is fine! Sorry about the snow it can be a real pain thankfully we have stayed snow free for now! :)
Sears
5 февраля, 2012 at 22:20
Well, congrats on winning that damned play off game Ana! They’ve seemed to be a real thorn in your side for quite a while now so hopefully this break that jinx now … Unlucky in the Cl, though I’m pretty sure you’ll win it next season …. Good luck :)
Ana Garcia
7 февраля, 2012 at 20:15
Thanks Sears!
It was a good relief to finally win it! They have been, I cant see what I do wrong I mean I approach them the same as any other match.
Just bad luck I guess, I will be trying my best to win it! :)