Hi everyone!
So a long time since I posted an update on my Livadia story mostly as the thought of playing FM at the moment isn’t one I am enjoying that much as I have outplayed it I think, with the new game on the horizon am not really sure what I want to do as I feel I have achieved most of my goals and all the story ideas and challenges I feel I have completed in one way or another so am not 100% sure if I will write a story for the new game.
I know that sounds extreme and maybe the length of this journey is clouding my vision a little and am thinking aloud as I type so we will see, I wont be leaving the site though! I will continue the same and writing my La Liga reports which I am really enjoying, just possibly giving up writing stories which has been my hobby for the past four or five years.
As always I would like to thank all the readers for there support its means a lot to me that you have enjoyed my stories over the past years I have been here and even some readers who have followed my stories before I even got here! Like I said am maybe 50-50 so nothing definite its just seems like I have lost my passion to write.
With that said another update for you all!
Last time we finally won promotion, after seven years in the first division so the top league awaited us and a tough season ahead but with my all Belarus squad I was confident to upset the odds a little.
Lets see how I did.
———-
So as expected we are predicted to have a tough season, to stay in the division seems to feel right I am prepared for one of those seasons where losing becomes a habit! Some transfer money was nice £21k seems like millions for me! But I’ll take it and we are well under out wage budget so plenty of flexibility for some transfers.
Club Information and Start of Season Finances
So we turned professional the curious thing was that I never saw the memo in my news box, so am not sure if I missed it and forgot to take a picture but that was nice! Everything else was mostly the same but club value almost doubled to £400k so we are taking giant strides at the moment.
Financially at those stadium improvements hit the bank balance quite hard, I would have preferred if that work hadn’t been carried out as we wont make that money back at least for the next ten years or so maybe better to have left them as they were. Still not in crisis though as we are still in an amazing financial position something I always try to achieve on my games.
Transfers In and Out — First Transfer Window
Amazing isn’t it?
I win promotion after eight years finally make my way to the top division and there are honestly no players for me to sign. I scouted Belarus and they unveiled four players with only one that would be a squad player which is Andrey Klimovich and he is more of a back-up signing.
Funny thing is that the players I scouted last year who were willing to sign not wont talk to me, I win promotion and now they are not interested I cant work this game out at times.
Results and Table First Half of the Season
No miracles I’m afraid just a long hard season as expected, the two five four defeats were funny as you do get that feeling that at times this game does not want you to win I really don’t mind losing I just dont like it when it feels like the odds are stacked against me even when having a commanding lead.
We are scoring goals which is good but defensively we are terrible, I was happy with the defense last season and I dont feel like they are that far out of their depth in this league the step in player quality isn’t huge in my opinion but when things like this happen, you kind of think that maybe the game hates you!
Losing ten first team players isn’t ideal and that news was even worse as Fastov my amazing central midfielder has broke his leg so that his season ended at times in doesn’t rain but it pours.
Transfers In and Out — Second Window
So again no-one wanted to join us at least from Belarus which is the only player I will be signing so as if things are not hard enough it seems the only players I can sign wont join. We were sent two very good Russians though which I wont be using to my self invoked rules but look at the quality and I ask myself why players from Belarus who are half as good refuse to talk to me.
Sergey Dorofeev and Alexandr Durnev were both sent my our parent club to help keep that agreement on going and both are exceptional for this league, I wont be using either of them.
League Results and Table Second Half of the Season
Survived!
Some really funny results though that you have to smile at really, another five four defeat and a lovely seven four defeat against Bate which was just incredible to watch honestly I would have been dissapointed to have lost that game never mind conceding seven which summed this season up.
Pleased to have survived but results that just don’t make any sense I mean we were one goal behind from having the best attack in the league! Sounds weird but I was more happier with our defense going into this season than our attack such a strange game at times.
Final Player Ratings of the Season
Tischenko was outstanding, the jump he has made from last year to this is remarkable and without him we would have been relegated in my view, our very own Lionel Messi. ;)
As you can see our defenders rated quite highly which adds to the puzzle of why our defense was so horrible and in truth I was very happy with our squad, essentially its the same as last year without one improvement and take away those really freakish and weird results we would have done so much better I guess a four one lead can be considered dangerous now.
Star Man of the Season — Pavel Tischenko
End of Season Round-Up
So yeah that was how the season went!
Not one I really enjoyed playing, as I have said before I dont mind losing it really does not bother me but when you lose games you cant really lose you have to pose the question of how. I know freak results happen but this was far too frequent for me to accept I guess you just have to laugh and ask more questions than you will get answers for.
How I couldn’t sign anyone was annoying especially lower league players from last year who wanted to sign but now decided not to, but that’s the game I guess I did have a few players in the team of the year amazing to see Fastov there considering he broke his leg and missed most of the season and no Tischenko who ended up at the top scorer in the league.
Then when this game couldnt annoy me any more this happened! Usually an expansion is a good thing right? But just take a look at those numbers £450k for 747 seats just try and work that out a little, we charge £0.80p for a ticket and £5 for a season ticket so lets say in an ideal world we obtain 747 more season ticket holders that equates to an increase in an extra £3,735 a season so times that by 10 seasons and we still wont make that money back factor in we had an increase last season which wont make the money for for over ten years and you can sense my frustration with this game.
The icing on the cake as they say is we dont have £450k for the improvement so now we are in debt and our chairman has took out a loan to pay for it, despite not being able to make our money back for over ten years how can that be considered a good idea?
So as you can see I have had my fill of this game for now, usually this twists make great stories but honestly I am at the end of my tether and getting to the point where I am just not enjoying playing it anymore. I know I have had my fair share of ups and downs but its things like this that drive me mad improvements that are just wasted, I spent eight years trying to make the club financially sound which I achieved only to be destroyed in one fail swoop by a worthless improvement.
So this season was a real eye opener, I am just not enjoying playing anymore am not sure if its because I have played this game too much or if I have reach the end of the road with it. The thought of writing another story which I usually am so excited about just isn’t there this time so maybe a break from the new game is what I need and I will focus on my La Liga posts which at the moment I cant wait to write about!
As always your thoughts and opinions are welcomed, this could be my final post on a story for now so again thank you all so much for the support you have showed me over the past few years. If I could give each of you a hug and a little kiss then I would! But like I said I am not leaving the site just will be writing about real life football and possibly taking a break from writing stories.
Thanks also for all the support for this story, took me a while but I finally completed my last big challenge with the Pentagon and I don’t really feel like doing any others.
So until next time, bye bye!!
Ana. xxx
saltwater
27 августа, 2012 at 22:24
Wow, normally nobody can never get a high scoring game, and for you suddenly about 10 come along at once! Crazy season, just absolutely bonkers, but well done on staying up very comfortably. The signing players thing can be a pain, happens frequently when players aren’t even open to discussing contracts despite the growing stature of the club.
I really hope this isn’t your last story, hopefully when the new game comes out you’ll find that passion again because admittedly FM12 is the easiest game to get annoyed at so completely understandable.
Great maths at the end by the way, I’m still trying to get my head around it… :)
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:20
Thank you. :)
Crazy season sums it up about right and times I was lost for words, the signing of players was the thing that annoyed me the most as I had lined up six new signings but when they wont negotiate then you have no chance of progressing your club.
I guess I will see as at the moment I am not thinking about buying the new game, but I will check Johnny and Darren’s stories and see if its something I want to continue.
Maths has always been good for me! Lets just say the investment wont make the money we paid for the improvements for well over 10 seasons.
Gaurav Chaddah
27 августа, 2012 at 22:53
Hey Ana, really good season their, good stuff! I think you should keep writing stories, their are really fun to read, your always telling everyone to manage in south Africa, why don’t you have a shot in England, go on! and then write about it for fm 13? Would love to see you go down the leagues in England or whatever but I would love to see you continue to write because you are one of the best this site has to offer but at the end of the day it is your decision.
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:24
Thanks Guarav. :)
Ha! (South Africa is great though!!) I have managed in England loads just not whilst I have been writing here and I dont really want to write something that I have already done before.
Am really glad you have enjoyed my stories it feels weird I guess, like when you feel like you have achieved what you have set out to do even though I didn’t plan anything to begin with!
The end of the road as some people say, I just have no idea where to take my stories next.
Ryan Daly
27 августа, 2012 at 23:53
Little things like that get to me aswell, I hate that it is always out of your hands !
That was a good season, You are a little bit away from Bate but that was a decent finish from your 1st season at the top.
Even the thought of you stopping writing brings a little tear to my eye. I will be behind you whatever your decision is. It’s good that you aren’t leaving the site. You do write a good story and i have really enjoyed your writing. One of the best :D
Good luck with your choice Ana :)
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:29
Thanks Ryan. :)
That’s really sweet thanks! Am still staying around just not writing a new story but am so glad that you have enjoyed what I have wrote over the past few years.
Its been such a hard decision but I have always said to other writers you cant write a good story if you don’t enjoy the game your playing that’s where I am I just dont have the passion to start another.
It might change in the future but for now I wont be writing one.
NUFCdan
28 августа, 2012 at 00:04
good season!
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:30
Thanks. :)
dylan
28 августа, 2012 at 02:08
Don’t give up. Definitely take a break, do something new. I suppose just wait for inspiration. I sometimes find myself overplaying guitar to the point were I feel disgusted with what I’m playing. It just takes time for me to come back with a fresh perspective.
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:33
Thanks Dylan. :)
Agreed, I have definitely overplayed this game over the past few years to the point now where I am just not enjoying it.
I am so overwhelmed that so many people have left me so many nice comments! Its just I have to do what I think is right for me and I don’t want to start a story I know I wont continue or enjoy myself I just need time away from the game for a while.
CsAtlantis
28 августа, 2012 at 07:53
You can always take a break Ana, it’s not recommended to make decisions just because you’re frustrated by 1 save game, anyway you’ve done what you set out to do which is to completed the Pentagon well as for your current club, if the board want to ruin the club then what can you do? :P
Anyway Ana I wonder why they called their top league the Highest League, I think being the top league people already know that it is the top division ;)
Anyway will await your next La Liga post Ana (Real Madrid are not doing so well though…..)
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:38
Thanks. :)
Its more I am fed up with the game in general, this season was the first time I did not enjoy playing and I forced myself through to continue my story as I know people are enjoying reading it.
However for next time I really don’t want to force myself through a story, I do feel like I achieved everything that I want so at the moment I have no real desire to do it all again if you will.
Its a strange league indeed! I do like Belarus though in a funny way its very different and my La Liga has just been posted! :)
Victor Baluta
28 августа, 2012 at 08:45
It was indeed a pretty weird season and I think that the things that happened annoyed you a lot. I understand why you want to make a break after playing and writing so much.
But maybe when FM 2013 will be launched your passion for FM will came back and we will enjoy your stories again.
Until then I want to say that I like your reports from La Liga and I am waiting to find out your opinion on the last games. I also have a suggestion for you: in the post about the last stage can you introduce the game from SuperCup between Real and Barca or maybe after the second leg you should make a special post about these two games.
I think that El Clasico is one of the most beautiful games from the world and I believe it deserves a little more attention. And it would be interesting to present the tactics and decisions of Mourinho and Vilanova.
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:42
Hi and thanks Victor. :)
Maybe! But I honestly don’t think so, I always try to be as honest as I can to the people here and at the moment my passion for the game has gone. It might come back but for now I have no plans on buying the new game.
My new La Liga post is up, am really glad you are looking forward to them that means a lot to me and I will be continue to write them so I will still be around. :)
Good idea! Shame I have already posted my update! But its something I will try to include on the next one. :)
Tegar Triemanudigdo
28 августа, 2012 at 09:18
Well, for the first season, it wasn’t that bad at all. Perhaps you can improve your defensive team next season there. Good luck!
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:42
Thanks Tegar. :)
Kevin
28 августа, 2012 at 09:56
Hi Ana
Tough season for you but as usual you ffought hard until the end and kept your team afloat despite some rather annoying players it seems.
A for your story contribution I fully support you in you decision as since I’ve known you we have been all around the world with your challenges so it does leave little else to do. Hopefuly the relase of FM 2013 will change your mind though there’s a time for eveything including the end of stories!
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:47
Thanks Kevin. :)
That’s exactly my point, I have tried most challenge managed in most leagues and won and lost as the game will allow the thought of doing it all over again isn’t one I am looking froward too.
My main aim was to inspire at least one person to write a story, just as I was inspired years ago to do that. I wanted people to manage outside of Europe and far from their comfort zone which I have seen so I just feel like I have done everything I want to do with the game.
I will still be around though. :)
Heresy
28 августа, 2012 at 10:11
This game can get so frustrating sometimes! Seeing the results I was shocked. Firstly, I thought you’d be well into the mid-table, and secondly all those close games you lost in the end by just one goal… And then the board and their ridiculous ideas!
I understand you need a break. The passion for playing and writing stories may or may not come back. You’ve done pretty much all there is to be done in the game and it’s only natural you can’t find it so interesting . And then there’s all the things you can’t control that annoy the hell out of you…. But I’m glad to hear you found something else you enjoy doing for this site! Would be sad to see you disappear like that ;) Please don’t leave me alone with those guys!
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 19:54
Thanks so much Heresy. :)
This season was the strangest I have ever had, like I have said defeats don’t bother me but when you feel like you cant win there doesn’t feel like a point to play. The board are annoying but I have a couple on dodgy chairman on this save so I should have expected it! :)
That’s exactly right, I feel like I have done everything that I wanted to do with this game the thought of going back and doing it again isn’t one I want to do.
Ha! I’m staying so don’t worry! :)
Am sticking to real life football and my huge football passion of Spanish football, I am determined to get a few premiership elite readers to at least watch La Liga a challenge far bigger than any FM game I have tried. ;)
Darren Smith
28 августа, 2012 at 12:03
The game can certainly do that to you Ana, I have hit the same patch as you and did something similar last year. We all reach that period where the game is far too familiar. But I have a sneaky feeling you’ll be back next edition full of that fiery passion we all love. I wouldn’t worry too much, just chill, enjoy your real life posts and let the game come back to you naturally, it usually does with me :)
As for the story, well done on avoiding relegation with such short options in the transfer market. Just a real shame the game screwed you over with results, players available and then the whole stadium thing, a little too much to take in my opinion.
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 20:03
Thanks Darren. :)
I should be thanking you for far more than commenting on my story, it was your old site that allowed me to try the Pentagon and with the support I received going into wacky leagues and enjoying them far more than I ever expected.
Maybe, the problem is I feel like I achieved everything that I want and as such have no real desire to do something I have already done before. The Pentagon was the last big challenge that I wanted to do and now its done, I don’t know feels like perfect way to end in a way.
Fiery passion I like that! A nice way of saying that I can have a terrible temper! ;)
Its not like me I just can get carried away at times, am getting better though I think. :D
It was hard to take, the first season I have ever played that I didn’t enjoy playing.
Johnny Karp
28 августа, 2012 at 12:31
Hey Ana,
We’ve all had moments when the game seemed a little too much, I know I had them. You just need a break for it and after a week or two or three you will surely miss good old Football Manager :) In any case, you have written wonderful stories here and I am immensely grateful that you accepted to write on this website.
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 20:17
Thanks so much Johnny. :)
OMG, I really should have let you know about this before, instead of springing it on you in a post I am so very sorry for that.
I cant thank you enough though for giving me the opportunity to write here, am not just saying this but it is just the most wonderful site I have ever been to. You deserve huge credit (we all know you are far to modest to take praise!) but the community you have built here is amazing.
It hurts in way to have to announce that I wont be writing a new story, its something that I have done for years without thinking too much about, its strange how emotions work.
Am even feeling a little emotional right now (sad I know) after reading all these wonderful comments it feels like I am letting so many people down. Its just I dont have that passion to start again it might come back I dont know but for now I dont have the desire to start another story.
I will still be around trying to get the premiership obsessed to try to watch a little bit of La Liga! Am not leaving the site, I couldn’t it just means far too much to me.
Thanks for everything Johnny.
vaibhavc
28 августа, 2012 at 17:27
I think you need a break from this save, maybe you should just start a save with Barca or something until the new game, then you will enjoy it. I see how you got frustrated, we all have those moments.
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 20:21
Thanks. :)
Its not really frustration its just I don’t really want to start again, I cant think of any challenges that I want to do and the ones I have done I dont want to do again.
Its weird I feel like I have done what I want with the game, and have no real desire to do it all again.
Thanks for all the support you have given me though, means a lot. :)
pedro roriz
28 августа, 2012 at 18:18
ana, regardless of your decision of continue writting here, we are all thankful for the wonderful work you developed and the great stories you brought to us! there have been so many countries, leagues, penalty shoot-outs (lol) and angry moments that we all feel that we are close to you, somehow. although it is said that you may stop writing, you should take your time off the game, into real life football, and chill.
In clear Portuguese: você é demais! * you are awesome!
cheers!
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 20:28
Oh, thank you so much Pedro. :)
I feel close to you all as well which is why I couldn’t ever leave the site, am so very pleased you have enjoyed my stories my main goal was to try and bring something different to the normal stories so am really pleased you enjoyed them.
Am glad you enjoyed the high and the lows I have endured, I have always said its a we the readers and I on my journeys I just feel like that I have ended where I feel is a perfect place to end.
I have never been called awesome before so thank you!
MRDNRA
28 августа, 2012 at 19:20
Looked like an entertaining season to say the least. I can sympathise with those 5-4 losses, I have had many and it really does feel like an achievement when you finally win a game 5-4!
Ana Garcia
28 августа, 2012 at 20:29
Thank you. :)
It does! Especially when you were leading most of them 4-1!
TheZiggy
28 августа, 2012 at 22:11
That’s really strange how you’ve had so many high scoring games, especially those you’ve lost after being well ahead.
The game is definitely doing some strange things. If you’re a team that is at best mid-table, it seems that when you get into the final quarter of the match, the AI team goes onto steroids, and can achieve anything, and it’s a struggle to hold on.
However, if your team is one of those which is one of the best, then the AI team can either go mad at the start of the match, say up to half time, or just go straight for defending. If they’ve attacked and you’ve held them out until half time, they often go totally defensive for some reason, which has allowed me to win several matches I probably shouldn’t. While it’s nice to win, it feels a bit false when the opposition suddenly stops attacking.
I had a game recently against Arsenal at the Emirates, where my team were woeful first half, with my keeper the only reason their were no goals in the match. Their wingers were making us look stupid. However the second half, they started time wasting, and just defending, and we eventually scored to win. My half time talk I’m sure can’t have been that good to make us suddenly cope with their wingers. I know plenty of teams steal matches they shouldn’t, but this was one of the oddest.
I’m sure this is why a number of players have found themselves strolling to successes that many have never had before. I’ve gone two EPL seasons unbeaten, which is nice, but I can’t help feeling isn’t quite right either. I’ll probably go and lose in a really stupid way now. :D
I can understand your frustration of being on the receiving end of the worst of the bizarre stuff. As for the stadium expansions, it is just utterly unfathomable. The one the previous season was peculiar, but another one is insane. Whatever calculation SI have made for it, has to be very wrong.
Ana Garcia
29 августа, 2012 at 22:33
Thank you. :)
I tend to agree, at least in my experience it seems that it can feel pre-determined at times which can be annoying, this season was a little too much take for me at least.
The stadium expansion was the last straw I guess! I always work hard to keep the clubs I manage financially stable and for that to be destroyed with two incredibly pointless expansions well its very annoying!!
Jojo
28 августа, 2012 at 22:55
I must say that this was quite an interesting season. When most of the time, if you score 4 times you win, it just not seem to go that way for your team. At least your squad have shown they can handle the big teams. Honestly i think you should maybe take a break from FM until the new one comes our then start a new story with FM13 but don’t quit altogether because your stories are the only ones that help me get through my troubles. I have been crushed before and flip out and then i realize others have the same problem and they seem to do better. It is your choice, good luck next time if there is one :)
Ana Garcia
29 августа, 2012 at 22:36
Thanks Jojo. :)
Am really glad my stories help you when the game can be incredibly annoying! They will be always here for you to remember that you are not alone in your struggles there is someone who has a worse time than you! :)
I will see how I feel, but for now I wont be starting a new story.
Kevin
28 августа, 2012 at 23:33
Even though you’ve done Real Union before I know we’d all love to see their return in FM 2013 or my favorite Spanish hot spot…Benidorm!
Ana Garcia
29 августа, 2012 at 22:38
Ha!
Thanks, Real Union was still my favourite game I have played and wrote about. :)
Acss
29 августа, 2012 at 12:22
Well done Ana, congrats for staying up. I do believe it will get better and better :)
I see that your team has a tendency for high scoring games, lots of amazing results like 4-5, 6-2, 4-7 :)) I see some big problems in defense that you should first take care of, your offensive is incredibly good, notice you have the 2nd offensive in the league, that’s fantastic for a new-promoted ;) Keep up the good work!
Ana Garcia
29 августа, 2012 at 22:40
Thanks Acss. :)
Honestly our defense inst that bad, not bad enough to have conceded that many goals and we relied heavily on Tischenko he was the star of the season.
Bhargav
29 августа, 2012 at 13:54
I’m sorry for the difficulties you faced but you still made the most of it. I hope a break from the game is enough for you to find the passion once more.
Ana Garcia
29 августа, 2012 at 22:42
Thanks Bhargav.
Am not sure about that I kind of feel like its the end of me writing, I have enjoyed it so much now I have ended it feel rights to let someone else to write.
Ronan Patrick Donovan
9 сентября, 2012 at 23:17
Decent first season in the top flight, Ana :) Some really good results too so well done!
But obviously you will be frustrated and I completely understand that. I think it’s best if you take a break for a good while and maybe come back in about a month or come back for the new game. I hope you don’t give up on the game totally anyway!
I haven’t read your la liga reports but they seem interesting and I feel it’s a good idea for you to do that so well done and good luck on that!
That’s it so. Hope to see you again soon! Bye :)
Ana Garcia
15 сентября, 2012 at 18:59
Thanks a lot Ronan. :)
Yeah am getting that feeling back again as the new game approaches! But I feel for now I wont be writing a new story at least for the first few months at least but there are still lots of great stories to look forward too.
Thank you, my La Liga reports I am really enjoying writing and it seems a few readers are interested so I will definitely continue with them for the foreseeable future would be nice too see your thoughts when the new posts come out!
One last thanks for all your support and comments throughout my stories it does really mean a lot to me.
Kacper Kowalczyk
27 сентября, 2012 at 11:30
Hope to see more from you with FM 13 :)
Ana Garcia
1 октября, 2012 at 18:35
Thank you! :)