Hey Everyone!
It’s been a long time since my last post and I apologise, but I’m back with another instalment of my Russian adventure with Anzhi Makhachkala. Last season you might remember that we successfully retained our Russian League and Super Cup titles, but lost in the Final of the Russian Cup. In the Champions League we managed to navigate through the Group Stages but for the second time in two seasons we fell at the 1st Knockout rounds. Hopefully we can go a stage further this year, so let me share our season with you…
Firstly we had some amazing news…news I wasn’t expecting for another year…
Transfers
IN
William
William not to be mixed up with Willian signed for us last season but due to the U18 rule in Brazil he joins us now he 18. He looks like an absolute monster but with the current strikers Anzhi have I’ll struggle to fit him in, but he was too amazing to let slip through our fingers and as you can see he was sent to our feeder team for first team football.
Marek Hamsik
Marek Hamsik joins to try and strengthen our midfield, I just felt that he could potentially make the difference in Champions League and help take us one stage further. Everyone knows who he is and is stats are awesome.
Roberto
Apologies for this screenshot but it is taken a year in the future and as you can see he has slightly improved in a few areas. He came into the team and went straight out on loan. Its a great way of getting them up to speed with Russian football and the cold brrr!
OUT
As you can see I had a mass clearout and many people left the team on free transfers, the most noticeable is Alexandr Prudnikov, who is the only player to have featured for the first team. 6 of my youngster went on loan to my feeders clubs Luch and Nizhniy Novgorod.
So as always the first match of these posts are the Super Cup Final and yet again we had an early chance of some silverware…
Russian Super Cup Final vs Volga NN (Khimik, Kemerovo — 29,656)
Starting Formation
I was definitely wanting revenge for our Russian Cup Final defeat and expected a big win…
Well we’d won but it wasn’t the goal feast that I wanted, but we lifted the Super Cup for a 4th time. So with our first piece of silverware in the cabinet, our fans and the board we’re expecting more, so how did the league season pan out..
Russian Premier League Results (First 15 games)
As you can see we went unbeaten in the fist half of the season and kept 9 clean sheets on the way, it was nearly a perfect 15 wins for 15 but Spartak Moscow managed to hold out for a share of the points. So with 43 points from a possible 45 we must have been sitting pretty at the top of the table…
Yeah of course we we’re, a nice 8 point lead and 2 games in hand of 2nd placed Lokomotiv Moscow. We looked to be cruising to our 4th Russian League title.
Russian Premier League Results (Last 15 games)
Again we dominated, with another 14 wins from 15 games but this time it was Zenit who managed to nick a few points from us. I was overjoyed we the teams performances and the 13 clean sheets to go with the 9 in the first half of the season is just amazing. Obviously with 86 points from 90 we had to be champions again…but by how many points?
It ended up being an obliteration, I’ve never won a league by so many points before! I’ve definitely taken Anzhi to new heights and I cannot see it ended due to the fact that the big teams in Russia don’t seem to be signing big players. So with the league title in the bag, how did we do in the Russian Cup…
Russian Cup
We started off the competition against very easy opponents, even with a young squad out we still managed to record a massive 8-0 victory, we then faced Rubin who we’re beat 4-2, but they put up a fight. We then had an easier Quarter-Final match again Tom Tomsk and again with a youngish side they were disposed of with some ease. This then set us up with Volga NN in the Semi-Final, you may remember that Volga NN beat us in last years final so I was after revenge…which we managed to do with a 2-0 victory, we we’re through to the Russian Cup Final again…
Russian Cup Final vs Terek Grozny (Trade Union Central – 34,800)
Starting Formation
I wasn’t expecting much of a performance from Terek as they’d finished mid table and hadn’t caused many upsets this season. You might be thinking…why are the likes of Zenit and CSKA not in the final…well that’s because they play with reserve/youth players in this competition and don’t really bother with it. But I do lol…
Well we won but we definitely left it late, Vaclav Kadlec with two goals in the last 6 minutes secured another Russian Cup Title.
So enough with the domestic campaign, I bet you’re all itching to find out how with did in our 3rd Champions League campaign, well here we go…
Champions League Campaign
Group Stage Draw
I was quietly confident after the draw was made, Bayern had been stuggling in the league and Shakhtar and Bursaspor weren’t going places in this competition, lets take a look at the results
As you can see we dominated the group, the loss came due to me giving fringe players some champions league experience, obviously we’d topped the group but who’d joined us in the knockout rounds…
I was seriously suprised to see that it was Shakhtar that joined us but I wasn’t bothered about them and I was hoping for a kind knockout draw
Champions League Knockout Draw
BRILLIANT!!! Manchester United…for the 3rd time in 3 years we’d drawn one of the top english teams, I had a bad feeling that our quest for Champions League glory was going to come to an abrupt end, but here was go…
Champions League 1st Knockout Round Leg 1 vs Manchester United (Old Trafford, Manchester — 74,164)
Starting Formation
When I saw the United line-up my heart sank a little, they were at full strength and there attacking force was just ridiculous. We on the other hand had a problem in defence and Gadjibekov started. Could we do the unthinkable and get a result at Old Trafford?
I was ecstatic, I couldn’t believe that we’d beaten Manchester United, especially at Old Trafford. Even though Balazs Dzsudzsak scored so early in the match, Vaclav Kadlec was the star of the show with the all important winning goal. Could we finish the job back in Makhachkala, lets find out…
Champions League 1st Knockout Round Leg 2 vs Manchester United (Anji Stadium, Makhachkala — 23,836)
Starting Formation
Our defensive was back up to full strength with Yanga Mbiwa and Vertonghen coming back from injury and it was a very different Manchester United team, here we go…
We’d done it! A 0-0 draw was good enough for me, it was nail biting stuff as I know as a Manchester United fan how matches against them can go to the wire, but we defended fantastically and probably should have scored but we’d booked our place in the Quarter Finals for the first time.
Champions League Quarter Final Draw
I was starting to get fed up of seeing Real Madrid’s name and realised that this was going to be tough, tougher than Manchester United, but we were ready…
Champions League Quarter Final Leg 1 vs Real Madrid (Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid — 78,801)
Starting Formation
It looked a very strong Real Madrid team to me, they only seemed to be missing Xabi Alonso, but still this was going to be a tough encounter…
It ended up being too tough for us, even when they were reduced to 10 men we couldn’t keep our heads and we ended with 10 men too. We needed a miracle as we headed back to Makhachkala.
Champions League Quarter Final Leg 2 vs Real Madrid (Anji Stadium, Makhachkala — 23,836)
Starting Formation
This time Real Madrid weren’t at full strength and I did smell a victory but probably not the 3-0 we required to go through, but anyway we were up for it nevertheless…
We did manage a victory but 2-1 wasn’t enough to see us into the Semi-Finals and we crashed out of the Champions League. We were up against very tough opponents and it was fantastic that we have managed to improve and reach the Quarter Final after struggling in the Knockouts for the last few years, a bit more luck next year and we could find ourselves going even further. So just before a end the post…I have an announcement to share with yous…
Oh yes! the story takes on a new dimension…After the World Cup 2014, the previous manager retired and I thought why not…I didn’t actually think that they’d appoint me as the Nation Team manager but they did and this was my target…
Now I was appointed the Russian National Team manager at the beginning of the season but i’m not going into all the friendlies and results in this post, but I will be showing you our full qualifying campaign in the next update. I will give you a sneek peek and tell you the teams in our qualifying group…
So thats about it for this update…oh wait actually I want to share two more bits of information with you…
Hopefully this settles any questions people have about this save…I am going to stay at Anzhi until at least until they are the most successful team in Russia, to achieve this we need to beat Spartak Moscow’s 9 Russian League titles…something were well on the way to doing.
Next piece of news…
I’ve finally got my man! I’ve been waiting since I started this story to sign him and knowing that he’s finally joining us is fantastic! Just thought I’d get you excited for the next update :)
Well that is definitely it for this update, again i’m sorry it took forever to arrive but I’ve finally manage to write it and it here now…I promise the next update will be quicker arriving. I can’t wait to read your comments :)
Regards
Martin Pickard
Darragh Dineen
25 января, 2012 at 11:47
Great story Martin. I tried to manage Anzhi in FM12 but was no-where near as successful as you. I was just wondering if you are using the Arsenal tactic for every game? and what do you do if your down to ten men/
Martin Pickard
25 января, 2012 at 13:28
Cheers Darragh, oh no thats not good…what season you in? Who have you been signing?
Yeah I use the Arsenal tactic every game with no changes…and if I get some one sent off:-
Defence — if i’m leading by a few goals I tend to take the striker off, If i’m losing ill make it 3 at the back.
Midfield — I just normally switch to two in the centre and have them both as CM (support)
Striker — I take off the ‘Advanced Playmaker’ and set the other 2 centre midfielders to CM (support)
Does that help?
Darragh Dineen
25 января, 2012 at 18:37
I’ve just started my second season. In season one I started brilliantly. I won 11 out of the first thirteen games and at the end of the regular season I was two points on top. When the Champions group started I lost nearly all of my away games, and I ended up finishing second in the league, five points behind CSKA. I also lost the Russian cup final on penalties to Zenit. I tried to get some galactico signings with Tevez, Beckham, Ronaldinho etc. but no-one wanted to join. None of the big Russian footballers wanted to join either. In the Champions league I drew Rangers in the first qualifying round, and I won easily. But in the best-placed round I got Man City. I Have not played them yet, but im expecting to get destroyed. I managed to sign Pogrebnyak, Casemiro, Andujcar, Zyranov but other transfer listed players like Adeboyor would’nt sign for me. Have you tried to sign a proper superstar like Van Persie or Kaka yet? You have managed to sign some super players. Especially the Russian ones. Just wondering what you’ve done with Roberto Carlos? considering he is on €100,000 a week. And do you still have Eto’o?
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 16:38
You made a really good start to your save, I believe I got a little luck in the first season and it all depends on how Zenit, Spartak and CSKA Moscow do against each other…you’ll find that some seasons they’ll take points off each other and then one season one of them will stay with you…you’ll see what I mean in a couple of post time. I found that it takes a long time to increase their reputation…I’m still not one of the highest rep’d teams in the world and only now have some of the superstars become interested in joining Anzhi, but there old and there is younger player that have better talent so i’m left thinking whats the point of signing them. You’ll find that the Russian based foreigners will be interested in joining after one or two seasons, but they come at a price and to be honest you need to sign them to progress…I know it weakens the teams around but you want to be sucessful right? Roberto Carlos is now a coach at Anzhi and Samuel Eto’o has retired from football…but is a club legend lol. I’f you need anymore help just message me at martinpickardFMS@gmail.com :)
Darren Smith
25 января, 2012 at 12:17
Fantastic signings mate and those Brazilian regens are outstanding not to mention signing one of the most exciting playmakers on the game. I think you can be happy with where the club are heading and despite been very unlucky in the CL draw you were superb. Lets hope for a European crown soon.
Martin Pickard
25 января, 2012 at 13:34
Cheers Darren…William is an absolute animal, he is ripping the Russian Divison 1 to pieces, I keep getting message about him breaking records lol, only down fall is he’ll be probably waaay to good for that division next yeah and with me already having Eto’o, Doumbia and Kadlec…I’m afraid I wont play him. Yeah I was looking a Hamsik to make the difference in the Champions League and he did to some affect lol. The team definitely performed in the League and in Europe so fingers crossed for next season :)
Johnny Karp
25 января, 2012 at 14:41
That was a fantastic season Martin, filled with good news and great results. With the likes of Hamsik and Akinfeev in your squad I think that you will continue to dominate Russian football and also make another step towards the CL final next season. The national team job should be quite exciting as well, there always was good talent in Russian football but somehow they never really managed to shine on the international stage.
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 16:45
Cheers Johnny…a Champions League winning medal would have just put the icing on the cake…but maybe next year lol. Yeah I’m looking forward to the addition of Akinfeev, he’s a topquality keeper and the massive plus is that he’s Russian. Yeah I looking forward to the Russian Job…i’m not expecting to work miracles but we’ll see
vaibhavc
25 января, 2012 at 15:08
Man you are very unlucky, you always draw the best teams. And great job on getting the Russia job. There are also many other goalkeepers who cost much less than 40 million! Lol.
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 16:48
Hahaha I know we do…i’m hoping for an easier draw next your but then again…if you want to win the best competition, you have to bet the best. Yeah there are other keepers available but he’s Russian and I’m a massive fan of his.
Laxeyman
25 января, 2012 at 16:20
Great season in Russia Martin, you have complete an utter domination of all other Russian teams, which must be a very nice feeling :) You did pretty well in the CL, and you were unlucky against Real Madrid, by the looks of it better finishing would have seen you through (33 shots and 5 clear cut chances, plus a missed penalty!). Hopefully you can go further next year :)
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 16:57
Cheers Laxeyman, yeah it’s a brilliant feeling to win the league and that margin :). I was glad to just make it to the Quarter Finals, but to miss a penalty and also a few chances was a bit hard to take…but I’m confident we can reach this stage again next year.
Kevin
25 января, 2012 at 17:18
Hi Martin
you are indeed to Top Man in Russian football. You’ve spent wisely on players, sold and loaned out in a very thoughtful manner and have reaped the rewards of another well strategized season including your lastest sign Akinfeev. Great story update and I’m looking forward to the extension of this with the Russian national team.
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 17:11
Hey Kevin, hahaha well I wouldn’t say top man just yet but i’m working on it :). I seem to be making the lower division team alot better with loaning my youngster to them. I’m looking forward to seeing what Igor Akinfeev can bring to Anzhi…against us in previous seasons he has been doing fantastic.
Woody
25 января, 2012 at 17:53
another great season. really unlucky with the draw in the champions league but you gave real madrid a real test
absouloutley abliterated the league this season
and retained the super cup
and got back the russian cup
anyway well done and good luck
Woody
25 января, 2012 at 17:58
and also well done on getting the russian national team manager job
and i’m looking forward to hearing more about it in the next update
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 17:13
Cheers Woody…hopefully we can add the Champions League to our cabinet soon
Martin - F.M.J.S
26 января, 2012 at 08:40
Hi Martin
This was another great season for you with some good signings. Unlucky with the CL mate but you are getting closer every year and congrats on the international job. I look forward to your next post. :)
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 17:15
Cheers Martin, yeah I feel were getting closer also…maybe next year :). I’m looking forward to the Russian Job…see what I can do. Cheers again
CsAtlantis
26 января, 2012 at 09:32
Hello Martin, 40 million pounds for Akinfeev? I know he’s awesome and all but how old is he now? :P, but I suppose he is Russian and all and would help fulfil the Russian player requirements
Marek Hamsik looks like a good signings (did not see him score a lot though), very nice to see Kadlec doing the business for you :D, congratulations on beating Man Utd, if you keep this up next year you will be beating Barca and Real! Good luck for the next season
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 17:23
Hey CsAtlantis, yes 40m…He’s an awesome talent and he’s 28/29…so he’s got many years left in him. Yeah your right he adds to the Russian player requirement.
To be honest Hamsik was a real handful and didn’t perform brilliantly…and when he did he was awesome…I don’t know if its the Russian League or what but he’s annoying lol. Yeah Kadlec has come into his own in the last season. Hahaha…I dunno about beating Barcelona but possibly Real Madrid lol. Cheers mate.
TheZiggy
26 января, 2012 at 17:21
Excellent domestic season, dominating as we’ve come to expect. With the Champions League, it’s encouraging that you beat Man United, which says you’re making progress, but still disappointing to get Real Madrid. Still a bit more work to do, but you’re slowly getting to be a force in Europe.
Akinfeev is an exciting signing, although the 40 mill price tag is rather scary.
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 17:44
Cheers Ziggy, on the domestic front were ticking the boxes and yeah were making good strides in the Champions League. Hahaha Akinfeev is worth the 40m price tag :)
managerofchelsea
28 января, 2012 at 18:29
Совсем неплохо для Анжи…..хотя с таким трансферным бюджетом. Кадлец кстате отличный нап., тоже в Зенит его взял.
Martin Pickard
28 января, 2012 at 21:45
Благодарю Вас за сообщение. Я знаю, что Анжи иметь много денег, но я рад, что я был в состоянии принести успех со всеми расходами.
Johnny Karp
28 января, 2012 at 21:55
Lads, try to keep it in English around here ;)
Sears
29 января, 2012 at 15:06
Another superb season, a CL win isn’t to far away!!
Martin Pickard
2 февраля, 2012 at 15:14
Cheers Sears…I hope your right :)
Ana Garcia
29 января, 2012 at 19:16
Wow £40 million! I dont think I have ever spent that on one player before and in my 11 season on my story I havent even spent half of that!
But if you have chased him for so long and have the money then why not! :)
Domestically you are now miles ahead and its just a matter of time before that champions league title arrives, good luck!!
Martin Pickard
2 февраля, 2012 at 15:16
Yeah domestically were cruising and hopefully the champions league will be added soon. cheers :)
Dzekooo
29 января, 2012 at 21:12
You are great..I am at my third season with Anzhi I finished third in my first,then second and now I am first undefeated in the first half…but I am bad in champions league… I cant even go through the group stage …I am using the normal 4-4-2 ..any advices ,no changes made jost bought some wonderkids 16-18 years…help please,I really want to play good in CL as I am playing in Russia… ?!?!
Martin Pickard
2 февраля, 2012 at 15:18
hmmmm…If your struggling in the Champions League may I suggest using a 4-5-1 system…I use Darren’s 4-5-1 Arsenal tactic and it seems to work well for me…plus you can us it in the Russian Premier and still get amazing results.
Luke M
30 января, 2012 at 23:08
Weirdest thing in my Anji save Martin, i’m in my 1st season and after the first 30 games were over, CSKA OFFERED me Doumbia for 23 million. Us and Liverpool made bids, he chose Pool but then it broke down over funds. Then i signed him.
At this point i am 8 points clear of CSKA in top spot and i find it utterly ridiculous that they would offer me their star player, leagues top goalscorer and all round beast when they are 2nd with Zenit 2 points behind them, and the Russian spots in the CL reduced to 2 teams.
Their chairman even starting making remarks like «we put him in the shop window and he did well» WHAT THE HELL!!!
I was up really late when all this happened and i have to go back tonight and make sure i didnt dream it LOL
Martin Pickard
2 февраля, 2012 at 15:22
Yeah I believe the number of Champions League team goes on results in the Champions League from the previous season…or something a long those lines. It’s mad that Doumbia was offered to you…but I’ve been offered quiet a few players also…but not like Doumbia lol.
Luke M
30 января, 2012 at 23:11
Oh and the way i see it, when you manage a club that is mega rich and continually gets cash pumped in, transfer fees are irrelevant. Its more about planning your squads evolution and getting the players you want.
$40 million for Akinfeev is nothing as it will have no effect on the clubs security, and now Anji have the undisputed no 1 Russian goalie.
Plus next window there will be more cash to throw around.
Martin Pickard
2 февраля, 2012 at 15:25
Yeah he’s definitely throwing money at the club…I thinks it every 3/4 months I get a message saying that he’s added more money to the club lol. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do at Anzhi…hopefully he’ll bring up one step closer to Champions League glory :)
Luke M
3 февраля, 2012 at 00:04
Ive been getting the same messages. When you bought Dzagoev, Schennikov and Mamaev, did you pay the transfer fees up front or in installments?
Martin Pickard
3 февраля, 2012 at 01:55
Hey fella!
Schennikov was definitely monthly installments…as for Dzagoev and Mamaev, one definitely will have been monthly but I’m sure I signed one up front…hope that helps :-)
Bhargav
4 февраля, 2012 at 11:56
Your story is always so much fun! I can’t wait for the next edition to see how your new big signings play and who the next ones will be! Best of luck!
John
15 марта, 2012 at 11:33
Are you not doing these anymore Martin? Was enjoying the series!
Alex Macaskill
19 июня, 2012 at 10:44
Hi martin been following this all way through brilliant reading!! Just thought id ask if you tried them on the update. im on it at the moment going well but the owner kerimov has changed his stance with regards to injecting money!! just wondering how you have increased you reputation have upgrade the ground and facilities or concentrated on winning things? On the update were moving into a 50,000 capacity stadium in two years can’t wait!