Hello friends, and thank you for reading. Firstly, I owe you all an apology for my childish melodrama. I’ve done a bit of soul searching the past few days, and as I look back, I can’t help but blush. I can assure you that nonsense is behind us now.
Secondly, let’s all pretend the last month didn’t happen, shall we? I never left Afan Lido, I never joined FC United, I never restarted with Salisbury. You see, I broke a promise I’d made, and I just can’t quite live with that. I promised you all a Welsh challenge, and by golly that’s what you’re going to get!
So rewinding, I’ve managed to salvage a backup save of the original Wales save, courtesy of Dropbox and their stellar file restoration system (seriously, it’s amazing). As you would expect, we have lost a bit of time, a full year in fact. We’re going back in time to September 27th, 2012 on the eve of a huge rivalry match with Port Talbot town. We’re sitting in first place with five games played:
As a reminder (for myself included), our starting squad looks like this:
You’ll see some stalwart names in there, including the likes of Marlon, Gilvan, and Javlon Campbell. This is before the «Great Firesale of 2013», and before the chairman infuriated me to the point of rage quitting. This is as fresh of a start as it gets.
Why on earth would I go back here, you ask? It didn’t work the first time, what makes you think you’ll stick with it this time? What’s going to make this time different? Legitimate questions to be sure, but this time will be different for a few reasons:
1) I’m changing my goals. The goal is no longer «Win the Champion’s League». With the quality of the Welsh league as it is, that’s the equivalent of the Wright brothers saying «Let’s go into space!». It’s simply so astronomically far off, that it’s far too demoralizing to even think of it. Instead, the goal is simply to build Afan Lido into the best team I possibly can. If we manage to win in Europe, fantastic, if we don’t, that’s okay too.
2) I’m not going to promise you that’ll stick with Afan Lido for the next 50 years. I’ll stick with them as long as it feels comfortable, and as long as we’re making solid progress. If, in a few years, some mega team comes by with a contract offer, there’s a chance I’ll take it.
3) I’m getting back to the basics. Similar to the first point, I’ve lost sight of things since I first started playing. I’ll find my joy in wheeling and dealing, scoring big upsets, and finding players with amusing names.
I’m committed to this story on a whole new level. The scenery is the same, buy the view has changed. Who cares if this is the worst league in the world? It’s fun, the teams have character, and damned if all 25 of our fans aren’t ecstatic about our title chances this year. Let’s do this!
Alex
11 декабря, 2011 at 19:38
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Stomo! Couldn’t have made a better choice in my opinion, I loved the story and I can’t wait to see the rise of the Lido. You never know, one lucky year of getting into Europe could provide a platform for further success. Good luck with the season.
Stromson
12 декабря, 2011 at 23:22
Thanks Alex, I’m glad to be back «home» in Wales. :)
Kevin
11 декабря, 2011 at 19:41
Hi Stromson
Welcome back mate and I’m happy that you managed to figure it all out and decide on something that MAKES YOU happy which is the most important thing. Looking forward to this do-over!
Stromson
12 декабря, 2011 at 23:22
Thanks Kevin, I really couldn’t have done it without your help.
Johnny Karp
11 декабря, 2011 at 19:45
Welcome back mate, I hope you will have lots of fun with this save and that you’ll share some of that fun with us.
Stromson
12 декабря, 2011 at 23:29
Thanks Johnny, I really hope my enjoyment of it is properly conveyed. :) I’d also like to thank you for your patience during this whole disastrous episode, it means a great deal!
Laxeyman
11 декабря, 2011 at 20:14
Great to see you back Stromo, and really looking forward to reading about the Lido again! Good luck mate!
Stromson
13 декабря, 2011 at 17:08
Thanks Laxey, it’s good to be back (again). :-P
Darren Smith
11 декабря, 2011 at 20:20
I always say that if the gamer enjoys a save that can be passed onto the reader no matter who you are and whether you win or lose…maintaining a save is what draws the reader in because if you can do that then you’re fully invested and thats what makes a really intriguing story. I hope this one will do that for you, look forward to the challenge.
Stromson
13 декабря, 2011 at 17:09
Thanks Darren, and your absolutely right. I have every intention (though I know I’ve said that before) of sticking with this one for the long haul. Thank you for the support!
CsAtlantis
12 декабря, 2011 at 01:17
Alright, back to the Welsh leagues again, I think Champions League winners is too much, but maybe getting into the Europa League group stages like Shamrock Rovers would be possible achievable
Though seriously SI need to get their attendance numbers right, even in Malaysia my state football club Sarawak has a few thousand fans attending matches usually……
Stromson
13 декабря, 2011 at 17:13
Yeah, the average attendance in the Welsh league is about 350, but the in-game representation is much lower. I also find it hard to believe that if the Welsh League suddenly began competing internationally, that their attendance numbers wouldn’t sky-rocket.
Marcko
12 декабря, 2011 at 06:18
hmm just wondering my friend but is The Bear returning ):
Stromson
13 декабря, 2011 at 17:14
We’ll just have to wait and see. ;-)
nielsneutron
12 декабря, 2011 at 12:46
Yipee great to see you rejoin the Wales cause.
About funny names you should look into Julien Ngabu Bapupa. I hope he is in your game.
Btw do you mind looking into Elliott Chamberlain and see that he is up to in your save?
Stromson
13 декабря, 2011 at 17:17
I’ll have to look up both of them. I’ll be sure to post up Chamberlain’s stats in the next update.
TheZiggy
12 декабря, 2011 at 13:27
I’ve done some serious virtual binge drinking, and the last month has vanished. ;)
The biggest question is, will the bear be managing, or is he hibernating for the winter?
Stromson
13 декабря, 2011 at 17:19
Well done Ziggy! The Bear may or may not make a triumphant return, we shall see!
Ana Garcia
12 декабря, 2011 at 19:36
Am confused! LoL! :)
So your basically going back to where it all began and before you left for that team in Manchester.
Your goals seem a little more realistic I never thought it would be possible to win the champions league with a team from Wales, I had a tough enough time competing when at Sporting Lisbon and we had a few amazing players also!
Anyways I am glad to see you back so soon and with a story you can enjoy, your 25 fans need you now more than ever so give them something to cheer about! :D
Stromson
13 декабря, 2011 at 17:20
Haha, sorry Ana. :( Yes, we’re back to Wales, basically pretending none of that other stuff ever happened. The Champion’s League is very likely out of our reach, but what the hey, we’ll have some fun with it.
Martin Pickard
13 декабря, 2011 at 11:07
Hey Stromson! Great to see you giving the Welsh save another try, your goals definitely look better and i’m sure that you’ll be able to bring lots of domestic glory to the 25 fans…I can’t see it staying at 25 fans…i’m sure it’ll improve in years to come! Good Luck fella and cant wait for your update :)
Stromson
13 декабря, 2011 at 17:21
Thanks Martin! It’s funny really, Wales was just the only thing that felt nature. Appreciate the support! :)