January
So we played some friendlies to keep fitness but complacency grew in the squad before the game against Freiburg so we duly lost. The next derby against Dortmund was quite thrilling as both teams played well but in the 86th minute we gave up a late goal. My team seems to have a lot of issue with maintaining concentration after the 75th minutes, which is when we’ve let the crucial goals be served. We’re out of the cup but we still have a league we need to face.
February
This is when I start to get jittery because of bad experiences in February. For those of you who have been with me since the original Evian, you will recognize that I speak of the breakdown my teams tend to have. Not to forgot, I have some injury issues. In any case, Hanke came back and he gave us the narrow win against Wolfsburg. The Augsburg game was disappointing since it is a match that we are supposed to win to prove our title challenge is real. Since they were no threat the last time we faced them, I decided to field the kids against Augsberg. But they couldn’t deliver me the win in a game where we were only slightly superior than the opposition. I was happy in the next game to record double wins over rivals Koln, thanks to a brace from Allagui. In what is becoming a habit, we couldn’t punish Dortmund like I had hoped. We were behind at all times and it took a header from Bamba to give us a share of the spoils. The game against Mainz was another annoying one because I let complacency creep into the team. I relieved when Reus decided to take things seriously and he sent the ball between the keeper’s legs.
March
March had little to be happy about. We should have wrecked Kaiserlautern but we couldn’t find the net. Stuttgart are the frustrating team of the season as they almost perfectly replicated our previous meeting with them. I was glad to cap of the month with an easy win against Nurnberg, courtesy of Captain Reus.
Here is the table at the end of the month with only 8 games left.
So Bayern are creating quite a nice cushion for themselves. They turned on the scoring and from all the awards he is winning, it seems Arjen Robben is having the season of his life. Turn to the next page to see the exciting conclusion of the season!
Johnny Karp
5 января, 2012 at 11:44
Ah, it’s a shame that you missed out on the title especially after defeating Bayern so convincingly… Maybe your players had a bit too much to eat during the winter break :) Anyway, congrats on a very good season and good luck in the Champions League!
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 00:43
Thanks Johnny. I’m hoping to strike some fear in the hearts of all my European competition. The game against Bayern is a little misleading though, because they won the title before the game started so they fielded their backup players.
siavosh
5 января, 2012 at 12:05
hi,
Good results against Bayern and HSV,I think your is strong enough to win the title with a little luck, but this place is also wonderfull.
Good luck
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 00:44
Thank you! The German League is pretty competitive so while we might not win the title, as long as we are up there I will be happy.
Darren Smith
5 января, 2012 at 12:17
Well done mate that was a solid season, a little gutting to come close but miss the title however to challenge so quickly is brilliant. Can’t wait for some CL footie next season.
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 00:45
Thanks Darren! I was surprised at how well they are doing and so quickly too. I put it down to my backroom staff whipping my youth players into shape!
John Martin
5 января, 2012 at 15:48
Wow, a great season mate. You were unlucky to miss out on the title however all in all a decent season mate, well done!
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 00:46
Thanks John! Maybe next season will be our time.
Sears
5 января, 2012 at 15:52
Brilliant season mate, so unlucky in the title race but I’m certain you’ll topple Bayern next season. Good luck!
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 00:47
Thanks Sears! It would be great to do that! This season once they got going they just couldn’t stop. Wrapping up the season with 2 games to go is quite impressive.
Nik
5 января, 2012 at 16:29
Well done mate! Keep it up next year and good luck with the CL! How are you liking the Bundesliga?
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 00:59
Thanks Nik! The Bundesliga is quite fun. I like how simple the rules are.
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 00:59
The evenness of the league is also really fun.
TheZiggy
5 января, 2012 at 16:43
You’ve had a great season there. Without a couple of those late lapses in concentration, the title could have gone your way. Anyhow, it proves you’re a real challenger, so with a few additions for next season, you should be put up an even challenge. Good luck with the venture in the Champions League.
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:01
Thanks so much! I guess the young players still need to do some maturing and then I’m sure we’ll be unstoppable!
Alex
5 января, 2012 at 16:55
Great post, I like to level of detail you’re using at the moment. I was amazed by the quality of some of your young signings. Well done on a good league position, next year you could well win it. Good luck in the CL.
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:01
Thanks so much Alex! I am hoping for these kids to do great things!
Ana Garcia
5 января, 2012 at 19:01
Oh so close!!
Just bad luck in the end and with a few new signings you should be able to compete again next season, and hopefully finish top!
Good luck!! :)
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:03
Thanks so much Ana! Gladbach are definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with!
Kevin
5 января, 2012 at 20:32
Hi Bhargav
Happy New Year mate!
Great post and I really enjoyed reading it but reall hard luck in how some of those game slipped away from you after such a superb and energetic start to the season. Still you qualified for the Champions League which is $$$ in the bank for sure along with that tidy sum for coming second. Well done Sir!!
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:06
Thank you so much Kevin! It looks like Gladbach are going back to the glory days =D
Laxeyman
5 января, 2012 at 21:47
That’s a great season Bhargav, 2nd is a wonderful achivement, and your hammering of Bayern shows that you’re already very close to grabbing that league title :) Hopefully it’ll be next season, good luck!
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:07
Thanks so much Laxeyman! To be fair to Bayern, they won the league before the game even started so they fielded their reserves. But next season I plan on beating them fair and square.
CsAtlantis
6 января, 2012 at 01:13
Man Allagui was terrible in FM2008, he had very low finishing and composure but he looks much better this time around, great job in bringing 19 goals out of him over 29 appearances, despite losing some key players like Dante you made some great purchases and your team has gone far beyond their meager media predictions and finished 2nd
Champions League football next season, will be exciting, good luck
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:09
Thank you so much! Allagui has been surprisingly phenomenal! I brought him on as a temporary player with only a half season-long contract but he’s earned his spot!
vaibhavc
6 января, 2012 at 07:39
First year in the Champions League, well done! That was unlucky in the league, but it was close. Bayern were doing well, so it will have to wait for next season.
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:21
Thanks Vaibhav! I am sure we will give them a run for their money next season.
Martin Pickard
6 января, 2012 at 15:45
wow! you’ve had one hell of season and a second place finish is awesome! Hopefully it’ll be a title winning season next year :0 looking forward to the next update :)
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:21
Thanks Martin! I hope you’re right. The Bundesliga is so much fun!
Chris @ Chester
6 января, 2012 at 18:21
That was an awesome season mate. A decent signing or 2 and a little touch of luck and you should be able to pull it off next year. Good luck in the champions league mate
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:22
Thanks so much Chris!
Woody
6 января, 2012 at 18:52
Well done on a great season unlucky to miss out on the league title
Good luck in the champions league
And I’m looking forward to the next update
Bhargav
8 января, 2012 at 01:22
Thanks Woody! Things will definitely be better next season.