Hello folks, it’s time to see whether I managed a promotion in the first season of my FM 2012 story or not. As you remember we were top of the Second Division table at the end of March 2012 as we fought back after a horrendous winter break. But the situation was still pretty unclear as we had no less than 3 teams with 5 points behind us. Let’s see what happened in the last five games of the season…
The first game in April was a tricky one as we were travelling to meet 4th placed CSMS Iasi, one of the three teams in the chasing pack. Despite playing away from home I decided to use the attacking version of my tactic in an attempt to surprise the opponents. Well, the choice didn’t pay off as we found ourselves one goal down after just five minutes when the home side scored on a free kick. At that point we had no choice than to attack and we could have pulled level 8 minutes later but midfielder Mihai Onicas squandered a very good chance. The team was playing well though, we had 75% ball possession on 35 minutes when we finally bagged the equaliser: my left back swung in a deep cross and striker Valentin Simion headed it home. The fightback was completed seconds before half time when striker Vlad Rusu scored one of the most beautiful goals of the season with an awesome strike from 25 yards out. The second half was reasonably quiet so we grabbed the three points and took CSMS Iasi out of the Second Division title race. (click here to watch the highlights)
But we still had two teams five points behind us with four games left so we had to keep it up. The next game saw us welcoming 6th placed Dinamo 2, a very tricky opponent to meet because they always have a few players from the Dinamo Bucharest first team in their ranks. We got off to a bright start this time as Vlad Rusu converted a nice team move after just five minutes but our joy lasted just a bit more than a quarter hour as a stupid mistake in our midfield allowed Dinamo 2 to make it all square. My lads were quite confident though and we managed to restore the lead before half time when Rusu found Simion with a great long pass. Valentin Simion could have extended our lead on the stroke of half time but his shot from inside the penalty area came back off the post.
We paid the price for that miss shortly after the hour mark when Dinamo 2 scored an almost identical goal, an error in my midfield gave the ball away, the defence was totally out of position and the opponents scored. We started to push forward quite desperately after that goal but there was no joy, we threw away two points… (click here to watch the highlights)
Here is the situation at the top of the table with three games left:
1. Viitorul — 54 points
2. Snagov — 51 points
3. CS Otopeni — 48 points
So, despite throwing away the two points our promotion odds were much better as we only needed three more points to secure our passage to the top flight. Our next game was away at 12th placed relegation candidates Dunarea Galati so it was a perfect opportunity to secure those three points. The lads seemed quite determined to take no prisoners there, we missed the first clear cut chance just 20 seconds into the game and then took the lead in the 9th minute through Valentin Simion. Then centre back Pacuraru made it 2-0 with a free kick header and young substitute striker Cristian Gavra banged in the third goal moments after coming off the bench to replace injured Simion. It was as good as over at the break but Vlad Rusu added further comfort 5 minutes into the second half to the delight of our travelling fans. (click here to watch the highlights)
The league table with two games left showed that we were 99% sure of getting promoted, we only needed to grab one more point out of the last two games:
1.Viitorul — 57 points
2. Snagov — 52 points
3. Otopeni — 51 points
There’s no suspense this time, we won the last two games easily and the Second Division title was ours!
I guess we have a pretty good league record although I would have been a lot happier with a few less draws and a few more wins.
Our best player of the season was Moroccan defender Chakib Benzoukane, a very good signing and a player that could serve us well in the top flight too. Strikers Rusu and Simion managed 23 goals between them, that’s not too many and it surely makes me think that we need at least one better striker to survive in Liga 1.
I have more than that to worry about though, take a look at the club finances! We lost money every month and the balance is now over 1 million pounds in red! Our stadium has just over 2,000 seats so we can’t expect much income from there, I guess I’ll have to sell players to keep the club afloat.
But then I had a look at the expenses and, as you can see, it’s the youth setup that required the most money this season, even more than the player wages! I guess keeping such high standard youth facilities is quite expensive so maybe chairman Gheorghe Hagi will have to dig deep into his pockets and give the club a much-needed cash injection… Well, at least that’s what I hope…
So, we will play in the top flight next season, mission accomplished! However, given the financial situation, I doubt that I will be able to bring in the quality players that we will surely need to survive in there. I have already wrapped up no less than 8 free transfers, those players will join upon contract expiry on July 1st, but I’m sure we’ll need more. Anyway, I guess I should be happy for now and worry about the future later. Thanks for reading folks, looking forward to your feedback.
ri916
5 ноября, 2011 at 20:51
great season and congratulations on getting promoted! dont worry about the finances and your not fooling anyone when you say you dont think you can stay up. good luck next season and i hope its a goodun.
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 08:27
Thanks mate. I’m not trying to fool anyone, just expressing my probably legitimate concerns.
TheZiggy
5 ноября, 2011 at 21:30
Great season, and a good way to see everyone else off and be league 2 champions, with some nice wins. Interesting to see how much of the money is going into the youth setup.
I’m sure you’ll survive in next season, but I think all of us are more pessimistic about our own games, than we are about the situation for everyone else. The pre-season will be very interesting, to just what funds are available.
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 08:29
Thanks Ziggy, I’m not so sure that we will survive but I guess it will all depend on what I’ll be able to do during pre-season in terms of new staff and players.
Kevin
5 ноября, 2011 at 21:37
Hi Johnny
Thanks for «graphically» answering Todays Question in addition to the email…LOL!
Anyway, delighted that you have won promotion at the first attempt and I do hope you don’t have to sell too many players as you have quite a young squad there that seems to have gelled nicely.
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 08:31
Hey Kevin, I will try to keep the youngsters at the club and only sell the «older» players. Well, at least that’s the plan but we’ll see what happens.
Darren Smith
5 ноября, 2011 at 21:52
Well that was an excellent season Johnny and you finished in style. The finances are a little worrying but knowing you they’ll be sorted very soon and I have no worries about relegation. After all you are the don of FM and managing in Romania is like having a home advantage ;)
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 08:31
Thanks buddy. I’m not sure that the finances will be sorted soon, in fact I’m quite curious to see how much TV money we’ll get at the start of the season.
Lye Kuek Hin
6 ноября, 2011 at 01:49
Hi Johnny,
Congratulations on the promotion. First hurdle is cleared and you really took this league by putting in more consistent results than the rest. Finances is something we can’t control and we have to live with that but i believe you will still sign some quality players next season. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 08:33
Thanks Lye, I hope you will be proven right.
CsAtlantis
6 ноября, 2011 at 02:33
Great stuff Johnny, Chakib was an inspired signing and a veritable human wall at the back, congratulations on getting promoted!
Looks like nearly all of your CBs are getting some interest for other clubs though, you’ll have to try hard to hang on to them
Ruzu, Albu and Lazar look good for the future as they get more games and training, good luck for next season
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 08:36
Thanks mate. You are right about the centre backs, they had a good season and I plan on keeping them at the club unless I receive a big money offer for one of them. We have quite a few interesting youngsters, not only those three, but they will need time to grow.
vaibhavc
6 ноября, 2011 at 08:54
Great season and congratulations! It is hard to get promotion in your first year, and you have succeeded. The finances are bad, but I think if you stay in the first division for some time, you can get quite a lot of money.
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 09:50
Thanks buddy. I’m not sure about the money that we would get from the first division, I’m quite curious to find out :)
Paine
6 ноября, 2011 at 08:55
Well done Johnny, I’m sure you’ll find the right free transfers to improve your team, they will be key for your second season.
It’s a challenge in the challenge, keeping the books balanced and building a competitive squad.
I’m in the same situation, of course I have faith in your scouting skills.
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 09:51
Thanks mate, keeping the books balanced seems like a tougher challenge than getting the results on the pitch. I guess I’ll have to use my scouting skills to the max ;)
Ana Garcia
6 ноября, 2011 at 11:11
Well done Johnny!
Promotion was secured so you can now push on and try and survive next season. Finances are a worry maybe try and ask for a parent club to help you boost your cash flow a bit.
I am in the same situation, crowds are too small to cover any of the costs so you steadily lose money every month so hopefully you got some prize money for winning the league and get a bit more for playing in a higher league.
Anyways best of luck! :)
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 13:02
Thanks Ana, we will receive some TV money for playing in the first league but that probably won’t cover our losses. The parent club is a good idea, I’ll look into it. ;)
Mariano
6 ноября, 2011 at 11:14
Hi Johnny,
Well done!
I think that when the new season starts Hagi will give you some extra cash to buy some new players, for sure he made plenty of it playing in Barca, Real Madrid and Galatasaray:)
Cheers
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 13:03
Thanks amigo. Hagi does have some money but he’s not a billionaire like Abramovich, his whole fortune might be around 15 million pounds if I’m not mistaken.
Joelance
6 ноября, 2011 at 13:37
Congrats Johnny. Im surprised you were promoted….who am i kidding, i knew you would. All the best next season
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 14:18
Thanks for the confidence Joe, much appreciated ;)
Laxeyman
6 ноября, 2011 at 14:58
Excellent season Johnny, a few tricky spells but you turned them round fantastically well, so well done :) The financial situation is a bit worrying, but if you can bring a a few quality youngsters through then it’ll be worth it :) Looking forward to your pre season.
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 15:09
Thanks mate, I have a few free transfers lined up already but those might not be enough.
George Dobson
6 ноября, 2011 at 17:09
Good Season hope you can stay up next season
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 17:23
Thanks George, I hope so too.
Sears
6 ноября, 2011 at 18:30
The finances are dire indeed, nothing you won’t be able to solve though :P Congrats on a brilliant campaign bud, promotion was well deserved. You’re summer transfers will be essential as to whether you’ll stay up next season. Good luck:)
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 18:32
Thanks Sears, I’ll see what can be done during the summer… ;)
John
6 ноября, 2011 at 20:13
Hey guys, I just got my copy of FM12 today, but absolutely gutted as my product code from my game manual has already been activated? I didn’t think this was possible as it was in a sealed game pack! Does anyone know how I can sort this out? Thanks in advance
Johnny Karp
6 ноября, 2011 at 20:33
Hm, that’s quite strange. My suggestion is to contact Sports Interactive, either via their forum, twitter account or official Football Manager facebook page.
Calin
7 ноября, 2011 at 06:35
Congrats on your promotion, Johnny! Hopefully next season will bring you in Europe and hopefully you’ll start getting some extra money to help keep up with the costs of running the Youth Academy.
Johnny Karp
7 ноября, 2011 at 08:40
Thanks Calin. I don’t know about Europe though, I’d be happy just to survive in Liga 1 for now and go for Europe next season.
Martin Pickard
7 ноября, 2011 at 10:31
Congrats Johnny…you’ve had an up and down season…well the down being the friendlies but…your team definitely gelled for the league games. it’ll be interesting to see how you get on next season….so hurry up :P again a fantastic season, well done :)
Johnny Karp
7 ноября, 2011 at 14:05
Thanks mate, I think I’ll have a new episode ready to be published tonight ;)
Antonio Rajič
7 апреля, 2013 at 01:58
Do you use shouts before or in the match?