Hello folks! As you know I am currently playing my last season with Notts County and after thinking about my next destination for a few weeks I came up with a few interesting options. You might also know that I like polls and democracy, so you will get to choose my next team. Let me introduce the options first, I hope you will find them as interesting as I do.
1. Universitatea Craiova — my beloved team, I support them since I was a kid but I had little joy from them, only one title almost 20 years ago. Since then the team has struggled and even got relegated from the Romanian Liga 1 five years ago. They bounced right up after only one season but didn’t achieve anything special since then. This season they are still fighting to avoid relegation and that makes me very, very sad. They have a very young team so it would be a nice challenge for me to get the most out of those youngsters and bring another title to Craiova after such a long drought. The final goal would be to lift an European trophy and that could be almost an impossible target due to the club’s low international reputation and poor finances.
2. Dorchester Town — they are considered to be the weakest team in Blue Square South, predicted to finish last. The challenge would be to take them all the way to the top, it could be a long painful journey.
3. Vico Equense — a small team from a small town in Southern Italy. They are predicted to finish last in their Serie C2 group and the challenge would be to take them all the way to the Serie A and European glory.
4. Arsenal (with a twist) — winning the Premier League title with Arsenal sounds easy. I thought of a way to make it more difficult and interesting. If I take charge of the club I will impose two rules for myself: sign only under 21 players and sell every player in the squad immediately after they reach 25 years of age. So what would happen is that I would sell all the 25 years old and older players right away, replace them with under 21 players and go on from there. Then when a player reaches 25 he will be sold in the next transfer window. That could be very interesting although I might get sacked pretty quickly.
These are the four options that I thought about, feel free to add your own challenges in the comments and if they are interesting enough I will add them to the poll.
Now let’s vote!
Which Should Be My Next Team?
- Dorchester Town (35%, 49 Votes)
- Arsenal (with a twist) (26%, 36 Votes)
- Universitatea Craiova (22%, 30 Votes)
- Vico Equense (17%, 24 Votes)
Total Voters: 139
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ravenie
25 апреля, 2010 at 12:27
go dorchester
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2010 at 12:29
Thanks for the vote Ravenie.
Calum
25 апреля, 2010 at 12:36
Vico Equense sounds good Johnny, I voted for them. It would be very interesting to see how you would get on in Italy.
Are you going to play with these teams in your Notts County game or in a new game??
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2010 at 12:42
Thanks Calum. I will start a new game in 2009 with the patch 10.3 database.
Kevin Mayo
25 апреля, 2010 at 13:12
Hi Johnny
I voted for your beloved Craiova, but all four looked very appealing for different reasons. I’m sure you could do a «Blyth» with Vico Equense and with Dorchester which in fact is not far from my roots in the UK.
The Arsenal game sounded very interesting and coincidentally I was thinking of doing something similar with Man Utd if I get fired from Huddersfield. Sort of like the new «Busby Babes». Life after Scholes, Giggs, Ferdinand etc.. Currently reading Bobby Charlton’s autobiography hence the idea.
Frozy
25 апреля, 2010 at 13:32
I voted for italian club. It would be interesting to read a real crap story. Looks like there will be a hard voting battle! :D
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2010 at 13:47
@Kevin and Frozy
Thanks for the votes, it really looks like there’s going to be a close result. I’ll be keeping the voting open for a week or so, maybe two.
James H
25 апреля, 2010 at 13:54
Instead of the Arsenal with a twist why don’t you make an all UK Arsenal team, so all the foreigners would leave and you can only buy UK players. I am doing this with Spurs and it’s a good challenge, bought Rodwell for 16m and Agbonlahor for 14m, along with a lot of youngsters. :)
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2010 at 14:01
@James
That’s an interesting idea! I guess it would be even more difficult than the under 25 and 21 thing, let’s see what the other folks think about it. If it catches on then I’ll add it to the poll.
Matthew
25 апреля, 2010 at 14:20
@ James
That does seem like a good idea.
But I liked the Blyth story so I voted Dorchester
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2010 at 14:46
@Matthew
Thanks for the vote, the Blyth story seems to be everyone’s favourite, including myself :)
Barry
25 апреля, 2010 at 14:29
i’d like to see a scottish team like hamilton or falkirk
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2010 at 14:44
Thanks for the suggestion Barry but I don’t find the Scottish League too appealing at the moment. I will consider it for a future career, hope you don’t mind.
Lye
25 апреля, 2010 at 15:09
Hi mate, i voted for your favorite club Craiova and second choice is Arsenal. What could most satisfying than managing your favorite club and win them honors especially they are struggling in real life.
In my opinion, you had already tried managing Blyth so would like to see you adopt the other approach which is managing your favorite club. The Arsenal challenge is interesting though.
Martin
25 апреля, 2010 at 15:21
I Voted Universitatea Craiova Seeing As They’re Your Favourite Club.
About The Arsenal Thing, Couldn’t You Make A Rule To Have No More Than 2 Over 25s Because You’d Have To Sell Fabregas In About 3 Years!
Laxeyman
25 апреля, 2010 at 15:36
Hi Johnny, I voted for Dorchester, it would be interesting to see you take them up. But I like the other options, good luck with whoever you get.
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2010 at 16:00
@Laxeyman
Thanks for the vote and for the good luck wish.
@Martin
Thanks for voting. About the rule, that’s what would make the game interesting and it surely would be a blow to sell Fabregas.
@Lye
Thanks mate, I admit that managing my beloved club would be extremely challenging but also very rewarding.
Ana Garcia
25 апреля, 2010 at 16:29
The Arsenal idea is a nice one, I did a similar story as Barcelona promoting our cantera system into the first team so I could only buy and use an entire Spanish squad.
It was fun, but I will vote for Universitatea Craiova or Vico Equense as they are two clubs I have never heard off!
But since you support the first I wil vote for them! :)
Majk
25 апреля, 2010 at 17:27
I’m actually trying out a form of twist with Milan next to my Caen. (A different save ofc.) Where Vaclav Kadlec, Belfodil, Canella, Consigli, Pato, Kakuta, Eljero Elia, Yatabaré, Poli, Asamoah, Rodwell, Albertazzi etc etc are playing their trade.
Its not recommended in the length as all you’ll get is a team full of regens in a few years. A bit unpersonal for me.
Vico Equense got my vote as I’d love to see how you’d fare against Italian opposition.
cory berman
25 апреля, 2010 at 17:36
havent yet seen a blog on fm with a twist very interesting!!
Mícheál
25 апреля, 2010 at 18:16
I voted for Dorchester. I think it will be really interesting to see that. That would be a real challenge. Or Universitatea Craiovo would be a difficult challenge. :)
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2010 at 22:26
@Ana
Thanks for the vote, I’m sure you had a lot of fun with Barcelona :)
@Majk
Thanks for voting. I guess that isn’t a very original idea after all :)
@Micheal
Thanks for the vote, I think that Craiova would be even more difficult than Dorchester.
andries
26 апреля, 2010 at 17:43
I don’t like the italian league. And Dorchester Town sounds a bit like a Notts County-repeat-song to me. I like your Arsenal-idea so my vote is for the Gunners! I look forward to to the developments and the rest of your Notts County storie.
ps. Why not continue with a lower league club in your Notts County game?
Johnny Karp
26 апреля, 2010 at 18:28
Thanks for the vote Andries. Dorchester would be way more difficult than Notts County, it’s a much smaller club, two divisions lower and last but not least, a poor club. Going to a lower league in the Notts County game was an option that I considered but the game would turn out to be full of regens in a couple of season and that could be annoying.
Coolmcool
26 апреля, 2010 at 20:08
I voted for the romanian team as the young goalie i usually buy plays for them Silviu Lung Jr. hope you can go far!
Johnny Karp
26 апреля, 2010 at 20:18
@Colmcool
Thanks for the vote. Silviu is a fantastic keeper in real life too, if he keeps going like he does at the moment he will become on of the best goalkeepers in Europe. He is on quite a few shortlists at the moment, including Ajax and Juventus, but I hope he’ll stay at Craiova for a couple more seasons.
John
26 апреля, 2010 at 23:02
Hey guys, 1st comment. I think you should go Dorchester, it will be a real test for you, Notts County was a massive achievement but their finances were a massive help. Dorchester won’t get anywhere near that kind of financial backing so will be a much sterner test. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
26 апреля, 2010 at 23:57
Thanks for the vote and for the first comment John, appreciate it. I agree that Dorchester would be a much more difficult task, maybe even more difficult than the Blyth Spartans career that I had in FM 2009. Hope to see your second comment soon :)
Dan
27 апреля, 2010 at 12:35
Hi Johnny
Stumbled upon your site by accident, just want to say what a fantastic site it is!
I think the scottish league would suprise you, i was livingston at one point and have found some fantastic players becasue of it.
I voted for Dorchester, I like the challenge of trying to get a team up with no fan base, no repuation and more importanly no money. Im currently managing Worcester City.
Dan
Johnny Karp
27 апреля, 2010 at 13:07
Hi Dan, thanks for the kind words and for casting your vote. I’ll keep that in mind about the Scottish league, maybe I’ll give it a try in the future. Good luck with Worcester and keep us up to date with your career if possible.
Dan
27 апреля, 2010 at 13:11
Thanks, im looking to start a blog when things are less hectic so wont be the last time you hear from me!
Johnny Karp
27 апреля, 2010 at 15:47
@Dan
Great, good luck!
fajcupu
29 апреля, 2010 at 10:35
I want to see you win the league with the arsenal boys (and hoping you don’t get sacked). Vote for arsenal.
Johnny Karp
29 апреля, 2010 at 10:56
@fajcupu
Thanks a lot for your vote. Getting sacked could be a possibility considering the risky approach.
John
29 апреля, 2010 at 15:00
2nd comment :P
Im just about to start a Blyth career myself having been inspired by yours Johnny. Going to see if I can bring succes to a lower league club. I prefer doing this as I think its more of a challenge, having to build up a club from scratch. Does anyone know though how to get an academy? Will probably take me a fair few years but would be nice at some point :D
Johnny Karp
29 апреля, 2010 at 15:27
@John
Congrats on choosing the mighty Spartans! I wish you the best of luck with them as I had a very rewarding career at Blyth. I don’t really know what to say about the academy issue, I guess you’ll have one once the club will grow. I don’t remember when or how I got it in my game last year. Anyway, I would love to hear about your Spartans career. Btw, they have a really good pair of strikers in real life, Paul Brayson and Robert Dale, I’m curious to see if they’re any good in FM 2010.
Frozy
29 апреля, 2010 at 16:05
@John
Collect as many money as you can and ask board every year about upgrades. That’s the only secret of getting good football academy :)
Rob
29 апреля, 2010 at 21:36
Hi Johnny,
Voted Dorchester as i always think bringing a team through the leagues is always interesting although i think the Italian game would also be interesting as it is very similar but in a different league this time which i would also like to see.
Looking forward to your new game lots :) Good luck.
Rob.
Johnny Karp
29 апреля, 2010 at 22:00
@Rob
Thanks for the vote and for the good luck wish. I agree that there’s nothing like taking a semi-professional club all the way to the top, probably the most rewarding experience in FM.
Sam Calvert
30 апреля, 2010 at 14:30
Voted for your favourite team, surely leading them to glory will be massively satisfying for u
Johnny Karp
30 апреля, 2010 at 14:35
@Sam Calvert
Thanks a lot for the vote, I would surely love to guide my beloved team to glory.
Damian Pentagon
30 апреля, 2010 at 18:29
Can I suggest you manage East Stirlingshire, Montrose, or Elgin City?
Three of the worst teams in Scottish Third Div.
Alternatively Plymouth Argyle, Northampton Town, Shrewsbury Town…
Or possibly an all-UK team with a premier league team.
You could start somewhere where you would find it hard like Arsenal, or somewhere easier with a strong English dressing-room like Aston Villa.
Damian Pentagon
30 апреля, 2010 at 18:35
hi
i’m trying the arsenal u’21s game
its very difficult; i have to release quality players like arshavin, van persie and kolo toure.
Although the Arsenal board want champions league qualification, i think 7th is a more realistic target!
Also, please do the UK Arsenal game! That would be good.
Kevin Mayo
30 апреля, 2010 at 19:11
Hi Damian
If I get fired from Huddersfiled I’ll take on the Scottish challenge.
Okay with you Johnny?
Johnny Karp
30 апреля, 2010 at 19:44
@Damian
Thanks for the suggestions, I’m happy that you are trying the Arsenal thing.
@Kevin
I can see nothing wrong with that but I hope you won’t get sacked though.
Damian Pentagon
30 апреля, 2010 at 20:06
can i blog on this website?
Johnny Karp
30 апреля, 2010 at 20:58
@Damian
In theory you can. Send me an email with some information about you and maybe a link to some previous writing and I’ll consider giving you an account. The address is johnny[at]footballmanagerstory[dot]com
Johnny Karp
2 мая, 2010 at 23:49
The poll will be closed in about 10 minutes and it looks like I’m going to manage Dorchester Town once the season with Notts County will come to an end. Big thanks to everybody for voting!
Majk
5 мая, 2010 at 21:16
Haha.. i just noticed that it says ‘The Magpies’ on the Dorchester Team shield. «It’s a little bit funny».. as Elton John would say.
Johnny Karp
5 мая, 2010 at 22:54
You are right Majk, I noticed that too :)