And relax [2017]

And.....we can unclench. 9th with 40 points. Survival has been assured, with a couple of games to go.

Relegation didn't look too much like a possibility as we held on fairly firmly to that 9th place. There were a few blips and a few losses crept in but overall we didn't take the fatal nose dive that the media were expecting (and predicting with every loss).

The squad performance picked up quite a bit as players settled, thought I'm not sure how well it shows in the stats*. As an aside I've been thinking of running something of analysis on some of the starts I have from each seasons match stats. I'm not quite sure what sort yet because of the sheer amount of variables but maybe with a few more seasons data I can think about looking at performance as related to some of the stats I've been focusing on like pass completion.

I've been noticed again and offered a job.

What I also did was turn a little traitor...

It was just too tempting. Birmingham, in League 1, with a squad good enough for the championship. A team from the second city and ripe for some real success. Unfortunately they turned me down. I think those are the kind of jobs I want to go for. I'm happy building with 'Tuna but a sleeping or fallen giant would be great.

Next Season

What to do? Where to recruit?

I'm not looking really for any players. Sounds a little daft but I think the team is good enough to survive. I don't want to rush into getting any players. Maybe a stunning left back would be great but I've got a lot of young players who deserve a chance.

If I can get a few cheap or promising players I'll add them for depth but otherwise we're going to try and keep the squad stable.

*Weeks of marking has pretty much fried my brain and I'm not going to go in depth with this end of season review.

Steady....Steady... [2017]

I'm writing this and the next post after a bit of a break. I'd reached the end of the season, stopped to write up and then had to stop even longer because of work. But now it's FM time again.

So, 20 games in and a fairly reasonable 9th. 26 points from 20 games isn't anything special but for relegation battlers we'll take that at this stage. At any stage of this season really.

The form has really picked up for us. A lot of draws but it kept the points ticking over. We managed to keep pace with the teams around us.

We've had help in the form of a new recruit - Russian Podberezkin.

Promising and he has slotted pretty much straight into the team. He's kept the favourite Lundesvall out since arriving. Defensively he's not as solid but we seem to be passing it about a little bit better.

We've also got another new recruit with promising from the youth intake. Pretty good again for this level. I continue to be impressed by youth players we've brought in.

One youth player from a previous intake that has to make the step up now is keeper Moller.

Because Bergh who has the appearance record for the team...

...is retiring.

He was going to hold on till the end of the season but I stepped in to make him the new assistant manager. He's a bit of a fan fave after all. It was slightly risky changing keepers but with a third of the season to go hopefully, if Moller doesn't work, we can hold on.

Takes real effort to be this inconsistent [2017]

The elite season is a bit longer at 30 games than the other divisions we've been in so I decided a snapshot after 5 games might not tell a great deal. I decided on three updates at 10, 20 and then finally the end of season at 30. But I got a bit over excited and so the first update is at 11 games.

Not that it makes much different. We're sitting mid table but we're not far from the drop. Largely because we've been all over the place form wise.

We've had some good games, and we've been unlucky, but we just don't seem to be able to finish games off. It's to be expected I guess and this should rightly be 'Tuna's most difficult season to date but it's a little frustrating. Everyone likes to win and we should have a few more to our name really.

Maybe the inconsistency has something to do with influx of players, younger players? Never mind. They're doing pretty well and will only get better. The real revelation youth wise has been my left back - Ninos Johansson. He got called up from my youth team as a back up but because of injuries he slotted straight in and has been doing well. Not as well as Hansen, the DL he replaced, but not bad for a youth product.

Speaking of Hansen the traitor set up the only goal when we played his team.

The team isn't quite firing on all cylinders yet. Look at the pass completion rate...

It's just below what I would like, across the board really. But that all adds up to a few more incomplete passes, more interceptions, loss of possession in certain areas. That needs tightening up but I think it's going to be a case of waiting to see whether that will solve itself as the team settles and the players develop.

Anyway, season prospects? I think mid table would be nice. I'd take that right now if I could. I don't see us making an inspired push for the top half of the table. A relegation dog fight seems more likely based on current form. That said I don't mind the fight so long as we survive.

Those defenders look...promising? [2017]

Once again it was time to try and strengthen the team for a season of survival. The board wanted us to steer clear and the media thought we were ripe for immediate relegation. To be fair before I managed to sign a few players I was leaning more towards the media prediction of bottom of the table.

After all we had lost Hansen and Molder - two key players. Not just because they were first choice defenders but because they could attack as well. They both ended up with an attacking fullback or wing back role and played really well. They chipped in with a few goals each season but more important they set up plenty of attacking moves. Big shoes to fill.

Initially trying to fill them didn't go well. The catalogue of non-Swedish players I had built up still remained aloof. Occasionally they would be willing to listen to a 'good' offer but the best I could do was £700 a week. Which was laughed off.

Trying to recruit Swedish Premier (and even Elite) cast offs went the same way as well. The ones good enough to improve the team wouldn't talk or wanted more than I could offer. The more mediocre players would talk but still expected to be paid handsomely for what would essentially be a bit of a stop gap role (or an expensive mistake if I got relegated with them).

I looked at my youth team and....no joy there really. A DL, Ninos Johansson that might one day step up but that was about it. I'd give him a chance but he doesn't look the finished article. Looking at my youth team did make me think though. I was expected to get relegated so I would probably survive a disaster like that - why not take the risk and try and get some promising youth players in? I only get a small transfer budget of about £30k a year as things stand so investing in a few cheap but promising players would mean I could make make some money in the long term, and fill the team sheet in the short term. And if I was successful in the league with a few youth players then so much the better.

Defence

Wallinder

Wallinder looked nice and versatile. Either side of defence with a suggestion that he might be able to get forwards whilst still be sound at the back. He cost a bit though and it took 8k to get Enkoping to sell. I started to get worried about a few attributes (passing 3! crossing 2!) but then realise at 16 there's room for improvement.

Curri

 Curri wasn't quite as young, nor as highly rated but for 1.5k he could act as back up on either side of defence.

Eliasson

Eliasson is on loan so I'm not too worried about his development but I think he gives me a DR who'll run down the wing pretty well. Maybe not as well as Molder did but hopefully well enough.

Jovanovic

Jovanovic might have been a bit of a panic buy really. He was free and at the point of signing I hadn't actually managed to get anyone else yet. I was starting to worry that I was going to be very light at the back so I brought him in. I think though if I can get his physical attributes up he will be okay. But maybe not one for this season other than a few bit parts.

Svensson

Svensson I have high hopes for - as do the scouts and coaches. Universally opinion seems to be high for this chap. 17 means plenty of room to improve and I think as he develops, with a bit of attention, he'll become a first teamer.  Well he'd better become a first teamer at some point as I spent 18k on him. I did manage to talk Vasteras down from 32k but still 18k is a huge chunk of the budget.

Pelle Olofsson

Pelle Olofsson falls into the same category as Svensson but a little older. With game time and training I can see him making an impact. A bit more versatile than Svensson though not as attacking or even defensively sound...actually the more I type the less convinced I am. Looking at his mental attributes though I can see some promise.

Bahar

Bahar was again a bit of a panic buy as DL's seemed a bit thin on the ground. If I can improve his acceleration though he should be okay though.

Midfield

Philip Olofsson

Philip Olofsson came in on a free and was a product of the youth set up at top flight Halmstad. He looked a bit like a younger version of Kamara. He'd help me with rotation in the midfield as Backstrom would be filling in for the AML and MC- AP positions.

Lundberg

I also added Lundberg. I don't see him poses a threat to either Wikstrom or Gustafsson at the moment but in time, with some work on his physical attributes, he could make the step up.

Attack

No one. Not for lack of trying.


Overall

I'm not that confident but then my pessimism tends to know no bounds. A lot of young and relatively untested recruits but at least they wouldn't be expensive mistakes (bar maybe Svensson if he flops). I did have lots of stronger looking youth players lined up but they just didn't want to come. I think I need a season or two at this level for the clubs rep to catch up.

I think what is really impeding me at the moment is the fact the club are still semi-pro. I can't even ask for the club to make the step up to pro as we don't have the money. I don't know how much we would need but we don't have it.

Looking at the past tables I think we need to target 40 points to survive. We have a slightly longer season now (30 games) but I want to get to the magic 40 as quickly as possible. I'm confident with midfield, and even with Viggeborn and Felic up front. Bergh I expect to be as solid as ever and the youth back up Moller has been called up to the Swedish u19's to there's promise there. I just don't trust my defence any more. Perhaps more importantly for the way my team play I don't trust them with going forward or starting a move any more. If we can't replicate what Molder and Hansen did down the wings then I think we're going to have a long season.

Getting relegated with 'Tuna would really test my resolve so I don't want it to even come up. I'm happy enough with the club - my head hasn't been turned by any offers elsewhere yet. I can't see myself going to another team in Sweden at the moment and it would take a special club elsewhere to drag me away this season (you can see I've changed my tune on wanderlust with that last promotion!).

'Tuna to the Top [2016]

Top of this table anyway. Not quite at the top of the Swedish pyramid but one step closer after grabbing the title here.

I know I should really try and build up to it and maintain some suspense but it was straight forward. Once we got 1st place with 5 games to go we didn't give it up. Viggeborn played amazingly well and we kept out unbeaten run going.

The key game was against Vasalund - a point at this stage would have won the title for us. Instead we squeezed in a victory to do it with some style. Here's the the title winning goal (although I imagine Felic and Viggeborn would argue the combine 25 goals they bagged were more important).

Molder is off at the end of the season - and that's a nice way to say goodbye.

Here are the end of season player stats - I think the fact we had a bit of an injury ridden season is clear. A lot of appearances spread around. The team pulled together well and although it never really felt like we were playing amazing football (at least not to the extent we did last year) we still managed to grab the title with a record points total.

I managed to get manager of the year.

And more importantly as far as I'm concerned I'm finally on the clubs favoured personnel, with an untouchable job status. I may well need that as the Swedish Elite division is going to be tough.

End of Season Analysis

Here's a slightly different squad display - I've taken out the players that are leaving, either to other clubs or on free, so I can see where we need to improve. I've also moved Moller, a youth keeper, into the squad.

'Keeper

I willing to give Bergh another season with Moller as backup. Bergh did just fine this season and got the most clean sheets in the division. It'll be tougher, especially with a weaker defence (potentially) in front of him but I don't see it as being the key position to change.

If I see a great keeper then I'll bring them in but I'm not going to be hunting specifically for one.

Defence

Molder and Hansen were immense, as always, and now leave a giant hole. With Ekholm going as well I definitely need to recruit and strengthen here. At least one left wing back, one right wing back, cover for that position and maybe another DC as cover.

I'm going to retrain Gregorcik and Claesson to play on either side of the pitch as well but only as a back up.

Midfield

Things went quite well here, and as we've only really lost the poorer of the two Ciraks (Adhan) and Tinnerholm I don't think we need to do a great deal here.

AML is covered by Bjorkebaum and Backstrom.
AMR is covered by Sunday and Celsing.
AP  is well covered by Kamara and Backstrom.
DLP is covered by Lundesvall and Gustafsson
DM is covered by Wikstrom and Gustafsson

I just need to bring in some extra cover I think.

Attack

I think it's time for Felic to move to the bench and Viggeborn to take the starting position. He finished the season well and at a young age he will benefit from starting much more than the 33 year old Felic. I won't be getting rid of Felic as with 13 goals this season he can do the job but I think the transition has to be made.

For back up I only really have the 30 year old Berner. I think I need to bring in some younger options if I can.

Overall

Defence is key - aside from that I think I just need to add depth. My new wage budget is going to be 7.7k a week which will help, though my transfer budget is a little miserly.

With the jump to the Elite division I'll have to see if I can tempt better players over.

Topsy-Turvy 'Tuna [2016]

Well this season is keeping even me guessing as we bounce around. In the last update for the middle of the season we'd fallen off the pace and looked a little bit...well crap. I was really worried that we were just going to fall further and further away from Vasalund who were sitting pretty in 1st place. They'd just beaten us to extend the gap.

What has happened though has gone against that. We've managed to fight back to first. Although fight back might not be the most accurate way of phrasing it. We've clawed our way back whilst Vasalund and Vasteras have faltered.

Those recent draws we had occurred around the same time as a dip in form for the others. They dropped points with draws or losses. We crept up and then eventually overtook them.

Five games to go then. Can we do it? Erm....yeah maybe. I should actually be more optimistic as we're looking on to get more points this season than last but it's still very tight at the top. I don't feel like the team are performing at their peak either.

Pass completion isn't great and Felic is out for most of those final 5 games. In fact he's probably out for all of them when you consider match fitness too. Viggeborn has been doing well as a straight replacement for Felic. Perhaps too well as I'm sure he was listed as a ML/ST when I bought him...now he's just a ST. I'm guessing that he was in the process of being retrained for the ML spot and then when I signed him I didn't continue - so now he's lost it.

Kamara is almost certainly out for the final 5 games too. And Lundesvall might only make it back in time for the final couple of games. Can probably see why my optimism is waning a little.

What you might also notice* is that a lot of players have decided to jump ship. Molder, Hansen, Tinnerholm, Ekholm and Muqdisi. Of those Molder and Hansen will be big loses, and Ekholm might be considering he's my back up at right back.  I don't really care about Tinnerholm and Muqdisi. Neither of them have lived up to even my quite low expectations of them.

I just couldn't get them to stay though. Most of them wanted out or wanted more than I could offer them. I've not tried to recruit yet because I think my two options for squad building depend on whether I get promoted or not. If I wait and get promoted I can recruit, hopefully, a better standard of player. If I don't get promoted then I think I need to gut the team. I'll need to get rid of deadwood and free up wages for the next push.

I don't really fancy a big rebuild of the squad though, so I'd better get promoted then.


*And what you might also, also notice is that the individual training for most of the players doesn't seem to change much. I did initially change it quite a bit but because of the level of my coaching, and the fact most players are part time, very little seems to change stat wise for a lot of the players. I do change things up every now and again but as the changes aren't huge I don't get much benefit from changing them often.

Off the pace already [2016]

 

It's odd. Things aren't going well but they're still going better than the board and media expect. We hit a sort of slump. Or perhaps more accurately we're still getting results but we're dropping points.

2nd is still good. But we're 7 points behind 1st. And they just beat us. We're performing okay but we're just not clinical enough. Games aren't getting finished off and some of the players (the unhappy ones) seem a little lacklustre. You can see it in the stats to an extent.

An injury to Hansen revealed something as well. Without him I have to play Manns at left back and we suddenly become very bad at attacking (in comparison). Whether we're controlling or counter attacking. We can still do it but it's not as effective. It means my next buy, if I want to stick with this system, is another attacking left wing back.

There was another knock on as well. With Manns moved over Gregorcik went in at DC. Suddenly we became a bit frailer in defence. Which put me in a bit of a pickle. He's not as good at soaking up the pressure that the defence might come under when counter-attacking, but he's also not very good if we get outnumbered when trying to control. Luckily Hansen came back after a short while but I was left a bit stuck. I had no idea which one to choose and in the end I was looking at just going back to standard for a while.

Prospects for the season? If we keep dropping points like we have done we won't get first. In fact we need a big improvement to pull Vasalund back. What I think is more worrying is that I can see us being over taken by Vasteras and Karlslund if we're not careful too.

Getting that playoff place is essential this season. Well getting promotion is one way or another. We've hit our wage limit for this level I think at around 5k. It's not going up anymore. A few players are getting on a bit, like Wikstrom and Felic, and the replacements aren't quite ready yet. Some players just want to leave as well. Kamara isn't interested in signing an extension. If we don't get promoted the team for the 2017 season will be older, weaker and I'll have less room in the budget to fix things.

Which would leave me with a career/journeyman dilemma. Do I stick around if the going gets tougher? I have to admit I'm already feeling a certain amount of wanderlust. I've had some job offers and although they weren't more tempting that 'Tuna City they were at a good level.

Now I don't want to make the same mistake as my previous career game - I don't want to leave a club that I've been gradually developing for a new club that actually might be a bit of a downwards or horizontal step. I would just have to build again but I'm not looking forward to the idea of repeated seasons in the First Division North.

If I don't get promoted this season I think I would have to stick with 'Tuna but consider very carefully any job offers that come my way. Hopefully though it'll be a moot point, I'll turn things around a bit and get promoted. That's the plan.