Brits Abroad – Part 22: Where’s home from here?

Here we are again then, probably for the final time we arrive back in Portugal to see how the Brits Abroad are getting on in their quest to hold every title possible. Last week, we retained the European Super Cup and the World Club Cup. If we can retain the league, the cup, the Champions League and then win Euro 2004, well that’s the lot. There’ll be a statue of me outside Champman Studios I’m sure. Christmas preparation is in full swing in these towers. My son is obsessed with advent chocolates and my 11 month old is teething so enjoys eating her hand and screaming. We’ve all been there. As for me, I have no idea what’s wrong with me but my temperature is up and down and my throat is like razorblades. Merry Winter to you all, let’s football.

Continue reading

P04 – Binary Brilliance: Tackling CM97/98 with an AI Co-Pilot! | @tjmitcham1983

Welcome back to the cork-funded, AI-managed world of Uniao de Lamas. We left the team in mid-table with a slightly negative goal difference. There’s much room for improvement, but with the collaboration between human and AI management, we have the necessary tools!

The first game of the second half saw us leading at halftime, courtesy of an Armando strike. An exhilarating burst of five goals in five minutes had the Comendador’s stadium rocking, yet we had to settle for an electric 3-3 draw.

Continue reading

Brits Abroad – Part 21: Middle Stint

Hello and good welcome to you. The Brits Abroad are part way through season 7, just the early knockings really of what we hope will be a long and successful campaign, culminating with Euro 2004 if I can guide England through the final few qualifying games. We’re at the time of year in real life where there’s stuff on every night, or nearly every night, and it occurred to me on Wednesday evening that if I don’t get this played by Thursday night there would be no blog. Sacre bleu. To the football then, where the domestic table loos very nice and we’ve got an opportunity to make the Champions League group look similar…

Continue reading

P03 – Binary Brilliance: Tackling CM2 97/98 with an AI Co-Pilot! | @tjmitcham1983

Welcome back to the journey of a lifetime, as Diogo, the human, and Miguel, the AI, try to co-manage Uniao De Lamas to glory! We left the Lamas last time buoyant after their first two wins, with transfer whizz Miguel on the hunt for potential bargains. So, has he found us another diamond in the rough? Are we now bursting with wunderkids?

Well, no.

As previously, Miguel provided a laundry list of footballers, which Diogo then poured over to find realistic options. This time we had three true candidates:

Continue reading

Brits Abroad – Part 20: Brit Rewards

Greetings and welcome back to a new season of Brits Abroad. Season 7 might be our last, if we can win everything. There’s obviously no guarantee of that and it’s really cool how many of you read this every week, so let’s just keep enjoying it and see how it goes. Real football returned this weekend and although I have missed it, I haven’t missed the feeling of defeat or kicking myself for picking the wrong fantasy players. Probably some lessons in there somewhere but today is not the day to pick that apart. Let’s wheel and deal.

Continue reading

P03 – CM9798: Half & Half Premier League | @KingOfTheRooks

Welcome back to the home of ruining football; cheers son’s crying and all that. It’s the half and half of dreams. Last time out we finished August and the first penalties were handed out for doing well. Despite the goings on, what is essentially still Man Utd (sorry City fans) continue their form without Paul Scholes. You can catch up with last week, here.

Continue reading

P02 – Binary Brilliance: Tackling CM2 97/98 with an AI Co-Pilot! | @tjmitcham1983

Welcome back to the second chapter of our adventure in Portuguese second-division life, skillfully guided by my AI co-manager, Miguel. It’s high time to delve into the transfer market as our incomplete Lamas squad lacks some essential elements.

I dispatch Miguel to secure us a right-back, intending to test his transfer acumen. Swiftly, I discern that the lad tends to set his sights too high:

Continue reading

Brits Abroad – Part 19: The Cup Final Curse

Greetings, bonjour and so on. We’re back in Portugal, who utilise neither of those greetings but you join us at an exciting time nevertheless. The aim is to retain everything, add the Portuguese cup to the list and get England well on their way to Euro 2004. It is at this point that I realise I have not paced this season’s bloggings very well. Strap yourselves in, there are many games.

Continue reading

P02 – CM9798: Half & Half Premier League | @KingOfTheRooks

Welcome back to the Half & Half Scarf Premier League! It’s pre-season and all the clubs are managerless. They’ve got their pick of the world’s talent for this ambitious rescue project for English Football. Will it be a disaster? Will Bobby Gould go? Some things in life are guaranteed. You can catch up with the introduction of this abomination and the squads from last week here.

Wednesday United make the bold first move, going for a man of European experience and flair.

Continue reading

Binary Brilliance: Tackling CM2 97/98 with an AI Co-Pilot! | @tjmitcham1983

Hello and welcome to my first blog as a bona fide CM2 97/98 addict. Let’s get the dull IRL stuff out of the way. I’m 40, a Burnley fan, and I blame my mediocre GCSE grades on nights spent playing Champ. Don’t we all?

While contemplating what challenge to embark upon, I was momentarily captivated by a Mark Goldbridge video on TikTok. Mr. Goldbridge is the kind of fan that didn’t exist when Champ was in its prime. He’s a “content creator,” devoting more time to dropping one-liners and faux-rants than actually watching his beloved Manchester United play during Youtube ‘watchalongs’. This time, he was ranting vehemently about VAR, and let’s face it, it’s a bit of a shambles, isn’t it?

Continue reading