We asked you to guess the score (here) and plenty of you gave it a go. Here’s how the match played out
I’m delighted to reveal the winner:
Perfect score guess and the correct first scorer, Adam pipped @cookdnbombd by being 11 minutes closer to the first goal time. Well played sir, you have won a £30 voucher courtesy of our friends at Classic11.com
Thanks to everyone who entered!
To celebrate the return of the Premier League this coming weekend, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Classic11.com to give you the chance to win a £30 voucher for use over on the Classic11 website. With a huge range of vintage football shirts available, you’re bound to have your eyes on something if you browse through the collection.
To stand a chance of winning the prize, all you need to do is guess the score of Everton vs Tottenham…as played out on CM9798.
To give you a chance, here are the lineups for the game. I’ll record the whole game and upload it in case you want to re-live the action. I’ll also ask you to name who you think the first goalscorer will be and the time of the first goal just to act as tiebreakers in the event that more than one of you guess the score correctly.
How do I enter?
All you need to do is retweet this tweet and reply with your prediction, e.g. 6-6 Beardsley 31. If you don’t retweet, your entry won’t be counted.
Here are the teams…
For those interested in this sort of thing, the database hasn’t been touched and the managers are the late Howard Kendall and Christian Gross. The eagle eyed amongst you will notice both teams have made a few signings to try and improve their fortunes from the real life 97/98 season.
Get your predictions in now! Entries close on Saturday 13th August at 12pm UK time.
Warning! Boring explanation below:
How the tiebreak works
Let’s say two entrants predict the correct score. Everybody else is essentially eliminated at this point, leaving just the two correct entrants. If either entrant has got the correct first goalscorer, they will win. If both do, or indeed neither of you do, then it’ll go to your time of first goal guess. Whoever is closer will win. In the event that both entrants are equally incorrect (e.g. it is 80th and entrant said 75th and the other 85th) then the winner will be decided by a coin toss and I will question ever running something like this again.
Welcome back! We’ve had a nice close season break here at 97/98 towers but we’re back in business today as we kick off the 21/22 season.
Another new season is upon us and whilst you might think I’m running out of ways to be surprised, yet again this game has gone out of it’s way to not only pull a rabbit out of the hat but also kick me in the nuts. There are job changes galore, and as with seemingly every new season, we start with Bryan Robson
What a shock! Just 2 years after taking the Man City job, Robbo is off. To Everton. After guiding Man City to 15th, which is not an achievement, Everton came calling and, like every other offers he’s had, Robson couldn’t want to take it up. Good day to you.
That leaves a vacancy at Man City, and I just didn’t see this coming…
Beardsley is back in the big time! After previously giving up management to focus on his playing career, now that he’s 60 he fancies the dugout again and with his reputation somehow deemed “superb” he’s in at Maine Road. Sadly he has stopped short of picking himself so far but we live in hope.
So with Beardsley out of action for the time being, I need to look elsewhere for drama. The Charity Shield provides as much drama as a glorified friendly can.
Meanwhile over in Italy, we’re in the Champions League after our Serie A title last season. It’s a tricky group
Servette FC Geneva. Never noticed that being their full name but whatever. We’ve been decent, if not amazing after 4 games.
That may as well be our motto, look at how tight our defence is!
Goals are hard to come by but with 2 games in hand we could be top if we win even just one of them. It’s a very close league though and it’ll be interesting to see how it develops.
So, where is that drama I spoke of?
Yes please! Sack him! Go on, do it!!!
Thanks. Right, surely this is my time. I’ve won the Champions League numerous times, I’ve won each of the available domestic leagues and multiple World Club and Super Cups. It is a CV that can only be described as glittering. Surely for the love of the game and longevity of this blog they will give me this bloody job so I can cap a 60 year old Peter Beardsley and be done with it. Right? RIGHT?
Didn’t want it anyway. Shove it up your arse.
Hang about…
Yes, do that as well. Surely I’ll get this one
Good. I am eager to manage at the 2022 World Cup
The ultimate insult. I must be a better bet than this knacker?
This got me thinking, is it possible that because I have already managed Spain I can’t manage any other nation? I guess it’s possible, it’s a pretty weird thing to put in the game but I can’t recall even managing multiple national teams in a career. Tweet me if you have anything to add.
So where do we go from here? Well, David Platt goes to Chelsea.
But that is of little consolation. I’m absolutely crestfallen, to be honest. Here’s the table
Blackburn under Jimmy Clement (formerly Dion Dublin) have opened up a 5 point lead over Haslam’s Arsenal. Darlington sit 6th in the First Division, as they try to recover from Haslam’s stint as manager. Newcastle continue to tread water in the league sincem y departure.
Not happening for Liverpool under club legend player manager Des Rodosthenous, you’d think he would know about defending but obviously not. Chelsea seem good vlaue for money, Platt will soon see to that after Le Tissier’s seemingly cavalier style, whilst the Champions League campaign is taking its toll on Cardiff.
So as I contemplate what now, I’ll leave you with the managers reputation table and you can decide whether I should have got the England job or not. Think Drogba at the end of that Champions League match with Barcelona…
Looking for a holiday read? Check out CM97/98 on Amazon.
If you’ve purchased the book – thank you! Help me out by leaving a positive review 🙂
Hello! To help bridge the gap during the blog’s summer break, I’ve been speaking to a new blogger in the FM Community, JC_Greenarrow. James is writing an FM13 blog where he has started at Wolves in the Championship and I think you’ll all find it a very enjoyable read. But what brought James to the community? Has he lost days of his life to this series like the rest of us? Let’s find out.
Thanks for your joining me, JC. Can you tell us about your current blog
save?
So my current save is with Wolves on FM13. They’ve just been relegated
from the Premier League to the Championship and so I’ve set about
returning them to the Premier League and then trying to keep them there,
a feat that has eluded quite a few Wolves managers of the past. We’re
comfortably top at the moment, I think fifteen points with about eight
games to go, but we did just lose at Ipswich where we had about 16
chances and only took one, so I’m a little worried about our strikers
going into the run in!
What made you start writing?
My first real exposure to Football Manager writing was Alex Stewart’s
incredible Moneyball series for TheSetPieces, which was just fantastic,
and I still go back and reread them from time to time. Iain Macintosh’s
Everton save on the same website is also a wonderful series. There was
also a series by Charles Pulling where he tried to take Sporting Lisbon
to European glory in five seasons which I really enjoyed. Reading all of
these, I always wondered how I would put together a series. I was too
deep into another save at the time, but when I decided I needed a change
and began this Wolves save, I thought I’d take the plunge.
You use FM13 due to your laptop situation, would you say it was your
favourite version of the series anyway?
It is a fantastic version of the game – I’ve ploughed so many hours into
it! I haven’t played any version since, so I can’t say how it compares
now, but the line between the complexity of the game versus the ability
to play easily is well managed in this particular version.
I noticed you started with a version of CM2 – the foreign leagues to be
precise. What can you remember about that?
It was a copy lent to me by my pal when I was about 12 or 13 – our home
PC was pretty awful so I could never play any better version at the
time. It was a version that only allowed you to play French, Italian or
German teams. All the other teams in the world were there and you could
buy and sell to them but nothing more. I had a good Bayern save with
Effenberg and Kahn and Matthaus – and it was a real gateway into the
whole Championship/Football Manager world.
Everybody has their favourite save of all time – can you tell us about
yours please?
There have been a few but I’d say the save I’ve put the most hours into
on FM13 – Rangers. At the start of the game, they’re at the bottom of
the Scottish football pyramid and so I challenged myself to win the SPL
in five seasons – this would be three successive promotions and allowed
me a season to adapt in the SPL, and I did it, winning the SPL in my
fifth season. At the time, I was having great fun with it so carried on,
trying crack Europe, which we eventually did in 2020 by with the Europa
League and then the Champions League in 2024. I’m now in 2061 and we’ve
won the title every single season since and we’ve won something like 20
Champions Leagues along the way, including 11 in a row. It was only when
Luke Shaw, my assistant manager, retired that I realised how long I’d
been playing! I will certainly go back to it though.
Who do you support in real life? Do you prefer to avoid them on video
games?
I support Bristol City, my local team. I’ve generally shied away from
playing as them as I never seem to do well, and I’m not ruthless enough
to cut a player who I like in real life. I did have one relatively
successful save with them on CM 00/01 when I signed Stan Collymore to
score the goals to promote us, which he did, but we struggled the
following season, Stan went sour and I basically gave up! I’m happier
when others take City and do well, like Alex Stewart did.
Do you like the way the series has gone in terms of detail? Or did you
prefer the CM2/CM3 series?
The original series are great for picking up and rattling through a
season in half a day which can be great fun. But I think the interaction
of the newer series is vital to the whole experience, like the player
chats and the team talks and board interaction. The agents and their
fees annoy me but I guess they’re a realistic part of the game!
If you could make one change in a future FM, what would it be?
One problem I encounter a lot in FM13 is fixture congestion – so many
times, I’ve had fixtures laid out to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday, or even playing on an international week, when two thirds of
my squad are away. So this may be something they’ve implemented since,
but the ability to request a fixture rearrangement to avoid these
things. It happens in real life, so it’s no so outlandish.
Thanks again to James for taking the time out to chat to me. You can read JC Football Manager here or follow the man himself on Twitter
Meanwhile your dose of CM9798 will be back on August 7th but if you’d like to get caught up with the story so far, you can check out the season summary page. Tata for now.
Ciao! Welcome to the end of season 24. As you can see, I’ve submerged myself in Italian culture as I look to guide Milan to the Serie A title at my first attempt, whilst we’ve also got a Coppa Italia final to look forward to. That’s Italian for…nevermind. Manchester United are also looking for their first title since 2005, under the guidance of Scott Colcombe. I’ve finally researched who he is, and remarkably he starts the game on a free transfer having been released by Doncaster. Good grief. Let’s get on with it.
League Cup
So here goes Colcombe looking for his first trophy with Manchester United. In his way is former Old Trafford gaffer Matt Le Tissier and his Chelsea team
Obviously Le Tissier didn’t teach them his penalty technique. That might have helped. Colcombe is actually on for a treble, let’s see if he can add the FA Cup to his cabinet.
FA Cup
Relegation threatened Middlesbrough stand in his way, whilst Le Tissier is on course for revenge if they can see off First Division Sheff Utd.
Well knack me. It’s Le Tissier vs Colcombe again then, less than 2 months after they just met at Wembley.
REVENGE for Le Tissier. They may have lost their league crown but the FA Cup is not a bad consolation prize.
Incidentally I don’t know where else to post this. But AGF won the UEFA Cup. Eh!?
On we go then and there’s a very English Champions League lineup. Two English clubs, a Spanish team with an English manager and…Fiorentina.
Steve Haslam’s Arsenal are in the final! Newcastle ease past Unsworth too, are they going to make it three in a row?
Yes, yes they are. I’m pleased for them, though it does mean Damien Johnson is a Champions League winner. I’m not sure I like that.
Whilst we’re in Europe, let’s see if I can add Serie A winner to my CV. With one game to go, we’re heading for the dreaded playoff – if you weren’t aware, if the top 2 in Italy have the same points they have a playoff, regardless of goal difference. Will either team blink?
The fixtures are in our favour
Perugia are rock bottom and already relegated. Sampdoria have a much trickier trip to Cagliari.
We’ve got our bit done
YES CAGLIARI!
The title is ours
We thank Cagliari by beating them for the Coppa Italia
One goal over two legs, a real 90s Italian football fest there.
Back home and Colcombe is looking for the double, seeing as his treble dreams have ended. There’s actually very little drama, as the title is won with a few games to spare. Cardiff averaged very slightly over one goal a game on their way to 2nd, such a sought after season ticket.
At the bottom though, you’ll find Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Aston Villa…and sadly, Darlington.
Nick Barmby’s Boro are also relegated, but Darlington’s demise is a sorry one. All of that hard work undone. Well, sort of. I mean it is 24 seasons after I took over, so nevermind.
So before I wrap this up, we’ve gone nearly a whole post without mentioning Peter Beardsley. He helped Grimsby to 6th but they lost badly in the playoff semi final, so Division 3 again for Pedro. He is, however, staying on for another season. His contract runs out next season and I really fear for him but hopefully he renews.
With that, here’s the end of season awards
Arthur Joni you will of course remember is George Weah. Owen Wellens was one of my stalwarts at Darlington, ironically passing them in the football ladder. For good measure, here are the Italian awards
Serie A Top goalscorer…17. Wow. It’s not always the most enteraining league, to be fair.
That ends season 24, but I’m sure you are as excited as I am for season 25 which includes the 2022 World Cup – NOT from Qatar, but from Spain. I’m taking a small break but will be back in the first weekend of August. Toodles for now!
Scotland have made the World Cup Final! Catch up with how over on The Higher Tempo Press, or for more CM9798 check out the book on Amazon
Welcome back! As the sands of time move us into 2021, celebrations are in order for one of this blog’s favourite characters. There’s also some actual football, as we move towards the business end of the season, so without further delay, let’s crack on.
We may as well get this out of the way early doors. If you saw our Twitter midweek you’ll know that Peter Beardsley turned 60. In celebration of this achievement, there’s a tribute piece here looking at his career and a special celebration game where I took my Milan side to Grimsby. Whilst I contemplate what my life has become, we’ll check in on Beardsley later.
Back to the serious nature of the 20/21 season and we have our first final of the season
Last season’s Premier League champions edge past surprise package Hull, who have become a very good side under Paul Warhurst. Warhurst is of course a legend of CM days past so it’s maybe no surprise that even in managerial form, he is great. Man Utd are the table toppers so it promises to be quite the final.
We could be on for a repeat in the FA Cup too
Chelsea will expect to see off First Division Sheff Utd, whilst Nick Barmby’s Boro have their work cut out against Man Utd. Scott Colcombe has done a wonderful job at Man Utd, despite nobody knowing who he is.
English clubs are going very well in Europe too, although Le Tissier’s Chelsea have fallen to David Unsworth’s Real Madrid.
The last 4 lineup is quite interesting. Newcastle are of course going for a third consecutive Champions League, this time under Damien Johnson, whilst Real Madrid have fallen to Newcastle in each of the previous 2 seasons. Arsenal are now managed by Steve Haslam who has a pedigree of going far in tournaments…and then losing.
Fiorentina are a fine side, but seemingly not quite as good as my Milan side
You wouldn’t rule them out having a push at retaining their title, my form has faultered quite a lot over recent months and we’re hanging on to top spot. Although I have signed the famous Japhet N’Doram re-gen to help out (Manga Ayew from the Darlo days)
It says it all that my top 2 average ratings are my goalkeepers
So with just 8 games to go, we’re in pole position but we’ll see what we can do.
We’re still in the Coppa Italia too, which is nice
We’ve already taken out Roma, Fiorentina and Salernitana so Cagliari should be a walk in the park by contrast. It won’t be.
Back over in England and whilst it’s no surprise to see Man Utd top of the table, the rest of the top 5 is a little bit strange, certainly based on recent seasons. Is this a power shift in the Premier League hierarchy?
Champions Chelsea not even close to retaining though I supposei f they can win their games in hand it will look a bit more respectable. Meanwhile at the bottom:
It’s awful to see Darlington in this state, their new manager has had no effect. Sadly Steve Haslam hasn’t done much to help Arsenal either, despite their Champions League run, they are also in danger of the drop. Norwich are another of my former clubs so read into that what you will.
But we’ll finish as we started, with the great man now in his 60’s.
A goal every 5 games is pretty good, all things considered. His stats are on the steady decline again but, who knows why. Look at their form!
A 60th birthday and a promotion? Don’t bet against it. Join me next time as we find out exactly how well a 60 year old copes with playoff pressure…
Have you been following Scotland in World Cup 2002? If not check out their last 16 clash with Portugal here or the CM9798 book available on Amazon
Many happy returns are in order to Peter Beardsley, who has just turned 60.
Beardsley celebrated the last game of his 50’s by playing 54 minutes of Grimsby’s 3-2 win away at Southampton in Division 3, a remarkable 42 years since his debut for Carlisle in 1979.
A special Peter Beardsley Celebration game has been arranged, as AC Milan visit Blundell Park to pay tribute to the hero of the hour.
“I’m amazed even 8,000 people came,” explained Beardsley.
We’ll take a quick look at Pedro’s career during this save
After joining Bolton from Newcastle, Beardsley rammed in 15 goals on his way to keeping Bolton in the Premier League, with the Trotters finishing 14th. It’s relegation though in 1999, with no goals in 12 games Bolton finish 18th and drop down to the second tier, where they stay for a couple of season with Beardsley making minimal impact
As Beardsley turns 40, he is still picking up plenty game time at Bolton but when Jack Charlton retires from Middlesbrough, the call comes from the main man to take his first steps in management. It’s a Premier League job and Peter takes it very seriously, not picking himself for a few season. It’s all going so well with a 9th placed finish followed by a slightly less impressive 16th in 04/05, and the slide continues into 05/06 where Middlesbrough finish 18th and are relegated. Despite that, Beardsley keeps his job and brings the Boro back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. It’s all going well for Pedro as they finish 6th and 7th 2007/08 and 08/09 respectively. Beardsley then scores his first goal for Middlesbrough 7 years after joining them as they finish 13th in 09/10. Bitten by the bug, Beardsley scores twice the following season as the Teesiders finish 10th, and Beardsley makes 50.
Things start to unravel for Peter as Boro crawl to a 16th placed finish in 2012. It’s a sign of things to come as 12/13 sees Boro finish rock bottom, as Beardsley is relegated for a second time. After getting off to a sluggish start, Beardsley is dismissed from Middlesbrough in the 2013/14 season with the club 14th in Division 1. He doesn’t have to wait long before he is back in the game, with Rotherham offering him the position of player-manager for the 2014/15 season. Despite being 53, Beardsley picks himself for near enough every game and, even more remarkably, ends up being promoted to Division 2 via the playoffs. At the end of the 16/17 season, Beardsley’s stats have declined so much he is unrated in several categories as Rotherham as Rotherham maintain a midtable position in Division 2
After a few seasons of no progress, Rotherham sack Beardsley. Despite being 57, Grimsby and Plymouth both offer him a contract as a player only – Beardsley opts for Grimsby, presumably because they play in Black & White. Grimsby currently sit 6th in Division 3, with Beardsley a regular starter and even having filled in at centre half!
So here’s to you Peter Beardsley, 60 and still going strong. You’re never too old!
It’s season 24! Or if you prefer, the 2020/21 season. As the footballing world comes to terms with England winning their first tournament since 1966, this is a very different world. Barcelona will start the season in the second tier of the Spanish league, on the hunt for a new manager who can guide them back to the top. Newcastle also need a new manager, as I have left them after 8 years and multiple trophies. Where now? Taxi!
First up though, Barcelona appoint this chap as manager.
Toni has had 2 spells as Atletico Madrid manager as well as various other jobs across Italy and Spain since turning to management in 2000. Good luck to him.
I don’t want to drop into the second tier of anywhere so it is with great relief that a top European club comes calling
They have £170m in the bank and were champions just two seasons ago. Sign me up.
Serie A is not a league I’ve managed in during this save so it’s always good to complete the set of all 3 leagues. It seems to be a very tight league, looking at the history everybody has a chance
Cesena, for example, are now in Serie B. Verona feel the need to dispense with Carlo Ancelotti
Whilst we’re on a managerial tangent, David Platt is free to take over
Having been runner up in the league last season it hasn’t quite gone to plan in the opening 2 months so Platt’s away, and takes up the Verona hotseat. We’re not done though…
Steve! No! Haslam never really recovered from missing out on the quadruple (and actually winning nothing) in 17/18 so it’s a shame, but after narrowly escaping relegation last season it’s probably for the best. Long serving defender Chema is appointed, he’s played over 500 games for them so it’s probably wise.
Arsenal need a new manager and as is so often the way, Haslam is back in business
I also need replacing at Newcastle, lest we forget.
Never in my life did I imagine I would be replaced by Damien Johnson. Villa appoint former Athlete turned commentator in his place
Of course it’s a different Steve Cram but whatever. Liverpool’s beleagured boss also calls it a day
That was a disaster from start to finish
Long serving defender and former England international Des Rodosthenous is appointed. Good old Des.
Anyway, back to Italy and I’ve set about spending some money
Our first game is a cup win, a goal for Nicoletti is a common theme.
After a slow start, it’s not long before we’re firing on all cylinders
This was Udinese’s first defeat of the season. Shots fired.
Nicoletti has strange stats for a forward but an unbelievable goals return
We’re also in the Coppa Italia quarter finals
So a very promising start and we sit 3rd after 10 games.
When I arrived I would have settled for European qualification (we aren’t in Europe at all this season) but if we can put a run together there is nothing to fear in this league, it’s very strange.
Over in England, the traditional curtain raiser
Rubbish. Arsenal win on pens and Platt still resigns. Some people are never happy.
Man Utd are the early leaders, conceding only 3 is quite ominous but I didn’t expect to see Cardiff and Hull in 2nd and 3rd.
Newcastle are seemingly average without me, though Villa have nosedived without Damien Johnson.
Darlington and Aston Villa have watertight defences. That could be two former league winners going down.
So that brings us to the conclusion of this update but no new post is complete without dropping in on Peter Beardsley’s career
This will be the last update of his 50’s but I am planning a special Beardsley at 60 post to pay tribute to a playing career spanning over 40 years. I’m off to brush up on my Italian, see you again.
For more CM9798, check out my series over at The Higher Tempo Press or buy the book on Amazon
…we could dance it in France. The lyrics from Baddiel & Skinner’s Three Lions 98, as England prepared to travel to France for World Cup 1998. Here we are in 2020 and the lyrics are relevant again, as France prepare to host the 2020 European Championships in this fictional but captivating universe. Before all of that though, this will be my last update as Newcastle manager as I prepare for pastures new but can I go out retaining the Champions League? Will one of Europe’s biggest clubs get out of the relegation mire? Is this the longest introduction I’ve ever written? Get on with it!
We start, as ever, with the pointless cup
League Cup
It’s the final everybody wanted to see – Sheff Wed versus Norwich. Although I suppose if you want a back story, Sheff Wed appointed Norwich manager Dean Chandler back in the summer so maybe there’s some bad blood.
Great scenes as the first division club get the win. My former club of course…
FA Cup
So whilst a First Division club win the pointless cup, Division 3 champions Colwyn Bay are in the FA Cup semis!
Bryan Robson shoots down Bambi – see you later, no mercy. But we need a replay to separate Man Utd and Chelsea. Good of the FA to hav Man City play at Old Trafford and Man Utd at Anfield. I bet there was no trouble at all.
Anyway, Le Tissier gets the better of his former club and denies the world a Manchester derby final.
And so to the final then, and more white hot action
Le Tissier is actually chasing the double, which is where we’ll head next.
Premier League
I have outside hopes of making it 3 league titles in a row but with a 12 point gap to bridge we don’t really get close. Fortunately there are stories at the top and bottom with one game to go
It’s a nice story that David Platt has gone to Arsenal and done so well, and it’s a decent side note that Matt Le Tissier manages Chelsea, having been relegated with Arsenal but also won a league title with them.
It’s been a real fall from grace for Darlington. After blowing the quadruple in his frist season things have got steadily worse for Steve Haslam and they are surviving on goal difference alone with one game to go. To make matters worse, look who my last match is against…
I made Darlo a Premier League club so I don’t really want to relegate them, so playing out a 0-0 draw might not be enough. Meanwhile, that title race has gone right to the wire. Chelsea can seal the double with a win at Villa
Goodness me, drama! The door is ajar for David Platt’s Arsenal. All they have to do is beat already relegated Burnley
Oh my days. Wenger out. Platt out. Everybody out.
Darlo survive as Everton edge past Preston.
Leaving the final table looking like this:
Leeds’ first season in the top flight for 7 years sees them finsih a surprise 4th, but it’s a real hodge podge always. At the bottom…
Bad seasons for Darlington and Liverpool but they live to fight another day.
Champions League
So as I’ve failed to retain the title on a domestic level, can we at least do it in Europe?
West Ham ran us pretty close after a terrible 2nd leg performance but we hang on to book a final with Serie A champions Fiorentina.
So to the final, also in France to fit with the theme of this update
Woo and yay. That is my last match as Newcastle manager, and on my birthday no less.
There’s nearly a hat trick of English success
Bryan Robson going nuts in…Finland. I don’t know why.
In the final domestic action before we head off to Euro 2020, Barcelona are fighting for their La Liga lives. They’re making a fist of it too, and it all comes down to their final game.
Who are they playing?
Well it’s only their huge rivals Real Madrid, who under David Unsworth now have the chance to relegate their enemies whilst being presented with the La Liga trophy. Good grief.
Carnage. Barcelona will play in the Segunda next season, alongside Barcelona B. And Real Madrid B.
With that, let’s get to France. Here’s the England squad for Euro 2020
Euro 2020
I really want that England job, so I hope they depart in the groups. Sorry.
So this is a pleasing start.
Anybody who left this early is an idiot.
Back to England though and despite my centre half getting an early red card, England find a goal and keep themselves in the tournament. Rats.
Can Denmark get the job done for me?
Rubbish. It’s a quarter final for England, hopefully that’s as far as it goes. Here’s the final groups
I bet Spain are pleased they sacked their manager. Quarter final draw is out
Germany! You can always rely on them to get the job done
Germany lose their discipline and England run riot. Fuchs.
A re-match with Portugal then, who beat England in their opening game. Repeat please.
First though, Holland and Italy thrash it out and shock horror, the Dutch lose on pens
But who will face Italy in the final?
England are in the final! They couldn’t, could they? Italy won in 2012 and 2016 so they’ll be hungry for a hat trick
So, I’ll never be England manager. But really this is a momentous occasion, England have won the European Championships! A sign of things to come?
Off to Portugal in 2024
Let’s hand out some awards
It’s time to win manager of the year, hopefully that works in my favour when I murder Manuel Gagno and take his England job. Antonio Carlos (Ronaldo) is a worthy winner of football of the year.
Retirements time, and thankfully Beardsley isn’t one of them.
Look out for Beardsley at 60 in the coming weeks.
I didn’t even know Trapp was still managing, but as he’s jsut turned 81 I think this is for the best
Former Spain manager and current AC Milan manager Delio Rossi also quits
And, having failed to save Barca, Chano calls it a day. Again.
But that’s it, in just over 1000 words. Sorry about that. What will the 20/21 season bring? I dread to think. But I’ll be starting a new job, so that’s something. See you then!
For more CM9798, catch up with my Classic Championship Manager series or check out the book out now
Greetings. I usually avoid things like this but here we are.
As many of you will know, I write all sorts of Retro Championship Manager pieces for The Higher Tempo Press. That’s included a complete play through of the CM series, a save where I tried to build an entirely British team to win the Portugese league and now, in time for the summer of football, I am taking Scotland to World Cup 2002 (on CM01/02)
In part 1, I laid the foundations and took a huge leap towards qualification
Part 2 saw us seal our spot in the finals and documented the final preparations.
If you like this blog and want something extra to read during the summer, keep an eye on the Scotland save – I’m going to live text each of the group games and if we get through, who knows? Either way, hopefully it’ll be a laugh.
For those of you that are diehard CM9798 – don’t worry, there’ll still be a new blog this Sunday, and I promise I won’t bring any other saves to the blog ever again.