Mole J's Football Manager Story

Offered a new contract.

2005-11-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

I just accepted a new contract from the chairman, Marcio Heuser. It raised my pay to $425 per week and extended my stay at CFZ Brasilia until 2008. Unfortunately, with the financial situation at the club, we still do not have any transfer budget and the wage budget is around $13,500 per week.

I got three more years to try to move this team up the top league in Brazil. I know I have several holes in my team and I hope to fill these holes in the off season, but for now I am concentrating on going as far as I can into the playoffs.

Christian comes to the team.

2005-11-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

The day following the match was the transfer deadline. I had inquired about a striker from Gama, Christian. He was a 25 year old at 5 foot and 8 inches and 165 pounds. They accepted an offer of $5K paid over 12 months. He had all the makings of a good striker and very athletic.

With Gauchinho out for the next match, Christian will start the next match. So, I will find out immediately good or bad he is.

First Leg of the playoff

2005-11-11T20:16:00.000-08:00

The first leg of the playoff we played Treve at home. The scout report said they had a slow attack. So, I decided to play a 442 attacking formation with most of my players running forward during the attack. Two of my players returned from injury, Ricardo and Mauro. They went straight into the starting line-up. My starting 11:

GK- Ricardo
DR- Erivélton
DL- Carlos Eduardo
DC- Ariel
DC- Ademir
MR- Fabiano
ML- Marcelinho
MC- Renan
MC- Kabila
FC- Gauchinho
FC- Mauro

Gauchinho got a very early shot but missed. Then the referee called foul on Erivelton for holding in the penalty box and awarded them a penalty shot. Ricardo made the save on the penalty shot and Carlos Eduardo cleared the ball. Score stayed 0-0.

They continued to control the ball and got some shots on goal. However, Ademir made a great defensive tackle to prevent a shot and Ricardo saved a shot.

Then we started to get some shots on goal. Mauro crossed the ball with both Gauchinho and Fabiano near the end of the cross, but their GK tipped the ball away. Then Mauro got the ball near midfield and both him and Gauchinho break toward the goal. Mauro passed to Gauchinho in the box. Gauchinho shots but the GK saved the ball again.

Right before halftime, they had an easy goal. But, Rapheal for them missed the shot. We went into half time with the score even. At half time I wanted us to play more patient and not attack as much. I told the defense not to push up so far during attacks.

The second half started and almost immediately, Rapheal scored them after he skipped past Ariel and shots and scored. They went up 0-1. Things slowed and in the 66th minute I brought on Wallace for Renan at MC and Juan Jose Perez for Marcelinho at ML.

We went to more attacking football as we chased the goal. Gauchinho got two more shots from inside the box, but one the GK saved and the other he sent wide. Then in stoppage time, Wallace finds himself open in the box with an easy goal, but the GK saved yet again. The time ticked away and we left the match down by one goal, 0-1.

Down by one goal, we go to their home field and without our star striker Gauchinho. He hurt his ankle in the match when he landed on it heavily and twisted it. He will be out for about 2-4 weeks. Mauro will have to have good match on Sunday if we are to advance in the playoffs.

New signing

2005-11-10T03:54:00.000-08:00

I have just signed Joaquin Martinez, a new Sweeper/Central Defender. He is only 20 years old from a Columbian team, CCD Tulua. I paid $14,000 which I am paying in monthly installments, since I have no tranfer money available.

He is 5' 8" and 158 pounds. He is good at defense, tackling, passing, and fairly quick and also works hard. I am expecting him to be starting for our team next year at central defender. He will not join the team until next year after his contract is up with his current team, which will be February 1, 2006.

Mauro at a press conference.

2005-11-10T03:46:00.000-08:00

During a press conference with Mauro today, a reporter asked him about him wanting to move to another club. He said he now wants to stay here and help me build the club so he can win trophies and medals here at CFZ Brasilia.

Fairly happy with his comment. As he is easily one of my best strikers. He has 11 goals in 10 matches. Him paired with Gauchinho is a great front line maybe one of the best in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie C.

Lately, my team has struggled some in matches, probably because Mauro has been hurt. Also another factor is Ricardo my Goal Keeper being injuried. Both have returned now just in time for the playoffs. Hopefully we can run off a few wins and go deep into the playoffs.

Mauro Unhappy

2005-11-09T22:33:00.000-08:00

When Mauro was first injuried his arm about two weeks ago, I asked him to a shot so he could play in the next match which was a big match for us. However, he refused the rejection and was seemed angry that I had asked him to take the shot.

He returned practice and on the way off the field he told a reporter that he felt like he needed to move to another team in order to win trophies. After this the reporter asked me for a response. I told the reporter I wanted to keep Mauro because he is a very good player and I hope that he could get trophies here at CFZ Brasilia.

Mauro is no considering his options and thinking about trying to move somewhere. He has signed a three contract, so he is here for almost three years. I do not have any plans to sale him, unless a team comes in with a good price.

Maybe if we make it far in the playoffs, he may change his mind, I guess only time will tell.

Make the playoffs!!!

2005-11-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

Although we played very flat. We backed ourselves into the playoffs, because Anapolina lost to Juventude (MT) 0-1. This match allows me to go to the playoffs. Also my injuried Goal Keeper has returned to training and will probably play in my next match. Also Mauro (second in number of goals on my team) returned to practice, but unsure if he will be a go. The final table is:
Final Table

In the playoffs I will face Treze. I do not know much about this team, so I will have to get some scout reports and see how things go. Right now I am 9-4 underdogs with Treze even favorites.

Disappointing

2005-11-09T21:44:00.000-08:00

Going into the last match of the season, a match I needed to win or tie in order to secure a playoff position. The game was against Villa Aurera. I had won an earlier match at their place. I was 5-4 favorites, so I felt pretty good going into this game.

My starting lineup is as follows:

GK - Julio
Right Defender - Erivelton
Left Defender - Carlos Eduardo
Central Defender - Ademir
Central Defender - Juan
Left Midfielder - Marcelinho
Defensive Midfielder - Maninho
Attacking Midfielder - Wallace
Right Midfielder - Fabiano
Forward - Leo
Forward - Ricky

This match was 3 days after the match on Sunday, so some of my players were very tired. Having tired players I was unable to start the team I would like. Also I have some injury, the biggest is my Goal Keeper, Ricardo. Julio is a very weak Goal Keeper. With Julio starting I started a Defensive Midfielder to hopefully help my defense. Played a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. I wanted to attack this team, so I had a lot of players pushing up and joining in the attack.

The match started, it started bad. In the 8th minute Bide scored for them. Then 13 minutes latter, Marcelinho fouled one of their players in the penalty box and the referee awarded them a penalty. Thiago converted the penalty and they lead 0-2. We could not keep possesion of the ball and keep turning it over. Things were not looking good. However, we started playing better and in the 34th minute Wallace scored off of a cross from Marcelinho. We dodged a bullet before the half with them almost scoring a third goal.

At half-time, I told my team we could win this game if we played better and tried to encourage them. In addition, I brought Renan at Defensive Midfielder, moved Maninho to Right Midfielder as Faviano was very tired. Replaced Ricky at forward with my goal scorer Gauchinho.

The second half it was more of the same. They controlled the ball mostly and us unable to gain control of the ball. I switched formation to a 442 hoping to have more control in the middle of the field. In the 58th minute I brought on Juan Jose Perez at Left Midfielder for Marcelinho. In the 73th minute, I almost got the goal with a header going over the goal. In the 82nd minute, I switched to a 433 trying to get that illusive equalizing goal. In stoppage time several times I almost gave up another goal. The game ended with them controlling the ball and we lost 1-2.

In my post game talk with the team, I told them that the other team were just the better team that day. No one turn out a good game, everyone was just bland. While this was our only lost at home, but may prove to be a big lost.The press report:
screenshot

My first season so far.

2005-11-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

I was hired as the manager of CFZ Brasilia on January 30, 2005, to a one year contract. The board had no transfer money available and a wage budget of 13.2k per week. The chairman, Marcio Heuser, welcomed me to the club with the expectations of investing in new players to improve the team in the future. With no transfer money available this would be difficult, but I like chanllenges.

I did not clean house when I first came in like some managers. I decided to work the the current staff, but also bring in new members. My staff when I first came to the club consisted of two coaches (Zeca Albuquerque and Roberto Borba), one physio (Francisco Correia), and one scout (Flavio Rech). Knowing I had to increase my staff, I immediately started accepting applications for an ass. man., coaches, and scouts. Within a few months I had brought in Silvio as my ass. man., Isoton as coach, and Jeferson Luiz Guerreiro, Ezio as scouts. Latter, I decided I needed more physios, so I brought on Nicolas Martelotto and Ricardo Takahashi.

My playing squad was small with only 16 players. My squad had the following players:
Goal Keeper - Ricardo

Right Defender - Erivelton, Rodrigo, Wellington
Center Defender - Ademir, Juan, Melo
Left Defender - Carlos Eduardo

Right Midfielder - none
Center Midfielder - Wallace, Kabila, Maninho, Leo
Left Midfielder - Marcelinho

Striker - Gauchinho, Ricky, Igor

As you can see, my first problem was I had no right midfielder, so I decided to play Maninho at right midfielder until I could bring in a new player to fill this spot. Also I was very thin in some positions. So, my only option was to send my scouts out to look for new players. Another problem I had was some of the players were on part-time contracts, this keep some players from training and committing to the club as much as I would like. So, I decided to offer these players new contracts to allow them to play full-time for the club, and they all accepted the new contracts.

After a few months I had brought in 7 players.
Goal Keeper - Julio

Center Defender - Ariel

Left Midfielder - Juan Jose Perez
Center Midfielder - Renan
Right Midfielder - Fabiano

Striker - Mauro, Petriaggi Diego Rivelinho

Most of these were picked up from free transfer, so I did not have to pay anything for them. The only exception was Juan Jose Perez who I brought in from Columbia, paying a Columbian team 2k over 6 months.

I decided I would run an attacking 442 formation with some varying instructions to the players and the team depending on the teams I am playing and different situations. My defensive tactic is zonal marking, with both my right and left defender tight marking. Also both my center midfielders pressing and tight marking. Also, I have my team always looking to counter attack.

When I came onboard, the team was already involved in the state championship (Campeonato Brasiliense). I had to go with the team I had and hope to pull out some wins. We played good, finishing at 5 wins, 3 draws, and 2 loses. But, I finished 3rd in my group and missed the playoffs by 3 points. The final table in my group was the following (Top two qualifying for the playoffs, [3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a lose]):

Brasiliense - 25 points
Lusiania - 21 points
CFZ Brasilia - 18 points
Paranoa - 9 points
Santa Maria (DF) - 7 points
Dom Pedro II - 5 points

The second group finished as the following (top two qualifying for the playoffs):
Gama - 26 points
Ceilandia -20 points
Guara - 17 points
Bandeirante (DF) -13 points
Sobradinho - 7 points
Unai - 2 points.

The playoffs are played by the 4 teams playing each other twice (one home and one away). The team with the most points won the Campeonato Brasiliense. Brasiliense went on to win the championship with an impressive 15 points, only lossing one match (to Gama 4:1) after they had won the championship. The final table:
Brasiliense - 15 points
Gama - 13 points
Ceilandia - 4 points
Luziania - 2 points

I had some players play very well during the state championship with Gauchiniho scoring 13 goals in 10 matches and tied for second in the Campeonato Brasiliense in goals scored, also he set a record of 5 man of the match awards. Both Wallace and Kabila had 4 assists and were tied for forth in the Campeonato Brasiliense for assists.

With the Campeonato Brasiliense over, I started turning my attention to the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie C. with 126 teams vying for two spots of going up to the higher league, Campeonato Brasiliero Serie B. We were put in group 16 with Gremie Inhumense, Anapolina, Juventude (MT), Ceilandia, Viala Aurara, Uniao Rondonopolis, and Gurupi. I have to play each team in my group twice (one away and one home).

Up to the present, I sit on top of the table by 3 points with one match to go.
League table
The final match will decide everything, we win or draw, we head to the playoffs. Lose we have to hope either Gremie Inhumense or Anapolina loses or we are out. So, tomorrow is the big day. Hopefully we can pull out an easy home victory to head to the playoffs.