Longest Extra Time in Football Manager?

I am playing the games in Football Manager series ever since there was not even the 2D engine, but I never remember to have had such a long extra time. But I got it now and I think it's the longest extra time period in a football game in FM2009 - 8 minutes!!! Check and see for yourself (click the image, it's to small now) and tell me if you had similar long extra time periods in the game.

Ultimate FM 2009 Challenge: Andria First Season

I announced my Andria ultimate Football Manager 2009 challenge and, naturally, I kept playing. Although my team was dubbed for relegation (media predicted I will finish 16th), I still hoped deep inside for a great season and a promotion challenge, especially after two great signings.

But two players don't make a team and, even more, I still can't find a tactic to be satisfied with - no matter what I do, my forwards get very low ratings and barely score any goals. I even tried the good 532 tactic for FM 2009 I created during my Steaua Challenge, but it did not work.

However, I managed to get out of the Italian Serie C Cup group stages and the first round but I lost in the second round. However, my board was excited and the 3,000 EUR we won will be highly valued.
In the league, however, things are not looking very good. Most likely next season will see my Andria Bat team in the Serie C2/C once again, since the team is placed at number 11 after 26 games and the promotion candidates are 15 points ahead. And following a poor run of form from my team and some annoying tactical struggling where nothing seems to work, I doubt I'll have more luck by the end of the season and all I can hope for is a mid-table safe position.
However, during the season break a few quality player will join on a free transfer and hopefully next season I'll be able to promote with Adria, as planned. I only need to find that great tactic now :)

Wonderkid Update: Keirrison

I have found another great youngster to place on the ever growing list of Football Manager 2009 wonderkids. He is a 19 years old Brazilian player Coritiba named Keirrison, he valued at less than 4 million EUR, but I only took the screenshot after he signed the contract and his value increased. He looks like a solid, really good young player. Here is an image with Keirrison's skills.

Ultimate FM 2009 Challenge: Andria

Just like I announced yesterday, I kicked off my latest Football Manager 2009 challenge. After creating my profile I set myself to unemployed and let luck decide: I was not too lucky, since I got chosen as manager for minnows Andria Bat, Italian Serie C2/C relegation candidates.

However, according to the information screen provided by Football Manager 2009, this Andria team was the club where football legends like Cristiano Lupatelli, Gianluca Petrachi or Nicola Amoruso started their career! I hope I'll have at least a few youths in my setup to develop into players as good as these mentioned!


For now, I didn't even get to finish my friendlies with Andria since I kept searching for players and bargain buys - with no scouts, abysmal knowledge of the world and a "hefty" transfer budget of 11,000 EUR, I do not find myself in the best position ever. :(

However, I managed to snap for just 5k EUR this little jewel that performed well in training matches. Marco Malgioglio is really a great player but unfortunately his pace and acceleration stop him from being better. However, for the division I'm in, he's a jewel!


I was also impressed by this left winger I started with. He's the team captain and he's the best rated player for now, following the friendlies. Unfortunately Luigi Di Simone is 30 years old and I don't see him improving over the following years...


Now, let's get back to playing. Will my team manage to avoid relegation? I truly hope so, I plan to promote next season at most!

Back with a new challenge!

I am terribly sorry I could not update the blog anymore, but some horrible problems with my computer (a big bad virus) made it impossible for me to save anything. I had tried to create a backup of my save game with Steaua Challenge but unfortunatelly Football Manager 2009 kept crashing with the game loaded - I have no idea why.

So, even though disillusioned and ready to call it quits, I have decided to come back with the Ultimate Football Manager Challenge - I will start a game unemployed in Italy and try to bring the club that will want me to the first division. It will be an awesomly difficult job since I have no experience with playing in lower Italian leagues whatsoever and the wonderkids I found will certainly not accept joining my team.

I will play and keep you updated - probably no longer with wonderkids and top players, but with great players to buy for smaller teams. So tune in and let's keep it rolling. I hope that this time tehre will be no virus to stop me!