Planetcricket FM Monthly Challenge

[Burnsy1]

So finaly the big game arrived and I was having some doubts about what the outcome would be. Pre-game I decided a change of tactics would be the best idea and changed from a 4-3-1-2 to a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Also played about with my team instructions. And they worked. I managed to take the lead on the stroke of half-time with a Dawid Janczyk penalty. We managed to hold on until 81 mins when Ramon slotted in the second, coming off the bench to give us a 2-0 victory.

this victory puts us top of the Russian Premier Division while Spartak drop to 4th. 4 wins in 4 league games and so far an entirely undefeated season having won every game we've played. Hopefully we can keep this up with our next match home against Khimki who are currently 10th. So far really enjoying taking part in this challenge.

 

[Burnsy1]

Or maybe ignore that as FM crashed while processing after the Khimki match and I hadn't saved so have to go back and play the Spartak game again now:doh. Unfortunately now I doubt I'll win it again. Also annoyingly beat Khimki 3-0 keeping the winning streak going and also continuing a season without conceding which is annoying. Oh well will play it again and post the results screen shot.

 

[treva]

Bummer!

I am enjoying this challenge but getting very frustrated with my Spartak side. I continue to draw against sides we should be beating, and it doesn't help when you have two players sent off in the same match.

Got bottom of the league before the big clash with CSKA. Both games are must win...

 

[Sureshot]

What's the deadline for this?

I'd love to do it, and hope I could squeeze in a season, but that is normally around 20 hours gameplay for me. How many match-days in a season?

 

[treva]

The deadline will be say the end of the first week in October. If you get a few hours in a week you should finish in time.

 

[Burnsy1]

Played my Spartak game again and tbh, I'm pretty glad I've had to redo my game against Spartak, as I have instead walked away with a 3-0 victory again putting us top of the Russian premier division. Stuck with the tactics I had changed to in the original match and they seemed to pay off.

Has been a blessing in disguise FM crashing as it has allowed me to get an even better result. Played games against Khimki and Saturn picking up victories in both keeping us top of the RPD while Spartak are sitting in 3rd. Continues both a season without loss or draw and a season without conceding. Has to be one of the most successful season starts in any FM game I've played. Still looking for a Vagner Love replacement and a back up defender.

just for proof of my excellent start here's my fixtures/results list.

just have to hope this brilliant form continues and we can come out on top come the end of the season.

 

[treva]

Should've made this challenge for CSKA only

 

[Burnsy1]

had the crashing problem again but had saved after the Spartak game so only had to redo the Khimki and Saturn games with a reverse of the originals with a 3-0 victory and a 2-0 victory over each team respectively. Continued the streak with a 1-0 home win against FC Moscow. Unfortunately the run had to come to an end with a 2-1 victory over Dinamo Moscow ending Akinfeev's 13 game streak without conceeding. However 14 victories on the trot is impressive enough. Just got to hope the great form keeps going.

 

[PhilD123]

Just had one of them annoying games you get every so often on FM, Uefa Cup 1st leg against PSV, they go ahead early on, then I dominate the game from there on, their keeper had a belter and Vagner Love had a stinker, had 17 shots to their 3 but still managed to lose 1-0.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Should've made this challenge for CSKA only

In my game Spartak are really a great side and currently lead the table in August even though they lost their game against CSKA.

 

[Burnsy1]

also in both the games I've played Spartak have been odds on favourites. won my second game against Spartak and the winning streak is now up to 30+ games competative and non competative. I'll post some screenies up later. need to slow down aswell nearly done my season already. Good job I'm at college full time monday onwards.

 

[blake]

Sigh. Just wrote up a massive report about my team for my internet to freeze and all of it erased.

Anyway, summary...

Dominating league, certainties for title, signed Humberto Suazo who has 17 goals in 23 games for the league, signed Brazilian Ronaldo.. beat Club Brugge and FC Nantes in Champions Cup to progress to group stages alongside Real Madrid, Dinamo Kiev and Olympiakos, looking strong in Russian Cup.. beaten Spartak twice from two derbies.

Yeah.
CSKA win.

P.S. Sign Humberto Suazo, he's a legend.

Rivalry Match 2
Last Result Spartak Moscow 0-2 CSKA Moscow

League Standings

 

[blake]

Update:

Posted a thumping 4-0 win over Zenit. They are the only team that has actually beaten me this season so it was great to get one back over them. The match started in fine fashion as Yury Zhirkov thumped a free kick from an incredible 35 yards out into the back of the net.. I was delirious. We were 4-0 up after half-time but I told them to take it easy..

Ronaldo's returned from injury, so hopefully he will start next game. He's only played two competitive matches for me but has one assist and one goal to his name, so I want some more value out of him.

 

[blake]

I've finished the Monthly Challenge.

Win the league: 40 points
1 position ahead of rival: 30 points
14 points ahead of rival: 70 points
2 wins against rival: 30 points
4 goals against rival: 12 points
1 clean sheet against rival: 5 points

Final Score: 187 points

Possibly could've done slightly better - it would've been handy if Spartak didn't play so well towards the end of the season, but I'm happy with my results. 2-0 and 2-1 in the matches against Spartak towards my side.

Here's the final screenshots showing my league victory and the final table.

Unfortunately, I lost to Amkar in the Russian Cup 7th Round. Zenit also got knocked out by underdogs.. so I wasn't alone..

Meanwhile, I have one match left in the group stages of the Champions Cup. A very precarious situation.

We are on 9 points from 5 games, in second position. Dinamo Kiev are on 7 points. We have a goal difference better than theirs by 4 overall.

Now, for the final match, we are up against Real Madrid whilst Dinamo take on Olympiakos. Olympiakos have four losses and one draw from their matches, so they have been poor this competition. Dinamo are huge favourites to win.. and if they do, that will take their points to 10.

This effectively means we need to draw against Real Madrid to progress.. and after they flogged me 3-0 last time I'm not confident.

Even if we do draw, there is a possibility Dinamo will win by 4-0 or more and then we won't go through anyway.

Well, I'm praying for an Olympiakos win or a draw.. and my team to stand up against Real.

Should be an interesting final game.

 

[mattfb]

Nice work Blake!

I got fm 09 the other day so I haven't been doing this. I'll play fm 08 until I finish this or do a fair bit and do the rest of the challenges on 09.