New Beginnings & Old Dreams; Episode 1: Return of the Mack

Well, hello there.
Welcome back! Let's get right into the nitty-gritty!

Last we spoke, the Superliga club in my old town, Silkeborg IF, had offered me the job. 
I, of course, took it without even looking at the current situation, because I had always dreamed of playing for the first team and now I had the change to manage them.
So it was, somewhat, an easy decision.
As you know, I had finally gotten the Ballinamallard board to approve going pro and I was starting top build a strong team with a good mentality.
It was a little hard, telling them that I wanted to leave, but, sometimes you just have to go with what your heart tells you.

(Of course there is an appropriate tune for this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB1D9wWxd2w)

Right, Silkeborg IF. What kind of a beast is this fabled club, that you've heard me talking all this crap about?
The history of the club is alright. We've won the Championship once, in 1994 with an enthusiastic and attacking style of play. Back in the '90s, there was an international tournament called: The Intertoto Cup. Silkeborg won it in 1996, which was a fantastic achievement. But, then several years without anything followed and in 2001, they won the Danish Cup. Got relegated in 03, promoted in 04, relegated, promoted, relegated, promoted.
It has been a frustrating time, being a SIF fan. 
So what did I take over?
A club, fighting against relegation, but asking for a top-half finish.
That was a big ask, but I obvs said that I could do it with a smaller budget than they'd given me.

But, let us look at the Squad:

So the first team is pretty damn decent. There are some players that could easily play in the Premier League.
A couple that sticks out, from the first view, is (from the top), Svenn Crone, Anders Hagelskjær, Mads Emil Madsen, Mark Brink, Jonathan Canto, Jeppe Okkels og Magnus Mattsson.
These guys are the golden guys and apart from Svenn, they are all young.
Yes, I know. 28 is young and the prime for a player, but I want to build my team around a young core. And by young, I mean 24 or younger.
But why do I like these guys so much?
Well, take a look at this slideshow.

Look at these guys! They are definitely something special.
Now, as the reader with the keen eye has noticed, Mads Emil is representing Hull. 
They offered me 67.5 million Dkk, which is a lot of money.
So, I had to take it. I could use the money anyway. So, out he went. 
And he has become a star player and already played 4 games for them. Do I miss him? Of course! Would we have been better with him? Sure thing.
Did I really need the money? Hell to the yeah!
So though I didn't really want to, he wanted to move to Hull and the choice was, in the end, pretty easy.
What done is done! And I need a keeper anyway, so the money won't sit long in the bank.
Canto is also a player that sticks out. Young, South American and with a 4-star potential.
I mean, he can be a world-beater! Or at least a Scandi-Beater!
Hagelskjær in the defence is also a great talent that I am lucky to have. I'm sure that I'll have to fight off some clubs, once we finish the season. Regardless if we get relegated or not. But hopefully not!
Obviously Magnus is another player to keep an eye on.
I'm, not going to delve into the reserves, as there’s not really anything there. I've already done the preliminary work and sussed out the keeps and let go's.
My rule is a little weird and some might even say, slight nationalist?
I don't want any Swedish players, regardless of who they are. Obviously Zlatan is always welcome, but that is a luxury problem. But that means that my star defender, Andreas Murbeck, will have to go. He is young, talented and a good player, but those are the terms and conditions.

Right, enough about that. 
Finances:

Yeah, this is NOT a healthy club. So I'm sure you understand why I had to sell Mads Emil.
I'll get you another screenshot, in the next update. 
But yeah, this needs work. Making this club healthy, is going to take something extra.
The only real income, is the sponsorship, and then we pay out a tonne on wages, so nothing really makes any sense financially in this club.
I get the feeling, that I have bitten over too much.
Maybe I should have stayed at Ballinamallard, at a club where I had gotten everything in order, both financially and professionally.
Well, it is no use crying over spilt Irn Bru.
Cos you just drink it off the floor/table/cushion/carpet/baby/pet/controller/remote/console/laptop/keyboard.
So we know that I have quite a challenge on my hands.
Fighting a financially poorly run club as well as relegation is a mountainous task.
But, this is my club. This is my dream. From playing in the shadows of the stadium that saw the Championship win, to saving the club from relegation and financial trouble and administration.

Staff? Are they anything to rave about?

... Absolutely not. The spike you see in the attacking column? That's me. I'm literally the best at the club, and I've never even coached at this level and only just got my Continental A license.
Surely there should have been someone at the club, who should have rivalled me? No?

Well, I am going to need to hire a lot of good people, if I am to turn this club around.
Should I for some international stars?
Maybe. I don't know. I haven't really thought that far ahead. 
I'm still coming to terms with the task that I have accepted and if its something that I should have done it at this time in my career.

But I arrived in Silkeborg. Blue eyed and bushy tailed and with a feeling of relief, as I got out of the car in familiar surroundings. The classic: "Honeeeeyyyyy... I'm Hooooome!" rang from my mouth. It felt good.
But there was not much time to relax. I had three days until the first match against AAB.

November and The Fabulous First:

As you can see, they came off two defeats, but with a new man, a local man, in charge, the mood was high and expectation also.
AAB is a good team and tend to always hover around the top 6. So it was a tough test. But there is always the "new manager boost" that a lot of teams tends to get and I was hoping that my arrival, would bring in something extra.
The tactical approach had been a counter attacking one and I have always wanted to be the attacking side and control the game. Regardless of the opposition.
But, I had to get of to a good start, so I set up in a somewhat classic, 4-2-2-2. I wanted to make sure that my defence would not get overrun and that my midfield would control and stifle any attacks. Yeah, it does leave a lot of distance in the middle, but long balls is the way forward for now.
So I set the team and got ready to see how we would do.
And boy was I surprised.

We played really, really well. We got off to a really good start and just controlled the game after that. They did equalise in the first half, but there was a strange feeling of us just never really being at risk of loosing. It was weird. I felt confident in these guys.
But I had to wait until the death of the game before we scored and secured all three points.
How important would that turn out to be? Off to a winning start at least. I had a couple of games before the winter-break, where I was planning to overhaul the staff and the squad. I had spotted a couple of places, where we were vulnerable. Specifically in goal and the defence. As I mentioned earlier, I had already seen that a couple of PL and CH clubs where hovering around Mads Emil and a couple of other players, so I knew that I could sell a couple and reinvest.
November came and went pretty fast and the next game, was against Copenhagen. The most successful club in Denmark, but they were currently in a slump. So I had some hope.

December and the Upside Down:

What? Really? A WIN against Copenhagen?! Yes! I know! I was as shocked as you lot.
Let's take a look.

We grabbed the game, really early on with a quick brace and then let them back in, just before the half.
With every highlight, I could see that they were all over us in the middle of the park, so I had to change formation and give the guys some more power in the middle.
Using a DM had proven to be pretty important, as Ibsen kept playing the role of bin man.
Into a 4-1-2-2-1 we went and that bought some balance to the game. They had a lot of shot and most of the ball, but everything was from the distance (3 on target out of 15) and we kept stressing them with fouls and throw-ins.
When the whistle blew, I felt pretty tired. It was stressful, because keeping a team like FCK from scoring, when they are dominating, is a tough one.
But we did it and suddenly we have 6 out of 6 points.
I was on a roll!
Now, Midtjylland are our rivals. We don't like them at all. They are a "fusion club", where as we are a one town club. So we obviously feel more "real" and "true" than them.
But they are good. They are very good. In real life, they wont the Championship by some distance.
And, full disclosure, they gave me my first Danmarksserie match. Yes. I'm a Judas.
I actually made the forbidden switch from my home-town team, to the neighbouring town.
And if you ever think that it doesn't really matter, then let me tell you something.
We always tend to get drawn in the same league/group, so there are always at least 2 games every season against them. The first time I played for them, in my own hometown, I was met with bloody banners that called me Judas! They booed me, tackled me hard and always man marked me. I scored, because I was faster, but every game I left with a new bruise or scar.
Fun!
But Midtjylland was the game 0-1 which is absolute acceptable!
Honestly. I thought they were going to destroy us! But we held our own and I was very proud of the lads.
The last game before the break, was against Næstved, who were 1 point ahead of us in the table. So a win would do us really good here.

We absolutely dominated them. From start to finish. They barely touched the ball and when they did, they lost to a high pressing and aggressive Silkeborg IF. I was thrilled! We were playing like our lives depended on it.
I mean, they did. But still. The response since I had taken over, was fantastic. Exactly what I had hoped for. Though, I had to try a couple of different tactics and I am a little ashamed to say, that all 4 games, where with different formations and tactical approach, both before and during the games.
So I had kinda hobbled myself by not honing their skills with a specific tactical approach.
But, my reason is this,
The winter break in Denmark is long and during that time, I'd arrange a lot of friendlies and get the guys in shape and bang up their tactical knowledge.
Add to that a couple of new players and coaches and then we'd be golden.
My only goal for the first matches, was to get above the relegation zone with at least 3 points.

We finished the first half with some redemption.
From hovering 1 point above the line, to being 10'th and 5 points above the drop.
I was pleased.

So, with the winter break now upon us, I could shift my focus to the staff and the team.
My first goal was revamping the backroom.
And I saw a guy, whom you might know, was available.
So I had to make an offer.
Enter, this legend.

How about that. And on a free! I mean, that is perfect. I added a bunch of young and talented Danes and suddenly my Backroom staff was looking like this.

That is almost erotic!
With a good backroom in order, I changed my sights to the team.
As mentioned earlier, Mads Emil had already garnered attention from several English clubs. I put him on the list and offered him to them and Hull took the bait and met the asking price with the first offer.
67.500.000 Dkk or 8.1£ Mill.
That is a lot of money for a club that is struggling financially.
So away he went in January.
But I obvs had to find someone to replace him and my scouts had told me about a transfer listed English kid, called Jared Toyne.
Jared. The name alone made me not want him, so I binned the report and told them to find me a winger/striker.
A week later, they came back with a high recommendation of this transfer listed English kid....
Fuc*ing JARED TOYNE again!!!
Honestly? Why? What's up with this guy?
Fine, let me take a look.

Fu*k me! What a player! And City only wanted 2£ Million for him!? Surely there is something we're all missing here.
But look at those attributes!

All that. For 2 million pounds. No buy back. No Sell on?
I can't figure out what the deal is here. Honestly.
I'm still not sure. There MUST be something that I am overlooking.
Please, if you guys can see what I'm not, please do tell me!
Cos, I think I just signed an absolute superstar!
He'll obviously be too big for my club in a couple of years, but until then. He is mine!

In the meantime in my U/23's, this was going on:

I had this kid running around, stealing the hearts of massive clubs! He has 2 years left on his contract, so give me what I want of buzz off.
I set the price at 10£ Million and thought no more of it.
He is not leaving, unless they're paying!

But the team was now set for the friendlies.
And it looked like this:

This is the way forward for the break. I've got plenty of games sorted and I'm expecting good results.
I'm still looking for a keeper and a defender, because Romo is old and Hedvall is not good enough. Also, I know that my young defender, Thøgersen, is leaving the first chance he gets. So, no point in keeping and losing the money by letting him leave for free at the end of his contract.
That would be monumentally stupid!

But the schedule for the break looked like this.

As you can see, it is a bag of mixed berries, but it is looking good though. You can see the game, when the guys are getting used to the tactic and when they are starting to jell.
At the time of writing this, I've launched a bid on a keeper, had a couple of bids on Romo and another bid from a big club on Thøgersen. He is obvs unhappy, because I keep rejecting them, so we'll see when he's had enough.
But that is for the next one!
For now, let us enjoy the lovely weather and the fact that I somehow managed to bullshit my way to the job at Silkeborg IF.
Though, I am pretty hopeful.
9 points out of 12, where the only loss was against the team topping the table.
I mean, that is just too good.

Thank you for tuning in and I will see you on the next one!