What's your FA history?

Football Academy · Cult Status

What's your FA history?

Luke_C · Cult Status

- How did you come across FootballAcademy?

Through the CardiffCity messageboard where Rich posts. I randomly clicked on a thread called info lol

- When did you join?

I joined at the start of the new game (I think) and this is now my forth season in the game.

- Whats your managerial career look like?

Season one Promotion Via the play/offs to the Premiership.

Season two 8^th place finish and safety

Season three Left while the club was 5th^th with a few games to go they safely finished 5^th

Season four Only two games into the season but top the league for now lol

Season information

Season one

My first season in the game and as with most mangers I made a few mistakes but still managed to bring in some quality. West Ham and Newcastle were much stronger that year and I finished in the play/offs in 3^rd position.

Season two

This was the toughest season to date and the biggest learning curve of my career. Young players alone were no longer enough so the squad was tweaked and safety guaranteed with room to breath with an 8^th place finish. The squad continued to build towards a bright future with talented youngsters and experienced quality players to balance.

Season three so far

Left ManchesterCity in week 20 while the club was in a strong 5^th position to join AC Milan for a new challnage.

- Favourite feature of FootballAcademy?

I like the general update, I enjoy looking through the squads seeing who has improved and who hasnt and seeing what youth has been added. Also like the scouting market as the transfer market can become a bit erratic

- Favourite/most memorable moments of FootballAcademy?

Signing Iniesta from Barceona was a major step to improving Man City while in the championship but the most memorable has to be winning the play/off final to gain promotion to the Premiership especially as I had two keepers out and had to use a trial keeper for the final.

-- Edited by Milan at 20:01, 2008-12-16

Rhino · Cult Status

Richard you may have to correct me as im not 100% sure on timescales.

How did you come across Football Academy? Internet search.

When did you join? Not 100% sure if it was season 4 of the old game

Whats your managerial career look like?

Werder Bremen Won the league and cup
Man Utd One and half seasons
Hertha Berlin 1 season
Atletico Madrid 1 season
Spurs 1 season
Man City currently

Favourite feature of Football Academy? FA Radio...when im not on!

Favourite/most memorable moments of Football Academy? In my first season winning the German league and cup with Bremen, and the lovely banter i had with Stu...Which im sure will return soon.

Chris

-- Edited by Rhino at 20:05, 2008-12-16

Simon · Cult Status

- How did you come across Football Academy?

Well, isn't it obvious? Some weird guy told me about it

- When did you join?

Season 1 of old FA and all 11(ish) seasons through to the current one

- Whats your managerial career look like?

Old FA:
Season 1 - West Brom - automatic promotion in 2nd place from League 1 to Championship (D2 to D1 in those days!)
Season 2 - West Brom - automatic promotion in 1st place from Championship to Premiership - unbeaten
                                          - total revision of squad with star player Koumas leaving for 3 top players from Man U.
Season 3 - West Brom - survival in Premiership
Season 4 - West Brom - Mid-table in Premiership
Season 5 - West Brom - Mid-table in Premiership, enter Europe via 2nd in domestic cup
Season 6 - West Brom - 4th in Premiership, knocked out of Europe in knockout stage after coming 2nd in group stage
Season 6 - West Brom (still) - 2nd or 3rd in Premiership (cant remember which!)

New FA:
Season 1 - West Brom - automatic promotion in 1st place from League 1 to Championship unbeaten
                                  - managerial tie set up with ex-Watford and managerial legend Jamie Walker to continue through any team changes
Season 2 - Real Valladolid - take bottom of the league team to automatic promotion in 1st place from Segunda Division to La Liga
                                     - Major new youth system introduced bringing through the finest young stars in the world
Season 3 - Real Valladolid - finish 7th a miracle for such a small team against some of the top teams and managers in the game
                                     - feeder link set up with Segunda Division team Cadiz
Season 4 - Real Valladolid - currently 5th and unbeaten
                                     - youth players showing their talent and still improving

- Favourite feature of Football Academy?

Criminally overlooked IM feature of old FA
Improvements, youth players, stadiums and scouting from new FA

- Favourite/most memorable moments of Football Academy?

Just the overall success of my teams, anyone can take over a top team and continue their domination, but it takes true skill to take a team from the bottom to the top and the rewards are great. From being in the game since the start I have seen many managers come and go (some more memorable than others), and have set up links with other long-time managers such as Stu Price, Jamie Walker and Simon Newcombe (who, although not around since the start seems like he has been there forever!). Big thumbs up to those guys!

-- Edited by Simon at 19:12, 2008-12-17

Safehands · Cult Status

- How did you come across Football Academy?

I think it was either a redirection from Mystify when I was bored at work one day or just a randon internet search - but remembering liking the setup of the game and the rest is history!

- When did you join?

Season 4/5 of old FA (i think!) and all seasons through to the current one

- Whats your managerial career look like?

Old FA:
Season 1 - N/A
Season 2 - N/A
Season 3 - N/A
Season 4 - N/A
Season 5 - Boro - took them over when they were bottom of the Premiership and despite some spirited results couldnt save them from the drop
Season 6 - Boro - using some good links with Stu (who was then at Southampton (actually i let him down on a loan of Walcott once which is probably the best experience in hindsight as it taught me a lot about the game and how you should conduct yourself) and Steve Jenkins at Cardiff built a strong team including Joe Ledley, Paolo Sammarco on loan and Enzo Maresca, Adriano and Jon Stead in the team - managed to finish 3rd and won the playoff against a much fancied Liverpool team
Season 7 - Boro - sadly old FA was put on hold before I could test my team in the top fight!

New FA:
Season 1 - Arsenal

Huge revamp of the first team to bring in the likes of Fernando Torres, Micah Richards and Kasper Schmiechel. Finished 3rd or 4th I think? Also set up a good link with Leicester for the developement of Walcott and players like him

Season 2 -Arsenal

More additions to the team in the shape of Stewart Downing and Manuel Irrarusso and a good cup run in the English cup. Poor form in the league meant me going close to the firing zone while younger stars developed but a rally towards the end of the season helped me achieved my board target (as well as the mid season signing of a certain Mr Lampard) and i think i eventually finished 5th?

Season 3 - Arsenal

This was a form season for my young guns, and with the addition of Martins upfront we managed to storm our way into 2nd in the Premiership remaing unbeaten all season to all teams except the dreaded Chelsea and memorable doubles over Liverpool and Man Utd home and away

Season 4 - Arsenal

Currently settling in to the new season with high hopes of a top 2 finish. Alas we will still look for a way to beat Chelsea but the omens arent good with their current form! This season also sees the end of a link with Leicester / Cagliari / Shef Weds over a disagreement over terms which is a shame but currently in talks with a number of teams to secure good places for the likes of Manuel, Walcott, Djorou and others to come

- Favourite feature of Football Academy?

Great to see the foreign players section come back into the fold. Sad to see the momentum of MOTFA not carry on but hope to bring it back at some point. Staduims looks a great idea for the future and high hopes for some tactical nuances through the new weather system too!

- Favourite/most memorable moments of Football Academy?

Honestly its the commitment of the players invovled. Most people from Rich down to the newest member share the same spirit to make the game what it is. Favourite moments include my first signing (Jon Stead from a then unmanaged Blackburn via Rich - he charged me an arm and a leg I can tell you!), a rather famous rant on the old message board from a guy that loved Ice Hockey (cant remember his name sadly!), the thrill when Simon J gave me the link to the old FA message board months later :), and clinching some great signings for Arsenal to really craft a team for the future (and hopefully for the now from last season so I dont get the sack!)

It was a real shame to lose the likes of Jamie W, but some of the old guard are still knocking about and the likes of Stu, S and S Jenkins, JD, and the newer players such as Luke @ AC keep the game going in a great spirit. Other than last week - I hadnt had a transfer or loan deal fail for over 3 seasons and that is normally down to the fact that we have a great set of lads on the game that help each other out while having enough intergrity to not rip new players off! (expect Mark R - only kidding!)

Happy 11th Birthday FA! and as ever cheers to Rich for keeping it going. Hopefully everyone at least has an inkling to how much time it actually takes!

cheers

Sim
Arsenal

-- Edited by Safehands at 03:35, 2008-12-18

dirkdiggler · World Class Player

I remember that muppet as well Simon. I think his name was Nick and I have no doubt that he must have ran out of soapboxes to stand on. Have to admit that I loved how he likened an imaginary football management game to rea ice hockey. I am almost certain that he was dragging his knuckles off the keyboard during each rant.

Iain

Fletch · Cult Status

Football Academy wrote:

- How did you come across Football Academy?

I wanted to play a management game that was real, not like Champ Manager or any other waste of time. I did a search and this site came up, so I applied.

- When did you join? I am now in my 3rd season

- Whats your managerial career look like? I came half way through my first season (season 1 new game) and took Gimnastic FC from bottom fodder to play offs. I made some mistakes and didnt really get to grips with the player ratings and who did what. 2nd season was poor and I made bad purchases, I'm a little wiser now and transferred to Sheffield United where I have a long term plan on no budget.

- Favourite feature of Football Academy? Transfer dealing

- Favourite/most memorable moments of Football Academy? Play offs season 1 with Gimnastic.

Fletch

-- Edited by Fletch at 08:45, 2008-12-18

GarethGardner · Cult Status

- How did you come across Football Academy?

I came across footy academy by a thread on the old Cardiff City message board. Think it was aimed at Paul but all invited

- When did you join?

I joined a couple of games into season 1 of the new game as manager of Leeds United

- Whats your managerial career look like?

I started with Leeds who was 1 from bottom of league 1. In my 1st season I set up a feeder club agreement with Barcelona managed by Allan Park who has now left the game due to internet problems he was having. I just missed out on the playoffs. 1 more weeks games and I may have been promoted. Lionel Messi was brought to the club and if i made the playoffs Ronaldinho would have played.My 2nd season was with Leeds, due to my feeder club leaving I set up a new feeder club with Drew at Chelsea. This time I over achieved and made the playoffs but narrowly lost in them in extra time. This season i made my best signing as of yet in Nolberto Solano who went on to score double figures. Last season I took over at Celta Vigo. Going it alone without a feeder club I reduced the age of the squad heavily and reached my expectation of promotion. This season im again at Vigo and finding life difficult at the moment untill all my transfers are done. Again im bringing in some good youth to set myself up for the future

- Favourite feature of Football Academy?

My favourite feature on football academy has got to be the transfer haggling. Im struggling to bring in loans this season but hopefully that may change

- Favourite/most memorable moments of Football Academy?

My most memorable moment on the game so far is never losing to a friend in Steve Davies-Evans ! They was allways great games involving Leeds and Leicester and i really enjoyed the banter before and afterwards. He normally had the stronger team but think I got lucky a certain Mr Solano and Gudjohnson getting me goals. I do miss giving him a beating but im sure he will get revenge 1 day !

Belizeno · Cult Status

- How did you come across Football Academy?
I wanted to play an online football management game to test my tactical prowess, with real people, manager mode in FIFA was so unchallenging, i didnt have football manager and hattrick was kinda.. wierd. Not to mention, i didnt have a credit card (still don't, stay 3rd world) to pay supporter.

- When did you join? Approximately one year ago, just in time to see season 2 go, and watch livorno be relegated. I know it was Rich's conspiracy to set me up to get more involved.. so he placed there. I didnt mind though, because i always preferred Serie A, of course because of the tactical mind-shuffling it involves.

- Whats your managerial career look like? Well my greatest achievement, as you may see me flashing, is Livorno's winning the serie b, thus getting promoted, and by no small margin. I was happy because i achieved this on my first full season. That of course is due in no small part to help from Simon Newcombe who never failed to help me out in knowing the game (big respect!). I was then offered the Blackburn job to get them promoted back to Premiership. This wasnt so easy of course, the Championship proved to be a lot more competitive than serie b, and i lost out in the playoffs, in a large part due to many injuries in the team. I wasn't too dissapointed though as I tried my best and i'm hoping to make up this season

- Favourite feature of Football Academy? Foreign Player market, definitely the feature of most use to the smaller clubs, transfers can be less significant when budgets are low

- Favourite/most memorable moments of Football Academy? To be honest, i realy dont have that one memorable moment. To me most of the FA experience has been great and altough its weird being called "mate" and signed off "cheers" i like the people that play the game!

-- Edited by Belizeno at 18:34, 2008-12-18

Sinky2707 · Cult Status

How did you come across Football Academy?

I believe Rich posted in the pinkun website (norwich news and messageboard) and basically joined from that and got hooked :)

When did you join? I started when the revamp came along and 7 games into the first season

Whats your managerial career look like?
Quite reasonable i think
7th place for Cagliari season 1
5th place for Cagliari lose in play off final season 2
5th place for Ascoli Promoted via play-offs

i've always achieved what the board whats m to so i happ with that atm

Favourite feature of Football Academy?
i'd say simply the transfers but the interaction part with other managers is what i think why i like doing transfers so much

Favourite/most memorable moments of Football Academy?
obviously my favourite was beating Genoa in the play off final becuse we went to 2-1 with 5 minutes to go against ten men then suddenly score 2 in minutes it was crazy another one would be watford beating chelsea no arsenal not man u but little old watford

-- Edited by Sinky2707 at 14:13, 2008-12-19