Board Expectations: Top half finish

Players In: 9 + 3 @ $0

Players Out: 5 + 3 @ $0, heaps released

Glentoran approached the board early in the season and proposed we be a feeder club; the board accepted and we did at least get some payments coming in from a parent club to help the bank balance a bit – most of their players for loan were pish, mind.

Premier team Institute decided that they wanted to be a parent club as well, just without paying, and promptly hoovered up three of my players from last season.

I landed two new wingers and an AMC who would reinforce the team and add some quality; I also got two new CBs (though one was on short term loan) who would help make up for the loss of Happy.

The season started well, but a third of the way in we were sitting in ninth and I was a little concerned the board might get an itchy trigger finger.

What turned the season around though was a mighty run in the Irish Cup; first we had a 3-1 win at Warrenpoint Town (Premiership) and then we drew our parent club at our own patch.

We sold out the ground and proceeded to draw 1-1, somehow going through on penalties. Our reward was a quarter final draw at Linfield, who required extra time to dunk us out 3-1.

Our league form improved greatly and we sat easily in the top half; by the end of the season we secured fourth, but we were only two points from second.

The board wants a playoff place next year, so we’re going to need to improve by at least one place as a result.

This said, it should be pointed out we lost the least games of any team this season, and had the best defence – the late season addition of an ex-Crusaders CB looks to be the Happy replacement we needed.

NIFL Championship: 4th (13-13-6)

Northern Irish Cup: Quarter Final (out to Linfield 1-3 aet)

League Cup: Quarter Final (out to Linfield 0-2)

County Antrim Shield: Semi Final (out to Ballymena United 1-2 aet)

Player of the Season: Our AMC Sink remains an evergreen attacking threat, despite a younger player taking time off of him throughout the season.

 Sadly f1dave didn't get to finish the write up of his career due to the LLM Forum being lost in the ether. 

Sadly we will never find out if he managed to get into the playoffs and make it to the promised land of the Northern Irish top flight.

However if you enjoyed his career write up be sure to check out f1dave's Q&A session. 

There he explains how he started playing Football Manager the LLM way and why he thinks it is the most rewarding approach to the game.