Yes, I am You The Manager Champion 2009/2010!
Introduction
My first contact with You The Manager was in 2004/2005. I decided to enter this competition after Mourinho went to Chelsea in that summer. It was a time that Portuguese press started to pay huge attention to English Premier League as not only Mourinho but also Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho or Paulo Ferreira were all there.
I remember seeing the rules for other two English Fantasy Games but YTM was really the one that motivated me more. No great results for me in my first season, but on the second one, I had two almost wins…I lead March 2006 monthly until the last game, finishing 6th and I achieve a 3rd place on YTM World Cup.
But my big breakthrough was in 2007/2008, with two monthly wins and being in top 10 of overall standing for the large majority of the season. My next aim was really to become YTM Champion I was feeling it closer.
After a fantastic 2008/2009 season, leading for over two months the overall standings I blew it away on the final month of competition and lost it dramatically.
Learning lessons from mistakes, I won it finally this season, as I will tell you now…
2. Pre-Season
Back in August 2009, when I was preparing my teams for this new season, I was really feeling hurt. Only a few months before I suffered such a big blow with that loss. A stupid final move of Anelka for Torres was the decisive error. Mentally, I had to overcome this. I started thinking to myself “I lost fairly, I did a mistake and I deserved to pay for it. I was only a small step to win, and this season I have to work for another change and improve my final performance”. I remember listening to a Robbie Williams song during that time called “Phoenix from the flames” and I was feeling like the lyrics of the song…
3. A Strong Beginning
I started strongly this new season. The first months of the season went really well! So well, that on October´s middle I was leading the overall standings and had won September monthly, coming 2nd in August too. My answer to last season fall was taking shape. YTM promoters asked me to do and interview, for the site (you can see it in this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=squ35OgPdCc) and listening to it right now sounds well as I was really with the determination to win YTM.
My best options so far were Darren Bent, a player that from the beginning I put faith and Cesc Fabregas, he was really doing a terrific season.
4. Highs and Lows
Well, November and December were months of really highs and lows. I started to fall in the standings after October , probably because of Liverpool (my major bet to win the title), they were doing a really bad season. I had some flops too…namely, David Nugent, I love the passion and the way that this guy plays, but Burnley coach was benching him, unfairly. However, I had some good decisions too, I bring Defoe in before the five goals performance against Wigan which pleased me a lot.
5. A Special Team
On boxing day which means middle season as you know, I remember analysing my best placed teams at the time. One of that teams was Affection13. With seven subs left at the time, the team had the following 11: Reina, Agger, Insua, Baines, Ivanovic, Lamps, Fab, A Young, Rooney, Defoe and Bent. I started to felt something special about this team, as had some players that leaders haven´t for sure (i.e Reina, Baines, Agger, Ashley Young), because Chelsea defence plus Vermaelen were more popular surely.
6. The Big Decisions (part one)
I didn´t touch that team until Drogba came back from ACN and bring it on for Rooney (Man Utd was out of the cup). A good move because DD scored much more that Wayne from that date. Liverpool improved a little bit defensively and got some clean sheets at this January/February period. Petr Cech and Ashley Cole got injuries and some of the current leaders had to waste subs. After a busy day at work and feeling very tired, I decided to do two swaps on February 26th…I wanted to have Gerrard, he was doing a below average season so far, and I thought he would come back to his normal standards…I put him in for Young and for budget reasons I drop Defoe for Saha, a day after I saw him playing here in Portugal against Sporting for Europa League, with Everton knocked out, I believed it he would score a lot on Premier League and would finally put off his curse with injuries. But I was wrong…Saha didn´t even played in the following game! And was out with hamstring for a month or so. I felt like an idiot and blame my decisions on being tired. I was in doubt between Saha or Bendtner, other cheap player…and with Arsenal hosting Burnley on the next weekend, I did the Saha swap for the Danish. Defoe for Saha sub was really a wasted one. Only 3 subs left. I was not feeling confident.
7. The Big Decisions (part two)
Gerrard scored a goal against Blackburn, first game after I bought him but wasn´t at the expected level, for the following games. I remember another low moments for me during this period. Liverpool hosted Portsmouth, on a Monday night and I needed points from that game, having 4 Liverpool players. Gerrard was subbed on the 2nd half, after no goals neither KCs and with a 4-0 score, and a few minutes to go…Pompey score…my clean sheet was destroyed and I remember feeling tears in my eyes in that moment. Insua, Liverpool left back was poor in that game... I started thinking about Gareth Bale some weeks before and in the middle of the night, I decided Insua out, Bale in. This was to be a key moment for me.
8. The Big Decisions (part three)
With two subs left, I had no place for mistakes now and I was under pressure. Then, suddenly on a couple of days…Rooney and Fabregas get serious injuries! I hadn´t Rooney but Fabregas I had, so here it comes Malouda, who was in hot form, not the hardest decision, surely.
Then, I had two brilliant weeks…and I earn a decisive advantage from my rivals. Bale was absolutely fantastic, Reina and Agger got me some clean sheets, Baines, who I choose wisely to keep, despite Everton bad days earlier, did well too…and Gerrard, who was not brilliant, put a great performance against Burnley, 2 goals, man of the match, to give me a substancial lead with 2 weeks to go. Then, my last sub, Agger out, Terry in, strategical one and defensive too as at this time, I had to keep my focus on managing my advantage. I remember several times what happened last season, before my final decisions.
9. The Final
Despite my important lead, the last Sunday games, all at the same time, meant a very nervous time for me. I couldn´t think or do nothing to forget football in that anxious days before the last matches…I kept secret from my friends and family about what I wanted to happen and what players i had. Only my wife knew all about my team. After Sunday games, I felt I was very near to live what I was dreaming about for a couple of years. But FA Cup final was still to come. 5 working days to go, 6 anxious nights to come…and 90 minutes to go.
Saturday, 15th May 2010, Chelsea 1, Portsmouth 0. I knew I was the new YTM Champion at last. I thought I would cry, but I hadn´t. My wife was the only person with me on that moment. Then I called my grandma, my father, my mother, my best friend. And I can finally say I was the champion, and I felt on top of the world.
In all of my wins I think about the persons who give me support and positive energy on a daily basis. On a spiritual way I always think and dedicate my wins to Freddie Mercury and Nigel Mansell. My two greatest idols and references. During this season mission, I discover a singer who passed away in the early eighties, when I was only 3 years old, called Karen Carpenter, who helped me to relax with her beautiful voice, before and after the games. This victory is for her too.
I would like to thank to all the Fiso community for keeping alive this amazing forum.
10. The Future
Of course, I am preparing to defend my title in 2010/2011. I have the hope to work in the real football world and become a successful manager at some time in my life. I am 30, I have my dreams and I will believe in them, and work to achieve them , always. Some people laugh about me when I said I want to work with Mourinho one day, but I don´t care. On my personal life, I will become a father in a year or two. Hopefully, I expect to have time to keep playing Fantasy Football.
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You see just like me, they long to be, close to you.
After last season's performance I was talking to myself and feeling old
Feeling like I didn't belong, Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you and your inspirational words
After last season's performance I was talking to myself and feeling old
Feeling like I didn't belong, Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you and your inspirational words
Got that monkey off your back after throwing it away in 08/09. Your email back then was so .... lets just call it emotional.
ALL very planned.
I tried being a multi in 07/08. Such an effort, it wasnt really worth it, even though i won a cup prize. Just wondering did you declare how many teams you entered last year? (PM me if you want)
Do you think next year they should spread the prize money a bit? 1st takes too much. Or limit users to only 1 of top 10?
Prize money going from 275k to 150k with the same fee was pretty poor.
Would be interesting to know: what you work at, how do you process/ record and change your teams timewise.
I had to take some half days Friday, and make changes for hours, before and after enjoying a night on the gargle.
So on one hand multi are detested, and there's many,but even still its not easy to even get 1% in the real mix.
