FM Story Weekly 17/06/14

Stories For This Week:
The Pentagon Challenge
Uruguay - Ghost of Maracanazo
Truro City - All The Way From Lemon Quay
Jason Newell - A South American Adventure
Coventry City - The Sky's The Limit

#1 The Pentagon Challenge

Owen Hargreaves fitness is well known to the world, as his body has constantly failed him at his most recent clubs, both Manchester clubs. However, with his footballing mind fresh and young, the recently retired England international has found an managerial opportunity.. in India. Now at the reigns of East Bengal F.C. and India's U21's, the former tough-tackling midfielder will have to cut his work to get at the top of football management. After a single match at the helm of India's U21's, the midfielder was left reeling in his debut, as his team played out a bore 1-1 draw against Kyrgyzstan's own U21's, much to his rage. Now, will he be able to accomplish his managerial goals in India?

Carlos V96 has featured in previous editions of FMSW, and with his new story, he can count on another nomination. With his impressive writing skills, he has already managed to get the readers' attention, after landing his new job(s) at India, and the content of this new story is great, albeit starting early on. His writing is pretty easy to understand, and keeps it interesting enough to keep the reader waiting for the next update. Considering that it is pretty early in Carlos' story, he has maintained a good job in his presentation, keeping it clean, using the bold to highlight important players and facts, which I particularly like. Even though it's early days and Carlos has yet to put many graphics, I still believe that his story is good enough for any reader, and has the potential to become a SoTM winner.

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: The Pentagon Challenge

#2: Uruguay - Ghost of Maracanazo

One year before the World Cup in Brazil starts, the unthinkable happens. 'El Maestro', or known as Oscar Tabarez, hands in his resignation as the Uruguay national team manager, after experiencing 'minor' heart attack. Fast-forward three days, and 'El Loco' Bielsa takes over the post in Uruguay, and will be looking to surprise the world, like his present team did 4 years ago in South Africa. With his fast-paced and attacking football, will the likes of Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, be able to suit his 'loco' tactics in time for the World Cup? Will he be able to repeat history with Uruguay, by guiding them to another final in Brazil in the Maracana?

Neal has started his fourth active story in FMScout earlier this week, and considering with the updates we've been treated with in the previous ones and in this one, you can expect much. With many thinking that national icon, Diego Forlan, would take over the post with his national team, another plot twist has seen Marcelo Bielsa take over Uruguay, much to my delight. With few updates pumped out since it's start, Neal's writing has been exquisite, leaving the reader wanting more. With a clean-look, Neal's presentation is basic, but effective. As I said earlier, not much can be said, with this story being early days, but he has used some good graphics, as his banner looks marvelous at the start of every update.

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: Uruguay - Ghost of the Maracanazo

#3: Truro City - All The Way From Lemon Quay

Truro City have baffled last year's critics, and finished in the last play-off spot in the Skrill South, and won promotion to the Skrill Premier, after cruising to the final, which they won. Now, in the Skrill Premier, they have struggled, as they continue to fight to remain in the league in a relegation fight against Tamworth, Braintree and Hereford. However, the return to their home ground, Treyew Road and the addition of Stephen Quinn and Ben Harding has seen an uproar in shirt sales and results. Now, will they be able to survive another year in the Skrill Premier, or see them instantly relegated to the Skrill South?

Griffo's story has, in my opinion, great content and writing, as he constantly writes up the details of the matches he plays in, which takes amazing effort. Story-wise, it's been a ride, as he constantly shifts from relegation spots to mid-table or a surprise finish in the play-offs. He never seems to lack graphics, as he constantly uses screenshots, pictures of players and the club's crest in his updates, something that can be pivotal to improving any story. Presenting wise, Griffo has the same template for the monthly updates, which is clean and basic, which I honestly like.

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: Truro City - All The Way From Lemon Quay

#4: Jason Newell - A South American Adventure

Jason Newell has always had a special spot for football, and it got better, as he turned out for Oldham's youth. But, as his chance improved, something unexpected happen. His father found a job opportunity in Brazil, and the Newell family moved to the warm shores of Brazil. As his opportunity for professional football faded, Ituano F.C., of the lower leagues of Brazil, gives the English youngster a chance, and in his debut, he knocks out Brazilian giants, Santos F.C., out of the Brazilian cup with a brace. Not long after, it is announced that the player will move to Santos F.C., after the final, in which he scores to earn his first professional medal. But will he be able to live up to his expectation at Santos?

Zapdos has got an avid fan base after a handful of updates, as the writing and the content of the story is great. We get to see plot twist after plot twist and it catches the eye of every reader. I have to say that Zapdos must improve his presentation, as it just is paragraph after paragraph, which can be hard to digest, and some graphic pauses, (f/e: put pictures between paragraphs) can relax the eye and picture how the action really is for the reader. Like I said, Zapdos' presentation and graphic use is very low, but if he can change that, we will probably see this story pass the FMSW hurdle and get a SoTM nomination.

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: Jason Newell - A South American Adventure

#5 Coventry City - The Sky's The Limit

Coventry City have been docked 10 points in the Sky Bet League 1, and now they have appointed care-taker manager, Mo Hawk. Fans are losing faith in the board, and are demanding the head of the young manager. However, after 14 matches, Coventry City find themselves with 20 points, in 8th place, just 3 points out of a play-off spot. Not only has the young manager led the club out of a certain relegation fight, but he has done it in a great fashion, maintaing a +17 goal difference. With the addition of Tottenham Hotspur, a club challenging for Champions League qualification, as a parent club, the fans have been wronged and will be looking at the talented manager to lead them to greater heights, maybe even the Championship first time asking.

With NVDTahir having one SoTM win under his belt, he has used his previous story writing skills to task, by filling it with twists and more importantly, great results. The content and writing of this story are pretty good, and so is the presentation. Using a lot of graphics in the presentation and keeping it neat and basic makes it a lot easier for the reader to read and catches the eye more often than not. Overall, I think this story is one that can easily go onto winning SoTM, but will be fighting against the likes of Walt's Oriental Lisbon, Josh_MU's Stockport and a couple other's who have successfully passed on the 'FMSW test' and went on and got a SoTM nomination!

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: Coventry City - The Sky's The Limit

So that is our round-up of FM Stories for this week. I hope that you enjoyed this and if you wrote one of the stories above, that you perhaps learned where you could improve your technique. Just remember, this is just the opinion of myself, the judge, and others could very well have a different opinion. Don't let any criticism put you down, it is all intended to help you! Every story included here is a good one and one everybody enjoys reading.