The SAF Challenge

After browsing the forums, i found that there are not many forums out there about the SAF challenge, so i decided to give it a go.

So basically the SAF challenge involves simulating the game until Nov 6th and taking over the 19th placed team in the BPL, much like Sir Alex took over at Manchester United when they were 19th on November 6th, 1986.

The Goals of the challenge is to
Win a domestic cup within 4 seasons - Ferguson won his first cup vs Crystal Palace in 89/90.
Win a league title within 7 seasons - Ferguson won his first title in 92/93.
Win a league and cup double within 8 seasons - Ferguson won his first double with United in 93-94.
Win a league, cup and Champions League within 13 seasons- Ferguson won the infamous treble in 98/99.
And then finally emulate all his success, with the numerous number of title he won.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/3af7baf0bcd4d3caa18c5d17644f5044/tumblr_mmq08mkpjd1qaznnlo5_r1_1280.jpg


So i will now holiday and come back with my team.

I have always wanted to see someone take on this challenge, good luck!

So i just holidayed till Nov 6th and i ended up getting Everton, I am actually shocked to have gotten them, as i thought i would get Sunderland or Aston Villa for sure.

I think my first priority at Everton is to try and keep hold of Lukaku, Barkley, and Stones. I hope to tie up their contracts with 60 to 70 million pound release clauses.

So when i tried to offer new contracts to my star players, i did not have the money to do so....
Then this happened..



I got 2 out of the 3 to sign new deals, as it looks like John Stones might be heading out the door, i can only hope to get as much money as possible, and hope not to lose him in January.




I am really happy with this start, but now my first game is against Manchester City, and i am not expecting a win, although i am hoping for one.

Good luck mate, will be interesting to see how you fare! Think you need to try as hard as you can to keep Stones though!

You got quite lucky in the team you got, Everton are someone you could be challenging the league with in a few years

Good luck

Everton must have been a nice surprise for you! They have an exciting squad, for sure, and if you can build a team around their key players (Lukaku, Barkley, Stones & McCarthy), title challenging could certainly be possible within the next few seasons.

Mgriffin2012: yeah i will be trying as hard as possible to keep him, hoping to improve the league form, and hopefully he will stay.

Scott T: yeah that is what i am hoping for, i think there is just a few positions that needs replacing.

Justice: They do have an exciting squad and most of their best players are young, and they have really good youngsters as well, that i am hoping to move into the first team, since i have no money to spend and the squad kind of lacks depth right now.

So first match with Man City done, pulled off a shock result, considering we were missing Baines, Jagielka, and Stones. Had to play almost a complete second string back four. Was really expecting to get thumped. But we actually outplayed them for most of the game.

First month in charge went really well, after the game against City, we had Villa next and i was expecting to win this game.



The game was relatively easy, although we only won 1-0, we did have a scare though, as Lukaku picked up a slight knock, and i realized we had no first team replacement for him. Luckily it was only a 5 day injury and he would be available for Arsenal who we have next up.

So for the Arsenal game, i was hoping for a win to continue our good start, although i would be happy with a draw.



I know i said i would be happy with a draw, but this match kinda made me mad, we had so many good opportunities, but just could not put them away, Petr Cech was MOM, and then Arsenal scoring in the 81st minute just made matters worse.

Here is the league table after my first month in charge, we are now up to 15th.



Fixtures for December

Liverpool (A)
Newcastle (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Swansea (H)
Watford (H)
Swansea (A)

I am expecting wins in our three home games, although Newcastle and Swansea are pretty high up the table, so they must be playing well. Hoping to win at Palace as we are only 2 points behind them in the league right now. As for the Liverpool and Swansea away games, i will take what i can get.

Brilliant start to the challenge, hopefully you can keep earning points consistently!

December

So going into December, i was hoping for at least 3 wins but was hoping for more, although i was not expecting this.

So first up against Liverpool (A) we played really well, they hardly hard a sniff all game, only the last 10 mins that they got most of their 14 shots.



Was really happy with this win, was expecting a loss, hoped for a draw, but to win at Liverpool so comfortably was really awesome.

Newcastle (H) was a game i expected to win, as i expect to pick up most of my points at home.



This was the most comfortable game so far, Newcastle offered nothing in attack and we only conceded after being 3-0 up.

Next up was Crystal Palace, was hoping to win this one, needed the three points to keep moving up the table, after beating Liverpool away, i expected to win this game.



This was one of those matches where i thought i would get FM'ed. When i had all the shots in the world and Crystal Palace would score a 80th minute goal to steal the points. Palace did hit the post right before Lukaku scored, and i almost destroyed my laptop right as the ball hit the post.

After beating Palace away i thought Swansea and Watford at home were two games i should be winning and was expecting 6 points.

First up Swansea, this was my first real scare of the save so far, Swansea went 2-0 up just after half time, with Tim Howard making a terrible blunder. Then after a slight tactical tweak, we took the game by the scruff of the neck in the last 15 minutes and ended up winning 3-2.



Was relieved to win, thought until like the 85 minute this would be our first loss.

Also, Baines picked up a training injury after the Swansea game and is out for 3 months.



Next up was Watford, and much like the Newcastle game this was as comfortable as i expected it to be. We were 3-0 up by the 22nd minute and Watford offered nothing in attack really.



Last game of the month was the return leg against Swansea, thought we would maybe lose this match as they did give us a scare in the earlier match, however this was another comfortable 1-0 win, with most of Swansea's attacks coming after we scored our goal.