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Resurrecting Palermo

Our journey to bring Palermo back to Serie A & beyond!
Started on 13 April 2020 by FMBlake
Latest Reply on 18 July 2020 by d4vidjames
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2020-04-17 13:44#268748 ScottT : Congratulations. Another promotion on the cards next season? ;)

We will go for it mate!
SEASON 3 | PRE SEASON: A BIG JUMP



The new season is fast approaching and after gaining back to back promotion, we not find ourselves in Serie B! Just one more promotion away from Serie A. This is no doubt going to be our biggest challenge, as for once we are not predicted to finish in the top half. The board would like us to avoid relegation, but I am quietly confident we can finish a lot higher than that. In Serie B the top 3 team gets automatic promotion so ideally I would like to be in the mix.

As I mentioned in my previous post I had a lot of players coming in.

8 new signings arrived on pre-contracts! They are all young talents with the right development could even be good enough for us in Serie A once we get there.



TRANSFERS IN - FREE SIGNINGS

Sabatini came in from Inter:


Boscolo Chio (what a name) also came in from Inter:


Virgilio came in from Napoli:


Kinkou came in from Inter too, and will be one of our best defenders this season.


Lindkvist came in, again from Inter:


Maione came in from Napoli:


Junior Tall (who isn't so tall) came in from Roma:


And, Luka Simic came in from...... Real Madrid... no he didn't. He came in from Inter as well :P


We also brought in a few players on loan, these players will really improve the quality of our team!

TRANSFER IN ON LOAN

We managed to get Plizzari back on loan from AC Milan again. He will be our starting keeper, and we actually signed him on a 2 year loan deal!


Maldini (son of Paolo) also came in on loan, and looks to be our best player on the left, which was a position we needed to sign players in since Mastour left.


Damsgard came in as a another option of the left.


We lacked quality at centre back, so we signed Bellodi on loan from Milan again. We had him on loan last season but he didn't get much game time because Gravillion was so good. Bellodi will start this season.


I looked at signing Cavani, but he retired..


A look at the league predictions... I hope I finish higher than 17th! But there are some great teams in Serie B this season, most notably Parma, Emploi, Verona, Pescara all teams that have been in and around Seire A the last decade.


As I mentioned previously the board expect us to try and avoid relegation:


Our pre-season games went fairly well. Only one loss, to Serie A side Fiorentina, I cannot wait to get the league up and running with our new look team.


After all our new signings have settled in, this is how we will look to line up this season.


The one thing I am concerned about is the ability of our squad. We have an incredibly young team with amazing potential, but are they ready for Serie B now? Or will we need a few seasons for them to develop before we can compete for promotion again?


We are one step away from Serie A. Can we do it three times in a row?

Time will tell.

As always, thanks for reading!
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A SINKING SHIP! WE NEED HELP FAST!



We went into the season optimistic, but boy is it not going to plan. We picked up a couple of injuries early on and that didn't help.



We have gone on such a poor run!


Looking at our results, we are not scoring enough goals! And the most frustrating thing is that all of our results are fairly close, we just need to knick a goal in those draws and we would be much higher up the table.


But we haven't been able to do so and at the end of December, we are 19th in the league! We need to start winning, or we could be in risk of getting sacked, as the board expect us to avoid relegation.


I am looking at the squad, maybe its the wrong tactics, but we are missing some leadership, I will try to bring in a couple of older players in Jan.


But we don't have much money to work with.


I knew this season was going to be a big challenge, but I did not think we would struggle this bad.
I am starting to panic a little, and don't want to get relegated as that could see the end to this save!
Please help me with ideas, tactics, players to sign, anything that can help save us here at Palermo.
I am going to pause my save for a day or so to get some feedback from you guys.

As always, thanks for reading!
1
Hey mate, some brilliant signings indeed for the long term with some good youngsters, and if Cavani hadnt retired you would be in dreamland signing him. I can see you are in a difficult situation atm, and results aren't going well at all, but there are positives. As you said, the results are generally very close, which is encouraging for a relegation threatened side. A few wins on the bounce will have you safe and sound. I have a few tips. 1. Call a team meeting immediately and try and motivate the players. 2. Criticise players in bad form and try get them to buck up, and praise players in good form, to keep them going, 3. In January, look for a couple of experienced signings, players that are marked as veteran,if you can muster up the wages/budget. And get these players( if you can sign them), to mentor the younger players in the team( preferably in the same position as the experienced player). 4. Change around your tactics for a couple of games if you haven't already. This will refresh the players and it might unlock a strength in the team you hadnt noticed before. 5. DON'T PANIC. It's a process, it takes time, you have back to back promotion already in only 2 seasons, you are doing incredible. Don't worry too much about the board early on, they might change their ambitions if they see you are not strong enough(maybe). Best of luck mate :)
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2020-04-18 01:46#268764 FMBlake : A SINKING SHIP! WE NEED HELP FAST!



We went into the season optimistic, but boy is it not going to plan. We picked up a couple of injuries early on and that didn't help.



We have gone on such a poor run!


Looking at our results, we are not scoring enough goals! And the most frustrating thing is that all of our results are fairly close, we just need to knick a goal in those draws and we would be much higher up the table.


But we haven't been able to do so and at the end of December, we are 19th in the league! We need to start winning, or we could be in risk of getting sacked, as the board expect us to avoid relegation.


I am looking at the squad, maybe its the wrong tactics, but we are missing some leadership, I will try to bring in a couple of older players in Jan.


But we don't have much money to work with.


I knew this season was going to be a big challenge, but I did not think we would struggle this bad.
I am starting to panic a little, and don't want to get relegated as that could see the end to this save!
Please help me with ideas, tactics, players to sign, anything that can help save us here at Palermo.
I am going to pause my save for a day or so to get some feedback from you guys.

As always, thanks for reading!

Had been looking forward to you’re next update, shame to see you struggling. A few good results will soon turn it around and can build for next season. I think you def need some experience in that team, hard to rely on that much youth in the big jump you’ve made.

Have a look in the free market see if anyone is still floating around if not someone transfer listed who’s contract is up at end of season. I hope you can turn it around, and stay up.

Lucera is struggling for form for me in Serie B, disappointed really. I am currently sitting in 7th trying to keep tabs on the play offs. I am struggling to score goals and have a few injuries to key players, such as Jordan Ayew , Colido and Emmers.

I need to get a couple players in for January, will look for contracts expiring to strengthen at end of season. I am not conceding goals so I am happy with that, just struggling to convert chances. Bruno Peres is off in January with Teuchert so brings in some wage and 1.2m

look forward to you’re next update, good luck!
1
2020-04-18 07:26#268767 Eoin97 : Hey mate, some brilliant signings indeed for the long term with some good youngsters, and if Cavani hadnt retired you would be in dreamland signing him. I can see you are in a difficult situation atm, and results aren't going well at all, but there are positives. As you said, the results are generally very close, which is encouraging for a relegation threatened side. A few wins on the bounce will have you safe and sound. I have a few tips. 1. Call a team meeting immediately and try and motivate the players. 2. Criticise players in bad form and try get them to buck up, and praise players in good form, to keep them going, 3. In January, look for a couple of experienced signings, players that are marked as veteran,if you can muster up the wages/budget. And get these players( if you can sign them), to mentor the younger players in the team( preferably in the same position as the experienced player). 4. Change around your tactics for a couple of games if you haven't already. This will refresh the players and it might unlock a strength in the team you hadnt noticed before. 5. DON'T PANIC. It's a process, it takes time, you have back to back promotion already in only 2 seasons, you are doing incredible. Don't worry too much about the board early on, they might change their ambitions if they see you are not strong enough(maybe). Best of luck mate :)
Thanks a lot mate! Will definitely use your advice, and keep optimistic, just don't wanna get sacked because it will be the end of the save for me
Not the best of form but definitely nothing to worry about. A few games could swing your way and you’d be on the opposite end of the relegation scrap. Don’t lose hope - the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
1
2020-04-18 17:42#268779 Justice : Not the best of form but definitely nothing to worry about. A few games could swing your way and you’d be on the opposite end of the relegation scrap. Don’t lose hope - the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
Thanks for the support mate, I am determined to overcome this :D
SEASON 3 | CAN WE STAY UP?



Our situation is terrible. We need points fast. We barely have any money to bring anyone in. So I have to find the right tactic, and try to keep morale as high as possible and hope for the best.

Our Youth Intake didn't look too exciting again. Balastro is our only youth player to feature in the first team. Although D'Emanuele our young centre back is developing well and will likely feature next season.


In Janurary I was able to secure one experienced player. I bought in Hasebe the Japanese international to provide experience in midfield and mentor some of our younger players. I am all for youth, but certainly lack experience and leadership in the squad and that appears to be hindering us this season.



And after just three games he got injured...


But after changing our tactics, playing some friendlies against weaker teams to improve our morale, and pure persistance, we finally won!


The end of our winless streak! But could we push on even further?


And we won again! 3-0 up and nearly blew it!


Our youth intake came in and we only had one player worth mentioning.


Another win, Hasebe was back fit and providing us with a quality goal to claim the 3 points!


Hasebe strikes!


And we won again!


4 games left in the league... our next game was against Catania...


And we won again! What a result, could we do the unthinkable and somehow survive?


3 games left...


A draw, would a point be enough come the end of the season?


1 game left.... against the champs this season Parma, away from home.














We went out and attacked them but it wasn't enough.


Our results, second half of the season. Notice the friendlies I scheduled to try and boost morale.I don't think they really worked because we never won after a friendly.


So that was it. We got relegated. We fought our hardest and I truly believe we were unlucky to not survive. Would this mean it is over? Would the board sack me?












To my surprise they offered me a new one year contract!


So the dream continues, although we are back in Serie C. Hasebe has retired. The club finances are terrible and after our relegation, Martinelli, Crivello, Lucera, Mendola and Lindkvist have all put in transfer requests... it will be a tough season as we are expected to finish top 2 in Serie C. But at least our journey continues! I decided to keep Hasebe at the club, he will be an under-18 coach next season.


The final awards for season 3:


Balastro's Goal of the Season (I love this kid)


So... we go again. Serie C once more. We are likely going to have to sell the players I mentioned before. We will lose 5 players from our starting XI. But it is another year for our young players to develop. We could go straight back up. Lets see how we get on.

As always, thanks for reading!
You put up a brave run towards the end, gutted for you it wasn’t enough. Shame you had to play Parma last game of the season.

Will have to ship a few out for next season and rely heavily on loans again. Hasabe signing done you wonders, shame couldn’t just get over the line.

I’m sure you will be contending next season and can get back to Serie B.

I’m thinking of selling Lucera if he gets any interest, only thing is he is loved by fans so don’t want to upset them. January transfer window was a big one for me, I was struggling to score so needed some signings on the wings. I wasn’t creating enough chances, with Ayew missing half the season was a blow. I signed Ighalo on a free after he was released China. I loaned Riccardo Sottil who can play on both wings and Alberto Soro who can play just behind the striker. I have decided to play 4-3-3 away from home and at home 4-2-3-1. With 29 games played I sit third in the league two points of Juve Stabia at the top. Very impressed that I have only conceded 20 goals, Wout Faes and Lorenco Simic have firmed a great partnership.

Look forward to reading your challenge on bouncing back to Serie B.

Thanks
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2020-04-19 11:08#268805 Jason22 : You put up a brave run towards the end, gutted for you it wasn’t enough. Shame you had to play Parma last game of the season.

Will have to ship a few out for next season and rely heavily on loans again. Hasabe signing done you wonders, shame couldn’t just get over the line.

I’m sure you will be contending next season and can get back to Serie B.

I’m thinking of selling Lucera if he gets any interest, only thing is he is loved by fans so don’t want to upset them. January transfer window was a big one for me, I was struggling to score so needed some signings on the wings. I wasn’t creating enough chances, with Ayew missing half the season was a blow. I signed Ighalo on a free after he was released China. I loaned Riccardo Sottil who can play on both wings and Alberto Soro who can play just behind the striker. I have decided to play 4-3-3 away from home and at home 4-2-3-1. With 29 games played I sit third in the league two points of Juve Stabia at the top. Very impressed that I have only conceded 20 goals, Wout Faes and Lorenco Simic have firmed a great partnership.

Look forward to reading your challenge on bouncing back to Serie B.

Thanks

Sounds like you are doing good man! I think Serie C will be exciting because my younger players can develop even more. I am bringing in a couple of experienced players and shipping out the boys that want to leave (as long as decent bids come in), the fans will be happy when I eventually get them to Serie A! Trust the process. Ighalo is class haha I am a United fan so he should do you wonders! I have a Champions League finalist coming into the squad... ;)
Lol... so I signed Mandzukic, contract was agreed. Then he retired... So I take back what I said Jason22 lol
2020-04-19 12:01#268807 FMBlake : Lol... so I signed Mandzukic, contract was agreed. Then he retired... So I take back what I said Jason22 lol

ahh no that’s gutting. That happened to me with Garay at start of season, very annoying.

Just loading up now to finish off season, fingers crossed can get promotion. Have some winnable games, wouldn’t fancy my chances in the play offs I don’t think.
1
Ah that's gutting you were so close to the great escape. Might need to ship a few to then strengthen the squad with other players. Hopefully bounce back up at the first time of asking. Board obviously have a lot of faith in you though which is good
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2020-04-19 12:36#268809 tedbro20 : Ah that's gutting you were so close to the great escape. Might need to ship a few to then strengthen the squad with other players. Hopefully bounce back up at the first time of asking. Board obviously have a lot of faith in you though which is good
Yeah man so close... I think in the bigger picture being relegated may be better. I am going to sell some players for sure.

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