Rags To Riches, And Other Cliches

Hi everyone! This is my first attempt at an FM story. I've been an avid player of the genre since 2004, starting with CM 04, before moving to FM 05 and the rest is history really. I generally play in the English leagues, but for this one I've decided to start local, in the Australian A-League, with my favored club, the Melbourne Heart. I'm not sure on the game specs and the leagues running (I didn't note them down), but I can provide that info later if anyone feels like it is integral to the story.

I've played ahead, to ensure that at times where I can't play as much, I still have stuff to post, so I'm basically writing it as it happens and releasing it bit by bit. And if you're wondering, the name I've used in game isn't my real name, but if you're wondering how to pronounce the name "Xuereb" it's, "Sch-wer-eb".

Those familiar with the real life Melbourne Heart story will know I've changed a few things (in the story, not the game) to accommodate my arrival.

Hope you enjoy it! Feedback and criticism welcome...

A Journey Begins...

Crippling knee injuries ended my career at 29. After a less than noteworthy playing career, drifting from the semi-professional leagues of Victoria, Australia, as well as short stints with professional clibs in the old National Soccer League, the time had come to get back into football. Never quite earning enough to live off of football alone in my playing days, besides the occasional season of NSL football, I was somewhat familiar with the hand to mouth lifestyle of the football nomad.

This was different though. In my playing days, even when I knew my chance at a big career as a player had past, there was always football. Always. Sure, the money was shit, the football was crap and the politics were frustrating, but through all that, there was still football. There was still that 90 minutes of bliss, once or twice a week, where all that other stuff meant nothing. Take that away though, and suddenly everything gets to you a bit more. The nagging from your boss is just that slightest bit louder. The monotony of the 9-5 is just that tad more unbearable.

Enough’s enough, if you can’t play find something else. Coach or scout, hell, clean boots if you have to, just get back into the game.

And sure enough I did. I returned to my old hunting ground, Sunshine George Cross, who at the time were still in the Victorian Premier League. They took me on as part of the senior coaching staff with open arms after my playing time there, and so begun what didn’t look like all that much of a career in coaching.

Little did I know, however, that three years later, here I would be, facing the media at AAMI Park, as the manager of the newly formed Melbourne Heart.

Set to embark on only their second season after a somewhat disappointing debut campaign under Dutchman John van’t Schip, their preparations for their second season was thrown into disarray when van’t Schip announced he would be returning to Holland. The first season might not have gone to plan, I was part of the coaching staff, but no one wanted to see Johnny leave. He was a fine coach, with a distinguished career as a player, and his coaching was world class. I learnt more just standing around watching him than I did as a player, or as a coach anywhere else. They don’t make them like the Dutch down here. They try, believe me, they try, but that guy was from another planet. You don’t head up AFC Ajax’s youth development programme for as long as he did, and with as much success as he did, unless you know your stuff.

Alas, he was gone, and the club suddenly had to find someone new.
The word from the top office immediately after was that they’d be looking for someone in Johnny’s mould. The truth is though, Mr. van’t Schip was a coup for the Heart. I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but the fact of the matter is, finding someone with his pedigree and know-how in the game willing to move to the other side of the world, to take on a fledgling club in it’s second season, after a less impressive debut season, in a league with essentially no money, heavy squad restrictions and with little reputation was no mean feat. Simple as that.

Once the board realized that, they looked within Australia. Ange Postecoglu, who had just taken out the minor and major premierships with the Roar was the first target. A great man, with a great philosophy, he would have been a great choice. The board hoped to tempt him back to Melbourne, his home town, with a big money offer. For a while, it looked like it might happen, despite the competition from cross-town rivals Victory, but he eventually decided to stay where he was. Fair play too, everyone knows he is on the verge of something special in Brisbane. I wouldn’t have left either. A few others were contacted, but ultimately, no one wanted to leave where they were for a club like the Heart.

So, it was time for the last resort. In-house promotion.

Some suggested Aussie legend, John Aloisi, but even for all his experience, he had no coaching experience. He would go straight into the role of youth coach as planned. That essentially left two people. Ante Milicic and myself. I was certain they’d go for Ante. He was a much more distinguished player than I ever was, and he was always firmly number two under John. Maybe the board saw something in me, maybe Ante didn’t feel he was up to the task yet, but by hook or by crook, the job was offered to me.

It might not have seemed the greatest opportunity to many, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to knock it back. I accepted it on the spot.

So here I am.

Jason Xuereb. Melbourne Heart’s second ever manager.

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Heart Info, Squad & Report

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Best of luck mate

Having been at the club as one of the first coaches to be approached, I honestly felt like I was up to the task.

I knew the club, I knew the board, I knew the players and I was a firm believer in what was being established over those first twelve months. Results might not have gone the way we liked them, and missing out on the finals was undoubtedly a disappointment, but I never doubted that the basics were right.
John Aloisi and Josip Skoko had retired, with the former staying on as my youth coach, a role he had agreed to when he signed on for the first season, whilst Gerald Sibon had gone back to the Netherlands.
Van’t Schip had more than prepared for that.

New signings Fred, Maycon, Mate Dugandzic, Adrian Madaschi, David Williams, Jonathan Germano, Nikola Roganovic and Paul Reid had already signed on, whilst Eli Babalj was another year older and ready to assume some more responsibility up front. In all honesty, this was a good a squad as one could inherit in the A-League, a league where, thanks to the squad and salary restrictions, any team can beat any other on their day.

Ante did the formalities of preparing the team reports, and in all honesty there wasn’t much I wanted to change. Jason Hoffman, despite his efficiency in front of goals for the Olyroos was one lad I didn’t have much time for, and Rugter Worm for one didn’t seem too impressed with my promotion, so if there were any players likely to head for the exit doors, it would be those two. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it though.

In terms of preferred shape, I think this works on a lot of levels, both for the starters and the players available to come in:

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This is something else that could be something a bit different, and will allow me to get the best out of my wing-backs, focussing my midfielders in the centre of the park:

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The obvious problem area is up front. Babalj is a burgeoning talent who could become a great player if he can get his head straight, but what Johnny saw in Maycon I’m not quite sure. Lots of energy, but bereft of any real technical ability, it feels as though he will be a player I’ll have to carry this season. David Williams is another one. Plenty of energy and pace, but not the greatest technical operator. My hands are tied with those two, given they have only just arrived at the club. They aren’t bad players in terms of depth, but in all honesty, the only player I am comfortable with playing in the central striking role week in, week out at this stage is Babalj. Alex Terra, Mate Dugandzic and Rugter Worm offer fine options too, but they are all better suited to wider roles in my opinion.

That aside, this is the making of a more than solid team, and one that, as it is, should make the finals. It’s a good thing too. With only £32.17k (I realize it is weird that I use pounds despite being Australian and playing this save in Australia, but it’s what I’ve always used) in the transfer kitty, the foreign player quota fulfilled and the squad essentially full anyway, there was little room to move.

Players have to go to make ways for those to come in, but the harder question to answer is, who can I move, and in turn who can I replace them with, that would really improve the quality of this squad? In all honesty, Jason Hoffman, Maycon and Williams aside, the latter two who only just arrived, I don’t think there are many better options available to me. I’ve always liked Sarkies, but his injury proneness is a constant bother, and he is another one that the club could perhaps do without, if there were any willing takers.

So for now, I’ll work with what I have, and use the host of friendlies set up against state league opposition to try and guage where we are at.

The real great thing about this squad though, is the versatility. Not including the goalkeepers, there are only three players who aren’t well versed in more than one position. Matty Thompson is one of them. He can run the wings, anchor the middle, run box-to-box and man the defence. Young Jonathan Germano, signed from Independiente for an absolute pittance is in the same mould. Dugandzic too offers wide options as well as central ones. With such tight squad restrictions, the greater versatility we have, the more unpredictable and adaptable we are going to be, and that in itself is an advantage we enjoy that a lot of others don’t.
The side is captained by Fred, whilst Matty Thompson will take up the vice captaincy.

In terms of transfer action across the league, not much has taken place thus far, indicating I’m not the only one with little room to move, but Newcastle Jets have pulled off an amazing signing, brining in Arsenal legend Robert Pires.

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Our first two friendlies will be against Doncaster Rovers, before taking on North Sunshine Eagles, two state league clubs in Victoria, after which four players will head off for international duty with the U19s.

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Two games, two wins, but anything less than that would have been rather concerning.

In fact, that we could only beat Doncaster Rovers a very, very average side, only 2-1 was a bit of a shock, although I did field a young and rather inexperienced side. Eli Babalj picked up an injury in the 8th minute which forced him off the pitch, leaving me fearing the worst. It was nothing serious in the end, and he was able to play in the next friendly against North Sunshine, but it did awaken me to the risk I could be taking if I didn’t sign at least one more forward.

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We dominated the match as one might expect but were rather poor in front of goals. David Williams eventually got the winner, but the concerning aspect was just how many he missed before he eventually scored one. It confirms my worries about his quality, but I never quite envisioned him as a lone centre forward, which is what he played on the day.

I played a much stronger team against North Sunshine, picking what I essentially consider to be my first XI. Babalj opened the scoring in the 5th minute, before Alex Terra scored seven minutes later. The rest of the half was spent spurning chance after chance, but it was still an improved performance on the one against Doncaster.

Half time saw a complete change of personnel, with 11 new players coming on. This included playing the likes of Germano and Reid out of position, but they proved their versatility with a fine 45 minute performance. The much maligned Jason Hoffman showed me how much I know with a second half brace from the middle of the park. With the forward positions filled, I threw him into the middle of the park in a box-to-box role, which he seemed to relish. The extra time he had on the ball from deep positions and the space afforded to him undoubtedly made life easier, but let’s not take too much away from the young lad!

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Whilst the U19 lads on international duty were away, I took the chance to call up some of the youth players to have a look at what they might offer. Zac Walker is one player who I think might help me out up front. He’s not the smartest footballer to be honest, but he can move, and he can put his chances away. Craig Goodwin is another astute winger who can be brought in to relase Dugandzic or Terra into a more central position.

Four more players were called up for international duty with the Olyroos (Olympic qualifying).

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The U19s meanwhile enjoyed a fantastic win over Serbia, with help from Heart’s defensive duo of Curtis Good and Brendan Hamill at the heart of defence. Pleasing to see considering central defender Adrian Madaschi will only be at the club for half the season, should I not be able to negotiate an extension on his short term contract.

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The U19s won once more, beating Bosnia 3-0, whilst the U21s enjoyed a 0-0 draw against France. The U23s secured a great result on the way to Olympic qualification with a 1-0 win over Libya, courtesy of a goal from young gun Craig Goodwin.

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Meanwhile, Goal.com list Dugandzic and Worm as Heart’s players to watch.

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Back home, we’re preparing for action against Diamond Valley without our burgeoning internationals. Springvale White Eagles beckons after that, before a quick turnover sees us play Clifton Hill.

After three more friendlies, we have picked up another three wins, though I can’t really say how much I have learnt in that time, other than to say that the difference between the calibre of players playing in the A-League, and the state competitions is rather sizeable, as one would expect.

A 7-0 win over Diamond Valley was no less than what was deserved. Aziz Behich did get injured though it was nothing serious, whilst one of the youth players, Dusan Bosnjak also picked up a knock. What these state sides don’t have in quality, they make up for in competitiveness, but the little niggles are getting a bit annoying. There was a bit of a break between the thrashing against Diamond Valley and the friendly against Springvale Eagles so Behich was given plenty of time to recover.

It was pleasing to see Zac Walker score twice, as did Rugter Worm, whilst Babalj got himself another as well.

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Springvale White Eagles were next on the list, and they proved just as easy an opponent, with the boys running out 6-1 winners. David Williams put on a great performance, scoring four, whilst Adrian Zahra issued his own reminder of his quality with a goal of his own. We did concede this time around, with Paul Griffiths scoring. He was one of few players I considered trying to sign from the lower leagues, but his quality and age meant that I would rather persevere with a Williams or Hoffman, who can at least progress as footballers over the next few seasons.

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A 5-0 win over Clifton Hill followed, with Williams scoring another brace. Was I wrong about the new boy, or is he just enjoying playing against shit teams? Time will tell. Babalj also scored another goal as did Alex Terra.

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There is still very little movement on the transfer front. The Australian trial day didn’t offer up anything worth pursuing, besides ex-Gold Coast midfielder Robson, who hails from Brazil. I’m not exactly short for midfielders but even if I did want him, I wouldn’t be able to pursue him given the foreign players quota has already been fulfilled. With every passing day it seems more and more likely that the boys I have now will be tasked with winning the Heart finals football for the first time in our short existence.

Two more friendlies to go, and then we can beckon in the start of the Hyundai A-League season, with the visit of Perth Glory.

More good results as the Heart closed out the pre-season in style. The Youth Team also kicked off their own season with a fine 5-0 win over Adelaide with Adrian Zahra scoring a brace from the wing. So far, so good!

We won the penultimate friendly 4-1, with Babalj scoring again. Hoffman was also on the scoresheet in a match we dominated from first to last again. If nothing else, all these wins are doing wonders for their confidence, and that so many of the youth lads have gotten in on the action has been extremely pleasing. They really look like a squad, instead of just two teams.

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The pre-season was closed out with a 3-0 win over Doveton. That man Babalj was on the scoresheet once more, as was Terra.

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With such a comprehensive pre-season under the belt, the results make for some very pleasing reading, regardless of the quality of opposition. Next season I will definitely make a point of organizing friendlies with A-League opposition and possibly getting a big European name out to face us in Melbourne for some much needed publicity too.

Pre Season Report:

P – 7 W – 7 D – 0 L – 0 F – 31 A – 3

Top Goalscorers:

David Williams 7
Eli Babalj 5
Alex Terra 3
Jason Hoffman 3
Rutger Worm 2
Zac Walker 2
Stipo Andrijasevic 2
Dusan Bosnjak 1
Nicholas Kalmar 1
Adrian Zahra 1
Daniel Pelus 1
Brodie Paterson 1
Alon Blumgart 1
Bradley Teloar 1

Sounds like you have a chance to have a good season in the A-League, I wonder what happens if the A-League increases in reputation, as its not in Europe, but I presume it is the current highest rep in the AFC?

looking good so far . im an aussie myself so its good to see someone doing a story on th A-League. i wouldnt mind someone making a canberra team in the editor so finally us canberrans can be recognised;)

hill definitly be following

Very good to see a Aussie story!! Keep it up mate will be keeping a eye on this one.

Hey Toonman8589 does that mean you are a Canberra Raiders fan?? I am a massive Raider fan lol.

That's a nice story of yours and your team. I've heard a lot of rags to riches stories and I must say that it is very inspiring.