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A Fresh Focus – 1- Crystal Palace
The following is a fictional article, from a fictional sports website called theangrylinesmen, modelled on the style of The Athletic. “Palace needed reinforcements, and needed them quickly.” In each post in this series, first we’ll look at a specific club’s real world performance in the 2023-2024 season. Analyse their strengths and weaknesses, and pose a… Read More »A Fresh Focus – 1- Crystal Palace
Immer Weiter – 8 – Das Ende
“I reckon this journey has run its course.“ In-game date: 15 May 2027 The curtains come down on the 2026-27 season for Viktoria Köln, their second consecutive campaign in the Bundesliga. Last season, Enzo Scutari’s fourth in charge of the club, was a complete shock, as the club managed to finish fourth in the table,… Read More »Immer Weiter – 8 – Das Ende
Immer Weiter – 7 – Transfers and Squad Review
This is post seven of a wider series. A series for FM24. “He’s our Jonny Evans.” In-game date: 1 July 2026 The summer of transformation I thought I’d do something different for this post and focus on the complete transformation which took place in summer 2026 and current state of the club. This is ahead… Read More »Immer Weiter – 7 – Transfers and Squad Review
Immer Weiter – 6 – They Who Would Learn to Fly
This is post six of a wider series. A series for FM24. “I’ve covered the Bundesliga for many years, and I’ve never seen anything quite like this season. What a story.” In-game date: 16 May 2026 The following is an excerpt from a (fictional) article, written by a (fictional) journalist, from an (also fictional) sports… Read More »Immer Weiter – 6 – They Who Would Learn to Fly
Immer Weiter – 5 – The Bullet Catch
This is post five of a wider series. A series for FM24. “The overperformance the Italian has achieved is less akin to rabbits and hats and more like catching a bullet while being sawn in half after making the Statue of Liberty disappear.” In-game date: 25 January 2026 A reference was made in a recent… Read More »Immer Weiter – 5 – The Bullet Catch
Immer Weiter – 4 – Die Außenseiter
This is post four of a wider series. A series for FM24. “There was David and Goliath. Then there’s the ant at David’s feet and an unfathomably large beast who could crush Goliath like one.” In-game date: 1 July 2025 The following is an excerpt from a (fictional) article, written by a (fictional) journalist, from… Read More »Immer Weiter – 4 – Die Außenseiter
Immer Weiter – 3 – Temporary Like Achilles
This is post three of a wider series. A series for FM24. “Off the pitch, this is a club in crisis. The on-pitch overperformance is just a beautiful facade, masking boardroom chaos under the new President.” In-game date: 26 January 2025 “Welcome to Around the Table! Today in the studio we have Engel Vogt, former… Read More »Immer Weiter – 3 – Temporary Like Achilles
Immer Weiter – 2 – La Bella Figura
This is post two of a wider series. A series for FM24. “We Italians learn this from our mothers.” In-game date: 29 May 2024 Enzo Scutari is speaking to the local press after the final whistle of the last league game of the 3.Liga season of 2023-2024. It was a tight 1-1 draw at home… Read More »Immer Weiter – 2 – La Bella Figura
Immer Weiter – 1 – The Forbidden Adventure of Freedom
This is post one of a wider series. A series for FM24. “Modern football has no soul. She is a shell of her former self. Viktoria Köln is the antidote.“ In-game date: 26 July 2023 Enzo Scutari cuts an iconic silhouette as he stands in the middle of the pitch at the Sportpark Höhenberg. The… Read More »Immer Weiter – 1 – The Forbidden Adventure of Freedom
Magari – 8 – Build your Castle
This is post eight of a wider series. A series for FM23. “If you never lose, how are you going to know when you’ve won?” In-game date: 29 May 2028 The lights in Enzo Scutari’s office are switched off. As darkness descends over the Luigi Ferraris, the manager exits the building and heads for his… Read More »Magari – 8 – Build your Castle
Magari – 7 – Crossing the Rubicon
This is post seven of a wider series. A series for FM23. “Experience is the teacher of all things.” In-game date: 23 May 2027 In the year 49 BC, Julius Caesar purportedly crossed the Rubicon. At that time, the river Rubicon marked a key political border between the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul and the… Read More »Magari – 7 – Crossing the Rubicon
Magari – 6 – Planes, Trains and Boulaye Dia
This is post six of a wider series. A series for FM23. “Without the piano, my life would be a disaster.” Jools Holland. In-game date: 27 May 2026 I’ve just had the most surreal weekend. I visited the Sports Interactive headquarters in London alongside a group of other writers for the Football Manager The Byline… Read More »Magari – 6 – Planes, Trains and Boulaye Dia
Magari – 5 – Evolution Not Revolution
This is post five of a wider series. A series for FM23. “Spending less isn’t a death sentence, but you are flirting with the chair.” In-game date: 25 May 2025 This time last year, Sampdoria waved goodbye to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Fabio Quagliarella, Ciccio Caputo, Antonio Candreva and Tomás Rincón. This left an almost 200-year old… Read More »Magari – 5 – Evolution Not Revolution
Magari – 4 – The World Belonged To Me
This is post four of a wider series. A series for FM23. “Everything I did, the world applauded. Once upon a star.” In-game date: 26 May 2024 I’ve had every accolade bestowed on me It’s May 2024, and the end of Scutari’s second season in charge of Sampdoria. Before we talk about the football, it’s… Read More »Magari – 4 – The World Belonged To Me
Magari – 3 – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
This is post three of a wider series. A series for FM23. “The ideal final piece of the Blucerchiati jigsaw.” In-game date: 5 August 2023 Less than six months ago, Enzo Scutari’s Sampdoria were in freefall. On the 4th of January 2023, Sampdoria had smashed Empoli 4-1 to open the new year with a bang,… Read More »Magari – 3 – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Magari – 2 – The Barometer of Clichés
This is post two of a wider series. A series for FM23. “Every sunset is an opportunity to reset. Every sunrise begins with new eyes.” In-game date: 8 April 2023 It’s April 2023 and there are ten Serie A games to go in Enzo Scutari’s first season in charge at Sampdoria. This blog post is… Read More »Magari – 2 – The Barometer of Clichés
Magari – 1 – Forza Scutari
This is post one of a wider series. A series for FM23. “If the first button of one’s coat is wrongly buttoned, all the rest will be crooked.” In-game date: 11 July 2022 It was the 16th century Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno who said those words. I guess what he meant was if the foundations… Read More »Magari – 1 – Forza Scutari
Valores Familiares – 5 – Ad Victoriam
This is post five of a wider series. A series for FM22. “This is it.” In-game date: 11 December 2023 The ordinarily energetic Fernando Teixidó looks anxious, sat behind a collection of microphones clipped to a table in the press room at the Monumental David Arellano. The Peruvian’s third season in charge of the Chilean… Read More »Valores Familiares – 5 – Ad Victoriam
Valores Familiares – 4 – Time Will Tell
This is post four of a wider series. A series for FM22. “This is not a statistical anomaly.” In-game date: 8 November 2022 A double-double A tearful Fernando Teixidó held the Campeonato AFP PlanVital trophy aloft at a packed Monumental David Arellano. The Colo-Colo manager had just orchestrated a 3-1 win over Audax Italiano to… Read More »Valores Familiares – 4 – Time Will Tell
Valores Familiares – 3 – Of (great) Minds and Men
This is post three of a wider series. A series for FM22. “It proved a smart mix of classical South American football and modern European tactical nous.“ In-game date: 9 February 2022 Colo-Colo are the 2021 champions of the Campeonato AFP PlanVital, the top division of Chilean league football! In our last post we were… Read More »Valores Familiares – 3 – Of (great) Minds and Men
Valores Familiares – 2 – The Aristotle of Arequipa
This is post two of a wider series. A series for FM22. “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” In-game date: 4 September 2021 Fernando Teixidó has always been a peculiar character. His philosophical articulation makes him fascinating to some, interesting to many and at the very least curious to the rest. Often… Read More »Valores Familiares – 2 – The Aristotle of Arequipa
Valores Familiares – 1 – Welcome Home
This is post one of a wider series. A series for FM22. “Humility! Nobility! Integrity!” In-game date: 1 February 2021 Here at theangrylinesmen, we have always kept a keen eye on Peruvian manager Fernando Teixidó. When he was first announced as head coach of Bolivian side The Strongest, many scratched their heads at the curious… Read More »Valores Familiares – 1 – Welcome Home
Védelem! – 10 – The Seven Year Itch
This is post ten of a wider series. A series for FM22. “A hell of a lot of fun along the way will do for me.” After a lot of consideration… …I can tell you that the seven year itch is real. Applicable to any relationship, research has shown that reaching seven years is a… Read More »Védelem! – 10 – The Seven Year Itch
Védelem! – 9 – Transfer Special
This is post nine of a wider series. A series for FM22. “That’s a record run of 182 league games in a row without loss, and counting.” Season 2026/2027 This post is going to be a little different. We’ll take a deep dive into Honvéd’s transfer business; good, bad and indifferent over the past six… Read More »Védelem! – 9 – Transfer Special
Védelem! – 8 – Two Steps Closer
This is post eight of a wider series. A series for FM22. “Those who had to earn power are replaced by those who have known nothing else.” The New Golden Era? It’s Saturday the 16th of May 2026 and the final whistle has just blown on a mild evening at the ZTE Aréna. Honvéd have… Read More »Védelem! – 8 – Two Steps Closer
Védelem! – 7 – Return of the King
This is post seven of a wider series. A series for FM22. “It’s obscene.” Season 2024/2025 In my final blog post of FM21, I used the phrase “If I was having another child, I’d name them Tomáš Chorý.” Fast forward seven months of real life time, out of FM21 and into FM22 and an entirely… Read More »Védelem! – 7 – Return of the King
Védelem! – 6 – Teljes Futball
This is post six of a wider series. A series for FM22. “I could give you a thousand guesses and you’d never guess who. Seriously.” The Invincibles…again! Err, no this isn’t a mistake. Honvéd have won the OPT Bank Liga again. Again without losing a league game. That’s two years without a league defeat. The… Read More »Védelem! – 6 – Teljes Futball
Védelem! – 5 – I’ve Broken It
This is post five of a wider series. A series for FM22. “Don’t be alarmed by the presence of a real human face.” The Invincibles! I’ll jump straight into it. Our second season has broken Hungarian football. Honvéd are the champions of Hungary for the second time in a row. The 2022/2023 season was a… Read More »Védelem! – 5 – I’ve Broken It
Védelem! – 4 – Winning Ugly?
This is post four of a wider series. A series for FM22. “No one can say that watching Honvéd was boring this season.” 7 May 2022 The final whistle blows at the Groupama Aréna and there is no time to take another kick-off. In the 95th minute, home side Ferencváros’ Moroccan centre-back Sammy Mmaee has… Read More »Védelem! – 4 – Winning Ugly?
Védelem! – 3 – Stick or Twist?
This is post three of a wider series. A series for FM22. “A stark lesson about how punishing top-level football can be.“ 2 February 2022 Daniel Gray is a seasoned European football journalist for the online sports subscription website theangrylinesmen. He and Honvéd manager Glenn Árnason vaguely know each other from the short spell the… Read More »Védelem! – 3 – Stick or Twist?
Védelem! – 2 – The Beginning
This is post two of a wider series. A series for FM22. “If someone who has played alongside Darren Dods and Pat McGinlay can’t identify and recruit the next Ferenc Puskás, who can?” Welcome to Budapest Once Glenn Árnason had been picked up at the airport, there were a few discussions to be had. New… Read More »Védelem! – 2 – The Beginning
Védelem! – 1 – The ONLY Choice
This is post one of a wider series. A new series for FM22. “Can innovation really be named as such if the result isn’t successful?” The Apartment RIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGG! A mobile phone clangs in a familiar tone from under a pile of clothes strewn across a dated, patterned carpet. A grunt escapes from a middle-aged man… Read More »Védelem! – 1 – The ONLY Choice
Everywhere Else – 9 – Panathinaikos
This is post nine of a wider series. A series for FM21. “If I was having another child, I’d name them Tomas Chory.” It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Sometimes it’s hard to know when one of these saves should stop. With a so-called ‘journeyman,’ is it… Read More »Everywhere Else – 9 – Panathinaikos
Everywhere Else – 8 – Panathinaikos
This is post eight of a wider series. A series for FM21. “I gave my former club £3.5million for him, and spent the leftover profit from the other deal on takeaway food and books I’ll never read.” Season 2025 / 2026 “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” That is usually a… Read More »Everywhere Else – 8 – Panathinaikos
Everywhere Else – 7 – Panathinaikos
This is post seven of a wider series. A series for FM21. “I love him. I hope he never leaves.” Season 2024 / 2025 I’m going to dive straight in. Robert Vonsen‘s first full season in charge of Panathinaikos was a success. We won the league, albeit by a single point on the final day,… Read More »Everywhere Else – 7 – Panathinaikos
Everywhere Else – 6 – Panathinaikos
This is post six of a wider series. A series for FM21. “Now for the sexy bit.” We are where? As the first member of airline staff you encounter whenever you disembark a plane at Athens International Airport is contractually obliged to say to you, “Welcome to Greece.” I know what you are thinking. What… Read More »Everywhere Else – 6 – Panathinaikos
Everywhere Else – 5 – Tromsø
This is post five of a wider series. A series for FM21. “I started to worry that Cyberpunk 2077 was going to be bug-free before we won again.” This a number one champion sound Remember Estelle? The London singer with the velvety voice who collaborated with Kanye West on the 2008 “banger” American Boy? Me… Read More »Everywhere Else – 5 – Tromsø
Everywhere Else – 4 – Tromsø
This is post four of a wider series. A series for FM21. “I cannot stand the type of player who would probably have a weak handshake and close his eyes a minute and a half before heading the ball.” Out of the frying pan, into the fire? First things first, let’s take a moment to… Read More »Everywhere Else – 4 – Tromsø
Everywhere Else – 3 – U Craiova 1948 SA
This is post three of a wider series. A series for FM21. “We love to kick people and charge around angrily, collecting yellow cards like Panini stickers.” Season two and the failed escape plan The 21/22 campaign was a memorable year. The second season of our German manager Robert Vonsen‘s career was quite the Romanian… Read More »Everywhere Else – 3 – U Craiova 1948 SA
Everywhere Else – 2 – U Craiova 1948 SA
This is post two of a wider series. A series for FM21. “We had a youth intake that didn’t produce anything worthwhile, and why would it? Our facilities are woeful.” It’s the end of season one, so WTF happened? Cut to the chase, Robert Vonsen‘s U Craiova 1948 were promoted as champions of Liga 2… Read More »Everywhere Else – 2 – U Craiova 1948 SA
Everywhere Else – 1 – U Craiova 1948 SA
This is post one of a wider series. A series for FM21. “Was this really a good idea?” What is this all about? This new series, which I’m calling Everywhere Else, is going to be a bit different for me. Since finishing the more serious (as serious as it can be when it is about… Read More »Everywhere Else – 1 – U Craiova 1948 SA
La Sombra – 11 – Earned it
This is post eleven of a wider series. A series for FM21. “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” 18 May 2026 In last July, ahead of the 2025/26 season; the bookmakers published their pre-season odds on LaLiga winners and losers, as they… Read More »La Sombra – 11 – Earned it
La Sombra – 10 – The losing streak
This is post ten of a wider series. A series for FM21. “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” The losing streak 26 May 2025 Back on the 28th of February 1960, Las Palmas defeated Valladolid 4-0 in a top flight Spanish football match to grab the points in a season where… Read More »La Sombra – 10 – The losing streak
La Sombra – 9 – Transfer and youth special
This is post nine of a wider series. A series for FM21. “A fine example of when a foreign player and his new club’s ethos feel like a match made in heaven.” Rayismo 16 July 2024 It is no secret that Rayo Vallecano traditionally operated differently to other clubs in Spain. Journalist James Robinson once… Read More »La Sombra – 9 – Transfer and youth special
La Sombra – 8 – Can I just shock you?
This is post eight of a wider series. A series for FM21. “A bit like focusing on the final boss’s armour in a classic video game; keep your distance, frustrate and weaken.” Los Vallecanos 19 May 2024 It has only been a little over four months since theangrylinesmen last published a significant update on Fernando… Read More »La Sombra – 8 – Can I just shock you?
La Sombra – 7 – The glorious nosebleed
This is post seven of a wider series. A series for FM21. “It’s something of a miracle that Teixidó has Rayo pushing anywhere near in the right direction.” Our favourite fictional publication theangrylinesmen is back, but this time it’s not recently converted Rayista Carl Hagedorn with the pen in hand. It’s his colleague Jonathan Simpson,… Read More »La Sombra – 7 – The glorious nosebleed
La Sombra – 6 – You can never go too far
This is post six of a wider series. A series for FM21. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.“ Carl Hagedorn for theangrylinesmen reviews another nail-biting season at Madrid’s perpetual underdogs Rayo Vallecano for your reading fmpleasure. Another year has passed if you… Read More »La Sombra – 6 – You can never go too far
La Sombra – 5 – Unquestioned answers
This is post five of a wider series. A series for FM21. “If you thought season one’s final day promotion drama was edge-of-your-seat stuff, the end of season two was every bit as chaotic.” It’s Sunday the 15th of May 2022, approaching midnight. The Vallecas sky may be dark, but the stars are shining brightly.… Read More »La Sombra – 5 – Unquestioned answers
La Sombra – 4 – The segunda conspiracy
This is post four of a wider series. A series for FM21. “Fernando Teixidó crouches sternly in his technical area like Marcelo Bielsa has possessed both his legs and facial expression.” Sunday the 30th of May 2021. The incredible events of this day will be written into Rayo Vallecano folklore. Very rarely can glory occur… Read More »La Sombra – 4 – The segunda conspiracy
La Sombra – 3 – My kind of blues
This is post three of a wider series. A series for FM21. “I see a lot of promise in him. Promise that I can shape. Not just as a footballer, but also as a good man.” Rayo Vallecano manager Fernando Teixidó is sat at a beautifully dressed table in El Club Allard, a Michelin-starred restaurant… Read More »La Sombra – 3 – My kind of blues