Oh dear, after 8 games as Manager of Bolton in my ML, I've been sacked ........
Ok this is how it happened. Basically, I started my ML, Professional level, 15 minute games, 1.02 patch, Zero Assistance. I stupidly took the £33+ million as my transfer kitty, without really delving much further. Schoolboy error. I spent a shitload of money signing Elano, Luis Aguiar and Beneglio(sp). Beneglio I felt was a must as Jussi had been pretty poor between the sticks on 1.00 and 1.01. After I'd signed them I realised I was £8 million in the red. My Coach kept telling me I needed to balance the books come August/September. I put Reo Coker and Jussi on the transfer list in hope I could recoup the debt. I didnt. Come September the shit hit the fan. My Chairman, who already didnt like me, gave me an ultimatum, it was a 'Must Win' game, and if I didnt win it I was told to expect the sack. The game ended 1-1, and I was given a stay of execution. Another draw followed by another loss and my Coach then tells me the board are very unhappy and I'm on borrowed time. During this time, Jussi and Reo were released, my Coach, Doctor, Youth Team, and Physio or whatever, were all sacked to balance the books. I then was appointed £40,000 staff across the board. Including a Club Doctor that had just graduated from Medical School.
Next up was Liverpool, who battered me 3-0. Then I get a message from the Coach telling me that I'd been sacked, and that he was sorry but he had to go now and speak with the new manager, and that was that. My record was Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 4.
I've never been sacked before in my ML, so this was brand new. I kind of expected it after my financial screw-up, but part of me thought the Chairman and Board were just all-talk. They weren't.
What I loved about my brief spell, was the fact that it requires so much more tactical thought than I'd first believed. Trying to beat Liverpool at their own game was never going to happen. I've never had this before in a PES game, I've always just played my standard tactics and formations, under the concept that my opponents can deal with what I have to offer, rather than the other way around. This doesnt work anymore, which is great. Now I'm going to have to really think about each game and opponent, and try to nick points here and there. I should have just played very defensive at Anfield, and looked to feed off any scraps, but I didnt, and it cost me.
I will start another ML with Bolton tonight, but this time, not screw up my finances, and also, try to keep on the Chairmans good side from the get-go. I'm really excited about this ML now, it's going to make me have to think like I never have before. I've never felt a PES so challenging in my life, and that, above everything else, is what I love the most. The balance of Professional with Zero Assistance, combined with a smaller team is THE most perfect difficulty level for me. If I were to play on Top Player with even 1-Bar Assistance, and with a slightly better team, I'd do very well. On this setting though, it's a real slog, and boy do I love the challenge.
