Domzale Season 4 Final Update
A game against Heracles and once again at the end of it promotion is no longer in my hands. They never really troubled us, their keeper was given man of the match, Hamsun had two one-on-one's with the keeper, beat him both times only to hit the bar first time and the post the second time. It just wasn't meant to be. Lech Poznan won their game 1-0 but surprisingly Sturm Graz lost at home to Lokeren to give me a lifeline. I'm sure this game is just taunting me now! Extending my hopes only to dash them at the last minute!
Table with 1 to go
Lech Poznan 26 (promoted)
Sturm Graz 23
Domzale 22
Lokeren 20
So, a highest finish assured even if I lose but more importantly I must beat a hopefully uninterested Lech Poznan side celebrating promotion. The least I can do is to win and at least ensure Strum Graz have to win their game. If they don't win and I lose or draw it's going to be more heartbreak. I want to win and at worst know there was nothing else I could do.
The older players find "What to do after football" leaflets on the top of their training kit that's laid out on Monday morning, in the hope this will prompt some of them to hang up their boots.
Strum Graz are away to St Polten. Can my bogey team finally do something to help me rather than hinder me or will they roll over?
The game starts and on 7 minutes Hamsun is brought down on the corner of the box. It looked inside, what will the ref give? There's a short delay and then he points to the spot!! Ordaz, the regular penalty taker is suspended so Minanda steps up. He strides forward, waits for the keeper to move and slides it down the middle! 1-0! A couple more chances after that, the closest a Hamsun header from a corner that just goes over the bar. Lech Poznan have the odd attack but they are mostly broken up although Ivarov saves one well as Liberrman and Stein get in each others way and the striker manages to get a toe to it. HT 1-0
Elsewhere?...
St Polten 1-1 Sturm Graz at Half time.
PES6 Stop doing this to me! Here we are for the third season running at half time in the final game of the season knowing that if things stay the same a win will get us promoted. I think Strum Graz will win their game but all I can do is try to see this one out and what will, will be.
The Second half begins and we are again on top, but unable to work a clear opening with shots being charged down. They also threaten but we are just about getting in the way to stop things before they get too dangerous. They begin to push forward as we hit 70 minutes but Dodo wins the ball and gets it to Minanda. He finds Ruskin free down the left. He cuts inside as a CB closes in on him and unleashes a drive...
that is saved one handed by the keeper! A fantastic save! Then with 10 minutes left a Poznan free kick is lifted over the defence to the onrushing striker. It's past Ivarov and it's 1-1! Noooooooooooo! With an exhausted Minanda and Fouque just gone off for Iouga and Espimas as well. Dodo then breaks forward with defenders falling back and lets a low drive go, hit really well but straight at the keeper. Then in stoppage time Macco cuts in and hits a hard shot but the keeper gets down to it at the near post to put it out for a corner, getting congratulations from his team mates. The corner comes over, Libermaan wins it but heads well wide. The goal kick is taken and the ref blows the whistle for full time. Domzale have entered into some kind of football groundhog day!
Sturm Graz win 3-2 to mean that the result didn't matter in the end which lightens the disappointment somewhat.
Final Table
I won't be sorry to see the back of Sturm Graz so quickly, they were a very strong team. Just a shame they couldn't have taken St Polten with them!
Lokeren win the cup with a 4-1 win over Heracles.
Previously promoted teams come down again, this time Ried and Korona showing how hard it is to stay up it would seem.
Div 2 Golden Boot R. Kienast (Sturm Graz)
Div 2 Assist Leader B. Prokipic (Altach)
Div 2 Player Of The Season (again) K. Jozwiak (Lech Poznan)
Domzale Awards
Top Scorer Hamsun 4, Minanda 3, Fouque 3, Ordaz 2, Ruskin 2, Burchet 1
Top Assists Minanda 2
Player Of The Season Minanda 6.2 You just can't keep a good man down.
The change in formation certainly saw a huge decrease in goals against and took the weight off Hamsun in seeing a range of goalscorers but at the same time although Hamsun missed a lot perhaps lesser skilled players shooting also had an effect on the amount of missed chances that ultimately cost a few points. I'm undecided at this point which way to go formation wise for next season. 15 players are out of contract and seemingly none of them have any intention of retiring. But then why would they it's not as if half of them are even getting muddy!
The conundrum that is Fouque needs to be solved. He's become the best player in the squad stats wise. Time to find a way for him to show it on the pitch.
Improvers: (since start) ave increase per stat
Fouque 11
Jaric 9
Ordaz 9
Macco 9
Hamsun 7/8
Dodo 7/8
Ruskin 7
Stein 5/6
Liberrman 5
Giersen 4
Lothar 3
Everyone else has declined to some amount or other. Minanda is keeping his passing and technique level.
And not one player retires!
Then I decide to give Lothar a run out in a pre season friendly and what does he do?
Yep, another OG. 3! He's only played 4 games! Ivarov is a worry now, what if he chooses to retire? Does this mean that if somebody does eventually retire that I should prioritise a keeper? Lothar clearly isn't going to be a worthwhile replacement.
Well, pts and finishing position are creeping up each season
Pts 11, 21, 22, 23
Pos 8, 5, 4, 3
But it feels like I'm at a crossroads with the squad now. The older players bar Minanda are next to useless now and my young stars are getting to mid 20's. I need some young players before those stars start to decline or I'll be stuck in the same boat again where by the time the youngsters are nicely developed my other players will be over the hill. I think I'm going to go for the spine of the team in new players first, starting with a keeper, CB, a striker and then a CM. Assuming I'm able to find the right one and of course assuming any of these bastards ever retire!
). His stats are a bit higher below, as I said, than in PES 3, he has just four yellow 80 + numbers, but all his technical stats are good enough to make a midfield maestro. 
Needless to say he started the next game although he couldn't repeat the trick as a very tricky Sturm Graz side were just about kept at bay in another 0-0.
I could barely get up the nerve to take it
