The Greek Football Thread

[lavezzi7]

It is the first time a thread like that is created if I am not mistaken.Let's keep it active while enjoying your game in the Greek Championship.Anyone who wants to play in Greek Superleague must have in mind that there are two big teams: Olympiakos and Panathinaikos(they have the biggest budget,around 5-10 millions).The 3rd team is AEK and all the rest are PAOK,Aris,Larisa,Xanthi etc.As for me, I may enable the third division via editor and I will manage a lower-division team with a target to promote in the Greek Superleague and of course, win throphies.

Ask me if you want any help and...

...Enjoy the game!!!

[Adramelch]

Probably gonna play a save with AEK to lead them to glory as I did on FM09 (4 consecutive league titles plus appearances in UEFA and Champions Cup semi-finals). Third division is an excellent addition as there are a lot of Fallen Giants to manage.

[Freddy Guarin]

After having success with a second division side in Iceland on FM09 (or about as much success as you possibly can with an Icelandic team) I've started as Panaitolikos (but I have since found out that FM has spelled their name wrong- it is actually Panetolikos. Also, they are nicknamed the Canaries, which pleases me) in the Greek second tier.

So, yeah, I have played three league games, and have seven points, which leaves me one place and one point the leaders, with a game in hand. I also have Panathinaikos at home in the cup coming up, so I'm pleased with how this going so far. Feels like I'm cheating though, because this Bosnian lad, Emir Hadzic, is pretty much English Premier League standard.

[Adramelch]

Originally Posted by Freddy Guarin

After having success with a second division side in Iceland on FM09 (or about as much success as you possibly can with an Icelandic team) I've started as Panaitolikos (but I have since found out that FM has spelled their name wrong- it is actually Panetolikos. Also, they are nicknamed the Canaries, which pleases me) in the Greek second tier.

So, yeah, I have played three league games, and have seven points, which leaves me one place and one point the leaders, with a game in hand. I also have Panathinaikos at home in the cup coming up, so I'm pleased with how this going so far. Feels like I'm cheating though, because this Bosnian lad, Emir Hadzic, is pretty much English Premier League standard.

It's definitely not as big challenge as your Icelandic one, since the top three teams (Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK) have constant presence in European competitions but it will be fun for sure. You will find out that quite a handful of very good players play in Greek lower teams with the greatest example being Alvaro Recoba in Panionios. Yes it is spelled Panetolikos as in Greek "ai" is pronounced "e" unless it has two "dots" over the "i". Panathinaikos has two dots over his "i" (in Greek), thus he is pronounced the other way. Good luck mate.

[Freddy Guarin]

Originally Posted by Adramelch

It's definitely not as big challenge as your Icelandic one, since the top three teams (Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK) have constant presence in European competitions but it will be fun for sure. You will find out that quite a handful of very good players play in Greek lower teams with the greatest example being Alvaro Recoba in Panionios. Yes it is spelled Panetolikos as in Greek "ai" is pronounced "e" unless it has two "dots" over the "i". Panathinaikos has two dots over his "i" (in Greek), thus he is pronounced the other way. Good luck mate.

I am aware that it is not as big a challenge as Iceland, and that is why I chose it. With an Icelandic side, you are never going to be able to make an impact in Europe, but in Greece, I think it is possible if I stick with the game and progress at a decent rate.

[Adramelch]

Originally Posted by Freddy Guarin

I am aware that it is not as big a challenge as Iceland, and that is why I chose it. With an Icelandic side, you are never going to be able to make an impact in Europe, but in Greece, I think it is possible if I stick with the game and progress at a decent rate.

Well in last year's version I played 6 seasons with AEK and managed to reach UEFA cup semi finals and Champions Cup semi finals, so my estimation is that at about 8-9 years you could be a respectable force in Europe with Panaitolikos.

[Freddy Guarin]

Not happy. My unbeaten record is now over, thanks to having four players away on international duty. Why was the game not postponed?

[Adramelch]

Originally Posted by Freddy Guarin

Not happy. My unbeaten record is now over, thanks to having four players away on international duty. Why was the game not postponed?

Second division games are not postponed due to international duties, since not many players from that division participate in their international teams. You were just unlucky (or lucky actually) to have players of that calibre.

[lavezzi7]

Originally Posted by Freddy Guarin

Not happy. My unbeaten record is now over, thanks to having four players away on international duty. Why was the game not postponed?

Because you are in Greece...

Write down your signings if you want.

[Freddy Guarin]

Still doesn't make it fair

Anyway, I have not made many signings. I have signed Giorgos Katsikas on loan from Iraklis, my new feeder club, and Lukasz Piatek from Polonia Warsaw for £110k.

I have sold Ilias Manikas to Olympiakos Volou for £45k, and Makis Belevonis to Veroia for £20k.

[Freddy Guarin]

After 22 games I am nine points clear of third place. Helped by a run of nine wins and two draws in my last 11 games, including wins in all six since Christmas.

I'm going up

[Freddy Guarin]

So, I was top, and still looking comfortable with six games to go, when my best central midfielder injures himself, and I only pick up one point in the next four games.

I dropped to second, which isn't the end of the world, when he returns. But this game, the penultimate game, is against Olympiakos Volou, who had just leapfrogged me to go top. So there I am, 2-0 down to them at home, and my hands hurting from smacking my desk. I had blown it, seemingly.

But wait! Three goals in the first quarter of an hour of the second half saw me go 3-2 up. I held on, and I was back in business. Top of league with one game left, on 61 points. Olympiakos Volou and Pierikos had 59, with Panserraikos on 58.

So, I go into the last game knowing that a win at Ethnikos Asteras would see me win the league, and a draw would probably be good enough for promotion, if not the title.

The top four positions were changing throughout the game. By half time, when I was 2-0 down, I was down to third. Shit. I pulled one back, before Ethnikos scored again and I replied, and it ended 3-2

But all was not lost. Panserraikos were beating Pierikos, and were going above me on goal difference (the head-to-head was level as both games were draws), and that was pretty much settled, because although they started the day behind me on goal difference, they were winning comfortably.

However, Olympiakos Volou then conceded, with thrilled me. They were 1-1 going into stoppage time, when my match ended, and I thought I had safely secured a place in the Super League next season.

But no. The bastards went and scored in the 94th fucking minute and won, meaning I dropped to third, and have to go through this silly Playoff thing. Basically, a Champions League style group of four teams, who play each other home and away. At least the team who finishes third gets to start on two points and fourth place has one, but still, my players bottled it in a big way.

I'm gutted