Hear all about the Russian army club's controversial relocation to Texas.

When last CSKA wrote it was on the back of promotion to D3. The team had one goal this season: stay up. There were rumors the manager may be asked to leave if the team was relegated back to D4.

The manager made several moves during the offseason and season, picking up veteran stalwarts like Kuzyaev, Varane, Walker-Peters, Maguire, Henderson in order to stave off the threat of relegation. Promising youths, particularly Mattia Liberali were sacrificed for the cause.

"I feel confident in our recruitment philosophy. We've won our share of lotteries, but we have an eye for hidden gems, including Liberali, Neves, Irankunda, Kone, and Mycael. Some must be sacrificed, even in ill-advised deals."

The short-term thinking has translated to results. CSKA is closer to the playoffs than relegation and is quite close to the coveted 40 point mark. We also made the semifinals of the cup, and are still alive in the Youth Shield.

The manager can only hope that the handful of players on the verge of the first team can progress quickly to fill in the gaps from retirements and downgrades.

"We are close to an inflection point at the club. I can feel it. The supporters can feel. It's an exciting time for American soccer."

Since CSKA Moscow TX's founding in September 2022, we've obviously had our purchase by private equity, rebranding, and relocation. Chris' Soccer Kids Academy is home to some of the world's best young talent. But have the on-field product and results improved?

From a results standpoint, I took over a team in the bottom of half of D4 at around the midyear point. CSKA Moscow was a yo-yo team between D2 and D3 through the first 10 seasons of Top100 and were an annual D4 team when I took over. We were promoted into D3 in the second full season, then finished 4th from bottom in D3. We have now yo-yo'd back to D3 after a nice run of form in the 2nd half of the season. In order to say that the on-field product has improved, we need to stay in D3 next season. Anything less will be an on-field failure.

From a talent perspective, there really was no youth academy. By my count I believe there were 10 youth players, mostly Scandinavian. I would say Arne Engels or Nanasi were the best inherited youth. CSKA now boast the likes of Kendry, Mastantuano, Konate, Musah, Odobert and many others. All well and good, but the first team is what matters. The team I inherited had Robert Sanchez (88), Denis Suarez (89), Gaetan Laborde (88), and Chris Smalling (88), Seba Coates (89) as it's over 88 players with a smattering of aging 87s who were about to be downgraded (think Luciano Vietto, Bartosz Berezynski-esque). Our talisman is now Marcelo Brozovic (92) along with 7 other 88+ players. I do think the first team has improved and expect the summer ratings will help our cause a bit.

What does this all mean? CSKA is glad to have been re-promoted to D3. But we need to aim higher. If CSKA yo-yos again, the American owners are likely to cut ties with the current manager. The Board's aim is to take the club to the glory and riches of D1 for the first time in club history.

The beginning of September will mark both one year in T100, at CSKA, and 100 games managed. It also coincides nicely with a season recap blog post.

A lot has happened in the year. We've gone through almost 2.5 seasons - making the playoffs with an unexpected run in the first half season, following up with a playoff loss in season 2, and gaining promotion season 3. It was disappointing slipping out of the leader position on the last day, though I think we'd all say Gursi had a superior team and (maybe) was more deserving of the title. The coach's lack of tactical acumen certainly played a role as well.

From a roster turnover standpoint, I believe we have 7 original players. We've undertaken an almost complete rebuild, especially within the youth team. One never knows how youth will pan out, but we've got a few top tier prospects and hopefully a few will break into the first team soon as we're papering over holes at the moment.

The team was also relocated to the United States due to economic sanctions forced upon Russia. The relocation came with a global rebrand. CSKA Moscow Texas now stands for "Chris' Soccer Kids Academy." Team colors are red, white, and blue in a nod to both the Russian, US, and Texan flags. The team mascot is a bull, symbolizing both aggression and the Texan cattle industry. Unfortunately, the rebrand has yet to resonate globally, and Eastern European new boys Szczesny and Brozovic were bitterly disappointed to learn they would be traveling to the US and not closer to home.

We're looking forward to Division 3 and hopefully many more years at CSKA.

Manager Chris Meida joined T100 at the beginning of September and has managed for 43 games. Having joined toward the end of last season, we'll go ahead and say that we've been at the club for one season's worth of games. Inspired by the transfer day at top 100, below is CSKA's transfer activity during this time, with age and rating at the time of transfer listed.

Incomings

Bertrand Traore (27,88), Simon Adingra (20,81), Oliver Skipp (22,86), Lucas Piton (22,82), Santi Ascacibar (25,88), Ngadeu (32,87), Hector Bellerin (27,89), Alvaro Fernandez (19,76), Lazetic (19,73), Gabriele Mulazzi (19,70), Ethan Butera (16,67), El Hannach (18,67), Mamadou Sarr (17,65), Fabio Chiarodia (17,67), Tarek Buchmann (17,65), Douglas Mendes (18,73), Luke Harris (17,70), Benjamin Cremaschi (17,70), Joao Neves (18,73), Samuele di Benedetto (17,65), Joel Roca (17,70), Irankunda (16,65), Lorran (16,65), Ken Izekor (15,63), Jovan Milosevic (17,68)

Outgoings

Charlie Taylor (28,86), Julian Von Moos (21,77), Marko Arnautovic (33,89), Johnny (21,81), Denis Suarez (28,89), Filip Marchwinski (20,78), Kerem Atakan Kegsin (21,80), Santiago Cartagena (20,76), Mario Gaspar (31,85), David Strelec (21,82), Eric Kahl (21,76), Luciano Vietto (28,86), Danilo Prokhin (21,82), Arne Engels (18,73), Mihailo Ristic (27,85), Melayro Bogarde (21,82), Nanasi

In and Out

Valentin Carboni (17,67), Djordje Petrovic, Dexter Lembikisa (19,67)

I'm sure a missed a few deals and there are a few I likely wouldn't do over and a few more I'll kick myself over with time. Overall it's been a fun "first" season. We're currently in the playoff spots but D4 is a tight race. It's looking good from a contract perspective. I've been playing SM for 15 years - including some years where I was disillusioned and only used it to track American players. Wish I had found T100 sooner.

Good luck with the rest of the season everyone! Always open to deals.

After leading Betis to division 1 in top 120 in his first season, most were expecting Chris Meida to continue the project. In a shocking turn of events Chris Meida has been appointed manager of CSKA Moscow. The CSKA board felt that Meida's extensive soccer managerial resume was worth the potential geopolitical ramifications. The move was a surprise to the manager and fans alike, with only Ivica Olic, club legend Alan Dzagoev, and Igor Akinfeev there to greet Meida at the airport. Rumors are the manager was unhappy to see Akinfeev registered with the team, knowing that he has no place in the manager's plans and, much like Nottingham Forest, has led to the team over-registering players. Nevertheless Meida is thrilled to be in Moscow and feels there are a few players he can build around. Chris Meida looks forward to competing with many of the managers he has encountered in his years as a soccer manager with his recent sabbatical leaving him refreshed and ready for the challenge.

Firstly I’d like to say it makes me immensely proud to get the opportunity to manage CSKA Moscow in Top100. I am very much looking forward to taking over and getting started. It has been a crazy 48 hours settling in but thanks to the Chairman Yevgeni Giner for showing faith in me here.









I arrive at CSKA with a squad after assessment that I feel is very strong, I can only thank a friend to me in the GW Bruin for the hard work he has put in previously and also admire the work done by Fred Dodger in previous seasons notably by bringing a Division 3 Title to CSKA.

I can not say at this time completely wherever there will be any big movement in terms of personal. It is looking unlikely as I am very happy with what I have currently seen but me and my team will continue to assess what might be needed and get more of a grip in the current transfer market.

Over the seasons CSKA have jumped between Division 2 and 3, ultimately my goal would be to take them up and keep them there. I wouldn’t want to set myself to high targets to begin with, the chairman has set me the goal of avoiding relegation but I do not think I would be doing the quality of this team justice to just try and achieve that. Ill be looking for a top 10 finish and hopefully push for more.

I do not hold a wealth of experience as a Manager and learnt a lot of my trade and have watched a lot of Top100 through close friend Mark Stewart, I am well aware of his achievements with Hertha Berlin and admired from a far what he was achieving there.

But the time has come now to step out from watching a great story unfold and start to write my own!!