Thought it was about time I did a bit of a write up to provide an update as to where we are. I have to face facts...results have been terrible. I just cannot for the life of me work my way through the mire of teams that play slow tempo and defensive in divisions 4 and 5. In truth, a relegation followed by a bottom 3 finish is the lowest division deserves the sack and I am luck to still have the job. Maybe the fact that it isn't the most attractive position out here saved me along with the progress I have made with squad building (or at least that's what I like to think).

Anyhow its squad building I am going to focus on and in particular scouting and how I am trying hard to turn basically very little from when I took this job into the best I can. I look on with envy seeing the likes of Glen and Doug wheeling and deeling on a daily basis looking to improve their squads. When you have so few assests as I had to begin every deal can be make or break and there is very little room for error.

I have had to build a lot from nothing and this is what I want to focus on here. Players I have picked up from external since I have been at the club.

1. Yehvann Diouf (87 - 24years old) - The French keeper flies under the radar but is one of the better keepers in French Football. Has established himself as the Dinamo number one and has plenty of upside. Hoping for a +1 in the next couple of days.

2. Kevin Mac Allister (86 - 26years old) - servicable backup who is impressing for Union Saint-Galloise irl. Have several bids for him recently showing he has turned into an asset.

3. John Paul Van Hecke (85 - 24years old) - Established Premier league central defender who looks to be on for a decent rise. Potentential 90 rated CB I feel.

4. Lennard Maloney (84 - 24years old) - I have kind of addopted Heidenheim as my German team since the heroics of the final day of last season. Maloney has been a constant in a very good team who finished in the european places. Will be interesting to see how SM tackle the heidenheim reviews but Maloney can be a useful player for me moving forwards.

5. Alexis Garcia (89 - 26years old) - Has been outstanding in La Liga for the past couple of seasons and was Girona's best player is an outragious season for them. Big move to Leverkusen secured and I his rating will continue to rise.

6. Jan-Nikolas Beste (86 - 25years old) - Another Heidenheim pick up. I love this player. Just take a look at his stats over the past 2 seasons, his goals and assists are impressive. Looks to be in for a move to one of the bigger German clubs this summer. I see him getting to 90 rating in the not too distant future.

7. Oscar Bobb (78 - 20years old) - Super talent on the fringes of the City team this season. His real life minutes will increase and the sky is the limit for this lad. I seem to get enquiries daily for him but as a City fan I am keen to keep hold and watch him develop. He could be the star of by team and someone to build around.

Honerable mentions; Hamilton (Man City kid who already has a champions league goal to his name, Risser (young French GK getting minutes on loan in the 2nd division, Susoho (young Man City player who is a regular on the first team bench. Pep has said good things about him and he could be the next to break into the first team squad proper next season, Moueffek (just picked him up and got a +4 this morning. Will be playing top flight football next season and worth a punt,  

Hopefully the ratings increases will be kind and I can begin to push forward this season.

Its now two and a half months since I took the reigns at Dynamo Moskva so thought I would share how things have been going so far. Sitting in 4th spot in the league and 5 points off top spot is decent and I probably would have taken that before the season started. Form is a little up and down but that is to be expected in a division where most of the teams are very evenly matched and teams will always pinch points off each other.

My nateral instincts when taking over a team is to trade/sell off all the older players for younger lower rated players but with a higher ceiling. The uniquness of T100 and the contract situation meant I had to look at the task in a different way as lowering the rating of the first team could lead to me failing to meet the "top 15 finish" and getting the sack after only 1 season in charge.

Signings so far:
Andrea Belotti (91 rated - 28 years old) - Fran Beltran, Reece Oxford and £7m
This is my most important signing to date. I felt a 91 rated forward could be the difference down in division 4. He hasn't set the world alight so far and hoping for a much better 2nd half of the season from him.

Jesus Gallardo (87 rated - 27 years old) - Jordan Amavi
Came as part of a deal for Jordan Amavi to take over the starting LB spot. A down grade by 1 rating point but felt it worth while to recieve the other players that came as part of the deal.
Mohammed Bayo (85 rated - 23 years old) - Jordan Amavi
Came as part of a deal for Jordan Amavi. Has a good goalscorring recordin the French league for a struggling Clermont. Has been linked with the likes of West Ham and fingers crossed he gets move in the summer.

Adamo Nagalo (78 rated - 19 years old) - Jordan Amavi
Came as part of a deal for Jordan Amavi. A graduate from the Right to Dream Accademy and playing for Danish top tie club Nordsjaelland. Already established as a starter and I have high hopes he moves on to a stronger European league.

Ebrima Darboe (76 rated - 20 years old) - Jordan Amavi
Came as part of a deal for Jordan Amavi. The young Gambian international was a part of the first team int he African nations, getting to the Quanrter Finals. Hasn't seen much in the way of minutes for Roma this season, only really getting a chance in the European games but its always going to be difficult under Mourinho who doesnt often give youth a chance. Been linked with a move to big European clubs. One for the future!

Theo Bengona (86 rated - 26 years old) - Danny Da Costa
Right back Danny Da Costa was level 4 concerns when I arrived and I felt I needed to find the best deal I could for him. I had a few offers and this was the one I accepted. Bengonda is having a decent season for Genk scoring 10 league goals in 28 appearences from the wing. An out side chance of a ratings increase but good depth in the main.

Moussa Wague (82 rated - 23 years old) - Danny Da Costa
This was the 2nd part of the deal for Da Costa. Picking up a 23 year old Barcalona player sounds good but this lads career has stalled dramatically. A mixture of serious injury, loan spells and Covid has meant a once promising talent is in the wilderness. He isnt going to make it at Barca so will be important to see what club he terms up at next.

Jordan Beyer (82 rated - 21 years old) - Diego Costa
Having picked up Belotti I had no need for Costa. Central Defence is the weekest part of my team so was able to pick up a young prospect getting regular game time for Monchengladbach.

Chidera Ejuke (86 rated - 24 years old) - 2.4 mil
Picked him up for depth mainly and felt he had a chance at rising looking at his real life numbers and he did get a plus 2 up to 86 in the Russian review.

From External
James Trafford - young Man City keeper impressing on loan at Bolton.
Shea Charles - young Man City academy prospect
Oscar Bobb - young Man City academy prospect. Impressing and not far from the first team squad.
Marko Ilic - 24 year old Serbian GK playing in Belgium. Capped by his county and with luck hopefully a bigger club will take a chance on him in time.
Osvaldo Rodriguez - Playing in the Mexican League. Simply sighned as depth as he can play right and left back.
Tom Van de Looi - Young Dutch midfielder playing for promotion chasing Brecia. If he is playing in the Italian top flight next season he could see a significant rise.
Sargis Adamyan - just picked him up as he has scored 5 in his last 5 for table topping Club Brugge. Probably too old now to progress much but adds to the squad depth.
Vincent Aboubakar - Took a punt on him when he was ripping it up at the African nation hoping a European team would sign him. He is too old in truth though and he will be shipped out once his transfer ban ends.
Bradley Dack - Super talented player currently making a come back after some terrible injuries. When I signed him it was looking like Blackburn were Premiership bound but the wheels have come off. I will hold on to see if he is a Premiership player next year.
Aleix Garcia - Ex-Man City player. Still young and playing for promotion chasing Girona. If he is playing in the Spanish top flight next season I would hope his rating will improve.
Jacob Murphy - Has been a regular under Eddie Howe in what is a much improved Newcastle team. Currently 85 rated but a rise to 87 must be a possibility looking at his numbers and if so will become a good option.

In summary I am pleased with the way things have been going. I have a chance at promotion if I can stick around the playoff picture in division 4 but it tough as a lot of the teams are a much of a muchness. A bit of luck and keeping my better rated players bit will be the key.

So here we are, Corey Johns has arrived in the Top 100 gameworld and has been given the chance to take on the challenge of Dynamo Moskva!

With an average age of 27 and a considerably lower IQ, last season was unkind to Razzaque.
Russian strongman Vladimir Putin earmarked the club as a symbol of Kremlin power, but Dynamo's late season collapse - netting more red herrings than a Leningrad fishmonger - was more like Krypton. First the club fell out of contention, and then favour. Putin eventually sold the Dynamo to a new buyer, in disgust.






Rumour has it his last words to a dejected Razzaque were, "Vodkaind of coach you are, Razzaque? You give me brewer's droop so Crimea river, davarish."

The club's new owner introduced himself in typically bombastic fashion.

"Yeah, Vlad didn't want to give it up. He didn't want to hand over the goodies, but I took it! I took Putin's D, which is a yuge thing. I took it because I'm Donald Trump, and I am gonna Make America Great Again, and Dynamo Moscow is coming along for the ride!"


Retaining Razzaque as manager


"Am I the only one who thinks that's kind of a, a hispanic, non-American sounding name? Have we checked his birth certificate yet?  What was that?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S A MOOOSE-SLIM! Why I'm going to personally string hi...



[ speech interrupted by campaign aide]

"...his tennis racket, yes, that's it, his tennis racket, when I invite him over to discuss the foosball program. I'm new to this so we're getting up to speed on the scrimmage, and special teams, and quarterback recruitment. Oh, no quarterbacks? Then who throws? Whaddaya mean no hands?  I mean, I know what no hands mean, y'know when Ivank....Melania's down there, but everyone knows you play football with hands, goddamnit!



[...second interruption...]

"...however this is a world game and we'll work on implementing quarters, and timeouts, freethrows and so on. Frankly, this is exactly the kind of firm leadership the world needs, and America will lead the way, just like the Kardashians lead everyone on social media."





The new look Trumps everything else

"I designed it myself under my yuge new designer label; DTF. That's Donald Trump Foosball."



"The shoulder epaulettes are woven using the same teflon fibre as my hair. I own stock in the manufacturing process. Win, lose or draw, I'm makin money hand over fist!"


Defending the net as if it were America

"I'm told that we leaked goals, just like America leaks freeloading, illegal aliens. Well that's going to stop because I'm building a defensive wall like you've never seen before, and Mexico's going to pay for it! Then we're going to shut out everything! Our point guards are going to guard against points being scored on you."






Raining goals as easily as ballistic drone strikes

I know all about scoring. I could write a book about it, and it would be compulsory reading for this team, but we need to improve our field goal percentage. When the puck comes your way, you slap shot that baby past the defenseman. Our running-backs and wide receivers have to make themselves available to catch every play, running into the end-zone at every opportunity. Our yardage will go through the roof. This, I promise you soccerballers.

Brand marketing and sporting fails often go foot-in-mouth.

Just ask Stephen Beddows, whose obsession with men's beautifying products inspired the AC Milan supremo to authorise a bizarre "Tekitanka haka" - performed by his players before a recent match (in collaboration with facial lubricant manufacturer Nivea)



"Signor Berlusconi offered the team invites to his bunga-bunga party!" was Beddows' lame effort to deflect the backlash.




Undeterred by Milan's slip into embarrassment, the Dynamo Sports Society, owners of Dynamo Moskva, decided to launch their new brand of  Ice Cube vodka, and who better to promote it than the man himself, right?

Negotiations were short.

Dynamo Moskva 

A name fit for a dodgy MLS 'franchise'.
Blessed last season with players who were everything but dynamic, russian in to win relegation to an easier division.
Except, it's been anything but easy this season. Dynamo are winless in competitive games since Feb 17 and occupy 11th spot.
Even worse, how brilliantly awful was that 'russian' pun manager Razzaque slipped in, in the very first sentence? That's exactly the kind of guile his team have lacked.



11 players, 11th in the table


The number 11 is static. It's a pair of legs when a player is standing still instead of looking to play a teammate in for a scoring opportunity.

Either with the ball or the ladies.


A Few Good Men. Too few?


Last season Razzaque followed Brendan Rodgers' "120 page Tossier on Squad Building".

"Great read, some real characters in there", he said.

Now, having sold off some high earning, no-mark big time Charlies (Douglas and Joselu), he's playing the long-game with instant promotion looking a stretch.

Both long balls and long shots.


What do you mean defence?

Victor is the new man in goals, even if he's infrequently a victor after 90 minutes.



The defence has been bolstered by Langkamp and Sidnei but has yet to become solid like Granat.

Mid-flee

Krsticic has a name that's as hard to pronounce as it is difficult to see exactly what he brings to the team, other than a tongue cramp for commentators.

Goals, what are they?

The jewel in the crown, Knowledge Musona, has thus far dispensed little more than fortune cookie wisdom although Razzaque remains hopeful.

"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER," he said, quoting directly from Rodgers' Tossier while putting on his most thoughtful face.

Maybe, but Knowledge needs to get going through action....


Start Me Up!

Ionov, Cauteruccio, Ari and Damari are the only ones showing they have the bottle for battle.