Shakhtar Donetsk - End of season review

By Mark Deadman · Shakhtar Donetsk

Having taken another break from SM, I was lured back again. My previous record here has not been great seeing more of my teams relegated than is good for anyone.

So, I was looking for a team in division 5. Shakhtar had their most successful period between season 22 and 25, starting off with Dan Wallace. Since then, a slow decline back to the bottom rung.

My aim was to try and balance a younger senior team with bring in some youth players. So that the next manager had some good assets to move on if required.

In my first season I think we certainly overachieved or at least defied the prediction of finishing in the bottom 4. We finished in 9th place with 61 points.

This season we were again expected to finish in the bottom 4 and this time we went one better with 5th and 62 points. Losing to a very good US Sassuolo side in the final. The good late season form was down in part to the purchase of Lino and Amoura who gave us a stronger attacking threat. Our weakness area is in defence where ideally; I like to bring in at least one higher rated (87) player.

My squad like me have a lot of avarage , like me (journeyman) players, but work well as a squad.

Not sure what next season will be like, likely we finish in bottom 4, but very happy with a reasonable young squad for the future.