Based on a totally random draw, I came up with Halmstad BK in the Swedish Premier Division.

So here's the challenge:

Finish the season as good as you can in league and cup with the following line up: GK
SWC
DR DC DC DL

MR ML
AMC AMC
SC
If you don't have the players required, get them. Use only the database that came in the box - no updates - small database - Swedish Premier only. Time limit: 15th of August, 23:59 GMT SG clock time.


Original database:
http://rapidshare.de/files/3103521/Original_DB_FM_2005.exe.html
or
http://members.home.nl/hvkasteren/Original DB FM 2005.exe (http://members.home.nl/hvkasteren/Original%20DB%20FM%202005.exe).
Point it to the correct folder, and overwrite your current database. AFTER BACKING IT UP.


One thread per challenger. Report on every game.
5 points for a win, 3 for a draw, 2 per goal scored, -1 per goal against
70 points for league championship, 50 for top 3, 30 for top 5, 10 for top 10.
30 for winning a cup, 10 for reaching a final.
10 points for selling a player for over £ 5 million / € or $ 7.5 million.

Match points only awarded for competitive matches. No friendlies.
Good luck.

I'll keep the score in this post, update with every update posted.

rpvankasteren: 43 matches 483 points final
Andrejs: 40 matches 362 points final
SuRFy: 41 matches 323 points final
Fernandez: 24 matches 86 points final
garlei: 7 matches 50 points
Dazmania: 10 matches 39 points
TROD: 9 matches 34 points
kickin_kyle: 7 matches 29 points

Cool Ruud, I was just looking for something new...

Does it only last for one season or will we play beyond that?

Only one season was my idea. We'll go deeper with #2.

i dont agree that we should, keep all the chalenges to 1 season encourages other people to join. E.g. i cant do this one but maybe i will be able to soon.

TROD.

Maybe we should limit it to two weeks, as it's only one season. One could finish in one or two days.

no, keep the limit at 15th but when we then just stop it anyway when people have finished. Know what i mean?

TROD.

why do we have to use that lineup btw?

TROD.

how do i get back to the original ddb that came in the box??

and how should we post results?

post results like Ruud is doing, the only way of getting the original database is to reinstall isnt it? :(

TROD.

I'll upload the db to rapidshare in a bit. Unpack it into the "..\Football Manager 2005\data\db" folder. Backup your current db, so you can move it back later (as you should have done with the original :p).

ok i did that all already in preparation :p

i tried installing the game again but XP won't allow me to have 2 installations of the same game :(

cheers rude.

why do we have to use that lineup btw?

TROD.
That's the challenge really. So you don't use someone elses tactic. :p

So... no need to upload the db?

yeah i do need it please :)

i was just saying i'd backed up my existing ddb ready to put this one in, but i forgot with the original :(

Ok, in progress.

Id of been up for it, but i have the updates, and im not going back to original. Ill keep looking at how everyone is doing though, should be cool (Y).

If you don't want to interchange databases for the whole while of starting a 1 league small database game (took me less than a minute), that's your loss.

quality, cheers ruud :)

Original database: http://rapidshare.de/files/3103521/Original_DB_FM_2005.exe.html.

Point it to the correct folder, and overwrite your current database. AFTER BACKING IT UP.

aww crap :(
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This IP 80.3.32.8 is not allowed to use the free-service anymore today. We detected very extreme downloads. Don't worry! This has not to be your fault.
Maybe you use a proxy-server. Premium-users are not affected by this ban. Maybe you might want to get a PREMIUM-Account, too.
It is just a one-time fee and you will have access instantly. Please see our big FAQ, if you still have questions.

well for one of the first times ever im gonna have a crack at this..

first time ive played FM in 3 months

TROD.

Uploading it to our personal webspace, but the uploading is quite slow. Patience svp.

ah ok, that's wicked, thanks again ruud.

http://members.home.nl/hvkasteren/Original DB FM 2005.exe

There she is. :)

awesome. Thanks again ruud :)

winRAR Dutch stylee :|... now that confused me (:/)

got it right though... i hope.

Ruud can you come online or are you using the other PC?

TROD.

Im passing on this one, kinda dont feel like playing FM atm, I got a new gfx card, I now want to play all my games with shiny graphics.

fair enough Cody.

TROD.

hmmz, we're going on holiday coming monday...

Sorry, I'm out for this one :( :boohoo:

Ah, it's just a 26 match league. You can finish that tomorrow... (H)

S*hit, I'd take this challenge up, but I'm going on vacation, and won't be bringing my laptop (N). Just to know, will we have more challenges, so when I return in a month, I can take one up?

are there limits to how many games one can play a day, or if I want to, can I finish one season in a day if I want to?

You can finish as fast as you like. One season is the whole challenge though.

There will be more challenges.

There will be more challenges.

Good to hear. Expect me taking up a lot of challenges when I return ;)

too much work involved... I dont wanna have to back up all my files and use the original database and crap :(

I'm in. Am i allowed to take up this challenge?

Why yes, of course you are. (H)

Done, didn't take too long, runs like a dream with only 1 league and a small DB, Ruud if we qualify for the Royal League do we continue on with that?

well i was on FM for 3hrs last night and played 3 games, cheers for finishing already SuRFy, you'll be waiting a while.

TROD.

Yeah, Royal league counts, as a league. Will be counting your last results in a bit.

can i join this?

i'm downloading the db right now. how exactly do i backup my current one? i've never been good with stuff like that. thanks.

I just made a copy in a new subfolder of the data\db folder myself.

very easy to do kyle, then store the backup somewhere safe (e.g. my documents)

and of course you can take part! It'll take me about a month to complete this challenge.

TROD.

ok good cause that's what i did. started last night but i havent made a thread. finding players is hard :(

bloody hard to get decent players to join you. Even free ones don't want to sign.

Try being Newcastle United (Australia), Mostovoy won't come. :(

He wouldn't come to Halmstad either, so what exactly are you trying to say? :p

I decided to just award myself 30 points for the Royal League win, as it's just 11 matches, and more of a cup than a league.

One day left to play! I proclaim myself winner of the competition (H)

Any ideas for a new challenge?

Ya, congrats Ruud, I bet the victory came as a total suprise for you, eh? :p

I think in the next challenge, people should be allowed to use random database, it's sad to see only 3 of us playing til the end :(

How can it be a fair contest with people using different databases though?

And it takes no time at all to change databases. Just backup your database, put the original one in place, start the challenge game, and put the backup back. Takes less than a minute, not counting the starting of the game.

Mayb it would be fun to take one of the promotion teams in England(or something) and take them to championship in 2 or 3 seasons...

Im up for a challenge, as I can play FM again and have tons of spare time. Let's take over Heracles and try to draw PSV :(

Isn't that difficult is it? ;)

One season maximum, the summer doesn't take that long. The third challenge can be a larger one, to fill the gap to the release of FM 2006.

Maybe we could take control of MVV and try not to finish dead last in the first division in Holland... would be tough :(

One season maximum, the summer doesn't take that long. The third challenge can be a larger one, to fill the gap to the release of FM 2006.

Maybe we could take control of MVV and try not to finish dead last in the first division in Holland... would be tough :(

MVV is actually pretty easy. Done it already on FM, got them promoted in the first season (I actually ended 9th, but got a period title) In the 2nd season I ended 16th, but won the play offs and in the 3rd season I ended 12th or something (cant remember the exact). After that I stopped playing the game

poo, oh well i missed the deadline lol

TROD.

Next challenge Union Berlin (C)

Union it is.