[FM09] Is there life after relegation for Newcastle

Just started my 4th season on the new update which has toon in the championship and thought i'd share my journey with the club so far with you lot. This is just the backstory, I'll be giving regular updates on the fourth season goings on.

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2008/2009 Season: The Championship

Started out with 4m to spend, not a great deal considering the amount of improvements that I needed to make, missed out on Sol Campbell and Vennegoor of Hesselink aswell who snubbed the championship. Also missed out on signing Lewandowski and Skjelbred. Managed fairly well in the summer transfer window though.

Players Out during Summer:

> Ryan Donaldson - Released

> Alan Smith - Wigan - 2.9m

> Jonas - Man City - 12.5m

> Geremi - Pompey - 3.2m

> Damien Duff - Pompey - 2m

> Shola Ameobi - Wigan - 2.5m

> Joey Barton - Pompey - 2.5m

> Ole Soderberg - Accrington - Loan

Players In during Summer:

> Daniel Parejo (19, SPA, AMC) - Real Madrid - 700k

> Marcin Wasilewski (28, POL, DRC/WBR) - Anderlecht - 160k

> Stephen Appiah (27, GHA, DM/MC) - Free

> Ivan Fatic (20, MON, DLC/WBL) - Inter - Loan

> Eduardo (19, BRA, DLC/WBL/DM/AMLC) - Botafogo - 1.2m

> Alessandro Matri (24, ITA, ST) - Cagliari - 200k

> Nacer Barazite (18, NED, AMRC) - Arsenal - Loan

> Vicente (27, SPA, AML) - Valencia - 4.2m

> Sofiane Feghouli (18, FRA, AMRLC) - Grenoble - 5m

> Razvan Ochirosii (19, ROM, AML) - Steaua - 500k

> Johann Smith (21, USA, AML/ST) - Free

> Michael Zullo (19, AUS, AMRL) - Queensland Roar - 100k

> Jonathan Cristaldo (19, ARG, FC) - Velez - 500k

> Ariel Borysiuk (17, POL, DM/MC) - Legia - 525k

> Constantin Gangioveanu (18, ROM, AML) - U Craiova - 300k

> Henri Anier (17, EST, ST) - Flora - 250k

I bought a fair bit but felt that I needed the options in a team full of alot of young unproven talent. Middlesborough took an early lead at the top of the table at the begining of the season but I stayed up there with them and by the time January rolled around I'd edged ahead and gained a gap of a few points at the top. But I needed a good striker to put up front with Martins because Matri was being abit hit and miss and the cover was well needed. Needed to shift a few of the excess players who I wasnt using aswell to clear room for new players if we got promoted.

Player Out during January:

> Johann Smith - Accrington - Loan

> Nile Ranger - Crewe - Loan

> Michael Zullo - Released

> Constantin Gangioveanu - Doncaster - 1m

> Marcin Wasilewski - Aab - 1m

> Razvan Ochirosii - Charlton - Loan

> Andy Carroll - Charlton - Loan

> Tommy Spurr - Norwich - Loan

Players In during January:

> Oscar Trejo (20, ARG, FC) - Mallorca - 2.1m

> Marco Perez (17, COL, ST) - Chico - 275k

> Tommy Spurr (20, ENG, DLC) - Sheff Wed - 800k

> Ander (19, SPA, AMLC) - Zaragoza - 1.3m

Second half of the season I pretty much dominated the Championship. Only bad point was Coloccini being a want-away arsehole but didnt let that bother me the way the team performed.

It worked really well, my team came top of the Championship and reached the semi's of the FA Cup before getting put out by Arsenal. The season also saw a takeover by a random businessman called Ben Parkinson who put barely any money into the club so was glad the players did well on the pitch despite Col wanting away all season and deciding he had "personal problems" and going on a leave of absense which saw his value drop to 725k! But roll on the Premiership!

Final Position:

1 - Newcastle Pld 46 - Won 37 - Drn 8 - Lst 1 - For 97 - Ag 21 - GD +76 - Pts 119

Also Promoted:

Middlesborough, Reading

Relegated:

Hull, Stoke, Burnley

Top Scorer: Martins - 29 gls

Best Eleven for the season:

GK - Harper (6.98 av)

DR - Beye (7.06 av)

DC - Taylor (7.06 av), Coloccini (7.17 av)

DL - Enrique (7.07 av)

MR - R Taylor (7.28 av)

MC - Appiah (7.08 av), Eduardo (7.17 av)

ML - Vicente (7.20 av)

ST - Martins (7.19 av), Trejo (7.17 av)

Subs - Krul (6.83 av), Guthrie (7.09 av), Nolan (7.15 av), Feghouli (7.09 av), Matri (7.00 av), Bassong (6.86 av), Anier (6.67 av)

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2009/2010 Season: Back in the Top Flight

Needed an overhaul in this one, got a decent transfer budget from the new chairman but knew I had to make big changes to cope in the top flight so went abit mad in the transfer market. Really suprised that the players didnt go mental with all the changes.

Players Out during Summer:

> Xisco - Hull - 2.5m

> Fabio Zamblera - Reggina - 675k

> Oscar Trejo - Hull - 5m

> Fabricio Coloccini - Birmingham - 13m (lol)

> Henri Anier - Ipswich - Loan

> Daniel Parejo - Ipswich - Loan

> Razvan Ochirosii - Watford - Loan

> Stephen Appiah - Wigan - 5m

> Callum Morris - Bristol Rvrs - Free

> Tommy Spurr - Cardiff - Loan

> Johann Smith - Port Vale - Loan

> Kazenga LuaLua - QPR - 1m

> Andy Carroll - Port Vale - Loan

> Denis Ailbec - Norwich - Loan

> Stewart Bath - Released

> Patrick McLoughlin - Released

> Keiran Wrightson - Released

> Frank Wiafe Danquah - Released

> Campbell Bell - Released

> Lucas Trecarichi - Hull - Loan

> Wesley Ngo Baheng - Oldham - Loan

> Nile Ranger - Port Vale - Loan

Players In during Summer:

> Felipe Mattioni (19, BRA, WB/MR) - Litex - 140k

> Fleix Kroos (17, GER, AM/FC) - Rostock - 450k

> Ben Foster (25, ENG, GK) - Man U - 3.7m

> Joe Mattock (18, ENG, D/WBL) - Leicester - 1.5m

> Nacer Barazite (19, NED, AMRC) - Arsenal - 3.5m

> Ezequiel Garay (21, ARG, SW/DC) - Real Madrid - 7.5m

> John Fleck (17, SCO, AMLC/FC) - Rangers - 10.5m

> Davide Santon (17, ITA, D/WB/AMR) - Inter - 5m

> Nathan Delfouneso (17, ENG, ST) - Aston Villa - 2.1m

> Mark Beevers (18, ENG, DC) - Sheff Wed - 1.1m

> Miles Addison (19, ENG, DC/DM/MC) - Derby - 1.4m

> Lars Bender (19, GER, DM/MC) - 1860 - 2.5m

> Fabian Delph (18, ENG, AMRC) - Leeds - 3.2m

> Denis Ailbec (17, ROM, ST) - Farul - 100k

> Scott Carson (22, ENG, GK) - West Brom - Free

> Lucas Trecarichi (17, ARG, AMLC) - Sevilla Athletico - 10k

> Ignacio Camacho (18, SPA, DM/MC) - Valladolid - 5.5m

Had a solid start to the season and were a stable top half side sitting in 5th and 6th most of the time behind the big boys until January came around. Decided a few changes had to be made to get us any higher in the table as we really struggled against the big four but played well against the rest. Sent aload of the youngsters on loan to bulk up their stats which worked a treat for Anier who turned into quite a beast.

Player Out during January:

> Felix Kroos - Coventry - 100k

> Tamas Kadar - Millwall - Loan

> Stephen Folan - Released

> Michael McCrudden - Released

> Max Johnson - Released

Players In during January:

> David Beckham (33, ENG, MRC) - LA Galaxy - 3.3m

> Daniel Aquino (19, SPA, AML/FC) - Murcia - 4.9m

> Nicholas Millan (17, CHI, AMRL/FC) - Colo Colo - 100k

> Rodney Sneijder (18, NED, MRLC) - Ajax - 1m

> Laurato Acosta (21, ARG, AMRC/FC) - Sevilla - 3.8m

> Henri Saivet (18, FRA, AMLC/FC) - Bordeaux - 3.4m

> David N'Gog (20, FRA, ST) - Liverpool - 5.5m

Adopted a 4-1-1-2-2 approach after january and became a lethal attacking team. We were dubbed "overachievers" of the season after we finished fourth in the league and won the FA Cup, which I was chuffed with, especially because we'd been sitting fifth for most of the season and just jumped ahead of Arsenal in the last couple of months. So in one season we'd gone from Championship to Champions League, boosh!

Final Position:

4 - Newcastle Pld 38 - Won 20 - Drn 10 - Lst 8 - For 59 - Ag 41 - GD +18 - Pts 70

Champions:

Liverpool

Relegated:

Wigan, Boltan, Birmingham

Promoted:

West Brom, Stoke, Burnley

My Top Scorer:

John Fleck - 14

Best Eleven for the season:

GK - Carson (6.95 av)

DR - Santon (7.07 av)

DC - Taylor (6.83 av), Garay (7.13 av)

DL - Enrique (7.00 av)

MR - Beckham (6.88 av)

MC - Eduardo (6.94 av), Camacho (7.10 av)

ML - Vicente (7.05 av)

ST - Fleck (7.00 av), N'Gog (6.91 av)

Subs - Harper (7.00 av), Beye (7.00 av), R. Taylor (6.88 av), Aquino (6.71 av), Martins (6.93 av), Bassong (6.72 av), Delfouneso (6.68 av)

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2010/2011 Season: Champions League Toon!

Knew we would have to up our game if we were gonna compete with the big boys in Europe so had another spree in the market after chairman gave me a great 40m budget just for a top half finish. Also got a couple of decent players in on frees which always helps. Season didnt get off to best of starts with a loss to Liverpool in the Community Shield but ended pretty spectacularly.

Players Out during Summer:

> Matthew Grieve - Released

> Shane Ferguson - Released

> Darren Lough - Inverness - Free

> Ander - Birmingham - 5m

> Tamas Kadar - Leicester - 1.6m

> Johann Smith - Sheff Wed - 100k

> Ryan Taylor - Fulham - 6m

> Lucas Trecarichi - Leicester - 350k

> Wesley Ngo Baheng - Released

> Nicholas Millan - Released

> Jeff Henderson - Released

> Bradden Inman - Released

> James Tavernier - Released

> James Taylor - Released

> Dan Williams - Released

> Fraser Forster - Ipswich - Loan

> David N'Gog - Shakhtar - 6.5m

> Sebastian Bassong - Reading - 7m

> Daniel Parejo - Crystal Palace - Loan

> Samuel Ameobi - Released

> Laurato Acosta - West Ham - 4m

> Daniel Leadbitter - Released

> Steve Harper - Stoke - Loan

> Joe Mattock - West Ham - Loan

> Henri Anier - West Brom - Loan

Players In during Summer:

> Federico Laurito (20, ARG, ST) - Juventus - Free

> Macauley Chrisantus (20, NIG, ST) - HSV - Free

> Sidnei (21, BRA, DC) - Benfica - 4.2m

> Sebastian Larsson (25, SWE, D/WBR/AMRC) - Birmingham - 5m

> Joleon Lescott (28, ENG, DLC) - Everton - 6.5m

> Francisco Guillermo Ochoa (25, MEX, GK) - America(MEX) - 10m

> Marquinhos (20, BRA, AMRLC/FC) - 14.25m

> Franco Zuculini (19, ARG, DM/MC) - Hoffenheim - 7.75m

> Matias Fernandez (24, CHI, AMLC) - Sporting - 6.5m

> Michael Johnson (22, ENG, MC) - Man City - 3.7m

Kept my effective attacking formation and tactics for this season and shot straight to the top 3 while the likes of Man U and Chelsea struggled to keep up with us, Liverpool(with Vargas, Van Der Vaart and Palombo) and Arsenal (with Ben Arfa, Toulalan and Keirisson).

Player Out during January:

> David Beckham - Pompey - 1.2m

> Miles Addison - Burnley - 3.1m

> Nacer Barazite - Stoke - 5m

> Andy Carroll - Bristol City - 1.5m

> Sebastian Larsson - Stoke - 4m

> Lars Bender - Shakhtar - 3.1m

> Razvan Ochirosii - Hull - 1.4m

> Fabian Delph - Burnley - Loan

> Newton Conor - Released

> Paul Dummett - Released

Players In during January:

> Gonzalo Higuain (22, ARG, AM/FC) - Real Madrid - 7m

> Andrey Arshavin (29, RUS, AMLRC/FC) - Bayern M - 5.75m

> Yair Zbidat (17, ISR, WBR/AMR) - H. Tel Aviv - Free

Laurito was a machine and Marquinhos found his form in the last couple of months where he was scoring at least 1 per game and his value was skyrocketing. We won the Carling Cup, beating Arsenal in the final, but went out of the FA Cup in the 6th round against Everton. In the Champions League we did great going out in the Quarter Finals on away goals against Barca! In the league we sat in third behind Liverpool and Arsenal until the last few months. Once we had no cup action we slowly crept up until we were joint top with Arsenal come the 2nd last game of the season against, you guessed it, Arsenal. Unfortunatley we drew and they had amazing goal difference compared to ours so I thought we had no chance with the Gunners playing West Ham and us playing Villa. But we went out and hammered Villa 4-1 whilst the Wengerboys only managed a goaless draw, meaning we pipped Wenger again, this time on the last day of the season, Newcastle are league champions! Vicente also came third in player of the year, what a buy he was!

Final Position:

1 - Newcastle Pld 38 - Won 28 - Drn 6 - Lst 4 - For 76 - Ag 27 - GD +49 - Pts 90

Relegated:

Portsmouth, Burnely, West Brom

Promoted:

Wigan, Birmingham, Bristol City

My Top Scorer:

Marquinhos - 29

Best Eleven for the season:

GK - Ochoa (7.08 av)

DR - Beye (6.89 av)

DC - Taylor (7.06 av), Lescott (6.92 av)

DL - Enrique (6.83 av)

DM - Zucullini (7.13 av)

MC - Eduardo (7.12 av)

AMR - Santon (7.13 av)

AML - Vicente (7.21 av)

ST - Laurito (7.12 av), Marquinhos (7.29 av)

Subs - Carson (7.00 av), Johnson (7.08 av), Fernandez (7.03 av), Aquino (6.97 av), Garay (6.89 av), Sidnei (6.50 av), Higuain (6.96 av)

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2011/2012 Season: Champions!

On abit of a high from the success of last season so hoping for a good one this season! Thought I'd bring abit more quality and depth to the team over the summer.

Players Out during Summer:

> Michael Johnson - Celtic - 5m

> Jonathan Cristaldo - Released

> Scott Carson - Fiorentina - 4m

> Daniel Aquino - Schalke - 7.5m (sad to see him go)

> Andrey Arshavin - HSV - 7.5m

> Sidnei - Sporting - 4m

> Marco Perez - Released

> Fraser Forster - Tranmere - Loan

> Jeff Brand - Released

> Neil Williams - Released

> Nathan Delfouneso - Pompey - 5m

> Jose Enrique - Blackburn - 5m

> Felipe Mattioni - West Brom - 2.4m

> Henri Saivet - Man U - Loan

> Denis Ailbec - Millwall - 825k

> Ole Soderberg - Released

> Haris Vuckic - Released

> Tom Rogers - Crystal Palace - Loan

> Ben Tozer - Hamilton - 375k

> Sophiane Feghouli - Udinese - Loan

Players In during Summer:

> Andrea Mazzarani (21, ITA, D/WB/AM R) - Juventus - Free

> Fausto Rossi (20, ITA, AML) - Juventus - Free

> Clement Grenier (20, FRA, AMRC) - Lyon - Free

> Rafinha (25, BRA, D/WB R) - Schalke - Free

> Ivan Rakitic (23, CRO, AMC) - Schalke - Free

> Alan Dzagoev (21, RUS, AMC) - CSKA Moscow - 18.5m

> Marcelo (23, BRA, D/WBL) - Real Madrid - 17.25m

> Michael Carrick (30, ENG, DM/MC) - Man U - 11.5m (Geordie pride!)

> Coutinho (19, BRA, AM/FC) - Free

> Kasper Schmeichel (24, DEN, GK) - Free

Heres my current team for this season, I've switched to an arrowhead formation to give an attacking onslaught to the opposition. I'll bring updates every few matches I have and fill you in on how the seasons going.

CURRENT SQUAD:

First Team:

GK:

Francisco Guillermo Ochoa [Value 9.75m] - 1st choice

Kasper Schmeichel [Value 2.3m]

Tim Krul [Value 2.7m]

DF:

Ezequiel Garay - DC [Value 5m]

Habib Beye - DR [Value 600k]

Joleon Lescott - DC [Value 6.75m] - 1st choice

Eduardo - DC/DL [Value 5.25m]

Steven Taylor - DC [Value 6.25m] - 1st choice

Rafinha - DR [Value 4.7m]

Joe Mattock - DL [Value 3.9m]

Marcelo - DL [Value 17.25m] - 1st choice

Davide Santon - DR [Value 7.75m] - 1st choice

MF:

Franco Zuculini - DM [Value 5.75m]

Ignacio Camacho - DM [Value 4.4m]

Michael Carrick - MC [Value 11.5m] - 1st choice

Fabian Delph - MC [Value 3.6m]

Marquinhos - MRLC [Value 15.75m] - 1st choice

Matias Fernandez - MLC [Value 5.25m] - 1st choice

Fausto Rossi - ML [Value 5.5m]

Vicente - ML [Value 7m] - 1st choice

Alan Dzagoev - MC [Value 18.5m]

Ivan Rakitic - MC [Value 9m] - 1st choice

ST:

John Fleck [Value 3.3m]

Gonzalo Higuain [Value 7.5m]

Henri Anier [Value 5m]

Federico Laurito [Value 7m]

Reserve Team:

GK:

Fraser Forster [Value 775k] (ON LOAN)

Grant Hall [Value 9k]

Steve Harper [Value 500k]

Tom Rogers [Value 2.7m] (ON LOAN)

DF:

Tommy Spurr - DC [Value 1.3m]

Mark Beevers - DC [Value 1.8m]

Ben Hancock - DC [Value 9k]

Tony Walker - DC [Value 9k]

Andrea Mazzarani - DR [Value 5.25m]

Yair Zbidat - DR [Value 1.5m]

MF:

Ariel Borysiuk - DM [Value 3.5m]

Rodney Sneijder - MLC [Value 2.3m]

Sophiane Feghouli - MRLC [Value 4.5m] (ON LOAN)

Clement Grenier - MRC [Value 1.6m]

Daniel Parejo - MC [Value 1.4m]

Coutinho - AM [Value 4m]

ST:

Henri Saivet [Value 3m] (ON LOAN)

David Alexander [Value 775k]

Macauley Chrisantus [Value 1.9m]

Nile Ranger [Value 1.1m]

I'll keep you posted!!

That's a pretty impressive turn around there in 3 years The new King Kev? Some great signings there too.