A Story of a Thousand Miles Must Begin With a Single Step

[DazRTaylor]

And another...

[rancer890]

Fantastic year. Well done.

Now go win the league.

[DazRTaylor]

Fantastic year. Well done.

Now go win the league.

Thanks Rancer

[DazRTaylor]

First Boca, now River:

[DazRTaylor]

SEASON 2016-17 PREVIEW

A big season upcoming. Champions League football arrives at the DW Stadium!

Media Prediction - 7th

My expectation - 3rd. I must aim to improve on last season.

Transfer Budget - £36,000,000

Wage Budget - £1,210,867 per week.

NEW SIGNINGS

Players In

Lenny Nangis - Signed from Caen, this is the left winger I have been craving.
Carlos Villanueva - Young Colombian centre half I have re-signed after selling him a year before. He has matured somewhat and also now has a work permit.
Hernan Banegas - With the forced sale of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (minimum fee clausse was met), I needed a replacement. I found this beauty.
Casca - Young Brazilian who will be a squad player this season.
Mihaita Starpici - Teenage Romanian goalkeeper signed as my new backup.
Mikulas Toth - 18 year old Slovakian centre back, immediately loaned to feeder club Torquay United.
Nikolaj Rasmussen - 16 year old Danish centre half signed on a free transfer.

[DazRTaylor]

My first seven league games of the new season...

[DazRTaylor]

Belive it or not, I am having trouble spending the money I have, not that it is needed or anything. But people still wont come to me. Established names that is.

I have spent £30.5m this window but recouped £44.5m.

[DazRTaylor]

Guys, you know I said I had qualified for the Champions League? Maybe not.

Draw for the qualifying round:

[deltablue]

Wow, tough luck with both league and CL fixtures. Quite funny though.

[cerud]

Ouch.... Good luck

[DazRTaylor]

I don't normally do individual matches but this is something...

[DazRTaylor]

Wow, tough luck with both league and CL fixtures. Quite funny though.

Ouch.... Good luck

3-0 win at Everton and 0-0 at Barcelona...

So far so good.

[markyosullivan]

That's a result to be proud of, maybe you can sneak a goal and get through to the CL?

[DazRTaylor]

That's a result to be proud of, maybe you can sneak a goal and get through to the CL?

Note how, just like at the Camp Nou, we were not outclassed and thoroughly deserved it:

[DazRTaylor]

LAST MINUTE ADDITIONS

When players of this calibre become available, you do your best to sign them. I was fortunate they were available. Zahalka & Papadopoulos both laid into their ex manager when they signed for me through the press so they were desperate to leave. Welcome to Wonderful Wigan!

[DazRTaylor]

The Champions League draw has not been kind either. Lyon are also the defending champions

[deltablue]

I don't think you need to fear anyone now.

[DazRTaylor]

I don't think you need to fear anyone now.

That's what I thought too...but Arsenal just beat me 2-0 on my own patch in the league. I was lucky to get nil.

[SRL88]

Unbelievable results against Barca .

[coola567]

It seems like you rate determination pretty highly. Alot of your signing have 20 or 19 or 18. Is that intentional or just coincidence?

[DazRTaylor]

It seems like you rate determination pretty highly. Alot of your signing have 20 or 19 or 18. Is that intentional or just coincidence?

Intention. As I am not at a 'big' club, it is the only way I can get players of Champions League quality to sign for me. When I say Champions League quality, I mean potential Champions League quality. Not all the players I sign make it. High determination increases the liklihood of the player becoming a star - they don't whinge as much about training etc and generally put the work in.

I play by recruiting the maximum possible scouts. I look for maximum in Judging Player Ability & Judging Player Potential. If I can't get 20-20, then I look for 20 in Potential. I then send these scouts all over the world and normally have at least two scouts in South America minimum as I find the most talent comes from there. I trust my scouts implicitly - if they say a player will become a star I try to sign them.

[AK22]

More excellent signings! And a great result against Barcelona too! Wigan is the place to be right now

[DazRTaylor]

More excellent signings! And a great result against Barcelona too! Wigan is the place to be right now

It seems to be but we are five points off the top after seven league games. Of those games I showed a screenie off earlier, we lost two of them, so could of been worse I suppose.

The Arsenal manager is listed as Insecure...

[cerud]

Great set of matches against Barcelona! And the league is still early Lots of time to gain.

[DazRTaylor]

Great set of matches against Barcelona! And the league is still early Lots of time to gain.

Yes, I have confidence. Well, I did but now this happened...

[DazRTaylor]

I did say Arsenal would be the club I would leave for so I will accept this post...

[DazRTaylor]

I leave Wigan in the best health in their history

• They are title challengers
• Arguably the best young squad in world football
• They are in the Champions League for the first time in their history
• They won a major trophy.

That said, I plan on acquiring some of their players in January.

[DazRTaylor]

ARSENAL

Club - Arsenal

Nation - England

League - Premier League (top tier)

Stadium - Emirates Stadium

Capacity - 60,361 all seater

Corporate Facilities - Top

Training Facilities - Top

Youth Facilities - State of the Art

Junior Coaching - Good

Youth Recruitment - Well Established

Media Prediction - 4th

My expectation - 4th. This will be tough but it must happen.

Transfer Budget - £21,000,000

Wage Budget - £1,958,578 per week.

Current Wage Bill - £1,633,670. I plan to reduce this considerably so that I can sign some world class replacements.

This is my last English club for a while, so until I win the Champions League, Premier League & the F. A.Cup, I am not moving anywhere.

The board have told me they will not be judging me on the Champions League & Premier League this season. They will be judging me opn the F. A. Cup though and I am expected to reach the semi final.

Champions League

As you can see from this table, the club have had a good start to the campaign.

League

Simply shocking. 14th place! I am going to have my work cut out to reach the Champions League but this has to be my goal.

Squad

Some absolute gems in here so not quite sure what Sam Allardyce was playing at to make them so poor. Filipe Paiva is one of the best defenders in the world, whereas Zacharias Barakos is one of the greatest players in world football. I tried to sign Barakos several times at Wigan but he always declined so I am chuffed to bits to see him here with me.

That said, there is also a lot of highly paid dross here.

[DazRTaylor]

My first match and the locals love me already.

[rancer890]

Lots of work ahead for you, but I think you can turn it around quickly.

[DazRTaylor]

Lots of work ahead for you, but I think you can turn it around quickly.

I hope so - massive amount of squad rebuiilding required.

[DazRTaylor]

Ok, look at the squad screen for Arsenal four posts above. See Allan Nyom? Rated 2* current and 2* potential? I am struggling to sell him as Sam Allardyce bought him in the summer for £16.5m. He should of been sacked for this decision alone. He never played him either by the way.

[markyosullivan]

That squad you had at Wigan was great! Good luck with Arsenal

[DazRTaylor]

That squad you had at Wigan was great! Good luck with Arsenal

Thanks mate.

[SRL88]

Arsenal were struggling badly when you took charge. Hope you turn their fortunes around.

[AK22]

Sam Allardyce? Arsenal manager? Would never happen in real life!

Good luck with the Gooners, quite a rebuilding job needed

[DazRTaylor]

Arsenal were struggling badly when you took charge. Hope you turn their fortunes around.

I am getting there, the signs are encouraging! Mid season review upcoming.

Sam Allardyce? Arsenal manager? Would never happen in real life!

Good luck with the Gooners, quite a rebuilding job needed

Yep, I have shifted huge numbers out - details incoming.

Sam Allardyce always gets a big job in my games- and he usually mucks them up too. Added to this, he always slags me off in the press so when he gets sacked, it is always a good day

[DazRTaylor]

MID SEASON REVIEW

Champions League

Qualified top of the group and have drawn Lyon, first leg in France, in the first knockout round. In the last group game, my players were brilliant as we crushed CSKA Moscow 7-0.

League

Better than when I arrived. Whilst a run for the title is out of the question, we can still achieve the top four. Great to see Wigan still winning too.

F. A. Cup

ITV are close to orgasmic as the third round has drawn us away to Tottenham. We drew 2-2 so must now play again. Should I win, the draw has pitted me against.....Wigan. At Wigan. You couldn't make it up.

Carling Cup

We were already eliminated before I arrived, having lost at home to Championship outfit Aston Villa, 2-1 after extra time.

PLAYERS

As I am not being judged this season, I have decided to cut my losses and cull the squad in January. We are losing money as players have huge contracts. As a result, we will probably do ok in the league but not the Champions League as many players will be unavailable.

Players In

Toni Kroos - German attacking midfielder arrives from Bayern Munich.
Marcel Strnad - Wonderkid who was a revelation for me at Wigan. Can play in a number of positions.
Davide Santon - Italian full back who can play either side of the centre backs. Signed from Newcastle United.
Alexandr Kudryashov - Ukrainian defensive midfielder leaves Shakhtar Donetsk for a new life in England.
Jack Fernandez - Peruvian centre half signed from Serbian side Red Start Belgrade.
Luis Mendez - Giant Paraguayan centre half signed from Real Sociedad. He will score shedloads of goals from set pieces.
Muralha - Teenage Brazilian striker signed after he became disillusioned with life at Real Madrid.
Muhammet Zeydan - Versatile defender signed from former club Wigan.
Franck Schaap - Dutch attacking midfielder signed from Feyenoord.
Nils Stumpf - German defensive midfielder, who arrives from Eredivisie side FC Twente.
Alejandro Vargas - 21 year old Uruguayan striker signed from Italian Serie A side Catania.
Marcel Holm - Young Norwegian striker arrives from Tromso.
Georg Bozori - 16 year old Hungarian, arrives from Honved. Can play at centre back or up front.
Roy van der Ent - Dutch centre half arriving from Wellington Phoenix. Also holds an Australian passport.

Players Out

Like I said, I have taken the axe and culled the squad. Over £100m was raised by the fire sale, saving £1m a week in wages. In total, once my new signings' salaries are taken into account, my wage bill is now £1m per week - it was £1.65m per week previously.

[deltablue]

Good way to start at Arsenal.

[DazRTaylor]

Good way to start at Arsenal.

Thanks mate

[DazRTaylor]

LAST MINUTE ADDITION

Paulinho will add much needed depth to my full back position - Davide Santon was my only recognised left back after all. Also, at £3.5m, he is no risk if he flops.

[AK22]

Encouraging start! Wigan still doing well too

Paulinho can't tackle!

[DazRTaylor]

Encouraging start! Wigan still doing well too

Paulinho can't tackle!

Yet I have faith...

[DazRTaylor]

YOUTH CANDIDATES DAY

I have not showed this before now in this save, simply because I have not had anyone worth mentioning. Indeed, I have released them all.

One reason I came to Arsenal was the fact they get some fabulous youngsters come through their system. This is the first year being at Arsenal and the youth candidates are sublime. Well, two of them are. I can confidently say they will be superstars. One thing does worry me though about both of these players: Harlee Brady has been branded the new Matthew Upson and even worse, Bradley Pavey is the new Paul Gascoigne! He is banned from going out.

[deltablue]

A couple of decent ones there.

[cerud]

Very good youth intake! How did the fans feel about your fire sale?

[DazRTaylor]

A couple of decent ones there.

Very good youth intake! How did the fans feel about your fire sale?

I will blood them both at the end of the season I think...

They hated the fact I got shot of some - van Persie being the most missed. Apparently, it is viewed as an aberration. I am cold and heartless 2* current ability, 33 years old and on £160k a week, basic. Never mind his appearance fee. He had to go.

[DazRTaylor]

END OF SEASON REVIEW

SEASON 2016-17

Another season of what might have been. Whilst I was never going to win the league, I did reach two cup finals, but lost them both.

Champions League

Lyon were dispatched in the first knockout round 6-3 on aggregate (2-2 away, 4-1 at home), Zenit St. Petersburg were beaten 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter final (3-1 at home, 2-3 loss away), Marseille were defeated 5-3 on aggregate (2-2 away, 3-1 at home) which set up a final against Bayern Munich, who beat us 1-0 in a game Bayern dominated.

League

Excellent turnaround. Zacharias Barakos really is a class above. Without him, we would be mid table at best. Sad to see Wigan finish fifth. They were fourth going into the final game but could only draw, whereas Tottenham hammered Swansea in Wales.

F. A. Cup

Another final defeat. Tottenham were overcome in round three 2-0 at home in the replay after a 2-2 draw at Spurs first time out. The fourth round saw me drawn away to former club Wigan and another replay was required after drawing 1-1 at DW Stadium. We won 1-0 second time out. Wolves were hammered 3-0 at home in round five, Leeds 4-2 at home in the quarter finals and then Liverpool well beaten 3-1 at Wembley in the semi final. Man City proved too strong in the final, however, deservedly beaing us 3-1.

Carling Cup

We were already eliminated before I arrived, having lost at home to Championship outfit Aston Villa, 2-1 after extra time.

PLAYERS

Player of the Season

Quite simply, Zacharias Barakos IS Arsenal. Without him we struggle. Left winger of the highest calibre.

Special Mention

I forced this young central defender to play 56 matches this season and he never let me down. Filipe Paiva is a fine player.

FORMER CLUB WATCH

Perugia

Season       Champions League   Europa League         Final League Position            Coppa Italia               Serie C Cup
2011-12             N/a              N/a              3rd Italian Serie C2/B (P)            N/a                   Group stage
2012-13             N/a              N/a              5th Italian Serie C1/B           1st qualifying round       1st round
2013-14             N/a              N/a             18th Italian Serie C1/B (R)       1st qualifying round       Group stage
2014-15             N/a              N/a              4th Italian Serie C2/A (P)            N/a                   2nd round
2015-16             N/a              N/a             12th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round       1st round
2016-17             N/a              N/a              8th Italian Serie C1/B                N/a                   1st round

Hartlepool United

Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup           Johnstone's Paint Trophy
2012-13             N/a               N/a              1st English League Two (P)       1st round                  1st round                     2nd round
2013-14             N/a               N/a              1st English League One (P)       Quarter final              1st round                     2nd round
2014-15             N/a               N/a             15th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                     N/a
2015-16             N/a               N/a             15th English Championship         3rd round                  1st round                     N/a
2016-17             N/a               N/a              9th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                     N/a

Wigan Athletic

Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup
2014-15             N/a               N/a              6th English Premier League       4th round                  Runners Up
2015-16             N/a          Quarter finals        4th English Premier League       5th round                  Winners
2016-17      Quarter final            N/a              5th English Premier League       4th round                  3rd round

[DazRTaylor]

SEASON 2017-18 PREVIEW

Media Prediction - 2nd

My expectation - 1st

Transfer Budget - £30,790,000.

Wage Budget - £1,742,777 per week.

This season is huge. I don't feel I can win the Champions League - last season was a fluke - but the league is a real target. I have spent big to bring it back to Arsenal for the first time in over fourteen years.

PLAYERS

Players In

Serdar Donumcu - Signed from my former club Wigan, this Turkish forward has the potential to be a legend.
Rostislav Zahalka - Another world class player I have stolen from Wigan.
Bojan Nackov - The best goalkeeper in the world.
Simeon Tsvetkov - Left back signed from Dnipro. There is a world shortage of quality left backs so £10m is a bargain.
William Umbarila - I sent this Colombian midfielder to Croatia for three years to get an EU passport. Now Wigan dont want him. Their loss, my gain.
Mattia Monza - Also signed from Wigan after they offered him to me cheaply, he will start out as a squad player.
Ingo Schroter - Young Austrian goalkeeper signed as a backup. Has good potential though.
Sergey Deineko - Exciting Russian defender. Squad player at first.
Carlos Brunt Lewis - Also sent to Croatia for three years, he now has an EU passport. Wigan don't want him, either. Loaned to feeder club FC Lorient in France.
Tomas Francisco Young Spanish striker signed from Sevilla. He wasn't on my radar but he was offered to me, plus cash, for Christian Eriksen. So a good deal all round for me. Loaned to Brentford for the season.
Luis Gonzalez - Brilliant young Chilean defensive midfielder. Can also play at centre half and central midfielder. Loaned to feeder club Spartak Moscow in Russia.
David Ibanez - Young Argentine striker brought in for the future. Loaned to feeder club Salamanca, in Spain's third tier.
Fran Alvarez - 16 year old Spanish wing back, was rated 4.5* potential when I bid. He signs but now rated 2.5* potential! Hmmmm.

Players Out

I was disappointed to be approached by Wojciech Szczesny stating he wanted a new challenge. As I don't keep unhappy players as a rule, I sold him to Valencia. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and was a home grown player too, so he will be a big loss. A further four players left as they wanted first team football, which I couldn't give them. I also farmed quite a few teenagers to my feeder clubs.

[DazRTaylor]

LAST MINUTE ADDITION

Highly frustrating that he damaged his cruciate ligament between agreeing to sign him and actually joining.

[TheGreatTraveler]

Injured after agreeing to join you

[deltablue]

That's Arsenal for you.

[DazRTaylor]

MID SEASON REVIEW

Champions League

I qualified for the knockout stages at a canter. I won 5 games, drawing the other - the rest managed just 2 wins between them in the group stage. I have drawn FC Porto, first leg away, in the first knockout round.

League

If we don't win the league title from here, I deserve to be sacked. The goals scored column is particularly satisfying.

F. A. Cup

We have drawn Reading, away from home in the third round.

Carling Cup

I played a reasonably strong side, yet still lost at home to Manchester United at the first time of asking, 1-0, in round three.

PLAYERS

Players In

I did most of my shopping in the summer, so this will be a quiet month for me, despite the board randomly increasing my transfer budget to £45m. Three new faces, all young players found by my scouts. I will endeavour to find temporary homes for them as they are not ready for my first team just yet.

Carlos Chavex - Young Paraguayan right back arriving from Libertad in his homeland. I cant loan this chap out as he has also arrived injured. This one has a broken leg.
Geir Hakon Ingvaldsen - 18 year old Norwegian attacking midfielder who leaves Sogndal for North London.
Otar Kvaratskhelia - Another 18 year old, this Georgian centre half arrives from Torpedo Kutaisi.

Players Out

Only one departure of note. I have agreed the sale of Davide Santon to Manchester City for £29m.

[DazRTaylor]

Some great news for three of my players, especially Zacharias Barakos:

[deltablue]

Wow, tearing the opposition aside.

[DazRTaylor]

Wow, tearing the opposition aside.

Yep all going well. I think the league is in the bag, barring a collapse.

[markyosullivan]

You got some of the best players in the world, very nice!

[DazRTaylor]

Look at the second result listed here. Is this the single greatest shock in the history of the F. A. Cup? There are 106 places between them in the pyramid!

[DazRTaylor]

You got some of the best players in the world, very nice!

Thanks

I do indeed - I have quite a few whose biography starts "xxxxxx is truly one of football's global superstars..."

That said, as soon as I win the Champions League, I am off.

[deltablue]

It's up there, there might have been a few slightly bigger ones before as non-league sides have beaten top division sides in the past (about 8 times I think).

[cerud]

Arsenal?? Now you're just asking for disappointment That is a crazy win for Colwyn Bay though!

[DazRTaylor]

END OF SEASON REVIEW

SEASON 2017-18

Quite simply, the best season I have ever had in the history of Football Manager.

Champions League

Porto were beaten 2-0 on aggregate in the first knockout round (0-0 away, 2-0 at home), Marseille 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter finals (2-0 away, 3-1 at home) which set up an intriguing semi final against Real Madrid's conquerors Paris St. Germain. The first leg was in France and we were 2-0 down at half time. I laid into the team and sent them back out and we pulled it back in a way by only losing 4-3. We battered them at home, winning 3-0 for a comprehensive 6-3 aggregate victory. We met Valencia in the final and won 4-0!!! Champions!!!

League

The Premier League title came home to Arsenal for the first time since the legendary unbeaten 2004 side. It was also great to see Wigan have a fantastic season, qualifying for the Champions League again. See Former Club Watch at the bottom of this review for full details of their brilliant season.

F. A. Cup

Reading away in the third round saw a close game but we preveiled 3-2. A truly awful performance in the fourth round saw us lucky to draw 1-1 at home to Championship side Huddersfield. We were better in the replay and won 2-0. League One Coventry were hammered 4-0 at home in the fifth round with another Championship outfit, Middlesbrough, beaten 3-0 at the Riverside in the quarter finals. Extra time was needed to see off Birmingham in the semi finals as it was 1-1 after 90 minutes. An extra time goial saw us through to the final and Manchester United by winning 2-1. The final itself was a drab encounter and we won with a Jack Wilshere penalty for a 1-0 win to win the double!

Carling Cup

We were already eliminated at the mid season review.

PLAYERS

Player of the Season

Serdar Donumcu was brilliant all season. 33 goals in such a glory year is the stuff of legends.

Special Mention

Toni Kroos is a very under rated player. He does a lot of the donkey work and it was therefore great to see him voted Player of the Season in England.

On a personal level, I am now the sixth best English manager of all time!

FORMER CLUB WATCH

Wigan had a phenomenal season. With Arsenal winning the Champions League, it is fantastic to see Wigan win the Europa League!

Perugia

Season       Champions League   Europa League         Final League Position            Coppa Italia               Serie C Cup
2011-12             N/a              N/a              3rd Italian Serie C2/B (P)            N/a                   Group stage
2012-13             N/a              N/a              5th Italian Serie C1/B           1st qualifying round       1st round
2013-14             N/a              N/a             18th Italian Serie C1/B (R)       1st qualifying round       Group stage
2014-15             N/a              N/a              4th Italian Serie C2/A (P)            N/a                   2nd round
2015-16             N/a              N/a             12th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round       1st round
2016-17             N/a              N/a              8th Italian Serie C1/B                N/a                   1st round
2017-18             N/a              N/a              6th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round       1st round

Hartlepool United

Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup           Johnstone's Paint Trophy
2012-13             N/a               N/a              1st English League Two (P)       1st round                  1st round                     2nd round
2013-14             N/a               N/a              1st English League One (P)       Quarter final              1st round                     2nd round
2014-15             N/a               N/a             15th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                     N/a
2015-16             N/a               N/a             15th English Championship         3rd round                  1st round                     N/a
2016-17             N/a               N/a              9th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                     N/a
2017-18             N/a               N/a             22nd English Championship (R)     5th round                  2nd round                     N/a

Wigan Athletic

Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup
2014-15             N/a               N/a              6th English Premier League       4th round                  Runners Up
2015-16             N/a          Quarter finals        4th English Premier League       5th round                  Winners
2016-17      Quarter final            N/a              5th English Premier League       4th round                  3rd round
2017-18             N/a          Winners               3rd English Premier League       5th round                  Semi final

[DazRTaylor]

As I achieved all I can at Arsenal...

[SRL88]

Wow. Surprised you stepped down!!!!

Nice to see Wigan lift the Europa League.

[DazRTaylor]

Wow. Surprised you stepped down!!!!

Nice to see Wigan lift the Europa League.

I was always going to leave once I won the Champions League.

Where I am now is what really frustrates me with this game. I am currently rated the best manager in the game, one of only four with "World Class" as reputation. Yet I was turned down by both Lyon AND Lille for the manager job! Unbelieveable.

[DazRTaylor]

AROUND THE WORLD

As this game is now six years old, I thought I would show the competition winners around the world. So, starting with the international tournaments, I will also post the winners for the major club tournaments and domestic leagues and their competitions. If you want screenies of anything, just ask.

World Cup

European Championship

Copa America

African Cup of Nations

[DazRTaylor]

Continental Competitions

World

Club World Championship

Europe

Champions League

Europa League

[DazRTaylor]

South America

Copa Libertadores

Copa Sudamericana

Africa

African Champions League

Asia

Asian Champions League

[DazRTaylor]

North America

North American Champions League

[DazRTaylor]

Nations

Europe

England

Premier League

F. A. Cup

Carling Cup

[DazRTaylor]

France

Ligue 1

Coupe de France

Coupe de la Ligue

[DazRTaylor]

Germany

Bundesliga

DFB-Pokal

[DazRTaylor]

Italy

Serie A

Coppa Italia

[DazRTaylor]

Spain

LIGA BBVA

Copa del Rey

[DazRTaylor]

South America

Argentina

Premier Division

Copa Argentina

[DazRTaylor]

Brazil

Serie A

Copa do Brasil

[DazRTaylor]

North America

Mexico

Primera Division

[DazRTaylor]

United States of America

Major League Soccer

US Cup

[deltablue]

Great stuff on (almost) all fronts.

[DazRTaylor]

I am not good enough for Lyon & Lille, but I am for:

I have accepted and will hopefully find a new club soon alongside Brazil.

[DazRTaylor]

Great stuff on (almost) all fronts.

Thank you

[DazRTaylor]

I am back in club management...

As before, as soon as I win the domestic league title and the CHampions League, I will leave for another country.

[rancer890]

Well you certainly have the resources there to succeed. Good luck.

[DazRTaylor]

VALENCIA

Club - Valencia

Nation - Spain

League - LIGA BBVA (top tier)

Stadium - Nuevo Mestalla

Capacity - 75,000

Corporate Facilities - Top

Training Facilities - Top

Youth Facilities - State of the Art

Junior Coaching - Average

Youth Recruitment - Established

Media Prediction - 1st

My expectation - 3rd. From where we are, I can't see us overhauling the big two.

Transfer Budget - £204,000,000. An eye watering amount I am looking forward to spending!

Wage Budget - £2,190,446

The board have already said they will not be judging me on any competition this season so the pressure is off. So, as with Arsenal, I will be spending big in January. I will also sniff around Arsenal for any of their players who are proven to me.

Champions League

Valencia have a relatively simple group on paper and it is proving such. The group table shows we have nearly qualified for the first knockout round.

League

Shocking. Enough said.

Squad

Some decent players but some absolute dross too. A huge clearout upcoming I feel. My predecessor clearly didn't have a clue - such a huge fortune to work with yet he didn't sign anyone of note.

[DazRTaylor]

Well you certainly have the resources there to succeed. Good luck.

Cheers Rancer.

[ManUTactician247]

Having looked at your CL group you have beaten and drawn with PSG so even if they won twice and you lost two, you'd go through on head-to-head so you have already qualified .

[DazRTaylor]

Having looked at your CL group you have beaten and drawn with PSG so even if they won twice and you lost two, you'd go through on head-to-head so you have already qualified .

I want top spot to avoid the other big guns. And you are wrong :P

[deltablue]

Wow, they've grown to be massive.

[DazRTaylor]

This has got to be the single most stupid offer ever! £100m for an (as yet) unproven defender? Granted he will be class but £100m?!

This is the player in question.

[ManUTactician247]

I want top spot to avoid the other big guns. And you are wrong :P

I guess I shouldn't be so elaborate with my analysis then next time .

[DazRTaylor]

MID SEASON REVIEW

Champions League

As discussed earlier, I was top of my group after four games. A heavy 3-0 loss at Paris St. Germain made it a nervous last game against Fenerbahce. We comfortably beat the Turks 2-0 to win the group. We have drawn Italian side Juventus with the first leg in Italy.

League

We were 12th when I took over in early November and as you can see, we have improved our position though the gap with the league leaders point wise has increased.

Copa del Rey

Valencia entered at the fourth round stage and when I joined the club, we were 2-0 up after the first leg, winning away to third tier side Cortiba. We duly beat them 6-0 at home for a comprehensive 8-0 aggregate victory to set up a two legged tie with Malaga. After the first leg, we are 5-0 up. Yes, we won 5-0 in Malaga. Second leg is in a week.

PLAYERS

Players In

I needed a lot of players and I had the financial backing to do it. I spent big

Neymar - Brazil's best player. He refused to come to Arsenal so I am delighted to have signed him for Valencia.
Rostislav Zahalka - The third time I have signed him. An absolute gem.
Georg Bozori - Young Hungarian who I think is ready for first team football. Can play at the back or up front - very useful.
Jose Mendez - One of the best left backs in the world. Agreed to sign for me at Arsenal but was denied a work permit.
Madjid Ghoul - Algerian centre half brought in to provide competition at the back.
Derek McCall - Future England number one brought in as cover.
Gentian Mertiri - Italian defensive midfielder signed from Everton.
Marcos Duarte - Spanish attacking midfielder signed from Manchester City. Returns home after six years in England.
Karol Nowacki - 21 year old Polish midfielder, signed to bolster the squad.
Jorge Campos - No, not the colourful Mexican goalkeeper, but a young Argentine attacking midfielder.
Kiko Fermenia - Right sided Spanish midfielder signed from PSV. He is not my signing as the last manager agreed to his purchase.
Gabriel Dragan - 21 year old Romanian centre half - an exciting prospect.
Pedro Diaz - Young Venezuelan right back with a big future.

Players Out

I have let 11 players leave raising over £70m in fees.

[deltablue]

Toth's very good, but 100M or even half that is ridiculous.

[rancer890]

Maybe your former boss needed some nice cash.

[cerud]

How's the squad after that much change? Any morale problems?

[DazRTaylor]

Toth's very good, but 100M or even half that is ridiculous.

Maybe your former boss needed some nice cash.

It is ridiculous isn't it?

How's the squad after that much change? Any morale problems?

Squad is fine - no issues with morale. We won three in a row which kind of helped with morale

[DazRTaylor]

As I stated on the top thread on this forum, I am really struggling to enjoy Spain. I may well resign at the end of the season and come back later in the save. I may try to win the Champions League at a non 'Big Five Leagues' club next. Ajax or someone like that.

Anyway, this is the player I have been tracking since my Wigan days. I signed him for Wigan but left before he arrived. They then sold him eight months ago for just £16m. Which is ridiculous. He is one of the best Regen players I have ever seen in Football Manager stat wise:

[Scarman]

Angloma's ridiculously good! Maybe not the faster winger ever, but he walk into pretty much any team!

And I'd say stick it out at Valencia for at least another season, I find that first season in can sometimes be really hard, especially when you join after the season's start like you did But with a full pre season, you generally can work out the team a bit more. Spain's always going to be one of the hardest leagues to win anyway, unless if you're managing Real Madrid or Barcelona

[deltablue]

Malaga got a bargain there.

[DazRTaylor]

Angloma's ridiculously good! Maybe not the faster winger ever, but he walk into pretty much any team!

And I'd say stick it out at Valencia for at least another season, I find that first season in can sometimes be really hard, especially when you join after the season's start like you did But with a full pre season, you generally can work out the team a bit more. Spain's always going to be one of the hardest leagues to win anyway, unless if you're managing Real Madrid or Barcelona

Winning isn't the issue. I have played teams before that lose week after week. The lack of fun bothers me somewhat though.

Malaga got a bargain there.

Yes and just made a huge profit as I have finally landed him. Well, come 1 July I will have done.

[DazRTaylor]

END OF SEASON REVIEW

SEASON 2018-19

Maybe it is the ease of the game that makes this league no fun? Champions League winners after half a season? Hmmm.

Champions League

My third successive final as a manager and second successive victory following my win with Arsenal last season. Juventus were dispatched in the first knockout round 6-2 on aggregate (3-2 away, 3-0 at home), Bayern Munich were defeated on away goals rule (4-3 loss away, 1-0 win at home) and Lyon were hammered 5-0 on aggregate in the semi final (3-0 away, 2-0 at home). This set up a final against former club Arsenal, who had seen off Tottenham in the semi final. The game was a dour affair but we prevailed 2-1.

League

Whilst I was never going to win the league, a terrific late run of form saw us finish 3rd.

Copa del Rey

Another trophy win. After the 5-0 win at Malaga, we drew 0-0 at home with nthem for a 5-0 aggregate victory. This set up a clash with Athletic Bilbao in the quarter finals, whom we beat 4-2 on aggregate (3-0 at home, 2-1 loss away). In the semis we beat Espanyol comfortably (2-0 away, 3-0 at home) meaning we were to meet Sporting Gijon in a one off game for the final, played at the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid. We dominated from the off and won 2-0. It should of been five or six though.

PLAYERS

Player of the Season

20 goals in the 28 games he has played for the club since signing in Valencia, most from the right wing, have proved he is one class act.

Special Mention

Georg Bozori may be just a teenager but he is the most gifted Hungarian since Ferenc Puskas. He is adept at the back and up front and had a great five months since he joined in January.

FORMER CLUB WATCH

Perugia

Season       Champions League   Europa League         Final League Position            Coppa Italia               Serie C Cup
2011-12             N/a              N/a              3rd Italian Serie C2/B (P)            N/a                   Group stage
2012-13             N/a              N/a              5th Italian Serie C1/B           1st qualifying round       1st round
2013-14             N/a              N/a             18th Italian Serie C1/B (R)       1st qualifying round       Group stage
2014-15             N/a              N/a              4th Italian Serie C2/A (P)            N/a                   2nd round
2015-16             N/a              N/a             12th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round       1st round
2016-17             N/a              N/a              8th Italian Serie C1/B                N/a                   1st round
2017-18             N/a              N/a              6th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round       1st round
2018-19             N/a              N/a             14th Italian Serie C1/B           2nd qualifying round       1st round

Hartlepool United

Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup           Johnstone's Paint Trophy
2012-13             N/a               N/a              1st English League Two (P)       1st round                  1st round                     2nd round
2013-14             N/a               N/a              1st English League One (P)       Quarter final              1st round                     2nd round
2014-15             N/a               N/a             15th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                     N/a
2015-16             N/a               N/a             15th English Championship         3rd round                  1st round                     N/a
2016-17             N/a               N/a              9th English Championship         3rd round                  2nd round                     N/a
2017-18             N/a               N/a             22nd English Championship (R)     5th round                  2nd round                     N/a
2018-19             N/a               N/a              3rd English League One (P)       5th round                  3rd round                     2nd round

Wigan Athletic

Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup
2014-15             N/a               N/a              6th English Premier League       4th round                  Runners Up
2015-16             N/a          Quarter finals        4th English Premier League       5th round                  Winners
2016-17      Quarter final            N/a              5th English Premier League       4th round                  3rd round
2017-18             N/a          Winners               3rd English Premier League       5th round                  Semi final
2018-19      Quarter final            N/a              7th English Premier League       Semi final                 Quarter final

Arsenal

Season       Champions League    Europa League         Final League Position            F. A. Cup                  Carling Cup
2016-17      Runners up               N/a              2nd English Premier League       Runners up                 3rd round
2017-18      Winners                  N/a              1st English Premier League       Winners                    3rd round
2018-19      Runners up               N/a              1st English Premier League       Runners up                 Semi final