Abulezz's Bromley Career (FM14)

I've been playing Bromley for the last three years, and this year will be no different, so welcome to my FM14 Bromley save! I was blessed last year with ridiculous youth talent very early in my career, but I never got to winning the Premier League - the first time that has happened since I started playing Bromley. Hopefully this year will be different. Anyway, here is the prerequisite club information below:

July/August 2013

Team News

Kafra Jnoubi, a 30 year old Lebanese/Ghanaian businessman, buys Bromley and installs himself as the new manager, after which Morten Knudsen is signed, becoming Jnoubi’s first ever acquisition just a few days after his takeover of the club. The 26 year old Norwegian right back agrees to a £350 per week part-time contract, filling a much needed slot in a team void of natural right backs. Nathan Baker becomes the second signing for Kafra Jnoubi. The 17 year old English central midfielder impressed Jnoubi with his pace, and his height sure to play a big role during set pieces and corners. The third signing in the Jnoubi era is Onyekachi Nduka, with the 17 year old English/Nigerian brought it in to beef up the thin Bromley frontline. Although lacking in pace, Nduka impressed with his attacking and aerial ability. Max Hobbs, a 17 year old left footed midfielder let go by Whitehawk, signs on with Bromley after a successful trial. Jnoubi announces that he considers Hobbs to have high potential and could also be a contributor right away. In what Kafra Jnoubi called his biggest transfer coup yet, his sixth signing is Max Nicholls, a 16 year old midfielder formerly with Basingstoke. Jnoubi suggests that Nicholls, despite his young age, would be given the chance to prove himself with extended minutes. Going the other way, Pierre Joseph-Dubois is the first player sold by Jnoubi, let go for Free to Stockport. Despite being one of Bromley’s biggest names, his £450 per week salary is deemed too much of a burden to keep on by his new manager.

The first match under Jnoubi was against Hayes and Yeading away from home, and Bromley came away with a tough 2-1 victory, with defender Jack Holland picking up the MotM award. Unfortunately, a new record for lowest attendance was set on the day, with only 147 people showing up to watch their home side lose out. In their first home match at Hayes Lane, the squad managed only a 1-1 draw against Whitehawk, with left back Joe Anderson taking the MotM award. Four days later, the team took a 2-1 victory against Tonbridge thanks to a late goal from Shamir Mullings, who took the MotM award due to his fantastic performance. With seven points from their first three games, Bromley was now sitting in 5th Place in the Skrill South, tied on points with four other teams including Whitehawk, who were in 1st Place.

Bromley’s third victory came in the form of a 2-1 win against Bishop’s Stortford, despite the team playing their third game in only five days. The away win was an impressive one that left the home side dead last in the league, still looking for their first win. The last match in August was also a 2-1 victory, this time against Gosport at home. The win catapulted Bromley to the top of the league, finishing off the month in grand fashion and better than Jnoubi could have ever anticipated. Overall, while no one in the team was playing particularly well individually, they were grinding out results collectively. The month would end with the signing of two youngsters to help bolster up the defensive line – 17 year old full back [/url] and 17 year old right back .

Sami Khedira signed with Manchester City from Real Madrid for £20.5m, adding more talent to an already star-studded midfield lineup. That would be the biggest signing of the summer (ingame), but it would be Southampton who would be on top of the Premier League at the end of August. Elsewhere, Real Madrid and Sevilla were the only teams in the La Liga to win all three of their matches, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo tied with a league leading three goals each.

September 2013

Team News

September would start out with an away match for Bromley, who were top of the league, against the 2nd Place team in the league. It would be an extremely tough matchup, but Bromley would come away with a 2-2 draw against Eastleigh in the end thanks to a brace from MotM Brendan Kiernan. The result left Bromley still on top of the Skrill South, one point ahead of Farnborough. After a two week lay-off, the club lost to 3rd Placed Staines 3-1, handing Jnoubi’s his first loss in his career. The squad could not click together, and were only saved some face thanks to Kiernan again, who hit a goal in the 90th minute, bringing his total to 4 goals this season. The loss was especially disappointing because it was in front of the home fans at Hayes Lane, and other than Kiernan, no one delivered anything resembling a competent performance. Four days later, Bromley delivered another disappointing performance, drawing 1-1 with struggling Concord Rangers away from home. This pushed the club down to 5th Place, as they went winless for two straight games. More disappointing than that was the news that Bromley’s best player over the last few games, Kiernan, had twisted his ankle was going to be out for almost two months due to the injury.

Starting GK Joe Welch finally made his debut in a tough 3-2 victory over lowly Basingstoke in a match that ended up being a lot tougher to win than it should have been. Unfortunately for him, he picked up another injury, this time to his elbow, which would rule him out for the next three weeks. Under threat to make it three games in a row without a win, it was 16 year old Max Nicholls, who had come on as a substitute, who won the game for Bromley with his 71st minute strike. While Bromley escaped with three points, Jnoubi was quick to point out his disappointment in the team’s overall performance. The final match in the month of September was their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round game, which they drew 1-1 against non-professional side Aylesbury in a hugely disappointing away game. Although they were expected to hand their opponents a big loss, they ended trailing for most of the match and were only saved thanks to an own goal.

After an impressive start to their campaign, Bromley hit some very inconsistent form over the month of September, winning only one match out of five. The injury bug also hit the team hard, with Kiernan, Welch, and central defenders Jack Holland and Rob Swaine all the month on the injured list. Individually, all the players had very patchy form, even though offensively the team seemed to be clicking. Defensively, however, there remained much to be desired, with 13 goals conceded in just 9 games in the league. With the defensive line hit hard thanks to injuries and the starting GK having only played one match, there remained hope that once the players came back from injuries, the team would be more solid at the back.

The Champions League kicked off with some big matches this month, as Marseille defeated Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford and defending champions Bayern Munich drawing 0-0 at home against AC Milan. Lionel Messi hit a brace to give Barcelona a hard fought victory away from home against CSKA Moscow, while Alvero Negredo’s brace was the icing on the cake for Manchester City as they routed Napoli 4-1 at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Domestically, Tottenham were surprising leaders in the English Premier League, three points ahead of defending champions Manchester United. Southampton fell from the top spot, but they maintained their position in the top three, having only lost once in their six games. In Spain, there were no surprises at the top as both Real Madrid and Barcelona were tied with 19 points, and Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo leading the AR charts with 8.53 and 8.26, respectively. Monaco remained the only undefeated team in France, three points ahead of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, while Hannover continued to shock fans in Germany with their fantastic form. The Bundesliga side was six points clear of 2nd Placed Hoffenheim, who were another team that had impressed at the beginning of the season. In Italy, Mario Balotelli was lighting the Serie A up with his league leading 5 goals as AC Milan topped the charts, two points ahead of defending champions Juventus.

Germany and Greece became the first two European teams to book their place in the World Cup, joining Argentina and Uruguay from South America, Japan/Iran/Saudi Arabia/S. Korea from Asia, and Mexico from North America as confirmed guests in Brazil 2014.

October 2013

Team News

October started out with a 2-1 win over Aylesbury in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round replay. After drawing away from home, the squad did not play much better in front of their home crowd at Hayes Lane, but managed to come away with the expected victory. They drew AFC Honchurch in the next round, which was also a non-professional club, albeit with a slightly bigger reputation than their previous opponents.

Just before their away matchup against Boreham Wood, Jnoubi confirmed the signing of Matt Drage off of the Free Transfer list in hopes of bolstering up an injury ravaged back line. The 21 year old central defender had previously featured for Staines, but was let go by the club at the end of last season. It would prove to be an inspired signing, as he would score the first goal in an important 2-1 away victory at Boreham Wood, despite the home side seemingly dominating the match.

Jnoubi continued to try and improve the squad as October rolled on, signing Chris Bourne from upcoming opponents AFC Honchurch just two days before the match. The 28 year old was versatile, with the ability to play anywhere down the left flank and even fill in as a right back if needed. He could not do that against his former team, however, as he was cup-tied, but he would not be needed, as Bromley took a 2-1 victory against AFC Honchurch, with a strong overall performance that could have easily led to more goals. After that was trip to Sutton, where Bromley again put up a strong showing, defeating Sutton away from home 3-1, with Onyekachi Nduka scoring a brace and picking up the MotM award, as well.

After two strong away victories, Bromley came back down to earth a little bit with a 0-0 draw at home against Chelmsford. Their opponents were a tough matchup, and found themselves in 6th Place after the draw, while the home side maintained their position in 2nd Place, behind only Eastleigh. After some rough times in September, the defense had tightened up with the return of several important players from injuries. Up next was the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round matchup against Whitehawk, the same team that had held the squad to a draw at home earlier in the season. The away match against Whitehawk would end in a 1-1 draw, setting up another replay game in the FA Cup for Bromley, which would end in a 2-1 victory at home against Whitehawk thanks to a late goal. The club ended the month in high fashion, advancing to the FA Cup First Round, where they were scheduled to meet another non-professional side, this time Burnham.

Matchday Two in the Champions League saw AC Milan lose to Russian side Zenit 2-0 at home in Group A, which left the Serie A leaders with only a point from their first two matches. Otherwise, there were no real surprises, although Manchester City once again struggled in Group B, barely putting away Anderlecht in a 3-2 victory. Matchday Three saw Juventus defeat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium 1-0 in Group G, while Real Madrid and Manchester City fought to a 1-1 draw in Spain. This left Chelsea and Barcelona as the only teams to have won all three of their matches in Groups E and H, respectively.

The big matchup in Spain was, ofcourse, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid at the Nou Camp, and it was the away team that came away big winners with a 3-1 result. Cristiano Ronaldo continued his scintillating form with a brace against Madrid’s arch-rivals, picking up the MotM award. Real Madrid was now the only undefeated team in Spain, and were a full eight points clear of 2nd Place Atletico Madrid. In England, defending champions Manchester United were top of the league, one point ahead of Tottenham, thanks to Robin Van Persie’s league leading 7 goals, while Cardiff had replaced Southampton as the season’s most surprising team by jumping up to 3rd Place. Monaco remained top of the league in France, with £51m striker Falcao scoring 10 goals in 11 appearances for them. In Germany, Dortmund overtook Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga into 2nd Place, but Hannover continued their hold at the top of the league despite losing to both those teams this month. Finally, in Italy, Fiorentina pushed past both AC Milan (2nd) and Juventus (3rd) to top the Serie A thanks to a stingy defense that had only conceded 5 goals in 10 games for the club.

decent start, whats the aim play offs?

decent start, whats the aim play offs?

The media predicted a mid-table finish, but with the start I've had, I think anything less than the play-offs would be a disappointment at this point.

Very strong, and you've clearly worked out the match engine defensively.

I notice a lot of newgens - I also had my scouts offer me quite a few that were created at the start of the game, much moreso than any previous version of FM.

Very strong, and you've clearly worked out the match engine defensively.

I notice a lot of newgens - I also had my scouts offer me quite a few that were created at the start of the game, much moreso than any previous version of FM.

I wouldn't say that yet, I just got hammered by Maidenhead! I am actually playing with Player Masking on, so my scout has been quite busy, but yes, there was a lot of available newgens to be had on the Free Transfer market.

Good luck, going well so far.

November 2013

Team News

A third straight game against Whitehawk ended in a 2-1 victory at Hayes Lane for Bromley. It was a great way to start the month, and after that stretch of games against Whitehawk, the club remained in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy despite a series of tough matches against their league rivals. The matches must have worn the players out, because fatigue was evident in their next game, as they lost 4-1 away to Maidenhead in the league. The loss was only the second in Jnoubi’s career thus far, but the heavy nature of it made it a difficult pill to swallow. Bromley dropped to 3rd Place, three points behind Bath (who had overtaken Eastleigh at the top), but the club still had a game at hand.

The FA Cup First Round matchup against Burnham ended in a 1-0 victory at home for Bromley, who continued their advancement through the tournament at the expense of non-professional teams. Before the match, Jnoubi introduced his ninth signing of the season, 17 year old striker James Gee, brought in to help out an increasingly injured frontline. The strikers did not need any help, however, in their home match, as they came out 3-2 winners against Dorchester thanks to a fantastic performance from [/url], who scored a goal and delivered an 8.4 AR performance.

A tough match against Dover ended 1-1 at the Crabble Athletic Ground, but Bromley would face them again at home in the FA Trophy First Round, which would end in a 2-0 victory from Bromley. The defense continued to play solid in their next game, as Bromley ran out 1-0 winners against Havant & Waterlooville at Hayes Lane. The last match in the month was away to Basingstoke, which the club won 2-1 in an impressive performance against the lowly club.

Bromley ended November in 2nd Place, two points behind Bath, having lost just 2 matches in 17 games total. Defensively, the team did a lot better during November than they had previously, which could be down to the return of key players in the backline. Overall, there were no standout players, but the team cohesion continued to improve game after game, making Jnoubi optimistic that the squad was going to hit some strong mid-season form.

England booked their place at Brazil 2014 with an impressive 3-1 victory at home against Portugal in the return leg of their play-off matchup, joining Denmark, Slovakia, and France. In Africa, it was Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria who made it through to the World Cup – this being Ghana’s third consecutive time qualifying to the competition.

The Champions League Group Stages was coming to a close, with just one Matchday left. The biggest matches left were found in Groups C and G – in Group C, Manchester United, Marseille, and Olympiakos, with the latter leading the group and needing only a draw from their match with Marseille to qualify. Group G had a match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal that would decide who would advance alongside Juventus to the Second Round, with the French team only needed a draw at home to make it happen.

In England, Manchester United continued to top the league, building a four point advantage on surging Manchester City. Tottenham and Arsenal rounded up the top four, with Fulham coming in ahead of Southampton and Chelsea. The latter featured the top player in the league thus far this season in Juan Mata, who was leading the Premier League with an 8.02 AR. After a brief stint in the top four, Cardiff City sunk back down to 9th Place, just behind struggling Liverpool.

In France, the top three remained the same with Monaco still leading the league, four points ahead of Lille and six points in front of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain. Falcao continued his blistering form, bringing his total to 12 goals and also recording a 7.61 AR, both good enough to be best in the league. Hannover saw some slippage in form, and although they were still top of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich was now only a point away from them. Right behind Bayern was Dortmund and Hoffenheim, in that order.

After a brief stint at the top of the Serie A, Fiorentina slipped back down to 5th Place, with the traditional order being restored as Juventus and AC Milan occupied the two top spots tied at 27 points. The surprise came right after them, with Atalanta and Udinese rounding out the top four thanks to some maddeningly inconsistent form from Roma and a tough end to the month from Inter Milan. In Spain, Real Madrid remained undefeated and on top of the league despite the heroics of Lionel Messi, who had an absolutely astounding 8.92 AR to go with 11 goals, both of which led the league. It did not stop there, however – he also led the La Liga with 9 assists and 9 MotM awards, all in only 15 games. Barcelona were still six points behind the leaders, however, and right behind them was Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.

Made a good start to the season and well done on your cup performances so far!

Made a good start to the season and well done on your cup performances so far!

Ive been lucky in the cups as Ive played teams that are worse than mine, especially the FA Cup.

Maybe his transfer budget was increased from 10p to 20p

Maybe his transfer budget was increased from 10p to 20p

Again I tried to increase the transfer kitty and again I got £0! Hopefully its not a bug, and things will change next season.

December 2013

Team News

December started off with a solid 1-0 victory over Farnborough at home, a win that pushed Bromley to the top of the league table. Their opponents were a team competing for a play-off place, so the win was an important one for the club, one which extended Bromley’s unbeaten streak to five games. Against stronger competition, Bromley held Skrill Premier side Dartford to a 1-1 at Hayes Lane in the FA Cup Second Round.

In a tough, top of the league matchup, the squad disappointingly 1-1 against Eastleigh at home, failing to capitalize on an opportunity to push Bath out of 1st Place. Their opponents were now four points behind them in 3rd Place, but maintained a better goal difference than Bromley. A 2-0 victory at home against Welling United followed in the FA Trophy First Round, continuing the squad’s strong form in both cups that they were participating in.

The biggest win in Kafra Jnoubi’s reign as boss at Bromley came in Dartford, as the club ran out 2-1 winners away from home in the biggest shock of the FA Cup Second Round, making Bromley the lowest ranked team in the FA Cup Third Round. They would face League One side Crewe later in January, but for now, the team was enjoying their big win against Dartford. A tough matchup away to Weston-super-Mare ended in a 0-0, keeping up the string of impressive performances by the squad as the year started to draw closer to its end. The club made it 14 straight games unbeaten with a 1-1 draw against Ebbsfleet at home, a decent result considering their opponents were thought to be one of the best teams in the Skrill South. The streak came to an end, however, against Whitehawk as Bromley lost 2-1 away from home in the last match of the year, ending 2013 in 2nd Place, 4 points behind Bath.

The month might have ended on a low note, but defensively the squad continued to impress. Offensively, however, the team regressed a little bit, even though all the main players came back from injury. With nearly half the season gone, Bromley were squarely in the hunt for the automatic promotion spot, but they were only three points off of 5th Place and a play-off spot, as well. The team’s best performing player through 2013 was Joe Anderson, while Onyekachi Nduka led the team’s scoring charts with 7 league goals.

The World Cup draw saw England pitted against Egypt, South Korea, and defending champions Spain in Group D, while the hosts Brazil were drawn with Ghana, Mexico, and Ukraine in Group A in what looked to be the toughest group on paper. The weakest group on paper appeared to be Group G, which featured Costa Rica, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Uruguay.

Michael Laudrup was hired as Tottenham manager after Andres Villas-Boas suddenly left the club to join Atletico Madrid, leaving behind a team that was over-performing in the Premier League behind only Manchester United in 2nd Place. Liverpool, who saw their position slip to 14th Place, also sacked their manager Brendan Rodgers, hiring in his place

Lionel Messi scooped up both the World Player of the Year and the World Golden Ball awards for the third and fifth consecutive times, respectively. There was no question as to whether he deserved them or not, as his form over the past year had simply been scintillating, end the year with a 8.70 AR in the La Liga.

Champions League: Matchday Six proved to be an exciting affair in the Champions League, with Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain knocking out Arsenal in Group G. Here is the run-down group by group:

GROUP A: Bayern Munich topped the group with AC Milan beating out Zenit and FC Kobenhavn fairly easily.

GROUP B: Real Madrid and Manchester City pulled no surprises in their qualification over FC Porto and Anderlecht, although the English side had a more difficult time at doing so.

GROUP C: Marseille and Manchester United left it to the last day to seal their qualification, to the disappointment of Olympiakos. Czech side Viktoria Plzen managed to garner only one point throughout their campaign.

GROUP D: In the toughest group of the draw, Dortmund and and Atletico Madrid ran out relatively easy winners over the disappointing Lyon and Scottish side Celtic.

GROUP E: Barcelona and CSKA Moscow beat out Basel and a disappointing Leverkusen side to seal their qualification to the Second Round.

GROUP F: In a weak group on paper, Galatasaray topped the group while Shakhtar beat out Benfica on goal difference. APOEL managed only 2 points in the campaign.

GROUP G: Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain qualified at the expense of the biggest name not to make it to the Second Round, Arsenal. Steaua Bucharest was the only team in the competition not to earn a single point.

GROUP H: Chelsea and Shalke qualified at the expense of Ajax and Napoli, with the latter being especially disappointing having only managed to get 2 points.

England: The defending champions Manchester United continued to increase their lead over the competition, separating themselves by seven points from 2nd Placed Arsenal. Tottenham and a resurgent Southampton side rounded up the top four, with Manchester City, Cardiff, and Chelsea right behind them. Robin Van Persie continued to lead the league with 14 goals scored, while Juan Mata maintained his top position with a 7.94 AR.

France: Monaco’s quest to win the Ligue 1 title was looking more and more like it could be reality, with seven points now separating them from Paris Saint-Germain in 2nd Place. Falcao continued to lead the league with 15 goals, and his 7.63 AR was good enough for third overall.

Germany: Bayern Munich and Hannover were neck in neck with 32 points, but the former’s form was picking up while the latter’s was stuttering. Dortmund and Leverkusen were right behind them, tied at 30 points.

Italy: The year ended with Juventus reclaiming the top position, ahead of a resurgent Fiorentina (2nd) and Lazio (3rd). AC Milan (4th) played some inconsistent football over the past month, leading to their fall, although they were still only 3 points off of the top. Juventus’ Spanish striker Fernando Llorente led the with 9 goals, while Napoli’s (7th) Marek Hamsik had a league leading 7.69 AR.

Spain: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi might have picked up both world awards, and his statistics (17 games, 12 goals, 9 assists, 9 MotM, 8.70 – leading the league in each of those categories) were mind-blowing, but he still had not been able to shrink the difference between his club and Real Madrid (1st). The difference was now 9 points, with the Madrid club having only lost once this season. Granada (3rd) had come out of nowhere and pushed past Sevilla (4th) and a faltering Atletico Madrid (6th).

January 2013

Team News

The first day of the new year brought with it a 1-0 away loss to Ebbsfleet, a result that dropped Bromley down to 4th Place. Three days later, Bromley lost again, this time expectedly against Crewe in a 3-1 result away from home. The loss now made it three straight for the club, as it started of the year in a tough manner.

Bromley ended their losing streak in a 1-0 home win against Eastbourne Boro, but they were fortunate to beat them as their opponents constantly hammered the Bromley players with fouls as did not allow them to play the type of game they wanted. The FA Trophy Fourth Round match was postponed because of a water logged pitch at Hayes Lane – the match was rescheduled, for three days later, allowing the players further time for rest. It did not help much, however, as Barnet beat Bromley 3-1 to end their FA Trophy run and add another frustrating game for Jnoubi to deal with.

A day after losing to Barnet, the manager announced the signing of Lewis Putman off the Free Transfer, a player who had bounced around the Semi-Professional leagues but whose attacking talent looked like it belonged with a professional one. Jnoubi hoped that his eye for talent had not failed him, as he was looking for Putman to make an impression in the second half of the season.

Perhaps the biggest match of the season so far was next, as Bromley traveled to Bath in a match with top of the table consequences. The club would upset Bath with a 1-1 draw, as they were heavily favored to win the match. Another spectacular defensive effort from Matt Drage played a big part in earning the result, and the central defender now had a team leading 7.54 AR in the league.

Bromley made it two good results in a row as they defeated the Concord Rangers 2-0 at Hayes Lane in one of their most impressive performance of the season thus far. The result flattered the Rangers as Bromley could have easily made the score double what it was, but nevertheless, Jnoubi was satisfied and happy with the result, one which catapulted Bromley back into 2nd Place. Just a couple of days later, in a continued attempt to bolster the frontline, Jnoubi confirmed the signing of 17 year old striker Luke Davis, whose contract with Chelmsford had expired recently. Jnoubi also put some focus on the very back, signing Harvey Jackson to a two year deal, as well. The 17 year old GK figured to be the second choice behind Joe Welch for the time being, with an eye towards his development. Against Hayes & Yeading (13th), again it was the Matt Drage show as he won the MotM in a 2-0 victory at home, bringing the club to within one point of the top position as Bath succumbed to Eastbourne Boro (12th) in a surprise loss away from home.

Walter Mazzari became the first high profile managerial sacking of the year when Inter Milan handed him his walking papers after 3-0 loss to Parma left them 10th in the Serie A. He was replaced by 58 year old Alberto Cavasin, which was a shocker of a decision considering Cavasin last managed a top division club in 2009 with Brescia. Across town, AC Milan replaced Massimiliano Allegri with Zdenak Zeman after the club fell to 8th in the Serie A, with the 66 year old Czech last having managed Roma a year ago.

Outstanding start in the league. Still can't get over the terrible name change from Blue Square to Skrill though. Just sounds ugly...

Outstanding start in the league. Still can't get over the terrible name change from Blue Square to Skrill though. Just sounds ugly...

I agree with you, Skrill is a terrible name. Thanks for the compliment, I owe it to my defense really.

25p now then.

February 2013

Team News

The month started off with a 0-0 away draw to Staines, despite Bromley utterly dominating the match. The strikers could not put away what was many opportunities, even when with the defensive line facing no problems with Staines’ offense. Back at Hayes Lane, it took a Luke Davis brace to give Bromley a 3-2 victory against Sutton United. The home side went down twice in the match, but the Sutton defense could not contain the Jnoubi’s new signing, and the 17 year old scored his first two goals in a Bromley uniform.

Bromley went top of the league with their 1-0 win over Dorchester away from home, as the defense maintained its solid form. The club was now the second best defensive team in the league, having only conceded 31 goals in 30 games. The defense continued to impress, as Bromley defeated Boreham Wood 1-0 at Hayes Lane thanks to a late goal – even though the offense continued to be inconsistent, the defensive efforts of the team was allowing the strikers some breathing space during a bad stretch. It was no surprise that central defender Matt Drage was leading the league with a 7.80 AR and left back Joe Anderson in PoMs with 8 so far this season.

The month ended with Kafra Jnoubi capturing the Manager of the Month award for the first time this season. Bromley was also sitting in 1st Place in the league now, with their fate in their own hands. The defense was now tied for best in the league with 2nd Placed Eastleigh, whom the club was now three points ahead of in the league.

Brilliant to see you doing so well already. Hope you can hold on to top spot!

Very close at the top,hopefully you will be able to pull away.

Get to the Third Round of the FA Cup... the players, staff and fans of Bromley are buzzing as they tune in to watch the draw... and you get drawn at Crewe. Cue huge sighs of disappointment.

Brilliant to see you doing so well already. Hope you can hold on to top spot!

Thanks! I think the secret at this level is to have speed and a solid backline.

Very close at the top,hopefully you will be able to pull away.

So far, it remains close, with Eastleigh breathing down my neck!

Get to the Third Round of the FA Cup... the players, staff and fans of Bromley are buzzing as they tune in to watch the draw... and you get drawn at Crewe. Cue huge sighs of disappointment.

Lol, it happens, 3rd Round is still an accomplishment though.

Good luck keeping hold of 1st.

Very nice intake!

I haven't had an intake remotely near that in around 30 seasons of my FM11 save.

Very nice intake!

I haven't had an intake remotely near that in around 30 seasons of my FM11 save.

My FM13 intakes were unbelievable - FM12, not so much.

Holy awesome intake, Batman!

March 2013

Team News

A 2-1 victory at Hayes Lane over league rivals Bath kicked off the month in high fashion, solidifying Bromley’s position at the top of the league while dropping their opponents down to 4th Place. The win made it four straight for the club, who were now on a nine game unbeaten streak in the Skrill South, but that came to end as Bromley lost 1-0 to Chelmsford away from home the following match. While their performance against Bath was inspired, against Chelmsford it was the opposite. The players look tired and unmotivated, despite having a full week’s rest between the two matches.

The club returned to its winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Dover (4th) in a tough matchup at Hayes Lane, recapturing the top spot after losing it for a few days. A 2-1 away victory against Farnborough put six points between Bromley and 2nd Placed Eastleigh, as the possibility of winning the automatic promotion was beginning to look like a reality. A 2-1 win over Maidenhead (17th) at home put the club eight points clear of Eastleigh the next game with only six more matches to go. However, an absolutely dreadful performance led to a 2-0 loss away from home to Eastbourne Boro, bringing the difference back to five points as the month came to a close.

Champions League

Chelsea vs. Paris Saint-Germain (5-3): A big 3-2 away victory in Paris was met with a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge, as the English team deserved to advance past the French champions.

Manchester United vs. Juventus (3-2): A 1-0 win at home gave Man United the advantage, as they held their opponents 2-2 in Italy.

Bayern Munich vs. Shakhtar (4-0): The first leg ended with a 1-0 victory in Ukraine for the German club, followed by a clean 3-0 victory in Munich to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

CSKA Moscow vs. Marseille (2-1): The first surprise in the Second Round came in France, as CSKA Moscow took a 1-0 victory away from home after drawing the first leg 1-1 in Russia.

Shalke vs. Atletico Madrid (1-0): A 1-0 victory at home was enough to send the German squad through after drawing 0-0 in Spain.

Manchester City vs. Barcelona (6-3): Billed as the matchup of the Second Round, it did not disappoint. In England, Man City came away with a huge 4-1 victory, and held Barcelona to a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp, solidifying the club’s position as one of the favorites in this year’s tournament.

Dortmund vs. Galatasaray (5-1): The German squad proved its superiority over both legs, with a 3-0 victory at home and a 2-1 win away in Turkey.

AC Milan vs. Real Madrid (2-1): AC Milan followed Man City’s example and knocked out the second Spanish giant, albeit in a lot more dramatic fashion. After a 1-0 at the San Siro, the match in Madrid went to Extra-time, where AC Milan were the ones who found the goal, ending the match 1-1 having scored in extra-time.

English Premier League

Manchester United built a five point lead on Manchester City entering April, as Robin Van Persie continued to lead the league with 18 goals scored. Five points behind the leaders and defending champions was Tottenham, and after that there was now a clear separation between the top three and the rest of the league. Chelsea rounded up the top four, with Newcastle in 5th ahead of Arsenal. Chelsea’s Juan Mata’s 7.95 AR was still top of the league, and was a big reason for his club’s slow rise over the past few months.

French Ligue 1

Falcao’s league leading 21 goals and 7.58 AR (2nd) were the biggest reason Monaco was still top of the league, ahead of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain. Lille (3rd) were fifteen points behind, but continued to maintain a lead over Lyon (4th). Marseille (7th) were perhaps the most disappointing team so far this season, as they were figured to be a lock for a Champions League place but that was looking very unlikely with every passing game.

German Bundesliga

Six points separated Bayern Munich (1st) from Dortmund (2nd), despite Robert Lewandowski’s 17 goals for the latter. The defending champions’ defense was top of the league, and it was the difference maker. Rounding up the top four were Stuttgart (3rd) and Wolfsburg (4th), with former leaders Hannover (5th) slipping down in the league.

Italian Serie A

Juventus (1st) virtually sealed their third consecutive championship this month as they built a thirteen point lead on surprising Udinese (2nd). Fiorentina and a resurgent AC Milan (4th) rounded up the top four, whose new manager Zdenek Zeman was managing to get the best out of his new team.

Spanish La Liga

Real Madrid’s twenty point lead assured it of recapturing the title from Barcelona (3rd) this year, who were disappointingly behind Atletico Madrid (2nd) in the league. Cristiano Ronaldo’s 20 goals were top in the league, while Lionel Messi’s record breaking start to the season had leveled off, even though he still led the league with an 8.17 AR. Surprising Celta rounded up the top four.

Congratulations!

Well done Abulezz.

2013/14 Review

Team News

League Review - Bromley Player Stats

Going into the season, there was a quiet optimism by Kafra Jnoubi over his new club’s chances of fighting for a promotion spot. A good start to the year signaled to the new manager that his optimism was warranted, and through the first couple of months, Bromley found themselves fighting it out with Bath and Eastleigh for the top spot. Early in 2014, the club went first and never looked back – as the rest faltered, Bromley only seemed to get stronger, despite a nervous last few games. While it could not be said that they comfortably won the league, they did not look threatened of losing first place the last month, either.

The key to the title win was defense. The offense did the job, but was neither glamorous nor proficient. The defense, however, shut out several opponents and allowed an otherwise unspectacular offense to do just enough to win games for them. In fact, the top goalscorer for the club, Onyekachi Nduka, managed only 12 league goals, as there was a lack of consistency in all the frontline players. Still, first place is hard to complain about, and Jnoubi was certainly happy with the final result. The icing on the cake came after the season was done, with the announcement that Jnoubi had won the Skrill South Manager of the Season.

The problem heading into their first season in the Skrill Premier was a big one – almost the entire team had failed to renew their contracts, so essentially, Jnoubi would be fighting for survival in the Skrill Premier with almost a whole new team. Encouragingly, however, the Skrill South champions had some great prospects come through the Bromley Youth Academy, with at least two of the youngsters looking like they could contribute in the coming year. Overall, it was a very positive first season for the new owner/manager of the club.

Joe Welch, GK, 31: A back injury ruled him out of the first couple of months, but upon his return, he reclaimed his position as the starter in the lineup. Bromley’s defense significantly got better upon his return, as he conceded less than a goal a game to go with his 12 clean sheets. As it stands, he remains the clear favorite to start in the club’s first season in the Skrill Premier.

Joe Anderson, DL, 24: As important as any player on the team this season, the left back led the league in Key Tackles with 65 and was tied with teammate Matt Drage for a league leading 8 PoMs. His 5.49 TpG was a team best, and his 7.29 AR was second only to Drage.

Matt Drage, DC, 21: Jnoubi’s most important signing so far only joined the club in October, and ended up being Jnoubi’s most important player this season, as well. Simply put, the fact that he did not win the Skrill South Player of the Season was a shock, considering his league leading 8 PoMs and 7.67 AR. The only thing against him was the fact that he played only 28 games, but still managed to score 3 goals in the process, and his 370 Interceptions were good for 9th in the league. Going forward, he has to be considered an integral part and focus of the Bromley defensive line.

, DR, 27: The Norwegian was Jnoubi’s first ever signing, and was a reliable performer for the club at right back in his first season. His 6.90 AR was adequate enough, playing in 37 league games.

Jon Bradley, DC, 16: A call-up from the Bromley Youth Academy this year, Bradley has the potential to be a key player for the club’s defensive line in the coming years. Already a talent in the air, his defensive skills improved rapidly in the months leading up to summer. His only drawback is his awful pace.

Brendan Kiernan, MR, 21: Bromley’s finest player in its midfield line, Kiernan was also one of the squad’s highest scoring players. He recorded 11 goals in 35 games to go along with his 5 assists and 6.98 AR. Despite his importance to the team, he continued to refuse signing a new contract as the squad headed into their summer break.

Max Nicholls, MC, 16: Picked up Jnoubi after he was let go by Basingstoke, the youngster showed signs of brilliance despite a very inconsistent season. A gifted player with the ball at his feet, his 6.74 AR in 35 games was the result of too many sub-average games. He is expected to deliver more than 3 goals and just 1 assist next season as he certainly has the ability to do better despite his young age.

Ashley Nicholls, MC, 32: A disappointing, and possibly final, season from the man that was expected to lead the Bromley midfield line this season. In 33 games, he recorded just 2 assists and a 6.59 AR. This was his first season with Bromley, but as mentioned earlier, it is most likely his final.

Martyn Grant, ML, 15: A product of the Bromley Youth Academy, he is one to watch for the future. The left winger has already showcased improving pace as he learns the technical and creative part of the game.

Anthony Ibrahim, MC, 16: Another product of the Bromley Youth Academy, Ibrahim’s evident strength is his attacking ability. What he currently lacks in pace and power he makes up for with his ability going forward. His growth will be closely monitored by his coaching staff in the coming years.

Onyekachi Nduka, SC, 18: Bromley’s leading scorer despite his very young age, the English/Nigerian striker was the club’s frontline most consistent performer this year. Signed by Jnoubi before the start of the season, he recorded 12 goals, 4 assists, and a 7.00 AR in 35 games. His attacking ability improved substantially throughout the season, but his lack of pace is worrying going forward.

Shamir Mullings, SC, 20: Possibly the quickest player on the team, he was also the most complete player for Bromley this season. In 35 games, he recorded 9 goals, 9 assists, and a 7.11 AR, filling in as a striker as well as a right winger when Kiernan went down with injury. He was rewarded with a one year contract at the end of the season because of his stellar play.

Luke Davis, SC, 17: Davis was a mid-season signing by Jnoubi, and in only 6 games, he proved him belonged on the squad thanks to his 2 goals. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to a torn calf muscle that ruled him out of the two months. Still, he considered an important player for the squad as they try their luck in the Skrill Premier next year.

Congratulations!

Well done Abulezz.

Thank you both! Almost the entire team will not be signing new contracts, and the ones that I actually do want to sign are refusing. Its going to be a rough second year.

For the fourth time in the competition’s history, Manchester United captured the title after defeating Chelsea 2-1 in extra-time at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal. In a repeat of the 2008 Finals, Man United left it late – however, instead of penalties like before, they won thanks to a 107th minute goal by Robin Van Persie, who scored a brace and won the PoM. It was Juan Mata of Chelsea who would capture the tournament’s Best Player award, leading the club to their third Champions League Finals appearance, defeating defending champions Bayern Munich in the Semi-Finals along the way. Man United were worthy champions, defeating a string of high profile teams on their way to the Finals, including Serie A champions Juventus, German heavyweights (and last year’s defeated Finalists) Dortmund, and arch-rivals Manchester City. The biggest disappointments were Barcelona and Real Madrid, who both exited in the Second Round and the hands of Man City and AC Milan, respectively. Paris Saint-Germain would also consider their campaign a disappointment, as they also exited in the Second Round having been defeated handily by Chelsea. Alessandro Matri of AC Milan won the Golden Boot with 7 goals, but his total was the lowest to lead the Champions League since Raul’s 7 goals in 2000/01.

For the third time in four years and the second straight season, Manchester United were crowned champions of England, beating out Manchester City (2nd) and surprising Tottenham (3rd) for the title. The London club were blindsided by former manager Andres Villas-Boas’ decision to join Atletico Madrid in December, but his replacement, Michael Laudrup, proved to be more than capable. Arsenal (4th) won the last Champions League spot, while Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea (6th) were beat out by the most surprising team of the season, Southampton (5th). Mauricio Pochettino’s side finished 14th in 2012/13, so they were also the most improved team this season. Liverpool (11th) was the most disappointing team, and as a result, they sacked manager Brendan Rodgers midway through the season to bring back prodigal son Rafa Benitez. Harry Redknapp’s appointment replacing Alan Pardew was a good one for Newcastle (7th), as they quickly moved up under their new manager and finished in a respectable place. Sunderland (18th), Hull (19th), and West Ham (20th) were relegated, with Sunderland and West Ham having especially disappointing seasons.

In his second season with the club, Oliver Giroud of Arsenal led the league with 22 goals, but it was Juan Mata who would capture the Footballer of the Year after recording 15 goals, 15 assists, 8 PoMs, and a league-leading 7.93 AR. Robin Van Persie was the champions’ best player, recording 18 goals and a 7.66 AR despite a torn hamstring that ruled him out for 3 months and limited him to just 25 games. Tottenham’s Erick Lamela was also outstanding, recording 16 goals, a league-leading 17 assists, 7 PoMs, and a 7.65 AR, making the £26m his club spent on him to pry him from Roma worth it. The fact that he is 22 years old makes it all the better, as he is set to be the face of the franchise for as long as they can keep him there.

For the first time since the year 2000, Monaco captured the Ligue 1 title, ending Paris Saint –Germain’s (2nd) reign prematurely. Lyon (5th) missed out on the top four due to goal difference, with Lille (3rd) and Marseille (4th) beating the club out. After the season came to an end, Lyon manager Guus Hiddink left the club to take over Shalke, and his replacement was named as Luciano Spalletti. Reims, Guingamp, and Valenciennes were relegated, while Bordeaux (6th) earned the last European spot.

There was one big reason Monaco had the season they did, and the reason’s name was Falcao. In 30 appearances, he recorded a league-high 24 goals, 9 PoMs, and a 7.58 AR that was good enough for second best in the Ligue 1. The £51m signing was instrumental in Monaco’s title winning campaign, and as such, he captured the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award, as well. Unsurprisingly, his manager, Claudio Ranieri, won the Manager of the Year thanks to the magnificent season his club had. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the same number of goals for Paris Saint-Germain, but due to playing a higher number of games, the Top Goalscorer award went to the Monaco striker. Thiago Silva (34 appearances, 6 PoMs, 4.61 TpG, 7.60 AR) of Paris Saint-Germain led the league in AR, while his teammate Christophe Jallet (35 appearances, 12 assists) led it in assists.

Despite a very slow start to the season, Bayern Munich roared back to win its second straight title on the back of some strong defensive play. Dortmund (2nd) and Hannover (5th) traded places in first at the beginning, but the latter eventually slipped out of a Champions League place. Instead, they went to Stuttgart (3rd) and Leverkusen (4th), with Shalke (6th), who were Quarter-Finalists in the Champions League this year, also missing out. Their manager Jens Keller left at the end of the season, and has been replaced by Guus Hiddink. Hertha BSC and Nurnberg were relegated, and not surprisingly, both of their managers were sacked.

Philipp Lahm (34 appearances, 8 PoMs, 4.32 TpG, 2.12 DpG, 7.74 AR) won the Footballer of the Year award for the first time in his career, as he was without a shadow of a doubt the finest in the Bundesliga this season. He led the league in PoMs and AR, while teammate Toni Kroos (32 appearances, 3 goals, 12 assists, 7.37 AR) led it in assists. Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowksi won the Top Goalscorer award thanks to his 21 goals, and he also recorded 5 assists and a 7.45 AR.

Juventus won their third title in a row by sizable margin, as they had a fourteen point lead on surprising Udinese (2nd). Fiorentina (3rd) and Napoli (4th) rounded up the top four, as the traditional heavyweights in the capital and the city of Milan faltered. AC Milan (7th), Roma (8th), and Inter Milan (12th) all replaced their managers mid-season, and only AC Milan saw an improvement in form. Genoa (5th) and Sampdoria (6th) won European places as both clubs had better than expected seasons, while Torino, Parma, and Livorno all got relegated and subsequently sacked their managers, as well.

Fernando Llorente of Juventus had a very successful debut season in the Seria A, leading the league with 24 goals, which also was a career-high. Not surprisingly, his manager, Antonio Conte, took the Manager of the Year award for the second straight year. The Serie A Player of the Year would go to Daniele Di Rossi (35 appearances, 4 goals, 9 assists, 7 PoMs, 5.21 TpG, 7.59 AR), despite Roma’s lackluster performance in the league. Swiss and Juventus right back Stephan Lichtsteiner (31 appearances, 12 assists, 7 PoMs, 7.68 AR) would lead the league in AR and also won the Serie A Foreign Player of the Year.

Real Madrid were by far and wide the best team in the La Liga this season, recapturing the title from arch-rivals Barcelona (2nd) with a huge 22 point difference. Atletico Madrid (3rd) were ahead of the Catalans for most of the campaign before a late season meltdown dropped them down a place under new manager Andres-Villas Boas (whom they pried from Tottenham in December), while Sevilla (4th) fought their way to the final Champions League spot. Celta (5th), Real Betis (6th), and Athletic Bilbao (7th) were all pleasant surprises this season, while Valencia (10th) had a disappointing campaign, although new manager Marco Van Basten has provided some hope. Malaga (13th) were another disappointing team, while all three of the teams that got relegated (Valladolid, Elche, Getafe) fired their managers.

Lionel Messi captured the La Liga Player of the Year for the fifth time in a row and a sixth time overall, both all-time records. He played in all 38 games, recording 21 goals, 14 assists, while also leading the league with 15 PoMs and an 8.27 AR. He had a blistering for two months, were his AR reached higher than 8.90, but it was Cristiano Ronaldo who won the bragging rights this year, winning the title and the Top Goalscorer award with 25 goals. Ronaldo also recorded 8 assists, 10 PoMs, and a 7.99 AR, with the latter two second only to Messi. Luka Modric (29 games, 9 goals, 17 assists, 7.87 AR) and Xabi Alonso (29 games, 3 goals, 17 assists, 6 PoMs, 7.81 AR) both led the league in assists, and were just as relevant to Madrid’s title winning campaign as Ronaldo was. In fact, the only two players were ranked in the top twenty for AR in the league that were not Barcelona or Real Madrid players – in 10th place was Celta’s central defender Andreu Fontas (32 appearances, 4 assists, 7 PoMs, 3.83 TpG, 7.56 AR), and in 19th place was Sevilla’s 21 year old left back Alberto (31 appearances, 7 assists, 8 PoMs, 3.51 TpG, 2.50 DpG, 7.37 AR).

GROUP A

In what was the toughest group on paper, the hosts Brazil topped the group with 7 points. They were joined by an impressive Ghana side in the Second Round, with the African nation taking a two goal lead against the host in their final match before Brazil came back and equalized. Ghana’s 22 year old striker Jordan Ayew was one of the Group Stages top performers with 4 goals. Both Ukraine and Mexico, who finished 3rd and 4th, respectively, failed to register a single victory in the competition, with the latter having an especially disappointing tournament.

GROUP B

After starting out the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Denmark, Italy won its next two games without conceding a goal, making short work of their group rivals. Algeria, predicted to finish last in the group, beat out both Denmark, who disappointingly finished last without recording a single victory, and the USA to qualify to the Second Round thanks to stellar play of 24 year old Bastia midfielder Ryad Boudebouz.

GROUP C

France managed to top the group despite only one victory, drawing the other two for a total of five points. Fortunately for them, Colombia and Morocco both also notched up one victory each, but also lost a match, which France did not do. The South Americans knocked out the Moroccans based on goal difference, as Iran finished in last place without a single victory and only two points. Monaco’s 23 year old £15.25m acquisition Antoine Griezmann was their star, recording a goal and four assists in their Group Stages matches.

GROUP D

Starting off with a huge 2-0 victory against the defending champions, England went on to top the group ahead of Spain with seven points. The Spanish played some inconsistent football, leaving it late in the last game against Egypt to seal their qualification to the Second Round after a 3-2 victory. The North Africans were unlucky not to go through, as they played some fantastic football and earned a draw against England, as well. South Korea finished bottom of the group having failed to earn a point and score a single goal, losing all of their matches. The best player in the group was surprisingly Leighton Baines of Everton, as he assisted in three goals for the English and was their most consistent performer.

GROUP E

Despite dominating their first two matches, which included a 6-2 romp of Japan, Germany finished 2nd behind Belgium, who defeated them 1-0 in the final match. The Belgian team conceded only one goal in their three matches, with their defense being key for their Group Stages success. Chile disappointingly did not win a single game, and Japan managed only one point. Bayern Munich’s 22 year old wizard Mario Gotze put in some sensation performances, recording four assists for the Germans.

GROUP F

Between their 4-0 defeat of Peru and 5-0 domination of Greece, Holland found a way to lose 2-0 to Honduras, who have already been classified as this tournament’s Cinderella story. The Dutch did top the group, however, thanks Robin Van Persie (hat-trick against Peru) and Arjen Robben (hat-trick against Greece), while Honduras beat out Greece on goal difference.

GROUP G

A 5-0 victory against Costa Rica set the tone for Slovakia, as they topped the group ahead of 2010 Semi-Finalists Uruguay. The South Americans, widely favored to top the tournament’s weakest group on paper, settled for 2nd Place, confirming their advancement to the Second Round at the expense of Costa Rica and Slovenia, who only managed a single point. FC Partizan’s 31 year old striker Marek Bakos scored 4 goals for Slovakia in the Group Stages, including a hat-trick against Costa Rica.

GROUP H

It all went according to plan for one of the tournament’s favorites Argentina, who won all three of their matches without conceding a single goal. They were joined in the Second Round by African nation Cameroon, while Saudi Arabia and Israel finished 4th and 3rd, respectively, putting aside political differences to play a very entertaining game in their final match, with Israel winning 3-2. Samuel Eto’o scored 3 goals for Cameroon, while Lionel Messi scored 2 goals for Argentina while seemingly playing at half-speed.

ITALY vs GHANA: 2-0 – A goal each side of half-time gave four time champions Italy the victory against their African rivals, with 24 year old Atalanta winger Giacomo Bonaventura emerging as their best player through the first four games for the Europeans after scoring the second goal for them. POM: G. Bonaventura

BRAZIL vs ALGERIA: 1-0 – The hosts picked up the expected victory to send them to the Quarter-Finals, but it was not as easy as they would have hoped for it to be. A 23rd minute goal by Dani Alves was the only separator, and the feeling as Brazil moved on was that they were not playing up to their potential, especially up front. POM: D. Alves

ENGLAND vs COLOMBIA: 2-1 – An entertaining match throughout, England were second best for most of it. In fact, two late goals saved the European side from defeat, with the first coming from Wayne Rooney, who scored his 3rd goal of the tournament in the 74th minute. The second came from England’s star performer this tournament, Leighton Baines, who fittingly scored in injury time, playing the role of hero for his national side. The South Americans had initially taken the lead through their 22 year old midfielder Jay Rodriguez, who had made a £38m move to Monaco from Porto a year ago. England also had a horrible time trying to contain Napoli midfielder Pablo Armero, who ran over England’s midfield all throughout the match. POM: P. Armero

SPAIN vs FRANCE: 2-0 – The most anticipated match of the Second Round, it was hit with controversy in the 5th minute when France’s Rio Mavuba was given a red card and left his nation to fend off an attacking Spanish team for most the match. The task proved too tall, as Spain struck through Sergio Ramos in the first half and Iker Munian in the second half, despite a valiant effort by the French defense to contain them. In all fairness, Spain’s performance was mediocre, but their advantage in numbers proved to be the key. France’s right back, Mathieu Debuchy, led the way for his nation by being the best player on the field, but it was not to be, with the defending champions moving on to the Quarter-Finals. POM: M. Debuchy

GERMANY vs HOLLAND: 1-0 – Another hotly anticipated match between two rivals, this was a very even game from beginning to end. It was Toni Kroos who broke Dutch hearts with an 89th minute goal that sent Germany into the Quarter-Finals, and in truth, it was deserved because Kroos was by far and wide the best player on the pitch this afternoon. POM: T. Kroos

BELGIUM vs HONDURAS: 3-2 – Honduras were not meant to be in the Second Round, but they nearly found themselves in the Quarter-Finals after a fantastic display against a much stronger Belgian side. Twice they went down by a goal, and twice the Central American side showed resiliency and fought back to equalize. The final dagger came in the 84th minute, however, as Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku scored his second goal of the tournament to give Belgium the win. Wilson Palacios, Honduras’ second goal scorer, played his best game of the tournament against Belgium, and Honduras could go home proud of their accomplishment and the way they played. POM: W. Palacios

ARGENTINA vs URUGUAY: 4-1 – There was no doubting who the better team was in this all-South American matchup, as Argentina ran out heavy winners against 2010 Semi-Finalists Uruguay. A brace by Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi’s third goal of the tournament were responses to Uruguay taking a surprise lead in the 14th minute through their star striker Edinson Cavani, and by the time the match was over, Argentina had solidified its position as favorites to lift the trophy. POM: C. Tevez

SLOVAKIA vs CAMEROON: 1-0 – In a mediocre match, Slovakia robbed the African continent of any representatives in the Quarter-Finals thanks to a Karim Guede goal. There was not much to comment on during the match, and it was easily the least entertaining of the Second Round. Not a single Cameroonian player had an AR of over 6.8, and Slovakia were rarely threatened on their way to their first ever Quarter-Finals appearance. POM: M. Cech

ITALY vs SPAIN: 1-0 – The world would have a new champion after the Italians knocked out the defending champions, Spain. A 40th minute goal by Italy’s leading goalscorer, Pablo Osvaldo, was enough to send Spain out of the tournament, and in all fairness, they never looked like they were capable of defending their title. An inconsistent performance in the Group Stages was followed by an unconvincing win against a 10-man French team, and while the Italians played like a well-oiled machine, the Spanish midfield looked, for once, beat and unable to control the match. For the fourth straight game, Italy did not concede a goal, and that was a testament to their legendary goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, who had another exceptional game. POM: G. Buffon

ENGLAND vs BRAZIL: 3-1 – It is ironic that the tournament in which England were under the least amount of pressure to perform from its fans would also be its most successful in decades. The result was a shocker, but England were simply the better team, especially in the first half as they overran the hosts by scoring three goals inside the first 25 minutes. There was no way back for Brazil, whose exit was met with huge disappointment from its local fan base that wanted to see the nation lift its sixth World Cup trophy on home turf. Unfortunately for them, their offense never clicked throughout the tournament, with stars such as Neymar and Diego Costa underperforming. For the English, Wayne Rooney scored his 4th goal,Frank Lampard his 3rd, and Steven Gerrard his 2nd enroute to the victory, but the performer of the night was right back Glen Johnson, who delivered two assists and owned the right flank during the match. POM: G. Johnson

GERMANY vs SLOVAKIA: 1-0 – The Germans scored nine goals in their first two matches, and since then only scored two, with one of them coming in the 18th minute against first time Quarter-Finalists Slovakia. Overall, Germany never had to get out of second gear, controlling the match with 63% possession. Their goal came early thanks to Thomas Muller, and they never looked threatened after that. In fact, Slovakia’s defense should be commended because they kept a lot of potential German attacks under control, with the best of them being Sparta Prague’s 21 year old right back Lukas Pauschek. Germany set up a Semi-Finals date with England thanks to their victory, making it the fourth straight time they had advanced to the Semi-Finals of the tournament. POM: L. Pauschek

BELGIUM vs ARGENTINA: 3-0 – It is unclear what was more surprising – Belgium’s ruthless efficiency or Argentina’s downright torrid play. The favorites to lift the trophy, the South Americans were dismantled by a Belgian side that threatened to score every time they countered the Argentine attack. Christian Benteke, the Belgian 23 year old striker who had just completed £18.5m move from Aston Villa to French champions Monaco, scored a brace, bringing his total up to four goals in the tournament. He won the PoM award, but it could have easily went to Marouane Fellaini, who scored the second goal and single-handedly left the Argentine midfield in ruins. For all his talents, Lionel Messi only managed to muster up a 5.3 AR in the match, which was eclipsed in disappointment only by GK Sergio Romero’s dismal 3.5 AR. Belgium advanced to the Semi-Finals against Italy at the expense of what many considered to be one of the most talented teams to ever be showcased at the World Cup. POM: C. Benteke

ENGLAND vs GERMANY: 1(p)-1 – It had to happen sometime, and England could not have chosen to beat Germany by penalty shoot-out than in this matchup. With just one win away from the advancing to their first Finals appearance since winning the tournament on home soil in 1966, England finally delivered instead of choking it all away. They very nearly did so, however, with an 80th minute own goal by Michael Carrick that nearly gifted the game to the Germans and almost undid all the hard work they had committed themselves to after Danny Welbeck’s 15th minute strike had given them the lead. The Germans might have had 58% possession, but much like they looked throughout the knockout stages, they seemed uninspired and lacking motivation. England kept there cool during the penalty shootouts, and rewarded a defensive line that had done a superb job, led by central defender Phil Jones, a chance to showcase their ability on the grandest stage of them all. POM: P. Jones

BELGIUM vs ITALY: 1(p)-1 – The Italians chose the worst possible time to concede only their second goal of the tournament, as Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel hit the four time champions with an equalizer in the 90th minute. The Italians went ahead thanks to their best performer in the tournament this year, Giancomo Bonaventura, in the 74th minute, and it appeared to have been enough to seal their ticket to the Finals against England. Instead, the team which had defeated heavyweights Germany and Argentina also added Italy to the list, as a deflated Italian team was sunk on penalty shootouts. Marouane Fellaini made another strong case as a candidate for the Best Player award with another incredible performance in the middle of the pitch, and Belgium advanced to their first ever World Cup Finals, shocking the world with their inspirational and spirited play. POM: M. Fellaini

ENGLAND vs BELGIUM: 3-1 – Going into the match, between them, England and Belgium had knocked out all the other heavy favorites on their way to the Finals. Additionally, Christian Benteke and Wayne Rooney both had 4 goals each, and were both looking to add to that tally to become the World Cup’s leading goal scorer. The match itself was a thoroughly entertaining affair, and things got started early through Theo Walcott’s, who scored his first goal of the tournament in the 6th minute. Benteke would be the first to reach 5 goals, as Belgium responded through his strike in the 16th minute to equalize the game. From that point on, however, the match would belong to England. Rooney added his 5th goal in the 35th minute, and Danny Welbeck would score England’s third goal in the 70th minute to seal the final dagger in the heart of a spirited Belgian side. Glen Johnson once again delivered a fantastic performance, as his 9.1 AR and assist earned him the PoM in the biggest match of the year, proving his talent and ability at football’s biggest stage. The wait was over for England, as they lifted the World Cup for the first time in 48 years, adding the game’s most important trophy to the already legendary careers of the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, and Wayne Rooney. What’s more, England did it with an English born manager, one Roy Hodgson, which seemed to add additional merit to the victory in Brazil for the English media. POM: G. Johnson

BEST PLAYER: Wayne Rooney - England’s most influential player, he also was joint top goal scorer at the World Cup with 5 total goals. In a tournament without any standout stars, he was the best player on the best team, contributing immensely in all aspects of the game.

BEST YOUNG PLAYER: Lukas Pauschek – Slovakia’s first ever Quarter-Finals appearance could not have happened without the stellar play of their 21 year old right back, who recorded a 7.63 AR and won the PoM in their loss to Germany.

BEST GOALKEEPER: Gianluigi Buffon – The Italian captain conceded only two goals in the tournament, keeping 5 clean sheets. There was no better player at his position despite his increasing age.

TOP GOALSCORER: Christian Benteke – Second to Rooney in the running of the Best Player award, Benteke was the primary reason, along with Marouane Fellaini, for Belgium’s remarkable run to the Finals.

2014/15 Preview

Team News

After a successful debut season, Kafra Jnoubi has now set his sights on a mid-table finish during the club’s first year participating in the Skrill Premier league. About £200k was put into improving the club’s youth facilities, while work on trying to get a new stadium was put forward in the summer, as well. A lot of important players that were key in the club’s title winning campaign in 2013/14 decided not to sign new contracts, leaving Jnoubi in a bit of a pickle trying to fill those empty slots, especially in the starting eleven. Luckily, the Bromley Youth Academy delivered some exceptional players who had vast potential and the ability to contribute right away, while a few key Free Transfer signings rounded up Jnoubi’s active summer.

Patrick Whitby – Free Transfer: Product of the Histon Youth Academy, the 17 year old winger was snapped up after being let go by his former club. Jnoubi figures him to be an immediate contributor this season.

Mike Cestor – Free Transfer: 22 year old Congolese left back who played for Chelmsford last season. Jnoubi has slotted him to be the starting left back after Joe Anderson refused to sign a new contract.

Jon Dollery – Free Transfer: Jnoubi’s second signing who played for Chelmsford last season, the 21 year old Canadian right back will also start the season in the starting eleven after the departure of Knudsen.

Matt Drage – Bromley’s Player of the Year in 2013/14, the 21 year old central defender once again will be the heart of the club’s defense. If the club is to meet Jnoubi’s ambitious goal of finishing safely in within the middle of the table, Drage will have to give another season like his first with the club.

Jon Bradley – The 16 year old came up from the Bromley Youth Academy only last year, but he has already established himself as Bromley’s brightest prospect. He will be starting alongside Drage in the center of the defensive line, and despite his young age, he has proven to be mature and reliable.

Martyn Grant – Also a product of the Bromley Youth Academy, the 16 year old left winger showed enough promise in the offseason for Jnoubi to give him the starting position. He will be relied on heavily down the left flank to provide chances for the front line.

Max Nicholls – Although his first season with the club was mediocre at best, Nicholls is widely considered the club’s most skilled player. The 17 year old is certainly the club’s most creative force, and his performances this season will go a long way in deciding how well the squad fares going forward in matches.

Onyekachi Nduka – The 18 year old was Bromley’s leading goal scorer last season in spite of his inconsistency. Still, his 12 league goals were important, and more will be expected of him as he grows and matures. He is expected to lead the Bromley front line and will be the main focus going forward.

2014/15 Mid-Season Update

Team News

League Review - Bromley Player Stats

The expectation going into Bromley’s first season in the Skrill Premier was that the club would compete for a mid-table spot and safely avoid the relegation zone. At the beginning of January, however, the team found themselves at the top of the table, tied with Forest Green and Dartford with 48 points. Although the squad went through a rough patch in in November and the beginning of December, they bounced back and finished the year strong. They found their best form in October, where they won eight games in a row and moved up substantially in the table.

During the middle of December, work on the Bromley Youth Facilities was completed, having set the club back around £130k.

Matt Drage – Bromley’s Player of the Year in 2013/14 continued to be one of its important members, although a move up in divisions brought him down to earth a bit. His 7.14 AR was quite a drop from the league-leading 7.67 AR he recorded in the Skrill South, but his presence in the defensive line remained as important as ever for the squad.

Jon Bradley – The 17 year old started the season off with a bang and never looked back, as he was easily Bromley’s best player through the first half of the season. He recorded a team leading 7.30 AR, but even more surprising was his 7 goals. The Bromley Youth Academy product was the primary reason for Bromley’s strong defensive play.

Martyn Grant – Another surprising contributor to the squad this season, the 16 year old left winger started the year leading the team with 8 assists. In addition to that, he had contributed 5 goals and recorded 7.10 AR while appearing in 25 games, showing remarkable durability.

Shamir Mullings – The 21 year old continued to be Bromley’s best all-around player, recording 8 goals, 7 assists, and a 7.05 AR. Filling in at the striker and right wing positions, Mullings’ pace was one of Bromley’s finest weapons going forward.

Onyekachi Nduka – The club’s leading goal-scorer, the 18 year old recorded 12 goals, 4 assists, and a 7.11 AR. His finishing ability continued to improve, as well as his aerial ability.

Great work! I see a lot of good things for Bromley!

The game won't load - I've tried everything. My computer blue screen of deathed in me in the middle of me saving the game, and now it won't load.

I've restarted another save with Bromley. I was only two seasons in, but they were two successful seasons and I was enjoying the save very much. Can't express how frustrated I am.

I will do an end of season update, hopefully I will find the same success.

Always a bummer to lose a save like that.

Gutted dude.

Always a bummer to lose a save like that.

Gutted dude.

Yea, tell me about it. I am actually having more success this season, and it looks like I'm going to top the Skrill South again, but I'm not enjoying my team half as much. Matt Drage was a star in the previous save, and he is very average this one. I just had my Youth Intake, it is pretty good, but no one as good as Jon Bradley from the previous one. Anyway, here it is:

Elliot Rudd

Will Julienne

Sebastian Wilson

Liam Stephens

Prince Warner

Gavin Shwarz

Bejamin Overton

2013/14 Season Review

Team News

League Review - Bromley Player Stats

From the beginning of the season, Kafra Jnoubi’s team looked like champions. They had the title wrapped realistically wrapped up about two months before the end of the season, winning by a sizable margin. Bromley’s offense, although inconsistent, was fairly good, as their 69 goals was fourth best in the league, but the difference between the club and others was on the defensive end of the pitch. Bromley’s conceded only 39 goals in 42 games, which was the best in the Skrill South, thanks to their solid play from their GKs and defensive line. Jnoubi’s strategy stressed ball control and little creative flexibility, and that played well with his defense-first mentality.

Lots of new signings did little disrupt the harmony of the squad, as they blended well together and formed a cohesive unit that found success in a relatively easy fashion. In fact, Jnoubi brought in sixteen players, all of which contributed in some way to the success of the club. The club’s finances remained healthy throughout the season, and it actually saw a profit at the end of the year. With a major exodus of players expected before the club embarks on its quest to maintain its position in the Skrill Premier, this was good news, as it would allow for flexibility in increasing the wage budget that would be set for the 2014/15 season.

Joe Welch, GK, 25 Years Old: A pretty straightforward season from Bromley’s No.1, conceding 33 goals in 32 appearances while recording 8 clean sheets. He started the season on the injured list, and recorded a 6.73 AR after he returned, providing stability and consistency for the club between the posts.

Joe Anderson, DL, 24 Years Old: Anderson was as steady a contributor as they could come this season, playing in 38 games and recording 2 goals, 2 assists, 3.17 TpG, and a 6.82 AR. Going into the season, Jnoubi proclaimed the left back position as his safest position, and Anderson delivered on that promise.

Matt Drage, DC, 21 Years Old: Perhaps Jnoubi’s most successful signing in the offseason, the central defender was signed off of the Free Transfer list, and went on to be Bromley’s best defender this season when he played. He appeared in 21 games, recording 2.88 TpG and a 6.96 AR that was the second best on the team.

Taylor Parameter, DC, 21 Years Old: Already on the team when Jnoubi took over, Parameter looks like the defender with most potential going into next season. His 3.65 TpG and 368 Interceptions led the team while recording 6.97 AR in 30 games.

Danny Waldren, MC, 24 Years Old: The acting captain of the club, he was also Bromley’s best player this season. In 38 appearances, he recorded 14 goals, 13 assists, 6 PoM, and a 7.13 AR, leading the club in four of those categories. Without him, it is unlikely the club would have run away with the title the way they did.

Ben Swallow, ML, 24 Years Old: One of the most underrated players on the team, the left winger finished the season having recorded 3 goals, 8 assists, and 6.97 AR while providing consistent performances down the left flank. Although unlikely to be the team’s starting left winger next season, Swallow contributed immensely to the team’s success this year.

Andrew Donnelly, ML, 17 Years Old: The Bromley Youth Academy product started the season as Swallow’s backup, but improved immensely as it progressed. He finished the year having recorded 3 games, 8 assists, and a 6.91 AR in 21 games, in which he was awarded 3 PoMs. His pace is his main weapon, and he could be a big contributor as the club tries its luck in the Skrill Premier.

Elliot Rudd, M, 16 Years Old: Not much was seen from the Bromley Youth Academy product, but was evident was his quickness. He scored a goal in his debut for the club, and featured in only one appearance after that. He is currently being trained to learn how to play as a winger.

Gianluca Gracco, SC, 23 Years Old: Jnoubi’s final signing off the season, the Italian contributed 6 goals and 5 assists in 15 games, recording a 6.94 AR in the process. He also recorded 3 PoMs, giving life to a stagnant forward line that was having trouble finding the net towards the end of the season.

Delton Hinton, SC, 16 Years Old: Hinton showed a lot of improvement as the year progressed, and although it is still unclear how good he can be, his performances got better towards the end of the year. In 23 games, he scored 5 goals, which is not a great return, but considering how young he is, he could potentially be one of the club’s best strikers in a couple of years.

Shamir Mullings, SC, 20 Years Old: Although the forward played well at times this season, more was expected from him. In 24 games, he recorded 9 goals, 3 assists, and 6.87 AR – decent numbers, but not enough for someone who was expected to be Bromley’s best player prior to the beginning of the season. Still, he will be looked upon to be one of its main contributors next season.

Strange there are no players from you in the top5 stats...

It took a penalty shootout to finally give Real Madrid their first Champions League title in twelve years, having fought Finalists Arsenal to a 0-0 draw in regulation time. It was also a fitting end for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose 11 goals and 7.79 AR in the competition, as well as the title win, earned him the Best Player award. While his form in the La Liga was nothing to write home about, he was spectacular more often than not for his club in Europe, fighting and scoring his way to his second Champions League title in his career.

In the Group Stages, the only real surprises came in Group F, where Maccabi Tel Aviv and Olympiakos knocked out favorites Chelsea and Marseille. The Second Round saw some scintillating matchups, with AC Milan defeating Manchester United and Arsenal taking Juventus out on penalties. Barcelona had a tough matchup with Dortmund before finally going through, and Paris Saint-Germain performed a mild upset by defeating defending champions Bayern Munich. The most lopsided matchup of the Second Round was Real Madrid against Napoli, with the new champions delivering a heavy beating on the underachieving Italian side.

The Quarter-Finals saw one sided victories for Manchester City and Real Madrid, who defeated AC Milan and Barcelona, respectively. The all-Spanish matchup was heavily anticipated, but it ended up being anti-climatic was Real Madrid took a 4-1 victory at home and a 2-0 victory at the Nou Camp, aided by a spectacular brace from Cristiano Ronaldo. Arsenal defeating Paris Saint-Germain in an entertaining matchup, while German outfit Shalke again defeated a much weaker opponent in Olympiakos, advancing to the Semi-Finals having defeated the Greeks and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Their run would end in the Semi-Finals, however, as Arsenal would advance to their second ever Champions League Finals in dominant fashion, with a 3-1 home victory and a 3-0 away victory. Real Madrid would have a tougher time against the newly crowned English champions, but a 3-1 victory in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu would seal the deal. The Finals, which was played at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, finally saw Real Madrid return to what they consider their rightful position as king of Europe, winning the Champions League for a record tenth time.

The title moved across town in Manchester this season as Manchester City won it back from Manchester United (3rd), who finished sixteen points behind the new champions. Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini captured the Manager of the Year award while David Silva (26 apps, 5 goals, 10 assists, 7.74 AR) was their best player, leading the league in AR. The deposed former champions had another incredible season from Robin Van Persie (36 apps, 28 goals, 7 assists, 10 PoMs, 7.71 AR), leading the league in goals and PoMs and coming in second to Silva in AR. In what was possibly the finest season of his career, Van Persie captured the league’s Top Goalscorer award for the third straight time and the English Footballer of the Year for the second time. Between them, Arsenal (2nd) finished five points behind the new champions, while Chelsea (4th) just won the last Champions League spot thanks in part to the Players’ Player of the Year Juan Mata (33 apps, 13 goals, 9 assists, 7.68 AR), finishing two points ahead of a hugely surprising West Bromwich (5th) team that was top of the league at one point. Liverpool (6th) and Tottenham (7th) both had disappointing seasons, although the latter had an exceptional season from £26m signing Erick Lamela (33 apps, 13 goals, 5 assists, 7.40 AR), who captured the English Young Player of the Year award. Manchester United’s £24m signing Ever Banega, who came from Valencia, was a bust, playing in only 15 games and recording a 6.73 AR.

Paris Saint-Germain captured the Ligue 1 title for the second straight year in convincing fashion, finishing nine points ahead of Marseille (2nd). Again, it was Zlatan Ibrahamovic (29 apps, 24 goals, 7.51 AR) who won the league’s Top Goalscorer award, just beating out Monaco’s (4th) record £51m signing Falcao (33 apps, 24 goals, 6 PoMs, 7.39 AR), who was named the Ligue 1 Best Player. PSG’s manager Laurent Blanc was the one who captured the Manager of the Season award for the first time in his career, having replaced last year’s winner Carlo Ancelotti as the head coach of the club. Monaco also featured Koke (28 apps, 6 goals, 4 assists, 7.20 AR), who the Ligue 1 Most Promising Player award, and £21m signing Joao Moutinho (31 apps, 3 goals, 10 assists, a league leading 7.60 AR), although that was not enough to see his club finish above surprising Lorient (3rd) in the table. Lyon (7th) disappointingly finished behind 2011 champions Lille (5th) and 2012 champions Montpelier (6th). Paris Saint-Germain’s £23m signing from Liverpool, Lucas Leiva (30 apps, 6 goals, 7 assists, 4.44 TpG, 7.40 AR) contributed heavily to his team’s successful campaign, making the money spent on him cash well spent.

Dortmund recaptured the title from rivals Bayern Munich (2nd) to make it three championships in four years, finishing ten points ahead of 2013 Champions League winners. The performances of Mats Hummels (33 apps, 8 assists, 9 PoMs, 4.94 TpG, 7.66 AR) and Marco Reus (33 apps, 20 goals, 7 assists, 7.29 AR), arguably the two best players in the Bundesliga this season along with Bayern’s Philippe Lahm (32 apps, 6 PoMs, 4.53 TpG, league-leading 7.69 AR), was the primary reason for the club’s continued success. Rounding up the top four spots were Gladbach (3rd) and HSV (4th), with Champions League Semi-Finalists Shalke (12th) and Leverkusen (8th) having especially disappointing seasons. Not surprisingly, Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp won the Manager of the Year award for the third time, while Hummels won the German Footballer of the Year and Reus the Top Goalscorer award.

It did not come easy at the beginning, but Juventus finished the season as clear champions, winning the Serie A title for the second year in a row. There was a ten point difference between them and AC Milan (2nd), thanks primarily to their outstanding defensive line. Players like Andrea Barzagli (29 apps, 4 assists, 4.61 TpG, 7.52 AR), who was named the Serie A Defender of the Year, and Giorgio Chiellini (27 apps, 5.22 TpG, 7.65 AR) were amongst the best players in the league overall. Inter Milan (3rd) and a surprising Parma (4th) rounded up the Champions League spots, with Lazio (5th), Roma (7th), and Fiorentina (8th) all disappointingly missing out. Perhaps the most disappointing team of the season was Napoli (9th), who missed out on Europe all together despite Marek Hamsik (37 apps, 10 goals, 5 assists, 7.60 AR) playing some amazing football and winning the Serie A Footballer of the Year award. The Top Goalscorer award went to Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez (35 apps, 24 goals, 7.14 AR), whom the club signed for £17.75m from Bayern Munich – money well spent. The Manager of the Year, not surprisingly, was Antonio Conte, who won the award for the second straight year.

For the second straight year and for the fifth time in six years, Barcelona were crowned champions of Spain, finishing just one point ahead of their bitter rivals Real Madrid (2nd). Again, the main catalyst for their success was the brilliance of the world’s best player, Lionel Messi (36 apps, 16 goals, 11 PoMs, 8.05 AR). While his goal tally shrunk considerably from the previous season, he still led the league in PoMs and AR, while winning the World Golden Ball and World Footballer of the Year awards as well the Spanish Player of the Year award for the fifth straight time. Real Madrid had an off-season from Cristiano Ronaldo (34 apps, 13 goals, 7.56 AR), but the emergence of 22 year old Isco (31 apps, 7 goals, 9 assists, 7.75 AR) as potentially the league’s best young player helped offset that. Atletico Madrid (3rd) were led by La Liga’s Top Goalscorer Diego Costa (30 apps, 22 goals, 7.43 AR), with Valencia (4th) proving there was a big drop-off after the top three, finishing fourteen points behind Atletico Madrid. Not surprisingly, Gerardo Martino captured the Manager of the Year award for the first time, in his first year in charge of Barcelona.

Strange there are no players from you in the top5 stats...

This happens quite a lot - It must be the strategy I play with. I don't like giving much flexibility to my players, and my midfielders usually have an AR that is in the low 7s. The only players that usually average high ARs are central defenders or strikers in my teams, and it doesn't happen that often.