[FM10] Tranmere Rovers couldn't hit a Barnes door...

[Tranmerefan223]

Decided to start a game with my own club Tranmere, so am going to document the fun I have (or not) on here!

Database Medium, English, Scottish and French leagues loaded Regional divisions step one have been loaded in England to add a bit of depth to the game. Running 10.2.

Club info :

Founded 1884

Stadium: Prenton Park, 16 362 all seater (located on the Wirral, near Birkenhead)

Club lives in the shadow of Merseyside giants Liverpool and Everton, who can't really be described as major rivals although their is certainly no love lost. Rivals include Chester, Oldham, Stockport, Leeds and Scunthorpe. Last season the club missed out on the play offs because of a last minute goal in the last match against Scunthorpe, meaning the Iron took 6th place instead. The surprise sacking of Ronnie Moore followed in June with John Barnes given the job with disastrous consequences. I start on Fm then with the squad John Barnes assembled, a myriad of strikers and only 3 central defenders one who is an 18 year old midfielder... I will post a squad analysis up soon as well as well as the results of my friendlies which i have nearly finished. Feedback is welcomed

[Tranmerefan223]

Luke Daniels - Young keeper on loan from West Brom, did well at Shrewsbury last season

Joe Collister - 17 year old back up, a promising prospect but might be too early to throw him in at the deep end.

Shaleum Logan - Right back on loan from Man city, Football league experience in the league with Stockport and Scunthorpe.

Ian Goodison - 37 Year old talisman. Over 100 caps for Jamaica and longest serving player. Age is perhaps taking its toll now, but is still an essential part of the team. Central Defender.

Marlon Broomes- Experienced 32 year old central defender who is a bit of a journeyman.

Ash Taylor- 18 Year old back up Central defender and Cm with a bright future ahead of him although only 1 first team appearence to date.

Zoumana Bakayogo- Left back released by Millwall last season, frenchman who is a bit of an unknown. Plenty of pace.

Aaron Cresswell- Young left back who featured a lot successfully last season, expected to push on this season.

Chris Shuker - Fleet footed winger can play left or right, struggles with injuries but is essential to creativity of the side.

Sebastian Carole - French winger on short term contract.

John Welsh - Liverpool youth product, defensive midfielder who has flitted from club to club since hos release from the merseyside giants.

Paul Mclaren - Cm signed from Bradford on a free after leaving Tranmere last season. Last spell was impressive, with his creativity in midfield being key to the side. Is 32 now though.

Gareth Edds- Austrailian utility man, reliable and committed, can also play right back.

Charlie Barnett - Young central- right sided mid. Impressive last season and formerly a youth product of Liverpool.

Alan Mahon- Cultured left sided midfielder, a tranmere youth product who has played for Sporting Lisbon and a regular at Championship level with clubs such as Burnley and Wigan.

Ryan Fraughan - Youth product, 18 years old attackind midfielder.

Michael Ricketts - Ex England international, career has taken a nosedive since then and struggles for fitness. May be a useful player as he obviously has class but needs to prove himself again.

Bas Savage - 6,4 and good with ball at his feet. Will be a key man up front and is not short of pace and strength.

Ian Thomas Moore- Experienced striker who has played for West Ham and Burnely as well as England youth caps. Tranmere youth product and captain.

Terry Gornell- Young striker, successful loan spell at Accrington last season. Will be looking to get into first team this season.

Craig Curran - Another young striker, with high workrate and scored a hatrick on his debut. Hasn't had a good goalscoring record since then though, but is certainly an asset.

Kitson Bain- Grenadan international, joins from Grenadan amateur football. Unknown quantity but has pace and a good goalscoring record for Grenada.

A decent squad to work with then it appears. However, it is rather unbalanced with a lot of strikers of questionable quality and a very small defence. It is also a small squad due to financial difficulties and high loan repayments. However hopefully with a number of laon signings throughout the season and frees, it can be bolstered somewhat. The clun expect us to be challenging for the play offs and this may be some task. Clubs such as Leeds, Charlton, Norwich, Southampton, Huddersfield and Milwall are big spenders and bigger clubs so it will not be easy. We have to be competitive and retain a level of consistency but this is easier said than done unfortunately! However reputations are there to be broken so we go into the season with a positive attitude and high aspirations.

[Tranmerefan223]

Given a budget of 20k with wage budget of 24k a week. Room for one or two free transfers and loanees perhaps.

Pre Season:

Tranmere 1 - 0 Tranmere Reserves

Vauxhall 0 - 4 Tranmere

Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 0 - 9 Tranmere

Canvey Island 0 - 4 Tranmere

Tranmere 1-3 Fulham

Basingstoke 0 -1 Tranmere

Tranmere 1 -1 Birmingham.

A very decent pre season, plenty of goals scored. We played a lot of non league sides but I guess pre season is about getting fitness and confidence up. Good showings against Fulham and Birmingham espeically so we can go into the league with tails up.

Signed Ritchie De Laet (Loan for rest of season - Man Utd - CB.) Adds a bit of depth and quality at the back which was a must.

Seamus Coleman (Loan rest of season - Everton- RB) Again adds depth at back and is a talented player to add to the squad.

Michael Mifsud - Free- Forward. Very excited about this, the mosquito has good record in the Championship with Coventry and should be a very good capture for us.

Out: Craig Curran loaned to Mansfield and Terry Gornell to Accrington. A lot of forwards already at club and with addition of Mifsud espeically, oppurtunities would be limited somewhat. A chance for the young due to get some experience and goals at good clubs.

First game of the season is away at Yeovil, will add updates shortly, feedback is very welcomed.

[Tranmerefan223]

Yeovil 0 -3 Tranmere. Goalscorers: Barnett x 2 and Thomas Moore

A great start, looked assured in possession and good at the back. Yeovil did not really pose much of a threat in all honesty although they moved the ball around well at times and we had to be careful. Most of the squad making debuts, Goodison was suspended and Edds also on a suspension. Ricketts came off the bench to make his debut however with Bain an unused sub.

Crewe 2 2 Tranmere- League Cup 1st Round (lost 4-3 on penalties) Mifsud and Ricketts.

A dissapointing performance in all honestly, outplayed for much of the first half. Ricketts came off the bench to net the equaliser before getting sent off. An early exit in a cup competition so got to be annoyed with this, although we were much improved after the break and unlucky to lose on penalties.

Tranmere 2-1 Gillingham. Barnett and Thomas Moore.

A hard fought win and good recovery from loss at league 2 Crewe.

Tranmere 0-1 Mk Dons

We actually deserved at least a draw from this and had the much better second half. De Laet gave away a penalty in the last ten minutes for their goal but an encouraging performance nonetheless. Ideally don't want to lose games at home but we have to get in the habit of grinding out results and taking our chances when they come.