City2000 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 What are we thinking this year, another promotion or will you be happy just staying up and building for promotion? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Well done on getting into the Championship Thanks! I honestly thought we were going to need atleast 2 years in the League One, but not only did we get ourselves promoted, but we won the whole thing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 What are we thinking this year, another promotion or will you be happy just staying up and building for promotion? I have a tiny wage budget, and all the players who are vastly superior to mine (and good for the Championship level) are either not interested or asking for wages I cannot afford. Obviously, the aim is to always try to do the best we can, but any position outside the relegation zone and I will be happy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I doubt you'll struggle that badly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 I doubt you'll struggle that badly. I hope not - I managed to pull off a couple of big signings, but there is still way too little talent to cause much of a comotion this year, I think. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 EUROPEAN U21 CHAMPIONSHIP – PORTUGAL Defending champions Croatia, who had upset Germany in the Euro U21 2013 in Israel, finished bottom of Group A, just after Italy. It was Sweden and Serbia, with the latter topping the group, that qualified to the Semi-Finals. In Group B, Finalists Germany finished 2nd to the hosts Portugal, as they knocked out Switzerland and Belarus. Germany faced Serbia in the Semi-Finals, and it proved to be an exciting affair, with the Germans finally defeating the Serbians 4-3. Braces from both Robert Glockner andKevin Volland helped Germany advance to their second straight Finals in the competition. In the other Semi-Finals, Sweden defeated the hosts Portugal convincingly 4-0, setting up a clash with Germany in the Finals. Although the latter were heavy favorites, for the second year in a row, they were upset by the underdogs as Sweden ran out 2-1 winners. German captain Daniele Sarnelli was MotM, but it was not enough to defeat the Swedish team, led by Oskar Hiljemark, who won the title for the first time in their history. Despite their 2nd place finish, Germany featured the most talent, with all the fore mentioned and Johannes Geis displaying fantastic ability throughout the tournament. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 COPA AMERICA 2015 – BRAZIL Group A The tournament started off with a huge upset, as Ecuador defeated the defending World Champions Brazil at home 2-0. The latter, who had displayed one of the finest performances by a team in World Cup history, were hit with an injury to Hulk, the World Cup Player of the Tournament, in the loss. The USA overcame Peru 1-0 in the other match. It did not get better for the hosts, as they lost their second game to the USA, as well, with Clint Dempsey scoring his 2nd goal of the tournament. Peru took it upon itself to become leaders of the group with a 4-2 victory over Ecuador in a highly entertaining match. Brazil’s last match, against Peru, ended in a 2-1 victory, but even in their win they were disappointing. Ecuador and the USA fought it out to a 1-1 draw, earning the top two spots in the group. Group B Mexico, who were disappointing a year ago in the World Cup, defeated Uruguay 2-1 in Matchday One, and Chile and Colombia fought it out to a 2-2 draw. The former had lost to the Italians in the World Cup Quarter-Finals, and were hoping to reach at least that stage during this tournament. The defending champions, Uruguay, lost their second game against Colombia 1-0, leaving them with 0 points from their first 2 matches. Chile, who were favored to top the group, again drew 2-2, this time against the Mexicans. They would finally win, however, defeating Uruguay 2-1, thanks a Juan Manuel Vargas brace, as the defending the champions finished with a woeful 0 points. Falcao’s 2 goals held Mexico to a 2-2 draw with Colombia, and both teams finished even on 5 points with Chile. Group C Sergio Aguero scored a brace as helped Argentina defeat World Cup 2014 surprise team Venezuela 3-1, and Paraguay, who were very disappointing in their World Cup campaign, defeated Bolivia 3-1 thanks to a Lucas Barrios brace. Matchday Two in Group C was memorable – Argentina defeated Bolivia 7-0, with Carlos Tevez scoring a remarkable 4 goals, while Salomon Rondon scored a hat-trick for Venezuela as they defeated Paraguay 5-0. Argentina repeated their magnificent feat with another 7-0 thrashing on Matchday Three, this time against hapless Paraguay. Lionel Messi hit 4 goals and Aguero contributed another brace to help seal the sensational victory for the favorites. Venezuela and Bolivia drew 1-1, sending Argentina to the top and Venezuala in 2nd place. Quarter-Finals USA vs. Colombia Morumbi, Sao Paolo: The Americans came into the match having topped Group A and also having defeated World Champions, and hosts, Brazil. However, all of that meant naught as the Colombians came out with full guns blazing, and opened up the scoring in the 4th minute through Falcao (24 Aps, 12 Gls in 14/15). The Athletico Madrid striker doubled the Colombians lead in the 57th minute, earning a brace and scoring his 5th goal in the tournament. The Americans did not put up much of a fight, and had Michael Bradley sent off late in the first half. Colombia: 2 (Falcao) – Falcao (2 Goals, 8.8) USA: 0 Argentina vs. Peru Estadio Castelao, Sao Luis: After scoring a total of 17 goals in the group stages, including two 7-0 victories, Argentina were easily the favorites going into the knockout stages to win it all. They did not disappoint against a meek Peruvian side, and although they only managed to score 2 goals, this was a game they dominated. Sergio Aguero (36 Aps, 17 Gls, 11 Asts in 14/15) scored the first, bringing his tally up to 6 goals in the tournament, and Angel Di Maria (26 Aps, 3 Gls, 7.33 in 14/15) scored the second. The game was not all good news for Argentina, however – Carlos Tevez (35 Aps, 25 Gls in 14/15) was ruled out of the rest of the tournament after he fractured his arm. He had scored 5 goals so far in the tournament, and Argentina were sure to miss him. Argentina: 2 (Aguero, Di Maria) – Nicolas Otamendi, FC Porto (8.1) Peru: 0 Venezuela vs. Mexico Maracana, Rio de Janeiro: This was a high scoring affair, and an entertaining one at that. Salomon Rondon (26 Aps, 12 Gls), Tottenham’s striker, scored a phenomenal hat-trick to bring his tally in the tournament to 7 goals. It was not enough, however, to defeat the Mexicans, who scored 4 of their own goals from Carlos Vela (29 Aps, 12 Gls for At. Madrid), Andres Guardado (Lyonnais), Edgar Pacheco (37 Aps, 7 Gls for Tigres), and Israel Jimenez. Mexico played a much better game, but Rondon would not let Venezuela die, but finally, it was the Mexicans who captured a place in the Semi-Finals. Mexico: 4 (Vela, Guardado, Pacheco, Jimenez) Venezuela: 3(Rondon (3) ) – Salomon Rondon, Tottenham (3 Goals, 9.4) Ecuador vs. Chile Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasilia: The match of the tournament thus far, and perhaps the performance of the tournament from Carlos Villanueva (20 Aps, 5 Gls, 6 Asts), Flamengo’s star, who scored 3 goals and distributed 2 assists in a sensational showing for the Chilean side. Alexis Sanchez (32 Aps, 14 Gls for Barcelona) scored the first 2 goals of the game before Christian Benitez (31 Aps, 17 Gls for America) scored a brace. In between, Villanueva tore the Ecuadorians apart, and Chile continued to impress on the international stage as they advanced to the Semi-Finals of the tournament. Chile: 5 (Villanueva (3), Sanchez (2) ) – Carlos Villanueva, Flamengo (3 Goals, 2 Assists, 9.7) Euador: 3 (Benitez (2), Caicedo) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK22 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Well done on another promotion. Bromley are heading towards the big time now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Well done on another promotion. Bromley are heading towards the big time now Not quite! But we're getting there - the most important thing right now is to get a respectable position in the Championship! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 1, 2011 Author Share Posted December 1, 2011 COPA AMERICA 2015 – BRAZIL Finals Colombia vs. Chile Maracana, Rio de Janiero: Colombia came into this match having beaten favorites Argentina 4-1, one of the most famous results in the history of the nation. Chile were one of the surprise teams at the World Cup a year ago, losing to Italy in the Quarter-Finals, but they had carried that form over to the Copa America 2015, and were viewed as slight favorites in this match. It was the Colombians who won, however, coming out victorious 3-1 thanks to Anderlecht striker Carlos Carbonero (33 Aps, 14 Gls in 14/15) and a 7th goal from the star of the Colombian team, Falcao. The win was only the second time Colombia had captured the Copa America title (the first being in 2001), denying Chile the chance to capture their first ever title. The impressive Colombian team, who had failed to qualify for World Cup 2014, scored 13 goals and conceded 6 goals in their 6 appearances. Colombia: 3 (Carbonero (2), Falcao) – Carlos Carbonero (2 Goals, 1 Assist, 8.8) Chile: 1 (Saavedra) Awards BEST PLAYER: Lionel Messi, Argentina (6 Aps, 9 Goals, 5 Assists, 8.73) – Despite their disappointing result against Colombia, Argentina were the most impressive team in the tournament, and their captain Messi was at the head of that. He scored a hat-trick in the 3rd Place match to bring his total to 9 goals scored, ending as Top Goalscorer of the tournament. BEST PLAYER Runner-Up: Sergio Aguero, Argentina (6 Aps, 8 Goals, 2 Assists, 9.00) – Outstanding throughout Argentina’s run, he was beaten by Messi for the Top Goalscorer award in their final match against Mexico for 3rd Place. BEST GOALKEEPER: David Ospina, Colombia (6 Aps, 6 Goals Conceded, 7.08) – The 26 year old OGC Nice GK was consistent throughout the tournament, and gave Colombia the solidity in between the posts the helped guide them to their 2nd ever Copa America title. BEST YOUNG PLAYER: Erick Torres, Mexico (6 Aps, 1 Goal, 4 Assists, 7.05) – The 22 year old Olympiakos striker, who scored 12 league goals in 25 appearances as his club won the Greek league title in 2014/15, played in the middle of the pitch for his national team as they advanced all the way to the Semi-Finals. His 4 assists led his team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 1, 2011 Author Share Posted December 1, 2011 ASIAN CUP 2015 - AUSTRALIA MVP: Eman Mobali (Persepolis) - Iran (5 Aps, 4 Goals) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
City2000 Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Amazing to see Brazil finish bottom of that group on home soil no less! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 1, 2011 Author Share Posted December 1, 2011 Amazing to see Brazil finish bottom of that group on home soil no less! Whats even more amazing is that this is just one year removed from their amazing World Cup run - it was pretty much the same team without Hulk (he had an injury during their first game.) FM - drives you crazy sometimes, doesnt it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArsenalMetro Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Hong Kong, the Phillippines, and Palestine all in the Asian Cup!? Wow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 EUROPEAN U19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2015 – RUSSIA Europe’s finest young talents were on display in Russia for the Euro U19 2015, which was won by a team that was stacked with future stars. France captured the Euro U19 title for the 8th time, on the back of the best player at the tournament, Lyonnais striker Joffrey Berthet, and Monaco’s young star Jaud Katumbi Chapwe. The former led the tournament in goals scored with 6 goals, while the latter topped the tournament’s assists chart with 5 assists, which was a new record. The French defeated the defending champions Romania in the Semi-Finals before beating the hosts 3-1 in the Finals of the tournament. Russia had defeated Germany 3-0 in the Semi-Finals before advancing. The second leading scorer in the tournament was Germany’s Hakan Altin. England, who were knocked out in the Group Stages, featured the talents of Barry Olayinka, while Italy were led by Moussa Kone. WINNER: France (3-1 vs. Russia in the Finals) BEST PLAYER: Joffrey Berthet – Set 2 records; most goals scored and highest average rating. Was outstanding throughout the tournament, scoring 6 goals in 5 appearances for the French. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 U20 WORLD CUP 2015 – FRANCE GROUP STAGES Defending champions Brazil set off determined to win a record 7th straight title and become the only team in the history of the competition to win it 3 times in a row, and they got off to a good start, winning all their matches in Group A. Ecuador, who were Semi-Finalists at the U20 World Cup 2013 in Turkey, topped Group B ahead of Holland. In Group C, the Czech Republic and Mexico knocked out the 2013 beaten Finalists, and hosts of this year’s edition, France, despite the fantastic peformances of Eric Coulibaly. In Group D, Iran won all their matches and went ahead of Uruguay and the Ukraine. Group E saw 2013 Quarter-Finalists South Africa top the group ahead of fellow Africans (and also 2013 Quarter-Finalists) Ivory Coast. Finally, in Group F, Chile and Canada qualified to the Second Round. SECOND ROUND Chile faced off against underdogs New Zealand, but needed extra-time to finally beat them 3-1 in the first match of the Second Round. Slovakia surprised their rivals and neighbors the Czech Republic by beating them 2-1, while in another match pitting bitter rivals against one another, the USA overcame Iran, also by the scoreline of 2-1. South Africa returned to the Quarter-Finals after dismantling the Ukraine 4-0, with Tshepo Tshabalala scoring a brace to lead them. The defending champions faced off against their southern neighbors Uruguay, and came out 3-2 winners in a fantastic game, while Ecuador continued to show they were a force at this level, defeating Romania 2-1. Holland needed penalties to defeat Canada, and in the last match of the Second Round, Ivory Coast surprised Mexico by beating them 2-1. QUARTER-FINALS South Africa faced off against the USA in the first match of the Quarter-Finals, and advanced to the Finals for the first time in their history, defeating the North Americans 3-1, with Castro Mncube scoring the brace for the Africans this time around. Chile advanced to the Semi-Finals at the expense of surprise team Slovakia, but only after being taken to penalties after a 1-1 draw. Holland overcame Ivory Coast 1-0 in a very tight affair, while Brazil defeated Ecuador 3-2, thanks to a brace from rising star Xaropinho. SEMI-FINALS & FINALS Chile met South Africa in the Semi-Finals as both teams looked to advance to the Finals of the competition for the first time in their history, and it was the South Americans who would celebrate after defeating South Africa 2-1 in extra time. The Chilean captain, Cristian Perez, scored the final goal of the game, a fitting reward for one of the best performers at the tournament. In the other Semi-Final matchup, the champions beat Holland a convincing 3-0, with Ferreira taking the MotM and leading them to the Finals against Chile. Brazil would go up against its South American counterpart in the Finals, and despite their best efforts, they could not get the job done against a resilient Chilean team in regulation time. They did, however, finish them off in extra-time, when Cabral scored their second goal of the game (Xaropinho scored the first) and gave the victory to the defending champions. Brazil became a record 7 time champions of the competition, and also became the first team to successfully defend the title 3 times a row. The champions owed much of their success to their leading defender, Jorginho, as it did to its awesome strike force. AWARDS BEST PLAYER: Xaropinho (7 Aps, 7 Goals, 2 Assists, 8.17) – The 6’7 striker continued his domination of every youth tournament he had been involved in, and did it on the back of his £1.7 million move to AC Milan. He led the Brazilian team, and in fact the entire tournament, in goals scored, and was the biggest reason they were able to defend their title. BEST GOALKEEPER: Tricio (5 Aps, 5 Conceded, 1 Clean Sheet) – This talented 17 year old GK kept the goal safe for the champions, and did so with considerable style. Already seeing a lot of football on loan to Tupi, Tricio is one of the hottest prospects between the posts in the world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Hong Kong, the Phillippines, and Palestine all in the Asian Cup!? Wow. Yes, but even more surprising was defending champions Japan not making it out of the Group Stages! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 That Xarophino looks very tasty! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 That Xarophino looks very tasty! Like I said before, I have never been more intrigued by a player! We'll see how he fares in AC Milan - he's still so young! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
City2000 Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Like I said before, I have never been more intrigued by a player! We'll see how he fares in AC Milan - he's still so young! Yes, a real bargain buy for Milan aswell. Speaking of Milan, how are they looking on your save? because on mine they have slipped somewhat, don't think they have been involved in the Champions League for a little while now and i've noticed them buying some pretty average overpriced players of late. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Yes, a real bargain buy for Milan aswell.Speaking of Milan, how are they looking on your save? because on mine they have slipped somewhat, don't think they have been involved in the Champions League for a little while now and i've noticed them buying some pretty average overpriced players of late. They've slipped in my save as well, but thanks for asking that question. In response to your question, please see below for the first ever Team Profile! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 AC MILAN – Team Profile Overview The giants of Italian football have seen their fortunes abandon them since winning the Serie A in 2011, gradually slipping all the way down to 12th place in 2014/2015. They were Runners-Up in 2012, 3rd Place in 2013, dropped down to 6th place in 2014, before slumping to their worst finish in the Serie A since 1982. In the Champions Cup, they have not participated since 2013/14, where they lost to eventual champions Real Madrid in the Semi-Finals. Before that, in 2012/13, they were knocked out by Ajax Amsterdam in the Second Round. In 2011/12, they did not make out of the Group Stages of the Champions Cup, but eventually won the Euro Cup against Lyonnais in Bucharest, Romania. Their turn of fortunes seemed to come with the resignation of manager Massimiliano Allegri in January 2013, a few months after they won the Euro Cup and finished 2nd in the Serie A. His replacement, club hero Frank Rijkaard was hired a few days afterwards, but after leading the club to 6th place, and beginning the 2014/15 on a sour note, he was finally sacked in November 2014. The current manager, Francesco Guidolin, was hired from Udinese to replace the Dutchman. Guidolin was the mastermind behind Udinese’s shocking Serie A title in 2011, when they beat AC Milan to win the championship for the first time in their history. The club finished 12th place under Guidolin, but he will now have a full season to show the AC Milan board that he is the right man for the job. Transfers Over the past few years, they’ve had some big signings – in 2012/13, they brought in Italian defender Matias Silvestre for £10.5 million, and he was worth the amount paid for him, but they were certainly more active in 2013/14, when they acquired Jesus Navas for £19.5 million, Etienne Capoue for £18.25 million, and, of course, David Corrigan from Bromley for £550k. Navas has barely played for the club since his acquisition, and is currently languishing in the reserves team, while Capoue was subsequently sold to Chelsea for £12 million after two solid seasons for the club. Corrigan has yet to make a league appearance for them. This season and last, they have invested in mostly free transfers, cheap youngsters (none of which seem to have any decent potential), and rotation squad players that have not really contributed anything significant for the team, with the exception of Xaropinho. They also have not had any big sales of note, save for Capoue being sold to Chelsea for about half of what he should be worth, considering he was AC Milan’s Player of the Year for 2014 and 2015. Players and Future Prospects The current first team is aging, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, perhaps their best player over the past few seasons, having turned 33 years old, and Robinho and Thiago Silva, both important first team players, also passing the 30 year old threshold. Matias Silvestre is also 30 years old, and their starting GK, Marco Amelia, is now 33 years old. There is hope for the future, however, because the club has managed to assemble a few bright prospects, the brightest of which is the new leader of the team, Pato. The Brazilian striker is now 26 years old, and although the past two seasons have been extremely difficult for him, his talent in unquestionable. It is also two other Brazilians whom AC Milan will have their hopes pinned on – the 6’7 striker Xaropinho and 18 year old new signing Davi, who signed from Atletico Mineiro for £925k in the summer. The youngster most ready to contribute, however, will be £4.2 million signing Jason Cijntje, a 20 year old defender signed from PSV Eindhoven. In his two loan spells with Feyenoord and German club Gladbach, he played a lot of minutes but failed to impress, but will be looked upon to man the defense for AC Milan. The likes of Ignacio Abate, Kevin Prince Boateng, and Emiliano Insua (who was acquired for £9.75 million from Valencia last year) will be expected to contribute, as well. The media has them predicted to finish 6th place, and if their youngsters can show some ability and skill on the pitch, that could be a possibility for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEW 2014/2015 Football of the Year: Edison Cavani, Tottenham (38 Aps, 23 Goals, 7 Assists, 7.69) Player’s Player of the Year: Carlos Tevez, Manchester City (34 Aps, 25 Goals, 7 Assists, 7.65) Young Player of the Year: James McCarthy, Aston Villa (32 Aps, 4 Goals, 7 Assists, 7.28) Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Fernando Muslera, Tottenham (30 Aps, 25 Conceded, 14 Clean Sheets) Manager of the Year: Andre Villas-Boas, Arsenal (Champions) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 SERIE A REVIEW 2014/2015 Footballer of the Year: Douglas, Juventus (30 Aps, 1 Goal, 7.35) Foreign Player of the Year: Douglas, Juventus (30 Aps, 1 Goal, 7.35) Italian Player of the Year: Andrea Bertolacci, Roma (28 Aps, 5 Goals, 7.32) Fans’ Player of the Year: Douglas, Juventus (30 Aps, 1 Goal, 7.35) Goalkeeper of the Year: Maarten Stekelenburg, Roma (31 Aps, 21 Conceded, 7.25) Defender of the Year: Douglas, Juventus (30 Aps, 1 Goal, 7.35) Young Player of the Year: Andrea Bertolacci, Roma (28 Aps, 5 Goals, 7.32)] Manager of the Year: Gianluca Atzori, Sampdoria (3rd in 2014/15) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 SPANISH LA LIGA REVIEW 2014/2015 Footballer of the Year: Lionel Messi (26 Aps, 16 Goals, 6 Assist, 8.16) Goalkeeper of the Year: Victor Valdes, Barcelona (26 Aps, 17 Conceded, 14 Clean Sheets, 7.30) Manager of the Year: Alfredo, Granada (10th in 2014/15) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Bromley 2015/2016 Preview Overview For the fourth straight year, we managed to get an automatic promotion into the league above us, starting with the Blue Square South in 2011/12 to topping the npower League One in 2014/15. The only time we failed to win the title was in 2013/14, when we finished 3rd in the npower League Two, but it was a success nonetheless because each year (except for 2011/12) the media predicted us to finish dead last, but instead we managed the opposite. The catalyst for our success has been our captain Elliot Law, who has become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and easily its best player ever. He had just graduated from the Bromley youth academy when I took over the club, and in the past four years, he has managed to lead the club from success to success. He replaced Scot Thompson as captain at the beginning of the 2014/15 season, after Thompson had left the club, but he had served as his vice-captain previously. With just one league down from the Premier League, that is squarely where our eyes are focused, but we have a major obstacle at hand before that: the Championship. The talent here is spades better than the npower League One, and to hope for any kind of success, whether its promotion or even just a playoff spot, would be aiming unrealistically high this season. What I do not want, however, is to find myself bogged down in a relegation battle – I want us to be safe and developing towards the future. Our salary per annum is the lowest in the league by more than one million pounds, at £2.41 million – the second lowest is Rotherham, and they have salary spending of £3.63 million. By contrast, the top spenders are Blackburn, who have salary spending of £18.98 million! In other words, we simply cannot afford the type of talent that they can. The past four years has not seen the type of development to our facilities as one would have hoped – the stadium, Hayes Lane, has been expanded twice, but only because of league regulations. After the latest expansion, the capacity will be a dismal 7,500, even though we constantly sell out our home games. The pitch condition is poor, and there is not enough funding to relay it. The club invested in its youth facilities in 2013, but since then there has been no further investment. The board cannot be blamed, as the finances have lingered around the breakeven mark for the past couple of years, thanks to my heavy transfer spending (almost £1 million 2014 and £675k in 2015), so there is not much room to maneuver. In any case, I am confident that we can survive the season without getting too close to dropping into the relegation zone. It will be very important to have a positive start, and despite the difficulty of attracting decent talent thanks to my wage limits, we have managed to scoop up a couple of players that will definitely help at this level. Some of our current crop also continue to develop rather well, and have the talent to contribute significantly, as well. Transfers Our most important two signings were both done with our defense in mind – Kevin Long and Nikolay Nakov. The latter was the most expensive signing in the history of the club, but I believe his contributions will justify his large free. There is no question about Long’s ability, and both will be partners in the center of the defense. To the left of them will be Matthew Morgan – the youngster has enough talent to start and to have picked him up on Free Transfer is something of a bargain. In the middle of the pitch, the most important signing was Roger. The Polish midfielder will be a starter on the left wing, and will rotate to the middle of the pitch when necessary. His experience, and technical ability, should play a big part in our campaign this season. David Stephen and Raphel Diesler were signed with the future in mind, both coming very cheaply. Up front, we managed to get some heavy reinforcements, signing two players who will contribute right away. Czech striker Patrick Twardzik will start the season alongside Elliot Law as the team’s first choices up front, while Lewis Jones will be on the bench most games, but should see lots of substitute appearances. As for the Transfers Out, the only one of note was Lucas Correa. He had a decent season for us last year, scoring 4 goals and dishing out 8 assists, but he turns 32 years old soon and was on a £2,500 salary, which was too much for a player who was probably not going to be named on the team sheet most games. We got £40k for him, which was a decent price, I thought. Players GOALKEEPERS Ben Amos – Stats: Signed towards the end of the 2013/14 season, this rapidly improving 25 year old keeper has played a crucial role in our rapid rise to the Championship league. Andy Dixon – Stats: Still very young, the 19 year old was once the starting GK of the squad before Amos was signed. Has potential to be a decent GK at this level, but needs to improve his mental game. DEFENDERS DL : Matthew Morgan – Stats: A Free Transfer pickup, the 18 year old is already more talented at the left back position than anyone on the roster. Has good pace, but will be expected to defend his flank with vigor. DC : Kevin Long – Stats: Came during the summer for £55k, but on ability alone, he is already the finest central defender on the squad. Formerly with Rochdale, the 25 year old Irishman is very good in the air and a good tackler. DC : Nikolay Nakov – Stats: The club’s most expensive signing of all-time, the 19 year old Bulgarian cost Bromley £625k to acquire from Wrexham, who had bought him on Free Transfer from Fair Play Varna. Was unimpressive for his former club last campaign, but he oozes potential and will be thrown directly into the starting lineup. He is equally comfortable playing in the midfield. DR : Steven Saunders – Stats: Bought last season for £90k from Bradford, the 24 year old Scotsman had an inconsistent campaign that saw him average only 6.69 AR. He will be expected to do better at a higher level this season, as he is already considered the weak link in the back four. S : Tom Parkes – Stats: He came to Bromley in 2013 on Free Transfer, and has performed admirably as a central defender the past two seasons, especially last year, scoring 6 goals and averaging 7.12 AR. This year, he will be the 23 year old will be the first name on the bench as Nakov and Long have been brought in, but will definitely see lots of playing time. S : Aaron Martin – Stats: Signed on Free Transfer last season after being let go by Charlton, the 25 year old central defender appeared 7 times for Bromley and averaged 5.25 TpG, as well as 7.30 AR, during those appearances. Initially slotted as a starter before the acquisitions of the preseason, he will be relied upon to fill the void when injuries come up, but is still definitely part of the rotation. S : Jaakko Alatalo – Stats: The 21 year old Finnish central defender was one of Bromley’s most impressive players in the 2014/15 campaign. He partnered with Parkes in the center of the defense and was a crucial part of the team that won the npower League One. Given all the new signings this year, he will see a lot less playing time. He came to the club on Free Transfer in 2013, and has been a starter for the past 2 years. S : Ben Gibson – Stats: The 22 year old left back was the starter at that position in 2014/15 after coming in as a Free Transfer signing, and will look to split time there with new signing Matthew Morgan this year. MIDFIELDERS ML : Roger – Stats: The 33 year old Polish midfielder was a Free Transfer signing during the summer, and although it is not his favored position, he will be the starter down the left wing, at least to start the season off. What he lacks in pace he makes up for in technical ability and creativity. MC : Porvaldur Magnusson – Stats: Perhaps the most talented player at the club, the 19 year old midfielder of Icelandic origin played for the England U19 team this summer and has declared for his adopted country. He came for £525k at the beginning of the 2014/15 season from Crewe, and has not looked back since. Has great defensive ability, which makes him just as comfortable playing as a central defender, but also has a knack for goals, scoring 8 of them in the npower League One last season. Development: December 2014 – August 2015 MC : Ahmad Benali – Stats: The 23 year old Libyan came on Free Transfer in 2013, and has shown remarkable improvements the past 2 years in terms of ability. He has been a starter in the middle of the pitch since signing, and he will again be expected to partner Magnusson this campaign. MR : Aaron Mooy – Stats: There was heavy backlash from the Bromley supporters when he was signed for £250k from Exeter and deemed a waste of money, but the 24 year old Australian more than silenced those voices. He led the team with 12 assists in the league (14 overall), and contributed 6 league goals, as well. His speed and pace are his primary weapon, and he will be relied again to provide for the strikers up front. S : Ebby Harwood – Stats: One of only 3 players in the first team to be taken from the Bromley youth system, he was promoted just a few months ago. The 16 year old left winger will provide relief for the aging legs of Roger. He has potential, but it has yet to be seen if that potential will develop into anything concrete. S : David Stephen – Stats: A new signing, the 17 year old cost Bromley £7k from Scottish club Forfar. He will immediately be thrown into the rotation due to lack of quality in the middle of the park behind the starters. S : Glen Baker – Stats: The 18 year old was, for most of the season, the starting left winger for the club, and he did an adequate job down the left flank. However, since signing for the club for £5k two seasons ago, he has shown very little in improvement, and has already been replaced in the pecking order by Harwood. FORWARDS F : Elliot Law – Stats: The most prolific and famous Bromley player of all-time, the 21 year old is also the captain of the squad. Has carried the team from the Blue Square South all the way up to the Championship, and will again be a starter this year, if only by default. There are thoughts that his talents are subpar in comparison with the rest of the division, but again, he will have his chance to prove he is up to the task. He is Bromley’s all-time leading scorer with 87 league goals. F : Patrick Twardzik – Stats: The 22 year old Czech is a Free Transfer signing from Celtic, and will be expected to contribute immediately. He scored 21 league goals while on loan at Rochdale two seasons ago, so he does have the ability to find the net. S : Michael Higdon – Stats: Bromley’s second leading scorer last campaign with 16 league goals, the 32 year old will be coming off the bench this season. Age has begun to catch up to him, and although he still has the technical talent, his speed is rapidly deserting him. S : Lewis Jones – Stats: The 18 year old striker is a product of the Chelsea youth system, and was snapped on Free Transfer after the club let him go. He is fantastic in the air, but he is still young and developing. Will play the role of 4th choice striker in 2015/16. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Just scooped up an extra striker Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Pretty sure I had that Czech striker Twardzik on my squad in FM11. Great player! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share Posted December 2, 2011 Ballack Announced as New Druisburg Manager September 25th, 2015 - Former German captain and superstar Michael Ballack was named the new manager of Bundesliga side Druisburg today, resigning from his old position as a youth coach at Bayern Munich to take over his first managerial role. Ballack has had a storied playing career, one that started with Chemnitz and then took him to Kaiserslautern, Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea. He won the Bundesliga in 1998 with Kaiserslautern, and won it again 3 times with Bayern Munich in 2003, 2005, and 2006. He left to Chelsea in 2006, and was part of the Chelsea team that fell to Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League Finals. he lifted the Premier League title with them in 2010, before moving back to Leverkusen and ending his playing career with them. He was also part of the German national team that reached the Finals of the World Cup in 2002, and came in 3rd place in 2006 on home soil. Ballack was named German Footballer of the Year 3 times in his career, in 2002, 2003, and 2005. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 Pretty sure I had that Czech striker Twardzik on my squad in FM11. Great player! He's gotten himself, and the club, off to a great start so far in the Championship Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 MAJOR SUMMER TRANSFERS: 2015/2016 July 5th, 2015: The first big transfer of the season was Sebastian Rudy (30 Aps, 1 Goal, 11 Assists), who was bought by German champions Dortmund for £12.75 million from Hoffenheim. The 25 year old German midfielder had spent the last four seasons at his club after moving to them from Stuttgart in 2011 for £3.4 million. July 7th, 2015: Juventus shelled out £13 million for Bordeaux left back Benoit Tremoulinas (31 Aps, 2 Gls, 14 Asts, 7.39) to help shore out its defense. The 29 year old Frenchman had a career year in 2014/15, even though Bordeaux only finished 9th place in the Ligue 1. He led the French league in assists last year, and was Bordeaux’s Player of the Year the last two years. July 8th, 2015: Sevilla sold Spanish right back Coke (22 Aps, 1 Goal, 6 Asts, 7.10) for £14.25 million to former Italian champions Roma. The uncapped 28 year old had been at Sevilla for four years, as he was bought for £1.5 million in 2011 from Rayo. July 17th, 2015: After spending nine years at Chelsea, John Obi Mikel (15 Aps, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 7.46) was sold to Benfica for £12.75 million. The 28 year old Nigerian had been an integral part of the Chelsea set up since joining them in 2006, winning the Premier League in 2010 and 2014. He was also part of the team that lost to Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League Finals. He named the African Midfielder of the Year in 2011, and was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2012. Benfica, who came in 3rd in the Portuguese League in 2014/15, will pay Obi Mikel £69k a week. August 5th, 2015: Kyle Walker (30 Aps, 2 Gls, 2 Asts, 7.00) was acquired by Liverpool from Fulham for £16.75 million. The 25 year old right back, who has been capped by England 12 times, was initially bought from Tottenham in 2013 for £9.75 million, where he past of the team led by Harry Redknapp that won the Premier League in 2012. August 6th, 2015: Manchester United acquired Northern Ireland right back Lee Hodson (35 Aps, 2 Gls, 3 Asts, 6.91) from Stoke for £17.25 million. The initial reaction to the sale was surprise, as no one would have guessed Hodson was worth that much. The 23 year old, who has been capped 38 times by Northern Ireland, was both his country and his club’s Player of the Year in 2014/15. August 9th, 2015: The biggest transfer of the summer was done by, predictably, Manchester City, as they acquired the winner of the Best Player award at the World Cup 2014, Hulk (28 Aps, 6 Gls, 4 Asts, 7.16). They bought the 29 year old Brazilian for £31.5 million from Chelsea, where a lot of people thought he was not being used properly by their former manager Tony Pulis. The sale was perhaps a representation of new manager Huub Stevens vision for the former Premier League champions. Manchester City manager Alan Shearer was credited with revitalizing Carlos Tevez’s career, and suggestions were that he would look to do the same with Hulk. The player will be paid a mind-numbing £189k a week by his new club. August 16th, 2015: Alan Dzagoev (25 Aps, 8 Gls, 9 Asts, 7.77) was bought by Barcelona for £22 million from CSKA Moscow to help shore up their midfield. Given that legend Xavi is 35 years old and Iniesta is now 31 years old, the club manager, Roberto Mancini, felt the need to bring in fresh talent to bolster the squad’s midfield. The 25 year old Russian, who has been capped 28 times, has won the Russian League three times (2012, 2013, 2015), and was part of the CSKA Moscow team that made its famous run to the Champions League Finals in 2013, losing, incidentally, to Barcelona. In 2014/15, he won the Russian League Player of the Year, was named in the Russian League’s Team of the Year, and was CSKA Moscow’s Player of the Year. August 19th, 2015: Real Madrid signed Brazilian defender Manoel (32 Aps, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 4.17 TpG, 6.95) for £15.25 million from Roma. The 25 year old has spent three years with the Italian club, who bought him from Brazilian outfit Atletico Paranaense for £7.75 million. Manoel, who has won 5 caps for his country, was part of the Roma team that captured the Serie A title in 2014. August 22nd, 2015: Manchester City’s second big signing of the summer was Chilean right back Mauricio Isla (29 Aps, 6 Assists, 7.30), who came for £21.5 million from rivals Tottenham. His former club had signed him from Udinese in 2011 for £13 million, and he was part of the team that won the Premier League in 2012. He was one of the leaders of the Chilean team that made it to the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup 2014, and that made it to the Finals of the Copa America 2015, where he was named in the 2015 Copa America Dream Team. The 27 year old has been capped by Chile 64 times. August 31st, 2015: Arsenal waited till the last day to pull off their biggest summer transfer, getting Abel Hernandez (31 Aps, 16 Gls, 7.10) from Palermo for £21.5 million. The 25 year old Uruguayan, who has been capped 25 times by his country and scored 12 goals for it, won the Copa America with Uruguay in 2011. He was tied with Khouma Babacar for as Top Goalscorer in the Serie A in 2014/15, having scored 16 goals. August 31st, 2015: Manchester City finished up their transfer signings on the last day of the window, grabbing Arturo Vidal (26 Aps, 1 Goal, 4 Asts, 7.29) from Juventus for £14.25 million. The 28 year old Chilean midfielder was part of the Chile team that advanced to the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup in 2014 and made it to the Finals of the Copa America 2015. He has been capped 74 times by his country, scoring 8 goals. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Looks a decent side for that level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 Looks a decent side for that level. We've had a decent start - as I said, as long as we are safe, then I'm happy. I'll have the first couple of months up soon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 Bromley October Update 2015/2016 Overview As I stated before, I would be happy if we stayed out of the relegation battle, and our start to the season has been positive, despite losing 3 of our last 4 in the Championship in late September. We are safely placed in 13th, and we’ve had our defense and some Ben Amos to thank for that. The offense has found goals, but they have struggled against more talented teams. Patrick Twardzik has had a good start to his Bromley career, and currently leads our goalscoring charts. His partner and club captain, Elliot Law, however, has not scored in any of his 5 league appearances, and seems to be having problems with the Championship caliber defenses. The League Cup exit was a disappointment – I was hoping we would reach further than the Second Round, but Reading were more than a match for us. Going forward, however, we can look at less matches given we have 46 league games to contend with, meaning more rest for the players. I’m a bit worried about our late September form – hopefully it was due to tough matchups (Blackburn and Norwich have the two highest payrolls in the league, at around £18 million each, compared to our £2.5 million) and not to a loss of form. In October, we have some tough matchups against a resilient Rotherham side and a far bigger Blackpool side. By the time we get to Nottingham Fores and Wigan, who are both struggling, I hope to have at least gotten 3 points – if I can get around 6-7 points from those 4 matches, I will be one happy camper! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 I didnt have luck signing him in the summer, but I definitely want him to start alongside Magnusson. Wont give up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 I thought they were putting some extra seats in the stadium - instead they've reduced Hayes Lane to 5,000 maximum capacity. The only thing they've done is made it all-seater. Im disappointed, to say the least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Just scooped up an extra striker Great player. ALWAYS scored against me on FM11. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 He's had a decent start to his Bromley career Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Bromley November Update 2015/2016 Overview We lost a place during the month of October, dropping down to 14th place. It was not a great month, as we had some tough losses, but we ended it on a positive, drawing with a superior Leeds team away from home. In the end, we managed to gain 7 points during the month, which was the target, but we did not play impressively, save for our victory against Blackpool. We brought in Nadir Bendahmane to help bolster the frontline, but we are still having difficulties scoring against tougher opponents. I have offered a contract to Wayne Routledge, but he has not yet accepted. If he does join, he will provide relief down the right wing, as we currently don’t have anyone by Aaron Mooy who is decent enough to be given playing time at that position. Raphael Diesler, the young German midfielder that I signed on Free Transfer, complained about having trouble adapting to England, so he was given a thirty day leave of absence. There is simply no room for discontent in the locker room. Our player of the month is the same player who’s been keeping us in tight games all season long; GK Ben Amos. He’s been simply fantastic – his 7.21 AR leads the npower Championship at his position. If he continues to improve at the rate he is currently on, and continues playing like this, there is no doubt in my mind he could serve as our starting GK if we ever make it to the Premier League. We’ve got five games coming up in November, but they include three straight away games that will be tough. I’m especially not looking forward to going to Burnley and Birmingham, and again, I will be happy if we can come away with 6-7 points from these five matches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 New signing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Looks pretty good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Looks pretty good. In terms of ability, he might be the best of the bunch - but I have an influx of strikers now, I will have to get rid of some in the January window. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverbird93 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Nice signing he looks good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Bromley November Update 2015/2016 Overview November started well for us with a win at home against Crystal Palace, and we managed to pull off one of the best wins I’ve ever had against Burnley, one of the top teams in the Championship. It did not end well, however, with two consecutive losses, although they were against two much tougher teams. Our defense continues to hold up, but our offense continues to be stagnant. We made two free transfer signings, with Wayne Routledge and Emanuel Gigliotti coming into to help our attack. Routledge is versatile in the midfield, with the ability to play on both wings, while Gigliotti could potentially be our most dangerous striker. We will need it – our frontline has been inconsistent all year long. Unfortunately, we’ve had our share of injuries this month, with Nikolay Nakov, Roger, and Gigliotti all ruled out for at least four weeks. The latter was especially frustrating as he had just joined the club, and I was hoping he would be able to lead the frontline. That would have to wait, however – our reliance will still be on captain Elliot Law, Patrick Twadzik, and Nadir Bendahmane. Hopefully they can start finding the net more than they have. For the upcoming month, we need to just keep doing what we’re doing. We’re in 12th place, and we are in relative safety. Although we’re only 6 points off a play-off spot, I refuse to put my eyes on that prize, at least not yet. I am happy with where we are, and come in the end of the season, I want to see us maintain at least this position. We have 6 games in December, and we can pull off 9 points from the 18 available, then it would be a good month. Football News November 28th, 2015: Italian club AC Milan sacked Francesco Guidolin after falling to 10th place in the Serie A, relieving him of his managerial duties just under one year after giving the Frenchman the job. The club has struggled in recent years, and Guidolin was their third manager in two years, and finished 12th place in 2014/15, their lowest position since 1982. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
City2000 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Thanks for posting that Milan update, interesting to see they are looking very similar to on my save. So far so good with Bromley, a good solid season so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Thanks for posting that Milan update, interesting to see they are looking very similar to on my save.So far so good with Bromley, a good solid season so far. My pleasure! If you are interested in any other teams/players, I'll gladly write up a profile on them As for Bromley, its the first season where we've had these sort of struggles, but I am happy so far - as long as we stay out of the drop zone, we wouldve done well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
powells_red_army Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Good going so far; solid mid-table is a good effort after such a quick rise through the leagues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityAndColour Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I think the Championship is where the quality of the better teams really hits home, and getting there so quickly means your reputation and squad quality probably hasn't quite caught up yet. Mid-table would be a fine effort. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 Good going so far; solid mid-table is a good effort after such a quick rise through the leagues. Yes, it is - its been thanks to my sturdy defense and solid GKing that I've been able to keep that position - my offense has been terrible! I think the Championship is where the quality of the better teams really hits home, and getting there so quickly means your reputation and squad quality probably hasn't quite caught up yet. Mid-table would be a fine effort. Its not only the reputation and squad quality - I'm still playng in a 5,000 stadium! My wages are ridiculously low, so even if someone of quality is interested in discussing terms, I could never meet their demands. But as you said, mid-table would be great Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.