The Last Real Champions (91-92 Revisited)

[Syze]

EDIT: I noticed too many FB errors, I'm marking this as a test run and restarting.

This is being played on FM16. As a Leeds fan I have of course always had a love for the 1991-1992 Championship winning side. I've always thought it would be cool to play an FM featuring that season. About six months ago I decided to make my own DB. This has been a lot of work. I'd say I've averaged about 5 hours work a day for six months. It's finally ready. I have created over 5700 players and over 250 staff. This is focused on playing in the English Division One. The Premier League will never happen in this world.

I have added every player I can to every English team (some only have a handful, I couldn't find extensive squad details for every club), I've added the players career histories, every manager in England, players and managers from big clubs around the world, every squad from the World Cups and European Championships from 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 00 and 02 and just about every important player I can think of that popped up in the years after 1992.

I have gone through every Premier League season, every club up until 2000, and added every player. Youth players will join up at the appropriate times. For instance, Harry Kewell joined the Leeds youth team as a sixteen year old in 1995. In the game he will join at 16 in the equivalent year (2019).

I have simmed and re-simmed, I have read and proofread. I am sure errors remain but hopefully not too many. I have done my best to make the players abilities as accurate as possible. I couldn't be bothered taking a load of screenshots so I made a video looking through the game. If there is anything you want to see let me know and I'll get some screenshots. I'v also tried to make the team badges correct, but it is an admittedly crude attempt. Here's the video:

 

I will of course be managing Leeds. Can I take them to the title like happened in reality? And if so, what can I do after that? They famously finished 17th the year after being crowned champions. 

Will Man Utd's crop of Beckham, Scholes et al fulfil their potential?

Arsenal are reigning champions - can they claim back to back titles?

Liverpool are only a year removed from their most recent title, surely they won't still be waiting 25 years later?

In Division Two lie the likes of Blackburn and Newcastle. In the years following 1992 they both had a huge resurgence. What will happen here?

Thanks to Spuavick whose European Cup continent rules I have used.

[Syze]

Im in charge and ready for pre-season. It didn't really go well:

Two wins, three defeats. The plus side is we were against some decent quality opposition, although how far we seem to be behind the likes of Bayern and Celtic is worrying. Reserve fixtures have given everyone decent run outs. Here's the squad I have to work with:

Now remember, that squad DID win the league in 91-92, but it looks awfully thin. I've transfer embargoed every club for a year because I want to play the first season out as it was. I'd put my first 11 against anyone but we really don't have much in reserve. My main team in mind is:

Lukic

Sterland     Fairclough     Whyte     Dorigo

Strachan(C)     McAllister     Batty     Speed

Wallace     Chapman

Of course, I also have Cantona at my disposal, but this is the side that won Leeds the league and I want to start with it. With the League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Full Members Cup to compete in, everyone will get plenty of game time, I have no choice. Cantona will fit more a trequartista role, but to be honest I'm liking the target man-poacher combination that Chapman and Wallace offer. It worked a treat in reality, especially with the wing service that side provides.

My back room staff consisted of my assistant Mick Hennigan, U18s Manager Paul Hart, and Physio Alan Sutton. Unfortunately the game regens are all crap but I had to appoint a few of them. I have managed to get Terry McDermott, John Gregory and Stan Ternant on my coaching staff.

Here's our fixtures:

And here's the highlights of our pre-season games:

On to August and the big kickoff...

[BenArsenal]

That is quite some effort you did there! Unfortunately I think it doesn't really belong here? It's more suited for FM Careers I think?

[Syze]

Really? Maybe the mods can move it if so? I'm going to continue to update here until they do.

[Syze]

So it's August and the squad is ready. We didn't have the best pre-season in terms of results, but the squad is well trained and everyone is sharp.

Champions Arsenal and FA Cup winners Spurs kicked off the season with a North London Derby for the Charity Shield. Arsenal lifted the first silverware of the season:

The league kickoff saw Leeds travel to newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday for a tricky Yorkshire Derby. It went perfectly:

There were also good wins for Liverpool and Man Utd. Champions Arsenal surprisingly lost to a Teddy Sheringham goal at Nottingham Forest. Forest are up next for Leeds:

\

Another fine win. Even better, strikers Chapman and Cantona are off the mark for the season. Chapman's goal in particular was a beauty. In already the second North London Derby of the season, Arsenal rebounded from their opening day disappointment to edge out Spurs. Leeds travel to Spurs next. Crystal Palace pulled off a shock win against Man Utd.

Gordon Strachan's last minute winner sent the travelling Leeds fans crazy. At Old Trafford, Man Utd and Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw. The only disappointment for us was an injury to Lee Chapman that will sideline him for a couple of weeks. There was more disappointment a week later:

A disappointing result to be sure. I think I was too easy on them at half-time. I told them I was happy rather than  demand they push on. But all in all a good start to the season:

Here's the August highlights:

September sees an International break before fixtures against Coventry (A), West Ham (H), Norwich (A), Wimbledon (H) and Everton (A), as well as a trip to either Lincoln or Plymouth in the League Cup. Not the toughest run of fixtures so I'm looking for a good points haul.

[Syze]

September was a hectic month. On top of our League fixtures and the League Cup second round, our UEFA Cup campaign kicked off against Turkish side Basaksehir. It was extreme fixture congestion and I had to prioritise. I also made a frustrating discovery - I messed up the FA Cup rules on the DB. All the big teams come in in the second qualifying round. FFS. We've been drawn away to non-league Bedworth. I thought about starting over, but to hell with it. Hopefully we get nobodies until round three and I can just kind of pretend it didn't happen.

Steve Hodge was injured on England duty and missed a couple of weeks. We kicked off the month with a good win:

Liverpool were hammered at Sheff Wed, while Nottm Forest continue to impress. Our early season win over them is beginning to look important.

Rod Wallace bagged a brace to help see off West Ham, but he suffered a serious foot injury in the process. He will be sidelined for about a month. Fortunately Lee Chapman returned.

Not good. As you can see I fielded a severely weakened team. I messed up by not pulling a lot of the players out of a reserve fixture the night before and, as a result, they were knackered. One of the few first-team players who did play, David Batty, really let me down by getting sent off. We went on to concede two more goals and now Batty will miss three matches. We have an uphill task in the return leg. The reason I had to rest so many players was because we only had two days until our trip to Norwich:

I was delighted with this, this was a really tricky fixture. Forest continued their storming form, as did Chelsea. Arsenal shockingly lost to Wimbledon, but rebounded with a win over Everton. The long trek to Turkey was next and, again, I felt I had to rest players:

Disappointing, but we are far from out of this one.

Another disappointing result, but a fair one. We stormed back from 0-1 down at half-time to go in front, but the excellent John Fashanu scored a beauty to grab a deserved point for The Dons.

Back to winning ways with a much deserved three points. Chelsea continued their own winning ways, but Forest fell to Wednesday, who themselves are mounting a strong challenge.

The table is looking good. Chelsea and Forest are exceeding expectations, Man Utd will be less than content, while Arsenal and Liverpool are nowhere near where they want to be. Spurs are rock bottom with no wins and Peter Shreeves' job is under serious pressure.

October sees an incredible nine fixtures. The League schedule sees us face Man City (H), Chelsea (A), Sheff U (H), Arsenal (H) and Notts Co (A). We also have our second legs in the League Cup and UEFA Cup, that pesky FA Cup match and the Full Members Cup kicks off with a trip to either Charlton or Oldham. Here's the highlights for September:

 

[Syze]

October was a mixed month. Our league form continued, despite suffering our first defeat, but we crashed out of both the UEFA Cup and League Cup. Another big disappointment was a sprained ankle which has sidelined Eric Cantona for a month. Thankfully Rod Wallace returned.

We were lucky to get a point here, poor performance. Chelsea took full advantage with a big win at Highbury.

Devastating. I felt sure once we took the lead in extra time that we were home and dry but it wasn't to be.

A week's rest was much welcomed. I toyed with the idea of playing my entire first 11, but with a big game against Chelsea only a couple of days later I just couldn't do it. We were 0-3 down from the first leg, but I felt confident if we could get an early goal, but we didn't get it. To be honest, Plymouth had the best chances. The only saving grace is we are leading the charge in the title race and our squad is tiny, so it may end up a blessing in disguise. Going out of two competitions in back to back matches is hard to stomach though.

What a performance, what a win. The first half was a joy to behold, we put it to bed and it allowed us to take it easy in the second half.

The big DB mistake, top division teams entering the FA Cup in the second qualifying round. I decided to include it. Luckily it was pretty much unloseable and I played reserves and kids.

It wasn't comfortable but it was a win. Actually it was a lot more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, but we should have put the game to bed. We're very sturdy at the back, Lukic, Fairclough and Whyte are having great seasons. Are Chelsea going to fall away?

Damn it. The unbeaten start is over. Such a disappointing performance, we didn't get going at all and were well beaten by the champions.

Nice to bounce back against the bottom of the league team. Very comfortable, we were gifted a couple of goals to be honest. Liverpool lost the first Merseyside Derby of the season. By this time they are under the management of the man that I succeeded at Leeds, Howard Wilkinson. Greame Souness was the first managerial casualty of the season, followed closely by Peter Shreeves at Spurs. Shreeves has yet to be replaced.

We have a four point cushion between ourselves and Chelsea heading into November. Chelsea have lost their way a little bit since we beat them. Man Utd are steadily improving. The bottom three of Sheff Utd, Spurs and Notts Co already look stranded.

November starts off with the FA Cup first round at home to Barnet, followed by Oldham (H), Villa (A), Palace (A) and Southampton (H). We also have the rearranged Full Members Cup game against Charlton. Here's the highlights from October:

 

[Keano16]

That is an insane amount of work! Really interesting idea and you've made a great start. It'll be cool to see how real life compares to the save as it progresses.

[Syze]

10 minutes ago, Keano16 said:

That is an insane amount of work! Really interesting idea and you've made a great start. It'll be cool to see how real life compares to the save as it progresses.

Thanks. I'm pissed about the FA Cup screw up, I should have caught that. I'm tempted to restart but I'm enjoying it and I've already put so much work into the story.

[Keano16]

2 minutes ago, Syze said:

Thanks. I'm pissed about the FA Cup screw up, I should have caught that. I'm tempted to restart but I'm enjoying it and I've already put so much work into the story.

Aye, no point restarting for one small thing, you'll get used to it pretty quickly.

[DAOH29]

Any chance you could upload the editor files for this somewhere? That Sheffield Wednesday team is calling me.

[PaulHartman71]

Seems like a huge amount of work to put in. Fair play. 

[Syze]

13 hours ago, DAOH29 said:

Any chance you could upload the editor files for this somewhere? That Sheffield Wednesday team is calling me.

Yeah I'll get that done soon, I want to be exclusive for a little while, but I'll PM you as soon as I do.

[Syze]

November started with the FA Cup match against Barnet. It was closer than I hoped for but but I was able to rest players and get through. There was a first senior goal for Noel Whelan:

Not for the first time we failed to put this game to bed like we should have done. Man City won the Manchester Derby.

Out of another cup at the first hurdle. This of course is a competition of little significance, but it became a little more important in my mind following our exit from both the UEFA Cup and League Cup. Again, I rested players but I still felt we should have won. The excellent Rob Lee might be worth a punt in the summer. I also have my eye on young Lee Bowyer.

A very good win away from home. Kind of similar to events in real life when a 4-1 win away at Villa on live TV was a real statement of Leeds intent and ability that season. Villa have some quality players so I was delighted with the ease with which we won this. My captain Gordon Strachan was magnificent. Man Utd bounced back with a fine win over Chelsea.

Very frustrating. On of my all time favourite players Nigel Martyn was the reason we only took a point, saving TWO Gary McAllister penalties. McAllister is an excellent penalty taker, but in reality he wouldn't take over penalty taking duties from Gordon Strachan until later so I've decided to put Strachan back to number one in my list of penalty takers. McAllister is yet to score this season which is disappointing. Lee Chapman's goal output also hasn't been what it might, but his link up play with Rod Wallace is bearing fruit for the former. Chelsea are slipping away, while Liverpool are resurgent under Howard Wilkinson. Ray Harford has left Wimbeldon to take up the vacant manager's post at Spurs BTW.

Weird game. We were excellent but it took a while to kill off the resilient Saints. Rod Wallace, who has been the only striker really firing for me, bagged a first half hat-trick against his former club. It was a winning return for Ray Harford at Wimbledon.

We're pulling away in the title race. Man Utd are emerging as our biggest challengers, but we have an eight point cushion. Our early season wins against Sheff Wed and Forest are beginning to look very important. At the bottom, previously stranded Spurs and Sheff Utd have made significant strides, while Notts Co looked doomed already.

The Christmas period is a busy one. We have an FA Cup trip to Fourth Division Lincoln before we can finally get to the third round, Liverpool (H), Man Utd (A), Sheff Wed (H), Q.P.R. (H) and Nottm Forest (A). If all goes well we could put significant ground between ourselves and the chasing pack. From their point of view, this month is crucial for reigning us back in. Here's the highlights for November:

 

[Raware]

Will be interesting to see how this pans out .  One thing's for sure...I'm loving the nostalgic feel to this thread and the names that I grew up with.  Some great names knocking about; obviously being a Forest fan, Ian Woan, Nigel Jemson, Des Walker are ones that stand out for me but other players like Mike Marsh, Ian Ormondroyd, Gordon Durie and Glynn Snodin are proper 90's footballers!  When footballers used to be real men!  

[Syze]

It truly was a Whites Christmas! We went into the month eight points clear of second placed Man Utd, and we ended the month thirteen points clear of second placed Man Utd! Lets get some managerial news out of the way first - the champions Arsenal, who are having disappointing season, parted company with George Graham on the 9th of December. Surprisingly they replaced him with West Ham's Billy Bonds. The Hammers are yet to name a permanent successor. Wimbledon rehired Bobby Gould from West Brom, and bottom of the table Notts County sacked Neil Warnock and appointed Birmingham's Terry Cooper (a Leeds legend of course).

We're comfortably through to the third round. I'm still annoyed about this mistake, it's ruining the game a little bit for me.

What a performance and what a win! Sorry Howard.

Get in! Ooh ah Cantona, said ooh ah Cantona! There's nothing better than a last minute winner against your biggest rivals. Old Fergie is feeling quite bitter towards me. Cantona of all people bagging the winner makes it all the sweeter. It's time to give him a proper run, Chapman just isn't scoring enough.

It just gets better and better. We tend to start games very well and put them to bed early. Even better, Man Utd dropped two points at Southampton.

What is going on with Chris Whyte!? He's prolific! I made a mistake with my half-time team talk, I didn't give them enough credit and we ended the game hanging on a bit.

Damn it. We just didn't get going. On the plus side, Man Utd lost at Crystal Palace. I'd have bitten your hand off for this at the start of the month. Arsenal won the North London Derby.

Its in the bag isn't it? Well, I thought that about the play-offs in real life this past season... The rest of the league is very tight, we're the only ones stringing together wins, hence why we're so far clear. I think Arsenal's European Cup campaign has hindered their league form. Spurs have climbed out of the relegation zone, with Luton dropping in.

The new year sees us travel to Luton then to Coventry in the FA Cup, Spurs (H), Coventry (H), West Ham (A) and Norwich (H). There is no reason why we can't maintain or even strengthen our lead. Here's December's highlights:

 

[Syze]

Another mistake in the FA Cup DB rules - extra time, no replays. Fixtures also seem to be midweek. I swear I can remember setting the rules. Very frustrating.

We got lucky that Coventry went down to ten men here to be honest, because Coventry were in front and looking more likely to get a second than we were to equalise.

David Batty's sending off definitely cost us here and not for the first time this season. He was fined a week's wages. His combative no-nonsense style is what I want from him though, so I guess I just have to accept he'll get caught out occasionally.

We were lucky to get a point here, because Norwich were the better team. There is reason to be concerned by our recent performances, but really, how can I complain? Look at the league table:

It would take an extraordinary collapse to let this slip. We suffered a couple of injuries during the month - Eric Cantona and Chris Whyte each missed a couple of weeks, and of course, Batty has a three match ban. On the managerial front, West Ham appointed Newcastle's Ossie Ardiles. Neil Warnock replaced him. Sheff Utd have sacked Dave Bassett and are yet to replace him. There was also a transfer - midfielder Matthias Breitkreutz left Aston Villa for Nurnberg in a £1,800,000 deal. Liverpool are really starting to get going under Howard Wilkinson.

The World Player of the Year Awards were announced:

Wee Gordon deservedly made the team of the year. There aren't any player or manager of the months awards for Div One, so I guess there won't be any at the end of the season. Another frustrating oversight.

February sees us face Wimbledon (A), Everton (H), Man City (A) and Chelsea (H), as well as an FA Cup tie at home to Third Division Reading. Here's the highlights for January:

 

[Syze]

February was a month of scraping results. Most importantly, Lee Chapman has rediscovered his scoring touch. The bad news is Gordon Strachan picked up a neck injury which he is still a couple of weeks away from returning from.

Wimbledon are a tricky team, this was a fine three points. I was delighted to see Chapman bag a brace. Luton hammered Liverpool.

There has been quite a few times we've scored a couple of early goals, and rather than get a third and possibly more, we concede and end up holding on. I haven't yet found the right formula for how to proceed after taking an early two goal lead.

18 points clear, we just need to see it out. The FA Cup quarter-final has been favourable as well - Third Division Peterborough away. The League Cup final will be contested between Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Chelsea overturned a 0-3 first leg defeat against Arsenal to go through 4-3 in the semi-final. The Full Members Cup final sees Man City take on QPR. On the managerial front, Sheff Utd have appointed Huddersfield's Eoin Hand as their new manager. He leaves The Terriers on top of the Third Division.

I just wanted to make note of a few big transfers across the world over the last couple of months:

And the top scoring charts:

John Fashanu, who would've thought? Hopefully Wallace can chase him down...

March's fixtures sees Notts Co (H), Peterborough (A) in the cup, Sheff U (A) and Arsenal (A). Here's February's highlights:

 

[DAOH29]

8 hours ago, Syze said:

Yeah I'll get that done soon, I want to be exclusive for a little while, but I'll PM you as soon as I do.

Cheers

[Syze]

Well what a frustrating month March proved to be:

Unbelievable. To be handed a tie like this at the quarter final stage, and turn in a performance like this is soul destroying. This competition was on a plate. Take a look at the semi-final ties:

The only saving grace, a good result at Highbury.

We're two wins away from the title. Crystal Palace won the League Cup and Man City won the Full Members Cup:

A few more transfers around the world:

There's a few names in there you might recognise - Henrik Larsson, Stephane Henchoz, Savo Milosevic, Karel Poborsky, Magnus Hedman. My biggest concern is my forward line. They just aren't scoring.

Next month as we look to seal the title we face Oldham (A), Aston Villa (H), Soithampton (A), Palace (H) and Liverpool (A). Here's March's highlights:

 

[Syze]

I won the league at a canter. I've noticed too many mistakes though, I'm fixing them and restarting.

[mjaferrie]

9 hours ago, Syze said:

I won the league at a canter. I've noticed too many mistakes though, I'm fixing them and restarting.

Fair play mate!  Would be a shame to have put in all that work and then have to live with some minor irritations.  

[Lenzar]

Any chance you could make this database available?

[Syze]

1 hour ago, Lenzar said:

Any chance you could make this database available?

Yeah I will in a few days.