[FM20] It was Cambrogi in Wales, but now it's all about aggression in Wales, in England. Bellicosity, pugnacity and belligerence are all excellent words. But Welsh belligerence, in England now.

[Jimbokav1971]

The right back problem. May 2041. 

I usually speed through close-season as quickly as I can, but I know I have created a problem that needs resolving so I need to work out what I'm going to do before I start getting complaints. 

I have 2 players at the club who have covered the right back position perfectly well between them this season, and when (39b) Michael Hewitt (ENG) * was injured, I just played a mobile right-sided centre-half there without much of an issue. 

Rhys Collier (WAL) * is 1st choice and while i might seem that I haven't played him much, that's because 1st choice players play in Europe rather than the League, (with the exception of TNS games), so while his history shows that he has played 12 and 10 games over the last 2 seasons, he actually made 30 appearances this season and 25 appearances last season. The Wales Manager Aitor Karanka has been to watch him a few times, and I think it a matter of time before he is capped. 

The back-up this season was (39b) Michael Hewitt (ENG) *. He's a product of our Academy, (which is obviously big for me), but that will become less of an issue as we get a more regular production line going. I had to prioritise HG at club players quite simply because even last season I was only able to register 23 of 25 players because of a lack of eligible HGN players. He's pretty raw but I like him. He would have played more games this season but got injured and missed everything from mid-Jan. 

This is where it starts to get awkward. 

César (BRA) is a considerable step up in class, even from Rhys Collier (WAL) * never mind about (39b) Michael Hewitt (ENG) *. He looks.... amazing. 

Last but by no means least we have Wonderkid Shaun Baker (ENG) *. Pretty impressive I think you would agree. Now the chances are the DoF will have done some ridiculous deal with both of the new guys and I expect them to have min fee release clauses, (let's hope it's not £250,000 this time), but I have absolutely no issues playing them and then cashing in on them at an early opportunity. The problem I have is what I do with my own 2 players who are likely to still be here after these 2 starlets are long-gone. 

I'm going to have to rotate the 2 new guys. They are just too good not to and..... in fact, César (BRA) is going to play centre-half I think. He can fit in easily there. 

[Jimbokav1971]

End of Season Summary. Jun 2041. 

League Table. We only get 4 European spots next season. 

Squad by Appearances. 

Overall Best XI. 

(34b) Rhydian Hall (WAL) * becomes the 1st Academy product to make out Overall Best XI. 

Facilities. 

Ouch. That's a LOT of money. 

I think I need to sell some more players. 

Finances. 

The important bit to look at on the finances page is this bit. We're currently spending approx 11% of our wage budget. 

And of course we have £25M to spend on players. 

But we also only have £16M in the bank. If I spend the money then the board will be fine with that as long as I stay within budgets, but then they will look to get involved in incoming transfer offers. I don't want them involved. I want them to leave it to me. In order for that to happen, I need to keep a nice hefty cash reserve. 

I can't remember where I change the scouting budgets..... Anyone? (It's ok, sorted it). 

This could be a problem though.

[Jimbokav1971]

Rankings. Jun 2041.

Interesting. We are ranked higher than the English Championship now. Will that stop Championship clubs poaching our players or will individual club reputation still play a part, (I think it might). 

We're ranked the 31st best team in Europe. That's ridiculous. 

TNS are ranked 44th and I think this is the 1st time we have been ranked ahead of them. 

Let's add the English clubs and see where we are. 

Brighton did VERY well in 2037/38. Did they win something? Yes. They beat Real Sociedad 4-0 in the Final of the Euro Conference. 

This season only the Welsh Champions, (us), will play in the Champions League. Next season it reverts to both us and TNS. 

We really need the lesser clubs in Wales to start winning games in Europe. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Welsh clubs in Europe. Jun 2041. 

TNS did really well again. I wonder how they might get on this season, especially if they drop down into the Euro Conference? I know I'm meant to hate them, but there is a grudging respect and even admiration developing as a result of their exploits in Europe. 

Bala Town had a tough pair of fixtures actually. I'm not sure we can be expecting them to progress through either of these ties. 

Barry Town are not going to beat Portugese opposition. 

Bangor City die well actually. Progressed past N.Irish opposition and then lost narrowly to Turks. That's decent. We need more of that. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Reputation. Jun 2041.

[Jimbokav1971]

On 27/04/2020 at 10:37, Jimbokav1971 said:

TV Rights. Jun 2037.

2032. £83,020
2033. £100,000 (+ £17k)
2034. £120,000 (+ £20k)
2035. £143,000 (+ £23k)
2036. £168,000 (+ £25k)
2037. £196,000 (+ £28k)

TV Rights. Jun 2041. 

I would have thought that it was a relatively straightforward job to link the increase in TV money to inflation and have the increase/decrease of competition reputation then influence things. So basically the total amount of TV Money given to all leagues in the World is "x" and "x" is multiplied by in-game inflation each season, (I'm assuming that there is inflation in the game by the way). Then how this TV Money is split up per Competition is based on... well whatever you want it to be basically, but reputation for example and whatever else you want, and then this known figure is distributed to clubs within that competition by however you want. This doesn't seem to be linked to how successful the competition is. So what's the point? 

Am I asking too much? 

2032. £83,020
2033. £100,000 (+ £17k)
2034. £120,000 (+ £20k)
2035. £143,000 (+ £23k)
2036. £168,000 (+ £25k)
2037. £196,000 (+ £28k)
2038. Sorry, forgot. 
2039. Sorry, forgot. 
2040. Sorry, forgot. 
2041. £286,000

[rodesire]

I believe there is some non-linear (likely quadratic?) relationship between competition rep and the TV money but I haven't been able to nail it down.  Different countries have wildly different base TV money values too which doesn't help.

[Jimbokav1971]

Poached. Jun 2041. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jun, Jul & Aug. 

No, I didn't forget to do the monthly update. The 1st post of each season covers 2 months, (because pre-season doesn't count), and we have come back earlier this month for some reason, (but I'm happy about it because we got to play more friendlies and are fitter as a result). 

Pre-season. Yes, we really did concede 6 goals in 1 game against our U19's and still didn't lose. No I am not drawing any conclusions from that game. 

Domestic games. 

European games. 

Even when you've been here before, that's still a LOT of money. We're seeded in the 3rd Group, (so the Euro Cup is expected, but let's see who we get. You never know. 

Well that could have been better. 

Finances. 

Goal-scoring Keepers. We have 2 main GK's and Stirling (SCO) and Pajvot (CRO) are rotating until I can decide who I like best, (or one of them gets sold). Stirling (SCO) got the not for the 1st game of the season but he saw a penalty saved so that;s him out of the starting XI until Pajvot (CRO) misses one. He has taken 5 so far and scored them all. I have no idea why some GK's are great and other GK's are pants. I try not to think about it anymore. 

Transfers. Our spending has been fairly modest because I am selling players to generate income and the idea is to then replace them with cheaper players. As you can see by the nicknames, I was happy to sell 6 of the 7 players that left in this window, but Brough (ENG) * only left because he had a min fee release clause. We got £4.3M for him and he is immediately worth £18M at Brighton. 

[Edit1]

1 more transfer that I forgot to tell you about. We have some decent striker, but none that I would say are proper "top end" strikers. This was the best i could do. Unfortunately it's a loan. 

I mentioned last season that Hartley (BEL) * was tearing it up at Napoli. Well he has just been sold to Liverpool for £83,000,000.  Napoli, now flush with cash, have just paid us £5.75M for Rhys Collier (WAL) * who I have just mentioned below. That's a good deal for everyone I think. 

[Edit2]

Almost forgot to update you on the right back situation. 

Shaun Baker (ENG) * was going to be 1st choice right back. 
Rhys Collier (WAL) * was going to be 2nd choice right back. 
César (BRA) was going ton play at centre-half. 
(39b) Michael Hewitt (ENG) * was going to go on loan. 

That was the plan. This is what we have actually done. 

Shaun Baker (ENG) * has been out injured after playing in the 1st Champions League qualifier and still isn't fit. (He's already missed 9 games). 
Rhys Collier (WAL) * has been a busy boy and has started 7 out of our 10 games. We have also had to protest to the board twice to stop him being sold. 
César (BRA) got injured before the 1st game so hasn't made his debut yet and is still injured. He's missed 10 games already. 
(39b) Michael Hewitt (ENG) * has gone on loan to Bala. He's made 1 sub appearance from their 5 games so far and I am about to recall him. 

Rhys Collier (WAL) * wants to leave now after the 2 bids that I managed to protests away. We really need to let him go I think. 

Edited May 8, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Sep 2041.

Domestic games. 

European games. Apologies. I played the 1st game in October before updating. We had a player sent off in the 1st half against Porto. 

Goal-scoring Keepers. Pavjot (CRO) missed from the spot against Connah's Quay after 5 successful penalties, so Stirling (SCO) is up now and he scored against Bangor, before a quite brilliant assist against AA Gent. 

Finances. £13M for making the group stage and then £2.3M for every win in the Group stage is big bucks. 

[Jimbokav1971]

International call-ups. Oct 2041. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities. Oct 2041. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Oct 2041.

Domestic games. We were 4-1 down in the Cup with 25 mins left and somehow dragged ourselves back level only to miss out 1st 2 spot kicks and then win 3-2 as they missed their last 3. 

European games. I would like to say that I rotated the squad for the Man City game...... but I didn't. They absolutely battered us and it could have been 10 or 12. 

Goal-scoring Keepers.  Stirling (SCO) hit the post with a penalty against Swansea Uni, so after 1 successful penalty, he is out and Pajvot (CRO) is back in. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Nov 2041. 

Domestic games. I must admit that i had started to have ideas about an unbeaten domestic season, if not this season then soon, and certainly didn't plan on losing to a team other than TNS, but the problem with selling your best defenders is that it takes time to train up the next batch, (to sell again), and while this is happening we are vulnerable. 

European games. We were more competitive against City this time and I thought we were going to nick a draw against Porto. They were just too strong in the end though and with 1 game remaining we are already out of the Champions League. As long as we don't lose to Gent though we will qualify for the Euro Cup. 

Goal-scoring GK. Pajvot (CRO) is still in possession of the gloves as he hasn't missed another penalty. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Intake preview. Dec 2041. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Dec 2041. 

Domestic games. 

European games. We weren't good against Gent, but all we had to do was not lose and we did better than that with a win and will play in the Euro Cup Knockout stages as a result. 

I think we're weaker than we were last season, but I can see us being pretty decent over the next couple of season as players develop.I don't think we can win it this season, but we there are teams here we can beat. I would fancy our chances against Kobenhavn, Zenit, Krasnodar, PSV, Anderlecht, Young Boys and Genk. Assuming we beat Zenit, (which is in no way guaranteed), the chances are there won't be many of these teams left to face. 

Goal-scoring Keepers. Pajvot (CRO) is still in possession of the gloves. 

Finances. 

Records. 

Transfers.

[Jimbokav1971]

Jan Transfer Window. 2042. 

I've bought some youngsters in and am trying to streamline the squad a little. Some players are going out on loan, but I'm also keen to build our bank balance to keep the Board away from getting involved in transfer offers for our players. 

We sold just over £14M worth of players in the Summer, (while spending less than £2M), but we need a bigger buffer and I would also like cash to go out and sign a better level of younster. 

I have a few more deals going through in this window, but in particular I have turned down a £5M bid from Watford for Mazurek (SVN). He's our 1st choice right winger and is developing nicely, but he's not quite performing as I would like. He should be getting loads of goals and assists playing for us, but he just isn't. 

When Watford bid £5M for him and I turned it down, I set his asking price at £10M thinking, (well nobody will pay that and if they do then I will bite their arm off), but now Watford have just offered £10M cash for him and I'm starting to think that he might be better than I initially thought. I don't think he was 5.0 PA when I signed him, (because there isn't an * after his name), but £10M cash sounds like Watford think he's going to be good. He has no minimum fee release clause, (so I know I did the deal rather than my DoF), and he has 3.5 + 3 years on his contract. I have a feeling that he initially had a £5M min fee release clause on his contract and I negotiated it actually, so I think he was a DoF signing, but I think I'm going to protest the £10M offer and stick his asking price up at £20M. 

We have  in the bank right now and I've still got more deals to go through in the last few days of the window. 

I'm not hugely interested in paying big cash for someone to come in as an immediate starter, but I would certainly pay good money for a good prospect youngster. 

The protest worked, but what usually happens is that you use up your protest on 1 player and then immediately get an offer in for a more valuable player that you now can't protest.

Man Utd and Southampton have both met the £5.25M release clause for Shaun Baker (ENG) * who we signed on a free from Spurs and I have offered him out to everyone for £4M + clauses to try and increase the total deal. 

Nobody else came in for him and he chose Southampton over Man Utd, where he is immediately worth £21.5M. I'm fine with this. We signed him on a free with this plan completely in mind. He was with is for 6 months and we made £5M out of it. 

Henry (IRL) has gone to Sheff Utd for an initial £2M. Again, he was signed in the Summer as a cash-builder and wasn't part of my long-term plans so this is £2M in the bank, (less his wages of course). The DoF must have done this deal though because we ended up giving the player 15% of the deal. No wonder he was keen to move. 

I also sold Dalglish (SCO) * SELL to Aberdeen for £1.2M. I really liked him, but for whatever reason he just didn't put the ball in the net as often as seemingly poorer players. In 40(7) league appearances he only scored 12 goals. When you consider how many goals we have been scoring, that's nowhere near good enough. In total he made 68(11) appearances scoring 30 goals, so he was seemingly much better in Cups than he was in league games. Anyway, he's gone and we got £1M+ out if it. 

Ferrante (ITA) ML came on for a nominal fee, but as well as having a high PA rating, (I think he was 4.5 because he hasn't got a star), I just really liked the look of his attribute balance. The only issue with him was that he was a lefty who couldn't play on the left. We're slowly getting him used to playing on the left, but whether it's on the left or inverted on the right I'm keen to keep giving him opportunities. 

Joe Power (WAL) was signed from TNS for £800,000 when he was already worth about £1.5M. Where as I'm quite reluctant to sell anyone to TNS, they seemed to have no issues in giving me a great deal to fill the gap left by the sale of Brough (ENG) * for £4.3M. He started the season on fire and despite collecting his 1st senior cap for Wales has tailed off a little. 

Hammond (ENG) was signed as a squad player for only £350,000, (I need to make sure that I have depth because not only are we fighting on multiple fronts, but I also don't mind selling just about anyone who isn't HG at club/Nation. I will probably look to give him a run of games at some point to generate some interest and then sell him on for a profit. 

Originally signed to be my 1st choice GK, Stirling (SCO) has fallen behind Pajvot (CRO) a little in the pecking order, (although he is 3 years younger). The problem with him is that he just doesn't score his penalties, (and before you look at his Penalty Taking attribute of 4 and ask me why I'm surprised, I am adamant that the Penalty Taking attribute means absolutely nothing). Pajvot (CRO) has a penalty taking attribute of 3 for example and has no such issues converting from the spot. I started the season with Stirling (SCO) in goal and either GK gets dropped when they fail to score a penalty, (whether it be saved or missed). He's missed 3 out of 4 penalties in 8 games while Pajvot (CRO) has scored 9 out of 11 penalties.

I used to strongly believe that the game didn't use a GK's actual free-kick taking to determine the outcome of free-kicks, but instead used the 6th Goalkeeping attribute down, "Handling" instead, (where free-kick taking is on an outfield players Technical attributes). I'm not as sure about this as I used to be though.

The scout report suggested that Kaminski (POL) * had a 5.0 PA rating. The Ass Man doesn't agree but he looks decent for an 18yo anyway. 

 

Piere (NED) was top of the PA pile when it came to my reports on strikers that were willing to join us. I splashed out £1.5M to secure him and time will tell if that was money well spent. I missed the "comes deep to get ball" PPM when signing him,  and when he arrived my 1st thought was to get him to un-learn it, but twinned with the "shoots from distance" PPM I thought maybe it might work. His Long Shots is reasonable at 9, so I have added shooting as an additional focus and I will leave both PPM's in play and try to develop him in a different way. His flair is decent and physically he looks like he might develop ok. It's just a shame that he's 19 years old already. He is the reason why I have sold so many strikers in this window. He's not as good as them, but I'm gambling that he might become better than them, but in order for that to happen he needs to play games 

[Edit]

Finances, (after window closes). 

Edited May 9, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Jan 2042. 

Apologies. Played the 1st game of the next month again. 

Domestic games. We lost to Afan Lido in what was a poor performance, but I thought we had won the Nat MG Cup Final when TNS scored 2 late goals to nick it. I think that the 1st time TNS have beat us in a final in a while. We're still 4 points clear in the league and we have to play TNS twice more in the league, (including on the last day). 

Goal-scoring GK. You will not be surprised to hear that Stirling (SCO) missed a penalty against Newtown, so Pajvot (CRO) came in for the Bangor game. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

More transfer news. Feb 2042. 

We've had an offer of £2.5M for Gagne (ROM) * from a Chinese club. He's not 1st choice and although decent, doesn't have the physical ability I like to see in my midfielders. While he's plenty good enough for us now, (certainly as 2nd choice), is he really going to win us a European competition? I suggest no. 

I've negotiated the deal to include various add-ons, and I think I'm going to accept and try and invest the money in a better player. We're paying him just over £0.5M per year, so I have to factor that into any idea I have of keeping him and selling him at a later date. £2.5M is a decent deal but £2.5M +25% +4(£250k) + friendly is really pretty decent. 

The minimum is £2.5M and I expect him to be worth maybe £3.5M after the transfer. If we call it £2.5M + I think our DoF can get £900k for the 24% clause and then £700k for the 4 other clauses, (I'm not planning on waiting to get the cash on this occasion), then that brings us to £4.1M and that's just for adding in clauses that may or may not be very likely. The main reason for this post is that I will quote it and update you as and when my DoF does the deal for the clauses. I don't think many of us use the "buying clauses" feature of the game anywhere near enough. I would even sell players for no fee on occasion, safe in the knowledge that I'm going to rake it in with the clauses. Because the player is only 22, I might decide not to sell the clauses, but I will at least update you with what they are worth. In fact, I might update you with any interesting deals he arranges, (again, even if I don't choose to sell them).

He's actually worth £6.25M after moving to China and they are paying him just over £3M per year. Yeah, I would have gone too. 

He's ok, (but he's no centre-half), but he's not worth that money. Good luck to him. Hope he smashes it. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Feb 2042. 

Domestic games. We've been a little poor really, but my whole focus was Europe. We dodged a bullet against Barry with a late leveller and then got a deserved leveller to draw at home to TNS. We're still 2 points up on TNS and we play them on the last day of the season. Part of the reason we are struggling, (just a little), is that I have reduced the squad size by selling players and then reduced it still further by loaning no less than 30 player out. While we are weaker in the short term, we will be stronger for it in the long term. 

European games. We absolutely obliterated Zenit in the 1st leg so I decided that I was going to rotate the whole squad enormously for the 2nd leg and basically try to play a whole matchday squad that were all teenagers. When that didn't quite seem possible I opened it up to products of our Academy and then to Welsh players. 

(38m) Rhodri * LOAN is Welsh and a product of our Academy. 
(39b) Michael Hewitt (ENG) * is 19yo and a product of our Academy. 
(40m) Llewellyn-Saunders is 18 and a product of our Academy. 
Lewis Rees * DC is 22yo and Welsh. 
(41e) Nigel Green (ENG) * is 17 years old and a product of our Academy.
(39d) Mark Rogers is 20 years old, Welsh and a product of our Academy. 
(41g) Dumphy is 17yo, Welsh and a product of our Academy. 
(41a) Ng (SIN) is 18yo, Welsh and a product of our Academy. 
Ferrante (ITA) ML is 18 years old. 
(37a) McGoona (WAL) is Welsh and a product of our Academy. 
Hampson (ENG) is 19 years old. 
All 7 players on the bench are products of our Academy and 5 of the 7 are teenagers. 

I think it's fair to say we dodged one. 

This might have been partly responsible for my decision making during this time. 

I would have taken this before the draw, but I don't think the same side will play the away leg in this round. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Transfer Targets. Feb 2042. 

We've got a few quid in the bank and I'm keen to "rescue" a young Welsh kid from a non-Welsh club in the hope that I can bring him "home" and develop him into a great. I don't mind paying hugely over the odds for this type of player, but at the same time I want the player to have a chance of making a significant impact. 

The HG at the end of his name indicates that he is a product of our Academy, but hasn't through our intake. 

I know I have his PA on the spreadsheet, but I'm not looking at that and just working off reports. 

I hardly ever use Analyst reports and I'm not actually sure what info they provide, (that's really bad isn't it), so let's get an analyst to have a look at him and see what they say. 

He's a pressing forward, but I don't see him as a PF at all. He's 6'2" and his physicals are already really good for a 17 year old. Will be interesting to see if I can get him.

[Jimbokav1971]

On 08/05/2020 at 19:25, Jimbokav1971 said:

Youth Intake preview. Dec 2041. 

Youth Intake Day. Mar 2042. 

Squad by PPA. It doesn't look good. 1x 3.5 and 2x 3.0 is not good.  I usually sign everyone to youth contracts but on this occasion I have not offered contracts to those who's Det is less than 9. 

Squad by PA. The big rider here is the (ENG) player (42p) who moves from 16th to 8th. It's not quite as bad as "sack them all", 

Squad by CA. I'm not sure if it matters what the CA of of player is if their PA is rubbish. 

 

[Jimbokav1971]

Mar 2042.

Domestic games. 

European games. Who did I want before the draw? Either of the Belgian sides, Kyiv or...... well that's about it really. We certainly didn't want either (ENG) side, there are 4 (ESP) sides to avoid, 2 (GER) sides, a (FRA) and an (ITA) side. As all 3 of the sides I would prefer to face are up against (ESP) sides in this round, the chance of them progressing are slim. 

We got Schalke or Inter. 

We've got Schalke or Inter so there is not much point in looking at the Semi-Final draw, but here it is anyway.

The good news is that if the (BEL) sides beat their (ESP) opposition then we get the winner of the (BEL) playoff, or should I say Schalke/Inter get the winner of the (BEL) playoff. 

This is how the Quarter Finals actually turned out, (obviously without any (BEL) sides). 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Apr 2042.

Domestic games. 

European games. We gave it a damn good go, but the truth of it is that we have just sold too many good players over the last couple of seasons and we haven't replace them with the same current ability as yet. 

Quarter-Finals 3 years running is pretty decent? 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

1,000 up. May 2042. 

The Cup Final was my 1,000th game in charge on Ton Pentre. 

Edited May 10, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities. May 2042.

[Jimbokav1971]

19 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

More transfer news. Feb 2042. 

We've had an offer of £2.5M for Gagne (ROM) * from a Chinese club. He's not 1st choice and although decent, doesn't have the physical ability I like to see in my midfielders. While he's plenty good enough for us now, (certainly as 2nd choice), is he really going to win us a European competition? I suggest no. 

I've negotiated the deal to include various add-ons, and I think I'm going to accept and try and invest the money in a better player. We're paying him just over £0.5M per year, so I have to factor that into any idea I have of keeping him and selling him at a later date. £2.5M is a decent deal but £2.5M +25% +4(£250k) + friendly is really pretty decent. 

The minimum is £2.5M and I expect him to be worth maybe £3.5M after the transfer. If we call it £2.5M + I think our DoF can get £900k for the 24% clause and then £700k for the 4 other clauses, (I'm not planning on waiting to get the cash on this occasion), then that brings us to £4.1M and that's just for adding in clauses that may or may not be very likely. The main reason for this post is that I will quote it and update you as and when my DoF does the deal for the clauses. I don't think many of us use the "buying clauses" feature of the game anywhere near enough. I would even sell players for no fee on occasion, safe in the knowledge that I'm going to rake it in with the clauses. Because the player is only 22, I might decide not to sell the clauses, but I will at least update you with what they are worth. In fact, I might update you with any interesting deals he arranges, (again, even if I don't choose to sell them).

He's actually worth £6.25M after moving to China and they are paying him just over £3M per year. Yeah, I would have gone too. 

He's ok, (but he's no centre-half), but he's not worth that money. Good luck to him. Hope he smashes it. 

Transfer update. May 2042. 

I noticed that the DoF has arranged a clause for Gagne (ROM) * so I had a look to see what it was he had agreed. 

This is a no-brainer and I have absolutely no idea how the DoF pulled this off. He's worth £6.5M and 25% of that is £1.625M so we have effectively got twice the value of the deal. We've got more by this 1 clause than we got for the initial deal. 

Initial deal. £1,900,000
Installments. £625,000
25% sell on clause. £3,240,000

Sub-Total. £5,765,000

And we still have a number of deals outstanding. 

[scousevasey]

9 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

European games. We gave it a damn good go, but the truth of it is that we have just sold too many good players over the last couple of seasons and we haven't replace them with the same current ability as yet. 

Quarter-Finals 3 years running is pretty decent? 

 

Was the QF not at a higher level than the past two (Conference League/Euro Cup II)?

 

Definite improvements going on at the club.

 

As always I really enjoy the talking through all of the transfer/signing rationale. Helps improve my game (as I go away to review my squad and contract situation mess that I am in currently)

[Jimbokav1971]

1 minute ago, scousevasey said:

Was the QF not at a higher level than the past two (Conference League/Euro Cup II)?

Definite improvements going on at the club.

As always I really enjoy the talking through all of the transfer/signing rationale. Helps improve my game (as I go away to review my squad and contract situation mess that I am in currently)

errr. Not sure. let me check about the European level. 

Since the debacle in 2033 against Aluminij this is how far we have got in Europe each season. 

2034/35. Euro Conference 1st Knockout Round. 

2035/36. Euro Cup 2nd Knockout Round. 

2036/37. Euro Cup 1st Knockout Round. 

2037/38. Champions League Group stage. 

2038/39. Euro Cup Group stage. 

2039/40. Euro Cup Quarter Final. 

2040/41. Euro Cup Quarter Final.

2041/42. Euro Cup Quarter Final. 

Yeah, I think we're developing pretty nicely, but I'm still frustrated with the Youth Intakes. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Season summary. May 2042. 

Final League Table. We lost 3 times and drew 3 more times which is more than I want, but I was really concentrating on the Europe so it's sort of to be expected. I really want to not lose to anyone other than TNS from now on though, (not that I want to lose to them of course, but you know what I mean). 

Squad by appearances. Pajvot (CRO) tops the list with 50 appearances, which you would expect from your GK, and then (37a) McGoona (WAL) and (34b) Rhydian Hall (WAL) * both made a total of 42 appearances including sub appearances. 

Awards. 

Overall Best XI. 

Facilities. 

Finances. 

Loan report. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

Records. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Welsh clubs in Europe. 2041/42.

TNS. I think they have under-performed by their own high standards. If they are only going to be playing in the Euro Conference then they should be qualifying for the Knockout stages at least. If I we were somehow in the Euro Conference then I would be looking to win it and TNS shouldn't be too far off that. 

Afan Lido. This is a step in the right direction. They progressed past the 1st round and then only lost in the 2nd round on penalties. This is progress. 

Bangor City. This is rubbish. I know that Osijek are decent, (I have a soft spot for them), but we need the other Welsh clubs to be winning ties like these.

There were only 3 other Welsh clubs in Europe last season, but we are back up to 4 plus us this season. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Welsh clubs in England. Jul 2042. 

Cardiff. After being relegated the previous season, Cardiff bounced back at the 1st time of asking and were promoted via the Playoffs. 

Swansea. Their rivals Cardiff bounced back at the 1st opportunity after being relegated, and Swansea will have the chance to do the same thing after finishing 2nd bottom and being relegated to league 1. 

Newport Co. After a couple of seasons in League 1, County are back in League 2 again and finished mid-table last season. 

Wrexham. They have been comfortably mid-table in the Conference for most of the save and last season was no different. 

Merthyr. Still in non-playable. 

[Jimbokav1971]

On 09/05/2020 at 15:54, Jimbokav1971 said:

More transfer news. Feb 2042. 

We've had an offer of £2.5M for Gagne (ROM) * from a Chinese club. He's not 1st choice and although decent, doesn't have the physical ability I like to see in my midfielders. While he's plenty good enough for us now, (certainly as 2nd choice), is he really going to win us a European competition? I suggest no. 

I've negotiated the deal to include various add-ons, and I think I'm going to accept and try and invest the money in a better player. We're paying him just over £0.5M per year, so I have to factor that into any idea I have of keeping him and selling him at a later date. £2.5M is a decent deal but £2.5M +25% +4(£250k) + friendly is really pretty decent. 

The minimum is £2.5M and I expect him to be worth maybe £3.5M after the transfer. If we call it £2.5M + I think our DoF can get £900k for the 24% clause and then £700k for the 4 other clauses, (I'm not planning on waiting to get the cash on this occasion), then that brings us to £4.1M and that's just for adding in clauses that may or may not be very likely. The main reason for this post is that I will quote it and update you as and when my DoF does the deal for the clauses. I don't think many of us use the "buying clauses" feature of the game anywhere near enough. I would even sell players for no fee on occasion, safe in the knowledge that I'm going to rake it in with the clauses. Because the player is only 22, I might decide not to sell the clauses, but I will at least update you with what they are worth. In fact, I might update you with any interesting deals he arranges, (again, even if I don't choose to sell them).

He's actually worth £6.25M after moving to China and they are paying him just over £3M per year. Yeah, I would have gone too. 

He's ok, (but he's no centre-half), but he's not worth that money. Good luck to him. Hope he smashes it. 

 

4 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Transfer update. May 2042. 

I noticed that the DoF has arranged a clause for Gagne (ROM) * so I had a look to see what it was he had agreed. 

This is a no-brainer and I have absolutely no idea how the DoF pulled this off. He's worth £6.5M and 25% of that is £1.625M so we have effectively got twice the value of the deal. We've got more by this 1 clause than we got for the initial deal. 

Initial deal. £1,900,000
Installments. £625,000
25% sell on clause. £3,240,000

Sub-Total. £5,765,000

And we still have a number of deals outstanding. 

Transfer clauses. Aug 2042.

David Goode (ENG) * was sold to Bristol City for £4.3M. He's now valued at £18.75M after playing a year in the Premier League, (although Bristol City were relegated). 

The 25% re-sale clause is worth £4.73M and that's more than we got for the initial deal. While it's good money, we don't actually need the cash right now because I think the 25% is going to be worth significantly more than £4.73M in the future. Although he has 4 years left on his contract, Newcastle are interested in buying him. He's a star player at Bristol City so I think they are going to have to pay over the odds if they want to get him. On this occasion I think I'm going to be leaving this £4.73M where it is and see how things develop. 

Johnson (IRL) SELL was sold to Birmingham 2 seasons ago for £1.4M and is now worth £6M.

He's got 2 years left on his contract, but nobody is interested right now and he's not playing brilliantly. I think I'm going to accept this deal because I can see him leaving on a free. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Big Bid. Aug 2042.

We've got £43M in the bank and a transfer budget of £19M and with Mazurek (SVN) having 4+3 years outstanding on his contract with no minimum fee release clause there is no rush to sell. I've set his asking price at £20M now and there is no way he's worth that. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jul & Aug 2042. 

Pre-season.

Domestic games. 

European games. 

We were in the group of 3rd seeds and it shows with 2 very big teams and Young Boys. 

Goal-scoring GK. Pajvot (CRO) started the season but missed a penalty against Caersws so was dropped. Stirling (SCO) came in and scored against Llanelli, but then missed the target completely away to Legia Warsaw so Pajvot (CRO) is back in goal again, (until the next miss). 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Summer Transfer window. Sep 2042.

You might remember that 12 months ago I was commenting that we now had 3 1st choice right backs and an Academy product who looked like he could develop nicely. I had too many options if anything. A year on, we sold Rhys Collier (WAL) * to Napoli for £5.75M, Shaun Baker (ENG) * went to Southampton for £5.25M and César (BRA) has just gone to Wuhan for £5M. It leaves us with only 20yo (39b) Michael Hewitt (ENG) * to play a lot of games. He's not good enough to be 1st choice right now and and there is only 1 of him, so it looks like a centre-half, (or a few centre-backs), will have to fit in. As I'm now using a CWB(a), it's really not ideal for a centre-back so maybe I will have to play a winger or attacking midfielder at CWB(a) instead.

Finances. 

Budgets.

 

Record.

 

Edited May 10, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Sep 2042. 

As usual I played an extra game. Sorry. 

Domestic games. I went with too weak a team against Barry Town and it cost us. When I pick our best team we will be a match for everyone, but the focus recently has been building for the future and as a result, (especially at the back), we have replaced very good players with younger players who aren't as good right now, but should become better players than those we originally had. In order to get them there though.... we have to play them. Hampson (ENG) is a good example of that, (although he is a striker). He's now 1st choice in the left sided striker role, ahead of (37a) McGoona (WAL) who scored 20 goals in an injury-interrupted last season and 21 goals the season before. While (37a) McGoona (WAL) is plenty good enough to play for us, the wide players especially are not goon enough right now in our 2nd team. Ominously, TNS are yet to concede a goal in the league where as we are conceding at a rate of about 1 goal per game. 

European games. 

Goal-scoring Keepers. I should have dropped Pajvot (CRO) after he missed a penalty in the 12-0 win, but he also scored another penalty, scored a free-kick and kept a clean sheet in that game so I just can't drop him. 

Finances. 

Records. 

[Thebaker]

i would think Goodman has the attributes to play as a CWB out of the above as he has good physicals and tackling along with reasonable attacking. I would simply play whoever has the most ability in that position as a better player will be worse for having less positional ability.

[Jimbokav1971]

1 minute ago, Thebaker said:

i would think Goodman has the attributes to play as a CWB out of the above as he has good physicals and tackling along with reasonable attacking. I would simply play whoever has the most ability in that position as a better player will be worse for having less positional ability.

I'm glad that someone commented on this. 

Because SI make the game and have introduced all these nice colours that show us who is suitable for a particular position, we assume that unless a player is a "natural", or at the very least some sort of green colour in a position, then he's going to be rubbish at playing there. 

The feedback in the game is that Yazzie (USA) would be an "extremely poor choice" to play in this position and the same would be said if I stuck Goodman (ENG) in there too. That's despite the fact that both players are "Accomplished" and green in the WBR role, (1 slot ahead of the DR position), but both initially had no ability, (no dot at all), in the DR role, although this has turned to a red dot after just 1 game. The suggestion is that Goodman (ENG),who is very similar to Yazzie (USA), is a much poorer choice to play in the DR position, (in whatever role), than the likes of (36j) Phil Mitchell LOAN who is a very poor quality player, but who is actually a "natural" DR. There is no comparison between these players. Either Goodman (ENG) or Yazzie (USA) are significantly better options to play absolutely anywhere than the likes of (36j) Phil Mitchell LOAN. I have seen people who are classed as "experienced" FM players on Twitch and Youtube make this mistake again and again and because they say it or do it, all their little followers just assume that it's true. 

Well it's absolute complete and utter Michael Ballacks! 

We are "trained", (trained isn't the best word but I can't think of a better one), indoctrinated maybe to just work on these coulour schemes, but I just ignore these. If I have a centre-half who is only 5'8" then I'm just not going to play him at centre-half no matter what. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Oct 2042. 

Domestic games. We've been in good form this month, culminating in the 4-0 demolishing of our big rivals TNS. Their form in the league has been excellent though and although they are still unbeaten in 10 games, they have finally conceded a goal. 

European games. I changed tact a little this month with regards to prioritising the European games. All I have to do is finish above Young Boys, (so a win a and a draw against them will do fine assuming they don't beat Chelsea or AC Milan), so with that in mind I am fielding a weakened squad in the games against the 2 big boys. The benefit of this is that we are obviously stronger in the league games. 

Goal-scoring Keepers. 

Finances. 

 

Edited May 11, 2020 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Where to play? Nov 2042. 

Alex Hall HG is one of the better players who has been poached and I managed to sign him when his contract expired at Spurs. He's obviously a decent player but he's only 5'10" and has a poor jumping attribute so is not really ideally suited to playing centre-half, (although I have done so). 

It looks like he has been played at right back at some point, (he's left footed), and while I think he might make a decent DL, I don't really need him there, (but I think he looks to have something about him). I think I need to get him working on his passing and use him as a central midfielder. 

[Thebaker]

24 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

It looks like he has been played at right back at some point, (he's left footed), and while I think he might make a decent DL, I don't really need him there, (but I think he looks to have something about him). I think I need to get him working on his passing and use him as a central midfielder. 

 

Would it not be better to use him as the rightback since he has the right attributes and can play there. Just work on his right foot - its a ppm

[Jimbokav1971]

3 minutes ago, Thebaker said:

Would it not be better to use him as the rightback since he has the right attributes and can play there. Just work on his right foot - its a ppm

I don't think his right foot is good enough to develop.

I don't really like playing wrong-footed inverted players, (although I do make the odd exception). 

I think because of that I don't want him to play right back even though its a problem are for us this season. 

I would happily play him at left back, but just don't need him, so considering the only reason I signed him was because he was a poached product of our Academy I have to find a space for him. He's not enough of a playmaker to play in the DLP role so that limits him in midfield, so I have actually been playing him at centre-half in games where I think we will dominate and he's not likely to cost us. 

I did also just play him against AC Milan, (in a rotated squad because I didn't think our 1st team were capable of winning), and we ran out 5-2 winners  with a couple of fringe players really performing well. He might have only won 3 of 9 headers, but he actually had a really good game. 

So I think that what I'm going to do is ask him to channel his inner Cannavaro and see how he gets on. Let's be honest, we are not playing at the highest level and if we ignor ehis lack of jumping ability he actually looks like a really good centre-half, and his speed is something that gives us a different dimension when he is playing, (with our very high line). I think I'm going to continue playing him at centre-half no after this Milan game, and just keep an eye on things and see how he gets on. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Nov 2042. 

Domestic games. 

European games.

Goal-scoring keepers. Pajvot (CRO) missed his 3rd penalty of the season in the last game against Newtown, and will now be replaced by Stirling (SCO).

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Intake preview. Dec 2042.

Another GK? 

We've had loads of decent GK's come through. I'm not saying they were brilliant but we've currently got 5 at the club who don't have a "." after their name so the suggestion is that they are decent. Not as good as the top 2, but decent nevertheless. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Dec 2042. 

Domestic games. 

European games. 

Goal-scoring keepers. 

 

Finances. 

Records. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Facilities. Jan 2043. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jan 2043. 

Domestic games. 

Goal-scoring keepers. 

Finances. 

Records. We played 5 games in the Nat MG Cup and kept 5 clean sheets. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Transfer window. Jan 2043. 

We went quite big in Jan, with 3 players each joining us for £3M and a 4th player joining us for £500,000.

I was delighted with the window until the last moments when the board accepted a deal for Louka (CYP) * of £5.5M rising to £11M. I didn't want to sell him but had used my protests on offers for other players. 

We have only spent £2M more than we have received and I have more players to sell in the Summer. 

The scout report suggested that Andersson (SWE) * had a better PA than this. I'm glad I didn't pay more than £500,000 for him. 

Downey (NIR) * MR is a "righty" who can only play on the left. I plan on changing that. He was signed because of his 5.0 PA.

We needed a right back and Bowden (ENG) * was the best I could find. He's better than "raw" but he's certainly a bit "basic". The scout report suggested that his PA was better than this, but he will do a job either way. I was desperate for a right back that hadn't played in the Euro Cup. 

Óskar (ISL) * is my favourite signing of the window. I REALLY like him. There is still significant room for growth, but I like the look of him. A LOT. 

Records. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Job Interview. Feb 2043.

What a perfect fit we would be, but they're not Welsh I'm afraid, so it's a no from me.