Jump to content

[FM20] Bringing Her Home


Earnie is God!
 Share

Recommended Posts

Bugger
20200907024724_1.thumb.jpg.07305b6324b40ee21e3f09b0e1783b56.jpg  20200907024759_1.thumb.jpg.cabdec41609c46784c4d39aded0243a3.jpg

No surprise that they are currently top of the Bundesliga. They have won that title 14 times in 15 seasons in this save.
Fair to say we got very unlucky with this draw. If only we could have had Marseille or Lazio instead.
20200907024932_1.jpg  20200907024902_1.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Replies 737
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

20200907024636_1.thumb.jpg.1399e6473de8a3bb2183360763bc7e37.jpg  20200907180801_1.thumb.jpg.1e2397d67e82a60a9ead609c451290bd.jpg

Interest turned into actual offers
20200907040818_1.thumb.jpg.7e49c4aa027fecb17789dcc205383bf9.jpg but he's not interested 20200907045214_1.thumb.jpg.1a067d0fb786a9eaaf389e90f381bdf6.jpg

Fernandez is useful and versatile but I need to cut down on the eight possible options we have at CM so might sell both
20200907040807_1.thumb.jpg.eedede3208df53b2e9c583490f29e121.jpg

I keep trying to sort out a formation/tactic that fits in as many of my CMs as possible but I've not been that successful in doing so.
Perhaps it's about time I sold 3 or 4 of them and settled on any of a shedload of tactical options I have saved that fits the rest of my squad

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

I've accepted bids for both Coulibaly and Fernandez. Couls doesn't want to go to China but we'll see if they can convince him. Otherwise, we'll put him in the shop window and see who comes-a-callin'
Cezar Washington has already left for Genoa and 33yo Thiago Almada has returned to his boyhood club Velez in Argentina, presumably to see out his career.
There we go, job done. Decisive Dean much better than Dawdling Dipstick Dean.

The tactic I will be mostly using is this one
20200907185225_1.thumb.jpg.237febfffbe44aba6f9d1a2d850738fc.jpg

Actually, not 'mostly' but always. No more tinkering, it's a solid tactic so will stick with it. Bosh!

Geistmeister is learning to play on the left wing and has been for a month or two now. Club leading scorer Murray can also play there while left footed McKenzie could play wide right instead of Russo.
Could be quite a bit of interchanging and they are all more than capable. The BBM isn't ideal for Jussan (or indeed Jones or Jobson, my other options) so may change that slightly. All of them can play AP on the left of the two.
Anocic can play the DM role as a backup option to Jeely  jelly Gabriel. Mardones and Armstrong will provide competition at RB and LB respectively.
Up and coming Drieb is decent backup to Jones in goal although not ideal.

Current standings
20200907191714_1.thumb.jpg.c26aade37121dedaf65aa568abb980e5.jpg  20200907191730_1.thumb.jpg.23a9748d7e2b8b8b1240472ce7175bf2.jpg

Let's see if we can keep up the pace at the top of the table and somehow get past Bayern in the CL

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

As expected, Coulibaly didn't want to go to China 20200907213315_1.thumb.jpg.799fd57b5c73be50cff418e7dcb124aa.jpg No problem, I'll use him here as my backup BBM.

Oops, too late, I've erm bought a new one 🤔😂
20200907220851_1.thumb.jpg.09a3b5a9fad4f5a1e3dbc84ebc945dda.jpg  20200907215526_1.thumb.jpg.f778d0aaa04beb8d2f35ab230015bd52.jpg

Fernandez did chase the money though and I can't really blame him
20200907185047_1.thumb.jpg.72db972e3c2714e80875e5fe63a2a24f.jpg  20200907192756_1.thumb.jpg.4a02dafbcf03a5fd10c3bde8ded25d91.jpg  20200907192807_1.thumb.jpg.a869082404dd11d7ec4cd75884b18dad.jpg

At the start of the month we also signed a decent LW but it didn't go down too well with the supporters :(
20200907190702_1.thumb.jpg.082f4572555f5003d7af57f04cd540fc.jpg
20200907190706_1.thumb.jpg.5ac96ba3e90667fb3b67901e70c6a6f1.jpg  20200907190709_1.thumb.jpg.812d09abe2162c09a582fd9faed95fb5.jpg  20200907190713_1.thumb.jpg.a2e6112ce58b97597e8992a5eb8721fe.jpg

OK so he's 23 and not a kid but there's definite room for him to grow and I'm going to prove the fans wrong; he's going to be a good signing, you'll see ;)
20200907190744_1.thumb.jpg.4132457128fa3e5f9c2ae431e6a4de5f.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves

20200907192357_1.thumb.jpg.72cc77877396a0dc4cccabdf1f28cd6d.jpg We eased past Reading and were drawn with Doncaster in the 5th round 20200907220359_1.thumb.jpg.ca77dc875f9bee09fe1582651bfb07df.jpg

That's the same League One side who dumped us out of the EFL Cup in October and, the last time we met 8yrs ago, also kicked us out of the FA Cup.
20200907222259_1.thumb.jpg.bdc3f1ba90d707b9493e2776e3b2b21f.jpg
So revenge is definitely on the cards and I'm going to be playing a full strength side to try and get us into the QF for only the third time in our history.

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

January transfer window and just the two signings for us, as previously mentioned. The three we sold late on were kids who were unlikely to make it
20200907234118_1.thumb.jpg.4c140c07cb4c65dc60e21b4fd882947b.jpg

Man City spent big on the final day or two, bringing in some major reinforcements. I checked their squad to see if that meant they were offloading anyone but the only two they were weren't up to much

20200907233957_1.thumb.jpg.f979dd7c915394163e0c848e45b82fe0.jpg So once again we've recouped far more than we've spent in a season but if the right player isn't there, I'm not going to buy just anyone.

Current table and our form is good but so is that of the others around us
20200907235114_1.thumb.jpg.495b0d0010c5ff446febfecefb814da3.jpg 20200907235305_1.thumb.jpg.193d935121135bd45dc8183fefc37b3a.jpg 20200907235323_1.thumb.jpg.03700ffcf2c4c375def55ec1ef8f129c.jpg

We're unbeaten since a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal in November where we went down to 10 men but our latest match, a 1-1 draw at Chelsea was a bit fortunate as they were much the better side.
Still, I'll take the unbeaten run and will rotate the squad a bit over the next week or two, trying to concentrate on the double header v Bayern

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

We've gone top of the league but had to dig in deep against Palace. After going 3-0 up, I made some changes due to playing Everton a few days later and then the big one v Bayern.
We then went down to 10 and then 9 men as two players suffered injuries.
Palace scored twice but we held on for the win which sent us to the top of the pile.
The bad news is that my LB Mardones and top scorer McKenzie are both out for around a month :(

20200908013749_1.thumb.jpg.40d073246d31525b3465c6a8d1e71abf.jpg 20200908013859_1.thumb.jpg.5d277721be5e32af41170da315a28dbd.jpg

Palace GK Paulo Luis channelled his inner Karius by gifting us a goal to put us 2-0 up :D
20200908013221_1.thumb.jpg.712a0d9d18e1a2c7304cb09c359ecbad.jpg  20200908013222_1.thumb.jpg.f6061b912b3baf8f2e65132631b60cbe.jpg  20200908013225_1.thumb.jpg.78ae9fd0ce46cf56e03d34f743bad872.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Sometimes I just don't understand this game.
The fans and board are both still unhappy about me signing Laerte. I get it, you don't rate him for some reason.
But why the complaints about how much he cost?
20200908031156_1.thumb.jpg.9f17a674b6e7d57a1fa4d21ba6cd2a21.jpg
20200908025636_1.thumb.jpg.0bf3eb4a717adb5bf429530b6233b43a.jpg  20200908025717_1.thumb.jpg.1c1c630578dfbbb4e014a55f3521aa06.jpg

£2.4m with zero in add-ons so no hidden fees/clauses there. He's already valued at £9.75m, that's up £1m from when I first signed him
20200908025725_1.thumb.jpg.e0bfca9f7680f25795e3104258e95df6.jpg

Not only that, he's come to our rescue during our injury crisis and bagged the winner v Villa, playing on the right wing where he really isn't accustomed to, and earned himself the MoM award
20200908025759_1.thumb.jpg.afc374d1bea214f30f4e1695205195ca.jpg

They'll be singing his name soon if he keeps that up. Stupid FM

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

We've continued our great form in the league and are now 5pts clear of Liverpool but they have a game in hand. Man City are a further point behind but have played two games fewer.
We're looking great for top four at least :)

20200911002840_1.thumb.jpg.c557bc2bd25c5dabd700d41eb0332fac.jpg

But how will we fare against German giants Bayern? Well, we came away from the Allianz Arena with a well earned 1-1 draw but the 2nd leg was going to be tough as we were missing four players through suspension/injury.
The first half we played superbly by not allowing them a sniff, but at the other end we couldn't quite put the ball in the net.
Then again, if we didn't concede then we didn't need to score after getting our away goal in the 1st leg.
Into the last 10min and I'd made my subs, bringing the GeistMesiter on up front.
Then this happened...
20200911001539_1.thumb.jpg.eff3f37761a9c1dc450085449b3b37df.jpg  20200911001540_1.thumb.jpg.b1a564a193f5163bc18eaa7e0c0d70c3.jpg
20200911001540_2.thumb.jpg.2acf58d84db6fcfa970b2c7ef9f0826d.jpg  20200911001541_1.thumb.jpg.bc12621dbaf955a2a75d634398962e56.jpg  20200911001542_1.thumb.jpg.fddc4435a806002d3453b0b6bf903649.jpg
20200911001543_1.thumb.jpg.a9c2af94af037b27d71e44279ca27f2f.jpg  20200911001631_1.thumb.jpg.b541c14e9a987b1af260aa3ca0f4ab5b.jpg

Into the QF! :D
Some impressive turnaround results in the other games

20200911001817_1.thumb.jpg.63096cb8dbadd273d0eb8abd570dc130.jpg
20200911002718_1.thumb.jpg.bf5296d35914d90134720dd4b2fc8762.jpg                                 20200911002743_1.thumb.jpg.e2ef8dcfa433c94c56b8de888c31ba15.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

:D
20200911010238_1.thumb.jpg.8e195db56189b85890fd9a50f73a2afe.jpg

We play the winners of the Watford v Spuds FA Cup replay too so I'm off on a scouting mission to take a look at our opponents.
Watford win the game 1-0 but I don't really see anything there to worry me too much

20200911014058_1.thumb.jpg.04aa07bb5b573b2457bf3b51fe01de17.jpg but of course the game doesn't understand why I'm there 🙄 20200911014124_1.thumb.jpg.5c7f05956f52da3b569a2af361afa5ab.jpg

We are in the QF of the CL, QF of the FA Cup, top of the league. Spuds are in 12th so of course I want that job. Stupid FM

Link to post
Share on other sites

Liverpool probably our main rivals for the title now but can't rule out Man City just yet. If we finish lower than 3rd then something has seriously gone wrong
20200911032020_1.thumb.jpg.eae0c90f71abe6ce35fa66302014a5ae.jpg

Champions League Quarter Final teams: Ajax, Chelsea, Inter, PSG, Real Madrid, Roma & Valencia.
None are going to be easy opponents but you'd expect no less at this stage
20200911032508_1a.thumb.jpg.2b7267e9d5cef8bdbceba0a8463975b1.jpg

We end up with Chelsea, 1st leg at our place, not really liking that tbh. If we get past them then it's Real Madrid/Roma in the semis 🤔
20200911032726_1.jpg 20200911032840_1.thumb.jpg.50e1129834f3fb537995754d5f20c372.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Things going very well in the league still
20200911035511_1.thumb.jpg.816b6d3a525030fbb732d18f45a5c9a3.jpg

And we turn our attentions to the EURO Qualifiers
20200911042455_1.thumb.jpg.a214b3fd7b25fc8b71e243641bc24e53.jpg

Kosovo are apparently the weakest team in our group but we only come away with a 0-0 draw
20200911042409_1.thumb.jpg.a78e86aa097ee7f903aa92c4ee1d6b45.jpg  20200911042536_1.thumb.jpg.bd0473d36404cd40fdf482cbe4e27ce0.jpg

Again it's mixed messages from FM though as apparently it's Kosovo who were frustrated by the draw and we came away from the match 'in good spirits'.
Yet the pre-match and then post-match talk and reaction was all about how big a favourite we were to win the game. More FM nonsense tbh

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Talk of the Toon

We lost our first game in 5 months, 1-0 at home to Newcastle who are in the bottom half 🙄
20200911145449_1.thumb.jpg.b57b22228ea15866e6dbb4aa794e9dcd.jpg  20200911145531_1.thumb.jpg.41ac8120fb81c7c6bc54d2a470a07c75.jpg
20200911150125_1.thumb.jpg.1aa826ce43a52e9f04e373b4ff13add6.jpg

We didn't really create anything and couldn't break them down even when they went down to 10 men late on. Hugely disappointing.
Adding to that, we've got a fresh batch of injuries that might cost us in the CL too
20200911144556_1.thumb.jpg.9e1217a7e3a43d8cf4f47944ae8cf93b.jpg  20200911144607_1.thumb.jpg.99983bbb1883d3d79666e8b0d1a19c64.jpg

The curse of the Manager of the Month award?
20200911143231_1.thumb.jpg.5d851cbc518113c70867f546430b6f12.jpg  20200911142927_1.thumb.jpg.cdb044fad3d754ca89f641ef475d99df.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

I've successfully convinced this decent young striker to turn down England and commit to Wales
20200911035722_1.thumb.jpg.fb6bdb272007d2a74e49ce1fdb3f6932.jpg  20200911035720_1.thumb.jpg.89af1d88bce4f00cd720c08c379a9d56.jpg  20200911035738_1.thumb.jpg.edb5122a0f8b1089b7117e1185042aa5.jpg

However, I know that if I don't get him in the squad and play him, there's always a chance he'll change his mind and switch back.
Had that happen to me once already with someone else, can't let it happen again

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Youth Intake 2035

Well, it looks like we have at least one or two really good prospects this year. I'm not sure how, with the best youth setup in the land, we never really do well in this but hopefully the improvement will continue.
I'd love nothing more than to be able to field a starting XI completely made up of home grown talent but that's probably a long way off.
Just two or three stars would be nice
20200911151745_1.thumb.jpg.b43884b300d2cee5c1dba1c437901ac8.jpg

I'm pinning my hopes on this trio
20200912045010_1.thumb.jpg.3e961c2f2b37ae73347c3ea5874b0d1c.jpg  20200912045026_1.thumb.jpg.fb0fe88d8110b5283a88f94f3efa4078.jpg  20200912045315_1.thumb.jpg.ea1c120f432d2fc690afdbe83b2d8896.jpg

I especially like the look of Williams and think he could turn into a top midfield in time.

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

The Late, Late Show

Hosted by Murray & Jussan

20200912041257_1.thumb.jpg.2d553eb32a436ffea8c3bc06b783cd8a.jpg  20200912041315_1.thumb.jpg.31fb345b3a51d91af274f70950278fd9.jpg  20200912043503_1.thumb.jpg.9f7cbb1becd807b21b9d328cfe306217.jpg

So we take a 1-0 lead into the 2nd leg in London thanks to a 91st minute strike by Steve Murray.
Three days later we faced Watford in the league and it took another late effort to come away with all 3pts and keep us in the title hunt.
20200912043545_1.thumb.jpg.1fea78a517e0a1a55b8adaa7562665e3.jpg

20200912042310_1.thumb.jpg.390805e11b002314dcc68328287f9fc7.jpg
20200912042316_1.thumb.jpg.65ce5e97eac3382e67b499be5473ab1d.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Goals galore in our Champions League 2nd leg at Chelsea
20200912055838_1.thumb.jpg.e7fd4f42e8edd972026c76496a0423a0.jpg  20200912055840_1.thumb.jpg.e4e061dda98f12900e26bca0437ff7e4.jpg  20200912055841_1.thumb.jpg.8c2bdd9566101217b5e9212b6672bc8b.jpg

Just 12min in and we go 1-0 up, 2-0 on aggregate, after a fine cross from Jussan and a well directed header by Russo.
In a first half of few chances for either side, there were still two more goals however...
20200912055937_2.thumb.jpg.649489f10b5526ca36aba6a5efc899ae.jpg  20200912055940_1.thumb.jpg.98952b6a0c0b88fde2fca0e7b6f98933.jpg  20200912055941_1.thumb.jpg.077d86ec6d7e4e32e960dcca38367dd7.jpg

Another cross from Jussan and another headed goal, this time a brilliantly placed effort from CB Giannelli.

20200912060021_2.thumb.jpg.769080495ff2740e54485dbc30f34657.jpg  20200912060024_1.thumb.jpg.84f0f6f4db52bb6478e186bf40b8dd68.jpg  20200912060024_2.thumb.jpg.483f1e9e992feac32e2dd63af8f57e27.jpg
It's that man Jussan again, a third great delivery into the box and Giannelli with his 2nd of the game in 1st half stoppage time.

A quite stunning 4-0 aggregate lead for us at half time then, our 3 goals on the night coming from just 5 shots on target.
We had also kept it pretty tight at the back; Chelsea had 6 shots but none of them too threatening.
Would the 2nd half be any different? I can tell you that the goals just kept on coming...

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

10min into the 2nd half...
20200912060132_1.thumb.jpg.2dee8477c5bf30893b975bc345430d17.jpg  20200912060134_1.thumb.jpg.3e258d6a4147eb79a9387cf738a7f173.jpg  20200912060136_1.thumb.jpg.f9ff55caefde45eea25b6616dedc34fa.jpg
20200912060137_1.thumb.jpg.0a7af13905bc3ebfbf777f109ba970ee.jpg  20200912060138_2.thumb.jpg.92f92d2337d2dc7ccbb1b20e91acb3f2.jpg

I think my defenders were closer with this attempted 'high five' than they were to tackling Correa 😒
20200912060143_1.thumb.jpg.d061127480582fbfb653b822e322d61d.jpg

Still, we were 4-1 up overall and Chelsea would need to score five to knock us out. Surely that couldn't happen, right?
20200912060344_1.thumb.jpg.b690cd473b07f8fa1a4dd2c8dee3d09b.jpg  20200912060346_2.thumb.jpg.1a6487c2e5b2b1e4a0b923d60aad3d17.jpg  20200912060348_2.thumb.jpg.096e3129fcb3ed05c62051d090af1422.jpg
20200912060350_2.thumb.jpg.60971f5432f8b4e962afde144d06af7c.jpg  20200912060351_2.thumb.jpg.b3fef134e642615a237a1890f2f1d557.jpg

3-0 up and coasting became 3-2 and I'm a little worried with still 10+ minutes to go.
And I was right to be concerned...
20200912060425_1.thumb.jpg.3dde75088dba5d3554029ade9d646862.jpg  20200912060426_2.thumb.jpg.c823fd7073bf349d3db4b7525ced837c.jpg  20200912060428_1.thumb.jpg.483f0c82af2f1ed0bf406731fc74936e.jpg

That was the 83rd minute and still time for Chelsea to score the two more goals they needed.
Thankfully for us, we held out
20200912060502_1.thumb.jpg.b39f1ac8b339c3ef74f5437fad6c510b.jpg

Real Madrid in the semi finals for us then, what a game!
20200912060548_1.thumb.jpg.a37d771916c494e3743740850b6eebe8.jpg  20200912060637_1.thumb.jpg.2fd0c455ecff8f85668ff73b753fa330.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Looking at our remaining fixtures, we've got a hell of a run coming up...
20200912064957_1.thumb.jpg.72331bc29da0c7fe4c0800e8297c4f93.jpg

FA Cup SF v Everton followed by Man U & Liverpool away in the league, and then Real Madrid in the CL sandwiching Man City!
We are still on for a magnificent treble but could also just as easily end up with nothing
20200912064836_1.thumb.jpg.b15157b71e44bc83c6c0b9e12cd638a9.jpg        20200912065702_1.thumb.jpg.cf01e2909b96c291970661ad03e248f9.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

I've been off all day today but had lots to do e.g. washing, hoovering, cleaning up, that kind of crap that men hate to do and always leave it until it's completely necessary.
e.g. I had to turn my socks inside out for work yesterday as had no clean pairs 😲😁🧦
So yes, was about time. Am off tomorrow too so am going to get some games in tonight, hopefully finish off this season, and then do all the pre-season stuff tomorrow.
That's the plan anyway

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

FA Cup semi final against Everton was our next game and they made things slightly easier for us when they had a man sent off in the very first minute.
I decided to try and exploit the space and instructed our players to attack wider, pass it a bit longer and use that space available to us.
The breakthrough came after 20min and by half time we'd managed 17 shots but still just the one goal.
I wasn't too concerned though as we'd stopped them from creating anything.
Late in the game, a fine strike from outside the area by Jobson settled the game and sent us into our first ever FA Cup final!
20200915002133_1.thumb.jpg.bb5abfe492a61f286a22503d7e8a27a5.jpg and it's Man U in the final! 20200915005043_1.thumb.jpg.44d615e6fab61f475b31d55c868ada39.jpg

Meanwhile in the league, Man City went top in what was now pretty much a 3-horse race as Chelsea dropped points at London rivals Arsenal
20200915002553_1.thumb.jpg.78130d2c846b510038eebea17590e824.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Next up for us is a trip to Man U in midweek and then Liverpool at the weekend.
I've tried to give my players plenty of rest in between games, we just have to keep it together for the next month or two.
We are unbeaten in 14 away games, the last 10 (W6 D4) with our current tactic, including tricky ties at Chelsea, Everton, Bayern and Spuds, so I'm quietly confident we can get the job done.
But these, followed by Real Madrid, Man City and Madrid again are the games that will define our season.
20200915003928_1.thumb.jpg.00d3232492e6d2a1c49f5dd491164127.jpg

Our home form isn't too shabby either ;)
20200915004814_1.thumb.jpg.3ecd0a092e752ae8d587878747bef41d.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

A bit lucky to escape with a draw. They had a glorious chance at the death but Alfinete put it wide with the goal at his mercy.

20200915014159_2.thumb.jpg.3c764a9b22befb1cb331d350c6b9cd34.jpg  20200915014200_1.thumb.jpg.5d7b171b0b76f1c3f19a7613604e4215.jpg  20200915014201_1.thumb.jpg.9056c39e7513c1ff9b15e42fe649ad27.jpg

20200915013940_1.thumb.jpg.dafb31ed7ef6d6e725f051eb3d8ec97b.jpg

Liverpool were 1-0 down at Spuds but rallied to take all 3pts and go top in yet another change of league leaders
20200915013927_1.thumb.jpg.a383a2f5a25438f40ee0462cf7d4e09e.jpg

Anfield awaits on Saturday

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

A game of two halves in Liverpool. They took two of their chances in the first half to lead 2-0.
I felt I had no choice but to ditch the formation that had served us so well until now and went more attacking with two up front.
After a lacklustre opening half, we created plenty of chances in the 2nd 45 and in the 78th minute pulled one back
20200915021601_1.thumb.jpg.a15604cceb37ee0a97c634a23c482555.jpg  20200915021602_2.thumb.jpg.7f50ceffaf3bd9203f905f9e9c7e413f.jpg  20200915021604_1.thumb.jpg.07ad65de24c331360a1523b67c7cd6f1.jpg

We then proceeded to hit the woodwork twice and managed 14 2nd half efforts but it wasn't to be
20200915022734_1.thumb.jpg.fcb94a8c9edcc196a7c3c7fe20d8eaa9.jpg  20200915021744_1.thumb.jpg.eea81f2fd659d1a444bf5979a5022c1d.jpg

Man City ripped Watford a new one to pull 4pts clear of us in 2nd. The title's slipping away! 😭
20200915022121_1.thumb.jpg.2c10c5a24dab9c2475a55782920f2945.jpg

And I really don't care about either of these two articles
20200915022129_1.thumb.jpg.670980fe3719752374bb38cd6ee4e70c.jpg  20200915022133_1.thumb.jpg.d686b0d6cc3079046df6dea9fc2278f4.jpg

But we have no time to feel sorry for ourselves. Real Madrid are in town in just a few days and we desperately need to bounce back.

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Just the 49 areas of strength for Real then, and 4 weaknesses 😒
20200915023812_1.thumb.jpg.5ff6714d0ed8b04a512387739048e42b.jpg                               20200915023902_1.thumb.jpg.9aa17784d40eccadf5b293aa8f6516a0.jpg

We've finished in the top four in 3 of the last 4 seasons, winning the title once too, so of course I was fully expecting this message
20200915023733_1.thumb.jpg.2e7344025978264838e5002470a3aa8e.jpg

Stupid FM

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Champions League Semi Final 1st leg

Another rather dull first half in terms of chances but there were still 3 goals before the interval. First up...
20min in and RB Jean Carlos spotted McKenzie free in the area and put a delightful cross into the box
20200915030044_2.thumb.jpg.ae8886a64cd4d84570f16bca43c1be23.jpg 25-goal top scorer McKenzie powered a header towards goal 20200915030045_1.thumb.jpg.b2e8acefb12ad0c03c695a72531305e2.jpg

Dupuy, in goal for Real Madrid, did his best impression of the one-armed man from The Fugitive (one for the older fans there) and used his stump to knock it into the net
20200915030045_2.thumb.jpg.df6e4f06df5f913d4db51ddc25d99d21.jpg

In the 38th minute, an off the ball incident in the penalty area gave McKenzie the opportunity to double his tally and he made no mistake with a coolly slotted finish
20200915030141_1.thumb.jpg.35f907d72432c6eda96410bb23222af7.jpg  20200915030142_3.thumb.jpg.43dfcef2cff98d566f1979b0a19b0c79.jpg  20200915030144_1.thumb.jpg.cbe935eb487045974bf63e78ce5afe03.jpg

With our fans still celebrating in the stands, VolleyedOffHisShinski stepped up to curl an exquisite free kick around and over the wall and into the back of the net
20200915030159_1.thumb.jpg.17fd0bc5c0721cf3a4c08d4082ae88b0.jpg  20200915030201_2.thumb.jpg.4c46dd6c6923f06519da3d0e7972e625.jpg  20200915030204_1.thumb.jpg.af1f18a7a6833c2635ad416fdc3f2759.jpg

With 12min gone in the 2nd half and no action to speak of, I decided to switch up the formation to the two up front again in the hope if had the same effect as last time out @ Liverpool.
I only had to wait 10 minutes for something to happen and it was that man McKenzie again.
20200915030612_1.thumb.jpg.ea8f605578578e5f436376592faf9e7d.jpg Gotfred sent him clear into the box onto his favoured left foot 20200915030612_2.thumb.jpg.424d6cad955c282197ee1d5f4af31013.jpg

Could he score a Champions League hat-trick? Of course he could! He squeezed the ball past one-armed man into the far corner
20200915030614_1.thumb.jpg.eb29cc8b501e0a1af0453b255f48e3a4.jpg

With 5min to go, fans' favourite McKenzie came off to rapturous applause and we saw the game out to take a 3-1 lead to Spain.
Should we hold them off over there then we may well be playing another Spanish club in the final
20200915030829_1.thumb.jpg.585bcbebb160991e91f5f4d2c49de761.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Now for complete rest for 2 days before taking on Man City at home. We might have a game in hand but we are 4pts behind them and simply have to beat them if we are to keep our treble hopes alive.
I need to decide whether to stick with the 4-1-4-1 tactic that has been so fruitful the 2nd half of this season or switch to the 4-4-2 diamond one that we've changed to in the 2nd half of the past two games that definitely creates more.
I think I'll start with the 4-1-4-1 and if we aren't producing many opportunities then change to the 4-4-2.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Down To The Wire

We desperately needed a win over Man City and I stuck with the 4-1-4-1 system, knowing that whilst we might not create too much with it, it will stifle City's creativity too.
Midway through the first half, it paid dividends
20200915142337_1.thumb.jpg.c20ea006ea3aaf224c8eb0220df4a6b9.jpg  20200915142339_1.thumb.jpg.ca1f2ad8cdc55fdbaf9e325bc019c5f3.jpg  20200915142339_3.thumb.jpg.741b68096f3642a67ca200f7153b55d9.jpg

Very pleasing to be 1-0 up at HT but we mustn't think the job is done.
We came out firing in the 2nd half and had the chance to double our lead almost straight away.
Russo put the defenders off with his Frankenstein's Mummy impression
20200915142534_1.thumb.jpg.c822b2b5f885721e07a8b6446ef15bec.jpg

Russo whipped the ball in to GeistMeister who stole in ahead of the defender and doubled our lead
20200915142534_2.thumb.jpg.b6f394959b80fe2322ec6c03cc2ccdd8.jpg        20200915142536_1.thumb.jpg.a44420b62104b4c3ddb77440dec477de.jpg

We managed to control the game and held them at bay for a well deserved win
20200915142814_1.thumb.jpg.a6b0079f9433539e95e055b38ecc587c.jpg With Man U playing Liverpool tomorrow, it's very tight at the top 20200915142933_1.thumb.jpg.9a4909bd293acdce49377b5b39b2cd4b.jpg

20200915142953_1.thumb.jpg.6eee3cec13cc324bc3323bdbc537d94c.jpg20200915143000_1.thumb.jpg.0b6acd1ebca06cc7fb6588590104b40a.jpg

£773m transfer kitty? I might spend it one of these days

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, what do we have here? The Mancs inflicted only the 3rd defeat of Liverpool's season and it means that if we can win at Leicester (7th) and then at home to Arsenal (8th) and Wet Spam (20th) we'll be the champions. That's still a big if though.
Liverpool are at home to Watford who are fighting for survival then have to play Everton at Goodison on the final day. I'm sure the Bluenoses would love to wreck Liverpool's title chances.
City's final two matches are against mid-table sides Soton (H) & WBA (A).
20200915151006_1.thumb.jpg.4c53a8e1fc6673fe9fe4207f187cb132.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

It didn't start well for us in Madrid. Real were putting us under a lot of pressure early on and we paid the price in the 14th minute for failing to clear a corner
20200915161120_1.thumb.jpg.d6fbbc4a3d9516e202ed9759003cbe86.jpg  20200915161121_1.thumb.jpg.acedd66e899ce04b015add3d3adb5d3c.jpg  20200915161121_2.thumb.jpg.9e956d08a611715e9ed37fed24911ca1.jpg

Jean Carlos credited with a rather unfortunate own goal
20200915161123_1.thumb.jpg.cbcc0cc0f3464c77d0ccb50723ffab5c.jpg

They weren't creating a great deal though and we knew that a 1-0 loss would still see us through, 3-2 on aggregate.
However, I wasn't accounting for this dreadful mistake from Conte shortly before half time.
Gotfred had won the ball back from Vigano and played it inside to our Italian midfield maestro
20200915161251_1.thumb.jpg.2ae6ba49f6b6bd6b722005ff59256bd9.jpg

I can't really explain what was going through Conte's head when he then decided to turn around and loft a ball across the edge of our own penalty area
20200915161252_2.thumb.jpg.dd1764629a8b731ead11969559bd6a28.jpg With our defenders already starting to clear the area, the only player switched on was Pons 20200915161254_1.thumb.jpg.affd9b5283854274a771b7e1b8450d0d.jpg

He connected with a sweet volley
20200915161254_2.thumb.jpg.ab8ef68129b77fb7b26f8db4175567de.jpg  20200915161254_3.thumb.jpg.2213e0735ed64ac3b398179d3a18bb09.jpg  20200915161255_1.thumb.jpg.c2a5fecb9b6ead7ddfa27c7c9a646e40.jpg

and there was nothing that Jones in goal could do about it
20200915161256_1.thumb.jpg.7d381561308a696206b446252b686478.jpg

2-0 down at HT and currently going out on away goals. We need to find somethign in the 2nd half
20200915161315_1.thumb.jpg.b63c753446ae889ae73167869c68c97b.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

I changed up to the 4-4-2 diamond formation, pushed McKenzie out to the left side of midfield and brought Murray on up top to partner The GeistMeister.
This seemed to produce more chances for us but that wasn't difficult seeing as we only had two shots, none on target, in the 1st half.
It was a risk sacrificing our top scorer's ability up front to play him in midfield but tbh I don't have any natural LMs in the squad so he was the best option.
It also meant that Conte, despite not being match fit, had to stay on the pitch and play AM with Coulibaly making way for Murray.
Turns out it was a masterstroke as Conte, eager to make up for his mistake for their 2nd goal, broke free...
20200915161454_2.thumb.jpg.de82843e230f0b2823945ab81c3cc13a.jpg

20200915161456_1.thumb.jpg.955db59556b0d8827845582cbb4ec7d4.jpg cut inside and laid it off to McKenzie 20200915161457_1.thumb.jpg.5b91f90f0cb4454031874ce92586d1a1.jpg

He then gave the 'keeper the eyes and drove it towards the opposite corner
20200915161458_2.thumb.jpg.093dfd66d95815f2848b5c38af020331.jpg  20200915161459_2.thumb.jpg.70025b9d2c19372cd05a847c94e621fe.jpg

But would it find the net or go just wide?
20200915161500_1.thumb.jpg.a966ebb431fe48e7cfbd61a7243980b1.jpg

Never in doubt :D
With 30min still to play, we now knew that even another goal for Real wouldn't knock us out without at least extra time.
As the minutes ticked down, it was very tense. With just 3min to go, the ball was in the back of the net once more...

Link to post
Share on other sites

It was another deflected effort that fell to the evergreen Alphonso Davies, now 34yo but still more than capable
20200915172017_1.thumb.jpg.0b91746f5f0f44e28c05c748c542d391.jpg Davies slotted it home to make it 3-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate 20200915161717_1.jpg.a2a7ff1cd91c9496c84f74c0d0a12e7a.jpg

I'd just made some defensive subs too to try and keep them out, and was now looking at how we were going to survive an extra 30min.
Extra time loomed...

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

But wait, what's this? Turns out he was miles offside and I hadn't even noticed :)
20200915161710_1.jpg.141f572c3d218d41bb86d62e72327b8f.jpg  20200915161716_1.jpg.c77604c29a0a03c40e6d44a2154f0a99.jpg

The last few minutes plus injury time seemed like they lasted forever but we held out and achieved another first for the club, a Champions League Final!!
20200915161739_1.thumb.jpg.7f784a7f3f07967622b982aae6b600d1.jpg   20200915161830_1.thumb.jpg.ed8274ef99caa6a0dc93ec5210596b53.jpg  20200915161847_1.thumb.jpg.1ae8d28c579b8d7207c4e4f4462f6cff.jpg

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

In the final, we'll be playing Valencia who beat Inter Milan 1-0 both home and away
20200915161842_1.jpg.5c926face44e2bd4a0d3445daf102606.jpg

There's a new format for the Club World Cup as it is now every 4yrs and more teams are involved. Turns out we've qualified for that now too, just by making the CL final
20200915161911_1.thumb.jpg.7d19a8bdf80837da247eb01bccdc76f2.jpg

Even better news for me is that the final itself will be played in my home town of Cardiff. Could it be an omen?
20200915161858_1.thumb.jpg.b1935e91263321dddb40b869a446d57f.jpg   20200915161913_1.thumb.jpg.e489ecd693684e3c0dfb07b3334d45d1.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

Just a reminder of our remaining fixtures
20200915175200_1.jpg.7ae8aee3afb0835eca9d80a6b67a9a5b.jpg20200915175201_1.jpg.60c534d7c3113cdf35ab2480b3dd37fb.jpg

I'm pleased it's not a WC or EURO tournament year, otherwise these finals would have been squeezed in midweek somewhere.
Instead, we do have a week to prepare for each one and our players really need the rest.
Speaking of rest, the starting XI has been given two more days off training so that they are good to go at Leicester this weekend.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Out-Foxed

It might be too simplistic to say that two games a week for what seems like forever has finally taken its toll on the squad but that's what it felt like.
We went down 2-0 at Leicester this evening and were never really in the game.
As usual, I started with the 4-1-4-1 formation and then switched at HT to 4-4-2 diamond as we had had just 2 shots and were 1-0 down.
20200915195405_1.thumb.jpg.f1649d777e4fa5c319f9157b26a0a75b.jpg  20200915195406_1.thumb.jpg.1091f3f351c76f9f34fbeae9cfd6b57f.jpg  20200915195408_1.thumb.jpg.bb6060c01f1292988e09d62fd08b104b.jpg

Jones saved the initial attempt
20200915195411_2.thumb.jpg.8489e9afe0029d1286c784aa828b7d39.jpg But De Giorgi, who Leicester bought from relegated Bournemouth, was first to react 20200915195412_1.thumb.jpg.222ab02edf1ebd3303c274acf83f461b.jpg
20200915195412_2.thumb.jpg.7ca51ce4e7175fd9a61e45c7c975d7cc.jpg and from a tight angle, slotted it home 20200915195413_2.thumb.jpg.3c548e971446a325b05308f35d3c2ddc.jpg
For the first time, changing the formation actually didn't really make any difference as we continued to be 2nd best.
As is FM20's wont, virtually any direct free kick on target seems to beat the GK and it was no different this time
20200915195625_1.thumb.jpg.448e5a237834e7cd74a3164b39ed5ed2.jpg  20200915195626_2.thumb.jpg.bdadf21e68fec5afad8681725defd9c6.jpg  20200915195628_1.thumb.jpg.6a87a8f7b6e6b48cd020e98ff85944c9.jpg

To make matters worse, both Liverpool and Man City won handsomely and so now the title is no longer in our hands.
20200915195826_1.thumb.jpg.73fd504eba162a9cfbc39761231b84e2.jpg  20200915195854_1.thumb.jpg.e8e5120ed785c57ce05232cc9faed008.jpg
First, we need to beat Arsenal in midweek, our game in hand, and then also spank Wet Spam whilst at the same time hoping that our two title rivals slip up.
Not looking likely :(
 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Of course it's important, I stress to my players, that we get off to a good start against Arsenal. Try and get that early goal and then hit them on the counter after that.
Control possession, I tell them. Nothing daft, I plead with them.
After just 25 seconds this happens
20200915202758_1.thumb.jpg.c718d115699e0144097a8439e81afea6.jpg  20200915202759_1.thumb.jpg.d6beff2b6f106ae5f9f3cf36070bb31a.jpg  20200915202800_1.thumb.jpg.68dd5b8994d767f549e81d9a09fb311a.jpg
20200915202800_2.thumb.jpg.9457c870942f325d5c9c0be1ad8ca823.jpg  20200915202801_1.thumb.jpg.84855234cf9d08e20106ec298cf7ceeb.jpg  20200915202801_2.thumb.jpg.dd5fc00d925124519ce02468f311b936.jpg
20200915202802_1.thumb.jpg.5ad6e3566040f83170066fad4da705c4.jpg  20200915202803_2.thumb.jpg.f7f2e339c7cd8274c930fc6bb0d70533.jpg

That's right, we are 1-0 down almost straight from the kick off :seagull:

Link to post
Share on other sites

20min later though and we are back on level terms
20200915202918_1.thumb.jpg.77c52f56290ae20a8e9c0e01aec2ca98.jpg  Referee Michael Oliver with his audition for The Walking Dead here :) 20200915202919_1.thumb.jpg.2098a63f3d1dd8835a73d21c980a79e0.jpg

20200915202922_1.thumb.jpg.19ab759cfd52c112f437ae6bee45886c.jpg  20200915202925_1.thumb.jpg.7f5690ed1e470066c56e8ef1b18ba674.jpg  20200915202926_1.thumb.jpg.29171f9195340dbf30190456994973ad.jpg

Less than 10min later and the same combination produced the same result
20200915203040_1.thumb.jpg.8fbcfcf9e0d73520300c22d770eb2efa.jpg  20200915203043_1.thumb.jpg.fc18b98a78babbac61ddf4df4aeb331d.jpg  20200915203046_1.thumb.jpg.2a5efeb6b6c67262ef99af33e3c2a218.jpg

2-1 up at HT then and that's how it stayed until late in the game

Link to post
Share on other sites

A few words of encouragement came out of my mouth at half time. "Lose this and I'll kill you all" was what was in my head though 👼
With legs tiring, I made a few subs and one of those, striker Steve Murray, set up Jean Carlos for this opportunity in the 84th minute
20200915203511_1.thumb.jpg.f4153d4b592c96a80ba9404340b0f17d.jpg  20200915203513_1.thumb.jpg.7694af7c210891f7f6a407629bf44c2d.jpg  20200915203513_3.thumb.jpg.fdf5bae793bd98cbab79de754100ddca.jpg

                 Get in!!
                   20200915203514_2.thumb.jpg.901f96954de9e049c4e1d40e1ac4cad3.jpg

Just 2min later, however, Arsenal were back in with a shout of taking something back home to London
20200915203608_1.thumb.jpg.410db61a10984b9679d3f33c934da95a.jpg  20200915203609_1.thumb.jpg.8b120b221b120b69619eab37a6009142.jpg

20200915203610_2.thumb.jpg.f5d8bf062843851b99f2c57b460df11d.jpg  20200915203610_3.thumb.jpg.401ebd635c1c6ce59cc52b467acdc0f6.jpg  20200915203611_1.thumb.jpg.53098598f9cef2479a3315031ce91c4e.jpg

A nervous last few minutes for us then, not for the first time this season, but we did hold on and gain the 3pts we needed
  20200915210339_1.thumb.jpg.6089176ed8a0c677078888c47afb1b41.jpg

Table going into the final match of the campaign
20200915204202_1.thumb.jpg.5545d25ded4cb1830b28b3c4c9f24683.jpg and final day fixtures 20200915204221_1.thumb.jpg.4de735f3a0d78f3aad6232415cd72059.jpg

We need to beat Wet Spam but, due to our inferior goal difference, we also require Everton to beat Liverpool and Man City to take no more than a draw from their match at WBA.
The Spammers beat Man U in their last game so, even though they are already relegated, this match might not be that easy for us.
We'll give it our best though.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 36min gone and it's been all us but we haven't got the breakthrough just yet 😨
  • Everton though have taken the lead through a 32nd min penalty :)
  • But in the 36th min Man City go 1-0 up at West Brom 😒
  • We go close in the 40th minute but, after a good build-up, the shot goes agonisingly wide. If we don't win here then the other results don't even matter. Currently 15 shots to none in our favour
  • 42min and WBA equalise v City :)
  • 43min and Liverpool equalise at Everton 😟

So all 3 games are level at the break. The WBA one is good for us but we need Everton to grab a winner and of course for us to win our game too.

Ah wait, apparently not. At the start of the 2nd half, it's just flashed up that City took the lead at WBA in 1st half injury time 😡

Edited by Earnie is God!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...