[FM20] Making a Silk purse out of a sow's ear

[Northernpilgrim]

The board are demanding another top 6 finish this season, but I want to see signs of progress. I want a minimum fourth place this season. I want to win the title with Everton before my current contract expires, and that will probably see the end of this save (if it happens)

[Northernpilgrim]

Only three league games in August, and with one of them being a trip to Old Trafford, seven points out of nine represents a decent return

and that was enough for fifth place. There are surprise early leaders though. 

[Northernpilgrim]

September wasn't great, and the Tottenham defeat was made worse by the fact we picked up two suspensions and an injury

but for now at least, we are in a Champions League spot

and are second in our Europa League group after 1 match, a visit to Leipzig next up

[Northernpilgrim]

October was worse, with only two wins from 5, and 1 from 3 in the Premier League

We dominated Brighton, but couldn't shake them off, and lost it to an own goal

absolutely battered St Johnstone without reward

and dropped two points when Brentford scored a late penalty

which left us clinging to a Europa League place in the Premier League

and with a battle on our hands to qualify in Europe too

[Northernpilgrim]

Unbeaten, and one match from perfect in November

But there is no way we should have drawn with Derby

and those two dropped points prevented us returning to the top four

but qualification from our Europa League group is assured with a game to spare, at home to RB Leipzig. A draw or win will see us top the group

[Northernpilgrim]

Boxing Day brought a second opportunity of an interview at Arsenal, as they have sacked Sergen Yalcin, who got it ahead of me last time

[Northernpilgrim]

Disappointing in December. I'm not even going to post the Brentford game, as most of you could work out what happened

but we do remain inside the top four

and finished top of our Europa League group

[Northernpilgrim]

On New Years Eve, Arsenal got back to me. This time they said yes.... and so did I

[Northernpilgrim]

and this is my squad. It's small, and there's no money to spend in January. The board want a top half finish, and that's my minimum target too

[Northernpilgrim]

A horrible first month in charge, with only 1 win and an early FA Cup exit

but we are somehow up into 10th place. That is the best we can hope for if this first month is any indication

[Northernpilgrim]

I made one signing in January

Gavin Bazunu ensures that we do at least have two competent goalkeepers

[Northernpilgrim]

A really tough February, with one point from three games, but they were very tough games

and that leaves the table like this

[Northernpilgrim]

After February's disaster, we were unbeaten in March

but it could have been more, as we should have taken 3 points at Brighton

and those 2 dropped points see us remain 11th, just short of our top half target.

[Northernpilgrim]

April was one match from perfect, but we were miles off it against Southampton

and we're 7 points clear of 11th place, so the top half finish is all but mathematically guaranteed

[Northernpilgrim]

We overcame a first leg deficit in the Europa League semi final to progress to the final, but won only one of our three Premier League games in May

and choked in the Europa League Final too, losing to a penalty

which meant no European football at all next season, as we ended up finishing 9th

[Northernpilgrim]

Here are the Arsenal end of season awards

and the season stats

[Northernpilgrim]

The review of what has been a bad season for Arsenal, although of course I only joined halfway through. I'm hoping for much better after a summer clearout

[Sheriff7]

11 hours ago, Northernpilgrim said:

We overcame a first leg deficit in the Europa League semi final to progress to the final, but won only one of our three Premier League games in May

and choked in the Europa League Final too, losing to a penalty

which meant no European football at all next season, as we ended up finishing 9th

 

Classic Arsenal in EL....

[Northernpilgrim]

5 hours ago, Sheriff7 said:

Classic Arsenal in EL....

Yep, went from having a shot at Champions League football next season to no European football at all with one mistimed tackle

[Northernpilgrim]

I set up a busy, challenging set of preseason friendlies, with a gimme against Gillingham to end in case we took any pastings on our tour of Europe. I needn't have worried, although I was disappointed to draw with Championship side Bournemouth

 

[Northernpilgrim]

I added four players in the transfer window, three permanent, one on loan

I was delighted to get a right back of Barker's quality

and Poli will be a useful backup at centre back

Kalinic will be no more than a backup in centre midfield, and I won't be making his loan permanent

and I signed Emilio for a second time. He's the best midfielder at the club

Which leaves the squad looking like this, with Rasmussen and Vitek making the step up to the first team from the U23s as well

 

 

[Northernpilgrim]

We did go unbeaten through August, but dropped points in two matches

despite absolutely battering Watford

and Brentford

and that sees us end the first month a point off top, when we should have ended it three points clear

[Northernpilgrim]

Unbeaten in September, but more costly points dropped

No complaints with the Newcastle game, very even match, could have won, could have lost it, but we were far better than Man Utd, and they snatched a draw with a late goal

and we are clinging on to a top four spot

[Northernpilgrim]

October was a nightmare, although we did end the month with two wins

Everton deserved the draw against us, no complaints, but the Tottenham defeat?

and that leaves the league table looking like this. We're a million miles from a top four team, never mind title challengers. I'll be lucky to survive the season, and if I don't, I'll call time on the save

The only bright spot is that the win against Wolves was the first time we conceded a goal and went on to win the match

Edited July 5, 2020 by Northernpilgrim

[Northernpilgrim]

One match from perfect in November, but we were well beaten by Man City

and that stopped us returning to the top four

[Northernpilgrim]

December was dire, and we endured a horrible run of games, scraping a draw with Norwich in a game we should have been looking to win, getting mugged late on by Liverpool after only taking the lead ourselves on 90 minutes, an inexplicable collapse against Tottenham, and throwing away a 2-0 lead at Southampton to take a pasting. We did finish the month with two wins, but...

Sixth is nowhere near good enough for the board, and well short of the top four place I had set as my minimum target this season (the board want a title challenge)

and as a result, my name is now on the first page in the job security list. I'm not going to last the season without a drastic upturn in fortunes

[Northernpilgrim]

January was solid, but in the circumstances, not good enough

as we conceded late to throw away two points against Man Utd

and conceded two late goals to lose the North London Derby, having had the three points within our grasp

to leave us outside even the Europa League spots. Those five dropped points would have seen us in third, with realistic ambitions to overhaul Chelsea for second. As it is, we face a battle just to make the European spots

[Nobby_McDonald]

You're struggling a bit with the Arse here Pilgrim.

[Northernpilgrim]

We made one signing in January, but only a loan deal. There were several departures, but no first team regulars

Hopefully Zagadou will tighten us up at the back for the rest of the season. 

[Northernpilgrim]

Unbeaten, but really disappointing in February

and we're up to 7th, but way off where we want to be

[Northernpilgrim]

March wasn't a terrible month, but in the circumstances, not good enough

and we absolutely should have beaten Norwich. We have thrown away so many games against weak teams that we have statistically dominated

and with a 10 point gap to the top 4, we can only make sure we hold on to our Europa League spot, and hope that's enough to convince the board to give me one more year

[Northernpilgrim]

April was another example of good but not good enough

and it's official that we won't be in the top four. We need to hold on to 6th and hope that's enough for the board

[Northernpilgrim]

We wrapped up the league campaign with three successive wins

which was enough to secure sixth place and Europa League football for next season

but despite winning 6 of the last 7 Premier League games, and steering us to the FA Cup Final, my job security is practically non-existent. I think that if I lose to Man City in the Cup Final, my Arsenal career, and this save, will be over

[Northernpilgrim]

Here are the lineups ahead of the FA Cup Final kickoff

and although we scored first, and took the game to extra time, I can't really argue with Man City winning, as they were clearly the better side

[Northernpilgrim]

Time to round up the season, starting with the club awards

and the stats

[Northernpilgrim]

The season snapshot, showing how a promising start quickly fizzled out, and couldn't be rescued with a good finish

[Northernpilgrim]

The day after the cup final, and the board want to see me. This isn't going to end well. I'll attend rather than face automatic dismissal, but I don't think I'll get another season

[Northernpilgrim]

They sacked me, and that ends my career and this save

[Northernpilgrim]

And these are my career stats. Disappointing. I'll be back, but I don't know when

[Nobby_McDonald]

Oh well Pilgrim. See you again soon!