Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 Review time Beginning with signings, only a couple made a decent impact Despite the terrible start, a great second half of the season secured Champions League football We did have a couple of big wins, one against Juventus Revenues were up, mainly due to us posting our best league finish in 6 years We had a few decent performers, but it's obvious that we didn't score enough, particularly before Christmas Nobody won a Serie A award, but Kiselev and Morando were the standout performers for us, although a few others were not far behind. And that's it. Time for the summer, contract renewals, player departures and arrivals. I'll be back once pre-season is done. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 I've been invited for an interview at Juventus (again). Despite them finishing below us, their better finances, and better recent record, mean I view it as a step up, so I'm attending Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 This time I got the job, and accepted This is the squad I've inherited Finances look very healthy and the club is certainly ambitious. This looks like being somewhere I'll be sticking around for a while, hopefully Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 9 minutes ago, Rikulec said: Boo. Lol! Sorry Rikulec. It's just that with the stated aim of the save being to top the World Hall of Fame, and the state of Milan's finances, plus board uncertainty (there were 2 takeover attempts during the season resulting in transfer embargos), I didn't think it was somewhere I wanted to stick around. Juventus are a different beast, and I am looking forward to putting right what went wrong last season. Milan haven't challenged for the title in almost 10 years, whereas Juve are perennial challengers. Inter will take some stopping though, they're insanely good now on my save. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 After my arrival, we made four signings, with four players leaving I finally signed Jose Angel to play at centre back He is joined by Martinez Stanislas Mbombo gives us another option up front and Lascaux comes in at right wing Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 15 Author Share Posted February 15 We go into the new season in decent form, with only 1 defeat, to my old club, Milan, and plenty of goals Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 15 Author Share Posted February 15 We had a great start to the league, racking up a big win on opening day and that left us top of the league at the end of August. Can we stay there? Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 Unbeaten, but frustrated, in September as we somehow threw away a win at home to Atalanta but stole a point against Lazio which did leave us top of the table, although several teams have a game in hand on us and we're on track to progress in the Europa League Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 Not good enough results-wise in October We should have beaten Sevilla away Deserved a point from a game against Spezia that before kick off, I was expecting to win and were utterly robbed at Bologna Somehow we're second, just 2 points off Inter and top of our Europa League group Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 A disappointing set of results in November but we were better than Napoli Significantly better than Parma and lost a game against Cittadella that neither of us deserved to win leaving us off the pace, and out of the European spots but still in with a chance of topping our Europa League group Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 (edited) One match from perfect in December and we didn't deserve to lose to Milan Not sure if this is a bug, or if my defender wants me sacked At least we're back in the top 4 and we won our Europa League group Edited February 17 by Northernpilgrim Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 Not a brilliant January, despite going unbeaten in the league as we were utterly robbed against Brescia Drew away at Frosinone in a game I expected us to win, but we didn't deserve any more than a draw Fiorentina will feel they deserved more than a draw and that leaves us outside the top 4, although we have a game in hand on all the teams above us except Inter Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 18 Author Share Posted February 18 One arrival, seven departures since the last window Striker Gavagnin joins on loan initially, but with a future transfer arranged Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 Almost perfect in February, the only game we didn't win was a deserved defeat to Inter and from nowhere, we're now up to second. We won't win the title, but staying in this position has to be the target from here Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 Youth intake time, and only 1 contract being offered this year Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 A perfect month in the league in March and the gap at the top is down to just 3 points. The only black cloud on the month is that Herve Lascaux broke his ankle against Cittadella, and his season is over Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 Another perfect month in the league in April, and we're through in the Europa League too and to of Serie A, but we've played a game more than Inter, and their goal difference is better than ours Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 May proved a step too far, as injuries started to catch up with us as despite going into the Brescia game top of the league, and still able to win 2 trophies, we went home empty handed Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 Time to round up a nearly brilliant season, with the season review Beginning with signings, most of whom were successful A slow start to the season ultimately cost us. 34 points from the last 39 available wasn't quite enough to pull off a title win The really memorable games, and big wins, came in Europe but playing in the Europa League hit the finances. We're back in the Champions League next season, which hopefully will see them improve Our team of the year. Solid performances all over the pitch and confirmation that Mbombo won the Golden Boot Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 Early June, and a job interview Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 I got the job Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 and this is the squad I've inherited The board are certainly not lacking ambition. This is where I will make or break my reputation. If I can't win multiple league titles and Champions Leagues here, I can't do it anywhere Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 Preseason went pretty well Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 We made three big signings, with lots of players leaving Jurevic comes in as a new backup goalkeeper Marinho comes in as a defensive midfielder and Infante is the top quality striker I wanted Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Saturday at 19:31 Author Share Posted Saturday at 19:31 Almost the perfect start, but how costly will those dropped points against Leicester be? and we end August 2 points behind the leaders, in 4th place Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Sunday at 11:22 Author Share Posted Sunday at 11:22 One match from perfect in September. We were awful against Sheffield United and that leaves us still in fourth place and top of our Champions League group. Big bonus is that Porto beat Bayern Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Sunday at 16:41 Author Share Posted Sunday at 16:41 October was also one game from perfect, but we were battered by Liverpool which keeps us 4th, 5 points off the leaders but top of our Champions League group Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Sunday at 22:00 Author Share Posted Sunday at 22:00 November wasn't good enough in terms of results but we were the better side against Southampton and Burnley Which leaves us third in the Premier League and already confirmed as group winners ahead of our final Champions League game. We play Porto, who will qualify ahead of Bayern if they draw with us or beat us. Given that this would knock Bayern out without harming us, I'm going to play a very rotated team and see what happens. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Monday at 19:42 Author Share Posted Monday at 19:42 I went through with playing a weakened team against Porto, but I don't think they read the script I'd written. Despite them taking a 13th minute lead, they couldn't hold on to it, as we equalised on 44 minutes. Things went from bad to worse for Porto, as they were reduced to 10 men on 57 minutes. At this point I went full dirty, and put my keeper up front, and striker in goal. Remarkably, there were no further goals in that one, but it did seem to spark a mini crisis in terms of results and form and whilst I've no complaints about losing to a Man Utd side who outplayed us, we definitely shouldn't be losing cup games to a Derby side who find themselves in the bottom half of the Championship. We did deserve more based on chances created and xG, but we didn't put them away Remarkably, we sit second in the league, only 3 points behind the reds, after they had a wobble of their own Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Tuesday at 23:15 Author Share Posted Tuesday at 23:15 Unbeaten, but two frustrating draws in January. We didn't deserve any more than a draw out of either, but I'd have felt hard done by to have lost either, so draws seem fair. Apart from that, we were really good and those two draws mean we trail Man Utd by a point, and they have a game in hand but a worse goal difference Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Tuesday at 23:40 Author Share Posted Tuesday at 23:40 Only 1 signing in January, lots of departures, mostly on loan. The two exceptions were Resende and Georgiadis, both of whom I refused to sell in August, and they got really upset, their morale was through the floor, and they put in some god-awful displays. I binned them both into the reserves in September, which seems to have helped to maintain the squad harmony I therefore needed to sign at least one replacement centre back, and I got one, this guy but failed to land this guy. Budget permitting, I'll try again in the summer Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Wednesday at 18:49 Author Share Posted Wednesday at 18:49 Not a great February, as we crash out of the FA Cup We're second in the table, and just 1 point off the top Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Wednesday at 20:38 Author Share Posted Wednesday at 20:38 This year's youth intake. Only Jeremy Murray is getting a contract Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted Wednesday at 20:43 Author Share Posted Wednesday at 20:43 More sloppiness in the Premier League in March as we were the better side against West Brom, but neither of us did enough to win it and that leaves us second, a point behind Man Utd Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted yesterday at 01:40 Author Share Posted yesterday at 01:40 (edited) April looks better than it actually was as a missed penalty cost us 2 points against Leeds, but the xG difference was entirely due to the penalty We followed that by going 3-0 down to Watford at half time, before winning the game thanks to 2 own goals. Then Lazio did this to us Somehow, we're 2 points clear at the top, with a game in hand, but we face Man Utd at home on the final day. Before that we face a trip to Tottenham, the second leg of the Lazio tie, a trip to Everton, and Birmingham at home. We need to get a minimum 4 points from the Spurs and Everton games, beat Birmingham, and that would leave Man Utd only able to equal our points total, assuming they win their two games before playing us. Edited yesterday at 10:58 by Northernpilgrim Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted 21 hours ago Author Share Posted 21 hours ago Four points from the two away games was an excellent start to the month, but we couldn't finish the season with a derby win We won the league by beating Everton as a late season dip in form saw Man Utd fall to third, with Arsenal climbing to second, finishing four points behind us Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted 21 hours ago Author Share Posted 21 hours ago We begin the review by looking at our new arrivals. Infante and Saiz were the stars of the show We had a really strong finish to the season, going unbeaten from before Christmas until the final day Derby defeat Enjoyed some big wins, mostly in the cups Financially things haven't improved, but we are absolutely fine This is our team of the year I won Manager of the Year, Enzo Reviglio won the Golden Glove and that's it. Champions. Time for a summer break, transfer window, and then we go again, looking to retain our title Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted 16 hours ago Author Share Posted 16 hours ago Ahead of the new season, I've promoted a youngster to the first team who was out on loan last season Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted 15 hours ago Author Share Posted 15 hours ago and brought in Norregaard, paying £69 million for him. An expensive deal, but less than the £75m RB Leipzig refused for him in January Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted 15 hours ago Author Share Posted 15 hours ago These players have been released at the end of their contracts and five more players have left, either permanently, or on loan Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted 15 hours ago Author Share Posted 15 hours ago We were disappointing in the Club World Cup, going out in the Quarter Final but preseason results were otherwise excellent Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 398 Posted 15 hours ago Author Share Posted 15 hours ago This is the squad on the eve of the new season, although with the window still open, I'm hoping to bring in one more player, hopefully a striker Link to post Share on other sites
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