Sonic Youth Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 Just what Liverpool needed, a top quality defender in previous versions of the game. Be curious if he becomes as good, and if he does fix their defensive issue, could be very tough from now on. The big crazy transfers though are Totti and Maldini.Can’t believe Totti isn’t considered a top class striker. Maldini’s longevity (probably Totti’s as well) I guess can’t be replicated by in-game I guess Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 5 hours ago, Sonic Youth said: Just what Liverpool needed, a top quality defender in previous versions of the game. Be curious if he becomes as good, and if he does fix their defensive issue, could be very tough from now on. The big crazy transfers though are Totti and Maldini.Can’t believe Totti isn’t considered a top class striker. Maldini’s longevity (probably Totti’s as well) I guess can’t be replicated by in-game I guess Maldini still looks really good to be fair even at 32. Not sure what happened there really as he seemed an integral player for them. AC Milan don’t seem to have been short of money lately so it is quite odd as I would’ve thought even if he asked for more money they could’ve paid it, weird, maybe he just wanted a new challenge as players in their 30s seem to decide sometimes. Totti is definitely weird. Like I guess it’s realistic a new manager comes in, falls out with top player etc but it’s Totti at Roma ffs 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 A few manager moves between Christmas and the end of the season. Leicester sacked Gary Lineker in March, replacing him with former Newcastle and Spurs manager Kevin Keegan. Bobby Saxton bit the bullet at Aston Villa on the last day of the season, with former Chelsea manager Gerard Houlier his replacement (more on this later). Whilst Everton also rsacked boss Don Howe on the last day of the season, replacing him with former Real Sociedad and Valladolid manager Luis Aragones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Man United won the league in the original timeline and... Man United also won in this timeline, albeit by the narrowest or margins, beating rivals Liverpool to the title ultimately on goal difference. We were effectively 6 points behind United, a decent end to the season but they won more games than us in the end unfortunately. John Lyall leads West Ham to a Top 4 finish, narrowly pipping Man City to the European Cup place in the league, with Leeds in 6th getting a spot in the UEFA Cup, whilst Blackburn get the Conference League. Ipswich having a pretty good season under Joe Kinnear to finish 8th and just goal difference off of Europe. Leicester and Sheffield United survive on the last day, as Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace get sunk to Division 2. As you'll see shortly, despite Aston Villa going down, they will still play in the UEFA Cup next season, the circumstances of which are absolutely extraordinary. We only get Rio in the Team of the Year in a very United heavy XI, featuring just Carlo Cudicini at West Ham (18 clean sheets in 38 games!) and Albertini at Liverpool to get in other than the United players. Teddy Sheringham especially had a fantastic campaign. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 We had a disappointing early end in the League Cup and then also the FA Cup as we couldn't navigate our way past a difficult draw at Anfield. Could this be Wenger's year in the European Cup after being runners-up last year?... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 We just about got past Marseille, requiring extra-time at the Dreamworks Stadium, with a winner coming courtesy of a Freddie Ljungberg strike in extra-time. It was another side from Ligue 1 in the Quarter Final and slightly more comfortable against Monaco, with two 1-0 wins coming through Robert Pires and a former Wenger old boy own goal from Gilles Grimandi in the second leg. Another nightmare for Wenger as Arsenal fall at the Semi-Final stage to Liverpool on away goals of all things. We went 1-0 up at Anfield but goals from Fowler and Shearer gave Liverpool the win at home. A 2-1 deficit was turned to an aggregate 4-2 lead at half-time as Bergkamp and Henry helped us storm to a 3-0 lead that I thought for sure would take us into a consecutive final, but it wasn't to be, as a Robbie Fowler brace in the second half gave Liverpool a famous win and a spot in the final. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Pretty content with the squad overall. David Seaman plans to retire this summer, he has a contract for a few more years but the lack of first-team football seems to have convinced him to pack it in early. Bit annoying really as means I'll have to pick up a HG keeper for back-up purposes over the summer. Keown is past his best now and will be moved on in the summer. Lizarazu has been making noise about wanting a new challenge and with Ashley Cole now in prime position to take over, that's not something I'm too fussed about given Bixente is now 31 and has given his best years to the club already. Henry our best player this season, with 33 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances, Rio also very good as he learns from Tony Adams in the twilight of his career, whilst Edgar Davids was also very effective in midfield. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Wenger's Career Record --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Club League Position Achievements/Other --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1990/91 Arsenal FC First Division 2nd N/A 1991/92 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division & League Cup winners 1992/93 Arsenal FC First Division 3rd FA Cup & Charity Shield winners 1993/94 Arsenal FC First Division 2nd FA Cup & Charity Shield winners 1994/95 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division, FA Cup & League Cup winners 1995/96 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division & Charity Shield winners 1996/97 Arsenal FC First Division 3rd Charity Shield winners 1997/98 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division winners 1998/99 Arsenal FC First Division 2nd FA Cup & Charity Shield winners 1999/00 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division & League Cup winners 2000/01 Arsenal FC First Division 3rd N/A --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal's Trophy Cabinet in the Original Timeline First Division/Premier League - x4 (1990/91, 1997/98, 2001/02 & 2003/04) FA Cup - x9 (1992-93, 1997/98, 2001/2, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2016/17 & 2019/20) League Cup - x1 (1992/93) Charity/Community Shield - x9 (1991/92, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/20 & 2020/21) UEFA Cup Winners Cup - x1 (1993/94) Trophy Cabinet in the New Timeline First Division - x5 (1991/92, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98 & 1999/00) FA Cup - x4 (1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95 & 1998/99) League Cup - x3 (1991/92, 1994/95 & 1995/96) Charity Shield - x5 (1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97 & 1998/99) We came up short this season in every competition which is a bit of a bummer, although shows how far the club has come that winning nothing at all for just 1 season feels like failure Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Fergie won the double, as United beat Liverpool in the Cup final. Liverpool did beat Leeds in the League Cup final though, with Martin O'Neil's side coming up short in a final once again after last year's UEFA Cup disappointment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Norwich, QPR and Wimbledon's Crazy Gang get promoted to the First Division, with Oldham, Bolton and Cambridge getting relegated. Swansea, Preston and Gillingham go up to Division 2, whilst Bradford, Shrewsbury, Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers face the drop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 It's all change in Italy, as after 5 years of Juve dominance, Arrigo Sachi's AC Milan side are back on top! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Barcelona are back on top in La Liga, topping Real Madrid to the title. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 7 in a row for Bayern, although it has to be said Kaiserslautern ran them as close as anyone has for a while, coming just 2 points away from them in the end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 PSG hit 5 in a row in France. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Louis van Gaal's Ajax make it 4 in a row, with nobody anywhere near them, PSV dropping to 5th which means despite the Dutch's 4 European Cup spots they still don't get one. FC Groningen are actually managed Ruud Gullit Back to back titles for Celtic! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 So this is the crazy Aston Villa story. A brilliant Conference League run from Bobby Saxton, which no doubt helped cause their relegation, as they reach the final after a difficult run that included beating Fiorentina and a very decent Kaiserslautern side in the Semis. Here's the mad bit. So Aston Villa didn't sack Bobby Saxton for getting relegated and winning the Conference League. No. They sacked him on the last day of the season when they got relegated, a week before the final! That meant that incoming manager Gerard Houlier's first match as manager of the club saw him win a European trophy that got them UEFA Cup football next season to navigate alongside a Division 2 promotion campaign Some achievement given that Sociedad side boasts a young Michel Salgado and Diego Tristan up-front for good measure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Meanwhile, in just as crazy scenes, we see back to back English winners in the UEFA Cup, as Big Ron Atkinson's Man City side beat Werder Bremen 1-0 in the final courtesy of, yes, that's right, a young Patrice Evra winner in the final Evra, who like Vieira has declared for Senegal, is currently 20 and spent the season at City on loan from Monaco, but has already signed an agreement to join PSG at the end of the season, so Man City won't benefit from him any longer, but what a loan signing he turned out to be as he brings a European trophy to Manchester. Man City knocked out some good teams on their way to the final, beating Bayern Munich, as well as 4th place in the 1st Division and last year's UEFA Cup winner's West Ham in an all-English Semi. Bremen had knocked out Everton on away goals in the Quarters, as well as Valencia also on away goals in the Semis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Yep, you're reading that right. So in a season where Man United win the double, Man City and Aston Villa both win European trophies, Liverpool under Graeme Souness become the first English side in the 11 seasons of the save to win the big one in the European Cup, whilst we have no trophies at all Liverpool scored many goals this season through Fowler, Shearer and Owen, but it was 4th choice striker, the Belgian forward Wesley Sonck who came on as a substitute to make it a clean sweep for the English sides in Europe this season, ending a miserable season for Juventus who helped to win European gold after losing their Italian crown. Juve had knocked out United, Celtic and Real Madrid to get to the final, with Liverpool of course taking us out, as well as PSG and Ajax. Barcelona had won the last two trophies, but were dumped out fairly unceremoniously 4-1 on aggregate by an AC Milan side that ultimately fell to Barca's main rivals Real Madrid in the Quarters. Pleased that at least Lehmann got into the the Team of the Tournament, with 8 clean sheets in 12 games, conceding just 6 times, you'd have to say he deserved it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonic Youth Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 That’s a pretty crazy European adventure, clean sweep by English teams. I think Liverpool losing on goal difference is almost as nuts as Aston Villa getting relegated while winning a European trophy Those Serie A and La Liga teams of the season, all those names, felt like I was back playing CM 99/00, 00/01 or 01/02 Gatusso! I guess without all those super clubs made, players have to go somewhere 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 The main outgoing this summer aside from David Seaman retiring saw Lizarazu move to Ajax. He wanted a new challenge and with Ashley Cole on the scene it made sense for all parties that he moved on after a decade of fantastic service. 351 games in all competitions for us at left back for the Frenchman. Martin Keown left on loan to Aston Villa in Division 2, whilst Justin Hoyte leaves for Man City. A few loan deals as Jerome Thomas, Jermaine Pennant and Jeremie Aliadiere go out on loan to clubs lower in the pyramid, whilst Arshavin goes to Kaiserslautern, Alonso goes to Werder Bremen, Rosicky joins Celtic and our new signing a young Yaya Toure joins Cremonese. A few incomings. I didn't need a CB to replace Keown as Kolo Toure has returned from loan and has a work permit, so we now have Adams, Ferdinand, Vidic and Kolo for CBs with Adams helping develop the younger lads. Kolo's brother Yaya joins us as he was available for a similarly extremely low fee from ASEC Mimosas. He could be a very good value signing if he achieves what he achieved in the Premier League with Man City I needed a back-up HG keeper with David Seaman going, so in comes Paddy Kenny who was the best available that I could get after failing to sign Chris Kirkland and Maik Taylor who both joined other teams offering first team football, Taylor strangely joining River Plate? The only real money spent was for a new left back, with John Arne Riise joining to deputise Ashley Cole for £7.25M from PSV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 Blackburn dipped into the market in June to sign young Senegalese international El-Hadji Diouf for £11.5M from Sochaux. Elsewhere, Robert Prosinecki joins Inter Milan from Real Madrid, whilst Lee Sharpe leaves Leeds for Southampton in a £8M deal. Man United shifted out a few players, letting Phil Neville go to West Ham for £8M whilst Jason Koumas joined Norwich. Robbie Savage left Leeds for Celtic, whilst Angelo Palombo joined Chelsea from Sampdoria in a £7.5M move. This summer seemed fairly busy with a lot of sides spending a lot of money. The biggest transfer which actually saw a world record go was John Toshack dipping into the English market once again, not content with Paul Scholes at United last summer, he's now spent £36M in bringing in England's brightest prospect up-front in Michael Owen to Madrid from the European champions in Liverpool. Liverpool were seemingly keen to replace Owen and they wasted little time in buying a young talent of their own, snapping up Nicolas Anelka from PSG for £25.5M. They weren't content with just raiding PSG for 1 player though, as they then spent a further £25M bringing in Juan Sebastian Veron too maybe to save some face after losing such a top talent. Barcelona picked up Dwight Yorke from Ajax for £24M, whilst they let Pep Guardiola leave the club to join Monaco for £13M. AC Milan spent a bit of money after winning Serie A as they brought in both David Albelda and Diego Tristan in a raid on La Liga, but they did sell both Massimo Amrosini and Hakan Yakin. PSG replaced Nicolas Anelka with an even younger and perhaps just as much of a personality in Dimitar Berbatov, whilst elsewhere on the forward front Benni McCarthy joined Ajax from Dortmund. Man City picked up Darren Anderton from Spurs and also took Brad Friedel from relegated Aston Villa, both should be decent signings for their European Cup bid and I imagine losing Brad Friedel won't help Villa as they look to go back up and compete in the UEFA Cup this season. A few other moves of interest in July saw Jimmy Floyd go to Dortmund, Keith Gillespie and Hidetoshi Nakata join Spurs and Zat Knight move to Chelsea. Man United made a big move after selling Jimmy Floyd, picking up 24 year old Luca Toni from Roma to shore up their attack. Roma eventually picked up Fabio Grosso with some of the money from that deal. James Beattie leaves Wolves in Division 2 for newly promoted Wimbledon for £8.5M, whilst Wilfried Bouma leaves PSV for Sheffield United. Laurent Robert leaves Lyon for Blackburn, whilst Man City pick up a few more additions for their European Cup campaign as they sign experienced left back Graeme Le Saux from Ajax and young centre back Matthew Upson from Luton. Giorgos Karagounis leaves Juve for Gijon, whilst right at the bottom you can see a teenage Carlos Tevez leave Argentina for Ligue 1 Nancy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnWarrington Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 This is a great read and as the creator of the mod, very motivating to see 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 4 hours ago, JohnWarrington said: This is a great read and as the creator of the mod, very motivating to see Fair play you must’ve put so much work into it! Even little things like pretty much every player that started the game as a player who winded up as a manager in real life seems to turn up as a manager, and I think the database in terms of random staff is small enough that the game makes sure a lot of them end up in jobs. Every time I check Division 2 or 3 for something I seem to find another random like Tony Mowbray or Alex McCleish in charge of someone 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 Out on penalties in the League Cup to Everton at the Quarter Final stage... Meanwhile, so far, so good in the league with a 9 point lead top of the table, with the battle for Top 4 very tight as Liverpool, Man United and West Ham all look in fine form, with Everton, Leeds and a high flying Coventry side all doing well. Tottenham having an absolute disaster, in the relegation zone, whilst Man City, UEFA Cup winners last season, appear to be struggling being in the European Cup alongside the domestic league. Spurs have already sacked Graham Taylor and brought in former player, and a man who saved Leicester from going down a few years back, Gary Lineker, who gets another chance to save a former club from the dreaded drop. Meanwhile, Norwich sacked Steve Coppell and replaced him with the always available Alan Curbishley. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 A very good group stage as we top a group including a very strong Barca side who we drew both games with. Celtic and Valladolid beat Big Ron's Man City side to the knockout stages very narrowly, with City having to settle for the UEFA Cup once more. West Ham and Roma did well to knock out a strong PSG side in their group, whilst Ajax also fell out of the competition to a well-drilled Kaiserslautern side and Juventus, with Man United and Monaco making short work of FC Groningen and Dynamo Kyiv. Milan and Werder Bremen saw off Valencia to make it through Group F, whilst Rangers fell out of a group with Liverpool and Napoli. Finally, no surprises in Group H as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich both get through. Despite topping the group we get the draw from hell as we face one of the strongest sides in the tournament in Juventus who were of course runners-up last season. West Ham will have their hands fall with Bayern Munich, the reigning champions Liverpool play Roma, AC Milan face Valladolid, whilst there's a big tie with Barcelona and Man United facing off. Napoli and Kaiserslautern should be an interesting one, Real Madrid face Werder Bremen and Celtic have Monaco. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 A really quiet January window that was almost completely devoid of any real action, with the biggest move seeing Marcos Senna move from Monaco to Leeds for £14M. Elsewhere, a young Eduardo da Silva (of Arsenal fame) signs for Barcelona on a low fee, Jurgen Kilnsmann who's somehow still going at 37 joins Chelsea from PSG, whilst Liverpool look to replace the aging Nigel Martyn with Turkish international keeper Rustu Recber on a bargain bin fee of under £5M. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 A few more manager moves happened before the end of the season. Everton sacked Luis Aragones and got in Bryan Robson to replace him. Man City facing a relegation battle finally had enough of Big Ron Atkinson who of course won them the UEFA Cup just last season, with Sven-Goran Eriksson coming in to City in this timeline too, albeit far earlier. Finally, Chelsea, facing a relegation battle themselves, sacked Terry Venables and have got in Ray Wilkins, initially as a caretaker, but from what I can see he did well enough to actually keep the job full-time. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 It was a good season for Wenger and Arsenal in the original timeline, winning the league at Old Trafford. What happened in this timeline? We didn't win the league at Old Trafford, but we did win the league, although we very nearly blew it. We lost at home 2-0 to West Ham on the final day, which secured the Hammers European Cup football again next year ahead of Newcastle, but if Fergie's United had won at Goodison Park instead of losing 4-2, we would've lost the title on goal difference... Given West Ham have now qualified for the European Cup 3 times in a row (albeit by winning UEFA Cup in the 1st season) you would have to say it's as close to a proper Top 4 as we've had, although Newcastle, Leeds and even Coventry did run John Lyall's side, which has the likes of Cudicini, Phil Neville, Thomas Gravesen, Paolo Di Canio and young upstarts Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe, very close to the wire. Sheffield United, Wimbledon and Norwich all went down, with QPR the only 1 of the 3 promoted sides to stay up. Tottenham and Chelsea flirted with relegation for much of the season, we even beat Spurs 2-0 at home in our penultimate game which I was hoping would help see them down, but in the end Sheffield United were just that much worse than them and Gary Lineker kept them up. Man City seemed to turn a corner under Sven, going on a a decent undefeated streak towards the end of ths season which even saw them beat Man United 1-0 through a goal from former United player Graeme Le Saux, with this win of course helping us on our way to being champions - so thanks, Sven! A heavily Arsenal dominated team of the year which is nice, Lillian Thuram missed out at right back, as Coventry's right wing back, 21 year old Cicinho makes the cut - and yes, it is the Cicinho of Real Madrid and Roma fame in the original timeline Ryan Giggs and Robbie Fowler also make the cut in an otherwise dominated Arsenal XI. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 We were already out of the League Cup by Christmas and unlike in real life there would be no domestic double, as Newcastle knocked us out of the Quarter Final of the FA Cup. So there was no domestic double, no title win at Old Trafford, could we do anything in Europe?... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 A very neck and neck Round of 16 clash with Juve, in the end it was a late Nick Barmby goal at the 02 Stadium that bagged us a place in the Quarter Final. Elsewhere, the reigning champions Liverpool were seen off by an impressive looking Roma side, in the end in a penalty shoot-out with Sol Campbell of all people missing the decisive penalty for Liverpool. AC Milan got past Valladolid who put up a valiant effort, whilst Kaiserslautern put Napoli to the sword 3-2 with Carsten Jancker getting a brace in the return leg in Germany. Another tie that went to penalties was Barcelona and Man United, with 38 year old Peter Schmeichal saving young Carles Puyol's penalty to give United the win. Monaco smashed past Celtic 7-3 on aggregate, with Real Madrid doing even better against Werder Bremen, beating them 7-0 over two legs. West Ham didn't have much luck against Bayern Munich, losing 4-1 over the two legs. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 Wenger gets the win over two legs against his old side Monaco to get a place in the Semis, with goals from Henry and Ljungberg sealing the win at the 02 Stadium. Elsewhere, in an all Italian tie it was AC Milan who got the better of a good looking Roma side, with goals from Marc Overmars and Cafu seeing Milan through. Man United managed to beat Kaiserslautern, with a Luca Toni winner in the return leg at Old Trafford the deciding goal. Whilst a bit of a surprise saw Bayern beat Real Madrid 2-1 to make which I think might be their first Semi Final of the save at least in the European Cup, with an own goal from Marcel Desaily giving Bayern the crucial goal in a 1-0 win in the second leg. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 Bayern Munich were often the source of misery to Wenger in the original timeline, but it wasn't to be this time, as his Arsenal side win 4-1 on aggregate to make their 2nd European Cup final in 3 seasons. Joining them in the final, none other than his arch-nemesis - Alex Ferguson and Manchester United. Neither side have won a European Cup in years since this save began in this timeline, but one must now. Oh and look where the final is... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 It had to be him. Thierry Henry scores a goal in the 75th minute to seal Wenger and Arsenal's first ever European Cup, at Old Trafford... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 Rio and Adams both had brilliant seasons in defence. Henry with 34 goals and 9 assists in 54 games now really coming into his prime. Bergkamp put in a good shift too. A few things could happen over the summer. In real life Tony Adams retired in 2002, obviously winning the League and European double you'd think if he was to go out on a high it would be a brilliant time, but he seems happy to carry on and despite being 35 he still looks pretty good to be fair so he will stay on. The two big ones are Emmanuel Petit and Didier Drogba. Petit has obviously stayed a lot longer than he did in real life, he's been a great servant and alongside Davids and Vieira he's always been happy to rotate in and out of the side, but with 1 year left on his contract he's giving me I want a new challenge lines which means it could well be time for him to leave this summer if I can't get him to renew and there's interest in him. It's a similar story for Didier Drogba. He's not done a great deal at the club, being out on loan for most of the time, this was his 1st season where he was basically 4th choice striker between Henry, Bergkamp and Andy Cole. He's a good player, and at 24 in the game isn't exactly young, but I just don't use him that much and Bergkamp was still really good this year so I have no plans to stop using him or Cole really. Drogba doesn't seem to want to sign a new deal so much like real life we may have to release Drogba, take a nice profit on the sale and then hide behind the sofa every time we come up against him for the rest of the save... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 Wenger's Career Record --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Club League Position Achievements/Other --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1990/91 Arsenal FC First Division 2nd N/A 1991/92 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division & League Cup winners 1992/93 Arsenal FC First Division 3rd FA Cup & Charity Shield winners 1993/94 Arsenal FC First Division 2nd FA Cup & Charity Shield winners 1994/95 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division, FA Cup & League Cup winners 1995/96 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division & Charity Shield winners 1996/97 Arsenal FC First Division 3rd Charity Shield winners 1997/98 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division winners 1998/99 Arsenal FC First Division 2nd FA Cup & Charity Shield winners 1999/00 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division & League Cup winners 2000/01 Arsenal FC First Division 3rd N/A 2001/02 Arsenal FC First Division 1st First Division and European Cup winners --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal's Trophy Cabinet in the Original Timeline First Division/Premier League - x4 (1990/91, 1997/98, 2001/02 & 2003/04) FA Cup - x9 (1992-93, 1997/98, 2001/2, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2016/17 & 2019/20) League Cup - x1 (1992/93) Charity/Community Shield - x9 (1991/92, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/20 & 2020/21) UEFA Cup Winners Cup - x1 (1993/94) Trophy Cabinet in the New Timeline European Cup - x1 (2001/02) First Division - x6 (1991/92, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98, 1999/00 & 2001/02) FA Cup - x4 (1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95 & 1998/99) League Cup - x3 (1991/92, 1994/95 & 1995/96) Charity Shield - x5 (1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97 & 1998/99) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 Fergie got his hands on the FA Cup at least, United's 4th in 6 seasons, as they dispatch an Everton side who got to the final thanks to a run from former United midfielder Bryan Robson who only joined them mid-season. Jay Jay Okocha's second half strike wasn't enough to get them back in the game. It was a cup double, as they also beat Bobby Ferguson's Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 The top 3 all went up from Division 2, with Crystal Palace, Charlton and Aston Villa all getting promoted, whilst Oxford, Gillingham and Swansea faced the drop. Bolton, Oldham and Swindon go up from Division 3, with Grimsby, Rochdale, Cardiff and Hartlepool going down. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 Juve were back on top in Serie A this season and whilst they didn't go unbeaten, they only dropped points 3 times across the whole campaign which saw them utterly dominate the others. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 A very narrow win for Real Madrid in La Liga in which ended up being a 3 horse race that Valencia came very close to winning themselves. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 It's all change in Germany as Bayern's 7 years of dominance are over, with Werder Bremen winners this time around. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 PSG continue their run in France though 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 Celtic win in Scotland, whilst Ajax are champions in Holland. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 Gladbach win the UEFA Conference League 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 An extra time goal from none other than Ronaldinho helps PSG beat PSV in the UEFA Cup final. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 An Arsenal heavy side, with just Antonio Lopez, Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen making it in from other sides. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 That's enough updates for tonight, but it is the summer of 2002, which means soon we will go to Japan and South Korea... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonic Youth Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 Wow, some top stuff there in that last season. Is Xavi Alonso still your player? Going to have to play him after last season next season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 On 12/11/2021 at 00:14, Sonic Youth said: Wow, some top stuff there in that last season. Is Xavi Alonso still your player? Going to have to play him after last season next season Yeah, the loans out seem to have helped him develop quite quickly, if we do lose Petit in the summer then he'll be a ready made replacement which is nice and avoids us having to fork out on a player Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 The Road to Japan and South Korea 2002 No sweat at all in qualifying really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHartman71 Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 Original Squad: The Squad GKs: Nigel Martyn, Ian Walker, David James - David Seaman DFs: Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge, Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher, Ledley King - Danny Mills, Wes Brown, Martin Keown, Gareth Southgate MFs: David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman, Nick Barmby, Paul Scholes, Jamie Redknapp, Frank Lampard, Ray Parlour - Trevor Sinclair, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Nicky Butt, Kieron Dyer FWs: Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Andy Cole - Emile Heskey, Teddy Sheringham, Darius Vassell This squad is probably the biggest differential squad compared to the original timeline so far. 13 of the original 23 miss out, with just 10 of the same players going. In goal the main difference is David Seaman has retired already so could not be our number 1 or go to the tournament. Danny Mills and Wes Brown miss out, with their replacements in the squad basically being the Neville brothers. I don't really remember but I'm assuming Gary would've only missed out on the original tournament due to injury, whilst Phil is a more worthy deputy than Mills or Wes Brown in game. Keown has long since retired from international football and Southgate has fallen behind the younger Ledley King and Jamie Carragher in the pecking order. Ugo Ehiogu featured in qualifying a lot as we had a few lads injured for the first meet-up, he didn't put a foot wrong so pretty much kept his place for most of 2001 but then got injured himself in December and fell out of favour due to Carragher and King both being better long-term prospects anyway. John Terry may well have gone to the World Cup or been in consideration, but he got injured himself towards the end of the season. Another one who might have gone was the experienced Graeme Le Saux, played most of qualifying and definitely would've gone over the young Wayne Bridge but Le Saux also fell victim to an injury. Trevor Sinclair only really went in the real timeline due to Gerrard's injury. Owen Hargreaves was unlucky to miss out but just missed the cut. Joe Cole didn't really have a better season than Barmby or McManaman (who Sven didn't seem to like) but Joe's time will come. Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer both decent players in the game without being stand-out enough to really get a chance at a call up outside of an injury crisis. Sheringham has retired from international football in the game, whilst Shearer, who had retired from internationals in real life, is still going in the game. Andy Cole gets the 4th spot over Heskey or Vassell. Heskey and Vassell have both got 1 cap each as they featured in a March friendly against Chile which a lot of the big clubs, namely Liverpool, pulled their players from featuring in, which in their case meant both Shearer and Fowler not involved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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