FM2012: Newcastle United thread - Triumphing by brave defending.....well maybe!

[DandyDon]

fingers crossed dandy, have to say, I'm impressed with Steam, first time I've used it - can't complain!

Yay! Got home from work and there it was wating for me....now installed and loaded up a raft of leagues and players. Still haven't got past the 2nd of July yet, but completely rebuilding the backroom staff at moment, and have added a few scouts to start my search for a good young left back.

Have a couple free agent bargains arriving to add some cover for the first season. Ivica Dragutinovic to cover for Colo, Saylor and Williamson. Plus Argentinian striker Luciano Figueroa to play back up for Ba and Best.

[Wilson123]

Decided to start life on FM2012 as Newcastle, I'm an owls fan so it's all foreign to me.

As with so many peeps, I like to play a short, patient game with players who possession high technical ability and mental stats. Within minutes of taking charge it is instantly recognisable that the North East isn't home to this player type cast.

Since thoroughly enjoying rebuilding Liverpool on FM2011 I am installing the same principal on this one - thanks to SFraser RIP for this. Merging all three squads (Senior, Reserves and U18) and shipping out any players who are either <10 on determination or too poor statistically to offer anything to the first team. The idea is that come the end of the season, all of the players in the collective 'team' will be good enough to have seen first team action.

More than 20 youngsters have been shown the door but I have asked, and been granted, my request to up spending on youth training and improvements to youth facilities.

All but one of the physios have mutually terminated their deals due to poor stats. Almost all the coaches have gone - shocking stats for fitness coaches especially! Now attempting to rebuild them up, which is proving harder than I first anticipated!

[OutClassed]

I had a clear out of backroom staff, but wasn't allocated any extras. Instead I sacked my youth coaches and brought in general coaches as replacements, covering most aspects of training. Also brought in a couple of new scouts and one new physio (After clearing all but 1). One thing annoying about the coaches is that I play in windowed mode and couldn't find how to allocate a coach to 'Attacking' training without making it full screen again.

Only just in to August, but most of my transfers are out the way:

IN:

Wilfried - £2.5m - Has some awesome physicals and will rotate upfront on his own.

Andres Hinkel - Free - Some backup for RB on reasonable wages, means I can look to shift Raylor on and have backup still.

Mohamed Diame - £3.7m - Some competition for my 3 man midfield. Hopefully with him, Tiote and Cabaye I'll be solid.

Adrian Aldrete - £1.7m - Was initially after M'Bengue but got turned down. Aldrete has stats almost as good, costs less, on less wage and isn't a 'Left only' player.

Nicky Maynard - £1m + P/Ex - I was short of strikersand he has some good attacking stats.

I've also agreed for Kevin De Bruyne to join at the end of the season for just over £3m, he was injured and I didn't want to have to wait for a while so it'll be a bonus at the end.

OUT:

Shola Ameobi - £1m loan fee

Alan Smith - £1.2m

Peter Lovenkrands - £1.7m

Leon Best - £3.6m

James Perch - P/Ex

Mike Williamson - £3.1m

Tavernier, Henderson, Donaldson, Ranger, Kadar, Nzuzi and Abeid - All loans totalling £700k in fees.

Some of these deals are over 24 months, so despite bringing in £2.5m more than I've spent, it's not all in the kitty.

My deal for Mohammed Nosrati died after he couldn't get a WP, so I'm going after Craig Dawson as a Williamson replacement. Apart from that I think my spending is done for the summer.

[DandyDon]

Good luck with your rebuilding efforts Wilson . Like you I terminated the contracts of pretty much all the physios and coaches so far. Only hung on to Beardsley as i'd feel guilty about punting him.

As to signings so far, ended up missing out on Figueroa on a free as he couldn't get a work permit, but did manage to sign Mahamadou Diarra and Pierre Wome to bulk the squad out a little while I get the staff in place. Typically though Yohan Cabaye picked up a serious hip injury in the first friendly and has to be sent to a specialist...

[ChrisNUFC]

Poor Shola. Always shown the door.

Feel guilty about the coaching staff, as I was rating them under the assumption other researchers would be re-evaluating their staff too (sadly they didn't). Expect increases to non-playing staff in the future.

[DandyDon]

Poor Shola. Always shown the door.

Feel guilty about the coaching staff, as I was rating them under the assumption other researchers would be re-evaluating their staff too (sadly they didn't). Expect increases to non-playing staff in the future.

Actually I was planning on hanging on to Shola in the full game........for a change, want to keep him around while I try and develop Sammy. He's played pretty well in the couple of pre-season games I've picked him in so far.

[DurinVIII]

When is this future? After the January transfer window, or the (i'm assuming) soon-to-come patch?

[Nerobianchi]

Poor Shola. Always shown the door.

Feel guilty about the coaching staff, as I was rating them under the assumption other researchers would be re-evaluating their staff too (sadly they didn't). Expect increases to non-playing staff in the future.

I always keep the Fenham Eusebio. Legit got him to 20 league goals once, albeit using a tactic that essentially exploits 11.3's engine weaknesses.

[Striker475]

What are people targeting for left-backs?

Looking at getting Vrsaljko as a third DM.

Playing a 4-2-3-1 Deep - this is the current formation

Krul (Harper)

Simpson (Raylor) Saylor (Willo) Colo (Kadar) Santon

Tiote (Gosling) Cabaye

Obertan HBA (Marveaux) Gutierrez

Ba (Best/Shola)

Want to move Santon across to the right and bring in a quality LB though.

Also on the hunt for another right winger, assuming Spiderman plays like he did in '11 he'll be horrific on the right so I'll really need cover

also, crickey that Adam Campbell kid looks good

[OutClassed]

I went for Aldrete for LB, but other options are:

Ridgwell - Close to £6m

Ibertsberger - Just over £5m, but can cover both RB and LB

M'Bengue - Around £4m

Brivio - Just over £2m

[DandyDon]

What are people targeting for left-backs?

also, crickey that Adam Campbell kid looks good

I got round to buying my left back last night, missed out on M'Bengue, but scouts reckoned Erik Pieters could be bought for £1.7 million so I went for him. Ended up costing £2.1 million, but still a bargain.

[nufc1]

Just got started on my save last night. The team is already pretty solid but I targetted a new CM to cover in case of injuries, a new striker and possibly a left back although I am thinking of just popping Santon there with Ferguson to cover. Here are my transfers so far:

I couldn't really turn down the money for Shola although i was tempted to keep him purely because of the goal against Spurs last weekend

I brought in Dan Sturridge and Wilfried to either cover for or partner Demba Ba depending on my formation. If i'm playing wingers or inside forwards, Sturridge can play there to. I brought in Dragutinovic on a free just in case i need cover although i don't think he will be used too much. The signing im most pleased with though is Kayal. I was looking all over for a CM who could perform the jobs of both Tiote and Cabaye should one get injured and Kayal looks perfect for this role.

Think i might look for a left back now and maybe some youngsters although im quite happy with the Newcastle youngsters. Krul, Kadar, Ferguson, Santon, Streete, Gosling, Abeid, Vuckic, Ameobi (Sammy, obviously) and Campbell will all play a part in the future and alot of them will get a chance this season i think.

Obertan, Cabaye, Ba and Abeid have been excellent in pre-season so lets hope they keep it up

[DandyDon]

@nufc1

I was very tempted to grab Kayal when I scouted him last night, don't have the funds for him at the moment but if I can sell Simpson, Guthrie and/or Ryan Taylor I might still go back in for him before the window closes.

[DragoLT]

oh happy days :DD

[nufc1]

Finallly got to the start of the league games and what a start! :

Great results with Santon, Obertan and Ba picking up the assists. Well pleased with Wilfried! He has settled instantly playing alongside Ba.

[GeordieInExile]

Alright lads, just getting started as Newcastle on Fm12.

Some of the coaching stats are shocking! Looking to replace them, plus some of the deadwood such as Smith, Perch, and Lovenkrands. As always, I will look to the future and scour the leagues for quality youngsters. Speaking of youngsters, Adam Campbell looks very good!

I have a large database and I have England, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, and Spain loaded.

[Come_On_You_Spurs]

Hello, gentlemen. I signed Adam Campbell in my Spurs save for 2.3 million pounds. Do you think he has what it takes to become a starter for a top 4 club? I'm hoping with the right development, he can be a big part of my future.

[james_wilko]

Hello, gentlemen. I signed Adam Campbell in my Spurs save for 2.3 million pounds. Do you think he has what it takes to become a starter for a top 4 club? I'm hoping with the right development, he can be a big part of my future.

Don't think anyone's got far enough into the game to really develop him, but it looks like he could be a quality poacher if you get lucky with his PA.

I'm looking for him to lead the line a few seasons in, but not so early on. Give him time, games and tutored from a quality forward (Defoe maybe?) and he should be good.

[col_nufc1]

I have just started my Newcastle save on FM12 .

On the second day of the game Yohan (The Dreamboat) Cabaye has torn his hamstring in traning and is now out for 3 months .

I have released all the backroom staff apart from Peter Beardsley and Derek Wright on mutual terminations, so I will now look for better staff.

Leandro Damiao is not interested in signing for us even though he was on the demo :confused: so I'll have look out for some strikers.

I have had bids accepted for Erik Pieters (£2.1m) and Adam Lallana (£250k plus James Perch). I have also have bids in for Cheik M'Bengue and Adrian Aldrete so I will sign two of the three left backs then I'll put Ryan Taylor and Danny Simpson up for sale. I have also put in bids for a lot of players from South African clubs for cheap backup players.

[col_nufc1]

I don't believe this Davide Santon (2-3 months) and Adam Lallana (3-4 months) have both been injured in a friendly with Carlisle United .

[king_karl]

Of all the games i could start, as a Liverpool fan, i felt compelled to start a Newcastle game. Lets see how it goes.

[GeordieInExile]

Here are my transfers so far:

Transfers In:

Carlos Diogo (RB): Free Transfer

Wilfried (ST) £3.5 million

Erik Pieters (LB): £2.5 million

Mahamadou Diarra (DMC): Free

Total: £6 million

Transfers Out:

Alan Smith - QPR: £1 million

Peter Lovenkrands - Ajax: £1.7 million

James Perch on Loan to Cardiff: £350k

Nile Ranger - Peterboro: £1 million

James Tavernier on Loan to Rotheram

Total: £4.1 million

I still have £3.3 million left in the transfer budget so might do a deal if the right one comes along. I did try and bid for Tshabalala but he failed his medical (back injury). May revisit that in the January transfer window.

[jlawlor91]

My game at the minute:

In:

Timo Hildebrand - Free

Cheik M'Bengue - 4.5 mill

Craig Dawson - 4 mill

Jack Collison - 4.5 mill

Luuk De Jong - 4 mill

Wayne Bridge - Loan

Out:

Lovenkrands - 1 mill

Perch - 500k

Harper - 850k

As we speak Best is being sold so I can bring in another striker. Ideally I would get another as Ameobi won't be good enough. Trying to flog him and Guthrie but they're injured, as well as Alan Smith being unwanted elsewhere and not accepting mutual termination.

[MrMick]

I got the game yesterday and started as newcastle last night and had the usual clearout of staff only have peter beardsley - derek wright & graham carr left so in the process of bringing in better coaches and another decent physio and will be looking to use a 4-2-3-1 formation that i have great success with in fm2011 and it is working good in the pre season games but will have to see how it works out when the league starts .

Transfers in

Sime vrsaljko - 2.6 million - scout report was exellent so looks to have great potential like in fm2011 and will probably be first choice rb so ryan taylor or danny simpson will be sold .

Mahamadou diarra - free transfer - with 1 year contract and seeing as my tactic uses 2 dmc's will be good backup for tiote & cabaye .

Mbaye niang - 8 million - lot of money for a youngster but his potential is great from the scout report and i can see him being my best forward within a couple of years .

Carlos fierro - 1.2 million another youngster with great potential going from the scout report and could turn out to be a real bargain .

Transfers out

Shola ameobi 2.5 million .

leon best 2.5 million .

James perch loaned out with view to buy 1.2 million .

Nile ranger loaned out .

I would like to get rid of alan smith - danny guthrie & ryan taylor if i can to decrease the wage bill .

[DandyDon]

MrMick, some good buys there. I've had similar rave reviews for Niang so have him on the shortlist.

Smith looks to be very difficult to move on in the full game. Was able to sell him on the demo, but haven't had a nibble at all yet.

[Spedding]

started a game

transfers in 19.5 million

wilfried 2.6 million

aldrete 2.1 million

luuk de jong 4.6million

Sime vrsaljko 2.5 million

yong ki sung 3.3 million

craig dawson 3.9 million

wael gomaa 550k

transfers out 12.5 million

shola ameobi 2 million

alan smith 500k

nile ranger 1.1 million

danny simpson 2 million

leon best 2.6 million

steve harper 500k

mike williamson 2 million

peter lovenkrands 500k

tamas kadar 1.3 million

[Spedding]

playing a 451 formation

krul

vrsaljko taylor coloccinni aldrete

tiote

cabaye yong ki sung

Vuckic Ba

Wilifred/De jong

playing vuckic and ba as inside forwards retraining vuckic as an amr and performing well.

play wilifred as a poacher and de jong as a trequartista depending on who i play

results have been poor won 2 lost 3 in premiership but still tinkering with formation,

just beat man city 6 - 1 in carling cup so hopefully ive got the balance right

[MrMick]

MrMick, some good buys there. I've had similar rave reviews for Niang so have him on the shortlist.

Smith looks to be very difficult to move on in the full game. Was able to sell him on the demo, but haven't had a nibble at all yet.

It would be 62k a week of the wage bill with smith gone but cant understand how fm2011 had him on 50k a week now 62k this year but at least he will be gone at the end of the season , i am expecting santon - vrsaljko & niang to have a good increase in stats after 2 seasons and for anyone looking for a exellent cheap dmc - dc try to sign kara from tromso before he is signed by a bigger club , i was told about him on another forum and he has signed for psv already on my game (bugger) he is natural dmc but accomplished @ dc - mc and i think he would be great at dc , graham carr scout report was 4 stars not bad for a player you can buy for 800k .

[OutClassed]

Kara looks amazing, but Besiktas have him on mine. I went for Eyong Enoh instead as cover in the middle; he joins Ciaran Clark and Junior Hoillet as late additions to my squad.

GK: Krul, Harper

RB: Simpson, Hinkel

LB: Aldrete, Santon

CB: Coloccini, Dawson

CB: S.Taylor, Clark

DM: Tiote, Enoh

CM: Diame, Guthrie

CM: Cabaye, Gosling

AMR: Hoillet, Ben Arfa, Obertan

AML: Jonas, Marveaux

ST: Wilfried, Ba, Maynard

At the moment I play a 4-5-1, with 1 DM, 2 CMs and 2 wingers. However, I think when HBA comes back I'll play with 2 CMs and 1 AMC against weaker teams.

[DandyDon]

How much did Hoillet cost you Outclassed?

I want to add a right winger to the squad when I get in from work tonight, and I was looking at the transfer listed Mario Santana from Napoli. He's available for 1.1 million, but if Hoillet wasn't too expensive might go for him to add a good young British player.

[OutClassed]

Blackburn were interested in Raylor when I asked for £7.5m for him, so I bid £2m + Raylor for him at first. They came back with wanting £18m + Raylor, so I knocked it up to £3m, Raylor and another £3m when he's played 20 international games.

[DandyDon]

Blackburn were interested in Raylor when I asked for £7.5m for him, so I bid £2m + Raylor for him at first. They came back with wanting £18m + Raylor, so I knocked it up to £3m, Raylor and another £3m when he's played 20 international games.

Not a bad deal Might see if they want Raylor on my save once he's got over his injury.

[OutClassed]

Yeah, no one was interested when he was injured so I had to wait until the last week of August.

[Kevaldo]

Hoilett isn't British!

[Curuedhel]

Not long started my Newcastle save in the full game.

Out: Danny Simpson

In: Krychowiak, Ebanks-Blake, Babacar (Loan), Wuytens (Loan), Muniesa (Loan)

Current Stats:

Pld: 11, Won:9, Lost:0, Drw: 2, For:28, Agst: 8, Pts: 29, Pos: 1st

Best result: 3-2 win away to Man U.

Kept 1 physio and 1 scout and replaced all the other backroom staff. Managed to get at least 4* for every training category so far. Having real problems offloading players - how did everyone else manage it? Nobody seems interested in the players I want to get rid of.

[OutClassed]

Hoilett isn't British!

Has England as a second nationality, so he's practically British.

Curuedhel, that's some impressive results!

[Curuedhel]

I'm surprised myself, especially since I seem to be the only person who hasn't bought Wilfried (started the game before I heard about him).

Edit: Just narrowly saved from an embarrassing 1-0 defeat by 10-man Swansea by a last-minute penalty. I was not amused.

[james_wilko]

Oddly, Ba didn't get called up to the ACN despite winning African striker of the year and having an amazing goal record for me this season. Not complaining as I needed him, just found it a bit odd.

Curuedhel, I've not signed Wilfried either. Haven't needed him though to be honest. Currently 5th in the league with 16 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses. Best win being a 3-2 last minute victory over Liverpool.

[OutClassed]

I think for his price Wilfried is a bargain, I expect his value will rise if he gets 10+ goals in his first season.

What formation are you playing with?

[DragoLT]

Wilfried is a legend ! 10 games 7 goals 5 assists

[Curuedhel]

An up-the-middle 4-3-3, no wingers.

[james_wilko]

Wilfried is a legend ! 10 games 7 goals 5 assists

Decent, but Ba has got 22 goals in 20(2) appearances for me in league and cup so far.

[MrMick]

I signed 2 forwards so i wont be getting wilfried either but he seemed to be doing good for people , i wanted to get willian from shahktar and had a 7.5 million bid accepted but he wasnt interested which is a shame because playing the same formation as i did on fm2011 he was great in a aml - amr role .

[13xForever]

hey guys just downloading the game off steam as i type.

Any good staff bargain buys and staff you guys can roccomend. (will be looing at Wilfried)

[dutch3723]

OH MY GOD

Managed to secure CL football in Season 2 after a credible 3rd place finish.

HBA gets a bad injury at the start of season 3 and ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT AT THE END OF THE SEASON due to injury problems!!!

[Abramovic]

Hi guys like that Liverpool fan earlier i got an urge to play as Newcastle and did. Without fully knowing all of the players at my disposal i decided to keep changes to a minimum. Got a center back, a midfielder and st on loan in January. Sold smith and guthrie to finance the deals.

To cut a rather miserable season short we finished 10 and failed at first hurdle in the cup. My tactical dithering cost me loads in the en, as 7th place was possible. Kept changing from 4231 deep to normal to 451 and 442. Think i even tried a 4411 at some stage. And even now im not sure how to go about changing that. Any help or advice would be appropriated. Ive really lost my touch on tactics and just stuck to attacking at home and counter away

[DragoLT]

for real ?

thats something new in FM i think though thats a shame for you

[nufc1]

HBA gets a bad injury at the start of season 3 and ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT AT THE END OF THE SEASON due to injury problems!!!

NO WAY! Thats a nightmare mate! He's played pretty decently for me since coming back from injury.

Just into January now in the first season with the table looking like this:

Here's how the team is performing. Wilfried and Cabaye are excellent and Ba was doing well until his injury.

Got to change my season expectations and got given £12.84M as my new budget from January. Not sure who to buy if I do go for someone

[MrMick]

hey guys just downloading the game off steam as i type.

Any good staff bargain buys and staff you guys can roccomend. (will be looing at Wilfried)

I had a clearout of staff and got these in , some i had to pay compensation and some were free agents - tosh farrell - ray clemence - paul winsper - mark hulse - tony whelan - paul mcguinness - sidnei lobo (ass manager) also massimo bonini is a decent defending coach but i cant offer him enough money for him to agree probably because i already have those other coaches .

[Wilson123]

Well as some of the non NUFC fans have stated, I haven't really much of a clue of who is good and who isn't that is at the club.

The whole backroom staff set-up was pulled apart and the only survivor, like many have mentioned, was Beardsley. I've brought in a variety of names to sort out the background and after pleading for more staff - and being granted two additional coaches - I now have 3.5 or 4 stars across the board for training (both senior and youth).

I've released 90 per cent of the U18s and reserves - Adam Campbell, Remie Streete and Jak Alnwick are the only survivors.

Brought in a great GK prospect in Plamen Illiev and an exciting midfielder in Lucas Anderson (both cost less than a million for the pair). My only big expenditure has been on Vieirinha to replace Obertan (who has appalling decision making stats for me).

Former world cup winner, 37 year old Marco Materazzi has joined for £0 on a season long contract with a view to using him to tutor, although his stats make him a formidable 'stopper' even in his late 30s.

Absolutely HUGE task to try and shape the club how I like. We've had a mixed pre-season but that has in part been my own failure to know my best XI - I've concentrated more on trying to clear out the deadwood from the club. I anticipate a few names to come in before the end of August to bolster the team.

Youth facilities have been given the green light to be developed and are underway.