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[FM 18] The Ballad of Stalin ‘El Bobo’ Pinzón – Part 1: One Zulte to Rule Them All… and in the Darkness Bind Them


ManUtd1

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Always be polite.  Professional.  And have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

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December 2022 Mini-Update

Christmas has come right on time this year...undefeated in Europe, with only a single blemish on the domestic fixture list.

Bring on Allegri's Tottenham.  Bring on the Euro's Qualifying...although drawing World Cup winners Poland out of Pot 2 was a kick in the teeth.  Perhaps I should have had a word with Kyle from IT before the draw...  I know, I know.  He was kidding.  Maybe...  Poor guy has been looking a little disheveled lately, hasn't he? 

2023 is going to be a big year, lads.  I can feel it.

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2023 starts off with a bang, as we welcome 4 promising Dutch youngsters.  And one random kid that Luca wants to take a closer look at...but I've seen enough.

Does anyone know why the police are here?  That's strange.

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Antonio Conte resigned from Real Madrid...to manage Raheem Sterling at Tottenham...and doesn't Raheem look thrilled about it!

(Allegri got sacked right around Christmas due to their poor league position.)

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Always be polite.  Professional.  And have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

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March 2022 Mini-Update

30 matches unbeaten since October, firing on all cylinders...with Antonio Conte's Tottenham knocked out of Europe, like a cheap toupee in a windstorm.

Seriously, Tony.  We all know it's fake.  We all chuckle behind your back.  Just go bald, man.  Embrace it.  Like Pep.  Like that Kaiser nutter in Germany.  Like Shia says, don't let your dreams be dreams.

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Quick glance at the league table as we hit the Championship phase.  This is insane.

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And, across Europe...Pep's City has the edge in England, Atletico are trying to retain their title in Spain, Lazio is challenging Juve in Italy, Fener has a shot in Turkey, etc.

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3 hours ago, kidthekid said:

wow. Is you squad that good or did they internalize the "Lads is Tottenham" meme?

Combination of the two -- Tottenham is awful this year, and my squad is truly coming into their own.  It's been about 2 years since the last squad review, so I'll do one at the end of the season!

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2023 Champions League Semi-Final, 1st Leg; Camp Nou

We've firmly established ourselves as the top club in Belgium.  We no longer take anyone by surprise in Europe.  The question being...can we push on and become a continental force?  Can we keep this side together?

The trip to Catalonia will be our biggest challenge of the year.  It has been a long season, but this is what it all boils down to.  We need a result here, to force Barcelona to chase the tie back at the Regenboog.  We'll play on the counter, which we've deployed so effectively in Europe these past few years.

Gods, that anthem gives me chills.

The early minutes betray frayed nerves for the Catalans...a throw in deep from Ahne finds Valencia, who whips a cross to the back post...MAERTENS RISES TO HEAD IT HOME!!!  THE MUCH-MALIGNED WINGER, WHO MANY IDENTIFY AS THE WEAK LINK IN THIS ESSEVEE SIDE, HAS A GOAL ON THE BIGGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR!!!  This is precisely the start Zulte needed, a vital away goal which will force Barcelona to push forward.

30 minutes gone, and Barcelona have the possession but nothing to show for it.  A textbook display of counter-attacking football from Stalin's men thus far.

BUT NOT SO FAST!!!  SERGI ROBERTO DELIVERS THE MOMENT OF INSPIRATION THAT BARCELONA NEEDED!  A POOR CLEARANCE SEES ROBERTO HIT ONE FIRST-TIME FROM 25 YARDS, BILLOWING THE BACK OF THE NET!!!  1-1!!!

54th minute and it should be 2-1 to Barcelona, as Bande heads over from 3 yards out...  Barcelona have been starting to turn the screw, but will they live to regret that miss?!

With an hour gone, Mazingu-Tshimanga is brought on for Ahne, with Stalin looking to add an additional element of danger to the counterattack.

Tsougoutzidis follows shortly thereafter, as he crumples to the pitch holding his knee.  That doesn't look good... Gulerce on to replace him.

And it isn't long before he has an impact!  Mere minutes after entering the fray, Gulerce with a deft touch to Maertens...2-1 to the Belgians!!!  The silence at the Camp Nou is deafening!!!  What a calm finish!!!  Sylla replaces France Vera, to provide fresh legs in the Belgian engine room.  15 to play. 10...

Barcelona press and probe, but cannot find a way through... 5 minutes, plus stoppage time.  On the counter...VALENCIA THREADS THE NEEDLE!!! GULERCE SLOTS HOME!!! THAT'S 3!!! THE BELGIANS HAVE DONE IT HERE IN BARCELONA!!! THE HOSTS WILL HAVE IT ALL TO DO IN THE SECOND LEG!!!  TEXTBOOK COUNTERATTACKING FOOTBALL!!!  WHO NEEDS POSSESSION WHEN YOU'RE THIS INCISIVE?!?!

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2023 Champions League Semi-Final, 2nd Leg; Regenboogstadion

An epic 1st leg win at the Camp Nou puts us on the verge of history.  But we need to be ready for the coming onslaught...  We'll be without Tsougoutzidis, with Renard and Gulerce also absent having picked up minor injuries over the weekend against Genk.

Barcelona will need to attack, so we will once again sit deep and aim to hit them on the counter.  90 minutes away from the final in Marseille, where we'd face the Marseille themselves, the host club having eliminated Napoli 2-1 on aggregate last night.  But let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet... The biggest night of football ever at the Regenboog, and we need to do our supporters proud.

A big save from Vinther in the 5th minute denies the Catalans the early goal they so desperately want...  And in the 15th, pure ecstasy for the 11,000 in attendance...Vera forces a turnover in midfield, and plays Valencia in over the top.  Ter Stegen finds himself in no man's land, as Valencia rounds him and finishes coolly.  1-0 on the night, leaving the Catalans needing 3 to force extra time.  Pellegri blazes high from 18 yards a few minutes later, yet another chance gone begging for the Catalans.

More than 30 minutes gone and Barcelona are in complete control, with nothing to show for it and few real looks at goal as Stalin's men sit deep, letting Barcelona tiki-taka their way straight out of the competition.  Frustration setting in, can they keep their cool?  The next goal could change the entire complexion of the tie.

And it looks to come in the 47th, as Prevost is called for a shove on Suarez.  Penalty to Barcelona, no matter the jeers and protests from the home side and support.  An absolute disaster...  BUT VINTHER DENIES PELLEGRI, DIVING TO HIS RIGHT LIKE THE SALMON OF CAPISTRANO!!!  THE REGENBOOG IS ROCKING!!!

The Great Dane's heroics have seemingly taken the wind out of Barcelona's sails, as they look utterly bereft of ideas.  30 minutes to play, De Cock on for Sylla, as Bordes pushes into midfield.  Lionel Messi enters the fray for Barcelona...35 years old with a wily head, but none of the speed of his glory years...does the old dog have any new tricks up his sleeve?

15 minutes to play, but it might as well be 150.  Zulte have mercilessly smothered all life out of this tie.  It may not be pretty, but no one can deny that it is effective.  A speculative effort from Carrasco at an oblique angle manages to float over Vinther's head to the back post, fluttering harmlessly off the post and well-cleared by Zulte with nary a Barcelona attacker in sight.  The perfect allegory for an evening when Zulte have had all the answers.

AND THAT'S THE WHISTLE!!!  ZULTE WAREGEM, AGAINST THE ODDS, ARE OFF TO MARSEILLE IN 17 DAYS' TIME, TO PLAY FOR HISTORY!!!  

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The Board is killing me.  I want a new stadium more than words can say.  But we obviously need to expand from 11.6k seats to 13k first...

At least Kyle can work on upgrading our data analysis facilities...

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2023 Champions League Final; Stade Orange Vélodrome

Having merely reached this stage of the Champions League, we've created history.  But that is not enough.  Losing this match after the run we've been on... It would be gutting.

We face Marseille, who finished 3rd in Ligue 1 and prevailed over the likes of Tottenham, Bayern, Juventus, Leipzig and Napoli to reach this point.  We're no longer a mystery to anyone...no longer a surprise.  We'll need to be on top form.

We will play variations of our strikerless formation, with Mazingu-Tshimanga in for the injured Ahne.  The young winger has been playing at fullback all year, and will need to be on top form tonight against Florian Thauvin.

All to play for as the first whistle blows.  Destiny is all.

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Early minutes and both sides are simply probing.  Again, welcome to the night's entertainment.  Gary Neville here, with Jamie Carragher.

Both sides a surprise tonight, all the more so given the recent dominance of English sides in continental football, right, Jamie?  Bournemouth have done the nation proud, but that's the Europa League.  Who really cares, eh?

First bit of action here as Vinther, the young Danish lad, looking like the second coming of Peter Schmeichel, plays a long ball...collected by his countryman, Christensen who drifts wide before crossing into the... FORTHMANN AND VALENCIA ARE WIDE OPEN AT THE BACK POST, WITH THE ENTIRE MARSEILLE BACK LINE CAUGHT BALL-WATCHING!!!  THEY COULDN'T MISS!!! 1-NIL TO THE BELGIANS!!!

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OOAUUUCLLLLAHGFFFSSSSERRRRGGGGG WHAT A START FOR STALIN'S MEN!!!

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Nearly 30 minutes gone, and thus far things are proceeding almost exactly as they have for Stalin's men throughout the knockout rounds.  Sit back, soak up the pressure and get forward in transition.

Yeah, Jamie, I mean.  It's all sauce and no potatoes though, innit?

I have no idea what you mean, Gary.  That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and I've worked with Joey Barton.

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Corner to Marseille in the 38th minute...they need to create something here.  No, nothing here...Zulte clear and...oh my, Valencia gathers and skirts past Karavaez...HE'S THROUGH ON GOAL AND...YES!!! THERE IT IS!!!  2-NIL!!!

MARSEILLE ARE SINKING WITHOUT A TRACE!!!

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AND BEFORE THE FRENCH CAN EVEN CATCH THEIR BREATH, IT'S THREE!!!

CORNER TO ZULTE, BUT MARSEILLE FAIL TO CLEAR, WITH VALENCIA LAYING ON FOR CHRISTENSEN!!!  NOT 40 MINUTES GONE, AND ZULTE ARE RAMPANT!!!

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Halftime here, Gary, and I can't see any way back into this one for Marseille.

I agree, Jamie.  Massive frauds tonight, they just haven't shown up.  On a scale of 1 to Tottenham, they're off the charts.  There nowt more to be said, is there?

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M-A-R-S...uhhh...MARSEILLE, THAT'S HOW YOU SPELL FRAUDS, GARY!  THAT'S HOW YOU SPELL IT!  MOMENTS AFTER THE RESTART AND IT'S 4 NIL!!! 

MAZINGU-TSHIMANGA FORCING A TURNOVER HIGH UP THE PITCH, AND VALENCIA DOES WHAT HE DOES BEST, DELIVER AN INCH-PERFECT CROSS TO CHRISTENSEN!!!

PUT THE ROAST IN THE OVEN, BABY, I'M COMING HOME FOR DINNER!!!

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AND JUST LIKE THAT, THINGS GO FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR THE FRENCH!!!  RAFINA WITH A WILD, TWO-FOOTED CHALLENGE ON VALENCIA!!

He could have killed him, Jamie.  Killed him.  Valencia could be DEAD.  Right now.  Dead, Jamie.  A stone-cold red if I've ever seen one.

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Valencia exits the pitch in the 82nd, the manager giving him his just due -- a standing ovation, even from the French support.  The big question being...has he played his final match in a Zulte shirt?  The suitors have been lined up around the block for this Ecuadorian Enigma, for months...surely his stock has risen today!

Risen like a well-yeasted bread, he has, Jamie.  A well-yeasted bread!!!

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That's the final whistle, Jamie!  A well-deserved triumph for Stalin and his men!!!  Can they build on this success?!  Can they keep this side together, or will the temptation of higher wages abroad be too much to resist?!

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2 weeks ago, when I last opened this thread, your computer had cooked and this save was gone. Now you've won the ****ing Champions League with a 4-0 in the final over a team playing at home.

Safe to say that was an unexpected turn of events! Congrats. Brilliant achievement.

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6 hours ago, HawkAussie said:

They got destroyed right there in the Champions League final, its also if some curse was put on them *wink*

5 hours ago, Rikulec said:

:applause:

5 hours ago, Fer Fuchs Ake said:

Battered them. Well done! :applause:

1 hour ago, SixPointer said:

Superb!!

Thanks, guys! It was a ridiculously straightforward final and tremendous run-in.  This side is ready to take on anyone!

1 hour ago, noikeee said:

2 weeks ago, when I last opened this thread, your computer had cooked and this save was gone. Now you've won the ****ing Champions League with a 4-0 in the final over a team playing at home.

Safe to say that was an unexpected turn of events! Congrats. Brilliant achievement.

Yeah, it's been quite the turnaround and I'm thrilled (obviously!).  It's been a roller-coaster!

5 hours ago, Minuy600 said:

Congrats! 

...Now resign and do it all over again.

Hah!  I signed a new  contract in November 2022 that won't expire until June 2026.  I'm here for at least 2-3 more years.  At that point, I'll likely move on.  We'll just have to see what makes sense in terms of the narrative :D

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Utterly smoked them. I don't think there's a better way to mark the resurrection of this save than this. Congratulations on a brilliant run with Zulte, shades of Malmo I believe :applause:.

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Life is about momentum. Pick a direction and don't let anything—man or storm— turn you aside.

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2022-23 Season Review

The euphoria has yet to wear off.  It feels as if the entire populations of Zulte and Waregem are here with us on the Cote d'Azur.

Certainly, the bandwagon fans are all here, as the media darlings have won it all.  Hipsters as far as the eye can see, at least for now -- before long I'm sure that we'll go the way of ironic lumberjack beards, and become objects of hipster hate.

As if any of that matters.  We're champsions -- of Belgium and Europe, and there's nothing anyone can do to take away from this feeling.  The pundits are wagging over where my seemingly-inevitable departure for greener pastures, certain in their arrogance that the confines of the Regenboog are too small to contain me.

On one level, they're right -- I want a new stadium, to firmly establish this club at the pinnacle of Belgian football.  On another, they're wrong -- the Regenboog fits me like a glove.

No resting on our laurels here, though.  We need to ensure that this was not a one-off miracle season.  The very night of our triumph, I instructed Luca to trigger what contract extensions we were legally allowed to.  The next step is to assess what changes must be made -- who is out, who will remain.  Hard decisions are in front of us, as several key members of the squad simply are not good enough for my long-term goals -- a European title won not on the counter, but where we're the aggressors from the first kick.  Ahne and Maertens are likely the first to go, but others are on the chopping block, too.

Goals for 2023-24: Defend our league and continental titles.  Win the World Club Cup.

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Squad|League Overview|Finances Overview|Income Detail|Expenditures Detail|Transfers

JPL Fixtures|JPL Championship Group Fixtures|Champions League Fixtures|Croky Cup Fixtures

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2 minutes ago, oriole01 said:

Utterly smoked them. I don't think there's a better way to mark the resurrection of this save than this. Congratulations on a brilliant run with Zulte, shades of Malmo I believe :applause:.

Thanks, man!  We should have returned to Belgium by boat! :lol:

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With only a few weeks' break before pre-season begins with Zulte, I'm off to national team duty with the Dutch.  No rest for the wicked.

A frustrating match against Spain saw us drop into the 3rd place match, with an abysmal start against the Italians.  Fortunately, we found our sea legs and pulled it back -- twice coming from behind to drag the match into extra time, where Will Roox found the winner.

A more straightforward tie against Cameroon followed, leaving me with a week before the Zulte squad reports for our training camp.  Time enough to binge the new season of Peaky Blinders...

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2022-23 European Review

Heiko Herrlich's Chelsea claim the PL title on matchday 38, through a Robert Lewandowski goal -- ensuring that neither City nor United bring the title back to Manchester.

Simeone's Atletico fade miserably, losing 2 of their final 3 matches to cede the La Liga title to Barcelona.  Monaco and PSG claimed a combined 197 points in Ligue 1.  Mandorlini's Lazio claimed the Serie A title on the final matchday, with Juventus losing at home to Milan.

Otherwise, we're seeing the predictable -- both in terms of results and the active leagues climbing the reputation charts.  Interestingly enough, La Liga is falling like a stone right now -- just like it did in my Nearly Men save.  Only time will tell if this continues.

Other interesting results...after years of English dominance in European competitions, the sole English finalist this year was Bournemouth, who ran Madrid close in the Europa League.

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June 2023 Squad Review

Having just won the Champions League, this is the perfect time to check in on the squad.  The last time we looked at the entire squad, in any real depth, was December 2019.  Some of the promising players have come good -- others, not so much.  And, of course, we've had some key 1st XI signings since then.

We're still playing @Guimy's 3 Carat Diamond tactic, with 3 variations: (1) the base tactic, with fullbacks and "stay on your feet" ticked; (2) a counter version (using wingbacks instead of fullbacks); and (3) the addition of a playmaker/quarterback in the defensive line.

I've considered shifting to the formation that I'm using with the Dutch (a 343 with wingbacks in the DM strata), but have decided to keep things as they are for now.

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Goalkeepers

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Vinther is the undisputed No. 1 for now.  I signed Domaradzki last year as a potential long-term replacement, but he's a beast-in-the-making, in his own right.  The beauty of Belgium being that I can get both of them a substantial number of matches.  Tiboni is a dutiful, home-grown backup.  Vinter could be immense and is already pushing for the starting role.

This is one area, though, where we could see change sooner rather than later.  Vinther is one of three players being heavily chased by elite clubs on the continent.  He has yet to throw a massive fit, but who knows.  Regardless, even if he were to leave we're in great shape here.

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Defenders

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Let's start at right back, shall we?  We've got Kalala in the 1st XI, with Verbrugghe in the 2nd XI.  However, we also have young Dutchman Bakker who needs minutes...as well as homegrown prospects Bachmayer and Bosch.  3 players will likely go out on loan this year.  The only question is whether Verbrugghe or Bakker stays to feature in the 2nd XI.  I doubt that Bachmayer and Bosch have the ability to progress to the 1st XI, despite my earlier hopes.

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At left back, we've got Ahne and converted winger Mazingu-Tshimanga.  Ahne hasn't developed the way I'd like, and seems like he has little room left to grow.  Mazingu-Tshimanga is brilliant, but I began converting him to fullback given that we needed depth, he had some natural tackling ability, and couldn't get minutes ahead of Valencia.  But...is he our long-term solution?  Frankly, the long-term solution may just be De Backer, marked by my coaching staff as the best of this year's crop of youngsters (coupled with a "best of his generation" tag, which can be misleading).  I think he needs some additional time, though, so he will likely spend another year with our youth teams (or on loan).

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At centerback, over the last year I ran with Prevost and Bordes in the 1st XI, with Severin and De Cock in the 2nd.  Bordes and De Cock feature in the defensive playmaker/quarterback role.  I'm pretty happy with these 4, although I'd like to add a more Vidic-esque player.  Vermeire spent the last year on loan and will either be sold or sent back out elsewhere.  Vierwind may replace Severin, after spending the Spring on loan after his signing in January.  Dehbi and Andreani are youth prospects who might be decent squad players.

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Central Midfielders

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All year, we've been running with a midfield trio of Vera (volante), Tsougoutzidis (mezzala) and Forthmann (ball-winning midfielder) in the 1st XI.  This trio is massive and I can't see how to improve them at this juncture.  The 2nd XI has been Livingstone-Renard-Sylla, but neither Renard nor Sylla have developed the way I'd hoped.  They've hit the wall and I'm looking to replace them sooner rather than later.  Right now, I'm planning to slot Diaz into the 2nd XI ball-winning midfielder role, having signed him on a free after his Vallejo contract expired (he refused with me earlier and simply ran his contract down, which may be an ominous sign for the future).  Ozturk will take over the 2nd XI mezzala role; signed for a club-record $7.25M fee in January from Ajax, I have high hopes for him at Zulte and with the Dutch national team.

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Attacking Midfielders

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When we last did a full squad review, I thought that this was the strata where we were struggling most.  With the passage of time...

Our two best players feature here -- Valencia and Christensen.  Both are being heavily scouted by elite clubs.  Neither has thrown a fit at this point, but it would not be unreasonable for one of them to completely lose it if they aren't allowed to move on.  Suffice to say, I'm keeping them as long as I possibly can.

Maertens is the current starter on our right wing, but neither he nor his understudy (Mijailovic) are good enough.  Their progression has stalled.  Meaning I've dipped into the transfer market.  As noted above, we signed Ozturk in January for what was a club record $7.25M.  Well...we've set a new record.  $15M, meeting the release fee for Maric, a brilliant 19 year-old I've been tracking at Basel.  I couldn't justify the cost before, but that CL prize money made it very doable.  Maric will step directly into the 1st XI, with either Maertens or Mijailovic in the 2nd XI (the other out on loan).  He's brilliant.

The 2nd XI has featured Altenbuchinger on the left, Gulerce or Afkir in the middle, with Mijailovic on the right.  Altenbuchinger has stalled out, as have Gulerce and Afkir.  All 3 are likely heading out on loan (or for a full transfer).  In their stead, we'll likely see Dutch youngster Matondo, with Peterson (an incoming $2M signing from Norkopping) and Dheur battling for minutes in the middle.  We've also got young Colombian winger Serrano coming in next January ($750k from Deportivo Cali), to provide additional depth on the right.

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Final Thoughts

I can't help but be extremely excited about this squad.  Champions of Belgium.  Champions of Europe.  And we're not resting on our laurels.  Maric is a game-changing winger and massive upgrade from Maertens.  There's no denying that we have depth in spades, with youth on our side.

As the summer progresses, I'll get the squad down to 23-25 players.  My goal is nothing less than an improvement on this last year, which was epic in its own right -- especially domestically, where we dropped a mere 7 points all year.

We just need to keep them together.  And build a new stadium, for urCristiano's sake...

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Ha ha, Maertens must have impostor syndrome when he gets to training. But his average rating is pretty good though.  I'm surprised at all the international caps from France, Germany and Belgium that you have in your squad. 

It is indeed a good squad.

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