smp20 Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 The Return of King Kev Part 4 Kevin Keegan is one of the most important figures in the long history of Newcastle United. Fans on this day 10 years ago were celebrating his THIRD coming at the club. Twice before, the charismatic Keegan had rescued the Magpies from oblivion. In the process each time, King Kev brought much joy to black and white hearts so often bruised and battered by the regular toils of their beloved football club. In 1982, Keegan the player sensationally arrived to spark United’s eventual promotion back to the top flight after an absence of six seasons. In 1992, with the Magpies in crisis and on the brink of relegation to the third tier of English football, he returned as rookie manager to save them from the drop, then oversee their dramatic resurgence. For most of us, it was as good as it ever got as the ‘Entertainers’ challenged at the top of the Premier League in dashing style. And then, out of the blue a decade ago, he was back again. The Chronicle of January 16, 2008, reported: “Kevin Keegan is making a sensational return to Newcastle United. The 56-year-old is set to be unveiled as the club’s new manager. Sadly there would be no fairy tale this time. Keegan would famously soon fall out with the club’s hierarchy. By September that year he was gone, with Newcastle United in chaos. After the latest takeover news from St James' Park, it's fair to say that back on this day in 2008, little did we know how troubled the next 10 years would be. Finally the club was out of the hands of Mike Ashley, with new owner Steve Hollis, known for his no nonsense style and short period steadying the ship at Aston Villa, looking to bring back pride to the North East. On 13th January 2018, nearly 10 years to the day that Keegan entered for his 2nd managerial spell at St James' Park, a shock announcement was made. Under new leadership, the club had opted to dismiss of manager Rafa Benitez and replace him with fan favourite Kevin Keegan. Benitez was thanked for his hard work and has a right to feel aggrieved about his dismissal, but ultimately the club wants to head in a new direction. A club statement mentioned "The Entertainers" and "Pride of the North East", though as of yet 66-year-old Kevin Keegan had not made himself available to the media. His first game just two days away against Swansea, and there were leaked notes from his first training session: It looks like the entertainers are back. Here's a peak at the Premier League table as its stands: Rafa had taken Newcastle into a safe mid-table position, well above the predicted 16th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 A very poor start, the players just didn't seem to 'get' that they could express themselves and attack at will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 A much better attacking performance, but we looked poor defensively as shown by giving away two penalties. Lots of chances created, need to finish more of them off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 End of January 2018 Window Update Out with the old regime, in with the older regime...Fazackerley rejoins Keegan as his right hand man after being in his coaching setups at Newcastle, England and Man City while Billows, Woodman and Stone return to familiar surroundings. All the Spaniards that were part of Rafa's setup are gone. As are the Spanish players! Matt Ritchie also made way for a more traditional out-and-out winger. Pearson was the first player through the door, signing as our 'David Batty'. Followed by the deadline day signing of young tricky winger St. Maximin - our Beardsley, or more our Ginola but on the other side. And one that really got the belief that the entertainers were back in the Toon. Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Of course Zlatan grabbed two goals on his debut just hours after signing. St Max got all 3 assists! Less said about the Spurs game the better...missed chances and atrocious defending sums it up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 19, 2018 Author Share Posted September 19, 2018 This is how the season finished. Now its time to build a side worthy of the 'Entertainers' title. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Good start, I can never get into a Newcastle save despite them being the team I tragically support, not managed them in years. Proper big scoring games there, I love it. Whats Zlatan unhappy about? I guess replacing Clark for a ball playing centre back to emulate Albert would be a start? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 19, 2018 Author Share Posted September 19, 2018 22 minutes ago, ToMexico!! said: Good start, I can never get into a Newcastle save despite them being the team I tragically support, not managed them in years. Proper big scoring games there, I love it. Whats Zlatan unhappy about? I guess replacing Clark for a ball playing centre back to emulate Albert would be a start? Yeah I imagine the high scoring games will continue! After watching lots of clips from 93/94 through to 96/97 I've decided I want to work on a Beardsley (free reign creative) and Andy Cole (poacher) front two, so I'm looking to bring in the next Andy Cole. I will be bringing in a ball playing defender for sure, as well as even more flair out wide and a more attacking left back. I want to bring back a couple of Geordies as well if possible. Edit: Zlatan is unhappy I didn't improve the coaching staff, hopefully he'll get over it... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 2 hours ago, smp20 said: Yeah I imagine the high scoring games will continue! After watching lots of clips from 93/94 through to 96/97 I've decided I want to work on a Beardsley (free reign creative) and Andy Cole (poacher) front two, so I'm looking to bring in the next Andy Cole. I will be bringing in a ball playing defender for sure, as well as even more flair out wide and a more attacking left back. I want to bring back a couple of Geordies as well if possible. Edit: Zlatan is unhappy I didn't improve the coaching staff, hopefully he'll get over it... Wor Andy back leading the line I like it Replicating Beardsley could be quite difficult to begin with, who are thinking of? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 19, 2018 Author Share Posted September 19, 2018 38 minutes ago, ToMexico!! said: Wor Andy back leading the line I like it Replicating Beardsley could be quite difficult to begin with, who are thinking of? Updates to come soon on the new Andy Cole At the moment i've just got Ibrahimovic playing the complete forward role, the one I see Beardsley playing with a lot of freedom. Though I'm sure this will be his last season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidthekid Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Good start so far. I've always heard about the Keegan style but I never actually got to see them play, only seen them on highlights. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 21 hours ago, kidthekid said: Good start so far. I've always heard about the Keegan style but I never actually got to see them play, only seen them on highlights. Likewise, but I've watched lots of highlights and read lots of articles. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 August/September 2018 Update Transfers Out A mass clear out of players that were not good enough to be part of the new entertainers era, with the exception of Atsu and Shelvey who had offers that were just too good to turn down. On top of the above cash sales we also released 33 players from the reserves and youth squads deemed not to have sufficient potential. Transfers In We raided the relegated PL sides of their best assets - Butland, Ndiaye, Arnautovic Zaha - and Andy Carroll is back in the toon after an unsuccessful spell at Stoke. Harry Maguire joins as our ball playing defender, while Balotelli joins our 1st choice front line of entertainers. Arnautovic, Zaha, Ibrahimovic and Balotelli, that's a forward line to get excited about!!! Eddie Nketiah joins as a long term 'Andy Cole' type striker, currently being tutored by Zlatan. Results An excellent start in the league puts us right up there with the big boys, though it's important to note that we did have an 'easy' start i nthe first 5 games including all 3 newly promoted sides. Our unbeaten run in the league came to an abrupt end thanks to Klopp's unstoppable counter-attacking football. 4-0 down at HT, got it back to 4-3, then we were just picked off towards the end when we were pressing to get back into the game. Disappointing to go out of the league cup so early, but we did managed to beat our fierce rivals keeping up Keegan's 100% record in the Tyne&Wear derby. League Table Solid start - though Spurs look unstoppable at the moment thanks to 11 Harry Kane goals!! Squad I really like the look of this squad now. A good mix of experience, energy, flair and...well...controversy. Tactics This is our revised tactic, toned down a little bit in terms of mentality but 6 players on attacking duty so it's still pretty gung-ho, we just keep the ball better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 Some good signings there in... Maguire = Albert N'Daiye = Rob Lee Zaha = Ginola and a great goal scoring start. Carroll must really be f****d if he's on 2* CA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 Sour grapes Rafa? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 Great start! There's nothing subtle about that tactic is there. Just bang the freaking goals in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 32 minutes ago, ToMexico!! said: Some good signings there in... Maguire = Albert N'Daiye = Rob Lee Zaha = Ginola and a great goal scoring start. Carroll must really be f****d if he's on 2* CA. Yeah they're not exactly carbon copies, but will perform the roles that they did. Carroll still looks decent attribute wise, it's more this form that makes Fazackerley's opinion I think: Not good, not good at all! 14 minutes ago, noikeee said: Great start! There's nothing subtle about that tactic is there. Just bang the freaking goals in. Cheers - no subtlety allowed, goals is the currency of football and that's what we promise to bring to St James' Park Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 This is the strike partnership I'm trying to emulate - Beardsley and Cole. 55 PL goals between them that season! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 Its one of them, what would have happened if we hadn't sold Andy Cole? Cole and Shearer would have been a dreamy partnership. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 7 hours ago, ToMexico!! said: Its one of them, what would have happened if we hadn't sold Andy Cole? Cole and Shearer would have been a dreamy partnership. Maybe I should focus on that kind of partnership up top, the traditional big man / little man, TM / poacher combo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 2018/19 Mid-Season Update Typical of a Keegan era, we're outstanding at St James' Park, but poor away from home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 January/February 2019 Update A great January was followed by a poor February where we dropped our first home points to both Liverpool clubs and got thumped in the FA Cup by lower league opposition. We're in 5th place though, so I'm happy with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 11 hours ago, smp20 said: Maybe I should focus on that kind of partnership up top, the traditional big man / little man, TM / poacher combo Apparently this is what Keegan wanted to build. Sod defending, its for the weak. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 To be honest with that front 6 you wouldn't need a defence Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 We finished the season with mixed form and narrowly missed out on Europe. As you can see we were by far the greatest goalscorers in the league, but had the 2nd worst defence. Keegan's sides were surprisingly quite solid at the back so we may need to look to adapt a little, whilst still allowing a gung-ho approach with lots of attacking roles. An anchor man may be needed and a box-to-box midfielder sacrificed. Ibra-Telli was our forward line, rekindling a strike partnership of 10 years ago from their Inter days. Zaha was our key creative force from out wide, Arnie was hit and miss. Ndiaye and Delph formed a nice partnership in midfield together, but we're more focused on attacking than protecting our regular back 4 of Yedlin, Maguire, Lascelles and Emerson. Andy Carroll missed lots of sitters and I will be looking to get rid if I can, just terrible from him. This season turned out to be Zlatan's last and he certainly went out on a high. He was our player of the season and now a fan favourite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Zlatan and Keegan in the dugout together...what a duo! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmattb28 Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 For all us Newcastle fans Ashley leaving would be like the second coming of Christ! Keegan meant so much to us, good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 On 22/09/2018 at 10:18, bigmattb28 said: For all us Newcastle fans Ashley leaving would be like the second coming of Christ! Keegan meant so much to us, good luck! Cheers @bigmattb28 - unfortunately it doesn't look to be happening as quickly in real life as it does in FM! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 2019/20 Mid-Season Review Transfers Balotelli and Emerson both threw their toys out the pram wanting to join a bigger club and I wasn't going to stand in their way when they received the right deals. Chicharito comes in to replace Balotelli, while Chilwell is in for Emerson. Jota and Lallana are in to add to our creative force, while Clyne adds a more solid option at right back to Yedlin. Woodman is sent out on loan to get first team experience so David Raya is signed as Butland's understudy. Unfortunately Carroll flopped so he was shipped off to QPR and is yet to score a goal there either. Results We've achieved some crushing results, particularly at St James Park where our only non-win came vs Wigan in the cup where we hit the woodwork 5 times. Best result has to be the 4-1 win against Arsenal who were top at the time. League Table We're currently top, but if Utd win or draw their game in hand they will overtake us. The second half of the season will certainly be interesting! Tactics After the loss against Southampton where we failed to score, I decided to switch to a new system inspired by Keegan's dream 11 @ToMexico!! - thanks for posting it do you have a like to the original article? It's a real gung-ho tactic, 9 players on attacking duty.... Player Stats Our back 4 and keeper have actually been solid, while our newly formed front 3 of Jota, Zaha and Nketiah have torn defences apart. Our midfield trio of Delph, Ndiaye and Lallana have been good when fit, though we could do with another more creative option in there. Chicharito broke his ankle and doesn't really suit our new style of play, considering he was signed as an out and out poacher. It's a shame but he will be moved on when we can and replaced with a better all-rounder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 It was from the chronicle, I was searching for images off the back of this thread and came across it. Fantastic. Attack is the best form of defence. If they don't have the ball and its in their half how can they score Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 4 hours ago, ToMexico!! said: It was from the chronicle, I was searching for images off the back of this thread and came across it. Fantastic. Attack is the best form of defence. If they don't have the ball and its in their half how can they score Cheers, well it's working better defensively than last season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 1st March 2020 Update Transfers In Foden came in on loan to add another creative option, while transfer listed Wilshere also joined though not before scoring 2 against us in the league! I activated a buy back clause for Mitrovic as I think he's the closest to a 'Shearer' type that we can afford. Kane went to City for £144m!! On deadline day I swooped in for The Ox who, as with Wilshere, was transfer listed. Transfers Out With the switch to 3 creative/attacking centre mids Pearson wasn't really the prototype so I took advantage of the interest in him. The funds from Hernandez and Arnautovic allowed me to sign Ox, with neither of them first choice anymore. Results Our first home loss in the league came to Leicester, the only side to get a double over us. We had a couple of unlucky results, Swansea and Spurs being the worst especially with Balotelli bagging a last minute winner against us. We're into the QF of the FA Cup against Chelsea or Bournemouth, crucially at home! League Table 10 games left and it's a exciting 5 horse race, talking of excitement: What a cracking league cup final! Youth Intake Steve Sharp, a Geordie Legend in the making. Shame he's so defensive minded as he doesn't fit our system at all, but I will work out a way to get him in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 Well it could be all change at the top again, Hollis is retiring. As long as it's not Mike Ashley coming back... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 Well that was a quick takeover! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 Squeeky bum time....Would love it if we beat them (to the title). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 I don't care if it's the wrong Keegan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 15 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said: I don't care if it's the wrong Keegan. Are you rooting for Newcastle or Man Utd Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 We go into the final game with a chance of winning the title, but only if we win and Man Utd lose. We face Burnley, they face.....Huddersfield. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 6 minutes ago, smp20 said: We go into the final game with a chance of winning the title, but only if we win and Man Utd lose. We face Burnley, they face.....Huddersfield. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 Bottled it! I'm glad Utd won anyway, otherwise would have been very pissed off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenzar Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Balotelli and Ibrahimovic front two. What a pair of gents. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 That tactic is insane man. So is Steve Sharp, great prospect there, too bad you don't use DMs. Great step forward this season, not sure what's lacking to topple up Man Utd, I don't know, maybe try defending a little once in a while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 1 hour ago, Lenzar said: Balotelli and Ibrahimovic front two. What a pair of gents. It was great while it lasted, at least Ibra's legacy lives on! 43 minutes ago, noikeee said: That tactic is insane man. So is Steve Sharp, great prospect there, too bad you don't use DMs. Great step forward this season, not sure what's lacking to topple up Man Utd, I don't know, maybe try defending a little once in a while. Defending? Blasphemy! Steve Sharp is being trained to finish and play as a Mezzala. There's no room for a DM in our side Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 Zlatan living up to his perfectionist personality. Surprised he didn't storm out again, he's done so 3 times already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 Newcastle's Nearly Men 2020 Zlatan may tell you differently, but this was highly successful season for us. We managed to grab 3 more points than the famous 95/96 side, however it was a very similar story: The only difference being that we at no point had a big lead at the top. Maybe next time, though I dread an implosion like that! Player Awards The PL team of the year - no idea how Jota doesn't get in there... Player Stats The stars of the season are undoubtedly our wide forwards, Jota and Zaha, though we did manage to keep a consistent 11 with just a few injuries throughout the season. Mitrovic was a brilliant re-signing, proving that he never should have been sold and that adding a buy-back clause was a good idea in the end. I would say he's been pretty Shearer-like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Decent season by Jota. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheelf Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Interesting idea...crazy tactic though with all those attack duties. The fact that you finished 2nd in the EPL with what I think is fair to say is average-ish players (with the exception of Jota and Zaha who look immense) is slightly worrying given the tactic you're using. I would have expected that you might struggle with counter attacks against some of the best attackers in the world but that doesn't look to be happening. You seem to be making it work which is a great achievement. Btw, what's happened to Liverpool? They seem to be slowly declining into a mid-table side. Good luck for next season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Jesus!! Jota and Zaha I wonder if they would score more as Inside Forwards? Amazing season nevertheless. Who are you looking to upgrade? Clyne/Lallana and Delph? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 Newcastle 2019/20 Hall of Fame Best 11 Butland had his 2nd ever-present season for us in the PL and, despite just 8 clean sheets, he's a reliable set of hands. He's not exactly a natural sweeper keeper, but he's good enough in the role and a fantastic shot-stopper with his agility, one-on-ones and reflexes. He's firmly England's no. 1 and hopefully will be ours for years to come. Clyne has been a solid addition to our back line, performing consistently and missing just one PL game through suspension. Harry is our vice captain and was ever-present for us in the PL, forming a great CB partnership with Lascelles. He's the ideal ball playing defender, if he was a bit quicker he'd be world-class! Captain Lascelles is another ever-present, in fact it's two seasons in a row now for him as with Butland. He's a very solid all round defender and his bit of pace makes up for Maguire's lack of. Chilwell has grown into the full back role over the season, grabbing the headlines with his one and only goal of the season which turned out to be the club's best and the PL's 2nd best. Had a couple of niggling injuries that stopped him from playing as many games as the rest of the back line. Badou had a great goalscoring season grabbing 13 PL goals from midfield. He loves getting into the box!! After a struggle to maintain a place in a very strong City side (apart from starting and scoring 2 against us while we were negotiating the transfer ), Wilshere opted for the north-east for first team football. If we can keep him fit, and as we know it's a big if, he will be the heartbeat of the side. Lallana came in as our 'Beardsley', providing yet another creative force from midfield who loves to dribble at players. As you'd expect he's picked up a few injuries over the season, but I still expect him to be a key component of the side going forward and he was consistent when he played. Zaha was our assist king, and the only attacking player to be ever-present in the PL, albeit with one appearance from the bench when he was carrying a knock. It might prove difficult to keep hold of him as Barca are after him. Season's don't come much better than this. Jota was insanely good as our left winger, scoring 32 PL goals and setting up 22. After just one season in the Toon, he's already considered a club icon. Alex 'Shearer' Mitrovic proved to be a real asset since rejoining the club he supports, getting crucial goals and assists in both the PL and FA Cup. He will be given the chance to lead the line next season and I hope he can be a regular 20+ PL goalscorer. Notable Other Players I've added Dummett as he, along with Colback, is the ony Geordie in the side and while Colback was used as a sub, starting just a league cup game, Dummett had a run in the side when Chilwell was injured and performed pretty well. He will be kept on as he seems to be happy as a backup. Delph was in integral part of the side last season but has suffered 8 injuries this season which has left him unavailable for over 50% of games. He's unlikely to command a place back in the first 11, but he's still a consistent performer and provides versatile cover. January deadline day signing Oxlade-Chamberlain has made 13 PL starts since joining and I fully expect him to be a key player going forward. He can play anywhere across the midfield which is a great asset to have when you're other midfielders include the injury prone Wilshere and Lallana.... Foden was our first signing in January, albeit only on loan. He may not have been a key starter, but he added depth to the squad and he's a player I'm targeting in the future. Eddie Nketiah was signed as the new 'Andy Cole', and while I think he best suits playing in a two up top alongside a big man, he's done well when called upon be it starting up top or coming off the bench to play wide or up top. That season being tutored by Ibrahimovic has turned him into a perfectionist and I hold very high hopes for the current European Golden Boy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 49 minutes ago, noikeee said: Decent season by Jota. It wasn't bad, was it 39 minutes ago, pheelf said: Interesting idea...crazy tactic though with all those attack duties. The fact that you finished 2nd in the EPL with what I think is fair to say is average-ish players (with the exception of Jota and Zaha who look immense) is slightly worrying given the tactic you're using. I would have expected that you might struggle with counter attacks against some of the best attackers in the world but that doesn't look to be happening. You seem to be making it work which is a great achievement. Btw, what's happened to Liverpool? They seem to be slowly declining into a mid-table side. Good luck for next season. I know, I'm loving the craziness! Last season we we're getting caught out a lot more as we didn't press as much and we were beaten a lot in midfield, though now the front 6 all press high and look to stop the opposition playing. We still do get done over by high quality players breaking through (2-5 City, 1-4 Man Utd, 1-4 Liverpool, 3-4 Arsenal, 3-4 Spurs) or direct teams playing in over the top (Leicester 1-4 away, 2-3 home) but it does seem to work somehow. Liverpool came 3rd under Klopp and won CL, 6th last season and sacked him. This season they had Guardiola who as you can see has really struggled in the league, but they're in the FA Cup and Europa League finals so he might hang on to his job. Guardiola always seems to struggle in the PL! 22 minutes ago, ToMexico!! said: Jesus!! Jota and Zaha I wonder if they would score more as Inside Forwards? Amazing season nevertheless. Who are you looking to upgrade? Clyne/Lallana and Delph? Talking of Jesus, I did have Gabriel Jesus as one of my target but City were quoting £200m+ for him A lot of their goals come from crosses from the other wing, which might not happen as much if they're cutting inside all the time, so playing them as IFs might have an opposite effect on on the goals. Though I will never know, as I doubt I will be changing it . I'm not too sure on who I can realistically bring in to improve the first 11, but I will be looking to add 3/4 players for squad depth. Another decent CB will be crucial, with extra games via CL it's unlikely I will be able to keep Lascelles/Maguire fit all season and our best options to replace them are Dummett and Hayden...Mbemba won't be playing for the club again as he's a whinge bag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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