CM 03/04 Advice Needed

[rexallllsc]

I'm the manager of Liverpool...I run a 4-4-2 that feeds the ball to the flanks, and sometimes to the left flank exclusively. My best players are often Kewell, Partridge, Gerrard, Riise, Smith, and Baros.

I finished second in the EPL in my first season, and I'm in third this year about 2/3 through the schedule. I'm doing well in the Champions League...but I feel like I need a bit more to get to the top. Where do you guys think I need help? I've got a transfer budget of $31 mil. to work with...I've been trying to get another center-back, but my attempted for Woodgate (up to $27 mil), Upson (up to $20 mil.), and Barry (up to $16 mil.) have all been rebuffed.

Any ideas?


http://frutsel.terrainhost.com/frutselapp/dump/BillGuerin/liverpool.jpg

[klayman]

I'd invest in a right winger. Partridge plays well, but there are better options. Another young CB you could check after is McEvenly at Bolton, but I'm in my second season with the Reds as well, and Hyppia and Dawson are playing top notch. Mexes or Boumsong as well, as I think both have min release clauses.

Does Smith work well with Owen? You could move Diouf up front, as he has done well there for me in the past. But I picked up Diogo Rincon in my first season this time, and he seems a perfect fit to Owen, as both are scoring loads, so I unloaded Diouf.

[rexallllsc]

I'd invest in a right winger. Partridge plays well, but there are better options. Another young CB you could check after is McEvenly at Bolton, but I'm in my second season with the Reds as well, and Hyppia and Dawson are playing top notch. Mexes or Boumsong as well, as I think both have min release clauses.

Does Smith work well with Owen? You could move Diouf up front, as he has done well there for me in the past. But I picked up Diogo Rincon in my first season this time, and he seems a perfect fit to Owen, as both are scoring loads, so I unloaded Diouf.

I don't really have a problem with Hyppia and Dawson, but I want another solid CB. Maybe one worth 5 mil. +

As far as Smith and Owen, they're very inconsistent. Smith has more goals than Owen, and is playing MUCH better. Owen has had a horrible year...to the point where Baros is now playing more than him (and scoring at a goal a game average).

Who do you like on the Right Wing? Dyer just got offered for 28.

[atatange1]

You might wan't to go with Gaston Fernandez of River Plate if you want a replacement striker. I'm not sure how much you will have to pay. I payed 17 up front 7 over a couple years at the beginning of season 3. He is fantastic! A Midfielder you might want to check out is Tiberou Ghiaone (sp?) of Dynamo Kiev I had him on loan the first to season of my game and he did very well (7.40ish) in the Serie A for me. He's probably in the 5-11M range.

[klayman]

I don't really have a problem with Hyppia and Dawson, but I want another solid CB. Maybe one worth 5 mil. +

As far as Smith and Owen, they're very inconsistent. Smith has more goals than Owen, and is playing MUCH better. Owen has had a horrible year...to the point where Baros is now playing more than him (and scoring at a goal a game average).

Who do you like on the Right Wing? Dyer just got offered for 28.
Glad to see Baros doing well for you, he's one of my favorite players in real life. Milan is struggling for me. He had an awful first season, and then slipped a disk at Euro 2004, and missed about 5 months with surgery. He's just getting back, but he really hasn't been able to find the net and crack the starting 11 with Owen and Diogo playing so well.

As for the right wing, good question. I'm still playing Murphy and Smicer there, and I haven't been able to pick anyone up since I spent my entire transfer budget on Zidane in the summer. Dyer looks good, but I've never played him, so I don't know if he would even come close to being worth the 28 million. That seems high. One winger I had success with previously was Giovanny Hernandez (sp?) on the Columbian national side. He should be considerably cheaper, providing you can get a wp. I also had some success with Steed Malbranque from Fulham (though I doubt he is still there in your game). They'll be a step up from Partridge, Diouf, or Murphy anyway.

For the CB, on top of McEvenly, Mexes and Boumsong, if you still have a hold of Diarra, he has done remarkably well for me this season playing behind Hyypia and Dawson.

[klayman]

Sorry. Just booted up my game, it is James McEveley at Blackburn, not Bolton and not McEvenly.

[Calis]

In my Celtic dynasty I'm running right now, I bought Stephen Wright from Sunderland for around 3 million(pounds that is). He's been outstanding for me, and is a young guy to boot. I'm playing him at right back, but I'm sure he'd be just as effective in the middle. Definitely worth a look for a cheaper alternative.

As an aside, I'd like to state here one more reason I love CM so much. In my Celtic dynasty, Bobo Balde was putting together a string of very poor performances performances, which escalated until he got sent off in a Champions League match that almost ended up knocking us out. I'd had about enough at this point, and decided to fine him for being sent off, and let the media know how piss poor he was playing. To further emphasize my point I put him on the transfer market.

Bobo has now turned things around and is averaging about an 8.5 rating for the last 12 or so matches. He's the best defender on the squad by far again. I think I got my point across. ;)

[Honolulu_Blue]

As an aside, I'd like to state here one more reason I love CM so much ... Bobo Balde

I reckon the name "Bobo Blade" is another reason to love CM so much. It ranks up there with TonTon Zola Mokouko. TonTon was an amazing amazing amazing young AM back in the old CM3 days. He seems to have completely disappeared, which is a shame. Total class.

As for tips. Change squads. Dump the evil Red Shites and that horrible little Mickey Owen. Go Blues!

[klayman]

Don't listen to HB. He's a Red Wing fan, so he has extremely poor taste in picking sports teams. 'pool and Glory!

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone. You'll never walk alone

[Marc Vaughan]

Quality defenders are hard to come by both in the game and irl, best bet is to either:

(1) Groom some youngsters, check out winners of young player of the month awards in lower divisions and poach any you think might develop into future stars (long term approach).
(2) Pick up aging stars from huge continental clubs - these might not be getting first team football and so might be available for reasonable prices.
(3) Pick up key players from smaller Scandanavian clubs where they don't have the financial muscle to reject a meaty bid - many Premiership clubs have taken this approach with varying degree's of success in recent years.

[rexallllsc]

Thanks guys.

BTW, Owen is having a horrible year paired w/ Smith (who is excelling).

Smith has scored 22 goals about 75% through the season, Owen just 15, and Baron 15 as well, in less time. Bummer.

[daedalus]

One of my favourite CM defender was Gabriel Milito (Independiente to Zaragoza). He spent more than 10 years with my Gunners and never complained about my squad rotation system. But that was from 01/02, don't know how he's rated in 03/04.